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“A motorbike so I can help my family do cattle herding”. Angus Dermody, 6, Regans Ford

COUNTRY CHRISTMASPremiumAll these country kids want from Santa

You’d be hard-pressed to find a city kid hoping for a baby highland cow, a chicken coop or a new shovel when the big man in red pays a visit this Christmas

Cally Dupe & Carwyn Monck

Mr Peakall was patrolling the boundary of the blaze on Old Ongerup Road as part of a farmer response unit when a burnt tree fell on the cab of his vehicle just after 8pm.

Community heroPremiumAmelup man killed in bushfire revealed as young farmer

The 34-year-old was patrolling the boundary of the blaze when a burnt tree fell on the cab of his vehicle just after 8pm.

Melissa Sheil and Claire Middleton

Michael Thompson on the front page of the Countryman on May 17, 2012.

COUNTRYMAN’S 140TH PremiumFront page famous: Remembering front pages of the Countryman

For many in WA’s farming and pastoral communities, the first time their face appears on the front page of the Countryman becomes a moment etched into memory. 

Cally Dupe & Sophie Gannon

Government leadership is needed to to give agriculture the status it deserves, the WA Nationals say.

OPINION PremiumOpinion: Agriculture treated as an inconvenience by Labor

 How did agriculture, one of our State’s great success stories, end up being treated like an inconvenience by the Cook Labor Government? 

Lachlan Hunter

Countryman stud stock reporter Bob Garnant has been with the publication for 26 years.

COUNTRYMAN’S 140thPremiumCountryman’s 140th: Sharing Bob Garnant’s story

I recall my job interview with Countryman sales manager Donald Asplin, it changed my lifelong agriculture career focus into a new field of stud stock advertising and reporting.

Bob Garnant

Hyden Primary School students travelled to the local salt pond to test their sailing skills on water using radio controlled boats on December 1.

SailLABPremiumHyden primary students explore STEM through sailing program

A “one of a kind” education program has made its way to its first Wheatbelt school, offering students a path to explore science, engineering and digital technology.

Hannah Whitehead

Looking west down St Georges Terrace in 1924, at The West Australian Chambers.

COUNTRYMAN’S 140TH PremiumCountryman’s 140th: Through the press of time

The Countryman, then known as The Western Mail, first came to life at a printing press, right next to the Palace Hotel.

Liam Murphy

A young Charlie Burr sits on the bags of wheat loaded onto a Model -T Ford truck.

SEE THE PICS PremiumSee the pictures: Farming as it was

For back-breaking work stacking bags of wheat by hand, using horse-drawn ploughs and rudimentary machinery, to the large-scale nearly autonomous headers we see on farms today

Cally Dupe

Newdegate Machinery Field Days 2023.

COUNTRYMAN’S 140th PremiumFarm field days a cornerstone of WA agriculture

For 140 years, Countryman has walked alongside West Australian agriculture, recording its milestones, celebrating its people, and capturing the evolution of the State’s much-loved field days. 

Cally Dupe & Sophie Gannon

Left: The first edition of The Western Mail, on December 19, 1885. Right: The West Australian headquarters where The Western Mail was produced.

COUNTRYMAN’S 140TH PremiumRead the first Countryman — then called The Western Mail

The first edition of The Western Mail rolled off the printing press and on to the streets on December 19, 1885.

Cally Dupe

Countryman editor Cally Dupe.

COUNTRYMAN’S 140THPremiumHear from the editor: 140 years of the Countryman newspaper

This month, as Countryman celebrates its 140th anniversary, I find myself reflecting on not only the history of this remarkable newspaper but also on my personal journey as part of its story.

Cally Dupe

The front page of the first edition of The Western Mail, published on December 19, 1885, with a front page from December 9, 1982, and November 20, 2025.

COUNTRYMAN’S 140TH PremiumCountryman’s 140th: A legacy of connection

This month, Western Australia’s rural newspaper, Countryman, celebrates an incredible 140 years of serving the State’s country communities.

Cally Dupe

The farm school plays an important role.

FARM SCHOOL PremiumFuture of Kojonup’s much-loved farm school secured

The future of the much-loved Kojonup District High School farm program has been secured, with a six-month search for a manager coming to an end right before the bell 

Ella Muir & Cally Dupe

Friends, neighbours and members of the community showed up to West River ready to work to help the Mudie family get their harvest done.

community spiritCommunity lend a hand to help Mudie family finish harvest

The Ravensthorpe community has come together in the wake of tragedy to help Mark Mudie’s family finish harvest on their West River farm after the much-loved figure lost his life in a bushfire. 

Jacki Elezovich

Damage at David Hamilton's property east of Moora on December 13.

STORM CELL PremiumStorm cell blows the roofs off sheds, brings down powerlines

Ferocious storms that blew the roofs off sheds, felled powerlines and dumped rain on ripe crops have shifted attention from harvest to clean-up for some farmers. 

Cally Dupe

He was rushed to the Northam Health Service but could not be saved.

WA NewsPremiumCBH site closed after worker dies from medical episode

A CBH Group employee has died during a medical episode while at work near Northam.

Jessica Evensen

Crews confront the fire on a recently harvested paddock.

Fierce battle Gnowangerup president praises huge local response to blaze

Gnowangerup’s shire president said a huge community-wide response to a massive bushfire that threatened large parts of the shire has been dampened by the shocking news of young farmer’s death.

Claire Middleton

The intense bushfire claimed the life of a young firefighter.

WA NewsPremiumFarmer dies in tragic incident while patrolling WA blaze

A young farmer was tragically killed by a falling tree while patrolling a bushfire in Mindarabin on Tuesday

Melissa Sheil

Lithium concentrate from the Greenbushes mine will continue to be hauled out of the site by road.

MiningCommentsPremiumGreenbushes mine owner rules out rail reopening

After co-funding a feasibility study, Talison has ruled that the reopening of the Greenbushes-to-Bunbury rail line ‘is not economically feasible at this time’.

Sean Smith

An aerial view of the Katanning gold project site at Badgebup.

More goldPremiumAusgold expands Katanning gold project production estimate

The company behind the $354 million Katanning gold project in the Great Southern has lifted its estimated production target for the 10-year operation following its $35m acquisition of freehold farmland.

Neil Watkinson

The fire front cuts through crops.

bushfire alertCommentsRaging Mindarabin bushfire stationary after burning 5542ha

A bushfire that burned through more than 5500ha in the Shire of Gnowangerup has been downgraded to a bushfire advice level and is stationary but not yet contained or controlled. 

Melissa Sheil and Jacki Elezovich

Minister for Emergency Services Paul Papalia said emergency WA was a world class service despite the outage.

WA NewsCommentsPremiumMP backs ‘world class’ Emergency WA despite crucial flop

Perth hospitals and prisons have become the latest sites to experience power disruptions, after the weekend heatwave caused summer storms and bushfires that have wreaked havoc around the State.

Oliver Lane

Pastoralists and Graziers Association of WA president Digby Stretch, left, and gun law owners protest against the WA Government's firearm laws earlier this year.

GUN OVERHAULPremiumFarmers could be caught in the crossfire of gun law overhaul

Farmers fear they could be caught in the crossfire after Western Australia was tapped to lead a national overhaul of gun laws following the Bondi shooting.

Jessica Page and Cally Dupe

Grain Bulk Handlers Association representative Bob Iffla.

‘DETRIMENTAL AFFECT’ PremiumFarmers sound freight cost alarm in letter to CBH

WA grain growers have written to the directors of CBH Group, expressing alarm over rising freight costs, road safety risks, and the “detrimental” long-term effect of the closure of the Tier 3 lines. 

Cally Dupe