The extraordinary survival story of Mel Ismail who gouged at the eye of a shark as it dragged him underwater while he was surfing near Geraldton has left me in awe. Mel lost his lower leg in the ordeal but is full of praise for those who saved his life including those on the beach, ambulance officers and hospital staff. Mel and his partner Kylie allowed us into their home this week to tell their story. I hope you take the time to read or watch it and are as moved as I was at his composure, which no doubt helped save his life and reassure those around him. 

Late last week the team was also called into action after a man was shot in the leg during an incident at Moonyoonooka, east of Geraldton. The police response was strong and swift with the tactical response group making arrests just hours later. 

In the midst of these challenging incidents, there were glimmers of peace and joy across our region. The annual Mangowine Concert at Nungarin was a great success, as was the Sunshine Festival in Geraldton. I enjoyed some downtime camping with family at Kalbarri and enjoying the natural beauty of the Kalbarri gorges.  

Natasha Harradine

Editor

Pictured: The Murchison River on the Kalbarri loop trail

Speaking for the first time since he survived the attack last month, Mel Ismail recalls the moment he looked the apex predator in the eye.

When four men go missing within two years, is it a coincidence or a sign of foul play? Families are hoping a joint inquest will reveal the truth.

Kojonup farmer Liz Heggaton raises thousands of dollars for prostate cancer awareness through her annual ram sale, after losing her husband to suicide while he underwent treatment in 2024.

As electric vehicle sales boom across Australia, drivers and tourism experts say issues with remote parts of Western Australia's EV charging network could deter tourists from travelling to the Pilbara.

The state experienced a mixed bag of weather in September. Looking back at our viewers' photos shows just how different WA's climate can be from one end of the state to the other.

Burglary and fire charges: A 48-year-old man has been charged in relation to an attempted theft and fire at a Mid West minesite. Police allege Stephen Andrew Reynolds from Sunset Beach broke into the site at Yalbatharra, south of Kalbarri, where he set fire to a shed that spread to a shipping container. A $1.2 million front-end loader was destroyed in the blaze. Mr Reynolds appeared in the Geraldton Magistrates Court on Monday charged with two counts of aggravated burglary, criminal damage by fire and stealing. He was remanded in custody to reappear in court in November.

More childcare: Childcare places in Merredin are set to almost double after a local centre received more than $3 million in federal funding to expand services. Merredin Regional Early Education and Development received the allocation through the federal government's Building Early Education Fund. Placements are expected to increase from 36 to 71 by next year. Shire of Merredin president Donna Crook said the expansion would support growth in the town by helping families, local businesses and worker attraction. Construction is due to begin at the start of 2027, with services to begin later that year.

Backpacker visas: A Wheatbelt shire says proposed changes to the Working Holiday Maker program will disproportionately affect regional Western Australia. Last month, the federal government revealed it would introduce a ballot system to limit the number of backpackers staying in Australia beyond one year. Second-year stays will be capped at 45,000 places and third-year visas restricted to 5,000. Victoria Plains Shire President Pauline Bantock said the change could mean backpackers starting in Sydney and Melbourne would not make it to WA farms needing workers.

Coorow solar farm plan: The Shire of Coorow in WA's Mid West has received an application for a $2 billion solar farm and battery system. Synergy proposes co-locating the facility within the existing Warradarge wind farm, using existing access and electrical infrastructure. Up to 200 people could be employed during construction, which is expected to take almost two years once approvals are received. The proposal is open for public submissions until early November.

Toodyay writes off ATO debt: A Wheatbelt shire has written off nearly $200,000 in debt owed to it by the Australian Taxation Office. An investigation by the Shire of Toodyay found the ATO owed it more than $630,000 in GST credits dating back to 2020. But $195,000 could not be recovered because it dated back more than four years, and previous management or auditors did not catch the error. At a council meeting last week, the shire agreed to write off the unrecoverable funds. Shire president Michael McKeown declined to comment.

Wind farm proposal: Collgar Renewables has lodged a development application for a wind farm south-east of Merredin. The proposed Tandegin Wind Farm comprises 50 turbines and would connect to the South West Interconnected System. The project is expected to cost $346 million during construction and commissioning. Public submissions on the proposal are due to close on Friday, October 16.

Beach warning: Police are appealing for information after reports of a