Perth electrician Bill Simpson has started a 10-day stint living rough on the city's streets, with nothing but the clothes he is wearing. He aims to raise $100,000 for homeless charity We Are Mobilise through Nedd's Uncomfortable Challenge. Mr Simpson said the idea came after meeting homeless people in Kalgoorlie, and he wanted to do more than buy them food. He plans to isolate for the first 24 hours, then beg for food before moving into busier city areas.
Nick Lavery took five wickets on his North Kalgoorlie debut as the side beat Hannans by 147 runs in the Eastern Goldfields Cricket Association's B-grade Twenty20 match at Wallace Park. Lavery, a two-time Goldfields sports star of the year for hockey, had no previous experience of organised cricket. He took his first wicket with his first ball and finished with 5-0. Norths made 4-201, led by Scott Nelson's 61 off 33 balls. In the other match, Lake View beat Great Boulder by 56 runs, with Daniel Hood scoring 59 off 35 balls.
Outback rock band The Desert Stars has recorded a dozen tracks for its third album in a steel shed at Ilkurlka, a remote Western Australian outpost. Lead singer James Minning, whose people were moved from their land for the Maralinga nuclear tests, writes songs about their connection to country. The band members grew up together in the desert region and have built a following in remote communities. Recording was interrupted several times by rain on the tin roof. The album is due for release next year.
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The Eastern Goldfields Historical Society is asking the public to help identify people in a set of old school photos. The society received the collection from the former Eastern Goldfields Senior High School and wants names for the students in each picture. The image shown is of Year 8 Navy students from 1977. Anyone who can help is asked to email [email protected] or call 9093 3360.
Culvert upgrades east of Kalgoorlie are set to start this weekend as part of a $2.8 billion rail investment program. Crews will replace ageing culverts at three locations between Kalgoorlie and Zanthus to improve drainage and reduce flood damage to the railway. The new reinforced concrete culverts are designed to manage a one in a hundred year flood event, including projected climate change impacts to 2060. Once installed, crews will rebuild the track so freight services can resume. ARTC says it has planned the work around train movements to limit disruption to freight operators.
Sandalwood producers in Western Australia say the government has not clearly explained what will replace the current harvesting order, which expires at the end of this year. The order allows 2,500 tonnes of wild sandalwood to be harvested each year. A proposed shift of oversight from the Forest Products Commission to the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions has left harvesters and exporters uncertain about future investment. Premier Roger Cook says the government is consulting widely. Some producers, including oil maker Dutjahn, say the transition has been expected and that the industry has had time to prepare.
A Perth pub in Merriwa is set for a $5 million expansion under new owners LocalsCo, with plans for a children's playground, a beer garden and 44 extra parking bays. The redevelopment would extend trading hours and update the venue's interior, which has been operating as The Sixty30. A development application is open for public comment until October 22, before the Metro Outer Development Assessment Panel makes a decision. If approved, construction is expected to take about 12 months.
Western Australia has the most poorly rated airports in the country, with seven of the ten lowest-rated passenger airports. Travellers complained about slow security checks, limited facilities and baggage delays. Newman Airport in the Pilbara ranked worst, averaging 3.10 stars from 295 reviews. Perth Airport ranked eighth and was the lowest-rated capital city airport. Port Lincoln Airport in South Australia was rated highest, averaging 4.62 stars from 131 reviews.
The future of the Goldfields Repertory Club remains uncertain as volunteers work to raise $6.5 million to rebuild its run-down Brookman Street theatre. The 95-year-old club received $50,000 of the $97,000 it asked for from the City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder. Vice-president Norma Latchford said the club will now approach local companies for support. Significant deterioration has ruled out renovation, so a full rebuild is the only option. A $50,000 grant will fund a $195,000 project to prepare construction plans, which would allow the club to seek larger grants.
Seven Network is marking its 70th birthday with a special Spotlight program airing on Sunday evening. Presenter Nat Barr, who grew up in Bunbury, says her career began with a job at Channel 7 in Sydney in 1994 and later led to Sunrise. Host Michael Usher, who began his career in Bunbury and Kalgoorlie, is now the network's Chief Network Anchor. The program will revisit memorable live events and shows such as Home and Away and Kath and Kim. Both presenters credit the network with supporting their careers over many years.
Champion golfer Graham Marsh has returned to Kalgoorlie, his birthplace, for the WA PGA Championship. Marsh designed the Kalgoorlie Golf Course, which opened in 2010 at a cost of $18.5 million. He says the course is the first of its kind in Australia, with a desert setting and recycled water. The course has faced criticism over the cost to ratepayers and ongoing water shortages. The City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder has committed to sponsoring the tournament until 2031.
A former actor has swapped the stage for remote nursing, providing vital healthcare to some of Australia’s most isolated communities. Hamish Briggs, 27, now works as an outback nurse, often being the only healthcare professional some patients have ever seen. He travels between communities in a converted LandCruiser, offering medical care and building trust with locals, particularly in First Nations communities. Briggs shares his experiences online, gaining a following for his honest reflections on remote healthcare.
