SOUTH WEST LOCAL NEWS- FRIDAY MAY 8TH-2026

This morning on south west local news

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investigations into a rollover on the princes highway leaving two trapped 

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the may races carnival draws to a close for this year and we cover the highlights

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the sale of the bowls club to go ahead with the club puchasing it form council

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and in sport local trainer claims the 2026 Grand Annual Steeplechase

Transcript

SPEAKER_07 0:00

This morning on Southwest Local News, investigations into rollover on the Princess Highway leaving two trapped. The May Racers carnival draws to a close for this year and we cover the highlights. The sale of the Bowls Club to go ahead with the club purchasing it from Council. An InSport local trainer claims the 2026 Grand Annual Steeple Chase.

SPEAKER_00 0:28

Live from Silver Bowl Studios in Warnerball. This is Southwest Local News with Shauna Rogers.

SPEAKER_07 0:36

Good morning and welcome to Southwest Local News. Emergency services were working towards freeing two occupants trapped in a vehicle towing a caravan that has rolled over on the Princess Highway on its road, Tirindara. CFA reported having four units on the scene to support. Road users should expect delays as the lane is closed eastbound near Tirindara Etrick Road, Tirindara. The investigation remains ongoing. Thousands turned out for the Wanable May Racing Carnival this week. The iconic event began on Tuesday and continued until Wednesday and Thursday. Locals were joined by visitors from across the country to witness the carnival. While Thursday was the marquee day, strong crowds were reported across the three days. Away from the track, Warnable benefited from the influx of people for the races. Some hospitality venues had to turn people away, while accommodation places enjoyed great patronage. Also in races off the track, we had the Fashions on the Field report, and here it is. Hi, I'm Casey, Casey Bruce. And uh the MC for today, I mean, year after year you see incredible dresses. Uh, what are you excited for this year?

SPEAKER_10 1:49

I'm excited to look at the new style of winter fashion. You'll see felts from feathers to leather. Every year I'm fascinated with the new looks and how they bring uh race wear to winter wear. It's really exciting, and I love this competition.

SPEAKER_07 2:03

What's the trick for a good fashion on the fields outfit? What are you looking for?

SPEAKER_10 2:07

I look for something that brings out that person's personality. You can see that a lady has confidence when she wears an outfit. And I think if you elude that confidence, you wear it well. And I think any outfit shines when you bring your personality through. So some people go for the tighter look, some people go for the looser look, but whichever way it's got to look good and you've got to rock that look.

SPEAKER_07 2:32

I'm here with last year's winner. Winning last year and then judging this year. What are you looking for uh across uh the the category?

SPEAKER_02 2:39

Appropriate millinery. We don't want to see straws or inappropriate fabric. A good cohesive look. You know, you've thought about your bag and your hat and everything combined together. Ladies always go to such incredible efforts for here for Wannabhill. We don't get a lot of opportunities for um winter racing fashions, so this is a really great opportunity to showcase winter fashions and on stage. Number 20.

SPEAKER_10 3:09

Where's that number 20? Oh, the local congratulations! In Warnerball, which is what Laura's. I love a good oversized check. How good are they? There we go,$200 from our friends, the quest here in Warnerball. They've been wonderful sponsors of our fashions on the field. Oh, the lifestyle, most spectacular hat winner. Chrissy, who does that go to weigh on?

SPEAKER_02 3:32

It's a really tough decision, but um we have to learn a lot of things in this um and particularly the coordination of the outfit. It's uh it's been spectacularly done. Um, and our winner today is number 19. Number 19! Congratulations!

SPEAKER_10 3:49

Our winner of our fashion on the field.

SPEAKER_09 3:55

Tell us who designed the millinery and who designed the dress. Yeah, so when I found out I was coming to the May Races, I was approached by Sherry Johnston. She's a local Warnable artist who's just launched a fashion range of her own called Flash 1A. And to accompany it, she reached out to Warner Local Julie Gurry, who designed this incredible, incredible headwear. So what a cohesion piece of everything that local has to offer. What's a hundred percent pure local Merino Bowl? I am so toasty, probably too toasty, um, especially after that. That's quite nerve-wracking. I'm so far out of my comfort zone, but I'm absolutely wrapped for Julie and Sherry.

SPEAKER_07 4:36

What is your name and congratulations?

SPEAKER_08 4:38

Uh Carly Owen, and um Yeah, thank you very much. And uh, how does it feel? I mean, this outfit from top to bottom is incredible. Thank you. Are you expecting to go in uh the full fashion? I was hoping to go into contemporary, but we'll see now. This was really unexpected, so um yeah, I I I don't know. We'll see how we go. And what was the inspiration for this piece? I mean, pink and green, this looks fantastic. Thank you. Um it's an outfit or an uh suit from Coast London, so a British label. Uh, and it is very British heritage, but it sort of goes synonymous with the Warnable races and the winter aesthetic that goes with it. So um I thought it'd be the perfect spot. It's probably one of the coldest fashions that we do on the calendar here in Victoria. Do you compete quite often for fashions on the field? Uh yeah, I love it. It's great fun. And it's nice to be creative and put an outfit together. And this fascinator, of course, which was really the home run for you today. Uh, where's this one from? Um I actually made it. Um, yeah, yeah. So um I have a label called Jedi and Till Design. And I'm down on the Mornington Peninsula, but this one I made last night and I was still agonising it over over at Death's Knock because it's not the original hat that I made for this outfit, but I needed to make it a little bit more winter again. And I just thought something smaller for uh the winter races.

SPEAKER_07 6:04

The Daffer Chap winner, tell me what's your name?

SPEAKER_03 6:06

Uh Michael is my name, yeah. I'm from Adelaide.

SPEAKER_07 6:09

Congratulations uh on your win. How does it feel?

SPEAKER_03 6:12

Um very good, yes. I I plan to do this for a couple of years because I entered two years ago and missed the start by dint of going to watch a race.

SPEAKER_06 6:22

And so here we are, and you've competed and you've taken home a win. You must be proud.

SPEAKER_03 6:26

Yeah, I'm very pleased. I thank my tailor Tan who uh adjusted the cloth. I chose the cloth because it was a heavier woolen tweed appropriate to Warnable in May.

SPEAKER_07 6:37

Darren Smith taking out Contemporary Lady, of course. How proud are you?

SPEAKER_11 6:42

I'm so, so excited. I'm very proud, yeah. There was a lot of emotions on the stage. Why is that? I've just had a shitty couple of weeks, but now this is just amazing. Uh I love Warner, I love coming here. And do you come every year? Pretty much, yeah. I try to come as often as um, yeah. I think if it's last year, but I generally come every year. Thank you very much. I love it.

SPEAKER_09 7:08

So our present lady of the day is number 15.

SPEAKER_07 7:13

Taking I'm here with the winner of Lady of the Day, Bridget Wollstone. How does it feel to take it out?

SPEAKER_05 7:25

Unbelievable, yeah. Dream come true. Never have won um Lady of the Day here at Warnerball, so very honoured.

SPEAKER_07 7:31

And walk us through this incredible outfit, the award-winning outfit.

SPEAKER_05 7:35

Talk us through it. Um it's a custom-made outfit. Um so tartan, very big in the UK this year, so I thought that I'd bring it to Warnerbull. Um Millinery is custom-made by um Miss Louie Millinry at Port Ferry. And we thought that we'd add a bit of burgundy because that is huge this year.

SPEAKER_07 7:57

The Warnable Bowls Club has been cleared to make a significant investment in its future. Warnable City Council has voted to allow the club to purchase the land it currently occupies. The club had previously rented the land for a dollar a week, but has been given the green light to purchase it for$500,000. A roof over the greens and the installation of a third green would be completed with the bigger land footprint. The public put in 55 submissions on the sale with 52 of those supporting the purchase. While fire restrictions have been lifted in Southwest municipalities, caution is still being urged. The CFA is encouraging those who are planning significant burnoffs to register them. This can be done by getting a permit at the Fire Permits Victoria website. Registering your burn online means Triple Zero Victoria call takers and fire services can respond to emergencies, not false alarms. The Crystal Lee Foundation opshop in Karout has won funding from Moyne Shire Council. The foundation has been granted$3,000 to enhance storage at its op shop in Karroitz Main Street. The op shop is an important revenue raiser for the foundation. The funding came from Moyne's community assistance stream, which allocates money to groups across the Shire. The latest allocation came in at a total of$48,000. The Tower Hill State Game Reserve has been closed to duck hunting for this season. The game management authority Victoria said the Western Lake at Tower Hill State Game Reserve has been closed to duck hunting since the start of the season. The whole reserve will now be closed as recent surveys found significant numbers of blue-winged chevaliers across both the western and eastern lakes. Wetlands will continue to be monitored for the remainder of the season. If the reason for closure no longer exists, wetlands may be reopened to hunting. Warner police are disappointed with local road user behaviour after four drivers were allegedly caught drink driving on Thursday morning. Around 12.20am, officers were called to a single vehicle collision at Ziegler Parade and Princess Highway, Allensford. Investigators believe the Lerner driver and the only occupant of the car lost control of the vehicle and crashed into a safety barrier. He returned a positive breath test result at the scene and attended the station where he returned an alleged evidentiary result of 0.088. They intercepted the car and spoke to a 41-year-old man from Warnable. He underwent a preliminary breath test and returned to the station for an evidentiary test where he returned an alleged reading of 0.160. His car was impounded and towing costs, and he is expected to be charged with drink driving. Officers also intercepted a learner driver on Raglan Parade. He underwent a breath test and returned a positive result. His accompanying driver also underwent a roadside test and also returned a positive result. Both attended the station, and the learner driver, a 20-year-old man from Hoppers Crossing, returned an alleged reading of 0.133. A 24-year-old man from Mickelam returned an alleged reading of 0.125. Both are expected to be charged with drink driving and other offences. The busy May Racing Week is giving residents the chance to see what issues lay at a key traffic junction in Warnerville. Council is exploring ways to improve safety and access along Moore Street between Rowley Street and Briley Street, including the intersection at Kramer Street, Garden Street, Officer Court, and the Warner Race Course entrance. It is seeking public feedback to achieve this from motorists, cyclists and pedestrians. Feedback closes on May the 22nd and can be given at Council's website or at a drop-in session on May the 13th at the Warnerville Library. A focus on maintaining the assets it already has is the theme of the Warnable City draft budget. Council released the draft budget for public comment this week. In it,$13.47 million has been directed towards built assets, roads and footpaths. This amount is an increase of$3 million from the current financial year. Building upgrades included in this year are Archie Graham, Community Centre, and the Lighthouse Theatre. Last weekend, the Southwest turned green for the Croat Irish Festival, but this weekend it will be all about getting pink. The Warnable Mother's Day Classic will be held at the Warnable Foreshore on Sunday with Pink The Choice of Colour. The event will include 7-kilometre run, a 3-kilometre walk beginning at 9am. Live music will be a part of the day with the Warnable Mother's Day Classic ambassador Susanna Gleason also on hand to be celebrated for her bravery and the inspiration she has provided for others. First making news in sport. This year's victory was a special one for winning jockey Braden Small, who has undergone treatment for a brain tumour.

SPEAKER_01 14:09

He knows what it takes. What were you asking of Instagator in those moments?

SPEAKER_04 14:14

Just just a dig deep and give me everything he had. That's all I wanted him to do. And it's uh I'm I dare say that'll probably be his last ever race because he turns 13 as of the 1st of August, and you know he doesn't need that race again, he's just won the grand annual. And my mother was telling me a couple of nights ago she was sticking through his form, and it's actually nine days to the day that he had his first ever race start. So I think he's he's he's at retirement now, isn't he?

SPEAKER_07 14:38

It was also a thriller in the Thursday's Warnable Cup, long shot. Any luck upset the field to win the race. The winner paid$35.70 when it first passed the post, beating Ulder by a nose. Any luck is trained by Wayne Walters in Mount Gambia. Dennington has forfeited its round five Warnable and District senior football game this Saturday. The dogs were due to play Kalura Nurat, but the game will now not happen. The club plans to field a reserves team and all other football and netball grades. The dogs have lost their first four games of senior football this year by combined total points of over a thousand. Reigning Warnable and District League football premiers Niranda has appointed a brand new coach. Daniel Beard and James Wilsher will be joint coaches of the Blues for the remainder of the season. They have been named after Isaac Templeton had to step aside due to work commitments. Wilshire, a six-time Premiership player, will be a playing coach while Beard will be a non-playing coach. The Blues have two wins and two losses and play Tim Boon Demons on Saturday. The Hamden Football Netball League has named its under-23s Interleague Squad for 2026. The team will be coached by Nathan Vardy and will play the Ballarat League at the Read Oval on May the 23rd. The squad includes VFL listed players Miles McCluggage, Archie Stevens, and Jamelson Ballantyne. Ballarat has comfortably won the last three interleague contests against Hampton. Cloudy coverage over the state for the next three days, and there is a chance of showers over the state. Now looking further into the forecast over in Port Ferry tomorrow, a shower or two with cloudy coverage. On Sunday, a top of 17 degrees and a cloudy day. As for Monday, 17 degrees, showers near the coast. Heading into Malt Lake, a light shower for most of the week ahead with cloudy coverage. Tomorrow topping at 16 degrees and not getting much hotter than that for the rest of the week. Southwesterly winds approaching at 20 kilometres per hour. 17 degrees on Sunday with 1mm to be expected. Monday, clouds due to clear with overnight temperatures dropping to 9. Inland, Camperdown region, tomorrow a top of 17 degrees with 1 millimeter and light winds. As for Sunday, still cloudy with similar conditions to Saturday topping at 17. And for Monday, the clouds due to clear for a mostly sunny day and a top of 18. In Port Campbell tomorrow, 16 degrees and showers and southwesterly winds. 16 degrees and cloudy on Sunday with south to southeasterly winds and overnight temperatures falling to 9. On Monday, 17, partly cloudy and light winds. Home to Warnable, 16 tomorrow with a cloudy day and a medium chance of showers, most likely in the early morning. On Sunday, a top of 17 with a cloudy day and a medium chance of showers and southeasterly winds. 17 again on Monday with a partly cloudy day. That is it from your Southwest Local News team. And thank you for tuning in. Remember that you can also watch this bulletin online at southwestlocalnews.com.au. Until Tuesday morning with peace. Have a great day.