News Muncher - searching for wimmera

1 month, 1 week ago

Victorian fires destroy property and threaten lives at Great Ocean Road, Otway Ranges and Wimmera region

ABC

At least one home has been lost to a bushfire threatening communities in Victoria's Wimmera region, as firefighters battle to contain a separate Otway Ranges blaze threatening the Great Ocean Road. Victoria's Country Fire Authority said on Sunday that a total fire ban remained in place for Wimmera, with strong wind gusts of up to 70 kilometres per hour expected …

Ocean Road Near Area Victoria Supplied Victorian

2 months, 1 week ago

Storm brings large hail, torrential rain to Victoria's west as extreme weather forecast for south-east Australia

ABC

A wild storm brought large hail, torrential rain and strong winds as it wreaked havoc in Victoria's west overnight. "We've got one guy here who's pretty much lost everything, so we've given him a room at the pub for as long as he needs it." 'Absolute flogging' Farmer Russell Heard said his property at Wonwondah, 20 kilometres south of Horsham, …

Storm Rain Victoria Hail Large Hail Russell Heard Casterton

2 months, 2 weeks ago

Farmer's sanctuary helps protect critically endangered plains-wanderer

ABC

It was 10 years ago that George Cullinan first noticed an odd-looking bird on his farm in the Victorian Mallee. Sadly, Mr Cullinan died three weeks ago, aged 98, but not before he created a lasting legacy that echoes out across the Mallee's Birchip plains as birdsong. "There'd be more than one bird there for that many calls," said Birchip …

Birds Bird George Cullinan Brian Lea Birchip Rebekah Lowe

3 months, 2 weeks ago

Warnings over increased bushfire risk as Australia records warmest August on record

ABC

As chaotic weather wreaks havoc across Tasmania and Victoria, there are warnings over a heightened threat of bushfires in the coming months in other parts of the country. Queensland, Victoria, South Australia and the Northern Territory face an increased risk of bushfires this spring after "unusually high" maximum temperatures were recorded around the country. The official seasonal bushfire outlook shows …

Risk Season Victoria Queensland Bushfire Records Warmest

7 months, 4 weeks ago

Childcare centre closure due to staff and funding shortages puts Hopetoun parents in limbo

ABC

In short: Staff shortages have forced the closure of Hopetoun's only childcare centre, leaving multiple families without a long daycare service. Staff shortages have forced the closure of Hopetoun's only childcare centre, leaving multiple families without a long daycare service. By Five executive officer Jo Martin said the long day care centres rely on government funding as it is not …

Childcare Children Work Closure Care Long Centre

9 months, 3 weeks ago

Fire crews contain bushfire which threatened communities south of Ballarat

ABC

In short: A grassfire is threatening communities south of Ballarat, while extreme fire conditions threaten Victorians. For the latest warnings, visit the ABC Emergency website Beaufort resident Len Green spent most of Wednesday preparing for the worst, as bushfires continued to threaten communities in Victoria's west. "The sprinklers that are on the shed … I saw them at a fire …

Abc Danielle Bonica Contain Ballarat Len Green Containment Lines Beaufort

1 year, 7 months ago

Underperforming state schools deterring professionals from moving to regional Victoria

ABC

Despite the growing trend of urbanites relocating to regional areas, metropolitan-based Shane Wright is one of many professionals hesitant to move to one regional city due to concerns about the quality of education. Key points: Mildura is struggling to attract workers across a range of industries A local hiring agent says quality of education is a big issue for professionals …

Education Children Rural Areas Schools State Wright Melbourne

2 years, 1 month ago

Thunderstorm asthma warnings issued for northern and north central Victoria as wet weather predicted

ABC

Authorities are warning there is a high risk of thunderstorm asthma in northern Victoria on Sunday. Key points: Parts of Victoria are expecting extreme pollen levels on Sunday Thunderstorm asthma can affect hayfever sufferers and asthmatics Authorities are warning those at risk to stay inside if a storm arrives The Department of Health said the greatest risk was in the …

North Victoria Count Thunderstorm Asthma Pollen Thunderstorm Asthma

2 years, 2 months ago

Long-awaited Orange Door arrives to the Wimmera to help tackle family violence

ABC

After years of campaigning, a centre to help families in crisis has arrived in a regional city where family violence is ranked as the most reported crime. Key points: An intake service for people experiencing family violence has opened in Horsham Family violence is the most reported crime in Horsham The centre is receiving more walk-in cases than most rural …

Family Violence Family Violence Help Orange Ms Johnson Horsham

2 years, 5 months ago

Vic election 2022: Opposition makes bid for ultra-marginal regional seat with $30m promise

ABC

The opposition will deliver $30 million towards stage one of the redevelopment of a hospital in north central Victoria if it wins the upcoming state election. Key points: Victoria's opposition has made its first election promise in a hotly contested regional seat, ahead of the November state election Matthew Guy will visit St Arnaud today to commit to the $30 …

Labor Hospital Ripon Victoria Guy Vic Arnaud

2 years, 9 months ago

What Victorian border residents want their SA cousins to think of at this election

ABC

Many people became familiar with working from home during the pandemic, but it was a different story for Brian and Tanya Dixon. Across two years, cross-border residents such as the Dixons dealt with weekly nasal swabs at border road checkpoints, saw their business turnover fall as highway traffic dried up, and couldn't visit nearby family as the "bubble" in which …

Border Fuel South Residents Victoria Australian Dixon

2 years, 10 months ago

Second man charged over Dimboola IGA ram raid

ABC

Police have charged two Melbourne men over a ram raid on the only supermarket in a small Victorian town last year. Key points: Police allege a stolen car that was later destroyed by fire was used in the raid Two men are in custody after being charged over the crime Police say they are still investigating the matter Early on …

Iga

2 years, 11 months ago

Federation University unveils campus vision for Ballarat and the Wimmera

ABC

Federation University has announced major changes to its campuses in Ballarat, Ararat and the Wimmera in a bid to secure its future. Key points: Federation University announces a new campus vision across its Victorian sites The university says the campus changes will allow it to better connect students and industry In November, Federation University invited staff to apply for voluntary …

Federation Students University Campus Bentley Ballarat Federation University

2 years, 11 months ago

Poolaijelo farming community on Victoria-SA border counts cost of New Year grassfire

ABC

Farmers in a Victorian border district have begun clearing the damage from a 7,000-hectare fire that wiped out thousands of livestock and destroyed farm infrastructure. Key points: The fire began in SA and crossed into Victoria, burning more than 7,330 hectares Thousands of livestock perished or have been destroyed The fire also burnt into state forest that's home to the …

Damage New Year Victoria Supplied Ms Scott State Forest Poolaijelo

3 years ago

North-west Victorian residents face spending Christmas alone after COVID exposures

ABC

Christmas visits and gatherings are likely to be cancelled for residents of two Wimmera aged care facilities, after a specialist who visited them early this week later tested positive for COVID-19. Key points: Horsham's health service says there is no risk of outside exposure, after a doctor who visited an aged care facility in town later tested positive The scare …

Care Facilities Covid Health Service Robinvale Spending Christmas Victorian Residents

3 years, 1 month ago

Storm-studded rain trough is bringing steady falls to central and eastern Australia

ABC

Flash flooding alerts have been issued in Victoria as tropical moisture streaming south across the continent delivers steady rain to much of Australia, with the soggy conditions tipped to stick around. Key points: Widespread rainfall is expected over central and eastern Australia over the coming days Severe storms are forecast but they are not expected to be as extreme as …

Australia South Western Victoria New South Wales Ms Findlay Tickner Steady Rain

3 years, 2 months ago

Health services in western Victoria could be overhauled. Will the plan deliver better services?

ABC

A health policy expert says a massive shake-up of western Victoria's hospital system will benefit the region, but only if the government makes certain iron-clad commitments. Wimmera Base Hospital currently offers 80 different health services, including several surgeries and obstetrics services which Mr Campbell says should not be outsourced. Ballarat Health Services chair Natalie Reiter says she has in writing …

Health Services Hospitals Health Services Hospital Plan Campbell

3 years, 6 months ago

Queen's Birthday honours for Wimmera recognise dedication of award recipients

ABC

From firefighting to healthcare, notable citizens from across the Wimmera have been recognised for this Queen's Birthday holiday. "I think the thing with this region and other regions in the state is that you've really got the opportunity to change things and to introduce new services, and so we've done that on a number of occasions, very much to the …

Queen Ms White Cfa Wimmera Dr Wolff Mr Solly Claire White

3 years, 7 months ago

North Victorian hospitals, government 'categorically deny' merger claims

ABC

The State Government has accused Victorian Nationals leader Peter Walsh of "scaremongering" for suggesting that it is encouraging regional hospitals to amalgamate. Mr Walsh said the State Government was planning to merge health services in regional areas under plans outlined in the Statewide design, service and infrastructure plan for Victoria’s health system 2017-2037, released in 2017. The plan suggests moving …

Health Services Local Care Health Services Plan Merger

3 years, 9 months ago

A tornado ripped through Josh's house and he's lucky to have landed another in a housing crunch

ABC

Of all the things that could highlight how critical the shortage of housing is in the Wimmera, a tornado is possibly the least subtle. Key points: A Horsham family had their lives uprooted when a tornado ripped through the city's north in December The family have somewhere new to live, though it is much more expensive A local agent says …

Housing Property House Wilson Victoria Rental Mr Wilson

3 years, 10 months ago

Older women turn to caravans and share-housing as they face homelessness in regional Victoria

ABC

Starting over in the housing market and sharing a rental with messy flatmates, is not what Vera* expected from life as she approach 60, but she reflects a growing housing problem in regional Victoria. Key points: Single women over 45 in the Wimmera and Mallee have lost employment due to COVID-19, forcing them into temporary accommodation Additionally, housing waiting lists …

Women Housing Homelessness Older Victoria Photo Older Women