🦭 A seal, a bin and a big mystery

WHAT’S ON THIS WEEK 🎟️

• SATURDAY, 11/10/25 | Camperdown Show

• FRIDAY-SUNDAY, 10/10/25-12/10/25 | Port Fairy Spring Music Festival

HEARD THIS WEEK👂

🦭 How did a young seal end up in a bin at the back of the Portland RSL?

Most Portland locals would be used to seeing seals pop up around the harbour or haul out on the shore, but one turning up in a bin of grass clippings behind the RSL is a first.

The seal was discovered at around 9:30am last Tuesday. It appeared thin and had an eye injury, but settled on the soft cuttings while help arrived.

According to the RSL’s Facebook post, the seal was “very agile” as rescuers tried to keep it calm. 

How did it get there?

Read more

New CFA Apostles brigade prepares to “put the wet stuff on the red stuff” over summer

Western Victoria is heading into summer with a thinner pool of Country Fire Authority volunteers and rising concerns about how smaller rural communities will cope with an expected spike in bushfire risk.

Meanwhile, forecasts from Emergency Management Victoria show above-normal fire risk for the state this spring, with the western districts flagged as particularly vulnerable. 

Climate modelling from the state government also points to longer, hotter fire seasons becoming the new norm over coming years.

To streamline operations and better prepare teams for emergency response, the Cobden and Timboon groups have merged to form the Apostles Group, covering 14 brigades across the south west. 

Port Campbell Brigade Captain and Apostles Deputy Group Officer Katy Millard said shrinking rural populations and time pressures have reshaped the volunteer landscape. 

She noted that farms are larger and require more work, young people often move away, and local brigades rely heavily on long-serving members.

“At my brigade at Port Campbell, we’ve got a good range of demographics: we have many women turning out during the day, we’ve got a few younger people, but at the moment, it’s just hard to get the numbers of young people, and it is an ageing demographic,” she said.

The merger, she said, was designed to free up more members for frontline firefighting rather than administration. “Generally [people] want to put the wet stuff on the red stuff, they want to get on a truck, and they want to do stuff.”

Read more

🍻 Pub guide: The best beer gardens in western Victoria

Daylight savings is here, and summer is right on its heels.

It’s times like these when you need to know where the best beer gardens in the region are.

Well readers, it’s your lucky day. I’ve put together a list of the best picks from across West Vic, spanning from Apollo Bay to Halls Gap and Portland.

From historic pubs to modern breweries, here are some standout spots to enjoy a refreshing beverage outside this spring and summer. Take a read, and let me know if I’ve missed any good ones.

Read more

ON YOUR FEED 🤓

In 2024, chlamydia was the most common Sexually Transmitted Infection among 15-25 year olds in Warrnambool. To combat the spread of STIs, Headspace Warrnambool is providing new discreet sexual health packs, available at healthcare hubs across town.

Watch the video below for the full rundown.

Last week in my pursuit for the best parma in West Vic, I stopped for lunch at the Austral Hotel in Colac to give theirs a try. Where else should I go?

You can watch the full review below.

Forest Fire Management Victoria has launched its bushfire management program across the state, warning of above-average first risk.

See where you can track their activities in this video.

The state government has released a new drought relief package, providing further support to drought-hit farmers and producers in West Vic.

Watch the video below to find out what’s included.