Towns across East Gippsland celebrated the nation on Sunday, each in their own way as they begin the recovery from recent bushfires, celebrating all they are grateful for as Australians.“This is possibly the most memorable Australia Day in Orbost’s history. Memorable because as a community we are still reeling from the effects of the worst bushfire experienced in Orbost and district, and...

Lake Bolac is in Victoria’s Western District, located 100 kilometres west of Ballarat. The township and surrounding areas boasts a population of approximately 350 people tiny, but with a huge heart.In the wake of the bushfires that have ravished East Gippsland and beyond, a few Lake Bolac locals put the idea out that they wanted to assist “over in Gippsland”, a consideration that had great...

When Cann River residents gathered last Thursday to discuss their situation as a town isolated by the affects of bushfire, they were not happy.Cann River had been isolated since late December when bushfires ravaged its surrounds. The town’s perimeter has been burnt. It did not take long for its residents to feel forgotten as they watched efforts being made to get people evacuated from Mallacoota...

Premier Daniel Andrews, Head of Bush Fire Recovery Victoria, Ken Lay, Member for Eastern Victoria, Jane Garrett, and CFA Deputy Chief Officer, Stephanie Rotarangi, visited the Orbost Incident Control Centre (ICC) and surrounds on Sunday to witness firsthand the results the emergency service agencies are achieving in the wake of the recent fires.Escorted by Forest Fire Management Victoria...

While works will continue for some time to make the Princes Highway west of Genoa safe for travel, visitors still stranded in Mallacoota and residents looking to leave are receiving opportunities to do so, thanks to emergency services resources.A community meeting on Sunday afternoon provided residents and those visitors yet to leave with an update of the town’s situation.Victoria Police, CFA...