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...

East Gippsland Shire Council will close part of the Mitchell River Walk as part of a vegetation management plan to ensure public safety, with poplar trees along the stretch deemed unsafe, while considering the grey headed flying fox colony within the area.At Tuesday’s ordinary council meeting, councillors voted to close part of the Mitchell River Walk, with an alternative route to be created...

It’s been more than two weeks since an NBN tower toppled over in Bairnsdale and one frustrated resident is still without her internet connection.Lee Anderson lives not far from the tower site in Lanes Road and despite repeated calls to Telstra has not been able to get any clear response about when her internet service will be reconnected.A frustrated Mrs Anderson told the Advertiser: “I can’t...

At Pakenham this Monday, Mick O’Callaghan will compete in his first Australian Livestock and Property Association’s (ALPA) Victorian Young Auctioneer competition.The 25-year-old has worked for Sharp Fullgrabe and Co in Bairnsdale for the past three years and will be up against nine fellow agents from across the state.In June the top 10 of 23 contenders were selected at the ALPA Victorian...

Fodder subsidies like those announced for New South Wales are not on the Victorian Minister for Agriculture’s agenda for this drought.“We’re not mad for fodder and freight subsidies because of the adverse effect on costs,” Minister Jaala Pulford said to a group of local farmers last Tuesday.“We don’t want to push fodder prices higher.”Minister Pulford visited farms in Bengworden and Goon Nure at...