Bass Coast Post
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Recent editions

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Against the odds
May 16, 2025 - How Mary Aldred won the battle for Monash despite a national Liberal Party  wipeout. 

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Libs prevail in ‘weird’ election
May 14, 2025 - Final result doesn’t show how close Deb Leonard came to an upset, writes Michael Whelan.

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Farewell friends
May 15, 2025 - Grace, diplomacy and a sprinkling of spite … the other Monash candidates sign off after a nerve-racking election. By Catherine Watson​
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In the line of fire
May 15, 2025 - Managing fire for people and wildlife isn't rocket science, says Professor Mike Clarke. It’s much more complex than that.

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Petrol before people
May 16, 2025 - In the midst of a housing crisis, five houses are demolished for one more service station, writes Geoff Ellis.

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Raise the rates and fix the joint!
Frank Schooneveldt’s plea to council on roads and drainage plan that stretches all the way to 2090.

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​Measure of success
May 7, 2025 - Neil Daly presses the case for an audit of our efforts to grow mangroves in the eastern arm of Western Port.

Community diary
What's on and where​
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Frequent flyers and vagrants
May 17, 2025 - Dave Newman pays tribute to our migratory wader birds and their epic flights, including some that don’t go to plan.

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Welcome home
May 15, 2025 - As the Gurdies forest begins to recover from fire, the animals are returning

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​Growing together
May 12, 2025 – Friendship and learning flourish alongside the plants at the Wonthaggi Seed Bank and Nursery.

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Can you help?
May 16, 2025 - A variety of volunteer roles need to be filled at Bass Coast's winter shelter for homeless people.

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​The birds are back
May 12, 2025 - As our migratory shorebirds depart for their Arctic breeding grounds, the Flyways exhibition opens to celebrate their extraordinary journey.

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​More than water
May 16, 2025 - A spectacular night sky photo by Iryna MacMillan has won first prize in West Gippsland Catchment Management Authority’s photo competition. 

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​A cook’s journal
May 15, 2025 - Liane Arno recommends an  Asian twist on an old American favourite.

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Not the full story
April 24, 2025 - A Liberal Party poster seen at early voting centres around Monash quotes  misleadingly from an interview with independent Deb Leonard published in the Bass Coast Post in 2022.

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Patriots get the wrong independent
April 23, 2025 - The Trumpet of Patriots Party is hastily reprinting their How to Vote cards for the Monash electorate after preferencing the wrong independent.
Meet the candidates
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Kuljeet Kuar Robinson, One Nation
Kuljeet Kuar Robinson left India  because of the inequality between rich and poor. Now she sees the same thing happening in Australia.​

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Tully Fletcher, Labor Party
The Post declined the candidate’s “terms of engagement”. 

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Mary Aldred, Liberal Party
Plenty has changed since November 2023 when Liberal candidate Aldred won pre-selection over long-term Liberal MP Russell Broadbent.

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Russell Broadbent, Independent
Questioning the veteran MP proved harder than expected.


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Deb Leonard, Independent
Deb Leonard has a massive campaign war chest and an army of volunteers. No wonder the other candidates are cranky.

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Geoff Dethlefs, Family First
You can credit Anthony Albanese with persuading Geoff Dethlefs to stand for election.

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David O'Reilly, ​Legalise Cannabis Party
The Post was unable to contact the candidate.

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Terence Steele, Greens
Terence Steele is an organiser, not a front man. He sees this election as the start of a grand plan for Monash. 

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Alex Wehbe, Trumpet of Patriots
Alex Wehbe reckons party leader Clive Palmer will shake up the Australian establishment the way Donald Trump has done in the US.


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Hit them where it hurts!
April 16, 2025 - Too young to vote - but Anabelle Bremner is urging climate action at the ballot box.

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​My MP wishlist
April 10, 2025 - Policies are important but so is the character of our representatives, writes Alison Vincent.

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Bring back the town hall debate!
April 14, 2025 - Robert Durkacz laments the lack of serious discussion in the Monash election.

Election-free zone

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​The miracle chick
April 14, 2025 - It’s been a long and difficult summer for our hooded plovers and their minders, but a fairytale finish to the breeding season has local volunteers celebrating.

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Home is where the art is
In his 90th year, Phillip Island artist John Adam is enjoying a purple patch.
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Shelter from the storm
A shelter for homeless people will operate in Cowes this winter, with church buildings used to provide an evening meal and dormitory style accommodation.

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​Beach bags steady as a rock
April 16 – Seven Silverleaves families are sleeping a lot easier this week after emergency dune works to stabilise the beach in front of their houses.

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​Wombat woes
Pushed into an ever-dwindling corridor of habitat, San Remo’s wombats need our help, writes Eve Kelly.



$123m budget open for comment
April 16, 2025 - Rates will rise an average of 3 per cent as Bass Coast budgets for total income of $123 million.
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Lights off for shearwater chicks
April 10, 2025 - PHILLIP Island Nature Parks calls on community to help  shearwater chicks about to embark on their first annual 15,000km migration north.

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A cook’s journal
April 15 - Liane Arno calls on her Scottish ancestry to perfect fish pie - an economical and delicious way to mark Easter.

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​Who’d be a politician?  
March 27, 2025 - Belinda Henderson pities the would-be politicians who have put their lives on hold to beg for our votes. 

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​No place like home
March 25, 2025 - Each year, as the end of the lease nears, Danielle wonders whether she is about to lose her home. 

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The final set
March 27, 2025 - Neil Luke’s old surfing mates celebrate the life of a surfing legend who did things his own way. 

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What next, Mr Dinosaur?
March 22, 2025 - Mike Cleeland has given up the day job but he’s not hanging up the rock hammer any time soon. By Ed Thexton

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​The trail blazers
March 21, 2023 - It would be easy to mistake them for a bunch of ladies who lunch, but you are looking at a group of revolutionaries.

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​Nature notes
March 25, 2025 - Phillip Island Nature Parks is celebrating the fledging of 65 Critically Endangered fairy tern chicks on the island.

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Wonthaggi’s war
March 25, 2025 - The Plaza Arcade played an unlikely role as a drill hall in the Second World War.

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Double for Inverloch writer​
March 27, 2025 - Judy Vradenburg has pulled off a second major award with her fly-on-the-wall account of local community activism.

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Lights off for shearwater chicks
April 10, 2025 - PHILLIP Island Nature Parks calls on community to help  shearwater chicks about to embark on their first annual 15,000km migration north.

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​Better than cupcakes
March 28, 2025 - In the midst of 100 others women, Leslie Adams reclaims her voice. 

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The voyager
March 24, 2025 - There’s a sense of timelessness in Jan Learmonth’s work, of slow-moving waters and a world beyond the human one. By Louisa Waters

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​​Long haul to first state coal mine
March 24, 2025 - The State Coal Mine came to life almost overnight. But it took more than half a century and a state of emergency for it to happen.

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​A photo journal
March 24, 2025 - Julie Paterson explores the Bass Coast, taking photos and observing contrasts.

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​Stuff my relatives never told me
March 26, 2025 - Peter Brown delves into his family history and discovers stories of mutiny, adultery and murder.

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​Hey presto!
March 24, 2025 - Liane Arno works her magic and has no idea how she did it. 

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One step at a time
March 27, 2025 - Sometimes running is effortless and sometimes it’s a feat of endurance. Etsuko Yasunaga cheers on a friend running his first marathon.

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Ask the candidates
March 14, 2025 - The Battle for Monash is shaping as one of the most intriguing of the 2025 federal election.
​Let the bidding begin
Feb 27, 2025 - After years of being ignored by both major parties, Monash voters can expect to see some election promises coming our way. 
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​The fixer
March 1, 2025 - Who are we going to call now that Nifty Nev is gone? By Catherine Watson

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​Every bottle tells a story
Feb 28, 2025 - A hurricane, a fire and a twister couldn't stop Wendy Heaney and Bruce Preston. By Camilla Myers. 

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​No go for sand company
Feb 20, 2025 - Council rejects plans to widen Stanley Road in Grantville for sand trucks to service a new quarry.

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Help us on housing: council plea
Feb 20, 2025 - Growth councils head to Canberra to seek federal funding to open land for housing. 

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Tigers make a splash
Feb 27, 2025 - A Richmond Football Club subsidiary will replace the YMCA as manager of Bass Coast’s leisure centres from July 1.

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​‘Bigger is better’ for new health service
Feb 26, 2025 - Future looks bright for Bass Coast residents, saysCEO.

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​Swimming against the tide
Feb 27, 2025 - There may be lessons for Bass Coast in another small coastal town’s attempts to halt coastal erosion.

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​Endangered Species
Feb 26, 2025 - On the morning they disappeared, the day was born into a thick sea mist. A short story by Aneta Marovich.

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Power plays
Feb 28, 2025 - So you think power lines for offshore wind are ugly? Look around you, suggests Christopher Eastman-Nagle.

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​Just the job
Feb 28, 2025 -  Kane Bond explains why we need our own local jobs board.

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​All together now
A community choir of 100 women share their stories through song at Wonthaggi's Union Theatre.

​Return to the dark ages
March 2, 2025 - Dismantling of the US public service hurts us too, writes Christine Grayden. 
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​Living lightly
Feb 28, 2025 - From home battery storage to preserving, council workshops aim to help residents live more sustainably.

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​Any time, any where
Feb 27, 2025 - Geoff Ellis searches for the sweet spot between reality and virtuality.

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​A cook’s journal
Feb 27, 2025 - It can be difficult to make tasty gluten-free food but anyone could enjoy this orange and almond cake.

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Help us on housing: council plea
Feb 20, 2025 - Growth councils head to Canberra to seek federal funding to open land for housing. 

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​Count me in, says Broadbent
Feb 4, 2025 - The seat of Monash is shaping as a thriller with Independent MP Russell Broadbent announcing he’ll have another go at the age of 74.

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Russ stands his ground
Feb 1, 2025 - You wouldn’t pick Russ Williams for a typical greenie but he’s ready to defend his patch of bush.

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​A long journey at the gathering place
Feb 4, 2025 - Over three days, hundreds of local people joined renowned artist Maree Clarke in creating an important artwork for Berninneit.

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​Signs of life
Feb 3, 2025 - Four weeks after the Gurdies fire, Dr Sera Blair began documenting the survival and return of wildlife to the fire zone.

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​Local boost for cancer patients
Jan 31, 2025 - Wonthaggi’s cancer centre provided over 1000 cancer treatments last year, sparing patients the emotional, physical and financial toll of travelling for treatment.

Community diary
What's on, where and when
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​A feast for all the senses
Jan 30, 2025 - Sixteen inspiring food gardens open their gates for the fourth annual Bass Coast Edible Gardens Weekend.

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Pillage and plunder in Warn Marin Western Port
Feb 2, 2025 - Industrialisation of the bay began 30 years before permanent white settlement, writes Christine Grayden. 

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Kilcunda Coal
Feb 2, 2025 - Linda Cuttriss had always wondered about that mullock heap. It wasn’t until she was held up by roadworks that she stopped to find out more.  

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​A bump in the road
Feb 1, 2025 - Obstacles make the journey even sweeter. By Etsuko Yasunaga

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Close encounters
Feb 2, 2025 – When Julie Paterson first heard about Wonthaggi’s emus she suspected it was a tall tale.

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​Please come again, but not for a while
Feb 4, 2025 - The visitors have gone at last and peace descends.  By Catherine Watson 

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​The koel, part II
Feb 3, 2025 - Remember the eastern koel with the infuriating mating call? Well it clearly worked because koel babies are popping up everywhere. 

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Big plans for this little shed
Jan 31, 2025 - The Cowes Jetty Goods Shed has worn many hats over the years. It now sits vacant, awaiting its next transformation.

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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.

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‘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. 
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​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

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Parking not required
Dec 12, 2024 - Councillors consider parking offset scheme to slug developers up to $12,000 a parking spot.

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​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.  

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​For sale in San Remo
Dec 9, 2024 - Someone should slap a heritage listing on that old fibro cement shack, writes Althea Thomas

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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
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​Sun, surf … and a dash of history
Dec 13, 2024 - Wonthaggi Historical Society’s mini history talks have become an unlikely highlight of summer

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​The inspiration of birds
Dec 9, 2024 - “Every fledgling is like gold …” Bass Coast’s chief hoodie Stephen Johnson explains what keeps him going.

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​Our summer of art
Dec 9, 2024 - Phillip Island’s pop-up exhibitions are evolving in unexpected and delightful ways. Curator Warren Nichols explains.

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​The greatest gift
Dec 11, 2024 - Wondering what to give this Christmas? How about the gift of time? Christine Grayden explains. 

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​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.

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​Sounds like trouble
Dec 12, 2024 - Catherine Watson goes hunting for Australia’s most annoying bird.

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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.