Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:01):
I heeart Air Peninsula.
Speaker 2 (00:03):
I am Sam Talbert with you for iHeart Air Peninsula,
your weekly local news wrap for the Air Peninsula and surrounds.
Coming up, we'll find out what's got our local fieries
nervous as the weather starts to warm up. But first
more rough news for Whyala. Back in May, fifty six
jobs were cut from GfG Mining contractors. Then last month
(00:24):
forty eight jobs were lost at the Whyala steel Works
and now as many as one hundred and sixteen jobs
will be cut in the mines and the Middle Back
Ranges connected to GfG Alliance. Jordan Curtis spoke with GILES
member Eddie Hughes earlier this week about the redundancies.
Speaker 3 (00:40):
As people know that the magnetite is the feedstock for
the for the steel works, but we have been exporting
the hematites and the heematites is a running down. On
the other quality is also declining, so we need to
make that transition to almost a guess an exclusive fleet
(01:00):
magnetite operation. Now, having said that, there's the plan is
what's referred to as MET one and MET too when
it comes to the magnetite development. You know, one of
the one of the positives is that there is a
lot of magnetites in the middle Back ranges and enough
magnetized therefore potentially for an export industry while also being
(01:26):
able to feed the steel works for generations to come,
assuming we make that transition the steel works from the
aging plant that we have at the moment to modernated technology.
Speaker 4 (01:41):
I guess, when you're looking at the potential for the
magnetite operation, what needs to be done. I guess, get
that started and actually get it underweight, because by the
sound of it, it doesn't it's not going to happen
soon enough to help those people, those hundreds of people
losing their jobs.
Speaker 3 (01:57):
Now, yeah, that's that's the unfortunate thing about this transition.
The way it's in time. The MET one of the
magnetizer development is unless it has changed again is that
but it is a subject to bridging finance. When I
speak to people about MET one, there's a there's a
(02:20):
degree of confidence that that is going to that is
going to happen, and we do need to secure that
magnetit the future for for while so that we can
continue to have mining jobs here. But importantly, and this
is this is essential, it's a and it my view
non negotiable that the magnetite can feed the steel works
(02:44):
for for many years to come. But like I said,
the steel works is an aging plant and it's a
it's a race between that aging plants and the need
for EE technology transition. You know, our goal is to
secure the few sure of lining and iron and steel
making in in Wiley. So I just want to assure
(03:05):
people that the state government to looking at all of
the options. The some as people can appreciate the some
complexity here and there's issues around timing, but the focus
at a state level is to secure the future of
mining in Wyalu and the future of iron and steel
making in Waler. I just want to emphasize that I'll
(03:27):
give people that solid assurance that this is a real
focus of the state government.
Speaker 2 (03:35):
On the positive side, there's a chance bridging finance will
launch magnetite mining, creating potentially dozens of jobs in the process.
Well Spring is now well and truly upon us and
south As is embracing for the hot weather that's just
around the corner. Rob mcclennan says the official forecast is
in and it's causing a few concerns among our local fieries.
Speaker 5 (03:58):
The spring season. All out looking is the first early
warning of what we can expect over the hotter months,
and once again it's brought worrying news for South Australia's
army of professional and volunteer firefighters. In short, we're being
told to expect winters below average rainfall to continue, coupled
with above average temperatures combining to help dry out crops
(04:21):
and fuels much faster than normal, heralding a possible early
start to the fire season. CFS Region six Commander Stephen
Boucher says that outlook is anything but ideal.
Speaker 6 (04:33):
No, not at all. Our Our crews remain as prepared
and active as what we do, as what we continue
to do year on year, and I'd like to say
that our firefighters have actively undertaken their preseason training as
well as our staff members here within our Region six
Port lank And office, and we're prepared for the challenges
ahead of the fire danger season. Fingers crossed that we do,
(04:53):
as I said, have a milder spring. However, it's just
not what the indicators are telling us at the moment.
Speaker 5 (04:58):
And what about the summer does that look?
Speaker 6 (05:01):
Yeah, this stage with the forecast a little bit harder
to predict. As we progress down, we'll have a bit
more of an update as we get closer. However, that
being said, we still are expecting to have above average
temperatures for that period. They are saying, sort of average
rainfall over summer. That just remember the average rainfall still
isn't much over a summer period.
Speaker 5 (05:19):
They see IFS website features a five minute bushfire survival
plan designed to guide residents through the important steps needed
to make homes and properties as bushfire safe as possible.
Experts say people need to be familiar with their own
survival plan and make sure they've undertaken basic cleanups such
as removing debris, fallen trees and leaf litter, and generally
(05:43):
making the home as safe and accessible as possible. Stephen
Bauser again.
Speaker 6 (05:48):
We need to be careful and where we are planting
trees and trimming back on where we can. Fill Ers
don't actually burn properties down, it's the embers that do so.
When we actually have embers ahead of the fire, there
the core spot fires and the majority of the issues
that actually start to burn and start to cause issue
for our homes and property owners. So we do encourage
to clean up the leafletter, clean up the property, trim
(06:10):
trees are overhanging houses so we can be as safe
as possible.
Speaker 5 (06:14):
There are sixteen hundred volunteers and sixty one brigades making
up Region six, giving up their valuable time to train
for the worst so they can be there when we
need the most. Commander Boucher says, there's always room for more.
Speaker 6 (06:28):
I challenge the community if anyone's interested in recruiting and
being a firefighter or a support member, so please reach
out to the CFS Port Lincoln office and we can
put you in touch with your local brigade.
Speaker 5 (06:37):
You can find out more about bushfire preparation or becoming
a volunteer at the CFS website CFS dot SA, dot gov,
dot AU.
Speaker 2 (06:47):
Rob McLennan there and stick around because after the break
we'll catch up with Port Lincoln's own Leah Lovegrove ahead
of her hometown wrestling showdown with the Vice Principal.
Speaker 7 (06:58):
iHeart Air Peninsula, iHeart Air Peninsula.
Speaker 2 (07:05):
Welcome back to iHeart Air Peninsula, your local weekly news
wrap for the Air Peninsula and surrounds. I'm Sam's Albert
South Ausies who like their fundraisers with a side of
Petrol will be happy to know that National Big Bash
is hitting the road again in twenty twenty five. Cars
from around Australia will make their way through our region
in August next year. Rob mcclennan spoke to Variety SA
(07:28):
CEO Mark McGill.
Speaker 5 (07:30):
Mark, thanks for talking to us. I think we're all
pretty familiar with the Big Bash. What's the National Bash?
Speaker 8 (07:36):
Oh? Well, Rob, It's probably an interesting one in terms
of the title because in fact the National Bash is
really a collection of all of the spaces and territories
within Variety have a Bash and so they'll take off
at different times, obviously given the tyranny of distance to
(07:56):
get to to Adelaide, and we all have that joined
for a huge party on the eighth of August in
twenty twenty five to celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of Variety
in Australia.
Speaker 5 (08:08):
So people who are not familiar with the Bash, it's
what basically a great big cart rally. Would that be fair?
Speaker 8 (08:13):
So the criteria is pretty simple that all the vehicles
are over twenty five years of age. We have two
three four in each vehicle entrance. The entrance meets a
fundraising minimum of ten k per annum. And then there's
they pay for all their provisions on top of that
and their fuel and tires of the fairs, et cetera.
(08:35):
So essentially it really is a collection of, as I say,
for three about three hundred percent people, around two hundred
and fifty entrants, around one hundred officials, mechanics, doctors, logistics,
people journeying through in a great sense of makeshift, great
sense of fun and really enjoy the week away together.
Speaker 5 (08:57):
I understand the original Big Bash was the brainchild of
none other than Dick smith Mark. Is that right?
Speaker 8 (09:02):
He simply I said, as folklore goes, I'm going for
a bash in the bush with the mates, and he
selected variety. Is that as the beneficiary of that they
took off, as I say, forty years ago, gets grown
to thin. As I said before, it's nowt as a
bash in every state. There would be many hundreds of
(09:23):
thousands of children have benefit from the concept.
Speaker 5 (09:26):
So when the National Bash rolls into town next to
August twenty twenty five, can people go out and help
with the fundraising or is it more a chance just
to come and have a bit of a look at
the cars and have a chat to the people.
Speaker 8 (09:38):
Involved in that week. It's very much about the latter.
It's very much about us being part of a joint
attributing to the community. The impact that food, beverage, accommodation, fuel, tires, repairs,
et cetera is significant commercial and economic impact into this
(09:59):
remote regions. The catering that we submit to is generally
done by the football club, the netball club, which puts
five grands, six grand, seven grands back into the community.
Speaker 5 (10:11):
Would it be right for me to assume that you'll
be jumping into a car and coming along for the ride.
Speaker 8 (10:17):
Yeah, no, I do. This will be my fourteenths so
it's fantastic mate, and we really appreciate the support for
me as well. Thank you.
Speaker 2 (10:26):
Port Lincoln's had plenty of sporting superstars gold medals, silver medals,
bronze medals, but no athlete quite like Leah Lovegrove, who,
when she returns to her hometown next month, will be
in the wrestling ring taking on the vice principle. I
caught up with her a couple of days ago and
she told me how she got into throwing people around
(10:47):
the ring.
Speaker 1 (10:48):
I actually moved to Adelaide for university and when that
sort of fell apart and it wasn't what I wanted
to do. I was sort of left a bit lost,
and my boyfriend at the time was really into wrestling,
and I just thought, Oh, that seems fun. I'll give
it a go, especially like there was a girl from Adelaide,
(11:10):
Brea Ripley, who was trained at Right City Wrestling, who
just won a title in the WWE, and I was like,
she can do it. Maybe I could do it too.
So I just gave it a shot and I fell
in love with it.
Speaker 2 (11:22):
So you've obviously had an athletic background, but that's only
sort of half the puzzle with wrestling. How does your
persona change when you get into the ring.
Speaker 1 (11:31):
Well, my wrestling persona is very much just me.
Speaker 8 (11:36):
It's sort of me amplified up.
Speaker 1 (11:39):
To one hundred. And that same goes with any wrestling persona,
even if it's a good or bad person. It's sort
of just like traits of their of their personality blown
up to one hundred.
Speaker 2 (11:54):
And are you a good guy or a bad guy? Ah,
I'm a good guy because I see here you wrestling
against the vice principle? Did you have problems at school?
Is this what's going on here?
Speaker 1 (12:08):
Good old mister Cliff. He's here's a funny one because
he likes the so called educ other wrestlers in not
a very professional manner. He thinks he's very smart, but
he doesn't get his way. He goes to cheating and
(12:29):
he likes to hit people with rulers and whiteboards and
be a bit sneaky and cheat in the ring. Not
that the referee sees that. But yeah, he's not doing
too good at the moment because he hasn't won at Riots.
He's wrestling for a very long time, so I think
(12:49):
he's eager to win against me and thinks he can
win against me. But I'm gonna try not to let
that happen, especially in my hometown.
Speaker 2 (12:57):
Yeah, so that'll be in Ladox. Are you excited to
be wrestling in front of your hometown.
Speaker 1 (13:04):
I'm very excited. I'm very nervous actually seeing all my
friends and family there hopefully watch me wrestle. It's all
I talk about, and it's all I go on about
for eight like since I joined up. That's all conversation
is always wrestling. So to be able to bring it
(13:24):
to Port Lincoln and actually showcase what I'm going on
about is very exciting, but nervous, Like I'm very nervous.
Speaker 2 (13:33):
You'd probably have a signature move, right.
Speaker 7 (13:35):
I've got a few signature moves, but I like to
trip people, drop toe hold, and I like to do
drop kicks kick people in the safe.
Speaker 1 (13:48):
Yeah. I've got a few things, but one of my
favorite ones is doing a drop kick off the ropes.
So like standing up in the corner on the ropes
onto someone. That's always fun.
Speaker 2 (14:01):
And will we see a tuna toss.
Speaker 1 (14:04):
Ah, Yes, definitely, I'll be tossing mister Cliff around the
ring raps for sure.
Speaker 2 (14:10):
Local Leah Lovegrove there who you can see on October
twenty at the Lincoln Leisure Center. Get your tickets online.
That's it this week. For more news, search iHeart Air
Peninsula on the iHeart app or wherever you get your podcasts.
I'm Sam Talbert. Catch you next week for more local,
trusted and free news.
Speaker 5 (14:32):
Iheartair Peninsula.