SLOW TRAVEL: The traffic was bumper to bumper at Deans Marsh after Lorne’s annual music event, The Falls Festival, concluded late last week.
MAGIC: Mexican musical duo Rodrigo Y Gabriella entertained crowds on New Year’s [...]

A Colac district woman who lost all her belongings in a house fire has thanked the Colac and district community for its support. Lynne Prior’s 155-year-old Ondit house burnt to the ground on Christmas night, with all of her possessions going up in flames.  Ms Prior said she wanted [...]

Colac’s Glen Hamill has lost his 15-month battle with cancer. Mr Hamill died peacefully on Christmas Day at the age of 34. His loving wife Sherri, children Holly, 7, and Brody, 4, and extended family and friends were with him when he died. Mrs Hamill spoke [...]

Pennyroyal berry farmer Russell Carrington said 2009 was a “bumper year” for berries. Mr Carrington, who owns Gentle Annie Berry Farm, said the first months of the berry season had been successful, despite signs of extreme heat in November. “The spring rain helped a lot and so far [...]

Some couples struggle to make it through the first six months of marriage, let alone the first six years. But former Colac couple Ross and Grace Chester have survived war, illness and sacrifice and have been married for 66 years. “It’s been so wonderful,” Mrs Chester said. [...]

Colac filmmaker Lachlan Ryan has won a best director award for a television project. Ryan won the award for his pilot episode of sitcom Paper Planes at Swinburne University’s annual film and television awards night. More than 200 people packed a Melbourne cinema for the awards and [...]

One of Colac’s annual festivals is in financial dire straits. The annual Kana Festival, set to take place in March, requires funding if it is to be as successful as previous years. Secretary Carolyn Phillips said the Kana committee was optimistic but funding was a pressing issue. [...]

A Colac priest has expressed his delight at the announcement of the canonisation of a former Victorian teacher and nun. Catholic priest Father Michael O’Toole said the canonisation of Mary MacKillop as a saint was a positive step forward for Catholic churchgoers, Christians and the world. Fr O’Toole [...]

A much-loved teacher has bid farewell to the classroom after three decades. Merryl Hill has taught at Beeac Primary School since 1990 and has seen almost two decades of youngsters go through the school. “I have been teaching for 31 years all together,” Mrs Hill said. [...]

A former Colac student and musician has achieved a life-long aspiration after earning a place at Australia’s leading performing arts school. Hannah Walters, 18, has received a place in the Bachelor of Music course at the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts for 2010. Ms Walters, daughter of [...]