BAIRNSDALE
VICTORIA POLICE REMINDED the public, if you view child abuse material (CAM), you lose everything. Viewing or sharing CAM, including written text-based material, is a criminal act with devastating consequences for children, for families, and for the person who engages with it. If you suspect someone is accessing or sharing child abuse material, make a report online at www.crimestoppersvic.com.au or call 1800 333 000. You can remain anonymous.
IN EAST GIPPSLAND, you can now discover a new rhythm and it’s as simple as borrowing a ukulele from your local library. Whether you are picking up a uke for the first time or already strumming like a star, it is yours to take home and enjoy, just like borrowing a book. Great for learning a new skill, relaxing and unwinding and jamming with friends.
FREE GREEN WASTE disposal in November is already proving popular. Council is assisting householders to get ready for the bushfire season, by offering no-fee green waste disposal from November 1-30. A limit of four cubic metres per customer per day applies, and no-fee green waste disposal is available at Bairnsdale Landfill and all transfer stations that accept green waste.
A BEER POPULAR in the region has been pulled from the shelves across the country over fears of excess carbonation. The Little Creatures Little Hazy lager was available for purchase at Dan Murphy’s and BWS stores in New South Wales, Queensland, Victoria and Western Australia.They were also available for purchase at IGA and independent liquor shops in New South Wales and Coles in Western Australia. The batch code has a best before marking for 10/11/2025. The product has been urgently pulled from shelves due to secondary fermentation, meaning the cans may contain too much alcohol and carbonation.This may lead to over-pressurisation of the can, causing it to burst and potentially cause injuries. Consumers have been told to not open or drink the product, and to contact Lion – Beer, Spirits, Wine Pty Ltd for proper disposal instructions and to arrange reimbursement.
THOUSANDS OF AUSTRALIANS could be reimbursed after unknowingly paying more than they owed on Centrelink debts. Many of these excess payments were made through automatic systems like BPAY, which continued to withdraw money even after debts were cleared. Services Australia has acknowledged the bungle and is now investigating over 40,000 instances where people may still be entitled to refunds. Of these records, 50 percent of the potentially owed refunds are less than $50, 80 per cent are less than $500 and two per cent are for $5000 or more, Centrelink said in a recent statement.
THE NAGLE COLLEGE canteen is getting a serious upgrade from November 10. There will be five new flavours of Remedy Kombucha, five flavours of Remedy Sodaly, two new iced tea options, three new juice flavours, pump flavoured waters, and new Nippy’s flavours. New food favourites include chicken or beef burritos, English muffin pizzas, sweet potato chips and Lucke’s sausage rolls and homemade pastas.
BAIRNSDALE SECONDARY COLLEGE recently gave its annual performance at Maddocks Gardens, the residents delighted with the string ensemble.
This year they performed a varied repertoire ranging from a Game of Thrones theme, a Dua Lipa duo, Send in the Clowns and a beautiful Celtic medley. They finished with Happy Birthday for one of the residents.The string ensemble has a long association performing at the aged care facility and the residents love hearing them every year.
BOISDALE
LOCAL RESIDENT ABBEY Walsh is the recipient of the 2025 Sale Show Rural Ambassador award.
BRIAGOLONG
THE LATEST EXHIBITION at the Briagolong Art Gallery has opened, presenting Truself by Freestone Printmakers. Works by Penny Carruthers, Judy Dorber, Lesley Duxbury, Alison Elliot, Amanda Goodge, Kye Hanley, Susan Hibberdine, Gillian Kline, Gail Noble, Adelaide Macpherson, Fiona Reynolds and Sara Tuell will be on display from this until December 7.
DEVON NORTH
TALENTED LOCAL JOHN Jess has once again taken top honours at the
Melbourne Royal Show with his bread making skills. Although Jess began experimenting with bread making in the early 1980s, he has only entered his breads in the show since 2017. His breads have placed in every show since, including a gold medal for his white bread in 2019. This year he entered seven categories and came home with a first in multi-grain, two seconds for his wholemeal and bread rolls, and highly commended for his white bread.
EAGLE POINT
THERE’S PLENTY COMING up at the local community hall, beginning with Suzies Eagle Rock on November 15, a rock ‘n roll dance, running from 7.30pm until late, welcoming all, including children. On
November 29, the market will run from 9am to 1pm, including many different vendors, featuring in the last market for the year.
FULHAM
LAST FRIDAY MARKED an exciting milestone for renewable energy in Wellington Shire with the official site establishment of the Fulham Solar Farm and Battery Project. Octopus Investments hosted the event that began with a smoking ceremony and Welcome to Country conducted by the Gunaikurnai Land and Waters Aboriginal Corporation, followed by speeches and networking over coffee.
GLENALADALE
SPIRITS VICTORIA ASSOCIATION, which represents local distillers, had a showcase event at State Parliament last week, with Paul and Leanne, from High Country Hooch in East Gippsland present. Situated just on the Dargo side of Glenaladale, they use local produce to manufacture their whisky, vodka and much more, including their special “Calm Your Farm” cocktail. They have big plans to establish a function space in the old shearing shed and already have their first wedding booked in next year.
GLENMAGGIE
TRUE GRIT, AUSTRALIA’S ultimate military-inspired obstacle course is returning in 2025, bringing more mud, obstacles and adrenaline. Think you have done it tough? Maybe it’s time you tackled True Grit on November 29.
BLORES HILL WILL come alive on Sunday from 9.30am, with a community mountain bike skills day being held. Riders will be able to choose from three sessions, all with a qualified skills instructor. The sessions include juniors (eight-12 years old), Gnarly Gals (a session for women) and easy riders, which is open to riders who want to build on their existing skills. Riders must have a well maintained bike with front suspension, suitable tyres, working brakes and gears. Helmets must be worn.
LAKES ENTRANCE
RAVE REPORTS ARE in regarding the Sri Lankan beef curry at Central Hotel at present, packed with authentic flavours and cooked to perfection.
PRODIGIOUS LOCAL SINGING talent, Olivia Lay, is stoked to have made the lineup for the National Folk Festival in Canberra next year (April 2-6). This event has been on Lay’s bucket list for a number of years.
THE NEW WYANGA Winery summer menu is operational and packed with beautiful local produce and hearty, bold flavours.
LINDENOW SOUTH
GOLFERS ACROSS GIPPSLAND will again be taking part in Cancer Council’s The Longest Day, the day is the ultimate test of golf skills and stamina, challenging golfers to take on 72, 54 or 36 holes of golf in one day while raising money to help reduce the impact of cancer for all Australians. This year, the Longest Day will officially take place on November 10, but participants can take on the challenge at their local golf club anytime until the end of the year. Bairnsdale, Maffra, Metung, South Pines and Sale Golf Clubs will all be participating.
LOCH SPORT
WITH WINTER OFFICIALLY in hiatus and summer now upon us, the Loch Sport Marina Hotel doors are now back open seven days a week. So why not pop on down any day of the week to enjoy a meal and a beer whilst overlooking the beautiful Lake Victoria.
THE OLD CWA ‘Lolly Shop’ refurbishment is now 100 per cent finished.
MAFFRA
THE NEW $69.7 million public aged facility build is underway. The advancement will replace the outdated JHF McDonald Wing and Residential Aged Care Wing within the hospital. As part of the redevelopment, a new commercial kitchen, staff amenities and energy centre will also be delivered to support the entire Maffra District Hospital campus, meaning staff will have a beautiful new workplace and can continue to provide the best possible care, now and into the future. Locals will be able to age in state-of-the-art facilities close to families and friends.
TIME IS RUNNING out to become a Fundraising Entrant in 2026 Maffra Mardi Gras. The entrants meeting is on November 10, with organisers keen to have an idea of potential entrants prior to that meeting.
RAYMOND ISLAND
THE FERRY WILL be out of service from Monday, November 10 (8am) until Sunday December 7 for scheduled maintenance. Water taxi, Ugly Betty will be operating during the ferry’s regular timetabled hours for the duration of the outage. Gippsland Lakes Express Water Taxi (Paul Volk Contracting) will operate Monday-Friday 7–10am and 3-7pm, as well as Saturday and Sunday, 7am-7pm. The Gippsland Lakes Barge Services Sampson will run Monday-Friday from 7am-5pm and on Saturdays from 7am-1pm. The Sampson barge is for trades and passengers with mobility issues. Outside these times, the barge will be on standby for emergencies only. Parking is available from Saturday, November 8, at the corner of Victoria Street and Esplanade for Raymond Island residents only. Gates will be locked after the last water taxi service each night (as per ferry timetable) and reopened upon the first service of each morning.
ROSEDALE
A WELL-ATTENDED reunion of Sarah Phillips’ descendants took place on Saturday at the Rosedale Old School Hall. The reunion coincides with the launch of Sarah’s Story, a book written and illustrated by Toni Blake-Callander, Sarah’s five-time great-granddaughter. The book combines historical documents, imagined diary entries, and Ms Blake-Callander’s illustrations to bring the convict’s life to modern readers. Sarah’s life was one of resilience, and it shows glimpses into the experiences of women in colonial times as one of Australia’s early female convicts.
SALE
DECADES OF CONNECTION was recently welcomed back to the Gippsland Grammar School, as the classes of 1965, 1975, 1985, 1995, 2005 and 2015 held their decades reunion. Always a favourite occasion on the annual school calendar, this special day was filled with sunshine, stories and shared memories as the Garnsey campus was alive with laughter and reconnection as former classmates reflected on their time at Gippsland Grammar and the lifelong friendships formed here. Hosted by the Old Scholars Association, it was lovely opportunity for new principal Dr Paul Walton to meet some former students, including one who flew in from Perth for the occasion.
BESTSELLING AUTHOR, Christian White, will be at the Sale Library on Thursday, November 13 from 6.30pm. White is an acclaimed author and screenwriter, currently embarking on an exclusive event as part of his Victorian tour to launch his latest novel, The Long Night. This is his only Gippsland appearance, so don’t miss your chance to hear him speak about his new release in a stunning riverside setting.
THE SALE AND District Orchid Club are hosting the Gippsland Sarcochilus Show this year at the Sale Greyhounds on Saturday (9.30am-4pm) and Sunday (10am-3pm). The venue is the committee room for the Orchid Show, and McLachlan Pavilion next door for vendors and plant sales.
THE GREYHOUND CLUB recently finalised its 2025 X-Factor at the dogs, with winner Zoe, pocketing $1000. Second place went to Cindy, with Bean third. The event attracted an amazing array of talent.
TRARALGON
IN A CASE of bureaucratic madness, the Gippsland Farmer, a Latrobe Valley-based publication is set for a decrease in readers over the Christmas period thanks to Australia Post. For the Christmas period across November and December, Australia Post will not deliver copies of the monthly newspaper to rural letterboxes unless each copy weighs less than 100 grams. Usually, the Gippsland Farmer is at least 48 pages, coming in at around 130 grams, but in order to meet the 100 gram weight limit, the publication’s editor, the Latrobe Valley Express, has to cut the next two issues to 36 pages. The paper informed of the alteration to normal service last week, with peak time delivery arrangements the reason for the change.
WONNANGATTA VALLEY
FORMER PILOT GREG Lynn will return to court this week, appealing his conviction for the murder of Carol Clay. More than a year has passed since his conviction and acquittal for the murder of Russell Hill. The pair had been camping in the same remote site, in Victoria’s High Country, as Lynn when they both went missing in March 2020. Lynn was charged with two murders and took the case to trial, admitting he burned their bodies but maintaining the deaths were accidental.
