Eurkea St Crash: Motorbike vs Car

Eureka Street between Princess St Sth & Main Rd are currently closed.

A Harley Davidson motorbike and small Nissan car have collided.

The motorbike rider has been conveyed to hospital in a critical condition. Little is known about the occupants of the other vehicle.

See the pictures below:

Double Murder: Natte Yallock community mourns

The communities in and around Natte Yallock are mourning after the double murder of two brothers, John & Douglas Streeter, aged in their late 60′s at their Streeter Lane property.

Yesterday police were called to the scene by the wife of one of the slain men. She was distraught and unable to immediately provide detailed information to police other than to say she’d made the grim discovery at around 5:30pm.

It’s understood Helen Streeter was too scared to go near the bodies but believed that they had only being assaulted initially however shortly after police arrived it was confirmed that two men were deceased on the front lawn.

Douglas & John are well known people in the area and are known for their heavy involvement in the merino wool and sheep stud industries.

Douglas lived in nearby Avoca with his wife an has two children that live in the region.

The cause of death has not been officially confirmed but it is believed to be from shot-gun shot wounds to the head and chest.

Locals have begun to speak of their shock while police have confirmed it does not appear to be a murder-suicide and are treating it as a double murder.

One Natte Yallock local described the police presence as “out of this world” and stated that John & Douglas were “admired and well liked by everyone in the area”

As locals appeared at the crime scene clearly upset and seeking information from police they all left without any information with one family member telling Voice FM “I can’t talk it’s just a tragedy and I’m too shocked to say anything” before she wiped away tears and tried to find her way in the dark towards her car.

Investigations are continuing at the scene with police remaining very tight lipped and are not intending on releasing information at this early stage of their investigations.
Late last night detectives remained on scene with homicide forensics officers, all units worked tirelessly through the night trying to piece together what happened at the remote property.

Police specialist investigators including ballistics specialists, gun residue specialists and forensic pathologists have been called to the scene to assist in investigations.

See all the photos below:

 Photos: Brad Ward Source: Voice FM

Photos: Barkly St Car Smashed, lands on roof

PHOTOS: Pictures from the scene of the car accident on Barkly Street, Mount Pleasant earlier today.

An 18-year-old man received relatively minor injuries after his tyre blew out and he was unable to control the vehicle with steering. The mans car collided with another parked car and subsequently rolled and landed on it’s roof.

Photos Copyright 2013, Brad Ward

Ballarat: Back to school vouchers ease children into school life

For the ninth consecutive year, The Ballarat Foundation, through regional schools, is supporting
families doing it tough by helping with the purchase of uniforms and other items needed to get
students back to school through its Back to School Voucher Program.

According to the Australian Council of Social Services, 17.3% of children are vulnerable to poverty;
this reflects the higher costs facing families with children, which parents who are not in paid work or
on a low wage often struggle to meet.

According to Geoff Sharp, CEO of The Ballarat Foundation, “Families who are already struggling are
under further pressure to prepare their children for school, a serious problem in anyone’s language.
This year, 565 vouchers valued at $28,250 will be distributed to schools throughout the region, and
these are then directed to those in special needs circumstances within the school family. Part of a
national initiative, this program is made possible by The Ballarat Foundation and FRRR (Foundation for
Rural and Regional Renewal) with the support of the Sidney Myer Fund.

The schools are invited to raise funds for the program and in recent years, with the support of FRRR,
The Ballarat Foundation has been able to double up any contribution made by individual schools. The
program is unique in that recipient families can choose what they actually need for their children.”

Mr Sharp added that individuals and businesses throughout the region can also assist their local
children by sending a tax deductible donation to The Ballarat Foundation, PO Box 50, Ballarat 3353, or
by contacting the office at 03-5331 5555.

Voice FM back on air. Fire has reduced our broadcast times

Earlier today (14/02/2013) an out of control fire that quickly spread up Mt Warrenheip has caused 99.9 Voice FM to lose all ability to transmit on the airwaves.

16/02/2013 – We have made access to the transmission site, where we’ve installed a generator that will power our equipment through the day from 7AM – 7PM until we can get mains power restored.

Powercor are aiming for Monday 18th Feb for power restoration. We are hoping this is the case.

Voice FM will be streaming online 24/7.

We’ll update this article with more information as it comes to hand.

We are still streaming radio online via our streaming page here.

Wendouree manhunt ends with 6 in custody

Earlier today Ballarat Detectives executed a warrant at a Primrose Street property where five persons aged between sixteen and twenty two were arrested. After a short time one of the arrested males adsconded from police custody.

Police utilised extensive resources in trying to locate the escaped male from around midday today. The search involved many local police units as well as the Melbourne based dog squad unit and the police air wing.
The search of the surrounding area was extensive but police came up empty handed.

At around 3:30pm police received a call from an address in Wendouree reporting that a male matching the description of the wanted escapee was observed jumping into the back yard of a property.

Shortly after the emergency call police units descended on the area setting up a cordon and again awaited the arrival of the police dog squad and air wing to assist in locating the wanted man.

Then, soon after the air wing arrived further calls were made to police about an unknown male jumping fences it was then that the sophisticated equipment on board the air wing was able to spot the escapee jumping fences trying to avoid capture.

The air wing coordinated with ground units and shortly after 4PM the male was taken back into police custody.

Witnesses from the area described to us that the escapee was hiding in a garbage bin at one stage and signaled to onlookers to keep quiet as he brazenly dashed through gardens and in and out of homes.

Another local in the Primrose Street area advised us that it was hot gossip on the street that the people arrested today were involved in the burglary at a Ballarat jewelers. Police have not confirmed this with Voice FM.

Currently six males remain in police custody and are assisting police with their enquiries.

See the photos below:

 Photos Copyright 2013 Brad Ward

Wendouree: Manhunt for escaped prisioner

More on this story in the article Wendouree manhunt ends with 6 in custody

Update:  12/02/2013 04:29PM
Police have caught and arrested a male in John Street Wendouree around 4:15pm.

UPDATE 12/02/2013 03:45PM 

The offending male has been sighted by residents. Police have locked down the area surrounding the Miner Dome in Wendouree as they await the arrival of the Police Air Wing and Dog Squad again.

The previous search was scaled down when the air wing and dog squad departed for Melbourne. A number of reports of a male jumping fences around the Grevillia Road area has meant that police are scaling up the search once again.

12/02/2013 12:45PM – EXCLUSIVE: Police have launched a full scale search for a man believed to be around 27 years old of aboriginal appearance who absconded from a Primrose Street, Wendouree property today.

Police executed a search warrant at the property earlier this morning and arrested the man after a period of time the man escaped over a back fence towards Stocklands Wendouree.

The wanted person is described as 27 years old, of Aboriginal appearance wearing a white singlet with black tracksuit pants and white stripes down the side of the pants.

The police air wing and dog squad was seen in the area assisting in the search. At the time of this article, the man remains at large.

Anyone with information about the whereabouts of this person is urged to contact police.

More details as they come to hand.

See the photos below:

 Photos Copyright 2013 Brad Ward

Breaking News: Fire in Yendon, houses at risk

UPDATE: 5:15PM 07/02/2013 – The fire is under control and expected to remain within containment lines as crews work to mop up.

Road users are advised to exercise caution in the area as smoke may still be visible on roads and can be a traffic hazard.

All road blocks have been stood down. No homes were damaged in the fire.

EARLIER: 4:25PM 7/02/2013 – A fast moving out of control grass fire has sparked concern for some properties in the Ryans Rd Yendon area.

CFA has limited information at hand for us at this stage, over 25 fire units and aerial firefighting appliances are on scene.

Road users are urged to avoid the area while police setup road blocks.

There are unconfirmed reports that one property has burned in the fire.

Fire is impacting the Clarendon, Dunnstown, Lal Lal, Mt Edgerton & Yendon areas.

FOR FURTHER UPDATES VISIT THE CFA WEBSITE: http://cfa.vic.gov.au/warnings-restrictions/warnings-and-incidents/

Incident Information:

There is a medium, fast moving grassfire in the YENDON, LAL LAL, Mt EGERTON area.
It is travelling in a south easterly direction.
This fire is expected to impact Lal Lal, Mount Egerton anytime within the next 2 hours.

• This grassfire is approximately 25 hectares in size and is out of control, currently creating spot-fires approximately 1-2km/s ahead.
• Campers in the Lal Lal – Bungal Dam reservoir area as well as the communities of Yendon, Lal Lal and Mt Egerton need to enact their fire plans and remain vigilant.

What to do:

• A fire is in the area, it may be close to you; follow your bushfire survival plan.
• If you plan to leave or do not have a survival plan, leave now.
• Turn on your vehicle headlights and drive slowly; smoke will make it difficult to see.
• Conditions are changing, homes can offer safety.
• If you are away from home;  do not return.
• If time permits, check your neighbours to see if they are monitoring conditions.
• If you are experiencing any symptoms that may be due to smoke exposure, the Department of Health advises people to seek medical advice or call Nurse on Call on 1300 606 024.

Stay Informed:

•     ABC Local Radio, commercial and designated community radio stations or watching Sky News TV.
•     Deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech/communication impairment can contact VBIL via the National Relay Service on 1800 555 677.
•     Road closures: Check www.vicroads.vic.gov.au
•     Tourists: Stay away from the listed areas.
•     For life or property threatening emergencies: Call 000
•     Map: None

Police execute drug raids in Bacchus Marsh, four arrested.

Police from Moorabool Crime Investigation Unit (CIU) have today arrested four people following covert investigations into drug trafficking and manufacturing in the Bacchus Marsh area.

Operation Blackwork has culminated in the execution of a search warrant this morning at a private residence in Underbank Boulevard.

Police members from Moorabool CIU, Ballarat CIU and Ballarat Drug Response Unit were involved in this morning’s early morning search.

Police located a clandestine laboratory, as well as quantities of what is believed to be amphetamine, cocaine, crystal methamphetamine and cannabis.

A 0.22 calibre handgun was also seized.

Four men at the Underbank Boulevard residence were been taken into custody and are assisting police with their enquiries.

Three of the men are to be charged with manufacture amphetamine, possess implements to manufacture drug of dependence, possess drug of dependence and firearms offences.

The men, aged 26, 22, and 19 will be brought before the Ballarat Magistrates Court later today.

A 31-year-old man from Melton has also been charged with possession of drugs of dependence and has been bailed to appear before the Ballarat Magistrates’ Court on 24 May.

Investigations are ongoing. If you have any information about illegal activity you’re urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000

Breaking News: Coronet St Metal Recycling Plant In Blaze

06/02/2013 10:25AM Multiple CFA units have attended an industrial blaze at OneSteel recycling on Coronet St, Wendouree.

Police closed one side of Creswick Rd for some time due to thick dark smoke that blanketed the Highway causing drivers to stop in minimal visibility.

The blaze was located in the rear of the scrap metal yard bordering with Creswick Road. The CFA has marked the blaze as controlled as crews remain on scene working to mop up. OneSteel staff remain evacuated and are gathered at the front of the facility.

See the pictures below.

Photos Copyright 2013 – Brad Ward

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