Peter Lenaghan
Bendigo
Journalism and comms, @SandhurstDragon president
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Articles by Peter Lenaghan
Memories, tragedy in the house by the railway line
ABC journalist Peter Lenaghan has fond memories of his childhood home: soccer magazines, Mr Sheen, tuna casseroles. Yet years after his family moved out, news that a vulnerable young woman overdosed in the same house, has been hard to reconcile. We were the first people to move into the little house by the railway line. After a few years of living with family around Victoria our names had come to the top of the waiting list.
Bendigo councillor Julie Hoskin, the centre of anti-mosque protests, declared bankrupt and resigns
After rising from notoriety to public office, a leading voice in the infamous fight against plans for a mosque in country Victoria has been declared bankrupt and has quit her position as a city councillor. Julie Hoskin played a key role in the vocal, but ultimately defeated, campaign to block Bendigo's first mosque, which drew international attention and triggered violent protests in the streets during 2014 and 2015.
Regional art gallery pioneer takes top job at National Portrait Gallery
The woman who put a regional Victorian art gallery on the international map is the new head of the National Portrait Gallery in Canberra.As director of the Bendigo Art Gallery in central Victoria, Karen Quinlan brought several blockbuster exhibitions to the regional city, including events showcasing the fashions of Grace Kelly and Marilyn Monroe.Ms Quinlan started at the gallery in 1996 as curator and was then appointed director in 2000, so she was at the helm for nearly 20 years.The success...
Regional art gallery pioneer takes top job at National Portrait Gallery
The woman who put a regional Victorian art gallery on the international map is the new head of the National Portrait Gallery in Canberra. As director of the Bendigo Art Gallery in central Victoria, Karen Quinlan brought several blockbuster exhibitions to the regional city, including events showcasing the fashions of Grace Kelly and Marilyn Monroe. Ms Quinlan started at the Gallery in 1996 as curator and was then appointed director in 2000, so she was at the helm for nearly 20 years.
Butterflies lay the groundwork for renewal in Victorian playground dedicated to murdered boy
Sometimes something beautiful and vibrant can be salvaged from the darkness of an inexplicable crime, such as the murder of a tiny Bendigo boy. A new $1.3 million playground has opened on the shores of Lake Neangar in the Bendigo suburb of Eaglehawk. The bulk of the design is inspired by the story of Mulga Bill, the Banjo Paterson character from Eaglehawk who "caught the cycling craze".
Alanah Rowe death: Mother tells of heartbreak after turning off shaken baby's life support
The mother of a baby who was "violently shaken" by her father in central Victoria three years ago has told the Supreme Court how turning off the girl's life support was the hardest decision of her life. Heathcote man Joby Rowe was found guilty earlier this month of child homicide, despite his denials that he hurt his two-month-old daughter, Alanah Rowe, in August 2015.
Paddle-steamer Port of Echuca faces uncertain future as tourists get caught between its past and future
The Port of Echuca and its fleet of historic paddle-steamers are known across Australia, but a downturn in the tourism precinct's fortunes is proving disturbing for locals. In the past, operators at the port were accustomed to the money and prestige generated by a unique set of attractions. The port was built in the 1860s and, using rail and the mighty Murray River, became a vital link between outback Australia's farmers and markets around the world.
Magistrate Megan Aumair talks of challenges, pressure and familiarity on return to country Victoria
A country Victorian magistrate who has returned to her home town has spoken of the challenges of dealing with growing workloads, public pressure, outdated facilities and familiar faces. Megan Aumair was appointed as a magistrate in January 2016 after working as a solicitor in central Victoria for more than a decade. She is now based back in Bendigo after cutting her teeth at the Broadmeadows court in Melbourne's notoriously rugged outer northern suburbs.
Country footy looks to change in bid to re-energise and preserve the game
For more than a century, geography has been the glue holding together Aussie Rules football competitions across country Victoria. But population decline in rural areas over several decades has led to widespread mergers and closures of clubs and leagues. As the eternal struggle for players, volunteers, and money continues, administrators are looking at whether new measures are needed to preserve and re-energise the local game.
Farming family holds firm as council seeks forced sale
A country Victorian family's decade-long fight to keep hold of their farmland has reached a crucial point, as the local council tries to force through a sale. City of Greater Bendigo councillors have voted to try to compulsorily acquire 313 hectares of the Carter family's farm at Marong, just west of the regional city. The land is wanted for a new regional freight and industry hub but the family has refused to sell.
Waste collection suspended in two Victorian shires as recycling crisis deepens
A waste contractor has suspended household collection services in two central Victorian shires, as the state's recycling problems intensify. The contractor, Wheelie Waste, emailed the Macedon Ranges and Mount Alexander shires on Wednesday to tell them their kerbside collection services were being suspended.
Election battle looms as residents worry over Macedon Ranges growth policy
A battle about how best to preserve one of Victoria's most picturesque regions is emerging as a potentially decisive marginal-seat issue ahead of this year's State election. Just north-west of Melbourne, the Macedon Ranges feature some celebrated tourist drawcards, including Hanging Rock. Proximity to the city and the area's natural beauty are drawing large numbers of new residents, making the local population growth rate among the fastest in regional Victoria.
Bendigo's historic trams back on track as a commuter service 46 years after their final bell
Bendigo's tourist trams, one of the central Victorian city's best-known attractions, are proposing to open their doors again to local commuters. Authorities hope that from April, people will be able to buy a yearly commuter ticket which is expected to cost $70-80. The proposal is a leap back to Bendigo's progressive past, when people would ride trams into the city centre from suburbs such as Golden Square and Eaglehawk.
Larry Eastman, Victorian harness racing trainer, fined $20k after admitting race fixing
A magistrate has told a court a country Victorian harness racing trainer's involvement in cheating struck at the heart of the sport's integrity. Larry Eastman, 60, pleaded guilty in Bendigo Magistrates' Court to five charges and was fined $20,000. Eastman was involved in the fixing of races at Swan Hill, Charlton and Horsham in 2014. In each case a horse was given a fatigue-prevention treatment known as 'stomach tubing' or 'drenching' on the morning of a race.
Man charged after fatal stabbing in central Victorian town of Bendigo
Police investigating a fatal stabbing in central Victoria have charged a 40-year-old man with murder. A 49-year-old man was stabbed just after midday on Wednesday at a unit on King Street in Bendigo. He was taken to the Bendigo Hospital but later died from his injuries. The Victoria Police homicide squad took over the investigation on Wednesday night. On Thursday morning, officers were called to a chemist at a shopping centre in the Bendigo suburb of Strathdale.
Arrest made after fatal stabbing in central Victorian town of Bendigo
Police investigating a fatal stabbing in central Victoria have made an arrest. A 49-year-old man was stabbed just after midday on Wednesday at a unit on King Street in Bendigo. He was taken to the Bendigo Hospital but later died from his injuries. The Victoria Police homicide squad took over the investigation on Wednesday night. On Thursday morning, officers were called to a chemist at a shopping centre in the Bendigo suburb of Strathdale.
Accused killer Charles Evans tells family of Kyneton woman Alicia Little 'it was an accident'
A man charged with the murder of a woman in central Victoria has told the victim's family "it was an accident". Charles McKenzie Ross Evans is accused of killing 41-year-old Alicia Maree Little at Kyneton last week. Several of Ms Little's family and friends were in Bendigo today to see Mr Evans face court. As he was led away from the dock, the 44-year-old turned to the public gallery and said "it was an accident".
Fire destroys 10 houseboats at Echuca-Moama, air conditioner believed at fault
Holiday makers and their insurers are counting the cost of a spectacular fire that destroyed 10 houseboats on the Murray River at Echuca-Moama this week. Investigators suspect a faulty air-conditioner in one of the boats sparked the blaze, which quickly spread to neighbouring craft. Soon after the fire started, just after 6pm on Thursday, 10 houseboats moored near the Deep Creek boat ramp were ablaze.
Maternity ward no longer allowed to deliver babies drives Cohuna's children to rally
The sudden suspension of a country Victorian town's obstetrics service has sparked a community backlash and further debate about the future of small, rural hospitals. It has also highlights the difficulty facing country health services face when trying to attract and retain specialists. The maternity unit at Cohuna District Hospital, located in the state's north, has been put on bypass — meaning the hospital is no longer allowed to deliver babies.
Officials confirm Victorian hunters killed scores of protected ducks in season opening
The body overseeing hunting in Victoria has described the illegal shooting of hundreds of ducks at a wetland in the state's north earlier this year as unacceptable. The Game Management Authority's chairman, Brian Hine, detailed the case in his contribution to the organisation's annual report, tabled in the State Parliament. He confirmed that on the opening weekend of this year's duck season in March, at least 260 protected birds were killed at the Koorangie State Game Reserve, near Kerang.
Company set to expand Ballarat gold mine
A central Victorian gold miner has raised $25-million for its new project in Ballarat. Castlemaine Goldfields went into a share market trading halt late last week, and emerged with an announcement about a major capital raising. The company says it has raised $25-million, in what managing director, Matthew Gill, has described it as an important milestone. The majority of the funds will go towards developing and expanding production at the Ballarat gold mine.
82yo driver in trouble with police again
82yo driver in trouble with police again Peter Lenaghan Updated February 15, 2011 09:55:00 An 82-year-old Victorian woman, who was charged with hoon driving last year, is in trouble with police again.Judith Slade, 82, from Heathcote, lost her licence last September.She was caught driving at more than 160kph on the Murray Valley Highway near Swan Hill, in northern Victoria.Police have confirmed Mrs Slade was caught with a blood-alcohol reading of 0.043 in Heathcote on Saturday night.She will...
Charged shire chief Mark Johnston's immediate future to be decided by Central Goldfields Shire council
A country Victorian council will meet to decide whether its chief executive should be stood down while he faces allegations of financial and conflict of interest offences. Victoria's Local Government Investigations and Compliance Inspectorate has laid 41 charges against Mark Johnston, who has led the Maryborough-based Central Goldfields Shire since its inception in the mid-1990s.
Peter Arthur jailed for 16 years for hammer killing of Samantha Kelly in Bendigo
A central Victorian man who bashed his housemate to death with a hammer as part of a plot to take custody of her four children has been sentenced to 16 years' jail. Peter James Arthur pleaded guilty to the murder of Samantha Kelly, 39, in the bungalow of their home in the Bendigo suburb of Kangaroo Flat in January last year. The Victorian Supreme Court had heard Arthur, 45, and fellow housemates Christine Lyons and Ronald Lyons plotted over several weeks to kill Ms Kelly.
'Manipulated' murder accused 'deeply regrets' killing housemate Samantha Kelly with hammer
A man who has admitted to killing his housemate in Bendigo has addressed the victim's family directly in court, saying he deeply regrets what he did. Peter James Arthur, 45, pleaded guilty in the Victorian Supreme Court to a charge of murder. But his lawyer urged the judge to find that Arthur acted while being manipulated. The court sitting in Bendigo heard that in January last year Arthur struck the victim, Samantha Kelly, 39, "six or seven" times in the head with a hammer.
Drug, safety concerns cloud 'bush doof' Yemaya Festival with council denying permit
The future of another "bush doof" festival in the farming district of Fernihurst, north-west of Bendigo, is in doubt after organisers failed to secure planning permission for the event. The Yemaya Festival is due to be held next month on a property in northern Victoria. But the event suffered a significant blow this week when the Loddon Shire Council voted not to approve a permit.
'Loving dad' Joby Rowe denies hurting infant daughter who died from shaking injuries
A "loving dad" accused of fatally shaking his baby daughter has denied ever hurting the girl, a Victorian Supreme Court jury has been told. The court in Bendigo heard 12-week-old Alannah Rowe died in Melbourne's Royal Children's Hospital in August 2015, a day after being found unresponsive in her parents' home at Heathcote, in central Victoria. Prosecutors told the jury the girl suffered brain and eye injuries that were consistent with being shaken.
Bendigo Health boss used hospital employees to work on wife's properties, IBAC finds
The head of Bendigo Health used the organisation's resources for his own benefit, including getting employees to do unpaid work on properties owned by his wife, Victoria's anti-corruption watchdog has found. A report by the Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission (IBAC) into CEO John Mulder and hospital construction manager Adam Hardinge has been tabled in State Parliament.
Hey Dad! star Sarah Monahan harassed on Facebook by sex offender Luke James Willis
A 34-year-old registered sex offender created fake social media profiles to harass former Hey Dad! star Sarah Monahan, a court has heard. Monahan revealed in 2010 she had been abused by a man while working as a child actor on the popular 1980s Australian television show. Her co-star Robert Hughes was later convicted of 10 offences committed against several girls, and was jailed in 2014 for at least six years.
Income from bumper grain harvest starts to flow in regional economy
Despite low prices and high rates of grain storage, analysts say farmers and regional economies in Victoria are already benefitting from this season's bumper harvest. Reports from across the south-eastern Australian grain belt continue to suggest growers will set a new crop record this summer. Growing conditions were largely ideal through winter and spring, despite some flooding, frost and crop disease.
Murder-accused Christine Lyons asked friend to help make Samantha Kelly 'go missing', court hears
A woman accused of murdering her Bendigo housemate had asked a friend to help kill the mother-of-four, a central Victorian court has been told. Christine Lyons and Ronald Lyons of Kangaroo Flat have been charged with the murder of 39-year-old Samantha Kelly. Ms Kelly's body was found in bushland near Bendigo last February, weeks after her last confirmed sighting. A magistrate in Bendigo has started hearing evidence from witnesses who have made statements to police.
A golden town loses its lustre
News that gold mining will end in the western Victorian town of Stawell is the latest development in a period of upheaval for the industry. The end has been coming for a long time for the Stawell gold mine. For many years, local councillors, company representatives and residents have been talking about what happens next when the site closes.
Rochester Hotel fatal explosion likely triggered by cigarette lighter, leaking gas, coroner told
An explosion that killed two men working at a pub in northern Victoria was likely caused by a cigarette lighter igniting gas leaking from a fridge, a coronial inquest has heard. Barry Purtell, 34, and Dave Lobb, 52, died after being badly burned in the blast in the Rochester Hotel's cellar in June 2014. The pair had been helping the publicans close down the hotel and were removing a refrigeration unit when it exploded. Both of the men were smokers.
Bendigo council reveals further code of conduct breaches
The City of Greater Bendigo has revealed a series of further code of conduct breaches by councillors over the past 12 months. A sitting councillor, James Williams, has issued a written apology to a former colleague, Helen Leach, who complained about his behaviour at a meeting. Complaints made against Mrs Leach and Elise Chapman, another former councillor who also lost her seat at October's local government elections, have also been upheld.
New look for Bendigo council as voters reject divided team
Voters in Greater Bendigo have used their ballots to force significant changes on the central Victorian city's council, electing a series of new faces and throwing out some prominent voices. The only incumbents to survive were James Williams and Rod Fyffe, who will extend his career in local government to 35 years if he serves the full four-year term. Mr Fyffe has urged the council to learn the lessons of a difficult four years, and work together.
Administrators set to close doors on Bendigo disability agency
Administrators have confirmed they are preparing to close the doors at the Bendigo disability agency, Radius, which has had significant financial trouble in recent years. PPB Advisory was appointed earlier this month to take over management of the 60-year-old service. The administrators confirmed they had had to secure extra funding from the Victorian and Federal Governments just to keep Radius functioning until today.
Shock and job cuts as central Victorian disability agency enters administration
A big central Victorian disability support agency has immediately cut about 40 jobs after going into voluntary administration. Radius Disability Services provides supported employment and disability care in Bendigo, and made the shock announcement to staff yesterday. The agency has also started meeting people affected by the closure, including the parents of those with disabilities.
Arsonists Ricky Mackay and Corey Devereaux jailed for summer arson spree in Bendigo
Police say an arson spree in the central Victorian city of Bendigo last summer took a significant toll on investigators, firefighters and its victims. Ricky Mackay and Corey Devereaux, former housemates in the Bendigo suburb of Eaglehawk, were each jailed for five years today after admitting to lighting more than 20 fires during January and February.
Joy and nerves as wet weather fills Lake Eppalock in central Victoria
Central Victoria's biggest reservoir has filled for the first time since 2011, creating a mixture of joy and nervousness among locals. Water levels in Lake Eppalock, east of Bendigo, dropped to about 20 per cent just a few months ago after a series of dry years. But a wet winter and wet start to spring means the lake has filled, and has started spilling water into the lower reaches of the Campaspe River.
Community stunned as poultry meat farm plans return in central Victoria
A new chapter has opened in the high-profile fight over plans for a poultry farm in central Victoria with a fresh permit application for the site lodged this week, much to the distress of local landowners opposed to the project. Developers and residents have been at loggerheads for several years about the proposed expansion of the broiler farm in the Strathlea district, on the Moolort Plains between Bendigo and Ballarat.
Bendigo council counts benefits of controversial review
After a long and bruising few years, the City of Greater Bendigo says it is a better-functioning organisation thanks to a controversial independent review. Through changes made as a result of the review, the council has made a net saving of $4.3 million over four years. But some of the cuts were particularly painful, with changes to the council's early childhood and Home and Community Care services being heavily criticised.
Bendigo Avenue of Honour removed, but opponent vows to fight on
Crews have cut down a row of trees planted in Bendigo to commemorate World War I, but a woman who fought to protect the site wants the Avenue of Honour reinstated. Workers arrived at the former Bendigo East Primary School site on Strickland Road on Tuesday morning with chainsaws and excavators. The contractors were carrying documents featuring legal advice to the site's owner that clearing the site was permitted. The City of Greater Bendigo also confirmed the work was allowed.
Reservoirs, rivers and farmers all benefit as central Victoria soaks
After a couple of very dry years, central Victoria's reservoirs, rivers and wetlands are starting to bounce back thanks to the recent rain. Farmers are enjoying what some have described as the best seasonal conditions since the early 1980s. Some natural flooding of forest along the Murray River is expected in the coming weeks. And the Bureau of Meteorology's outlook for the coming months suggests the wetter-than-normal conditions are likely to continue until at least the end of October.
Legendary WNBL coach settles legal dispute with former club Bendigo Spirit
Former Bendigo Spirit coach Bernie Harrower says he is relieved after settling his legal dispute with the Women's National Basketball League (WNBL) club. Harrower played a leading role in setting up the club and led the team to back-to-back championships, but fell out with the board in 2015 and was replaced as coach. The case had been due in court this week, but the parties have reached a settlement. Harrower said he was relieved a deal had been reached.
Demand for help up as Bendigo's pokie losses grow
A central Victorian welfare agency says demand for its gamblers' help service is growing, as losses on local gaming machines continue to rise. For the second year in a row, a record amount of money was lost on Greater Bendigo's pokies. The Victorian Commission for Gambling and Liquor Regulation said punters lost $48.7 million on the pokies in Bendigo last financial year. That was an average of a little more than $4 million each month, and an overall increase of $1 million on the previous 12 months.
Uncertainty continues for institution's residents as NDIS approaches
The closure of Bendigo's institution for people with severe disabilities is almost complete, but there is continued uncertainty about how the former residents will be cared for once the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) is rolled out. The Sandhurst Centre in North Bendigo is being closed and its 30 residents are being moved into five new care homes, staffed by Victorian Government carers. The institution is one of just two of its type left in Victoria.
Focus on youth engagement brings down crime rate in Bendigo
Police and community agencies say their renewed efforts to tackle crime and antisocial behaviour in Bendigo's central business district are starting to bear fruit. Surveillance of the city's Hargreaves Mall has been increased, and efforts to get young people hanging out in the CBD back into school and employment have been redoubled. Police say the early evidence suggests crime rates in central Bendigo have fallen in recent weeks.
Memories, tragedy in the house by the railway line
The house by the railway line was home to two lives whose paths never crossed. ABC journalist Peter Lenaghan has fond memories of his childhood home: soccer magazines, Mr Sheen, tuna casseroles. Yet years after his family moved out, news that a vulnerable young woman overdosed in the same house, has been hard to reconcile. We were the first people to move into the little house by the railway line.
Election 2016: Labor holds firm in central Victoria as Nats claim Murray
Labor has held on to its marginal seats of Bendigo and McEwen in central Victoria, despite the threat of a voter backlash over the Country Fire Authority pay dispute. There were swings to the ALP in both seats, meaning the backbenchers Lisa Chesters and Rob Mitchell were re-elected. Speaking at Trades Hall in Bendigo, Ms Chesters told reporters she was excited and humbled to have won a second term.
Bendigo's suburban rail service makes delayed debut
After months of delays, Bendigo's new suburban commuter rail service has launched today. The Bendigo Metro - including extra train services to and from the Epsom, Eaglehawk and Kangaroo Flat stations — is incorporated into the new V/Line timetable that has now taken effect. V/Line train services are now fully restored, after the wheel and boom gate problems that caused a crisis for the rail operator in January.
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