š¦ Is this Gippslandās best seafood pie?
Plus: Kilcundaās 114-year-old span and new Morwell healthcare.
Jacob Wallace
November 19, 2025
ā±ļø This edition of our newsletter is a six-minute read.
š Hello Gippslanders, itās Jacob here.
š Iāve had another busy start to the week, zipping around the region chatting to locals and experts about current events. In this midweek edition of our newsletter:
A new endometriosis and pelvic pain clinic is slated to open early next year in Morwell;
My video explaining the history of the Kilcunda trestle bridge;
The Victorian Liberal Partyās new leader, only 12 months out from the next state election;
A trip to Island Pies in Newhaven to taste test their scallop pie;
I ask Traralgon locals about their favourite cafe in town, and;
Iāve got a list of upcoming gigs, farmers markets and events - weekend sorted.
āļø Iām currently writing a story on new laws announced by the Victorian government, which will mean children aged 14 and above could face adult jail time and possible life sentences.
The new bill announced by the Allan government last week means for certain crimes children could face the adult County Court instead of the Children's Court.
The maximum jail sentence that can be imposed in the Children's Court for any offence is three years.
The County Court can impose jail sentences of up to 25 years.
šø Take a look at this photo I snapped of the Kilcunda trestle bridge when I filmed a video about the spans history last Friday.
š„ While chatting to people in Traralgon about a range of issues, I asked for their favourite cafe. Take a look at what they had to say below.
š WHATāS ON THIS WEEK šļø
FRIDAY, 21/11/25 | Pevan and Sarah in Concert
SATURDAY, 23/11/25 | Yarram Agricultural Show
SUNDAY, 23/11/25 | Gippsland Symphony Orchestra
š§ŗ FARMERS MARKETS š„§
SATURDAY, 22/11/25 | Lions Traralgon Farmers Market
SATURDAY, 22/11/25 | Yarragon Craft and Produce Market
SUNDAY, 23/11/25 | Bairnsdale Howitt Park Market
š¤³ If youāre not already subscribed, you can keep up to date with everything weāre reporting on at the Gippsland Monitor on these platforms:
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š Alright, letās jump into the Monitorās latest yarns, local interviews and silly videos!
š HEARD THIS WEEKš
A new medical clinic will open its doors in Morwell early next year with the goal of providing sufferers of endometriosis with faster diagnosis times and better access to treatment.
What happened: Last Friday the federal government announced it will open 11 new Endometriosis and Pelvic Pain clinics around the country.
What is endometriosis?
Endometriosis is a chronic disease that impacts one in seven Australian women (14 percent) before the age of 44.
There is no permanent cure, and instead treatment focuses on pain relief and reducing the amount of the disease in the body.
Endometriosis is a condition where cells similar to the lining of the uterus (endometrium) grow outside the uterus. These invasive growths can lead to inflammation, pain, scarring and fertility issues.
The cystic growths (endometriomas) mainly occur in the pelvic region on reproductive organs like the ovaries and fallopian tubes. They can also grow on the bladder and bowel and have been known to appear in the chest.
Treatment normally includes a combination of:
Pain medication;
Hormonal treatment to regulate periods and reduce growth, and;
Surgery to remove endometrial tissue.
Research from Monash University estimates the annual economic cost to the community of endometriosis and chronic pelvic pain in Australia at between $7.4 and $9.7 billion.
Jess Wilson, the state Liberal member for Kew, has been elected as the leader of the Victorian Liberal party and will be the partyās first female leader.
Wilson will take over from Berwick MP Brad Battin, who himself only became party leader in December last year.
āļø What happened: The news of the leadership spill began with a delegation of Liberal MPs visiting Battin on Monday afternoon, notifying him he had lost the support of the party room.
The vote for a new leader took place early on Tuesday morning.
š³ļø Ch-ch-changes: The Victorian Liberal leadership change was the fifth shift in the top job over the past 10 years, and the fourth new face ā with Matthew Guy serving across two separate terms.
š„§ Is this the best scallop pie in Gippsland?
The Monitor visited Island Pies Bakery in Newhaven to taste test their scallop pie. Take a look at the pastry review below.
LOOKING NATIONALLY š
I liked this story my colleague Archie Milligan at the National Account put together on how the federal government is attempting to lessen the number of Freedom of Information (FOI) requests it receives.
The government is suggesting it can do this by excluding some documents from the FOI Act, charging for FOI requests and denying requests if it will take staff longer than 40 hours to fulfil.
Take a look at the full story below.
š„ Watch: The history of the Kilcunda trestle bridge
šŖµ The Kilcunda Bridge was constructed in 1911 as a permanent addition to the Nyora to Wonthaggi railway line, which was transporting coal from the Powlett Coal Fields to Melbourne.
I stopped by Kilcunda and filmed a short history video of the bridge. Take a look at the video below.
Thanks for catching up with us this week at the Monitor. I hope you enjoyed this midweek issue of our newsletter. Iāll be back in your inbox on Friday morning with more stories and videos from our incredible region.
If youād like to share some town gossip with us or have a suggestion for a story you think is being underreported, then feel free to send us an email at [email protected].
š Have a great week and thanks for reading.
Cheers,
Jacob & the Gippsland Monitor team
