I'm Bendigo born and Bred.
I live about an hour out, but head in every sinlge week.
I read something in one of our local papers/mags yesterday that said that Bendigo was named by UNICEF as Australia's first Child friendly city.
I don't mind Bendigo. It has everything. It's close enough to all regional centres and only 1.5 hrs from Melb along the freeway.
It's still got a bit of a country feel about it.
I'd love to have a BB friend nearby

Just wanted to add, if you want to know anything at all about the area, feel free to ask me
Happy to help