Governor visits Shire of Moora

As part of his continuous promotion of regional Western Australia, the Governor visited Moora on Thursday, 5th November 2020 to see this thriving town.

Since restrictions lifted in June, the Governor has been conducting a number of day trips around the Perth metropolitan area to encourage local tourism in a post-COVID-19 environment. These day trips supplement the Governor’s broader Regional Visit Program.

Moora is nestled amongst a diverse range of economic opportunities including horticulture and livestock developments. It is also strategically located between two of the State’s most popular tourism attractions – New Norcia and the Pinnacles.

Moora is the largest regional town between Perth and Geraldton and provides a wealth of services such as commercial banks, schools, commerce and retail sectors, community recreational facilities; plus a pharmacy, dentist, doctors and regional hospital.

The Governor’s visit included stops at:

Koojan Downs, Harvest Road Group

Harvest Road Group are an end-to-end producer and agriculture investment business with a growing portfolio of fine food brands for domestic and international markets, exporting to over 40 countries.

In February 2020, Harvest Road Group gained approval to build a $51.9 million feedlot at its recently-acquired Koojan Downs property near Moora. The property, which totals more than 7000 hectares over four lots, straddles the shires of Dandaragan, Moora and Victoria Plains.

The Koojan Downs feedlot facility will be on 3751ha and will be designed to supply 60,000, 100-day grain finished cattle each year to Harvest Road’s processing facility Harvey Beef.

Moora Shire Office

Greeted by members of the Moora Shire, the Governor was provided with an update on how the Shire has dealt with the challenges of COVID-19 and their vision for the future.

Moora Historical Society

The Governor was thrilled to meet the passionate volunteers at the Moora Historical Society. Kaye Lewis was excited to show the Governor the extensive collection of artefacts and photographs on display including WWII memorabilia and equipment and clothes owned by resident Doctor George Lloyd Myles. The Society also stores the accumulated records of many facets of local and Western Australian History.

Moora Historical Society is a not for profit organisation which consists of the Berkshire Valley Mill Museum and the Moora Museum.

Now named Clinch House, in honour of a local pioneer James Clinch who settled at Berkshire Valley. The former CWA Association Meeting Rooms built in 1936 have a history of their own having been used for infant health services, Cubs and Boy Scouts activities and in later years by the State Emergency Service.

Candy’s Bush Reserve

Candy’s Bush Reserve is a 10ha patch of Salmon Gum and Wandoo woodland on the edge of Moora. It’s a valuable natural asset which in 2014/15 was fenced off due to increasing vehicle damage. A walk trail and interpretative signage was also developed. It has local Aboriginal significance as an old camp community and also is full of bush tucker/medicine plants.

Moora is a well known important location for Carnaby’s Black Cockatoo to breed. The birds have received a helping hand to breed safely in this area after a local volunteer buildt and erected two artificial log nests.

The Governor was asked to assist in checking the Carnaby’s nesting box using a pole camera. Inside was a tiny chick waiting for its parents to return with food.

Wildflower hunters from all over the state flock to Candy’s Bush Reserve in winter and spring to view the wildflowers especially the orchids – including the rare Moora Spider orchid.

Moora Speedway Precinct

Arriving at Moora Speedway, the Governor was met by Donna Vanzetti, Kevin Baron and Rachel Walmsley at the Yued Mural.

Yued Mural

The Yued Mural showcases the connection between the Speedway venue and the site’s local Indigenous heritage.

Local artist Cheryl Chipper worked with Central Midlands Senior High School students to produce this 19 metre mural.

Moora Speedway Clubrooms

The Governor had the opportunity to speak with the Club Presidents Dale Cockman and Paul Rumbold who both race, and one of our star local junior drivers, Taj Vanzetti.

Through Royalties for Regions grant funding, the popular speedway recently gained an innovative and user friendly clubroom. Through this vital upgrade to facilities, the club has been able to host a National Production Sedan Title and WA State Junior Sedan Title. The Speedway plays a vital part in the community’s social calendar and also brings an economic boost into the region.

‘Star Tracks’ Space Science Documentary

The Governor was shown a presentation on a recent documentary that local film-maker Donna Vanzetti has created called ‘Star Tracks’ Space Science. Working with the International Centre for Radio Astronomy Research based at UWA the documentary focuses on astro-tourism, Aboriginal Astronomy and the world’s largest space project the Square Kilometre Array. Her production team have just returned from filming up at the remote Murchison Radio Observatory. Donna hopes to grow a micro-film industry in the Wheatbelt and highlight the Wheatbelt’s unique landscapes as potential locations for big budget productions.

Astrotourism WA

Western Australia is perfectly placed to become the stargazing capital of the world and grow an Astro-tourism economy and stargazing trail across the State. Carol Redford – Founder & CEO – Astrotourism Western Australia, is working with 15 Local Governments to develop the new sector of the tourism industry to capitalise on the pristine dark night sky found in WA. The sector will grow jobs, increase overnight visitor numbers in regional WA, create new businesses and leverage investment in the mega Square Kilometre Array space science project.

Aboriginal Astronomy Trail

A pilot project being delivered through RDA Wheatbelt and the Noongar Enterprise Development Support program is showcasing Yued Aboriginal Astronomy night sky stories in Moora and Dandaragan. The aim is to attract visitors/tourists to experience the night sky from a cultural perspective. It will open up new opportunities to build business enterprise around stargazing, storytelling, music, food and art. Both Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal children are being engaged during several activities that will increase STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) learning and demonstrate new career or enterprise pathways particularly in the tourism industry.

Old Reserve

Moora Old Reserve is a new project initiative for Moora and members of the Yued community. The Old Reserve, 5km south of Moora, was an Aboriginal camp from the 1950s until 1978.

Little has been done to preserve the history of this location so this project has been important in elevating the reserve as somewhere for reflection and education. This project, led by former Old Reserve resident Fred Mogridge, is helping to highlight the history of the reserve and make it an educational place to visit.

Fred Mogridge approached Moore Catchment Council for funding to help conserve and promote the Reserve. Works have included fencing and bollard installation, and designing and installing four interpretive signs sharing the history and cultural significance of the Reserve. A community event was held on the 12th September 2020 to unveil the upgrade works and commemorative plaque.

Jeanne D’Moore Café

Jeanne D’Moore Café are proud to claim that they make the best French-inspired delicacies that country Western Australia has to offer. They have a wide selection of homemade savoury and sweet items on the menu. The beautiful in-store cafe is open from 9am to 5pm all week long. Plus 9am to 2pm on Saturday.

Jeanne D’Moore is also a fashion and gift homewares store with unique vintage French products. Jeanne D’Moore also have an online store.

Gardiner Street Arts Collective

The Gardiner Street Arts Collective’s purpose is to create a shared arts space which benefits the region’s education and business sectors and enhances the attractiveness of Moora as place to live and work.

When complete, the building will be an inclusive, shared space, welcoming all members of the Moora community and beyond.

The Collective are an emerging group in Moora looking to strengthen and nourish the Central Midlands community an umbrella group for creative, artistic and musical pursuits in Moora.

Moora Citrus

Moora Citrus is an innovative horticulture project in the WA Wheatbelt. The orchard is producing oranges and mandarins, with a focus on delivering fresh eating citrus into the local market across eight months of each production year. Spanning 210 hectares of trees, the project is a fully integrated operation, having grown the rootstock on location through to the harvesting and packing of the citrus for supply to market.

The orchard delivers high quality fruit which exceeds market demands and establishes a demand for local fruit in the WA market.

Moora Citrus is also working with the local citrus industry in WA to target export opportunities in the Asian Pacific region, diversifying opportunities to provide high quality citrus into premium markets.

 

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