Bairnsdale businesses are rejoicing at the surge in takings the town has been raking in over the holiday period.The Northern Ground Café’ said the past two to three months had been sensational.“It’s been very, very, very, very busy,” Rob Turner, owner and chef at Northern Ground told the Advertiser as he prepared brunch for a customer.“Since they opened the border toMelbourne allowing people to...

Just imagine completing your entire 13 years of schooling without being able to hear or speak directly to any of your teachers or classmates.All instruction delivered via an interpreter and exams undertaken in your second language.Such has been the experience of Caroline Firus, who in 2020 not only completed her VCE studies, but achieved the honour of Dux at Swifts Creek P-12 School, with an...

Bairnsdale Cricket Association’s season restarts this Saturday with “A” grade returning to the field for a vitally important round.The top five teams have separated themselves from the bottom three at the halfway point, however with seven rounds remaining there is still time for change.Reigning premier, Wy Yung, stormed into the Christmas break and now sits six points clear of West Bairnsdale,...

Wiseleigh residents, Jane and Mark Oakley, are upset that their plans to rebuild on their 10-acre plot following the bushfires, have been stymied.The couple has lived in Howards Road for 28 years without any problems, until fate intervened in the form of the 2019 bushfires.“The fire went through here, burnt down the gully and took out my workshop, my business and everything, and then went across...

For Sarsfield residents, Milusa and Kevin Giles, the past 12 months have been the most horrendous they’ve ever had to endure.The bushfires, 12 months ago yesterday, not only wiped out their home, but completely obliterated their flower farm business, which they’d spent years establishing.Yet, they feel lucky to have celebrated Christmas with family in their newly built home, completed just in...