After a couple of years' break, the East Gippsland Biggest Blokes BBQ returned last Friday, kicking off in sunshine at the St Mary's Catholic Church yard and then moving across to Cremin Hall. This year 340 men sat down to lunch catered for by Jacqui Banson and Keith McCubbin on the barbecues, and listened to the stories of Collingwood AFL great, Dane Swan, and Australian basketball legend,...

The Royal Flying Doctor Service's (RFDS) national office has released its latest research report, Best for the Bush, Rural and Remote Health Base Line 2022. The report highlights the stark health inequities that persist in Australia, noting people living in remote or very remote areas are 2.5 times more likely to be hospitalised for reasons that are potentially preventable. The report...

A powerful willy willy hit Bruthen obliterating a tin shed, knocking down tombstones and leaving one family terrified last Saturday afternoon. The mini tornado frightened Bruthen resident, Alyssa Rowe, who was outside on her hobby farm when it struck just before 2.30pm. “I absolutely s... myself when it happened,” Mrs Rowe, a mother of three, told the Advertiser.  “I had people over...

A planning consultation meeting held at the East Gippsland Shire Council chamber last week was shown footage of trees being bulldozed on the site of a proposed housing development behind the new Kmart build. The video, which was filmed in May last year, shows large gum trees being knocked down. The site is owned by Newmark Capital which is behind the Kmart development. Lisa O’Halloran, from...

While working as a linesman in country New South Wales, Laurie Norton’s eyes lit up when he stumbled across an abandoned double decker bus in a quarry in Griffith. That was in 2004 and it would be some years before he completely rebuilt the 1949 Leyland OPD2 bus. The interior was stripped and Mr Norton has fitted it out with recycled timbers, creating a liveable area downstairs comprising a...