THUMBS UP: To East Gippsland Shire Council parks and gardens workers – the gardens in Main Street are (always) blooming beautiful. They are a sight to behold and make me smile.
THUMBS UP: To West Bairnsdale export Sophie Molineux, who is being touted as a frontrunner for the Australian cricket captaincy. Whether she gets the nod or not, it is a massive point of pride to see a local talent endorsed by the likes of Ellyse Perry.
THUMBS DOWN: To the uncertainty facing Orbost households regarding the closure of the Solstice Energy gas network. With the March 1 decision deadline looming, the stress on residents – particularly the elderly – is palpable.
THUMBS UP: To the 13 members of the District 11 Taskforce – hailing from Bairnsdale, Orbost, Mallacoota and surrounds – who deployed to Wodonga to help battle the River Road fires. It makes us proud to see Gippsland crews putting their hands up to help neighbours in need.
THUMBS DOWN: To the cuts to the ‘Complexity Allowance’ for P-12 schools. Students in remote towns like Mallacoota and Cann River already face geographical hurdles; stripping funding that supports VCE breadth and wellbeing programs only widens the city-country gap.
THUMBS UP: To local filmmaker Neville Hiatt. Getting his film WUITAB which was shot on a camping trip in our own backyard into a global film festival is a fantastic way to showcase the natural beauty of East Gippsland to the world.
THUMBS UP: To the Phoenix Singers and the East Gippsland Photographic Society for kicking off their 2026 years with such welcoming energy. These community groups are the heartbeat of the region, providing connection and creativity for locals.
THUMBS DOWN: To the rising fire danger that brings back nervous memories of the 2019/20 summer. However, a slight THUMBS UP to the farmers taking the initiative to register early with Rural Aid to ensure they are prepared if the worst happens.
