Articles by: Ruby Manson
Workforce shortage hitting farmers hard
A shortage of relief milkers and farmhands is putting Colac district farmers under pressure, forcing them to consider tough calls to protect their businesses.
Geelong no threat to saleyards
Colac Otway Shire Council and the district’s livestock association chief say a potential new selling centre at Geelong would not affect Colac’s saleyards.
Cape koalas moved on
More than 90 koalas are settling into their new home in the Great Otway National Park near Lorne after being translocated from the over-browsed Cape Otway.
Cyclist hits 1000km for Salvos
Beeac’s Luke Lethbridge has smashed out the kilometres and his fundraising target in his month-long effort to support the Salvation Army’s Red Shield Appeal.
May rain wrap, and south west winter climate outlook
Colac Otway rain gauges caught mixed results in May, but Colac’s official weather station recorded a wetter-than-average month.
Beautiful Bay coast stirs Polish painter
The Otways coast has reignited a Polish expat’s passion for art, after the demands of fine arts training as a teen stifled her creativity.
LIVING THE DREAM: Michael finds his passion
Cororooke dairy farmer Michael Demasi has found his calling as a dairy farmer. The 17-year-old turned to milking shortly after leaving school and he hasn’t looked back.
Cultural reflection in colourful pieces
Annie Kiel-Taggart’s Camperdown studio-loft PassionFish ArtHouse is an evolving project that reflects her childhood memories of being raised in the country.
Local farmers do battle in dairy union election
Larpent’s Mark Billing and Cobden’s Ian Morris have made their cases as the two candidates for United Dairyfarmers of Victoria vice-president.
NAPLAN testing underway
Hundreds of Colac Otway school students are sitting national literacy and numeracy tests this week.
Cash boost for festival’s return
Princetown’s Loch Hart Music Festival will receive $75,000 in a major boost for the boutique festival.
Gellibrand River welcome wall still evolving
Hundreds of blues fans and marketgoers have flocked to Gellibrand for the ninth Blues and Blueberry Festival.
Students prepare for NAPLAN
A former Colac high school principal says upcoming NAPLAN testing provides important tools for schools to support their students - if results are used correctly.
Global footprint for digital artist
Libby Clarke is getting stuck into paving a career as a professional artist, with a dream of opening an art studio for Colac youth.
RAAF man marches in hometown
Former RAAF engineer Gene Fisk loves returning to “his country” to march on Anzac Day.
Piece of south-west history on market
A historic south-west rural homestead is on the market.
