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ABC News
18 hours ago
- Business
- ABC News
Perenjori residents rejoice at first local supermarket opening in seven years
Residents of a small farming town in Western Australia's Wheatbelt are getting used to being able to shop locally for the first time in seven years. Residents in Perenjori, about 340 kilometres north-east of Perth, have long faced a 100km round trip to do their regular shopping. The town's previous supermarket closed in 2018 and the remaining building was reduced to rubble during ex Tropical Cyclone Seroja. But residents hope a new grocery store, opened officially on August 8, will help breathe new life into the town. Locals expect the opening of the town's new supermarket, backed by the Shire of Perenjori, will be a big time and cost saver. Perenjori Shire took out a $1.5 million loan and cashed in $500,000 of disaster recovery funding to get the project off the ground. Prior to the opening, Perenjori residents had to travel to Morawa, further to Geraldton or even as far as Perth for shopping, depending on the items needed. Chloe Heard travels 40km each day from nearby Latham to work in Perenjori. She said no longer having to plan weeks in advance on where and when to buy groceries would take some getting used to. "It's going to be a lot easier for families … if you need to stock up on school supplies or anything now we've got a supermarket just down the road. "So you don't have to wait to go to Perth of Geraldton to do that kind of thing, it makes [Perenjori] more family friendly." Henry Chabros lives in Perth with his girlfriend Gemma Cusworth, who grew up in Perenjori. They made the trip up to celebrate the supermarket opening. "So for me it's a pretty big eye-opener just to see how people here live and no-one makes a fuss … morale seems pretty good." Ms Cusworth said her parents used to pack their esky with fresh produce whenever they visited her in Perth and she would always check if they needed anything before visiting. "[Now] they don't have to worry about stocking the pantry or fridge and freezer with all sorts of stuff because they don't know what they're going to feel like or what they'll want to eat," she said. "If they run out of milk or bread then it's just a quick drive into town, which is so much easier for them." Perenjori publican Kirk Pohl said being able to walk "30 seconds" down the road to quickly stock up on ingredients in the middle of a lunch-time rush would be "fantastic". "[At the pub] you might have 20 meals one night and 130 meals the next so it's very hard, especially with fresh produce, to know how much to have on hand," he said. "Our closest drive to a shop is Morawa … an 80km round trip just to buy some groceries so having this shop 100 metres from the pub is fantastic news for us." Ambrose Hill's Red Emu Motel has been almost fully booked since it opened about a year ago. Mr Hill said being able to buy groceries in town would benefit his guests and staff. "I think every business sort of floats off each other, so the more people we bring to town, the more money they spend at the supermarket and cafe as well," he said. "I've got staff here now and we don't have to travel [out of town] to the shop so hopefully we save a bit of money too." Recently retired shire chief executive Paul Bawden said he was proud the town would be given back an essential for daily life. "Having a supermarket is one of the basic necessities of a community where you can walk down the street and buy your groceries and what you need for tea." Mr Bawden said he hoped the shop would bring people back into town to make it "brighter and more community orientated".
CBC
a day ago
- General
- CBC
Special constable who welcomed officers to Sachs Harbour receives RCMP headstone
Social Sharing A former special constable who helped police settle into Sachs Harbour, N.W.T., was honoured this week with an RCMP headstone for his work. The late Peter Esau, who died in 2017, served in Sachs Harbour in the 1950s. He was recognized Tuesday in a ceremony in Inuvik. Esau was one of the special constables who helped RCMP officers adapt to their postings, often showing them how to trap and live off the land. Aleta Esau, one of his daughters, said her dad was from Aklavik and he himself needed to adapt to a new way of life in Sachs Harbour. "One of the things I remember him saying was he had to learn from the locals on how to trap and live in a different environment. From the trees to the tundra, he had to learn a different style of trapping," Aleta said, adding the lack of wood to make fires was another challenge he had to overcome. She said she wants people to remember her father as a man of the land. "He was a big part of the Muskox harvest, and he was always proud of being a trapper and the skills he learned on the land," Aleta said. "He really enjoyed what he was doing." Retired officers Eric LaFoy and Bob Knight, who both worked with Esau, made the trip north to be at the ceremony The recognition didn't feel real for Aleta until she got phone calls from the retired officers, she said. "When they called me, that's when it became something to look forward to," she said. "It's so nice to see our family come out for this. I got a lot of phone calls [from] people who wished to be here for this." Aleta said LaFoy and Knight left a mark on their family too — Knight is the godfather of Aleta's older sister. Not all special constables get headstones, but the two veteran officers who worked with Esau made sure he did. LaFoy was in Sachs Harbour from 1982 to 1984. He spent 22 years in N.W.T. He said the visit back to the North was one to remember. "Those were probably the best two years of my life on the force," LaFoy said. "It's so wonderful to be here today. I haven't seen some of them since they were little kids." LaFoy said the relationship between the special constables who were locals and the RCMP officers who were new to the North was crucial for their success. "Special constables at that time were our life link. We come up here, we are new to the country and to the people, we didn't speak the language or know the customs," said LaFoy. "Without them, we would not have survived, quite honestly." A ceremony was held at the Inuvik cemetery Tuesday followed by a reception at the RCMP mess hall. LaFoy said it's important to remember the special constables who served the detachments. "This feels great," he said.
Daily Mail
a day ago
- General
- Daily Mail
Moment Jewish holidaymakers dismantle hillside Christian cross and use stones to create giant Star of David instead
A group of Jewish tourists were filmed dismantling a landmark cross on a Welsh hillside and using the stones to create a giant Star of David in its place. The 60ft long cross made from loose stones is believed to have been in place for at least 50 years on the hill below the Great Orme summit in Llandudno, north Wales, a popular tourist spot, and is widely known locally. So when footage emerged that appeared to show a group of young people, some apparently wearing traditional kippah headcaps, removing stones from a long-standing Christian symbol, many were furious. A video posted on a local Facebook group purporting to have been filmed last Friday showed a small group kicking at stones that made up the outline of the cross. It then shows some of the youngsters using the stones from the cross to make an alternative piece of religious iconography further along the hillside: a Star of David, the symbol of the Jewish faith. The episode happened near the summit of the 679ft high limestone headland, which has panoramic views of Snowdonia, Anglesey, the Isle of Man, Blackpool and the Lake District. The clip showed the group still working on their version of the six-pointed star, a widely recognised symbol of Jewish identity which appears on Israel's flag. It is not known whether they completed it before leaving the hilltop, nor how many stones were removed from the cross or found elsewhere among the many that litter the hillside. Adults who appeared to be with the party that comprised the youths involved are said to have looked on while they moved the stones without interceding. The incident led to uproar among some locals, with many taking to social media to slam the destruction of the cross on the grass hillside, which is popularly known as 'The Hill of Names' because families also often use the rocks to spell out the names of loved ones who have died. The Facebook user who posted the video stated in his post: 'Sorry… but this cross has been on the Orme for years… show respect to any religion.' Locals responded by describing it as 'disgraceful' and 'shocking' in comments on his post, while others accused those responsible of having 'no respect' for the Christian landmark. Another said: 'If a Christian dismantled a Star of David to build a cross, we would be put in prison and face hate crimes!!...absolutely DISGUSTING!!!' As news of the damage spread, locals went to the hillside and restored the stones to their original positions and by the end of the weekend, the cross was back in place, and the six-point star had gone. Scott Puddey, who helped restore the cross, said: 'I've just been up the Orme and thankfully normal service has been restored. I just finished off the last couple of corners just to make sure, as someone has already cleared most of it. 'I helped restore the cross not for any religious purpose, just that it's been a part of Llandudno for over 50 years and looked after by locals and holidaymakers alike.' The Facebook user who posted the video stated in his post: 'Sorry… but this cross has been on the Orme for years… show respect to any religion' Another added: 'Glad the cross has been restored, it's been there longer than I can remember, well done to whoever restored it.' North Wales Live reported another local man saying: 'I am a white British Muslim who lives happily in Llandudno and a large part of my life in Gwynedd. 'This is not only disrespectful, but as that cross has been there a long time, (it) has become part of the landscape.' Another added: 'I've got no issue with other people seeing a symbol and being inspired to add their own, but destroying one symbol to add another is such an unbelievably poor choice.' Some feared the incident would unfairly stir up anger and prejudice against Orthodox Jewish people who had been 'happily visiting for well over 100 years'. One person said that Llandudno's heritage included many 'lovely Jewish families' and that they 'would certainly have something to say about this'. Another Facebook user commented: 'These people do not represent Judaism or Israel any more than football hooligans abroad represent Christianity or Britain. Have Jewish friends in Israel that get irritated by people like this.' Others said it was a shame that the actions of a small minority had caused reputational damage in a town with a long history of Jewish residents and visitors. Professor Nathan Abrams, who has worked to uncover and document stories of Jewish history and heritage in north west Wales, said: 'These actions, if verified, have been committed by a tiny minority of Jews and should not be allowed to obscure the long history of Jews visiting and living in Llandudno that dates back over a hundred years. 'Llandudno has and continues to have a fascinating Jewish heritage, which we are continuing to explore. 'However, these actions in no way justify the outpouring of anti-Semitic prejudice I have read on Facebook, and it didn't take much to reveal the depth of prejudice bubbling beneath the surface.' It's unclear who made up the group involved. The cross is the biggest and most prominent of a number of designs on the hillside made up of stones from a nearby quarry and is thought to have been first constructed in the 1960s or early seventies.
Arab News
15-07-2025
- General
- Arab News
Madinah exhibition showcases local heritage, crafts
RIYADH: The 'Arts Telling Stories' exhibition in Madinah showcased the nation's culture and history through authentic handicrafts. The three-day event, which ended on Tuesday, is among several 'Year of Handicrafts' initiatives launched by the Ministry of Culture, the Saudi Press Agency reported. The exhibition featured a diverse collection of handcrafted creations reflecting the identity of the local community. Elements of heritage were embodied in palm-based crafts including baskets, incense burners, and decorative pieces, illustrating the historical bond between people and the environment. The event also showcased wooden artworks, including decorated boxes, vases, and household items crafted with techniques blending traditional sensibility and modern innovation. It featured pottery pieces inspired by folk art, drawing from the colors and landscapes of the region's geography, the SPA reported. The exhibition reflects the ministry's efforts to promote traditional arts, foster community awareness, and encourage young people to connect with their cultural roots.
CBC
24-06-2025
- Sport
- CBC
Ponoka Stampede is 'a big time show in a small town community'
The 89th Ponoka Stampede is on from June 25 to July 1 in the town about 100 kilometres south of Edmonton. Here's a feel for what it's like and how this premier event of the Canadian rodeo circuit has grown over the years.
