Police are investigating a car fire at Kuitpo that spread to trees overnight.Emergency services were called to Brookman Road, Kuitpo just before 12.30am on Saturday 27 July by reports of a car fire.The white Ford Transit van was well alight when crews arrived, with the flames also igniting trees.CFS crews extinguished the blaze.Inquiries are continuing to contact the registered owner of the van.Crime scene investigators will attend the scene this morning.Police are treating the fire as suspicious and ask anyone with information that may assist the investigation to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or online at www.crimestopperssa.com.au

The State Emergency Service and the City of Victor Harbor will run a free community information session on preparing for storms and floods on Tuesday 30 July.With increasingly volatile weather storms can happen anywhere at any time of year, and when they’re severe they can cause major damage. The information session will cover what to do when a storm or flood strikes, with opportunities to learn about Home Emergency Plans, sandbagging and emergency contacts.It will be held at the City of Victor Harbor council chambers from 5pm to 7pm. Reserve a place by booking online. Get tips on preparing for storms by visiting the SES website. For emergency storm assistance, call the SES on 132 500. For life-threatening emergencies, call 000.

Today, mobile roadside speed cameras are primarily targeting Seaford and its surrounding areas in the Fleurieu Peninsula to enhance road safety and promote responsible driving.Below is a list of the specific locations where these cameras will be monitoring speed compliance throughout the day.Drive carefully and adhere to speed limits to ensure a safe journey for everyone.ALDINGA BEACH RD, ALDINGA BEACHCOMMERCIAL RD, SEAFORDDALKEITH RD, SEAFORD RISEESPLANADE, SEAFORDGRAND BVD, SEAFORD RISEHIGH ST, WILLUNGAKANGARILLA RD, KANGARILLAMAIN RD, WILLUNGAMCLAREN FLAT RD, KANGARILLAPETERS CREEK RD, KUITPOPORT RD, ALDINGASEAFORD RD, SEAFORDSEAVIEW RD, MCLAREN VALEST ANDREWS TCE, WILLUNGA

This weekend, the 53rd Willunga Almond Blossom Festival is set to dazzle visitors with new and exciting attractions, making it an event you won't want to miss. Highlighting the festivities will be the Inferno Fire Performers, who will captivate the audience with their spectacular fire twirling and fire breathing show on Saturday night. Their performance will culminate in a grand fireworks display, promising an unforgettable evening. “Inferno thrilled crowds at this year’s Adelaide Fringe Festival in February and are arguably Australia’s hottest fire show,” said Sally Scantlebury, Festival Manager. “They will bring a theatrical new dimension to our winter festival.”The historic Willunga Show Hall will come alive with music throughout the weekend, featuring a variety of local artists and bands. This year, the lineup includes a showcase of young, emerging talent managed by Year 12 students from the Willunga Waldorf School.A cherished tradition, the Almond Blossom Festival Cake Competition, invites bakers to showcase their skills. Judged by the Country Women’s Association, local chefs, and special guests, the competition offers prizes for all ages.Families will find an abundance of children's activities centered around a new giant tipi, including science shows, story time, a petting zoo, camel and pony rides, mini golf, and giant games.The festival offers a diverse array of attractions and activities for all ages. From thrilling show rides and live music to kids' crafts and games, a vintage car display, market stalls, delicious food and drinks, fireworks, and almond-inspired activities, there's something for everyone.This beloved festival is a testament to Willunga’s community spirit, commitment to tradition, and support for local businesses. Join us on the 27th and 28th of July at Willunga Recreation Park for two days of inclusive family fun and celebrate the region’s largest community event.For further information on the 2024 Willunga Almond Blossom Festival, please visit this linkTIMES: Saturday July 27th 11am - 9pm Sunday July 28th 10am – 4pm Ticket Information$25 Family (up to 4 children) $10 Adults $5 Students (5 – 16 years)/Concession Children under 5 free *no ticket required Ticket Link: OR EFTPOS at the gate New attraction: Inferno

The City of Onkaparinga has released a draft Community Vision for community feedback. According to Mayor Moira Were, the vision will guide the city's direction for the next 10 years until 2034.“More than 5,000 community members have helped shape a shared vision through surveys, workshops and feedback at council events,” Mayor Were says.“We’ve incorporated that feedback to create a draft vision that tackles current and future challenges and opportunities, reflecting our community's aspirations and choosing the right criteria for making tough decisions when necessary.“The community also told us that in 10 years’ time they want this place to be as beautiful, liveable and unique as it is today. This vision is your vision.”Open for feedback until Sunday 11 August, the Community Vision is based on four key themes – community, environment, liveability and leadership – supported by 32 ambitious goals.Mayor Were says the draft Community Vision 2034 is high-level and aspirational and would require collective effort to deliver.“We understand that this vision might not align with the current reality of your rates notice or other cost pressures. But this is just the first step in setting a new direction. We must start now and we have much work to do,” she says.“Being Mayor of Onkaparinga teaches me every day about what it means to make good decisions now and for the future.“I hope this Community Vision becomes the compass that guides those decisions – not just for the council but for the community and anyone and everyone who can help bring it to life.“My fellow elected members and I have made a series of commitments to you about the things we will consider when we are making decisions in the chamber based on what we heard from you. Those commitments, shown on page 22 of the draft vision, reflect both financial and social principles.“But this is not just about what the council will do. We will work with industry partners, other levels of government, service providers, not-for-profits and you to achieve this collective and evolving vision.“This is about everyone working together and turning ideas into action.”To read and provide feedback on the draft Community Vision by Sunday 11 August, visit the council’s Your Say page.

The Aldinga and Sellicks Spinners and Knitters group will hold its annual open day next Saturday 3 August at The Aldinga Institute Hall from 10am to 3pm.This event is an opportunity for the community to experience intricate and beautiful crafts of group members, with the chance to see demonstrations of spinning, knitting, weaving, felting, and other wool crafts.The open day will feature a variety of stalls where visitors can shop for unique handmade creations, including jumpers, beanies, socks, and scarves, all crafted from natural fibers.There will also be a selection of yarn, craft supplies, fleece, and fibre available for purchase, along with finished items and gifts.The group has more than 40 active members and meets twice a month on the first and third Tuesday from 10am to 2pm at the Aldinga Institute on Old Coach Road. For those who prefer evening gatherings, a smaller group also meets every Thursday from 4pm to 7pm at the Aldinga Library.Not only do these talented crafters create beautiful items, but they also dedicate their skills to knitting for charity and local hospitals. The group's charitable efforts are a testament to their commitment to giving back to the community, providing warmth and comfort to those in need.The Aldinga and Sellicks Spinners and Knitters group welcomes new members, even those who may not yet be crafty. They offer a friendly and supportive environment where beginners can learn and grow. Interested individuals can reach out by phone at 0417 823 176 or by email.

The District Council of Yankalilla has doubled the number of its women representatives with the provisional election of Karin Hatch in the Light Ward bye- election.Electoral Commission South Australia (ECSA) recorded 1125 formal votes in the postal ballot, representing 44 per cent of eligible voters.It provisionally declared Karin Hatch elected on Tuesday 23 July.She won 528 first preference votes; her opponents, Gavin Denton and Shane Grocke, previously stood for Light Ward in the 2022 council election.The Carrickalinga resident is a former scientist and researcher, who retired to a long term holiday home four years ago with her husband and two dogs,.She joins councillors Wayne Gibbs, Tim Moffat, Davina Quirke and Glen Rowlands in representing Light Ward, which covers Normanville and Yankalilla.Mayor Darryl Houston, Deputy Mayor David Olsson, Lawrie Polemka and Simon Rothwell represent the rural Field Ward.The bye election was triggered by the resignation of Councillor Bill Verwey, who stepped down for personal reasons.Full details of the supplementary election can be viewed on the ECSA website. 

Good morning! Today, mobile roadside speed cameras are strategically placed across the Fleurieu Peninsula to enhance road safety and encourage responsible driving. Below is a list of the specific locations where these cameras will be monitoring speed compliance throughout the day. Drive carefully and adhere to speed limits to ensure a safe journey for everyone.ALDINGA BEACH RD, ALDINGA BEACHCOMMERCIAL RD, SEAFORDDALKEITH RD, SEAFORD RISEGRANTS GULLY RD, CLARENDONHIGH ST, WILLUNGAKANGARILLA RD, KANGARILLAMAIN RD, WILLUNGAMAIN SOUTH RD, OLD NOARLUNGAMCLAREN FLAT RD, KANGARILLAPORT RD, ALDINGASEAFORD RD, SEAFORDSELLICKS BEACH RD, SELLICKS BEACH

Do you recognise this person? Police are investigating property damage to a vehicle at Noarlunga Downs in May this year.On Friday 24 May, a vehicle was parked in a carpark on Honeypot Road at Noarlunga Downs when it was damaged by an unknown person (pictured).The vehicle damaged is described as a silver Mitsubishi Utility.Police are asking anyone with information that may assist in the investigation to contact Crime Stoppers on Anyone with information on the incident is asked to contact Crime Stopper on 1800 333 000 or online at https://crimestopperssa.com.au/ - you can remain anonymous.Reference: 24-122M

BreastScreen SA has introduced a temporary pop-up clinic at the Aldinga GP Plus Health Care Centre, bringing vital breast cancer screening services closer to home for women in the region. This initiative aims to address the increasing demand for screening in Aldinga, McLaren Vale, and Willunga.Lauren Civetta, Program Director of BreastScreen SA, highlights the importance of regular breast screening, especially for women aged 50 to 74. “It is important that women over 40 years, especially those aged 50 to 74, have a breast screen every two years to check for subtle breast tissue changes,” she says.The Aldinga region, home to more than 4,500 women in the target age range, currently has participation rates below the program level, at around 47 per cent. Approximately 1,200 clients have been accessing screening services through the Christies Beach Clinic or the mobile screening unit, which visits McLaren Vale every two years. However, the last visit to McLaren Vale concluded in December last year, making this pop-up clinic a timely addition.Dr Civetta says BreastScreen SA has been working on identifying areas with low participation and reduced accessibility, aiming to provide more services within these regions. "During the COVID-19 pandemic, we successfully implemented temporary pop-up clinics at Victor Harbor and Port Lincoln, with our pop-up clinic at Mount Barker proving so successful, we were able to convert it into an ongoing clinic."The pop-up clinic at Aldinga is only available for six months, with appointments available three days per week on Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday. This service ensures that women in the Aldinga area have timely access to breast cancer screening, reducing the need for long-distance travel and encouraging higher participation rates.There is also a mobile breast screen unit currently based in Victor Harbor. This unit is available until 20 November at the Southern Fleurieu Health Service, located on Harbour View Terrace. The mobile unit will be parked in the car park on the corner of Malen Avenue and Harbour View Terrace. Operating hours are from 8.30am to 4pm. For more information or to book an appointment, call 13 20 50 or email.

Sheep Graziers Warned of Adverse Weather Conditions on Wednesday EveningSheep graziers in parts of the Kangaroo Island forecast district are being advised to prepare for severe weather conditions expected on Wednesday evening. The Bureau of Meteorology has issued a warning for cold temperatures, rain showers, and strong northerly winds, which are predicted to hit the region.The adverse weather poses a significant risk to livestock, particularly lambs and sheep that are exposed to the harsh conditions. Graziers are urged to take necessary precautions to protect their animals from potential losses."We are expecting a challenging evening with a combination of cold, wet, and windy weather. It is crucial for graziers to ensure their livestock is sheltered and protected," said a spokesperson from the Bureau of Meteorology.Local authorities recommend that graziers move their animals to sheltered areas and monitor weather updates closely. Stay tuned for further information as the situation develops.

Six Fleurieu schools have joined with Business Victor Harbor to stage a careers expo in Hayborough next Wednesday 31 July.Encounter Lutheran College will host the event, in conjunction with Victor Harbor High School, Mount Compass Area School, Goolwa Secondary College, Investigator College and Yankalilla Area School.Andrew Weiss is Career Development Coordinator with Encounter Lutheran College and the main organiser of the event.He has been recruiting local businesses to exhibit at the Expo, to provide information and insight about their industry to young people - and to show what vastly different employment opportunities the Fleurieu Peninsula has to offer. More than 30 training organisations and employers will be present to offer career advice and discuss the skills and qualifications needed for future pathways.Supported by the City of Victor Harbor, the event is aimed at students preparing to finish their schooling and their families and is free to attend.It will be held in the Encounter Lutheran College gymnasium from 6pm to 8pm. For more information go to the website.

Major Crash officers have arrested a man following investigations into a head on collision earlier this month.Police will allege that at about 2.45pm, Thursday 18 July, a white Mitsubishi utility travelling north on Victor Harbor Road at Mount Jagged, crossed to the incorrect side of the road and collided head on with a silver Subaru sedan.The driver of the Subaru sedan, a 26-year-old Tooperang woman, was airlifted to hospital where she remains in a critical condition.Passengers in the Subaru, a 26-year-old woman and a 7-year-old boy were taken to hospital with serious injuries but have since been released.The driver of the Mitsubishi ute, a 46-year-old man, and his passengers, a 43-year-old woman, a 12-year-old boy and a 10-year-old boy, all from Port Noarlunga South, were treated at hospital before being released.On Monday 22 July, Major Crash investigators arrested the driver of the Mitsubishi utility. He has been charged with one count of cause serious injury by dangerous driving and five counts of cause harm by dangerous driving. The man’s licence has been disqualified until further order.He was bailed to appear in the Christies Beach Magistrates Court at 10am, Thursday 26 September 2024.

Sealink has announced the names of its two new ferries for the Kangaroo Island Ferry Service, currently under construction.They will be called Wanggami and Ruwi, which mean Kangaroo and Land in the local Ngarrindjeri language.Tracy Croft, General Manager of Sealink SA, says the company received more than 1500 suggestions from the community in its naming competition.“There was a lot of creativity in those entries.”She says Sealink consulted widely about potential names and has received formal approval from the Ngarrindjeri Aboriginal Council (NAC), whose cultural heritage is deeply connected to Cape Jervis and Kangaroo Island.“Throughout the naming process we have worked closely with NAC and other stakeholders to acknowledge and celebrate the connection of the Ngarrindjeri people to the lands and waters in which our ferries operate.”Mark Koolmatrie, Deputy Chair of the NAC, has welcomed the names, saying they mark a historic moment. Measuring 10 metres longer and two metres wider than the current vessels, Sealink says the two new identical vessels will provide more vehicle lane space and will offer a smoother ride and more capacity.They will enter service early in 2025. For more information visit the Sealink website.

Two men will face court after an array of illicit drugs were located at a Morphett Vale home yesterday.About 11am Sunday 21 July, following an investigation, Detectives from Southern District CIB attended and searched a Morphett Vale home. Inside detectives located an amount of methamphetamine, cocaine, GHB, cannabis and magic mushrooms. They also found stolen identification documents, mobile phones and over $14,000 in cash.A 33-year-old Morphett Vale man and a 32-year-old Noarlunga Downs man were located at the home and arrested. They have been charged with trafficking a controlled drug and money laundering.Following this police had caused to search another home at Noarlunga Downs where they allegedly located evidence of trafficking a controlled drug.The 33-year-old Morphett Vale man was refused bail and will appear in the Christies Beach Magistrates Court today, Monday 22 July. CO2400018062.The 32-year-old Noarlunga Downs man was bailed to appear in the Christies Beach Magistrates Court on 29 August.Police urge anyone with information about the illicit drug trade to contact Crime Stoppers at www.crimestopperssa.com.au or 1800 333 000 – you can remain anonymous.

One small update brought down millions of IT systems around the world. It’s a timely warningThis weekend’s global IT outage caused by a software update gone wrong highlights the interconnected and often fragile nature of modern IT infrastructure. It demonstrates how a single point of failure can have far-reaching consequences.The outage was linked to a single update automatically rolled out to Crowdstrike Falcon, a ubiquitous cyber security tool used primarily by large organisations. This caused Microsoft Windows computers around the world to crash.CrowdStrike has since fixed the problem on their end. While many organisations have been able to resume work now, it will take some time for IT teams to fully repair all the affected systems – some of that work has to be done manually.How could this happen?Many organisations rely on the same cloud providers and cyber security solutions. The result is a form of digital monoculture.While this standardisation means computer systems can run efficiently and are widely compatible, it also means a problem can cascade across many industries and geographies. As we’ve now seen in the case of CrowdStrike, it can even cascade around the entire globe.Modern IT infrastructure is highly interconnected and interdependent. If one component fails, it can lead to a situation where the failed component triggers a chain reaction that impacts other parts of the system.As software and the networks they operate in becomes more complex, the potential for unforeseen interactions and bugs increases. A minor update can have unintended consequences and spread rapidly throughout the network.As we have now seen, entire systems can be brought to a grinding halt before the overseers can react to prevent it.How was Microsoft involved?When Windows computers everywhere started to crash with a “blue screen of death” message, early reports stated the IT outage was caused by Microsoft.In fact, Microsoft confirmed it experienced a cloud services outage in the Central United States region, which began around 6pm Eastern Time on Thursday, July 18 2024.This outage affected a subset of customers using various Azure services. Azure is Microsoft’s proprietary cloud services platform.The Azure outage had far-reaching consequences, disrupting services across multiple sectors, including airlines, retail, banking and media. Not only in the United States but also internationally in countries like Australia and New Zealand. It also impacted various Microsoft 365 services, including PowerBI, Microsoft Fabric and Teams.As it has now turned out, the entire Azure outage could also be traced back to the CrowdStrike update. In this case it was affecting Microsoft’s virtual machines running Windows with Falcon installed.What can we learn from this episode?Don’t put all your IT eggs in one basket.Companies should use a multi-cloud strategy: distributing their IT infrastructure across multiple cloud service providers. This way, if one provider goes down, the others can continue to support critical operations.Companies can also ensure their business continues to operate by building in redundancies into IT systems. If one component goes down, others can step up. This includes having backup servers, alternative data centres, and “failover” mechanisms that can quickly switch to backup systems in the event of an outage.Automating routine IT processes can reduce the risk of human error, which is a common cause of outages. Automated systems can also monitor for potential issues and address them before they lead to significant problems.Training staff on how to respond when outages occur can manage a difficult situation back to normal. This includes knowing who to contact, what steps to take, and how to use alternative workflows.How bad could an IT outage get?It’s highly unlikely the world’s entire internet could ever go down due to the distributed and decentralised nature of the internet’s infrastructure. It has multiple redundant paths and systems. If one part fails, traffic can be rerouted through other networks.However, the potential for even larger and more widespread disruptions than the CrowdStrike outage does exist.The catalogue of possible causes reads like the script of a disaster movie. Intense solar flares, similar to the Carrington Event of 1859 could cause widespread damage to satellites, power grids, and undersea cables that are the backbone of the internet. Such an event could lead to internet outages spanning continents and lasting for months.The global internet relies heavily on a network of undersea fibre optic cables. Simultaneous damage to multiple key cables – whether through natural disasters, seismic events, accidents, or deliberate sabotage – could cause major disruptions to international internet traffic.Sophisticated, coordinated cyber attacks targeting critical internet infrastructure, such as root DNS servers or major internet exchange points, could also cause large-scale outages.While a complete internet apocalypse is highly unlikely, the interconnected nature of our digital world means any large outage will have far-reaching impacts, because it disrupts the online services we’ve grown to depend upon.Continual adaptation and preparedness are vitally important to ensure the resilience of our global communications infrastructure.David TuffleySenior Lecturer in Applied Ethics & CyberSecurity, Griffith UniversityDavid Tuffley is a member of the Australian Computer Society (MACS).This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license.

A woman has died following a crash at Strathalbyn last week.Emergency services were called to Parker Avenue, Strathalbyn about 5.45pm on Thursday 18 July after reports that a car had collided with a parked unoccupied truck.The driver of the Peugeot, an 85-year-old Strathalbyn woman, suffered serious injuries and was taken to hospital.Sadly, she died in hospital yesterday.Major Crash officers attended the scene and are conducting an investigation into the circumstances of the collision.Anyone who may have witnessed the crash or has any dashcam is asked to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000, or online at www.crimestopperssa.com.auThe woman is the 49th life lost on South Australian roads so far this year.

In a milestone event for the heritage-listed PS Oscar W, Alexandrina Council has signed three leases with the Friends of the Oscar W to formally hand over the day-to-day operations of the historic paddle steamer.The Friends of the Oscar W is an incorporated body of multi-skilled volunteers who maintain, operate and crew this steam-powered, wood-fired paddle steamer.It was originally built for river trade in 1908 and is now a council-owned asset.The Friends have operated the paddle steamer and a portion of the historic Goolwa Wharf Shed as a riverboat tourism centre under a Joint Venture Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the council since 2010.On Thursday 18 July, the Friends and the council formalised a 10-year lease for the Lease, Operation and Maintenance Agreement of the PS Oscar W Vessel.They also signed a 10-year lease for the operation of the ‘Wood Yard’ at the Goolwa Community Precinct to manage the wood for the vessel and a five- year lease to operate the new ‘Goolwa Riverboat Centre’ being built in a portion of the Goolwa Wharf Shed currently under restoration.“This is a momentous milestone for the Friends and for Council,” says Mayor Keith Parkes.“We’ve been working with the Friends since 2023 to transition management from a Memorandum of Understanding arrangement with Council to a leasing arrangement.“Having leases in place provides greater security for all parties on the management of the PS Oscar W.“The Friends have greater clarity and autonomy in managing the Oscar W and their holistic business operations with more independence than is offered under an MOU and Council has more clarity regarding our financial involvement and risk management.“Council will be responsible for operating costs such as insurance and surveying as well as providing modest marketing and tourism support.“The Friends will be responsible for the daily operations of the Oscar W, mooring, managing the loading and unloading of wood and other items, repairs, tour bookings, recording keeping and volunteer management.“We look forward to working with the Friends to keep the history of the Oscar W and the riverport heritage of Goolwa and the Lower Lakes alive and well inour region.”Friends of the Oscar President George Kaiser says his committee has been involved with the operations of the 116-year-old paddle steamer for 35 years.“I’d like to take this opportunity to thank our many members, including some of our long-standing members Dave Finnie, Errol Thorp, Dennis Borchardt and of course our patron Roly Bartlett. “Without their involvement in the restoration of the Oscar W, we wouldn’t be where we are today.“We’re looking forward to working together and the future with the new Riverboat Centre. We thank Council for the contribution they have made to make it the best Riverboat Centre in South Australia.”At its July meeting Alexandrina Council also endorsed the Friends of Oscar W design for the fit-out of the historic Wharf Shed to create the Riverboat Centre and Workshop.This project will deliver a state-of-the-art audio-visual presentation, bringing Goolwa’s Riverport history to life. The council also endorsed the Friends of Oscar W’s business plan for 2024/25, illustrating a plan targeting increased revenue to become less reliant on council funding.

Kangaroo Island will celebrate its 188th Settlement Day on Friday 26 July with a ceremony at the Pioneers Memorial on Kingscote Esplanade.The event will also honour the 2024 Kangaroo Island Young Achievers of the Year, Ruby Lashmar and James Mitchell.Settlement Day on Kangaroo Island is a time-honoured tradition where outstanding young individuals are recognised for their accomplishments. The Young Achiever of the Year award acknowledges those who have shown exemplary leadership, dedication, and significant personal achievements or community involvement.KI Council says it selected Ruby Lashmar and James Mitchell for this year’s award after a rigorous evaluation process. Mayor Michael Pengilly has commended both recipients, highlighting their exceptional commitment to sports, community service, and academic pursuits."Ruby and James have consistently demonstrated outstanding achievements, including academic excellence at KICE, participation in leadership programs, and significant contributions to their community."Ruby is part of the Cruise Ship Volunteer Program, showcasing her local knowledge and dedication to South Australian tourism.James has achieved accolades at local, state, and national levels in sports, including KICE Athletics Champion in 2023 and 2024."Their accomplishments are a testament to their hard work and positive attitude," Mayor Pengilly says. "On behalf of Kangaroo Island Council and the community, I extend heartfelt congratulations to Ruby Lashmar and James Mitchell for their well-deserved recognition as the 2024 Kangaroo Island Young Achiever of the Year."The day will begin with a gathering at 10.15am for a 10.30 start to festivities.After the official ceremony the Hope Cottage Museum, affiliated with the National Trust of Australia, will host a Settlement Day morning tea at the Kingscote Council Chambers.