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In the Central Highlands ⛰️ 

🏦 All quiet on the Hepburn front

Hepburn Shire councillors should be meeting at 6pm on July 28 to get on with the typical business of the third tier of government - roads, footpaths, rates, rubbish, development applications, ovals, libraries, grants, events.   

But instead, as the sun sets, the chamber will remain empty, the result of five of the seven councillors being stood down. The five are facing criminal legal action from a local businessman after endorsing the council's budget for 2026/27. 

The only two councillors left standing - Tim Drylie and Brian Hood - are not enough to make a quorum, and so Hepburn Shire remains in limbo.

Hood said he’s going to use the free evening to catch up on something “stress-free”. 

🗣️: “Something amusing or stimulating to watch on TV - as a sharp contrast to a council meeting,” he told the Brolga. 

Councillor Drylie said he’ll be out with friends, commiserating on local current affairs. 

🗣️: “I suspect I will be having drinks,” he told the Brolga.

❓What happened: Earlier this month, Daylesford business owner David Penman brought criminal charges against five councillors in Hepburn Shire - Shirley Cornish, Lesley Hewitt, Pat Hockey, Don Henderson and mayor Tony Clark. 

He also charged former CEO Bradley Thomas, who has since resigned and is serving a notice period. 

Penman said his issue with Hepburn Shire is solely about the council’s 2026/27 budget. 

• “Recently Hepburn adopted its budget and when it did so it didn't have the complete financial statements in front of it,” he told ABC Radio.

Councillors Hood and Drylie did not vote in favour of adopting the budget and have seemingly been spared Penman’s wrath. 

What next? Victoria’s state government is considering amendments that could stop future litigants from following in Penman’s footsteps.  

Victorian Parliament resumes tomorrow (July 28), but Drylie said even if a loophole in legislation is fixed, it is unlikely to be applied retrospectively. 

💢 Ballarat businessman LeRoy Hand walks back post about minorities “getting all the attention”

LeRoy Hand has followed up a controversial social media post about “regulation Australian males” with an apology, saying “I got it wrong” and “contributed to the hurt and distress experienced by others”.

❓What happened: Last weekend, Hand reposted a reel from right-wing Senator Alex Antic to his Instagram story. The original video from Antic featured a parliamentary speech in which he complained about Reconciliation Week, Welcome to Country inclusion and Pride Month. 

Hand’s commentary added: 

• “I don’t share my feelings on this too often … for good reason! But this hit pretty hard. It’s time we as a majority stand up and make as much noise as these minority groups getting all the attention. If we don’t stand up nothing will change, or worse we will lose more! It’s time to be proud to be a REGULATION Australian MALE.”

The West Vic Brolga reported on Hand’s post, and the subsequent backlash from members of the hospitality industry. Prey Cafe and Fresh Baked by Josh posted stories denouncing the language used and the minority groups it alienated. 

• “It’s 2026, we live in a society made great by all people,” Fresh Baked by Josh told the Brolga. “And diminishing the value of diverse communities is not acceptable.” 

The Brolga’s story attracted hundreds of comments, with most speaking out against Hand and Antic, and in support of minority groups in Ballarat. 

On Thursday night, Hand’s follow-up post on Instagram and Facebook began with: “I want to address the comments I made on my social media post on Sunday.”

Hand said his remarks were “poorly worded, and I recognise that they caused hurt and offence to many people … I sincerely apologise to everyone who was affected by what I said”.

He claimed his original intention had been “to express concern for members of our community, including young men and farmers, who face significant mental health challenges through isolation and the expectation that men should suppress their emotions rather than seek support”.

Hand said he “will learn from this experience and be more thoughtful about how I communicate in the future. My hope has always been to encourage understanding, compassion and better support for anyone experiencing mental health challenges, and I regret that my words did not reflect those values”.

The apology was posted alongside a professional headshot of Hand. 

The West Vic Brolga visited Turret Cafe on Tuesday to seek comment from LeRoy Hand. His wife and business partner Belinda Hand said he wasn't interested in talking as they are "not buying into all of it".

Who is Hand?: LeRoy Hand is a well-known figure in the Ballarat business community. He appeared in the 2026 edition of Dancing With Our Stars, an annual fundraising event for The Ballarat Foundation, an organisation built on driving “positive social change” in Ballarat.

His business also won Best Licensed Cafe in Victoria at the Golden Plate awards in 2024 and 2025, and it’s an active sponsor of local initiatives including the local Business Excellence Awards.This Is A Shorter Headline Example

Cantwell, who was a marathon runner before a car accident left him with broken bones and Acquired Cerebral Palsy, now works as a community connector setting up Talking Cafes in Knox.

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