INSIDE: ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ No 1:1218
VICTORIAN SENIORS FESTIVAL starts page 17 FEATURE | It’s your time
WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 1, 2014
ADVISER SPORT | Swans fly to victory page 31
LATEST POWERCOR BUSINESS AWARD NOMINEES
Dookie Earthed Event | page 5 COMMUNITY CONNECT | page 6 Tourism Month | page 6 Meet the stars of the block | page 8 Aldi Expansion | page 12 ADVERTISING HOTLINE: 5832 8900
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Travel Adviser Africa’s Great Migration
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$1.75M trifecta benefits region By David Lee A TRIFECTA of announcements made last week has seen just over $1.75M in funding from the Victorian Coalition Government, which will benefit the region’s sporting and children’s entertainment facilities as well as provide a boost to employment and exporting capacity. The fruit bins playground at SPC Ardmona KidsTown is set for a major overhaul after an investment of $69,000 was made to redevelop the much-loved local park, with funding set to replace the existing, worn-out play equipment with a new maze and modern play equipment, suitable for children of all abilities, including those in a wheelchair. An investment of almost $320,000, towards a $640,000 upgrade, was also made to enhance the power supply at the Mooroopna Recreation Reserve. Continued on page 10
EARLY BIRD SERVICE… Shepparton will be getting an early morning train to Melbourne added to its timetable from October 13. From left, SheppartonRAILS Chair and Shepparton Passenger Services Working Group (SPSWG) Member, Michael Welk, SPSWG Chair and Member for Shepparton, Jeanette Powell and The Nationals Candidate for Shepparton, Greg Barr. Photo: Madeleine Caccianiga.
Rail services on right track Shepparton gets early morning train By David Lee A NEW early morning rail service from Shepparton to Melbourne will mean that commuters will be able to get to the city before 8am, and the move is being seen as a step down the right track. Kicking off from Monday, October 13 the new service, which will leave Shepparton
Station at 5:15am and arrive at Southern Cross Station at 7:59am, came about after a small window of opportunity opened for the Shepparton Passenger Services Working Group (SPSWG) to appeal to have the train that is stationed in Seymour overnight, to make the trip to Shepparton at 4am before heading back to Melbourne, benefitting
not only Shepparton commuters but also those from Mooroopna, Murchison East and Nagambie. This new service will mean those who require early travel to Melbourne for medical appointments or work will be able to do so by rail, a service that the SPSWG has been working toward since July, after the community expressed the need for an increase in services for Shepparton. Continued on page 12