Recent stories
![]() Andy Stewart Q&A
Jan 10, 2025 - Local CFA crews have responded to multiple callouts over the past three weeks. Bass CFA captain Andy Stewart talks about life on the front line – and behind the scenes. ![]() Fire at The Gurdies.
Jan 7, 2025 - For over 50 years Richard Kemp has known this day would come. ![]() Fire & rain
Jan 9, 2025 - The community will come together in the Gurdies Nature Conservation Reserve on Saturday for a ritual of loss and renewal. ![]() After the Fires:
a photostory Jan 7, 2025 - Wildfire swept through the Gurdies Nature Conservation Reserve on December 19-20, threatening properties adjoining the reserve and further afield. |
![]() The mangrove challenge continues
Jan 10, 2025 - Neil Daly asks whether it’s time to give up the dream of using mangroves to arrest coastal erosion along the eastern arm of Western Port. ![]() Iconic market back in business
Jan 7, 2025 - A searing day did not deter Waterline residents and visitors from welcoming back the Grantville market last Sunday after a short hiatus. ![]() Tales from the campground
Jan 9, 2024 - How do you make friends with a blue tongue lizard? Maxine Cummings has the answer. ![]() A cook’s journal
Jan 10, 2025 - An old bottle of port inspires Liane Arno on a culinary adventure to cook the perfect Portugese lamb. ![]() Not quite true blue
Jan 9, 2025 - Twenty-five years on from taking the oath, Catherine Watson reflects on what it is to be a citizen of Australia. |
![]() Cape boundary capped
Dec 17, 2024 - The Cape Paterson community is celebrating tonight after winning a decade-long battle against a massive expansion of their coastal village. ‘This is an emergency’
“LIKE the residents in a valley watching a bushfire approaching …” Cr Tim O’Brien presses for urgent action at Inverloch and Silverleaves beaches. ![]() Leave our trees alone!
Dec 12, 2024 - A classic David & Goliath story … residents of a quiet bushland enclave versus a multinational giant. By Jan Grimes ![]() Parking not required
Dec 12, 2024 - Councillors consider parking offset scheme to slug developers up to $12,000 a parking spot. ![]() Walking Screw Creek Trail
Dec 9, 2024 – It was destined to be cleared for housing, but after a massive community effort it's now a wildlife refuge and Bass Coast’s newest walking trail. Linda Cuttriss reports. ![]() For sale in San Remo
Dec 9, 2024 - Someone should slap a heritage listing on that old fibro cement shack, writes Althea Thomas ![]() Time and space
Dec 9, 2024 - There aren’t many good things that came out of Covid, but Annalisa Christiansen’s beautiful landscape paintings are some of them. Liane Arno reports. Community diary
What's on, where and when |
![]() Sun, surf … and a dash of history
Dec 13, 2024 - Wonthaggi Historical Society’s mini history talks have become an unlikely highlight of summer ![]() The inspiration of birds
Dec 9, 2024 - “Every fledgling is like gold …” Bass Coast’s chief hoodie Stephen Johnson explains what keeps him going. ![]() Our summer of art
Dec 9, 2024 - Phillip Island’s pop-up exhibitions are evolving in unexpected and delightful ways. Curator Warren Nichols explains. ![]() The greatest gift
Dec 11, 2024 - Wondering what to give this Christmas? How about the gift of time? Christine Grayden explains. ![]() Calling the shots
Dec 12, 2024 - Don’t be surprised if a bunch of people stop you in the street and ask if they can take your photo. ![]() Sounds like trouble
Dec 12, 2024 - Catherine Watson goes hunting for Australia’s most annoying bird. ![]() A cook’s journal
Dec 13, 2024 - Liane Arno attempts to recreate a famous local dish – Malcolm Bain’s liquorice ice cream. Plus a cheat’s guide to Bombe Alaska. |
![]() Meet Bass Coast's new mayor
Nov 20, 2024 - After two terms as Deputy Mayor of Bass Coast, Cr Rochelle Halstead has been elected as Bass Coast Mayor today at the first public meeting of the new council. ![]() Showdown for top job
Nov 16, 2024 - It’s been a week of total immersion for Bass Coast’s new councillors. Behind the scenes it’s been equally busy with mayoral candidates doing the numbers. ![]() Time for action
Nov 16, 2024 - Finally we have a pathway to address Inverloch beach erosion, writes Ed Thexton. Now it’s time for action – and quickly. ![]() What happened to PICAL?
Nov 14, 2024 - Fortunately PICAL will survive but it’s worth asking how this trusted institution came so close to failing. By Catherine Watson ![]() Berninneit scoops fourth award
Nov 10, 2024 - Cowes Cultural Centre wins national architecture prize, celebrating fine design and connection to country and community. ![]() The koala crew
Nov 15, 2024 - The once common koala appears to be hurtling towards extinction in the wild. Kelly Smith and helpers are working to stop that happening. ![]() The last cowboy
Nov 12, 2024 - To hear Clive Dobson tell it, he'd led a charmed life. Catherine Watson loved the stories. ![]() Avenues of honour
Nov 14, 2024 - On 11 November, as always, Kongwak’s school children observed one minute’s silence and laid their poppies at the memorial cairn in this Valley of Peace. By Jillian Durance |
![]() The back tracks
Nov 16, 2024 - Dick Wettenhall’s new guide book takes visitors to the Gurdies Nature Conservation Reserve off the beaten track to discover different worlds of nature’s creations. ![]() Across the waters
Nov 15, 2024 - From both sides of Western Port, they gathered as one community, writes Laura Brearley. ![]() The gift of giving
Nov 14, 2024 - Etsuko Yasunaga has fun looking for the ideal present for someone she doesn’t even know. ![]() A warm welcome
Nov 15, 2024 - It’s easy to despair at the state of the world but a local refugee support group finds generosity at the heart of our community, writes Maddy Harford. ![]() Same, same, different
Nov 15, 2024 - Solace and The Red Rattlers are two groups with eerily similar people, mainly because they are mostly the same people but playing vastly different types of music. ![]() Looking for the Tiger
Nov 12, 2024 - A retrospective of Russell Kent’s art at Berninneit features his distinctive style: high realism with a touch of humour, surrealism and romance. ![]() In memoriam
Nov 12, 2024 - Scattered in our bushland are tributes to our hard working naturalists and volunteers. Terry Allen reports. ![]() A cook’s journal
The home crop of mandarins is not so sweet this year, perfect for an upside down mandarin cake. By Liane Arno Cowes makeover
Oct 31, 2024 - Cowes will be transformed into a pedestrian-friendly township that fully embraces its historic foreshore, with $8 million in new Federal Government funding |
![]() Meet your new councillors
Nov 7, 2024 - Bass Coast has a new team of councillors to manage our affairs over the next four years, including six new councillors. Cowes makeover
Oct 31, 2024 - Cowes will be transformed into a pedestrian-friendly township that fully embraces its historic foreshore, with $8 million in new Federal Government funding ![]() Warrior of change
Oct 22, 2024 - Few people in their lifetime will achieve what Jan Child did in her eight-year tenure at Bass Coast Health. Mary Whelan pays tribute to a remarkable CEO. Job done
Oct 22, 2024 - Bass Coast Health’s CEO Jan Child has stepped down after eight tumultuous years during which she transformed local health services. ![]() Breakthrough in woodlands campaign
Oct 15, 2024 - Bass Coast’s woodlands will no longer be considered a priority sand mining area for the state. $13m ‘hotel’ for health workers
Oct 11, 2024 - Bass Coast Health has secured $5 million in State Government funding to build hotel-style accommodation for key health workers and their families on vacant land behind Wonthaggi Hospital. ![]() In plain view
Oct 12, 2024 - Our new rural tourism strategy threatens the very landscape that brings tourists to Phillip Island, writes Linda Cuttriss. ![]() PICAL services safe, for now
Oct 14, 2024 - While Phillip Island Community and Learning may have to wind up, funding and support agencies says crucial services will continue. |
![]() Art, the environment and a good glass of wine
Oct 13, 2024 - His name was Warren Thompson and he had big plans. Janice Orchard was part of them. ![]() Capturing sunlight in a glass
Oct 12, 2024 - Intrepid reporter and bon vivant Kit Fennessy attends the judging of the Gippsland Wine Show at the Cape Paterson Surf Life Saving Club. ![]() Nature notes
Oct 16, 2024 – An encounter with a sick fox raises troubling questions for Catherine Watson. ![]() Here to stay
Oct 16, 2024 - After years of being shuffled around, the Phillip Island Community Art & Craft Gallery has a new home, writes Aleta Groves ![]() Take a bow, Offshore
Oct 15, 2024 - Just over a year ago, Remi D'Agostin sat in the audience at Berninneit’s opening event, and wondered what it would be like to perform in such a beautiful space. ![]() A cook’s journal
Oct 13, 2024 - A fresh spring combination: Gado gado (or “big mix”), with a Mandarin Upside Down Cake to follow. By Liane Arno. ![]() Rich pickings in proving ground
Oct 14, 2024 - The largest stand of critically endangered Strzelecki Gums in existence has been found at the former Holden Proving Ground, confirming its status as a biodiversity hotspot. ![]() History in the making
October 15, 2024 - How a famous architect planned to help Wonthaggi out of the doldrums. |