The best of #Ballarat on Instagram this weekend and other top stories

The best of #Ballarat on Instagram this weekend

Winter is coming (to Ballarat) with @helen_mcb and @katmcqualter #ballarat #autumnalfeeling #caminopreparation #lakewendouree. PICTURE: christophe_punto. #ballaratheritagefestival #ballaratheritageweekend #ballarat #vietnamwar #warandfashion ... >> view original

St Alipius Presbytery in Ballarat holds dark history of child sexual abuse

But in just over a week, when the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse begins its public hearings in Ballarat, very far from pretty echoes of its past will be recalled. We will learn anew that for many, perhaps hundreds, ... >> view original

VFL forwards fire against North Ballarat

A concerted team-effort has led Richmond's VFL squad to a dominant 82-point win over North Ballarat at the ME Bank Centre on Saturday afternoon. The Tigers' twin tall targets Liam McBean (five goals) and Ty Vickery (three) were the beneficiaries of an ... >> view original

Northern Knights no match for ladder leader North Ballarat Rebels in TAC Cup

As part of a TAC initiative encouraging learner drivers from all TAC Cup clubs to drive to Round 6 matches on the weekend and gain valuable experience on the roads, the Knights safely made the trek to Ballarat. But, as has been the case over the early ... >> view original

Sunbury scores percentage-boosting Ballarat Football League win over Melton ...

Horwood's side learned the importance of percentage on a congested Ballarat Football League ladder last year, when it scraped into the top six by thumping Lake Wendouree in the final round. The Lions coach said he expected the climax to 2015 to be just ... >> view original

Local singer John McNamara performs in Ballarat for first time

This May the blues and soul artist will perform for the first time in Ballarat and he couldn't be any more happier at the opportunity. In last two years he has become a regular on the international blues festival scene, but he has always had a hope of ... >> view original

Sideshow festival brings family-friendly freaks to Ballarat

Shep Huntley was a young drama graduate when he first encountered the Jim Rose Circus in 1999. He was at once impressed and disturbed by the Seattle sideshow performer whose very loud, very confronting, nouveau freak show toured the world in the ... >> view original

City of Ballarat has $48 million surplus

The enormous $48 million surplus in the draft budget was largely grant money, City of Ballarat chief executive officer Anthony Schinck said. “It's just because of the way we have to bring the money in,” he said. “The surplus that is showing up in the ... >> view original

Darley grinds its way to victory against East Point to head into Ballarat ...

In other results, Sunbury powered past Melton South under lights at Clarke Oval, recording a 71-point triumph. Bacchus Marsh went down by 32 points against reigning premier North Ballarat City, while a second-half fadeout cost Melton dearly in an 11.13 ... >> view original

Old Ballarat orphanage dig for children's remains fails to find anything

Archaeologists and police forensic crews had been digging up the grounds of the Victoria St site since Monday as they investigated alleged activities that may have occurred at the orphanage prior to it being closed and transformed into the Ballarat ... >> view original