📰 A Different Kind of Update This Week

G’day, Ballarat! It’s been a tough week. Half the time checking the weather, and the other half checking the emergency map, and keeping an eye on the wind just in case. While life continues as usual for many of us, it’s been a very different story not far from town. This week’s feature story is an important one, alongside a few good local updates, and a couple of lighter bits to round things out. Thanks, as always, for reading and being part of this little corner of Ballarat.

- Luciano Devoto

While most of us in Ballarat were checking maps and sniffing the air like suspicious dogs, others were watching fire fronts move closer, hour by hour. Homes, livestock, machinery and livelihoods have been lost as fires tore through paddocks in communities not all that far from us.

The damage is still being counted and fires are still burning in many areas across Victoria. For many families, the hardest part comes after the flames pass, when the reality of what’s been lost starts to sink in.

If you or someone you know has been impacted by the bushfires, the Emergency Recovery Hotline is now available with extra financial support in place.

For those of us in a position to help, here are a few reputable appeals supporting relief and recovery across affected communities:

Whether it’s donating, volunteering, or helping someone you know, every bit of support makes things easier for those doing it tough.

Ballarat’s SoupBus has just grown its footprint with a shiny new vehicle named Gertie, ready to serve Sebastopol, Redan and Delacombe. The project is the Rotary Club of Ballarat’s main push in its centenary year, teamed up with the OnTrack Foundation to bring the third SoupBus service to the city’s south.

Gertie’s fitted out with a full kitchen and storage and is expected to provide more than 10,000 free meals a year to people doing it tough. It’s local hands and hearts making a practical difference on our streets.

The Victorian Government is offering a $100 Power Saving Bonus to eligible households, and plenty of locals have still not claimed it. All that’s needed is a recent electricity bill and some ID, such as a driver’s licence or Medicare card. It’s one payment per household, paid directly to you once approved.

Applications can be done online, over the phone, or with help from places like your local neighbourhood house. Not a fortune, but definitely useful when power bills keep rolling in.

If you’re a student or thinking about enrolling this year, this one’s worth a look. Bendigo Bank has committed millions to a scholarship pool designed to ease the cost of study for locals. More than 70 Community Bank scholarships are on offer, with extra support for regional, rural and Indigenous students.

A stack of last year’s recipients are already back in the classroom because of it. Applications close January 31, so timing matters..

Summer Sundays rolls into week three this coming weekend, and it’s shaping up nicely. After two weeks of laid back vibes, full picnic rugs and families spread across the gardens, the rhythm is well and truly locked in. The lineup this week covers plenty of ground.

• Cousin Tony’s Brand New Firebird – big, brassy indie rock with festival energy
• Little Guilt – catchy indie pop with a feel good edge
• Hemlock Wilde – glam rock swagger with attitude
• Freya – soulful pop with warm vocals
• Tom McGowan – stripped back folk and acoustic storytelling

Food trucks and the Garden Bar will be back as usual, serving up the kind of food and drinks that suit a proper Sunday arvo in the gardens

As mentioned last week, the January disruptions on the Ballarat line are still rolling on. Some services are running to a different timetable and replacement coaches are popping up at various times, particularly around works further down the line. Before heading off, it’s worth checking the V/Line service updates so you know exactly what you’re walking into and can plan around it.

🛏 4 🛁 3 🚗 5 | 💰 $6.900,000 - $7,250,000

Every now and then a house pops up that makes you stop scrolling. This one on Wendouree Parade is currently the most expensive place on the market in Ballarat, and it’s easy to see why. Designed by John Wardle Architects, it’s all about space, light and lake views, with courtyards, big living areas and plenty of spots to slow things down. There’s a pool, gym, wine cellar and room for four cars. Most of us won’t be booking an inspection, but it’s still a fun one to have a stickybeak at..

After last week’s banh mi debate (congrats HM Wrap & Roll), we’re sticking with Asian cuisine for another round. This week we’re asking you to share where’s the best sushi spot Ballarat? From quick grab and go rolls to spots worth sitting down for, cast your vote and let’s see which venue comes out on top.

Events and live music now have their own page, which means I can share a lot more of what’s happening around Ballarat each week. Check them out!

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Until next Thursday!