A 23-year-old Tasmanian man is lucky to be alive after diving into the sea to fetch his fishing rod off Mallacoota on Sunday morning. The man had been drift fishing alone on a six metre aluminum half cabin boat, about five to six kilometres offshore from Bastion Point when his fishing rod dropped overboard just after 7am. The man dived into the water to retrieve it and when he surfaced the boat,...

While no positive COVID cases have detected in East Gippsland, positive viral fragments have been detected in local wastewater in the Lakes Entrance area. The positive sample was taken between August 8-11. Authorities  are asking the community to be vigilant and get tested if experiencing any symptoms (however minor), along with those who have visited an exposure site. The Gippsland Region...

On Sunday, August 1, Reverend Nathaniel Atem conducted his last service at St Andrew’s Uniting Church, Orbost, at 11am.  Nathaniel’s five-year term had concluded and he has accepted a call to Ararat/Lake Bolac in the Western district of Victoria. The service on August 1 was a special one for two reasons. Firstly, Nathaniel baptised Sophie Louise Dooley, second child of Catherine and Glen...

East Gippsland Shire has appointed an erudite consultant to mediate the divide between Marlo residents and the proponent of the stalled 104-allotment subdivision in the coastal township. Tim Biles, of Ratio Consultants, has a plethora of experience in urban design and project facilitation. Mr Biles has been at the forefront of planning innovation for many decades and is considered an ideal...

Regional Victoria came out of COVID lockdown at midnight on Monday with the Orbost community welcoming the State Government’s decision to ease restrictions. With no positive cases nor exposure sights within 350 kilometres, Orbost and the rest of East Gippsland is pleased to be open again, albeit in a reduced capacity. Metropolitan Melbourne remains in a hard lockdown. Limitations remain on the...