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Local
News
covering
the towns of Warrnambool, Port Fairy, Port Campbell, Apollo Bay,
Robe, Halls Gap, Lorne and Torquay
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| Trouble
in Port Campbell |
January 12 - Tempers flared
in the coastal village of Port Campbell as a number of local
and visiting surfers clashed on Port Campbell's beach last Sunday.
A groups of about 30 people were involved in a brawl on the
beach which required the attendance of police from four towns
to control.
The problems date back several years and have included a number
of incidents where local surfers tried to restrict access to
beaches they considered their own territory. The most publicised
was an unsuccessful media and commercial ban on the beach at
Two Mile Bay in order to retain it as a "locals only"
surfing spot. The ban was rejected but the attitude of |
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| local surfers has
remained antagonistic towards anyone who sets foot on their
turf. Long time local residents have been aware that threats
of violence and property damage are a common means to deter
non local surfers from visiting certain surfing spots but the
latest episode seems to have gone one step further and involves
the main beach at Port Campbell. A local resident ( who did
not want to be named ) believes that the behavior of the local
surfers is modeled on the notorious BRA Boys in Sydney and is
damaging Port Campbell's reputation as a safe holiday destination
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| Summer
Fun takes a dive |
January 10 - After only a few
weeks since local Panmure residents won their fight to retain
the diving board at the local swimming hole, the diving board
has been broken in mysterious circumstances.
The Moyne shire , who originally wanted the diving board removed,
are citing dangerous misuse as the reason for the failure, however
locals are not so certain that this is the real reason.
In a statement that would be worthy of George W Bush, acting
CEO of the Moyne shire Greg Anders has stated the "The
board has been removed and can't be used until the replacement
is in place" Local residents have been advised that the
diving board is due for |
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| replacement by mid
June but hope that something might be done sooner. The swimming
hole at Panmure is a billabong in the Mt Emu creek and has been
used by locals for as long as there has been a settlement (
over 150 years) and the diving board has been there for well
over 30 years. |
| Warrnambool
Co-Op to close |
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December 12 - The administration firm of Ferrier Hodgson made
the decision, late last week to close the Warrnambool Co-Op.
The decision by the administrators follows weeks
of negotiating with prospective buyers to take over the ailing
business. In the end there was no one willing to risk money
on the venture and the administrators were left with no alternative
than to close the business.
The alarm bells were sounded in 2004 when long serving director
and lecturer in accounting at Deakin University, Ian Symons
wrote a three page document to all of the board warning of
the perilous state of affairs and urging that the chairman
of the board, Shirley Harlock stand aside. Mr Symons went
on to say in the report "that someone must be seen as
accountable for our current parlous state"
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Mr Symons report followed the Co-Ops first ever trading loss
of $385,534, which in today's terms is insignificant compared
to the $5 million plus figure which has accumulated in the
three years since the report was issued.
The decision to close the Co-Op will have a considerable
impact on the city with the loss of 60 jobs and also placing
in doubt , the shopping centre development adjacent to the
Co-Op, which is currently under construction.
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The Co-Op's closing down sale has managed to attract shoppers
back to Timor St. |
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Flying Horse close to completion
November 13th 2007 . Warrnambool's newest entertainment
venture - The Flying Horse Bar and Brewery is nearing completion
and due to open by late January next year . The new venture
will see the opening of the first brewery in Warrnambool for
over a century, it will also be one of the first micro breweries
to be opened in a rural Victorian city. The Flying Horse Bar
and Brewery is part of the rapidly growing development on
the eastern entrance to Warrnambool
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The development also includes
a new BP service station and MacDonalds restaurant. which are
located next door to the Flying Horse Bar and Brewery. The site
was originally occupied by a small caravan park and service
station known locally as the Flying Horse Inn because of the
large red flying horse ( the Mobil petroleum symbol) which was
on the front of the service station. In past years the site
was better known for its down market clientele and place to
get a late night feed of greasy fish and chips. Hopefully the
new Flying Horse bar will lift the tone of is previous namesake
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Grampians
in Bloom
If you are planning a weekend escape then a short spring break
in the Grampians might be the answer - Sunny spring days (
ideal for bushwalking ) and cool nights - curled up in front
of an open fire.
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If that sounds like the sort of spring holiday you would like,
then follow the links to the Grampians
Accommodation Page |
Fletcher
Jones Story
David
Fletcher Jones left school before his 13th birthday and worked
in a small market garden before enlisting in the army and serving
in France during WW1. A shell burst just metres away, left him
severely |
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| injured
and he was told by army doctors that he would never work
again. In spite of his injuries, a scant education and a profound
stammer, went on to become the worlds largest clothing manufacturer.
Now some 40 years after his passing, the Warrnambool manufacturing
facility has gone and factory he built has been sold to a developer
- To find out more about this inspirational man then click the
photo or the link above |
Warrnambool Information
Page
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The first in a series of information pages
covering the major towns and cities in the region - for more
information on planning your summer holiday in Warrnambool
- please click on the picture
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| Apollo
Bay Apollo Bay seems
to have become the new in" place to visit, as seaside
towns close to Melbourne become increasingly crowded and very
expensive over the summer months. |
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| More people
are now looking for a quiet holiday beside the sea and Apollo
bay is becoming the destination of choice for International
and domestic traveler's alike. If you are looking for accommodation
in Apollo Bay then read our Apollo Bay
Accommodation Guide |
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Lake
Pertobe
Mini Golf
open 7 days a week from 10 AM to 4 PM
close to the beach on Pertobe Road Warrnambool
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Port
Campbell one travel writer described
Port Campbell as a windswept village with one pub and a few
take away food places that catered to passing tourists!!
Was he having a bad day or did someone in the town offend him??
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| To find
out more about this historic little coastal township you need
to read our Port Campbell / Peterborough accommodation page
to find out when and where to stay |
| Robe
- a picturesque , historic fishing village
with great beaches in the middle of Australia's premier wine
growing region. It is a little bit off the beaten track which
means that you don't have fight your way through crowds of tourists. |
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| Robe also has great seafood
restaurants, lots of local wineries and loads of history - so
if you are planning a relaxing spring holiday then visit our
Robe Accommodation page |
| Port
Fairy a small historic fishing village
and one of Victoria's earliest settlements. The town has over
50 historically listed buildings and a lot of the town remains
substantially unchanged over the last century |
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| In recent times a lot
of "top end of town" investment money has poured in
the township creating some up market accommodation that has
added to the towns existing motels, B&B's and caravan parks.
So to find out where to stay and how much you will pay then
you should look at out Port Fairy Accommodation
page |
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