Shocking cases of animal cruelty, which is bad enough, but what makes it worse is seeing it filmed and shared on social media.

Politicians eroding public trust with suspected misuse of taxpayers' money.

A chef charged with the alleged sexual assault of a 13-year-old girl. The list goes on.

These are all important stories, which our community deserves to know about, but equally as important are the "good things" that are happening in our community.

IN OTHER NEWS:

In recent times, as the region has been ravaged by bushfire, the community spirit on display has been inspirational.

Footballers can often be painted in a bad light, mistakenly all being tarred with the one brush after the drunken antics of one of their high-profile contemporaries.

But to see Hawthorn players, led by our own Jon Ceglar, offering their time to help repair fences in the Upper Murray should serve as a reminder that there are as many, if not more, "good things" going in the world as bad.

On Friday morning, Brendan Farrell and his team of Burrumbuttock Hay Runners departed for Armidale, delivering "hay and hope" to those doing it tough to our north.

On Sunday - Australia Day - we'll pay tribute to those who have served our communities with distinction.

Nationally, there'll be Australia Day honours recipients and locally, councils across our area will be pay tribute to citizens of the year and welcome new residents from overseas into our midst.

They are the types of "good news" stories we love telling, and will continue to tell into the future.