While in Elvis’ words people were ‘all shook up’ in Leongatha and further afield early on Friday morning with many getting an almighty shock, there were plenty of humorous comments later in the day.

A couple of those were shared with this scribe during a coffee stop at Joe the Barista.

Customer Lily Akers of Leongatha said the structural soundness of her self-assembled Ikea bed was sternly tested.

Owner Joe Licciardi was surprised by the size of the quake.

“I have never experienced an earthquake of this magnitude in the South Gippsland area; it was scary and it woke us up,” he said.

The event was recorded as having a magnitude of 4.3, its epicentre near Leongatha, occurring at 12.49am Friday morning.

This Leongatha-based journalist was shocked by a loud bang that sounded like something had struck the house roof, although the town’s SES unit controller Matt Saario said there were no reports of damage in and around the Leongatha area.

Ryanston’s Peter Baird said there was a thump and a sideways movement of the house, adding that the noise resembled something landing.

“Oh my God! That was a big possum; it shook the whole house,” he said in jest of his immediate response when the quake struck, noting it took a moment to process what was happening in his half-asleep state.