Parents rely on after-school care to be able to participate in the workforce, but in one SA country town, the only provider's future is unclear. 

Dozens of pigs were released illegally over several attempts to establish populations for hunting, with a local landscape board warning of the danger a feral population could cause.

Bill Stephenson started refereeing to support his kids' dreams and he worries abuse will stop more like him from taking up the whistle.

When Steve Lamplough heard a commotion outside his south-west Victorian home, the last thing he expected to see was a joey koala riding his dog like a racehorse.

The disastrous algal bloom that has been lapping at South Australia's shores has turned a coastline into a frontline, leaving many swimmers, surfers and seaside business operators wondering what the upcoming summer will look like.

Information gleaned from tiny growth rings on "ear bones" of native pygmy perch could be the key to bringing them back from local extinction in the lower Murray. 

New dog area takes shape: A temporary dog park has been established at Mount Gambier's Blue Lake Sports Park, after dogs were banned from the playing surfaces last year. The area will eventually be replaced with a permanent dog park as part of a master plan for the sporting precinct. Dogs have been barred from Blue Lake Sports Park since January last year, due to issues with waste on sporting fields.
 

Picture: German shepherd Romeo enjoys the new temporary fenced dog exercise area at Blue Lake Sports Park. Photo supplied: City of Mount Gambier.
 

Urgent care clinic to reopen: Mount Gambier's Urgent Care Clinic is set to reopen, with Hawkins Medical Clinic taking over the operation of the facility. The clinic will begin operating in the coming months, opening seven days a week and extended hours. The clinic closed in June after the former provider was placed into liquidation. Federal Health Minister Mark Butler says the clinic will ease pressure on the Mount Gambier Hospital, enabling them to focus on treating more critical cases.
 

Whale samples sent for testing: Samples taken from a pilot whale washed up on Long Beach at Robe have been taken to the South Australian Museum for testing. This follows the Department for Environment and Water staff inspecting the carcass, which had washed to nearby Little Dip Conservation Park. The District Council of Robe was contacted to dispose of the carcass. The department says the death of marine mammals is not an uncommon occurrence, and there have been no further reports of dead marine mammals in the region.
 

New CEO takes council reins: Paul Simpson is Mount Gambier City Council's new chief executive officer. His appointment follows the retirement of former CEO Sarah Philpott. Mr Simpson — who was formerly the CEO of the Barunga West Council and Orroroo-Carrieton Council — has also been involved with state and local government in Victoria. Mr Simpson will start the role next month.
 

Childcare initiative underway: An initiative to get more people working in childcare has kicked off in Mount Gambier. A four-week early childhood education and care tas