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.

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.

IT was a thrilling contest to open Hamilton Kangaroos’ Hampden Football Netball League Open season, going down to Port Fairy by four goals at Melville Oval on Saturday.

TWO locals have impressed during Sunday’s Hamilton Pony Club horse trials.

IT was a milestone day for Hamilton Kangaroos netballer, Joe McKew, playing her 300th senior game on Saturday.