Is this you? As a journalist, you can create a free Muck Rack account to customize your profile, list your contact preferences, and upload a portfolio of your best work.
Claim your profile
Articles by Samille Mitchell
Wet weather wreaks havoc in regional WA, cutting off residents and causing widespread power outages
Wet weather has wreaked havoc in the Midwest and Murchison in WA, with flooded roads isolating residents, power outages shutting down traffic lights, and more than 30,000 houses being left without power. Key points: Wild weather caused power outages to 30,000 people in the Midwest.
New national park is declared to help protect some of the world's oldest rocks
The Western Australian government has declared a new 1,000-hectare national park at Mungada Ridge in the Midwest to help protect its ancient landscape and rare plant and animal life.
Living with the Brethren: Migrants, farmers and a religious sect the winning mix for this little WA town, say locals
Follow a road train roaring out of Perth en route to the resource-laden north and after a few hours you'll come across the township of Dalwallinu. At first glance it looks like a typical Wheatbelt township – surrounded by brown paddocks and wildflowers in spring, with a wide main street and a historic country pub. But look a little closer and you'll start to realise "Dally", as the local call it, is different.
When COVID-related staff shortages forced this hotel to call last drinks, locals stepped up to help it reopen
When the only pub in Wubin called last drinks eight months ago, locals in the tiny Western Australian Wheatbelt township were crushed. They knew their pub was about so much more than beer. It was the heart of the community, the main place isolated farmers could meet to share a yarn. Knowing how important the pub was to the social fabric of the community, its owners Brett and Emma Boys felt terrible about shutting shop.
Midwest photographer uses striking underwater photos to help conserve Abrolhos Islands
A photographer is showcasing the beauty of Western Australia's Abrolhos Islands with underwater photographs hoping they will be a clarion call to protect the archipelago's fragile beauty. Graeme Gunness' exhibition Fathoming the Abrolhos at WA Museum of Geraldton showcases a series of photographs of the Abrolhos' underwater ecosystem. Mr Gunness and his wife Ann moved to Geraldton about 20 years ago to be closer to the Abrolhos and its dazzling underwater world.
Historic lifeboat from shipwrecked Maid of Lincoln rescued, restored, and in need of a new home
A 137-year-old historic lifeboat rescued from the rafters of an old farm shed is now restored and in need of a public home. Key points: The 137-year-old lifeboat was rescued from an old shed last year A Jurien Bay local restored the historic artefact The lifeboat is now in need of a public, and local, home The lifeboat, which had hung in the shed's rafters for decades, came from the Maid of Lincoln which was shipwrecked and sunk off Jurien Bay in the Mid West of Western Australia in 1891.
John Monash Scholarship recipient Emma Garlett's quest to involve Aboriginal people in mining decisions
With dreams of helping Aboriginal people play a bigger role in the mining industry, Nyiyaparli-Yamatji-Nyungar lawyer Emma Garlett is preparing to study at the University of Oxford on one of Australia's most prestigious postgraduate scholarships. Ms Garlett, who grew up in the Western Australian regional city of Geraldton, will study a Master of Business Administration and Bachelor of Civil Laws at the university later this year after being awarded the John Monash Scholarship.
Horse power sparks one mum's quest to help kids with autism
The first time Cristelle Capitani introduced her son to her horse, she says her normally disengaged boy came to life. The smiles and interaction she had yearned to see for so long lit up his face. As a mum to two boys with autism, it was an experience she had never dreamed possible for her children. "His whole body came forward, he smiled and he looked up — it still makes me emotional. It was beautiful," she said.
Carnaby's black cockatoo sets a long-distance-flight record
A volunteer bird lover has recorded a Carnaby's black cockatoo that has set a new long-distance-flight record for the endangered species.
Murchison Widefield Array searches for signs of 13-billion-year-old light to help find origins of universe
Where do we come from? How did life form? What sparked the birth of the universe? Key points: Researchers are closer to finding remnants of the universe's first light Finding it will help answer questions on the birth of the universe The Murchison Widefield Array radio telescope is helping disentangle radio signals to find the first light remnants While most of us ponder life's more mundane questions, Curtin University post-doctoral research fellow Christene Lynch asks the big ones.
Bush graves commemorate the triumph and tragedy of first regular airmail service 100 years on
It has been 100 years since a team of pioneering aviators flew from Geraldton to Derby to change the course of aviation history in the country. Key points: Australia's first scheduled airmail service launched 100 years ago yesterday One plane crashed on the inaugural flight About 60 people visited the bush graves of the lost airmen yesterday Led by a young and daring pilot, Norman Brearley, the three aircraft and their crew were embarking on Australia’s first scheduled air service.
'Tomorrow we may die': Diary of a seaman lost aboard HMAS Sydney paints a personal picture of war
"Action is going to last all night and at our posts we'll lie. Thinking of the folks at home. For tomorrow we may die." Key points: A seaman who died aboard HMAS Sydney left a diary and photos behind His family has donated the collection to the Western Australian Museum The diary reveals the triumphs and tragedies experienced aboard the Sydney So reads a handwritten entry in a diary belonging to a young Australian man lost at sea on HMAS Sydney 80 years ago today.
Identification of HMAS Sydney II's 'unknown sailor' would solve a decades-old mystery
The identity of the only body ever recovered from the lost war ship HMAS Sydney IIis expected to be announced tomorrow on the 80th anniversary of the ship's final battle.
How COVID lockdowns and burnout helped Fred Porter to find unexpected happiness
As COVID-19 descended on the Australia east coast nearly two years ago, Fred Porter found himself in the midst of a personal crisis. He'd worked himself to the point of burnout. On Queensland's Gold Coast, lockdowns threatened to separate him from his family in Western Australia, and the fast-paced city life he'd once yearned for had lost its lustre.
Facing Monsters documentary details WA big wave surfer Kerby Brown's struggles and triumphs
Some people turn to alcohol and drugs to tame their inner demons, but Kerby Brown turns to waves — monstrous ones. Based in Denmark, on Western Australia's south coast, the big wave surfer has tackled some of the most unpredictable slabs on the planet. Big, heavy and virtually impossible to read, the waves often smash almost directly upon blade-like fingers of reef. For Brown, facing these monsters is not about the accolades — he shunned the limelight of the professional surfing circuit years ago.
'With a heavy heart': Geraldton’s private hospital turns expectant mothers away to public system
Geraldton's only private hospital is shutting its doors to maternity patients from next Wednesday. Key points: St John of God Geraldton Hospital will suspend maternity services from November 10 The closure stems from a lack of midwives Geraldton Regional Hospital's maternity ward will pick up the slack St John of God Geraldton Hospital has confirmed it will temporarily suspend maternity services due to a shortage of midwives. It did not say when the service may reopen.
Scent of extinction? How sandalwood is being harvested to death in the wild
The aromatic sandalwood tree could become extinct in the Australian bush within 50 to 100 years if wild harvesting continues, a research paper released today warns.
How a serious car accident and a missing dog sparked the kindness of strangers
Di Oliver thought her beloved spaniel Rosie was dead when she pulled its lifeless body away from her badly injured husband and the wreckage of their car three weeks ago. Soon after the accident the dog regained consciousness and bolted from the scene, while Ms Oliver dealt with the chaos of having her husband Tony Chandler flown to hospital. As Mr Chandler battled a raft of serious injuries in hospital, he'd call out to his wife to ask after the spaniel.
Commemorative flight celebrates Sir Norman Brearley's first scheduled air service 100 years ago
A century after an accomplished young pilot made his mark on aviation history, 55 people have boarded 23 planes for a flight to commemorate his daring feat. The fleet departed Geraldton today as part of a tour following the route of Australia's first scheduled air service, which left the city for Derby on December 5, 1921, under the leadership of Major Norman Brearley.
Mouse baiting in canola crops touted as a possible risk to endangered Carnaby's cockatoos
BirdLife Western Australia is urging farmers to reconsider broadscale baiting for mice in canola crops to prevent possible poisoning of endangered Carnaby's cockatoos.
Jurien Bay residents call for marina redesign to prevent fish deaths and stench
Fed-up Jurien Bay residents are planning a rally and circulating a petition calling for an extension to the town's marina.
Moora seeks funds to 'drought-proof' its growing town after water shortage
The Shire of Moora is on a mission to drought-proof its township after the regional centre came within five days of running out of water for its town reticulation and emergency services in February.
How the rare spinal condition transverse myelitis left one otherwise healthy woman unable to walk
Imagine waking up one morning with weak legs, finding yourself unable to walk the next day, and, within a few weeks, learning you may never walk normally again. Such was the reality for Northam woman Nicki Antonio. She is one of five to 10 Western Australians each year to contract a rare acute spinal cord disease known as transverse myelitis. She doesn't know how she got the condition or if she'll recover.
Wildflower season the best in years as WA Midwest winter rains bring bursts of colour
The best wet winter rains in years have sparked a bumper wildflower season in Western Australia's Midwest. Wildflower viewing hotspots like Coalseam Conservation Park near Mingenew are awash with colour as whole fields transform into seas of yellow, white, and pink everlasting daisies. And those who take the time to get out of the car will discover a myriad of other flowers in intricate designs and dazzling hues in bushland across the region.
Badimia people return to country to help heal their land, protect cave paintings and share Dreaming tales
Bev Slater's eyes well with tears of gratitude as she stands on the land of her forefathers, her hand on her heart, overlooking the sensuously shaped hills that indicate the women's site that her maternal ancestors once frequented. Ms Slater feels privileged to be here, amid the red dirt and wildflowers, where her ancestors once gathered to seek fertility and give birth to new generations of her people — the Badimia.
Repairs to WA's dangerous potholed roads to cost many millions after flash flooding
Flash flooding in March and unusually high winter rainfall is taking a toll on regional roads creating dangerous conditions for drivers. Key points: The Avon Valley experienced flash flooding in March Shire roads are in need of extensive repairs Unusually high rainfall is keeping roads wet Hundreds of kilometres of repairs are needed but some shires say they don't have the workforce or the funding to repair the damage.
Stranded without a cab after taxi companies cease or reduce accessible vehicle fleet
The dwindling availability of wheelchair accessible taxis in regional Western Australia has left those who rely upon them worried about their independence.
Locally extinct for about 100 years, the western quoll is making a comeback
Bush Heritage cameras have recorded the first sightings of western quolls at Hamelin Pool in Western Australia's Shark Bay in about 100 years. Key points: Bush Heritage cameras capture five quoll sightings Two quolls were recorded at Hamelin Pool and three at Eurardy Reserve The animals have not been locally sighted for about 100 years The cameras photographed two individual quolls at Bush Heritage's Hamelin Station Reserve.
After three months without power, cyclone-battered residents look forward to rollout of standalone power systems
Some 35 cyclone-battered properties which remain without power three months after Cyclone Seroja will receive standalone power systems to help them turn on the lights.
Shear genius: Kojonup sheep farmer employs ingenuity, determination to sideline disability
Kojonup farmer Nick Trethowan roars through the paddock on his all-terrain vehicle, screeches to a halt, whips out his crutches and charges across the sheep yards to start rounding up his sheep. Amid a cacophony of bleating sheep and barking kelpies, Mr Trethowan presents the typical portrait of a busy farmer. Except Mr Trethowan only has one leg. The other was amputated at the hip when he was 19.
The physical danger passed six weeks ago but the mental anguish from Cyclone Seroja is hitting now
Kalbarri woman Claire Stringer didn't cry as she cowered in her car with her family while cyclone Seroja tore apart her home. Key points: Mental health problems are emerging in the wake of Cyclone Seroja Residents and professionals encourage people needing it to seek help Psychologists say anxiety and down days are normal She didn't cry when she realised the damage her home had suffered.
Camera trap captures surprise western quoll visitor at remote Eurardy Reserve in WA
Just two weeks into his new job at a remote Bush Heritage nature reserve, Sam Fischer discovered a surprise visitor. Key points: A western quoll, or chuditch, has been spotted at a remote WA reserve The endangered marsupials were once common across 70 per cent of the country. It's believed chuditch have never before ventured east to Eurardy As the manager of Eurardy Reserve trawled through masses of camera trap photos, he spotted the telltale spots of a western quoll, or chuditch.
The hunt is on for tin lovers worthy of taking on Australia's largest collection
Some 16 years ago, West Australians Robert and Margaret Gaston looked around and realised they had a heck of a lot of tins. So they started collecting more, and more, and more of them. Today the duo has amassed a collection of more than 12,000 tins which they display in a huge shed on their semi-rural property in Geraldton as The Tin Heads Museum. None of the tins are duplicated. Some date back hundreds of years.
'Something in my heart': Trauma survivors find healing in history of the 10th Light Horse
More than 105 years after their forefathers fought on the shores of Gallipoli in World War I, a group of West Australians is healing from modern-day traumas, thanks to their common interest in military history. These survivors of abuse, anxiety and depression are finding unexpected solace in memorialising the soldiers of 10th Light Horse Regiment who fought for Australia.
Cyclone victims face two-year wait to rebuild in WA as they pick up the pieces after freak storm
Cyclone victims could be left homeless and facing a two-year wait to rebuild amid labour and materials shortages in Australia as they deal with the aftermath of Tropical Cyclone Seroja.
Humans of the Wheatbelt: How a simple storytelling project is uniting a community
When Aboriginal elder Kathy Davis found the courage to share her story, she did not know it would change her life. Ms Davis had shared her experiences — from the lows of the domestic violence that had plagued her life for decades to the highs of being a grandparent —through a social media and print initiative called Humans of the Wheatbelt. Suddenly people began approaching her on the street to chat. One stranger chased her down at the shops just to tell her he was proud of her.
Ancient wooden lifeboat from The Maid of Lincoln found in rafters of historic farm shed in WA
When an ageing farmer took archaeologist Bob Sheppard aside and pointed high into the rafters of his old hay shed, the history lover could not quite believe his eyes. For there, covered in decades of dust and spider webs, was a 136-year-old wooden lifeboat. The wonderfully preserved boat is all that remains of The Maid of Lincoln which was wrecked and sunk off Jurien Bay in 1891.
Historic organ tells tale of shipwreck, settlement and the life of pioneer Sophia Dent
Picture a couple thrust upon a remote beach, the wreckage of their ship just offshore and a pedal organ among the treasured possessions around them. The heavily pregnant woman is in labour and gives birth on the beach. No, it's not a Hollywood movie script. It was the reality in 1829 for one pioneering English family. At the time, Elizabeth Dent had just reached the fledgling Swan River Colony aboard the Marquis of Anglesea.
From discarded wood, an old drum and a toothbrush, Jack Darnley made a banjo to lift spirits in the trenches of Tobruk
Tucked away in a treasure trove of military artefacts in an Australian museum lies a handmade musical instrument. Australian World War II soldier Walter John "Jack" Darnley fashioned together the banjo-like instrument from bits and bobs he gathered while enduring life as a Rat of Tobruk in the trenches of northern Africa in 1941. A toothbrush, discarded wood, an old drum and a dixie tin formed the bulk of the banjo's parts.
From despair to loving acceptance — one family's journey with autism and mental illness
Clara Harris's eyes still well with tears as she recounts the depths of her depression some 15 years ago. Her life had hit a terrible low as she grappled with declining mental health while raising a son with autism. But that depression eventually became a launching pad for positive change. Over the past 11 years, Ms Harris has embarked on a quest to share her warts-and-all story to help others caring for people with autism or struggling with poor mental health.
Wadjarri people gather to ensure extraordinary family legend of endurance and defiance lives on
For generations, a Wadjarri family has whispered the legend of a man in their family line.
Ancient stargazing meets modern astronomy to share Aboriginal stories of night sky
For millennia Aboriginal people have gazed to the heavens at night. Key points: Astronomy WA is working to create an Aboriginal astronomy tourism trail Beemurra Aboriginal Corporation is keen to share stories of the night sky Aboriginal people have shared stories of the night skies for millennia They would look to the stars for navigation, to mark seasons, and to explain the mysteries of the Dreamtime. Now Astrotourism WA is seeking to collect and share these stories.
Emu eggs selling for $30 each gain renewed popularity with consumers in WA
Would you pay $30 for an egg to eat? That is the going rate for emu eggs sold to customers looking for an 'eggstraordinary' omelette. Key points: An emu farmer reports a spike in demand for emu eggs to eat this year Customers are paying more than $30 per emu egg Free Range Emu Farm is thought to be the world's oldest The owner of an emu farm at Toodyay, north-east of Perth, says the business has seen a spike in demand for emu eggs from people looking to mix things up in the kitchen.
Beers are on us: Locals save historic pub from closure by buying it themselves
When it looked like last orders had finally been called at the 104-year-old Bolgart Hotel, the locals were having none of it.
Abrolhos Island seabirds at greater risk than ever before, says long-time scientist
As tourism intensifies at the Houtman Abrolhos Islands, the scientist behind one of Australia's longest-running seabird studies has warned the creatures are at greater risk than ever before.
Yearning for straight talk, hard work lures 71-year-old shearer back to the tools
Thirty-five years after he retired, former gun shearer Darryl Cole has picked up the handpiece and returned to the woolsheds. It wasn't a government incentive or the shearing shortage that lured the 71-year-old back, but request from an old friend that reawakened a yearning for camaraderie and a bit of hard yakka. Stifled by modern-day societal conventions and political correctness, Mr Cole had begun reminiscing about the straight-talking characters of the shearing sheds.
Ecologists aim to plant one million trees to restore a former pastoral station in WA's Midwest
Soar high above Western Australia's northern agricultural land and you'll see field upon field of crops stretching to the horizon below.
Puppy shortage fuelling spate of online scams targeting people desperate for pets
After months of pestering, I'd finally relented to my eight-year-old daughter — we could get a puppy. But the local pet shop had none, Gumtree listed mostly wanted puppy posts, and the local dog rescue had a 220-strong waiting list.
Shrinking WA town hopes to coax residents with houses cheaper than new cars
Fancy buying a block for less than $40,000? What about a five-bedroom, two-bathroom home for less than $190,000? Key points: Morawa is rated the second cheapest place in the country to buy real estate The district high school and the Morawa Agricultural College have joined forces to attract students and teachers The shire offers subsidised commercial properties to encourage new business Such properties are available in the Western Australian Midwest rural township of Morawa.
'Dead within months': Adventure tourism faces its toughest climb as insurers bail out
Unable to access insurance, several long-running adventure tourism businesses have shut up shop and fear their sector is in jeopardy.
Show More
loading
Actions
Is this you?
As a journalist, you can create a free Muck Rack account to customize your profile, list your contact preferences, and upload a portfolio of your best work.Get in touch with Samille
Contact Samille, search articles and posts on X, monitor coverage, and track replies from one place.
Learn more about Muck Rack