BAIRNSDALE
CCTV CAMERAS CAN help deter criminals from approaching your property or business and assist in identifying offenders. Police advise that if you are considering installing cameras, make sure you cover all entry and exit points of your property, have the camera visible as a deterrent, and pair it with sensor lights and alarms to maximise protection.
THE VICTORIA POLICE Blue Light Discos last week marked 50 years of connection and support for young people. From school hall dance floors to interactive programs and one-on-one pathways, Blue Light Victoria has spent five decades creating safe, supportive spaces for young people. Police are proud to stand alongside them, building trust, creating opportunities and being part of moments that matter.
THE ONLINE WORLD can be challenging for children and young people, as they may be subject to inappropriate contact and online grooming. This can occur on any platform with a direct chat function, including gaming, social networking or video platforms. It is important to have regular, open conversations with your child and understand what they are doing online. Know who they are talking to online and how to report, collect evidence and block inappropriate contact. It is also a good idea to understand the safety features of devices, apps and games if they connect to the internet. These include reviewing location and privacy settings, parental controls, and considering blocking or limiting apps. Using strong privacy settings means you can control who sees your child’s information and can help reduce inappropriate contact from people online. The AFP-led ThinkUKnow Australia program has a number of resources and safety guides for parents and carers to help start important conversations and assist them to safely navigate the online world. For more information visit www.thinkuknow.org.au
AS STUDENTS RETURN to the classroom this week, drivers are reminded to slow down and take extra care around schools. Zones are in place to protect children, so please obey the 40 kilometre per hour speed limit, stay alert during drop-off and pick-up times, follow parking restrictions and signage, and respect school crossing supervisors. Children can be unpredictable near roads, and drivers should remain vigilant. Motorists are reminded that slowing down and avoiding distractions can help prevent serious incidents.
THE BAIRNSDALE AQUATIC and Recreation Centre pool hall will be closed on Sunday to allow for essential resurfacing works in the changeroom areas. These works are being carried out to improve slip resistance and ensure the space remains safe for all users. The rest of the centre will remain open and operating as usual.
SPORTING CLUBS WILL soon be able to apply for grants of up to $100,000 to make energy-efficient and climate-resilient upgrades to their facilities. The grants are part of the Game On: Teaming Up for Climate Action program, delivering $35.3 million over two grant funding rounds. The first round is expected to open on June 11, with $17.6 million available. Grant guidelines are now available on GrantConnect, so clubs can start preparing their applications. Funding can help clubs cut energy bills, become more resilient to climate risks and reduce emissions through upgrades such as solar panels and batteries, energy audits, lighting and heating/cooling improvements, and disaster-ready upgrades for extreme weather.
BOISDALE
THE ALLAN Government is set to deliver more modern, accessible community sport facilities across Victoria. Member for Eastern Victoria Tom McIntosh recently announced clubs across the Wellington Shire will share in more than $18.3 million for 78 new projects through the latest round of the Local Sports Infrastructure Fund. Included among the grants are $500,000 for the Boisdale Recreation Reserve multipurpose courts redevelopment, which will include the redevelopment of the netball court with 100 lux LED lighting and two new additional multi-purpose pickleball courts, line-marked for netball warm-up and social basketball. The Maffra Tennis Club will receive $250,000 for a lighting upgrade, which will install 350 lux LED lighting to six synthetic tennis courts. This round of the fund will support projects worth more than $64.8 million across Victoria, adding to the more than $2.4 billion invested in sport and recreation infrastructure since 2014. The 2025–26 Victorian Budget is investing $20 million to continue delivering high-quality, accessible community sport infrastructure through programs like the Local Sports Infrastructure Fund. These investments are helping more Victorians get active while supporting local jobs, economies and healthier communities. New data from Sport and Recreation Victoria shows more than 330 funded projects over two years have increased participation by almost 43 per cent, bringing more than 70,200 new participants into sport, including a 19 per cent increase in girls. The projects have also supported more than 1170 direct full-time jobs, delivering over $538 million worth of community sport and active recreation infrastructure.
ABBEY WALSH HAS been nominated for the Turosi Food Solutions Farming and Agriculture Rising Star Award at the 7NEWS Young Achiever Awards Victoria 2026. The prestigious awards honour the achievements of young Australians aged 30 and under, showcasing leadership, innovation and community impact across a diverse range of fields. An eighth-generation Gippslander, Walsh has built her agricultural career from the ground up. After serving in the Navy, she returned home to regional Victoria to follow her lifelong passion for farming, launching her own beef cattle enterprise, Aisling Farm, where she now manages livestock while working towards breeding high-quality Angus cattle. Her hands-on approach and commitment to excellence reflect a strong connection to the land and her family’s farming legacy. Beyond the farm gate, Walsh has developed a strong digital presence, using social media to offer an authentic look into life on the land. Through educational and engaging content, she connects with thousands of followers, breaking down misconceptions about agriculture and encouraging young people to explore careers in the industry. Her ability to engage with audiences has made her a strong voice for regional Australia and a relatable advocate for modern farming. Walsh’s impact extends beyond agriculture. She actively contributes to local organisations and was recognised as a 2025 Rural Ambassador, highlighting her leadership within the community. She is also a passionate advocate for mental health awareness, using her platform to promote open conversations and support within rural communities, where such issues can often be overlooked. Winners will be announced on Friday, May 1.
BRIAGOLONG
THE LOCAL RSL sub-branch is hosting the race meeting at the Sale Greyhounds on Sunday evening. It will be a big weekend for the sub-branch, starting with the 6am dawn service on ANZAC Day, followed by the gunfire breakfast at the Log Cabin. The major morning service will be at 10.30am at Anzac Park. The walk to the service will commence at the Log Cabin at 10.20am. Morning tea will follow, also at the Log Cabin, with the afternoon activities commencing at 2pm, featuring the usual Anzac Day traditions. Members of the RSL, Briagolong and surrounding communities are invited to attend these activities over the coming weekend.
LEGALLY BLIND BAIRNSDALE artist Jeff McNeill currently has his first solo exhibition showing at the Briagolong Art Gallery until May 10. A Mind’s Eye View is available for viewing at the gallery on Saturdays and Sundays between 10am and 3pm. McNeill became interested in art at primary school, winning three competitions for drawing when he was eight years old. In 1965, at the age of nine, he became legally blind with corticosteroid-induced glaucoma, living with just two per cent sight in the peripheral vision in one eye until 2019, when his vision deteriorated further. Unable to identify colour, with only light perception, his childhood passion for art was rekindled in 2022 after learning about visually impaired English artist Sargy Mann. McNeill developed his own impressionist painting style, using a grid system method of shashlik sticks and elastic bands stretched around the canvas to divide horizontal and vertical areas. Painting with his fingers, he works from childhood memory, imagination and feel, drawing upon memories of landscapes and trees, as well as his wife’s descriptions of their travels locally and internationally.
EASTWOOD
AFTER A LENGTHY negotiating process with the owners of Eastwood Village Shopping Centre, Aroma Coffee House and Eatery has been unable to reach an agreement on new lease terms. As a result, they ceased trading last Friday. It was not an easy decision for the owners, who are deeply grateful for the love, loyalty and support the Eastwood community has shown throughout their journey. All Aroma gift vouchers will continue to be honoured at Mr D Food and Coffee.
LAKE TYERS
WORKS ARE NOW in full swing at Skidale Close Reserve, with upgrades taking shape including new picnic areas, play equipment and landscaping.
FULHAM
TO HELP CELEBRATE International Women’s Day, Fulham Correctional Centre arranged a raffle, with all proceeds donated to the Footprints Foundation ($1725). The foundation is a not-for-profit organisation that supports local people and their families undergoing treatment for breast cancer, assisting through services such as garden maintenance, house cleaning and meal preparation. To date, the organisation has supported 80 women and one man.
LATROBE VALLEY
FEDERAL MEMBER FOR Gippsland Darren Chester is set to table a petition in parliament calling for the fast-tracking of the Traralgon bypass and has urged Gippslanders to add their names to the campaign. Chester said the petition is available for signing at his offices in Sale and Traralgon, along with state MPs Tim Bull, Danny O’Brien, Melina Bath and Martin Cameron, as well as some local businesses including the Traralgon RSL and Traralgon Bowls Club. The bypass has been discussed for decades and, with 15 intersections involving roundabouts and traffic lights, it can take 15 to 20 minutes or longer during peak periods for motorists to travel through Traralgon.
LUCKNOW
CLUB EASTWOOD IS officially a finalist in three categories at the Frontier Hospitality Awards, featuring in Best Bistro, Best Gaming and Best Venue. Award winners will be announced in June.
METUNG
THE SPLASH PARK at Patterson Park is now closed for the winter and is scheduled to reopen in November ahead of the warmer months.
ORBOST
IF YOU WERE ever thinking about becoming a firefighter, now is the time. Orbost, Newmerella and Marlo fire brigades are recruiting, with no experience needed.
SALE
IN LIGHT OF the recent incident where a 12-year-old girl received minor injuries after riding an e-scooter into a vehicle, police are reiterating that inexperience and high-powered devices can lead to serious injury or death.
PROPERTIES ACROSS the Wellington Shire will soon receive a new green-lidded Food Organics and Garden Organics (FOGO) bin as council rolls out an upgrade to waste services.
STRATFORD
CARTWRIGHT FAMILY BUTCHERS are now trading in town, operating from 7am–5.30pm Monday to Friday.
YARRAM
JESSE CAMERON IS currently wanted on warrant for handling stolen goods and failing to appear at court. Anyone with information is urged to contact police or Crime Stoppers.
WORK HAS OFFICIALLY begun on the town’s new Country Fire Authority station after years of campaigning, with completion expected later this year.
THE LOCAL POOL has now closed for the winter months.
