Workers stood down
Geelong council has stood down 576 employees indefinitely until “further notice”.
City Hall made the “difficult decision” in line with state and federal directions, according to chief executive officer Martin Cutter.
Meanwhile, council is fast-tracking its hardship policy, which will aim to support those most disadvantaged by the COVID-19 pandemic, Geelong mayor Stephanie Asher said.
Couple homebound
An elderly Highton couple, who the Independent revealed were stranded on a cruise ship off Uruguay during the coronavirus pandemic, are set to return to Australia.
David and Estelle Cameron, in their 70s, were set to board a chartered flight and arrive in Sydney tomorrow morning before self-isolating at a hotel, their daughter Janelle Lee-Cameron said.
Quiet Echo
The Echo, which has serviced the Surf Coast and Bellarine Peninsula for 58 years, has ceased printing because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Next week’s edition of the Echo will be the last, as media giant News Corp moves its community publications to an online-only format.
Silo Demo
The demolition of Fyansford’s Geelong Cement silos has begun, despite a community campaign to keep them standing.
Street artist Rone painted three mural portraits on the façade of the silos in 2017 but owner Adelaide Brighton announced the demolition this year saying safety concerns made them unusable and unable to be repaired.
