Courtesy Atlanta Commissioner Emma L Darnell

Sentinel chickens are our early warning system for mosquito diseases.

ABC [read this story]

If found to be economic, the companies will then develop a mine and process the ore.

The gold prospect, called Old Pirate, is in the Tanami Desert west of the NT border.

ABN Newswire [read this story]

Other North-West residents may water every second day.

You can read a media release here:

9 January 2012

North West residents urged to observe sprinkler roster The Water Corporation has again reminded North West residents about the current sprinkler rosters in place.

The sprinkler roster was introduced in October 2007 as part of state-wide permanent water efficiency measures.

Water Corporation North West Regional Manager, Kerrie Chapman said an analysis had indicated that watering every second day was sufficient to maintain a healthy garden in the region and anything more was simply a waste of water.

“Overall the community response to the sprinkler roster has been positive, but some people are still not doing the right thing,” said Mrs Chapman.

“Since 1 July 2011 more than 600 residents have been found in breach of the sprinkler roster.”

Mrs Chapman said the sprinkler roster was part of a state-wide initiative to encourage communities to be more careful with their water use.

“To help residents reduce water use we encourage everyone to check their irrigation controllers to make sure they comply with the watering roster, she said. “It’s also important to regularly check controllers and replace the batteries to ensure they are working properly.”

Mrs Chapman said most of the sprinkler systems sold in WA over the past 20 years had operator manuals which could now be viewed online following an initiative by Perth business ‘The Watershed’ visit www.thewatershed.biz/downloads.

Water Corporation officers patrol all towns in the North West and Mrs Chapman pointed out that neighbours and other concerned community members often phone the Water Corporation advising of breaches.

“We encourage the public to report people breaching the sprinkler roster by calling us on 13 10 39,” she said.

Customers observed by a Water Corporation Inspector breaching the roster are issued with a $100 fine.

North West Sprinkler Roster

Throughout the North West, gardens can only be watered once every alternate day, either before 9am or after 6pm.

If the last digit of your house number is even, you can only water on even numbered days of the month or odd days of the month if your house number is odd. If there is no house number, the lot number is used.

Further restrictions currently apply in Halls Creek which can only water twice a week, due to temporary water shortages.

More information on all sprinkler rosters is available on the Water Corporation’s website www.watercorporation.com.au or by calling 13 10 39.

This first is from a Western Australian country newspaper:

Ashburton Guardian 10 September 1908 - courtesy National Library of New Zealand

And the second, published almost a month earlier, from a Melbourne newspaper:

The Argus Thursday 13 August 1908 - courtesy National Library of Australia

… and this one, published five months beforehand in New Zealand:

Manawatu Times 19 March 1901 - courtesy National Library of New Zealand

To find out more about you can go to this site.

Some readers will be familiar with their names: Helen McKay, Megan Kerr, Eleanor Roberts and Cherrill Hopkins at Fitzroy Crossing; and Raylee Finlen, Michele Meehan and Jean McConaghy at Halls Creek.

Sydney Morning Herald [read this story]

Courtesy Atlanta Commissioner Emma L Darnell

A Police Officer stricken with a mosquito-borne virus is “trapped in his own body” his partner said.

Constable Ryan Marron is believed to have contracted Murray Valley Encephalitis while working in Balgo for two weeks.

The West Australian [read this story]

This video is a presentation from the managing director of Kimberley Rare Earths, which owns the project.

ABN Newswire [go to video]

Northern Star agreed to take $200,000 worth of Bulletin Resources shares to settle the deal for the Golden Crown project.

Mineweb [read this story]

Golden Crown is located about 20km east of Halls Creek.

Bulletin Resources, the new owner,  is developing another gold project nearby at Nicholson’s Find on Lamboo Station.

An Alice Springs-based youth service says NT-style laws could have saved the lives of five young Balgo people.

The West Australian [read this story]

Wendy Duncan MLC and Roy Wilson with some of the trainees at Burkes Park yesterday

Ten trainees graduated from the pastoral training course at Burkes Park Station yesterday.

Roy and Helen Wilson have trained them in various station skills over the past 12 – 18 months.

You can read a statement from Wendy Duncan MLC here:

PASTORAL TRAINEES SUCCEED IN HALLS CREEK 20 DECEMBER 2011

The Hon Wendy Duncan MLC, representing the Hon Terry Redman, Minister for Agriculture, today had the honour of congratulating ten students on achieving their Certificates in Agriculture at an awards ceremony at Burks Park Indigenous Pastoral Training Centre near Halls Creek.

Ms Duncan said that the students had been enrolled in a variety of Certificate Courses in Agriculture and had completed their training over a period of 12 – 18 months at the Pastoral Training Centre. During their training they had demonstrated the required competencies, completing units in beef production.

This encompassed a variety of skills including livestock handling and management techniques such as drafting, marking, animal husbandry, managing horses for stock work and maintaining livestock water supplies.

The Bina-Waji Nyurra-nga Corporation provided the training which was delivered by Roy Wilson, a respected Elder of the East Kimberley region, and his wife Helen Wilson. The program was also supported and facilitated by the Department of Agriculture and Food, the Kimberly Indigenous Management Support Service and Farm Training WA (Indigenous).

“This award winning program has been so successful because it is initiated by the Indigenous pastoral properties who seek the assistance of the Indigenous Landholder Services and is run under tight governance according to the requirements of a nationally recognised training provider.”

“Not only does the program turn out some very skilled young pastoral trainees, but it also provides the skill and knowledge to take back to indigenous owned pastoral properties to assist with improving animal husbandry and land management.”

The majority of the trainees for Burks Park Indigenous Pastoral Training Centre have been Indigenous youth of the Kimberley region, but also included some older participants and a young non-Indigenous person. Some of the participants were referred by the Department of Corrective Services.

“This is a wonderful program, providing youth with a unique opportunity to develop and master skills in the pastoral industry. They are in demand as employees in the Kimberley,” said Ms Duncan.