As the Bendigo community moved in and out of lockdowns and saw case numbers rise and fall, the need for "good news" and nice stories grew as time went on.

The editorial rounds didn't disappoint, with tales from primary school kids to phenomenal results from senior students, plus a range of general news stories to go in between.

Here are journalist Alex Gretgrix's five favourite stories from 2021:

A look back on the first 500 days of the COVID-19 pandemic brought back a mixed bag of memories for everyone.

At the time, places like the Buloke Shire had managed to remain completely COVID-free without a single case.

Speaking to figures such as former Buloke Shire mayor Carolyn Stewart, City of Greater Bendigo chief executive Craig Niemann and Bendigo Health chief executive Peter Faulkner, it was a story full of differing opinions.

Read more: 500 days of COVID-19

Each organisation worked hard to keep their communities informed and as protected as possible from COVID-19.

After a tough two years, students in schools around Greater Bendigo and central Victoria waited anxiously to find out what their future would hold.

Thankfully, there were a lot of smiles from many students as they received their VCE and VCAL results on December 16.

Students at Girton Grammar, Bendigo Senior Secondary College, Victory Christian College, Marist College and Catherine McAuley College were among the many students across the state to celebrate their ATARs.

Read more: Students celebrate high ATAR results across Greater Bendigo

The possibilities are endless as a number of students achieved results in the high 90s and 80s, but regardless, there are plenty of pathways open after high school ends.

Principals and teachers reminded students they were proud of their efforts and thanked them for their work and contributions to their respective schools.

Jackson Plowright's mum Jacqueline Clarke said her son had been obsessed with firefighters for as long as she could remember.

And whole COVID-19 raged on around the state, it was difficult for his family to give him the 5^th birthday present he deserved.

But thankfully, the Bendigo CFA were more than happy to lend a helping hand and make the boy's dreams come true.

On November 20, crew members paid Jackson a surprise and left him jumping for joy.

Read the story: Bendigo CFA brings birthday surprise to young boy

With lights and sirens on, the tanker made a drive-by trip past his house and spent the morning teaching little Jackson how to use the hose and took him for a tour of the fire truck.

His family watched on as the CFA crew members gave him the best birthday present he could ask for.

Thousands of women in Australia are fighting a battle and anyone who looks at them would have know idea.

Kim Neeser tells her story as she lived with endometriosis since she was 17-years-old.

But it wasn't just the physical pain that kept her up it night, it was the fact no one believed her.

Moving around from doctor to doctor, it took Kim two years to find someone who would listen and actually hear her.

Read more: Kim Neeser's life with endometriosis and adenomyosis

Since then, she has undergone a number of surgeries and been diagnosed with adenomyosis.

Her journey is far from over, but thankfully she has a support network surrounding her through the tough times ahead.

Bendigo's Leash Giles has always been one to march to the beat of her own drum.

And in doing that during her teaching career has been able to see that not all students learn the same way.

Because of this, she has worked with her fellow staff at Xavier Catholic College Wurrumiyanga to develop a reading program for children on the Tiwi Islands.

It was that Systematic Synthetic Phonics Reading program that not only made a difference to the students, but earned her a national accolade.

Read more: Bendigo's Leash Giles earns national award for helping children read

After the all-clear from her principal, she spent the summer holiday developing a Tiwi-focused reading program, writing and creating decodable readers about and set in the Tiwi Islands, which aligned with the science of reading and oral language.

She hopes her story - and her stories - inspire other schools in unique cultural regions.

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