BAIRNSDALE
POLICE ARE APPEALING for witnesses following an incident on Christmas Day at around 9.55pm. A grey Mazda CX-5 crossing the Mitchell River Bridge in Bairnsdale sustained damage to its passenger side mirror after it was struck by one of two males believed to have been fighting. One male is described as wearing a white singlet with short hair and the second male is described as having a shaggy hair style. Anyone who witnessed or has dash cam of the incident is urged to contact Bairnsdale Police or Crimestoppers.
THE BAIRNSDALE REGIONAL Health Service Emergency Department has had several days in the last week where they have been dealing with a high volume of patients requiring emergency medical assistance. This has meant people presenting to the Emergency Department with less urgent issues facing longer-than-usual waiting times. This happens at times during the summer holidays, with so many visitors in East Gippsland at the moment. As always, if you are urgently unwell, please dial 000 or present immediately to the Emergency Department. If your medical issue needs medical treatment but is not an emergency, please consider other medical treatment options.
A NUMBER OF community events will be held throughout the region on Sunday for Australia Day. These include Bairnsdale (7.30am onwards, Rotunda, Main Street), Lindenow (7.30am onwards, Lindenow Public Hall), Omeo (8.30am onwards, Courthouse Garden), Orbost (7.30am onwards, Forest Park), Paynesville (8am onwards, Community Craft Centre), Twin Rivers – Swan Reach (8.30 am, Swan Reach Recreational Reserve) and Swifts Creek (10.30 am onwards, Swift Creek Recreation Reserve).
THE GIPPSLAND RED Meat Festival will be held at the Riviera Convention Centre on February 18 between 8.30am-5.30pm.
BRIAGOLONG
BRIAGOLONG ART Gallery’s final exhibition for the year is proving popular and remains 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.
CAPE CONRAN
AN INDIGENOUS COMMUNITY SURF Day will take place at Cape Conran on Thursday. Snacks and all equipment will be supplied.
CHANDLERS CREEK
MAJOR COLLISION INVESTIGATION Unit detectives have charged a woman following a fatal crash in Chandlers Creek on November 9. Emergency services were called to reports a car had allegedly rolled down an embankment just off Monaro Road on about 6.15am. The passenger, an 81-year-old Bairnsdale woman, was located deceased at the scene.
GLENMAGGIE
A ROYAL CHILDREN’S Hospital fundraiser will be held at 14 Nerringundah Drive on Saturday from 9am-1pm. It will take the form of a market/garage sale and will include sausage sizzle, coffee/cakes, face painting, lucky dip, plants, man cave collectables, rustic saw blades, trash and treasure, as well as bargain based equipment.
EARTH FESTIVAL FEVER will hit the region from January 23-26, 2026. Earth is a four-day outdoor camping, lifestyle and music festival at one of Victoria’s most beautiful and unique venues. Earth Festival will take place at a new venue this time around, a beautiful lakeside property covered in natural bushland. Tickets will shortly go on sale, an opportunity to enjoy a perfect weekend away relaxing by the edge of the lake, soaking up the sun and beats.
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.
JOHNSONVILLE
POLICE ARE APPEALING for witnesses for a disturbing incident that occurred on January 7 at approximately 10.30pm. A white coloured SUV, fitted with dash mounted blue and red flashing lights intercepted a motorist on the Princes Highway between Johnsonville and Nicholson. Two males, impersonating Police officers, exited the SUV, approached the motorist and took his Driver Licence, before driving away towards Bairnsdale. The driver of the SUV is described as approximately 180 cm tall, of solid build with tanned skin. He was wearing an orange coloured high-visibility vest and cap.
LAKES ENTRANCE
THE LAKES ENTRANCE Regional Historical Societies latest exhibition is proving popular. A Voyage of No Return: Shipwrecks on the East Gippsland Coast is a fantastic exhibition featuring many of the hundreds of wrecks that have occurred close to Lakes Entrance along the East Gippsland coastline. The stories of tragedy and survival are a reminder of the perils that confronted our seafaring ancestors, and the risks that still exist today for commercial fishermen in Bass Strait. The free exhibition continues at the Lakes Entrance Coast Guard building at 420 Esplanade, until January 28, from 10am-4pm each day.
WITH THE SUMMER weather particularly hot this year, punters are reminded to think Sunsmart. The beach, the lakes, the bush and getting out and about are great ideas while the weather’s fine, but even on those cooler days, sun exposure poses a risk. Always remember to slip on a shirt, slop on some sunscreen, slap on a hat, seek some shade and slide on some sunglasses.
LOCH SPORT
LOCH SPORT BOAT Club will celebrate its 60th birthday and history at the club on Saturday 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.
LUCKNOW
IT’S BLACK AND WHITE Ball time, with the Lucknow Football Netball Club and Lucknow Cricket Club hosting the gala event at the football clubrooms on March 8 from 7pm.
MAFFRA
MAFFCO will host Pitmaster 2025 on April 26-27, the Australian BBQ Competition and Festival.
MALLACOOTA
THE RAAF ROULETTES will give a display over Mallacoota on Friday from 4pm. It will be their first exhibition for 2025, with the full team looping and rolling. The display will be midway between the Mallacoota main wharf and Captain Stevensons Point. Punters are advised to park at the wharf and follow the path to pick your spot for the best vantage point.
METUNG
A VHF INIDEN 25 watt radio, purchased to be wired in to the Metung Yacht Club clubroom as a second radio, has disappeared. The electrician has been organised for this week to do the job, and a thorough search has not revealed the radio’s new hiding spot. The radio is white in colour and was delivered in its box, with its manual. The radio was donated by a club member and is urgently required. If you have any information leading to its whereabouts or recovery, contact Vice Commodore, Stephen Bull.
NICHOLSON
EAST GIPPSLAND SHIRE Council is proposing to sell land at 1010 Princes Highway, Nicholson. The land, around Nicholson Primary School, is owned by Council, with the councillors deciding at the December council meeting to pursue selling part of the land to the Victorian Government for educational purposes including the early learning and childcare centre for the Nicholson and surrounding communities. Community feedback on the proposed sale is requested and open until February 6.
NOWA NOWA
TALENTED LAKES ENTRANCE Olivia Lay will be playing at Mingling Waters this Sunday from 1pm.
OMEO
FLOOD MITIGATION WORKS will soon begin in Omeo’s Livingstone Park to better protect the 24-hectare centrepiece of Omeo, including Livingstone Creek. A flood-remediation plan, prepared by a specialist waterway consultant, will guide the improvements, scheduled to begin next month, to be carried out by local contractor Dinner Plain Services. Three blue gum trees and one red gum will need to be removed to construct one of the rock chutes. This decision is on the advice of environmental assessments and in consultation with a local arborist.
SES TAMBO VALLEY Unit will host a barbecue lunch on Australia Day (Sunday) at the Omeo Pump and Skills Track from noon-2.30pm. A chance to check out their vehicles, enjoy a snag and listen to some great Aussie tunes, then hit the pump track or mountain bike trails for a ride.
ORBOST
THE ORBOST POOL will be hosting a free dive-in movie night on Saturday 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 so please book.
COASTAL IMPRESSIONS by artist Chris Harrison opened last week at the Orbost Arts Centre, the breathtaking art is on show until January 31.
AN INTENSIVE SWIM PROGRAM will be hosted by the Orbost Pool from February 10-14 and 17-21. The 30 minute minute lessons will be held day, with enrolments closing on January 31.
GIPPSLAND YOUTH SPACES will host a free pool party tonight at the Orbost Pool. The event will run from 4-8pm, with free food, drink and entry.
ITS BEEN A busy year for the Orbost Fire Brigade, who have 32 members, they have attended 14 fires, seven motor vehicle accidents and 23 other jobs.
PAYNESVILLE
AN OPPORTUNITY EXISTS to get rid of any out of date flares. Safe disposal is crucial to protect our community and environment. Expired flares can be left at the East Gippsland Water Police (20 Slip Rd, Paynesville) and Lakes Entrance Fishermen’s Gear Store (20 Carpenters Street, Lakes Entrance).
A FIRE DETECTOR in the vicinity of 28-30 Main Road is causing plenty of angst. It’s been going off for days, causing multiple visits from the emergency services, including the fire brigade and police.
AN OPEN DAY will be held at Opal Paynesville Gardens Care Community on January 23 at 12.30pm, a wonderful opportunity to check out their commitment to exceptional aged care and the vibrant community they have created.
RAYMOND ISLAND
A CAR SHOW will be held on March 1 from 2.30pm, raising money for Variety the children’s charity.
ROSEDALE
FOLLOWING THE SPECIAL meeting held last weekend, the Rosedale Speedway has formed new interim committee, led by president, Trevor Missen. Other members include Bob Callahan (vice president), Leigh Mitchell (secretary), Aaron Laidlaw (assistant secretary) and Tori Hutchison (treasurer). The committee includes Troy Hutchison, Broderick Stray, Shane Stewart, Chris Stewart, Peter Gray, Adrian Lawrence, Rod Zaal and Jack Stewart. The next race meeting is on Sunday.
SALE
THE GREY HEADED Flying Foxes have returned to Lake Guthridge and the Sale Botanic Gardens, and so have the popular bat chats. Lynne Amore from Moonshadow Flying Fox Rescue and Rehabilitation Centre is currently doing short talk and guided walk to see these amazing bats skim the lake for water before heading out to feed. Coming dates include January 24 (7.30-9pm), February 4 (7-8.30pm) and February 19 (7-8.30pm).
WELLINGTON POLICE WILL be holding a “Coffee with a Cop” on Thursday at 10am in the Gippsland Centre at the Yarragon Bakery. Coffee with a Cop brings police officers and the community members we serve together, to have a relaxed chat over a cup of coffee. This is a great opportunity for people to ask questions, voice any concerns and get to know your local police members.
ON THURSDAY JANUARY, Sale Police intercepted a silver Honda Civic Sedan on York Street in Sale due to the vehicle’s registration flagging that the owner’s licence was disqualified. Checks revealed that the 63-year-old female driver from Frankston was confirmed as having her drivers licence disqualified and that it had been disqualified by the Wangaratta Magistrates Court back in 2014. Due to this information the vehicle was impounded for 28 days at a cost of $950.
POLICE IN SALE have been busy, at approximately 12.20am on January 17, a white Haval H6 was observed by Police driving on Raymond Street and subsequently intercepted on Foster Street for a routine check. The driver returned a positive reading for alcohol roadside and accompanied Police for an evidentiary breath test. The driver returned a result of almost three times over the legal limit. As a result, the drivers motor vehicle was impounded for a period of 28 days, they were served with a notice of immediate driving ban for a period of 12 months and will be summonsed to court at a later date.
THE GIPPSLAND REGIONAL Livestock Exchange is up and running, hosting plenty of sales already this year. Recycled manure compost is also back on the agenda, available on Mondays and Tuesdays, between 9am-3pm. Perfect for your garden projects, simply bring a ute or trailer, go to the office for payment and the friendly staff will load you up.
STRATFORD
THE WELLINGTON SHIRE Council happy free swim Friday’s are proving popular throughout the regions pools. Don’t forget, whether it’s a school holiday adventure or just a quick cool-down, every Friday this summer swim season, you can enjoy free entry at the council’s outdoor pools.
VALENCIA CREEK
CELEBRATED SINGER SONGWRITER Sara Storer and her brother Greg will be performing a special concert at the Valencia Hall on Friday, February 21, from 8pm.
YARRAM
MEMBER FOR EASTERN Victoria, Tom McIntosh recently announced Yarram and Maffra Neighbourhood Houses will be included in the latest round of grants through the state government’s Community Food Relief program. Yarram Neighbourhood House will receive $42,250, allowing staff to buy food for community meals and food pantry programs, as well as improving pantry storage. Maffra Neighbourhood House has been allocated $13,000, also to expand its community garden, and purchase food to supplement donations for the food pantry and hampers.
