Orbost Regional Health (ORH) chief executive officer, Vicki Farthing, says COVID-19 testing numbers have remained consistent in the Orbost community. “We are seeing on average around 4-5 people a day through the medical clinic,” she said. “It’s been consistent and reflective of the change of seasons. We’re testing symptomatic people and people have presented who may have had the typical winter...

The Orbost Chamber of Commerce and Industry has pushed through COVID-19 as it makes plans to spark the area’s economy in the aftermath of a destructive 2020 thus far. The chamber has a number of ideas in motion as the year progresses having met via Zoom while restriction have been enforced. The chamber reported the restrictions have had a variable effect on local businesses with restaurants,...

Minister for Agriculture, Jaclyn Symes, has again refused to meet with seven Far East Gippsland timber contractors and save their jobs. Member for Eastern Victoria Region, Melina Bath, said she was appalled at Minister Symes’ lack of compassion when she called on her to meet with haulage and harvest operators during question time last week. “For months I have been calling on the minister to...

As the region continues to recover and rebuild after the devastating 2019/20 bushfires, a poem penned 83 years ago reveals a relevancy today. Dallas Golby recently uncovered a poem written by her mother, Nance, when she was just 12 years old about bushfires. Nance Gilbert was born and grew up in Orbost, her family having property there and in Buchan/Buchan South. Her sister, Mary Gilbert, was a...

As restrictions relating to COVID-19 have started to ease in recent weeks, the region is slowly picking up business with visitors easing in to once again enjoying the outdoors. While visitors have not exactly poured into the region, it is hoped that increased visitation over the recent Queen’s Birthday long weekend was the kickstart needed to rebuild after drought, fires and coronavirus. Georgie...