Researchers say 78 per cent of children under the age of five in rural Victoria have higher rates of tooth decay, fillings and missing teeth — and brushing with unfluoridated water isn't helping.
Historic country pub burnt to ground by suspicious fire
Police are treating a fire, which destroyed the historic Ky West Hotel, as suspicious after the fire started in the middle of the night and burnt out of control for hours.
Photo shows Flames engulf the roof of a country pub with a black sky above.Every town needs a Glenda to help when times get tough
Glenda Nichol is one of many in the flood-ravaged town of Rochester who have stepped up to be a rock for others as the community recovers.
Photo shows A smiling woman with grey hair stands on a street front outside a business.How a new job helped Samantha grow her self worth
New job opportunities are giving disability support service clients meaningful employment without having to leave their regional Victorian towns.
Photo shows Woman in fluro top washes car window. Shot taken from inside the car.Tightening 'independent belt' threatens to topple long-term Nationals stronghold of Nicholls
Nicholls is held by the Nationals with a spacious 20 per cent margin. But the combination of a retiring MP and a prominent independent candidate could mean the end of the Coalition's stronghold on the seat.
Photo shows Corflutes out the front of a buildingRegional Victorian Jewish leader 'sceptical' of new anti-swastika laws
The head of a progressive Jewish group in regional Victoria says the state needs to provide nuance when outlawing symbols that can be used to incite hatred.
Photo shows A black and red flag featuring the Nazi Swastika surrounded by four other symbols.Workforce shortages in Victoria hit electoral commission ahead of polling day
With polling day just weeks away, the Australian Electoral Commission is struggling to fill rolls in regional Victoria due to a shortage of workers.
Photo shows Australian Electoral Commission staff in purple vests sit at a table counting votes as other people in green vests watch over.AFL greats give struggling clubs a leg up
AFL greats Jarryd Roughead, Eddie Betts, Shaun Burgoyne, Dale Thomas, Nathan Jones, Brendan Goddard, Alex Rance, and Cam Mooney come out of retirement to give struggling clubs a morale boost.
Photo shows AFL footballer Eddie Betts with his hand in the airVictorian man avoids jail after assaulting pair during home invasion
The judge said the 28-year-old's traumatic childhood and mental condition were factors in the crime and that imprisoning him would undermine the positive progress he has made.
Photo shows A photo of a signboard with the words "Bendigo Law Courts" on it in front of a late 19th Century Gothic building.Locals force backflip on swimming pool closures
Councillors have unanimously voted to start community engagement before making a decision next year on the fate of seven public pools.
Photo shows two primary school aged girls, sitting in bathers beside a pool with a sign which says 'Save Our Pool'Tiny regional Victorian town plants 2,000 eucalypts to feed endangered koalas
With koala populations in steep decline, a group of volunteers in Girgarre are creating a forest of eucalypts to help feed animals displaced by natural disasters.
Photo shows A composite image of koalas eating and three men standing in a fieldKyabram Fauna Park restarts malleefowl breeding program
The program has not been operating for a number of years and staff say they are "passionate" about trying to keep the rare species alive.
Photo shows A malleefowl in the bush'It makes you really proud': Melbourne nurse leaves retirement to help regional Victorian home town through pandemic
After more than 50 years as a Melbourne nurse, Jennifer Warner thought her career was winding down. But she's now come out of retirement, returning to her regional home town to help with vaccination efforts.
Photo shows Woman smiles at cameraThree family members go for a haircut, now seven have COVID-19
Seven of Daniel Beattie's family members tested positive to COVID-19 after just three of them travelled to Shepparton for haircuts — their experience is testament to just how rapidly the Delta variant spreads.
Photo shows Family sits together in front of treesEchuca and Kyabram caught up in regional Victoria's COVID-19 crisis
An aged care worker who lives in Kyabram and works in Echuca has tested positive to COVID-19 as defence force personnel help community efforts in Shepparton.
Photo shows A line of people in army uniform sorting boxes on a tableMore COVID-19 exposure sites in regional Victoria as outbreak spreads
Venues in Echuca, Kyabram and Mooroopna are added to Victoria's list of COVID-19 exposure sites, which now stands at more than 860 venues.
Photo shows Cars are lined up while a person dressed in PPE holds papers and stands by a carHundreds of 'cute' baby camels due to be born on farm in just weeks
About 200 camel calves are expected to be born at Megan Williams' farm in central Victoria over the next few weeks in what she says is her largest calving to date.
Photo shows baby camelsDon't stop the music: Why demand for this veteran jukebox repairer is at an all-time high
Peter Greenaway helped fix his first jukebox at five. Sixty years on, he's one of the only people left in Australia who can repair and service the classic music machines.
Photo shows An elderly man in a blue shirt laughs as he sits by a jukeboxFears fish kill is imminent in Central Victoria but government says 'very unlikely'
Residents fear a "stinky" lake with "horrible" water quality is too low and needs to be topped up to prevent it drying out and potentially killing fish, tourism and the communities that rely on it.
Photo shows Several fish lay dead in the water and a long the banks of a lake50 Victorian gyms form coalition to push for right to reopen
A new coalition of Victorian gym owners has come together in an effort to pressure the State Government to reclassify fitness venues as essential services.
Photo shows Gym owner sitting on a bench of weights in his gym in KyabramScones, spiders, and home-grown delights at ABC Victoria's virtual ag show
A virtual agricultural show goes some way to filling the void left by mass cancellations due to the pandemic.
Photo shows Lola Perriman and her pet lamb Daisy, junior winner in the best pet, Virtual Ag Show Sep 2020