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
MONDAY 23RD MARCH 2026 -South West Local News
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Thismorning on South West Local News
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a fatal collison as a cyclist is struck by a car in wangoom
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Warrnambool Crime Investigation Unit detectives are investigating an aggravated burglary
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three teenage boys arrested in hamilton after altercation
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and in sport
the district league football contest nearby with fitzmedia broadcasting key matches
For everything making and breaking news in South West Victoria.
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This morning on Southwest Local News. A fatal collision as a cyclist is struck by a car in Wongoon. Warnable crime investigation unit detectives are investigating an aggravated burglary. Three teenage boys arrested in Hamilton after an altercation. An in-sport district league football contest begins and is broadcast by FitzMedia Productions.
SPEAKER_07Live from Silverball Studios in Warnerbull. This is Southwest Local News with Shauna Rogers.
SPEAKER_03Good morning and welcome to Southwest Local News. The Warnable Cycling Club is mourning the loss of one of its members after a fatal accident in Wangum yesterday. Cyclist Clive Coomber died when he was struck by a car on Saturday morning. Anyone who witnessed the incident with footage or information is urged to contact crime stoppers. Police arrested three boys following an affray which occurred in Hamilton on March the 21st. Investigators alleged two teenage boys were at a shopping centre on Grey Street about 2:30 p.m. when they were involved in an altercation with another two youths. The parties dispersed and police were quickly on scene arresting three of those involved. A 15-year-old and a 16-year-old from Southern Grampians area were charged with affray and bailed to appear at children's court at a later date. No one was hurt when a car accidentally drove into a building in Warnable on Sunday afternoon. The incident happened at the Discovery Park in Pateau Road about 2:30 pm. Crews from the Warnable SES, CFA, ambulance, and police attended with no injuries reported. Roads were the talking point at a rally in Warnerville on Saturday. The Broken Roads Broken Promises rally attracted a large crowd to the Civic Green. Southwest community members and bike riders from across Victoria have gathered in Warnable for a peaceful rally, calling for safer roads. The Broken Roads Broken Promises rally was held at the Civic Green in Warnerville at midday today. Organisers Michael White and Paul Pov from Hoggs, McCoggs, and two Aussie flogs drew a crowd of hundreds to support the cause.
SPEAKER_08They're taxing them not fixing them, they're lasting a very short period of time. And what the people in the country, all they want to do is find me a job. I want to bring the products to the market.
SPEAKER_03Member for South West Coast, Roma Brittany will address the crowd, speaking on the condition of roads across the region.
SPEAKER_02Look, the government say it's distraction, it's speed, it's not wearing seat belts. Absolutely, those things are happening. But they can't keep denying that a pothole that's hit 100 metres down the road that gives someone a shock and puts them off balance isn't also to blame. But that's not how they're assessing the accidents. And people are sick to death of the denial. There has to be some contribution of the state of the roads. Just look at them.
SPEAKER_05The roads are absolutely terrible. I was riding my motorbike at 80 kilometres per hour a couple of weeks ago, going around a corner where the speed limit was 100, and I hit a massive pothole that threw me onto the other side of the road, and if there was a vehicle coming, I would have been killed. The roads are an absolute disgrace. There hasn't been much uh done to them. The government is not putting the money into it, matured, and uh they're just creating death traps for motorcyclists in particular.
SPEAKER_03Local mother Emma says she fears teaching her children to drive on what she describes as dangerous roads.
SPEAKER_01My biggest concern is that I'm teaching a 16-year-old how to drive, and it's hard enough to teach a child how to uh control a vehicle, whether it's a car or a motorcycle, uh, without having to dodge potholes as well. Um it's a big enough issue learning how to drive and navigate the roads without having to navigate craters like we have here in Southwest Victoria.
SPEAKER_03Shauna Rogers, Southwest Local News. Collectors and car lovers flock to Croat on Saturday morning for Croat Swap and Show and Shine at Victoria Park. The event is a collaboration between the Croat Lions Club and the Warnable District Drag Car Association. Attendance was high for Sunday. The Warner Foreshore was the venue for the annual Gillen Boys Walk for a Cure. Participants got into the spirit of the day following the organisers' wishes to wear a splash of green. All money raised will be donated directly to the Murdoch Children's Research Institute for Duchenne Research.
SPEAKER_08Yeah, it just keeps going and going and thank you.
SPEAKER_03Thousands of people made the most of the Warnable Aero Club's Wheels and Wings Day on Saturday, which featured dozens of static aircraft displays. Among the highlights was specialist firefighting aircraft used to assist ground crews during bushfires. Around 40 cars, from sprint cars to drag races and classics added a different dimension to the event, which is in its second year.
SPEAKER_06It takes about 10 seconds to scoop up a load and allows us to put a great amount of water on fires in a short amount of time.
SPEAKER_03Child criminal offences in Victoria continued to trend upwards. With children responsible for 57.6% of carjackings, 42.6% of home invasions, and 47.8% of aggravated burglaries, and 62.4% of robberies. The youth cohort was linked closely with gang offending, with 1,480 gang-related arrests made by police. Youth crime was also strongly tied to the use of knives and machetes. A record seizure of 17,400 knives and machetes was made. Southwest residents are living in a more crime-prevalent society than they were 15 months ago. Victoria Police has announced its crime statistics from 2025, and it does not make for good reading. Almost all categories covered in the report have seen a rise in criminal offences. Car thefts continue to rise with 32,000 cars stolen in 2025. The number contributes to an escalation of 96.9% over the past three years. NovoNordisk Chief Executive Mike Dosta said broadening the scope of subsidies for Ozempic would have a wider health impact. While the idea of OZEMPIC for children is not a popular one with most GPs, the cost of further subsidising is another concern for those opposed, with the move potentially placing financial strain on the health system.
SPEAKER_04Really keen to showcase our clubs and what we've got to offer in the league.
SPEAKER_00It's going to be really good. I think promoting the league, both in football and netball, it's really going to, I guess, give all our teams and all our clubs exposure on that online space. So it doesn't matter if you're away on holiday or you just can't make it to the game, you're still able to, you know, log on and support your club and still keep an eye on the scores and what's happening around the league as well.
SPEAKER_03Allensford Pamua has completed a memorable Warnable Moyne premier cricket season in style. The Gators claimed the premiership on the weekend, defeating Dennington in an entertaining grand final. The dogs batted first on Saturday and made a competitive total of 213. But the Gators were up to the task, making five for 215 in 76 overs to claim the title. The grand final win was the perfect way to an almost perfect season with the Gators losing just one game. It was double the joy for Allensford Pamure when it claimed the Warner Bourmoyne Championship grade premiership. In a low-scoring grand final, the Gators got the win in a thrilling encounter. Batting first, Allensford Pamua made 112, a tally that looked short of that mark. But it has to be a bowlers' game with Hawksdale bowled out for 86 in reply. Wednesday, only 3mm, topping at 22 degrees with a partly cloudy day and fog in the southwest. Thursday, 17 degrees with 9mm throughout the day and 35 kilometre winds. In Malt Lake, warm for today and tomorrow partly cloudy with a coverage. On Wednesday, showers for the days ahead. Thursday, there will be a top of 17 degrees with 8mm and 35 kilometre winds throughout the day. In the Kolak and Camperdown region, 28 degrees with 7mm and a partly cloudy day with a chance of a thunderstorm. 4mm on Wednesday with a top of 27 and light winds. Thursday, 18 and 6mm. In Port Campbell, tomorrow showers with 6mm, Wednesday a top of 22 degrees. Thursday a top of 17 degrees with 10 millimetres to fall. Strong winds throughout the day and overnight temperatures will be falling. Home to Warnable, a top of 24 degrees and 6mm to fall. Wednesday only 3mm to fall and also 24 degrees. That'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 Thursday morning with peace. Have a great day.