BAIRNSDALE
GOOD BREW DRIVE Thru is a new player in the Bairnsdale coffee market and is now delivering directly to your door via Uber Eats.
SOME HOUSEHOLDERS MAY receive a phone call from independent market research agency TKW Research, inviting them to take part in the Community Satisfaction Survey from February 23 to April 3. The survey helps East Gippsland Shire Council understand how the community views its performance and where services can be improved. Around 400 residents will be interviewed to ensure results reflect the broader community. Callers will not ask for you by name, all responses are confidential, and only deidentified results are reported to Council.
SAD TO SEE the closure of Bairnsdale Meat Supply after serving the community for many years.
LAST WEDNESDAY WAS International Day of Women and Girls in Science. This year’s day recognised women working in the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) fields. According to Professor Veena Sahajwalla, Director of the Centre for Sustainable Materials Research & Technology at UNSW: “We need to be imagining a future where every bit of material can go back into the supply chain so it can be remanufactured into a new product.” In East Gippsland, the local council is supporting this aspect of the circular economy through its mixed recycling program. All recycling collected in the mixed recycling (yellow-lid) bins is sorted into metals, plastics, glass, paper, and cardboard at the Bairnsdale Materials Recovery Facility before shipping to recyclers in Melbourne. You can take an active part in recycling by knowing which items can be recycled via the yellow-lid bins.
AS PART OF the East Gippsland Shire Council’s annual weed-management program, the Natural Environment field crews have been progressing blackberry control across council reserves – including wetlands, drainage reserves, walking tracks, and foreshore areas. In recent weeks, the team has treated around 24 hectares to help protect biodiversity and keep public open spaces safe and accessible. One blackberry bush can create up to 13,000 seeds per square metre – and birds happily spread them far and wide. They regenerate from root fragments, cane tips, and broken pieces, meaning floods or disturbance can quickly create new infestations. Introduced in the 1830s for gardens and jam, blackberries now infest around 8.8 million hectares nationwide and are listed as a Weed of National Significance. Managing them makes a real difference to local landscapes – and helps native plants thrive.
LOCAL HIGHWAY PATROL – On Wednesday, February 11, patrols were travelling west along Princes Highway when they observed a black Holden Commodore enter from the centre of the highway and deliberately lose traction. The vehicle slid side to side several times before regaining control. The probationary driver, a 20-year-old man from Wurruk, will face numerous traffic offences in court. The vehicle was impounded at a cost of $950.
A BIG PROJECT amused many onlookers last week, with the first Internet access point in town removed from the Bairnsdale Neighbourhood House. There were a couple of tense moments, but with an expert and the right equipment, the job fell into place.
PAST STUDENTS OF Bairnsdale High and Technical Schools are invited to their 2026 monthly lunches, held every last Wednesday of the month at the Bairnsdale Bowls Club. The first lunch for 2026 will be Wednesday, February 25. Students from the 1950–70 era and friends are welcome. Teacher to be remembered: Mr Shee.
CLAIMS THAT COLES misled shoppers with “illusory” discounts on household goods will be tested in Federal Court this week, as the competition watchdog and the supermarket giant square off in a blockbuster case over pricing promotions. The high-profile case will serve as a key test on practices across the industry, examining whether promotions on hundreds of products were genuine or misleading, potentially leaving the supermarket facing hefty fines. The ACCC alleges Coles increased the price of hundreds of products “for only a relatively short period of time” – up to 45 days – before placing them on the “Down Down” promotion, often advertising that briefly higher price as the relevant comparison. The ACCC claims 255 breaches occurred, including products placed on the promotion more than once during the period in question.
STEPHEN BAGGS FUNERAL Directors have opened the block alongside their existing car park for overflow parking during funeral services held at their chapel. Several fence panels were removed to allow access directly from the existing parking area and to Mill Street. Concerns about being trapped in the car park had previously led many to park on the median directly in front of the chapel, creating safety risks.
EAST GIPPSLAND SHIRE Council has introduced a new Kindergarten Central Registration Service (CRS) to make enrolling in kindergarten simpler and more streamlined across the shire. The system provides one easy place to register children for three- and four-year-old kindergarten, ensuring places are allocated fairly and transparently. Families can submit a pre-registration any time after their child is born – there is no need to wait until the year they are due to start kindergarten. Pre-registrations are open, with formal registration opening April 1 and round one closing June 30. More information at East Gippsland Shire Council.
NAGLE COLLEGE LANGUAGES Learning Leader Katherine Brown has qualified for the Teaching Impact Fellowship with the Victorian Academy of Teaching and Leadership. The fellowship offers funding and mentorship to the Teaching Excellence Program, enabling graduates to lead impactful projects that drive school improvement. Brown is preparing an innovative program for Nagle’s Languages Team.
HEYFIELD
ALL ROADS WILL lead to the Gordon Street Reserve on Saturday for the 2026 Heyfield Timber Festival. This year’s event will feature truck, car, and motorbike shows; vintage engine displays; heritage draft horses; woodworking demonstrations; model truck displays; trade stalls; helicopter rides; food vans; carnival rides; a tattoo tent; woodchops; woodcarving; Tim Coleman motorbike show; dog high jump; live music; a bar; a twilight market; tug-of-war; and fireworks. There will be plenty for kids, including face painting, a petting zoo, roving entertainment, and giant games.
LAKE TYERS
EAST GIPPSLAND CATCHMENT Management Authority has installed solar-powered cameras at several estuaries across East Gippsland. They capture daily images to monitor estuary mouth conditions and track changes over time. Images and local water quality information are available on public dashboards via the EGCMA website. The camera at Sydenham Inlet is coming, while Lake Tyers, Marlo, and Mallacoota cameras are operational.
MAFFRA
BROWN WIGG recently celebrated 20 years servicing the local agriculture community, with their slogan: “First to open, last to close.”
LOCAL APPRENTICE TOM Harms, a fourth-year apprentice electrician with Marathon Electrical, will represent Australia in the Electrical Installations category at the WorldSkills International Competition in Shanghai later this year.
METUNG
THE SPLASH PARK has reopened earlier than expected following scheduled maintenance, benefiting locals during the recent hot weather spell.
MYRTLEBANK
LOCAL TRANSPORT COMPANY, Frank Morgan Transport, recently celebrated 25 years on the road. Morgan started out hauling livestock, building his reputation through early mornings, long days, and dedication. About five years ago, the business switched to general freight, growing into what Morgan Transport is today. This milestone is a huge achievement and a credit to Morgan’s hard work and passion.
OMEO
NATIONALS MP MELINA Bath has called on the Allan Government to prioritise school upgrades following the 2025 School Condition Report. After a two-year Freedom of Information battle with the Education Department, the report revealed a hidden decline in Victoria’s school infrastructure. Schools are rated on a 0–5 scale for building condition, infrastructure, and outstanding maintenance. Scores of 3.25 or below indicate poor condition, while 3.26–3.37 are average. One in five Victorian public schools is in poor condition, with 19 in eastern Victoria and 26 rated as average. Poorly rated schools include Omeo Primary (3.06), Orbost North Primary (3.07), and Orbost Primary (3.07), while average-rated schools include Rosedale Primary (3.27), Glengarry Primary (3.28), and Briagolong Primary (3.28).
ORBOST
DOCTOR SARAH WITHEY recently received $781,640 in NHMRC funding. Withey will investigate a potential therapeutic for the rare disease Ataxia Telangiectasia (A-T) using mini brain and liver organoids. Local fundraisers have supported Jarrah’s Journey, aiding research for six-year-old Jarrah Beveridge, who has A-T. The grant will help test whether a modified therapeutic can repair a key protein deficiency, potentially improving life-limiting symptoms of A-T.
ROSEDALE
POLICE ARE CALLING for witnesses to three recent fires. The first occurred around 1.35am on Monday, February 9, in a garden at Prince Street Reserve along the northern boundary fence. Another fire occurred the same day at 3.30am, contained to a western garden bed. On February 11 at 1.15am, police assisted CFA with a third fire, which burned around 25 square metres along a boundary fence between the park and a local business. Anyone with information or dashcam footage is asked to contact Rosedale Police (51 99 2222), Sale Police (51 42 2200), or Crime Stoppers (1800 333 000 or website).
SALE
SALE TENNIS CLUB member Chris Hulls will participate in this year’s Great Postie Bike Run from February 27 to March 1, raising funds for cancer support services. Hulls hopes to reach a personal goal of $2000.
ALL DAY DINING is now available at Sporting Legends from 12pm Wednesday to Saturday, featuring a large selection of chicken parmas.
IF YOU ARE curious about sustainable living, the Wellington Sustainability Festival will be held on Saturday, March 14, from 10am–2pm at the Nakunbalook Precinct and Seed Community Garden. The festival features workshops, tours, renewable energy displays, stalls, live music, kids’ activities, and food vendors.
FOR ALMOST 40 YEARS, Terry Stewart has kept the Sale community informed and connected as owner of Sale Authorised Newsagency. Last week, he retired. Stewart plans to travel to Port Douglas, Vanuatu, and Thailand.
REGIONAL HEALTH SERVICES will benefit from last year’s Good Friday Appeal, with $3 million allocated to more than 30 services in regional Victoria. This funding will support equipment upgrades, training, and scholarships for healthcare professionals at Central Gippsland Health Service, Gippsland Southern Health Service, Latrobe Regional Health, and West Gippsland Healthcare Group.
THE NEW CHIEF Executive Officer at Central Gippsland Health, Michele Gardner, brings more than 34 years of experience in healthcare and justice settings. She is a registered nurse with a Master of Public Administration and a Graduate Diploma in Health Counselling, having led major infrastructure projects and held executive roles in Queensland hospitals.
SARSFIELD
THE LOCAL RURAL Fire Brigade has launched a community fundraiser to support Yarck and surrounding districts after destructive bushfires last month. Donations of fencing materials or hand tools can be made at Brown Wigg, Elders, Goodmans, and Gippsland Treated Pine in Bairnsdale. QR codes for financial donations are on the Sarsfield Fire Brigade Facebook page. Deliveries will be made to Yarck CFA on March 14.
YARRAM
THE RECENTLY CLOSED softwood mill will resume operations under the Pentarch Group’s forestry division in the future. The mill, Australia’s largest softwood producer, employed 73 people until its closure in November. The new venture is expected to process Eucalyptus nitens for pallets and packaging feedstock.
