When John Elliott and his camels arrived in Lakes Entrance a few weeks ago they were heading for Russell Osborne and Tara Lea’s property to take a break from their trek. Russell and Tara have been running a business called camelconnection.com for eight years. They have just restarted camel rides on Eastern Beach after the lifting of some COVID-19 restrictions. Russell was a teacher by trade...

In May of 20019, Federal Member for Gippsland, Darren Chester, said he would fight for an independent environmental audit of the Gippsland Lakes and its catchment if he was successful at that month’s election. He was successful and has continued to fight for an audit, however has been knocked back continuously. At the time, the longtime supporter of Gippsland Lakes and river management issues...

There was a big colourful truck getting around Lakes Entrance last week - the Mitzvah Tank. Rabbi Mendel Super and Rabbi Izzy Adelist, who featured on Outback Rabbis on ABC television last year, visited the town.The truck has travelled across the Nullabor, to Darwin and basically the width and breadth of Australia.They were in northern New South Wales after the bushfires providing support to...

There is light at the end of the tunnel, according to Lakes Entrance Action Development Association (LEADA). Following a disastrous summer of bushfires, coupled with coronavirus restrictions halting the economy, LEADA is seeing a ray of hope appear recently with tourists and locals enjoying the fine weather the town over the long weekend and even this weekend. “Hopefully this is the prelude to...

Lidia Thorpe spent her formative years growing up in East Gippsland before moving to Melbourne for work but takes every opportunity she can to get back to country. As a proud Gunnaikurnai woman, the bush is an important part of her emotional and spiritual being. “I come out of Melbourne to come and heal on my country because, you know, I was tired,” Ms Thorpe explained as she returned to East...