ABC Midwest & Wheatbelt

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How 50 years of research turned this town into WA's trapdoor spider capital

Tammin residents are celebrating a 50-year study into trapdoor spiders that unearthed the world's oldest recorded arachnid, and is still going strong.

Legs of a trapdoor spider stick out of burrow.

Published: FriFri 5 Sep 2025 at 4:38amSource: ABC Midwest & WheatbeltTopic: Arachnidsby Eliza Bidstrup

feel good

Spectacular start to wildflower season draws increasing visitors to WA

Armed with cameras and notepads, thousands of tourists hit tiny towns in WA's Midwest for the start of wildflower season.

Published: FriFri 5 Sep 2025 at 3:53amSource: ABC Midwest & WheatbeltTopic: Flower Foliageby Piper Duffy

Here's how wet it got this winter, and what WA can expect for spring

Western Australia's winter was foggy, rainy and even featured a tornado, along with several snow flurries on Bluff Knoll. Here are the pictures that illustrate the season.

Published: ThuThu 4 Sep 2025 at 5:39amSource: ABC NewsTopic: Weatherby Kenith Png

Red tape slows the sale of Australia's largest sheep station

A deal has been done to sell Rawlinna Station to a UK-owned pastoral company, but six months on the WA government is yet to approve the sale.

A wooden sign at the entrance to Rawlinna Station.

Published: TueTue 2 Sep 2025 at 9:32pmSource: ABC Midwest & WheatbeltTopic: Sheep Farmingby Belinda Varischetti and Joanna Prendergast

No immediate prison time for mother of twin girls killed in car crash

Perth woman Rachel Van Oyen, whose careless driving caused the death of her daughters in a crash in country WA, successfully appeals her original sentence.

A woman wearing sunglasses with two girls on either side and blurred faces

Published: TueTue 2 Sep 2025 at 5:44amSource: ABC Midwest & WheatbeltTopic: Courtsby Eliza Bidstrup

Storm surges lead to costly delays for exporters at WA port

Weather conditions at Geraldton's port cause record shipping delays, leading to cost increases and challenges for farmers, exporters and miners.

An aerial view of an iron ore carrier sailing out of Geraldton Port.

Published: 1 Sep 2025Mon 1 Sep 2025 at 11:02pmSource: ABC Midwest & WheatbeltTopic: Marine Transport Industryby Joanna Prendergast

Trainers share the secrets to a champion sheepdog

Australia's best sheepdogs are put to the test in Western Australia for the national championships. What makes a dog the best?

A dog chases a sheep with his tongue out.

Published: WedWed 3 Sep 2025 at 10:02amSource: ABC Midwest & WheatbeltTopic: Agricultural Shows and Industry Eventsby Eliza Bidstrup

Listen back

ABC Midwest & Wheatbelt Local News

Local news, updated weekdays at 6:35am.

Duration: 4 minutes 58 seconds

Source: Listen

Meet the group that has dedicated 100 years and millions of dollars for patient care in Perth

The Auxiliary is looking for new volunteers as it turns 100.

Flo is dressed in a hair net and chef clothes, preparing a sandwich, smiling

Duration: 7 minutes 43 seconds

Source: ListenTopic: Volunteersby Ashleigh Davis

Trials of Modern Life: Birthday parties for pets

The panels wonders what is the youngest age to attend a rock concert and whether hosting a birthday party for your pet dog is weird.

A black lab wearing a party hat and bandana pants with balloons behind him.

Duration: 18 minutes

Source: ABC Radio PerthTopic: Ethicswith Jo Trilling

Trials of Modern Life: Is it bad manners if you don't offer a cuppa to a tradie?

The panel gets down and dirty with tradie etiquette from everything such as cash-in-hand payments and offering a cuppa tea.

Milk pouring into a cup with soft green background

Source: ABC Radio PerthTopic: Ethicswith Jo Trilling

ABC Radio MIDWEST & WHEATBELT

Live. Australia Wide

with Sinéad Mangan

10:30am to11:00am

Play Live Radio Schedule

Listen on the go on ABC listen app

Watch

The police air wing assisted in an arrest last week.

Operation Down uses Geraldton officer, as well as specialised officers from Perth including air wing and canine units.

Duration: 1 minute 20 seconds

Source: ABC News

Michael Goh wildflower time lapse

Astrophotographer Michael Goh captured this time lapse of everlastings and the Milky Way at Coalseam Nature Reserve in WA's Midwest. Supplied: Michael Goh

Duration: 44 seconds

Source: ABC News

Minister's jet makes "emergency landing" after mid-air problems

A government jet carrying WA Regional Development Minister Stephen Dawson made an emergency landing in Geraldton after circling to burn fuel.

Duration: 1 minute 6 seconds

Source: ABC News

Carolina Wilga retrieves her van from remote bushland

Mr Sprigg said the retrieval took a total of three days with the help of his family and locals. Supplied: Wheatbelt Way/Sprigg family

Duration: 10 seconds

Source: ABC News

Features

Photographer blends shot of Milky Way and blooming wildflowers

As wildflowers bloom across regional Western Australia, photographers hit the road to capture their beauty.

A field of pinky-white flowers with yellow centres.

Duration: 44 seconds

Source: ABC Midwest & WheatbeltTopic: Photographyby Natasha Harradine

Council spend rewarded as town ends seven-year wait for supermarket

Seven years after the WA Wheatbelt town's last supermarket closed, Perenjori residents are celebrating the return of a local shop.

A woman with light, long hair wears a black long-sleeved top. She smiles and leans against a wall.

Source: ABC Midwest & WheatbeltTopic: Shoppingby Piper Duffy

Scenic country towns capitalise on gravel cycling boom

The lure of red dirt roads lined by fields of green and gold draws thousands of "gravel grinders" to WA as off-bitumen cycling events grow in popularity worldwide.

Three men cycle on a red dirt road surrounded by green paddocks.

Source: ABC Midwest & WheatbeltTopic: Cycle Sportby Chloe Henville

Growing concerns over use of glucose monitors by non-diabetics

An explosion in social media promotion of glucose monitors has a diabetic concerned the wellness trend could put much-needed equipment at risk.

The back of a persons arm has a small, round, flat device attached to it. They hold a phone in the out-of focus background.

Source: ABC Midwest & WheatbeltTopic: Diabetesby Brianna Melville

What's happening

Australia Votes: Your Vote, Your Say

This election, the ABC is asking you to be part of the conversation.

Text reads: Your Say. Tell us what's on your mind this election. Have your say here.

Published: 27 Feb 2025Thu 27 Feb 2025 at 3:05amSource: Radio

Tell us what you think about our programs

You can help shape what we do by joining our online feedback community, YourSpace. Plus, you'll have a chance to win 1 of 5 $100 gift cards monthly!

Photoshopped YourSpace Header which reads: 'How are we doing? ABC Your Space'

Published: 11 Jul 2023Tue 11 Jul 2023 at 12:02amSource: Radio

Top 100 Books of the 21st Century

Calling all book lovers to vote now for their favourite titles!

Published: 20 Aug 2025Wed 20 Aug 2025 at 7:04amSource: Radio

Know your ABCs in an emergency

This summer know your ABCs; action plan, be safe, connect with us. The ABC has a host of useful resources and tips on how to best prepare yourself for emergency weather so you can keep you and your household safe.

Letters A, B and C in pink, yellow and blue with small infographics of people completing emergency safety tasks

Published: 9 Dec 2024Mon 9 Dec 2024 at 5:23amSource: ABC EmergencyTopic: Bushfires

WA Sport

The storylines to define the NRL finals

In the industry, they call it the 'second season'. Only eight teams remain as the NRL gears up for a finals series rich with storylines. What are the narratives that will define finals time?

Tom Starling jumps on Corey Horsburgh, who is hugging Hudson Young after scoring an NRL try.

Duration: 14 minutes 54 seconds

Source: ListenTopic: Sport

Molloy wonder goal stuns the crowd as Fish stars for Swans

Chloe Molloy kicks a stunner and Zippy Fish stars as the Swans account for the Dockers in the AFLW.

Source: ABC NewsTopic: AFL Women’s

Fyfe bows out after Freo loss, saying 'I don't think I needed anything else'

After 248 games, two Brownlow Medals, two AFL Most Valuable Player awards, three All-Australian nods — but no premiership — Nat Fyfe makes a graceful exit from football in the wake of Fremantle's finals loss.

Fremantle star Nat Fyfe applauds the fans as he stands on the ground after the final game of his AFL career.

Source: ABC NewsTopic: AFL

Time to knock big brother off Gabba perch, Hardwick says after Suns big finals win

Having lost their past 10 games at the Gabba, the Gold Coast Suns are confident they can buck history in the QClash semifinal against Brisbane after downing Fremantle in Perth.

Gold Coast Suns coach Damien Hardwick laughs as he stands in the rooms after a finals win.

Source: ABC NewsTopic: AFL

WA News

Man critically injured in Perth workplace incident

A man in his 40s has been critically injured in a workplace incident in Perth's north-east.

Front entrance of a building marked "Hoffman Engineering"

Source: ABC NewsTopic: Accidents and Emergency Incidents

Development framework overhaul sparks climate, accountability concerns

New legislation aimed at fast-tracking priority energy and defence projects in Western Australia could put the environment at risk and lead to less transparent government, experts say.

Premier Roger Cook wearing a suit and tie delivers a speech at a lectern.

Source: ABC NewsTopic: State and Territory Governmentby Blake Kagi, Nicolas Perpitch and Lauren Smith

Labor divisions grow over Burswood racetrack, with two Federal MPs at odds

Federal Resources Minister Madeleine King backs the WA government's controversial Burswood racetrack plan, after her Labor colleague Patrick Gorman slammed the idea.

Mid shot of Madeleine Kind wearing a white blazer talking in front of media microphones

Source: ABC NewsTopic: State and Territory Governmentby Courtney Withers and Rhiannon Shine

Winemaker shares devastation after lithium battery fire guts warehouse

A long-time winemaker says he opened his door to explosions and a black ball of smoke as a fire caused by a cordless screwdriver destroyed a lifetime collection of tools and machinery.

Rob Wignalls leans against his home behind warning tape.

Source: ABC Great SouthernTopic: Industrial Firesby Andrew Collins, Samantha Goerling and Andrew Chounding

National News

Man critically injured in Perth workplace incident

A man in his 40s has been critically injured in a workplace incident in Perth's north-east.

Published: 21m agoMon 8 Sep 2025 at 10:21amSource: ABC NewsTopic: Accidents and Emergency Incidents

'Smoke in the cockpit': Plane's emergency landing after mayday call

The British Airways passenger flight BA16 was on its way to Singapore and made the emergency return to Sydney Airport about an hour after take-off this afternoon.

Published: 19m agoMon 8 Sep 2025 at 10:22amSource: ABC NewsTopic: Air Incidentsby Jean Kennedy

Bulldogs prop forced to move out of home on eve of NRL finals

Max King has been living with a mould infestation at home that he is glad to have finally escaped in the lead-up to Friday's qualification final at Melbourne.

Max King of the Bulldogs running with the NRL ball

Published: 1h agoMon 8 Sep 2025 at 9:08amSource: ABC NewsTopic: NRL

Supertramp co-founder Rick Davies dies aged 81

Rick Davies, the co-founder and lead singer for British rock band Supertramp, has died aged 81 after a decade-long battle with cancer.

Published: 1h agoMon 8 Sep 2025 at 9:04amSource: ABC NewsTopic: Music

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ABC Midwest & Wheatbelt

How 50 years of research turned this town into WA's trapdoor spider capital

Spectacular start to wildflower season draws increasing visitors to WA

Here's how wet it got this winter, and what WA can expect for spring

Red tape slows the sale of Australia's largest sheep station

No immediate prison time for mother of twin girls killed in car crash

Storm surges lead to costly delays for exporters at WA port

Trainers share the secrets to a champion sheepdog

ABC Midwest & Wheatbelt Local News

Meet the group that has dedicated 100 years and millions of dollars for patient care in Perth

Trials of Modern Life: Birthday parties for pets

Trials of Modern Life: Is it bad manners if you don't offer a cuppa to a tradie?

ABC Radio MIDWEST & WHEATBELT

Live. Australia Wide

Connect with ABC Midwest & Wheatbelt

Get the ABC Midwest & Wheatbelt newsletter

The police air wing assisted in an arrest last week.

Michael Goh wildflower time lapse

Minister's jet makes "emergency landing" after mid-air problems

Carolina Wilga retrieves her van from remote bushland

Photographer blends shot of Milky Way and blooming wildflowers

Council spend rewarded as town ends seven-year wait for supermarket

Scenic country towns capitalise on gravel cycling boom

Growing concerns over use of glucose monitors by non-diabetics

Australia Votes: Your Vote, Your Say

Tell us what you think about our programs

Top 100 Books of the 21st Century

Know your ABCs in an emergency

The storylines to define the NRL finals

Molloy wonder goal stuns the crowd as Fish stars for Swans

Fyfe bows out after Freo loss, saying 'I don't think I needed anything else'

Time to knock big brother off Gabba perch, Hardwick says after Suns big finals win

Man critically injured in Perth workplace incident

Development framework overhaul sparks climate, accountability concerns

Labor divisions grow over Burswood racetrack, with two Federal MPs at odds

Winemaker shares devastation after lithium battery fire guts warehouse

Man critically injured in Perth workplace incident

'Smoke in the cockpit': Plane's emergency landing after mayday call

Bulldogs prop forced to move out of home on eve of NRL finals

Supertramp co-founder Rick Davies dies aged 81

Other ways to listen

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