Kylie fever
Pop star Kylie Minogue has drawn hundreds of fans to Geelong’s Cunningham Pier for a promotional appearance.
Minogue and Ocean Grove’s Johnny Rollins visited the waterfront to sign autographs and pose for cameras ahead of his latest appearance on television’s The Voice.
Word first
Australia’s “largest” non-fiction literature festival will bring writers and readers together in Geelong next month, organisers have announced.
Deakin University, City of Greater Geelong and the region’s library corporation will run the inaugural Word for Word at Deakin’s Waterfront campus from 15 to 17 August.
‘Poofter’ apology
A television footy commentator has apologised on air for calling Geelong Cats star Harry Taylor a “big poofter”.
Brian Taylor issued the slur while watching video of the champion defender waving to the crowd after his 150th match for Geelong.
Death finding
A “major medical event” or an accident probably killed the former boss of Lara’s Barwon Prison when he went missing on a hunting trip three years ago, according to a coroner’s report.
Deputy State Coroner Iain West rejected theories David Prideaux was murdered, committed suicide or faked his death in the Victorian Alps.
Tourism boost
Geelong has highlighted itself as a tourist attraction to 350 delegates at an annual tourism conference, according to Mayor Darryn Lyons.
He said the 2014 Victorian Tourism Conference, at The Pier, was a “great” opportunity to showcase the region to industry professionals.
Fine festival
Five films over three days will form the basis of a movie festival at Queenscliff next weekend.
Organisers said the Bellarine Lighthouse Films program would feature “fine-art” movies at Queenscliff Town Hall from 25 to 27 July.
Man rescued
Passers-by have saved the life of a 38-year-old man after a heart attack on Torquay’s White’s Beach.
The rescuers performed cardiopulmonary resuscitation and used a defibrillator on him before an air ambulance arrived to take the victim to hospital.
Phone call
A Bellbrae couple’s 28 years of struggling with dodgy phone services has reached the floor of federal parliament.
Member for Corangamite Sarah Henderson this week told parliament about Maxine and Noel Flakemore’s problems with their fixed-line Telstra service, which dropped out for up to three weeks several times a year.
Diabetes survey
Local researchers will survey 1000 mothers in a study to reduce the risk of pregnancy leading to type-two diabetes.
Deakin University dietician Dr Sharleen O’Reilly said the survey could improve GPs’ level of care, advice and support for pregnant patients at risk of diabetes.
Disabled housed
A new facility is providing supported accommodation for seven people with disabilities in Grovedale, South Barwon MP Andrew Katos has announced.
He said the Marshalltown Rd facility, which received $2 million in Commonwealth funding, had four units for individual tenants and a shared facility for three requiring 24-hour care.
