SOUTHERN Grampians Shire councillors have voted to sell a vacant block of shire-owned land, despite community support for the land to be turned into a community space.

DUCK hunting season changes have been met with contrasting response as interested parties and stakeholders vie to garner public support for their opposing positions.

A GLENTHOMPSON man suffering from Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) plans to end his life this weekend under Victoria’s new Voluntary Assisted Dying (VAD) scheme.

THE battle over whether or not a rock wall should be built at Bridgewater Bay beach is no closer to being resolved following a week of legal letters, meetings and a public rally by opponents of the project.

AARON Edmonds is the first diver in his family, and he appears to have been made to live and work in and on the water.

THE Western Victoria Female Football League’s 2021 season kicks off on Sunday and Portland’s two teams are chomping at the bit to get started.

TAKING over a small-town general store business was a step Gordon Cleaver was keen to make, and with his wife Karin as the new owners of the Digby Post Office and General Store, they are barely a week into the enterprise and eager to serve the local community.

CASTERTON’S Australian Kelpie Muster will celebrate its 25th anniversary this June, with a new-look festival planned. See story page 3. Photo: SPEC FILE.

A NEW book on stories of soldiers settling in the south-west post World War II will be launched by Warrnambool military historian, James Affleck on April 23, coinciding with the Anzac Day weekend.

AROUND 10 per cent of Southern Grampians residents have already received their first COVID-19 vaccination in the first four weeks of the region’s vaccine rollout, but younger people will have to wait after the State Government put AstraZeneca vaccinations on hold for those under 50 for at least two weeks.