ABC Great Southern

19/12/2025

Following fatal fires in Western Australia's south earlier this week, stories are emerging of how homes were saved and communities rallied in the wake of tragedy.

19/12/2025

Telstra is being urged to have a "complete rethink" of how it responds to power blackouts after a 73-year-old retiree from WA's Mid West could not call Triple Zero (000) despite four attempts.

Midwest WA residents could not reach Triple Zero amid a perfect storm of severe weather and fires, causing extended mobile and power outages.

18/12/2025

South coast towns calling for more funding to cope with an expected surge of recreational fishers.

South Coast towns are calling for more funding to cope with a surge of recreational fishers as the region prepares to shut down recreational and commercial fishing.

18/12/2025

It’s looking like a warm one for Christmas Day, according to the Bureau of Meteorology’s first official forecast 🎄🎁

ABC weather reporter Tyne Logan spoke to experts about when a forecast becomes more than an educated guess 👉 https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-12-17/bom-christmas-forecast-accuracy/106135952

18/12/2025

A 34-year-old farmer has been killed helping fire crews battle a bushfire in WA’s south.

The man was driving along Old Ongerup Road in Mindarabin on the evening of Tuesday, December 16, when a tree fell onto his vehicle, crushing the cab.

He sustained critical injuries and died at the scene, about 400 kilometres south-east of Perth.

He is the second farmer to die fighting bushfires in the same region this month, after Ravensthorpe farmer Mark Mudie was killed in a fire earlier in West River, about 500km south-east of Perth.

📝 Anna Cox
🎬 Seena Katayama

17/12/2025

The City of Albany has received reports a blue-ringed octopus has been sighted at Emu Point.

Blue-ringed octopuses are highly venomous.

Their bite can be life-threatening and may not be immediately painful.

Community members are urged to be cautious when handling shells, discarded cans or bottles, and when turning over rocks in shallow area, these are environments blue-ringed octopuses are known to shelter in.

For the latest news, tune your radio to 630 AM or find ABC Great Southern on the listen app https://www.abc.net.au/listen/live/greatsouthern

17/12/2025

Tragic news out of the Great Southern with a 34-year-old man killed after a tree fell on his vehicle near Ongerup.

A 34-year-old farmer dies helping fight a fire in Mindarabin, in WA's Great Southern region.

16/12/2025

One homestead has been saved in an emergency level fire burning in WA's upper Great Southern.

Shire of Gnowangerup president Kate O'Keefe said water bombers were assisting ground crews to tackle the uncontained blaze.

"I have heard of one incident where the water bombers working with firefighters have actually saved a homestead, which is really terrific news for that family," she said.

The fire started at 12.18pm near the town of Ongerup, and has since burnt 600 hectares.

An evacuation centre has been set up at the Pingrup Race Club.

For the latest news, tune your radio to 630 AM or find ABC Great Southern on the listen app 📻 https://www.abc.net.au/listen/live/greatsouthern

16/12/2025

⏰ Tuesday 10:00 pm: Multiple bushfire warnings downgraded. More details below 👇

DOWNGRADED ℹ️ JACKITUP and MINDARABIN: Advice Stay Informed
📍 the area bounded Tie Line Road, Chesterpass Road, O’Neill Road, Ongerup Creek, Hart Road, Gnowangerup Jerramungup Road, Coromup Road and Hinkley Road

DOWNGRADED ℹ️ COWALELLUP, MILLS LAKE, MINDARABIN, ONGERUP and TOOMPUP: Advice - Threat is Reduced
📍area bounded by Ongerup Creek, O'Neil Road, Magners Road and Peedilip Creek, including Ongerup townsite

⚬ More details: ab.co/4pIQh0K

🚧 ROAD CLOSED: Chesterpass Road between Nyabing-Pingrup Road and Magitup Rd.

📻️ Listen to ABC Great Southern 630AM, or on ABC listen: abc.net.au/listen/live/greatsouthern

ℹ️ ABC Emergency: ab.co/ABC-WA
⚬ ​​DFES: emergency.wa.gov.au

📷 Mindarabin fire from Borden looking towards Ongerup. December 2025 (supplied).

16/12/2025

South Coast fishers say they're bracing for increased pressure on local waters, as fishing effort shifts following the WA Government's decision to permanently shut down commercial demersal fishing on the West Coast.

Commercial fisher Graeme Drew has worked along the South Coast for more than 40 years.

Operating Bremer Fish Processors near Bremer Bay, he fishes under hand-lining licences, running a baitfish operation supplying sardines, while also targeting deep-water demersal species.

He says the impacts are already being felt.

"The effort will come straight off the West Coast, and it will come down onto the South Coast," he said.

"You're going to get a large amount of overfishing on the South Coast, which is detrimental to all of the South Coast fishermen in the long term."

Mr Drew says South Coast operators could be next in line to be cut.

"We could be looking at 20 to 30 per cent loss, and then it becomes unviable to even go."

"Unless we catch a certain amount of fish each trip, you'd make more money if you stay home."

16/12/2025

Three Great Southern schools have been closed amid hot weather and fire risks.

The Broomehill Primary School, Tambellup Primary School and Ongerup Primary School are closed for today because of an increased risk of bushfire in the area.

Temperatures in the region are expected to peak around 38 degrees with wind gusts up to 51 kilometres an hour.

Emergency WA says no one should be allowed to enter the schools due to the increased risk.

Parents are being told to keep their children at home.

15/12/2025

About 70 riders competed in this weekend’s Apex Barrel Racing Jingle Rock Jackpot in Boddington.

Among them was 10-year-old Ariana Rhodes and her two sisters.

Louise De Rosa was also competing and said it was a great way to finish the season.

“It’s really good vibes here with everyone,” she said.

“It’s a really good weekend.”

For the latest news, tune your radio to 630 AM or find ABC Great Southern on the listen app 📻 https://www.abc.net.au/listen/live/greatsouthern