Latest news with #Riverina
The Guardian
3 days ago
- General
- The Guardian
Death of baby in Corowa home is ‘tragic' but remains a mystery, says coroner
The circumstances of the death of an apparently 'thriving' three-month-old baby remain unknown, an inquest has concluded. 'It is tragic, but we simply don't know what happened to KP,' NSW deputy state coroner Kasey Pearce said on Friday. The infant KP was found dead at his mother's home in Corowa in the NSW Riverina region in January 2022. The inquest revealed possible causes of death including drowning, suffocation and inadequate nutrition, Pearce said at the inquest in Sydney. But there was insufficient evidence in support for any of these. She said the available evidence from the inquest did not allow her to find cause, place or manner of KP's death. Pearce also rejected the account his mother gave police after KP's death, which included leaving her baby in the care of an unidentified man. 'It is implausible and inconsistent,' she said. 'Unfortunately, the result is there is no evidence leading up to the death of KP.' Pearce said the coroners court knew nothing about KP's emerging personality, but the baby was loved by his family. 'Until his premature death he seemed to be thriving,' she said. The inquest examined the actions of those involved in the care of KP and his mother before his death. These included services from the Department of Communities and Justice (DCJ), Murrumbidgee local health district and Albury Wodonga Health. There were shortcomings in the actions of the organisations, but Pearce said her findings did not suggest that KP's death could have been avoided. 'On the contrary I was impressed with the care and professionalism of all who cared for KP,' she said. ''It appeared to those who saw KP with his mother that KP was safe in her care.' In the lead-up to his birth, DCJ completed a safety assessment where potential dangers were noted including his mother's mental health and drug abuse. But KP was deemed as 'safe with a plan', provided the involvement of social workers, and the support of family and community services. In retrospect, Pearce said there were signs of increasing risk for KP after his birth. His mother missed appointments including for a dietician and lactation consultant, and did not always answer the door to social workers. 'Even on days when she was clearly aware they would be visiting,' Pearce said. In her recommendations, Pearce said the NSW Health Safe Start program should formalise its administration and governance, including the clear allocation of roles and expectations. The program offers care and early intervention programs for pregnant women and their infants, and was responsible for providing services to KP and his mother. On January 12, 2022 a family member attended the granny flat where KP lived with his mother, and heard baby cooing sounds, Pearce said. 'It is the latest point in which we can establish that KP was alive,' she said.
News.com.au
26-05-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Albury, Hawkesbury previews: Legends to combine in bordertown raid
Grand Armee's jockey will combine with Emancipation's trainer at Albury on Tuesday with two lightly-raced prospects both of who are placed to win. Wagga trainer Danny Beasley is honoured with the task of conditioning a handful of gallopers owned and/or bred by the living legend Neville Begg at his Riverina HQ. Two of those, namely Begg-purchase Jato and Begg-bred Donegal Bay, will carry the famous black, white armbands and red cap in their respective missions on Tuesday. First of the pair to step out is Donegal Bay, who was up to recently housed in Melbourne with champion trainer (and Neville's son) Grahame. The Star Witness three-year-old, who has placed at two of his five Victorian starts, makes his NSW debut in today's Albury Plumbing Service Maiden Plate (900m). 'He's in great order as you'd expect of any horse coming out of Grahame's stable, he looks magnificent so I haven't had to do much with him,'' Beasley said. 'Because he is not eligible for those Country Boosted races yet, we were a bit limited in what we could run in. 'He is a big heavy horse and I am just sort of taking the punt that over 900m, he won't have too much time to think about things. 'He'll probably get back off a pretty good and he'll run at them pretty quick late. 'I've kept him fresh and kept him well and I'll have a look at him in a 900m race and win, lose or draw, I'll learn something about him.' Beasley and Begg's second and final runner on Tuesday's Albury program is Jato who has come a long way in a short time. Born and raised at Rosemont Stud in Victoria, Jato opened her current campaign with a second at Wagga on April 13. She followed up with an emphatic win here at Albury 11-days later before an honourable fourth in an uncommonly strong edition of the MTC Wagga Guineas at the start of May. It's a winning debut for Jato at Wagga! ðŸ'� @DanBeasley111 — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) November 1, 2024 'I was really happy with her,'' Beasley said. 'It was a race I always wanted to run in but I had a few hiccups with her early in the preparation so I got there in a roundabout sort of way. 'She's trained on well. 'I think she has probably got enough ability to go to a Highway one day but her temperament is just not quite there yet so I still want her to have a bit more racing and get a bit more experience before we throw her into anything too deep again.' Jato was purchased by Begg at the Inglis Great Southern Weanling Sale in 2022 for the sum of $25,000. The filly's dam, Rahveel, is a daughter of Zabeel, and while she only managed one win in her 21 starts, she was runner-up in the Wakeful and Auraria Stakes in Adelaide as well as fourth in the MRC Thousand Guineas (to Atlantic Jewel). Not only does she derive stamina from her dam, Jato's sire is Starcraft who won five Group 1s around the globe. One of those wins was at Royal Randwick in the AJC Derby, a race that Beasley remembers well given he rode the 100/1 shot, and runner-up, Braeloch for Guy Walter. 'That was heartbreaking,'' Beasley said. 'I think (Starcraft) only got us the last stride.' â– â– â– â– â– HALL Of Famer Ron Quinton is hopeful the Hawkesbury -bound Like Anything can win her first race on Tuesday almost 30 years to the day that her grand-dam rolled Hareeba and Telesto at the Gold Coast. Like Anything is the third of her generation to be housed at Quinton's High Street HQ. The eight-time Sydney Jockeys Premiership winner and six times Group 1-winning trainer won two races at Canterbury with Like Anything's dam, Duchess Pedrille. He won 11 races with Duchess Pedrille's dam, Mamzelle Pedrille including the STC Theo Marks, VATC Sandown Stakes and the Winter Stakes in Brisbane, now known as the Group 1 Tattersall's Tiara. A daughter of Maurice, Like Anything was $31 out to $41 back into $31 when she made her debut in a deep two and three-year-old maiden at Canterbury on April 21. Quinton's filly handed in an honourable fifth behind the Chris Waller pairing Mia Ballerina and Hidden Achievement. 'It was certainly a pass-mark for sure,'' Quinton said. 'It was probably short of her best distance. She goes up to 1400m this time, the track will be heavy of course and it is hard to know how she'll handle the real heavy ground. 'She is quite a nice filly but she is a filly that I think is probably going to step up over a bit of ground.' Like Anything will wear the black, yellow seams, carried to victory by the Quinton filly Bulla Borghese in the 2002 VRC Oaks. Her early afternoon mission today will be closely watched in Hong Kong given Like Anything was bought at sale (for $130,000) by leading local trainer, Casper Fownes. Super Nui, Quinton's other runner at Hawkesbury on Tuesday, will wear the same predominantly orange silks that Mamzelle Pedrille wore both in Australia and on tour in Hong Kong. A daughter of Super One, Super Nui won't be held back by the prospect of a Heavy track given her eight-plus lengths win on a '9' at Wyong at her most recent outing. 'You get these big margins on wet tracks,'' Quinton warned. 'It wasn't a super race by any means but she won well. 'Handicappers don't forget when they win by margins, they don't forget to whack them up a massive lot of points. 'That put her up six points. 'She's been very honest and consistent. She is very tough actually.'
Perth Now
25-05-2025
- Politics
- Perth Now
Coalition split could be just a phase as Nats reconvene
The Nationals are having second thoughts about the coalition's break-up, with the party's leader expecting a reunion within days. A resolution is possible with the Nationals party room expected to meet on Monday or Tuesday, after it and the Liberals pressed pause on their split, allowing reunion talks to continue. Former Nationals leader and sitting Riverina MP Michael McCormack, who was part of a minority that did not support the coalition break-up, hoped the week's events had changed minds. "Common sense would dictate that all will be well," he told AAP. "But I can't guarantee what my colleagues have got to say." The Nationals pulled the plug on the coalition's decades-long relationship over four policy demands: a recommitment to nuclear energy, a regional investment fund, powers to break up big supermarket chains and universal telecommunications coverage. But the Liberals, still reeling from their worst election defeat since World War II, wanted to put every coalition policy up for review. The Nationals' decision attracted fierce criticism, but the two parties eventually agreed to give each other more time. The Liberals have since provided "in-principle" support to the policies and Nationals leader David Littleproud said he expected an arrangement in coming days. Mr McCormack did not understand why his colleagues had voted to leave with such haste. "That's probably why things went awry," he said. "Decisions made in haste are not decisions that are well considered, well thought through, pragmatic and practical in the cold light of day." Mr Littleproud continues to back his party through the ructions, even as some raise questions about his leadership. He faced a leadership challenge from senator Matt Canavan a week earlier over climate policy and though he prevailed, Mr Littleproud did not say whether the party would stay committed to net-zero emissions by 2050. His deputy Kevin Hogan maintained any disputes over the policy were "settled years ago" and that it was not up for review. However, it could return to the fore as concerns continue to bubble. "I'm not so convinced that the National Party per se are really rusted-on to net zero," Mr McCormack said. The party had signed on to the policy during different circumstances. At the time, the US was on board, the Nationals had agreed on the back of road and infrastructure promises linked to the previous coalition government, and Australia was negotiating trade agreements over deals contingent on net-zero commitments, Mr McCormack said.
ABC News
20-05-2025
- Climate
- ABC News
Nationals call it quits on decades-long coalition with Liberals
On today's show: The Nationals will split from the Liberal Party after days of negotiations between the two sides failed to result in a coalition agreement, breaking with a century-long tradition. Reporter: Sinead Mangan with Professor Linda Botterill visiting fellow at the Crawford School of Public Policy at ANU and author of The National Party - Prospects for the great survivors The SES is warning that major flooding on the New South Wales mid north coast could reach 2021 levels, with more heavy rain expected over the coming days. Reporter: Keely Johnson (Newcastle) While torrential rain lashes eastern Australia, conditions could not be more different at Yvette McKenzie's New South Wales Riverina sheep farm. Sheep and cattle farmers are selling off stock, and crop farmers are dry sowing, as southern NSW's drought begins to take hold. Reporter: Emily Doak (Wagga Wagga) For some coal-mining families, a retirement and old age by the coast or in the city sounds idyllic. But others are choosing to stay in the made-for-mining towns where they've built a life and community. The lack of residential aged-care in some of the Bowen Basin's younger mining communities has left home-care services to cover the gaps. Reporter: Liam O'Connell (Mackay)
ABC News
19-05-2025
- Climate
- ABC News
Farmers sell off record numbers of stock as southern NSW drought bites
Dams have dried up and the paddocks of Yvette McKenzie's New South Wales Riverina sheep farm are dry and bare. While torrential rain lashes eastern Australia, conditions could not be more different at Ms McKenzie's Bethungra property. "I haven't seen it this dry in the 25 years that we've had this property," she said. Cattle have been sold in record numbers, farmers have brought in feed for their livestock and the potential of newly planted grain crops has waned across southern NSW. According to the Bureau of Meteorology, parts of the Riverina received 1–10 millimetres of rain last month. Ms McKenzie said she had been forced to reduce livestock numbers. Ms McKenzie said feeding the sheep with silage and grain helped her get a good price for the surplus livestock, despite the dry conditions. She said she had focused on keeping her best sheep. "It's keeping the top line so we can keep our genetics and selling off anything that is not a breeder," she said. Record numbers of cattle have been sold at the Wagga Wagga saleyards amid worsening drought conditions. An offering of 5,000 head of cattle would normally be considered large, so when almost 8,700 cattle were sold earlier this month at the saleyards, the agents were stretched to capacity. Cattle auctioneer Tyler Pendergast said truckloads of cattle had been moved to the "greener pastures of the north". Mr Pendergast said that was providing an opportunity for local producers to offload stock. According to the Department of Primary Industries, 1.7 per cent of NSW is in drought, and a further 23.1 per cent is drought-affected. Almost all of that is in the Riverina and Murray. Local Land Services drought adoption officer Geoff Minchin said the difference was "chalk and cheese". "Two different planets, really very dry in the south and very wet in the north," he said. Mr Minchin, who advises farmers on drought management strategies, said producers were drawing on their experience in previous droughts to adapt farming practices. "I think there's a higher percentage of landholders that are better prepared and making some really good decisions," he said. He said destocking, making sure feed was at hand and planning grazing to protect ground cover were good strategies. At Marrar, north of Wagga Wagga, farmer Ben Langtree has been planting crops into dry ground after several months without rain. "Sometimes we've started the sowing and it's been a bit dry but not the whole way through," he said. Mr Langtree said he had cut back on crops that were more expensive to plant, such as canola, instead using barley and oats. According to the Bureau of Meteorology, there is a 20 per cent chance of exceeding the median rainfall in Marrar in May, which is 5.9mm. It is expected to rise to 52 per cent in June, with a historical median chance of 48.9mm of rain. There is a 48 per cent chance of Wagga Wagga exceeding its medium rain fall next month, which is 53.3mm. Despite the tough conditions, Mr Langtree said it was not too late for the season to turn around. "Rain sooner than later would be great and it would get us back on track," he said. "Every farmer is a gambler, they take a fair bit of risk every year so this is just a different type of risk for us now."
