A planned burn off at Cape Clear on Sunday was briefly thrown off course when a passerby’s ute caught fire. Read more.

Ballarat’s former top policeman has called for a dramatic increase in the number of officers on our roads. Read more.

Three songs into his first show in Ballarat, Nick Cave thanks the crowd for welcoming him to the city, before launching into a blistering version of Higgs Boson Blues. The audience erupts, and it’s clear that he has already won their hearts. Read more.

It is that time of year again when hundreds of Ballarat students prepare for the first day of high school. Read more.

Amanda “Lippy Lush” Rush was drawn to the pinup world for its glamour but stayed to find comfort in her own skin. Read more.

It's going to be hotter today and even hotter tomorrow, before a cool change comes for the back half of the week.

Need a national news snapshot first thing – well, we have you covered. 

ULLADULLA, NSW: Child recovery experts have helped reunite New Zealand girl Que Langdon with her mother.  The six-year-old is at the centre of an ugly custody battle after she and her father disappeared after leaving Kawhia Harbour on New Zealand’s north island, on December 17...read more.

CASTLEMAINE, VIC: A cleaning services company has been forced to pay back almost $3000 to an underpaid cleaner in Castlemaine, following intervention by the Fair Work Ombudsman...full story.

TASMANIA: A boating accident that claimed the lives of two elderly men has capped off a horror weekend for the state after two other men were killed in separate incidents...read the full story.

PORT MACQUARIE, NSW: The heightened price of fuel has hit businesses, who rely on its supply to carry out operations.  Wauchope Parcel Express owner Troy Bell said the increase of fuel prices is ‘bloody ridiculous’...full story.

GRIFFITH, NSW: A seven-year-old boy remains in hospital after the quad bike he was riding fell on him on Sunday afternoon...read more.

►A book about about growing up in Sydney as a child of Afro-Caribbean descent has forced many readers to reflect on their own schooldays, and experiences of racism or not standing up for classmates. The Hate Race has been listed on the diverse nonfiction shortlist for the 2017 Indie Book Awards.

►Controversies over politicians' entitlements and the Centrelink debt recovery system have taken their toll on the Turnbull government, new polling shows.

►SYDNEY: A Blacktown man had five children in his car and was three times over the blood-alcohol limit when he was caught speeding on a Sydney street, police allege...catch up on the full story.

► It takes two-year-old Brodie Atkinson 21 seconds to scale the pool-like fence, in a video that has sent chills through Australian parents. Brodie’s mother shared the video saying: "After much deliberation I am reposting this because I refuse to have another child drown before every parent has had a chance for my beautiful 2-year-old son to educate them."...full story and video. 

► ANTARCTICA: Just as Malcolm Turnbull smiled and shook hands with Japan's Shinzo Abe in Sydney at the weekend, Japanese whalers were caught carrying out a bloody slaughter in the icy waters off Antarctica...read more.

PHILIPPINES: Controversial President Rodrigo Duterte has ordered his security forces to bomb kidnap-for-ransom groups and referring to hostages, he said: "sorry, collateral damage"...full story here.

Pauline Douce has used art to help overcome the grief of losing her daughter.

In 2002 a counsellor recommended she pursue a creative outlet for the emotions she was feeling and handed her a flyer for Bellingen’s annual five-day Camp Creative.

“I have been coming ever since and I’ve healed so much.”

Read Pauline’s story and see photos and videos from the event here.