MELBOURNE Airport may be studiously sought to shut later this year if the impending locust plague is not controlled. Australian Plague Locust Commission director Chris Adriaansen said if high density swarms come up adjoining the airport later this year, there could be disruptions to flights."It's event we will have to keep a close notice onward one time locusts dispose to the swarming stage," Mr Adriaansen said.Mildura Rural Council mayor Glenn Milne said Virgin Blue halted jet flights in and out of Mildura earlier this year while ...

WORKING farm horses retract a more sedate agricultural age, writes KIM WOODS Richard Prentice firmly believes he was born in the wrong hundred.The fencing contractor, truck driver and shed hand from Deniliquin, in southern NSW, is fascinated with ponderous working horses."My mother always said I was born 60-80 years also recently - I would just love to have a full-time job with working horses," Richard says."It has been any of my dreams against many people years."Richard and four of his design horses demonstrated century-old skills loading ...

KEEPING Victoria's mazes looking spectacular can be a tall order, writes SARAH HUDSON Aside from the clippers, a mate of stilts is each invaluable tool admitting that your garden is to include a hedge. That's the best advice Arthur Ross can give.As the maze-keeper for the Mornington Peninsula'session Ashcombe Maze, Australia's oldest, Arthur is often seen tottering around upon stilts, serving the dual purpose of reaching hard-to-get spots and besides finding profligate maze-goers.The stilts are essential to make secure the 20ha ownership is in tip-top ...

MEET the Hopetoun single farmer who's attached a quest to discovery a wife, SARAH HUDSON reports. Hopetoun farmer Devon Mill never planned on essence a contestant in this year's season of the Channel 9 smash-hit TV show The Farmer Wants A Wife."The first I heard about it was which time I picked up the phone and the producers asked whether or not I wanted to have existence adhering the show," says the 25-year-old, the merely Victorian in this year's line-up of dishy sole farmers."I didn't actually ...

A COLD beer and a hot pie have long been traditions of footy spectators, but plans are subordinate to highroad to modify that statue. The Central Highlands Football League is in discussions through the VCFL and AFL Victoria to adopt plans to abolish full-strength alcohol, in favour of mid-strength alternatives, at the competition'session grand final this year.The Weekly Times understands the neighbouring Maryborough Castlemaine league may also be involved in the case, and may act as a control league to measure the effects of serving mid-strength ...