Northern Valleys News

3 weeks ago | nvnews.com.au | Kyra Burns

Not much slips past the eagle eyes of Bindoon locals — but even the most unobservant would have struggled to miss the sudden appearance of emus, kangaroos, a squid, and a giant dragon sprouting from a property on Gray Road – the new home of Martin Jaine Sculptures. Martin Jaine Sculptures began in 2011, after Martin purchased a barbed-wire emu sculpture for his wife Jane. “I thought, ‘That’s quite a lot of money — I think I could make that’,” he said.

3 weeks ago | nvnews.com.au | Kyra Burns

Jurien Bay local Rhiarn Sutton and her devoted canine companion, Violet (pictured above), have officially become a certified scent-specific tracking team, joining the ranks of K9 Trackers Perth. Their new operational status means they are available for search call-outs throughout the Wheatbelt, and surrounding areas — bringing vital support to families during times of crisis. Rhiarn’s journey into the world of search and rescue began with a desire to make a meaningful impact.

1 month ago | nvnews.com.au | Kyra Burns

At the Bindoon ANZAC Day ceremony, Vietnam veteran Norm Fitzpatrick delivered a powerful and deeply personal address, sharing the realities of being conscripted as a teenager — finding himself under fire not just in the war zone, but at home too — and the long-lasting impacts of his service. “I was a young man, around about 19 years old when I was conscripted into the army,” said Norm. “We had to present ourselves to Karrakatta.

2 months ago | nvnews.com.au | Kyra Burns

The team at The Loose Leaf Lettuce Company celebrated a significant milestone early this year, honouring longtime employee Natasha Williams. Tash first joined the company as a Year 10 student for work experience, and returned in January 2005 to begin paid employment as a processing hand. Now, in 2025, she proudly marks 20 years as a valued member of the team. Tash’s long-term supervisor, Kylie Russell, praised her dedication. “Tash knows a lot about our processing roles, and she does them all.

2 months ago | nvnews.com.au | Kyra Burns

Nestled in the heart of the Chittering Valley, Agia Skepi is a boutique farm run by Peter and Foteini Kakulas — a couple whose journey to farming was as unexpected as it is fulfilling. Originally city dwellers, the Kakulas family were motivated by the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic to seek space, freedom, and a more self-sufficient lifestyle for their family. Foteini, who had previously lived in Bullsbrook, had long dreamed of having a farm as a retreat for weekends and holidays.