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Welcome to another weekly wrap.
Opportunity is knocking for the south-west as a result of very different state and federal political pendulums.
It is cold news that Labor swept the floor with the Liberal Party at last year's state election, but Premier Daniel Andrews' massive victory based on progressive policy-making and the resultant marginalisation of the seat of South West Coast have yet to be seen to benefit the south-west in any tangible way.
Indeed, Mr Andrews refused a recent invitation from the federal Member for Wannon and cabinet minister Dan Tehan to meet with communities devastated by last year's St Patrick's Day bushfires and also to try to help sort out the confusing and expensive mess that has become the subsequent class actions that are meant to fairly compensate victims.
Mr Andrews and Mr Tehan find themselves at opposite peaks of the swings of political pendulums. While Mr Tehan is tipped to hold his seat against a Labor avalanche in the federal poll in the next few months, he must nonetheless campaign hard to do so.
And to this end he has drawn the Liberal federal government's attention - albeit potentially brief ahead of their inevitable unceremonious bundling from office - to both the plight of bushfire victims and the state of the dangerous and dilapidated Princes Highway.
Both federal Energy Minister Angus Taylor and Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack will visit the region in coming weeks to discuss the safety of Powercor's energy infrastructure and priorities for road funding with people of the south-west.
The Standard has been campaigning hard on these issues because they are important and because we are the only media voice that can and will do so on the south-west's behalf. It is both sad and inspiring to note the true heroes of both campaigns are the victims.
Mr Tehan has so far done what he can and should as a local member to bring attention to these issues. The federal government now needs to make lasting commitments to reform and funding in both areas that will survive violent swings of political pendulums.
Away from politics, Warrnambool export Tim Hodges is a feel-good story to kick-start your Sunday with.
Hodges, who grew up delivering papers for his late father Bill, who oversaw deliveries for decades from Warrnambool's Rogers Newsgency, is blazing a successful media career.
He became a copy-taker, writing down sporting teams for The Standard, before going to university and opening his career in TV with Network 10. He is now executive producer of AFL 360, the most-watched football show in the land.
This week he launches his first book, Road to Redemption, A Championship Journey, a diary of Supercars champion Scott McLaughlin's emotional 2018 triumph.
I have two copies signed by McLaughlin to giveaway. To go into a draw for them, send your name and contact details via return email by midnight, February 24. Winners will be announced next Sunday.
Check out these other stories that featured this week.
Until next week,