2023 in review: Local stories that made our year

The year 2023 has been one of recovery for the Murraylands: a year in which three major story arcs drew to a close.

The biggest, of course, was the River Murray flood, which peaked in early January after devastating floodplain producers and shack owners along the Lower Murray.

We have also celebrated two reopenings: those of the old Murray Bridge, after 14 months of road works, and Thomas Foods International, five years after their fire.

But what else do you remember about this year?

With the support of our paying subscribers, advertisers and funding partners, Murray Bridge News published 769 stories in 2023.

We’ve narrowed them down to a top 100 worth reminiscing about.

Take a scroll down memory lane with us.

January

2 – Levees at Wall Flat, Long Island and Swanport fail as the River Murray floods surge towards their peak.

5 – A flood relief centre opens at Murray Bridge’s Le Messurier Oval; meanwhile, the area beneath the road and rail bridges across town is flooded after the Burdett levee breaks.

7 – The Long Flat levee breaks in spectacular and devastating fashion.

9 – The River Murray floods peak at Murray Bridge.

14 – A last-ditch volunteer effort saves the Woods Point levee from being overtopped.

20 – Teenage student Logan Reese fights for permission to take his assistance dog to Murray Bridge High School, which he would later win after drawing national attention.

23 – Murray Bridge mourns Craig Hollands, a familiar figure in the city’s CBD, after his body is found near the Round House.

26 – Former mayor Brenton Lewis is named Murray Bridge’s citizen of the year on Australia Day. Devoted volunteer Brian Lloyd wins the equivalent honour at Tailem Bend, while Trevor Gordon’s community service is recognised with an OAM.

February

4 – Researchers and elders launch an online Ngarrindjeri photo archive, with hundreds of images dating back 150 years.

9 – Alexandra Westlake, of Long Flat, articulates River Murray farmers’ demands for more help from the state government.

20 – The Murraylands Homelessness Service warns it is struggling with “unprecedented” demand.

22 – Murray Bridge Club reopens, 65 days after being isolated by the floods.

23 – Parents warn of a childcare shortage in Murray Bridge, especially in the case of vacation care for school-aged children.

24 – The Romani Aged Care facility opens in Murray Bridge.

27 – The state government announces a $4.6 million voucher program which will urge tourists to “rise up for our river” in the wake of the floods.

March

4 – Mypolonga wins cricket premierships in the A, B and C grade.

7 – Former yellow Wiggle Greg Page visits Murray Bridge to advocate for defibrillators in the community.

9 – Children’s author Mem Fox visits Murray Bridge Library.

10 – State Planning Minister Nick Champion gives a provisional thumbs-up to a plan for 1000 new homes in Murray Bridge’s west.

11 – Tailem Bend wins the Lower Murray lawn bowls grand final.

20 – Murray Bridge Wellbeing Hub, an extension of the city’s community centre, opens on Edwards Square.

24 – Murray Bridge High School holds its year 12 formal at the city’s town hall.

31 – Unity College’s year 12 formal draws a crowd at Murray Bridge’s town hall.

April

11 – The Jervois Football Club accepts a range of penalties from the SANFL for a salary cap breach.

23 – Murray Bridge News turns three.

26 – Michael Sedgman departs after eight years as CEO of the Murray Bridge council; he would be replaced by Heather Barclay.

28 – A committee of Lower Murray irrigators meets for the first time in response to complaints that farmers, not governments, are being left to lead the flood recovery.

May

6 – The Murraylands’ monarchists watch on as King Charles III is crowned.

7 – Mypolonga residents celebrate being named South Australia’s agricultural town of the year.

12 – Thomas Foods International announces that its new abattoir at Pallamana is finished, five years after its Murray Bridge facility was destroyed in a fire. Murray Bridge Players and Singers debut their main production for the year: Legally Blonde.

15 – Bob Eisen is recognised for his more than 60 years of service during National Volunteer Week.

17 – The Murray Bridge News Network launches, offering locals a new way of finding out what’s happening locally in cafes, shops and waiting rooms.

June

3 – A dinosaur hatches from a red-and-white egg, the culmination of the Paint the Bridge Read program.

6 – A family of seven escapes a house fire at Swanport.

7 – Tailem Bend Primary School joins in with the Datacom Beacon School Project, intended to help its students prepare for the jobs of the future.

11 – Murray Bridge basketballer Kobe Cioffi makes it to Melbourne for a tournament thanks to the generosity of Murray Bridge News readers.

12 – Three Murray Bridge residents are recognised on the King’s Birthday honours list: Dawn Borchardt AM, Brenton Lewis OAM and Ken Wells OAM.

14 – The racing industry mourns Reg Nolan, architect of Murray Bridge Racing Club’s move to Gifford Hill.

17 – Fireworks light up the winter skies above Murray Bridge for the first Murray River Glows festival.

21 – Hillgrove Resources announces the reopening of its Kanmantoo copper mine, creating 130 jobs.

23 – Living Choice announces a planned $100 million retirement development in Murray Bridge. Julian Craig and Julie Morris take Murray Bridge News on a tour of their snake supplies shop on Seventh Street.

28 – An electrical fault is blamed for a house fire on Plover Court, Murray Bridge.

July

3 – Elders, students, a basketballer and an artist are among the Ngarrindjeri high achievers recognised with NAIDOC Week awards after a walk across the old Murray Bridge; Eunice Aston and Frank Lampard are further honoured with the Premier’s NAIDOC Award.

5 – State MP Nick McBride quits the Liberal Party.

10 – Ratepayer Alan Grey rails against 5G technology at a Murray Bridge council meeting.

12 – Residents in Murray Bridge’s west report a weird buzzing noise.

13 – Murray Bridge News announces the coming launch of a new magazine, Murraylands Life.

19 – Jervois’ Henley family share their hopes for their cafe and farm, Everyone’s Got an Olly.

27 – Beloved Murray Bridge ice cream brand Freesia makes a comeback.

28 – Greyhound Racing SA levels animal cruelty charges against two Murray Bridge trainers which would later lead to a state inquiry and an ultimatum to the industry.

August

3 – Zoos SA launches a fundraising drive to bring elephants to Monarto Safari Park; it would reach its goal within weeks.

7 – Congolese couple Luc and Delice Mulimbalimba share their story after opening an op shop and church in Murray Bridge.

8 – A $5 million refurbishment of Murray Bridge North School is completed.

12 – After 40 years, the curtain comes down on Tailem Bend Music Hall for the last time.

16 – The Governor, Her Excellency Frances Adamson, visits Tailem Bend.

18 – Vietnam War veterans march proudly down the main street of Murray Bridge to commemorate 50 years since the end of Australia’s involvement.

20 – Brodie Kostecki wins three of three races at the OTR Super Sprint. About 100 people celebrate Murray Bridge Soldiers Memorial Hospital’s centenary. Cian Yakas wins the major gong at the Murray Bridge Youth Art Prize.

23 – Murray Bridge News launches a partnership with Tailem Topics.

26 – Saints and Ravstass win the senior Murray Bridge basketball grand finals.

September

5 – Superintendent Cindy Healey introduces herself as the new SA Police officer in charge of the Murray Mallee region.

8 – Several River Murray levees fail amid high winds.

11 – Mypolonga’s Stacey Hein is named the River Murray Netball Association’s best and fairest A grade player. Plans for a silo artwork in Murray Bridge fall through after a state government department refuses to agree to the project.

12 – Plans for a $3.9 million basketball stadium at Murray Bridge Showground are canned due to a cost blow-out.

16 – Mypolonga defeat Imperials in a River Murray netball grand final for the second year in a row.

19 – Coorong’s Alex Stidiford wins the RMFL’s Mail Medal.

20 – Publican Steve Marks offers a sneak peek at his refurbishment of the Callington Hotel.

21 – A police memorial is unveiled at Tailem Bend in memory of Mounted Constable Charles McCullagh, killed in 1885.

23 – Jervois win the River Murray Football League’s grand final to complete their undefeated season.

24 – The old Murray Bridge reopens to two-way traffic after a $46 million upgrade which took 16 months.

28 – A new business hub opens on Murray Bridge’s main street after a falling-out between the city’s council and Regional Development Australia.

October

5 – Scott Fulwood offers his perspective on what it’s like to run oddball Facebook group Murray Bridge Community Chat.

7 – Murray Bridge Racing Club’s Gold Cup is run on a Saturday for the first time, the day after a multi-million-dollar stables development is opened at the Gifford Hill racetrack.

11 – Seven local athletes are recognised at the Murray Bridge Sports Awards.

14 – Murraylands voters deliver an emphatic “no” verdict in a national referendum on an Indigenous Voice to Parliament, despite impassioned advocacy from Ngarrindjeri leaders.

15 – Murray Bridge Day and Night Surgery is damaged in an arson attack.

21 – The Dragway at the Bend opens with the first round of a new National Drag Racing Championship.

November

3 – Callington man Luke Gowling dies after a workplace accident at Brinkley.

9 – Local couple Steven and Grace Waterhouse reveal their plans for a pedal boat business at Sturt Reserve.

10 – The second stage of the Tailem Bend Solar Farm is completed.

15 – John Harvie is named among the winners in Murray Bridge’s spring garden awards.

16 – A Mypolonga year one student, Hunter, launches a Foodbank food drive at his school; he would wind up collecting 250 kilograms of food.

19 – Fifteen-year-old Makaylah Cooper makes her debut for Australia in cycle speedway.

21 – Greenhill Energy announces plans for a $425 million gas plant at Tailem Bend.

24 – A Place of Courage, a memorial to victims and survivors of domestic violence, is unveiled at Sturt Reserve.

25 – The hall at Chapman Bore hosts an old-style dance for the last time.

December

1 – Caderyn Smith and Fresh Perspective Photography are recognised with awards on the International Day of People with Disability. A rainstorm leaves the Murraylands Gymnastics Academy without a home.

3 – Rockleigh’s Carols in the Bush return for the first time since 2019.

7 – Unity College student Bridie Loller goes to Canberra after being chosen as an Olympic change-maker.

8 – Monarto Safari Park announces the arrival of its first two hippos: Brindabella and Daisy.

10 – Murray Bridge’s Christmas carols are moved indoors due to rain.

16 – Swanport wins the senior Murray Bridge lawn tennis grand final.

20 – Des and Mim Warner are named among the winners of the Murray Bridge Christmas lights competition.

23 – A big crowd turns out for the postponed Tailem Bend Christmas Parade.

Locals support locals. Thank you for supporting Murray Bridge News in 2023, and helping us tell important local stories.