BAIRNSDALE
GREAT TO SEE the Bairnsdale outdoor pool finally open for business, with patrons voting with their feet, flocking to the venue over the weekend to enjoy the cool water in the oppressive heat that Victoria is currently experiencing. East Gippsland Shire Council offers free swimming every Friday at all our indoor and outdoor pools in Bairnsdale, Orbost and Lakes Entrance from 3pm.
ON THURSDAY, DECEMBER 26, at approximately 11.35pm, the Bairnsdale Highway Patrol intercepted a white Jeep Cherokee, bearing NSW number plates, in the Bairnsdale area. The 35-year-old driver was found to be exceeding the speed limit, driving unlicenced and refused a roadside drug test. As a result, the vehicle was impounded for 30 days at a cost of $950. The driver will now have to face the consequences of their actions, as they will receive a summons to attend court at a later date.
EAST GIPPSLANDERS ARE in for a spectacular 2025 with the Forge Theatre securing major Creative Victoria touring performances. Gunditjmara/Kokathasinger-songwriter David Arden will tour Meerta, Rise Up. The Ballad of James Arden, a story about Aboriginal identity, resilience and celebration in Bairnsdale on Friday June 13 at 7.30pm. Nicholas Clark Management will tour three new Australian works, including Imagine Live, based on Alison Lester’s book (Wednesday May 21, 6pm). Velveteen Rabbit from Born in a Taxi (September school holidays), while Finucane and Smith will tour the whole-of-community knees-up show The Exotic Lives of Lola Montez. Spanning writing to opera to burlesque, the community focused performance will draw entire towns into the celebration at The Forge on Friday September 5 at 7.30pm.
WORLD INTROVERT DAY was on January 2. A chance to celebrate the quietly awesome, the masters of observation, and the champions of “I’ll text you instead”. No doubt there would have been plenty of recharging in a favourite cozy corner, diving into a good book, or perfecting the art of silent brilliance, with no pressure, no calls, and definitely no group chats.
UPSTAGE THEATRE SCHOOL rehearsals for Wizard of Oz are in full swing at Howitt Park. The production will feature six shows on January 10-12 and 17-19. Set in the beautiful Bairnsdale Botanical Gardens, you will get the opportunity to follow Dorothy and her friends down the Yellow Brick Road.
BRIAGOLONG
BRIAGOLONG ART Gallery’s final exhibition for the year is open and will be on display until February 16. On exhibition is the annual members show Senses of Summer; the sights, sounds, smells, particular to the season, has been transformed into visual vignettes by the artists.
COONGULLA
THE COONGULLA FIRE Brigade held a free information session last Saturday morning between 8-11am. Free egg and bacon brekkie rolls were popular as locals popped into get information and pick up brochures.
GOON NURE
THE BAIRNSDALE AND District Model Aero Club will host its Bairnsdale Action All Scale Rally on March 8-9. The event will see pilot’s choice awards presented for both civilian and military aircraft.
HEYFIELD
LAST SATURDAY’S COMMUNITY market was popular among the tourists and locals despite the heat. Plants were a popular purchase, whilst the lady who went home with two camping chairs for just $10 was delighted with her purchase.
THE LOCAL RV park at the old football ground continues to attract near record numbers of vans each and every night.
LAKES ENTRANCE
THE LIONS CLUB of Gippsland Lakes Lionesses is conducting an indoor market at the Mechanics Hall on Saturday, January 18, from 9am-2pm, featuring local crafts, jewellery, candles, plants, fruit and vegetables, jams, knits, textile craft, woodwork, books and lots more.
LICOLA
POLICE ARE INVESTIGATING a fatal motorcycle crash in Licola last week. Emergency services were called to reports of an injured rider at a campground on Tamboritha Road on December 30, about 8.20pm. The rider was taken to hospital with life-threatening injuries where he later died.
ONE OF THE big nights in region on New Year’s Eve was at the Licola Caravan Park and General Store, where Dog Country, showcased their talent and versatility, putting on an incredible raw show with bare feet, a fire, a banjo, a double bass, a piano accordion, an acoustic guitar and powerful vocals.
LOCH SPORT
LOCH SPORT BOAT Club will celebrate the 60th birthday and club’s history at the club on January 25 from 4pm. All life, past, present and new members are invited to share this special event, with the bar open and food vans in attendance.
MAFFRA
MAFFCO will host Pitmaster 2025 on April 26-27, the Australian BBQ Competition and Festival.
THE GEORGE GRAY Centre is kicking off a new program this month, a brand-new horse riding program. This is an incredible opportunity for participants to connect with these amazing animals, build confidence, and have a whole lot of fun.
THE RV PARK at the Maffra Golf Club is buzzing with so many happy returning New Year visitors, enjoying the great facilities, hospitality and a fabulous East Gippsland golf course.
METUNG
METUNG YACHT Club prawn nights over the Christmas/New Year period have been well supported, the punters delighted with the local offering.
THE METUNG SUMMER Movie Truck is attracting both tourists and locals. It will operate through to January 20 on the Metung Village Green and will show free screenings of popular and classic movies, the cricket, tennis, documentaries and much more. The full program is currently being finalised.
ORBOST
THE FIRST MAJOR stage of restoration work on the Snowy River Railway Trestle Bridge at Orbost is on target for completion in the next couple of months. The carparks and rest areas at each end, signage and preliminary works to stabilise the structure have all been completed and work is continuing on the first sections of decking. Community representatives approached Federal politician, Darren Chester several years ago to raise concerns about the state of the bridge which crosses the Snowy River flats between Newmerella and Orbost. They wanted money to bring it back to life for pedestrian and cycling access, enjoying some success with more than $4 million in grants from state and federal governments and work has progressed well with local contractors. Ever since the trains stopped running to Orbost in 1987, the bridge has effectively been slowly demolishing itself through neglect and it would have been tragic to lose such a significant link to the past. Extra money is still required to finish the job and with several grant applications going through the process.
THE ORBOST POOL will be hosting a free dive-in movie night on Saturday, January 25 from 4.30pm. It will feature a family friendly screening of Shark Tale (PG) and from 6.45pm, The Meg (M). A free sausage sizzle will be provided on the night. Limited spaces are available please book.
ORBOST ARTS CENTRE is screening a selection of award-winning short films from the St Kilda Film Festival 2024 on Friday night at 6pm and on Sunday, January 19 at 3pm.
You can see this s, right here in Orbost. Book your tickets on our website, or drop into the gallery during our standard opening hours.
COASTAL IMPRESSIONS by artist Chris Harrison opened last week at the Orbost Arts Centre, the breathtaking art is on show until January 31.
ST JAMES ANGLICAN Church will host a second hand book sale from today through to Saturday, operating from 10am-2pm daily at the church hall.
PARADISE BEACH
THE GOLDEN PARADISE Beach Bowls Club barefoot bowls on Friday night continues to be hit with locals and tourists, last week’s session a sell out.
RAYMOND ISLAND
THE RAYMOND ISLAND Foreshore Landscape Plan (South Western Area) is complete. Developed in collaboration with the community, the plan presents an approach that aligns with community goals and provides balanced solutions to guide the future management of the south-western area of the Raymond Island foreshore. The landscape plan identifies specific zones for protection, conservation, and responsible community use. It aims to safeguard the unique environmental values of the foreshore while improving resident and visitor experiences. All feedback was instrumental in creating a management plan that thoughtfully considers and reflects the interests of our community.
DESPITE THE HEAT, horse drawn carriage rides were again popular last Saturday, a unique way to check out the island and the koalas.
RIVERSLEA
ON CHRISTMAS DAY at approximately 3.24pm, a white 4×4 Toyota Utility was detected speeding along Boggy Creek Road, Riverslea. Maffra Police intercepted the utility and found a 45-year-old Maffra male driving. A preliminary breath test was conducted on the driver which returned a positive result. A further evidentiary breath test was conducted which revealed the driver had exceeded, by more than twice, the prescribed concentration of alcohol. The male driver had his licence immediately suspended and the white 4×4 utility was impounded, he will receive a summons to appear at court at a later date for drink driving and speeding offences.
ROSEDALE
POLICE ARE INVESTIGATING the circumstances surrounding the theft of a boat in Rosedale on Monday, December 30. Offenders have attended a Rosedale address, gaining entry to the rear yard taking a 2001 Malibu Wakesetter boat, registration KE803. Investigators have released an image of a vehicle suspected to be used in the theft. The driver of this vehicle may be able to assist with enquiries.
SALE
THE WELLINGTON SHIRE Council is throwing open the gates of all its outdoor pools every Friday this summer swim season. A chance to have a soak in the school holidays.
McDONALDS SALE HAS a new owner, with Tim Peut taking over from the Cowell family.
TWILIGHT GOLF CROQUET starts today from 4.30pm at the Sale Croquet Club.
SEASPRAY
YABBY RACING RETURNS to the Seaspray Surf Lifesaving Club this Saturday night, with tickets on Sale from 5pm.
STRADBROKE
POLICE ARE APPEALING for witnesses as part of an investigation surrounding the circumstances surrounding a grass fire in Stradbroke on January 2. Patrolling police located a grass fire burning along the South Gippsland Highway near the intersection of Gormandale-Stradbroke Road around 9.15am. Multiple Country Fire Authority units attended and extinguished the fire without further incident. At this stage, police are unable to determine a cause of the fire and appeal to the public for any information and/or dash camera footage.
STRATFORD
Local athlete Chris Dixon will attempt to run 220 kilometres in under 24 hours to raise money for @free3dhands. The event will take place on January 10, with Dixon running from Sale to Phillip Island.
SWAN REACH
THE NEXT SWAN Reach Car Boot and Makers Market will be held on January 19 from 9am-noon. The event is staged at the Twin Rivers Lions Community Shed at the Swan Reach Recreation Reserve on the third Sunday of the month.
WOODSIDE
THE WOODSIDE SURF Life Saving Club held a successful nippers carnival last weekend. The club thankful for the support of the committee, food preparers, the recorders, place card holders and the nipper parents who organised the kids. The carnival circuit heads to Lakes Entrance this week.
