NEWS of 2020
April
Food premises across Baw Baw Shire may not have to pay annual licensing fees as part of a package of measures council is considering to ease the financial burden of coronavirus.
A community-focused campaign “Be Kind to Business Baw Baw” has been launched to encourage community members to continue to support local businesses.
The special delivery of a basic necessity brought smiles to the faces of Baw Baw’s most vulnerable community members. Baw Baw Shire Council’s Meals on Wheels team delivered packs of toilet paper alongside meals to community members.
The controversial Longwarry saleyards planning application was deferred after Baw Baw Shire planners presented a report recommending refusal of the $13 million development in Thornell Rd.
After 14 days in quarantine at Melbourne’s Crown Metropol, it will be a walk in fresh air that Warragul couple Amelia Sim and Kenneth Echaluci appreciate the most. Having lived and worked in Ireland for six months, Amelia and Kenneth made a risky 2.30am drive to Dublin to catch a flight home as Ireland entered a full lockdown.
Police called off the search for Drouin man Russell Hill, 74, and his friend Carol Clay, 73, from Pakenham in Gippsland’s high country. The pair had been missing for more than two weeks in the Wonnangatta Valley area.
RSL sub-branches across West Gippsland asked local people to observe Anzac Day by standing in their driveways at 5.55am in what has become known as Light up the Dawn Campaign.
Local police continued to patrol public and private areas where community members are breaching level three restrictions imposed by the state government. Baw Baw police services area inspector Alison Crombie confirmed a number of fines had been issues across the area.
There was a beautiful sunrise across West Gippsland as students, teachers and parents woke to a new world of remote learning for term two.
A solitary pipe playing Amazing Grace and three silhouettes at the Warragul Cenotaph were all that could be seen in the pre-dawn on Anzac Day. The setting was in stark contrast to the usual dawn service which would see hundreds of people standing shoulder to shoulder to acknowledge those who paid the ultimate sacrifice in all wars. An unseen enemy ensured that was not to be the case this year.
A $440,000 support package designed to rescue residents, businesses, sporting clubs and community groups during current financial difficulties was launched by Baw Baw Shire.
A protest voicing opposition to lockdown restrictions was staged in Trafalgar on Anzac Day. About 70 people supported the protest at the Trafalgar Railway Station to defend that freedoms that “our Diggers fought for”.
May
A retail and employment boost arrived in Warragul when Bunnings Warehouse opened with the long-awaited Kmart store set to follow. More than 300 jobs came online when the two major stores and six smaller tenants opened in the new retail hub.
Warragul Police members stood united in commemoration of four police officers tragically killed in Melbourne.
Trafalgar Chamber of Commerce distanced itself from a protest in the town on Anzac Day that the business group president said gave the town a bad image.
Visiting family and friends was part of a new “safe, cautious and appropriate” COVID-19 restrictions implemented. Public gatherings were restricted to 10 people and many outdoor activities resumed including golf, walking groups, fishing and hiking.
Strong cattle prices dominated both dairy and beef sales around West Gippsland, despite sales continuing to operate in a restricted environment. After a five-week suspension because of COVID-19 restrictions, dairy sales returned at the Warragul saleyards, as well as a number of herd dispersal sales.
Baw Baw Shire councillor Tricia Jones called for answers about why trees listed in Drouin’s significant tree register continued to be lost to residential development.
Tom Simpson ended 84 years of bachelorhood when he and Lilah Matchett, also 84, said “I do” to become the first residents of Baptcare Abbey Gardens to “tie the knot”.
The treat of a lunch order helped three local families through isolation and remote learning. Drouin woman Gabrielle Durand prepared lunch orders in individual brown paper bags for nine children living in the same Drouin street each Wednesday.
Baw Baw Shire Council had “shovel ready” projects that could be implemented immediately if the state government would allocate funding under its COVID-19 stimulus package. Mayor Danny Goss said grants had already been sought towards installation of a much-needed synthetic soccer pitch in Warragul and construction of a multi-purpose pavilion at Trafalgar soccer grounds.
CatholicCare Gippsland reported it was busy helping locals pay rent and utility bills as well as providing food and fuel vouchers, whilst the need for counselling services was “going through the roof”.
June
With government funding on the table for sports infrastructure, the Warragul and District Amateur Basketball Association renewed calls for more courts in Warragul. Mayor Danny Goss said two additional basketball courts at the Warragul Leisure Centre were among council’s wish list of projects that could proceed quickly.
After weeks of COVID-19 restrictions, local families were keen to enjoy some outdoor play as local parks and playgrounds reopened.
A group of Drouin residents again ramped up their passionate fight to save trees. It came as three Strzelecki gums on the corner of Victoria St and Hopetoun Rd were threatened by earthworks by contractors.
Two locals were honoured in the Queen’s Birthday honours – Anne Atkin of Warragul received an Order of Australia Medal and Ian Symons of Drouin an Australian Fire Service Medal.
A sign on the pavement declared – “We’re Open for Business” – as many Warragul restaurants, cafés and beauty therapy businesses opened for dine-in and services for the first time in two months.
A vehicle attempting to evade police sideswiped the Loy Yang bound super load at Longwarry.
At least 100 learner drivers were waiting for the phone to ring as driving tests resumed.
Premier Daniel Andrews gave the green light for the return of community sport with full contact training and competition for people under 18 and non-contact competition for people over the age of 18 allowed.
Full contact training for over 18s, including senior football, basketball and soccer was set for July 13, before competition from July 20.
The Warragul Hub and Crazy Cow activity centre permanently closed.
Established in 2018 by members of several district Christian churches, the centre had struggled to make ends meet with lockdown proving the final straw. However, the vacant building in North Rd has opened an opportunity for Cassidy Crew to utilise it for indoor leisure activities for people with a disability.
Complacent attitudes towards locking vehicles and homes was blamed for continued increases in crime statistics across Baw Baw police services area, particularly thefts from cars.
Homicide Squad detectives investigated the death of a 49-year-old man camping at Toorongo Falls campground at Noojee.
Cardinia and Casey municipalities were named as coronavirus hotspots as lockdown restrictions tightened again. Travel to and from the two municipalities was advised against. Cardinia and Casey had five and nine active cases respectively.
All senior football and netball was cancelled for the 2020 season across the four local leagues.
Volunteers firefighters from Trafalgar and Westbury brigades were left stunned after district boundaries changed without consultation. Latrobe West Fire Brigade in Moe was transferred to the new Fire Rescue Victoria service and will take over CFA areas, including parts of the Trafalgar township and a majority of Westbury.
A range of rate rise options, including a zero rate rise, were considered by Baw Baw Shire Council before a draft budget with a two per cent rate increase was endorsed.
Number of Calves: 52 Number purchased to rear: 46 Jersey & Jersey x $32 to $45 Friesian Bulls $48 to $170 Friesian Heifers $170 to $580 Beef Bulls & Heifers $300 to $460