IT has been a whirlwind past few years for former local, Abbey Sutherland, who is approaching her final US college basketball campaign with the Houston Baptist University (HBU).

A RECORD 9.3 million Australian households have participated in online shopping sprees over the last financial year - up 12 per cent from 9.1m the previous financial year - largely due to extended lockdowns during the pandemic, according to Australia Post.

THE last time Hamilton and Portland met in the Hampden Football Netball League, it was the Tigers who dominated proceedings, running out 21-goal victors back in round three, however Hamilton was uninterested in allowing a repeat this time around.

THE offices of Western Region MP, Jaala Pulford, and the Department of Jobs, Precincts and Regions (DJPR), confirmed in identical responses on Tuesday that “while several positions (at Hamilton SmartFarm) may be impacted by workforce changes … staff have an option to apply for new roles”.

TO protect people from unwanted sexual behaviour and other acts that make people feel uncomfortable or unsafe on public transport, Victoria Police have launched the STOPIT text-based reporting service.

HAMILTON Kangaroos fell short of a grand final spot by a single goal in their Western Victoria Female Football League qualifying final against Horsham Demons at D.C. Farren Oval on Sunday.

LOCALS are being warned not to be lulled into a false sense of security about the risk of COVID-19 spreading in the community, despite the number of cases decreasing in recent weeks.

COLLEGE Cricket Club veteran, Hamish Bailey, has capped off his 2021-22 cricket season with one of the highest honours in his illustrious career, named in the Victorian Country Cricket League’s (VCCL) Team of the Year.

LOCAL businesses interested in nominating themselves for the 2022 Southern Grampians Shire Business Awards will have to do so before nominations close on Friday, July 15.

THE recent flights of the Skywhales in Dunkeld in May were unfortunately not able to be repeated in Ballarat over the weekend, with weather conditions not calm enough to allow the hot air balloons to get airborne.