For decades there have been stories circulating Gippsland that a circus elephant travelling via truck was decapitated by a Stratford viaduct in the 1950s. But does the story have any merit or is it merely a tall tale?

The Monitor spoke to Gavan Donoghue, who has spent years investigating the veracity of the yarn. He even wrote a book on it. Take a look at a video explainer below.

The Wonthaggi State Coal Mine Whistle has played a central role in town life for more than a century. Take a look at a video about its history below.

Clydebank farmer Sandra Jefford is no stranger to floods. The two properties she owns and operates with husband Wilco Droppert are in low-lying coastal areas and at high risk of being inundated with water.

“They wash away farm tracks, fencing and bury pastures underwater and cover them in silt,” Jefford told the Monitor.

The couple have a 370ha farm in Clydebank with about 380 cows and a 178ha plot at Stratford, between the Avon River and Nuntin Creek, where they grow feed and run beef cattle.

Both farms have flooded in the past, and Jefford fears an increase in the frequency of events.

“It takes a long time to recover from floods. It's really expensive and if these events happen more often, it's going to be more expensive for farmers.”

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

Read the full story here.

Has a meme ever changed your mind about a political issue?

My colleague Archie Milligan from the National Account made a video about memes being weaponised into propaganda for political gain. Take a look at his video below.