The Port Fairy Spring Music Festival started yesterday and continues over the weekend, with five students from The Hamilton and Alexandra College performing at the Regenerators Concert at the Festival today in the Lecture Hall at 3:30pm.

LOCAL fire danger rating signs have now been replaced, bringing them in line with a new, standardised Australia-wide rating system.

THIS week the media has been awash with reminiscences of the Bali terrorist bombing on October 12, 2002, that killed 202 people from 21countries, including 88 Australians.

The attack was particularly harrowing for many in our district because victims included former Coleraine and Hamilton resident and prominent sports and business woman, Jodie Cearns.

THIRTEEN ‘Itchy Bomb’ trees in May Street, Hamilton, will be removed and replaced due to health impacts on local residents, after a decision was carried by the Southern Grampians Shire Council (SGSC) at its ordinary meeting this week.

A PORTLAND automotive apprentice has been judged the best in the region – for the second year in a row.

AFTER decades of competing in the Melbourne Royal Beef Cattle Competition, the Brook family has been inducted into the Beef Cattle Hall of Fame.

SEATING is set to be replaced in the Handbury Auditorium at the Hamilton Performing Arts Centre (HPAC) after a motion was carried by the Southern Grampians Shire Council (SGSC) at its ordinary meeting on Wednesday night.

THE future of the Portland Aluminium smelter is safely in managing part-owner Alcoa’s hands for the foreseeable future, as its departing plant manager says its long-term future would be assured by renewable energy developments planned for the region.

V/LINE fares across Victoria will be halved and train replacement bus services free of charge for at least four years if there is a change of government at the State election on November 26.

MOYNE Shire Council will be supporting the development of a shire-wide chamber of commerce to support the business community.