Once again we must acknowledge the hard work of multiple agencies and volunteers in responding to the ongoing fire at Springfield and Pt Denison. First reported on Friday afternoon, the blaze has jumped up to emergency level threatening lives and homes across multiple days before being brought under control. Our own team of emergency broadcasters has assisted in getting messaging out across radio, tv and social platforms. Reporter Chris Lewis also spent a significant amount of time gathering content for state news, including a 14 hour day on Friday. Thanks Chris!
What an amazing feat by former Geraldton resident Joanne Norman who is the first Australian woman, and one of only six worldwide, to complete the Seven Oceans Swim. Joanne lost her father during the epic challenge and suffered a nasty shark bite but managed to complete the final swim in recent weeks.
I thought I'd take the opportunity to start introducing some of the people that make up the Midwest Wheatbelt bureau starting with reporter Chloe Henville. Chloe grew up on the family farm in Binnu, north of Geraldton, before heading to Perth for boarding school and university studies. She performed remarkably well during a two-week university placement at our office in 2024 and hasn't left us since! Chloe was able to complete her last semester of studies while working full-time as a reporter in Geraldton. She's since done a stint in the Perth newsroom and is now presenting radio bulletins, doing live TV crosses and covering all facets of reporting. Some examples of her work are 'Erosion putting Lancelin at risk of inundation' and for a bit of fun 'World's biggest tractor brings big tourism to Carnamah'.
Natasha Harradine
ABC Midwest Wheatbelt local editor