South Gippsland Sentinel-Times

Last week's wintry conditions arrived just in time to save the Victorian snow season and provide a welcome week of activity for kids on the Victorian and NSW school holidays, but more snow is needed in the coming weeks and a change of approach to the challenges of climate change.

Adam Magennis from Bunurong Land Council with Bass MP Jordan Crugnale MP at the Island Whale Festival in Cowes. b18_2726 THE VAST waters of Victoria’s southeastern coastline are more than just a scenic marvel they are a living cultural landscape taking on particular significance with NAIDOC week. From the mouth of the Werribee River across to the Tarwin River, including the Mornington Peninsula, Western Port Bay, and parts of South Gippsland lies Bunurong Biik (Bunurong Country).

Natalie Jonceski from Clyde was well prepared to spot a whale at Cape Woolamai. b26_2726 PHILLIP Island has once again been confirmed as Victoria’s premier winter wildlife destination following the visually spectacular opening of the 10th Island Whale Festival. The landmark event draws thousands of nature enthusiasts, families, and researchers to the Island to experience the wild, raw beauty of the Bass Coast during the absolute peak of the whale migration season.

Around 150 people took part in the Westernport Hotel Pier to Pub event, raising funds for the L. Rigby Care Centre at Wonthaggi Hospital. Around 150 people turned up in San Remo on Saturday, June 27 for the second ever Westernport Hotel Pier to Pub race, combining swimming, running, and delicious potato cakes to raise money for local cancer patients and their families.

Rod and Lyndell Cope are ready to hit the road in their Santa-inspired Commodore for the Shitbox Rally. A recent Koonwarra charity dinner has helped Team Santa reach its $30,000 fundraising goal for this year’s Spring Shitbox Rally. Rod Cope is one part of Team Santa and will be participating in the rally for the first time while driving a $1500 Santa and Christmas-inspired Commodore with his wife, Lyndell, from Adelaide to Darwin to raise money for cancer research.

Whether its responding to a midnight storm call or keeping families safe and informed VIC SES Wonthaggi has been serving the local community since 1976. THE Wonthaggi Victoria State Emergency Service (VICSES) unit is officially marking its golden jubilee on July 14 celebrating 50 years of vital, life-saving volunteer service to the Bass Coast community. Since its inception in 1976 the unit has stood as a resilient pillar of local safety, responding to emergencies 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

The Eastern Victoria Livestock Exchange is full of activity on Thursday. WHILE June’s uncharacteristically warm conditions were pushed aside by a grey, cold and wet Winter day for July’s first Leongatha Store Sale on Thursday, the prices continued to deliver a warm glow for sellers. Simon Henderson auctions a pen of Sandbach Angus steers from Welshpool while Jake Anthony watches for bidders.

The three Wonthaggi Power players in the winning Gippsland Under 18 team; Jayden Burns, Billy Wyhoon and Jasper Shone performed strongly with Wyhoon amongst the goals in the qualifying rounds and Burns and Shone sharing best player honours across the whole Gippsland Youth Interleague Carnival.

A bush stone-curlew forages in the open. The critically endangered birds are being reintroduced to Phillip Island. Picture: Ryan Francis. Fourteen bush stone-curlews have been released into the wild on Phillip Island in the latest stage of a landmark bid to bring the critically endangered bird back to Victoria. The release adds to the birds already living wild on the island with conservationists hoping the new arrivals will breed and widen the genetic diversity of the population.

Wonthaggi father-son duo Peter and Charlie Moule will represent Australia at the UCI BMX Racing World Championships in Brisbane. Putting on the green and gold and representing your country is a dream most Australian athletes share, but that dream will soon become a reality for Wonthaggi-based father-son duo Peter and Charlie Moule.