Construction of the Bairnsdale Aquatic and Recreation Centre (BARC) redevelopment has reached the halfway point with the project progressing on schedule for anticipated completion by Easter 2019.But with such progress comes the need for a full short-term closure of the BARC. Council and its contractors have scheduled a closure for the September/October school holidays to minimise disruption to...

Minister for Agriculture, Jaala Pulford, visited East Gippsland on Wednesday to announce drought funding, just a fortnight after visiting farms near Bairnsdale.Minister Pulford said $5 million of assistance was available for farmers and irrigation communities to ease the financial burden for those experiencing drought conditions.“There has been a shift in drought policy since the millennial...

Both the Minister and Shadow Minister for Agriculture will be back in East Gippsland this week on drought-related visits, Member for Gippsland East, Tim Bull, has said.“Minister Jaala Pulford will be here on Wednesday as a follow-up to the on-farm visits and community forum we attended together a fortnight ago and then Shadow Minister Peter Walsh will be here on Thursday and Friday,” Mr Bull...

Stratford and Lakes Entrance will clash in the East Gippsland senior football grand final this Saturday, the Seagulls booking their place in the decider with a comfortable 28-point victory over Wy Yung on Saturday at City Oval.Two weeks ago the Swans booked a grand final spot with a dominant display against the Seagulls, but the latter regrouped and sent the Tigers packing in the preliminary...

Jill Gallagher attended 19 different primary schools in Gippsland while growing up and knows the area well.Her connection to the area is strong and as Victoria’s newly appointed Treaty Advancement Commissioner, Ms Gallagher, returned to Gippsland last week to hear what Aboriginal people want.She says one of her earliest memories is attending the Cabbage Tree Primary School.“I think I was the...