Sarah Lawrence
Bendigo, VIC
Sarah is a News Reporter working out of ABC Central Victoria in Bendigo. With a strong background in regional television, she has worked for 9 News, Prime7 and the WIN Network. Follow Sarah on Twitter at @sarahtlawrence9
Latest by Sarah Lawrence
Victorian teacher arrested on campus and charged with six child sex offences
The 35-year-old is accused of assaulting a child in the Bendigo area earlier this year. He has been released on bail.
Mobile coverage 'worst nightmare' realised as sons remember mum lost to house fire
A man who was among the first on scene to a fatal house fire says he had to leave to make a call to triple-0 because there was no phone coverage.
Interest rate hold offers some 'reprieve' as small businesses struggle to survive
Interest rates may remain on hold for now, but after 12 consecutive hikes since mid-2022, small businesses still struggle with low consumer spending and increased operating costs.
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Mum-of-10 forced to cut back on school lunches as food prices 'out of control'
Foodbank Australia is calling for more funding for school breakfast programs, with a growing number of families struggling to send children to school with full bellies.
'We've gone backwards': Young family sells home because repayments are unaffordable, interest rate pause no help
Home owners are struggling with increasing repayments amid reports that regional house prices have stagnated, despite interest rates staying on hold on Tuesday.
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Puppy farm raid seizes labradors, golden retrievers found in 'cramped and unsanitary conditions'
Nearly 30 dogs and puppies have been seized by the RSPCA from a rural property in the Macedon Ranges after a tip-off about alleged illegal dog breeding.
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Police arrest Rebels bikie club members after alleged Bendigo assault
Police swoop on outlaw motorcycle club members after an alleged assault leaves a man in hospital.
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Council eases restrictions on tiny houses, caravans and tents in bid to ease housing crisis
As rents skyrocket and homelessness worsens in Victoria's Mount Alexander Shire, the council is removing permit requirements for some non-permanent dwellings.
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Victorian student teachers offered generous cash subsidies to work in the regions
The state government is spending $32 million on a program aimed at curbing the regional Victorian teacher shortage where there are hundreds of vacancies at struggling schools.
Father of 'shy and polite' teenage footballer who died after tackle tells of son's final moments
The father of a 17-year-old who died suddenly after a regional Victorian football game has spoken about Dallas Keogh-Frankling's final moments and wants players to honour him by continuing to participate in the game they love.
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'Beautiful snapshot' of Australian life celebrated through 90 years of the Women's Weekly
In its heyday, 1 in 4 Australians read the Women's Weekly, with the publication supporting women in journalism, including war correspondent Dorothy Drain.
Two charged over alleged police car ramming that hospitalised six people near Bendigo
A 20-year-old man who allegedly rammed a police car in Bendigo is facing multiple charges following a crash that put himself and three police officers in hospital. His 16-year-old female passenger is also facing a vehicle theft charge.
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ID, bank details, contact information at risk as cyber criminals hack real estate agency
The small business says the hackers managed to get past tight password security and an in-house firewall to steal bank details and customer contact information.
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Ever dreamed of owning a pub? These small-town locals make it happen by pitching in together
Country towns are trying to ensure the future of their pubs by opting for community-owned business models, keeping vital meeting and networking places alive.
Steve didn't start running until he was 40. Now he's finished every major marathon in the world
Steve Mallia weighed in at 110 kilos when his doctor told him he was headed for an early grave. Fourteen years later, he's received his Six Star Finisher medal.
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$1 billion in road repairs needed as Vic councils call for state support
Urgent repairs are needed to fix "dangerous" and "deteriorated" roads across regional Victoria, according to Rural Councils Victoria.
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This family was delighted to buy a home and renovate it, but now their mortgage payments have doubled
When Emily and Jimmy Black bought their first home in September 2020, their mortgage repayments were tough but manageable. Fast forward less than two years and things are looking very different.
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Gravesite decoration crackdown in regional Victoria prompts protest, calls for board sacking
About 250 people protest outside a Bendigo cemetery after precious items were removed from the gravesites of loved ones, with rule changes banning mourners from placing decorations.
Beach program travels to bush kids amid alarming inland drowning rates
Regional Victorian children who live far from the beach are getting a taste of the traditional Nippers program at inland waterways.
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Japanese encephalitis vaccine for pigs 'months away' from Australian rollout
After the deaths five people and thousands of pigs, developers are waiting for the go-ahead to start manufacturing the vaccine on an industrial scale.
Victorian beekeepers can now apply to move hives from NSW
In a milestone for the national varroa mite eradication response, restrictions are easing for Victorian beekeepers.
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Gardening, flower clubs dwindle due to an ageing membership
Concerns grow about the loss of local horticultural knowledge and expertise, with the average age of garden club members estimated to be in their 70s.
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Bendigo dog trainers challenged to hone their powers of persuasion by teaching chickens
This not-for-profit organisation usually produces therapy dogs but its trainers are teaching chickens all kinds of agility skills, including weaving through sticks and walking a plank, in an effort to school staff on new approaches to training animals.
Ninth person dies on Victorian roads this year
Fatal collisions in Melbourne's east and the Bellarine Peninsula have brought Victoria's 2023 road toll to nine people.
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Tourism operators unfazed by new COVID-19 testing rules for Chinese visitors
By Sarah Lawrence and Madeleine Spencer
Chinese visitors were "incredibly important" to Australia's pre-pandemic tourism industry. But with visitation numbers from China yet to bounce back, operators say they have pivoted to new markets.
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