Fitzmedia Productions / South West Local News

13/01/2026

Let’s help ‘Roll With It’

The Otway Edit

ROLL OUT SUPPORT FOR OUR FIREFIGHTERS! 🥗🔥

Our firefighters are battling bushfires in our region and they need our help! More specially, with a Salad Roll Rescue 🔥

Let's ROLL up our sleeves and fuel their efforts with a mountain of salad rolls!

We're collecting supplies to make salad rolls for our brave firefighters.

We need your help to get this ROLLING!

What's needed:

- Bread rolls
- Salad fillings (lettuce, tomato, cucumber, etc.)
- Meat and cheese

Let's ROLL with it and show our firefighters some love! 😊

We're on a ROLL to make a difference! 🍞

13/01/2026

Help available.

Corangamite Shire Council

The Heytesbury Pony Club has opened its grounds at Scott Creek for people to put their horses bushfires are burning in the area. Please call to arrange agistment,
Agriculture Victoria has advice on evacuating and returning at https://agriculture.vic.gov.au/farm-management/emergency-management/emergency-animal-welfare/horses-and-livestock-in-emergencies

13/01/2026

Joined by Playlunch — one of Australia’s most unmistakable bands — who hit Warrnambool last week, and we were lucky enough to sit down with them for a chat.

Widely credited with creating ‘bogan funk’, the band never looked back, capturing 90s and 2000s nostalgia through witty lyrics, le snacks, no hat no play energy — and even tapping Barry Hall on the shoulder to star in one of their music videos.

Plenty of laughs and honest industry insight into life on the road, hosted upstairs in the Whalers Band Room. Did you see Playlunch?

Brought to you by CitiPower and Powercor Australia

13/01/2026

HOLIDAY'S ARE MORE FUN WITH A SERVICED CARAVAN

We are approaching the March and April long weekends, so now is the perfect time to ensure your van is ready to hit the road.

Get in touch with Peter and Anna to book your caravan service.

**THIS IS A PAID ADVERTISEMENT**

13/01/2026

Fourteen local firefighters are home after days on the frontline of a major fire deployment.

Strike Team 0502 touched down today, marking the end of an intense operation away from home.

CFA South West

*This story has been made possible with the support of our advertisers*

CitiPower and Powercor Australia

13/01/2026

Some good news up Skipton way, with residents Safe to Return for residents, through traffic management points.
This replaces the earlier Watch and Act advice.
A community information meeting will be held at the Skipton Mechanics Hall at 4pm.

13/01/2026

ARRESTS OVER ALLEGED ARMED ROBBERY

Following an alleged armed robbery in High Street Terang this morning, police attended an address in Grey Street, Terang, arresting three offenders for the alleged armed robbery.
The three offenders have been taken to the Warrnambool Police Station where they are assisting police with enquiries.
Police would like to thank members of the Terang community that provided critical information that allowed police to act swiftly.
All offenders relating to this offending have been apprehended and there is no further threat to the community.

(Source: Eyewatch - Warrnambool Police Service Area)

13/01/2026

Ketamine is in the news, for good and bad.

THE GOOD.

The federal government has added a new ketamine nasal spray, Spravato, for treatment-resistant depression, to the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS).
Treatment-resistant depression is diagnosed when a patient does not respond to at least two forms of conventional treatment.
Ketamine is commonly used in medicine and by vets as an anaesthetic.
It is a dissociative drug, meaning it acts on brain chemicals, and can stop the brain from receiving pain messages.

THE BAD.

Ket Sticks are an unwelcome new addition to the arsenal of some Australian festival goers. 
Ket Sticks are walking sticks used by people taking ketamine as a party drug.
The walking sticks are used to aid drug users who have suffered severely impaired balance and coordination as a result of taking ketamine.

13/01/2026

Western District Bowls Division Midweek Pennant has resumed today after the Christmas Break.

12/01/2026

A reflection and healing gathering will be held at East Beach in Port Fairy on January 25.
The event, Nyerna Yoorrook Telkuna - Sit. Listen. Hear. Remember. will be hosted by Moyne Shire Council.
It will feature a free bush food barbecue, Welcome to Country, Smoking Ceremony, yarning and live music.
Uncle Michael “Mookeye” Bell, a Gunditjmara and Boandik man and representative on the First Peoples’ Assembly of Victoria, will share reflections through yarning on Treaty.
Start at 4.30pm.

12/01/2026

As fires continue to burn throughout the state, there is unfortunately still plenty to keep an eye on in the south west.
A Watch and Act warning is still in place in the Otways - Irrewwillipe, Carlisle River and Gellibrand.

12/01/2026

VFF LAUNCH EMERGENCY RESPONSE

SOURCE: VICTORIAN FARMERS FEDERATION.

We’ve enacted our emergency response as part of the Emergency Fodder Support Program to coordinate the donation of fodder and deliver it to bushfire impacted farmers.

Those wishing to donate fodder and those seeking to receive donations can register through our website or call us on 1300 882 833

https://f.mtr.cool/dfcwtrfsut
Agriculture VictoriaVFF Making Our Farms Safer Project VFF Stock Sense VicEmergency