2023 Year in Review: What was making headlines in the South Western Times from July to December

2023 has been a year of highs and lows across the South West. Whether it is in the court room, on the cricket field or at community events, the South Western Times has been there covering the stories that matter across the region. In the final of a two-part series, we look at what made headlines over the past year. JULY The City of Bunbury was in the spotlight in July over its Welcome to Country policy debate, which saw Mayor Jaysen Miguel distance himself from some of the comments made. Bishop Gerard Holohan stepped down from the Diocese of Bunbury, stating he was “basically worn out”. In court, a previously declared drug trafficker just out of jail was caught by police with a home-made taser, fashioned from a plastic electric fly swat. Busselton lost Out of the Woods to Fremantle, with organisers blaming costs and accommodation, while Harvey Shire president Paul Gillett became the third head of a South West council to announce he would not contest his position in October. Collie Eagles footballer Billy Bebbington was handed a three-year and eight-month ban after he was found guilty of multiple umpire abuse charges resulting from being issued with a red card. Bunbury Football Club product Ruby Mahony finished runner-up in the WAFLW’s Dhara Kerr Medal in Perth and the FIFA Women’s World Cup visited Busselton. AUGUST Bunbury’s house prices were in the news in August after Core Logic data showed they sold faster and with smaller discounts than any other regional area in Australia. Margaret River-based surfer Jack Frost told his story after surviving a great white shark attack, saying he was lucky his injuries were not worse. A former Bunbury bartender was left counting the cost after being fined for stealing and drinking $900 worth of alcohol on the job and it was revealed drug overdoses in the South West were at their highest level in 16 years. The Anglican Bishop of Bunbury made steps towards reconciliation, with an apology to Noongar elders and those affected by the Stolen Generation. Redevelopment of Hands Oval got under way with the demolition of the former SWFL headquarters and Bunbury’s Alex Saffy pulled off a personal best time to clinch bronze at the World Para Swimming Championships. SEPTEMBER Bunbury was in the spotlight in September following the fallout from Professor Marcia Langton’s comments at a Voice referendum forum at Edith Cowan University. The Busselton Chamber of Commerce and Industry revoked an invite to controversial council candidate Stephen Wells for a meet the candidates event after calls from the community, while South West pharmacists warned 60-day dispensing rules could result in them “going bankrupt”. A Bunbury retail worker was found guilty of using an elaborate fake store returns scheme to steal $9000 and a Picton sandblasting and spray painting business was fined more than $50,000 after being found guilty of six environmental offences. In lighter news, more than $30,000 was raised in the Bunbury Big Freeze and Mojo’s Kitchen Bar and Bottleshop was recognised for having the best beer list in the nation and the best listing of WA wines at the 2023 Australia’s Wine List of the Year Awards. The big sporting event of the month was the SWFL women’s grand final, with the Bunbury Bulldogs taking home the premiership victory. OCTOBER There was plenty of big news in October, with the month beginning with a visit by Federal Opposition Leader Peter Dutton to Bunbury. Australind was shocked by the death of a disabled man allegedly attacked by a housemate in a shared house, with the incident being investigated by the NDIS. South West voters overwhelming supported the No campaign in the Indigenous Voice to Parliament referendum, before local government elections a week later saw a number of new faces elected. The state of WA’s sheep industry was highlighted, with a Boyup Brook-Kojonup area farmer taking out an advertisement to give away lambs for free. Teachers warned vaping could rob a whole generation of students from holding a job, while a South West woman was fined $1000 after she lied about buying apple pies to receive a refund she was not entitled to. It was a slender victory for Busselton in the SWFL league grand final, while the Slammers celebrated with star import Buay Tuach resigning for 2024. NOVEMBER Residents across the South West region paused again in November for Remembrance Day to honour those who have served. A Bunbury taxi driver bashed and taken to hospital had to make his own way to Perth for surgery to his injured arm after hospital staff denied him transport by ambulance. The Shire of Boyup Brook rejected a bid to dual name the Blackwood River, which led an Aboriginal elder to describe the town as mostly “racist”. A Harvey Shire councillor was left in tears at one point during the council’s debate on whether to abolish Welcome to Country and Acknowledgement of Country. Outgoing City of Bunbury chief executive Mal Osborne personally apologised to The Wiggles for using their song Hot Potato to deter “antisocial behaviour” around the Graham Bricknell Memorial Music Shell. In sport, Daniel Delaney called time on his league coaching career at the Busselton Magpies, being replaced by Augusta-Margaret River’s Matt Jamieson. DECEMBER Airbnb rental management companies are accused of “capitalising on a crisis” in December as the number of short-term rental properties in the South West outnumbers long-term ones by more than 20 to one. The City of Bunbury finds a way forward with the proposed basketball stadium at Hay Park, supporting the Bunbury Basketball Association to build, own and operate the facility. Several motorists have a close call in a crash on Forrest Highway which closed both southbound lanes for hours. But there was some good news, with an anonymous man paying off all of the lay-bys at a Bunbury toy store. The South Western Times thanks all of our readers for their support in 2023 and we look forward to continuing to cover the region in 2024.