🍔 Cowes says no to Big Macs

🎊 WHAT’S ON THIS WEEK 🎟️

• SUNDAY, 10/05/26 | Teeny Tiny Stevies

• SUNDAY, 10/05/26 | Drag Bingo at Quirky Bar

• SUNDAY, 10/05/26 | Ruthie Foster at Meeniyan Town Hall

• SUNDAY, 10/05/26 | Kier Stevens at Paynesville Wine Bar

• FRI. 01/05 - SAT. 06/06 | Exhibitions at East Gippsland Art Gallery

🧺 FARMERS MARKETS 🥧

• SATURDAY, 09/05/26 | Rokeby Market

• SATURDAY, 09/05/26 | Coal Creek Farmers Market

• SATURDAY, 09/05/26 | Metung Market

• SUNDAY, 10/05/26 | Longford Community Market

• SUNDAY, 10/05/26 | Kongwak Market

🔍 HEARD THIS WEEK👂

🐴 This 10-year-old from Leongatha rode his pony 1,000 kilometres to Sydney for the Harbour Bridge opening

On February 3, 1932, armed with a toothbrush, silk pyjamas, spare clothes and a water bottle, Lennie Gwyther and his pony Ginger Mick set off for Sydney from Leongatha.

During his 2,000 kilometre roundtrip to Sydney, Lennie met the Prime Minister, rode an elephant and was gifted a signed cricket bat by Sir Donald Bradman.

Take a look at a video explaining his journey below.

💰 Should big polluters help local councils with the cost of climate change damage?

Last month, Bass Coast Shire council voted to write to the federal government requesting that fossil fuel companies pay a fee for the climate impacts that are endangering local towns.

Along Gippsland’s coast, in places like Silverleaves, Inverloch, Loch Sport, Lakes Entrance, Sandy Point, Venus Bay and Tarwin Lower, rising seas and the increasing frequency of extreme weather events are already putting homes and businesses at risk.

In a submission to the federal government last week, the Insurance Council of Australia warned that extreme weather is placing growing fiscal strain on local economies, with councils increasingly unable to meet the demands of disaster preparedness and recovery.

Take a look at a video explaining this story below.

🍔 What do you think about the proposed Cowes McDonald’s?

Bass Coast Shire council has received a planning proposal from McDonald’s to build a fast food eatery on the corner of Settlement Road and Thompson Avenue in Cowes.

More than 5,300 people have signed a petition opposing the proposal.

The Monitor took to the streets of Cowes to ask locals what they thought about the development. Take a look at some video interviews below.

💃 MONTHLY EVENT GUIDES 🎻

🫖 What's on in Gippsland this May?

🎊 With so many events, exhibitions and festivals in Gippsland throughout autumn, the Monitor has compiled a list to get you through May.

Check out the list here.

🥁 May gig guide: The best live music in Gippsland this month

💃 There's plenty of live music across Gippsland this May, so time to dust off your dancing shoes.

Check out the list here.

🪁 Family-friendly events in Gippsland this May

🎉 The Monitor has compiled a collection of family-friendly events across Gippsland this May.

Check out the list here.

🍪 Affordable food and local produce. Here’s our Gippsland Farmers Markets list for this May

🧺 Gippsland markets provide a great opportunity to support local businesses and community endeavours while often paying less for produce and products than what you would normally pay in a supermarket.

Check out the list here.

LOOKING NATIONALLY 👀

Is there a major flaw in the government’s new gambling plan?

My colleague Archie Milligan from the National Account looked into whether there’s a major loophole in the federal government’s expected gambling advertising reforms.

Take a look at a video on the topic below.