All articles from our website & appThe digital version of Today's PaperBreaking news alerts direct to your inboxInteractive Crosswords Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueFootage allegedly captured the physical confrontation between bowls club members and public patrons who were at the Warrnambool Bowls Club in Timor Street for karaoke on September 16 who was one of 10 people involved in the chaotic incident appeared in Warrnambool Magistrates' Court on May 5 During the incident the woman threw a glass in the direction of the fight and then shoved a person who was walking towards her aggressively She was placed on a six-month diversion plan which will see her case discontinued if she abides by certain conditions in that time including she be of good behaviour and write an apology letter to the bowls club which is distributed throughout the community Magistrate Timothy Gattuso accepted the woman had never been in trouble before and her involvement in the incident was at the lower end He said a reference suggested the woman became involved to "fly the flag" for another person involved A 68-year-old senior lawn bowler was also placed on a diversion plan in February. He threw a punch at a man during the fight and was then held back by staff and other venue-goers The man and woman have not been named because convictions were not recorded The primary offender, Jeremy O'Donnell, 42, pleaded guilty in the same court on April 3 to one count of affray and is expected to be sentenced on July 14 He was said to be the instigator of the brawl after approaching the second group following tension between the two throwing punches and trading kicks over two minutes O'Donnell continued to throw punches in a downward motion The incident led to some members being banned for up to life from the Warrnambool Bowls Club. Today's top stories curated by our news team. Grab a quick bite of today's latest news from around the region and the nation. Catch up on the news of the day and unwind with great reading for your evening. Get the editor's insights: what's happening & why it matters. Love footy? We've got all the action covered. 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Fresh daily! who was found with child abuse material after stalking a vulnerable victim for two years had not previously come to police attention All articles from our website & appThe digital version of Today's PaperBreaking news alerts direct to your inboxInteractive Crosswords, Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueBrenten Harlock, 56, appeared to have lived a normal existence until 2022 when he embarked on a "disturbing" pattern of stalking the Geelong Magistrates' Court heard on Monday Harlock's offending escalated over the years and later involved multiple victims including a woman at a Warrnambool law firm and a car containing an adult woman and three teen girls Harlock also assaulted a number of people at a Port Fairy pub and punched a window at a McDonald's restaurant. His most significant crimes involved him fabricating an imaginary relationship with his 25-year-old victim who featured in hundreds of photos and videos found on his phone some of which were modified with artificial intelligence to create highly sexualised versions Police found digitally altered photos of the victim in a French maid outfit and others where her face was superimposed onto pornographic images In one image Harlock replaced the victim's face on her adult body with her face from a year-seven school photo Investigators raided a hotel room Harlock had rented on January 21 and seized portable hard drives which were later found to contain six images of child abuse material involving young girls Harlock previously pleaded guilty to 18 offences including stalking and possessing the child abuse material He appeared in court again on Monday after undergoing a psychological assessment A stalker downloaded photos of his victim from her Instagram and Facebook accounts File pictureA defence lawyer for Harlock told the court the medical documents showed his client was diagnosed with dissociative identity disorder attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) depression and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) He said the man's dissociative identity appeared to play a significant role in the offending The lawyer acknowledged the crimes were serious and "clearly had a significant impact on the victim" he said the man had a lack of criminal history and urged the court to consider placing Harlock who had served more than 100 days in pre-sentence detention He said while Harlock's mental health had appeared to stabilise in custody his doctor had stated incarceration would have a "hugely detrimental effect" on his disorders Magistrate Gerard Bryant said given Harlock's age it was "somewhat remarkable" he had not previously come to the attention of police "It is a little bit perplexing to not be able to identify the point in time when his mind flipped or something has gone awry such that he has now engaged in this very disturbing behaviour," he said "Whereas otherwise I understand he worked a variety of jobs and led what would outwardly seem to be a normal existence." The lawyer said when released from custody Harlock would have respite accommodation available to him with an urgent NDIS review to take place in the hope of securing supported housing A police prosecutor said an impact statement showed the devastating effect the offending had on the primary victim "in all areas of her life She said a personal safety intervention order did not stop Harlock's behaviour with the victim remaining "rightfully" in fear he would breach it "Offending against female victims, whether physical or psychological, is the scourge of our society and in 2025 more than one woman a week has allegedly been killed by a male," the prosecutor said "And (the magistrate) would be aware that stalking can escalate into physical offending." The prosecutor said Harlock's significant mental health issues did not diminish the "seriousness of the offending and the traumatic impact he has left on his victims" It caused significant harm and trauma to numerous victims," she said Harlock will be assessed for a community correction order and is expected to be sentenced on May 22 The magistrate said he had not yet decided whether Harlock's sentence would involve jail time in combination with the order All articles from our website & appThe digital version of Today's PaperBreaking news alerts direct to your inboxInteractive Crosswords, Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueDetective Sergeant Mark James, of the Hamilton police crime investigation unit said a house at Coojar was broken into overnight on Friday "This is a very remote area where someone has entered the home and stolen a car," he said "It is a fairly distinctive white Ford Ranger utility with the words 'Gunsmokes Kelpies' written on it." The detective said the stolen vehicle remained outstanding at midday Sunday we are asking anyone who spots it to contact police," he said Anyone with information is urged to contact Hamilton police or Crime Stoppers on Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 Newsletters & AlertsView allDaily Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueCobden police Senior Constable Sam McCosh said both the farm quad bike and a LandCruiser utility were travelling east on the Cobden-Warrnambool Road about 3.50am on Sunday when the crash occurred He said it appeared the bike rider was turning and the LandCruiser driver was trying to overtake when the crash happened Impact was made near the intersection with Merretts Road Read all the latest south-west crime and court stories here. "A 22-year-old Glenfyne man was transported by road ambulance to the Warrnambool Base Hospital for further assessment," Senior Constable McCosh said "Police are keen to warn all drivers and riders of farm vehicles that they must obey all the road rules "Farm vehicles operating on the road can be hazardous the bike rider was turning while the LandCruiser driver was trying to overtake." Senior Constable McCosh said there would be an assessment of the incident before a decision was made whether an infringement notice would be issued Camperdown police Sergeant Bill Caldow said he understood many farmers were currently doing it tough due to the extremely dry weather conditions everyone's safety has to be the priority," he said Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueThe Warrnambool trainer will bring Instigator back for jumps features later in the 2025 season The Group One-winning trainer is contemplating running his jumping import in the Grand National Steeplechase and Grand National Hurdle in August following his third-placing in the Brierly and second-placing in the Grand Annual Stawell-trained Duke Of Bedford won both of Warrnambool's jumping features "Instigator has gone to the paddock for a few weeks," Purcell said "Instigator did a huge job running third in the Brierly and second in the Annual Duke Of Bedford was just too good for us in both races but Instigator was gallant in defeat "I would say at this stage we'll run in the Grand National Steeplechase at Ballarat in August and we may go around in the Grand National Hurdle but we'll wait and see about the hurdle." Purcell is planning on running last week's Wangoom Handicap winner Dashing in a $150,000 benchmark 100 race at Sandown on May 24 "Dashing has been a great horse for his connections," he said The benchmark race at Sandown looks ideal for his next start." Dashing took his stake earnings to more than $835,000 with his Wangoom victory Warrnambool trainer Tom Dabernig at the 2025 May Racing Carnival Picture by Eddie GuerreroWINNING FORM?Fresh from having four winners at the Warrnambool May Racing Carnival Tom Dabernig is hoping the winning runs continues at Caulfield on Wednesday Dabernig saddles up promising mare Fickle in a $50,000 benchmark 70 over 1000 metres The multiple Group One-winning trainer said the stable's results at the Warrnambool carnival were satisfying "We had three winners at the 2024 carnival but this year we had four winners," he said "The results are a great reward for our hard-working staff and our loyal owners "We had a quiet time leading into the carnival as we never had many runners because we were targeting some races over the carnival with various horses and that paid dividends." Dabernig will have runners at the big Casterton Cup meeting on Sunday Successful Grand Annual Steeplechase-winning trainer Andrew Bobbin cheers on Duke of Bedford Picture by Eddie GuerreroAGAINST THE ODDSOnly 11 favourites were successful from 30 races at the Warrnambool May Carnival The opening day kicked off with four races won by favourites while three were successful on the middle day of the carnival Favourite punters started Thursday's race day in great style The first three races were won by short-priced favourites before another one Tom Dabernig's mare Miss Tallchief was the longest-priced winner at the carnival Lightly-raced Warrnambool galloper Alcoshare has pulled up well after an impressive victory at his home-town carnival last week with Warrnambool-based jockey Tom Madden in the saddle proved too strong for his rivals taking out the $50,000 race on Thursday Ryan said the four-year-old would have his next start in a benchmark 64 at Casterton on May 18 "Alcoshare pulled up a million dollars after the win," he said "I've got no doubt putting the blinkers on really helped his chances last Thursday "It looks a nice race for Alcoshare at Casterton The majority of Alcoshare's owners are from Casterton and he was bred up there I'm sure his owners would love for Alcoshare to win a race at Casterton." Alcoshare has won three races and finished in the minor placegetters' stall on eight occasions from his 16 starts A share in champion sire Zoustar sold for $1.1 million at the Inglis Digital April (late) sale The share was offered by Qatar Bloodstock and sold to Boomer Bloodstock which was acting on behalf an undisclosed client The second-top lot was exciting three-year-old Yoshinobu who was offered by Annabel and Rob Archibald He was purchased by Full Circle Racing for $180,000 and will remain in the Archibald stable another purchase of interest was Mednyi (Capitalist) Hong Kong's Liu Man Ho parted with $160,000 to buy Mednyi Eight lots sold for $100,000 or more at the sale which took the number of six-figure lots sold to 35 in 2025 on the digital service Hard to believe it's coming up 53 years since the Royal School ring-in at Casterton The scandal in May 1972 saw handy galloper Regal Vista substituted for the bumble-footed Royal School got a financial result but also got two years in prison There were no microchips to identify horses back in that era and the betting on the Muntham Handicap triggered alarm bells after a plunge was landed Renzella had purchased Royal School for $350 on the back of an unplaced run in the Castlereagh Picnic Cup in May 1971 The off-course tote was operating on the Muntham Hanidcap back in 1972 and the sprint was the second leg of the daily double should have been a $50 chance but opened a $4 hope on the course tote which rang alarm bells in the betting ring Royal School started at 7/4 after being backed with a handful of bookies Wood did his best to hold Regal Vista back but the galloper won by three lengths and correct weight was declared with Royal School as the winner He paid $3.80 for a win but the daily double with Gay Demand paid $119.90 for 50 cents It was claimed at the time Renzella made a $100,000 on the punt on that Friday afternoon but investigators came up with $33,600 as a more reasonable figure MOLLYNICKERS: Showed a return to form with a second placing on Saturday She's ready to add another win to her record She drew a wide barrier but battled on strongly over the concluding stages to finish in sixth spot Bon Fete will be hard to beat in similar company next time NASH RAWILLER: Despite getting on in years Rawiller showed his younger rivals a lesson or two about riding at Hawkesbury on Saturday including the Hawkesbury Cup winner and a couple of placings Punters should make sure they include Rawiller in their multiple selections Estimates vary but the impact on corporate bookmakers including the carnival's major sponsor TAB is likely to be counted in the tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars Informed industry sources estimate the impact on betting turnover at up to 20 per cent with those trackside being forced to bet with on-course bookmakers or simply not worry about having a wager Leading on-course bookmakers reported a spike in their betting figures during the carnival One corporate bookmaker source said the impact on off-course agencies was telling "There is no doubt that phone reception had a significant impact on wagering turnover on Thursday's racing," he said "People rely on phone betting and the intermittent reception was a major source of frustration for punters a free wi-fi access is given to patrons and that is something the Warrnambool Racing Club needs to look at "Not just for turnover but for racegoers to promote the carnival on social media." A mobile tower is located in the middle of the course but Telstra said it just didn't service racegoers Telstra regional general manager Steve Tinker said the telecommunications giant was investigating upgrading the racecourse tower "One-off annual events like this week's races can put extra demand on our local network and can slow data speeds and sometimes cause delays with connecting calls," he said "We design and manage our mobile network to provide the best connectivity available and plan for peaks and troughs in demand as best we can "We're investigating options to upgrade the site that services the racecourse to improve capacity so everyone has a better experience during race meets." Warrnambool Racing Club chief executive officer Luke Cann declined to comment Organisers had hailed the carnival a major success after more than 28,000 people attended the three-day event Today's top stories curated by our news team Grab a quick bite of today's latest news from around the region and the nation Catch up on the news of the day and unwind with great reading for your evening Get the editor's insights: what's happening & why it matters Keep up with netball news from across the region tips & travel writing to transport you around the globe Your weekday morning newsletter on national affairs Your essential national news digest: all the big issues on Wednesday and great reading every Saturday Let the ACM network's editors and journalists bring you news and views from all over reviews and expert insights every Thursday from CarExpert Your digital replica of Today's Paper Test your skills with interactive crosswords This is the date and time that this news article was published Young people will soon have more direct involvement in what happens in Warrnambool and Moyne with the two Councils calling for expressions of interest for a new advisory group Applications for the Youth Advisory Board are now open studies or plays in Moyne or Warrnambool invited to apply The group will meet every two months and receive $35 per hour to discuss upcoming Council projects and provide advice on ways to make them as relevant and engaging for the region’s youth as possible Members will also receive training in leadership Funding for the program is through the Victorian Government’s Engage Warrnambool Mayor Cr Ben Blain said that the new group was the first initiative to be implemented from the joint Moyne and Warrnambool Youth Strategy which was adopted by both Councils earlier this year “There were some really compelling insights from the new strategy and we’re really excited about getting to work on making them happen,” he said “Hundreds of young people took part in the strategy and the feedback was that overwhelmingly they love where they live and they want more opportunities to take part in the decisions that affect them “A Youth Advisory Board is a way for us as Councils to involve young people early in our decision-making process and make sure their views are considered at every step of the way.” Moyne Shire Mayor Cr Karen Foster said both councils were seeking a diverse group of young people with different interests and passions to help make the Advisory Board as widely representative as possible “Don’t worry if you think you don’t have enough experience or the right skills as it’s all about having an enthusiastic outlook and a desire to make our region a better place for young people,” Cr Foster said “The feedback from the young people surveyed as part of the strategy development highlighted that by giving our young people more opportunities to get involved and feel connected we can make Warrnambool and Moyne better places for them right now as well as encouraging them to stay in our region long-term.” Expressions of interest are now open and close on June 2 with members committing to take part for one year.  For more information and to submit an expression of interest visit www.warrnambool.vic.gov.au/youth-advisory-board All Content Copyright © Warrnambool City Council 2025. Administrator Login Add articles to your saved list and come back to them any time Darren Weir kicked off an unprecedented winning run on the opening day of Warrnambool’s May Racing Carnival he trained four winners on the opening day of the popular country event Darren Weir has appealed a racing tribunal finding in the Supreme Court.Credit: Jason South including a spectacular two-horse fall in the Brierley Steeplechase while Weir sat in the Supreme Court appealing the end date of his latest two-year disqualification Weir has not been back to Warrnambool Racecourse since 2018. He was banned for four years in February 2023, and copped another two-year disqualification in September 2024 Under the current Victoria Racing Tribunal ruling he cannot reapply for a new trainer’s licence until the eve of next year’s spring carnival argued in court on Tuesday that the time – six years in total – should have already been served Murdoch said Weir’s appeal against the tribunal’s September 2024 ruling would be argued on three points: double punishment special circumstances and an unreasonable aggregate of penalty Murdoch told the court that Weir’s two separate disqualifications of four years for possessing jiggers and two years for using a jigger arose out of the same course of conduct A secret police video showed Weir using a jigger on three of his horses at his Warrnambool stables on October 30 while a subsequent police raid three months later found three jiggers in the bedroom of his Ballarat house there is possession,” Murdoch argued of the double punishment Murdoch then told the court that the tribunal had not considered Weir’s early guilty plea as a special circumstance when determining their latest ban – a factor that could have allowed them to reduce the penalty But at the heart of Weir’s appeal was the principle of totality – that the tribunal did not backdate his second disqualification His original four-year ban ended on February 5 while the second disqualification of two years did not start until September 2 Darren Weir and Michelle Payne after Prince Of Penzance won the 2015 Melbourne Cup.Credit: Justin McManus that he will have been excluded from his primary occupation since the 6th of February 2019 to the 8th of September 2026,” Murdoch told the court I make it at seven years and seven months.” Murdoch said the “unfortunate and unacceptable delay” in bringing the second set of charges before the racing tribunal was not Weir’s fault “The same could not be said for the stewards,” he said During the time that elapsed between bans Weir operated a successful horse pre-training and spelling business at his Maldon property The tribunal found in September that this substantial operation meant Weir made money from the thoroughbred industry which would not have been allowed had he been disqualified the tribunal ruled the penalty should not be backdated But Murdoch argued that Weir had been entitled to make a living his business was in compliance with the rules and Racing Victoria stewards were aware of what he had been doing “But that seemed to be used against him,” Murdoch said The court heard Weir did not reapply for a trainer’s licence after his first disqualification ended because stewards had rekindled their investigation and the likelihood of a licence being granted was “remote” the court heard police were seeking an order to have Weir excluded from all racecourses and race venues under the Racing Act – proceedings that were shelved in March 2024 told the court that under the rules of racing a disqualified person was not allowed to receive any direct or indirect income from thoroughbred racing He said if the tribunal had backdated Weir’s ban to include the period of his pre-training business he would not have served a total of six years because he was “doing things that he couldn’t do if he was disqualified” Holdenson argued that there had been no double punishment against Weir because the two different sets of charges stemmed from two different dates – the use of a jigger in October 2018 and the possession of jiggers in January 2019 Holdenson told the court that the tribunal was not required to find that special circumstances existed and even if they did exist such a finding did not necessitate a reduction in penalty Justice Adrian Finanzio has reserved his decision * Two jockeys who fell during the Brierly Steeplechase at Warrnambool on Tuesday – Will Gordon and Martin Kelly – escaped injury will need vet clearances before being allowed to race again Darren Weir kicked off an unprecedented winning run on the opening day of Warrnambool\\u2019s May Racing Carnival Weir has not been back to Warrnambool Racecourse since 2018 He was banned for four years in February 2023 he cannot reapply for a new trainer\\u2019s licence until the eve of next year\\u2019s spring carnival argued in court on Tuesday that the time \\u2013 six years in total \\u2013 should have already been served Murdoch said Weir\\u2019s appeal against the tribunal\\u2019s September 2024 ruling would be argued on three points: double punishment Murdoch told the court that Weir\\u2019s two separate disqualifications of four years for possessing jiggers and two years for using a jigger arose out of the same course of conduct there is possession,\\u201D Murdoch argued of the double punishment Murdoch then told the court that the tribunal had not considered Weir\\u2019s early guilty plea as a special circumstance when determining their latest ban \\u2013 a factor that could have allowed them to reduce the penalty But at the heart of Weir\\u2019s appeal was the principle of totality \\u2013 that the tribunal did not backdate his second disqualification since the 6th of February 2019 to the 8th of September 2026,\\u201D Murdoch told the court \\u201CWhile barristers are bad at mathematics I make it at seven years and seven months.\\u201D Murdoch said the \\u201Cunfortunate and unacceptable delay\\u201D in bringing the second set of charges before the racing tribunal was not Weir\\u2019s fault \\u201CThe same could not be said for the stewards,\\u201D he said \\u201CBut that seemed to be used against him,\\u201D Murdoch said The court heard Weir did not reapply for a trainer\\u2019s licence after his first disqualification ended because stewards had rekindled their investigation and the likelihood of a licence being granted was \\u201Cremote\\u201D the court heard police were seeking an order to have Weir excluded from all racecourses and race venues under the Racing Act \\u2013 proceedings that were shelved in March 2024 He said if the tribunal had backdated Weir\\u2019s ban to include the period of his pre-training business he would not have served a total of six years because he was \\u201Cdoing things that he couldn\\u2019t do if he was disqualified\\u201D Holdenson argued that there had been no double punishment against Weir because the two different sets of charges stemmed from two different dates \\u2013 the use of a jigger in October 2018 and the possession of jiggers in January 2019 * Two jockeys who fell during the Brierly Steeplechase at Warrnambool on Tuesday \\u2013 Will Gordon and Martin Kelly \\u2013 escaped injury Warrnambool City Council Mayor Cr Ben Blain has been appointed to the Victorian Government’s Local Government Mayoral Advisory Panel for 2025 Cr Blain is one of nine mayors from across Victoria making up the panel which is chaired by Minister for Lo-cal Government Nick Staikos The panel provides high-level advice on legislative strategic and policy issues that affect Victori-an councils This year's panel is expected to focus on governance and other key issues of concern to local government “It’s a privilege and a great opportunity to be appointed to the panel,” Cr Blain said “It’s great to have the ear of Minister Staikos to not only put forward a Warrnambool perspective but also to raise issues that matter to the South West region “The panel has a chance to really help shape government policy and I’m looking forward to contributing the regional city point of view to discussions.”  regional and rural communities across the state ensuring that a diversity of perspectives is brought to the forum Mr Staikos met the panel for the first time last week for the first of three official meetings to be held this year “This panel brings together diverse local leadership from every corner of Victoria we’ll be focusing on keeping our local government responsive resilient and deeply connected to the people it serves,” Mr Staikos said “This panel plays a key role in advising the Victorian Government and I’m pleased to work alongside these mayors to strengthen outcomes for communities statewide.”    Along with Cr Blain members of the 2025 panel are: Port Phillip City Council• Cr Simone Zmood Mt Alexander Shire Council• Cr Karen Hyslop Council will consider the future of Allansford’s Ziegler Parade bridge at an open meeting this Monday Mayor Cr Ben Blain said there would be many factors to weigh up when determining the future of the bridge technical and financial issues to consider along with safety and amenity issues,” Cr Blain said “It’s a complex picture and there will be a range of information coming to a Council meeting that covers all aspects of the bridge’s operation and use “The future of the bridge will be evaluated in a broader context of access into and out of Allansford that will include other highway access points “Improved access into the town was flagged in the Allansford Strategic Framework Plan from 2021.” The Ziegler Parade bridge has operated with safety restrictions since 2011 when a 14-tonne weight limit was applied to the bridge In 2017 the bridge was closed for a month while it was assessed for flood damage In that same year concrete barriers were installed on the bridge as a safety measure while the speed limit was lowered to 20kmh “The Ziegler Parade bridge was built in 1937 on foundations which date from the 1870s,” Cr Blain said “We know there will be considerable interest from the Allansford community about the bridge and we’re keen for residents to be aware that this is an issue that Council will debate at a meeting this Monday.” File pictureAn accident that left Warrnambool cyclist Donald Blair in intensive care in a Melbourne hospital has prompted a call for motorists to take care on the roads over Easter Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueThe accident happened near Purnim on Thursday 2025 about 9am at the intersection of Wangoom-Warrumyea Road and O'Sullivans Road A Victoria police spokesperson said the driver of the car was now assisting police with their inquiries Mr Blair was flown to the Royal Melbourne Hospital following the crash which left him with serious injuries The 87-year-old is still in intensive care with multiple broken bones "It's day to day really just seeing how he responds to treatment," daughter Merran Moir said Mr Blair was riding his bike - something he likes to do four or five times a week - when the accident happened Cycling has been a "lifetime passion" for Mr Blair and every time he hops on his bike he does between 40 and 60 kilometres Donald Blair is recovering in hospital following a serious car accident while he was out riding his bike File pictureThe family and medical staff hope that being so fit at 87 will help in his recovery "I'm sure it's not every day they get someone that's his age that's been out cycling," Mrs Moir said The familiy wanted to get the road safety message out especially over Easter when there will be extra traffic on the roads "Wangoom Road is a popular cycling route," Mrs Moir said Without commenting on the circumstances of last week's accident Warrnambool police highway patrol Acting Sergeant Peter Hunter said a driver colliding with a cyclist could be life-changing "Even a low-impact collision with a cyclist can be significant because of their vulnerabilities," he said "Cyclists and motorcyclists have been identified as our most vulnerable road users Cycling has been a lifetime passion for Donald Blair File picture"The key message is we've got to be high alert for those types of road users at all times slow down and just always be on alert for them" Victoria police will be out on the roads during Operation Compass which will be running for 10 day over the Easter and Anzac Day long weekends Mr Blair - who recevied an OAM in 2018 - led the Warrnambool and District Pipes and Drums band for four decades performing at events all across the district and leading the region's Anzac Day marches He was just eight when his father - who had come to Australia from Scotland - first taught him to play the bagpipes And for decades has passed on his musical skills to others even still volunteering his time each week to teach students at King's College Katrina Lovell is a senior journalist at The Standard who covers council news and human interest stories. Photo: Joel Carrett/AAP PHOTOSRoss Lyon's sin bin one week Rising Star Saint the next - it's been an eventful few days for AFL young gun Hugo Garcia Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueThe St Kilda second-year midfielder is the latest Rising Star nomination after he impressed on Friday night in his side's emphatic win over Fremantle he was the unfortunate victim of a full-blown bake from his coach on the interchange bench as Brisbane were dominating the Saints Lyon also raised eyebrows when he subbed Garcia out of the match early in the second term of the Lions loss After Garcia capped his polished game against the Dockers on Friday night with a snapped goal in the last term Lyon was seen smiling like a benevolent uncle 'I'm not going to be a victim'," Lyon said post-match "I don't know - there are plenty of people who maybe choose to be victims has played 17 senior games since the Saints recruited him with their third-round No.50 pick in the 2023 national draft showing early signs that he might prove a bargain-basement draft selection Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueUPDATED 05/05/2025 5:00pm:After announcing pricing for the entry-level Pro variant on February 28 Volkswagen Australia has now confirmed pricing for the all-wheel drive ID.4 GTX flagship Volkswagen launched the ID.4 overseas in December 2020 with first Australian deliveries initially due in late 2023 then March 2025 and now finally "around mid-2025" Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now 2025 Volkswagen ID.4 price and specsIn that time Australia's electric vehicle (EV) market has gone through a significant period of growth but has now slowed down despite more affordable models being introduced to local buyers The ID.4 will arrive priced from $59,990 before on-road costs That sees it undercut the upcoming, updated Tesla Model Y Launch Series by about $3400 with Volkswagen's EV boasting a better driving range to the tune of about 80km 2025 Volkswagen ID.4 price and specsThe ID.4 Pro is also $1000 more affordable than the related Cupra Tavascan Endurance which has identical outputs but a slightly shorter driving range and lower DC fast-charging rate the Cupra is produced in China while the ID.4 comes from Germany priced exactly $10,000 higher than the base Pro but bringing more power and AWD There's just one variant available at launch 2025 Volkswagen ID.4 price and specsDimensions2025 Volkswagen ID.4 price and specsWarranty and ServicingThe Volkswagen ID.4 is backed by a five-year Service intervals and pricing are yet to be announced The Volkswagen ID.4 has not yet been issued an Australian safety rating by ANCAP however it achieved a five-star result in New Zealand and Europe after testing conducted in 2021 by Euro NCAP 2025 Volkswagen ID.4 price and specsStandard safety equipment includes: The local Volkswagen ID.4 lineup will consist of two variants 2025 Volkswagen ID.4 price and specsThe ID.4 Pro features: An Exterior Style package is available on the Pro for an extra $900 Volkswagen hasn't yet detailed the exterior paint colour choices for the ID.4 Pro it's confirmed metallic paint will be a $1000 option while premium metallic finishes will cost $1300 on the GTX MORE: Everything Volkswagen ID.4 Content originally sourced from: CarExpert.com.au a gain of 290 per cent on its previous record set in March and the Chinese auto brand is now 234 per cent up year-to-date Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueIt was the third consecutive month of record sales for Chery since its return to local showrooms in 2023 with April's result beating March 2025's 2182 sales and February's 2038 result – both records at the time The April result saw Chery outsell Volkswagen to sit 14th overall out of more than 60 new-vehicle brands represented in Australia for both the month and year-to-date Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now Chery sets Australian sales record, outsells VolkswagenIt also means Chery has doubled its monthly sales since August 2024, and tripled them since July 2023 after it returned to local showrooms three months earlier with the Omoda 5 small SUV The Chery Tiggo 4 Pro small SUV – introduced in late 2024 as a rival to the MG ZS and Hyundai Venue – is easily the Chinese brand's most popular model but its 1165 sales in April were short of its best of 1252 set in February Chery sets Australian sales record, outsells VolkswagenStill, the Tiggo 4 Pro outsold the Nissan Qashqai, Mitsubishi ASX and Kia Seltos small SUVs and fell only 37 short of the Toyota Corolla Cross The record followed sales growth for the Omoda 5 with 483 registrations versus 386 in March, the Tiggo 7 Pro mid-size SUV's 363 compared to 326, and 276 sales of the Tiggo Pro 8 large SUV which was up 58 units on the previous month Chery returned to Australia with the Omoda 5 The Tiggo 7 Pro went on sale in October 2023 followed by the Tiggo Pro 8 in May 2024 and the Tiggo 4 Pro in October 2024 Chery sets Australian sales record, outsells VolkswagenThe battery-powered E5 – similar in size to the petrol-powered Omoda 5 but built on a dedicated electric vehicle (EV) platform – also hit local showrooms last October Chery has announced it will spin off the Omoda brand in Australia, with the Omoda 3 compact SUV shown in concept form at the 2025 Shanghai motor show in April potentially becoming the first Omoda-branded model to be sold here with plug-in hybrid versions of the Tiggo Pro 7 and Tiggo Pro 8 heading to local dealers in 2025 The Tiggo Pro 9 large SUV is also on the way while a separate Toyota Prado-rivalling Tiggo 9L large electric SUV was also unveiled in Shanghai last month but is not yet confirmed for Australia Chery has also launched the Jaecoo brand in Australia, with the J7 mid-size SUV arriving in showrooms in May 2025 their latest win a convincing victory over the Gold Coast Suns Photo: Dave Hunt/AAP PHOTOSThe Brisbane Lions' premiership defence is hitting somewhere near top gear and there's plenty in reserve for Chris Fagan who is forecasting selection headaches for the table-toppers Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueA 12th win from the last 13 encounters with Gold Coast on Sunday at the Gabba followed the Lions' dominance of St Kilda a week earlier They're now 7-1 and back on top of the AFL ladder despite acknowledging struggles with team defence and consistency around the stoppages Fagan's side were ominously dominant in those two areas on a wet night in Brisbane on Sunday a ruthless third term setting up a comfortable 9.12 (62) to 7.7 (49) scoreline that flattered the Suns Brisbane's Will Ashcroft had a huge impact in the Lions' win over the Suns at the Gabba (Dave Hunt/AAP PHOTOS)Midfielders Will Ashcroft Lachie Neale and Josh Dunkley put on a clinic as the Lions won clearances 47-28 Charlie Cameron ended a three-game goal drought with a trio of majors the small forward also missing two set-shot snaps he would normally swallow up And Jack Payne returned from illness to put the clamps on Coleman Medal leader Ben King who didn't touch the ball until the third term Suns coach Damien Hardwick tipped his cap to the "humming" Lions Brisbane coach Chris Fagan says the table-topping Lions still have plenty in reserve (Joel Carrett/AAP PHOTOS)"The past two weeks we're getting back to somewhere near what we look like when we play our best footy," the coach said "The boys have embraced the pressure stuff and team defence side of things and we've got good results on the back of that." That effort came hours after Keiden Coleman's impressive return from a knee reconstruction in a two-point VFL win against the Suns 10 marks and five tackles in his first game since rupturing his anterior cruciate ligament in round one last year Keidean Coleman made an impressive return to the Lions' VFL side 14 months after an ACL rupture (Darren England/AAP PHOTOS)Fellow defender Tom Doedee also starred the Adelaide recruit playing his fourth game since overcoming back-to-back knee reconstructions Doedee had initially been reluctant to put his name forward for AFL selection but has told Fagan he is ready for a recall Sam Day (hamstring) will likely be sidelined but the coach said forwards Kai Lohmann (shoulder) and Logan Morris (calf) should both be available to face North Melbourne in Hobart next week It creates a selection headache for the coach who took his side to the flag with Coleman Darcy Gardiner and Lincoln McCarthy all sidelined by knee injuries last year "We've got a few coming at us," Fagan said "He (Coleman) has got to push his way into the side .. I'm reluctant to change a group that's doing a good job and sometimes it's good to get a second game Photo: AP PHOTOUS President Donald Trump's tariffs are increasingly clogging up the wheels of a world economy that for decades were greased by predictable and relatively free trade Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueBig-name multinationals right down to niche e-commerce players last week cut sales targets warned of job cuts and reviewed their business plans while major economies revised down growth prospects amid bleak data read-outs While financial markets are betting the US and China will pull back from an all-out trade war and that Trump will cut deals to avert higher tariffs on others the sheer uncertainty of where this ends has become a major drag factor in itself "US tariff policy is a serious negative shock for the world in the near term," said Isabelle Mateos y Lago group chief economist at French bank BNP Paribas The uncertainty created by US tariffs has become a major drag on financial markets (AP PHOTO)"The US tariffs end-game may be further away and at a higher level than previously thought," she said of blanket US tariffs currently set at a baseline of 10 per cent alongside higher sector-specific charges on products such as steel Beijing said on Friday it was evaluating an offer from Washington to hold talks over 145 per cent US tariffs to which it has responded with 125 per cent levies Trump's administration has also suggested it is close to deals with nations including India South Korea and Japan to avert more tariffs in weeks to come companies such as Swedish appliances maker Electrolux slashed its outlook while Volvo Cars computer gadget maker Logitech and drinks giant Diageo abandoned their targets on the uncertainty The tariff outlook prompted the Bank of Japan to cut its growth forecasts last week while trade tensions were cited by forecasters in growth outlook downgrades for the Netherlands and the Middle East and North Africa region China's factory activity contracted at the fastest pace in 16 months in April while a similar UK readout showed British factory exports in April shrinking at their sharpest pace in almost five years Strong economic data from Germany could be down to a spike in activity before tariffs take effect (AP PHOTO)Economists were quick to caution that a stronger-looking read-out from export-focused Germany might largely be due to factories front-loading business to get it out of the door before the tariffs took effect while front-loading may also have helped India to a 10-month high in manufacturing growth in April analysts noted the nation - which faces lower tariffs than China and towards which Apple has shifted some output - could end up a genuine winner "India is well positioned to be an alternative to China as a supplier of goods to the US in the immediate term," emerging markets economist Shilan Shah at Capital Economics said predicting punitive tariffs on China were "here to stay" Photo: AP PHOTOReal Madrid survived a late scare but kept pace with leaders Barcelona ahead of their Spanish league "clasico" next weekend Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueKylian Mbappe scored in each half as Madrid held on to beat Celta Vigo 3-2 on Sunday (Monday AEST) and remain four points behind their Catalan rivals going into next Sunday's match in Barcelona but we'll have more chances if we're able to win," Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti said We're going to prepare well for Sunday's game who opened a 3-0 lead early in the second half but saw Celta get back into the game at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium Celta had a couple of great chances to complete their comeback including a shot by Pablo Duran that stopped just short of the goal line after a deflection by Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois in the 78th minute Courtois had to make a couple of saves near the end to secure the win we could have managed the lead a little better but in the end it was a nice win," Ancelotti said Barcelona came from behind to defeat last-placed Valladolid 2-1 on Saturday when coach Hansi Flick rested most of the team's regular starters ahead of their Champions League semi-final at Inter Milan on Tuesday Barcelona and Inter drew 3-3 in the first leg Guler put Madrid ahead with a shot into the top corner in the 33rd minute and Mbappe scored in the 39th and in a breakaway in the 48th The France star hadn't scored in the league since March The match appeared under control until Javi Rodríguez pulled the visitors closer in the 69th and Williot Swedberg scored Celta's second in the 76th minute Duran's shot agonisingly stopped just in front of the goal line after the ball picked up some backspin as it struck Courtois It was the fourth straight league win for Madrid the Basque Country derby between Athletic Bilbao and hosts Real Sociedad ended in a 0-0 draw Athletic are three points ahead of fifth-placed Villarreal and six points behind third-placed Atletico Madrid Athletic were coming off a 3-0 home loss to Manchester United in the first leg of the Europa League semi-finals Mid-table Sociedad are winless in four matches 15th-placed Sevilla drew 2-2 with second-to-last Leganes and sixth-placed Real Betis beat 14th-placed Espanyol 2-1 Photo: AP PHOTOYemen's Houthi rebels say they will impose a "comprehensive" aerial blockade on Israel by repeatedly targeting its airports in response to Israel expanding its operations in Gaza Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueThe Iran-aligned Houthis claimed responsibility for a missile strike that hit near Israel's Ben Gurion Airport saying they are acting in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to retaliate Most attacks from Yemen have been intercepted by Israel's missile defence systems though a drone strike hit Tel Aviv in 2024 Sunday's missile was the only one of a series launched since March that was not intercepted The Houthis' Humanitarian Operations Coordination Centre a body set up in 2024 to liaise between Houthi forces and commercial shipping operators issued the warning about targeting Israeli airports saying Ben Gurion Airport would be the top target The statement attached an email it said was sent to the International Air Transport Association and the United Nations' International Civil Aviation Organisation Houthi forces called "upon all international airlines to take this announcement into serious consideration .. and to cancel all their flights to the airports of the criminal Israeli enemy in order to safeguard the safety of their aircraft and passengers" A ceasefire between Hamas and Israel collapsed in March and air and ground attacks have resumed (AP PHOTO)Israel's security cabinet approved plans for an expanded operation in the Gaza Strip adding to signs that attempts to stop the fighting and return hostages held by Palestinian militant group Hamas have made no progress Since the collapse of an earlier ceasefire agreement in March Israeli troops have been carving out wide buffer zones in Gaza squeezing the 2.3 million population into an ever narrower zone in the centre of the enclave and along the coast and shutting off the entry of aid trucks Aid groups have warned the Israeli blockade risks a humanitarian disaster Israel's campaign on Gaza has laid waste to much of the enclave and so far killed more than 52,000 people That Hamas offensive killed 1200 people and led to 251 people being taken hostage HomeTributes & FuneralsView PhotoFuneral NoticesHOSE, Geoffrey Wayne ‘Geoff’ The Funeral Liturgy for GEOFF will be held at St Joseph’s Catholic Church, Lava Street, Warrnambool on WEDNESDAY (May 7) commencing at 11.00a.m. The cortège will leave the Church at the conclusion of Funeral Liturgy for the Warrnambool Cemetery. Ex-service personnel are respectfully invited to attend the Funeral Liturgy. Visit Guyetts Funerals webpage to leave tributes and condolences. HomeTributes & FuneralsView PhotoFuneral NoticesATTRILL, Gordon Family and friends of GORDON are invited to attend a Service at the Eastern Park Chapel, 271 Raglan Parade, Warrnambool on WEDNESDAY (May 7) commencing at 2.00pm. The cortège will leave at the conclusion of the Service to Tooram Memorial Park Cemetery. Visit Guyetts Funerals webpage for livestream access or to leave tributes and condolences. All articles from our website & appThe digital version of Today's PaperBreaking news alerts direct to your inboxInteractive Crosswords, Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueAfter a 12-month build Mr Mahony is throwing open the doors of his property for Sustainable House Day on Sunday But you must register through the website to attend one of the sessions The Underwood Group builder is currently going through the process of having his home officially certified as a passive house "It's a standard of building that's probably recognised around the world as the best standard of living in terms of occupant comfort The criteria for a passive house is based on five key principles "It's really big on reducing mould risk and condensation," he said "The long-term benefits for us to live in the home...we're living in a mould-free environment "We're not reliant on heating and cooling to stay comfortable." Builder Dylan Mahony has finished his "passive house" and is going through the process of having it certified.Mr Mahony said the batons that ran along the south-west facing side of the house's second storey had been designed with a dual purpose it actually gets hammered but the batons block it "Another key principle for the passive house - air tightness." Mr Mahony said the Builders Code of Australia requirement for air tightness was a rating under 10 - the Australian average was 15 Continuous insulation was also another factor in passive houses "There's no gaps....we've got all under slab insulation all up the sides and all the way around the roof So the whole house is like a cocoon basically," he said The heat recovery ventilation unit also helped to reduce the mould risk "What we're getting is fresh filtered air all day long and it's taken out the hot humid air," he said Mr Mahony said there was a growing interest in passive houses and the open day they held last year while it was under construction attracted 90 people "We were not expecting that at all," he said Americans have been doing it for 10 or 15 years and Europeans Mr Mahony is currently building a second certified passive house in Warrnambool and has also just started a "high performance" home in Koroit When it came to the construction industry in Warrnambool Mr Mahony said there was still plenty of work around "There seems to be a lot of renovations going on at the moment," he said "I think the new builds have slowed up a little but everyone is still busy." Photo: James Ross/AAP PHOTOSErin Patterson had shared with true crime fans her love of mushrooms excitement over buying a food dehydrator and plans to cook beef Wellington Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueThe 50-year-old mother of two has pleaded not guilty to all counts against her including three murder charges for killing her estranged husband's family after feeding them lunch at her Leongatha home Don and Gail Patterson and Heather Wilkinson all died in hospital from death cap mushroom poisoning after eating a beef Wellington Patterson had prepared for them on July 2023 Heather Wilkinson and Don and Gail Patterson died after eating lunch at Erin Patterson's home (HANDOUT/INTRAWORK BUSINESS SERVICES)Patterson claims it was "a terrible accident" Three members of a true crime Facebook group Patterson was part of gave evidence on day five of her Supreme Court trial in Morwell The group was created to go over the case of convicted baby killer Keli Lane she was a really good researcher," group member Christine Hunt said about Patterson's online reputation said in 2023 Patterson had shared photos of a black dehydrator with mushrooms inside "She was a bit excited that she'd purchased a food dehydrator," Ms Barkley said via video link Screenshots of Patterson's messages to the group were also shown to the jury "I've been hiding powdered mushrooms in everything the kids had no idea," she wrote in one post Simon Patterson finished his evidence to the jury after almost three days in the witness box said Patterson "seemed to really like mushrooms" In the weeks before the deadly mushroom meal Patterson asked the group if anyone had cooked a beef Wellington and if they had advice Erin said she was making beef Wellington," Ms Hay said "I think she was at the supermarket and she messaged us something about the beef that she was buying." She said Patterson had told them the mushrooms came from an Asian grocer Ms Hay said Patterson asked her for tips on how to make sure the beef Wellington pastry did not go "soggy" as it was one of Ms Hay's favourite dishes said she joked: "I'd make a tofu Wellington" so we had a good laugh about that," she said Patterson's estranged husband Simon finished his evidence to the jury after almost three days in the witness box Simon Patterson said his mother stopped reading messages from Erin after trying to solve a dispute (Diego Fedele/AAP PHOTOS)Defence barrister Colin Mandy SC put it to Simon that he had asked Erin - two days after the lunch - "is that what you used to poison them?" "I did not say that to Erin," Simon responded The jury of 15 people were shown messages from a family group Signal chat between Simon his former wife and his parents - in December 2022 - after he last week claimed she had sent "extremely aggressive" messages to his mother and father which he said were from a few months later having a crack at me and accusing me of some things in response to what I'd messaged her about," he said After his parents tried to help Erin and Simon resolve a dispute over his child support payments his mother Gail took a step back and stopped reading messages from Erin in the group chat "Mum really struggled with anxiety," he said The trial before Justice Christopher Beale will continue on Tuesday Council is currently developing a new sport and recreation strategy and developmental priorities for a range of sport and recreation facilities and programs in Warrnambool for the next 10 years TAKE THE SURVEY TO SHARE YOUR FEEDBACK The next Warrnambool Sport and Recreation Strategy will build on the success of the previous strategy which delivered 22 sport and recreation projects valued at more than $17 million The new strategy will look to build on this work and define the strategic investments required to meet the needs of our growing community The strategy will also inform facility provision standards that will determine the types of facilities and level of investment that is required across the network of Council owned or managed reserves across the city These standards will aim to provide equity in facility provision so all residents can enjoy access to quality and compliant sport and recreation assets The aim is to develop a well-structured and evidenced based strategy that provides fair and equitable access to sport and recreation facilities across all sections of the community and is based on existing and future demands  It will focus on municipal level provision services and programs that maximizes opportunities for participation for all A set of guiding principles has been developed to be used to inform the purpose and timing of investment by Council. 1.    That active recreation opportunities that encourage participation and have a positive influence on physical health are provided in accessible and convenient places for residents.  2.    A range of active recreation opportunities are provided reflecting the diversity of our community and places across the municipality the diversity of needs and preferences of the community 3.    Facilities are designed with inclusion enabling individuals to make choices based on their needs and interests In line with Council’s Fair Access and Use Policy there is a particular focus on women and girls.  4.    All sport and physical activity options are of equal importance to Council but that doesn’t necessarily equate to equal scale investment.  5.    Investment in sport and recreation infrastructure aims to enable health and wellbeing through social connection and physical activity for children 6.    Council accepts Warrnambool’s role in providing sporting facilities that also serve non-resident participation in sport.  7.    Supporting robust and sustainable clubs is an important role for Council but not the responsibility of Council.  8.    Facility development is based on available evidence trends and changing community preferences and the consistent application of recreation facility to population ratios supported by standards developed by State and National sporting peak bodies.  9.    State government sporting and/or social policy is an important consideration for Council in determining the way it invests in sport and infrastructure Council has appointed insideEDGE Sport and Leisure Planning to deliver the Warrnambool Sport and Recreation Strategy – Active Warrnambool 2025-2035.  The Strategy aims to assist Council to:•    identify gaps and undersupply of sports facilities.•    deliver fair and equitable access to sport and active recreation programs and facilities.•    develop a pipeline of capital projects required to meet the needs and future demand of the community.•    adopt best practice guidelines service levels and operational standards to guide future sport and recreation facility development; and,•    develop policies and procedures to support future decision making and resourcing required to deliver priority projects 1.    Background review - January to February 20252.    Needs assessment - February to March 2025 3.    Community consultation – March to May 20254.    Draft strategy development – May 20255.    Final strategy - June 2025  Project bulletin April 2025 Project bulletin March 2025 Picture by Eddie GuerreroA starring performance from a veteran forward was exactly what South Warrnambool needed in its round four Hampden league clash with Warrnambool on Saturday All articles from our website & appThe digital version of Today's PaperBreaking news alerts direct to your inboxInteractive Crosswords, Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueThree-time Roosters premiership player Sam Kelly booted four goals in a tough helping his side prevail 10.13 (73) to 9.7 (61) at Friendly Societies' Park Kelly, who also pinch-hit in the ruck, stood tall in the absence of star forward and injured Roosters co-captain Shannon Beks. Beks, who booted 68 goals in 2024, sustained a "fairly significant" break in his hand during round three, according to Roosters coach Mat Battistello and is facing eight to 12 weeks on the sidelines The Roosters were down 3.3 (21) to 2.4 (16) at the first change and led 5.7 (37) to 5.4 (34) at halftime Battistello said his side would need to address its slow starts to games "It tends to be a bit of a theme at the moment we've got a heap of work to do but we'll look at the positive and focus on that and get to work at training," he told The Standard "It's been probably a common theme at times ever going to get everything on your own terms we seem to be letting ourselves down with the skill execution stuff and decision making we'll just keep rehearsing that at training and find a way to get better." The two-time reigning premiers have started the season strongly with three wins and a narrow loss from four games Sides can tend to bring their A-game when they face a reigning premier and Battistello sees positives in his side being tested "That's something that holds you in good stead when it gets to finals you're sort of aware of what level you need to play at all the time and every club that we've played this year have brought their best version of themselves," he said "For some of our young blokes they've inherited that title (reigning premier/being hunted) and that's a lot of learning for them But it's something we'll need to learn through and educate." Battistello praised the performances of versatile leader Dan Nicholson and recruit EJ Harvey-Cleary Co-captain and key defender Harry Lee also played his first game of the season after being overseas and was an important contributor in the victory Dan Nicholson celebrates a goal for the Roosters Picture by Eddie Guerrero'Doing lots right'For Warrnambool midfield recruit Tyler Murnane was named its best with teammate Mitch Bidmade dangerous up forward with three goals The Blues have one win from four games and for the second week in a row suffered a narrow loss following their 16-point defeat to unbeaten North Warrnambool Eagles in round three They also went down by 32 points to Port Fairy in round two after being just two-points behind at halftime Coach Dan O'Keefe admitted it was "hard to swallow" another close loss "We're doing lots right with a young group," he said "We hit the front in the last quarter and they get a couple of quick ones late It's a hard one to swallow because I want to give them some reward for their efforts even though we've lost three in a row by not much we're actually playing better footy every single week." O'Keefe said Luke Cody and Angus Lowe would return in round five Both players were unavailable against the Roosters Matt is a sports journalist at The Standard. This is the date and time of the event mentioned in this article Council is developing a new long-term land use strategy and is asking the community to get involved which will guide sustainable and balanced growth over the coming decades across the whole of the Warrnambool municipality,” Warrnambool Mayor Cr Ben Blain said  "Our most recent comprehensive long-term land use plan was completed in 2004 so the time is right to prepare a new plan for the next 20 to 30 years  “We expect that over the next two decades Warrnambool will gain another 2,700 homes “Over that time we’re also on track to reach a population of about 41,000 and community spaces reflect the needs and values of our community.  “There are some big questions to tackle: do we want to increase housing densities Should we keep growing our residential areas and in which direction How do we ensure our city remains easy to move around?  “Which is why we’re encouraging the community to have a say.  “You can get involved by attending one of two Warrnambool Futures workshops “There’ll be a workshop during office hours and one after hours.  “As a conversation starter a State of Warrnambool report has been prepared by Council’s partner in this pro-ject “It provides a fascinating overview of existing growth plans “Among the notable changes is that between 2011 and 2021 there was a 26 per cent increase in lone person households com pared to a six per cent increase in households comprising a couple with children “Unemployment has fallen significantly over the past decade while median weekly household income is higher for Warrnambool residents compared to the regional average but is lower than Victoria as a whole.”  Those wanting to attend a workshop can register at www.yoursaywarrnambool.com.au  “The State of Warrnambool is also on the Your Say site and we’re encouraging people to complete an online survey there as well.”Over the duration of the Warrnambool Futures project there will be additional opportunities for people to have input Workshop detailsDate: Thursday March 27Time: 1pm – 3pm OR 5.30pm – 7.30pmLocation: Reception Room To register your attendance at a workshop go to www.yoursaywarrnambool.com.au Young people from across the region will come together for the first Warrnambool Youth Environment Summit from May 2-4 The summit aims to demonstrate some of the many ways you can get involved in helping the environment locally while building skills and knowledge to empower young people to have their voices heard The free event kicks off with a tour of the Hycel hydrogen research facility at Deakin University with discussions and hands-on workshops over the course of the weekend There will be a “water bug” survey in the Hopkins River with Nature Glenelg Trust and the Glenelg Hopkins Catchment Management Authority kayaking on the Merri River while searching for platypuses a beach clean-up plus sessions on digital storytelling careers in sustainability and the power of music.Amelia Dumesny is one of the young people organising the event and encouraged anyone aged 12-25 with an interest in the environment and sustainability to come along “Whether you’re new to environmentalism and you’re just starting out or you have some experience and you want to find out how you can branch out further “Even if you turn up and only find one thing you like because it’s a wonderful team and everyone who I’ve ever met in this field is so friendly and so welcoming.” To find out more and to register visit www.warrnambool.vic.gov.au/warrnambool-youth-environment-summit or contact Warrnambool City Council Youth Engagement Officer Lauren Brown on 0409 449 556 attendees have the option of getting involved in the Green Futures Now program this will see participants come up with their own initiative and get support to make it happen The Warrnambool Youth Environment Summit is brought to you by the Warrnambool City Council Youth Engagement team and Green Futures Now Ambassadors Funding has been provided by the Victorian Government’s Engage program Youth Affairs Council Victoria and Brophy Family and Youth Services Additional funding support has been provided by the Glenelg Hopkins CMA with funds through the Australian Government's Natural Heritage Trust program and the Victorian Government's Our Catchments Our Communities Program will play for Metropolitan in the 2025 Golf Victoria men's pennant final Picture by Eddie GuerreroJoseph Brown didn't anticipate playing in the top tier in his Golf Victoria pennant debut season All articles from our website & appThe digital version of Today's PaperBreaking news alerts direct to your inboxInteractive Crosswords, Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueBut when the opportunity arose, the Warrnambool teenager seized it. will now play for the seven-member Metropolitan team in the men's final against Peninsula Kingswood on Sunday which is also known as youth or colts," he said "I played two rounds in that and I tied my first one and won my second Then I found out they had someone away in the men's "I have been undefeated for the season (after five games with four wins and a halved game) so they decided to keep me in (for the final)." who plays off a handicap of plus-two and has a career-best round of eight-under par I was expecting to just have fun but as soon as I jumped up it became a bit more serious and a bit more competitive and I guess I could still handle it," he said I would say my short game has been pretty good Playing for Metropolitan - one of Victoria's renowned sandbelt clubs located in Oakleigh South - is a dream come true for Brown "They are just really welcoming and really nice," he said Picture by Eddie Guerrero"I did a scholarship program down there for a year and then I decided to join up." He has had two weeks to think about the final owing to byes for the Easter and Anzac Day long weekends "I had a practice last Sunday with a couple of the boys and have been playing pretty good at the minute so I am looking forward to it," Brown said of the final Brown, who has aspirations to become a professional golfer, has been playing golf for six years. The Emmanuel College student followed mum Narelle and dad Nicholas who own and run Brown's Depot Bakery in Warrnambool Joseph Brown is honing his golf skills at Metropolitan Picture by Eddie Guerrero"I started in 2019 in COVID," he said you get something different (on the course) every day." Brown lives roughly 500 metres from Warrnambool Golf Club and can be seen practising at his home club most days It (the sport) can get quite frustrating and if I can calm those nerves or frustration and keep it at ground level One perk of playing at Warrnambool is the chance to learn from six-time PGA Tour winner and current LIV golfer Marc Leishman is probably my favourite golfer," Brown said "I've played a couple of rounds with him and I like him It was the day before Christmas Eve and he just came up to me and asked if I wanted to play on Christmas Eve Fellow Warrnambool Golf Club teenager Lachie Walker will play for Commonwealth in the youth pennant final Sports journalist with an interest in feature reporting. Email: justine.mc@austcommunitymedia.com.au Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueDetective Senior Constable Richard Hughes of the Warrnambool police crime investigation unit said the Derby Street Milk Bar was broken into about 11.30pm on Friday He said an offender used a rock to smash the front glass window before kicking it in and entering the business located at the corner of Derby Street and Raglan Parade "Once inside an amount of cash was stolen within the shop," the detective said The detective urged anyone with information to make a police report Anyone with information should contact the Warrnambool police station or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 Picture by Eddie GuerreroThere were technically no winners however a pair of Hampden league contenders will draw positives from a thrilling clash with one another where they couldn't be separated All articles from our website & appThe digital version of Today's PaperBreaking news alerts direct to your inboxInteractive Crosswords, Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueUnbeaten netball clubs South Warrnambool and Warrnambool drew 51-all in their round four match-up on Saturday The lead swung back-and-forth across the contest before another fightback from the Roosters saw them acquire a three-goal lead partway through the final term which was then clawed back "I think that the result was fitting for the contest," Blues coach Kate Lindsey told The Standard "We obviously started really strongly and then South in the second quarter jumped us and then our third quarter was probably on top and then their fourth quarter was really strong and they got out to that three-goal margin Isabella Rea impressed for South Warrnambool Picture by Eddie Guerrero"I'm really proud you don't really know what to feel when you have a draw but I just said to them 'a draw's better than losing the game from a penalty-shot in the last two seconds' our second halves have let us down in the first four rounds so I think today to stick with South for 60 minutes they've got to take a lot of confidence from that and feel good about it." Roosters coach Will Jamison was similarly impressed with the spectacle "It was an excellent game of netball by both sides and I thought the quality of netball for a full 60 minutes was a fantastic spectacle today," he said they've improved so much in the off-season you have to be prepared to grind out a game and unless you're going to give 60 minutes you'll fall behind I hate not winning but I thought it was a just result for a fantastic game." Warrnambool's Amy Wormald starred for the Blues Picture by Eddie GuerreroPlayers to returnBoth teams weren't at full strength for the clash Lindsey said Blues player Carly Peake was also returning to full fitness after an ankle injury Jamison said Phillips was a "week-by-week" proposition but didn't expect to see her back in the next month He added that O'Connor wouldn't be seen too much over the next eight weeks as she was captaining the Vixens Academy side in the Super Netball reserves competition Lindsey pointed to a trio of her players as standouts but said it was a whole-team performance which earned the result her strength has come in leaps and bounds," she said "I thought Amy Wormald played an extremely smart game in goal-attack She's been playing defence for us all season but due to injury she had to go there and Matilda Fitzgerald was great back in defence for us and just anticipated the play really well and provided a lot of pressure "You don't draw with South with having three contributors." Meg Carlin and Meg Kelson were named the best players while some new faces stood up at the level "Particularly without an Ally O'Connor through the centre-court it gave some opportunities to explore new combinations and I thought Maya Rhodes also Sophie Smith who's a 15-year-old that debuted today South Warrnambool's Emma Buwalda lines up a shot Picture by Eddie Guerrero"I thought the likes of Kelly Thompson and Ash Anderson showed that they're worthy and can absolutely absorb the pressure that is an open's game it's a bit of a headache now from a selection perspective." Camperdown secured its third win of the season with an eight-goal triumph against North Warrnambool Eagles The rising Magpies prevailed 53-45 as their goal-shooting recruit Nell Mitchell starred with 32 goals while Cobden was too strong for Hamilton Kangaroos Reigning grand-finalist Koroit defeated Terang Mortlake 65-41 Warrnambool's Meat Barn retail store will close to make way for an expansion of Midfield Meats' operation at their Merrivale site Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueThe company announced on Tuesday "After 17 wonderful years, we regret to announce that The Meat Barn retail store will be closing," the company said in a statement we've had to make the difficult decision to close our retail business "The building currently housing The Meat Barn is required as part of the next phase of the Midfield expansion project." But the company says its wholesale business would continue to operate and it would still service sporting clubs and schools with their basic requirements "Some changes to delivery areas and schedules will be implemented in the coming weeks," the company statement said "We would like to sincerely thank all our loyal customers for your incredible support over the past 17 years and we're proud to have been part of your tables and celebrations for nearly two decades." Midfield last year won state government approval for its worker housing project in Merrivale after a long-running battle The Warrnambool City Council’s first business event of the year is on Friday March 21 with the format shaped by responses to the 2024 Warrnambool Business Survey Over 300 businesses took part in the survey with access to more networking events seen as a high priority The business lunch event will be held at the newly redeveloped Warrnambool Golf Club with panel speakers including Chris Beard from Ilma Cakes & Co Steve Myers from MPAA Studio and artist Caroline Healey The panellists will also take questions from the floor Warrnambool Mayor Ben Blain said that the event was a great way to connect with business owners and professionals while providing some fresh perspectives and inspiration “Feedback from the business survey suggested that businesses wanted more opportunities to network and that’s what this event is all about,” he said “There will be a panel with local businesses sharing insights into their past successes and their hopes for the future and it will be a really good opportunity to meet fellow members of the business community "It will be a cocktail-style event with canapés rather than tables and allocated seats to encourage everyone move about and chat to lots of different people “The business lunch will be a very relaxed so especially if you haven’t been to a lot of networking events Tickets are $35 and include a canapé lunch and two drinks (alcohol not provided but can be purchased at the bar) Find out more and book your ticket Forgot your password? Autoplay in {{relatedCountDownDisplay}}... Every Thursday the Get On team try & find you an edge in assessing the form for the weekend races in Victoria & around the country. Respected horsewomen Lizzie Jelfs, Amy Yargi, and Charlotte Littlefield take a deep dive into the behind the scenes world of the horse racing industry! Join Ben Asgari for a full analysis on all the big races Our form men look for a winner in the early markets, presented to you by Ladbrokes. Weekly program hosted by Racing.com's Terry Bailey, highlighted by live studio interviews with racing participants.  Every fortnight Clint Hutchison & Warren Huntly review the trials which have caught their eye & who you should be following out of the trials. Join Sam Doran as he takes a look at some of the regional towns of Australia, the racing heartland. Dissect all the latest racing news and talking points with a variety of special guests. 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Brent Zerafa and Nic Ashman take a look at the stand-out performances from the weekend's racing. Explore the world of racing with the A Good 3 Podcast, presented by Dr Turf, Matt Welsh and Paul Tatnell. Host Mick Wall is joined by Simon Marshall & Julian Vallance to dissect the weekend's best racing and give their best bets for around the country Racing.com shares some of the best racing stories, with legends of past and present  Follow racings unsung heroes and there journeys as apart of our #LoveTheHorse Grace Ramage speaks to trainers & jockeys at trackwork ahead of the Autumn Racing Carnival Terry Bailey, Dr Turf and Ben Asgari dissect the feature races on Saturday’s metropolitan card to find you a winner! Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinuePort Fairy father Robert Gibson said during the recent school holidays only to board at Geelong and find it double-booked and overcrowded Mr Gibson said his mother-in-law was "quite distraught" at the thought of the kids travelling alone and having to stand for the entirety of their journey "It should have been a fun and exciting experience for them Mr Gibson said his oldest daughter also had two "unacceptable" incidents involving a coach failing to stop at Waurn Ponds to pick her up and insufficient bus replacements back to Warrnambool his daughter was coming home from the Taylor Swift concert and while V/Line offered to pay for transport he and his wife were uncomfortable with three girls alone in a taxi "This is not acceptable and I have no confidence in our service between Geelong and Warrnambool," he said "I want to know what the state government is doing to improve the level of service - everything from safety to comfort and reliability." V/Line was contacted for comment but did not respond by an extended deadline The Standard has received several reports of double-booked seats from passengers travelling on the Warrnambool train line it was only due to a Good Samaritan that two passengers could get home to Terang after finding themselves stuck at Warrnambool train station at night with no trains until the morning New Zealand national Hannah Pethers and Irishman Luke Ryan boarded the 5.09pm Warrnambool-bound train service on April 23 The six-carriage train departed Southern Cross and passengers were advised to board the first three as the service would be halved from Waurn Ponds Train station platforms along the Warrnambool lines are too short to run the six-carriage set, which V/Line has ruled out despite the new trains having about half the number of seats The pair said they became stranded in Warrnambool after confusion over the number of carriages and no lighting at the Terang train station or on the door of the new modern trains Ms Pethers said the conductor announced the train was stopping at Terang and she waited at the door but it was not clear the train had come and gone within minutes She soon realised Mr Ryan had also missed the stop for the same reason They were advised to travel through to Warrnambool and then fund their own taxi home A taxi fare calculator estimates the ride at $170 "But we were approached by an older gentleman.. She said when she caught the train the following evening the same conductor remembered her and ensured she got off at Terang But the pair said it had been distressing being stranded in unfamiliar Warrnambool in the middle of the night with no return services until the following morning "I'm just so grateful to know there are people caring enough to do that Another train user reported at least 40 people standing on a Warrnambool-bound train service on April 16 with several making the connection their seats were double-booked South West Coast MP Roma Britnell said several people called her office weekly to share their disappointing experiences "The amount of complaints into my office about the Vline service has risen since the new trains have been rolled out," she said She said the passengers becoming stranded demonstrated the service was "still grossly inadequate" "Millions of dollars have been spent by the Labor government and what we are left with is so incredibly disappointing," she said "Thank goodness that there was a good Samaritan on this occasion however the responsibility shouldn't have to fall to a fellow passenger to assist when the systems have failed." The Warrnambool City Council’s autumn fox baiting program is about to begin with pet owners warned to keep their cats and dogs out of baited areas.Fox baiting will take place from April 7 until May 2 in targeted areas Pets must remain away from these zones (where they are not already banned year-round) until at least May 30 VIEW THE FOX BAITING LOCATION MAPWarrnambool City Council CEO Andrew Mason said that baiting was an important method of fox control.“With the success of the rabbit shooting program in the holiday parks in February and March this is something we will look to continue going forward and potentially target our other main invasive species European foxes,” he said.“With that being the case and we will continue to use a range of measures as appropriate.“In South West Victoria foxes are apex predators and it’s often our native species of small mammals and birds that they prey on.“Each fox can kill hundreds of animals each year so every fox we can remove from the environment is significant.”Signs clearly marking baited areas will be displayed throughout the program and pet owners in nearby properties have received a letter in the mail.Bait will be carefully placed underground away from public pathways and monitored via GPS to ensure proper removal at the program's conclusion The risk of secondary poisoning is considered extremely low.The baits contain PAPP a poison for which a veterinary-administered antidote is available if treatment is sought immediately."If you suspect your pet has entered a baited zone and they show symptoms such as lethargy take them directly to a vet," Mr Mason said."Prompt action is essential as the antidote is most effective within the first hour after ingestion."The antidote is stocked locally at:•    The Vet Group Wollaston: 59 Mortlake Road Warrnambool - Phone: 5561 6911•    Warrnambool Veterinary Clinic: 514 Raglan Parade Warrnambool - Phone: 5559 0222•    Hampden Vet Clinic: 209 Lava Street Warrnambool - Phone: 5561 3852Residents encountering fox carcasses on private property can request removal by contacting Council at 5559 4800 Warrnambool with be a hive of activity this weekend with four major events drawing thousands of visitors to the city and providing lots for locals to see and do Over the Labour Day weekend the city will host the Life Saving Victoria Senior Championship the Warrnambool Seaside Volleyball Tournament and a new addition to the March long weekend calendar: the Warrnambool Gem Warrnambool Deputy Mayor Cr Vicki Jellie said she was looking forward to a busy weekend for the city “It’s going to be a great long weekend with people coming from everywhere for a variety of events… there’s lots of things happening,” she said “It’s not only great for the city for the sporting aspect and the social aspect shops and everything that goes along with that “For the clubs and groups that put on these events that draw the people from everywhere and they wouldn’t run without those volunteers “The weather’s going to be great for the weekend The Life Saving Victoria Senior Championship is on Friday March 7 – Sunday March 9 at the Warrnambool main beach Warrnambool Seaside Volleyball Tournament is on Saturday March 8 – Monday March 10 at Val Bertrand Stadium Brauer College and St John’s Primary School.  The Warrnambool Lawn Open is on Saturday March 8 – Monday March 10 at the Warrnambool Lawn Tennis Club.  Mineral and Fossil Show is on Saturday March 8 – Sunday March 9 at the Wannon Room For more details on these events and everything else happening in Warrnambool visit whatson.warrnambool.vic.gov.au.  Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueIt's a growing concern that will be put in the spotlight at a free all-day workshop featuring world-renowned speakers and experts at Deakin University on Wednesday Crossley's Peter Dexter - an oceanographer meteorologist and University of the Third Age secretary - helped organise the event and said the big issues for the region were coastal erosion and sea level rise "Our focus in this workshop is coastal erosion "There was a publication from the Climate Council recently that showed that certainly Port Fairy and Warrnambool to a lesser extent - something like 40 per cent of Port Fairy - is going to be uninsurable within the next few years." Mr Dexter said it was "absolutely scary" for homeowners "People that were actually allowed to build there now can't get insurance," he said "And now they've suddenly got to turn around and do something about it The issue was happening at a time of rapid climate change "Climate change is making it all worse," he said they have since forever and ever and they always will." He said the speakers would talk about the impact of rising sea levels on coastal structures as well as the increase and intensity of storms coming in from the ocean It was a visit he and his wife made to Port Fairy in the 1970s that brought him back to the area 20 years ago even though neither of them were from Victoria "We thought this was the sort of place we'd love to live in," he said After training as a meteorologist and getting a doctorate in physics he worked first as a weather forecaster before doing research into the interaction between the oceans and the atmosphere He slowly retrained as an oceanographer and went to work for the United Nations in Geneva for 20 years where he ran their marine program for the World Meteorological Organisation Mr Dexter returned to work at the weather bureau in Australia just before the Boxing Day tsunami hit Thailand and Indonesia in 2004 "That told us that we weren't prepared for tsunamis we weren't prepared for major events along the coastline," he said Mr Dexter was part of the team that put together the proposal to the government to fund the Australian tsunami warning system Speakers at the event include CSIRO post-retirement fellow Kathy McInnes as well as speakers from Deakin University and local government People wanting to attend the Coastal Hazards and Management in a time of Rapid Climate Change workshop are asked to register at u3awarrnambool.org.au pizza shopA magistrate has raised suspicions about a Warrnambool man jailed multiple times for handling stolen goods were stolen from the Surfside Caravan Park in Pertobe Road some of which were found hidden or buried at Redmond's property where he again pleaded guilty to handling stolen goods The court heard the man was found in possession of more items stolen from the Surfside Caravan Park during a search warrant at his Ocean Grove home on December 23 last year The items included a fold-up electric bike which had been secured to the rear of a parked car at the holiday park The unknown thief cut the chain to steal the bike Police had attended Redmond's house shortly after a raid at a Garden Street property which uncovered two electric delivery bikes stolen during a burglary at Domino's Pizza at North Point Shopping Centre four days earlier The bikes were worth $10,000 and were fitted with fiberglass pizza delivery boxes which had been removed at the time of the Garden Street raid A police prosecutor said a search of a mobile phone found at the property uncovered text messages that showed Redmond had been in possession of the items She said one of the fiberglass boxes was found at Redmond's home alongside the electric bike stolen from the caravan park Magistrate Tim Gattuso said it was "very suspicious" the bulk of the items were stolen from the park "I am very suspicious of how close you are to the caravan park and how you seem to always end up in possession of items that have been stolen from there," he said said the man had many dishonesty-related priors dating back to 2000 he said the man had been on bail for about three months and had successfully taken part in the Court Integrated Services Program The court heard the man had a suspected acquired brain injury The magistrate said it was only due to Redmond's participation in the bail support program that Redmon would avoid a jail sentence Redmond was placed on an eight-month community correction order with the condition he undergoes treatment and rehabilitation for drug dependency Mr Gattuso said it seemed Redmond was "at a bit of a turning point" and urged him to continue on that positive trajectory "You have to either stop taking things that don't belong to you or you've got to stop receiving them from people who have taken them," he said Market stalls will line Liebig Street on Friday as part of a host of activities to launch the Christmas season in Warrnambool The markets will run from 3.30pm until 7.30pm Anyone who spends $30 at a Warrnambool business on the day can also spin a wheel for a chance to win a prize (some exclusions and T&Cs apply) The Warrnambool & District Community Hospice Gift Wrapping Station will also be set up Esther Tanner and the Warrnambool Ukulele Group.  Warrnambool Mayor Cr Ben Blain invited everyone to join the festivities “We’re officially launching Christmas in Warrnambool on November 29,” he said “Come and soak up the festive atmosphere and tick some items off your Christmas shopping list.  Black Friday has joined Boxing Day as one of the biggest days for shopping so we’re building on this to create a fun evening with lots to see and do in the Warrnambool City Centre.” Cr Blain said that this was the first of a series of activities in the CBD organised by Council in the lead up to Christmas “On Saturday the Flying Flamingos aerial acrobats will perform on the Civic Green and they will also be hosting interactive workshops There’s also more live music and face painting “Then on other weekends before Christmas there will be poi twirling a fairy show on the Civic Green and lots more “Plus the Christmas projections on CBD buildings will be back with some new animations I’m sure everyone will love!” Please note the below operating hours for Council's various facilities over the 2024/2025 Christmas and New Year period Emergency: Council or AnimalPhone (03) 5559 4800 and press 1 Warrnambool Civic CentreClosed 25 December Recycling & FOGOCollection days are unchanged for all services over the Christmas and New Year period.Recycling Extra Collection (Yellow Lid)Every household will receive an extra recycling collection for the weeks between 29 December and 11 January Place your recycling bin along with the usual bins by 6pm as collection will commence earlier to accommodate the extra service FOGO) will be picked up on their usual fortnightly frequency For enquiries contact Council’s kerbside collection contractor on 1800 999 690 or visit Council’s website Archie Graham Community Centre Closed 25 December Respite & Domestic AssistanceClosed 25 December Home MaintenanceOperating over the Christmas/New Year period (except public holidays).Meals on WheelsMeals delivered as normal including Christmas Day and New Year’s Day reopen 13 January.Children’s Services Family Day Care – OfficeClosed 25 December Maternal & Child HealthClosed 25 December reopen 27 December.24 hour support 132 229 AquaZoneOpen 24 December (6am – 5pm)Closed 25 – 26 December.Open 27 December (6am – 8pm).Open 28 – 29 December (7am – 6pm).Open 30 December (6am – 8pm).Open 31 December (6am – 5pm).Open 1 January (10am – 5pm) Lighthouse Theatre – Box OfficeClosed 25 December, reopen 2 January.Tickets available online throughout this period at www.lighthousetheatre.com.au Warrnambool Library & Learning CentreClosed 24 December Stadium Vacation Care ProgramClosed 25 December Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village Closed 25 December.Open 26 December - 1 January (10am - 5pm).Open 31 December (10am - 4pm). New Year’s Eve Special Event (5pm - 9.30pm) Tales of the Shipwreck Coast Sound & Light ShowRuns nightly 9pm Closed 25 & 31 December.Visitor Information Centre Closed 25 December.Open 26 December – 1 January (10am - 5pm).  Journey to the heart of New York’s graffiti scene at the Warrnambool Art Gallery with major exhibition CLAW MONEY WORLD opening on November 16 The world-exclusive exhibition charts the career of trailblazing artist Claudia Gold from her “paint and run” days of the early 1990s to her iconic collaborations with global brands like Nike and her fashion label that counts Rhianna and Kendrick Lamar among its followers it also features brand-new pieces Gold created in Warrnambool Gold said that she initially kept her identity a secret but was convinced by female friends to claim her work and show that women have a place in the male-dominated graffiti scene it was to prove to myself that I could keep up with the boys,” she said “It’s an important story to tell and I love keeping the focus on women artists.” Gold has watched as graffiti culture has been embraced globally “People are really connected to what they see “It’s a juxtaposition to all the advertising you are forced to view.” “I’ve always been a fan of Australian street art They have their own distinct style,” she said “Australia has some of the best and the brightest.” Not just an admirer of Australia’s street art scene To help promote the exhibition in Warrnambool she worked with three Melbourne artists to paint a mural at the Fitzroy pool with an artwork to be created in a secret location before her departure Warrnambool Art Gallery Director Aaron Bradbrook said it was an honour to work with Claudia “I’ve been following Claudia’s practice for a long time and it happened by looking for a story that hadn’t been told in its fulsome,” he said “The gallery aligns itself with people who are having the biggest impact there’s an extraordinary First Nations show by Kait James as well There’s some similarities in the tones that they are hitting powerful female presences talking about incredible artistic movements and I think they complement each other really well.” CLAW MONEY WORLD follows on from the Warrnambool Art Gallery’s highly successful Lisa Gorman and Mira Morka exhibition held last summer with Bradbrook saying that major exhibitions add a new dimension for holidaymakers while providing locals with a world-class exhibition in their own backyard “For audiences to travel to Warrnambool for a classic beachside holiday and have a gallery that is giving them an opportunity to explore another option on their holiday All the audiences that are travelling for this urban experience they’re gifted a beachside holiday as well.” CLAW MONEY WORLD is proudly supported by the Victorian State Government through Visit Victoria and the Regional Events Fund The Gallery is grateful for the contributions of the Gwen and Edna Jones Foundation and The William and Lindsay Brodie Foundation Gold will sit down for an interview with Tash One Learn more at www.thewag.com.au Combining over 35 years of local government experience Lauren Edney and Mark Handby commenced in leadership roles at the Warrnambool City Council this month.  with Peter and Lauren taking up new roles at Council while Mark is returning having previously worked for the organisation from 2009 to 2016.  Peter Russell is the Manager City Strengthening Lauren Edney is the Manager Recreation and Culture and Mark Handby is the Manager City Safety.  Warrnambool City Council CEO Andrew Mason said that he was excited to welcome the trio to their new roles.  “These three positions cover such a wide range of council services for people at all ages and stages of life from immunisations of babies and children to community care services for some of our oldest residents sport and even pets just to skim the surface,” he said.  “So they are all really important roles with a focus on services to the community “All three positions were widely advertised and attracted strong fields of candidates.  staff that have developed their skills across various roles within the organisation and then combined everything they’ve learned to take on a new challenge.  he’s worked at various other Councils and around the world and will bring all of that experience to his new position.”  As well as working at neighbouring Moyne and Corangamite shires since leaving the Warrnambool City Council in 2016 Mark’s career has taken him to four continents “The last four years in particular I’ve worked in various countries and I also went to Ukraine and Turkey,” he said.  In Fiji my main function was around two hospitals a private/public partnership with the Fiji Government about uplifting those hospitals to international standards “The other roles were primarily around emergency response it was particularly around water responses along the frontline with a little bit of hygiene promotion and communicable disease prevention.  It’s been eight years and I’m really happy to be home with the family and excited about the new role and the new branch.”  “It’s a compliance and enforcement role with a great opportunity to do a lot more proactive work for the benefit of Warrnambool,” he said.  “I’m particularly excited about some upcoming regional collaborations in the emergency management space so we can work closely with our neighbours to be more efficient and better respond to emergencies and disasters.”  After growing up in Warrnambool and then living in Melbourne and the UK for 15 years while working in events and management roles Lauren jumped at the opportunity to return to her hometown in 2019 to take up the role of Service Manager Events and Promotions.  Since that time she’s worked on delivering award-winning events in Warrnambool before being appointed Manager Recreation and Culture after a stint as acting manager.  Obviously the beach and the facilities and everything are amazing but it was the community I really missed the most,” she said.  You’re immersed in it and that’s not something you get just anywhere.”  Lauren will oversee the Library and Learning Hub AquaZone and the Warrnambool Stadium while also covering cultural development “I’m really proud of our creative and cultural heritage our love of sport and everything that Warrnambool has to offer,” she said “Looking at the area that Recreation and Culture spans we’re working with some really vital institutions in the lives of thousands of people so I am in a privileged position to work in this role for the community.”  the infrastructure department and in the recreation team before a short-term role at the Archie Graham Centre started him on a new path within the city wellbeing team.  His role as Manager City Strengthening encompasses departments including home and community care community planning and health promotion.  “It was at the end of COVID I was asked to come and do three months at the Archie Graham Centre just to help with some transition work over there,” he said.  “The work that I’d done previously in Council in my engagement with the community that just opened up a whole new world of being able to use those skills for a bigger audience and have a greater impact on the community.  “It’s a real privilege to work in an organisation that covers so many functional areas that interact with the community "Having the opportunity to dip your toe into one area for a few months and then also have the opportunity to progress your career in a completely different direction than you thought you were going to be doing 10 years ago and realising how valuable and rewarding it is to do something different.  “It’s been a long journey and I’ve enjoyed almost every day I’ve been here To find out more about a career at the Warrnambool City Council, visit www.warrnambool.vic.gov.au/careers Support independent journalism, starting from less than $2 a week. By continuing, you agree to our Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy It looks like your email isn't registered yet—let’s get you set up We've sent a code to the below email.  Wannon has been conservative for generations the seat has reliably voted Liberal ever since the rise of community independents shows that even long-held regional seats are vulnerable to a popular challenger Enter former triple j presenter and Warrnambool resident Alex Dyson who contested strongly in 2022 and came within a few thousand votes of a surprise upset though reliable seat polling in an electorate the size of Belgium is hard to put too much faith in The unexpectedly close contest is a good example of the changing politics of formerly safe seats in Australia’s regions and continues west to the South Australian border It takes in the rich farming land of Victoria’s western districts and affluent coastal getaways along the Great Ocean Road Recent years have seen an uptick of younger Melbournians looking for cheaper housing as well as tree- and sea-changers looking for a scenic retirement he leapt from his chair to address the lecture theatre because Tehan is no-one’s idea of a charismatic speaker His spiel turned out to be Coalition talking points about declining living standards and how everyone will get 25c a litre off petrol should Peter Dutton win the prime ministership who inherited Wannon from the retiring David Hawker 15 years ago A long-term cabinet member of the Morrison government Dan Tehan has learnt to hide his insider background behind a stolid and agricultural persona which many locals mistake for regional authenticity When asked about “one thing” that could make a “long-term difference” to the seat Tehan mumbled something about transparency in road funding His delivery is more polished than I expected perhaps to the detriment of his electoral prospects able to spin centrist positions as common sense Dyson’s best line of the night came after a rant about reforming the petroleum resource rent tax (PRRT) to get more tax revenue from gas companies which was met with applause and even some cheers When asked what independents can achieve in Parliament he mentioned David Pocock on resource taxes and Allegra Spender on tax reform Afterwards, I spoke to a Dyson campaign volunteer named David. He’s a retired farmer who has gone back to work for the NDIS. David tells me he is a Crikey subscriber and a big fan of Ronni Salt He has a dim view of Tehan as a local member He was drawn to Dyson’s campaign out of a belief in progressive ideas But valuable seats aren’t given up easily. There has been a flood of outside money into the Wannon race. Advance has smothered the electorate in attack leaflets painting Dyson as a secret Green and dredging up various incidents from his time at triple j local Catholic schools emailed parents to endorse Tehan as “a strong supporter of Catholic education for many years” He came down with a nasty flu and had to cancel a slew of campaign events including the Ararat candidates’ forum held on April 29 One Nation’s Leo Curtain and independent Bernadine Atkinson to turn up to a lively event held at Ararat RSL on Tuesday night The tenor of questions was very different from Warrnambool with constituents asking about issues like the recent bushfires The demographics around Ararat contrast with the coast: older with more than a sprinkling of preppers and conspiracy theorists Tehan looked at home in the RSL function room able to turn most questions back to duplicating the Western Highway and giving everyone a petrol discount including during nearly a decade in government Tehan can take credit for plenty of pork-barrelling even if Dyson makes a good point that Wannon has missed out on the federal riches showered on neighbouring marginal Corangamite that hospital ward: Tehan can spin a yarn about how he lobbied the Allan government or talked to the hospital CEO At the front bar of Ararat’s Leopold Hotel, I talked to a local named Rob, who is voting for Tehan. From Polish Catholic stock, Rob hails from the hamlet of Warrak, out the back of rugged Mount Cole. He tells me Tehan has visited the community and helped get local environmental funding for the upper Wimmera millennials and gen Zs are looking for someone without a pale blue tie and tree-changers from Melbourne are bringing their small-p progressive politics along with their Subarus health and education are mainstream issues Possibly Warrnambool’s largest ever Citizenship ceremony was held tonight with 49 people taking the pledge and officially becoming Australian Citizens they were welcomed into the common bond of Citizenship by Mayor Ben Blain The evening also saw the 2025 Citizen of the Year Award recipients officially recognised the Warrnambool Community Garden Open Day is the Community Event of the Year Sharna Rogers is the Young Citizen of the Year and Nathan McKane is the Citizen of the Year Mr McKane said that he was very honoured to receive the award even in this room there are people doing great stuff in our community so to be singled out is quite an honour,” he said “I lot of this (pride) comes from knowing that it takes that one person to create some empowerment to lead some peers and bring some peers along and create conversations around suicide prevention and mental health awareness put on a lot of campaigns and challenges that make it accessible to everyday citizens to jump onboard “I want this award to feel reflective of a whole lot of people but you can see by the expression in their eyes that this means something “I bumped into someone last night at the supermarket and you know what our lives are better when our mates are in it.” Warrnambool Mayor Cr Ben Blain congratulated the award winners and the new citizens “This is one of my favourite events of the year,” he said “Warrnambool is a pretty great place to live… and it’s our people who make our city the welcoming Read more about the 2025 Citizen of the Year Award winners: Nathan McKane Sharna Rogers Mike Toone Warrnambool Community Garden Open Day