Two Warrnambool police officers delivered a baby on the Princes Highway near Dennington early on Monday, October 19, after pulling over a speeding car. The driver, Joel, asked whether he could settle any fines later because his wife, Jamie-Lee, was in labour. Sergeant Liam Cook helped with the birth while Constable Angus Hill held the mother's hand. Baby Ashlee was born within two minutes, and the family was taken to hospital once the ambulance arrived. The officers and family reunited in Warrnambool the following day.
The Warrnambool Line has introduced six-carriage trains, addressing long-standing concerns from Colac and surrounding areas about overcrowding and inadequate service. This upgrade follows persistent feedback from local residents, aiming to improve passenger comfort and capacity. The new trains are expected to alleviate congestion during peak travel times, enhancing the overall travel experience for commuters. This development marks a significant step in addressing transportation needs in the region. The initiative reflects ongoing efforts to enhance public transport infrastructure in response to community demands.
V-Line has introduced six-carriage trains on the Warrnambool Line, addressing overcrowding concerns raised by Colac and district residents after months of limited services. The new carriages aim to improve passenger capacity and comfort.
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Sunshine artist Ken McKean is walking 260 kilometres across Victoria to raise $10,000 for UNICEF Australia. He set off from Warrnambool on 17 October and aims to finish back in Melbourne's north-west by 1 November. Mr McKean said his main purpose is to help children wherever they live, and he hopes to spread a message of peace. He has raised more than $2,200 so far and says he wants to raise even more. UNICEF Australia chief executive Tony Stuart praised the challenge.
A Supreme Court jury has found former police officer Steven Frederick Johnson, 74, guilty of murdering Warrnambool man Christopher Jarvis in 2006. The jury deliberated for four days after a 21-day trial in Warrnambool. The court heard Johnson killed Mr Jarvis, his tenant, over $2,210 in unpaid rent, then buried him in Framlingham Forest. Mr Jarvis's body has never been found. Johnson did not apply for bail and will appear in court for a plea hearing on December 14.
A Supreme Court jury has found former police officer Steven Frederick Johnson, 74, guilty of murdering Warrnambool man Christopher Jarvis in 2006. The jury deliberated for four days after a 21-day trial in Warrnambool. The court heard Johnson killed Mr Jarvis, his tenant, over $2,210 in unpaid rent, then buried him in Framlingham Forest. Mr Jarvis's body has never been found. Johnson did not apply for bail and will appear in court for a plea hearing on December 14.
A small crowd in Warrnambool heard from two former staffers about the behind-the-scenes business of politics. The forum was organised by the Good Company Collective, a south-west Victorian women-led networking group. Former Labor staffers Bindi Gove and Sean Sammon took audience questions on why parties release policies gradually and how much influence staffers have. Attendees also asked about preferential voting, the upper and lower houses, and postal voting. Organiser Gabrielle Toscan said the event aimed to give the community access to experts rather than promote party politics.
Fish Creek Football Netball Club is among 261 clubs to receive funding from the TAC Club Rewards Program, which recognises efforts to encourage safer driving. Korumburra Bena is one of seven clubs to receive the maximum grant of $10,000. Poowong and Kilcunda Bass are also receiving funding. The grants will pay for equipment, facilities and community programs. The clubs will promote the 2027 message Be the Difference. Make the Right Choice. Slow Down on the Road. Minister for Roads and Road Safety Paul Hamer announced the grants.
Property firm Hotspotting says working-class areas are set to outperform wealthier suburbs over the next seven to 15 years. Glenorchy in Tasmania and Canterbury-Bankstown in New South Wales are among its top picks. Its founder, Terry Ryder, says a poor reputation does not stop areas from growing in value. Hotspotting also expects smaller unit complexes built around the 1950s and 1960s to perform well. Real Estate Institute of Australia president Jacob Caine says homebuyers are looking at areas they previously overlooked.
Police have issued a fresh appeal after releasing CCTV footage of a man they allege deliberately lit a fire at a home in Cobden, in western Victoria. The blaze broke out on Mitchell Street at about 6.15am on February 5, while a father and his two children were inside. The father said he tried to fight the flames and called emergency services. All three escaped without injury. Detectives believe the attack was targeted, but the motive is unclear. No arrests have been made.
Police have released CCTV footage of a man they believe set a deliberate fire at a home in Cobden, in south-west Victoria. The fire broke out at a Mitchell Street property in February. A father and his two children were inside and escaped without injury. Police say they believe the attack was targeted, though the reason is unclear. Detectives are appealing for information about the man and a silver Mazda 3 seen nearby.
The City of Greater Geelong and Wyndham City councils have asked Transport Minister Vicki Ward for an immediate trial of a V/Line train service through Werribee. The Warrnambool to Southern Cross service would connect two fast-growing areas. Trains were moved off the Werribee route in 2015. Existing tracks, trains and crews would be used. Both mayors say a direct link would improve access to jobs, education, healthcare and Avalon Airport.
A Supreme Court jury will soon begin deliberating in the trial of Steven Fredereick Johnson, 74, who has pleaded not guilty to murdering Christopher Jarvis. Mr Jarvis, a 38-year-old father, disappeared from his Wangoom home on June 13, 2006, and his body has never been found. Prosecutors allege Mr Johnson, a former police officer, attacked his tenant over $2,210 in unpaid rent, then buried him and had his car burnt. Mr Johnson's lawyers deny involvement, saying he sought a lawful resolution. The defence argues the case rests on speculation. Justice Andrew Tinney will charge the jury on Monday.
Bass Coast Shire Council has defended its decision to raise annual registration fees for short-stay rental providers. The fee has risen from $324 to $600, or $900 for homes with more than five bedrooms. Holiday home owners and a tourism group have started a petition calling for the increase to be dropped. Council says the fees cover extra costs from the holiday accommodation industry, including waste and anti-social behaviour. Tourism advocates warn the fees could leave more holiday homes empty.
Victoria's southwest is set for significant development with two major projects approved. The Greater Avalon Employment Precinct will create up to 8,000 jobs in industries like manufacturing and logistics, while also safeguarding over 600 acres of conservation land near Ramsar wetlands. Meanwhile, the East of Aberline Precinct Structure Plan in Warrnambool will deliver 4,500 new homes, 800 jobs, and improved community facilities, including schools and parks. Both projects aim to boost local economies and protect environmental areas.
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The City of Greater Geelong and Wyndham City councils have asked the Victorian Government to trial a direct rail link between Geelong and Werribee. The proposal would reroute existing Warrnambool to Melbourne services through Werribee rather than Wyndham Vale. The councils say the tracks remain active for freight and are maintained. They argue the trial would test demand without waiting for major new construction. Geelong Mayor Stretch Kontelj and Wyndham Mayor Mia Shaw backed the plan, which is a request for a trial that the councils are seeking the state government to support.
Victoria’s property market features unusual homes with historic backgrounds. These include a former bank in Violet Town with an intact vault, a converted school in Woodford with original desks, and a tiny bootmaker’s shop in Ascot Vale. Other listings include a former police station in Eildon with a lockup, an old pub in Guildford, and a transformed post office in St Arnaud. Prices range from $390,000 to $1.09 million.
Three-time Wynne Prize finalist Kathryn Ryan is showing her exhibition What the Light Holds at the Zenith Gallery in RACV Inverloch Resort. The free display of painting and drawing is open to the public and resort guests until December 2. Ryan, a Warrnambool artist, says the windswept coastlines and green hills of south-west Victoria shape her work and her outlook. RACV head of visual arts Mardi Nowak says the paintings show a deep connection to the region. Ryan will attend the exhibition on October 17 and October 18.
Geelong and Wyndham councils are urging the state government to trial direct passenger trains between Geelong and Werribee. The proposal would reroute existing Warrnambool services through Werribee instead of Wyndham Vale, using current tracks, trains, and crews. The councils say the trial would require only timetable changes and passenger information, with no new track needed. They argue the service would improve access to jobs, education, and healthcare, while providing evidence for future investment.
