Local News

THE demolition of one of the retail buildings on High Street will open the way for the next step in the ambitious plans for a faith museum in front of the Sacred Heart Cathedral. Bendigo Yamaha owner Kurt Nevinson said the business will shift to new premises in Bridge Street at the end of July..

GREATER Bendigo council is facing a backlog of almost 30 years on its roads-related infrastructure. Council has identified about 2500 “civil infrastructure” projects that need fixing, worth about $450 million. It spends about $16 million on such projects each year, which includ..

IF you think the Great Stupa has grown a bit, you’d be right. A 25 metre light tower has been placed on the top of the structure in Myers Flat to represent the finished height of the construction. The lights will be turned on by a guest of honour at the Festival of Light on May 25. The ..

BENDIGO students and academics rallied against planned Federal Government cuts to university funding at La Trobe’s Flora Hill campus this week. The Bendigo Student Association and National Tertiary Education Union organised the rally the day the federal budget was handed down to drive home t..

The bats are back, in increased numbers, but there’s no need to run for cover. The colony of grey-headed flying foxes in Rosalind Park, which have populated the fernery for several years in fluctuating numbers, has increased again, densely packing the treetops. Concerns that the numbers w..

SHARON Smith is not afraid to try new things, because for her, life is precious. The Runnymede local was diagnosed with breast cancer almost six months ago, on her 62nd birthday. She credits her family, including husband of 35 years, Kevin, her three adult children, and her pet dogs and the chic..

BENDIGO Health recognised its volunteers this week as part of National Volunteers Week. Chairman Michael Langdon and chief executive officer John Mulder presented awards for long-time services to the volunteers which, when combined, totalled more than 450 years Two teams of Bendigo Health volunt..

Bendigo Health celebrated International Nurses Day last weekend by gifting all nurses to a lapel pin and chocolate in recognition of the wonderful work they do. Bendigo Health chief nursing officer Peter Faulkner said the day was an annual world-wide celebration of nursing – a time to acknow..

Eaglehawk UFS Dispensary has used National Volunteer’s week as an opportunity to recognise the strength of community volunteers As part of the promotion residents were invited to submit nominations for community awards, with three to be selected. On Wednesday the winners were announced, an..

By STEVE KENDALL DO you want to know the parentage of your pet? Well, you can find out about your prize pooch’s canine clan at one of Australia’s favourite dog events, the RSPCA Million Paws Walk on Sunday at Lake Weeroona. In a new initiative Passionate Vetcare on Eaglehawk Roa..

THE Pennyweight Walk Open Air Gallery has a new look with the launch of this year’s offering. The walkway links Hargreaves Street and Bath Lane, and houses a temporary display of artworks on large ply boards. Greater Bendigo council’s arts and culture co-ordinator Maree Tonkin said ..

By Rosemary Sorensen Management structure at La Trobe University Bendigo will be reviewed as the campus sets about finding a replacement for its director. Andrew Skewes resigned this week, “to purse other opportunities outside the university”. The popular campus director had been o..

By Rosemary Sorensen Ambulance callouts for people affected by drugs or alcohol are proportionally lower in regional areas such as Bendigo than in Melbourne, except in cases involving cannabis. Figures just released by Turning Point Alcohol and Drug Centre list 402 ambulance attendances in Great..

The mission to turn one of Bendigo’s most infamous, historic buildings – the Bendigo Gaol – into a unique community theatre is finally being realised with the successful construction tenderer announced today. The new $25.8 million community theatre project contract has ..

La Trobe University Bendigo has lost its campus director, with the resignation announced today of Andrew Skewes. Staff were notified today that Mr Skewes, who was on extended leave, has resigned “to pursue other opportunities outside the university”. “Andrew has provided ..

A proposal to develop a 600-lot housing estate in Strathfieldsaye got the green light from Greater Bendigo council this week. “Developments like this are necessary to meet not only the city’s current housing needs but those to be faced in years to come,” council Planning and ..

AT about six o’clock on Tuesday evening, the deal was finally done. “They needed to save face,” said Paul Banks, the man whose bid for $2.12 million was accepted after some hearty negotiation with the Department of Defence this week. “We were deeply disappointed whe..

Roofs lifted, walls collapsed, debris flew though the air as shocked Bendigonians huddled in fear of their lives. And amazingly, people emerged safe when a tornado cut a swathe across the suburbs on May 18, 10 years ago. “That was fortunate, considering some of the damage it cause..

AN alliance of community groups has begun planning to commemorate 100 years since of one of Bendigo’s worst mine disasters. Seven miners were killed on May 2, 1914 in an underground explosion at the Great Extended Hustlers mine. The mine was in what is now Hustlers Reef Reserve, close to t..

Rhonda Bonham has devised a great way of combining pampering and raising money for breast cancer research. She is currently giving away Mother’s Day pamper cards which are available from the Kangaroo Flat Hotel. If you present Rhonda with one of her cards she will give you a relaxing faci..