A SANDBAG solution for the Inverloch surf beach is no solution at all according to the newly elected Leader of the State Liberal Party Jess Wilson. Taking over the Liberal leadership role from former leader Brad Battin who himself was no stranger to the coastal erosion problem Jess Wilson was invited to inspect the Inverloch surf beach in her first week as Liberal Leader. “What’s the timeline,” asked Ms Wilson. Acknowledging that months had been lost in addressing the beach erosion problem at Inverloch Jess Wilson said it was absolutely clear the State Government could spend $5 million on a temporary sand solution only to see it washed away. “We need to save the area behind us and preserve the area around the RACV,” she said. “It’s a band-aid solution.” Applauded by members of the Inverloch Coastal Advisory Network (I*CAN) and the Inverloch Foreshore Action Group (IFAG) Ms Wilson said she had seen a coastal community fighting for their homes. “A permanent solution is needed,” said Ms Wilson. In her first visit to the Bass Coast as Liberal Leader Jess Wilson later gave an address to a dinner organised by the local branch of the Liberal Party at the Wonthaggi Golf Club.

HORSE RACING/FOOTBALL By LIAM DURKIN   THE marshmallows were saved for the confectionary stand this time. AFL legend Kevin Sheedy was guest of honour at this year’s Moe Cup. Fans were eager to snap a photo with Essendon’s coach of the century, who generously gave his time mingling with attendees. Sheedy has a number of local connections through his interest in horse racing, mainly through the Gelagotis stable, and is familiar with Moe Racing Club, where his son has sent horses previously. The Sheedy-Moe Racing Club connection also takes in generations. Moe’s Peter Sommerville played in Essendon’s 1993 premiership. His dad John Sommerville (another premiership Bomber) is the brother of Geoff Sommerville, who is the Sommerville of Moe building firm Law Sommerville Industries, the Law of which is Moe Racing Club Life Member and current vice chairman Brad Law. Topping it off, Moe Racing Club Treasurer Pauline Turra, who was instrumental in landing Sheedy, comes from a family of diehard Essendon supporters. “I’ve enjoyed every time I’ve come here, people always make you feel welcome,” Sheedy said. “They’ve done a great job on cup day, having the courage to put it on a Sunday, I think it’s been a very smart move.” Sheedy’s father hails from East Gippsland, while his old coaching adversary Denis Pagan has been another to enter the racing industry post his AFL days, and has been spotted in the mounting yard a few times at Moe Racing Club in recent years. Regarded as the AFL’s greatest innovator, and the only person to clock 1000 games as a player/coach at the highest level (taking in premiership, preseason and state games for Richmond, Essendon and GWS), Sheedy rubbed shoulders with a host of locals at the highest level. He coached Thorpdale’s Jason Winderlich (129 games for Essendon) and, somewhat ironically, Traralgon’s Jay Neagle, who holds the distinction of making his debut in Sheedy’s last game as Essendon coach in 2007. Sheedy also travelled with Traralgon’s Kelvin Templeton on Harry Beitzel’s Galah’s tour to Ireland in the 1970s – a forerunner to what became International Rules. “Wonderful player Kelvin, this area, Latrobe Valley, from West Gippsland right through to Bairnsdale, if you were picking one of the greatest teams ever it’d be one of the best sportsman’s night you’d ever have,” Sheedy said. Templeton has released a novel, and will be back home next week for the local release. Beitzel, a fellow AFL Hall of Famer, did time at the old Morwell River Prison Farm after getting unintentionally tangled up in the financials of a lottery organisation he was working for. Another one of Sheedy’s premiership players, Steve Carey (1985), went on to coach Warragul. The Gulls will be coached by Gary Ayres next season, who was an assistant under Sheedy at Essendon. “He’s a very good coach, his coaching at Port Melbourne was impeccable. Whoever is going to be playing against a Gary Ayres team is going to have to be super-competitive to win,” Sheedy warned. Closer to home, Sheedy has previously been No 1 ticket holder for Moe Football-Netball Club, where he has taken training for senior and junior teams. Known for his outside-the-box thinking, he once instructed Moe players to kick the ball along the ground for an entire drill, before changing back to the conventional. He did this purely to make a point of how much easier it is to move the ball when it stays off the deck. “If you’ve got a lot of knowledge out of your life over 78 years, share it before you’re not here,” he told the Express. While he has often labelled James Hird as Essendon’s greatest ever player, he has said he was prepared to step aside as Bombers coach after close to 30 years on the presumption Neale Daniher would be his successor. Daniher’s son Ben has played for Moe the last four years, and only recently made the decision his knees could not go around again. Sheedy famously made his Essendon team leave the 1999 Grand Final at three quarter time, the start of what was a virtually undefeated 2000 season. The parallels could perhaps not be more poignant for the current Moe team. As for long-suffering Bomber fans of the current generation, Sheedy had this to say when asked ‘can you give any hope to Essendon supporters next year?’ “Essendon will be a very good team within three years,” he declared. You read it here first.

Bullock Island, Loch Sport and Silverleaves are among the recipients.

FOOTBALL AFLW EXPORTS BY BLAKE METCALF-HOLT   FOR the second straight year, despite once again finishing inside the top four, Hawthorn has been eliminated from AFLW finals contention in straight sets. After a dismal loss to North Melbourne in the first week of finals, where the Hawks became the first team to not register a goal in an AFLW finals game, they looked ahead to an elimination final against Carlton to keep its season alive. The Blues ended Hawthorn’s redemptive year, winning 11.13 (79) to 4.9 (33) at IKON Park on Saturday night. The Hawks made it five successive quarters in which they were unable to kick a major through the big sticks. Morwell’s Casey Sherriff finished with seven disposals and two tackles in her final game for 2025. The 27-year-old finished her eighth AFLW season with averages of eight disposals, 0.9 marks, and 2.6 tackles from 14 games played. Sherriff has played finals every year besides her debut season with Melbourne back in 2019 (she also won a premiership with the Demons in 2022), and has also featured in Hawthorn’s first two finals series in the AFLW. The Blues head towards a preliminary final matchup against Brisbane this weekend. In what is her first finals campaign to date, Foster’s Yasmin Duursma will be anticipating moving one step closer to a Grand Final appearance when facing the Lions. On the opposite side of the bracket, North Melbourne takes on Melbourne, with both sides featuring Gippsland talent. Warragul’s Jasmine Ferguson is eyeing back-to-back AFLW premierships with the Kangaroos, while Bairnsdale’s Megan Fitzsimon and Cora Lynn’s Tyla Hanks (Melbourne vice-captain) are searching for their first flag since 2022 with the Demons.

THE RAIN was heavy early in the morning on Saturday, but as predicted, it finished by the time ‘ready, set, parkrun’ was announced, 32 participants enjoying the wet Grand Ridge Rail Trail course, with one first timer and a handful of guests from Hastings, and Emerald.  Suzanne Parkinson completed her 222nd Parkrun, a great reminder that this Saturday is November 22 and many parkrun fans will be seen wearing a tutu!  Stacey and Paul Krausz completed their 25th milestone without the volunteer team realising, but they can wear the purple cape next time. The efforts of volunteers, Robert Gray, Julia Groves, Carmel and Steve Quirk, Greg and Val Smith, and Linda Zhang are appreciated, with special mention to Duncan Parkinson, a visiting volunteer and Dale Ingleton, who returned to the area to visit where he grew up. 

EPA Victoria is investigating the cause of a fish kill in a drain leading to the Tarwin River, in the Berrys Creek area of southwest Gippsland. Responding to a report from a member of the public that there were hundreds of dead European Carp, EPA officers took water samples from the area for scientific analysis. They found no dead fish in the river itself, but as a precaution, EPA recommends that members of the public avoid contact with water and fish in the Tarwin River in the Berrys Creek area for the moment. At this stage, it’s understood that the kill is likely to have occurred due to a drop in dissolved oxygen content in the water and is contained to a dam and drain, with very little reaching the river. Drops in dissolved oxygen content can be caused by a variety of means, including, but not limited to, dairy effluent runoff, fertiliser from farmland or simply by the natural decaying of vegetation, which is quite common. The reason for the drop is unknown at this stage, with the results from lab tests to determine the exact cause. Members of the public can report pollution by calling EPA’s 24-hour hotline on 1300 372 842 or providing details online at epa.vic.gov.au/report-pollution/reporting-pollution.

IT’S unknown how many school leavers (schoolies) will head to Phillip Island this year, but if recent years are anything to go by, numbers are on the decline.  According to Acting Senior Sergeant Adrian Condron, recent trends suggest those who are choosing to participate in schoolies festivities are predominantly heading overseas and to the Gold Coast. This is most likely in response to accessibility, the cost of accommodation and weather considerations. “The official schoolies period runs from November 21 to December 7,” Snr Sgt Condron explained.  “And although we are working alongside Bass Coast Shire Council and Red Frogs Australia to ensure those heading this way have a great, safe time, at this stage there are no specific schoolies organised events or entertainment as provided in other schoolies locations.” The closest schoolies-specific festival will take place on the Mornington Peninsula in Rye, with Red Frogs Australia heading to 15 locations this year, including the Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast, Rainbow Beach, Fraser Island, Byron Bay, Airlie Beach, Lorne, Torquay, South West WA, Bali, Fiji and Vanuatu, to ensure school leavers stay safe.  “Local residents can rest assured that although we will not be a main hive of activity, during the schoolies period we will have an extra 14 police members dedicated to the operation; this is on top of our regular local police presence on Phillip Island and across the Bass Coast Police Service Area.” Though police will not tolerate any inappropriate behaviour, their focus will be on public safety and traffic offending, particularly around intoxicated and drug-affected drivers. “Residents around Cowes will also see the specialist CCTV trailer along The Esplanade.” Operation Schoolies follows a highly successful operation over MotoGP, which saw no major incidents, either on the roads with traffic leaving the circuit and, particularly, around the entertainment precinct. And although not linked to schoolies, the public are invited along to the Bass Coast Neighbourhood Policing Forum this Thursday at Berninneit from 12.30pm to 3.30pm. The forum will explore topics including current crime trends and crime prevention, family violence, young people, road policing, and drugs and drug related crime.  As in similar forums held in recent years, members of the public are encouraged to ask questions, with a new platform created for people to submit questions prior to the forum at app.sli.do/event/a9xs9hH4T5r5UjR3ix7SrD. People are urged to register their attendance either via email at BASS-COAST-CLUSTER-O@police.vic.gov.au or via the QR code on the forum posters across the region.  Victoria Police panel members will include the divisional area commander superintendent, local inspector and senior sergeants, amongst others, who are all set to meet, greet and update the public.   

The Freemasons Foundation and local Gippsland Forest Lodge recently supported funding for the Young Ostomates United Inc. stoma bear project. The stoma bear program provides a hand-made stoma bear for children (teens or adults) across Victoria, and interstate if requested, to help children who have undergone stoma surgery, or live with a loved one undergoing stoma surgery, to come to terms with their new situation and/or to help educate others in their circle. The stoma bears are hand-made and created to show a stoma and the required external appliances on the body of the bear. Young Ostomates United Inc. is a Melbourne based, non-profit organisation established in 1989, supporting and promoting wellbeing and encouraging support and friendship between any person with a stoma regardless of age, their families and friends. They provide information resources to both new and well-established ostomates, as well as to other health professionals, such as stomal therapists. They also strive to create awareness in the wider community of the reasons for, and implications of, living with a stoma, which impacts 47,000 Australians. For more information about the program, email admin@youinc.org.au Right: Gippsland Forest Lodge worshipful master Merv Moon (centre) with Young Ostomates United Inc. secretary Helen and Susan at the presentation.

AN all-abilities skate training session will be held on the basketball court of Foster Showgrounds on Friday, November 28 at 4 pm. The Skate Frame session will run for 90 minutes (weather permitting). Participation is free and open to anyones – all ages and experience levels.  Enable Skate is primarily aimed at kids with a variety of physical disabilities, but is just as applicable to ‘first time’ skaters wishing to experience and enjoy skateboarding.  Noel Forsyth of Enable Skate said, the engineer-certified Skate Frame has numerous safety features built in to provide upper and lower body support, stability and assurance for skaters with any level of experience.  “I have been running skate/surf weekends at Sandy Point in late November for over a decade now. The Enable Skate all abilities skate frame is an outgrowth of our MOSS (Melbourne Old School Skaters) Foundation charity work,” he said.  “The frame itself was developed from scratch two years ago by Wodonga-based skater Al Taylor. Al worked closely with the family of a local woman with cerebral palsy, Jany McRoberts.”  The original frame design has been improved and updated through several prototypes and is now set to "roll out" at locations across Victoria. “Enable Skate will shortly obtain their own skate frame, intended to service an area taking in Melbourne's eastern suburbs, and all the way to Gippsland. “The primary Enable Skate trainers are myself (Glen Iris / Sandy Point), Rob Francis (Mornington Peninsula) and Carey Hazelbank (Inverloch).” In the last year, Enable Skate have been conducting numerous training sessions at Noble Park skatepark, the Glenallen Special Education school in Glen Waverley and more recently, the Officer Specialist school near Pakenham.  “Although our focus has been on running skate experiences for the disabled, the frame can also provide a very safe "training wheels" experience for anyone interested in skateboarding but may not be confident with their balance or safety early on.”  Walk up and try – everyone welcome. 

HORSE RACING By LIAM DURKIN   TALK about the perfect start to a meeting. Moe stable Peter Gelagotis Racing celebrated after three-year-old filly Freshen won the opening race on Moe Cup day. Entering with a starting price of $7.50, 2023 Moe Cup-winning jockey Craig Newitt expertly steered home a memorable ride in the TM&H Mitre 10 Maiden Plate over 1100 metres. Freshen held its lead from the 800m mark, winning by the best part of a length on the inside from Kippis who simply ran out of time. “A popular win, they were cheering from the stands,” racecaller Adam Olszanski quipped, even managing a slight chuckle himself. That a local runner beat a horse trained by Ciaron Maher (one of the richest trainers in the country) was a further feather in the cap to the PGR team. Connections celebrated accordingly, embracing around the mounting yard before rushing to congratulate Newitt. Among them was Melbourne premiership forward Bayley Fritsch, who has become a close friend of the stable, as has Collingwood flag winner and current AFL match review officer Michael Christian. Good day at the office: The local stable from Peter Gelagotis Racing had a successful Moe Cup day, bringing home two winners. Here, connections celebrate after Freshen’s victory in Race 1. Photographs: Liam Durkin Well and truly in his element, PGR general manager Manny Gelagotis huddled connections together for a pep talk, thanking them for their support and looking forward to future successes. The good times kept rolling when House Of Lords won the Race 5 Moe Optical ‘Royal Snack’ Handicap (2050m). Newitt again rode a winner for the stable, getting the five-year-old mare across the line by a length from Saxon Beauty and Emphasize, trained by 2023 Moe Cup winners Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young in a tight finish that saw five horses bunched in the photo finish. House Of Lords has had an exceptional last six months, winning thrice and twice running second. Three-year-old colt Caelius also ran well for the stable, coming second in the Race 3 Clearview Radiology Maiden Plate (1600m). PGR representative Michael Gelagotis Jr Jr said it was great to have winners on the home track given the family’s history, not only in racing but also in business. “Big thrill to win on Moe Cup day, it means a lot to our family,” he said. “Really successful day, fantastic for the ownership group. “Originally having our stables here, we’ve always said coming back to our hometown, our foundation was built here. “The track was in fantastic order. In our opinion it’s one of the premier tracks for country racing in Victoria, if not the best, (it’s) always got cushion in it, always races as fairly as possible.” Insights: Craig Newitt speaks to connections post-race. As the junior Gelagotis (Manny’s son) explained, the path forward will hopefully see even greater honours for the three runners. “House of Lords and Freshen will go to the paddock now, they are ones to watch for the autumn. Caelius will likely have one or two more runs,” he said. On House Of Lords specifically: “You dare to dream big with horses like that but at the same time you have to build them through the grades,” he said. “Where she’ll take us we’ll let her take us where she wants to go, whether that’s country cups, benchmark 64s on a Saturday, or she might even be, who knows, a Caulfield Cup horse, who knows what she could possibly be.”

The online retail platform eBay Australia told the ABC it uses artificial intelligence to stay informed of product recalls and to flag items that may be subject to a notice so they can be removed.

NESTLED amongst the treetops at the end of a quiet court opposite the coastal park, this stylish retreat is surrounded by lush greenery and offers the ultimate lifestyle close to nature. From here, you can wander through the bushland and native rainforest to reach the stunning beach. Recently updated for effortless living, the home offers a relaxed coastal escape with an open plan layout that flows to a covered entertaining deck. Complete with a built-in BBQ and fridge, the deck overlooks the private gardens and a cosy fire pit area.  Every window enjoys views over the lush surroundings, creating a sense of peace and tranquillity, enhanced by the simple, low-maintenance features, natural materials, and a soothing colour palette. Soak up the sun, listen to the birdsong and wind in the trees, light the wood heater and settle in on a rainy day, or cook up a storm in the stylish brand-new kitchen.  There are three bedrooms, each with robes, serviced by a stunning modern bathroom where you can soak in the luxury under the rain head shower, or shower outside if the mood takes you! A practical laundry space includes separate w.c. and external access.  Set on a flat block of approximately 730m2 with space to park a boat, van or jet skis, there is also potential to create additional storage or a family room underneath the house. If you’re seeking an escape, a return to a fondly remembered childhood beach holiday location or to enjoy this enviable lifestyle every day, call to arrange an inspection of this special property. Andrea Adams 0429 822 801

Remembrance Day had special meaning at the Neerim cemetery last week with flags honouring local service men and women. In a new initiative, Neerim District History and Heritage Group remembered and honoured the brave men and women who fought in all conflicts with a special display of flags at Neerim Cemetery. NDH&HG members commemorated soldiers who served in World War I by placing an Australian flag at each grave of returned soldiers or those lost in action who are buried at the Neerim Cemetery. The flags remained at the graves throughout the week. Descendants of service men and women also were able to place a flag at the grave of their family member. The Australian flags were supplied by Member for Narracan Wayne Farnham.

Lardner Park has been named a finalist in the 2025 Victorian Tourism Industry Council Victorian Tourism Awards. One of 100 finalists across multiple categories, Lardner Park will compete for the top spot in the Business Events Venue of the Year category. A not-for-profit, multi-purpose event venue, Lardner Park is the largest conference and event destination in Gippsland. The property features more than 5000 square metres of versatile undercover pavilions, a state-of-the-art 850-seat events centre and expansive outdoor spaces. From international festivals to school celebrations, sporting events, business conferences, and flagship event Farm World, Lardner Park hosts a wide range of events and has a strong community focus. The Lardner Park team will attend the Victorian Tourism Awards Gala Ceremony on Thursday November 27.

The MAST invites the community to a free, all-ages celebration on Sunday, November 30, marking four years of creativity, connection, and community spirit in Gippsland. Running from 11am to 4pm, the event will transform The MAST's Queen St, Warragul building into a vibrant hub of art, music, and cultural exchange — a day dedicated to expression, creativity, and shared human experience. The MAST was established by founder Lauren Murphy as a place to meet for the arts, social connection and trade. "I'd love to see people come and explore this beautiful old building, engage in some fun and reflective activities and leave feeling a spark," Lauren said. "Whether you see yourself as creative or not, trust me, you'll find something enjoyable and may even unleash some hidden talents." The celebration is not just about art - it's about people coming together through creativity and shared experiences. Lauren believes creative expression has the power to bridge differences, foster understanding, and strengthen communities. "Art has a unique way of connecting people beyond words," Lauren said. "When we create, listen, or experience something together, we remember what it means to belong." The celebration will feature a relaxed and playful atmosphere, inviting people to stay for minutes or hours, to create, connect and be inspired. Highlights include: welcome to country and smoking ceremony; Kurnai cultural display and activities; live music from young, local musicians; a voice recording project; badge making, communal painting, and street art paste-up; local art display; and tarot and astrology readings (subsidised fee of $20). A "soapbox" discussion space hosted by Jules Cole and Rochelle will provide a respectful, interactive hour exploring what it means to be Australian and how values shape local communities. Soapbox is a fun and inspiring space to share, listen and learn. The open day also will feature a sensory experience room, transforming throughout the day from a calm "water-inspired" reflection zone to a high-energy creative play space - perfect for journaling, sketching, meditation, dancing, and play. Visitors are welcome to bring a picnic blanket and their own food, and are encouraged to support local cafés nearby. A full timetable of activities will be released soon. Follow the MAST on socials or head to their website for more information.

Plus: Victoria's new youth crime laws.

WHAT was going to be a big meeting surely laid out some spectacular racing. We had over 95 cars turn up for this meeting, coming from all over the state. We had racers from the age of 10 and upwards. The racing was fast and hard. We had a few new drivers to the sport and they took like a duck to water Amelia “Milly” Henskens N 38, she is going to be an upcoming champion in our sport. She drove perfectly for her first meet in a race car. Juniors – 1200s, Top Stars and New Stars: A massive turnout across all junior classes – the future of speedway is looking bright! Winners on the night were as follows: • 1200s: Jaylen Knight – competing in two classes and proving once again why she’s one of the standout juniors. • Top Stars: Will Fallon – his final race in Juniors, and the praise from officials and stewards spoke volumes. Well done, Will! • New Stars: Chase Davey fantastic driving from him and that smile every time he hops out makes it all worthwhile. This weekend saw a couple of features happening, we had the Shake’ n Bake Round 1 Diva series for Standard ladies happening with our local lady racer Ally Morrison taking out this title for the weekend, driving her N36 Ford, followed home in second by Bree Walker RD50 from Rosedale Speedway and coming home in third was local Drouin lady driver Ella Sheedy DS21. Our other series on the night was the Street Stocks Round 1 Coastal Series. These guys haven’t been to the track for a long time, so it was good to see them return. Local member Maurice “Oggie” Ahearn took the honours on the night with a few victories and a win in the final. Coming home in second was Mitch Viney, and third was Nathan Fawns. Amcas returned to Nyora for the first time this season, and they didn’t disappoint. The thundering sound of the cars made the ground shake, with a field of eight cars. We ran two heats and a final.  Both heats saw two different winners. Stephen Hopkins took out the first heat, then Mick Kirally took the next one. This would see them both start on the front row of the grid for the final, in which Mick was the victor with a winning time of 3:26.052, and his fastest lap was 16.786, followed home by Brydon Bradley and Dean Hesletine. Sports sedans were also another feature of the night with a massive 44 cars. With the massive field, we had to split them into four heats over three rounds.  They didn’t disappoint the crowd with their display of racing, a little bit of rubbing was had with panels coming off and bumpers dragging. We also unfortunately had a roll over with Ian Thomson taking a big spill in turns one and two spinning on his side and nose which saw the crowd rise to their feet, Ian hopped out with no injuries thanks to the great safety gear we all have to run. We also had pole shuffle, which saw eight contenders try and fight their way to the front some good battles, but it came down to the last two, in which the two Miller brothers battled it out. Damien fought his way through to have it out with his brother to see who could start on pole. It was a good start, but Brendan was to go on and take the win to have the honour of starting on pole in the JP Asphalting series round two Final. The B-main for the sports would also be a hard-fought battle in which the top four would progress to the A-main. The winner of this was Matt Shankland. The final would be run over 30 laps, lots of battles throughout the field, a few stoppages; race time was 12-53 minutes long. The victor was our local member, Harry Cecil, who has now taken out both rounds of this series. Harry had a winning margin of 1.720 seconds over Damien Miller and Brad Warren. Out of the 22 starters, we had 18 finish. The fastest racer in the final was Dale Smith in his AX64 machine with a time of 17.187 seconds. We all hope everyone had a good night, and we hope to see you back here on December 13 for the Christmas meet, where Santa will pay a visit. 

LEONGATHA Railway Precinct was buzzing on Friday, as sausages and onions filled the air for a special joint official opening of the Leongatha and Korumburra railway precincts.  South Gippsland Shire Council executive director infrastructure sustainability, David Fice, opened proceedings, welcoming the crowd and federal ministers to one of the sites.  Federal Senator Jess Walsh – Minister for Early Childhood Education and Minister for Youth was in attendance, so too Member for Monash, Mary Aldred MP, Mayor John Schelling, Cr Brad Snell and Cr Nathan Hersey, and representatives from Regional Development Australia Gippsland. Apologies were received by other councillors, ministers and of particular note, Member for Gippsland South Danny O’Brien, who was called to a last-minute sitting for parliament.  “This is a fantastic little project,” Senator Walsh exclaimed in her opening address, stepping in for colleague Minister for Infrastructure Hon Catherine King MP. “The Commonwealth government has been really happy to be able to contribute $3 million to this project as part of our Building Better Regions fund, and I am here today to congratulate everyone who has been a part of it.”  Senator Walsh acknowledged the contributions by both state government ($2 million – Regional Development Victoria’s Regional Infrastructure Fund) and local council ($1 million – Capital Works Program), and spoke about the different aspects of the precinct in front of her.  “I really want to thank the people who made it happen, which is the workforce… Congratulations to the landscapers, trades, everyone who built this for the community,” the Senator said, acknowledging the Parks and Recreation team, who were in attendance.  Ms Aldred followed Senator Walsh, acknowledging the hard work of all involved, particularly Mr O’Brien.  “I know how tenacious [Danny O’Brien] is about fighting for local amenities and services,” Ms Aldred said. “I’ve been to the railway market here in rain and shine, perhaps more rain over the winter than shine, but it is such a tremendous community asset, and I think for the retail precinct, just to be able to have staff and business owners come and have their lunch in a really lovely spot, for families looking for lovely open spaces with amenities to enjoy our wonderful community here. This is great. So from boots to suits, there are many people that have worked very hard to make this happen… Today is really special.” Mayor Schelling was incredibly proud to see both precincts opened, and as the Sentinel-Times later discovered in conversation with Mayor Schelling and Cr Snell, is wrapped to see a bridge back at the Leongatha precinct with many childhood memories of the old one.  “This $6 million project has reinvigorated railway land in the heart of our towns to create more usable space for local communities,” Mayor Schelling said. Discussing the redevelopment and the added benefit of additional car parking for both towns, Mayor Schelling highlighted the success of Leongatha at last month’s Eat, Drink, Play Gippsland event.  “It’s also great to see the Leongatha Rail Trail Community Market fill this area on the third Sunday of each month. A big thanks to all involved for taking the initiative to bring this well-attended market to Leongatha.” The market is a roaring success with president Neil Barrett later saying to the Sentinel-Times that they’ve had great support from the community.  “It’s become an institution in this location with a big focus on local food. Where neighbours and friends meet.  “It’s exceeded expectations. At the old site, we were lucky if we’d get 500 people; now we get close to 3000.” Not forgetting the official opening was in joint celebration of Leongatha and Korumburra, Cr Hersey highlighted Korumburra and the exciting future around the precinct.  “Korumburra’s precinct is looking exceptionally well, helps to bring the town together, connects the town and shopping precinct, and we expect that there will be some longer term economic benefits and values from having more parking, better accessibility around the rail trail and a more connected community,” he stated. With plenty of scissors to hand, official delegates took to the red ribbon, with Senator Walsh given the honours of the large golden pair.  Leongatha Lions prepared a barbecue for after the official ribbon cutting, with delicious cupcakes also on offer.  Of side note, the Lions Club will be outside Bendigo Bank later this month selling their Christmas puddings and cakes, including gluten-free varieties, so pop along to support the fantastic local group, who jumped at the opportunity to help out on Friday for the opening. 

BASKETBALL WNBL BY BLAKE METCALF-HOLT   THE first month of the latest WNBL season has passed. UC Capitals currently sit second bottom on the ladder, despite team captain and Traralgon’s Jade Melbourne leading from the front. The Capitals have won just twice from their first six games, beginning with a nine-point victory over Southside Melbourne Flyers at John Cain Arena, where Melbourne poured in 15 points, eight assists and six rebounds. They then fell in their next four games, with Melbourne struggling from the field in most of those outings. The Capitals rebounded with a 40-point home victory over Sydney Flames at the weekend at AIS Arena. Melbourne finished with 14 points, seven assists, and six rebounds. Despite the tough start, the Traralgon star currently sits second in the league for assists with an average of 6.6 per game. Returning home from her third WNBA season, Melbourne has been entrusted with higher leadership responsibilities as she goes through her sixth season in Australia’s top women’s basketball competition. Melbourne was heavily involved in recruitment, with the likes of Opals pair Zitina Aokuso and Sara Blicavs (sister of Geelong AFL premiership player Mark) arriving as means to push the franchise into a winning position. “I’ve loved every teammate that I’ve had the opportunity to play with at the Caps, but I’m also someone that’s been sick of losing the last few years,” Melbourne told CODE Sports in the lead up to the WNBL season. “I really want to be in a team that’s contending for finals.” Even with her efforts both on and off the court, it has yet to translate to early success this year. Despite only one additional win thus far, Geelong Venom sit within the top five to begin its second season in the WNBL. Having changed names from United to Venom during the offseason, Moe’s Jaz Shelley is once again on deck. Since the backend of her debut season in the WNBL last year, Shelley has been given extended opportunities despite Geelong only claiming two wins thus far through the first six games. The Venom blew out Adelaide Lightning in Round 2 and also passed Perth Lynx by 19 points on Tuesday, November 11. Some close calls resulted in Geelong missing out on two additional wins early in the season, including a one-point loss to Perth in its first bout. They would then pick up an important 12-point win over Southside Flyers last week to push them up the ladder early on in the season. Shelley finished with 15 points, four assists and three steals on the night. The Moe export is currently averaging 12.8 points and 4.4 assists per game, while also sitting second in the league for steals, with Melbourne just behind her.

COMMANDING an elevated position atop approximately 103 acres of productive grazing land, this architect-designed residence offers a rare blend of privacy, craftsmanship, and panoramic beauty. From the moment you arrive along the sweeping driveway, the home reveals itself as a masterwork of design – where every angle, every room, and every window celebrates the breathtaking 180-degree views across Phillip Island to Wilsons Promontory. Crafted to harmonise with its natural surroundings, the residence showcases timeless materials and elegant finishes. Stone cladding features throughout, including a dramatic central fireplace that forms the heart of the home. Polished Australian hardwood floors add warmth and richness, while expansive glazing invites the outdoors in, flooding the interiors with natural light. Offering six generous bedrooms, including two with en-suites and two beautifully appointed shared bathrooms, the home provides luxurious comfort for family and guests alike. The indulgent bathrooms, some with deep soaking tubs, frame vistas over the rolling Gippsland hills – the perfect setting to unwind and breathe in the serenity. The chef’s kitchen is a statement of both style and function, complete with a butler’s pantry and a ten-seat dining area ideal for entertaining. Every detail has been considered to enhance both daily living and grand-scale gatherings. Surrounded by approximately 103 acres of open grazing land, the estate captures the drama of its elevated setting – wide skies, sweeping horizons, and absolute seclusion. The property is serviced by multiple dams and complemented by a substantial barn-style shed, hay shed, and machinery shed, ideal for farming or private recreation use. A true country sanctuary, this remarkable estate captures the essence of luxury rural living – space, seclusion, and a view that simply takes your breath away.

HORSE RACING By LIAM DURKIN   WHAT’S in a name. Six-year-old gelding Howlin’ Rain carried a somewhat facetious undertone on the way to winning this year’s Moe Cup. The historic meeting, held on a Sunday for the first time, saw Logan Bates steer home the winner for Cranbourne-based trainer Cindy Anderson in commanding fashion by nearly three lengths. Howlin’ Rain jumped well and led from start to finish across 2050 metres in the eight-horse race. Star Vega and Ghetto Superstar had to make do with podium finishes, while Red On Red, trained by Moe’s John Pascoe and carrying local optimism at $14.00, came sixth. Fifth-placed Staunched looked beaten as horses turned into the final straight, and as racecaller Adam Oslanski wonderfully put, the finish was a “one act affair, Howlin’ Rain in the howling wind,” once the gelding put on the afterburners. The win returned no great surprises, with Howlin’ Rain the pre-race favourite at $3.60. Traralgon jockey Thomas Stockdale rode in the cup, coming seventh on board Glentaneous. Clearly proud to be riding in the race, he held his hand over his heart as the national anthem was sung by Gippslander Mick Harrington (of The Voice fame) before taking to the track. Embrace: Winning trainers celebrate in the mounting yard. Photographs: Liam Durkin ELSEWHERE, the meeting was highlighted by a track record being set for a 1000m sprint on the club’s StrathAyr surface, after Speir won the Race 4 Bidfood Handicap in 58 seconds. Remember Poppy won the Race 2 Ian Grants Caravans Maiden Plate (1100m), and Stockdale rode the winner of the Race 3 Clearview Radiology Maiden Plate (1600m) on board Taxing. Real Alliance won the Race 6 TRFM Handicap (1600m), Peacon the Race 7 Nextra Moe Sprint (1200m) and Fridge Monster the Race 9 Bottlemart Moe Handicap (1600m). The meeting started with the track rated a Soft 5, upgraded to a Good 4 by Race 3.   MOE Racing Club staff would have slept well last Sunday night. And deservedly so. All hands on deck ensured another successful Moe Cup, showcasing the best that country racing has to offer. If the move to a Sunday meeting was seen as dangerous in the eyes of even the staunchest traditionalists, such fears were surely quelled by meeting’s end. Thousands gathered for what could have been termed a ‘pleasant Sunday afternoon’, that started in typically subdued fashion and ended with great frivolity after the last race. Early showers threatened a tired Moe Cup weather cliché, yet from Race 1 onwards, hardly a drop of water fell. There was still rain on Moe Cup day – it’s just that it only came right at the very start and right at the very end, at which time racing had finished anyway (mind you, it absolutely pelted down around 8pm). If ever there was a sign of a new era for Moe cups – that may well have been it. Rain bookending the meeting, but never putting it in jeopardy. The Sunday turnout would have undoubtedly pleased organisers, who also undoubtedly received no shortage of advice when the decision was made to hold a weekend Moe Cup for the first time ever. The timing however was not without careful planning. Not only did a Sunday meeting allow more families the chance to attend, but a construction RDO the following day also ensured people from various industries could let their hair down. Speaking of hair, Fashions on the Field attracted a strong crowd and plenty of colour, as locals and out-of-towners vied for sashes. Formalities: Moe Racing Club committee members gather with winning connections at the post-race presentation. Elis Crewes travelled from Montrose and won best dressed lady, while Richmond’s Michael McAlpine took home best dressed male. Dignitaries gathered for the chairman’s luncheon in the upstairs function room, including Member for Monash Mary Aldred, sporting a horseshoe necklace, Member for Morwell Martin Cameron, and Latrobe City councillors Sharon Gibson and Adele Pugsley. Moe Racing Club Chairman Mike Vanderfeen wished to thank all who made this year’s Moe Cup a resounding success. “The organisation for this cup, I’ve never seen the team work so harmoniously, led by Cassandra (Moe Racing Club Chief Executive Cassandra Rendell), was a fantastic job,” he said. “The crowd is up to our expectations, we had well over 1000 bookings before it started. Because the rain held off we were able to get those walk-ins. “We believe it’s something we can build on now for the families, the people have enjoyed the Sunday, they are quite happy about it.” The crowd packed Turfside for the afterparty, so much so even this writer couldn’t use his media powers to get straight in. “One in, one out,” came the blunt reply. Turns out you can’t get into absolutely everywhere with a camera. Now onto the Traralgon Cup, which will be held Sunday, November 30.

YOU’VE got to go way back to a hare-brained proposal in February 2017 to develop a multi-million dollar resort-style hotel at 92 Norsemans Road Coronet Bay, primarily for Chinese tourist groups, to find the genesis of the “Bass Coast Unlocking Rural Tourism (BURT) Strategy”. The resort proposal, which involved a 173-unit hotel, 354-space carpark, hospitality and function facilities, with a residential component to follow, and expected to generate a $20 million economic benefit annually for the Bass Coast economy, attracted a lot of criticism locally. The council of the day, of which only Cr Brett Tessari remains, reportedly backed the local opposition and rejected the proposal which ultimately didn’t progress to VCAT, although the now deregistered company behind the proposal, Ausco Investment Group, is listed as taking four other municipalities to VCAT around the same time; Whitehorse, Monash, Kingston and Greater Dandenong. As well intentioned as the development of the BURT strategy was then, as a way of giving council the necessary tools to protect itself and the community from unwanted developments of that sort, especially in rural zones, the adopted strategy was at risk of doing the exact opposite. As a result of a motion at last Wednesday’s council meeting, the BURT has now been dropped, and with it goes the $100,000 grant the shire received in 2020 from the Victorian Planning Authority to undertake the research work for the strategy. But it would be unfair to say the present council is responsible for the $100K loss. Much has changed since 2017, most notably the arrival of a new Bass Coast Statement of Planning Policy (SPP), coming out of the Distinctive Areas and Landscapes (DAL) process, the introduction of the state government’s fast-track Development Facilitation Program (DFP) in October 2020, and most-recently, the Planning Amendment (Better Decisions Made Faster) Bill 2025 introduced into State Parliament in the past week. While the new SPP, establishing permanent settlement boundaries around Bass Coast’s townships, offers a higher level of protection for the towns, councils and their communities might be cut out of the approvals process for such projects as the Norsemans Road development in the future. At the Bass Coast Shire Council meeting last Wednesday, council unanimously voted to discontinue the strategy after receiving a report from council officers, at the initiative of Island Ward Councillor Tim O’Brien. At the September 2025 council meeting, Cr O’Brien called for a report on the BURT no later than the November 19 meeting of council saying the “ill-conceived” strategy put at risk the preservation of the region’s sweeping ocean vistas and shorelines, framed by its scenic landscapes and undulating farmlands, which defined a unique rural character of national and international significance. “The narrative to the BURT,” he said, “indicates its intent to facilitate mid- to large-scale tourism development in areas now restricted by FZ and FAZ zoning. Essentially being to unlock restrictions within the planning scheme to large-scale development in farm zone areas. In so doing, it brings a host of potential unintended consequences.” Chief among them were to undermine the protections offered by the DAL, facilitating rezoning under BURT provisions and posing “risk to some of our most treasured places, hinterland and shorelines”. “The BURT pleases almost no-one,” he said in September. And Cr O’Brien doubled down at last Wednesday’s council meeting: “Look, I'm very pleased to second Cr Thomson's motion. And I did note the report requested, but while we perhaps didn't get the wording entirely clear in that motion asking for a report, the intent was clear that being to identify the tensions between the intent of the BURT and the intent of the DAL, namely, to preserve character, protect environment and curtail development in sensitive areas. “Other than argue against itself more than once, this report does not clarify with any granularity the key points of concern. It says that the BURT and SPP should be seen largely as complementary policy documents. That, of course, is moot. “I am perplexed as to why the BURT exists at all and why the strategy was progressed, despite knowledge of the DAL in prospect. The BURT carries radical changes to land use planning, changes which can which become permanent once those new uses are approved, there is no going back. It cannot be unscrambled. “So, Cr Thompson's motion places us today at a point in this region's history. This is another of those decisions we will make that will have a very, very long tail. “The opposition to the BURT from our community is clear. It is not supported by farmers and their representative bodies, the REG group and VFF representatives there, who will be hurt by its outcome, who will see piece by piece, land around them bought up by land bankers and speculators waiting to capitalise on rezoning opportunities. “It is clearly not supported by the community, for that majority who survey after survey nominate the preservation of character as a key objective of Council. It is not supported by conservation groups, by PICS, by the National Trust, by Coastcare groups and others who don't want high-end tourism developments hanging over our treasured coastlines outside settlement boundaries, their approvals facilitated by the prose of radical change to rezoning within farm zones. “The BURT is overreach. If we have problems with current planning, we should be looking to address those shortcomings with community consultation in view of the rural land use strategy 2014 and as if we need reminding here, in this beautiful and largely unspoken region, so close to Melbourne, the environment is the economy. It is in our stewardship, and we today and those who follow us are its protectors. “I recognize that nothing stays still. I'm not against sensible, considered development, but the BURT misses the point in so many ways, mostly because it looks at this region, at the island, through a very narrow tourism lens, at the expense of so many things we hold dear in this wonderful, largely unspoiled region. We have too much at stake, too much too easily lost to not put this unwelcome strategy to bed. It is good night BURT.” Cr Jan Thomson spoke on a similar vein when introducing the motion to discontinue the strategy. “The Distinctive Areas and Landscapes plan was to remove real and perceived barriers in planning regulations, to encourage large scale tourism investments such as luxury resorts, five-star hotels and destination restaurants, even on farmland and near sensitive environments. The BURT prioritised opening rural land, much of it previously protected for agricultural or its environmental and scenic value, to new high-end tourism developments. The BURT, in fact, will lead to the loss of farmland and its natural habitats. The BURT puts Phillip Island’s unique rural character and the rest of Bass Coast at risk. Our farmland should stay as farmland. Our woodlands and wildlife corridors should stay protected. Our rural communities do not want to become suburban precincts. The BURT has had little to no support within the community, and I therefore move the motion to discontinue the Bass Coast Unlocking Rural Tourism strategy,” said Cr Thompson.

BASKETBALL CBL BY BLAKE METCALF-HOLT   JUST two rounds remain before finals action takes over the local Country Basketball League scene. All three Latrobe Valley clubs, whether in the men’s or women’s division, are hungry to be crowned champions by season’s end. Moe continued its impressive run of performances with two blistering wins at the weekend to remain second on the men’s ladder with just one blemish to date. The Meteors won their two matchups in Round 7 by an average of 60 points. While a 13-point lead didn’t make it seem as though Lakes Entrance would be on the opposing end of a severe thrashing, it ended up happening, with Moe defeating the Pelicans by 67 points at Lakes Entrance Youth and Recreation Centre on Saturday. The significant margin allowed the Meteors to stretch into their bench, with all players logging at least eight points on the game. Austin Shelley poured in 30 points for Moe, followed by Ben van Dyk with 20 and Rohan Demczuk with 18. While the Meteors’ next opponent managed to pile on a better score, the local side went even greater, taking down Southern Peninsula 138 to 84 at Latrobe Leisure Moe Newborough on Sunday. A 40-point first quarter opened the game up earlier, which led to Moe being ahead by 59 points by the time the final term came around. The Meteors featured six players in double figures, with Josh Parkinson leading the way with 24 points, followed by Shelley (23) and Preston Laidlaw (18 and four three-pointers). Traralgon went from looking as the dark horse of the competition, rising purposefully up the ladder, to sitting with a cluster of teams in the middle. They began with an assertive victory over top-seeded Warragul on Saturday at Gippsland Regional Indoor Sports Stadium (GRISS) by 20 points. The T-Birds duelled with the league’s best throughout the first half, before getting a leg up in the third quarter to lead by 16 points heading into the final turn. Traralgon kept the Warriors at bay through to the end, with Brooklyn Fue producing a career-best 28 points, followed by Zac Bezzina with 20. Just as the T-Birds looked as though they were going to inch closer towards the top three, they were taken down by fellow finals contender Maffra by 13 points at Cameron Sporting Complex on Sunday. Nothing could separate the two teams after the first half of action, but a 20-point differential the way of the Eagles in the third term blew the game out of the water. Traralgon desperately scrounged to get back into it, but couldn’t overcome its third quarter woes. Maffra’s Sam Whelan was too much for the T-Birds, going off for 47 points (nine three-pointers) to bring down their fifth win of the season and keep the Eagles within the finals picture. Morwell also celebrated at the weekend, keeping themselves just outside the finals race with a 27-point win over Sale at Latrobe Leisure Morwell on Sunday. Nick Sedley led the way with 23 points, followed by William Tankard with 20.   MOE women’s kept themselves comfortably in the top four with a 14-point victory over Southern Peninsula on Sunday at Latrobe Leisure Moe Newborough. A 30-10 second quarter gave the Meteors the necessary cushion to hold on to an important win late into the regular season. Joanna Watson top-scored with 21 points for Moe, followed by Tahni Hodgens and Brooke Hunter with 16 each. Traralgon split at the weekend, beginning with a loss to Warragul by 23 points at GRISS on Saturday, before adding its second win of the season on Sunday by defeating Maffra by 11 points at Cameron Sporting Complex. The T-Birds overcame a 12-point deficit sustained in the first quarter against the Eagles to eventually come out on top. Hannah Smith (19 points), Lauren Tuplin (16), and Cassie Davis (12) led the way for Traralgon. Morwell still sit at the top of the ladder with an unbeaten eight wins, but had the bye at the weekend.

Councils, already streets behind on repairs, will face greater bills.

NEWHAVEN College’s unique Year 9 Horizons Project is designed to ignite students' curiosity and foster active participation in their learning journey by engaging with community groups and organisations. Last week, Newhaven College Year 9 student Georgia Sanders, cheered on by a supportive crowd, underwent a rather dramatic haircut. She is raising much-needed funds for the Australian Cancer Research Foundation. Georgia gave an emotional speech about how she and her family have been touched by cancer too many times. They are also grieving the recent loss of a dear friend, Ray Howard, an active member of the Phillip Island community. Georgia wants to help find a cure for cancer and support those undergoing treatment. Chloe Kidder from Elements Hair Room started the proceedings by braiding Georgia's hair. The braids were then cut off and will be donated to 'Wigs4Kids', which provides wigs for children undergoing treatment that causes hair loss. Then, Georgia's hair was all removed right down to a Number 1 shave! Georgia, who is thrilled to have raised over $3,300 so far and is incredibly proud of her fundraising efforts. “Doing a shave for cancer research has been something I have wanted to do for a few years now. I have lost quite a few family members and close family friends to this horrible disease, so when I was offered to do a fundraiser at the school for my year 9 studies, I took it,’ she says. “Doing this shave was never for me, it was for Ray, Merryn, Paul, Sue and all the others who lost their courageous battle or who continue to fight. This is for you.” Year 9 Teacher, Simon Furniss, is very impressed by Georgia’s dedication to this cause: “At some point, young people choose the causes that matter to them. Georgia has shown a remarkable commitment by fundraising for the Australian Cancer Research Foundation through her Brave Shave. She is an inspiration to us all, showing determination and selflessness by donating her own hair. Georgia, you’re a star!” Newhaven College is incredibly proud of Georgia and the many other students like her, whose dedication to community, kindness, and giving back plays an important role in shaping them as they step into adulthood.