Tony Renn evacuated his 100-acre property at Goongerah on the Bonang Road a day before the bushfires swept through toward the end of December. Mr Renn’s humble, but much loved home, didn’t stand a chance. It was wiped out. The 66-year-old knew it was gone before he returned to the property. “After I left I kept ringing my phone. I probably rang 20, 30, maybe 50 times. I knew it was gone when...

Former local student, Ya Reeves, has made a significant impact with her highly commended entry into the Furphy Literary Award, Pub Raffle. Among some 850 entries, Ya’s short story captured the attention of the judges, earning her a place among some of the best writers across Australia. The Furphy Literary Awards invite entries of previously unpublished short stories of up to 5000 words for a...

For many, the lifelong dream is to buy a caravan and travel around Australia. For Colin and Rosalind ??? and their 10-year old son, Joshua, that is what they have lived for the past three years.  Prior to travelling the country, the family had extensive experience in the mining industry for more than 20 years.  The family had been looking to purchase a caravan park for the past six...

Several Orbost and district businesses have again had to adapt to stage three COVID-19 restrictions. With the Premier’s announcement of stage three restrictions on regional areas as of Wednesday, August 5 at 11.59pm, businesses have changed their operations and some have closed.  Another concerning aspect for many was that meat processors and abattoirs were having to reduce their total...

Orbost Fire Brigade Captain, Dick Johnstone, said a significant bushfire was always on the cards over the New Year period. He believes fuel loads have not been managed well in recent years and now is the perfect opportunity to get a grip on the situation in a bid to limit such blazes moving forward. “I think a lot of people in government and emergency agencies forget about what we always get...