The Dunolly Daily

08/08/2026

WORK BEGINS ON $3M DUNOLLY PAVILION

After more than 20 years of lobbying, Dunolly’s ageing Deledio Recreation Reserve pavilion is finally on the way out – although the ceremonial shovels came out with a state election now less than four months away.

Federal Labor Senator Jana Stewart and Member for Ripon Martha Haylett joined Central Goldfields Shire representatives and local volunteers at the reserve yesterday to turn the first sod on the $3 million project, timed alongside Dunolly’s Round 17 clash with Talbot.

For Dunolly’s sporting community, the milestone has been a very long time coming. The existing pavilion dates from 1977 and has deteriorated to the point where its structural safety has been questioned by the reserve’s Committee of Management.

But despite the considerable price tag, the first stage will not deliver everything local groups say they need. The new building will provide accessible change rooms and amenities, first aid facilities, undercover social and viewing areas, solar power and rainwater harvesting.

However, the kitchen and hospitality areas will still require further funding for their fit-out, while the Committee of Management says the proposed social area is not large enough to meet the long-term needs of user groups and the wider community.

Committee Treasurer and Secretary Kath Ryan said decades of advocacy had gone into getting construction underway. “The Dunolly Recreation Reserves Committee of Management is pleased to see Stage One Deledio Community Pavilion begin construction.”

“Over a number of decades, our committee and user groups have advocated to state and federal governments and government departments to invest in this sorely needed community hub, as our current pavilion has deteriorated to the point where its structural safety is in question.”

She said the committee would continue seeking money for an extension and a functional kitchen and bar.

Taxpayers and ratepayers are being billed $3 million for the project – $1.5 million via the Federal Government, $1 million via the Victorian Government and $500,000 via Central Goldfields Shire Council.

Council awarded the design and construction contract to MKM Building Group Pty Ltd following a public tender process in April.

The size of the investment is also likely to attract questions about value for money, particularly when Stage One still leaves the community fundraising and seeking grants to complete important parts of the facility.

That scrutiny comes amid a much wider debate over the cost of publicly funded construction in Victoria.

Labor's handling of Victoria's massive Big Build program has been engulfed by allegations of corruption, criminal infiltration and inflated construction costs.

Those allegations do not relate to the Dunolly pavilion, and there is no evidence the Deledio project has been affected by the conduct alleged on major state projects.

However, the controversy has intensified scrutiny of how taxpayer-funded construction is procured and what communities ultimately receive for their money.

New Premier Ben Carroll has moved towards a royal commission into the construction industry following mounting pressure over the allegations.

Saturday's gathering also carried an unmistakable political backdrop.

With Victorians heading to the polls on 28 November, regional infrastructure announcements, openings and sod-turnings are providing increasingly frequent photo opportunities for MPs seeking to demonstrate what government funding has delivered.

Haylett, whose Ripon electorate takes in Dunolly, described the start of construction as a “huge milestone” and thanked local volunteers Sonya Richards-Stuart, Kath Ryan, Steve Dellevedova and Ian Arnold for their advocacy.

Stewart similarly used the occasion to promote the Federal Labor Government's contribution to the project. But Labor enters the state campaign facing a very different political environment from the one it enjoyed at the 2022 election.

Recent statewide polling has shown substantial numbers of voters moving away from Labor, although estimates vary considerably between pollsters.

Central Goldfields Shire Council is facing its own problems with public confidence, with its 2026 Community Satisfaction Survey recorded an overall performance score of just 44, down four points from 2025 and well below both the statewide average.

More concerning for a council contributing $500,000 towards the pavilion, its rating for spending public funds fell nine points to 35, while satisfaction with Council's overall direction dropped five points to 38. Council itself described the results as “disappointing”.

The figures are not evidence of opposition to the Dunolly project, but they do mean major spending decisions are being made in an environment where residents are increasingly demanding evidence of value for money.

Behind the politicians, photographs and funding announcements, however, is a project Dunolly residents themselves have fought for across decades. That distinction matters.

Governments may provide the cheques and politicians may turn the ceremonial sod, but local volunteers were pushing for replacement clubrooms long before the current election campaign – and they will still be there after November's votes have been counted.

Construction of the new Deledio pavilion is expected to be completed in early 2027.

03/05/2026

Parents at Dunolly Primary School are now pleading for something no parent should have to beg for – basic safety outside their child’s school. 💔

The school crossing supervisor outside Dunolly Primary was axed at the end of the 2025 school year, leaving families frightened that it is only a matter of time before a child is hit.

In an interview with ABC Central Victoria, mother-of-three and CFA member Karina Carless revealed she dreads the day a child is killed crossing the road outside the school.

That is not political spin. That is a local mum imagining the worst possible phone call, the worst possible scene, and the worst possible job for emergency services – because a supervised school crossing has been cut.

Central Goldfields Shire Council is trying to save $3.2 million in the next financial year, with cuts including closing tips in outlying towns and reducing labour costs. But for Dunolly families, the brutal reality is simple.

When the council cannot balance the books, when the budget is under pressure, when debt and cost-cutting come knocking, essential community services are the first things placed on the chopping block. This time, child safety has been cut.

Parents say the official figure that only four students use the Dunolly crossing each day is no longer accurate, with Dunolly Primary School’s enrolments growing to 87 students, up from 79 last year.

They also say the road conditions are dangerous, with heavy traffic, harvest-season trucks, and a crest near the school zone creating what they fear is a tragedy waiting to happen.

Parent Megan Redpath put it bluntly. “Ideally, nobody wants to be scraping a kid off the road,” she said.

That line should stop every councillor, executive, department officer and budget-wrangler in their tracks. Because this is not about a luxury project.

It is not about glossy council branding, feel-good announcements, consultants, slogans, strategy documents, or whatever other shiny nonsense gets wheeled out when councils want to look busy. It is about children crossing the road safely.

And this is not the first time Central Goldfields Shire Council has found itself cutting services while the community is told to pay more.

Ratepayers are constantly squeezed, rates keep being pushed upward, and locals are expected to cough up more while basic services keep disappearing.

On top of that, councils are now being used as tax collectors for the Victorian Labor Government through the Emergency Services and Volunteers Fund, leaving councils to grab another deeply unpopular charge from households already under pressure.

So residents are paying more, being taxed more, and still watching services get cut. Tips are being cut. Labour is being cut. And now a school crossing supervisor is gone. That is the part that stings.

Because when communities pay rates, they are not doing it for glossy Facebook posts or council self-promotion. They are paying for roads, rubbish, safety, services, facilities, and the everyday basics that actually matter.

The Councillor for Central Goldfields Shire's Flynn Ward, which includes Dunolly, is Councillor Liesbeth Long.

Credit where it is due. Liesbeth does use her page to share local news, information, events, and issues – unlike some of her colleagues, who seem far less interested in engaging with the communities they are supposed to represent.

But at the time of writing, she does not appear to have posted about this issue. The Council itself has also not made a public Facebook post about the axed Dunolly school crossing supervisor.

That silence matters. Because council is very comfortable using its page for positive stories, polished announcements and carefully managed posts that paint it in a good light.

But when parents are frightened their children could be hit by traffic outside a school, the community deserves more than silence.

It deserves answers. It deserves transparency. It deserves councillors willing to front up, not just when there is a ribbon to cut or a nice photo opportunity to post.

And it deserves a council that does not delete community criticism from its Facebook posts while expecting the same community to keep paying more for less.

Dunolly parents are not asking for the moon. They are not asking for some gold-plated mega-project. They are asking for someone to stand at a school crossing and help children get across the road safely.

If a council cannot find a way to protect kids outside a primary school, people are entitled to ask what the money is actually being spent on. 💔

UPDATE: Following publication, Cr Liesbeth Long, has advised she previously addressed this issue in her column in Dunolly's Welcome Record (19 November 2025).

She also attended a Dunolly School Council meeting on 17 November 2025 with council officers, and raised the matter directly with the Department of Transport and Planning.

We acknowledge and appreciate this clarification, and thank her for the time and effort she has put into raising and advocating on this issue across multiple levels.

In hindsight, The Dunolly Daily could have been more diligent in identifying that earlier coverage, beyond the lack of a Facebook post, so it didn't appear as if conclusions were being drawn.

We encourage everyone to view her comment below for full context and a clearer understanding of the work that has been undertaken behind the scenes.

25/04/2026

Students from Dunolly Primary School have been praised for their respectful and thoughtful participation in local ANZAC Day commemorations. 🌺

A number of students represented Dunolly with pride at the Dawn Service and community march, showing quiet reflection and a strong understanding of the day’s significance. 🌅

Their efforts were described as commendable, with families also thanked for their support in helping students honour the courage and sacrifice of those who have served. 🙏🏻

05/04/2026

Dunolly Football Netball Club has paid tribute to two respected members, with players, officials, and supporters coming together for a minute’s silence ahead of play yesterday. 💙💛

The moment was observed with the support of the Maldon Football Netball Club, as both sides showed their respect in honour of “Bob” Freemantle and Caryl McFadden, who recently passed. ❤️

The club described the pair as significant contributors, whose legacy and impact will be remembered for years to come, highlighting the strong sense of community and connection within the club. 👏

04/04/2026

Congratulations to Ralph Williams on being awarded life membership with the Maryborough District Cricket Association, a well-earned honour recognising more than half a century of dedication to local cricket! 👏

Ralph has been a cornerstone of the Laanecoorie Dunolly Cricket Club for decades, with his involvement stretching back to his junior days in the 1970s. 🧒🏻

From player to coach, and now long-serving president, his contribution has been constant, helping guide the club through generations, and playing a key role in its success both on and off the field. 🏏

Across more than 30 years of coaching, Ralph has helped develop countless young cricketers, while also serving the club as secretary and spending over a decade as president. 👨🏻‍⚖️

His impact has been so significant that parts of the club, including facilities and the scoreboard, now stand as a lasting tribute to his service. 🙏🏻‍

Beyond cricket, Ralph is also a valued member of Central Goldfields Shire’s depot team, reflecting his strong connection to the broader community. 👥

Tributes have flowed in following the announcement, with many describing the recognition as “thoroughly deserved” and praising Ralph’s lifelong commitment to the game and the club.

A true stalwart of Laane-Dunolly and local cricket more broadly – congratulations Ralph on a remarkable achievement! 👏

28/03/2026

The Dunolly community are mourning the heartbreaking loss of beloved clubman Darren Freemantle, who has passed away following a courageous battle with cancer. ❤️

Bob was far more than a trainer – he was the heartbeat of the Dunolly Football & Netball Club for many years.

From guiding juniors early in the morning, to supporting senior players in the afternoon, and often being the last man standing at night running the bar after functions, his presence was constant, selfless, and deeply valued.

He was the kind of person who made everyone feel welcome – always up for a chat, always ready to lend a hand, and someone whose quiet dedication never went unnoticed.

Across the entire Goldfields region, he is being remembered as a genuine, down-to-earth bloke who gave so much of himself to the people and the club he loved.

His passing leaves a significant void, not just within the club, but across the entire Dunolly community, where his impact stretched far beyond game days.

At this incredibly difficult time, heartfelt condolences are extended to Melissa, Han and Grace, along with all family and friends who are grieving the loss of a much-loved husband, father, and mate.

Rest in peace, Bob. 💙💛

04/02/2026

There are losses that go beyond the thing itself, and this is one of them. After around 45 years of serving its community, The Welcome Record has announced it will cease publication.

The decision was confirmed today in what will be the paper’s final issue – a quiet, heartbreaking full stop on a publication that has walked alongside its community for generations.

The announcement was made by Angela Ang, President of the committee, who acknowledged both the paper’s proud history and the difficult reality that a lack of volunteers has made continuation impossible.

The story of the Welcome Record stretches back to 1979, when it first appeared as The Yellow Book, named simply for the colour of the paper it was printed on.

It was started by Jock Sellers as a modest two-page leaflet focused on reporting the local football season. That early incarnation ran for around seven years before folding in 1986.

Its absence didn’t last long, though, with residents of Dunolly quickly realising just how important a local paper was to the life of the town. A committee was formed, and on 4 June 1987 the Welcome Record was reborn.

With $1,500 in financial backing from the Shire of Bet Bet, the paper relaunched under editor Mick Drew, supported by a committee that included Jean Richardson, Esme Flett, Vicky Frizzell and Jan Ford.

Mike Stroud provided new machinery, while Father Tom Banfield assisted with the printing changeover.

By today’s standards, the process was astonishingly hands-on. The paper was produced in A5 format, typically 12 to 16 pages, printed in black and white with few photographs.

Every article was typed by volunteers, then physically cut with a guillotine and pasted with glue onto layout boards before being photocopied.

Pages were hand-folded. It was slow, painstaking work – and it was all done by volunteers. From that point on, the Welcome Record never stopped.

Published on the first and third weeks of each month, it grew into a trusted source of local news and connection, distributed across Dunolly, Tarnagulla, Maryborough, Laanecoorie, Eddington, Moliagul and Bealiba.

It was unashamedly for and about its community, committed to local news, local voices, local events and community achievements.

In Dunolly, the saying became well known: “If it’s not in the Welcome Record, then…” Because if it mattered – births, deaths, anniversaries, sporting triumphs, community debates, quiet acts of service – that’s where it was recorded.

What makes this ending especially painful is that the Welcome Record did not fade away. In recent years it enjoyed growing readership, financial stability, and significant recognition.

This included multiple Community Newspapers of Australia (Victoria) awards – among them Best Newspaper of the Year in 2023 and Best Community Content in 2024.

As a registered not-for-profit charity, any surplus funds were returned directly to the community at the end of each financial year. And yet, it is closing.

The reason speaks to a much deeper problem facing small towns everywhere. The Welcome Record was produced entirely by volunteers – office workers, writers, photographers, proofreaders, editors, designers, printers, and distributors.

Like so many community organisations, it depended completely on people being willing to give their time. That willingness is becoming harder to sustain.

Volunteerism, once woven into the fabric of towns like Dunolly, is in serious decline. For many communities, that decline was accelerated during the COVID years.

Controversial vaccine mandates introduced across a wide range of sectors had dire consequences for volunteer-based organisations, with many long-standing volunteers stood down or excluded from roles.

While not specific to the Welcome Record, the impact was felt everywhere – emergency services, auxiliaries, community groups and local institutions – and many of those volunteers never returned.

The Welcome Record now joins other long-standing local institutions struggling under the same pressure, including the RSL, the Dunolly & District Hospital Auxiliary and even emergency services groups such as the CFA.

Generational change, fear of commitment, fear of learning new skills and increasingly busy lives have left too few people able to step forward. This is not about blame. It is about loss.

Without the Welcome Record, there will no longer be a dedicated, community-owned historical record created in the way it has been for decades.

Stories will still happen, but many will inevitably pass undocumented. A shared voice, built patiently over generations, has fallen silent.

In its absence, The Dunolly Daily will continue to do what it can to help fill that void – sharing local stories, recording moments that matter, and keeping community life visible – but the loss of a long-running, volunteer-driven print record remains deeply felt.

Above all, this moment belongs to the volunteers – past and present. Those who typed, cut, glued, folded, edited, designed, delivered and governed the paper across generations.

Those who showed up week after week because they believed their community mattered enough to be recorded properly.

The committee has made clear that if enough new volunteers come forward, the paper could one day return. Systems have been streamlined, training is offered, and the door remains open. For now, though, the presses stop.

This is a sad day for Dunolly and its surrounding towns. Not just the loss of a newspaper, but the loss of a living archive, a trusted voice, and a reminder of what communities can achieve when people give their time for something bigger than themselves.

To everyone who ever contributed to the Welcome Record – whether by writing, volunteering, delivering, or simply reading – thank you. Your work mattered, and it will echo through our community long after today's final issue.

26/01/2026

A great Australia Day was enjoyed at Gordon Gardens in Dunolly today, with the community coming together for a relaxed and welcoming celebration! 🇦🇺

Dunolly Gordon Gardens.

25/01/2026

It was a busy day at the coffee window at Welcome Stranger & Co today! 🏇🏻🏇🏻🏇🏻

When even the horses are lining up for a caffeine hit, you know you’re doing something right! ☕

Neigh worries about parking, strong brews all round, and clearly the word’s got out that this place is the mane attraction in town! 😆