Patrick Laverick

Nov 29, 2023 | abc.net.au | Steve Martin |Patrick Laverick

The White Flat Oval grandstand has been cleared and fenced off, bringing an end to months of anti-social behaviour that terrorised the ground's users and neighbours. Neighbouring residents and users of the ground are relieved, with Ballarat Bulldogs coach Gary Sternberg happy to see the rough sleepers moved on to more appropriate accommodation too.

Nov 21, 2023 | abc.net.au | Steve Martin |Patrick Laverick

Some rough sleepers at the White Flat Oval in Ballarat have worried users of the ground with their anti-social behaviour. The Ballarat Bulldogs are regular users of the ground, a local footy team for people with intellectual disabilities. Their coach Gary Sternberg has been busy meeting with council and social services to try and work out what to do, saying it's a tricky balancing act to ensure his players are safe, while also ensuring there's somewhere for the rough sleepers to go.

Oct 12, 2023 | abc.net.au | Debbie Rybicki |Patrick Laverick

You might start to see a new bumper sticker popping up on cars around Ballarat soon, with a message that sounds like a broken record at this point: Fix Our Roads!The Ballarat Residents and Ratepayers Association have printed these stickers, and have heard from other ratepayer groups interested in running a similar campaign. The group's President Bruce Crawford says the message to fix local roads isn't being heard.

Oct 3, 2023 | abc.net.au | Debbie Rybicki |Patrick Laverick

Approximately 3.5 million Australians have 'chucked a sickie' this year, using sick leave to take a day off work for non-health related reasons. Belinda Fyffe is the CEO of Proven Group, an external HR consultancy based in Ballarat. She says there's no foolproof way to do this, however it has led to some very creative excuses to take a day off work.

Aug 27, 2023 | abc.net.au | Debbie Rybicki |Patrick Laverick

A passionate group of locals have been trying to get the disused rail corridor between Castlemaine and Maryborough turned into a rail trail for a few years now. They're now one step closer to that, with a feasibility study on the project giving it a glowing endorsement. The secretary of Castlemaine-Maryborough Rail Trail, John Carruthers, says the next step is to secure funding to build it.