Latest News
Rats prepare for Demons challenge
Ararat’s under-17 footballers will face off against Horsham Demons on Saturday when the two sides meet in what shapes as a classic grand final encounter.
17 September, 2026
General News
CFA members train to save lives
LOCAL residents have good reason to feel safer in the event of a fire, now that members of the Willaura and Halls Gap...
16 September, 2026
Local News
Telstra upgrading 4G coverage in Westmere
TELSTRA has advised the Advocate it will be upgrading its mobile base...
Ararat records warmest winter
ARARAT has notched up its warmest winter on record despite receiving...
Potholes leave motorists counting the cost
SAFE, reliable roads are one of the most basic services governments are...
Council & Politics
Nationals pledge help for country councils
THE Nationals say they are backing rural councils like Northern Grampians Shire with a plan to deliver fair funding...
8 September, 2026
On an island over farmer fines
A NORTHERN Grampians councillor has stood alone against calls for fines...
More police to make Stawell safer
MEMBER for Lowan Emma Kealy said operating hours at Stawell Police...
Liberals’ plan to make Ararat safer
THE Coalition says it will increase the operating hours of the Ararat...
Rural & Agriculture
Bird Flu detected in Pyrenees Shire
THE Pyrenees Shire has reported its first confirmed case of the H5 virus also knows as bird flu. The Department of...
4 September, 2026
Ararat News, Avoca News, Beaufort News, Stawell News
Bird flu edges closer to the Grampians
POULTRY farms and people with backyard chickens are being urged to...
Ewe beauty, a ripper day at Marnoo
TORRENTIAL rain failed to dampen spirits at Marnoo last Wednesday as...
289 ewes stolen from Lexton
BEAUFORT Police are investigating the theft of 289 pregnant ewes from a...
Lifestyle & Entertainment
From tentative sketches to gallery walls
KELLIE Russell still seems a little surprised that people want to hang her drawings on gallery walls. The Stawell...
15 September, 2026
A spectacular experience
FIVE Halls Gap Primary School students have gone from rehearsing songs...
Old blankets tell new stories
WOOLLEN blankets once made to keep people warm have found a very...
A passion in full bloom
JOHN Welsh only has to step into his backyard to be surrounded by the...
Our People
A pair beyond compare
DI HOLDEN thought she had been told remarkably little for someone expected to keep an entire day free. There was no...
11 September, 2026
Beaufort CWA celebrates 100 years of service
A cold Wednesday in Beaufort was warmed by a strong sense of community,...
Life membership for history stalwart
AROUND 31 years ago, Diane Western and her husband Tim were the driving...
Backing the Blizzard one parma at a time
ARARAT RSL is throwing its support behind local Olympian Sarah Blizzard,...
Sport
Roos netballers claim two premierships
Last Saturday's Central Highlands Netball League was a great day for Waubra, with two of the four netball teams...
16 September, 2026
Rats clean up at WFNL best-and-fairest
Ararat cleaned up at the Wimmera Football Netball League...
Action-packed day at Stawell Harness Racing Club
It was another action-packed day at the Stawell Harness Racing Club last...
Three in a row for mighty Emus
Skipton’s under-15 footballers have stormed to their third consecutive...