The Mount Barker Courier

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Back from the brink

Conservation work at Monarto Safari Park has helped bring the scimitar-horned oryx back from the brink of extinction. The native African animal was declared extinct in the wild in 2000, leading to a global conservation effort to save it, including...

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Council and Politics

Resignations trigger supplementary elections

Four new councillors will be elected to Hills councils next month, following a wave of resignations earlier this year. The Adelaide Hills Council will hold two supplementary elections for its Ranges and Valleys wards, while Mt Barker residents will...

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Homemade road sign sparks police warning

SA Police is warning the public not to alter road signs after a speed limit sign at Hahndorf was changed recently. The 60km/h sign on Ambleside Road had a 50km/h sign fixed over the top of it, in what some interpreted as a protest against the legal...

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Council and Politics

Deputy Mayor to apologise over conflict of interest

An investigation by the Ombudsman found that Mt Barker Deputy Mayor Samantha Jones breached the Local Government Act by failing to declare a conflict of interest when she was appointed to the position last year. However, she was not found guilty of...

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Student visa process ‘erratic’

A Crafers West man has resorted to taking court action after his nephew was denied an Australian student visa in what he believes was an unjust administration error. Reinhard Struve lodged documents to initiate a remedy in the Federal Circuit and...

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Season makes a ‘dramatic turnaround’

Hills grain growers are reporting “a dramatic turnaround” in their season, following steady rains over the last two months. Many growers in the region were forced to seed into dry ground this year amid drought conditions and a delayed break in...

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The fruit of his labor

Brian Croser’s “lifelong waltz” with Australian wine has been anything but smooth, but the accomplished winemaker has embraced his passion to help shape the nation’s wine industry. Earlier this month, the Piccadilly viticulturist became the...

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Council and Politics

No show: Adelaide Hills councillors have the lowest attendance rate in the Hills

Three of the 13 people elected to the Adelaide Hills Council missed more than half of their scheduled council meetings this year. Current Councillor Kirrilee Boyd has attended six of the council’s 16 meetings this year, while former Councillor...

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News

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Back from the brink

Conservation work at Monarto Safari Park has helped bring the scimitar-horned oryx back from the brink of extinction. The native African animal was declared extinct in the wild in 2000, leading to a global conservation effort to save it, including...

Click here

Student visa process ‘erratic’

A Crafers West man has resorted to taking court action after his nephew was denied an Australian student visa in what he believes was an unjust administration error. Reinhard Struve lodged documents to initiate a remedy in the Federal Circuit and...

Click here

Season makes a ‘dramatic turnaround’

Hills grain growers are reporting “a dramatic turnaround” in their season, following steady rains over the last two months. Many growers in the region were forced to seed into dry ground this year amid drought conditions and a delayed break in...

Click here

The fruit of his labor

Brian Croser’s “lifelong waltz” with Australian wine has been anything but smooth, but the accomplished winemaker has embraced his passion to help shape the nation’s wine industry. Earlier this month, the Piccadilly viticulturist became the...

Click here

Council & Politics

View all

Council and Politics

Resignations trigger supplementary elections

Four new councillors will be elected to Hills councils next month, following a wave of resignations earlier this year. The Adelaide Hills Council will hold two supplementary elections for its Ranges and Valleys wards, while Mt Barker residents will...

Click here

Council and Politics

Deputy Mayor to apologise over conflict of interest

An investigation by the Ombudsman found that Mt Barker Deputy Mayor Samantha Jones breached the Local Government Act by failing to declare a conflict of interest when she was appointed to the position last year. However, she was not found guilty of...

Click here

Council and Politics

No show: Adelaide Hills councillors have the lowest attendance rate in the Hills

Three of the 13 people elected to the Adelaide Hills Council missed more than half of their scheduled council meetings this year. Current Councillor Kirrilee Boyd has attended six of the council’s 16 meetings this year, while former Councillor...

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Police

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Homemade road sign sparks police warning

SA Police is warning the public not to alter road signs after a speed limit sign at Hahndorf was changed recently. The 60km/h sign on Ambleside Road had a 50km/h sign fixed over the top of it, in what some interpreted as a protest against the legal...

Click here

Sleeping ‘Blue-ty’

A koala had an early morning adventure inside the Heysen Tunnels over the weekend. SA Police said the koala was spotted by traffic cameras around 4.15am on Sunday, August 3, on an elevated ledge inside the tunnel and appeared to have settled in for...

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Park thefts prompt security upgrade

Five break-ins and some visitors leaving without paying in the past month have prompted the Strathalbyn Caravan Park management to invest more in security. The park is run by the Strathalbyn Oval Controlling Committee and chair Craig Maidment said...

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High steaks offender

There was a “high steaks pursuit” at Dawesley last week, after a cow was spotted with a bucket on its head. In a social media post last week, SA Police said a patrol responded to reports of a “cow acting suspiciously” alongside Old Princes...

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Community

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Storied history of Kaffeehaus to end

An inter-generational Hahndorf business will close its doors after more than 20 years. The Kaffeehaus was founded in 2004 and has since been a family affair, with Heidi Hartnett and daughter Ashton Downing serving in the front of house, Ms...

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Calls for shelter at Littlehampton park

The Littlehampton Community Association (LCA) is pushing for a shelter to be installed at the Willow Park reserve, despite being turned down by the Mt Barker Council. The LCA received $2500 from the Mt Barker Council’s community grants program to...

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Ruby shines as a volunteer

Volunteering at Hills schools has not only earned Mt Barker High School student Ruby Forster an award, but it also proved that she could achieve her dreams while living with diabetes. The 17-year-old, pictured, was one of 13 South Australians who...

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Fundraiser means cycling days

Nairne man Andrew Day will spend the next two months cycling from Perth to Adelaide and then on to Sydney, as he and his sons aim to raise $15,000 for the Cancer Council. About 10 years ago, after losing his father to prostate cancer, Mr Day rode...

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Sport

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Ramming home authority

Nairne-Bremer United have secured both the Hills Football League (HFL) Division 1 A-grade minor premiership and Courier Cup honors following its impressive Round 16 away win against the red-hot Mt Lofty Devils at Heathfield Oval on Saturday. After...

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Glory for Bulldogs women

History was made last Sunday as the Onkaparinga Valley Bulldogs claimed their first-ever senior premiership, defeating minor premier Blackwood in the HFLW grand final. A huge crowd packed into German Arms Oval at Hahndorf, in what was an electric...

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Finals shine for Stars

Defending Hills A-grade netball premier Uraidla Red have moved to within one win of retaining the crown following last Saturday’s opening round of finals. The qualifying final at Piccadilly between Uraidla Red and Crafers delivered a high-quality...

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Raiders chase a return

Bridgewater Callington Raiders Football Club (BCRFC) are set to stage a bold bid to return to mainstream Hills Football League (HFL) senior competition next season. In line with the club’s aspirations, the Raiders have announced the appointment of...

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Set for finals business

The top five teams in Hills Football League Country Division A-grade competition have completed the minor rounds and now face the major business of the 2025 season. Saturday’s Round 14 fixtures featured Kangarilla sealing second spot with a win over...

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Top job by Hawks juniors

Last Saturday featured the top-ranked Adelaide Hills Hawks Soccer Club Under 18 team playing the final match of the regular State League (2) South season against second-placed Adelaide Titans. Either a win or a draw for the Hawks would cement them...

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Historic touch for women

Exciting matches headlined Round 2 of the Hills Football League Women (HFLW) senior finals series last Sunday. Amid perfect conditions at Balhannah Oval, minor premier Blackwood returned from a week off to face Onkaparinga Valley in the second...

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Changing of the guard

The changing face of Hills Football League Country Division A-grade competition was on offer in last Saturday’s matches. In the penultimate series of home and away fixtures for 2025, top-ranked Macclesfield hosted Gumeracha, winner of the past three...

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Editorial

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Start of a new era

The Adelaide Hills and Mt Barker councils have experienced extreme turmoil in the past months, including allegations of bullying and disputes over councillor behavior. This has led to councillors resigning from both councils, resulting in...

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Attendance accountability

The Adelaide Hills Council’s decision to investigate the amount of leave taken by councillors is a good step forward. The council has experienced a turbulent term so far, with claims of bullying and three councillor resignations alongside major...

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Time is running out

The Mt Barker Council’s report into the status of the arterial road network in the town has revealed what anyone who lives here already knows. The arterial roads – chiefly Adelaide, Wellington and Flaxley roads – face significant issues due to...

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Digital Editions

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Digital Editions

The Courier, August 27, 2025

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The Courier, August 20, 2025

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The Courier, August 13, 2025

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The Courier, August 6, 2025

Digital Editions

The Courier, July 30, 2025

Digital Editions

The Courier, July 23, 2025