Quairading’s monthly publication since 1991. Proudly produced and printed by the Quairading CRC.
GO BULLS! GO BELLES!
Sports fan or not, it’s a great time to get around the Quairading Football and Netball Club! And the Quairading Ladies Hockey Club! And the Quairading Golf Club! There’s even mention of “winter bowls” at the Quairading Bowling Club! And Badminton! Left: our local league football leadership group Ben Rushforth (Perth), Connor Anderson, Declan Mills, Tom Lee, Kye Benson, Ethan Brown and Lachy Dann. Top right: our Belles netballers plus extras at Old Timers Training. Bottom right: the ressies quarter time huddle with a swarm of supporters. Got a cover story for next month? Email admin@quairadingcrc.com.au
QUAIRADING ARTS SHOWCASE
Save the date! ART TRAIL GUIDE
New from Roe Tourism! QUAIRADING RAILWAY STATION MUSEUM
Have you seen the latest upgrades?
Staying connected in challenging times.
Regular happenings and contacts
Please contact the Quairading CRC to make updates: admin@quairadingcrc.com.au
ART GROUP
EveryTuesday,10am 3pm@CRCArtSpace
BEL CANTO CHOIR
Onhold
BETTY’S OP SHOP
Thursdays@OldDriveIn
COMMUNITY CAR & DRIVER
Availablefortransporttomedicalappointments
CWA
MeetingssecondFridayofeachmonth.
GARDEN LOVERS GROUP
LastFridayofthemonth9:30am@CRC
HOT STITCHES
Tuesdays,9:30am-3:30pm@CRC
PHOTO CLUB
SecondTuesdayofeachmonth,7pm@CRC.
Monday9:00am-10:30am@DayCareCentre
2nd&4thMondays@CommunityBuilding@theOval
SENIORS EXERCISE GROUP
Thursday9:30am@TownHall
ST JOHN AMBULANCE SUB CENTRE
1st&lastThursday-Training7:30pm-9:30pm
STORY TIME
OnceamonthonMondays at10am @CRC
TIDY TOWNS COMMITTEE
Monthlymeeting3rdMonday9:30am@RailwayStation
HousedatCRC
VINTAGE CLUB
Monthlymeeting2ndSaturday10am
VOLUNTEER FIRE & RESCUE
FirstTuesdayofthemonth,4:30pmattheStation
YOUTH CENTRE
Monday&Wednesday,3pm 4:30pm
0429454214
Korzonek qfiresecretary@gmail.com
From the Editor
What a welcome change this wintery weather is!
A farewell message from Jazz:
“After almost two years at the Quairading CRC, it’s time for me to say goodbye. I’ve honestly loved working here and getting to know so many of you. Whether it was helping with phones or just having a good chat, it always made my day. I’m moving on to the Corrigin Hospital now, which is exciting but I’m also kinda sad to leave. I’m really going to miss everyone and the community here. Thank you all for being so kind and making my time here so special. Hopefully, I’ll still see some of you around!”
We wish Jazz all the best in her next career move, Corrigin is lucky to have her back! Meanwhile, we’ve had a really great response to our job vacancy ad and are in the process of interviewing a handful of strong applicants. Fingers crossed we’ll have a fab new team member to introduce you to soon and I can retreat back to my office instead of the reception desk, not that I don’t love the juggle!
We’ve been loving the turn out at our monthly activities with Tracey (we did Bingo in March and Board Games in April). These sessions are designed with our local seniors in mind, but they’re very open to anyone looking to get out for some gentle socialising on a Thursday arvo. Our May activity is crosswords and the like we’re even attempting to create our own Quairading themed crossword to test your local knowledge! Tracey is running these sessions in her capacity as co Quairading CRC Staying in Place Care Coordinator (yeah it’s a mouthful) so feel free to have a chat about our support at home services while you’re at it! Read more about the recent activities on page 25 and read more about Staying in Place on page 20.
Shout out to Julie, Todd and the Shire of Quairading gardens crew town has been looking glorious!
Happy May.
Jill Hayes Editor | Banksia Bulletin Coordinator
| Quairading CRC
1 Parker Street
Quairading WA 6383
Phone: 08 9645 0096
Email: admin@quairadingcrc.com.au
Website: www.quairadingcrc.com.au
Facebook: www.facebook.com/QuairadingCRC
Instagram: @quairadingcrc
THE PASSION SHEET
COMMUNITY
CRC CLOSED 1/5/26
The Quairading CRC will be closed on Friday 1st May due to staff leave and temporary lack of relief staff. Apologies for the inconvenience!
WORK WANTED
Mature kiwi lady available for part time/casual weekday work. Experienced retired primary school teacher and nanny. Experienced housekeeper / cleaner / companion help with attention to detail. Caring, friendly and reliable. Contact elizabeth.snowdon@hotmail.com or 0499 940 508.
NICHE WALL COVER FUNDRAISER
The Quairading Tourist and Tidy Town and Museum Committee is looking to do a fundraiser of approximately $5000 to construct a shelter over the niche wall at the Quairading Cemetery. The wall is badly deteriorating from the sun and rain so it is our intention to do our best to save it from further damage to protect the memories of our loved ones on the niche wall. Your help would be greatly appreciated for the project. Donations may be deposited directly into our account. BSB: 036 172, ACC: 764597, reference: niche wall roof. Our most sincere thanks for your generosity. QTTTC.
BATTERY RECYCLING
No longer collected at the Railway Station Museum. Now at the tip.
LAST BULL IN THE PEN
It’s Last Bull in the Pen time! All numbers from 01 to 100 are up for grabs in our always popular, season-long, football and netball club reverse raffle. Buy a number (or two or three) for $100 each. 10 numbers will get drawn at each home game, 9 losers and 1 winner of their $100 back. The very last three numbers drawn at the end of season wind up will win $1000, $1500 and a whopping $3000! It’s fun to be a part of, exhilarating to win and incredible fundraising for the club - so get around it! To buy a number, text Jill on 0459 220 053 and make payment to Quairading Football and Netball Club Inc, BSB: 036172 ACC: 181383 Good luck!
QUAIRADING HOSPITAL NEEDS YOUR HELP
Please consider volunteering to deliver for Meals at Home clients. Choose a day that suits you and how many times a month you are available (even one day a month would be appreciated). It takes less than an hour to deliver the lunches. Our regular drivers are happy to have you accompany them to see what is involved. If you are unavailable any month just inform the office and you won’t be rostered on. If you feel able to volunteer please contact the office at the hospital on 9645 2222. Our
current volunteers have given many years of service and are aging. Please give this serious consideration so that this valuable community service continues.
EVENTS
NEW DATE CHANGE!
Join us for a free Sausage Sizzle and check out our new ambulances
After more than 12 years with our previous vehicles, our Volunteer Officers are proud to show the community our new ambulances! Saturday 2nd May, in the Courtyard next to the Co-op from 8:30am. Bring the kids, grab a sausage, and come say hello!
CROSSWORD & PUZZLE ARVO
Thursday 21st May, 2pm 4pm at the CRC. Join us for an arvo of crosswords and other word puzzles including a custom Quairading themed crossword to test your local knowledge! Or just come along for the cuppa and bickies! Session run by CRC Staying in Place Care Coordinator, Tracey Ellis.
QFNC LADIES DAY
After our biggest Ladies Day ever in 2025, the gals are on again! Ladies Day: Saturday 9th May, during league vs Keller/Tammin (2pm – 5pm). Tickets: https:// qfncladiesday2026.eventbrite.com
We're stoked to also have the extra support of our major sponsor Sullivan Logistics who will be
proving their iconic SPORTS DECK for the event, taking the loud woo-girls to all new heights! (subject to site suitability). $40pp, includes unlimited Spritz Station (aperol, limoncello and more!), signature event cocktail (Hollee's musk stick infused Pink Galah!), beer and wine if you're not interested in the above, great nonalc options, afternoon tea bites from Flavour Town Catering, entertainment and activities. $25 non-alc ticket also available. It's set to be a huge day for the club with the 1976 premiership reunion AND some special formalities and a burger dinner in the evening too!
Contact Jill, Claudia or Hollee.
FIRST AID COURSE
Quairading Sub Centre, Saturday 6th June 2026. 8:30am to 4:30pm Further information or enrolment may be found at: https://stjohnwa.com.au/first-aidtraining/first-aid-courses
Provide First Aid - 1 day course HLTAID011 Provide First Aid
Provide CPR HLTAID009 - Provide Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation. RTO: 0392
STAY ON YOUR FEET
Exercise for seniors (mixed) held every Thursday morning 9:30am –10:30am in the Town Hall. Wear safe footwear and casual clothes. Just join in at your own pace. No cost. Everyone welcome. Then join us for coffee afterwards.
HOT STITCHES SEWING GROUP
Every Tuesday, 9:30am 3:30pm at the Quairading CRC Training Room. Bring along whatever sewing you’re working on for a social sit and sew.
ART GROUP
Every Tuesday, 10am 3pm at the Quairading CRC Art Space. New
artists always welcome! Bring along whatever you’re working on for some social company while you art and craft.
TIDY TOWNS MEETING
Next meeting will be 9:30am on Monday 18th May at the museum. All welcome.
SPORT
QUAIRADING BOWLING CLUB
Winter Bowls commences Tuesday May 5th at 2pm. A cost of $2 a week to cover afternoon tea. New bowlers welcome wear casual clothes. Bowls can be supplied
FOR SALE
FOR SALE
Contact Denise 0418 889 001 (8am – 6pm)
1.Wooden Table, 150cm L x 90cm W x 75cm H, $20.
2.Westinghouse fridge / bottom freezer, 335L, 175cm H x 60cm W. New condition, purchased Christmas 2025, cost $1200, asking $1000.
3.Whirlpool washing machine, stainless steel bowl, top loading, 6kg capacity, good order, $100.
4.2 x black PU upholstery, electric massage recliner chairs, $250 both.
5.Queen bedhead with side drawers attached, free.
FOR SALE
Vespa scooter GST 300 IE 10/2013 8,252km $7,000 Contact John on 0404 215 944
IDEAL HOME AND GARDEN
Brand new high-quality gasoline generators. Built to Australian / New Zealand & European standards. Reliable, powerful & ready for any job. Electric Key Start + Pull Start. Brushless 2Stage System Battery Included (12V / 7Ah) 1 Year Factory
Warranty
Ranging from 2.5kW - $400 to 9.0kW - $1500. 228 Fitzgerald Street, Northam. Contact 0403 724 158
BUSINESS
PINK LAKES ON AIRBNB
Sleeps 6. $150 per night. STRA6383RVKQ7EVP.
REDGUM COTTAGE ON AIRBNB
Sleeps 6. $120 per night. STRA6383G6S95XM0.
NUYTSIA ON AIRBNB
Sleeps 4-6. $150 per night.
STRA638363LJFE8K
REGIONAL PROPERTY MANAGER
June Tilley Getz Stuff Done 0419 764 454
CHURCH
ST FAITH’S ANGLICAN
Sunday 3rd May, 9am. The way of the Resurrection – Eucharist
UNITING CHURCH
Sunday 3rd May, 10:30am. Communion led by Mark Beadle
CATHOLIC CHURCH
Saturday 2nd May, 6pm.
DIGGING DOCKER
Stephen Bartlett
Mobile: 0407 755 239
• Paving
• Limestone
• Pool Fencing
• Colourbond Fencing
• Artificial Turf
• 4 in 1 Bucket
• Trencher
• Post hole Digger
• 3.5 Tonne Tip Truck
• Yard Clean Ups
Quairading Seed Cleaners
• Great seed dressing range, expert application gets superior results.
• Double gravity table grades at up to 35 tonnes an hour.
• Grading wheat, barley, oats, lupins, canola and more.
• All seconds bought at excellent prices.
• Weekend appointments available.
DERM DCH
PRACTICE HOURS
MONDAY - THURSDAY
8:30am 12:30pm 1:30pm 5:00pm
FRIDAY
8:30am 12:00pm
After hours please present to Quairading Health Service Emergency Department
VISITING HEALTH
PROFESSIONAL
Female GP
Dr Irene Dolan 5th & 6th May 11th, 12th & 22nd June
OTHER SERVICES OFFERED
• Health Assessments
• Skin Checks
• Flu Clinics
• Immunisations/Vaccinations
• Diabetes Management
• Pathology
• Preventative Medicine
• Chronic Illness Care Plans
• Antenatal Care
• Health Checks/Medical Reports
• Iron infusions
• Skin cancer removal procedures
• Heart Health Clinic
• Diabetes Management Clinic
In the event of a medical emergency, call 000
Quairading Medical Practice
19 Harris Street
PO Box 125 Quairading WA 6383
PHONE: 9645 1210
You are welcome to use our new website to check our latest news, services, policies or to book your appointment online: www.qmpwa.com.au
Thanks for using our AI receptionist Helen. Please remember to dial 1 to use Helen for standard face to face appointment booking with Dr Jack, dial 2 if you wish to talk to our staff for queries or any other appointment booking.
Welcome to Miss Caysie Scattolo who recently joined our admin team. Please kindly give her encouragement and patience to help her transition to the new role.
Flu Clinic is open from 1st May. Please call our practice to book for a flu vaccination.
Heart Support Australia. The next meeting is cancelled in May. Anyone with heart problems and relatives are welcome and encouraged to contact Ms Kelli Turton in our practice for future attendance, afternoon tea will be provided at the meeting.
If you are experiencing Cold or Flu symptoms (sore throat, runny nose, fevers etc) please advise our Admin team prior to arriving for your appointment.
A few friendly reminders:
• Please bring your Medicare card to appointments.
• If hearing impaired, please wear your hearing aid device when attending appointments.
• Please bring Drivers Licence renewal paperwork, and your Drivers Licence with you when attending an appointment for a Drivers Licence Medical.
• We are continuing to register patients for SMS reminders and My Medicare. If you would like to receive clinical and appointment reminders, please bring your mobile phone to your appointment so our Admin team can process the set up for you.
• A Pathology request form is required for all pathology appointments. Please kindly drop your form off to our practice one day prior to the blood test if your form is requested by a doctor working outside of our practice so we can prepare it better before your arrival.
Quairading Football & Netball Club Inc
We kick off May with a bye weekend and thank goodness after a big start to season 2026!
Huge thanks to Afgri Quairading and our cropping coordinators
Ryan Powell & Oscar Stone and all helpers and contributors who got our fundraising crops ready and in the ground last week right before the great opening rain! Keep your fingers crossed it grows nicely and resources are plentiful to harvest it last in the year.
Round 1 Results
Netball: Quairading 51 def Railways 23
MVP, sponsored by The Quairading: Nadia Mills
Coach's Award, sponsored by Agrisource Agencies: Tully Charlton
Player's Choice Award, sponsored by Quairading Tyre & Battery
1st Award, sponsored by The Quairading: Archie Wedge
2nd Award, sponsored by DDH1
Drilling: Noah White 3rd Award, sponsored by Quairading Seed Cleaners: Cal McDowall
Coach's Award, sponsored by McIntosh & Sons: Tom Hadlow League: Railways 15.8(98) def Quairading 11.10(76)
1st Award, sponsored by The Quairading: Declan Mills
2nd Award, sponsored by Elders: Harry McCracken
3rd Award, sponsored by Sullivan
Logistics: Will Hughes
Coach's Award, sponsored by Mertens Motors: Ben Rushforth
Player's Player Award, sponsored by Bunge through local farmers: Harry McCracken
Round 2 Results
Netball: Quairading 53 def Beverley 32
MVP, sponsored by The Quairading: Abbey Winterbine Player’s Choice, sponsored by Agrisource Agencies: Zarah Squiers
Coach’s Award, sponsored by McIntosh & Son and Quairading Club: Jaylene Reserves: Beverley 16.11(107) def Quairading 4.1(25)
1st Award, sponsored by The Quairading: Braden Hayes 2nd Award, sponsored by DDH1
Drilling: Cody Eva 3rd Award, sponsored by Quairading Seed Cleaners: Jack Hughes
Coach’s Award, sponsored by Bunge and Quairading Club: Oscar Stone League: Quairading 13.7(85) def Beverley 7.6(48)
1st Award, sponsored by The Quairading: Steve Miller
2nd Award, sponsored by Elders Quairading: Ben Rushforth (50 games!)
3rd Award, sponsored by Sullivan Logistics: Isaac Bradford Player’s Player, sponsored by Mertens Motors: Lachy Dann (100 games!)
Coach’s Award, sponsored by Quairading Tyre & Battery Supplies: Jake Stacey
Round 3 Results
Netball: Quairading 54 def Federal 31
MVP, sponsored by The Quairading: Kaeshia Colbung Player’s Choice, sponsored by Agrisource Agencies: Hollee Richards
Coach’s Award, sponsored by McIntosh & Son: Chloe Nella Reserves: Federal 25.12(162) def Quairading 1.2(8)
1st Award, sponsored by The Quairading:
2nd Award, sponsored by DDH1
Drilling:
3rd Award, sponsored by Quairading Seed Cleaners:
Coach’s Award, sponsored by Bunge:
League: Quairading 11.9(75) def Federal 10.10(70)
1st Award, sponsored by The Quairading: Ben Rushforth
2nd Award, sponsored by Elders
Quairading: Steve Miller
3rd Award, sponsored by Sullivan Logistics: Tom Lee
Player’s Player, sponsored by Mertens Motors: Jock Nicholls
Coach’s Award, sponsored by Quairading Tyre & Battery
Supplies: Reagan Mills
SOCIAL
MEMBERSHIP
Remains at $50 for the year!
Payable to our still new bank account.
Name: Quairading Football and Netball Club Inc
BSB: 036172
ACC: 181383
GAME DAY VOLUNTEERS
As always, our three games of football and netball and the accompanying hospitality takes a huge amount of volunteer effort to come to life. If ever you fancy helping out for an hour or two on the gate, in the canteen, behind the bar, around the boundary or anywhere in between please reach out to any committee member:
President: Jack Richards
Vice President: Braden Hayes
Secretary: Claudia Caporn
Treasurer: Jill Hayes
General Committee: Tom Hadlow, Hollee Richards, Ryan Powell, Jake Stacey, Andrew Osborne, Kaiden Johnston
Red Card Fox & Rabbit Shoot
Held over weekends in February and March, the 2026 fox shoot was reasonably successful with 198 foxes, 14 cats and 120 rabbits taken out.
Winning team: Fraser Hinchliffe
Second: John Anderson
Third: Ronnie
Red Card for Rabbits and Foxes is a community based feral animal management program which has been in operation since 2004. Over the past twenty years, the program has expanded from a small regional initiative to a large-scale project encompassing areas of all seven Western Australian Natural Resource Management (NRM) regions. The combined calculated impact of the Red Card program in the South West Land Division is $41,134,793 with an estimated 364,000 native animals saved. The program has delivered multiple benefits in the following areas:
• Economic benefit
• Conservation impact
• Community engagement
• Proven effectiveness
• The potential for expansion.
The following was part of an article written by Jacquie Lucas, Wheatbelt NRM, in the Farm Weekly:
“through Red Card’s coordinated predator management program, baiting activities at the same time across the landscape are having a positive impact on feral animal control and the protection of native species.”
Seniors games and activities
Written by Tracey Ellis
In my role in the Staying in Place initiative at the Quairading CRC I’ve had the pleasure of hosting a few fun events recently! Our aim is to provide some social activities for our local seniors (but also all ages!) and through these sessions start to promote our “Staying in Place” program.
On 5th March, seven ladies and I went over to Northam for the Live Lighter Games that is held every year. The teams that were there have been going for several years and apparently start practicing 6 months before the day, so imagine our surprise when we came 3rd for the day with no practice! We were very happy and I was very proud of the team; they had a lot of fun.
Games played were seated hockey, pass ball, toss the bean bag and skittles. Sandra tried her hardest to get that goal but unfortunately practice is a must for that to happen, but to get that ball in between two chair legs takes practice. Bev tried her hardest to stop that ball going through as well, and although she did very well it proved that a lot of practice was needed as well.
The concentration when playing pass ball was amazing, to not drop the ball and for Lyn to remember to bounce the ball in the bag every second time proved to take a lot of concentration. She did very well with Sandra to back her up.
Toss the bean nag was harder than it looked but we did very well, and skittles, well what can I say about that except that Elaine was the star knocking them all down a few times!
The team are excited to start practice for these games around September or October this year so we can win next year. We would love to get another team together to come with us, so if you think you might be interested watch out for dates to practice later in the year and come and join us, we would love to have you.
On the 19th of March, the CRC held a Bingo afternoon for anyone that wanted to come along. This also proved to be a success with 17 ladies and gentlemen coming along. There was a lot of concentration to be had as no-one wanted to miss a number, everyone wanted to win a prize. Audra took out the day with 2 full houses, but she was very generous and shared.
Thank you to everyone that has participated in these games days, I am looking forward to future days we can all get together for some fun
On Thursday 23rd March we held a Games Arvo. Phase 10 and Rummikins were the most popular with a group of ladies playing both. There were a few ladies that learnt each game for the first time so there were a few laughs going on. In the meantime, Arthur beat me at his special way of playing a Trumps game so there was a lot of enjoyment had by all. We all agree that the next monthly game we can all do a few crosswords together. This should be interesting testing out your knowledge! Join us on Thursday 21st May from 2pm at the CRC!
LADIES CAPTAIN REPORT FOR THE 2025/2026 SEASON
We commenced our Season on 1st October 2025 with 14 ladies gracing the Greens.
Following is a summary of Club, Championship and Trophy events held, with the winners highlighted.
8th October, Club 3’s: Chris Gimbel, Janice Sinclair and Dale Wilson.
15th October, Club Pairs: Chris Hadlow and Jane Johnston.
22nd October, Captain / Vice Captain Trophy: Heather Gelmi, Chris Gimbel, Jill Axford and Jane Johnston,
19th November, Championship Pairs: Chris Hadlow and Janice Sinclair.
26th November, Club Fours: Olive Caporn, Janice Sinclair, Liz Anderson and Sandra Stone. 10th December, Championship 3’s: Donna Hayes, Chris Gimbel and Janice Sinclair.
11th February, Championship 4’s: Pamela Caporn, Olive Caporn, Gwen Hards and Jane Johnston.
18th February, President / Vice President Trophy: Chris Hadlow, Gwen Hards and Dallas Brown.
25th February. Singles Championship: Chris Hadlow won her second consecutive Singles Title with Sharon Richards being Runner Up and Sandy Briggs winning the Plate over Anne Johnson.
The Aggregate Winner announced on Closing Day was Janice Sinclair.
The 29th October saw 22 bowlers playing Socially. Our biggest attendance for the Season.
Our Gala Day held on Friday 7th November 2025 attracted 20 Teams. We had one full Team of Quairading players and a Composite Team with Meadow Springs. We aim to have a team compete each year with different players than the year before.
Our Sponsorship once again saw us awarding up to fifth place with Lucky Cards and Round Winners receiving monetary rewards. The Winners of the day were the Corrigin 2 Team of N Abe, R Keillor, K Poultney and S Courboules.
A huge thank you to our ladies in the kitchen and the bar and Deb Mills for organising the Sponsorship and Raffle Prizes.
We were able to field two Pennant Teams again this year. Quairading White, with the assistance of Quairading Red, made it to the Finals with our hopes of a Pennants Flag dashed when a Protest and Overruling of the Umpire of the Day required one Rink to play 42 less bowls than the opposition in the Preliminary Final.
We have attended many Gala Days, representing our Club with pride. It is always a pleasure to attend these days and enjoy the fellowship of other Clubs, whatever the outcome of play.
Once again, we have represented East Avon in both League and Zone events. Congratulations to all who played and especially to Pamela Caporn who played in the Zone Pairs in Katanning and Donna Hayes and Chris Gimbel who played in the Zone Fours in Jurien Bay.
Our League Champion of Champions Event was held in Cunderdin on Friday 20th March 2026. Congratulations to all players who represented Quairading against Cunderdin and Tammin.
Chris Hadlow topped off a magnificent year by winning the Singles Champion of Champions event.
Our “Fantastic Fours” team of Olive Caporn, Deb Mills, Gwen Hards and Sandra Stone also won their section.
Our Pairs of Janice Sinclair and Sharon Richards narrowly missed out, but provided valuable points
to the overall tally,
Quairading retained the “Y Thomson Trophy” for the Champion Club of 2026.
Two teams represented Quairading and I joined a Cunderdin Team at Countryweek held in late March 2026. Congratulations to Chris Gimbel and Chris Hadlow who made it through to the Pairs Knockout Round.
In closing, I would like to thank my Vice Captain, Chris Hadlow, and wish her all the best with her Captaincy next Season. Be rest assured Chris, I will be only too happy to help you if needed.
I have enjoyed my years in the Office, but am now ready to hand over the cards and enjoy playing socially.
Janice Sinclair
Ladies Captain 31st March 2026
Winners of the Champion Club - Y Thomson Shield: Quairading L-R Sharon Richards, Deb Mills, Chris Hadlow, Janice Sinclair, Sandra Stone, Gwen Hards and Olive Caporn
L-R: Chris Hadlow (Skip), Chris Gimbel (Third), Jill Axford (Lead) and Janice Sinclair (Second). Winners of Goomalling open day.
Chris Hadlow with the Ladies Singles Championship Trophy.
MR RICK WILSON MP FEDERAL MEMBER FOR O’CONNOR Opinion piece
22 April 2026
Why should local government bear the burden of GP provision?
The Albanese government made changes to Medicare on 1st November 2025, with an eye wateringly huge investment of $8.5 Billion.
According to the Cleanbill 2026 Blue Report*, regional and remote communities have seen a welcome rise in bulk billing rates. But for many of my constituents, access to a GP is still limited, out of pocket costs remain high, and the burden of keeping doctors in town has quietly shifted from the federal and state governments onto those least able to afford it: local governments.
I have been receiving regular updates from the Local Government Rural Health Funding Alliance, led by six rural O’Connor Shires Lake Grace, Kojonup, Gnowangerup, Jerramungup, Ravensthorpe, and Narembeen who are tackling this issue head-on.
The Alliance have found that across rural and remote WA, council spending to support GP services has risen from $7.8 million in 2021-22 to $9.5 million in 2024-25, with 91% of that funding coming from councils with fewer than 5,000 residents.
These councils are not just topping up salaries they are providing housing, vehicles, clinic space, paying utility bills and funding administrative support simply to keep a doctor in town.
Local governments exist to deliver roads, waste services, and community infrastructure-not to underwrite the national health system. Every dollar diverted to keeping a GP practice in their community is a dollar not available to spend on roads, rubbish or recreation.
When local GP access declines, the costs do not disappear, they shift to ratepayers.
Hospitals see increased presentations for conditions that should be managed in primary care. Ambulance services, often run by volunteers, are called on to transport patients vast distances to care.
Families end up shouldering increasing costs of transport, accommodation and unpaid care. I am aware that many O’Connor constituents, especially older people are delaying or foregoing treatment altogether.
The improvement in regional Medicare bulk-billing rates shows that targeted policy can make a difference. But policy success should also be judged by who is still paying the price?
Right now, in my electorate of O’Connor, that price is being paid by our shire councils using up to 16% of their rate revenue to cover GP costs and by patients facing higher out of pocket costs.
Regional WA deserves a health system that works by design, not one propped up by shire council budgets. Residents of O’Connor deserve so much better in the middle of a fuel and cost of living crisis.
* Cleanbill has the objective to increase healthcare accessibility and have a comprehensive program of data collection, more details on www.cleanbill.com.au
Media contact:
Reuben Keyser Communications and Community Engagement Adviser Reuben.Keyser@aph.gov.au (08) 9842 2777
Museum upgrades
Quairading Tourist and Tidy Towns Committee would like to sincerely thank our Shire Council for our recent Community Grant which has enabled us to replace the flooring in our Museum kitchen as well as add hand basins to our two outside toilets. These improvements have been made through the Shire Grant, in the interest of health and safety for our wider community as well as visitors to our Museum. We would also like to sincerely thank Collgar Renewables and Mr. George Jason for their financial contribution to the project. All of these financial contributions are very gratefully received!
Quairading Sub Centre Update
We have a new date for the Ambulance BBQ! Please come & join us on Saturday 2nd May from 8:30am to check out our new vans & have a yummy sausage sizzle! We can’t wait to see you there!
We have another First Aid & CPR Course coming up! Turn a few hours into skills that could make a real difference for our community.
Be emergency ready with the St John Ambulance First Responder App! Quairading has 19 defibrillators across the community, all visible in the app, ready to help in an emergency. Make sure you log in and update the app regularly so that if you are ever faced with an emergency, you have the help you need ASAP. For more information and to download the app now please visit: https://www.stjohnwa.com.au/.../st-john-first-responder-app
On Saturday 25th April we marched in the Quairading ANZAC parade. What a lovely turn out from the town and we are proud to stand alongside those who are currently or have previously served.
Gardening in the Wheatbelt
Written by Carmela Kriszyk of
April was kind without being generous so here’s to more rainfall during May. Most of the veggies for a winter harvest should be in by now with the last one being peas, broad beans and onions going in by mid May, because as the nights cool down so will the soil temperature and anything planted after the soil temperature goes below 14 degrees will take a long time to develop roots and therefore will be susceptible to attack by predators. So, if winter veggies are not in better do it in the next two weeks!
The May meeting of the QGLG is on Friday the 29th at the CRC starting at 9:30am. For this meeting we will be discussing indoor plants. Joining our group will always be interesting and informative, so do join.
The Queensland Bottle tree, Brachychiton rupestris, notwithstanding its origins, is well suited to our inland conditions. It thrives in our hot dry summers because it is able to store moisture and nutrients in its trunk during winter, creating a bulbous trunk which gives it its common name. The stored moisture and nutrients are then available to the tree during dry times. Brachychiton rupestris grow much taller where summer water is available, however, in this climate, a fully grown tree over twenty years of age may reach twelve metres or so with a spread of about five metres. They also have flowers in spring which can be cream or pink in colour. Most available trees in nurseries are seed grown and therefore the flower colour cannot be assured. Their leaves are narrow and pale green. Their canopy it thick and rounded. They are known to drop their leaves as a response to drought conditions, however, ours has never lost its leaves. In a medium sized garden, the Bottle tree would make an interesting feature tree. It is well behaved in that its roots are not invasive, it is not fussy about the soil as long as it is not waterlogged, light frosts don’t worry it, it makes a great screen tree or wind break tree and it grows well in a lawn setting.
Our Bottle tree was planted in 2014 and is about four metres tall. It received some attention for its first two summers and after that it has not been watered or fertilized. Shame on me really for such neglect and yet it has thrived.
May in the Garden
It’s time to – prune olive trees once the harvest has finished, be vigilant about picking up fallen fruit, spray deciduous fruit trees with a liquid copper fungicide after leaf drop, prune fig trees to keep at a manageable height, basil plants can be harvested hard, make basil into pesto and freeze, now that rain events are more regular it is the best time to choose native plants, collect all fallen autumn leaves and either add to the compost pile or make wire netting towers to collect the leaves, if you haven’t already done so fork the lawn to aerate it, take orchids out from the shade where they have been during summer put them in the sun and fertilise them, cut back wayward shoots from star jasmine, lightly till weeds while they are still small, take leaf cutting of succulents,
watch out for slugs and snails nightly hunts for them will reduce their numbers, feed all new plants and seedlings, propagate conifers from cuttings of a short side shoot with a heel, order deciduous fruit trees now,
Sow – broad beans, peas, spring annuals like calendulas, poppies, nemesias, primulas, pansies, paper daisies, cornflower,
Plant – onion seedlings, all native plants so that they thrive during winter and produce good strong root systems before summer.
Harvest – at Eaglewood Farm we have been harvesting olives, although these are few in number, lots of pears, Jonathon apples, grapes and pistachios from the orchard, and from the veggie beds we have sweet and stripey cucumbers, zucchini, carrots, water melon, spring onions, pumpkin, capsicum, snake beans which are not very abundant this year and the dwarf beans have just started.
The last word –“Someone is sitting in the shade today because someone planted a tree a long time ago.” Warren Buffett, yes the very wealthy businessman who is also a philanthropist.
Warrior Wellbeing Article
Staying Connected in Challenging Times
Things that we cannot control are our biggest stressors in life. In agriculture it is mostly weather issues followed by a multitude of other factors such as commodity prices, input costs (diesel, fertiliser availability and price), machinery breakdowns how long is a bit of string.
Every season is not without its challenges, and the effects are always felt across the whole community (farmers, people involved in agribusiness and those in the Agri-link industries like the mechanics and the Mitre 10 store). Everybody feels the pain.
No one can change what happens with the weather and/or influence the other factors, all we can do is manage our programs and control our business as best we can which importantly includes looking after ourselves and each other (our family, mates and neighbours).
Remaining connected is one way of doing this. So, what does this mean? Rural communities have an innate capacity to reach out and organize and participate in many bottoms up activities. RMHI has been attending a lot of these events including breakfasts, sundowners and many other gatherings over the years which allow the communities to have a conversation about where they are at individually and as a collective. There is less and less of us living in regional areas, add this to the nature of modern farming as well as a challenging season and isolation becomes more prevalent. It’s so important that we maintain social connection, but it takes an effort.
Isolation is the enemy of good mental wellbeing. This is both in the physical sense (less of us) and the interpersonal sense (social networks around us). Staying connected is important and something we must work on, this can be achieved in part if we are mindful of living in the present and staying connected with others.
As blokes, we have a propensity to self-medicate. A lot of people think that is done by sex, drugs and rock and roll however in the work we do it is mostly blokes spending more time in their cave, working harder, longer, and talking less (some ladies might find that hard to believe). It is important that we continue to talk about some of the pain and distress that as blokes we tend to suffer alone.
We describe primary care as what can we do to look after ourselves and others, invariably it is about connection. Some simple things we can do:
• Talk to a Mate® – realize that we are not alone.
• Talk to whoever needs to be informed about our situation (family, financiers, advisors).
• Keep an eye on others – drop into a neighbour and have a chat and a coffee. Take the time to ask someone are you okay?
• Slow the pace of our life a little, join a group that fits in with our passions and interests. It will make a difference.
• Maintain our sense of humour, laugh at ourselves and with others.
Australians are well known for their larrikinism and humour, Edward de Bono one of the world’s foremost thinkers called humour a key lubricant for life and often referred to humour as social glue and the best anti despair device we have. I think he is right on the money, when we lose our sense of humour we are buggered.
Anglican Church (St Faith’s)
Harris Street
May in the Parish of St Faith’s, Quairading
St Faith’s Church, Quairading
Sunday, 3rd May
Sunday, 10th May
Saturday, 16th May
Sunday, 24th May
Sunday, 31st May
Sunday, 17th May
9.00 a.m. The way of the Resurrection – Eucharist
9.00 a.m. Sixth Sunday after Easter – Morning Prayer
5.30 p.m.
Ascension Day with Blessing of the Plough
9.00 a.m. Pentecost Sunday – Morning Prayer
10.00 a.m. St Mark’s Church, Brookton
St Andrew’s Church, Greenhills
10.30 a.m. Seventh Sunday after Easter with Blessing of the Plough
World Labyrinth Day – In honour of World Labyrinth Day which is celebrated worldwide usually on the first Saturday of May there will be celebrations at the Labyrinth at St Faith’s Church on Friday, 1st May. School students are welcome to come by after school, while families and adults are welcome to refreshments from 5.00 p.m. to 6.30 p.m.
Blessing of the Plough – With the planting of crops commencing in the Valley we commence our Blessing of Plough ceremonies. While ploughs are rarely used in modern farming it is good to acknowledge our dependence upon God in all things and ask his blessing upon our 2026 planting season. On Saturday, 16th May at 5.30 p.m. at St Faith’s Church, Quairading, there will be such a service and another at St Andrew’s Church, Greenhills on Sunday, 17th May at 10.30 a.m. After that service congregants will adjourn to White Gum Farm for lunch.
Ascension Day – This year Ascension Day will be celebrated at the normal weekend service following Ascension Day.
Combined Parishes’ Fifth Day Service – Sunday, 31st May is the Fifth Sunday of the Month so there will be a combined Churches’ service to celebrate Trinity Sunday at St Mark’s Church, Brookton, commencing at 10.00 a.m. with a “bring and share” lunch to follow.
Date of Parish Annual Meeting of Enrolled Members – Quairading on Tuesday, 2nd June at 5.00 p.m.
Financial Support for the Ministry of the Parish To support financially the ministry and mission of the Anglican Church in Quairading you are welcome to contribute, regularly or as a one-off offering, by direct debit to the following account: St Faith’s Church, Quairading – BSB 036-172 Acc No 2500 86 – Westpac
Thefirst Sunday Mass islive-streamed every weekend on theparish’s Facebook profile. Please contactFatheratany timeregarding Confession/Reconciliation. Grain donations arevery welcome.The CBH grower numberfor StFrancisXavierchurchis72840317.
Uniting
Church
Coraling Street
It is said that the only things that are certain are death and taxes but even they have exceptions. The Queen did not pay taxes until 1993 and the Bible tells us that Enoch and Elijah were taken to be with God without dying.
And then there is Jesus. Yes, he did die but he rose again and there are many witnesses. We have written accounts from Matthew and John. Mark wrote down what his father, Peter, told him. Paul wrote that he knew of more than 500 people who had seen the risen Jesus. Most of them were still alive when he wrote his letter to the Corinthians.
Historians tell us that eleven of the twelve disciples dedicated their lives to preaching that Jesus was risen from the dead and ten were killed to silence them but they continued to their last breath to insist that Jesus was alive.
The resurrection of Jesus is better documented than most of the events that we accept as history – but what difference does it make today?
When you buy a house you pay a deposit, a small part of the price, which is a promise that you will pay the rest of the price – usually when bank finance comes through. Jesus is our deposit, a surety, that just as he rose from the dead we will too.
Sooner or later we must all face death. The resurrection of Jesus is good news because it shows us that death is not the end.
Services for May:
Sunday 3rd May 10:30 am Communion led by Mark Beadle
Sunday 10th May 10:30 am Café Church led by Arthur West
Sunday 17th May 10:30 am led by Peter West
Sunday 24th May 10:30 am Video Service led by Arthur West
Sunday 31st May 10:30 am Combined service in Quairading led by Wayne Laird
Enquiries: Mark Beadle 0435 698 655 or Arthur West 9645 0081 or Quairading.UC@Gmail.com
If you would like a visit please contact Mark Beadle. Check out our FaceBook page: Quairading Church
Rural Aid Article
With the addition of three new counsellors from January 2026, Rural Aid is now offering more support to farmers, their families and their communities than ever before in Western Australia.
Jo Ashworth, Chris Gibbs and Louise O’Neill join experienced Rural Aid Counsellor and Community Representative, Roger Hitchcock, to provide counselling and wellbeing support, community engagement and increased awareness of Rural Aid’s services, which include financial assistance, fodder, domestic water deliveries, educational funding, and connection of farmers to paid or volunteer workers through the Farm Army initiative.
Jo Ashworth, a farmer and experienced counsellor in her own right, brings Rural Aid services to the Midwest and Northern Wheatbelt regions. Jo understands the unique pressures that come with farming and rural life and takes a practical, down-to-earth approach, meeting people where they’re at. She recognizes that people know their own lives best and aims to work alongside them with whatever they bring to the table. Jo is based in Kalannie.
Based in York, Chris Gibbs brings support to the Central Wheatbelt region with a background in men’s health advocacy, local government, and music education, including a storied career in the music industry. Chris brings a calm, compassionate approach to his work with Rural Aid. He is committed to walking alongside farmers, families and rural communities, offering empathy, understanding and a sense of hope during adversity.
In the southern region, Louise O’Neill, also from a farming family and her own counselling service, provides support with a background in sports physiotherapy. Louise believes in the power of movement to support mental health. Her own experiences with running and swimming during challenging times continue to inform her approach. Louise feels privileged to hear people’s stories, and considers it an honour to support rural communities with compassion, respect and genuine care.
Each of the four Rural WA team members are actively approaching regional organizations, businesses, volunteer groups and schools with a view to reaching more community members in regional WA who could benefit from the various supports that can be accessed through Rural Aid, including the popular Mustering Growth program, a five-session incursion focusing on wellness in school-aged children.
Jo, Chris and Louise were added to the Rural Aid team with the assistance of the federal government’s Community Wellbeing Program, a $1.5 million initiative under the $140 million Sheep Industry Transition Assistance Package.
More information on the WA Rural Aid Counsellors and the MHWB team can be found on the official Rural Aid website at www.ruralaid.org.au (www.ruralaid.org.au/mental-health-wellbeing/).
Roger Hitchcock
Counsellor & Community Representative West Australia based in Narrogin Rural Aid Australia
M: 0460 310 661 |P: 07 3153 4656 |E: roger.hitchcock@ruralaid.org.au Head Office : 1300 327 624 / Mental Health and Counselling Line 1300 175 594
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