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The Upper Great Southern team before their semifinal against ADCA 1. They went on to finish fourth.

Country week PremiumUppers finish fourth after quitting play-off to fight fire

A bushfire emergency robbed Upper Great Southern of a third-place finish in senior country week’s A-section, three of their squad opting to return to Wandering where a blaze was threatening homes and lives.

Claire Middleton

Great Southern’s Peter Robertson has has been awarded Medal of the Order of Australia.

Top honour PremiumPeter Robertson receives OAM for years of advocacy

Dedicated Great Southern environmentalist Peter Robertson has been named on the Australia Day honours list, receiving a Medal of the Order of Australia 2026 for his service to conservation and the environment.

Amy Towers

Catrin Pickworth (Australia’s South West CEO and South West Development Commission deputy chair), Scott Bell (Capel Marron Farm), South West Minister Don Punch and Jordan Parker (Capel Marron Farm).

On the menuPremiumCapel Marron Farm add fine dining to operations

The Capel Marron Farm opened their doors last week after expanding its operations to become a new regional food and tourism destination through a $147,280 Regional Economic Development Grant.

Craig Duncan

Busselton-Margaret River celebrate with the Boan Cup.

CricketCommentsPremiumBush and ‘Burbs: BMR claim second country week title

The West Australian’s sports reporters take a look at what’s happening in the country and amateur leagues around WA in this weekly column.

Josh Kempton & Jack Penniment

Inaugural Western Australian state-of-origin captain Graham Moss has backed Patrick Cripps (pictured) to lead the Sandgropers to victory.

AFL OriginCommentsPremiumMoss: Cripps will lead WA to historic AFL Origin win

Inaugural Western Australian state-of-origin captain Graham Moss has backed Patrick Cripps to lead the Sandgropers to victory against Victoria at Optus Stadium next month.

Mitchell Woodcock

New Technology at Dyson Jones Wool Marketing Services: Russell Fraser is pictured using some new software at the companie's woolstores at Bibra Lake. Michael Wilson

NEW TECH PremiumDyson Jones rolls out WoolClip to boost efficiency

A new year has kicked off with the use of new technology at WA’s major wool selling centre, with Dyson Jones Wool rolling out the use of WoolClip across its storerooms for the first time.

Cally Dupe

A bushfire caused by lightning has jumped Eyre Highway, closing the road which links WA to the Eastern States.

Fire and rainCommentsFire and floods predicted to keep Eyre Highway closed

First it was fire — now flooding is predicted to close for days the road linking WA to the Eastern States via the Nullarbor Plain.

Neil Watkinson & Jessica Antoniou

Regen Tremaine Hillbrick-Miles, 31, fronted Perth Magistrates Court from video-link on Saturday after being charged over the January 16 blaze in Collie. Pictured is Mr Hillbrick-Miles next to an image of an unrelated bushfire.

The West Australian exclusive
The West Australian exclusive
CrimePremium
The West Australian exclusive
Accused Collie firebug committed similar offence before

Police said the accused firebug had previously committed a similar offence.

Caleb Runciman

Tyler Brockman has been charged with grievous bodily harm over a fight in Geraldton during his Christmas break. 

CrimeVideoPremiumWest Coast Eagles player charged over Christmas break brawl

He is expected to appear in court on February 19.

Caleb Runciman and Mitchell Woodcock

Six farmers have thrown their hat into the ring for the 2026 CBH Group member director elections.

Hotly contestedPremiumQ&A with six farmers bidding for three CBH spots

Countryman sits down with each of the six CBH board director nominees who have thrown their hats in the ring for the 2026 elections, with fresh and returning faces amongst the line up.

Georgia Campion

Broome livestock veterinarian Tracy Sullivan.

BOARD BOON PremiumCattle vet Tracy Sullivan joins farmers’ federation

Well-known Kimberley cattle vet Tracy Sullivan has been appointed to the National Farmers’ Federation board, marking what many believe to be the first time the region has had a representative.

Cally Dupe

Harvest at CBH Group's Brookton site.

OPINION PremiumLachlan Hunter: WA Gov still can’t find the paddock gate

In regional WA, courage is often volunteer-based and shows up in a fire truck at 3am.

Lachlan Hunter

The Patrol was the second car stolen among the three missing vehicles reported over the holiday break.

crimePremiumBrookton region hit with triple-vehicle theft over holidays

Brookton police are on the hunt for car thieves following the theft of three vehicles over the holiday period.

Hannah Whitehead

CGS sales agronomist Emily O'Shannessy in a cotton crop in Kununurra.

COTTONING ONPremiumOrd agronomist selected for prestigious leadership program

The East Kimberley’s burgeoning cotton industry has taken another step forward, with a Kununurra-based agronomist selected to take part in a prestigious leadership program run by Cotton Australia.

Cally Dupe

Premier Roger Cook Asst Commissioner Peter Healy and Police Minister Reece Whitby with firearms from the buyback scheme. Andrew Ritchie

State PoliticsWA’s ‘call to arms’ to lay down guns, avoid US-like debate

The results of the latest gun buyback have been shown off by the Premier and Police Minister as they urged other states to follow WA’s lead in the wake of the Bondi terrorist attack. 

Jessica Page

Professor Kingsley Dixon pictured at his lab in Shenton Park. Ian Munro

NATIONAL HONOURPremiumKingsley Dixon named WA’s Senior Australian of the Year

Professor Kingsley Dixon has been recognised for his lifelong work protecting and restoring Western Australia’s fragile natural world.

Caitlin Vinci

Premier Roger Cook did not directly answer whether he’d be willing to contribute funding to the gun national buyback given the recent State program.

State PoliticsCommentsPremiumCook unclear how much national gun buyback could cost WA

It’s unclear whether WA taxpayers will share part of the cost for a proposed national gun buyback scheme in the wake of the Bondi massacre.

Oliver Lane

TWU says their drivers will be striking this Wednesday, January 21, from 5am AWST in WA and 5am AEST in Victoria

AustraliaCommentsShortage of popular beer in WA looms ahead of Australia Day

Major alcohol and drinks supply chains are at risk ahead of the Australia Day long weekend.

Katherine Kraayvanger

A further 30 West Australian emergency services personnel have been deployed to Victoria to assist local crews after several catastrophic bushfires swept through the regions.

WA NewsCommentsMore West Australians join Victorian firefighting efforts

A further 30 WA emergency services personnel have been deployed to Victoria to help local crews after several catastrophic bushfires swept through the regions. 

Jessica Evensen

A 24-year-old woman was flown to Royal Perth Hospital after double-vehicle rollover during tow in Broomehill East.

Serious rollover PremiumTwo people injured in Broomehill East double car rollover

Two people were seriously injured and flown to Perth for treatment after a horror two-car rollover near Broomehill in the Great Southern on Wednesday night

Cameron Newbold and Hannah Whitehead

A man in his 50’s has suffered critical injuries after single vehicle crash in Hyden.

updated
updated
FATAL CRASHPremium
updated
Motorbike rider dies from injuries after tragic Hyden crash

Major crash officers are investigating after a man in his 50s died after his motorbike crashed in Hyden on Thursday morning.

Melissa Sheil and Hannah Whitehead

Haydn Thomas Mansell, 40, is accused of careless driving in a fatal crash in Redmond last July.

courtsPremiumFatal Redmond crash accused makes first in-person appearance

A Great Southern man accused of causing a rail-crossing crash that resulted in his wife’s death has made his first in-person appearance at court, but still not entered a plea to the charge against him. 

Jacki Elezovich

The Wyndham weather radar is expected to be out of action for the next three months after it was struck by lightning on Christmas Day.

Weather PremiumWyndham weather radar to be down for next three months

The Wyndham weather radar is expected to be out of action for the next three months after it was struck by lightning on Christmas Day, the Bureau of Meteorology says. 

Cain Andrews

A WorkSafe WA spokeswoman said they were investigating what led to the man’s injury. 

The West Australian exclusive
The West Australian exclusive
WA NEWSPremium
The West Australian exclusive
Young apprentice’s arm severed in horror workplace incident

The 18-year-old is now fighting for his life in Royal Perth Hospital.

Caleb Runciman and Caitlin Vinci