We've had stunning weather for the school holidays and it's been really great to see so many people out and about enjoying our beautiful natural surroundings. There are some solid fronts bearing down over today and tomorrow so take care on the roads and make sure your yard is ready. Let's hope recent sandbagging efforts at Lancelin hold up to the fronts and a longer term fix can be found.

Big congratulations to the North Midlands community who rallied together for the annual charity golf day at Three Springs. I don't think people who live in the city and enjoy an immediate response to a triple-0 emergency call realise the work our extraordinary volunteers do in regional WA. The funds raised from this event put dozens of people through first aid courses, which can be vital while waiting to rally a crew across long distances. Of course, there's plenty of fun during the event itself with the 'nearest-the-pin' fundraiser a real favourite. Punters buy a golf ball numbered from 1 — 100, whichever lands nearest the pin after being dropped from the chopper is the winner. It's one of the more unique ideas I've seen — up there with cow pat lotto!

Enjoy the read and have a great week.

Natasha Harradine

Midwest Wheatbelt editor

Picture supplied: Saltlake Media

Board meetings and navigating native title were not on Kurt McIntosh's radar until he stumbled upon a book at the airport.

The long wait for an ambulance in WA's Wheatbelt makes first aid critical, and these golfers are ensuring their community is well prepared. 

Authorities save one animal but another succumbs to its injuries, leading sharks to converge on a popular snorkelling spot.

A damning report has found accommodation shortages at Kalgoorlie's century-old WA School of Mines are being "felt most acutely" by international and postgraduate students.

After a second annual aerial cull sparked controversy in southern WA, hunters say targeting feral deer from the ground is a more humane option.

Reptiles racket: A Wheatbelt court found a New South Wales man guilty of attempting to export 65 reptiles out of WA for financial gain. The Northam Magistrates court heard Nicholas Thomas Havet travelled to Western Australia twice in April 2023, where he captured reptiles and mailed them to his home state. Two parcels intercepted by Australia Post contained 65 reptiles including bobtail lizards, ornate dragons, thorny devils and blue tongue lizards. The court heard the 28-year-old had previously lodged five parcels that were successfully delivered and are suspected to have also contained lizards. He will be sentenced on six charges of exporting fauna without lawful authority later this month. 

Photo supplied: Tim Leane

Dust testing: The City of Greater Geraldton has received the results of independent dust sampling taken from various locations across the city, and the results show iron ore mixed in dust on residential properties. Five samples were taken from Greenough to Beresford after what Mayor Jerry Clune says were frustrated appeals for help from residents. The quantitative x-ray diffraction analysis of the dust showed 'relatively low levels' of hematite and magnetite detected in all samples, except those taken at Greenough. Mr Clune said it was important the results from the state government's ongoing investigation were made public.

Bird flu positive: The Midwest has recorded its second case of H5 avian influenza with a migratory seabird found at Lancelin deemed a presumed positive due to carcass degradation making testing difficult. Last week a bird found at Horrocks near Northamton was also deemed presumed positive. It brings the total number of confirmed cases in the country up to 15, with nine discovered in migratory birds found in WA.

AI standards: The developer of a Wheatbelt industrial estate set to house a crypto mining warehouse said new national standards for artificial intelligence would help balance industry with responsible resource use. Under the proposed standards, data centres will be required to minimise water usage and underwrite or supply their own power. In a statement, Procon Developments Australia said the AvonWest Logistics and Enterprise Hub near Northam, which will be powered by renewables and use recycled water, already aligned with the new principles. It said the standards reflected the growing opportunities and challenges of embracing digital infrastructure in Australia.

Disaster recovery: A Wheatbelt shire said proposed changes to the federal government's disaster recovery funding arrangements could leave regional councils worse off. Changes proposed last month by emergency management Minister Kristy McBain, would mean the federal government would contribute a standard 50 per cent of recovery costs. The amount it contributes under the current arrangement varies from 50 per cent to 75 per cent, with the reimbursement rate decided by a complex calculation. The minister said the reforms would make the process simpler and faster for councils to navigate and no council should be worse off.However, Victoria Plains shire president Pauline Bantock said councils were nervous.