BAIRNSDALE
MORE THAN 50,000 missing persons reports are filed across Australia each year. While most missing people are found within days, about 2700 people remain missing long-term (more than three months). Last week was National Missing Persons Week, a chance to remember all missing persons and the grief, love and hope felt by their families. The theme for this year was
Forever Loved, which focuses on supporting families of missing persons by acknowledging their experiences, keeping their loved ones’ stories alive and encouraging members of the public to come forward with any information they may have. No matter how tiny the detail, no matter how long ago they were last seen, police are always searching.
LAST WEEK WAS also National Landcare Week. East Gippsland Landcare Network’s more than 600 members who are helping to create a productive and biodiverse landscape for our region.
The Landcare Network is a wonderful way to get involved with community and connect with like-minded people while caring for our landscapes and coasts
that we all love. Local Landcare Groups are based at Bengworden, Bruthen, Buchan, Clifton Creek, Eagle Point, Eastwood, Flaggy Creek, Picnic Point Reserve, Upper Nicholson Catchment, Gelantipy, Glenaladale, Lakes Entrance, Nagle College, Newlands Arm, Nicholson River, Nungurner, Oneonta (near Lake Tyers Beach), Paynesville, Raymond Island, Romawi (Banksia Peninsula and surrounds), Swifts Creek Ensay, Tambo Bluff, Timbarra and Tom’s Creek.
LAST WEEK WAS Homelessness Week, with some distressing statistics coming to light. There were 3644 Gippsland households accessing “homelessness entry points” across Bairnsdale, Leongatha, Morwell, Orbost, Sale, Warragul and Yarram in 2024/25, 11 per cent of whom were employed. There has been an increase 32 per cent increase in households (572 households) sleeping rough in cars, tents and outdoors. In terms of emergency accommodation, there are only 16 youth refuge beds and 14 women’s shelter units across the entire region. Single people are the most affected, with pensions, job seeker and youth allowance payments, insufficient to afford even the lowest rents. Gippsland’s private rental vacancy rate is 1.8 per cent. The statistics feed into a broader statewide housing crisis, of 60,000 households on the statewide social housing waiting list, which includes 7520 Gippsland households in need of social housing.
THIS WEEK IS “Bullying No Way Week”. One of Australia’s key bullying prevention initiatives for schools. It provides an opportunity for schools to create a shared understanding about bullying behaviours and share their bullying prevention policies and strategies. The national week of action unites government, Catholic and independent schools and their communities across the country. Together they can foster practical approaches to prevent bullying in Australian schools. This year’s theme is “Be bold. Be kind. Speak up”. It takes a community to be brave and address bullying behaviours within and beyond the school gate. Students can be bold, kind and take a stand to support others being bullied. While parents and teachers are there to support children and young people learn how to behave in a positive way.
BRIAGOLONG
DELTA BRIDGE ON the Valencia Creek-Briagolong Road is set to be upgraded, with $1,598,400 in critical infrastructure funding from the federal government. The project is one of 23 in regional and rural Australia receiving funding through the Safer Local Roads and Infrastructure Program (SLRIP), an initiative of the government designed to increase productivity, and make local roads and bridges safer and more resilient. The upgrade on Valencia Creek-Briagolong Road will be delivered by the Wellington Shire Council, will strengthen Delta Bridge to 44 tonne capacity loading so it can accommodate heavy vehicles. The installation will include new compliant barriers, and the bridge deck will be widened to 7.2 metres between barriers to meet current standards.
BUCHAN
FRONTIER SERVICES WILL be coming to town to help us relocate the Community Garden. A team of volunteers will be on-site from August 25 to 28 with volunteer support from the community required. Whether you can lend a hand with digging, planting, or just offering support every little bit helps. They are also gratefully accepting donations of plants, seeds, soil, tools, mulch, building materials or anything else that could help bring the new garden space to life. They are hoping to create a fresh, vibrant space for all to enjoy.
BULLUMWAAL
THE BULLUMWAAL MECHANICS Hall will celebrate its 130th birthday with an open day on Sunday, August 24, from 11am to 2pm. The event will feature a local history and mining display, and the historic stage curtain will also be on display. Sausage sizzle, tea, coffee and light refreshments available.
HEYFIELD
AT APPROXIMATELY 7.14pm last Friday while patrolling, local police observed a Holden Commodore traveling north on Tyson Road. The vehicle was intercepted, checks revealed that the driver, a 38-year-old male from Heyfield was driving while disqualified. His vehicle was impounded for a period of 30 days at a cost of $950. The driver will be summonsed to court at a later date.
DAIRY AUSTRALIA CHIEF executive officer Matt Shaffer is in Gippsland this week as part of his planned visits to all dairy regions across the country.
THERE HAS BEEN a recent planting blitz at local wetlands, with students from Peninsula Grammar (year nine, outdoor education) planting 800 plants, a mixture of terrestrial, aquatic and ephemeral.
THE AUSTRALIAN TIMBER Workers Hall of Fame held its first catch last week at the wetlands. It was such a success, the group will continue to have a catch up on the first Thursday of the month.
LAKES ENTRANCE
A NEW HAIR Salon will be opening soon at Shop 559 the Esplanade, the team at J Style and Co, look forward to giving the best luxury cutting experience.
LUCKNOW
THE LAKESTERS SWAP Meet returns on September 21 from 8am-1pm at the Lucknow Recreation Reserve. The event will include a Show and Shine (Proceeds Melons Cottage), Swap Meet (car, truck and motorcycle part), collectables, mancave items, displays and tools. Set up entry is from 7am.
MAFFRA
THE MAFFCO DACHY Dash is back this Sunday from 11am.
THE LOCAL ROTARY Club has been awarded the District Governor’s Gold Award for Excellence. The Sale Rotary Club also was bestowed the same honour. The Rotary Club of Yarram also received a silver award at a recent presentation.
ANOTHER IMPRESSIVE Coffee and Cars event was held in Johnson Street last Sunday featuring an impressive array of vehicles that drew crowds of enthusiasts that gathered to admire the cars and engage in lively conversations.
THE MAFFRA DRAMATIC Society have just finished a well attended season of local theatre, the 1892 comedy Charley’s Aunt getting rave reviews. They will soon start working on their next production, The Rocky Horror Show, scheduled for March 2026.
MALLACOOTA
THE LOCAL FIRE Brigade recently turned out to a chimney/flue fire. The owner called 000 after hearing a “whooshing/jet engine” noise just after lighting the fire. Upon inspection with the Thermal Imaging Camera, the brigade could see two hot spots within the flue. Thankfully no fire had entered the roof space and they were eventually able to extinguish the fire within the flue. It’s timely reminder that your flue requires maintenance/inspection during winter, not just at the start of the cold weather. With only two firefighters available, this fire could have easily turned into a full structure fire. A huge task for two people, so the brigade are in critical need of some additional firefighters. CFA provides all your gear, training and even down to the batteries in your head torch.
NYERIMILANG
DISAPPOINTMENT WITH A storage shed at Nyerimilang Heritage Park having been broken into and a number of gardening tools, equipment and other items necessary to the maintenance of the grounds and buildings removed. These items belong to the volunteers at the park not to Parks Victoria and were purchased with funds earned through the hard work of volunteers. Much-needed maintenance will now be on-hold, followed by the inconvenience of having to replace these things. Items stolen include a new two-stroke fuel brush cutter, rechargeable Ozito garden blower, can of builders bog wood filler, four litres of white enamel paint, four litres of white acrylic paint, blade scrapers, spatulas, quality paint brushes, a green Bosch electric sander with dust collector, screw drivers, paint can opening tool, four litres of decking oil, tree lopper (FABKAR), various garden tools for weeding and pruning, Haymes acrylic low sheen Brunswick green, four litres turpentine, builders bag and hardware, four litres of primer, linseed oil, no more gaps and a tree saw. If you become aware of any of these item being offered for sale or otherwise finding their way into the community, please contact Lakes Entrance Police.
OMEO
THE ANNUAL MOUNTAIN Cattlemen’s Association of Victoria get together will be held from October 17-19 in Molyullah. The event will feature three days of traditional horse challenges, heritage displays, High Country culture and includes free entry for under 18s.
ORBOST
THE ART CENTRE hosted a very successful Anique Evaluation Day on Sunday. The centre was abuzz with curiosity with people arriving with all sorts of treasures.
A FREE COMMUNITY event will be held on Friday, October 21, featuring the screening of Just A Farmer.
TRIVIA BUFFS WILL be out in force this Saturday night for the Orbost Hockey Club Trivia night at the Orbost Community College from 7pm.
THE ORBOST CLUB Hotel has a new menu, with some great reports about the new tasty cuisine.
PAYNESVILLE
THE TEAM AT IGA had plenty of fun last Friday, and raised $85 for a worthy cause, Jeans 4 Genes.
SALE
THE SALE BEEKEEPERS meet once a month at 10am on the third Saturday of the month at the Seed Community Garden behind Lake Guthridge. Anyone interested in keeping bees or if you are an established apiarist, you are encouraged to come along.
IF YOU DIDN’T vote in the 2024 Wellington Shire Council Election and haven’t responded to earlier notices, you may have received a Penalty Reminder Notice this week from the Victorian Electoral Commission (VEC). The VEC has sent out 2527 notices across the state to people with outstanding infringements for failing to vote. These notices are part of the compulsory voting process in Victoria and are issued by the State Government, not your local council. Each notice includes the original fine for not voting a $29.20 reminder fee and 28-day window to take action before the matter is referred to Fines Victoria. Local councils are not involved in issuing, enforcing, or collecting these fines, which means that council staff are unable to accept payment or process enquiries. All questions should go directly to the VEC’s Compulsory Voting Centre.
THREE GIPPSLAND STUDENTS have been named among the 12 state-wide recipients of the Spirit of ANZAC Prize. Samantha Straw, a year 11 student at Sale College, Alexandra O’Brien a year nine student at Nagle College and Logan Hudson, a year 12 student at Bairnsdale Secondary College are all set to experience the trip of a lifetime. All three will travel to Türkiye later this year, on a fully funded 11-day study tour, to explore Australia’s wartime and peacekeeping history, including their own family history. The Spirit of ANZAC Prize aims to connect young Victorians with the ANZAC legacy, which symbolises the courage and sacrifice of Australian service people, as well as broadening the students’ education and personal outlook through meetings with historians and veterans. Understanding the story helps young Australians appreciate the values of courage, mateship, and sacrifice that shaped our nation in the early stages of the 20th century.
THE SALE MAFFRA Cricket Association recently held its annual general meeting. Craig Young (president), Ross McMillan (secretary), David Anderson (treasurer) and Garreth Davies (junior vice president) were all re-elected. Shaunagh Murphy is the new senior vice president, replacing Ken Bailey who has stepped down. All three positions that were available on the PRC have been filled, with Connie Rowley, Del Ahern and Anthony Scott elected. John Mayman was again appointed as chairman of selectors. Geoff Wells and Young were both granted life memberships.
STRATFORD
A MEMORIAL SERVICE was held last Friday at the Cranbourne racecourse for popular local racing identity Peta Tait, who died last month following a trackwork accident. Tait, who grew up in Stratford, got licensed as a picnic jockey aged 16, and worked full-time as a trackwork rider while assisting several trainers from Cranbourne and across Gippsland. She rode 48 winners during her 21-year picnic racing career. She was recently farewelled locally at the Baptist Church in Sale.
YARRAM
IT WAS A packed house at the Regent Theatre recently for the fundraising concert that has helped raise more than $18,000 for Need for Feed Australia. The final tally of funds raised was an impressive $18,718, with local organisers praising the generosity of attendees and supporters, among the contributions, a standout donation of $10,000 came from a mystery donor, leaving event organisers and community members overwhelmed with gratitude. The concert, which featured an all-star local lineup including Mick Harrington, Ally Row, Jungle Jim Smith and more, treated the sold-out crowd to a night of music, laughter and raffles, all in support of a vital cause. Established in 2006/07 in response to the devastating Millennium Drought, Need for Feed Australia has been a lifeline for farmers and rural communities affected by natural disasters, including droughts, bushfires, and floods.The volunteer-run organisation provides fodder and essential supplies to those doing it tough across the country. The recent Yarram event was not just a fundraiser, but a celebration of community spirit and solidarity with those on the land.
LATROBE COMMUNITY HEALTH Service recently welcomed family violence campaigner Rosie Batty to the Yarram Regent Theatre. Batty has became a national voice for family violence prevention after her son Luke was killed by his father. In recognition of her advocacy, Batty was named Australian of the Year in 2015. The event was part of the Yarram – Says No to Family Violence campaign, which aims to help people understand how serious family violence is in the area. At the event, audience members asked Rosie questions about her life, her advocacy work, and her memoir. Lisa Smith, Manager of Family Safety Services at LCHS, and Yarram Police also answered questions about the family violence supports available in Gippsland. LCHS health promotion officer Elise Tulloch, says community awareness around family violence support services is crucial.
