Here is what is making news for October 27, 2026.===================================South west Victoria is officially in the preparedness stage ahead of what is expected to be another busy fire season.

Fire Rescue Victoria Commander Mark Hildebrandt is urging all locals to have a fire safety plan in place.
======================================================================The expanding services of Colac Area Health in Colac has seen some upgrades to client parking in Colac.

Colac Area Health CEO Fiona Brew says further information on parking and who it caters to can be found online on the services website.
======================================================================The finalists for the 2026 Victorian Tourism Awards have been revealed, celebrating forty years of industry excellence.

Representing the Great Ocean Road region, three Colac Otway businesses have made the cut.

Bimbi Park and Lake Colac Holiday Park have both been named finalists in the Caravan and Holiday Parks category. 
======================================================================Colac West Primary School is celebrating a major achievement, with one of their own recognised at the Victorian Education Excellence Awards in Melbourne.

Prep and Grade One teacher Hayley Bone was named as one of the top three finalists in the state for the prestigious Early Career Teacher category.
======================================================================Efforts to protect the internationally significant biodiversity of the Curdies River catchment are moving in the right direction, according to a new progress report.
======================================================================The Federal Government is investing more than eight point seven million dollars to upgrade two major transport routes across the Wannon region.

Funded under the Safer Local Roads Infrastructure Program, the projects will deliver crucial road widening, pavement improvements, and new safety barriers. 
======================================================================Winchelsea residents are being urged to get ready for a massive summer of swimming, with the local pool officially reopening on Saturday, November twenty-eighth.
======================================================================AND IN SPORTThe Apollo Bay Hawks have locked in their senior football coach for the twenty twenty-seven season, announcing talented local Joel Cooper for the top job.

He will be supported by highly respected club legends Paul Dear and Sean Permezel, along with his father, Colin Cooper.

Otway Districts has signed Birregurra ruckman Ben Matheson for the twenty twenty-seven season. 
======================================================================The twenty twenty-six, twenty-seven Victorian Athletic League season is officially underway, following a massive opening weekend at the Cobden and Mortlake Gifts.

On Saturday, Sean Miller took out the marquee Cobden Gift from the backmark, while Tiana Shilito claimed the Women's three hundred metre sash, and Mia-Rose secured the Under Eighteen title.

At Mortlake on Sunday, Holly Dobbyn powered to victory from eight metres to win the Women's one hundred and twenty metre Gift.

Georgia Foster captured the Open seventy metres, and Manaia Bremner was crowned the sixteen hundred metre Open champion.
======================================================================The Colac Kookas have put on a stellar showing at the Warrnambool Junior Seaside Classic Basketball Tournament, bringing home two championship titles.

The Under Fourteen Girls White claimed a thrilling two-point victory over the Warrnambool Mermaids in their Grand Final.

The Under Twelve Boys Green also secured silverware, defeating the Warrnambool Seahawks by twelve points.

It was a tough finish for the Under Fourteen Boys Green and Under Twelve Girls, who both finished as runners-up.

Meanwhile, the Under Sixteen Boys White and Under Fourteen Boys White both reached the semi-finals.
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