State News

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..

Greater Bendigo council’s reputation is under fire, as controversial actions by councillors and surprise proposals for budget cuts take their toll. Cr Elise Chapman’s Fortuna hunger strike and disability controversy, Cr Helen Leach’s published complaint about celebrations for g..

Bendigo licensees are calling on the State Government to reverse a decision to send the local Liquor Inspector back to Melbourne. "Once they go into Melbourne, they will have to argue the case to come out to Bendigo," licensee of the Cambrian Hotel Julie Gardiner said. "With a local comp..

By JOEL PETERSON About 200 of Australia’s best lawn bowlers will descend on Bendigo this weekend, to contest the time-honoured Australian Sides Championship and Super Six tournaments. Held from April 29 to May 2 at the Bendigo Bowls Club, the Sides Championship includes 12 of each state an..

THE Bendigo Weekly has joined a group of independent regional Victorian-based newspapers to create its own powerful network with a combined readership of more than 350,000 people. Known as VicFree, the network represents the largest circulating and most-read newspaper in each paper’s respect..

Bendigo's house prices have continued to skyrocket, despite a slowdown in the rest of the state. The latest Victorian Valuer General’s report shows a median house price increase of between 25 and 30 per cent in some Bendigo suburbs for the year to the end of September, 2012. Quarry..

A new report has called for an immediate stop to the practice of sending graduate doctors from overseas to rural areas. Bob Birrell at the Centre for Population and Urban Research this week challenged the “mindset” that there is a shortage of GPs in non-metropolitan Australia. ..

A report on health risks for firefighters has identified a growing rift between professionals and volunteers. “The primary problem identified is that volunteers don’t turn out,” the authors of the report prepared for the Victorian Branch of the United Firefighters Union said..

By Rosemary Sorensen What audiences want from an art gallery and how to deliver it, will be discussed at a symposium in Bendigo next week. National Gallery of Victoria director Tony Ellwood is returning to Bendigo to take part in the symposium, which is a preview event for the Castlemaine State ..

The after-hours mental health crisis outreach service has had a last-minute reprieve, as part of the reversal of the cuts to Bendigo Health’s operating budget, announced this week. The service was due to be reduced at the beginning of March, accounting for $100,000 of the $2.9 million ..

By Rosemary Sorensen A frustrating search and rescue mission on Lake Eppalock last weekend has opened the way for talks between the volunteer Coast Guard and the Water Police. “There’s a bit of conflict,” Coast Guard Lake Eppalock public relations officer Lucy Ritchens said. ..

Health Minister David Davis called a last-minute press conference in Bendigo today after being chastised for originally not planning to do so. Mr Davis met with health officials in Bendigo this morning, but was not intending to hold a press conference. Labor MPs Jacinta Allan and Maree E..

A $225,000 State Government grant will help a wide range of refugees build better, more productive lives in Bendigo. The grant will go to Bendigo Community Health Services to run a Refugee Action Program in Bendigo. Nationals Member for Northern Victoria Damian Drum said BCHS had put ..

Member for Bendigo East Jacinta Allan has labelled Health Minister David Davis "desperate" for trying to shift blame for any delays to the $630 million Bendigo hospital redevelopment, and accused the State government of holding the project to ransom. Mr Davis told the Bendigo Weekly Australi..

Friday has been declared a Total Fire ban for the entire state. Bendigo is facing a very hot start to the new year, with temperatures expecting to nudge 40 degrees for six days in a row from Thursday. The Bureau of Meteorology is tipping the mercury to hit 40 on Friday and 38 on Satur..

Victoria Police and Crime Stoppers are asking Victorians to be the eyes and ears of the community and help stop bushfire arson this summer. Crimestoppers Assistant Commissioner Steve Fontana said up to half of all bushfires are found to be deliberately lit with more than 3000 offences record..

Community health workers hope the government will reconsider a decision to abolish a young people’s youth suicide prevention program. “The government has put out a statement they are reviewing this,” Bendigo Community Health CEO Kim Sykes said. “It’s now mo..

Even before the launch this week, Castlemaine State Festival has booked out the 1200 or so beds available in town for tourists. So director Martin Patel hopes Bendigo will get on board, and promote itself as the place to stay during the ten-day festival in March. "We have launched much e..

Banksia debenture holders caught up in the failure of the non-bank lender will receive between 50 and 65 cents in the dollar. Receiver Tony McGrath from McGrathNicol announced today (Friday) that first payments of 20 cents in the dollar on investments have been distributed. He also relea..

A medical school will be set up in Bendigo, as part of La Trobe University's plans to make the city Australia's leading regional education centre. "Logically at some point, Bendigo will have its own medical school," Vice Chancellor John Dewar said today. "We have great plans ..