2023 Year in Review: What was making headlines in the Manjimup-Bridgetown Times

It is the festive season once again, which means the year is coming to the end. 2023 has been a big year across the Lower South West region, from the fallout of State Government decisions to action in the Lower South West Football League season. The Manjimup-Bridgetown Times has covered the big stories impacting our area, and with 2023 coming to a close, we look back at the year that was. JANUARY The start of the year was a busy one for the region’s emergency crews, with a string of serious blazes burning across the region. Nannup’s timber mill closed after almost a century of service, while it was revealed a single mum of five who sparked an urgent police response after falsely claiming her ex-partner and father of her children was threatening them with a gun had been up all night drinking and playing a popular battle videogame before making the call. In sport, Bridgetown’s Caleb Van De Griend made his might known during his US basketball debut and three South West cricketers headed to Canberra to represent WA Country at the Australian Country Cricket Championships. FEBRUARY Workers at Manjimup’s Parkside mill had a less than ideal start to February after it was confirmed the operation would shut down two years earlier than anticipated, with the State Government later announcing financial assistance for ex-employees. Bridgetown introduced a trial banning the sale of energy drinks to children and teens following community concern at a spike in antisocial behaviour. Manjimup’s very own Lara Edwards had her first victory in the New Star junior division at the 2022-23 SSA Production Sedan WA State Title. MARCH The Fair Work Ombudsman conducted surprise inspections on about 20 farms and labour companies around the Manjimup and Donnybrook areas in March, with some being selected after anonymous tip-offs of workers being underpaid. A Bridgetown man was issued a lifetime animal breeding ban and fined $112,000 after the RSPCA seized 39 labradoodles from his home. It was announced Manjimup Shire chief executive Andrew Campbell would be relocating to Northampton and Forestry made it three in a row after defeating Bridgetown in the Warren Blackwood Cricket Association grand final. APRIL It was revealed in April a Nannup District High School teacher had been suspended for allegedly hitting, grabbing or squeezing kids as young as six. Anzac Day was extra special for the Wisharts in Nannup, with three of the family’s ex-servicemen reuniting. Thousands headed to Boyup Brook for the annual Harvey Dickson Easter Rodeo while there were also plenty of happy attendees at the Donnybrook Festival. April also saw the Lower South West Football League returned for another year. MAY Manjimup Police held Operation Exoleta in early May, which resulted in multiple weapon and drug seizures being made. Corey O’Connell’s family finally got closure when his remains were located near Nannup. The Shire of Manjimup revealed it was willing to go all out on attracting a new chief executive, announcing plans to apply for a $750,000 loan for a house for the head of its leadership team. In sport, the Imperials Football Club clinched a back-to-back win in the Johnson Cup clash against the Tigers. JUNE The popular Manjimup Cherry Harmony Festival was cancelled in June as the organising committee struggled with a lack of volunteers. Ex-Manjimup Tigers player Marlon Pickett fronted court after being accused of the theft of more than $380,000 from a string of commercial burglaries around Perth, while a Nannup basketball coach and umpire who used messaging platforms to send sexually suggestive messages to two underage girls was jailed for 14 months. Boyup Brook had a less than ideal match against Bridgetown in the LSWFL, being defeated by 135 points. JULY Councillors in Manjimup and Bridgetown-Greenbushes voted to increase their meeting allowances in July, while Boyup Brook kept theirs as is. It was confirmed a feasibility study had been launched into recommissioning the Bunbury to Greenbushes rail line to support Talison Lithium’s operations. Manjimup community clubs highlighted their struggles finding members, while the Shire of Bridgetown-Greenbushes threw its support behind a food truck trial. The council also announced Nicole Gibbs as its new chief executive, replacing Tim Clynch. AUGUST Shire of Manjimup ratepayers got hit with their biggest hike in a decade in August, with the council approving a 6.9 per cent increase. Community leaders welcomed the scrapping of the contentious Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Act, while a petition by litter hero Michael Filby to fund a regular clean-up of the Manjimup-Denmark route was unable to move the State Government. It was revealed more than two dozen Bridgetown residents would sue the council and Western Power over a 2022 blaze which caused a massive evacuation. In sport, Imperials got over the line against Deanmill in the 20th anniversary Todd-Cooper Cup. SEPTEMBER There were fears Manjimup’s housing crisis could get worse in August if the Shire followed through on its advertised housing audit. Nannup Shire had three councillors elected unopposed after there were no other nominees or challengers, while farmers and landowners were concerned they may have to “break the law” to irrigate their produce amid potential changes to water rights. Long-term Manjimup resident Louise Kingston took up her position in State Parliament and the Kojonup Cougars were this year’s LSWFL premiers. OCTOBER It was revealed a farmer in the Boyup Brook-Kojonup area was giving away sheep for free in October as the industry suffered from plans to ban live exports. Voters in the region overwhelmingly rejected the Indigenous Voice to Parliament and Donelle Buegge became the first directly elected president of the Shire of Manjimup. A South West man was recognised at the Australian Maritime Safety Authority’s national search and rescue awards for helping save a man and two children in their boat being sucked out to the ocean at the Donnelly River mouth. NOVEMBER The Shire of Boyup Brook in November rejected a proposal by the Shire of Bridgetown-Greenbushes to dual name the Blackwood River with its Aboriginal name Goorbilyup. Lower South West hospitals came into the spotlight after the Opposition claimed the State Government had failed to deliver projects including a $1m roof restoration at Bridgetown. Communities across the region paused for Remembrance Day, before the Blues at Bridgetown and Bridgetown Show drew huge crowds later in the month. DECEMBER Farmers raised concerns about potential moves to limit visas for backpackers in December, while one producer described Premier Roger Cook’s comments supporting live sheep exports as “too little too late”. Gina Rinehart sparked interest after buying agricultural land in the Bridgetown-Greenbushes Shire, with concerns raised she could be seeking to use it for lithium production. But there was plenty of festive joy with the Manjimup Christmas Tree being lit up for the first time in two years and Rotary Club of Manjimup member Rose Moyle receiving the Paul Harris Fellow Medal.