Your local and independent news from the Prom Coast and South Gippsland.
What a week on the Prom Coast: Foster marched in pride, Port Welshpool's Coast Guard scored a long-awaited budget win, and the Fish Creek Tea Cosy Festival delivered warmth, colour and community in spades. Read on for a sneak peak of the headlines, subscribe, or grab this week's full digital edition here.
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QUOTE OF THE WEEK
"Good health care starts with people feeling safe, respected and understood. Seeing our community come together like this shows the strength of South Gippsland and our shared commitment to looking after one another." — Samantha Park, Director of Community Care, on IDAHOBIT Day in Foster.
NEWS
Foster's rainbow pride Community members turned out in brilliant sunshine on 15 May for the fourth annual IDAHOBIT pride parade, with students from Foster Secondary College walking alongside Ambulance Victoria, Prom Country Aged Care, Foster Medical Centre, Manna Gum Community House and South Gippsland Shire representatives. Read the full story →
Coast Guard scores long-awaited budget win After years of making do with an unreliable vessel, the Port Welshpool Coast Guard Flotilla has been promised a brand-new custom-built rescue boat in the 2026 Victorian state budget — a surprise announcement delivered in person by MP Tom McIntosh. Flotilla Commander Robin Street called the news "sensational and long overdue." Read more →
Foster community rallies to help visitor in distress A lost bag, a language barrier and a race against time turned into a beautiful story of community spirit, when Tourist Information Officer Louise Matthews and Mandarin-speaking local Jennifer Hsieh helped an international visitor recover her passport, wallet and phone from Tidal River. Read more →
SGW confirms long-term future in Foster South Gippsland Water has moved to put community concerns to rest, confirming it intends to maintain and strengthen its Foster presence as part of a broader facilities review. Read more →
Marinus Link works begin to surface After nearly nine years of planning, the first visible signs of the $4 billion Marinus Link energy infrastructure project are now appearing in South Gippsland. The Prom Coast News joined a media tour of part of the 90km overland route — here's what we saw. Read more →
More news
→ Sandy Point community group lodges VCAT appeal over caravan park development
→ Toora heritage controls on the table at community consultation
→ South Gippsland Feral Deer Forum comes to Meeniyan on 26 May
COMMUNITY
The Fish Creek Tea Cosy Festival opened to huge crowds last weekend, with music, art and knitted wonders filling the town in glorious late-autumn style — and there's more to come this weekend, including the lantern parade and bonfire this Saturday 23 May at 5.30pm. Meanwhile, Foster Secondary College's Colour Run raised funds for the school's FoodBank program in a joyful explosion of colour and community spirit.
LIFESTYLE
Mark Avery has been elected to the board of Regional Arts Victoria, a well-deserved honour for the driving force behind Fishy Stories and Prom Recitals. Speaking of which, Prom Recitals returns on Sunday 14 June with Two Musical Worlds at Fish Creek Memorial Hall, bringing jazz and classical masters together for an afternoon not to be missed. Also this week: local artist Janie Frith on her remarkable run of success at regional art shows, and a stunning joint exhibition by Christine Paraman and Christine Watterson continues at Stockyard Gallery Foster until 25 May.
SPORT
Foster remain the MGFNL's only undefeated senior side after an emphatic 175-32 demolition of Hill End, with coach Jake Best booting ten. Fish Creek held their nerve in a heart-stopping five-point thriller over Yinnar, MDU bounced back emphatically against Toora, and Tarwin kept circling in sixth spot with a win over Stony Creek. In netball, Foster put on a stunning 99-28 display, while Yinnar edged Fish Creek 44-43 and Toora and MDU made it a draw. Meanwhile, the Foster Cricket Club has announced a new era, with Ryan Williams appointed A Grade Captain/Coach ahead of the 2026/27 season.
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