⏱️ This Wednesday edition of our newsletter is a six-minute read.

👋 Hello Gippslanders, it’s Jacob here.

🏈 I was lucky enough to be offered a ticket at the last minute to the Hawks vs Lions game at the MCG on Saturday night. I’d never been to a packed out game at the G before and it ended up being a ripper game.

But, as you’ll see below, there is a dark side to footy finals season.

👀 Looking ahead. In this week’s newsletter we’re talking about:

  • ☀️ East Gippsland Council’s decision to reject a skin cancer clinic;

  • 🕶️ Bass Coast Shire’s move to ban smart glasses in public pool and libraries;

  • 🌊 How rising sea levels could cost Gippsland farmers millions;

  • 🏈 Why police and family violence support groups are bracing for grand final weekend;

  • 🦜 Gippsland’s best bird watching spots, and;

  • 🍻 The two companies that own 85 percent of Australia’s beer brands.

🎊 WHAT’S HAPPENING IN GIPPSLAND? 🎟️

🧺 FARMERS MARKETS 🥧

⁉️ It’s round nine of the Gippsland Monitor’s Quiz. Test your knowledge of the region with our five weekly questions about everything Gippsland. The answers will be in our Friday newsletter.

Feel free to email questions you think may stump our readers to [email protected].

✍️ GIPPSLAND QUIZ QUESTIONS ❓

  1. Which Gippsland location is associated with the Aboriginal legend of the Den of Nargun?

  2. What type of rock are the famous Buchan Caves formed from?

  3. Which South Gippsland town is home to the Coal Creek heritage village?

  4. In what Gippsland national park is Squeaky Beach?

  5. Which Gippsland national park contains Fernholme and Corrigan's Suspension Bridge?

🚀 Alright, let’s jump into the Monitor’s latest yarns!

🔍 HEARD THIS WEEK👂

☀️ Skin cancer clinic rejected after East Gippsland councillors disregard staff advice

East Gippsland councillors have refused a skin cancer clinic on the outskirts of Bairnsdale, overturning the action recommended by staff.

What happened: The clinic was pitched for a low-density residential zone at 236 Bullumwaal Road, Wy Yung.

It was the second time the development had gone before council after the vote was delayed at an August meeting. 

At last week's meeting, councillors heard from the applicant, Dr Tom Alwyn, Bullumwaal Road residents and council staff before debating the issue.

The vote split the chamber, with supporters citing a badly needed regional health service and voting with the council officers recommendations. Opponents sided with 17 residents who objected due to neighbourhood character, road safety and stormwater concerns.

Read the full story here.

🚨 In Gippsland, police and family violence support groups brace for AFL grand final weekend

As the AFL grand final weekend nears, authorities and support organisations are preparing  for an expected spike in cases.

What’s happening: East Gippsland has the worst family and domestic violence rates per capita in Victoria, according to the latest figures (2025) from Gippsland Family Violence Alliance.

There were 2,479 incidents recorded in the shire in 2025, including 684 breaches of intervention orders. This was an 8.2 percent increase in incidents compared to 2024.

  • Latrobe Valley had the second highest rates of family and domestic violence per capita in the state, with Victoria police recording 2,980 incidents.

  • Wellington Shire was the ninth worst in the state, with Victoria police recording 1,393 incidents.

Adding to these numbers is the likelihood that family and domestic violence rates tend to rise over grand final weekend, which will be taking place next weekend.

Read the full story here.

🌊 Why rising sea levels are set to cost Gippsland billions

A new report for the Climate Council, based on research from the University of Melbourne, shows how sea level rise will make severe flooding events more intense and cost Gippslanders billions of dollars.

Take a look at a video about this story below.

🕶️ Bass Coast Shire moves to ban smart glasses from public pools, libraries

Last week, Bass Coast Shire voted to take the first step in banning recording-capable smart glasses from council-run facilities. Take a look at a video explainer on this story below.

🦜 Check out these nine bird watching spots in Gippsland this spring

In Australia, spring is the peak migration and nesting season for our feathered friends, so grab your binoculars and camera and prepare to spy some rare wrens and colourful parrots.

If you have any tips on the best spots to see the feathers fly in Gippsland, feel free to email us at [email protected].

Check out the list here.

LOOKING NATIONALLY 👀

Two companies own roughly 85 percent of Australia’s beer brands.

My colleague Archie Milligan from the National Account looked at how Japanese companies Kirin and Asahi came to hoover up the majority of Australia’s beer market. Take a look at the video below.

Thanks for catching up with us. I’ll be back in your inbox on Friday morning with more local stories, event guides and answers to this week’s quiz.

Cheers,
Jacob & the Gippsland Monitor team

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