Homicide Squad detectives have charged a 30-year-old man following the death of two men in Natte Yallock last Thursday. Ross Streeter was charged with two counts of murder and faced an out of sessions hearing n Monday night. He was remanded into custody and will appear at the Melbourne..

Bendigo will need more than twice the amount of existing aged care beds over the next 20 years to cope with population growth, according to a new report. New research released by Regional Cities Victoria shows Bendigo’s population could rise by as much as 50,000 by 2031, to almost 155,..

The new $30 million Kangaroo Flat indoor pool has emerged as Bendigo’s number one federal election priority. While it is not expected to be built for another five years, Greater Bendigo council will later this month place the start-of-the-art complex atop its federal and state elections wi..

Bendigo is sitting on a new kind of goldmine which is being ignored by the State Government’s environmental agency, according to the company disputing the plans to clean up Liddell’s toxic sands at West Bendigo. “The total estimated cost to entomb the Liddell’s mater..

Campaigners are still hoping for an 11th-hour reprieve for Fortuna Villa, despite the historic mansion going to auction next month. “The auction (set for April 12) was always expected, and it’s now been nominated a bit earlier than we thought but all it means is we have to work a bit..

By Rosemary Sorensen Seniors Rights Victoria have called for a stronger voice for older people, following the release of data showing the demand for aged-care beds will double in the next 20 years. “We stereotype older people, and older people themselves tend to look on their needs..

A report detailing the Victorian Government’s progress and plans to implement all 67 Bushfires Royal Commission recommendations has been tabled in State Parliament. Deputy Premier and Minister for Bushfire Response Peter Ryan said the Bushfires Implementation Plan outlined the e..

The state government is hailing the $5 million Rail Freight Support Package, which will continue in 2011/12, as a big win for rural residents. Public Transport Minister Terry Mulder said residents would see fewer large trucks on single lane each-way roads such as parts of the Calder, Goulbu..

Four months after the biggest floods in almost a century, the state government is urgng Victorians to learn more about protecting themselves against the threat of future floods as part of FloodSafe Week, organised by the Victorian State Emergency Service’s (SES). Deputy Premier ..

A Former Bendigo resident has been honoured as part of this year's Victorian manufacturing awards. Jayco-founder Gerry Ryan OAM was recognised for his outstanding contribution to the state’s manufacturing sector, when he was named as a new member to the Honour Roll for the Victorian M..

An influential group of Victoria’s 10-largest regional councils has joined Minister for Regional Australia and Regional Development Simon Crean in challenging the key findings of the Grattan Institute report - Investing in regions: Making a Difference – which claims only the “b..

HOUSING affordability in regional Victoria deteriorated by almost 2.4 per cent in the three months’ to March 2011, according to the latest Housing Industry Association data. Nationally, a slight easing in dwelling prices contributed to improvements in housing affordability, the HIA sai..

Every musician dreams of that big moment. And when fate stepped in for Genevieve Chadwick, she was at the bar. The feisty blues performer enjoyed the most public of call ups when Ash Grunwald demanded she join him on stage at the Sydney Blues Festival late last year. “I was w..

THE GIG GUIDE Friday, February 3 OLD HEPBURN HOTEL Tripodium from 9pm. GOLDMINES HOTEL Kristy Cox album launch from 8pm. $15 NEWMARKET HOTEL Armed Korean, Aimee V and Bridget Keena from 9pm. $5 ..

With the Big Day Out juggernaut rolling around the country, The Beautiful Girls’ Mat McHugh addresses an age old dilemma: when are you officially too old for a BDO? “Sometimes I’ve been to festivals and seen people who must be close to 70,” he says. “I think..

Fancy yourself as a bit of a funny bugger? Then the 2012 Class Clowns Competition could be your ticket to tickling ribs. Bendigo teenagers in Years 9 12, or between the ages of 14 and 18, who like to be the centre of attention, can enter the nation-wide search for Australia’s funniest ..

Courtney Conway has a few little things on her mind, and some big things too. With a debut album in the works, and an April marriage to organise, it’s all happening for Bendigo's emerging country music star. But it was on a recent car trip to Tamworth for the 40th anniversary of th..

Bluegrass maestros The Davidson Brothers can now be mentioned in the same breath as legends Keith Urban and Tommy Emmanuel. The Bendigo boys of Hamish and Lachy won their third Golden Guitar at the Tamworth Music Festival recently, equally the records of both Urban and Emmanuel in the album ..

All three grades make the footy finals, netballers in there, too By JOEL PETERSON Saturday will be a historic day for the Strathfieldsaye Storm Football Netball Club. When the under-18 side runs out on to the hallowed Queen Elizabeth Oval turf at 2pm, they will be the first Strathfieldsaye f..

BENDIGO has added another jewel to its cycling crown, with the city to host the 2012 Victorian Open Road championships. In an official announcement at the Town Hall this afternoon, it was revealed the prestigious state titles would be decided at the Bendigo Grand Prix, from November 9 to 11...

The going was tough yesterday at Coburg City Oval. When play started in the Victorian Women's Football League north-west division grand final, and the going was at its toughest, the Bendigo Thunder got going. The Thunder met La Trobe University in their first ever g..

The two top sides in the Bendigo Football Netball League fought out a draw today at My Jet Oval. Big things were expected from the clash between Gisborne and Golden Square, first and second respectively on the BFNL table, and both sides delivered. Played at Golden Square's home ground &..

By JOEL PETERSON On April 3, 2011, the Bendigo Thunder hosted La Trobe University at Dower Park in its first ever match in the Victorian Women’s Football League North West Conference. The Thunder lost that game by four points, and it came as a surprise to most that the fledgling team ca..

By JOEL PETERSON Crusoe College student Jayden Cowling will represent Australia in test-series netball Kangaroo Flat 16-year-old Jayden Cowling will be at the forefront of Australia’s netball rivalry with New Zealand in October, when he represents his country in a test series ag..

WHAT happened at Monday night’s City of Greater Bendigo council meeting was a crisis on, just like the controversial project it was debating, many levels. Firstly, and obviously, internally. Eaglehawk Ward councillor Peter Cox’s decision to walk out of the meeting before a vote o..

THE State Government has confirmed what Bendigo preschools have been warning for months – there will not be enough places for four-year-olds within two years if a reform to increase the hours of attendance begins in 2013. The Federal Government wants to increase the hours of preschool..

IN the years after the Goldrush, Bendigo was a terrible place to live. Central Victoria, and the entire state, could not cope with the large population growth. There were obvious infrastructure shortfalls, such as housing, health, water, sewerage and services. However, there was also major soc..

LABOR Senator and Small Business Minister Nick Sherry has had a week he’d probably rather forget following his extraordinary gaffe about the number of small bookshops that would exist in Australia in five years time. In case you missed it, Senator Sherry reckons there will be none. And he&rs..

As a region, we have a proud history of successful innovation. From Gillies Pies to the Sunshine Harvester. In time, hopefully we can add the Bendigo Chill Out Space to that list of great ideas. The BCOS has been in operation since late last year, but on Saturday night, the Bendigo Weekly thr..

‘’I’d rather go broke than see cattle treated that way.’’ Ten simple words from one northern Australian farmer entangled in one of the biggest scandals to envelop Australian agriculture for years. As I drove home from work the other night listening to the radio, I c..

A biography of the couple who designed Canberra has won the $20,000 National Biography Award. Grand Obsessions: The life and work of Walter Burley Griffin and Marion Mahony Griffin by Alasdair McGregor, took out the prize from a huge field of 58 entries, at the State Library of New South Wales ..

Weekly Top Ten May 13 1. Dead Reckoning Bk11 Sookie Stackhouse by Charlaine Harris 2. Caleb's Crossing by Geraldine Brooks 3. Sing You Home by Jodi Picoult 4. Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen 5. Sixth Man by David Baldacci 6. CSIRO & Baker IDID Diabetes Diet and Life..

Other People’s Money Justin Cartwright Bloomsbury, $32.99 Why a new novel by Justin Cartwright is not heralded with the same fanfare as happens when Martin Amis or Joanna Trollope, say, release a new one is puzzling. His books are funny, sharp, incredibly entertaining and ruthlessl..

The unauthorised biography of James Packer, Who Wants to be a Billionaire?, by journalist Paul Barry, has won the $30,000 Blake Dawson Business Literature prize. The book details, in particular, the life of James Packer following the death of his father Kerry. The judges called it "lively and v..

Top Ten Dead Reckoning Bk11 Sookie Stackhouse by Charlaine Harris Caleb’s Crossing by Geraldine Brooks Sing You Home by Jodi Picoult Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen Land of Painted Caves Bk6 Earth’s Children by Jean M Auel Happiest Refugee by Anh Do Jamie&rs..

Cupcake Author / Illustrator: Charise Mericle Harper Disney / Hyperion (Scholastic Australia), $24.99 Suggested Readership: 4 – 6 years The shaping of self-concept is presented with heart by Charise Mericle in her book, Cupcake - A Journey to Special. A new ..