Year in review: Look back on the stories that made headlines across the South West in 2021

This year has thrown the unimaginable at the community as we faced bushfires, a rental crisis and continued to live through the pandemic — and that’s just scratching the surface. As we prepare for whatever 2022 has in store, the South Western Times has looked back at the stories that captivated the region over the past 12 months. JANUARY Fireys help out South West firefighters went to help local brigades at the massive Red Gully fire in the Shire of Gingin, which burnt through 9000ha. International workers arrive Several South West farmers and producers breathed a sigh of relief from crippling labour shortages, as more than 150 international workers were deployed to help lighten the load. Splashing the cash The Liberal and Labor parties embarked on an election promise frenzy, splashing the cash around the South West in a bid to secure seats in the State Election. Mental health success Bunbury’s Step Up, Step Down residential mental health facility showed promising results as the end of its first year in operation approached, with the service provider recording an 83 per cent improvement in clients’ psychological wellbeing. Couple denied inquest The Bunbury couple whose baby died after a hospital morphine blunder have been denied a coronial inquest into the tragedy because their child showed no signs of life at birth. COVID scraps fireworks The Bunbury City Council announced the Australia Day celebrations which replaced the usual fireworks show, after the sky show was scrapped in line with advice from the chief health officer. One million containers Bunbury City Council’s Containers for Change refund centre reached a milestone of one million containers in less than four months since opening. Homeless housing concerns Several residents living near Timpeley Road voiced concerns over an affordable housing project that was nearing completion. Leavers show strengths In what was a tough year for West Australian leavers, the 2020 cohort produced some outstanding ATAR results, proving that not even a global pandemic could get in the way of their studies. FEBRUARY Alumina breaks records South32 achieved record half-year production from its Worsley Alumina operation, with a 4 per cent jump in output to 2 million tonnes of saleable product. Hotel for Collie The group behind the Dome cafe chain announced it was set to revitalise the historic Collie Roundhouse, turning it into a boutique hotel. Tourists avoid lockdown Caravan parks and hotels which were crawling with tourists were quickly left deserted as tourists packed up and left to avoid spending lockdown stuck in the South West. Homeless death rocks group Bunbury’s tight-knit homeless community grieved after one of its own was allegedly murdered in an attack at a CBD location popular among those sleeping rough. BORR begins Work officially began on the biggest South West road infrastructure project undertaken as the first sod was turned for the Bunbury Outer Ring Road northern and central sections. Australind back in action The trouble-plagued Australind was back on the rails, after an extended absence which saw the train replaced by buses. No Moo hurts club A Bunbury-based football club was hurt financially following news the Groovin The Moo festival was canned for the second year in a row. Bunbury Hospital dysfunction The level of dysfunction at Bunbury Hospital was so dire, staff would be “reluctant to recommend the hospital to their friends or family”, a confidential report revealed. Drug dealer loses on appeal A convicted Bunbury drug dealer who was jailed for eight years after admitting selling and supplying drugs for a South West bikie gang had his appeal thrown out by the Supreme Court. Top doc slams hospital Australian Medical Association WA president Andrew Miller claimed poor management at Bunbury Hospital was deterring doctors from working at the “damaged brand” — a development he said was “not good” for the people of the South West. Collie’s mega-mural unveiled Premier Mark McGowan unveiled the spectacular mural on the wall of the Wellington Dam, calling it “the biggest dam mural in the world”. Ex-boxer on bash charge Former semi-professional boxer Joel Peter Casey faced court accused of chasing a heavily pregnant woman with a crowbar before using the 30cm weapon to smash her housemate’s face in their Dalyellup home. MARCH Nurse’s jab a regional first A Bunbury nurse became the first frontline health worker outside the metro area to be vaccinated for COVID-19. McGowan’s moving Murray tribute As the political career of local favourite and Collie-Preston MLA Mick Murray came to a close, Premier Mark McGowan paid tribute to his long-time colleague. The Bunbury bunch The Times featured eight inspirational women who helped Bunbury sail through the uncharted territory during the pandemic and shared how they ‘chose to challenge’ ahead of International Women’s Day. Truckie avoids jail A Waroona truck driver who “did the right thing at the wrong time” avoided jail over a car crash that killed a 32-year-old woman and seriously injured three men. Hello, Minister Don Bunbury MLA Don Punch was rewarded for winning over his electorate and delivering a swing of more than 30 per cent across the last two elections with a spot in Premier Mark McGowan’s Cabinet. Housing crisis boils over Families were forced to put their children into crisis accommodation, sleep in tents or cram into caravans as the South West rental disaster reached boiling point. Bunbury on the rebound Bunbury topped the nation as the tourism region graduating off JobKeeper fastest with new data revealing the city rebounded the most Australia-wide. APRIL $60m seals Noongar deal The South West region’s Noongar people were another step closer to controlling their own destinies, with a $60 million payment due to the Noongar Boodja Trust within 60 business days. Turfed out for now The Bunbury Turf Club held its final meeting of the 2020-21 season on April 7, closing down for 18 months for a redevelopment that would allow year-round racing at the club. Ocean pool making waves The re-elected Labor Government promised to fund a feasibility study into an ocean pool at Bunbury’s Back Beach. Splash park progress Works started on a new $1.7m water playground that has been touted as Bunbury’s next big tourism drawcard for families. Attacker back behind bars A South West man convicted of assaulting his then-pregnant ex-girlfriend found himself back behind bars after he allegedly breached a family violence restraining order to see her. Man denies hit-and-run A South West business owner denied he used his car to pin two women against the brick wall of a Collie pub until it eventually caved in. Nightmare crash kills teens What started as a normal night-out for a group of teenage friends ended in tragedy after Buckley Spicer and Luke Hopkins were killed in a horror car crash that sent shock waves through the South West. Call for sister city Respected Bunbury war historian David Bailey called on the City Council to establish a sister-city connection with the French village of Pozieres, where about 23,000 Australians were killed in battle in July 1916, including 20 men from Bunbury. Lockdown confusion The three-day lockdown over the Anzac Day weekend caused initial confusion over whether holidaymakers in the regions were able to go about their day-to-day lives and sent weekend events into a tailspin. MAY Guilty plea in family siege A 56-year-old Molloy Island man admitted to pulling a gun on his family claiming he was fearing for his life after being attacked by his eldest son. Fight continues to cut speed The fight to lower the speed limit on a dangerous stretch of Bussell Highway, which has some residents fearing for their lives, ramped up after a supporting petition received more than 800 signatures. Jail for park flasher A Collie man was jailed for exposing himself in front of children at a local park. The way the ball bounces A basket brawl has broken out in a South West town after a disgruntled night shift doctor deemed the sound of balls bouncing on a court at a children’s playground was too loud. No to name change A controversial idea to explore changing the name of the Shire of Capel, which was strongly opposed by community members, was put to bed after the council decided to take no further action on the matter. Addict jailed over Dalyellup siege The meth-addicted South West gang member who sparked a tense stand-off with police when he was armed with a gun inside a suburban home with a woman and her child inside was jailed. Overnight sites to stay Two beachside parking areas in Bunbury were set to be permanently used as overnight rest areas for caravanners and campers in a bid to encourage tourists to spend more and stay longer in the South West. War vet’s life celebrated Inspirational centenarian and World War II veteran Richard “Norm” Eaton, to whom “family and service were everything” was celebrated by his big family and the Bunbury community. Pub fight grief Glenn Bernie, the 43-year-old man involved in a brawl outside a Bunbury pub, died after spending two days in an induced coma with head injuries. Mullet magic After scouring the South West football landscape and putting 12 of the region’s finest mullets to the test in a public vote, Greg Hodson was crowned the winner in the South Western Times’ best mullet in South West Footy Competition. Bright young minds The South Western Times spotlighted the stories of nine of Bunbury’s bright Indigenous role models who were leaving their mark on the wider community for National Reconciliation Week. JUNE Highway tragedy blow The 28-year-old woman who died in a car crash near Boyanup was the younger sister of a popular Busselton man who was killed after he was struck by a vehicle in a prank gone wrong 15 years before. Shire boss backs upgrade A South West Shire president backed the upgrade of an “antiquated” cattle saleyard near Bunbury and called for it to remain in Boyanup, despite a push for a new facility to be built elsewhere. Boost for Australind The Australind train service was on track to be bolstered by the return of railcar manufacturing in WA for the first time in 27years. Court win for climate activists A Bunbury teenager was one of the driving forces behind a landmark climate case that saw the Federal Court rule that the Federal Environment Minister had a duty of care not to cause young Australians harm from climate change. Jab centre WA’s first WA’s first regional COVID-19 community vaccination clinic opened in Bunbury. ‘Catastrophic’ street living Vulnerable homeless people in Bunbury were staying in tents pitched out in the cold or sleeping in their cars for shelter as the age-old issue reached “catastrophic levels” in the South West city. Hospital to learn from pain A review of maternity services at a private Bunbury hospital where a baby boy was stillborn after staff nearly killed his mother with a massive morphine overdose has called for improvements to education and staffing. Long wait for learners Learner drivers in Bunbury were having to wait longer than anywhere else in regional WA to book a practical test for their licence. Magistrate slams horrible messages A South West magistrate slammed the “absolutely outrageous” behaviour of a 23-year-old Bunbury man towards women after he sent hundreds of explicit and derogatory text messages to his ex-partner. Wheelie bin up to no good The man accused of throwing a green wheelie bin at an unknown person during an alleged break-in was behind bars once again after allegedly shoplifting while out on bail. Deal to help coal transition A landmark agreement that would secure the future for hundreds of workers in Collie as the town shifts away from its reliance on the coal industry was signed by key stakeholders. JULY Anna found in the wilderness Anna Johnson, a 68-year-old South West woman, was reunited with loved ones after she spent four days lost in the bush. Praise for lockdown response The region’s top cop praised the public’s response to another snap lockdown and said he was relieved very few Perth and Peel residents had attempted to flee to the South West to avoid harsher restrictions in Perth. More than just child’s play Childcare providers in Bunbury were forced to turn families away as an unprecedented worker shortage began to take its toll on the sector. Hoops they did it againA South West council was looking to pump more money into sound-proofing a basketball court deemed too “noisy” by a resident after already splashing out $1500 to change the material of its backboard. Bunbury man behind bars after taxi fury A Bunbury man was jailed for a vicious glassing attack against his partner that left her ear slashed and bleeding profusely while waiting for a taxi. AUGUST Rental battle close to home The ongoing housing crisis ravaging the South West had property seekers battling fierce competition as Bunbury’s vacancy rate dropped further and homes were snatched off the market. Golden opportunity for South West hero Margaret River’s Aran Zalewski was on the verge of becoming the South West’s first gold medallist since fellow hockey player Troy Elder in 2004 with his Kookaburras awaiting their Olympic decider against Belgium. Soaring meth prices prompt home job A convicted drug dealer avoided jail for making methamphetamine after “expensive” prices during COVID saw him resort to trying to make it himself. Lollipop sparks school drug concern A report of a suspected drug-laced lollipop being handed to a school-aged child in the South West has prompted police to tell parents to be on the look out for the dangerous confectionery. Agonising wait for mental health appointments People living with mental illness in the South West could not book in to see a psychologist in the region for the rest of the year. Assault defense continues The man accused of inciting a street brawl which killed a Bunbury father said the victim had spent the night threatening to bury him after an earlier assault that night. SEPTEMBER Dead man ‘to blame’ A Bunbury father who died as a result of a one-punch attack was the “author of his own misfortune”, according to a lawyer as the trial entered its third week. Stars hit the South West for big night-out The South West was treated to a “very nice” surprise when Hollywood A-lister Sacha Baron Cohen made the trip to Busselton with his wife, Hollywood celebrity Isla Fisher. Southwell, well, well... Contentious local government figure Michael Southwell announced he would throw his hat in the ring for the race to be Bunbury City mayor. Crash death still haunts A 61-year-old woman haunted by a “tragic” Christmas night crash that killed her son’s partner and left him with serious injuries avoided jail. Leaders slam electoral reform South West leaders were among those to slam the McGowan Government’s decision to introduce a one vote, one value system for the State Upper House in the biggest change yet in how WA politicians are elected. Killer to rot in jail after DNA find A strand of hair left on the dressing gown of a 1994 sexual assault victim added more jail time for convicted wife-killer and serial rapist Norman Frederick Hart, 27 years later. Cyclist killed in tragic bus incident A 63-year-old cyclist died after being struck by a school bus on the Bunbury coast. Grand final fever The South West was gearing up for the historic Perth AFL grand final, with locals featuring in the curtain-raiser, as Auskickers and Bunbury’s Neville Jetta a part of Melbourne’s premiership-winning squad. Don’t upset the apple guard A female prison guard took five weeks off work with injuries after an inmate threw an apple which hit her from two wings away. OCTOBER South West leads regional jab race The South West had the highest COVID-19 vaccination rate than any other regional areas in WA , with the region sitting at almost 69 per cent, well above the 67.1 per cent State average. Capel’s notorious basketball hoop moves 170m Capel Shire paid $18,350 to move a ‘noisy’ basketball hoop 170m from its original location after a resident conducted an ‘acoustic’ sound report that proved to sound of the balls bouncing was too loud. Donnybrook-Balingup Shire council public anger Verbal abuse was hurled towards the Donnybrook Shire president during a special electors meeting when more than 100 ratepayers were told they could not ask public questions regarding the council’s financial contribution to a sporting prescient development. Jetta joins Collingwood Bunbury’s former Melbourne Demons player Neville Jetta snapped up a new role as a VFL player and development coach for Collingwood Magpies. Bikie guilty of WA’s new domestic violence charge A Collie man with links to the Kalgoorlie Gypsy Joker hang became one of the first people to plead guilty to the State’s new persistent family violence charge. South West anti-vax business alliance A network of nine “pro-freedom” organisations in the South West came together to offer the public opportunities to shop with companies supporting human rights, claiming former US president Donald Trump would “save the world.” Capel Shire president denies abusing staffer Capel Shire president Michael Southwell vehemently denied he was abusive and threatening toward a local government staffer —after he appeared to publicly apologise for the incident over the Shire’s Facebook page. Miguel voted in as Bunbury Mayor with big plans Jaysen Miguel took out the top spot as Bunbury mayor with hopes to tackle homelessness, bring events and developments to the city and engage more young people in council decisions. Eight-year-old boy’s body found Great Southern police recovered the body of an eight-year-old boy believed to have fallen out of a kayak during a family holiday in Walpole. He had been missing for five days. Year 12 scavenger hunt Bunbury Year 12 student took part in out-of-control scavenger hunts as part of leavers celebrations, filming themselves snorting drugs off each others bodies, having sex in the middle of a football field and smoking their public hair. Australind Train ‘really unreliable’ South West MLC Steve Thomas slammed the management of Australind Train, which forced passengers to ride replacement coaches for over 100 days this year because of its “mechanical issues.” NOVEMBER Further drug charges for Margaret River teacher Former award-winning South West science teacher received further drug charges after police raided the man’s Margaret River home as part of an investigation into drug-laced lollipops found among school kids. Man pleads guilty to using staple gun on wounded dog A South West man was fined $5000 after he pleaded guilty to charges of animal cruelty, including using a staple gun to close up open wounds on his malnourished dog caused from hunting wild pigs. Waste bin receives mixed reviews Dardanup ratepayers gave mixed reviews on the Shire’s rollout of a new three-bin waste management system, with residents calling to replace the small 140L general waste bin with a larger alternative. Samurai sword murder A Supreme Court jury found a 44-year-old Eaton man guilty of murdering his best friend of 37 years with a samurai sword after hearing chilling evidence from the victim saying “I am dying, he has killed me” before he was hacked to death. Region’s bank closures unwelcomed An increasing number of major bank branches were being slammed shut across the South West, with the banks claims of a customer shift towards online banking being criticised by leaders as a “cheap cop-out”. Boyanup Saleyards investigation cleared An investigation into the Boyanup Saleyards’ controversial lease agreement came up empty-handed, finding the exclusion of independent livestock agencies from selling cattle at the saleyards did not breach competition law. Bunbury waterpark begins after chicks hatch Construction of a highly anticipated water play park in Bunbury was given the green light to resume, after a pair of nesting birds put a halt to work. Un-vaccinated Kelly Slater risks being banned from Pro Kelly Slater and other unvaccinated surfers risk being banned from select World Surf League events next year, including the Margaret River Pro, after the organisation decided not to mandate the jab for its athletes. Child sex abuser destroyed son’s life A 65-year-old child abuser from the South West — whose victims included his own son and three other relatives — was sentenced to 10 years behind bars. Man guilty of drunken rampage through Bunbury A 29-year-old South West man admitted to a spate of drunken rampages through Bunbury that saw him smash a glass window, expose his genitals, threaten to hurt and spit on police. South West Indigenous vax ‘crisis’ The South West’s Aboriginal population would be left vulnerable to COVID unless more was done to boost the community’s vaccination, with the community vaccination rate is 30 per cent lower than the rest of the region. Homeless solution ditched An 18-month-old report detailing potential solutions for the State Government to address Bunbury’s ongoing homelessness crisis did nothing but collect dust since it was commissioned last year. DECEMBER South West draft pride The South West produced its best draft crop in more than a decade, with three youngsters from the region landing their dream jobs at AFL clubs. It is the most new recruits from the region since 2009. WA not included in GTM 2022 festival Groovin’ the Moo will make a comeback in 2022 but won’t be coming back to WA after organisers Cattleyard Promotions announced the multi-stage event would not play Hay Park, Bunbury, where it was held from 2010 to 2019. Perth Fast Rail backed by peak rail sector The Australasian Railway Association threw its support behind the State Government’s investigation into developing a fast rail between the cities, which could see travel cut to less than 90 minutes. Forest Workers protest end to Native Logging Forestry business owners and employees staged a peaceful protest to coincide with the second meeting of the newly launched State Government-led Native Forestry Transition Group, a task force established to help workers move into other industries. SWT journalist tells Cleo’s story The 18 long days little Cleo Smith was missing were being retold in a new light — and a South West reporter shared his experience reporting on the ground in Carnarvon in episode five, The second interview: A night at the Blowholes. Anti-vax staff lead disability support crisis A disability support home in the South West faced a sudden shutdown because of a staffing crisis brought on by “selfish” anti-vax support workers. Haywood accused of child sex South West MP James Haywood was charged with sexually abusing an eight-year-old girl. He resigned from the Nationals WA and party leader Mia Davies called for him to quit Parliament. Busselton home to new festival A brand new music festival Out of the Woods will make its debut in Busselton in April 23-24 next year. In line with WA Government regulations, mandatory COVID-19 double vaccination will be required to enter the event. Southwell in breach again Former Capel Shire president Michael Southwell was found to have breached the Local Government Act for the 13th time after he did not declare an “impartiality interest” when moving a motion in January last year when he should have. Teen thief locked in cell for 22 hours A South West magistrate postponed the sentencing of a teenage thief and ordered a report from WA’s only juvenile jail after being told detainees were being locked in their cells for up to 22 hours a day. Bushfire devastates Margaret River Fire authorities threw everything they could at the blaze throughout Margert River which started during a total fire ban and in unseasonal conditions, with fierce winds fanning the fire and mechanical fire suppression impossible because of the underground caves system. Regions praised for vax rate ahead of border opening WA Premier Mark McGowan praised the South West’s efforts in getting the COVID-19 double dose jab during an announcement of the boarder reopening on February 5.