Local News

For many of the Kyneton under 12 D footballers playing against North Bendigo on the long vast expanses of the Bulldogs’’ home ground at Atkins St, it was their first experience of competitive football. They had all taken part in the Auskick program in their earlier years, but that’s all about learning the skills and starting to understand the game. The match on Sunday was played in warm conditions and the long ground with the wide wings and boundaries would Read More…

   Hundreds of martial artists embarked on the Peter Krenz Leisure Centre this weekend to train in Zen Do Kai Karate, Muay Thai and World Kickboxing Association. The training day of the BJMA-WKA saw fighters across the state train, grade and collaborate in a mighty show of athleticism and self defence.   BJMA disciplines are taught all over the world and Bendigo as hosts on this occasion has four training groups, incorporating kids and adult classes, under the BJMA (Bob Read More…

When you think of Easter, the vast majority of Australians will associate it with a long weekend filled with fun and time spent with family. Even though the majority of us enjoy the long weekend, we rarely consider the real reason behind the holiday. But you don’t have to be religious to understand what the holiday means to the thousands who flock to Bendigo annually to help celebrate the annual Easter Festival. Fun! Since its inception in 1871 by Messrs Read More…

The highlight of Bendigo’s expansive Easter festivities quietly, then noisily, unfolded at a busy Golden Vine on Good Friday. It was the first public performance of Highway 79 – a long-time-coming collaboration between Rattlin’ Bones Blackwood and Colin Thompson. “Yeah, Highway 79 is a reference to the Calder.” Bones told me, “I live in Sunbury, and Col is in Bendigo. It’s the highway that connects us. It’s simple and honest.” It’s a collaboration that was probably always going to happen. The story Read More…

Bendigo continues to increase it’s reputation as one of regional Victoria’s best sporting towns. Although the Bendigo Easter Festival tends to dominate the Easter Break, the Festival had competition on Good Friday with the Central Victorian hub hosting the Oceania Table Tennis Olympic Qualification Tournament at the Ullumbarra Theatre. Earlier in the week, Bendigo had also been the venue for the Oceania Championships, with the top six men and women from that competition going onto the Olympic qualifier.

On the weekend, Bendigo hosted the Bendigo Easter Fair, a three day extravaganza event.   The three day festival included bands, art and woodturning exhibitions, markets, performances in the parks, a torchlight procession and fireworks on Saturday and culminated on Sunday with the Bendigo Gala Parade. The Bendigo Chinese Association is a large part of the success of the festival having started the tradition back in 1871 and perform with their dragon and lion teams throughout the event.

Bendigo this week celebrated its annual Easter Festival with its traditional parade and awakening of Sun Loong the Imperial Dragon. The festival, which has run every year since 1871, is a cherished part of Bendigos storied history.  Originally formed as a fund raising event to raise money for the Sandhurst Benevolent Asylum and Hospital the event has gone on to become a major event and tourist attraction for Bendigo.

Dozens of throaty roars and growls filled the air, rumbling in the streets during the Easter Festival. No, Sun Loong hadn’t woken and come to life; the National Corvette Convention was held in Bendigo over the Easter weekend.

The torchlight procession brought with it the pinnacle of the celebrations on Easter Sunday, March 27th. Thousands of revellers lined up View Street and down McCrae street for the annual appreciation of Bendigo’s culture. Dragon teams, dancing lions, Chinese cultural clothing, beating drums and many firecrackers. Many a child and adult find them to be the most amazing and entertaining element of the procession, never failing to create awe for the deep Chinese heritage for local and tourist alike.