South West Local News
Fitzmedia’s South West Local News is an independently produced regional news bulletin delivering trusted, timely, and community-focused coverage to South West Victoria. Broadcasting three nights a week—Monday, Wednesday, and Friday—the program is filmed at Fitzmedia’s Warrnambool studios and presented by Sharna Rogers, with Liam Fitzgerald often providing key updates and headlines.
Covering everything from local politics and agriculture to grassroots sports, events, and human-interest stories, South West Local News prides itself on being deeply connected to the people and places
South West Local News
FRIDAY MARCH 13TH 2026 - SOUTH WEST LOCAL NEWS
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tonight on south west local news
jess wilson announced to lead the liberal party, with a visit to warrnambool this weekend
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a 31 year old man charged with multiple offences, now remanded and awaiting court
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Chris Bowen announces an ease to fuel shortage, by introducing lower quality fuel for 60 days
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and in sport cobden export zach merrit faces a first round MCG
match against hawthorn
For everything making and breaking news in South West Victoria.
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This morning on Southwest Local News, Jess Wilson announced to lead the Liberal Party with a visit to Warnerville this weekend. A 31-year-old man charged with multiple offences now demanded and awaiting court. Chris Bowen announces an ease-to-fuel shortage by introducing lower quality fuel for 60 days. And in sport Cobden Export Zach Merritt faces a first-round MCG match against Cawford.
SPEAKER_00Live from Silverbowl Studios in Warnable. This is Southwest Local News with Jana Rogers.
SPEAKER_04Good morning and welcome to Southwest Local News. The state opposition leader Jess Wilson will visit Warnerville on the weekend. Warnable Crime Investigation Unit detectives charged a man following his arrest in Crawley Street. Federal Energy Minister Chris Bowen has announced Australia will allow lower quality fuel for the next 60 days to help offset a petrol shortage. The easing of fuel standards relates to allowing higher sulfur levels. This will put another 100 million litres a month into Australia's petrol supply.
SPEAKER_01So for more than 10 years, though, in this chamber, I've watched legislation pass with little evidence that this is a government that truly does recognise the value of agriculture. In fact, we've seen agriculture disappear even from the department title. What was once the Department of Agriculture is now the Department of Environment, Energy and Climate Landscape and Climate Action. Now farmers are really frustrated with the fact that they're working so hard and they're not even valued enough to be in the title of a department. A department that really does need to be supportive of farmers and developing policies to recommend to government to actually make sure that we progress in agriculture and not go the other way. And we have seen the agriculture department have its resources stripped. The ability to do the research and the amount of staff that have gone from the agriculture department in the last two years is significant.
SPEAKER_04Promises are starting to roll out ahead of the 2026 Victorian State election on November the 28th. Included on the day will be dancing, a community parade, and guest speakers. Among those guest speakers will be Philippine Consulate General of Melbourne, Gary Domingo. Filipino groups from across the state will be heading to Warnerville for the event, which will take place from 11am to 4 p.m. It follows on from the success enjoyed by the Warnable Multicultural Festival. The Timboon community will gather tomorrow for the town's annual Tracks Festival. The festival will take place at the Timboon Amphitheatre and will begin at 12 noon. Four bands will headline the event and be supported by emerging bands from the Amplify program. Local produce, which Timboon is famous for, will also be showcased at the festival.
SPEAKER_02Well the Trax Music Festival has been going on for a few years now and we just love it because every year we have an array of talented musicians from the area. So it's very localised, and this year we are our main theme is Aussie Homegrown. So each of the four bands that have been selected will do an hours-long set of great Australian music.
SPEAKER_04The Warnable Animal Shelter is urging anyone thinking about getting a cat to do so now. The shelter is currently beyond capacity with adult cats. Adoption or foster placement of cats is available, with each new home freeing up a spot at the shelter for another cat in need. All cat adoption fees have been lowered to$25 with each cat dissect, microchipped, and vaccinated. The Warnable Animal Shelter is in Braithway Street, Warnable. The Warnable Community Garden will be showcased tomorrow as it hosts the annual Harfest event. The event is back after a successful debut in 2025. Live music, food, and workshops will be at the core of the day, which runs from 3 pm to 7pm. There will also be some quirky events including Zucchini Cart Races, a Scarecrow fashion competition. Harfest will be held in the Gardens Amphitheatre and will be MC'd by Moineshire Council Mayor and local musician Jordan Lockett. The Southwest Cohort have joined the 1.4 million students undergoing their NAPLAN testing this week. Year three, five, seven, and nine students are required to complete the assessment, which focuses on writing, reading, grammar, punctuation, and numeracy. NAPLAN documents the cohort's learning outcomes and milestones in relation to the received education curriculum across Australia once a year. This offers findings and statistics into Australian education. First making news in sport, former Cobden star Zach Merritt will tonight face one of the biggest challenges of his brilliant career. The six-time Essendon best and fairest winner will run out for the Bombers in their round one game at the MCG against Hawthorne. The irony of this is Merritt had actively sought a trade to the Hawks at the end of the last season. The deal wasn't done and Merritt remains with the Bombers. Essendon coach Brad Scott said this recent chapter was now well and behind Merritt and his teammates. He praised Merritt's resilience and said his star on bowler will be ready for the challenge.
SPEAKER_03We knew we were playing Hawthorne round one before well before trade period. So I knew it. We all knew. And and so and Zach knew. So this is not something that we've had to address this week. So we're well prepared. And in my experience with the best players, they prepare themselves unbelievably well physically, but but even more so mentally. And I've seen some strong, resilient characters in my time in footy. Zach Merritt's at the top of the echelon, top echelon in terms of guys who have resilience. And um so of course my job as coach is to support him. But with those guys, my experience tells me just to get out of the way and let him do his thing.
SPEAKER_04Mort Lake will face the biggest task in Wannable Mooring cricket this weekend. The Cats will take on Allensford Pair Mewer in the premier grade preliminary final at the Gators home ground. The Gators look primed to grab a grand final spot over Saturday and Sunday. In the other preliminary final, Nessels will be fresh after its own week off when it comes up against Dennington. The game will be played Purnum with the dogs coming off a victory over Port Ferry. The NBL Championship dreams of star Warnable basketballer Nathan Soby will be on the line this weekend. Soby and his team, Southeast Melbourne Phoenix, take on the Adelaide 36ers in game two of their semi-final playoff series on Saturday. The 36ers defeated the Phoenixers 104-97 in game one in Adelaide on Tuesday. Sobe was again a star for the Phoenixers, topping the scoring list with 23 points. The series is a best of three games, meaning a loss for the Phoenix will end their season. They will have the advantage of playing on their home court at the John Kane Arena. The redevelopment of Briley Recreation Reserve will be the venue for a high-stakes game tomorrow. The third round of the Australia Cup Soccer Tournament will be played at Briley with a local team in action. The Warnerbull Rangers will play State League 2 Northwest Side Mill Park in round three of the tournament. The Rangers had a first round bye and came out firing in round two, defeating Mount Waverley City in an upset win. Kickoff tomorrow will begin at 2 pm.
SPEAKER_05Tomorrow in Port Ferry, it's looking partly cloudy with the top of 21. Sunday 22 and cloudy with south-easterly winds. As for Monday, expect some clouds and showers up to 4 mil with daytime temperatures reaching a max of 21. In Mort Lake, high 20s for the next couple of days. Starting off with 26 tomorrow, partly cloudy with light winds. Take extra care, UV index, to rise to 8. Sunday will be mostly sunny with a chance of morning fog. Light winds coming from the southeast a top of 28. 2 ml on Monday with southeasterly winds, cloudy and sitting at 23. In the Korak and Camperdown region tomorrow, a top of 25 with a foggy start. Continuing the trend, foggy on Sunday morning, warming right up to 28 degrees. Dropping to 23 on Monday with 7 m to fall. In Port Campbell along the Great Ocean Road tomorrow, chance of fog with southeasterly winds, a top of 21. Sunday, topping at 23 degrees with light winds and overnight temperatures dropping to 10. Up to 5mm on Monday with light winds for most of the day, temperature of 21. Returning to Warnable 22 tomorrow, partly cloudy with strong winds. On Sunday, slightly warmer, mostly sunny with a top of 23. Monday, 21 degrees with a cloudy day with light winds and potential showers. That's all for your three-day forecast. Back to you, Shanna.
SPEAKER_04That's it from your Southwest Local News team this morning, and thank you for tuning in. Remember, you can also watch this bulletin online at southwestlocalnews.com.au. Until Tuesday morning with peace. Have a great day.