Having been brought to its knees amid the bushfire crisis, Lakes Entrance bounced back to life over the Australia Day long weekend.Tourists and locals joined in festivities on the foreshore both Saturday and Sunday to celebrate Chinese New Year and Australia Day.Market stalls, food trucks, live entertainment, the ever-popular duck race and more, organised by Lakes Entrance Events, brought joy to...

Among the many businesses that are doing it tough in Lakes Entrance at the moment, the hire boats along Marine Parade are feeling the affects.With a heavy reliance on tourists, it is and will be, a struggle for their businesses.“We are basically holding out for Australia Day weekend,” Darren Fearnley, from Portside Hire Boats, said.“Our income is down 80 per cent.”There are many expenses the...

A group of East Gippsland locals came together last Wednesday night for a magnificent banquet feast at the Floating Dragon restaurant in Lakes Entrance.The group formed in response to the recent bushfires that have ravaged the East Gippsland region and economy.Spokesperson for the group, Kerrilee Kimber, said the idea to put some money back into the local economy, by filling a local restaurant,...

Tony Kemna, of Far Out Fishing, has certainly gone far above the call of duty since Mallacoota was hit by the bushfires.He completed his first rescue run on New Year’s Day, leaving Lakes Entrance at 2am, on his boat, Far Out II, after his fellow fishing community in Mallacoota put a call out for generators, gas and essentials such as bottled water.The journey is 380 kilometres return and takes...

Lakes Entrance, like many East Gippsland towns, is on its knees as bushfires wreak havoc across the region, decimating tourism numbers and a typical summer business trade.Community members have put out the call to visitors to return, but also to locals to support their waning community by shopping local, be it, food, drink or retail.The outcome of bushfire season appears grim for the seaside...