More Victorians will have protection from the Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV), with free vaccines for at-risk regional Victorians this mosquito season.

Backed by a $2.3 million investment, the vaccine is now available to people in 24 regional local government areas, primarily inland riverine regions, where there is a higher risk of exposure to the virus.

Most people with JEV infection do not have symptoms or have only mild symptoms such as a fever, headache, nausea, vomiting and muscle aches.

However, a small number – around one in every 250 people – can develop severe infection of the brain (encephalitis) or meningitis which can be fatal.

The free JEV vaccine is available for eligible people through GPs, Aboriginal health services, community pharmacies and some local councils.

Simple and practical steps that Victorians can undertake to reduce the risk of being bitten by mosquitoes, include:

• wearing long, loose and light-coloured clothing when outdoors
• using mosquito repellents that contain active ingredients including Picaridin or DEET
• spraying or rubbing repellent on children’s clothes is recommended, avoiding their skin
• limiting time spent outdoors when mosquitoes are most active such as at dawn and dusk
• removing stagnant water where mosquitoes can breed around the home or a campsite
• making sure windows are fitted with mosquito netting or screens.

The state government’s mosquito surveillance program is helping track the presence of diseases in mosquitoes across Victoria, providing an early warning system to protect the public.

The surveillance program helps to monitor the presence of JEV, Murray Valley encephalitis virus, Ross River virus, Barmah Forest virus and West Nile virus – informing public health advice so local communities, holidaymakers and livestock managers can be aware of the risks.

More information is available at betterhealth.vic.gov.au/campaigns/protect-yourself-mosquito-borne-disease.

The launching of the landmark Inquiry into Women’s Pain was an acknowledgement of what Victorian women already know: their pain is real, and the system needs to do better.

The final Bridging the Gender Pain Gap report – the result of an overwhelming number of submissions – has now been released.

Shaped by the experiences of 13,000 women and girls aged between 12 and 79 – as well as their carers, clinicians, and peak bodies – the report revealed gender health gaps, experiences of medical bias, sexism and misogyny and feelings of being ignored or dismissed by clinicians.

The process also reaffirmed that chronic pain disproportionately impacts women, affects their daily lives, relationships, employment, and overall wellbeing.

We’re acting now – rolling out ‘green whistle’ pain relief, setting a statewide standard for women’s pain care, and supporting adolescents and girls with a special clinic in the Royal Children’s Hospital.

Inquiry Findings

Experiences of pain and its impact:

• 90 per cent experienced pain lasting more than a year, and 54 per cent experience daily pain
• 89 per cent said pain impacted their mental health
• The most common conditions were menstrual and hormonal (40 per cent), endometriosis (26 per cent), and musculoskeletal problems (26 per cent).

Barriers to accessing care:

• 95 per cent sought assistance for pain
• 71 per cent cited widespread dismissal by healthcare professionals
• 68 per cent said the cost of seeking care is an obstacle
• Key areas of healthcare discrimination include gender identity, race, disability and weight.

From the data, the report lays out five key areas of concerns: unmet healthcare needs, gaps in research and presentation, gender bias in healthcare, barriers across communities – and the need for change.

The final report marks a turning point in women’s healthcare in Victoria. While work begins on lasting, systemic change – in line with its 27 recommendations – we’ll act now to close the gender pain gap sooner.

Green Whistle

Pain, and the fear of pain, is a real barrier for IUD use. This pain is too often dismissed. That’s why the Labor Government will pilot the use of the ‘green whistle’ for IUD insertion.

The green whistle is an inhaler-style device for pain relief and will provide women a level of control over their pain at the exact time they need it during IUD insertion or removal.

The Sexual and Reproductive Hub at Peninsula Health have already introduced the use of the ‘green whistle’ (Penthrox) for pain relief during IUD insertion.

It will now be rolled out at all 20 Sexual and Reproductive Health Hubs in Victoria, to increase uptake of IUDs and give women pain relief for this procedure.

Women’s Pain Standard

While there are exemplary models of care in Victoria, the Inquiry demonstrates that it is not everyone’s experience.

That’s why the Labor Government will set a Women’s Pain Standard across Victoria’s health system – empowering women to know the standard they should expect when seeking care.

The standard will be created in consultation with clinicians, experts and women – it will apply to all public hospitals and health services over time, starting with our hubs and clinics.

Once in place, the Women’s Pain Standard will support the consistent delivery of high quality pain counselling and relief starting with common gynaecological procedures like IUD insertion.

Royal Children’s Hospital Children and Adolescent Clinic

The inquiry found that too many adolescents and girls across Victoria are experiencing pelvic pain – often facing barriers and delays in diagnosis and treatment which can become chronic or complex if left unaddressed.

The state government will deliver targeted support for young Victorians, establishing a children and adolescent clinic within the Royal Children’s Hospital, as part of the network of 20 Women’s Health Clinics.

The new clinic will focus on sexual and reproductive health and pain conditions such as endometriosis in young people up to the age of 18 and will open in 2026.

The clinic will also work with Local Health Service Networks to set up clear referral pathways for regional patients.

What’s next

One of the key recommendations was a Women’s Pain Action Plan, to set clear goals and respond to the findings of the Inquiry. The Government will develop this over the next six months in consultation with women.

The report’s recommendations will also guide systemwide improvements in future years to ensure women’s pain is recognised, understood, and properly treated.

This package is already transforming the way women’s healthcare is delivered in Victoria, with 20 sexual and reproductive health hubs now open, 20 new women’s health clinics underway, both virtual and mobile women’s health clinics operating, and a dedicated and first of its kind Aboriginal women’s health clinic.

To read the Bridging the Gender Pain Gap report, please visit health.vic.gov.au/inquiry-into-womens-pain.

By Andrea Henry, Dairy Industry Development Officer, Maffra

Spontaneous combustion in hay occurs when internal heat builds up to the point of ignition as a result of microbial activity and chemical reactions.
Unlike fires caused by lightning or machinery, spontaneous combustion is insidious: it starts deep within a haystack and can smoulder unnoticed until it erupts into flames.
How do spontaneous combustions happen?
Hay is an organic material rich in sugars, proteins, and moisture – ideal conditions for microbial growth. When hay is baled too wet or stored before it has fully cured, bacteria and fungi begin to break down the plant matter. This microbial activity then generates heat.
What are the risk factors?
•High moisture content: hay baled with more than 20% moisture is at risk. Mould growth and fermentation occurs when moisture levels are between 20-35%
•Dense packing: tightly packed bales trap heat and moisture, accelerating microbial activity
•Poor ventilation: lack of airflow prevents heat from dispersing
•Environmental conditions: warm, humid weather
•Storage practices: storing hay in enclosed barns or sheds without monitoring

What to look out for:
Early detection is crucial. Farmers should regularly inspect haystacks for signs of heating:
•Steam rising from the stack
•Musty, caramel, or tobacco-like odours
•Mould growth on or inside bales
•Condensation or corrosion under roofing
•Slumping or deformation of the stack.
Using a temperature probe or inserting a metal rod (like a crowbar) into the stack can be used to detect internal heat. If the rod feels hot to the touch after removal, the hay may be dangerously warm, and action should be taken.

How to prevent heating hay:
•Curing hay thoroughly
Allow hay to dry completely before baling and monitor moisture levels using a moisture meter. Ideal moisture content for small square bales is 18–20%, large square bales: 12–15% and round bales: 15–18%. When making sure hay is cured properly, also test plant nodes and leaf sheaths for hidden moisture.
•Monitor temperatures
Use temperature probes or wireless sensors to track internal bale temperatures. If temperatures exceed 55°C, monitor closely. At 71°C, consider separating bales and increasing ventilation.
•Improve ventilation
Store hay in well-ventilated areas. Avoid stacking bales too tightly.
•Separate risky bales
Store damp or suspect bales separately. Monitor them more frequently and avoid placing them near dry hay.
•Limit stack size
Smaller stacks reduce heat accumulation. Leave space between stacks and walls for air circulation.
•Protect from moisture
Ensure roofs, spouts, and drainage systems prevent water from reaching hay. Cover stacks with breathable tarps if stored outdoors.
•Use technology
Modern sensor systems can provide real-time data on hay temperature and humidity, helping farmers make informed decisions and prevent fires before they start.
What to do if you find heating hay:
•Pull apart the stack to release heat and moisture
•Move bales outdoors if possible
•Call 000 if smoke or fire is visible
•Keep fire suppression tools (hoses, extinguishers) nearby.
Never attempt to extinguish a hay fire alone. Fires can reignite and spread rapidly.
Spontaneous combustion in hay is preventable. By understanding the biological and chemical processes involved, farmers can take proactive steps to protect their property and livestock. Proper curing, monitoring, and storage practices are the keys to safe hay management.
Find more information about drought support at www.agriculture.vic.gov.au/drought or call 136 186.

Deputy Premier and Minister for Education Ben Carroll has announced a school statement of expectations to be rolled out to every government school to support students, parents and staff to understand the expectation of how best to behave at school.

Titled ‘Respectful, Safe, Engaged: Shared expectations to support student behaviour’, the statement outlines clear student expectations to create a safe, respectful and inclusive school environment where all students and staff can learn, work and thrive.

The statement was developed after the Annual Education State Forum and followed consultation with teachers, principals, parents and education experts. It reflects what the school community need: clear, consistent expectations that everyone can understand and support.

The statement encourages parents and carers to model and support positive behaviours and provides a common language that they can use to talk to school staff and their child, working together to support positive student behaviour.

Schools will be supported with a range of online resources and supports for students, parents and carers and school staff regarding wellbeing, behaviour and safety.

The statement can be found here: Respectful, safe, engaged: shared expectations to support student behaviour | vic.gov.au

Victoria will soon be directly connected to the world’s global communications network for the first time.

The state’s first major subsea fibre optic cable will help power data centres and boost disaster resilience.

Premier Jacinta Allan and Minister for Government Services Natalie Hutchins joined SUBCO CEO Bevan Slattery to officially welcome the arrival of the world’s largest data-cable ship Ile d’Yeu to Victoria.

SUBCO, an Australian-owned telecommunications company, will lay and build more than 5000 kilometres of fibre infrastructure, both undersea and on land, as part of the new Sydney-Melbourne-Adelaide-Perth (SMAP) system.

Ile d’Yeu will take the fibre cable – which is about the diameter of a 50 cent piece – and lay it on the sea floor.

The SMAP system will connect Australia’s east and west coasts through Victoria and link directly to key international markets including the United States, Singapore and India, providing a total data transfer capacity of 400 terabits per second.

That’s the equivalent of downloading 50,000 films a second.

The system will support critical infrastructure including data centres which are the foundation of new technologies such as AI and cloud services.

It will also strengthen vital services – including transport, emergency operations, and government communications – during major natural disasters by reducing reliance on existing fibre routes.

As part of the project, the government is supporting SUBCO to establish two new subsea cable landings in Torquay.

The government is also supporting SUBCO to partner with VicTrack to construct a new fibre network along the Melbourne–Geelong rail corridor.

This new fibre network will connect Geelong to Melbourne’s CBD, boosting V/Line’s operational capacity and delivering benefits for commuters across the rapidly growing Geelong region.

Together, these upgrades strengthen Victoria’s position as a leading destination for data centre investment and digital technology innovation – allowing businesses across the state to transmit data faster and more securely.

Construction of the new fibre network along the Melbourne-Geelong Corridor is now underway and is expected to be completed in the first half of 2026.

When every minute counts, getting the right care fast can make all the difference. This Virtual Care Awareness Week, Ambulance Victoria is highlighting how services like the Victorian Virtual Emergency Department (VVED) are transforming emergency care – connecting Victorians to expert help from home while freeing up paramedics for critical cases.

Since its launch, Ambulance Victoria has referred more than 85,000 patients to the VVED for appropriate virtual care, and more than 680,000 patients have benefited overall from the online service.

This innovative approach has not only eased the burden on physical emergency departments but also ensured that patients receive timely and efficient care wherever they are in Victoria, from the comfort of their homes.

Ambulance Victoria’s Director of Operational Triage Services Diana Zimmermann said the 24/7 online emergency department is a win-win for patients and paramedics.

“Services like the VVED are excellent for patients, providing access to emergency care in the comfort of their own homes and helping to keep paramedics and first responders available for the sickest Victorians,” she said. 

“VVED is about providing the right care, in the right place and at the right time.”

For many Victorians, that difference is already being felt. When Newborough mum Brooke found her seven-year-old son struggling to breathe, virtual emergency care meant hospital level care sooner than she expected.

Within minutes, an ambulance arrived with paramedics Jaimik Chauhan and Mick Smith, who quickly and expertly assessed Jaxx for his condition. The crew determined his croup symptoms weren’t life-threatening but could be exacerbated if he was transported in the middle of the winter’s night, and recommended an online consultation with an emergency doctor or nurse via the VVED, instead of a hospital visit.

With support from Dr Amanda Burnside at the VVED, Jaxx received a full diagnostic assessment and timely treatment from the comfort of home.

Brooke was amazed by the level of care provided by the VVED and encouraged all Victorians to consider a VVED video consult as their go-to option for non-life-threatening medical emergencies – helping to keep ambulances available for the sickest patients.

“It was amazing! Jaxx is on the autism spectrum, so not having to be transported in an ambulance and wait in the emergency department was fantastic,” Brooke said.

“Once we were connected to the VVED it was a short wait, Dr Burnside was spot on, she knew exactly what Jaxx needed.

“We were prescribed medication that the paramedics were able to retrieve for us and Jaxx came good within minutes.”

Dr Amanda Burnside said, “we have a great collaboration with our colleagues at AV, it is a privilege to work alongside them to provide the right care at the right time and place to deliver best possible care and outcomes to the patients and communities we serve”.

VVED is an Australian-first video telehealth emergency service. The statewide service is run by Northern Health and funded by the Department of Health, for people with non-life-threatening medical conditions.

Brooke’s story highlights how virtual emergency care can provide the right help, in the right place, at the right time. As Virtual Care Awareness Week continues, Ambulance Victoria is reminding Victorians that choosing virtual care for non-life-threatening issues can make a vital difference – ensuring every ambulance is available when it’s needed most.

VVED is available across Victoria 24-hours-a-day, seven-days-a-week, and can be accessed by anyone with a video call enabled device and an internet connection.

It is staffed by highly-skilled doctors and nurses who can assess and treat patients via video consult, arrange referrals, prescriptions and provide a follow-up care plan, if required.

To access the VVED visit: www.vved.org.au/patients

In a life-threatening emergency always call Triple Zero (000) immediately.

Men’s sheds across Victoria are gaining grants to upgrade and expand facilities – helping locals connect, share skills and build stronger communities.

Minister for Carers and Volunteers Ros Spence and Member for Greenvale Iwan Walters recently visited Hume Men’s Shed to announce $860,000 in grants to support 31 men’s sheds to build new spaces, upgrade facilities and purchase new equipment through the 2025-26 Men’s Shed Funding Program.

At Glenroy Neighbourhood Learning Centre, the Men’s Shed will use its grant to build an accessible outdoor area – expanding its space and creating a more inclusive environment for members from diverse backgrounds.

Bellarine Woodworkers Men’s Shed will upgrade key equipment to help members complete projects that benefit local community organisations, while Labertouche and District Men’s Shed Inc will install a hoist to help refurbish farm machinery.

Healthability Men’s Shed in Nillumbik will build a brand-new kitchen so more members can cook, connect and share time together.

The Men’s Shed Funding Program has delivered more than 500 grants across Victoria through ongoing investment and a partnership with the Victorian Men’s Shed Association to strengthen local shed capacity and community impact.

For a full list of recipients, visit vic.gov.au/mens-shed-funding-program.

Victoria’s fish stocking program leads the nation, and now we have the largest hatchery of its kind in the country.

Minister for Outdoor Recreation Steve Dimopoulos has announced the completion of the Arcadia Native Fish Hatchery project, south of Shepparton.

The new facilities produce Murray cod and golden perch fingerlings to be stocked into Victorian lakes.

The expansion is one of two backed by the $96 million Go Fishing and Boating Victoria Plan which also includes a Macquarie perch breeding centre being built at the Snobs Creek hatchery.

Construction at Arcadia took almost a year to complete and has nearly quadrupled the number of production ponds at the site, from 32 to 125. It includes brood ponds to hold mature breeding fish and shallow plankton ponds to grow out fingerlings to a size suitable to be released throughout Victoria.

The project also included five water storages to hold up to 20 Olympic swimming pools worth of water, a larger indoor facility to incubate eggs and grow larvae, a bigger fish processing area to count and prepare fish for stocking and a new administration building for staff.

When fully operational in coming seasons, Arcadia will have the ability to produce up to 6 million native fish each season – more than half the 10 million fish released across the state each year. Victoria is proud to stock more fish than every other state and territory in the country combined.

The hatchery is also home to a Visitor Centre, which features a pond stocked with Murray cod and golden perch, adventure playground, barbecue and picnic facilities and a range of educational materials for visitors.

The project led by Victorian Fisheries Authority (VFA) supported 20 jobs through several locally based contractors.

To showcase the hatchery to native fish fanatics, the VFA will hold its annual Arcadia Open Day in autumn 2026 with guided tours available and other family-friendly activities on offer.

You can learn more about the hatchery expansion at vfa.vic.gov.au.

Well here I am penning another column for you, the reader, to enjoy…
This time I’ll be featuring trees and shrubs with scented foliage and/or flowers.
Quite a lot to choose from but I hope the selection below shows a broad range from Australian natives to exotics.
And I thought I’d mention here that I have not included perennials (think aromatic herbs) and bulbs (think daffs, jonquils and lilies). These plants represent a cornucopia of olfactory moments from our childhoods, a bit too verbose I know, but after many drives past the Golden Mile on the approach to Kyneton, that drift of daffs is worth a stop to get close and have a good sniff.

1. So let’s start with one of my favourite mock oranges, philadelphus ‘belle etoile’, a multi-caned deciduous shrub to 2m or more that symbolises fragrant blooms and will flower comfortably in dappled light. Like all philadelphus taxa, consider pruning out old wood now and then to allow new canes to form.

2. Backhousia citriodora (lemon-scented myrtle) is a slender-growing Australian native evergreen tree that may achieve 10m or more in cultivation. Although native to coastal forests of Queensland from Brissie to Mackay, this wonderful aromatic foliaged tree seems highly adaptable to all sorts of climate conditions, now and for the future. It is named after John Backhouse, a nurseryman, plant collector and Quaker missionary – what a combo. As a small anecdotal aside, there is a specimen of this tree just inside the Neerib Gates at the Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne where on most of my return visits over 40 years I pinch a leaf and later scrunch it up under my wife’s nose to inhale that amazing citrus smell.

3. Illicium anisatum (star anise) is a medium-sized shrub to 2m and hails from Japan and South Korea and its intensely fragrant, crushed leaves are reminiscent of those aniseed balls we all – well, us older folk anyway – used to buy at the local store. I remember that you could get four small ones or later on, two large ones. Originally black coated, you would suck the living daylights out of them reducing them to a washed-out white globe. This unusual plant is worth tracking down but just give it some protection from the arvo sun.

4. Hymenosporum flavum (native frangipani) is an Aussie native evergreen tree that is seriously overlooked when planning a sensory garden for a public display or in you, the reader’s, private oasis. Growing naturally in eastern NSW and Queensland, it forms an upright tree that produces an array of different, super-fragrant, coloured flowers that range from creamy-green upon opening to canary-yellow as they mature. Its slender habit and eventual height of 12m odd in cultivation make it a great selection for a corner position in the landscape.

5. Edgeworthia chrysantha (oriental paper bush) is a small manageable shrub native to southern China and northern Myanmar that flowers in mid to late winter and offers lovely perfumed flowers.

And there it is, Cheers JB!

Next time: Special needs for special plants…

Scan the QR code for
JB’s Instagram post

Under Wisdom’s Tree

For our visitors killed in the Royal Hotel tragedy.

Not even dusk
And here was dark;
Hidden, as night and its secrets always are
Behind the broad bland brilliance of blue day,
These few hours of light, our brief glimmer
Guided in its moiling dance
By that old piper, the much-promising Sun.
Truth, and illusion, sitting at cards.

People
As people will, converging, eating,
Talking, drinking; sharing the air, sharing
Air’s warmth, its life, under Wisdom’s Tree.
Beneath their feet
The beautiful uncut hair of graves;
And there nearby, a few feet off, just a longish reach away
The bronzed body of childhood’s memory,
Its endless, ended, static forever…
Kali, Kali,
Rigorous Mother:
Under it all
Your inescapable Ouroboros,
Creation-deep earworm of your singing…
Under human voices, under Summer’s cicadas, under all
The sounds of warmth, life, hopes not yet made mist – all of which
Is also you,
Mother of Life
Mother of Death.

How do you weave yourself
So seamlessly, scentlessly, sightlessly
Into the predictable contours
Of our every day? Where you are not
Is always you…
None of us knew.
Not our guests, these welcome strangers;
Not us, their hosts, homesteaders here
In our small everywhere, the village of all our lives;
None of us knew
You’d stolen a ride, as you always do,
Invisible stowaway of every barque…

Not even dusk
And here was dark.

– Toby Sime

Toby Sime grew up in Daylesford, has written poetry since the age of eight, and was once described in the former Daylesford Advocate as a ‘local young ne’er-do-well’. Sime is no longer young, but his incorrigible versifying has ensured that he has indeed ne’er done well – a testament to journalistic perspicacity.

Local Lines features poetry by locals about local and any other matters.
Please submit poems to Bill Wootton at cottlesbreedge@gmail.com

So Kyle and I fly Jetstar now and again. It’s pretty much to do with price point. And we’ve always found the service fine. Until now.
I tend to notice stuff. People watching and all that. Maybe because I am a journalist or maybe that was why I became a journalist.
Anyway, I was at Melbourne Airport recently and watched a young woman run up to a Jetstar gate only to be told she was too late. The plane was still there, the steps were still there. But they have their rules. I get that.
However, when the young woman dropped to the floor pleading, crying to be let on the plane, the Jetstar employee just ignored her. Then three other women came over and I thought ‘any moment now compassion will kick in’. They will either let her on the plane, or walk with her to the service counter. Neither.
The woman continued to cry, uncontrollably, rocking on the ground, her things around her on the floor, as the Jetstar staff hugged, had a few jokes and then wandered off as the plane reversed out.
I was stunned. I went over and guided her to a seat and sat next to her. She said ‘they are so mean’ and I agreed. But I said the plane had gone and we needed to be proactive and find another flight as soon as possible.
The woman continued to cry and said ‘I’m done – I can’t do life anymore’. She was just 26, a mother of three young children, one just 10 months old and I could tell life was not working out for her.
Finally she called her ‘big brother’ and Kyle told him there was another flight a couple of hours later and she was booked on – for $500. After half an hour we had to leave for our flight but bought her some water, chocolate and found another passenger who was happy to sit with her. I gave her a hug and she thanked me. But she was still crying.
Bloody hell. Where is the compassion? What is the point of all the RUOK? campaigns if this is how we treat fellow people. Shame on you Jetstar staff. Poorly done.
I should have left it but a day later I went online to Jetstar’s complaints department. All done online now. Just type in your details and you get someone to speak to. Well, type with. This is how it went, a truncated version.
“Hi! Priscilla here. Good day Donna, Welcome to Jetstar it’s my pleasure helping you today. I can surely try and assist you with your concern.
Me: OK.
Priscilla: My deeply apology Donna. We’re going to pass your comments onto our management team, so hopefully it doesn’t happen again! We can see why that would be frustrating. It’s definitely not the sort of experience we want you to have with us. How would you like me to proceed?
Me: I would like to talk to someone about this and perhaps get the woman some sort of compensation for the staff inaction. It was terrible to watch. Other customers were very upset as well.
Priscilla: Sorry to hear that. I ma willing to check here. Can you provide the booking reference number? Name of passenger? Email used on the booking?
Me: Her name was Jane (not her real name) and she will be easy to find because she was the one passenger who did not board that flight. She bought another ticket for the 2.20pm plane yesterday from Melbourne to Adelaide, so easy to find. She was originally on flight from Melbourne to Adelaide at 12.40pm yesterday from Gate 43.
Priscilla: Can you provide the booking reference number?
Me: No. I was there consoling her because I was worried about her mental health. Mental health of your passengers should be a priority.
Priscilla: I’ll just need another minute or two. Thanks for sitting tight. Can you provide the full name of rhe passenger?
Me: No. But I am sure you can look at the flight list and find her. Jane. The passenger who was not able to board. And then got the 2.20pm flight. Can’t be many passengers who book twice from the same city within hours.
Priscilla: I’ll just need another minute or two. Thanks for sitting tight. My apology Donna we need the full name of the passenger?
Me: I don’t have it but you do – on your flight list.
Priscilla: I can not find the booking yet here can you send email used on the booking?
Me: No I don’t have it. I only consoled the woman, I do not know her. I am sure you can find her. If not please put me in touch with your Customer Care Team and I can talk to them.
Priscilla: Can you confrim how are you related with the passenger?
Me: I consoled her because she was on the floor crying/sobbing. Are you real or AI? I guess you are real because of your typos.
Priscilla: I have a case number. Is there anything else I can help you with today?”
FFS. I only hope Jane got home and is OK. Just sayin’…

Donna and I attended the 2025 Victorian Country Press Awards late last month. It was held at Yarrawonga. We stayed at Mulwala. That was a first. Got an executive room. Donna posted it on Facebook and someone said they had seen better prison cells.
We were shortlisted for two awards. Me for a photo of the Barefoot Barber aka Jobbo out at Wheatsheaf, Donna for her opinion/editorial pieces. I thought she would win for sure because she wrote about women getting their breast checks done – based on her personal experience.
So, I hear you ask, how did we go? Well, you either win or you are ripped off. And we were ripped off. But it’s like any awards you attend. You just smile and politely clap while you look at the work they think is better than yours and you know it’s not. I think that’s what they call a poor loser.
But we had a good night, talked to some great people, had nice food (fish or steak), and drank too much. Which meant despite being in a room with two single beds we slept quite well.
I also met a young photographer who gave me hope for the next generation of news gatherers. She was just 30 and had moved to work on a paper at Broken Hill – the awards were also for NSW.
Anyway, once there, she was also thrown in the deep end as a journalist and was loving the challenge of both writing and taking photos. One of her photos won – which she said surprised her. She was what in the old days you might call spunky, as in has a great deal of spunk, but I don’t know if you can call someone that now so maybe zippy is a better word.
She drank, smoked, happily shared her opinions, and was dressed in a pinstripe suit – a nice stuff-you to the dress code of cocktail wear. We are now Insta buddies and I reckon she will go a long way in the game.
Back to us, and sadly, we were meant to go to The Block auction on the Saturday but at 11am we were still in Mulwala with pretty vicious hangovers. Donna texted the PR bloke and, while she was tempted to come up with some illness or family disaster, just told the truth and he wrote back ‘no worries’.
And how disappointing was The Block? I mean, we got a lot of bang for our buck during the building of it which was great for the economy and it also shone a big light on our region for people nationally and internationally, but the auction results were cringeworthy.
All that work, and missing your families and lives, for such a small amount of money. I think, at the time of writing this, there are still two houses unsold but I am sure someone will buy it.
But the reserves for Daylesford were so high, almost $3M, for properties near a main road and a busy roundabout. Just as well the roundabout is there now or whoever bought House 1 would need to up their first aid skills.
Next up for The Block is Mt Eliza. On a housing development site on Old Mornington Road. I wonder if they will discover a “Mt Eliza vibe”?
And the other news is that Adrian Portelli, or Lambo Man, is once again raffling off the five houses still sitting empty on Phillip Island after he bought the lot last year. I think I will just stick to Tattslotto. We lost but had fun rant over.

There were plenty of entries in the Lyonville Bake Off competition.
Winners were: Decorated cakes – Holly Hatfield with Coconut and Passionfruit Curd Cake – $50 voucher from Sisko Chocolate; Cupcakes and Slices – Jacqui Siegle with Salted Caramel Fudge – $50 voucher from Kuki; Special Dietary – Maggie Natty with Flourless Almond and coconut cake – $50 Red Beard Bakery voucher; and Tarts and Pies – Jason Jones with Sausage rolls – $50 Trentham Pharmacy voucher.
Kids’ Runner up – June Kupsch with The Amazing Pig Cake – $25 Daylesford Trading Co voucher and Kids’ Winner – Odessa Fuller with Meringue Birds Nest – $50 Paradise Books voucher and $30 Trentham Bakery voucher.
Runner up (joint) General Cakes – Briony Milesi with Spiced Apple Cake with brown butter icing – Hepburn Distillery Classic Lyonville Gin valued at $79; Runner up (joint) General Cakes – Venetia Blackman with Zucchini, Lemon, Tarragon, Olive Oil cake with pistachio mascarpone cream – Fleur de Lyonville flower farm tour valued at $95; and Winner General Cakes – Josh, Sarah, Fern, Franklin with Almond Cardamom Tea Cake – $100 Magic Pudding voucher (donated by Wombat Forest Organics) and a bottle of sparkling rose $35 donated by Belle Property Trentham.

The Nyaal Banyul Geelong Convention and Event Centre is one step closer to opening its doors with events now booked for the world-class venue.

The first four events that will be held at the $450 million state-of-the-art venue will cover a range of topics such as leadership, education, culture, and community in July and August 2026.

Nyaal Banyul features 3700 square metres of flexible event space, a 1000-seat theatre, cutting-edge AV technology, and is part of a new precinct expected to create hundreds of jobs across hospitality, tourism, events, and services, while boosting visitation to the region.

In July 2026, the Associations Forum National Conference will be one of the largest association management conferences ever held in the southern hemisphere with 400 expected attendees discussing industry challenges, management, and innovation.

The July calendar will also include the Wathaurong Aboriginal Co-operative NAIDOC Week Dinner for a celebration of culture, community and connection, and the Business Managers Victoria Conference will bring together business managers and education support staff from schools to support growth in professional leadership.

August will welcome the Victorian Principals Association Conference which will support principals and educational leaders through professional development and sector collaboration.

Collectively, these inaugural events are expected to have a significant impact on the local economy through delegate spending on accommodation, dining, and local attractions. These events demonstrate the venue’s capacity to attract major conferences that raise Geelong’s national and international profile.

Nyaal Banyul is being delivered as a partnership with the Plenary Conventions consortium and will be operated by the Victorian Convention and Event Trust.

The project is funded through the Geelong City Deal, a $676 million investment from the Australian Government, Victorian Government and City of Greater Geelong to revitalise Geelong through critical infrastructure.

For more information and upcoming event announcements, visit nyaalbanyul.com.au.

Victorian newborns will be the first in Australia to be screened for an additional rare but serious health condition, helping to identify babies at risk and making sure they get the lifesaving treatment they need sooner.

Minister for Health Mary-Anne Thomas has visited the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute (MCRI) to announce that Victoria will be the first jurisdiction to test for the rare and serious genetic disorder biotinidase deficiency, as part of the Newborn Bloodspot Screening Program.

Commonly referred to as the heel prick test, the screening program will now test for 34 conditions – helping parents get their children early treatment and support for rare health conditions, so they can live long, healthy lives.

Biotinidase deficiency is an inherited metabolic disorder where the body cannot recycle biotin, leading to a deficiency that if left untreated, can cause neurological issues like seizures, developmental delays, and other issues such as hair loss, hearing and vision problems.

The condition can be treated, so early diagnosis through the newborn bloodspot screening program will help prevent serious health consequences.

Importantly, its addition will also enable MCRI to obtain population-based estimates of this rare condition at a local level. Internationally, it is reported that approximately one in 60,000 babies will be diagnosed with the deficiency in countries that screen for the condition.

The screening is offered to parents of all newborns within their first 72 hours of life, at no cost. In 2024, more than 75,000 newborns were screened – nearly all babies born in Victoria.

The Newborn Bloodspot Screening Program began in Victoria in 1966 and has screened more than 3.6 million babies to date – with one in 1,000 are found to have a rare but serious condition such as congenital hypothyroidism and cystic fibrosis.