The Andrews Labor Government’s planned closure of Victoria’s native forestry industry by 2030 is opposed by the Federal Labor Party and has been condemned by Australia’s forestry experts.Federal Shadow Minister for Agriculture and Resources, Joel Fitzgibbon, has strongly backed Victoria’s native forest industries as sustainable, while the Institute of Foresters of Australia (IFA) said the...

Since 1975 Gippsland Lakes Community Health has been providing the local community with health services and support to help residents live well.On Tuesday, this iconic organisation unveiled a new name and a new logo when it officially opened the doors of its new building in Bairnsdale, GLCH now known as Gippsland Lakes Complete Health.“We wanted our new name to reflect the fact that we provide...

The community of Swifts Creek is once again playing host to fire crews battling to contain bushfires burning east of Ensay.Weary firefighters are averaging 14-hour days to stay on top of the fires and finding a place to sleep and fuelled up on food is paramount.The Albion Hotel in Swifts Creek has become the hub of food activity for the hungry fire crews.Proprietors, Tennille and Shannon Mee,...

Beccy Plowman has put Cobungra on the map... well on a sign at least.Twelve-year-old Beccy, who lives on a farm between Omeo and Dinner Plain, believed something was missing from Cobungra. East Gippsland Shire Council agreed.In late September Beccy wrote to then mayor, Cr Natalie O’ Connell, with a request for a location sign to be installed at Cobungra.“When driving in the car with my family I...

East Gippsland Specialist School celebrated the instalment of five Gunaikurnai clan shields in its quiet garden last Thursday.Gunaikurnai people are the traditional owners of Gippsland and are made up of five major clans. Each of these clans – Brabralung (Central Gippsland, Mitchell, Nicholson and Tambo rivers; south to about Bairnsdale and Bruthen), Krauatungalung (Snowy River, Point Hicks to...