The ABC's New Regional Web Sites

With little fanfare, the ABC has launched new regional web sites. To find them, go to ABC, then click on radio and the town of your choice.

The thing that I really like about the sites is that you can search by clicking on tags. This allows you to browse stories that you might never otherwise have found. There is some great stuff there from my viewpoint.

A Great Source of Information about Australia - The Australian Government's Culture and Recreation Portal

I have been meaning to mention this site for a little while.

The Australian Government maintains a site called Culture and Recreational Portal that is, I think, a superb site for information about Australia, including Regional Australia. I use it all the time, often getting distracted and just browsing.

Do have a look.

The Land Newspaper and Australian rural life

The Land began publication in 1911 as the journal of the NSW Farmers and Settlers Association. The FSA represented farmers in particular with a strong focus on the often struggling small farmer. This could put put it at odds with the more conservative Grazier's Association, the industry body representing the bigger pastoralists.

In time, the paper became an unlisted public company owned by farmers. From this point it turned into a company called Rural Press, in time becoming an Australian regional media conglomerate.

Despite all the changes, The Land itself has remained one of the best sources of information about rural life, especially in NSW. I do not read it all the time, but whenever I do I find something new.

Getting the local gossip - ABC Regional Radio

Photo: Gordon Smith, Tree Change. Can you spot the houses in this photo? There are at least two.

For those interested in the tree or sea change option or who just want to find out about home, ABC local radio provides a another good entry point.

Go to The Backyard. There you will find an entry point to ABC local radio about the country. Not all the stations shown on the map have links. The western half of the country appears linkless. But if you click on the state it will then take you through.

As an example, if you click on WA and then on Kununurra it will take you through to ABC Radio Kimberly where you will find all sorts of interesting local information.