User Profile

Brooke Littlewood

Brooke is a journalist at Sunraysia Daily covering agriculture, health and general news. Email [email protected] to get in touch.

News

Mental health clinic opens thanks to 42km fundraising effort

A ROBINVALE almond grower’s dream of opening a free, walk-in mental health clinic in his hometown came to life this week. Luke Benham pledged in February to to run ‘42k for 42k’ — 42 kilometres to raise $42,000 for Robinvale...

30 Oct 2020

News

Farm labour needs in the palm of hands

Brooke LittlewoodA NEW platform has connected backpackers and migrant workers with ethical business owners — right in the palm of their hand. Launched in June and co-founded by Robinvale resident David Fealeaki, the Back Picker application aimed to...

23 Oct 2020

News

Cracking almond orchard selected

SELECT Harvests is set to snap up Piangil Almond Orchard for $129 million. The agreement, signed by United Almonds, Bright Light Agribusiness and Lake Lucas Almonds, is expected to close by the end of the year. Once complete, the...

16 Oct 2020

News

A marathon push for clinic

Brooke Littlewood ROBINVALE almond grower Luke Benham has raised over $30,000 to help his hometown run a free, drop-in mental health clinic.Benham, in February, pledged to run ‘42k for 42km — 42km to raise $42,000 for Robinvale District Health...

09 Oct 2020

News

Grape picking solution amid picking labour shortage

FARMERS have warned of a severe labour shortage in coming months, with backpacker and foreign worker numbers plummeting under strict COVID-19 border rules. But a Robinvale company hopes mechanical harvesting can fill the void for grape growers...

02 Oct 2020

News

Robinvale councillor Jade Benham aims for second term

JADE Benham is hoping to be returned for a second term as Swan Hill councillor. Cr Benham described her 18-month stint as councillor, after taking over Robinvale Ward at the retirement of long-serving John Katis, as a “try before...

20 Sep 2020

News

Legal gag harms abuse survivors, advocate says

Brooke Littlewood SUNRAYSIA sexual assault survivors who speak out under their real identity, could face jail time or be fined thousands of dollars under a new Victorian law. Changes to the Judicial Proceedings Report Act, which were quietly...

04 Sep 2020

News

Fears for seasonal worker supply

Brooke LittlewoodTHE Seasonal Worker Program and Pacific Labour Scheme is set to restart despite COVID-19 travel restrictions, allowing migrant workers to help with the 2020-21 harvest. But there are fears workers may not want to return next year. The...

04 Sep 2020

News

Inter-valley trade rules safe for now

Brooke LittlewoodNO changes will be made to the Goulburn to Murray inter-valley trade (ITV) rules without extensive consultation with irrigators and stakeholders. The announcement comes after fears were raised that the proposed changes would have an...

21 Aug 2020

News

No bullet dodged for dodgy hire contractors

Brooke LittlewoodVICTORIAN businesses and farmers who source workers through dodgy hire contractors have not dodged a bullet amid COVID-19. Despite the pandemic’s harsh restrictions and lockdown laws, the work of Victoria’s Labour Hire Authority...

21 Aug 2020

News

Hitting back at union calls for working holiday visa to be axed

Brooke LittlewoodA TOUGH ban on backpackers is not the solution to worker exploitation across the horticulture sector, according to agriculture representatives, who hit back at several unions on Tuesday after calls to have the working holiday vis...

14 Aug 2020

News

Risks over loss of harvest labour as borders shut

Brooke LittlewoodTHE horticulture industry is at risk of losing about 80 per cent of its harvest labour due to the impact of COVID-19 border and international travel restrictions. According to the industry representative for Australia’s vegetable and...

14 Aug 2020