Xander Sapsworth-Collis
Xander Sapsworth-Collis is a reporter with ABC Pilbara based in Carnarvon. Prior to joining the ABC he worked in print in Port Hedland.
Latest by Xander Sapsworth-Collis
Was this vast outback sheep station really won with a 650,000-to-one poker hand?
Found in the remote reaches of Western Australia's Gascoyne, Quobba Station is one of the largest of its kind in state. It changed hands during a game of cards in the 1930s, according to local folklore — but not everyone is convinced.
What makes this triangular region in outback WA so hot, and could it be the hottest spot in Australia?
This northern WA region has already experienced three heatwaves, and meteorologists say it's just getting warmer.
Updated
Banana-infused vodka? How imperfect fruit is leaving the waste stream to make boutique treats
Tonnes of West Australian bananas that would end up as waste or mulch are being made into freeze-dried snacks and used to make products like vodka as Carnarvon growers look to reduce wastage.
Updated
Childcare worker accused of child stealing released on home detention
Carnarvon Magistrates Court rules Exmouth childcare worker Amber Jade Brennan will be permitted to live under home detention in Perth ahead of her next court appearance.
Dirt roads and dynamite: How an aviation pioneer's sacking inspired an outback trucking legacy
John Morgan's time spent hauling high explosives over rough roads were among the many audacious deliveries he made working for a company that opened up a remote corner of the country.
Drought-affected Gascoyne cooks in double heatwave as animals seeking water dig up pipelines
Amid the worst drought on record in the Gascoyne, the impacts of extreme heat is being felt by people and wildlife alike, with emus digging up town pipelines and putting holes in them for a drink.
Transport costs and low prices hurting northern WA growers, but some say Coles, Woolworths aren't to blame
While the inquiry will put Coles and Woolworths in the spotlight, producers in the Gascoyne and Kimberley regions say other factors deserve close examination too.
Mums reveal confusion, heartache, financial burden of giving birth away from home
Often feeling scared and alone, women are making a 950-kilometre round trip from Carnarvon to give birth at the nearest hospital.
Updated
In this dry Pilbara town, 48C heat feels 'absolutely horrible' — but daily life must go on
Paraburdoo residents have battled three days of extreme weather conditions, with the town's temperature maximum being broken twice in two days. In some ways, it is becoming a source of pride.
Updated
WA town breaks 26-year temperature record as BOM forecasts near-50C heat
Temperatures in the small Pilbara town of Paraburdoo reached their highest recorded level of 48.1 degrees Celsius on Sunday, as an extreme heatwave continues to bake the region.
Updated
Parts of WA could hit 50 degrees over the weekend as extreme heatwave looms
Residents in parts of the Pilbara, Midwest and Goldfields have been warned to brace for extreme heatwave conditions from Friday and into the weekend.
Updated
Carnarvon's 'FIFO' chickens make organic farm visitors cluck with laughter
A husband-and-wife farming duo have found a unique way to entertain and attract visitors to their organic chicken farm in regional Western Australia.
Potential threat to Cocos Keeling Islands as Tropical Cyclone Anggrek intensifies
A blue alert has been issued for the remote islands, with the newly declared cyclone expected to intensify over the course of the day.
Updated
Childcare worker refused bail after allegedly detaining two children in WA
A 28-year-old woman faces court after allegedly attempting to detain two children, aged two and six, while walking her dog in Exmouth.
Shark Bay's lack of housing imperils people trying to make a living in paradise
With limited housing, Shark Bay residents are having to go to all lengths to live in town such as sleeping in boats, caravans, and shipping homes from other parts of the state.
Harsher punishments coming as vulnerable mangrove 'takes a beating' from illegal fishing
Boat bans, fishing gear confiscations, and area prohibitions are being considered as a way to stop the high rate of illegal fishing around Carnarvon in Western Australia.
Cecil the goat forced to auction by outback shire due to regulations
Unable to find the owner of "some random goat [that came] into our possession", the Shire of Carnarvon has been forced by a 1960 regulation to auction it off to the highest bidder.
WA desert race cancelled after station owner flags environmental, access concerns
A long-running desert race in outback Western Australia has been cancelled after a station owner raised concerns about potential environmental damage the event could cause to the property.
Updated
Liquor restrictions have reduced crime by 40 per cent in this outback town — so what's next?
Tough liquor restrictions have been hailed as a win in the West Australian town of Carnarvon, with a considerable reduction in crime, but community leaders say a safe space for youth is desperately needed.
Exmouth reacts to news of expanded military, AUKUS presence with US-led deep-space facility
With a submarine communications base and air force facility already close by, many Exmouth locals say they welcome the weekend's news of their town hosting a high-tech space facility.
Updated
Someone 'had to die' before Lucy could access life-saving dialysis in her home town
First nations people are at a greater risk of developing chronic kidney disease. But, Indigenous patients in WA's regions can wait years before getting a dialysis placement near home.
Updated
Tourism businesses stunned as Qantas cuts Melbourne-Exmouth direct flights
WA's tourism minister and local tourism operators are disappointed in the decision by Qantas to discontinue direct flights between Exmouth and Melbourne from 2024.