Lyndoch Living can no longer hide its financial fragility
The mask of Lyndoch Living has crumbled, with the cost of years of poor management being exposed.
The Lyndoch CEO has gone: let the healing begin
The departure of the Lyndoch Living CEO marks a line in the sand.
May Noonan Hostel to close after failing to find buyer
May Noonan in Terang is closing. How terribly sad and utterly avoidable.
Setting the record straight
A word about a defamation action against The Terrier. Was I “successfully sued”? No.
Lyndoch starts selling assets as financial ruin looms
Lyndoch is selling both its primary care centre and May Noonan Hostel in Terang to try and stay afloat.
Lyndoch Living CEO still missing in action after 200 days
The Lyndoch Living CEO has been “on leave” for 200 days, with still no comment on why, or the future of her position.
New Lyndoch medical clinic loses GPs, manager and directors
As predicted, the future of the new $22 million Lyndoch medical clinic is uncertain, with it struggling to find tenants and to hold GPs.
Community vindicated in bruising fight to save Lyndoch
After years of being ignored, those who have fought for Lyndoch Living are being vindicated, but it’s not over yet.
A new voice: standing as Independent for South-West Coast
The Terrier is changing: I am running as an Independent for South West Coast.
GPs letter to Lyndoch raises serious staff health concerns
Exclusive: More than a dozen local GPs have signed a letter to the Lyndoch board, demanding action on staff health and wellbeing.
Are the financial fears around Lyndoch Living now coming to pass?
Speculation is mounting around Lyndoch Living’s financial position in the wake of the CEO’s sudden departure.
Letter reveals elder abuse by Lyndoch Living CEO
Lyndoch Living CEO Doreen Power threatened elderly resident with eviction after complaint.
Finance expert calls on Lyndoch Living board to resign
Finance and governance expert Marcia O’Neill has called for the Lyndoch Living board to resign.
Former Lyndoch Living board member breaks silence
Former Lyndoch Living board member Percy Eccles says the Lyndoch board must “consider their positions”.
Why did the Lyndoch board act? And why they must go
The Lyndoch Living board has finally moved against the CEO, but they must leave next.
Why didn’t Matthew meet Sue to straighten out Lyndoch?
Opportunity goes begging: Liberal leader Matthew Guy didn’t meet with the Lyndoch board during his recent visit.
Opinion finds community can’t take legal action against Lyndoch board
A legal opinion has found the community faces an uphill battle in any action against the Lyndoch Living board.
Parliamentary petition launched to remove Lyndoch board
A community action group has launched a Parliamentary petition to remove the Lyndoch Living board.
Lyndoch Living board cuts itself further from community
The Lyndoch Living board has punched back against community attempts to hold it accountable.
Where does the buck stop? Lyndoch nursing home fails again
Lyndoch Living has failed another string of aged care standards, this time in its high-care nursing home.
Lyndoch Living hostel fails aged care standards after audit
Lyndoch Living hostel fails four out of eight standards after spot audit by watchdog in April.
Sink or swim? Lyndoch’s $22m clinic months from completion
Lyndoch’s multi-million dollar health clinic was due to open next month: it’s still an empty shell.
Lyndoch Living board on notice: open up or step aside
The Lyndoch Living board continues to ignore calls for greater transparency and a reconnection with the community.
Fight4Lyndoch Living community rally: the speeches
More than 350 people gathered for the Fight4Lyndoch rally on Sunday. You can read the speeches here.
Lyndoch Living silent over ongoing staff shortages
Amid allegations of chronic staff shortages and residents missing meals, Lyndoch remains silent.
Covid? What Covid? Lyndoch Living is off to the races
Amid restrictions to visitors, staff shortages and budget constraints, Lyndoch Living is off to the races.
Read all about it! Lyndoch moves into the good news business
Lyndoch Living has gone into the news business, just in time for a spot check by the aged care watchdog.
Zooming in and zooming out: The Terrier in 2022
What is this “unplugged” business? Well, The Terrier page will be doing things a little differently.
Slow but steady, the legal challenge to Lyndoch rolls on
A brief is being prepared for the barrister on Lyndoch Living’s blanket rejection of memberships from the community.
Community ready to fight Lyndoch Living gatekeepers
As a community legal challenge to the Lyndoch Living board gathers pace, staff shortages continue.
Lyndoch fighting fund smashes target out of the park
A fighting fund set up to take Lyndoch Living to court has more than doubled its target.
Community fundraising drive to take Lyndoch Living to court
A community crowdfunding campaign has been launched to take Lyndoch Living aged care to court.
VCAT challenge to Lyndoch’s rejection of members rolls on
W’bool vet Dr Michael McCluskey now has a VCAT hearing listed for his challenge to Lyndoch Living’s membership rejections.
Lyndoch posts record loss as it ploughs on with masterplan
Lyndoch Living has recorded a $4 million loss for 2021 – an all-time high for the aged care home.
Lyndoch board is changing lanes, but keeping its windows up
Lyndoch Living will change how it chooses its board members, but whether “everyday” members will return remains to be seen.
Covid doesn’t stop digging into Lyndoch’s finances and future
Covid has been a game-changer, but it can’t stop scrutiny of Lyndoch, our community owned aged care home, in 2022.
Signs, celebrations and staff shortages: Lyndoch rolls on
More aged care funds will be spent on lawyers for Lyndoch, while staff shortages roll on.
Community bursting with questions for Lyndoch Living AGM
The Lyndoch Living AGM is next week; these are some of the questions the community want answered.
Question time: Lyndoch opens its AGM to the public
Lyndoch Living has decided to open its AGM to the general public, but now we need answers.
VCAT agrees to hear challenge to Lyndoch membership rejection
VCAT agrees to hear case by Warrnambool vet against Lyndoch Living membership rejection.
Near fatality exposes call system black spots inside Lyndoch
The near death of a resident last year has exposed “black spots” within Lyndoch that remain unresolved.
Lyndoch staffing slides backwards in wake of audit failings
Two months after failing more national care standards, Lyndoch is begging for staff.
Crisis point: Lyndoch Living again fails aged care standards
Lyndoch Living has again failed to meet aged care standards – the second time this year.
Lyndoch Living continues to bleed experienced staff
The staff exodus at Lyndoch Living continues, with the hostel area losing its last clinical leader.
Nursing union intervenes in Lyndoch Living staffing crisis
The Aust Nursing and Midwifery Union is demanding answers from Lyndoch on escalating staff shortages.
Was a staff purge all part of the Lyndoch Living plan?
Gone: A photo taken at Lyndoch Living in 2017 gives some idea of the purge of senior staff, which rolls on.
Nick Bryant: The Troublemaker and the Terrier podcast
The Terrier joins former BBC New York correspondent BBC, Nick Bryant, and others in his new podcast on why we need “troublemakers” and terriers.
Lyndoch Living staff exodus: the faces behind the figures
Behind the rising numbers of staff leaving Lyndoch, there are names, faces and stories which must – eventually – be told.
Lyndoch board ignored staff warnings on looming crisis
An explosive letter reveals concerned Lyndoch staff asked the Lyndoch board for help 18 months ago, but were ignored.
Lyndoch board gives short shrift to questions from Roma
Even South West MP Roma Britnell can’t get straight answers from the Lyndoch Living board about its membership process.
Lyndoch in ‘dangerous’ territory as staff departures continue
The drain of experienced staff from Lyndoch Living aged care continues, as the board remains silent.
VCAT asked to rule on Lyndoch Living membership rejections
Dr Michael McCluskey has asked VCAT to examine his rejection as a member of Lyndoch Living.
After eleven months, illegal sign is deemed illegal by WCC
A $30,000 corporate sign installed at Lyndoch last year without a permit has now been officially denied a permit.
A message to the Lyndoch Living board from the front line
Amid staff shortages, resignations and potential sanctions, Lyndoch Living staff are begging the board to listen.
MP asks for answers on Lyndoch’s rejection of new members
South-West MP Roma Britnell is among community leaders questioning why Lyndoch is rejecting new members.
Lyndoch Living moves past the community that created it
Claire Macrae Drylie’s aunt used to prepare the weekly pays for Lyndoch for free. That community spirit is no longer welcome.
Ex Lyndoch director, now aged care expert, on rejection list
Janet Dunn has decades of experience in aged care, but it’s not enough to become a member of Lyndoch.
Rejections expose charade of Lyndoch’s links to community
The charade of Lyndoch’s connection to community is being laid bare.
Lyndoch board kicks community to the kerb with mass rejections
Lyndoch board rejects en-masse community membership applications. Among those rejected was SWHC emergency dept nurse Kate Sloan, pictured.
Illegal sign, unfinished tavern, expose set of double standards
You have to fork out for a parking fine, but an illegal sign passes through without penalty. Welcome to the world of double standards.
Senior staff in the gun as Lyndoch Living looks for scapegoats
Lyndoch Living is looking for scapegoats for its recent failings, with senior nursing staff in its sights.
Clinic buyer revealed, exposing holes in $1.3m Lyndoch deal
The fragility of Lyndoch’s foray into medical practice has been exposed by the sale of the WMC building to Dr Phil Hall.
Tip-off: Lyndoch poised to recruit former WCC Acting CEO
Is Lyndoch Living on the brink of employing yet another senior executive – Vikki King – to its administration?
Arise! Huge pre-fab clinic starts to emerge from Lyndoch
The pre-fab walls are going up on the Lyndoch $22m medical clinic, giving a true sense of its size.
The community is knocking, but will Lyndoch open the gate?
More than 100 people have joined a community sign-up for Lyndoch Living. How many will be accepted?
Why is Lyndoch Living so scared of the community?
Is it you? Is it me? Why has Lyndoch Living become so terrified of the community it serves?
Community sign-up action for Lyndoch this weekend
A community action to stand up for Lyndoch Living will be held this Sunday, August 15.
Testing the gate: launching a Lyndoch membership drive
Lyndoch Living has no members outside of Lyndoch: a terrier “sign up” next weekend will try and change that.
Lyndoch’s May Noonan aged care fails national standards
Lyndoch Living has failed seven out of eight standards for its May Noonan home in Terang.
Lyndoch bulldozes its way through public reserve illegally
Lyndoch bulldozed illegally through Scoborio Reserve to allow truck access to its construction site.
Staying quiet and small, but in for the long haul
Investigative journalism in the regions is facing unprecedented pressures from all corners.
Clinic celebrations mask shift shortages across Lyndoch
While Lyndoch turned the sod on its new clinic, its nursing staff were pleading for help to fill shifts.
Sod turns on Lyndoch med clinic while nurse call system fails
Lyndoch turned the sod on its $22m medical clinic today, while 100m away, nursing staff battle with a broken call system.
No tender called for $24 million Lyndoch Living medical clinic
Lyndoch Living decided not to call tenders for its $24m clinic…and I ask the question of whether we have lost control of Lyndoch already.
WCC chief must maintain momentum as council climbs back
WCC climbs up from the basement of public opinion and there can be no going back now.
Revolving door at W’bool Med Clinic since changing hands
A change in ownership for WMC has seen a huge change in staff since it was sold for $1.3m to Lyndoch Living.
Lyndoch and WCC fail pub test while ruining public reserve
Illegal parking on Scoborio Reserve by Lyndoch Living is turning the public land into a mud bath, and it may become semi-permanent.
CEO victory blows open poisonous culture that silences city
WCC chief’s Supreme Court victory blows apart the poisonous culture of insiders and outsiders.
Peter Schneider v W’bool City Council: judgment in full
Sacked WCC chief wins Supreme Court challenge: download the full judgment here.
Is Lyndoch preparing to smother concerns with cement slab?
Lyndoch is preparing to start work on its $22m medical clinic, despite growing concerns about its financial viability.
Petition ask State Govt to press pause on $22m Lyndoch clinic
A community action group has launched a petition to pause Lyndoch’s $22m medical clinic until concerns are addressed.
Lyndoch Living failings in care didn’t get better, but worse
Lyndoch Living’s failure to provide duty of care has been kept under wraps more than 12 months, only to worsen.
Residents’ suffering exposed in report on Lyndoch Living
Lyndoch Living has failed to meet a string of quality control measures in aged care, a report by the national watchdog reveals.
Aged care watchdog lays down law to Lyndoch Living
The seven recommendations set down for Lyndoch Living by the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission.
Community (still) owns Lyndoch Living, but does it matter?
Lyndoch Living has faced many challenges over the years, but remains in the hands of the Warrnambool community…in theory.
Another board member resigns from Lyndoch Living
The pins keep falling at the Lyndoch Living board amid questions over the viability of a proposed $24m medical clinic.
Community action group forms to question Lyndoch Living
A grassroots action group has formed to challenge Lyndoch Living over plans to build a $22m medical clinic that some fear may send it broke.
Amid scabies and funding fears, Lyndoch goes racing
Scabies and financial fears are not enough to stop Lyndoch’s corporate tent at the May Races.
Fresh outbreak of scabies at Lyndoch Living aged care
Lyndoch Living aged care home has another outbreak of scabies.
Lyndoch senior exec resigns amid fears over medical clinic
The resignations within the senior ranks of Lyndoch Living just keep coming.
Board silent as resignations within Lyndoch finance roll on
The alarm bells keep ringing inside Lyndoch Living, with two resignations inside its finance team today.
Ex Lyndoch finance chief raises alarm over Lyndoch’s viability
Lyndoch’s former Acting Chief Financial Officer has gone public to raise a red flag over the medical clinic and future viability of Lyndoch.
WCC’s past dodgy dealings – did anyone break the law?
The question of whether anyone at WCC will face consequences for past dealings, remains unresolved.
Power shutdowns allow long-overdue work on shop tops
Shutting off of major powerlines will allow long-overdue painting works on Timor St shop tops.
Animal faeces among EPA concerns for Wannon Water plant
If you’re wondering what’s happening with Wannon Water’s $40 million Warrnambool treatment plant upgrade, here it is.
Bruising Supreme Court battle will leave lasting scars on city
Warrnambool will make history for all the wrong reasons with the Supreme Court battle over sacked WCC chief Peter Schneider.
Court case may set brutal precedent for all council CEOs
All council CEO’s could be vulnerable to being figuratively “taken out the back and shot” if WCC wins legal challenge.
Supreme Court hearing opens into WCC chief’s sacking
Lawyers for sacked WCC chief Peter Schneider say he was the victim of a concerted plan to get rid of him.
WCC poised to close door on racehorse training in wild coast
The new WCC knows the tide has changed around horses on beaches in the wild coast precinct.
Councillors’ full answers on racehorse training
The WCC councillors answers in full on racehorse training at Spooky’s beach.
Roma Britnell: law reform needed to better protect women
In the wake of the #March4Justice, South-West Victoria MP Roma Britnell is calling for meaningful law reform to protect women.
Long-serving Lyndoch Living board member resigns
Lyndoch board member Percy Eccles has pulled up stumps as the facility rolls out is masterplan.
Legal action presses pause button on WCC hiring new CEO
Just in: Former W’bool City Council CEO Peter Schneider has stopped the WCC hiring a replacement.
Tomlinson crashes down: will Lyndoch finances follow?
Lyndoch starts work on its multi-million dollar medical clinic amid questions overs its financial stability.
Saying “enough” to sexual violence against women and girls
I am planning a small event next Monday 15 March as part of March4Justice.
Sacked WCC chief seeking injunction to stop recruitment
Dumped WCC CEO Peter Schneider is seeking to stop the recruitment of a replacement.
Inquiry into aged care a chance to break the fear and silence
The Royal Commission into aged care is a chance for the community to stand up for Lyndoch Living.
We get knocked down…but we get up again
Facebook trapdoor opens on the Terrier, but there’s life in the old dog yet.
Ex-Lyndoch staff go public on “outrageous” home care fees
Elderly residents on home care packages in the south-west are paying up to 44% in management fees.
Wannon Water fails to address concerns on plant upgrade
Dr Laurie Laurenson says Wannon Water has failed to address numerous concerns about its proposed treatment plant upgrade.
Consultants, lawyers and admin soak up Lyndoch millions
Consultants, lawyers and admin costs continue to soak up millions at Lyndoch Living.
WCC advertises for new CEO as court hearing looms
Will it be a new face, or an old face? The WCC recruitment of a CEO begins.
Lyndoch borrows big for $100m masterplan as deficit rises
Lyndoch Living, having recorded a fifth deficit in five years, is digging into residential bonds to fund its $100m masterplan.
Setting sail on the good ship Terrier in 2021
What lies ahead for The Terrier in 2021? New voices, a new project and tackling unfinished business.
Union action sees scabies outbreak confirmed at Lyndoch
After months of speculation and now union intervention, scabies has been confirmed inside Lyndoch’s dementia wing. (Image: MDonline)
Jess Chatfield: fighting for Framlingham forest
Young Gunditjmara woman Jess Chatfield is fighting to save her home from a quarry planned for Framlingham-Panmure.
Lyndoch: red spots, black spots, cold walls and lights out
As the year comes to a close, I wish I could do more to help those who contact me about Lyndoch.
Shrinking or growing? Crunching the numbers on Lyndoch
Lyndoch Living is definitely getting bigger, but is it getting better? The numbers say no.
Illegal signage illuminates bigger issues at Lyndoch
The arrogance and changing priorities of Lyndoch Living are captured by illegal signage installed last week.
Inquest opens into disappearance of WCC engineer
Inquest opens into disappearance of WCC engineer, Barry Collins, 30 years ago.
“Undesirable” result was the exact opposite: Jim Burke
How can a clean sweep of council be “undesirable”, if that is exactly what voters wanted?
Cherry picker on the job at Lyndoch, as gardening staff cut
Lyndoch Living cuts gardening services, but installs swish, new signage.
Lyndoch: potential conflicts of interest, and a new exec
Lyndoch has declined to answer questions about potential conflicts of interest…while its executive team to grow.
Harbour plan needs cool heads and caution: Peter Ronald
Creating a safe harbour won’t stop the hazards of boating in the Southern Ocean, writes Peter Ronald.
Wave of change rolls through Warrnambool City Council
The community has spoken with a complete change to the Warrnambool City Council line-up.
Unprecedented clean sweep in WCC election: full numbers
Ground-breaking Warrnambool City Council election result sees a clean sweep.
Records break as WCC election enters the final countdown
Indications are the WCC election will see a clean sweep, with Vicki Jellie breaking records along the way.
Serious privacy breach at WCC needs full investigation
WCC needs to address unfinished business on leaks and credit card abuse.
Former WCC chief under scrutiny just one month into the job
Former WCC Cr Kylie Gaston claims the sacked CEO was failing to perform almost from day one.
Former Cr Neoh says sacked CEO showed “dog video” for report
Former WCC councillor Mike Neoh claims the sacked CEO showed a “dog video” as part of a formal progress report.
Former Cr Cassidy on WCC chief: “what does he do all day?”
Former W’bool City Councillor Sue Cassidy has set our her defence in the sacking of former CEO Peter Schneider.
Former Cr Owen outlines reasons for sacking WCC chief
Former Cr Owen claims WCC chief Peter Schneider was slow to act and “sidelining” the W2040 plan.
Red zone: Lyndoch posts $1.9m deficit, assets slide by $20m
Behind the spin, Lyndoch Living has recorded another loss and its overall financial position continues to slide.
Acting CEO King denies knowing plan to sack WCC chief
A sworn affidavit by WCC chief Vikki King denies any knowledge of the coup against her predecessor.
Deadline passes for WCC defence docs in CEO sacking
It’s all quiet on the Supreme Court front from the WCC in its defence of sacking the former CEO.
Lyndoch Living: does bullying and intimidation just vanish?
It’s seven months since a leaked survey exposed allegations of bullying and intimidation at Lyndoch. What has happened since?
Changing lives, one story at a time: celebrating Jess Chatfield
Gunditjmara woman Jess Chatfield is emerging as a digital storyteller via a mentorship with The Terrier.
Cr Cassidy appointed Vice President of Lyndoch Living
As Lyndoch prepares for its AGM next Tuesday, it has emerged Cr Sue Cassidy is now Vice President.
Lyndoch: budget blowout, a fire sale and an invite-only AGM
The Lyndoch Living AGM next week is an invitation-only affair, which means no questions from the general public or media.
WCC CEO’s dismissal relied on most expensive option
One of the clauses in the former WCC CEO’s contract would have seen instant dismissal and a much smaller payout. Why wasn’t it used?
Ombudsman urges WCC to address disunity and dischord
The credit cards created a major headache, but issues of disunity and dischord remain within WCC.
Ombudsman reveals changes to WCC credit card rules
Flabby rules around credit card usage at WCC are now a thing of the past.
Ombudsman report reveals poor actions of WCC officials
Nobody comes out of the Ombudsman’s investigation looking good, including top WCC officials.
Ombudsman report: no rules on coffees, lunches and dinners
WCC staff were allowed to use credit cards to “spend local” on lunches, dinners, drinks and coffees.
Ombudsman: $700 dinner a “shock” to manager who paid
Order what you like: two dinners costing more than $2000 expose the lack of restraint.
Ombudsman reveals shouting the bar, at ratepayers’ expense
Largesse and lies: a second huge drinks bill was hidden under “room hire” – all in the same week.
Ombudsman reveals huge drinks bill hidden behind “room hire”
Two “room hires” at the Lady Bay resort were used to hide huge alcohol bill.
Ombudsman’s report into WCC credit cards exposes largesse
Espresso martinis all round: the first instalment of the Ombudsman’s findings.
WCC chief sacking: legal threats flying in fallout
It rolls on: legal threats, emails and warnings, as we pick toward the truth.
WCC Mayor Herbert affidavit lays out night of the long knives
A sworn affidavit by Mayor Tony Herbert sets out what he says happened on the night the CEO was sacked and it’s not pretty.
WCC election 2020: the time for change is now
This Warrnambool City Council election is critical for our city: we can vote for more of the same, or change.
WCC election 2020: candidate how-to-vote cards
WCC election 2020: the complete set of how to vote cards and candidate suggestions.
WCC election 2020: all Terrier profiles in one spot
The complete set of new W’bool City Council election candidates.
WCC candidate Andrew Squires talks with The Terrier
Meet your new Warrnambool City Council candidates: next, Andrew Squires.
WCC candidate Anthony Earnshaw: 10 key questions
Meet your new Warrnambool City Council candidates: next up, Anthony Earnshaw.
WCC candidate Max Taylor talks with The Terrier
Meet your new Warrnambool City Council candidates: tonight, Max Taylor.
WCC candidate Thomas Campbell: 10 key questions
Meet your new Warrnambool City Council candidates: next up Thomas Campbell.
WCC candidate Tracey Togni talks with The Terrier
Meet your new Warrnambool City Council candidates: next up, Tracey Togni.
WCC candidate Lynn Hudson talks with The Terrier
Meet your new Warrnambool City Council candidates: first up tonight, Lynn Hudson.
WCC candidate Angie Paspaliaris chats with The Terrier
Meet your new Warrnambool City Council candidates: next up, Angie Paspaliaris.
WCC candiate Otha Akoch talks with The Terrier
Meet your new Warrnambool City Council candidates: tonight, Otha Akoch.
WCC candidate Matthew Walsh chats with The Terrier
Meet your new Warrnambool City Council candidates: tonight, Matthew Walsh.
WCC candidate Vicki Jellie chats with The Terrier
CANDIDATE VICKI JELLIE: 10 QUESTIONS FROM THE TERRIER: What three main skills could you bring to the Warrnambool City Council as a councillor? I have…
WCC candidate Debbie Arnott chats with The Terrier
Meet your new Warrnambool City Council candidates: tonight, Debbie Arnott.
WCC candidate Michael McCluskey chats with The Terrier
Meet your new Warrnambool City Council candidates: next up, Michael McCluskey.
WCC candidate Jim Burke chats with The Terrier
Meet your new Warrnambool City Council candidates: next up, Jim Burke.
WCC candidate Cassandra Prigg chats to The Terrier
Meet your new Warrnambool City Council candidates: tonight, Cassandra Prigg.
WCC candidate Steve Moore chats with The Terrier
Meet your new Warrnambool City Council candidates: tonight, Steve Moore.
WCC candidate Richard Ziegeler chats with The Terrier
Meet your new Warrnambool City Council candidates: next up, Richard Ziegeler.
WCC candidate Jacinta Anderson chats with The Terrier
Meet your Warrnambool City Council candidates: first up tonight is Jacinta Anderson.
WCC candidate Bruce Campbell chats with The Terrier
Meet your new Warrnambool City Council candidates: next up, Bruce Campbell.
WCC candidate Ben Blain chats with The Terrier
Meet your new Warrnambool City Council candidates: first up, Ben Blain.
WCC: does top job reappointment pass the pub test?
While the Acting WCC CEO’s reappointment to her former job is legal, it is also unusual.
CEO sacking: Secret meetings and confidential documents
If everything dumped WCC chief Peter Schneider says in his affidavit is true, our council has gone bad.
Sacked CEO starts Supreme Court action against WCC
Former WCC chief Peter Schneider has launched legal action to get his job back.
CEO sacking: secret meetings, missing docs and payout shock
Questions by Cr Gaston reveal the failings behind CEO hiring and firing.
Councillors crawl to the finish line, broken and divided
The W’bool City Council holds its final meeting tomorrow night, amid ongoing turmoil over the CEO sacking.
Top lawyers withdrew bill for advice on CEO sacking
The story around the dumping of former W’bool City Council CEO just gets murkier.
Pressure mounts on Wannon Water to end ocean outfall
An independent consultant has urged the EPA to push Wannon Water for a Class A water treatment plant.
CEO dismissal: time to come clean on the costs
The four W’bool City councillors behind the sacking of the CEO have not revealed the cost to ratepayers.
Sacking of W’bool City Council chief under investigation
Events surrounding the sudden sacking of WCC CEO Peter Schneider will be formally investigated.
Transparency just a word at WCC, as secrecy rolls on
Secrecy to stay: the WCC has a chance to reinstate general business to its meetings, but won’t.
Lyndoch rejects claim visiting workers were from Melbourne
Lyndoch has replied to questions from South-West MP Bev McArthur about visitors to the aged care home.
CEO sacking: prising open the clam of confidentiality
The release of minutes provides some insight into the dumping of the WCC chief.
WCC election: last drinks on secrecy, fibs and fairytales
The mood for change at WCC is growing, with fresh candidates stepping up, and the old crew failing to fire.
A little gift in the letterbox makes it all worthwhile
Popping my head out of the kennel to say thankyou!
EPA puts Wannon Water under the pump over ocean outfall
A small victory in the battle to save Thunder Point from effluent pollution.
Taking a little terrier down time in the kennel
As Banksy one (allegedly) said, “rest, but don’t give up”.
Sacked WCC chief launches legal action against councillors
Sacked WCC chief Peter Schneider is taking legal action against four councillors.
What impact will Wannon Water upgrade have on Lady Bay?
A retired marine scientist raises questions about the planned $40m Wannon Water plant upgrade.
Lyndoch Living concerns amid pandemic met with silence
South-West MP Bev McArthur will investigate allegations around two visitors from Melbourne to Lyndoch Living.
Covid-19 questions for Lyndoch Living
As Covid-19 ravages aged care facilities in Victoria, I ask Lyndoch Living some questions.
Oh what a tangled web we weave in Warrnambool
When you join the dots between who works with who in Warrnambool, it’s a fascinating picture.
When the muzzles come out, we have to keep barking
In the face of mounting pressure to be silenced, it’s more important than ever that we speak up.
Unpicking the tight-knit connections of WCC and Lyndoch
The ties that bind: unravelling the connections between W’bool City Council and Lyndoch Living.
Councillors become king makers, but the secrecy remains
The more things change at the W’bool City Council, the more they stay the same.
WCC staff survey results to remain under wraps
Nothing but a stunt: WCC staff survey results were never going to be released.
Million dollar question on CEO axing remains unanswered
WCC ratepayers will foot the bill, but the cost of sacking the CEO remains secret.
Barry the Boolshite detector on why the CEO had to go
Barry runs an eye over the statement by the four W’bool City councillors who orchestrated the coup against CEO.
Zero support for Wannon Water sewage treatment plans
Let’s end the week on a high note: people really do care about what goes into our ocean.
Cr Sycopoulis warns agains “misdirected and unlawful coup”
W’bool City Cr Peter Sycopoulis has backed the CEO and warned against his removal.
Mayor Herbert backs CEO before crucial Monday meeting
Mayor Tony Herbert has thrown his support behind the beleaguered CEO.
Coup against W’bool City Council CEO gathers pace
WCC update: Special meeting called to discuss the CEO’s future.
Power plays in full force as WCC chief under threat
The WCC chief is in the firing line as councillor power games roll on.
WCC confidential item raises spectre of CEO demise
Rumblings are getting louder that WCC chief Peter Schneider is facing a motion of no confidence.
Two years on, Levy’s Beach dunes are still being trashed
One of W’bool’s wildest beaches continues to be trashed, despite a plan to protect it being released two years ago.
Ouch! WCC parking inspectors return with a vengeance
Ouch! Parking times are being enforced for the first time in months.
Wannon Water upgrade issues: The Terrier cheat sheet
It’s difficult to get your head around the Wannon Water sewage plant upgrade – here’s some help.
Public confidence in WCC crashes to an all-time low
The latest community survey for WCC is a train wreck, but there is still no clear plan on how to restore its reputation.
Wannon Water sewage plant upgrade must reach for the stars
Sewage is not sexy, but we shouldn’t settle for a b-grade solution for how we treat our ocean.
Veteran W’bool City Councillor Neoh falls foul of local laws
W’bool City councillor Mike Neoh has been on council for 16 years, but somehow his new family business has failed to meet all local laws.
Demolishing more of our precious history is a bridge too far
The 130-year-old Stanley St bridge could be demolished, despite having major repairs just three years ago.
Nice while it lasted: WCC lifts kindergarten fees after C19
W’bool City Council pushes on with kindergarten fee rises despite C19 and before the Budget is passed.
Holy shi*! Why is brown gunk being pumped into our ocean?
Will the $40 million upgrade to the Wannon Water treatment plant stop the dumping of dirty water into the sea?
Northpoint hotel saga creates one big headache
More than 12 years’ after it was first put to council, the Northpoint tavern/hotel remains under construction.
Crikey! The Terrier springs forth as the paper giants fold
Out of the kennel: My piece published in Crikey today on the seeds of hope for journalism in the regions.
Flushing out the truth about Wannon Water’s fatberg failure
The EPA has spelt out what activists have known all along, that the Wannon Water treatment plant was failing to catch all the gunk.
Time to press the re-set button at the next council election
WCC ratepayers will have their say on 24 October as to who is best to lead our city for the next four years.
Not drowning, saving: shire councils show the way with C19
Corangamite and Moyne shire councils have been out-swimming Warrnambool City Council in response to the financial fallout of C19.
No bones about it, WCC pet rego fees are astronomical
W’bool pet registration fees are going up again. We already pay the second highest rego fees in Australia, and nobody seems to know why.
Gas leak chokes two giant Norfolk pines
Two large Norfolk pines in East Warrnambool have been severely damaged by a gas leak.
Terrier tidbits: rates, credit cards, shite and spending
In these C19 times, The Terrier is chewing on some meaty tidbits rather than deep digs for the bones of truth.
Lyndoch ignores request to meet MP over bullying claims
It’s a month since South-west MP Roma Britnell asked to meet Lyndoch over bullying claims, but the response has been silence.
W’bool Mayor Herbert stays put, but council still wobbling
Cr Tony Herbert will remain as Mayor, but Warrnambool City Council still has a raft of staffing issues to confront.
With the Mayor on thin ice, could Cr Sycopoulis pull off a “Bradbury?
The unlikely and impossible are looking more likely, and more possible, with Cr Sycopoulis well positioned to be Mayor.
Brain fade: W’bool Mayor Tony Herbert breaches C-19 laws
W’bool Mayor Tony Herbert has been spotted breaching the Covid-19 laws just hours after he urged others to stay home.
Lyndoch in lockdown, but CEO still takes to the road
The whole of Warrnambool is being urged to stay put, so why has the Lyndoch CEO been on the move?
In times of crisis, our Mayor needs to step up to the plate
We are experiencing the greatest health crisis of our generation. Where is the WCC Mayor? And the CEO?
Lyndoch marks National Anti-Bullying Day with…bullying?
Lyndoch Living circulates a petition to support the CEO in the face of bullying allegations.
Pressure point: MP acts on explosive Lyndoch staff survey
A leaked staff survey confirms the question is not if Lyndoch is heading for an iceberg, but when it will hit.
Attack dog: when Lyndoch sent its lawyers after The Terrier
Being threatened with defamation is no fun, but it doesn’t mean shutting up.
Biologist Prof Rob Wallis recruited to Lyndoch board
Prof Rob Wallis is the latest hand-picked recruit to the Lyndoch board.
WMC practice manager resigns, will there be more to follow?
If the resignations keep coming at the W’bool Medical Clinic, Lyndoch may have $1.3m paid for fresh air.
Lyndoch spends up big on medical clinic, but at what risk?
Lyndoch paid $1.3m for the W’bool Medical Clinic, with nearly all of it spent on “goodwill”.
Which of our councillors have owned a racehorse?
A simple question of who on council has owned a racehorse is proving prickly.
Board silent after Lyndoch Living membership decisions
The Lyndoch board is saying nothing about who may have been accepted as members.
Racehorse trainers abandon Levy’s: the battle is over
At last: common sense has prevailed and Levy’s Beach/Tarerer coast will be spared from mass racehorse training.
Lyndoch board resignation kept under wraps…here’s why
Lyndoch board member Peter Downs resigned before Christmas and the community is being shut out of finding his replacement.
Cr Neoh attempts to be hero, but nobody falling for this one
All too little, too late: WCC Cr Mike Neoh pulls on the red cape as part of coup against CEO.
Lyndoch Living board member calls it quits…now what?
Well this is awkward. A Lyndoch Living board member has resigned, but who will fill the space?
Letter to the Editor sums up Lyndoch membership farce
No explanation necessary: this Letter to the Editor in the local paper is worth running in full.
Breaking down: WCC staggers under the weight of old ways
The WCC was hoping for change under the new CEO, but the resignations keep coming.
Lyndoch: more spent on lawyers and consultants than food
In the past two years, Lyndoch Living has spent more on lawyers, consultants and accountants than on food for residents.
Traditional Owners lift their voices, but will we ever listen?
In full: the moving letter by three Traditional Owners that was sent to WCC before last Monday’s crucial vote on racehorse training.
The truth behind Lyndoch’s immoral horse race sponsorship
The sponsorship deal between Lyndoch and the W’bool Racing Club makes a lie of an important promise made by Lyndoch 10 years ago.
Deficit: down the rabbit hole into Lyndoch Wonderland
We enter the world of Lyndoch Living, where down is up and deficits are good.
Racehorses: respecting Country and a crucial council vote
Monday night’s council vote on racehorse training at Levy’s will also be a test of our true respect for Indigenous culture.
WRC to WCC: Hi Bruce, can you help us out of a bind?
An email exchange between two powerful CEOs reveals so much about how business could be done in Warrnambool.
FOI: Digging into the numbers behind the Daz and Jaz show
When it came to swamping Warrnambool’s beaches with racehorses, there were just two names: Weir and McLean.
FOI confirms WCC weakness on racehorse training breaches
The WCC promised to keep a close eye on racehorse training at Lady Bay, but an FOI suggests it did very little.
Why is Lyndoch so paranoid about public scrutiny?
Lyndoch Living is owned by the community, but is acting more like a cabal, with a blanket rejection of new membership applications.
Senior W’bool City Council executive steps down
Another senior Warrnambool City Council executive has announced his resignation.
Election 2020: credit cards, rate rises and c*** acts
The 2020 council election is a chance for a clean out at the W’bool City Council, which has been damaged by in-fighting and financial scandals.
Lyndoch staff are finding their voices
Lyndoch staff are using an internal staff survey to speak up and out.
Blue-chip whistleblower goes public on WCC fraud inquiry
Frustrated by a lack of action over allegations of fraud and corruption, a whistleblower from the WCC steps into the light.
Lyndoch surveys staff, but the deeper questions remain
Lyndoch Living has hired a consultant to run a staff survey, but it could be – and should be – going so much deeper.
Amid allegations of staff shortages, Lyndoch’s off and racing
When aged care is under the pump, it’s hard to believe Lyndoch puts money toward gambling.
Lyndoch: a new company, complaints and potential conflicts
Complaints have been lodged with the Australian charities watchdog over Lyndoch’s move into a medical clinic.
Who’s paying? Lyndoch’s multi-million-dollar medical clinic
Plans for a multi-million dollar public medical clinic at Lyndoch Living raises more questions about priorities and funding.
Lyndoch Living chair issues statement to staff
Lyndoch chair Kerry Nelson has issued a statement to staff. It is worth reading and you can do so here.
Lyndoch: time to speak up, step up, and pull back the power
We need to speak up for Lyndoch and show that Warrnambool will not stand for bullies, no matter who they are, or what they promise.
Plenty more: digging into the back story of Lyndoch’s CEO
From Seymour to Plenty, the back story of Lyndoch CEO Doreen Power just raises more questions about her appointment.
Lyndoch board: Seymour sounds a warning on staying silent
The train-wreck of Seymour hospital should be a canary in the cage for the board of Lyndoch Living.
Inside Lyndoch Living and why we need to be worried
The back story to the Lyndoch CEO is why I am now diving deep into Lyndoch’s troubles. It’s going to be long haul, but necessary.
Lyndoch: champagne at the races, but no sheets and towels
It’s time the Lyndoch Living board and CEO were held to account for its spending priorities.
Shifting sands on racehorse access to coastal reserve
Two W’bool City councillors have modified their positions on allowing racehorses into a wild beach.
Trainer banned as WCC cracks down on Lady Bay breaches
The W’bool City Council is finally cracking down on racehorse rule breakers at Lady Bay.
Is Lyndoch Living stitching up a deal for Scoborio Reserve?
A piece of prime public land could be swept up in the expansion of Lyndoch Living.
Lyndoch Living pulling down the shutters on scrutiny
Lyndoch is behaving more like a private corporation than a community owned home for our elderly and infirm.
WCC suffers mortal wound in Mayoral election bloodbath
How does the W’bool City Council come back from the brutal Mayoral showdown? It can’t.
Time to ask the tough questions of those in charge
It’s a big week coming up for these two powerful women, and we should all be watching.
WCC tearing each other’s heads off in mayoral race
Knives out: Isn’t the selection of Warrnambool’s next Mayor going well!
Where did you go? Crunching the numbers on Lyndoch staff
Many of the staff I used to see around Lyndoch are no longer there. A closer look at staffing changes might explain why.
Lyndoch’s big spend-up powers on despite $1.77m deficit
Lyndoch is rolling on with a $100 million masterplan, but where the money is coming from remains a mystery.
Cr Gaston on credit card abuse: “This is a blip. It will pass.”
A leaked email shines a light on what former Warrnambool mayor Cr Kylie Gaston thinks of the corporate credit card scandal.
A record profit for WRC, so let’s leave Levy’s alone
Far from falling over, local racing has never been stronger – without any access to Levy’s Beach.
Why WCC whistleblowers don’t go to the boss
WCC chief Peter Schneider got off to a very bad start with building trust. Here’s why.
Boom! Whistleblowers drop a bomb on the WCC
A string of red-hot allegations have been sent to Ratepayers Victoria by WCC whistleblowers.
A few more Foxy facts before taking a breather
The Terrier is taking a bit of a breather, but here are some final Foxy facts before I go.
Credit card rort: Foxy the fact checker goes digging
The fresh facts on WCC credit card abuse just keep coming, thanks to Foxy the Fact Checker.
Hold your bark back: speaking up is a now a crime
Meet Foxy. We need Foxy, because speaking up is now a crime, especially if you shout at the WCC.
Shock vote sees WCC vote for in-depth investigation
Nobody saw this coming – the voices of the people have been heard loud and clear by the WCC.
WCC credit card #4 and laying the whole mess bare
The time has come, the walrus said, to lay it all out there about the WCC mess, so today I am doing just that.
Credit card no 3: two dinners costing more than $2000
The more the W’bool City Council tries to contain its credit card mess, the deeper the hole.
WCC response to who attended two big dinners and why
The W’bool City Council’s reply in full to my questions about the two dinners.
Change up: next generation of journos heading our way
One of Australia’s top journos, Jo Chandler, will be in town next week with a group of masters journalism students to look at climate change.
A silent old shed speaks volumes about WCC waste
It isn’t pretty, but this old shed speaks volumes about the waste that has gone on within the Warrnambool City Council.
Emails flying as factional brawl rolls on in Liberal branch
Meanwhile, over in sideshow alley, the local Liberal branch is tearing its own head off.
It’s a trough life: WCC meal allowance soaks up $160 a day
The WCC’s new travel policy allows up to $90 per person, per day, for dinner when travelling. This is frugality?
Is there more to the WCC credit card scandal? Yes.
For weeks now, I have been asked one question about the Warrnambool City Council credit card scandal: is there more? The answer is yes.
WCC credit card scandal: why the whole thing reeks
Mayor Tony Herbert was alerted to big spending by a council manager months before he says he was. How do I know? I told him.
Ratepayers Victoria calls for urgent investigation into WCC
The credit card scandal within WCC is not going away, in fact the heat is rising.
Huge dog fines turning into a catastrophe for council
Why would the WCC pursue $330 fines for pet owners other than bloody mindedness and greed?
Doubles: WCC allows senior managers to hold private jobs
Can a full-time, senior council manager have a second job in the private sector? At Warrnambool City, yes.
Lyndoch Living rolls out masterplan…and cuts nursing staff
Lyndoch Living is going for broke with its $100m masterplan, but cutting back on staff.
Mayor’s response…and did we pay for a day at Flemington?
Secrets: WCC Mayor Tony Herbert was the only councillor told of the credit card scandal, which just keeps rolling on.
WCC credit cards: bringing in Barry, the Boolshite detector
Whitewashing won’t work, it’s time to bring in an independent auditor and Barry the Boolshite detector.
On the gravy train, there are always plenty of passengers
The WCC credit card scandal does not stop with just one manager. In fact, a new receipt shows we’re at the tip of the iceberg.
Credit cards: Roma Britnell pushes for independent inquiry
South-West Coast MP Roma Britnell has weighed into the credit card scandal at WCC, asking for an independent inquiry.
WCC credit card: if it’s fraud, what are we doing about it?
Ratepayers don’t want another review, they want to know if there was fraud and, if so, what is being done about it?
Revealed: the credit card spending that was to be kept secret
Thousands of dollars in repayments for purchases on a WCC credit card were kept from ratepayers.
Thanks to grant win, the Terrier is turning up the volume
The Terrier wins funding from the $100 million Judith Neilson Institute to hire a cadet Indigenous journalist.
The smoking gun: WCC credit card scandal blows right open
Credit card scandal: WCC tourism chief David McMahon has resigned and this explains why.
WCC credit cards: from tapas to tackle, where is the scrutiny?
Would you like a receipt with that? A lack of detail and scrutiny sums up the use of one W’bool City Council credit card.
Credit card scandal widens to former WCC chief Bruce Anson
As the WCC corporate credit card revelations roll on, the former CEO himself makes an appearance over a $185 lunch.
Mayor Herbert swept up in WCC credit card scandal
Mayor Tony Herbert is staying silent on the WCC credit card scandal, despite being among those sitting at the table when breakfast was served.
Eye fillet, pork belly and seafood linguine: your rates at work
WCC ratepayers have footed the bill for thousands of dollars spent on meals racked up on one corporate credit card, by one council manager.
WCC responses to first batch of credit card questions in full
Credit cards: The W’bool City Council answers to my first questions…in full.
Air issues expose deteriorating state of W’bool Art Gallery
Given the poor state of the W’bool Art Gallery and W’bool Library, why not combine the two in a new building?
We don’t want ‘sexy’, we just want sensible spending
A decade of poor scrutiny has led to the WCC budget crisis now in play.
Where would we be if nobody took a risk?
Revisiting the place where Alf Altmann started his epic effort to row solo across Bass Strait.
Confronting our brutal and bloody past
At last we are telling the stories of our true history, rather than the sanitised version.
No rules, no boundaries: racehorse training at Albert Park
How on earth can racehorse training be allowed in a public park where kids walk to school?
Taking a peek inside the world of assets and freebies
The Register of Interests provides a fascinating insight into the world of Federal MPs, including our own, Dan Tehan.
Did the WCC backdate a lease to cover its backside?
Something doesn’t add up about the WCC’s sudden move to a written lease for a CBD property after 30 years.
Nothing in writing for 30-year lease to WCC staff member
The WCC has leased a council-owned CBD apartment to a staff member for 30 years…on a handshake deal.
Titbits: Mr Smith, Mr McLean, and the “missing” May Race Day buses
Terrier titbits: Mr Smith comes to Warrnambool and other bits and bobs from the wild world of racing.
After Budj Bim, how will we justify racehorses at Levy’s?
Once Budj Bim is declared a UNESCO World Heritage site, how will we explain allowing racehorse training at Levy’s Beach?
Titbits: WCC staff meet the Boss, and those Aquazone dollars
Coming to a theatre near you: W’bool City Council staff meet their new boss, and more on the $1 million pool works.
Aquazone soaking up big dollars for improvements
Almost $1 million will be spent on works at Aquazone, but where is the money coming from?
Titbits: spending up, trees down and doin’ the Sharp shimmy
What a waste: The cash-strapped WCC is hiring highly paid staff and cutting down trees to build things we don’t need.
Liberal Party election shenanigans at aged care home
Can a Liberal Party campaign worker help the elderly to vote? Yes, they can.
Ouch! WCC sports ground fees climbing by 100%
A decision to lift sports ground fees by 100% over four years is starting to bite.
Power to the trees…and the people
Two 115-year-old Moreton Bay figs have been saved from the axe. Take a bow, because you did this.
Pave paradise, put up a parking lot: saving our beaches
More bitumen, coming to a beach near you. A $620,000 carpark will be built at Lady Bay for the racing industry.
Highly respected researcher wades into racehorse debate
Top-gun academic Dr John Sherwood, from Deakin University, is adding his expertise to the racehorses on beaches issue.
May Racing Carnival again has blood on its hands
With the death of yet another racehorse from the W’bool May Racing Carnival, how on earth can we support jumps racing?
Terrier titbits: 30kph zones, old trees and an election
Terrier titbits #2: Life in the slow lane as 30kph zones are introduced across the CBD.
Terrier titbits: the marquee folds and toilets running slow
Tender, meaty morsels for crazy May Race week.
Trainer’s move to Warrnambool gets Weir-der and Weir-der
Why would WA trainer Lindsey Smith want to take on Weir’s stables in W’bool? Hmmmmm.
Lyndoch CEO and W’bool Racing Club chief share racing ties
Lyndoch’s sponsorship of the Grand Annual Steeplechase has taken another twist.
Racing club whacked with a feather for training breaches
The W’bool City Council has dragged out a big feather and gently tapped the Warrnambool Racing Club for multiple breaches of racehorse training rules.
Sharp points to bigger airport burden for WCC ratepayers
Sharp receives $75,000 it didn’t ask for, from a council running the airport at a loss. Go figure.
The Terrier punches above its tiny weight
The Terrier is one of only 11 projects to receive a Walkley Grant from more than 100 applicants.
Goodbye to the original terrier, my mum
The original terrier has left this world, but her legacy lives on in me.
Snow White, the Seven Dwarfs and the city of WooBoo
To explain the W’bool City Council budget woes, I could flood you with numbers or write a cautionary fairytale. I have gone for the latter.
Adam Kempton: 12 reasons why not to break the rate cap
Lawyer and provocateur Adam Kempton gives a dozen reasons why busting the rate cap is a very bad idea.
WCC ignores public opinion and pushes to break rate cap
The legacy of former WCC chief executive Bruce Anson is now being felt on the bottom line.
It’s official: Warrnambool is being fleeced for dog rego fees
Warrnambool is the second most expensive place in the whole of Australia to register your desexed dog. Why?
The people say “no” to plan for $600 market trader levy
A W’bool City Council plan to introduce a $600 market trader fee has hit a wall of protest.
Racehorses churn and burn at Lady Bay as WCC steps in
Racehorse trainers continue to ignore the rules at Lady Bay, despite the WCC meeting with the WRC this week to discuss numerous breaches.
We are one world: Christchurch
Warrnambool’s tribute to Christchurch: we stand with you. No more hate.
WCC plans to hit market traders with $600 fee
The WCC has sparked a near riot with its plan to hit market stall holders with a new $600 a year fee.
No words, just a beautiful Loud Fence
Warrnambool creates a LoudFence for all survivors of childhood sexual assault.
Lady Bay racehorses and beach kids a disaster in waiting
A potentially lethal mix of racehorses and young children came dangerously close at Lady Bay on the long weekend.
100 dead birds and rising in Lake Pertobe botulism outbreak
Within the calm surrounds of Lake Pertobe, there is a mass killing underway and not enough is being done to stop it.
Revealing the truth about south-west’s violent past
This massacre map is so confronting, but so necessary to examine if we are to face the truth.
W’bool puts up a massive fight for the Bight
What a beautiful, uplifting sight. One of the biggest protests seen in Warrnambool to #fightforthebight
WCC rate rise and the Hill that is bleeding us all
Flagstaff Hill will cost ratepayers $600,000 this year, with still no long-term survival plan in sight.
WCC rate rise and May Racing Carnival corporate tent
Budgets are tight, but the W’bool City Council’s corporate tent at the May Racing carnival is untouchable.
WCC rate rise and a $450,000 roundabout makeover
Despite WCC financial pressures, it’s full steam ahead for a $450,000 makeover to a city roundabout.
WCC rate rise and pushing $328,000 down a drain
Not a revelation, but a reminder of the $300,000-plus that could have been saved on Simpson St drain project.
Drinks on us: W’bool City Council’s corporate credit cards
Drinks on us: a closer look at the W’bool City Council’s corporate credit cards amid push for rate rise.
WCC rate rise and spending more than $900k on consultants
How to save $700,000 in seven days: the (almost) $1 million cost of consultants.
W’bool City Council rate rise and the Taj Mahal of toilets
How to save $700,000 in seven days, starting with the toilets.
Historic trainers to pay $341.25 per horse for beach access
While the battle for Levy’s rages, new details are emerging for racehorse training on other beaches.
Hi Tony, maaaaaate: the ties between the WCC and racing
The local Liberal Party ructions have exposed – again – the deep ties between the W’bool City Council and racing.
With disgraced Weir gone, the game is up
The hammer has fallen on trainer Darren Weir…and the ass has fallen out the argument to allow 800 racehorses a week at Levy’s.
Is the new Liebig St working, or not?
Is a lack of free parking killing Warrnambool’s Liebig St? A petition signed by almost 3000 people say it is.
Weir scandal offers WCC a chance to ditch Levy’s plan
The Weir-McLean scandal gives the W’bool City Council the perfect “out” from the disastrous plan to allow racehorses at Levy’s Beach.
The chequered past of Darren Weir and Jarrod McLean
Trainers Darren Weir and Jarrod McLean share a chequered past, punctuated by a string of offences under racing rules.
WCC spends thousands on Cape Schanck delegation despite pushing rate rise
The W’bool City Council spent thousands to send seven delegates to a conference at Cape Schanck last July, including the W’bool Racing Club CEO.
No racehorses in W’bool City Council’s 1998 plan for Levy’s
Yet another plan for Levy’s Beach that was started, never finished and then forgotten.
How can racehorse training be approved without an impact study?
Racehorse training is set to start at Levy’s, but there is still no environmental impact study.
WCC breaks its new coastal plan to allow racehorse training
The W’bool City Council went to great lengths to build a new coastal plan, only to ignore it.
Drawing deep for a long, tough journey
A stretch of our wild beach is about to be sacrificed, but this story reminds me of why we must not give up hope.
W’bool City Council sells out to might of racing industry
The W’bool City Council has crumbled under the weight of the racing industry by handing it access to a coastal reserve.
Urgent WCC meeting to endorse racehorses at Levy’s Beach
W’bool City Council will hold an urgent meeting this week to endorse racehorses training at Levy’s. The capitulation is almost complete.
Rumblings growing louder about racehorse training at Levy’s
Things have gone eerily quiet on the push to get racehorse training at Levy’s Beach, but I suspect something is afoot. (Image: Racenet)
All go, go for FOGO? Well, yes, yes and no, no
The WCC’s new organic waste service is a terrific move, but it could take a year or more before it reaches your street.
Sweet potatoes: how Purcell pushed Britnell over the line
James Purcell, having tried his darnedest to edge Roma Britnell out of her seat, ended up being the one who kept her in it.
Ten local takeaways from the state election
Ten local takeaways from the amazing state election.
Survey reveals staff stress and discontent within WCC
An independent survey of W’bool City Council staff has revealed that many of its workers feel stressed, undervalued and frustrated.
Purcell, potatoes and why the Liberals will win (again)
Election: The Liberals are shaping up for yet another win in the south-west, but can we make it at least close?
Construction giant hammers WCC for wasting ratepayers’ money
Construction giant Graeme Rodger has blasted W’bool City Council for a tender process that will see ratepayers pay $328,000 more for a project.
Lyndoch apartments slow to move, despite race sponsorship
Waterfront by Lyndoch sponsors the W’bool jumps race, but its apartment sales remain sluggish.
The “in-crowd” and the “out-crowd” damages democracy
Whether you like him or not, W’bool City Councillor Peter Hulin’s exclusion from ever being chosen as mayor is a big ‘stuff you’ to voters.
Racehorse training permit mess exposes serious issues
From breaking the law to conflicts of interest, the WCC’s handling of racehorses-on-beaches has exposed serious gaps in the system.
Off and racing: the Kylie, James and Martin show
In backing racehorse training at Levy’s Beach, Cr Kylie Gaston moved from environmentalist to a political beast. Some will never forgive her.
Racehorse debacle puts spotlight on W’bool City Council CEO
Racehorse training at Levy’s has been found to be illegal. Why did the W’bool City Council CEO not tell us what he knew?
Giant trees saved for now, but what happens next?
Two of our oldest street trees have been temporarily spared from the axe, but the fight is far from over.
Our wild places and old trees need saving, not destroying
This is our precious, living heritage and you, Warrnambool City Council, are trashing it.
W’bool City Council opens up on 30-year lease deal to staffer
By Carol Altmann It has been a bit like pulling teeth, but the Warrnambool City Council has finally released more detail about why it has…
Port Pirie had a Rolf Harris mural – now it doesn’t
A few days ago, Port Pirie had a mural by Rolf Harris in a local theatre – now it doesn’t.
Racing offers $267k sweetener for early access to Levy’s Beach
Racing is offering the W’bool City Council a big lump of sugar as part of its push to have racehorses back at Levy’s by December.
Free kick: Is Labor backing Purcell over its own candidate?
Free kick: Is Labor backing Independent James Purcell in the south-west?
Milking it: how Crs Neoh and Gaston can be councillors AND wanna-be MPs
By Carol Altmann Here is a legal loophole that is so big, you could drive a truck through it: you can be a local councillor…
Is W’bool City Council a bloated boys’ club? The sums say yes.
Despite rate capping and a growing salary bill, life at the top of the Warrnambool City Council remains lucrative.
WCC leasing deals: a wall of silence…and a shiny new shed
Nothing to see here. The WCC pulls down the shutters on revelations a staff member has rented a council property for more than 30 years.
New figures confirm Flagstaff Hill is done and dusted
New figures confirm Flagstaff Hill is in a death spiral: we now need to plan its replacement.
Huge changes afoot as Midfield Meats makes it move
Midfield Meats is on the move, with significant implications for Merrivale and beyond.
Lifting the lid on 30-year-rent deal for WCC staff member
A senior WCC staff member has lived in a subsidised, council-owned apartment for more than 30 years. How?
Are we being told the truth about Flagstaff Hill?
I have been looking at visitor numbers for Flagstaff Hill and there are worrying signs.
Plastic dump investigation needs a whistleblower
By Carol Altmann Every time I look at the above photo of Warrnambool woman Colleen Hughson, I am struck by the humility of it. There…
We just signed up to 76,800 horses on our wild beaches
By Carol Altmann The full power of the horse racing industry in Victoria has been laid bare. In 118 pages, the Belfast Coastal Reserve Management Plan…
All smiles: Dan Tehan’s friends in racing
MP Dan Tehan is a big fan of racing, but more than that, he owns shares in a racehorse with WRC chairman Nick Rule.
It will soon cost $70 to register your dog – and here’s why
The Terrier – Carol Altmann WARRNAMBOOL ratepayers are in for a shock next year (2019) when it comes to putting out their rubbish and registering…
How can you dump piles of deadly plastic without detection?
By Carol Altmann LAST November, millions of tiny plastic pellets (nurdles) were dumped illegally into Warrnambool’s sewerage treatment system – polluting our beaches all the way…
My child, how can I protect you?
This piece was submitted by a local woman who signed the petition to remove the Rolf Harris mural from the Lighthouse Theatre in Warrnambool. I…
Petition launched to advertise CEO position
A petition has been launched asking the W’bool City Council to advertise the position of its CEO for the first time in 11 years*. As…
W’bool City Council CEO salary goes higher and higher
You don’t know it, but the Warrnambool City Council voted to give its CEO, Bruce Anson, a pay rise last week and he now earns…
Does horse racing rule our town?
Carol Altmann – The Terrier One of the many things that struck me while working through the plan to allow commercial racehorse training on our…
10 good reasons why we must say no to horses and dogs
By Carol Altmann Why horses and dogs don’t belong in the conservation and conservation/recreation zones that will stretch from Killarney Beach to Warrnambool: 1. At…
Taking a stand: “But Carol, where will it end?”
I met two unforgettable people last week while collecting signatures to erase the mural by sexual predator Rolf Harris at the Lighthouse Theatre in Warrnambool.
Both of them, one a man, the other a woman, were survivors of child sexual abuse and were, as they described it, “finding their voice” to talk about such a personal atrocity and do everything they could to ensure that no other child would suffer what they had.
After Don and Harvey, can we stick with Rolf Harris?
What message does this black perspex send to women and girls in Warrnambool?
Embracing the winds of change in Warrnambool
I am so glad that the postal vote on same-sex marriage happened while I was living here in Warrnambool, because I needed to make peace with this town.
Edna Jones’ baby: a story of shame, secrets and setting things right
Marilla Lenne’s birth mother was Edna Jones, but she has never been recognised by the Gwen and Edna Foundation.
Can W’bool break its coffee cup habit?
By Shane Wilson* Walk down Liebig Street from 8.30am on every weekday, and come to think of it weekends, and you will see the hastened…
Could we play our own Trump card?
By Tom Waterwheel* Australians seem to view the rise of Trumpist populism with bemusement and alarm. The daily trainwreck of Donald Trump and his advisors…
Where are the ‘police’ Norfolk pines now?
The Terrier – Carol Altmann There is an interesting follow-up to our March piece about the removal of the two historic Norfolk pine trees from the…
No close shaves here: Paul Howlett
By Carol Altmann The beard is back and there is no more lustrous, free-flowing, eye-catching example than Paul Howlett’s in full flight as he strides down…
Midfield Merrivale milk factory off the boil
The Terrier – Carol Altmann [dropcap style=”font-size: 35px; color: #8cc7d0;”] T [/dropcap]wo of the most controversial projects to be approved in Warrnambool in recent times –…
How we get from topless bars to abuse
By Carol Altmann [dropcap style=”font-size: 35px; color: #8cc7d0;”] A [/dropcap]fter I published this piece, a reader wrote to me, asking how I “joined the dots”…
Tourism? We are missing out big time
The Terrier A little statistic popped out of Parks Victoria about six weeks ago that should have had us all gasping and wondering what we…
In full voice: the irrepressible Lyn Eales
By Carol Altmann [dropcap style=”font-size: 35px; color: #8cc7d0;”] L [/dropcap]yn Eales is a performer, a pacifist, an activist and an organiser; a leader, a doer,…
The power of a single, anonymous note
This piece was submitted by a reader. I will keep her name anonymous. [dropcap style=”font-size: 35px; color: #8cc7d0;”] I [/dropcap]t was with a heavy heart…
The boy who talked to teapots: Bill Abrahams
By Carol Altmann [dropcap style=”font-size: 35px; color: #8cc7d0;”] A [/dropcap]sk Bill Abrahams how his obsession with op-shops, thrift shops and secondhand stuff began and he pulls out…
Stroke of luck – surviving a killer
By Lee Nicholson [dropcap style=”font-size: 35px; color: #8cc7d0;”] C [/dropcap]lose your eyes for just a moment. Is everything silent? No?
Historic trees could have been saved
Opinion/Analysis by Carol Altmann [dropcap style=”font-size: 35px; color: #8cc7d0;”] D [/dropcap]o you remember the two giant Norfolk pines that were cut down at the Warrnambool…
When the heart hardens, the community hurts
By Jim Clarke, former editor and general manager of The Standard. [dropcap style=”font-size: 35px; color: #8cc7d0;”] A [/dropcap]s Australia’s two major publishers continue along…
Starting again…
[dropcap style=”font-size: 35px; color: #8cc7d0;”] M [/dropcap]ost of you will remember Bluestone Magazine, a small start-up that brought an online, fully independent magazine to south-west Victoria…
From bondage to a whole new discipline
By Carol Altmann [dropcap style=”font-size: 35px; color: #8cc7d0;”] W [/dropcap] hen I last saw Leah Potter about 14 years ago, she was standing 6ft 5″…
The Sleevehearts: putting it out there
[author] [author_image timthumb=’on’]http://www.the-terrier.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/lee-nicholson-smaller.jpg[/author_image] [author_info]Welcome to Soundcheck: a look at the local live music scene with Lee Nicholson. You can contact Lee at editor@the-terrier.com.au[/author_info] [/author] [dropcap style=”font-size:…
James Purcell’s potential conflict of interest
Opinion: MLC James Purcell’s potential conflict of interest. (Image: Enjoy Racing)
Purcell on racing industry: Hansard
Hansard: 15 September 2016 COUNCIL Adjournment JAMES PURCELL Mr PURCELL (Western Victoria) — The adjournment matter I raise tonight is for the Minister for Racing, Mr Pakula.…
Hot off the presses: Deakin plan
[box]This is the media release in full just issued by Deakin University:[/box] DEAKIN WARRNAMBOOL HERE TO STAY Monday, 3 October 2016 [dropcap style=”color: #a5cecd;”]D[/dropcap]eakin University…
WCC terminations, resignations and payouts
W’bool City Council terminations, resignations and payouts.
Deakin: Phillpot discreet amid leadership vacuum
Deakin: Phillpot discreet amid leadership vacuum.
Opinion: Deakin a casualty of poor leadership
Opinion: Deakin a casualty of poor leadership.
Opinion: Deakin Uni can afford to stay
Analysis: Deakin Uni can afford to stay, so why doesn’t it?
More than a farmer’s wife: rural women’s forum
Fashion and farming: designer Leila Sweeney is the modern face of farming life. Image: Andy Rogers
From a rock to our best-known sculpture
How did this wonderful sculpture get there? See our fascinating images and slideshow….
The fashionable world of Suzi Walter
Suzie Walter’s talent with fashion design goes back a long way – and right to the top.
FJ Markets no longer stalled, but racing
The Fletcher Jones Markets are no longer stalled but racing.
Uncovered: Rena Jones’ lovely letter to the people
Uncovered: Rena Jones’ letter to open Pleasant Hill.
Protected: Photos: Inside the new 222 Timor St
Subscribers: all the photos from 222 Timor St.
A renovation on a grand scale: 222 Timor
Step inside: The Taylor family has restored and renovated an 1850s building with incredible results…
WIN: Chinese New Year banquet at Proudfoots
WIN! Tickets to Chris Grace’s Chinese New Year banquet.
Women’s art prize unveils guest judge
[dropcap style=”font-size: 60px; color: #A5CECD;”] T [/dropcap]he new director of the Warrnambool Art Gallery Vanessa Gerrans will judge this year’s South West International Women’s Day…
Prominent Merri River site slated for subdivision
The Vault: What a prominent lawyer has planned for a prominent site.
Patloch Lane an opportunity gone begging
Analysis: Patloch Lane an opportunity gone begging.
Artery is pumping and here’s what’s next…
The Artery is pumping – and about to get even bigger.
A year of mid-century designs: Clinton Krause
Clinton Krause: A year of mid-century designs.
The Vault: emails on cost of swimming pool tiles
Inside The Vault: the cost of swimming pool tiles.
The artistic face of Christopher Grace
At arm’s length: we discover the artistic side of chef Christopher Grace.
“By the Winged Feet of Hermes”
By Joseph Buller By the Winged Feet of Hermes: A Tale in Two Parts Part One: Oh, such horrors, I shall bestow upon you all…
Drifting on a dream to the Drift House
Drifting: John Watkinson and Colleen Guiney are the creative minds behind Port Fairy’s Drift House.
Big spend on changerooms as diving pool sinks
Analysis: The Warrnambool diving pool is dead in the water – but big dollars spent on tiling. (Image: Lost Warrnambool)
The Vault: Behind the scenes of an ugly pre-selection
The Vault: Behind the scenes of an ugly pre-selection.
Win sparking wine for Christmas!
[box]Win! We have two bottles of Henkell sparkling wine to give away to one lucky subscriber. All you need to do to be in the…
Enclosed harbour expensive, risky and unnecessary: letter
Environmentalist Bruce Campbell writes on why enclosing the Warrnambool harbour is such a bad idea.
By-election: Ind Liberal Pete Smith has a final word..
By-election: Lib Independent Pete Smith lets loose.
By-election: why we are backing Roy Reekie
South West Coast by-election: why we are backing independent Roy Reekie. (Image: RJ & KF Photography)
Fun4Kids Festival 2015: the results are in
Analysis – Carol Altmann The figures for the 2015 Fun4Kids Festival are in, and it’s a case of good news and bad news for the…
The Stag starts new chapter in Sessions
The Stag, Port Fairy, has started a stunning new chapter under Kirstyn and Ryan Sessions.
Can the Maremmas save Flagstaff Hill?
Comment: Can the Maremma’s save W’bool’s Flagstaff Hill?
The pot, the shell dolly and the bower bird
Clinton Krause: visiting the amazing Drylie collection.
By-election: Roy Reekie on rail
[box]ROY REEKIE is running as an independent in the by-election for South West Coast. Here he writes about improving the rail service:[/box] [quote] [dropcap style=”font-size: 60px;…
By-election: Michael McCluskey on education
[box]MICHAEL McCLUSKEY is running as an independent in the by-election for South West Coast. Here he writes about improving education:[/box] [quote] [dropcap style=”font-size: 60px; color: #8F9F59;”]…
Priceless Fletcher Jones coat that fits us all
A priceless Fletcher Jones coat that fits us all.
First female Liberal candidate for South-West?
[dropcap style=”font-size: 60px; color: #A02F2F;”] A[/dropcap] little bit of history will be made on Sunday (Sept 20) if, as suspected, the Liberal Party endorses a woman…
McCluskey endorses marriage equality
By-election: Michael McCluskey endorses marriage equality.
By-election: Mayor Neoh tipped to run for Nationals
By-election: WCC Mayor Neoh tipped to run for Nationals.
Win a night of luxury at Drift House, Port Fairy
Win a night at The Drift House, Port Fairy. Full details here.
By-election: are we on a road to nowhere?
South-west coast by-election: are we on a road to nowhere?
Feeling a building in your bones
Profile: Award-winning designer Donna Monaghan doesn’t just look at buildings, she really sees them.
To the lighthouse: a trip to Cape Nelson
To the lighthouse: we take a tour of the Cape Nelson Lighthouse.
WCC Mackay trip: Keeping it in the family
Analysis: The WCC “fact finding” visit to north Queensland.
The write stuff: author Steven Conte
The Write Stuff: Port Fairy author Steven Conte on the rollercoaster of success.
How Bruce Anson appears to have a job for life
How Bruce Anson appears to have a job for life.
WCC continues to close off public scrutiny
Analysis: WCC continues to close off public scrutiny.
Tehan remains opposed to marriage equality
Wannon MP Dan Tehan remains opposed to marriage equality.
Win a night and dinner at The Merrijig Inn
CLOSED – WINNER ANNOUNCED IN JULY 19 EDITION [dropcap style=”font-size: 60px; color: #A02F2F;”] W[/dropcap]e like to reward our loyal subscribers for the enormous part they…
Reunion exhibition a 4-tifying experience
It has only taken 27 years, but the Gang of Four have reunited.
W’bool wakes up and smells the coffee
W’bool’s cafe revolution continues, with ‘Rough Diamond’ among them.
Where does WCC stand on same-sex marriage?
Analysis: Where does WCC stand on same-sex marriage? We find out.
Uncorking another Port Fairy winter weekend
Suffoir winery joins Port Fairy Winter Weekends gourmet feast.
No cutting corners: Jack Hancock joins Fabrication II
Gifted Melbourne clothing designer Jack Hancock, who grew up in Warrnambool, is adding his skills to Fabrication II.
The polarising force that is Cr Peter Hulin
Profile: the polarising force that is W’bool City Councillor Peter Hulin.
Stitch up: fabulous Fabrication on again
Stitch up: the fabulous Fabrication project is on again, using old materials salvaged from Fletcher Jones.
Mt Elephant rises from its slumber
Derrinallum mechanic Geoff Henderson is the keeper of the keys to a volcano – Mt Elephant – which is now open to the public.
Letters: Region suffers as training kitchens stand idle
Your letters: Region suffers as training kitchens idle.
A Front Paddock just perfect for grazing
The Front Paddock adds a touch of class to Derrinallum.
How David Jones saved “Metamorphosis”
How the late David Jones saved the sculpture “Metamorphosis”.
Why doesn’t W’bool have a major art prize?
Why doesn’t W’bool have a major art prize? Image: Craig Ruddy.
Koroit, coffee and the three-song commute
Koroit is becoming cool and artist Clare Fennessy, a new Koroit resident, is among those contributing to the change.
Hooded plovers play catch me if you can
Birdcatchers: the team behind the Hooded Plover tag project swoop into the south-west.
The Warrnambool man who taught Namatjira watercolours
The Warrnambool man who taught Albert Namatjira watercolours.
Once-proud “Rowitta” is now an abandoned ship
Flagstaff Hill tourism jewel now an abandoned ship.
Peter Ronald on the destruction of 100-year-old ‘Rowitta’
Former Flagstaff Hill director Peter Ronald on the end of the Rowitta.
The quietly dramatic art of Anne Fleming
We travel to the Dunkeld studio of painter and ceramist Anne Fleming.
Win a Lana’s Garden hamper or Piccolo voucher
CLOSED (winners Karen Walsh and Victoria Araldi) [dropcap style=”font-size: 60px; color: #A02F2F;”] T [/dropcap]he next 10 yearly subscribers will be in the draw for a…
$1.6m Wannon Park upgrade to proceed despite scandal
$1.6m upgrade for Wannon Park on track despite scandal.
Silencing councillors tightens grip on public right to know
The WCC and silencing the public’s right to know.
Huge apartments will set ugly precedent
Analysis: massive apartment plan will set ugly precedent.
True love: backyard hens and the egg factor
Why do we love our backyard hens? + Win a bag of chickenfeed!
When words fail, there is always art
As a dyslexic, Casterton artist Collin Tenney lets his art do the talking, with award-winning results…
Your feedback to us…
Hello subscribers and Bluestone readers, Thankyou to those people on our newsletter list who provided us with feedback on what you enjoy about Bluestone and the…
“Dysfunctional” council beats a rubber stamp
Analysis: Why we prefer a ‘dysfunctional’ W’bool City Council.
The thinking behind building a Big Life
Michael Barling & Sean Kenny on the thinking behind ‘Big Life’.
Unearthed: how the Warrnambool cemetery works
Unearthed: how the Warrnambool Cemetery works…
Harris mural a lost opportunity to take a stand
Harris mural a lost opportunity for renewal.
Sovereign Hill strikes gold as ‘Flaggy’ struggles
Why is Sovereign Hill striking gold as Flaggy Hill struggles?
Ed Mahony joins the race for WCC election
Fresh face: Ed Mahony’s bid to join W’bool City Council.
A friendship built on rock solid foundations
Two best friends who share a renovation dream.
Harris mural: who is listening to the survivors?
The Rolf Harris mural: who is listening to survivors?
Win a stunning glass pendant
CLOSED – winners have been sent an email. [dropcap style=”font-size: 60px; color: #A02F2F;”] A [/dropcap]re you one of the many people who has been meaning…
Heritage Vic to take no action against Flagstaff Hill
Inquiry clears Flagstaff Hill over missing relics.
Veil of secrecy over salary of the WCC’s top job
Analysis: The veil of secrecy over the salary package of WCC chief.
A really bright move – and it’s all about coffee
At Brightbird, it’s all about the coffee…and donuts.
A fence full of happy soles at Tyrendarra
Happy soles: the story behind the shoe fence at Tyrendarra.
If Harris mural stays, perspex must come down
Analysis: If the Harris mural stays, the perspex must come down.
Montgomery buys a slice of ‘Motang’ history
Who is the new owner of this landmark W’bool property?
Midfield plans may hit Merrivale house prices
Midfield plans may hit Merrivale house prices.
David v Goliath in Midfield expansion plan
The people of Merrivale – including Janis and Dean Bennett – are fighting a David v Goliath battle to stop the Midfield expansion of giant proportions.
Rare silver ball images emerge from collection
Work has started on telling the stories behind the Fletcher Jones factory – as rare images of the silver ball emerge from engineer Ralph Jones’ personal collection.
WA Museum chief says claim from “confusion”
UPDATE – Carol Altmann [dropcap style=”font-size: 60px; color: #DC943C;”] T [/dropcap]he Western Australian Museum has further investigated an incorrect claim by Flagstaff Hill director Peter Abbott…
WA Museum rejects Abbott’s claims of lost items
EXCLUSIVE: The Western Australian Museum has rejected claims by Flagstaff Hill director Peter Abbott that it could not locate more than 6600 items in its collection…
Investigation launched into Flagstaff Hill
EXCLUSIVE: An investigation has been launched into Flagstaff Hill Maritime Museum over its handling of the collection…
Women shine in W’bool Australia Day awards
Warrnambool Citizen of the Year, Vicki Jellie, has topped the list of Australia Day awards in a year dominated by women…
Tea-totallers welcome at Panmure pub
Teetotalling has taken on a whole new meaning at the Panmure Hotel, with owner Annie Lenehan offering high tea to her customers…
Win tickets to hear Clem Ford at IWD dinner
CLOSED – winners Jacqui Eberbach and Kate Scanlan Bluestone Magazine is giving away 2 tickets (valued at $90 each) to attend the International Women’s Day…
Win a Glenafton goat milk skincare pack
CLOSED: winners, Nan Adams, Lesley Barnewall, Jane McDonald, Patricia Edney, Marianne Anthony and Ann O’Keeffe. [dropcap style=”font-size: 60px; color: #DC943C;”] T [/dropcap]hanks to the generosity…
Flagstaff Hill: a museum in transition or a mess?
More revelations about the Flagstaff Hill collection saga …
Are missing Loch Ard ingots the tip of the iceberg?
In our first Opinion piece of the year, we ask if the Loch Ard ingots missing from Flagstaff Hill are just the tip of the iceberg…
A musical career with strings attached
South-west musician Philip Trigg has been performing classical and contemporary music his whole life, but is happy to remain very much in the background…
Wood carving part of a chain reaction
It is not the most delicate tool available, but a chainsaw is the starting point for Brad Hunt’s sculptural work in wood…
Street artist secures W’bool mural project
OPINION – Carol Altmann [dropcap style=”font-size: 60px; color: #A02F2F;”] L [/dropcap]eading Melbourne graffiti artist Matt “Adnate” Last has been chosen to create a $13,000 interactive mural in…
Young creatives: Bronwen Rose and ugly beauty
Young Creatives: Emerging artist Bronwen Rose.
All in the family for FJ Christmas picnic
The Fletcher Jones Christmas Picnic will see artist Damian McDonald joined by his daughter, Minapre, in what will be their first stall together….
Warrnambool trader levy poised for defeat
The votes are in on the controversial Warrnambool traders levy …
Why I am running: Michael McCluskey, Indpt
[box]In the lead-up to the Nov 29 state election, Bluestone Magazine invited candidates from the three major parties – Liberal, ALP and Greens – to…
Behind the spin, W’bool business is losing heart
OPINION [dropcap style=”font-size: 60px; color:#A02F2F;”] Q [/dropcap]uite a bit has been written about the latest Warrnambool Business Confidence Survey that tests the pulse of local…
Sucking the wind right out of Portland’s sails
Opinion: What is the long-term future of Portland?
Fletcher Jones cross will light up again
Exclusive: The last illuminated cross on top of the Fletcher Jones silver ball in Warrnambool will light up again from next month – but not on top of the ball. (Image: Mitch Stansfield)
Young creatives: the mythology of Alex Jones
Young creatives: Teenager Alex Jones, from Bushfield, is a young artist to watch out for, with his exploration of mythology already turning heads and winning prizes…
Fun4Kids: the missing bits
OPINION When the Warrnambool City Council gathers tonight (3/11) for its monthly public meeting, there will be one item missing from the agenda: the full…
Bool Belles Review: The Goldfinch
(CLOSED) [button link=”#https://www.facebook.com/BluestoneMagazine?ref=hl” color=”orange” newwindow=”yes”] If you are a subscriber and would like to win a copy of this month’s book, simply email us at…
Fun4Kids faces axe after cost blow-out
Opinion – Carol Altmann The 2014 Fun4Kids festival is expected to show a record loss of up to $600,000, prompting a recommendation from Warrnambool City Council staff that…
The ‘mystery man’ behind $20m apartment plan
EXCLUSIVE: We reveal the ‘mystery man’ behind the $20 million apartment complex proposal for Warrnambool…
This treasure mixes it with the best
[box] As part of our Treasures section, we will make a monthly visit to Tony and Luke at Ozone Bazaar in Koroit St, Warrnambool (who…
Granny’s Grave buried in bureaucracy
OPINION [dropcap style=”font-size: 60px; color: #DC943C;”] T [/dropcap]here are not a lot of memorials to women in Warrnambool: in fact compared to the ovals, parks,…
Historic trader levy vote: it’s not easy to say no
OPINION [dropcap style=”font-size: 60px; color: #DC943C;”] A [/dropcap]fter months of often acrimonious debate, Warrnambool traders will have an historic vote from next week on whether they…
Struggling with the question of why
Panmure artist Lisa Firestone asks some tough questions about suicide.
All words, no funding, for the Fletcher Jones story
OPINION – Carol Altmann If there was any doubt as to how much the Fletcher Jones Pleasant Hill site in Warrnambool means to locals, the…
The beat goes round and round for Spinners
[dropcap style=”color:#DC943C;”] I [/dropcap]t began as a good idea for a housewarming party that has taken on a life of its own as a regular rug-twisting,…
From legal eagle to sea eagle: Jock Serong
Words and photos by Carol Altmann [dropcap style=”color: #dc943c;”] T [/dropcap]he most commonly told story about Port Fairy editor and author Jock Serong is that…
New column: Exploring our retro architecture
New! We are delighted to welcome a new monthly columnist, Clinton Krause.
Councillors views on Rolf Harris mural
This is the full text of responses from elected councillors on the future of the Rolf Harris mural in Warrnambool. See the related Opinion piece…
Grappling with the work of a predator
OPINION – Carol Altmann [box] A warning: this piece contains details of Rolf Harris’s crimes which some readers may find distressing.[/box] [dropcap style=”color: #a02f2f;”] I…
Tracing the trajectory of artistic talent
[dropcap style=”color: #a02f2f;”] S [/dropcap]ix sensational visual artists who share much in common have combined for a new exhibition at Warrnambool’ SCOPE Galleries that opened…
You paid for the party – here’s who came..
OPINION [dropcap style=”color: #a5cecd;”] R [/dropcap]eaders will recall that earlier this year we revealed exclusively that the Warrnambool City Council spent $17,000 on hosting a…
Why I am running: Dr Denis Napthine
Dr Denis Napthine has been an MP since 1988, representing first the seat of Portland and then, under new electoral boundaries, the seat of South…
Night to celebrate legendary Capricorn Records
[dropcap style=”color: #a02f2f;”] T [/dropcap]he closure of Warrnambool’s iconic Capricorn Records later this month will not pass without an encore. A limited-ticket, public tribute to the…
A softie at heart: Megan Nicolson
Megan Nicolson’s work is winning hearts of all sizes across the south-west.
Gluten-free stall growing against the grain
Trish Naug Szollosi is gathering a reputation for her gluten-free goodies….
Trader levy halved – a victory for voices
OPINION [dropcap style=”color: #a02f2f;”] I [/dropcap]t has been a long and often heated battle, but the proposed compulsory traders levy to raise funds for Commerce Warrnambool…
Unravelling the mystery of public art commissions
Who decides what artists are paid for public work?
Why I am running: Thomas Campbell, The Greens
Why is Thomas Campbell running for the Greens?
Just the kit for Portland culture
Simon Greening, together with brother Jason, has added a little urban culture to Portland with a new venture based on very cool comics and cartoons…
Lack of schooling a ticking bomb
OPINION – Carol Altmann [dropcap style=”color: #a02f2f;”] T [/dropcap]here is a ticking bomb under south-west Victoria called a lack of education and it is set to…
Birthday edition – prize winners
CLOSED [dropcap style=”color:#A02F2F;”] T [/dropcap]o celebrate our first birthday we have given away some sensational prizes each week for the past four weeks. We…
New book: Warrnambool – This is home
[box] “Warrnambool – This is home” is limited to 500 signed and numbered copies: $30 plus $8 flat postage anywhere in Australia. You can order a book…
Warrnambool – This is home
[dropcap style=”color: #a5cecd;”] T [/dropcap]his limited edition book is no longer available for general sale. The last two copies will be offered as a…
Unravelling a tale of love in Port Fairy
[dropcap style=”color: #dc943c;”] A [/dropcap] love story quite unlike any other will be captured in a new exhibition at Port Fairy’s Whale Bone Gallery next month.…
Why am I running? Roy Reekie ALP
[box] Roy Reekie has chosen a Q&A style for his piece. The questions were selected by an interested observer, not Bluestone Magazine. [/box] [dropcap style=”color: #dc943c;”] R [/dropcap]oy,…
Reviving classic Australian furniture by hand
[box]A warning: by the end of this story, you will probably remember all of the stunning Australian-made furniture that you either threw away, saw poking out of…
The twists and turns of textiles: Ruby Richardson
[dropcap style=”color: #8f9f59;”] T [/dropcap]extile artist Ruby Richardson has had a life full of twists and turns, but joining a circus was perhaps the least expected.…
Spring picnic for Fletcher Jones gardens
The Fletcher Jones gardens spring picnic celebration is on this Sunday, September 14: find all the details here….
Trader levy deal…and the Jennifer Lowe factor
OPINION [dropcap style=”color: #a5cecd;”] A [/dropcap]s the proposed Warrnambool traders levy rolls into another month without a resolution between the two sides, there is a burning…
What about more fun for grown-ups?
OPINION [dropcap style=”color: #a02f2f;”] A [/dropcap]s Warrnambool restores the grass on the Civic Green after another whirlwind Fun4Kids festival, I can’t help but…
Reekie to challenge Napthine for South West Coast
COMMENT [dropcap style=”color: #8f9f59;”] A [/dropcap]fter months of speculation, Warrnambool lawyer Roy Reekie is poised to announce his preselection as the Labor challenger to Premier Denis Naphine for…
From artist to children’s author: Fiona Clarke
By Carol Altmann [dropcap style=”color: #a5cecd;”] W[/dropcap]hen Fiona Clarke was a little girl growing up in the 60s, most picture books were either British, based on…
Funky bar brings life back to dead alley
[dropcap style=”color: #a02f2f;”] I [/dropcap]t was fog-breath freezing and pouring with rain when Bluestone first discovered Coffin Sally’s bar which, theoretically, should have been as dead…
Council’s racing hospitality bill hard to swallow
OPINION As Warrnambool ratepayers prepare to swallow a 5.5 per cent rate rise this year, revelations that the Warrnambool City Council spent $17,000 on…
Trader levy shaping up for legal showdown
OPINION [dropcap style=”color: #a02f2f;”]P[/dropcap]lans to hit traders with a compulsory levy to raise $3 million over five years for Commerce Warrnambool are headed for…
Traders levy takes a new twist
OPINION – CAROL ALTMANN [dropcap style=”color: #a02f2f;”] P [/dropcap]lans to introduce a new trader levy to raise $3 million over five years for Commerce Warrnambool…
Remembering the art of Robert Ulmann
[dropcap style=”color: #abccab;”] O[/dropcap]ur campaign to restore the Robert Ulmann whale mural in Warrnambool has provided an opportunity to remember one of south-west Victoria’s most prolific artists, who…
Revealing the eye of the tiger: Peter Clayfield
[dropcap style=”color: #a5cecd;”] P[/dropcap]hotographer Peter Clayfield lives on the edge of a cliff which, on a clear day, has the sort of view that stretches…
Win a $50 framing voucher
CLOSED: Winners – Heather Martin-Trigg; Linda Veal; Andra Howman, Julie Eagles [dropcap style=”color: #a02f2f;”] A [/dropcap]s a reader of Bluestone Magazine, you love art, right? Of…
Forget cover ups: roll right over Rolf
OPINION [dropcap style=”color: #a5cecd;”] T [/dropcap] wo very unsettling things have emerged from the debate over whether a mural by convicted pedophile Rolf Harris should…
Fletcher Jones cross came a cropper
[dropcap style=”color: #a5cecd;”] T [/dropcap]he mystery of the missing Fletcher Jones cross has been solved, and, unfortunately, the ending is not pretty. As we…
Win tickets to Bethany film festival
CLOSED , JUNE 24. Winners Katrina Brightwell and Janis Bennett [dropcap style=”color: #8f9f59;”] W [/dropcap]e were delighted to get a call from the Bethany…
Community vision needs to extend city wide
OPINION – JULIE EAGLES A vision without a task is but a dream. A task without a vision is drudgery. But a vision and…
Brickie Barry steps in for an ageing whale
[dropcap style=”color: #a5cecd;”]B[/dropcap]ricklayer Barry Knowles is the sort of person who is often described as “salt of the earth” and he very much lives up to…
Missing: one old cross, last seen at FJs.
[dropcap style=”color: #a02f2f;”] W [/dropcap]ith the former Fletcher Jones factory in Warrnambool officially changing hands last Thursday (19/6), there has been a renewed…
“Flaggy” at a $15 million crossroad
OPINION With all the excitement around the sale of the Warrnambool Fletcher Jones site, important details on the future of another prominent site in the city –…
From serious science to one cool cat
[dropcap style=”color: #a5cecd;”] A [/dropcap]mid all the gloom of shops closing in Warrnambool, the city’s burgeoning cafe scene is stepping up to the plate to show…
Writing from the heart about ADHD
Author Wendy Coyle has written about the experiences of her son, Jack, who grew up with an attention deficit disorder, and is taking her work into the online world in the hope of further de-stigmatising the condition…
Transparency lacking over trader levy
OPINION [dropcap style=”color: #a02f2f;”] I [/dropcap]t is interesting to see Mainstreet Australia adding its voice to those urging Warrnambool traders to pay a special…
Art environment award delivers a message
[dropcap style=”color: #dc943c;”] A [/dropcap] “seductive” art work with a powerful message has taken out the 2014 SCOPE Galleries Art Award for works based on…
Scrap trader levy and start over
OPINION: [dropcap style=”color: #a02f2f;”] A [/dropcap] ballot will soon be held on whether Warrnambool traders should pay a special levy to fund a $600,000 marketing…
A love story built on literary lives
Words and photos by Carol Altmann [dropcap style=”color:#A5CECD;”] T [/dropcap]o spend time with authors Allan and Wendy Scarfe is to experience the lovely ease that comes…
Ignore Shaw and focus on the real issues
OPINION – ROY REEKIE [dropcap style=”color: #A02F2F;”] A [/dropcap]s someone with a keen interest in politics and a local political profile, I’ve recently been asked…
Finding harmony on the hill
[dropcap style=”color: #a5cecd;”] H [/dropcap]ow do two former police officers from Melbourne wind up running holiday accommodation near an ancient volcano in South-West Victoria? The same way…
You’ve come a long way, Koroit CWA
[dropcap style=”color: #a02f2f;”] I [/dropcap]t was only a few years ago that the Country Women’s Association was facing something of a crisis, with its…
Motor museum to revive Fletcher Jones site
OPINION [dropcap style=”color: #a5cecd;”] I [/dropcap]t has been a long time since there has been a feeling of genuine excitement around a project in…
Casterton honours Clarice Beckett
[dropcap style=”color: #a5cecd;”] I [/dropcap]t is a little known, but fascinating fact about South-West Victoria that one of Australia’s most inspiring early women artists, Clarice Beckett, was born…
The sculptor who helped save the snipe
By Carol Altmann On first appearances, Don Stewart looks more like the artist that he is and much less like the robust activist he has become.…
Win an Ella Webb limited edition print
CLOSED: Winners Fiona Haywood and Pat McLaren [dropcap style=”color:#8F9F59;”] T [/dropcap]he generosity of our supporters knows no bounds and this week we are offering…
Traders are right to be asking questions
With Warrnambool traders rallying to stop a controversial levy to pay for promotion and marketing, we have our say in OPINION on why they have every right to be angry and asking questions…
Whimsical art to capture the heart
[dropcap style=”color: #ddce8d;”] A [/dropcap]n exhibition of whimsical sculptures by artist and illustrator Jenny Laidlaw is in its final days at Blarney Books and…
New business levy to raise $600k for what?
OPINION [dropcap style=”color: #abccab;”] I [/dropcap]t’s a rare day when businesses ask other businesses to pay more – not less – council rates, but that…
A quiet hero who flies like an eagle
[dropcap style=”font-size: 60px; color: #DC943C;”] T [/dropcap]wo very inspiring and uplifting things have happened around Warrnambool in the past few weeks and a woman by…
What is holding Portland back?
OPINION One of the many joys of working on Bluestone is that we get to meet so many fascinating people who live in interesting…
Sprinkling some literary fairy dust
[dropcap style=”color: #dc943c;”] W [/dropcap]arrnambool’s own Paul Jennings will lead a trio of award-winning children’s authors and illustrators at the Warrnambool Books Children’s…
Charming bookshop starts new chapter
[box] Unfortunately The Little Bookshop closed in late July 2014. We wish Megan well for whatever she does next – she deserves every success.[/box] [dropcap…
Tony’s collection is top drawer
Former second-hand dealer TONY DRYLIE is a natural collector of unique and interesting objects, but when it comes to choosing a particularly special collection, he couldn’t…
A cafe that feels like coming home
[dropcap style=”font-size: 60px; color: #8F9F59;”] T [/dropcap]here are not too many cafes in the main street of a town that have a huge front…
A different way of doing things
OPINION [dropcap style=”font-size: 60px; color: #A02F2F;”]T[/dropcap]oday marks the beginning of a new chapter in the life of the former Fletcher Jones factory and iconic…
Imagine the skyline without the silver ball?
[dropcap style=”font-size: 60px; color: #A02F2F;”] A [/dropcap]bove is a small tribute to the hard-working team behind the Save the Silver Ball and Fletcher Jones Gardens…
Win a warming bottle of red
CLOSED FRIDAY MAY 9 – winner Sandra McGuire (and a second draw won by Rachel Peters) [dropcap style=”font-size: 60px; color: #A02F2F;”] F[/dropcap]eel that nip in…
Warrnambool’s own Laverne and Shirley
[dropcap style=”font-size: 60px; color: #A5CECD;”] S [/dropcap]hirley Handley and Brownyn Greene are two Warrnambool friends who are rarely seen apart when it comes to…
Fulton crosses threshold at The Artery
[dropcap style=”font-size: 60px; color: #A02F2F;”] T [/dropcap]he new exhibition space at The Artery, in Warrnambool, is already proving its worth with another top-shelf exhibition…
Strummin’ and a hummin’ with the ukelele club
[dropcap style=”font-size: 60px; color:#A02F2F”] I [/dropcap]t may look like a guitar that never grew up, but the plucky little ukulele has been enjoying a…
We still have jumps racing? Can’t get over it
As Victoria continues to buck the trend on placing a ban on jumps racing, we ask if steeplechasing really is integral to the success of…
Getting hooked on crochet, one stitch at a time
[dropcap style=”font-size: 60px; color: #ABCCAB;”] A [/dropcap]rtist Shelley Husband can write proficiently in at least two languages: one is English, and the other is…
The heartache of saying goodbye
[box] This column is normally reserved for comment on local issues, but occasionally it will also be used for short thoughts about every day life.…
Bird lovers can scratch that twitch
[dropcap style=”font-size: 60px; color: #8F9F59;”] I [/dropcap]f you are a regular reader of Bluestone, you will know that we love birds. We are…
The simple joy of baking – French style
Bridie West makes magnificent macaroons as part of her Port Fairy bakery, and the story behind how she came to cook such French delicacies is inspirational…
Framlingham gears up for 150th anniversary
[dropcap style=”font-size: 60px; color: #A02F2F;”] D [/dropcap]espite being less than 30km from Warrnambool, the Framlingham Aboriginal Reserve has often seemed like a million miles…
Having a year of your life back
[box] This column is normally reserved for comment on local issues, but occasionally it will also be used for short thoughts about every day life.…
A sculptor with the heart of a Lyon
[dropcap style=”font-size: 60px; color: #A02F2F;”] I [/dropcap]f sculptor Jon Dixon had his way, this story would contain only a single sentence: “art is…
Five-star pedigree behind pantry door
[dropcap style=”font-size: 60px; color: #A02F2F;”] P [/dropcap]astry chef Andy Hall has the sort of five-star resume to be a cliched, arrogant chef that we…
Win a $600 Jon Dixon sculpture
Award-winning sculptor Jon Dixon has very generously donated one of his work’s valued at $600 for us to give away to one lucky paid subscriber to Bluestone Magazine…click on image for full details.
David Jones Jr on the future of the FJ site
OPINION [dropcap style=”font-size: 60px; color: #ABCCAB;”] A [/dropcap]s Heritage Victoria prepares to inspect the dilapidated Fletcher Jones factory in Warrnambool next Monday (7/4),…
My greatest challenge: Alf Altmann’s diary
Last week we brought you the full story of Alf Altmann’s ill-fated attempt to row solo from Tasmania to Victoria in 1970. Alf, of Warrnambool, kept…
The beauty of bathing in goats’ milk
[dropcap style=”font-size: 60px; color: #DC943C;”] W [/dropcap]hen you climb into the bath with a goat’s milk soap made by Sharyn Carmichael, you will know…
Abb, art and the immigrant journey
[dropcap style=”font-size: 60px; color: #DC943C;”] A[/dropcap]rtist Abb Marzouk represents all of the mental, physical and emotional challenges that face people who come to Australia in the…
Reviving Alf Altmann’s epic adventure
Alf Altmann’s attempt to cross Bass Strait solo in a home-made kayak in 1970 is the stuff of legend. Bluestone has pieced together the full…
Where is Alf Altmann’s kayak now?
By Carol Altmann In revisiting Alf Altmann’s fateful effort to cross Bass Strait solo in his home-made kayak, one question inevitably arose: where is the…
Hunt on for ex-staff of Lady Bay Hotel
[dropcap style=”font-size: 60px; color: #ABCCAB;”] I [/dropcap]f you ever lived in Warrnambool at any time up until around 2001, then these three words…
Fancy a lunch with the Farmer’s Wife?
CLOSED MARCH 23 – winner Louise Parlour [dropcap style=”font-size: 60px; color: #A02F2F;”] W [/dropcap]e love to reward our Bluestone Club members (our wonderful…
Helping to mend broken family ties
[dropcap style=”font-size: 60px; color: #A02F2F;”] E [/dropcap]arlier this year, we revealed the full story behind the “Granny” of Granny’s Grave, in Warrnambool, with the…
Don’t drop the ball on FJ’s silver icon
OPINION – Carol Altmann [box] The campaign to restore the Fletcher Jones silver ball is gathering pace, amid questions of whether it is still…
St Brigid’s story proves anything is Pozible
[dropcap style=”font-size: 60px; color: #8F9F59;”] O [/dropcap]ne of the most highly anticipated local books in a long time is Regina Lane’s story about the battle to…
Old Holden just keeps rollin’
[box] There is nothing like a classic car to stir up memories of youth, simpler days and early romance – we talk to Russell Attrill,…
Life is sweet after a rocky road
[dropcap style=”font-size: 60px; color: #ABCCAB;”] I [/dropcap]n that funny way of life, a painful and unexpected event can often lead to a fresh start…
Broken link prompts a fresh start
By Carol Altmann [dropcap style=”font-size: 60px; color: #A5CECD;”] W [/dropcap]hen the wheels fell off the Artlink program earlier this year, Warrnambool artist Jenny Altmann found…
Double passes to The Quarry garden
CLOSED MARCH 17: Winners, Peter Smid, Phyllis Walsh, Janis Bennett, Lana Campbell, Karen McKenzie, [dropcap style=”font-size: 60px; color: #8F9F59;”] O [/dropcap]ur story about the spectacular…
$100 voucher to the Pantry Door at Basalt
CLOSED MARCH 14: winner, Loretta Gurnett [dropcap style=”font-size: 60px; color: #A02F2F;”] W [/dropcap]e have a sensational prize for one of our lucky Bluestone Club members (our…
Lost history finds loyal following
By Carol Altmann [dropcap style=”font-size: 60px; color: #ABCCAB;”] P [/dropcap]reserving and, just as importantly, sharing our history is no longer only the preserve of museums,…
The Silver Ball under the silver ball
[dropcap style=”font-size: 60px; color: #A5CECD;”] I [/dropcap]f there is one thing Clive Bray has never had to worry about during his many years as a…
Flagstaff Hill in danger of missing the boat
OPINION It’s two years since the Warrnambool City Council announced a review into the future of the Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village – which turns 40…
Fletcher Jones site taken off the market
EXCLUSIVE [dropcap style=”font-size: 60px; color: #A5CECD;”] T [/dropcap]he Fletcher Jones site has been withdrawn from sale, pending a change to its zoning by the…
From ugly quarry to garden of eden
[dropcap style=”font-size: 60px; color: #A02F2F;”]P [/dropcap]aul Ryan has the salty-haired, stocky, sun-browned body of a person who has spent a life working outdoors and…
Mini FJ’s silver ball to shine again
[dropcap style=”font-size: 60px; color:#A02F2F;”] A [/dropcap] miniature, but otherwise almost perfect replica of the iconic Fletcher Jones Silver Ball in Warrnambool is poised to be brought…
Barry Peters CD pack
CLOSED: winner Kate Melican Rollo [dropcap style=”font-size: 60px; color: #DDCE8D;”] T [/dropcap]his is a competition for the younger Bluestone Magazine fans! We have a…
Fletcher Jones recommendations:
THE WARRNAMBOOL PLANNING AND HERITAGE GROUP: [dropcap style=”font-size: 60px; color: #DC943C;”] R [/dropcap]ecommendations to council: i) Council and Heritage Victoria to conduct a survey…
Be all things or stick to the basics?
[dropcap style=”font-size: 60px; color: #A5CECD;”] C [/dropcap]ouncils were once primarily responsible for rates, roads and rubbish: my, how times have changed. The 16-point list…
Port Fairy bookclub review: Eyrie
[box] Bluestone recently profiled the Last Thursday Book Club in Port Fairy and invited members of the group to tell us about their book of…
From a cupcake copper to a farmer’s wife
[dropcap style=”font-size: 60px; color: #ABCCAB;”] A [/dropcap]t the risk of using a bad pun, a new alleyway café in the heart of Port Fairy…
Conservation and creativity in the same basket
[dropcap style=”font-size: 60px; color: #A02F2F;”] B [/dropcap]ushwalking with Cherree Densley would be an eye-opening experience, as not only does she know the names of…
Oh Biba, look at you now!
[dropcap style=”font-size: 60px; color: #A02F2F;”] L [/dropcap]ate last year, Bluestone Magazine captured the transformation of 222 Timor St, Warrnambool, from a derelict heritage-listed building to…
Newton’s Ridge Chardonnay
CLOSED: Winner Jan Allan [dropcap style=”font-size: 60px; color: #A99E90;”] W [/dropcap]atch out wine lovers, we have something very special for you! This week we are…
T-shirt captures the infamous ‘Cri’
Lawyer ROY REEKIE, who recently returned to live in his home town of Warrnambool, tells us about an item that is dear to his heart…
Who is the ‘Granny’ behind Granny’s Grave?
By Carol Altmann One of Warrnambool’s most enduring mysteries has been the identity of the “Granny” buried at Granny’s Grave high in the sand hills…
Has food ever felt this good?
[dropcap style=”font-size: 60px; color: #DDCE8D;”] W [/dropcap]hen Tara Davies began stitching and sewing items to sell at her first market, she didn’t expect some of her…
The Save Fletcher Jones campaign
[dropcap style=”font-size: 60px; color: #A5CECD;”] B [/dropcap]luestone Magazine is part of a growing grassroots campaign to save the best of the iconic Fletcher Jones…
Australia Day awards – did we forget someone?
This time last week, the City of Warrnambool was celebrating the announcement of its annual Australia Day award winners and, incredibly, there was not a…
Who will step up for Fletcher Jones?
Analysis – Carol Altmann In December last year, we first published an opinion piece about the future of the iconic Fletcher Jones Pleasant Hill site…
Last Thursday a first priority for book club
[dropcap style=”font-size: 60px; color: #A5CECD;”] W [/dropcap]hile there are infinite joys about becoming a mother, the loss of stimulating conversation or intellectual discussion can prove…
Oh possum, you are a hero in the heat
The recent heatwave from hell may have lifted, but the work never stops for wildlife carers who are at the frontline when it comes to caring for distressed native animals, like this week’s Quiet Hero.
A Chinese coat of many memories
This week in our new section, Treasures, we asked well-known Port Fairy resident Di Clanchy to choose something precious from her visits to China and what a glorious choice she has made…
Time for a fresh start with Australia Day
Analysis – Carol Altmann [dropcap style=”font-size: 60px; color: #A5CECD;”] S[/dropcap]omething ugly happened in a Warrnambool supermarket last week.
Moooove over cows, the goats are coming!
[dropcap style=”font-size: 60px; color: #8F9F59;”] G [/dropcap]iven Allansford is deep in cow country, Melissa Lewis is somewhat of a black sheep by using her 20-acre…
Books pave new road for Melbourne
Many public servants, at some point in their lives, have sat at their desk and dreamt of opening a bookshop and Dennis Melbourne was no exception: now he is living his dream with a bookshop in Koroit…
Broken link for Artlink
Opinion: Should artists with disabilities be relocated to Warrnambool’s industrial estate? We think not and here’s why….
Nothing minor about this Mini
[box] Welcome to Treasures: this is a new section where we invite you to tell us about an object or item that you treasure. It…
For the love of horses
[dropcap style=”font-size: 60px; color: #A5CECD;”] H [/dropcap]elping animals in distress is one of the noblest things us flawed humans can do. While most of us…
Different life stages for pages
[dropcap style=”font-size: 60px; color: #A5CECD;”] G [/dropcap]iven Joe Logan is a reader, an English teacher and a bibliophile, what she does to used and old…
Losing sleep over a load of rubbish
We are not sure what sins Warrnambool has committed to deserve being woken in the middle of the night each week, but its poor residents…
A blue, blue Christmas
[dropcap style=”font-size: 60px; color: #A02F2F;”] I [/dropcap]f you thought you were going to get away without even ONE Christmas Carol from Bluestone Magazine, then think…
Homestyle cakes a recipe for success
There is a fair chance that among all of the thousands of cafe reviews ever written, very few have featured a cafe inside a nursing home. Yes – a nursing home. And the particular nursing home in question is the largest and oldest in Warrnambool – Lyndoch…
Close Flagstaff Hill; save Fletcher Jones
If there is one thing Warrnambool needs to get right, it is the preservation of Pleasant Hill and the Fletcher Jones site…so why are we spending so much time, money and effort on Flagstaff Hill instead?
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End of the line for fine art at Sherwood Park
Mark Rashleigh is the last man standing at what was once a flourishing School of Art and Design at Sherwood Park, Warrnambool, and, come mid next year, he too will be gone.
Christmas stories for any age
Christmas is a wonderful excuse, if you need one, to enjoy timeless children’s Christmas stories. Warrnambool Books select their top five Christmas books for kids…
Walking with strength and purpose
[dropcap style=”font-size: 60px; color: #A5CECD;”] I [/dropcap]n October, we brought you the story of Susie Alexander, from Warrnambool, who we nominated as one of our…
A spotlight on creators this Christmas
[dropcap style=”font-size: 60px; color: #8F9F59;”] G [/dropcap]iven it is almost Christmas, we thought we would highlight some of the wonderful creators around South-West Victoria who…
New book on the faces of Warrnambool
[dropcap style=”font-size: 60px; color: #A02F2F;”] T [/dropcap]his is Brian Mills and he works nights, or very early mornings, depending on how you measure 4am starts.…
Keeping the spirit of Fletcher Jones alive
It says a lot about the importance of the Fletcher Jones gardens to Warrnambool that even though the Raglan Parade factory has fallen silent…
The purrfect Christmas kitty
[dropcap style=”font-size: 60px; color: #A99E90;”] O [/dropcap]ccasionally, we post an item from Gumtree – the online sell/trade/swap site – that is odd, unusual, funny…
Riding a wave of success with surf wax
[dropcap style=”font-size: 60px; color: #A02F2F;”] E [/dropcap]ach member of the “board” is only 13 years old, but don’t for a moment think that the team…
Starting a new life, right off the bat
Most people know him for his cricket or his cooking, but the story behind Jayaweera “Bundy” Bandara is also one of starting over to build a new life in Warrnambool…
Behold this bluestone beauty
[dropcap style=”font-size: 60px; color: #A5CECD;”]T[/dropcap]aking on the restoration of a bluestone cottage in a rugged coastal landscape may sound romantic, but it is not a…
It started with two eggs: the story of Pip
By Carol Altmann [dropcap style=”font-size: 60px; color: #DDCE8D;”] T [/dropcap]o some people, the destiny of a sand plover sitting on a nest probably doesn’t…
On the road with the Schoolies
[dropcap style=”font-size: 60px; color: #A5CECD;”] L [/dropcap]ast week for our Quiet Hero we brought you the inspiring story of the Year 12 students from Bayview…
Australian stories for Australian kids
[dropcap style=”font-size: 60px; color: #A02F2F;”] D [/dropcap]o you remember growing up and reading a pile of adventure books that, as wonderful as they were,…
The many faces of Nikki Gemmell
[dropcap style=”font-size: 60px; color: #DC943C;”] F [/dropcap]ormer ABC journalist and now successful author Nikki Gemmell can never be accused of being predictable. It has been 16…
Secrets of an old shoe
[box] Bluestone Magazine recently brought you the story of the rejuvenation of 222 Timor St, Warrnambool. This week, we tell the story of one fascinating…
Colonial oven still makes a crust
When Paul Sanders and his wife moved into an old bakery in Dunkeld, they had no intention of doing anything with the disused, 135-year-old oven that dominated one wall of their bedroom.
A life-changing adventure for Schoolies
[dropcap style=”font-size: 60px; color: #A5CECD;”] T [/dropcap]he end of the school year for Year 12 students has, unfortunately, become associated with some fairly high-level drinking…
A long way from Pomonal to Pip
Kate Bouman, from Naringal, has taken the long way round, but she has come back to creating the delicate art she first began to explore as a child.
Buy a book for a child this Christmas
[dropcap style=”font-size: 60px; color: #8F9F59;”] W [/dropcap]e have something a bit different for our Bookmarks this week that we hope will resonate with our readers who,…
No time limit on this wearable art
[dropcap style=”font-size: 60px; color: #A02F2F;”] I[/dropcap]n the dexterous hands of Hawkesdale artist Helen Bunyon, a broken clock, a wrecked watch or a discarded fuse can…
A little less conversation, a little more action
[dropcap style=”font-size: 60px; color: #A02F2F;”] W [/dropcap]hat is this inertia that appears to be holding Warrnambool in an iron-like grip and preventing this beautiful city…
Restoring a treasure back to life
[dropcap style=”font-size: 60px; color: #A02F2F;”] A [/dropcap]fter years of decay, the old piano shop opposite Swintons, in Warrnambool, is being brought back to life by…
Sustaining a vital art link
The team behind Artlink Studio are doing something very special in the Warrnambool art scene that puts the city on par with a movement happening in places like New York, London and Paris…
Our world: Robin Sharrock
If any of us need reminding that we live in such a beautiful part of the world, this image by Robin Sharrock should do it…
Is this the smallest violin you have seen?
[dropcap style=”font-size: 60px; color: #DC943C;”] T [/dropcap]his tiny violin was carved from either ivory or bone or something similar and was made by my late…
Nothing foreign about this blue tune
Foreigner was one of the biggest bands in the 1980s and, even today, you can hear the muzak version of “I wanna know what love…
A long way from suet pudding
[dropcap style=”font-size: 60px; color: #8F9F59;”] O [/dropcap]ld-fashioned cooking techniques and recipes are making a comeback, although perhaps without the levels of salt, fat and…
United we stand
[dropcap style=”font-size: 60px; color: #DDCE8D;”] E [/dropcap]ach week we like to celebrate a quiet hero in South-West Victoria – somebody or something that is making…
This jellybean is really jumpin’
Creators like Johanna Glennen have found a way around balancing their craft with raising their children: they are taking their work online.
Changing times for watchmaker
As a master watchmaker, Kylie Carter lives by the clock…and enjoys nothing more than restoring a time-piece to its former glory.
Classic story still dressing bookshelves
[dropcap style=”font-size: 60px; color: #8F9F59;”] T [/dropcap]here is a great story behind this week’s choice for Bookmarks, The Dressmaker. It was published 13 years ago…
And now for the king…
If somebody asked you to name a song with ‘blue’ in the title, we think there’s a fair chance you might pick this one: Blue…
No grilling here!
[dropcap style=”font-size: 60px; color: #A5CECD;”] E [/dropcap]ach week, we post an item from Gumtree – the online sell/trade/swap site – that is odd, unusual, funny…
New path leads to Lozzar’s
[dropcap style=”font-size: 60px; color: #A02F2F;”] A [/dropcap]t some point in our lives, most of us reflect on whether what we do for a living makes…
Life is a real buzz as a beekeeper
[dropcap style=”font-size: 60px; color: #A99E90;”] W [/dropcap]hen it comes to making a living, Brentan Doeven has chosen a path with a real sting in the…
Beautiful craft of bookbinding
Flashback: Murray Simper and the gentle craft of bookbinding.
A lot to like about these Celts
Take a generous serving of Scottish and Irish music, add a dash of jazz and a pinch of Reggae and you might have something close to the magical formula of Likely Celts…
What is going on at this pool?
Each week we post a Gumtree gem: an odd, funny or unusual item we have found on Gumtree, the online buy/sell/swap site. Most are from…
Pushing the boundaries
[dropcap style=”font-size: 60px; color: #A5CECD;”] T [/dropcap] his week’s quiet hero was summed up to us as being “a really incredible Mum”, but – being relatively…
Shining like a blue diamond
Our Blue Tunes this week is by another enduring artist who, in his latter years, may have become associated with the seniors set…but hey, he…
Sister cities or business brothers?
[dropcap style=”font-size: 60px; color: #DDCE8D;”] A [/dropcap]mid all the arguing about whether Warrnambool City Council should send a delegation to Miura, Japan, for Sister…
Preserving Indigenous stories
[dropcap style=”font-size: 60px; color: #DDCE8D;”] L [/dropcap]ocal Indigenous artist Fiona Clarke, of the Kirrae Whurrong people, is well-known and widely respected for her work in tapestry…
Shaking up the atomic age
[dropcap style=”font-size: 60px; color: #A02F2F;”] A [/dropcap]nd this week in Mum’s Drawer we have some little bombs… Well, the 1950s was a time full of…
Writing a star-studded novel
[dropcap style=”font-size: 60px; color: #A5CECD;”] B [/dropcap]oy, we have some talented school teachers in South-West Victoria. Not only do they have the exhausting and often…
Our quiet heroes: the Drylies
[dropcap style=”font-size: 60px; color: #A02F2F;”] W [/dropcap]hat we love about our quiet hero section is that we get to celebrate people doing things that might…
Art as medicine: Glenn Morgan
As one of South-West Victoria’s most successful and prolific artists, Glenn Morgan could have easily become pompous and aloof, but instead he remains refreshingly down to earth and committed to his home town.
Take yourself back to 1987…
Let’s go back to 1987 – a year when hair was worn high, Bob Hawke was our Prime Minister, Queensland Premier Joh Bjelke-Peterson stepped down…
Nothing like a fresh coat of paint
[dropcap style=”font-size: 60px; color: #DC943C;”] T [/dropcap]his week from Mum’s Drawer we have extracted an attractive brochure detailing how to brighten your home with Dulux…
Cheapest house ever?
Each week we post a gem from Gumtree gem – the online sell, buy, swap site – that is odd, unusual or just plain different.…
Retro meets whimsy
‘Whistleblower’ by Ben Sanders. [Image: www.bensanders.com.au] [dropcap style=”font-size: 60px; color: #DC943C;”] D [/dropcap]ENNINGTON is a little town that punches above its weight in terms of growing…
Stitching it all together: Joella Hill
A young woman from Terang, Victoria, is making her mark in the world of travel accessories with her one-off, funky designs that are sure to…
Do you remember the Drive-in?
This week’s offering from Mum’s Drawer isn’t from Mum’s Drawer at all, but we couldn’t resist sharing it with you…does this look familiar to those of you from around Warrnambool?
The lighter side of teaching
[dropcap style=”font-size: 60px; color: #DC943C;”] A [/dropcap]nyone who has worked as a relief teacher in a primary school – or remembers their own relief teachers…
Poetry in blue
Who is the greatest song writer of all time? Okay, maybe that is a tough question, so perhaps we can ask: who are the top…
When scrutiny is sub-standard, democracy suffers
Something very troubling is happening in our community when it comes to the local media’s scrutiny of those in power. Since returning to Warrnambool in…
Our quiet hero: Susie Alexander
[dropcap style=”font-size: 60px; color: #A02F2F;”] T [/dropcap]HIS week’s quiet hero is somebody rarely caught without a smile on her lovely face, even when life throws…
Need a little gardening?
Each week we post a gem from Gumtree – the online buy, sell, swap site – that is odd, unusual or just plain different. Most…
Couch with an ouch…
Each week we post a gem from Gumtree – the online buy, sell, swap site – that is odd, unusual or just plain different. Most…
At last – a cookbook you can use!
[dropcap style=”font-size: 60px; color: #8F9F59;”] H [/dropcap]ow many times have you been lured into buying a sumptuous-looking cookbook, only to find that the fine print…
Gardeners get down and dirty
[dropcap style=”font-size: 60px; color: #8F9F59;”] T [/dropcap]urning old quarries into beautiful places and spaces is something of a Warrnambool speciality: the late Sir Fletcher Jones…
To Hoover, or not to Hoover?
This is the sort of thing that once stimulated “controversy” in households across Australia…to Hoover, or not to Hoover, the new carpets? When Mum bought…
Blue (stone) skies shining on me….
If you have been following this section, you will know that given we are called Bluestone, we thought it only fitting that each week we…
Cows in curlers…well, almost
The nightmares began for Ashlea Wines about a fortnight ago. Cows were running loose, judges failed to show up, the rain came down in bucketloads and Ashlea left all of the prizes at home.
Our quiet heroes: the Holden club
[dropcap style=”font-size: 60px; color: #A5CECD;”] O [/dropcap] UR choice of quiet hero for this week is a very personal one, based on my brother Glenn’s recent…
Our quiet heroes: those looking after nature
[dropcap style=”font-size: 60px; color: #8F9F59;”] O [/dropcap]ne of the many beautiful things about living in South-West Victoria is the wild environment that surrounds us, from…
Thriving on flower power
Andy and Debbie Doeven live the kind of life that most people only fantasise about while staring out the window from their desk job. It has been more than 20 years since the pair decided to uproot from suburban Melbourne and start afresh …
All I need is the air that I breathe…
Each week we post a gem from Gumtree – the online buy, sell, swap site – that is odd, unusual or just plain different. Most…
Tangled up in blue..stone!
If you have been following this section, you will know that given we are called Bluestone, we thought it only fitting that each week we…
A well-travelled junket
[dropcap style=”font-size: 60px; color: #A02F2F;”] D[/dropcap]O YOU remember junket? Perhaps you still eat it? These two packets of junket date back to somewhere in the…
Windy? Make the most of it!
“My friend the wind will come from the hills When dawn will rise, he’ll wake me again My friend the wind will tell me a secret He shares with me, he shares with me…” Growing up in Warrnambool, we had…
Working like a dog…
Hello, it is Barney Bluestone here (one of the two Bluestone cocker spaniels). Normally the two-legged people in the household write these introductions to…
YUMCHA is our hero of the week
[dropcap style=”font-size: 60px; color: #7401DF;”] N [/dropcap]ormally we choose a person rather than a group for our quiet hero of the week, but this…
Blue Tunes #4
If you have been following this section, you will know that given we are called Bluestone, we thought it only fitting that each week we…
River camping is a shoe-in
[dropcap style=”font-size: 60px; color: #DDCE8D;”] T [/dropcap]HE MOUTH of the Fitzroy River, between Tyrendarra and Portland, is a wonderful spot that is hard to find, so…
Bowlin’, bowlin’, bowlin’…
THE OPENING of the Warrnambool tenpin bowling alley on Christmas Eve, 1963, was cause for great excitement, with the local newspaper declaring that the city…
Success is purely organic
By Carol Altmann [dropcap style=”font-size: 60px; color: #8F9F59;”] W [/dropcap]hen it comes to clocking up food miles, the 4.9km from Dennington to the Warrnambool Showgrounds…
Always check the auto-correct!
Each week we post a gem from Gumtree – the online buy, sell, swap site – that is odd, unusual or just plain different. Most…
Deakin’s pay-to-park farce
[dropcap style=”font-size: 60px; color: #8F9F59;”] R [/dropcap]egional universities are vital to the small communities they serve, in terms of providing quality education, but especially for…
Losing it, with Marie Bean
EXERCISE IS ONE OF THOSE THINGS that sounds really great, until you have to do it. If only getting fit – and staying that way –…
Pick a Pickled Pelican in Portland
One of the many great things about the wonderfully named Pickled Pelican in Portland is that you can try it at any time of the day…
Hey, hey, Heywood
By Carol Altmann [dropcap style=”font-size: 60px; color: #DDCE8D;”] T [/dropcap]ravelling from Warrnambool to Adelaide, it is easy to bypass Heywood because it takes that extra…
Lunch order, 1975?
REMEMBER THE SMELL of hot pies warming in the pie warmer of the school canteen? Irresistible! Everyone had their favourite school pie: in Warrnambool it…
Hoist it up
Each week we post a gem from Gumtree – the online buy, sell, swap site – that is odd, unusual or just plain different. Most…
Our third quiet hero
[dropcap style=”font-size: 60px; color: #A02F2F;”]F[/dropcap]or every fantastic community event, there is usually a band of hardworking, energetic, enthusiastic and lowly paid band of volunteers…
Blue Tunes #3
If you have been following this section, you will know that given we are called Bluestone, we thought it only fitting that each week we…
Blue tunes #2
Given we are Bluestone, each week we are going to dig out a track for our Blue tunes – songs that have the word ‘blue’…
Time for Dan to deliver
[dropcap style=”font-size: 60px; color:#A5CECD;”] T [/dropcap]he Liberal Party will be well satisfied with its thumping victory in Wannon at the weekend as part of…
Udderly beautiful
[dropcap style=”font-size: 60px; color: #A02F2F;”]A [/dropcap] RATHER GORGEOUS looking goat called Isabelle is the silent partner behind the skin creams, soaps and lip balms of…
Can’t afford a real horse?
Here is where we post adverts from Gumtree (the online buy/sell/swap site) that are either odd, unusual or just plain different. Most are for goods…
signed, Fletcher Jones
My mother kept everything…and I mean everything. This used to be a source of great embarrassment, but now I am grateful. Each week, I…
Why not…spruce up the whale zone?
[box] This section – why not? – is a place to consider ideas: no matter how small, large or outrageous.[/box] This week: Why not spruce…
Jumping into Jennings’ book
WE DON’T NEED TO TELL you that Paul Jennings has come a long way since lecturing primary school teaching students in the 1980s at…
Our second quiet hero
[dropcap style=”font-size: 60px; color: #8F9F59;”]B[/dropcap]eing sick in hospital is usually terrible and rarely does the outside world look more inviting, or more glorious, than when…
Life as a sole sister
At its height, legendary shoe store Rauert’s, in Warrnambool, employed seven shoe repairers. Now they have just one. Bluestone went to meet her: [dropcap style=”font-size:…
Gumtree gems: 12 things…
[dropcap style=”font-size: 60px; color: #DC943C;”] B [/dropcap]efore starting Bluestone Magazine, we tested out a few ideas on good old Facebook, just to see what people…
What is a tray cloth?
My mother kept everything…and I mean everything. This used to be a source of great embarrassment, but now I am grateful. Each week, I will…
Our first quiet hero
[dropcap style=”font-size: 60px; color: #9b9b9b;”] M [/dropcap]ost artists don’t make much money. Only a handful can pursue their art full-time, regardless of their talent. Despite…
Why not…give away flowers?
[box] This section – why not? – is a place to consider ideas: no matter how small, large or outrageous.[/box] This week: Why not give away…
Swimming in words
[dropcap style=”font-size: 60px; color: #A99E90;”] P [/dropcap]eople rarely need an excuse to go to Port Fairy, but if you love books, writing, or just words,…
Blue tunes #1
Who doesn’t need a little music in their life now and then? Given our name is Bluestone, we figure it is only appropriate to choose…
Climbing the cape: Cape Bridgewater
After living in Tasmania for a time, the bar had been set very high for bushwalking. A visit to Cape Bridgewater, however, exceeded all expectations.…
Why I’m voting for Barling
Opinion – Carol Altmann [dropcap style=”font-size: 60px; color: #A5CECD;”] I [/dropcap]MAGINE living in a place where an election was held every three years and, no…