NEWS of 2020
October
People power saved the Thorpdale kindergarten from relocation. At the end of term 3, families faced an uncertain future, but rallied against the proposed relocation to Trafalgar and were delighted that the kinder would remain at the hall in Thorpdale for Term 4.
A unique bond between an orphaned calf and Australian Stock Horse was formed when the calf sidled up to the horse after being rejected by its mother. Nielma took the calf on as her own, raising it in the paddock with her. Owner Jennifer Emanuel said Nielma was the perfect surrogate, showing the versatility and temperate of the stock horse as the breed for every need.
A significant injection of police resources across the Baw Baw police services area was announced. The extra officers in the region giving the police more of a chance to stamp out the upward trend in crime statistics over recent years. It’s the biggest ever rollout of additional police resources, which have been allocated at Warragul, Drouin, Trafalgar and Neerim South.
A local business was hit not once, not twice, but three times by burglars which left the family-owned business reeling. They stole goods from the clothing store as well as causing thousands of dollars’ worth of damage. While the family were left wondering “why us” the community rallied behind them, leaving them overwhelmed with the amount of support on offer after the break ins.
Gym owners were left wondering when they would be able to open their doors once again as restrictions permitted hospitality to resume to some level of normality. Despite cleaning and sanitising like hospitality, Premier Daniel Andrews deemed them high risk, keeping them closed for a prolonged period.
A 10-year permit to allow the Beyond the Valley music festival to run at Lardner Park was approved. There were limits put on when music will be played however, with day one finishing at 10pm, day two and three at 2am, and day four at 3am.
Secondary students across West Gippsland were pleased to return to school after another stint of remote learning. School’s welcomed back students with activities and students and staff alike were ecstatic to be back on campus.
Churches in the region welcomed the easing of restrictions, but also conceded it might be some time before their buildings were full again. Despite this, churches embraced online services and said they would continue to utilise them even when lockdown ended in the future.
With some buildings off limits during the pandemic, students at KC’s Dance School fully embraced their outdoor dance studio in order to keep classes going. The enjoyment of being back with family and friends at the dance school heavily outweighed the sometimes-cold weather they faced in order to dance together again.
November
Trafalgar resident Noah Gilbertson set out to complete the Great Cycle Challenge, hoping to raise as much money as he could for childhood cancer. After a month of riding and clocking up his goal of 800km, Noah had raised over $21,000 to finish fourth in Australia for money raised.
Locals in Bunyip, Garfield and Tynong enjoyed their first sit down dine in experience since July when retail and restaurants were able to open up once again. It saw many of the town’s residents be able to catch up for a social meal once again together, enjoying the sunshine and company of one another that they had missed for so long once again.
Ellinbank Football Club life members Adie and Val Pratt celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary. While it was a little different to what the couple had expected with two of their five children unable to make it due to travel restrictions, they celebrated with a small morning tea at a restaurant. They married on November 4, 1950 and alongside their five children have 14 grandchildren, 26 great grandchildren and two great great grandchildren.
A new look council was elected in the Baw Baw Shire. Danny Goss, Michael Leaney, Darren Wallace, Ben Lucas, Peter Kostas, Jazmin Tauru and Joe Gauci were charged with taking on the councillor roles for the next four years, with Danny Goss re-elected as mayor and Michael Leaney elected deputy mayor.
Joan Peterson spent time in lockdown knitting a bright red poppy for Remembrance Day, which she presented to Warragul RSL’s Ben Vahland and Kyle Sage. The striking rug was something Joan worked on for three months. Joan served as a nurse with the RAAF in World War II.
Eric and Michelle van Tiel adorned their farm with colourful silage last year, using the coloured wrapping to support cancer charities. Pink, blue and yellow were used in order to support the McGrath Foundation, the Australian Prostate Centre and Children’s Cancer Foundation respectively. It was the second year the couple had used the colourful wrapping to bring awareness to the charities.
The Baw Baw Food Hub moved into a new building and in scenes similar to a reality TV show, more than 60 volunteers and staff worked around the clock to ensure the new Queen St location was ready for opening day. Food hub founder and spokesperson Lynda Hoare said it was an exciting move and the type of site they had been searching for almost four years, one that ticked all the boxes.
The Variety Big Bash made a stop off at Neerim South skatepark to present a $7000 cheque to incoming school captains Charlotte Hoddinott and Marian Wahid and school principal Jacqui Veal. The funds went towards helping the school provide a sensory area for students to learn in.
December
A $12.6 million dollar project at Warragul Regional College was announced, delivering a new arts hub and general-purpose classrooms.
A fire was left burning at Walhalla, with Baw Baw Shire councillor Michael Leaney finding the flickering flames unattended. In a town surrounded by bushland, Cr Leaney said it could have been devastating for the area.
Staff from the West Gippsland Healthcare Group, Quantum and the Warragul Library walked in solidarity against family violence. Dressed in orange, the groups set off on walks around Warragul and beyond to shine a light on the topic, encouraging many to participate through a virtual walk.
Residents affected by the March 2019 bushfires in the Bunyip State Forest reconnected after lockdown, with a pop-up session at the Tynong North Hall. Residents were able to speak together and share their experiences since the fires, while also being able to talk with recovery officer Bronwyn Fleming.
A trio of local football identities were cast to appear in an upcoming television adventure show to raise funds for mental health charity Mindfull Aus. Jack Symes, Troy Hemming and Paul Pratt took up the challenge to run 100km around Geoff Watt Track to raise $5000, hoping to complete the run in around 12 hours.
A puppy named Pippy had an adventure of a lifetime during December. She somehow found her way into the Bannister family car’s bonnet. Katrina went to and from work for two days, only finding Pippy after hearing a faint scratching sound one morning. She was found safe and well, heading straight for her bowl of water after being rescued.
Dr Roberto Celada hung up his stethoscope after 30 years of service to the Warragul and Drouin area. He qualified in Mexico City in 1981 before making the move to work in the rural West Gippsland area, saying his greatest enjoyment was contributing to relieving pain for patients and improving their health.
After almost 35 years in the Victoria Police, detective Mick West retired after a storied career in Warragul. Growing up in Dandenong, Mick joined the force at 27-years-old, leaving behind his job as a slaughterman at an abattoir, saying it’s a career change he’s never regretted, helping countless people along the journey.
Drouin residents decorated their letterboxes as a tribute to much loved postie Greg Crick of Yarragon who died in a fatal collision while working. Yellow flowers and words adorned letterboxes throughout the town, the postie described as “amazing”.
Bucking the trend of other crime statistics around state, Baw Baw Shire saw a dip in crime over the past 12 months. The average increase in offences was 4.4 per cent around the state, with the total offences in the Shire dropping almost one percent.
The Bunyip Community Market recommenced after almost 10 months on the sidelines due to COVID-19. Held on a warm and sunny day before Christmas it was the perfect opportunity to browse, buy and catch up after lockdown.