Letters to the Editor

A recipe for greater emissions?

AT a time when climate change is biting hard, and electricity and fuel prices are high, astonishingly the Coalition’s commitments include scrapping three major offshore wind zones, repealing vehicle emission standards that support the adoption of...

Staff Contributors

09 Apr 2025

Editorial

Cost-of-living saving could cost lives

WE know that a Labor government will offer nothing to the rural areas but the Coalition is increasingly showing neglect to our rural communities. Federal fuel excise is a flat sales tax of currently 50.8 cents per litre at the bowser. It goes into...

Staff Contributors

09 Apr 2025

Editorial

Berri Barmera’s inherited debt

I REFER to the front page headline in the Murray Pioneer on 2 April 2025, of ‘Inherited debt’, which relates to the Berri Barmera Council and its 2023/24 operating deficit in excess of $7.5 million. Of course it is anyone’s fault but council...

Staff Contributors

09 Apr 2025

Editorial

Goat Island name change an insult

I HAVE been watching the debate/discussion over Goat Island and Ruby Hunter’s connection if any, closely, because I have a personal connection to this Island. My family was one of the South Australian pioneering families along the river. In the...

Staff Contributors

09 Apr 2025

Editorial

Don’t erase history

RENAMING Goat Island is based on the theory Ruby Hunter was born there, which is impossible as the island was under 1.5m of floodwaters at the time. A photograph shows the family a month before, camped by the Paringa Road with rising floodwaters...

Staff Contributors

09 Apr 2025

Editorial

Acknowledging Ruby is better

THE current Department of Housing and Urban Development request for community feedback about the change of name of Goat Island has triggered a search for the facts. Multiple evidence exists that Goat Island was underwater at the time of Ruby’s...

Staff Contributors

09 Apr 2025

Editorial

Text Line 2/4/25

The Brothers in Arms commemorative service on the 50th anniversary seemed like a long-overdue welcome home for the Vietnam vets present. Having the Vietnamese people present was so very special and helped us to understand the “why”. ROSALIE...

Staff Contributors

02 Apr 2025

Editorial

Issues getting insurance

FOLLOWING our retirement we have been looking to retire in the Riverland, as we have holidayed there for more than 40 years. We were extremely shocked to find if we purchased a home in Renmark, or even Paringa, in insurance terms it is an embargoed...

Staff Contributors

02 Apr 2025

Editorial

Views on wine industry code

AS a grape grower here in the Riverland, I support the call by Jason Perrin for indicative grape prices to be released by all wineries on 30 September, beginning this year. I also understand and fully agree that if an expert determination request is...

Staff Contributors

02 Apr 2025

Editorial

Figures a disastrous trajectory?

SUSTAINABLE Population Australia (SPA) notes that the Australian Bureau of Statistics’ population report shows a fall in the population growth rate, from 2.54 per cent to 1.8 per cent per annum over the year to 30 September 2024, but notes it is...

Staff Contributors

02 Apr 2025

Editorial

Action needed as tariffs shake trade

GRAINGROWERS is urging the Australian Government to respond to the latest wave of American tariffs with proactive trade diversification measures to counter against global volatility. While the United States is not a major direct market for...

Staff Contributors

02 Apr 2025

Editorial

Reflections on local communities

ROSEMARY Gower is a passionate Barmera – Cobby identity and her opinion piece in last week’s Murray Pioneer (‘More activity needed’, 26/3/25) was a good read. My family links go back to around 1915, when my grandfather, Frank Kimber, lived...

Staff Contributors

02 Apr 2025

Editorial

Congratulations for U3A milestone

CONGRATULATIONS to U3A Riverland on celebrating their 10th birthday. Although the original idea came from the three ladies mentioned in the article (‘U3A Riverland marks 10 years of learning’, 19/3/25), accolades must also be directed to the...

Staff Contributors

02 Apr 2025

Editorial

Praise for Kick off ya Boots

WELL what a great show that was for Kick off ya Boots on the night of Friday 14 March, at the Chaffey Theatre. It was the funniest show I had ever seen. With actors including real-life Riverland doctors, a bunch of lively teenagers, and the...

Staff Contributors

02 Apr 2025

Letters to the Editor

Text Line 26/3/25

Regarding ‘Back in action’ (Pioneer, 19/3/25). Accolade says they had to pause red grape crushing for two days. Well then, can he explain why the bookings for Friday 14 March still haven’t been harvested in over a week? SPIRO Murtho Andrew...

Hugh Schuitemaker

26 Mar 2025