August 2025 edition

Support for Primary Producers - Financial Hardship

Council acknowledges the severe impacts recent weather events (including low rain fail, drought, frost) have had on many of our district's primary producers.

As such, Council has reviewed its financial hardship provisions to assist eligible ratepayers through:

• Postponement / deferral of rates for up to 12 months without interest penalties.
• Interest-free payment agreements.

If your property has been affected by the current conditions, you may be eligible to apply for either of these assistance provision. Applications will be assessed sensitively, and all applicants will be informed in writing of the outcome.

For a confidential discussion please contact the Chief Executive Officer on 8578 1004 or via ceo@dckem.sa.gov.au.

Venue & Equipment Hire – Supporting Your Next Event

Looking to host a community event, private function, or public gathering? Council offers a variety of venues and equipment for hire to help bring your ideas to life.

Whether you need a spacious hall, outdoor courts, or event essentials: 

• Karoonda Institute – Featuring a main hall, breakout rooms, and a basketball court
• Karoonda Town Oval & Courts – Ideal for sports and large gatherings
• Event Equipment – Including a BBQ trailer, picket fencing, and portable toilets

Council is proud to support local initiatives by providing well-maintained, accessible resources for residents, community groups, and visitors.

Find out more or make a booking by clicking the link below. 

Community Celebration for SALA Festival

What a night it was! On Saturday the 9th of August, we launched the 2025 SALA Festival in Karoonda with an Evening Under the Stars. 

This year’s exhibition, Grounded in Place, showcased works from 19 South Australian artists, lighting up the silos with a record-breaking 130 guests in attendance, including neighbouring local mayors, Member for Chaffey Tim Whetstone, and a coach-load of art lovers from Adelaide!

Highlights of the night:

• Seeing the amazing artworks lighting up our giant concrete canvas
• Greer Tappert’s live black cockatoo painting, raffled on the night and raising $777 for cancer research!

Missed the launch?
Don’t worry — the exhibition runs nightly through August, from sunset to 11pm.

Can You Fill in the Blanks? 

1. An outstanding citizen in our community is ________ because __________.

2. A young person making a difference in our community is ____ because ____.

3. A community event worth celebrating is _________ because __________.

4. A person or group showing active citizenship is ______ because _______.

If someone immediately came to mind, don’t stop there, nominate them today for the Citizen of the Year Awards. Help us celebrate the people and events that make our community a special place to live, work and play. 

Awards are presented at the 2026 Australia Day community event. 

Learn more and nominate now via the link below. 

Photo Competition for Young People

The Murraylands and Riverland Landscape Board want to see our region through young people’s eyes and find out what you think is important!

If you’re old enough to use a camera, and up to the age of 25, they’re calling on you to show them what matters most through photography – such as:

A river or wetland
Native animals or plants
Bushland
People at work or play

This is your chance to showcase the places, people and moments that tell the story of our region.

Your photo could be featured in the updated Regional Landscape Plan 2026-2031 – plus there are some awesome prizes up for grabs!

Click the button below to find out more and enter!

Celebrate Rural Women of our District!

Join us for an afternoon of connection, good food and celebration as we recognise the incredible contribution of rural women in our district.

📅 Friday 10 October 2025
🕛 12:00pm – 2:00pm
📍 Karoonda Town Oval – under a big marquee
🎟️ $20 per person (ages 12+)

Welcome bubbles, two-course lunch, pop-up bar, free mini massages & lucky door prize!

This Connecting Communities event is proudly supported by the Department of Primary Industries and Regions under the Family and Business Support Program, and brought to you by the District Council of Karoonda East Murray.

FREE Father's Day Craft - Bowhill Community Centre

Join a fun and creative Father’s Day craft activity at the Bowhill Community Centre!

🗓 Date: Friday, 5th September 2025
🕑 Time: 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM
📍 Location: Bowhill Community Centre

FREE: Bookings essential – Reserve your spot at trybooking.com/DDHSM
Or click the button below to book instantly.

Build Your Own Terrarium - Karoonda School Library

School holiday activity: Create your very own miniature garden!

🗓 Date: Tuesday, 30th September 2025
🕑 Time: 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM
📍 Location: Karoonda School Community Library

FREE: Bookings essential – Reserve your spot at trybooking.com/DENEA
Or click the button below to book instantly.

Date Change: Mindarie-Halidon Races, 19 October 25

Due to significant soil erosion affecting a section of the track, caused by this year’s extreme and unfavourable weather, the Mindarie-Halidon Races have been rescheduled. The event will now take place on Sunday, 19 October 2025.

To stay updated on event details, please click the link below.

Australian Government – Support in Drought

The Australian Government has support programs to help manage the wellbeing impacts of drought. Programs are open all the time with no drought declarations needed to apply.  

You may be eligible for more than you realise - know your options and apply early.

• Farm Household Allowance
  • Call the Farmer Assistance Hotline on 132 316 or visit Services Australia to see if you are eligible for up to four years of support.
     
• Rural Financial Counselling Service
  • Call 1300 771 741 to access free, confidential and independent financial counselling if you’re an eligible primary producers or small businesses experiencing, or at risk of, financial hardship.
     
• Concessional loans
  • Call 1800 875 675 to find out about a concessional RIC loan if you’re an eligible farmer or farm-related small businesses in financial need.
     
• Tax support
  • Call 1800 806 218 to ask the ATO for more time to lodge and pay tax or talk to a registered tax professional about other concessions.
     
• Farm Management Deposits
  • Talk to your accountant about drawing down on any farm management deposit account you may have.
     
• Social support and wellbeing
  • Call Lifeline Australia on 13 11 14 for immediate support or visit Head to Health for a list of other services that can help.

Click the link below see if these programs could work for you.

Fill Your Silo: Navigating Tough Seasons

Farming life can be rewarding – but it can also be relentless. If your “silo” is running low, this free, down-to-earth wellbeing session is for you.

Join psychologist and farmer Steph Schmidt in the Riverland for an evening exploring stress, wellbeing and simple tools to look after ourselves and those around us. You’ll also have the chance to connect with Rural Business Support and FaB Mentor representatives.

 The River Block, 184 Nitschke Road, Bookpurnong
 Friday 29 August | 5–9pm

Share stories, swap ideas and lift each other up.

FREE, register now using the link below.

Get ready to power up your savings!

Invest in energy-efficient upgrades for your business with a Powering Business Grant. 

Grants of up to $75,000 are available for small and medium-sized businesses and not-for-profits to invest in energy efficient equipment or upgrades that reduce energy use and costs, and boost sustainability practices.

Click the link below to find out more.

Rural Business Support

Don't decide you don't qualify for support. Reach out for a confidential chat with Rural Business Support (RBS). Too often, they hear the same thing from clients:

“Others need it more.”
“We’re not that bad—yet.”
“I thought I wouldn’t qualify.”

If you’re unsure about your finances, if things are tight or if the future feels uncertain—don’t self-assess. Have a conversation with an RBS Financial Counsellor. They’ll help you understand your situation and what support might be available, including the SA Government Rural Support Grant of up to $1,500 for everyday essentials.

FREECALL 1800 836 211 or visit www.ruralbusinesssupport.org.au 

August: SALA Exhibition 'Grounded in Place'

'Grounded in Place' is our SALA at the Silos exhibition for 2025, playing every evening throughout August from sunset on the Karoonda Silos! 

This year’s theme invites artists to explore deep connections to land, culture and community. Through stories of history, belonging, and the meaning of home, the 2025 SALA exhibition is a tribute to identity and place - told through the lens of 19 South Australian artists.

Playing every evening from sunset, 1 - 31 August 2025. 
Karoonda Silos, Railway Terrace, Karoonda.