Building one jetty for a boat lover in Paynesville is a long way from building a full marina in the Whitsunday Islands, but that’s exactly what a local Bairnsdale company is doing. Like most good stories, it started with saying yes first, and then working out the ‘how’ details afterwards, involving a discussion over a beer that turned into a fledgling company with four directors. Two years...

After 17 years, Changing Lanes - a holistic program catering for the educational needs and wellbeing of Bairnsdale’s most vulnerable young people - has closed its doors, bringing to an end an important chapter of alternative education in Bairnsdale. Changing Lanes was established by the East Gippsland Local Learning and Employment Network (EGLLEN) in 2003 as a result of growing community concern...

Concerns have been raised with the Department of Health and Human Services’ (DHHS) testing protocols in checking the identification of those being tested and those leaving Melbourne checkpoints. Local businessman, Simon Ellis, of the Old Station Café, says he has had to turn away one customer and had others from lockdown areas wish to purchase or dine at his café. He said there needs to be...

Bairnsdale CB radio enthusiast, Rob Ashlin, believes his mate of 26 years, Russell Hill, has been murdered. Mr Hill and his friend, the former Victorian president of the Country Women’s Association (CWA), Carol Clay, disappeared while camping in the Wonnangatta Valley in March. Mr Ashlin is the last known person to have spoken with 74-year-old Mr Hill via radio from his Bairnsdale home on the...

A major restoration of Bairnsdale’s heritage-listed cenotaph moved another step forward last Friday with a de-consecration ceremony held ahead of the beginning of site work. Minister for Veterans Affairs and local MP, Darren Chester, announced in March the Federal Government would contribute more than $137,000 for the cenotaph to undergo a major restoration, while East Gippsland Shire is funding...