A man has lost his life at Sea Lake after his motorcycle crashed near the intersection of Daniels Road and the Calder Highway yesterday afternoon.

The death brings the number of lives lost on Victorian roads this year to 295, which compares to 239 lives lost at the same time last year.

As we head towards New Year's Eve and the summer season, police are emphasising the importance of motorists taking care with speed, drugs and alcohol, mobile phones, fatigue and seatbelts - the main causes of road trauma.

On Sunday night and Monday a major police operation will include a road safety blitz involving highway patrol units conducting drug and alcohol testing across the state.

In another tragic accident yesterday, a primary school aged boy died at Gowangardie, east of Shepparton, after a large tree branch apparently fell on him just before 8am. He died at the scene.

In other news today, Elmore tap water has been declared safe to drink again, Coliban Water has won a reprieve in a battle with the Environment Protection Authority over another of its treatment plants, at Kyneton. Those receiving government benefits, including Jobstart and Austudy, are set to receive a minor increase, of 6 per cent, with the payments' indexation from January 1. In a sad turn of events, local RSL boss Jeff Crust has been disgusted to discover a local veteran was served a can of tuna for Christmas lunch at the Austin Hospital. On the positive side, Bendigo Toyota has raised over $40,000 for the important work of Bendigo Foodshare through its now-annual golf day and Christmas raffle. The money will go towards supporting more than 260 partner organisations in providing emergency food relief to nearly 13,000 vulnerable people each week across central Victoria. And Bendigo-raised Emily Griffin has been named Early Career Pharmacist of the Year by the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia for her work, which includes developing the Australian-first Voluntary Assisted Dying Statewide Pharmacy Service.

Happy Friday!

YESTERDAY:

While 10 lives have been tragically lost around Eastern Australia in flooding and weather events this Christmas period, the low pressure system driving the storms has now passed from central Victoria.

For Friday the Bureau of Meteorology is predicting a sunny day with a top of 26 and a low of 12. Saturday is forecast to be cloudy with a top of 21, Sunday - New Year's Eve - sunny again and 25, New Year's Day mostly sunny and 30, then Tuesday and Wednesday reaching temperatures of 29 and 28 with possible showers.

However, in Wedderburn the community is counting the cost of dramatic flash flooding on Christmas Day, while at Elmore, where a storm-related fault shut down the water treatment plant, a warning to avoid drinking tap water issued on Christmas Day is still in place, with Coliban Water providing a water trailer where people can refill containers or pick up bottled water at the Elmore Water Treatment Plant, at the base of Elmore water tower.

Today Bendigo Foodshare will be running a pop-up pantry at Eaglehawk Rotary Club. The event is one of six being held around the city this festive season period for those in need of support.

In other news, an advertising company is petitioning the City of Greater Bendigo to be able to erect an electric billboard next to a busy five-way Flora Hill roundabout, Eaglehawk homewares shop Kindness Society embraces its "smashing sales", and Addy court reporter Lucy Williams reprises the most-read crime stories of 2023 - a collection of tragic cases of abuse, rape, murder, neglect and drug trafficking among other things.

YESTERDAY: Good morning on Wednesday, Dcember 27. With the worst of the wild weather now over in central Victoria, the Country Fire Authority has issued a warning about a fire east of Bendigo in the Burramboot, Colbinabbin, Rushworth, Wanalta area.

In other news, end-of-year crime statistics show a spike in thefts from cars in Bendigo, and a rise in sheep and farm fuel thefts. We investigate some of Bendigo's hottest properties on the market and ACM's photographers share their favourite regional photos from the year.

A grassfire which started on December 24 at the corner of Old Corop Road and Guy Road Rushworth has burnt into a large stack of timber, the CFA advises.

While smoke may be visible from nearby roads and communities the fire is safe and will continued to be monitored.

There is no immediate threat to the community and no action is required.

EARLIER: Good morning and happy Boxing Day!

For many people in Wedderburn, Kerang and Echuca, it is unlikely to be a relaxing public holiday, with flash flooding impacting their homes, streets and sportsgrounds.

The SES attended 115 callouts in the Loddon Mallee region in the 24 hours from 6am Christmas Day to 6am today and more wet weather is predicted.

Those in Elmore are also impacted by extreme weather, with Coliban Water issuing a warning against drinking the water there.

Meanwhile, in Queensland a woman in her 50s has been killed by a falling tree at Helensvale on the Gold Coast.

In other news, police are appealing for witnesses to a Christmas eve motorbike crash that has claimed the life of a 77-year-old man from Lemnos, near Shepparton.

Police believe two motorcycles, both travelling north on Euroa-Mansfield Road, crashed at about 4.25pm.

The Lemnos man suffered life-threatening injuries and died after being air-lifted to hospital.

A teenage girl, who was riding pillion with him, received non-life-threatening injuries.

The rider of the second motorcycle, a 34-year-old Kialla man, was treated at the scene for minor injuries.

The passenger of his bike, another teenage girl, was uninjured.

Contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential report online at www.crimestoppersvic.com.au

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