BAIRNSDALE
THE BAIRNSDALE FOUR Wheel Drive Club is hosting a 4WD car meet on Friday from 5pm in the Bunnings car park. A chance to check out the vehicles on display and meet club members in a family-friendly environment.
THE ROTARY CLUB of Mitchell River is gearing up for its annual Rotary Centenary House Breakfast, to be held this year on Wednesday, April 9 (7-10am), at St Mary’s Catholic Church Parish Centre, Bairnsdale. Rotary Centenary House provides vital accommodation for those in need, with 60 per cent of residents coming from East Gippsland. This event not only raises crucial funds but also increases awareness of the essential service “The House” provides to the community.
TO CELEBRATE ST Patricks Day the Victoria Police had a quick (unofficial) head count and found they have around 60 police officers named Patrick, Pat, Patricia and Trish.
ST MARYS NAGLE Cricket Club will hold its presentation night from 6.30pm on Saturday night at the Bairnsdale Bowling Club.
INTERCHANGE GIPPSLAND ARE delighted to announce that on April 5 they will have host a Friendship Group East’s Mini Golf and Trash Test Dummies Performance activity, commencing from their Bairnsdale office (Eastwood Shopping Centre, Bairnsdale). The event for 18 plus, has limited spots.
SOME MEMBERS OF the Bairnsdale Fire Brigade recently took part in a valuable training session as part of the Fire Medical Response Program. They refreshed their knowledge of ambulance equipment, toured the local Bairnsdale branch, and met some of the incredible paramedics and MICA paramedics who serve the community.
SILVERS CIRCUS IS coming to town for shows between March 27-30 at the Bairnsdale racecourse.
EAGLE POINT
THE FORESHORE HUB was closed earlier in the week for the stage two upgrade, which includes electrical work to prepare for the installation of kitchen equipment in stage three. This upgrade will make the hub even better for the community, keeping it a great place for everyone to enjoy. A more functional kitchen with more food prep options means more ways to use the space and more reasons to love it.
LAKES ENTRANCE
NEURODIVERSITY CELEBRATION WEEK runs from March 17-25. When it comes to inclusion, neurodiversity refers to a world where neurological differences are recognised and respected as all other human variations. Depending on how our brains are wired we think, move, process information and communicate in different ways. Many people in our community use neurodiversity as an umbrella term used to describe alternative thinking styles such as Dyslexia, Dyspraxia, Dyscalculia, Autism and ADHD. But regardless of labels, neurodiversity is about recognising those who think differently and no matter whether you are a school, university or organisation you can benefit from different thinkers. Approximately 15-20 per cent of population has a neurological difference. Instead of labelling people with deficits or disorders, when we use the term neurodiversity, we take a balanced view of an individual’s unique strengths and challenges. Many “challenges” neurodivergent people face are more to do with the environment and systems they are placed in, often designed by a majority population.
GIPPSLAND LAKES FISHING Club recently held its annual general meeting. The guest speaker was Brett Tait from Rig Recycle. The following were elected at the meeting: Michael Lees (president), Bob Lawrence (vice president), Steve Werner (treasurer), Trevor Pillinger (secretary) and Steve Taylor, Cathy Lawrence, Danielle Milito, Bill Kanavan and Ray Wheeler (all general committee).
LOCH SPORT
A LOCAL GENT has won $67,000 at Keno but has had a hard time win convincing his wife that he had actually won, after she initially thought he was pulling her leg. The gentleman couldn’t wait to put his newfound fortune towards celebrating his 50th wedding anniversary with his wife next month, as well as a new trailer. In 2024, Keno players across the eastern states of mainland Australia celebrated more than 76 million wins collectively worth more than $1.19 billion. During this time, Keno crowned 23 millionaires and multi-millionaires who collectively took home more than $54.9 million. Two of these major winners were from Victoria, including a Melton man who pocketed more than $2 million.
LONGFORD
THIS SATURDAY MARKET at the recreation reserve between 3-7pm, has a great variety of stalls.
MAFFRA
MAFFCO will host Pitmaster 2025 on April 26-27, the Australian barbecue competition and festival.
THE ANNUAL MARDI Gras was a magnificent evening. The streets came alive over the weekend with an incredible parade, creative floats and a buzzing atmosphere. This year’s event was themed “Under the Sea” which was a huge success, celebrating creativity, community spirit and fundraising efforts that make a real difference in the community. Julie Steele and the Maffra Municipal Band were this year’s fundraising champions, raising 22,653.73. Since 1958, this event has raised more than $4 million for local causes, an incredible achievement.
THE GEORGE GRAY Centre will present their Lil’Bunny’s Bazaar Easter Maker’s Market on April 16 from 11am-1pm. It will feature plants, craft, woodwork, art, slices and a sausage sizzle.
MARLO
THE DATE FOR this year’s girls only fundraiser has been locked in, with Saturday, August 23 confirmed.
METUNG
LEARN TO SAIL lessons will take place at the Metung Yacht Club from April 14-17. Sessions will run each day from 8.30am-12.15pm and 1-4.45pm.
MONTGOMERY
ON FEBRUARY 24 at approximately 10pm a vehicle was intercepted by Maffra Police on the Princes Highway. Checks revealed the driver was a disqualified learner driver and the vehicle was currently unregistered. The vehicle was impounded for a period of 30 days and the driver will face a number of charges including, driving while disqualified, learner driver without an appropriate supervised driver, using unregistered motor vehicle on a highway, fail to display “L” plates and fail to comply with load restraint requirements.
ORBOST
A GUIDE TO country policing webinar will take place on Monday, April 14 from 6-7pm. This session will run through the police recruitment process, the benefits of choosing country policing, financial benefits and allowances and how recruit employee placements work. It will be focusing on regional locations such as Orbost, Bairnsdale, Yarram and Sale.
DUE TO THE HOT weather and public demand, East Gippsland Shire Council re-opened the Orbost and Bairnsdale outdoor pools from Friday to Sunday. Over the three days 91 visitors were welcomed to Bairnsdale and another 130 at Orbost. As we now head into the cooler months, both of our outdoor pools will be closing for their winterisation process.
FUTURE OF ORBOST and District Project are calling for expressions of interest (consultants/specialists) for the Hemp Pilot Project. They are seeking suitably qualified consultants/specialists to support the capture of key learnings and insights from the current hemp project and develop recommendations for future activity and/or industry development.The requirements are described in three separate work packages. Dependent on their skill sets applicants can respond to individual work packages or combinations thereof. The three work packages are: ONE (Data capture, assessment and analysis); TWO (Investigating Decortication Options); and THREE (Project Management) Expressions of interest close on March 28, with work to be completed by June 2025.
PAYNESVILLE
THE LOCAL COAST GUARD announce the following awards at Monday’s Flotilla meeting. Colin McEwan was presented with his 15-year long service award, Graham Martine was presented with his five year long service award and Jon Hansen took the Coast Guard association pledge. They were all congratulated by Flotilla Commander, Michael Doyle.
ROSEDALE
SPEEDWAY ACTION RETURNS to Rosedale on Saturday, March 29.
SALE
THE WELLINGTON SUSTAINABILITY Expo will be held on Saturday from 10am-2pm at the Nakumbalook Centre. The event will feature live music and local food in a family friendly environment, with a focus on sustainable living, community groups and renewable energy.
THE OFF THE Leash Block Party on Saturday at the Sale Greyhound Club is expected to go off. It will be an electrifying open air house and trance experience, with the car park being turned into open-air Block Party packed with energy, massive sound, and an unreal atmosphere. The entertainment line up includes Jokesonyou, Wils*rish and North Barton. Action kicks off at 4pm and goes through to 12am.
DON’T FORGET WELLINGTON Shire Council pet registrations are due by April 10. Under the Domestic Animals Act 1994, all cats and dogs over three months old need to be microchipped and registered. Renewing your registration helps keep your furry friends safe and makes it easier for the local laws team to reunite lost pets with their owners. Plus registration fees help support local animal shelter, pet education programs, animal welfare investigations, and more.
WELLINGTON SHIRE COUNCIL Libraries and Collins Booksellers Sale are pleased to announce the return of Australian author Kathy Mexted to the Sale Library on Thursday from 7pm. Mexted will introduce her latest book, Take Flight, incredible stories of Australian women who reach for the sky. The author talk is free to attend and features a delicious spread of sweet and savoury bites. You’ll also enjoy a glass of bubbles while you listen, a perfect evening to unwind, chat with fellow book lovers, and hear from an inspiring Australian author. Books will be available for purchase on the night, and Mexted will be happy to sign copies for you.
THE ST ANNE’S GIPPSLAND GRAMMAR STRAWBERRY patch is officially underway. The school’s green-thumbed year four students have been hard at work planting a crop and with a little sunshine, water and patience we’re hoping for a bumper crop of sweet, juicy strawberries in the very near future.
WORK HAS BEGAN at the Swanlake Business Park development in North Sale, with a brand new Bunnings store to be constructed soon. The Swanlake Business Park, also known as Cobains Road Homemakers Centre and Bulky Retailing, is located on the northern side of Sale, and is accessible from the Princes Highway.The land was zoned by the Wellington Shire Council for commercial development over 15 years ago, with a long-standing planning permit for the subdivision of the business park, originally issued in 2011.
THE SALE PONY CLUB have a new committee for 2025, led by president, Danna Boulton, who will be assisted by Kristy March (vice president), Shorna Ross (secretary), Carolyn Thyssen (treasurer), Clint Kelly (DC), Sherie Killeen (chief instructor) and Andy Coleman (zone representative).
SARSFIELD
COLOUR AND CREATIVITY returns in 2025 on every third Wednesday under the tutelage of Madelaine, a unique chance to connect with your creative side between 1-3pm. The next session is on April 16.
SEASPRAY
SURF LIFESAVING SEASPRAY will host its club championships on Sunday.
FLOTATION ENERGY HAS abandoned its offshore wind project known as Seadragon after an attempt to challenge the federal government’s rejection of the proposed wind farm through the courts was unsuccessful. Last year, the government did not grant the Japanese-backed company a feasibility licence to construct an offshore wind farm in waters off the coast of the 90 Mile Beach, connecting to Victoria’s electricity network. The government reasoned Seadragon overlapped with another application for a wind farm with more merit by Iberdrola.
YARRAM
AMBULANCE VICTORIA’S (AV) new state-of-the-art ambulance branch in Yarram is officially open. Acting Gippsland regional director, Paul James last week joined the Member for Eastern Victoria, Tom McIntosh MP to officially open the new multi-million-dollar facility. The branch on Lawler Street was custom-built with modern and safe facilities, paramedics and first responders need to assist with their job and respond to life-threatening cases in the community. The facility has been operational since November last year and features a three-bay ambulance garage, two rest and recline areas, longer term accommodation facilities, training equipment, a fully equipped kitchen, as well as improved security and car parking. The new purpose-built branch will help crews easily access the community by being close to local businesses, sporting and community facilities and schools. AV recently celebrated 100 years of ambulance services in Yarram, and the new branch is home to eight paramedics and five Ambulance Community Officers (ACOs), who are a valued and critical part of the emergency response in rural and regional Victoria. The Yarram team provides care to towns such as Yarram, Woodside, Alberton, Port Albert, McLoughlin’s Beach, Port Welshpool, Welshpool, Won Wron, Stacey’s Bridge and Jack River.
AFTER CONSIDERABLE COMMUNITY backlash, the Allan state government has committed to not make changes to the Yarram/Leongatha to Southern Cross V/Line coach service that would have instead seen the bus terminate at East Pakenham station and passengers having to switch to a train. Last year in the state budget, the government announced $30 million for improved bus and ferry services, including more frequent bus services for Leongatha and Yarram. Community consultation on the matter is expected to start in June. Any changes to timetables would likely come into affect in early 2026. The bus currently begins at Yarram and takes in Leongatha, Korumburra, Koo Wee Rup, Cranbourne, Dandenong, Caulfield, and ending at either Southern Cross or Flinders Street Station.
Checks revealed the driver was currently disqualified and had four previous convictions for drink driving offences in Victoria and New South Wales. The vehicle was impounded for a period of 30 days and the driver will be summonsed to court at a later date to front a Magistrate on the charges of driving while disqualified, breaching interlock condition and exceeding the prescribed concentration of alcohol whilst driving. (PS)
