You'll hear a new voice on our radio programs from Monday with Dana Hamilton arriving in Geraldton. She made the long trek across the Nullarbor with her budgie Dotty and has already joined a footy team and SES! You can tune in on AM radio or via the listen app. 

More good news from the region this week with the community of Horrocks sending two trucks full of hay to drought-stricken pastoralists in the Gascoyne.  

Fuel has dominated the news cycle. While authorities are urging the community not to panic buy as there is plenty in reserve, allocations by fuel companies to distributors serving regional communities have been reduced causing localised shortages. 

Natasha Harradine

ABC Midwest Wheatbelt local editor

Dozens of fishing trawlers have been stranded as a result of Australia's worsening fuel shortages, which some have described as the worst they have ever seen.

Petrol stations in some WA towns begin restricting petrol sales to emergency services only, as impacts from the Iran war hit the state.

A man who fatally shot his colleague at a Wheatbelt grain silo before turning the weapon on himself had undiagnosed mental health issues and was exploring extremist ideology, an inquest hears. 

As many regional RSL clubs across Western Australia struggle to remain relevant, one sub-branch in a small Goldfields town has shown it is possible to thrive. 

Dennis Cometti was known to viewers as a wordsmith who rattled off rejoinders with ease, but behind the scenes he worked harder than anyone to carve out a place in Australia's sporting landscape.

Rates law uncertainty: A Midwest shire is calling on the state government to promptly clarify a proposed new law, warning the uncertainty makes it impossible to go about its business. Last year, the state government announced it wants to introduce a bill to exempt mining companies from paying rates to local governments. This would undo a recent Supreme Court decision that allowed the Shire of Mount Magnet to collect rates from a mining company. Mount Magnet CEO Tralee Cable, says the shire is in the dark about the details of the proposed law, which is likely to dramatically affect its finances.However, Local Government minister Hannah Beazley says the details have been publicly available since October. Ms Beazley says the bill will progress though parliament "in due course", and the the shire can undertake its budgeting knowing rating miscellaneous land could become illegal.

Photo credit: ABC Midwest Wheatbelt/Chris Lewis

Regional voice: Northam Shire President Chris Antonio has been elected as deputy president of the Western Australian Local Government Association. Representatives of the state's 139 local governments elected new leaders for the organisation last week. Mr Antonio will serve as deputy to Mark Irwin, the Mayor of the City of Stirling, who was elected as President. Mr Antonio says he and Mr Irwin will build on the work of previous leaders, as they advocate for local governments.

Rural doctors: The Rural Doctors Association of Australia says a boost in the number of placements for student doctors needs to be paired with more supervisors. Health Minister Mark Butler has announced that the federal government will support 50 new medical student placements at universities from 2028. RDAA president Sarah Chalmers says supervising doctors in rural areas are already under pressure.

Hay donation: About 150 round bales of donated hay have been delivered to the drought-stricken Upper Gascoyne to help struggling farmers. It comes after a group of volunteers from Horrocks gathered donations of hay from local farmers and businesses. About $15,000 worth of hay was sent north on road trains this week. Organiser Collin Reynolds says farmers appreciate the generosity.