Stories from St Arnaud

26/11/2025

St Arnaud has officially launched the 16 Days of Activism campaign – a cause focused on protecting women and transgender women from gender-based violence perpetrated by men. ♀️⚧️

23/11/2025

Congratulations to St Arnaud Secondary College on their efforts at the 2025 Energy Breakthrough with Ned's Gang! 💛🖤

Well done to all the riders and pit crew, which include Charlie James, Imogen Watts, Lewis Lowe, Charlie Baldwin, Sienna Thomson, Tasha Batters, Finn Evans, Ned Ezard, Abbi Thiem and Alexis Torney! 👏🏻

A fantastic effort from an enthusiastic team! 💪🏻

22/11/2025

The kids from St Arnaud Primary School put in a fantastic effort during the Energy Breakthrough! 🛞🛞

03/11/2025

Outrage is building across western Victoria after VicGrid was accused of harassing farmers and forcing land access under the Allan Labor Government’s transmission line program.

Farmers say VicGrid staff have been leaving access notices tied to fenceposts and road signs “in dirty used bags,” rather than contacting landowners directly. Locals called it intimidation – a deliberate show of power.

“They don’t even have the guts to face the owner,” said one furious farmer. Another branded the government “a disgrace,” accusing Premier Jacinta Allan of “ignoring Victorians and breaking biosecurity laws just to get her way.”

Community pages – from the Wimmera to the Pyrenees to the Goldfields – are lighting up with anger.

“This is not OK – on so many levels,” one comment read, while others urged residents to “record every movement on your property” and “tell them to bu**er off.” One farmer summed up the mood bluntly: “Mmmm, war.”

The backlash isn’t just about VicGrid’s conduct – it’s about what many see as the broader arrogance of the Victorian Labor Government.

Locals accuse the state of trampling private property rights to serve billion-dollar energy companies. “You will own nothing, and you will be happy – straight from the WEF,” one person wrote. “Communism coming to us at a rapid pace thanks to Allan and her mates.”

Groups such as the Wallaloo and Gre Gre District Alliance, the Wimmera Mallee Environmental & Agricultural Protection Association, and countless smaller farmer alliances say they’ve had enough.

“They’ve taken the joy out of living in rural Victoria,” one resident said. “The stress, the tears, the heartache – and politicians just don’t care.”

Many are calling for protests at Parliament House and even class action against the state. “This is government gone rogue,” another said. “They can’t keep forcing their way onto people’s land and expect us to roll over.”

In the Wimmera, the mood is crystal clear: the bush is fighting back – and it’s not just about power lines anymore. It’s about power itself.

25/10/2025

What a cracking day it was at the St Arnaud Cup! 🐎

25/10/2025

A stunning shot of the old ruin at Beazley’s Bridge, just south-west of St Arnaud – captured beautifully by Rodney Marchant! 📸

“No sign of a bridge anywhere, though,” Rodney joked when he snapped this back in 2019! 🏚️

05/09/2025

St Arnaud’s looking less like a sleepy country town and more like the set of a crime drama these days!

Detectives from the Armed Crime Squad, backed by local cops, rolled in heavy last week and tore through two properties – and what they dug up was anything but small-town mischief…

Sitting there waiting: a loaded, privately built handgun, spare firearm parts, a stash of ammo, and enough w**d to make the whole street reek!

Two locals were dragged out – a 21-year-old now staring down fi****ms, ammo, and drug charges with a court date locked in for late September, and a 55-year-old who’ll be facing the music for drug possession and resisting police.

And here’s where it gets darker: cops are probing whether that homemade pistol ties back to the Kings Avenue shooting in late July, when a 40-year-old bloke was gunned down and left bleeding from the upper body.

Non-life-threatening, but still a bullet in the flesh – and police reckon it was no random hit. Both sides knew each other, which makes it smell a lot like payback.

One man, 37, is already buried under charges from that night – reckless conduct, intentional injury, assault, firearm offences, car theft, dangerous driving, breaching bail… the whole bloody bingo card of criminal stupidity.

For St Arnaud, it’s a brutal reminder that country towns aren’t immune. Guns, drugs, bad blood – it’s all here. And with detectives still digging, this saga’s far from over.

16/08/2025

Such a touching tribute. Bernie clearly gave so much of his time and heart to the Pebble Church, and it shows how much he meant to the community. Condolences to his family and friends – he’ll be remembered with respect and gratitude.

The Pebble Church Heritage Association Inc. (PCHAI) is deeply saddened by the recent passing of our committee member and dear friend, Bernie Segger.

Bernie has been a serving committee member for the past 3 years and in that time, has approached his role with great enthusiasm and dedication. He never missed a working bee and he attended to many regular maintenance tasks at the Church in his spare time. Bernie was a loved and respected member of the PCHAI committee and we will miss him.

We extend our deepest sympathies to Bernie’s family. Our thoughts are with you all at this very sad time. Vale Bernie.

19/07/2025

Recently retired NSW couple Steven and Cayte, along with their dog Rylee, recently visited St Arnaud, snapping these wonderful pics! 📷