ABC Midwest & Wheatbelt

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'I don't want to jinx it': WA growers start harvesting record crop

Farmers in Western Australia have begun harvesting a grain crop that could set a new record. It is a different story on the other side of the Nullabor though.

Published: 11h agoSat 18 Oct 2025 at 2:42amSource: LandlineTopic: Wheat Growingby Joanna Prendergast, Belinda Varischetti, Matt Brann and Tara de Landgrafft

ATSB finds medical episode likely before fatal Midwest plane crash

A report by the Australian Transport Safety Bureau reveals the pilot of a fatal crash in Ogilvie likely suffered an "incapacitating" medical episode.

A birds-eye view of a small white aircraft crumpled in dry scrubby bushland, near by a large bush.

Published: TueTue 14 Oct 2025 at 4:08amSource: ABC Midwest & WheatbeltTopic: Air Incidentsby Piper Duffy

Communities given generators to save mobile coverage during emergencies

Rural communities battling power cuts to mobile towers during natural disasters are being offered a temporary solution with a trial of community-operated generators.

Published: MonMon 13 Oct 2025 at 10:01pmSource: ABC Great SouthernTopic: Mobile and Internet Accessby Anna Cox

Councillor suspended after no apology for defamatory notice

Mount Magnet Shire deputy president Ian Black is suspended after failing to apologise for posting a defamatory notice about staff to a public noticeboard.

An old, white man with grey hair and a beard look at the camera.

Published: MonMon 13 Oct 2025 at 2:33amSource: ABC Midwest & WheatbeltTopic: Local Governmentby Chloe Henville

ACCC approves Elders' $475m acquisition of agribusiness rival Delta

The consumer watchdog has given the go-ahead for Elders to acquire its competitor, Delta, but it must sell six Delta stores in WA to improve competition.

Published: 9 Oct 2025Thu 9 Oct 2025 at 2:22pmSource: ABC RuralTopic: Agribusinessby Justine Longmore, Warwick Long, Timu King and Selina Green

Ex-AFL player Shannon Cox jailed for killing women in meth-fuelled crash

Former Collingwood player Shannon Cox, who had meth in his system when his car smashed into a hatchback, killing two elderly women, is jailed for manslaughter.

Shannon Cox with a football in his hand.

Published: 8 Oct 2025Wed 8 Oct 2025 at 8:52pmSource: ABC NewsTopic: Courtsby David Weber

'I drove 5 hours for a date': Single farmers find different ways to meet people

When the dating app radius won't reach the edge of your property, and you're harvesting grain from sun-up til sundown, how do you find a partner?

Young people sit at a wooden table conversing with each other under dance floor lights.

Published: 8 Oct 2025Wed 8 Oct 2025 at 5:48amSource: ABC Midwest & WheatbeltTopic: Datingby Anna Cox, Andrew Chounding and Kimberley Putland

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ABC Midwest & Wheatbelt Local News

Local news, updated weekdays at 6:35am.

Duration: 5 minutes

Source: Listen

A love letter to Australia’s theatre and vaudeville of the 50s

Eddie Perfect is back in Perth with his musical Tivoli Lovely, which pays tribute to Australia’s theatrical past.

A woman and a man stand smiling at camera in front of a radio studio.

Duration: 18 minutes 10 seconds

Source: ABC Radio PerthTopic: Opera and Musical Theatrewith Jo Trilling

Remembering the Midland Maccas plane

Dubbed 'the flying hamburger' the plane at Midland Maccas was a sight to behold.

Duration: 12 minutes

Source: ABC Radio PerthTopic: Historywith Jo Trilling

Actor Griffin Dunne revisits his Hollywood childhood in new memoir

As a child, Griffin Dunne's babysitter was Samantha from Bewitched, Sean Connery saved him from drowning, and one of his best friends was the late Carrie Fischer.

Griffin looks into the camera. He's a bit of a silver fox.

Duration: 14 minutes 19 seconds

Source: ListenTopic: Celebritieswith Jo Trilling

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The police air wing assisted in an arrest last week.

Operation Down uses Geraldton officer, as well as specialised officers from Perth including air wing and canine units.

Duration: 1 minute 20 seconds

Source: ABC News

Michael Goh wildflower time lapse

Astrophotographer Michael Goh captured this time lapse of everlastings and the Milky Way at Coalseam Nature Reserve in WA's Midwest. Supplied: Michael Goh

Duration: 44 seconds

Source: ABC News

Minister's jet makes "emergency landing" after mid-air problems

A government jet carrying WA Regional Development Minister Stephen Dawson made an emergency landing in Geraldton after circling to burn fuel.

Duration: 1 minute 6 seconds

Source: ABC News

Carolina Wilga retrieves her van from remote bushland

Mr Sprigg said the retrieval took a total of three days with the help of his family and locals. Supplied: Wheatbelt Way/Sprigg family

Duration: 10 seconds

Source: ABC News

Features

Spring heat brings out beetles with tear gas odour

Often mistaken for a stink bug or Christmas beetle, this iridescent insect has descended on Geraldton with a tear gas-like odour.

A close up of an insect with six legs and a hard shelled oval shaped body on sand.

Source: ABC Midwest & WheatbeltTopic: Insectsby Piper Duffy

Art breaks taboos about end-of-life palliative care and death

In its fifth year, Palliative Care Australia's Live Well, Die Well national art prize continues to spark important conversations about dying.

A stylised painting in pastel showing symbols of an outback home, including flowers and a fireplace.

Source: ABC Mid North CoastTopic: Death and Dyingby Emma Siossian

Photographer blends shot of Milky Way and blooming wildflowers

As wildflowers bloom across regional Western Australia, photographers hit the road to capture their beauty.

A field of pinky-white flowers with yellow centres.

Duration: 44 seconds

Source: ABC Midwest & WheatbeltTopic: Photographyby Natasha Harradine

Council spend rewarded as town ends seven-year wait for supermarket

Seven years after the WA Wheatbelt town's last supermarket closed, Perenjori residents are celebrating the return of a local shop.

A woman with light, long hair wears a black long-sleeved top. She smiles and leans against a wall.

Source: ABC Midwest & WheatbeltTopic: Shoppingby Piper Duffy

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Tell us what you think about our programs

You can help shape what we do by joining our online feedback community, YourSpace. Plus, you'll have a chance to win 1 of 5 $100 gift cards monthly!

Photoshopped YourSpace Header which reads: 'How are we doing? ABC Your Space'

Published: 11 Jul 2023Tue 11 Jul 2023 at 12:02amSource: Radio

Top 100 Books of the 21st Century

Book lovers, you’ve spoken — now it’s time to count them down. Tune in 18 + 19 October on ABC Radio National to see if your vote made it!

Published: 8 Oct 2025Wed 8 Oct 2025 at 4:29amSource: Radio

Voting now open for 2025 ABC Australian Insect of the Year

Will 2025 prove to be the year of the dragonfly? Or is "beetle-mania" set to make a return?

Six different insects cropped together into one image

Published: 3 Oct 2025Fri 3 Oct 2025 at 2:25amSource: ABC NewsTopic: Insects

Know your ABCs in an emergency

This summer know your ABCs; action plan, be safe, connect with us. The ABC has a host of useful resources and tips on how to best prepare yourself for emergency weather so you can keep you and your household safe.

Letters A, B and C in pink, yellow and blue with small infographics of people completing emergency safety tasks

Published: 9 Dec 2024Mon 9 Dec 2024 at 5:23amSource: ABC EmergencyTopic: Bushfires

WA Sport

Former Olympic medallists take on world's most prestigious rowing race

Former Olympic medallists and a founding member of a platinum-selling band form part of a veteran crew from WA who have set their sights on the world's biggest and most famous rowing race.

Images of the Black Swans Rowing club, last training session before heading to Boston for the Head of the Charles

Source: ABC NewsTopic: Sport

Will the WNBL's new era live up to the hype?

After years of financial struggles and lack of exposure, players are hoping the WNBL's new owners will resurrect the league, and head office is promising it is in it for the long haul.

Perth Lynx player Anneli Maley runs out onto the court high fiving kids, smiling.

Source: ABC NewsTopic: WNBL

Sydney Paralympic Games legacy still impacts athletes 25 years on

The Sydney Paralympic was a watershed moment for the Paralympic movement. A quarter of a century later, Kurt Fearnley, Louise Sauvage and Lisa Llorens reflect on the Games that changed everything.

Savauge is in a racing wheelchair, wears Australian jersey, cycling helmet, raises her hands in victory as she leads a race.

Source: ABC NewsTopic: Paralympic Games

Tahau kicks five goals as Port powers past Hawks, Eagles soar closer to finals

Port Adelaide defeats Hawthorn to record its fourth win of the AFLW season, while West Coast moves closer to a maiden finals appearance with victory over Geelong.

Indy Tahau of the Power marks in front of Jenna Richardson of the Hawks

Source: ABC NewsTopic: AFL Women’s

WA News

Former Olympic medallists take on world's most prestigious rowing race

Former Olympic medallists and a founding member of a platinum-selling band form part of a veteran crew from WA who have set their sights on the world's biggest and most famous rowing race.

Source: ABC NewsTopic: Sportby Tom Wildie

West Australians face compulsory council election voting amid low turnout

Voting in council elections could become mandatory in Western Australia if the turnout for this weekend's poll continues to plummet, the local government minister warns.

A blonde woman name Hannah Beazley being interviewed in a television studio.

Source: ABC NewsTopic: Local Governmentby Courtney Withers

Call to expand 'cool weather' burns to protect the environment

The success of a small, autumn prescribed burn on WA's south coast has prompted calls to replace the regular program to reduce environmental damage.

Source: ABC Great SouthernTopic: Environmental Policyby Andrew Chounding and Mark Bennett

Will the WNBL's new era live up to the hype?

After years of financial struggles and lack of exposure, players are hoping the WNBL's new owners will resurrect the league, and head office is promising it is in it for the long haul.

Source: ABC NewsTopic: WNBLby Amanda Shalala

National News

Ange Postecoglou sacked by Nottingham Forest after eight games

Nottingham Forest sacked the winless manager moments after their 3-0 defeat by Chelsea on Saturday local time, which left the club 17th in the standings and on the brink of slipping into the relegation zone.

ange postecoglou waves his hands in the air wearing a nottingham forest jacket

Published: 4m agoSat 18 Oct 2025 at 2:37pmSource: ABC NewsTopic: English Premier Leagueby Lewis Wiseman

Israel identifies remains of 10th hostage handed over by Hamas

Eliyahu Margalit's body was found after two bulldozers ploughed up pits in the earth in the city of Khan Younis.

Published: 4h agoSat 18 Oct 2025 at 9:52amSource: ABC NewsTopic: Unrest, Conflict and War

Aussie eyeing breakthrough MotoGP podium at Phillip Island

Jack Miller qualifies in the front row for Sunday's Australian Grand Prix — the first Aussie to do so since Casey Stoner in 2012.

A race motorcyclist has his arm up in celebration while racing with helmet on and in purple clothes

Published: 6h agoSat 18 Oct 2025 at 8:31amSource: ABC NewsTopic: Motor Sports

Melham creates Caulfield Cup history after riding Half Yours to victory

Jamie Melham breaks new ground as the first female jockey to win the Caulfield Cup in its 149-year history, steering favourite Half Yours to victory in the $5 million handicap.

Jamie Melham holds aloft the Caulfield Cup after riding Half Yours to victory.

Published: 6h agoSat 18 Oct 2025 at 7:48amSource: ABC NewsTopic: Horse Racing

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ABC Midwest & Wheatbelt

'I don't want to jinx it': WA growers start harvesting record crop

ATSB finds medical episode likely before fatal Midwest plane crash

Communities given generators to save mobile coverage during emergencies

Councillor suspended after no apology for defamatory notice

ACCC approves Elders' $475m acquisition of agribusiness rival Delta

Ex-AFL player Shannon Cox jailed for killing women in meth-fuelled crash

'I drove 5 hours for a date': Single farmers find different ways to meet people

ABC Midwest & Wheatbelt Local News

A love letter to Australia’s theatre and vaudeville of the 50s

Remembering the Midland Maccas plane

Actor Griffin Dunne revisits his Hollywood childhood in new memoir

ABC Radio MIDWEST & WHEATBELT

Live. Nightlife

Connect with ABC Midwest & Wheatbelt

Get the ABC Midwest & Wheatbelt newsletter

The police air wing assisted in an arrest last week.

Michael Goh wildflower time lapse

Minister's jet makes "emergency landing" after mid-air problems

Carolina Wilga retrieves her van from remote bushland

Spring heat brings out beetles with tear gas odour

Art breaks taboos about end-of-life palliative care and death

Photographer blends shot of Milky Way and blooming wildflowers

Council spend rewarded as town ends seven-year wait for supermarket

Tell us what you think about our programs

Top 100 Books of the 21st Century

Voting now open for 2025 ABC Australian Insect of the Year

Know your ABCs in an emergency

Former Olympic medallists take on world's most prestigious rowing race

Will the WNBL's new era live up to the hype?

Sydney Paralympic Games legacy still impacts athletes 25 years on

Tahau kicks five goals as Port powers past Hawks, Eagles soar closer to finals

Former Olympic medallists take on world's most prestigious rowing race

West Australians face compulsory council election voting amid low turnout

Call to expand 'cool weather' burns to protect the environment

Will the WNBL's new era live up to the hype?

Ange Postecoglou sacked by Nottingham Forest after eight games

Israel identifies remains of 10th hostage handed over by Hamas

Aussie eyeing breakthrough MotoGP podium at Phillip Island

Melham creates Caulfield Cup history after riding Half Yours to victory

Other ways to listen

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