When the Black Summer bushfires swept through Clifton Creek toward the end of 2019, the Hermans were probably the most prepared for the onslaught.Robyn and John Hermans with their son, Ben, their daughter, Jill, and her partner, Gabe, who reside on 90 acres beside the Nicholson River, never thought for one moment of evacuating.The family started building their idyllic sanctuary deep in the bush...

The East Gippsland Rail Trail Committee of Management has expressed dismay that its application for a grant to fund major upgrades to the trail surface was rejected.The Rail Trail committee had applied for $5 million under the Local Economic Recovery Program, which was set up to fund projects in areas affected by the bushfires.While it is jointly funded by the State and Federal governments, the...

The estimated cost to the East Gippsland Shire Council for legal and other costs associated with representing the community regarding the proposed Mineral Sand Mine at Glenaladale has ballooned to $630,000.Last week the shire provided an estimate of $250,000 as the expected spend on legal representation at the forthcoming hearing of the Fingerboards Mineral Sands Project Inquiry and Advisory...

West Bairnsdale will meet Orbost in the Bairnsdale Cricket Association one-day “A” grade grand final.The Blues edged out Wy Yung and Lindenow South Glenaladale by percentage after all three teams secured convincing round 11 wins.The Tigers made the biggest play, thumping St Mary’s Nagle by 143 runs, however Orbost’s three-wicket win over Lucknow was enough to secure it second spot and a grand...

Anne Macarthur turns 80 next month but is showing no sign of slowing down.Mrs Macarthur was made a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in the Australia Day honors list for her service to the Red Cross and East Gippsland community.The award is an addition to her Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM), with which she was bestowed in 2007.Mrs Macarthur told the Advertiser she received an email...