BAIRNSDALE
INTERCHANGE GIPPSLAND IS thrilled to announce an upcoming Family Cinema Session. It will be held at the Bairnsdale Cinema this Sunday from 1pm and is open to all families who care for a child with a disability. You do not have to be affiliated with Interchange Gippsland to attend.
BANKING SCAM INFORMATION sessions will be held at the Lakes Entrance Service Centre (Thursday, June 26) and Bairnsdale Library (Monday,) from 2-3.30pm. A member of the Commonwealth Bank will be presenting a stay safe online seminar which is designed to teach people who aren’t confident about digital platforms how to identify and avoid scams and fraud, while protecting themselves online and giving them confidence to securely manage their finances online.
THE AUSTRALIAN BREASTFEEDING Association Gippsland Region will host a sleep and nighttime, connect and share at the Bairnsdale Library on Friday, July 11 from 9.30am. The relaxed and informative chat will discuss what to expect and what is truly “normal” when it comes to baby’s sleep.
AWARD WINNING CHILDREN’S author, George Ivanoff, will be hosting a one-off workshop at Schoolworks on Thursday, July 24 from 4.15-5.15pm. Ivanoff has written over 100 children’s books and is very well known for his popular “Choose Your Own Adventure” books. During this workshop, he will guide children in developing their ideas and creating their very own adventure story.
LAST WEEK, THE East Gippsland Shire Council proudly stood behind Men’s Health Week, helping to raise awareness and action around men’s physical and mental wellbeing. Throughout the week, they encouraged the community and staff to get active, connect, and prioritise their health through a variety of engaging initiatives, including bring a friend for free at the Lakes Aquadome and Bairnsdale Aquatic and Recreation centre as well as 50 percent off personal training packages, lunchtime walk and talk sessions for staff between offices, staff breakfasts and a sausage sizzle to foster connection and learning, and a fun and impactful Men’s Health Bingo Challenge for staff to be involved in. Bob Yeates from the Local Cancer Support Network and Paul Rooney for courageously sharing their personal cancer stories during the breakfasts and lunch to serve as a powerful reminder to prioritise regular check-ups and see your GP, as early detection saves lives.
LAST FRIDAY, 83 community members, local organisations and agencies came together at the Forge Theatre for the Rising Strong: East Gippsland’s Path to Community Resilience forum. The day began with a Welcome to Country and smoking ceremony by Wayne Thorpe (GLaWAC), setting a respectful tone for the day. Hosted by award winning broadcaster, Tracee Hutchison, the forum featured three panel sessions with 14 speakers, covering key themes including preparedness, local economies, sustainability and community-led recovery. Keynote speaker Lucy Kaiser, from the Māori Disaster Research Centre in New Zealand, shared valuable insights into culturally informed recovery and the importance of integrating traditional knowledge into modern approaches. Panelists spoke honestly about the ongoing challenges in recovery from funding and volunteer fatigue to misinformation all whilst highlighting the strength, collaboration and innovation that have emerged across the region.It was a meaningful day of connection, reflection, and shared learning, a step forward in continuing to build a stronger, more resilient East Gippsland.
BUSINESS GROWTH EXPERT, leadership coach, and co-author of Healthy Hustle: The New Blueprint to Thrive in Business and Life, Vanessa Medling host an evening at the local Library on Thursday, June 26 from 6-7.30pm. Medling will be in conversation with local businesswoman Christine Boucher, chief executive officer of Wellness Worx, to share valuable insights from her new book and discuss the unique opportunities of running a business in East Gippsland.
A PAEDOPHILE PRIMARY school teacher who fled Victoria after he was caught, was jailed last week in the Victorian County Court sitting in Bairnsdale. Peter Jeffrey Farmer, 66, pleaded guilty earlier this year to 10 sexual assault and gross indecency charges, 30 years after his crimes.The charges related to offending between 1986 and 1988, when Farmer was a teacher at a primary school in Newborough. Judge Geoffrey Chettle sentenced Farmer to six-and-a-half years in prison, with a four-and-a-half-year non-parole period. The court heard an investigation ensued after a victim came forward to the Latrobe Valley Sexual Offences and Child Investigations Team in 2019. Farmer was arrested at his Queensland home in September 2022.
THE JACK FUHRMANN Rover Unit is up and running, a place where you can be yourself, grow, and have real adventures. The Jack group are 18–25-year-olds who come together to challenge themselves, explore new horizons, and build lifelong friendships. It doesn’t matter where you’re from or what you’ve done, what matters is that you are ready to be part of something awesome.They meet every Monday night at the Bairnsdale Scout Hall from 6.30-8.30pm. Where you can expect a welcoming, inclusive environment, with fun and challenging outdoor adventures, real-life leadership and teamwork opportunities and a community of like-minded individuals who want to make a difference.
BUCHAN
THE NEON HULA Hoop Dance Party at the Butter Factory on Friday, July 4 from 5.30pm will be bringing colour, the beats, and the fun and the kids are going to love it. Glowing hula hoops are ready for them to spin, swirl, and dance the night away. It’s all about colour, movement, and pure joy under the stars.
BUNDALAGUAH
THE LOCAL HALL will host an evening of carefully curated short films on Wednesday, June 25. The films are from a variety of genres and countries, with film society members and guests getting to see films ranging from documentary to animation, horror, comedy and drama. A number of films are from Australia, including the work of a local filmmaker, but shorts from New Zealand, the Czech Republic and Egypt will also feature. Films at the Hall nights start at 7pm on the fourth Wednesday of each month.
DARGO
THE DARGO HIGH Plains Road is now closed for the winter season. The weather has created unsafe conditions and drivers are urged not to attempt to drive on the road. Each year, Wellington Shire Council works with Alpine Shire to close both ends of the road for safety reasons. Road closed signs are in place. Please do not attempt to drive past them. The road will re-open late spring or early summer, depending on the weather.
EAGLE POINT
THE EAST GIPPSLAND Active Transport group is holding a group bike ride from Bairnsdale to Eagle Point this Sunday. Join for a community ride on this beautiful scenic route alongside the Mitchell River and see the group’s vision for a shared path between Bairnsdale and Paynesville to promote active transport. There will be prizes, free mechanical assistance and other ride support on offer including reduced speed limit along the Paynesville-Bairnsdale Road. The ride will commence from the Old Butter Factory at 10am.
HEYFIELD
This month Forest Fire Management Victoria farewelled most of the seasonal firefighters who have worked alongside the permanent firefighting staff this bushfire season. Together the team of firefighters responded to more than 1265 bushfires across the state and delivered important forest management works, including planned burning which helps reduce the impact of future bushfires. Firefighting is a challenging job, physically and mentally. Many seasonal firefighters return each year with a sense of pride and commitment to the work they do. If you are interested in applying for a seasonal firefighter position, applications for the 2025-26 season open on July 3 and close on July 27.
LAKES ENTRANCE
LOCAL POLICE INTERCEPTED the driver of an unregistered vehicle in Lakes Entrance on June 6. The driver was also found to be unlicensed. The vehicle was impounded at a cost of $1350 and the driver will receive a summons to attend court.
ON THE SAME day, they observed a driver in a stationary unregistered vehicle. The vehicle was searched and small quantity of illicit drugs located along with suspected stolen property. The male will receive a summons to attend court. Further enquiries confirmed that the property was stolen several years ago and it will soon be re-united with its rightful owner.
MAFFRA
TANYA READ AND her Icon Group team raised more than $24,000 for Very Special Kids, Victoria’s only children’s hospice, in a recent 24-hour treadmill challenge. Read joined more than 1000 walkers and runners in keeping 36 treadmills in non-stop motion for 24 hours, raising a total of almost $900,000 for Very Special Kids, which provides holistic palliative care for Victorian children with life-limiting conditions and tailored support for their families through life, death, and bereavement. For Read, Very Special Kids has been a source of support for her and her family through the death of her daughter, Macey, in 2016 and the health of her younger daughter, 17-year-old Olivia, who has CDKL5, a rare developmental epileptic encephalopathy. The Read family have been 24-Hour Treadmill Challenge participants since 2012, walking for Olivia and in memory of Macey.
AS PART OF World Tapas Day, from 5.30pm on Thursday, The Vines On Avon is pleased to announce they are partnering with Mac Waste Group and The Little Jem Foundation to bring you a night you wont forget. They will be celebrating the day by bringing you all of our favourite share dishes for one night only with 20 percent of all proceeds going to The Little Gem Foundation.
LOCH SPORT
A RESILIENCE RATING Workshop will be held at the Public Hall from 10am-12pm on Wednesday, June 25. Run by the Resilience Building Council it is hoped it can help build a disaster-resilient, insurable community. The free workshop teach people how to assess and improve your home’s resilience to bushfire, storm and flood. You will get hands-on help using the free Bushfire Resilience Rating app and hear about locals who have completed Multi-Hazard Resilience Ratings assessments, with real insights on what works and how to get started. Whether you are ready to strengthen your home or support others, this workshop is a great way to make a real impact.
ORBOST
DUE TO FAMILY circumstances, Bakery and Thai will be closed until further notice.
SALE
THE TURNER AND Australia exhibition at the Gippsland Art Gallery has had a sensational week, smashing crowd records. After 350 guests attended the incredible launch event, 468 people went through the doors over the first weekend to experience the art for themselves, with the feedback amazing. This is a world-class show being held in Sale through to August 24.
WELLINGTON SHIRE COUNCIL mayor, councillor Scott Rossetti, CEO David Morcom and Eastern Victoria MP Tom McIntosh visited Flooding Creek Reserve last week to discuss plans for native tree planting along the creek corridor. Thanks to $284,000 in Victorian Government funding through the Green Links Grants, the council will be restoring more than three hectares of native habitat, complete with over 25,000 plants, habitat logs and nest boxes to help bring back local wildlife. The project will also improve water quality, control pests and weeds, and connect the area to important biodiversity hotspots like the Thomson River and Sale Common. It’s not just for wildlife; the upgrades will help more people enjoy this beautiful natural space. There will be plenty of opportunities for the community to participate in the project with planting days, workshops and events.
WELLINGTON POLICE WILL be holding a “Coffee with a Cop” on Friday, June 27. at Muffin Break Cafe inside the Gippsland Centre from 10-11am. Coffee with a cop brings police officers and the community they serve together, to have a relaxed chat over a cup of coffee. This is a great opportunity for the general public to ask questions, voice any concerns and get to know your local police members.
GROWING YOUR OWN Fungi is back by popular demand with two hands-on mushroom-growing workshops hosted by the legends at Flooding Creek Fungi at Nakunbalook Environmental and Cultural Education Centre this Saturday (1-3pm) and Thursday, June 26 (10.30am-12.30pm). A chance to learn how to grow your own delicious oyster mushrooms at home, with a step-by-step guide to their tried and tested method. You will take home a starter kit and receive ongoing support to help your fungi flourish.
CATHOLIC COLLEGE STUDENT Zakyrah Duncis, will experience the magic of Cambridge, New Zealand this July (4-19) as she joins students aged 14–18 from across the globe for an unforgettable academic and cultural adventure. Duncis will study Psychology at the University of Cambridge, immersing herself in university life and participating in a wide range of extracurricular activities. She will enjoy expert-led classes tailored to her learning level, stay in historic Cambridge college accommodation, connect with a diverse group of peers from around the world, and take part in cultural excursions, social events and hands-on learning opportunities.
BRIEF AFFAIR, THE town’s beloved lingerie store is closing after occupying a main street spot for 31 years.
STRATFORD
THE LOCAL COUNCIL has received a State Government grant to design, plan and deliver two new events in Rosedale (gaming event) and Stratford (disco) to be held during the state-wide Youth Fest in September (1-30). The Youth Fest celebrates young Victorians by funding fun, creative and inclusive events designed and led by young people. Schools, local councils and community organisations will use funding to deliver 44 events including art exhibitions, cultural festivals, sports days and youth awards.
GIPPSLAND GRAMMAR SCHOOL year three students spent a beautiful morning in the winter sunshine at the Knob Reserve recently. Considered a sacred site and traditional meeting place for the Gunaikurnai, the students searched for Indigenous totems and took note of the intricate designs before also visiting the Apex Park and heading back to school to create their own personal totems, inspired by what they had learned. For many, this was a meaningful return to a place they first visited as Early Learning Centre students with their year five buddies, a full-circle moment in the students’ Gippsland Grammar journey.
SWIFTS CREEK
GET CREATIVE THIS winter with the Great Alpine Art Gallery’s Community Scarecrow Competition. Build a scarecrow and display it proudly in your front yard or on your mailbox. Entries will be displayed on the Great Alpine Gallery’s Facebook page. Get your friends and family to vote by liking and sharing your photo on the Gallery’s Facebook page. The scarecrow with the most engagement wins. Open to everyone in the Alpine area.
YARRAM
LAST WEDNESDAY AT approximately 8pm while out patroling, local police observed a Ford Sedan travelling on Commercial Lane. Members intercepted the vehicle where it was discovered that the driver, a 42-year-old female from the Yarram area was driving whilst her licence was disqualified. The driver also returned a positive reading to drugs. The vehicle was impounded for a period of 30 days at a cost of $1025.00. The female will be summoned to court at a later date.
YARRAM COFFEE PLACE has been closed for renovations but has just reopened, much to the delight of locals and visitors. New owner Kranjthi and the Coffee Palace staff have been burning the midnight oil with some painting, cleaning and minor renovations, now they are getting back to what they do best: serving great coffee and meals to their customers. If you are in town, make sure to check out the Heesco murals which have become a major drawcard for the region.
TALENTED GIPPSLAND DUO, Ally Row, in partnership with the historic Yarram Regent Theatre, are hosting a special benefit concert, Farm Aid, on Friday night, to raise funds for New South Wales farmers who have been devastated by the recent flood event and drought-impacted communities. Boasting a star-studded lineup of local talent, including Mick Harrington, Jungle Jim Smith, Grand Baxter, and more, with 100 percent of ticket sales donated to Need For Feed, which will aid in feeding livestock of affected areas so farmers can get back on their feet.
