BENDIGO’S water bills will now be one third less than previously expected over the next five years, after the Essential Services Commission watered down planned price increases. As part of its 2013-18 Water Plan, Coliban Water wanted to increase the average water bill by about $300. Coliba..

A CHALLENGE to tackle the declining number of students going on to study science at high school has prompted some innovative programs. One such program is the Science and Engineering Challenge, which took place at Flora Hill Stadium on Wednesday. The challenge drew on the students’ compet..

THE Bendigo-based Advocacy and Rights Centre received a welcome visit from Attorney General Mark Dreyfus yesterday, and he came bearing gifts. Mr Dreyfus announced a $205,000 grant for the centre to provide legal assistance services and professional training to regional Victoria through the N..

The virtue of patience is not lost on the Bendigo Church of England diocese. More than four years on from the closure of St Paul’s Cathedral, plans for major internal works are ready to go. “Finally the plans have gone through the committee and have been authorised,” Dean John ..

By ANTHONY RADFORD BENDIGO has failed in a bid to secure a grant to fix one of its historic poppet heads. Greater Bendigo council applied for a $150,000 grant from Heritage Victoria for a $300,000 project to secure the safety of the Abel Street mine site. Part of the mine collapsed in August l..

Greater Bendigo council may have to re-think the schedule of works on Bendigo Botanic Gardens at White HIlls. Last week, council was informed their application to the federal Regional Development Fund was not successful. The application, for $3.5 million to fund about half of projected major wor..

VICTORIA Legal Aid will extend its services for people with a mental illness in Bendigo and provide more help in growth areas in regional Victoria after being awarded extra funding from the State Government. VLA Civil Justice, Access and Equity director Kristen Hilton said the organisation was giv..

GREATER Bendigo council is joining forces with the Bendigo Weekly to tell your transport stories. Council wants to hear personal stories of how you get around as part of its Integrated Transport and Land Use Strategy. Do you walk, drive, ride a bike or catch public transport to get to school or ..

WATER Minister Peter Walsh visited Big Hill Primary School this week to see first-hand how the school is saving water and money through State Government’s Schools Water Efficiency Program. Mr Walsh said 195 Victorian schools had signed up for the voluntary program, which was a finalist in th..

Drug offences in Bendigo are up 36.4 per cent from the same time last year, with police accounting for the increase as an improvement in reporting. "We have seen an increase in drug seizures and more people being held accountable for poor public behaviour," Inspector Brad Dixon said, as Vict..

Bendigo schools shone at Friday’s Victorian Education Excellence Awards. Bendigo Senior Secondary College won the curriculum innovation award for its work taking more VCE subjects to rural schools in the district. Huntly Primary school won the partnerships with families and communities awa..

The State Government has delivered on its election promises in the state budget. The government announced funding for the Golden Square Primary School and the Epsom railway station. However, there was no money in the budget for planning for the Calder and Calder Alternate intersection at..

The 1000th Bushmaster vehicle to be produced at Thales Australia’s Bendigo facility was delivered to the Australian Defence Force at a special ceremony on Friday. The Bushmaster is an Australian success story, delivering for the ADF, the local defence industry and Australia’s domestic ..

The latest nationwide poll has put the federal seat of Bendigo back in play for the Liberal Party, less than 100 days from the September election. The Newspoll published in The Australian this week pointed to an 8.1 per cent swing to the Opposition across the country. According to ABC ele..

Fee increases at council-run childcare centres in Bendigo will bring them into line with the rest of the city, and the state. An analysis of childcare costs in Bendigo and similar regional centres has revealed the changes to come into effect locally next financial year are not exorbitant. ..

Shadow Immigration Minister Scott Morrison claims the views of Bendigo Labor candidate Lisa Chesters would result in deaths at sea if they became policy. Mr Morrison held a fundraising lunch for Liberal candidate Greg Bickley in Bendigo yesterday. Talking to Bendigo IPTV, Mr Morris..

Shadow Treasurer Joe Hockey visited Bendigo this week, spruiking the Liberal Party’s anti-carbon tax message. Mr Hockey said Bendigo businesses would be helped by the scrapping of the carbon tax and mining tax, if the Opposition was elected on September 14. Mr Hockey and Bendigo L..

By ANTHONY RADFORD BENDIGO looks set to become a marginal seat at September’s federal election, despite a swing back to Labor in the latest polls. An analysis of recent national polls has given the Liberal Party a chance of wresting the seat of Bendigo from Labor. Facing a 9.4 per cen..

King Kong is a theatrical production of colliding creativity; majestic puppetry and a dismissible storyline. Weighing over one tonne, King Kong, is the creative vision of developers, Global Creatures, defying the rules of puppetry. Armed with 10 on-stage puppeteers and 15 industrial serv..

THE not-so-secret Something for Kate guerilla gig drew a solid mix of fans and media into the Bendigo Centre on Wednesday. Something for Kate performed in the dry, competing with the sound of the city and the rain. The four-piece played five tracks with snare, acoustic bass and guitar and the ci..

Sarah Blasko is playing the Capital, Bendigo on July 31. After spending time in Paris, supporting the release of her album and performing throughout Europe, she has returned to Australia for the tour. Accompanied by her long time band, Sarah will travel to regional Australia. She will also b..

THE Golden Vine plays host to special fundraiser on Saturday. The event has been arranged for a woman who received an injury, which will require a lengthy and expensive recovery and medical equipment. The event, A Break for Kate, will be held at The Golden Vine Hotel, from 12.30pm to 11pm..

Wolfmother made the trip to Bendigo last Friday to play the Golden Vine ..

Foster and Allen are returning to Bendigo next month Mick Foster and Tony Allen have been performing together for more than 30 years, and this will be their 17th trip to Australia. They have been performing their blend of easy listening and folk music all over the world and their record sa..

It has been a long road back from injury for Bendigo Braves star Renae Camino, and following her WNBL championship with Bendigo Spirit, the 26-year old has been selected to again represent her country. \An emerging star in the WNBL early in her career, Camino collected WNBL Rookie of the Yea..

The AFL Central Victorian Football Commission has today announced its replacement for former Bendigo Football Netball League CEO Steven Oliver, appointing Justin Abrams to the newly-formed role of Regional Operations Manager. Abrams has a strong background in sports marketing and communicati..

One of Central Victoria's most talented junior basketballers has signed for the Bendigo Spirit. Point guard Tessa Lavey comes to the Spirit from WNBL side the Canberra Capitals. Born in Swan Hill, Lavey played in the Bendigo Basketball Association while attending Catholic College Bendigo..

Eaglehawk’s iconic Canterbury Park precinct is set to be the big winner in the City of Greater Bendigo’s proposed 2013/14 budget, with $3.5 million being spent on a redevelopment of the facility. The historic oval is set to become a major sporting hub, with almost $2.6 million expe..

Breast cancer awareness is a cause close to Bendigo Braves guard Jazz Ferguson’s heart, and the star import will have some extra motivation on his side this weekend when the SEABL holds its inaugural Pink Ribbon Round. Ferguson’s mother is currently fighting the disease, and the SEA..

Four current Bendigo Spirit players and a former championship winning star are amongst a squad of 34 of Australia's best female basketballers heading to next week's Australian Opals and Emerging Opals camp in Canberra. Bendigo's newly-signed forward Elyse Penaluna, Gabrielle Richards, shooti..

CUB Scout Maxine Campbell has reached a high in the organisation. This month she was awarded her Grey Wolf Badge, the highest reward possible. The 10-year-old has previously earned her bronze, silver and gold boomerang badges, but the Wolf Badge tops the lot. The 1st Maiden Gully Cub Scouts ha..

WITH the message “Stop, Revive, Survive”, the SES is aiming to cut the holiday road toll. SES Marong, along with the local Lions Club, are operating driver reviver again for the Queen’s Birthday weekend at the Marong unit, 16 Calder Alternative Highway Marong. All the tea and ..

The Heathcote Wine Region is renowned as one of the best Shiraz growing regions in Australia. As well as premium Australian Shiraz, the famous ancient red Cambrian soils of Heathcote produce outstanding examples of sangiovese, tempranillo, petit verdot, cabernet sauvignon, merlot and in white wine..

By VICKI HARRINGTON About 2200 people gathered at Strathdale Park on Mother’s Day to help raise funds for breast cancer research. The event was part of the Women in Super Mother’s Day Classic, a national event held across 74 locations around Australia. The amount of money rais..

Organisers are thrilled with the turnout for yesterday's 2013 Bendigo Mother's Day Classic. A record 2,000 people took part, many of them dressed in their best pink outfits. Committee member and major sponsor, Fernwood franchisee, Ben Cook said, "It is pleasing to see so many people tak..

By Vicki Harrington Fun runs and walks are renowned for raising incredible amounts of funds for various charities, but the benefits can reach much further. At the beginning of this year, Courtney Jones made a conscious decision to change her life. “I set a goal in January to do anything ..

The newly-appointed members of the Bendigo Airport Advisory Committee are calling on local candidates to pledge their support for the new $15 million, 1,600-metre long, 30-metre wide runway development in the lead up to the September federal election. Greater Bendigo council recently appoin..

Greater Bendigo council has delivered a responsible draft budget that balances the need for growth against the need for efficiency. The budget includes a six per cent rates rise, $59.9million of capital works, $15.3m for drainage and the cutting in half of the municipal charge. Here is every..

Bendigo’s new $1.5 million state-of-the-art aviation facility was officially opened today with the new MyJet headquarters to secure jobs and stimulate further investment at Bendigo Airport. Premier and Minister for Regional Cities Denis Napthine joined MyJet Managing Director Chris Ric..

“TODAY is day zero.” With those words, Health Minister David Davis begins the biggest construction project in Bendigo’s history. Mr Davis announced this morning that the State Government has officially signed the contracts with the Exemplar Consortium, including developers Lend..

Next Thursday a Weeroona College Bendigo student will switch places with the principal for a day. Students from all over Australia are being given the chance to take on the top job at their school – for a day – as part of a campaign to raise the profile and appreciation of school leade..

TWO of the best-known names in Bendigo real estate are making a welcome return to the industry. Four years after “retiring” Keith Sutherland and wife Karen are stepping back into the bling. With a combined experience of 50 years in the industry, the couple are starting up Sutherland ..

How often do you enjoy an extended meal with family and friends? In the spirit of a very slow and traditional Italian feast, Castlemaine’s Public INN will host the second annual Lungo Pranzo, literally, long lunch on Sunday, June 30 from noon. Event creator, restaurant owner and father of ..

Fresh fish. We know it is good for us, and we happily order it at restaurants, but how often do we actually cook our own from scratch? Many cooks are reluctant or scared to cook fresh fish at home. Excuses range from the smell, the price, the bones, too many varieties to choose from, it has a hea..

The Bendigo community’s love affair with food is about to extend to the younger members with a local cooking competition currently being filmed and set to air on Bendigo IPTV in July. The competition is funded by School Focussed Youth Service, a Department of Education and Early Childhood De..

Several Atlantic Giant pumpkins have been awaiting their fate in the front window of Bush’s Produce Store in Williamson Street since being entered in Bendigo’s Biggest Pumpkin Competition back in April. Held in conjunction with the Bendigo All Breed’s Goat and Chrysanthemum Show,..

Growing competition-worthy giant pumpkins is becoming a lucrative affair, if you can withstand the fickle nature of the hobby. If you can grow a vegetable garden, you have the skill to grow a prize-winning pumpkin. With the right preparation and strategy and a bit of good luck, next year you migh..

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it’s called a Kitap ve Oyuncak Kumbarasi. Turkey has installed in various town squares what looks like a giant piggy bank, for books and toys (which is the rough translation of the Kumbarasi). They look like the giant collection bins, the kind you see outside op-shops, often with rubbish ..

By Rosemary Sorensen One of Australia’s most admired actors will take part in this year’s Bendigo Writers Festival. Lisa McCune will be joined by producer and director Gus Howard, and children’s book author Christine Harris, for a session about turning a book into film. Ms Mc..

The Promise The Town That Never Forgets Derek Guille One Day Hill, $24.99 In the small French town of Villers-Bretonneux in 1918, after two terrible battles, the Australian Imperial Force finally defeated the Germans. But the price they paid was terrible – more than 1200 ..

Ur ananthamurthy, Aharon Appelfeld, Lydia Davis, Intizar Husain, Yan Lianke – these are not household names, but maybe they should be. Since it was added to the Man Booker, the Man Booker International Prize has sort of taken over from the Nobel Prize for Literature by winkling out writers w..

Bendigo Writers Festival website is now live, with the very first information about what’s on the program, August 9-11. Bendigo Weekly, in collaboration with The Capital, is running an earlybird registration incentive: sign up for the update email and you will get first information about ti..

Local poet and community radio show host James WF Roberts hopes to be off to Ireland in August, to attend a Poetry Festival in county Cork. He says the invitation to attend the Fermoy festival is “luck and sheer determination”. Over the past six years, he has worked tirelessly at Ph..