Conor Burke

6 days ago | abc.net.au | Eugene Boisvert |Conor Burke

The drought and recent cooler weather are causing ladybirds to gather in huge numbers around Mount Gambier, in South Australia's south-east, but an ecologist says it is a good thing. Photographer Darren Archibald was out last weekend and snapped photos of thousands, if not millions, of the insects aggregating on Stobie poles, fences and plants along Wandilo Forest Road in Dismal Swamp. "There are so many of them that the ground is covered," Mr Archibald told ABC South East SA.

1 week ago | abc.net.au | Josh Brine |Conor Burke

Tickets for flights out of the biggest city in regional South Australia will rise by an "unsustainable" $90 if the council is not able to get assistance to pay for installing security screening. Mount Gambier airport, in the state's south-east, is currently exempt from security screening, but has been told it is nearing passenger number thresholds that would trigger mandatory screening.

3 weeks ago | abc.net.au | Sam Bradbrook |Conor Burke

Residents hit by a major hailstorm in a south-west Victorian town six months ago say insurance companies are delaying payouts and offering paltry settlements for repair works. Hail stones lashed the town of Casterton, near the South Australian border, on October 16 last year. The Glenelg Shire estimated the storm left $50 million worth of damage in its wake, including 600 damaged cars.

3 weeks ago | johnmenadue.com | Conor Burke

The aged care royal commission has heard evidence that the government had no COVID-19 plan for the aged care sector, leading to one of the highest aged care death rates in the world. In his opening remarks on Monday, counsel assisting Peter Rozen, QC, told the commission that 68% of all deaths due to Covid-19 in Australia have occurred in aged care. Over 1000 residents have been diagnosed with Covid-19.

1 month ago | abc.net.au | Conor Burke |Samuel O'Brien

Sarah Eccles-Smith suffered an electric shock inside her house when lightning struck her home as she flicked a light switch. About 46,000 lightning strikes hit South Australia during storms on Monday, mainly in the state's south-east. Ms Eccles-Smith returned to work the next day, is feeling only minimal lingering effects. A South Australian woman thought she was going to die when electricity from a lightning bolt travelled through power lines to her house and then to her arm.