ABC Midwest & Wheatbelt

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Father and son hip-hop artists spread message of hope

Award-winning Perth musician Flewnt is touring regional Western Australia with his 11-year-old son — and fellow hip-hop artist — Inkabee. Their message for young people? Chase your dreams.

Published: 11h agoFri 9 Feb 2024 at 11:30pmSource: ABC KimberleyTopic: Hip Hopby Esse Deves

Goldfields miners sniff an opportunity in the wind

The state's resource-rich Goldfields region has been swept up in the global push to renewable energy, with billions in mining investment driving the development of six wind farms.

Construction workers building footings for wind turbines at remote mine site.

Published: 8h agoSat 10 Feb 2024 at 2:47amSource: ABC GoldfieldsTopic: Wind Energyby Jarrod Lucas and Tara de Landgrafft

With the fastest-growing rents in the country, buying homes proves an easier option for some in regional WA

New data reveals the astronomical prices people in country WA are paying just to keep a roof over their heads, as some residents say the cost of renting is now similar to having a mortgage.

Young couple sit on grey couch holding their baby girl.

Published: YesterdayFri 9 Feb 2024 at 4:04amSource: ABC Midwest & WheatbeltTopic: Rental Housingby Piper Duffy and Byron Queale

People flock to the coast as another heatwave scorches Perth and parts of WA

As Perth and parts of Western Australia swelter through a second heatwave in as many weeks, data shows hot weather has left almost five times more people in hospital than bushfires in recent years.

A group of people swimming in clear blue water

Published: ThuThu 8 Feb 2024 at 8:00amSource: ABC Midwest & WheatbeltTopic: Heatwavesby Bransen Gibson, James Carmody and Cason Ho

Police recover 4WD vehicle from WA cliff crash that killed two men

Authorities have recovered the wreckage of a four-wheel drive after it plunged over a steep cliff at a remote WA beach, killing Matthew Farr and Louis Eeles, and seriously injuring a third.

Two young men with long hair smiling holding big fish.

Published: WedWed 7 Feb 2024 at 6:43amSource: ABC Midwest & WheatbeltTopic: Policeby Alice Angeloni

Police say man donned motorbike helmet to crash car into police station's bollards

A man accused of deliberately attempting to drive his car into Geraldton Police Station has been remanded in custody as the court awaits a psychological report.

A car crashed into bollards out the front of a building.

Published: WedWed 7 Feb 2024 at 12:26amSource: ABC Midwest & WheatbeltTopic: Court-Ordered Psychiatric Treatmentby Brianna Melville

Mining companies, towns brace for second WA pilot strike in six months

Network Aviation pilots will stop work for 24 hours on Thursday impacting passengers across regional Western Australia who fly with the Qantas subsidiary.

Published: TueTue 6 Feb 2024 at 10:50pmSource: ABC PilbaraTopic: Wages and Benefitsby Charlie McLean and Michelle Stanley

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ABC Midwest & Wheatbelt Local News

Local news, updated weekdays at 6:35am.

Duration: 5 minutes

Source: Listen

This is the closest most of us will ever get to seeing the elusive Night Parrot

The Night Parrot was once thought to be extinct but the WA Museum Boola Bardip now has a full specimen to show the public

Duration: 5 minutes 36 seconds

Source: ABC Radio PerthTopic: Libraries, Museums and Gallerieswith Michael Tetlow

WALGA calls for increased funding for public libraries

The local library is an institution in many suburbs and towns around Western Australia.

Person seen from behind reading large book, with short hair and dark top, sits in library. He wears Jewish skullcap.

Duration: 6 minutes 3 seconds

Source: ABC Radio PerthTopic: Libraries, Museums and Gallerieswith Michael Tetlow

feel good

Building the next 'big thing' in this tiny town

It's been more than three decades in the making, but the tiny town of Carnamah is finally constructing a very, very big tractor.

Duration: 4 minutes 2 seconds

Source: ListenTopic: Rural Tourismby Alice Angeloni

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Police raid Coffin Cheaters in Geraldton

WA police inspect a grow house and other contraband seized during a weeklong crackdown on outlaw bikies in WA's Midwest.

Duration: 57 seconds

Source: ABC Midwest & Wheatbelt

Fusing science with traditional knowledge

WA Parks and Wildlife Service joined forces with Badimia people and the WA Museum to conduct a biological survey to document what animals live amid the red dirt, bush and spinifex.

Duration: 1 minute 44 seconds

Source: ABC Midwest & Wheatbelt

Geraldton woman Chris Kerr explores the underwater world at the Abrolhos Islands for the first time.

Duration: 49 seconds

Source: ABC News

An emergency level bushfire has forced residents in Lancelin to evacuate.

Duration: 1 minute 19 seconds

Source: ABC News

Features

Father and son hip-hop artists spread message of hope

Award-winning Perth musician Flewnt is touring regional Western Australia with his 11-year-old son — and fellow hip-hop artist — Inkabee. Their message for young people? Chase your dreams.

Source: ABC KimberleyTopic: Hip Hopby Esse Deves

Mums reveal confusion, heartache, financial burden of giving birth away from home

Often feeling scared and alone, women are making a 950-kilometre round trip from Carnarvon to give birth at the nearest hospital.

Woman holds baby while staring into the camera. The baby is looking away from the camera. The woman has light brown hair.

Duration: 1 minute 22 seconds

Source: ABC PilbaraTopic: Women's Healthby Xander Sapsworth-Collis and Rosemary Murphy

Driest year on record for parts of WA's Gascoyne region, as pastoralists face dire drought conditions

Livestock producers in northern WA are bottle feeding calves and cutting back their herds, as devastating drought and market conditions collide.

A red dirt road amongst a dry cattle station with dying shrubs

Source: ABC RuralTopic: Droughtsby Michelle Stanley and Lucinda Jose

How Australia's top polocrosse coach gets players world cup-ready from the other side of the country

Australia is heading to the Polocrosse World Cup but training poses some unique logistical challenges — with the coach, players and their horses based large distances apart.

A woman on a white horse catches the ball with her polocrosse racquet. A male player on a brown horse is close behind her.

Source: ABC Midwest & WheatbeltTopic: Equestrianby Brianna Melville

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WA Sport

The pressure to look like other divers led Anabelle Smith to a low place

Diver Anabelle Smith felt pressure to look a certain way as a young diver, which affected her mental and physical health.

Diver Anabelle Smith, wearing a blue singlet, is standing on pool deck with diving boards behind her, smiling at the camera.

Duration: 3 minutes 9 seconds

Source: ABC NewsTopic: Sport

Fri Fix: Opals close in on Olympics and cricket's next-gen on show

After beating Brazil in their first qualifier, the Opals are close enough to locking in a spot at the Paris Olympics you can almost smell the croissants.

Lauren Jackson is chaired off the court by her Opals teammates at the World Cup.

Duration: 14 minutes 48 seconds

Source: ListenTopic: Sport

Purdy v Mahomes: it's time for Super Bowl LVIII

It’s the biggest sporting event in the US, with some of sports biggest names, and in some cases their famous girlfriends. Super Bowl LVIII is on the horizon.

Patrick Mahomes raises his right hand as he celebrates the Chiefs' winning the Super Bowl.

Duration: 14 minutes 50 seconds

Source: ListenTopic: Sport

Michelle Heyman is a Matilda again, 5 years after retiring

We love a fairytale in sport and Matilda Michelle Heyman might be about to provide one. She's been named in the squad for the Olympic qualifiers against Uzbekistan, 5 years after she announced her retirement from international football.

A soccer player wearing yellow and green runs with the ball during a game against a team wearing blue

Duration: 14 minutes 48 seconds

Source: ListenTopic: Sport

WA News

Former WA Liberal Party leader David Honey loses preselection battle for Cottesloe to Sandra Brewer

The property council chief wins the preselection battle for the Liberal heartland seat of Cottesloe, defeating former WA Liberal Party leader David Honey.

A side-on close-up shot of Property Council WA chief executive Sandra Brewer.

Source: ABC NewsTopic: Government and Politicsby Rebecca Trigger, Cason Ho and David Weber

Factory fire that caused toxic smoke clouds may impact farmers ahead of seeding season, industry head warns

There are concerns a blaze which destroyed parts of an agricultural supplies warehouse may stretch fertiliser and chemical supplies thin for farmers across Western Australia ahead of the seeding season.

An aerial image showing fire damage to a storage factory near a beach

Source: ABC NewsTopic: Firesby Cason Ho

Freediver overcomes fear of ocean to recover precious items dropped from Australia's longest jetty

Peter Wissink struggled with a phobia of the ocean after his father died. Now, he's known around town as the man who saves people's precious items when they are accidentally dropped into the water.

An underwater shot of a man freediving in the ocean.

Source: ABC South West WATopic: Oceans and Reefsby Amelia Searson

Red versus blue: Why the right gum tree matters in a healthy wetland

Most of the 1,000 different eucalyptus tree varieties are native to Australia but not all belong in a pristine wetland.

Source: ABC BallaratTopic: Forest Regenerationby Gavin McGrath

National News

NSW bureaucrat suspended with pay pending corruption investigation into Sydney property deal

The senior planning department official purchased a property in the upper north shore suburb of Gordon within one of the government's planned Transport Oriented Development Zones before the policy was made public last year.

Corruption findings face legal challenge after ICAC's High Court 'disaster'

Published: 2h agoSat 10 Feb 2024 at 7:53amSource: ABC NewsTopic: Corruptionby Maryanne Taouk

Former WA Liberal Party leader David Honey loses preselection battle for Cottesloe to Sandra Brewer

The property council chief wins the preselection battle for the Liberal heartland seat of Cottesloe, defeating former WA Liberal Party leader David Honey.

Published: 1h agoSat 10 Feb 2024 at 9:43amSource: ABC NewsTopic: Government and Politicsby Rebecca Trigger, Cason Ho and David Weber

Australia's anti-doping chief issues grave warning over 'grossly irresponsible' Enhanced Games

Australian sport's anti-doping chief slams an Olympic-style event with no drug testing as "grossly irresponsible" and warns of severe ramifications for athletes taking part.

Australian swimmer James Magnussen shirtless after a race at the 2018 Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast.

Published: 4h agoSat 10 Feb 2024 at 6:32amSource: ABC NewsTopic: Doping in Sports

Police declare crime scene after body reportedly found in vehicle at Mackay beach

Emergency services were called to Harbour Beach in Mackay shortly after 1pm following reports of a body being found in a car.

Police officers standing near vehicles at a beach.

Published: 2h agoSat 10 Feb 2024 at 7:56amSource: ABC Tropical NorthTopic: Policeby Lillian Watkins and Hannah Walsh

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ABC Midwest & Wheatbelt

Father and son hip-hop artists spread message of hope

Goldfields miners sniff an opportunity in the wind

With the fastest-growing rents in the country, buying homes proves an easier option for some in regional WA

People flock to the coast as another heatwave scorches Perth and parts of WA

Police recover 4WD vehicle from WA cliff crash that killed two men

Police say man donned motorbike helmet to crash car into police station's bollards

Mining companies, towns brace for second WA pilot strike in six months

ABC Midwest & Wheatbelt Local News

This is the closest most of us will ever get to seeing the elusive Night Parrot

WALGA calls for increased funding for public libraries

Building the next 'big thing' in this tiny town

ABC Radio MIDWEST & WHEATBELT

Saturday Night Country

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Get the ABC Midwest & Wheatbelt newsletter

Police raid Coffin Cheaters in Geraldton

Fusing science with traditional knowledge

Geraldton woman Chris Kerr explores the underwater world at the Abrolhos Islands for the first time.

An emergency level bushfire has forced residents in Lancelin to evacuate.

Father and son hip-hop artists spread message of hope

Mums reveal confusion, heartache, financial burden of giving birth away from home

Driest year on record for parts of WA's Gascoyne region, as pastoralists face dire drought conditions

How Australia's top polocrosse coach gets players world cup-ready from the other side of the country

Tell us what you think about our programs

Stay connected to the ABC in an emergency

Subscribe now

Download our free ABC listen app

The pressure to look like other divers led Anabelle Smith to a low place

Fri Fix: Opals close in on Olympics and cricket's next-gen on show

Purdy v Mahomes: it's time for Super Bowl LVIII

Michelle Heyman is a Matilda again, 5 years after retiring

Former WA Liberal Party leader David Honey loses preselection battle for Cottesloe to Sandra Brewer

Factory fire that caused toxic smoke clouds may impact farmers ahead of seeding season, industry head warns

Freediver overcomes fear of ocean to recover precious items dropped from Australia's longest jetty

Red versus blue: Why the right gum tree matters in a healthy wetland

NSW bureaucrat suspended with pay pending corruption investigation into Sydney property deal

Former WA Liberal Party leader David Honey loses preselection battle for Cottesloe to Sandra Brewer

Australia's anti-doping chief issues grave warning over 'grossly irresponsible' Enhanced Games

Police declare crime scene after body reportedly found in vehicle at Mackay beach

Other ways to listen

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