Loddon Herald 7 March 2024

Saturday 9 and Sunday 10 March 2024

Senior Detector Token Hunt $55.00 for the weekend including breakfast & entertainment on the Saturday Evening. $45.00 for one day

6.45am Breakfast & Registration (both days)

7.45am Competitor’s briefing (both days)

Saturday - 8am to 3pm: Token hunt – All tokens found are to be handed in by 4pm. Sunday - 8am to 1pm All tokens found are to be handed in by 1.30pm

Rules & regulations must be adhered to and coils must not exceed 14 inches.

Open both days 10am-2pm: Coachhouse Gallery and Museum

Saturday

12.45pm to 4pm: Coiltek Detector demonstrations. These demonstrations are to introduce beginners to prospecting. Run every 2 hours

1.30pm Registration for Inglewood & Districts Bendigo Bank Junior Gold Panning Competition $5.00 per child.1pm Inglewood & Districts Community BendigoBank

Junior Gold Panning Competition, Tiny Tots 3 to 7 yrs, 8 to10 yrs, 11 to 13 yrs and 14 to 16 yrs 1st, 2nd & 3rd trophies for each age group.

4pm to 6pm Seniors’ Gold Panning Knockout (Victorian Gold Panning Association assisting with this activity) –registration $5.00

Saturday Evening – 6pm tea followed by 8pm entertainment and minor draws at 7.45pm for competitors in Detector Jamboree (must be on site to win).

Sunday

8am Registration Junior Detector Hunt

8.30am to 1pm: Coiltek Junior Detector Token Hunt – cost $10 per child (8-16 years). Children must be registered and coils must not exceed 14 inches. 1st prize Minelab Vanquish 540. 2nd prize Minelab Vanquish 440. 3rd prize Minelab Vanquish 340. Draws to occur around 1.30pm

10am to 2pm: Coiltek Detector demonstrations – These demonstrations are to introduce beginners to prospecting. Run every 2 hours

2pm to 3pm Minelab Wedderburn Detector Jamboree

Token Draws Major Draws for senior token hunt sponsored by Minelab. Minelab GPX 5000 value $4999. Coiltek major prizes. Must be on site to win Detectors and Coiltek major prizes

WEDDERBURN will be abuzz this weekend for the town’s annual Minelab Detector Jamboree - 21st century gold hunters will be back in search of tokens buried at Hard Hill Tourist Reserve and trying their hand at goldpanning.

Some will be hearty veterans of the event organised through the town’s tourism committee, others will make their debut at one of Victoria’s most respected gold festivals.

They will camp at the historic reserve and enjoy the hospitality onsite that Wedderburn Lions Club is renowned for providing and they will venture down to the main street where local businesses, including Wedderburn Hotel, are gearing up for one of the busiest weekends of the year.

Organiser Karen Fazzani said this year’s Junior Gold Panning completion sponsored by the Inglewood and Districts Community Bank will be held on the Saturday. She said the Minelab Senior Detector token hunt to commence daily from 8am. First prize a Minelab GPX 5000 detector valued $4999 with other prizes donated by Coiltek, Wedderburn Tourism, regional and local businesses.

“Saturday afternoon will see a Senior Gold Panning Knockout sponsored by Minelab and the Victorian Gold Panning Association,” she said.

“And if anyone is looking to take up detecting as a hobby Coiltek will be conducting detector demonstrations over the weekend.”

Today’s prospectors do find the old speck of gold or even a small specimen as they search Hard Hill over the jamboree weekend. But it’s one of the tokens that brings most excitement in the authentic gold detecting experience.

The tokens go into a competition with the winning

collecting a new Minelab detector with all the technology to unearth their next special find - gold, coins, medallions, buttons and buckles overlooked by the passing decades.

Participants in the junior and open token hunts vie for generous prizes, while spectators can enjoy children’s activities, tour local attractions and test their luck with lucky draw prizes.

Entry for senior participants costs $55, which covers breakfast on both days and live entertainment, or $45 for one day. Non-participants are free. This family-friendly event also includes prospecting and gold panning competitions for all ages and demonstrations in the art that once saw miners wash dirt in the beds of local creeks and rivers. The weekend also has a town garage sale, live music and market stalls.

The program gets underway with breakfast on the Saturday, followed by a briefing before contestants head out to the bush to search for this year’s allocation of metal tokens.

Sunday sees children aged eight to 16 years encouraged to try their hand at finding the tokens, with prizes of three new detectors on offer.

The Jamboree has become a “must” on many prospectors’ calendars since its beginnings in 1998, both for the competition and the chance to catch up with fellow enthusiasts.

The event normally attracts 150-180 entrants for the token hunt, plus families and friends.

The major prize in the senior token hunt is a Minelab GPX 5000 detector valued at $4999 and other donations are from Coiltek, Wedderburn Tourism and regional and local businesses.

The new buzz of gold hits town Stamped with history

MODERN day gold hunters heading to Wedderburn’s Hard Hill this weekend will have an instant reminder of the the district’s rich and important history.

As they enter the tourist reserve, preserved and still perched on the winding dirt track at the entrance is New Hope, the gold battery that pounded quartz rock from 1905 and added to the haul of golden riches extracted from the ground.

New Hope was the eighth battery to have been erected in the Wedderburn district.

The first was the Canadian Reef; the second at Hard Hill, later moved to Bocca Flat; the third was at Munster Point; the fourth was on Campbell’s Reef, the fifth was on Specimen Hill; the sixth was the Victory and the seventh was Mr Magnuss’.

worked by a steam engine. The battery itself was of iron construction, with five heads of stampers, and could be driven at eighty blows per minute. It was belt driven by a six horsepower portable engine made by Johnson and Son. The boiler had been tested up to 120 pounds hydraulic pressure with a working pressure of eighty pounds.

The battery was opened in the presence of a number of townspeople and officials by Miss Cosh, daughter of one of Wedderburn’s first residents. It had been paid for by the Government, and it was hoped that it would lead to a revival of mining in the area.

Built by Mr Gillon, an engineer, it was originally

Charges at the time of opening were: Up to five tons - four shillings (4/-) an hour, 5-10 tons - three shillings and sixpence (3/6) an hour, 10 tons or more - three shillings and threepence (3/3) an hour

A cleaning charge of five shillings (5/-) a crushing was made

The first manager was Mr James Drysdale, and the last, who finished in 1989, was Mr Jack Cocks, who also managed several of the other five batteries still operating in Victoria at that time.

In 1937 there was a total of 32 batteries operating in Victoria and the method of charging had changed so much per ton crushed to so much per yield per ton.

The battery stands testament today to perseverance of miners in their quest for gold.

THE new $7 million community hub at Wedderburn’s Donaldson Park has failed two fire safety inspections.

Firefighting pump pressure tests in the past fortnight have fallen short of minimum standards for the CFA to sign off on the building’s certificate of occupancy.

Loddon Shire Council briefed the Wedderburn Redbacks on Tuesday night with winter sport at Donaldson Park unlikely for the first half of the 2024 season.

The Redbacks had been scheduled to play their first football, netball and hockey home games of the North Central league sea-

By CHRIS EARL

son at Donaldson Park on April 20 against Sea Lake Nandaly.

But fire hydrant test failures have put matches through to June under a cloud.

Shire operations director Steve Phillips said fixes to hydrant pressure included installation of two 12,500 litre tanks and pumps to achieve fire safety compliance under the National Construction Code.

Mr Phillips said pre-construction diagnostic tests had shown sufficient water pressure to meet the required output of 20 litres a second from four outlets at two hydrants.

“Hydraulic engineer reports

showed everything would work ... in theory it did but that has not happened in practice,” he said. “We have had two tests done, one last week, each using different methodology and they have both produced the same results.”

The new building, which includes sporting changerooms, has two fire hydrants, each with two outlets. Tests showed one hydrant met water volume and pressure requirements but the second fell 1.5 litres a second short of 20 litre mandate while combined figures met output but fell short on pressure.

“We are diagnosing why the pumps and pressure have not come up to specifications and working with the builder and

plumber to install additional tanks and pumps to ensure compliance for the future and the building being open and accessible to the community as soon as possible.”

Mr Phillips said the fix would cost an estimated $150,000.

“The project is still under budget. It is not over budget at this stage,” Mr Phillips said.

“We will be talking with the sporting clubs about what they need for training facilities while the building remains unable to be used.”

Redbacks’ president Chris Hargreaves said the club was disappointed the new facility would not be ready for home games when the season started and was

working with the league on options. These include swapping home games for early rounds in the season.

North Central league president Tim Lockhart said officials would work with the Redbacks to achieve an on-schedule start at their home ground for the 2024 season.

Loddon Shire awarded the project contract in 2022 after adopting plans for the new complex included in a 2016 feasibility study.

Funding has come from the Federal and State Governments, community groups and Harness Racing Victoria.

The building was completed late last year and landscaping is nearly finished.

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Visitor friends learn about wine

LODDON Visitor Information Centre volunteers hit the region’s southern wine destinations gathering information to entice tourists to explore more of the region.

Saturday 37, Sunday 37

Tourism and marketing co-ordinator Bradd Worrell said volunteers went on an education, training and familiarisation tour on Friday. They visited a series

of wineries and establishments as part ongoing education for the team who work at the visitor centre in Wedderburn.

Bridgewater’s Water Wheel Winery, Both Banks and Old Kingower wineries were visited before lunch at the Newbridge Hotel where another southern Loddon winery, gave a presenta-

tion for the Black Wallaby wines frontline tourism volunteers. Mayor Gavan Holt thanked the visitor centre team and presented long-serving volunteers with certificates to recognise their passion for tourism and ongoing support of the sector by giving visitors information on attractions.

IN BRIEF

VNI West farmer talks

AUSTRALIAN Energy Infrastructure Commissioner Andrew Dyer is meeting today with farmers in the VNI West renewable energy transmission line path. Mallee MP Anne Webster has organised meetings in Tragowel and St Arnaud between farmers, Mr Dyer and Transmission Company Victoria executives following the release of Mr Dyer’s report on community consultation around renewable energy projects. Broad at booth

FORMER Mallee MP and Bridgewater farmer Andrew Broad is back at polling booths with voting opening this week for local government elections in Queensland. Mr Broad is running for a spot on Fraser Coast Regional Council.

Shearing schools

AUSTRALIAN Wool Innovation will again fund two shearer and woolhandler courses in the Loddon this year. A five-day improver school will be held at Inglewood in June with a five-day novice course at Wedderburn in September.

Maternal health

PYRAMID Hill Maternal and Child Health Service has been relocated to Northern District Community Health in Victoria Street.

Volunteers enjoy visiting southern Loddon wineries on the familiarisation tour

Four layers of red tape hold up 900 flood recovery projects

THE bucket has been tipped on State Government bureaucrats for hindering Loddon Shire recovery work since the October 2022 flood emergency.

Funding for just 10 per cent of projects totalling $30 million to fix almost 1000 damaged roads, culverts and bridges have been approved.

Four layers of red tape have seen no new approvals since last October and Loddon Shire says it won’t be able to complete all work by the June 2025 deadline.

Council officers are constantly asked to justify funding applications, prove there has been a flood and provide photographs that show damage to roads before the floods and after.

That’s when operations director Steve Phillips says the bureaucrats start arguing whether Disaster Recovery Funding Agreement cash should flow for the damaged section of road or a reduced part and whether replacement of gravel be at the bare minimum 25mm surface of 50mm.

By CHRIS EARL

“There is one project they are still to approve where bureaucrats are disputing $1900 of a $120,000 application,” Mr Phillips said.

“I’ve told our officer to let them cut out the $1900 so we can get the work started,” Mr Phillips said.

“We are questioned at every stage of approvals and at each level the requirement to provide evidence of flood and damage increases.

“We provide evidence and they then argue about the maintenance data.

“One document is 19 pages and we have to fill in every column whether it’s relevant or not - every time for 943 projects.

“And then they keep updating the guidelines. They (State Government) don’t tell us, they just put new guidelines on the website.”

Mr Phillips said State Government bureaucrats had created

Premier warned two months ago of shire concerns

ALARM bells over flood recovery funding approval delays across the Loddon Shire were first raised with Premier Jacinta Allan two months ago.

The Premier, who is also member for Bendigo East, was asked by the Loddon Herald about council frustration when she fronted the media in Bendigo as summer storms increased flooding across the region.

Ms Allan said she was surprised to hear of concerns and praised council staff for their work.

However, two months later and Ms Allan was given the same message a fortnight ago by Mayor Gavan Holt and CEO Lincoln Fitzgerald.

They told the MP who represents part of the shire that some Loddon communities had seen flood damage up to three times in 13 months.

Cr Holt said Loddon Shire was grateful for funding under the agreement between Canberra and Spring Street. “But if we can’t get projects approved, no amount of money will see us complete works by the deadline.”

a low-trust environment. “They even question what qualifications our people submitting the applications have. I have officers ready to resign ... they are at their wit’s end,” he said.

“We have to certify the estimate for every bit of work on every project, estimates or market rates that the Government is now disputing. Again, holding up the work.”

Mr Phillips said approvals were meant to have been received for council flood projects within eight weeks of the work being submitted.

“Now it’s take eight months and more. At this rate it will be impossible for us to complete the jobs by June next year and every delay by the bureaucrats is risking higher costs for materials and wages and whether we can get those resources needed to do the jobs,” he said.

Mr Phillips has worked on flood recovery repair programs for more than 20 years.

“This is the most frustrating bureaucratic process I have ever

been a part of,” he said. “I’ve been part of rebuilding after the Alpine fires, the 2010-2011 floods around Loddon, I’ve fought fires in NSW. But this is the most craziest process I have ever come across.

“Each layer of assessment is only assessing the previous layer and we get questioned four times.”

Mr Phillips said red tape had prevented council repairing bridges on the Derby-Serpentine Road and Chamberlains Road, Inglewood.

“The projects are right across the shire - roads, culverts, floodways and more than 900 other jobs. We’ve one packet of work worth $120,000 that has been approved at one layer of bureaucracy but not at the higher level. We could start the work but wear the risk if it gets refused.”

Mayor Gavan Holt told last week’s council meeting that the delays were cause for alarm bells.

“We have seven staff working on getting approvals over the line at every level,” Mr Phillips said.

Government admits simpler process hope

THE State Government wants a federal review of the Disaster Recovery Funding Agreement to simplify payment processes.

A spokesperson said the Government had listened to complaints from Victorian councils.

“We’ve listened to Victorian councillors who have told us that the biggest hurdle to getting recovery funding is overly bureaucratic ways to assess damages and submit claims under joint-funding arrangements,” they said.

“The Federal Government is currently reviewing the DRFA and we hope this review leads to a simpler process that gets support to communities when they need it most.”

The spokesperson said more than $2 billion in flood recovery funding had been issued in partnership with the Commonwealth.

But more than a year on from the October

2022 flood emergency, the spokesperson said: “We know recovery from a significant weather event like these floods doesn’t happen overnight. We’re continuing to work closely with communities to support them in their recovery.”

It is believed “a pragmatic approach will be applied for timelines relating to reconstruction of essential asset projects” by the State Government.

The Government says claim assessment timelines “are impacted by factors including the scale and number of disaster events, and whether claims meet the DRFA guidelines.

“Delays can occur where claims are submitted after the end of the financial year or when assessors are required to seek additional information to maximise the return for councils”.

Report release will share women’s experiences

THE Women Rising - Empowering Flood Recovery report will be released next week by Women’s Health Loddon Mallee.

The report is drawn from interviews and focus groups with women in the region, including the Loddon Shire, after the October 2022 flood emergency.

Women’s Health Loddon Mallee says key themes and recommendations, will support local governments and organisations in Regional Victoria to apply a gendered lens for more effective emergency management, from prevention and planning to response and recovery.

IN BRIEF

Healthy drawings

THE 2024 Loddon Healthy Minds Network art competition has opened. The two themes for the open and senior students categories are Creating my Calm or It’s Okay to Take a Break and the themes for the middle grade students are Your Feelings are Valid or Be Thoughtful About What You Share Online. The junior students’ categories will be a colouring competition with the theme Stay Positive in the junior grades (Years 3 and 4) and Your Feelings Matter (Prep to Year 2).

Women’s Day events

INTERNATIONAL Women’s Day will be marked with events across the region including the Kooyoora Women’s Network dinner in Bridgewater tonight where the group’s annual award to a community volunteer will be announced.

Firewood collection

The 2024 autumn firewood collection season is opened Friday in state forests in the region. Local resident can collect firewood in Dunolly-Tarnagulla State Forest, Cains North F (North) Track near Moliagul and Bulldog in the Bealiba State Forest.

Insurance costs

NATURAL disaster victims’ allegations that insurance companies have price gouged them needed urgent investigation by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission, said Mallee MP Anne Webster. Skyrocketing premiums during a cost-ofliving crisis had hit hip pockets of residents affected by fire and floods over the past 18 months, yet insurance companies continued to post massive profits, she said.

History talk

KEVIN Poyser will speak on memories and history of Bridgewater at The Bridge community hub in the town’s Anglican church this month.

EARLY DEADLINE

DUE TO the public holiday on Monday, display advertising bookings and artwork for next week’s Loddon Herald close at 4pm tomorrow, Friday.

Leadership journey begins

EMERGING leaders from across the region have started their journey in the 2024 Loddon Murray Community Leadership Program.

Inglewood’s Izzy Rollinson, Loddon Shire councillor Dan Straub and Inglewood footballer Jed Rouse are among the 18 people joining this year’s course.

The 2024 program was launched at a function for participants, sponsors, past graduates and guests.

“I was so nervous of what was ahead but now I couldn’t be more excited,” said Izzy Rollinson, 21, who is sponsored by the Loddon Shire Council.

“I’m looking forward to pushing myself outside my comfort zone and making an impact on my community.”

Jed, who is one of two recipients across Victoria of the Denis Tricks Scholarship, said: “I thought the orientation day was exceptional! There is a lot of heart, thought and care that goes into the program and it is a very comforting environment.

“I’m looking forward to growing as a person as well as being there for others sharing the journey.”

The leadership program is in its 26th year with more than 600 people having completed the course.

“The 2024 program is supported by the Foundation of Rural and Regional Renewal, through funding from the Australian Government’s Future Drought Fund,” said LEAD Loddon Murray executive officer Brett Thompson.

“Each participant is funded by

one of our valued sponsors who wish to contribute to building our communities’ capacity for selfdetermination and management of many issues including health, climate resilience and disaster recovery.”

Participants will meet this

month for their first retreat, hosted by the Central Goldfields Shire Council, which will focus on Regional Context.

Participants completing the program also work on developing a community project, with many of these concepts complet-

ed since the program was first held in 1998. “Graduates become more effective community leaders, with many of these people going on to support their fellow residents on community committees or within all levels of government,” Mr Thompson said.

Hot weekend tip prompts fire warning

PREDICTED high temperatures for the long weekend has seen the CFA urge Victorians to be prepared for persistent fire risk.

Chief Officer Jason Heffernan said travellers this weekend should familiarise themselves with the fire district they were entering or basing themselves in.

“While the recent bushfires have been contained by our incredible firefighters, fire risk will continue to linger over the coming months,” Chief Officer Hefferan said.

“With the lack of recent rain, fuel loads in our drier forested areas will increase, and our greener grasslands will continue to dry out.

“We know there is a slightly elevated chance of a drier than usual autumn, and we’re already seeing that this weekend with temperatures set to reach high 30s and low 40s.

“Victorians simply need to be in tune to the fire and weather conditions around them.”

Chief Officer Heffernan expects the grassfire risk will persist throughout March.

“Grassfires can move at speeds of up to 25km per hour and can jump highways, so you must be prepared to alter your route if required.”

Roll rescued and restored

DESCENDANTS of soldiers listed on a discarded World War One honour roll on Sunday saw the restored memorial unveiled at East Shelbourne.

The roll listing the names of 28 district men who served in Gallipoli and France had been found in a nearby creek.

Among descendants at the unveiling was Leigh Hercus. He said three members of earlier generations of his family were among the 28 local men on the roll.

The original honour board was unveiled by Captain Akeroyd in March 1918. Now restored, the board will form part of the RSL collection in Bendigo.

The restored roll was unveiled by Major Karl Dodds.

A replica unveiled on Sunday by Kangaroo Flat RSL sub-branch president Martyn Strabrook and East Shelbourne Recreation Reserve secretary Patty Morris will be displayed at the district’s hall.

Loddon Shire community wellbeing director Wendy Gladman, Izzy Rollinson and Cr Wendy Murphy

Leigh Hercus

Evolution in main street

CHANGES continue in Inglewood’s Brooke Street with the sale of Cousin Jack’s Bakehouse.

The popular cafe featuring displays of the town’s goldmining history is temporarily closed after last week’s sale.

Deb Roberts has sold the business after almost five years.

“I’ve have had some fantastic times. I would also like to thank my beautiful staff for an amazing job they have all done for me,” she said.

New owners will soon re-open the iconic eatery as Inglewood

Crafty locals off to market

CRAFTY Inglewood creators will be part of the revived Lions Club market starting next weekend after packing up at the store that has been their home for six years.

Sale of Cousin Jack’s bakery has seen the local craft community pack up its stock at the store as new business owners get set to use the shop space.

One of the knitters, Wendy Robinson, said: “We been here for six years and before that a few years down in the next block.

“Over the years there’s been 30 or so of us selling goods in the shop ... all handmade, all local.

“Our customers have been a good mixture of locals and visitors.”

Wendy said some of the creators would now sell goods at the first Lions market starting on March 16.

Cafe Bakehouse. And a block south, Otto’s cafe opened last week in the former Pelican Hotel.

Meanwhile, Pauline and Gerry Wellman are continuing restoration of the former Porter’s corner building where artist and sculptor Bill Offord has established a gallery in one of the historic shops.

Post office owner Kylie Turner last year announced plans to move from the historic Grant Street building into Brooke Street in 2024.

And the former Royal Hotel,

closed since the early months of COVID in 2020, has seen more work around the building in recent months.

Antique stores are expecting a bumper long weekend, traditionally a peak time for visitors across Loddon Shire communities.

Traders have told the Loddon Herald that the introduction of a 40kmh speed limit in Brooke Street had made the area safer for pedestrians and motorists and enhanced the vibe of the main street.

Late notice pop-ups ask views on recreation

THE last pop-up community consultation sessions discussing the future of Loddon Shire recreation spaces were to be held today.

Sessions in Tarnagulla and Wedderburn follow visits by consultants to Boort, Pyramid Hill, Bridgewater and East Loddon P12 College yesterday.

Loddon Shire promoted the Recreation, Open Space and Aquatic Strategy community consultation opportunities online late last week.

The 10-year strategy will include sport and other active recreation reserves, parks and playgrounds, swimming pools, tracks and trails, bushland reserves, rivers and lakes.

Shire community wellbeing director Wendy Gladman said: “We’re inviting our community to have their say and contribute ideas for the development of Council’s Recreation, Open Space and Aquatic Strategy.

“This first phase of consultation for the ROSA began prior to Christmas,” she said.

This included surveys of sports clubs, recreation reserve committee of managements and schools.

“Interviews were also conducted with stakeholders such as state sporting associations.

“We are now surveying the community via the online survey and drop-in sessions.

There is also an opportunity to make a public submission.”

Mrs Gladman said this week’s drop-in were another way of “reaching out to our community who may not have a chance to complete the survey – or would prefer to discuss in person”.

“The survey and drop-in sessions are just part of the overall community consultation process for the ROSA, with more consultation activities planned, including key stakeholder interviews and workshops, which will be undertaken throughout the project,” she said.

Mayor Gavan Holt said the survey allowed people to nominate their top three ideas for the use of recreation facilities in the shire.

Loddon Shire has swimming pools in Boort, Inglewood, Mitiamo, Pyramid Hill and Wedderburn and sporting grounds and facilities in all local communities.

The future of swimming pools was in the spotlight in January 2022 when equipment failures and a shortage of lifeguards saw some pools closed for several weeks.

„ Mitiamo pool last week re-opened after a fortnight after a replacement pump had to be installed. The swimming pool season ends this weekend.

Packing up ... Sue Hayman and Wendy Robinson. LH PHOTO

FASHION was to the fore at Boort Trotting Club’s cups meeting on Sunday with hats, fascinators and the best of attire hit the catwalk between races. Regular racegoers and first-time entrants - women and men - put their best foot forward, waving and

smiling to judges as the prizes were being determined. Local sponsors again stepped up with prizes, including Hazel Whitmore, the local transport industry legend and long-time supporter of the cup meeting fashions on the field

Avian wonders share harmony

BIRD Day Out has been described as a harmonious celebration of avian wonders by the Loddon Plains Landcare Network coordinator Will Sanson.

Last weekend’s event brought together nature enthusiasts, artists, and sound aficionados for two days filled with creativity and appreciation for the feathered residents of local ecosystems.

Saturday at the Inglewood LPLN goods shed featured an art class led by renowned watercolor artist Terry Jarvis and a presentation by nature sound recordist Andrew Skeoch.

Mr Jarvis led the participants through various techniques and insights to illuminate the vividness of bird feathers and the exquisite essence of their habitats.

He concluded the presentation by painting a watercolor of the Australian bush from start to finish. Mr Sanson said students were inspired and awestruck by his skill and creativity.

The evening session had a presentation from Andrew Skeoch, a pioneering figure in nature sound recording, who took the participants on an auditory journey through the captivating world of bird songs and calls.

“Through his immersive presentation, Andrew transported listeners to diverse ecosystems, allowing them to experience the rich tapestry of avian melodies,” Mr

Sanson said. Bird Day Out participants had an early start on Sunday travelling to Kooyoora State Park for a listening walk with Mr Skeoch.

“This unique experience allowed them to immerse themselves in the serene surroundings while tuning in to the subtle melodies of the avian world,” Mr Sanson said.

“As they meandered along the winding trails, Mr. Skeoch shared fascinating insights about the various bird species that called the park home. With his guidance, they learned to distinguish between the calls of different birds, gaining a deeper appreciation for the rich biodiversity of the area.”

Terry Jarvis demonstrates techniques at Bird Day Out

Entrants in the best dressed local lady competition including winner Kim Clough (fourth from left). LH PHOTO

Best dressed boy Jack Rowe and Hazel Whitmore Best dressed man - Boort’s Ray Taylor

Fashions on the field winner Rebecca Maddox Best dressed girl Carrie Byrne

Power and the pedal

CARS and trucks - veteran, classic and contemporary - streamed into Newbridge Recreation Reserve on Saturday as more than 1000 people bolstered coffers of the town’s social club.

The first Run to Newbridge was pulled together by the committee in just two months.

“The gates were to open at 9.30 ... there were already 15 cars waiting to come in at 7.30am,” said one of the organisers Phil Latter. “We had good networks in car and vehicle clubs that have helped us spread the word quickly.

“We hope all the car, truck and motorcycle owners are having a great day and will want to come back again next year.”

More than 300 vehicles had filled the oval my midday as Goldfields Music Club members belted out tunes from the verandah.

Among late morning arrivals was Woodend’s Andy Scicluna. He said the trip north in his 1934 Ford Roadster had taken longer than expected, pointing to tufts of gypsy grass caught in the fender.

“The weeds were everywhere and I couldn’t see the road ... I didn’t want to drive too fast in case there were potholes,” he said.

Phil was among locals who alternated between marshalling at the gates and talking to the crowd about their automotive prides and joys.

He had a 1972 HQ Holden ute on display while Brendan Sheen

was showing off his 1969 Parisian, one of the last Canadian imports of the model.

Bendigo’s Matt and Maree Hourigan had their Sunbeam Alpine neatly parked in one of the rows of vehicles.

A Sunbeam owner since he was 18, Matt’s Series 5 model has been in the spotlight at the Australian Grand Prix, carrying Mark Weber around the Albert Park Melbourne circuit in the 2012 drivers’ parade.

Phil said Run to Newbridge, raising money for the club’s community projects, had been well supported by the town and visitors. “We’ve had quite a few camping here for the weekend too,” he said.

Drillers find valuable mineral sands

HIGH-GRADE mineral sands have been found by a gold exploration company drilling near Pyramid Hill.

Falcon Metals said on Monday that several holes at its newly named Farrelly Prospect returned highgrade results during the 77hole aircore program

The company told the ASX that detailed grain counting and sachet scanning recorded encouraging levels of valuable heavy minerals, including elevated zircon and rutile.

“Although monazite is present, further work is also needed to accurately quantify the amount of this mineral,” Falcon said.

It said several drill holes at its Marmal Prospect also confirmed the presence of mineral sands in areas that had not been previously explored.

Managing director Tim Markwell said: “The intersection of these high-grade zones of mineral sands in the Murray Basin is a positive development for Falcon, and this initial short program of drilling is in addition to the gold exploration program that is ongoing.”

Mr Markwell said the company’s focus would remain on gold exploration in the area.

The Inglewood and District Health Service (IDHS) is thrilled to announce the highly anticipated return of the Women of Wedderburn (WOW) Night on April 19th, 2024! This empowering event promises to be an evening of inspiration and enlightenment for all attendees.

Special Guest Speaker: Jelena Dokic, IDHS, is honoured to welcome renowned tennis player and bestselling author Jelena Dokic as our esteemed speaker for the evening. Jelena will share her captivating journey, drawing from her bestselling autobiography "Unbreakable." Attendees can engage in a stimulating Q&A session with this incredible, inspirational woman.

The WOW Night aims to unite local women across the Loddon Shire for social reconnection and insightful conversation. With a focus on mental health and resilience, this event empowers and uplifts attendees, providing valuable resources and information for seeking help, achieving good mental health, and building strength, especially in the aftermath of recent flood events.

Please don't miss this opportunity to hear Jelena Dokic's inspiring story, sponsored by Flood Recovery- Loddon Shire & Murray PHN.

IDHS will again be catering, and a choice of Caesar Salad, Greek Salad, Thai Beef Salad, and a Celery Salad with Lentils, Dates and Almonds will be available to order, including dietary requirements during ticket registration. Tickets are available here: https://www.trybooking.com/CPSTN or scan the QR-

Booking is essential; doors open at 5:30pm, music by Mikala Mc Neil.

If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact Cindy Gould at cgould@idhs.vic.gov.au. Follow IDHS on Facebook for the latest updates and announcements: https://www.facebook.com/IDHS3517

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Phil Latter and Jim Douglas were among organisers of the Run to Newbridge. LH PHOTOS

Andy Scicluna removes weeds collected on his road trip.

Land tax change hits locals, says Walsh

MURRAY Plains electorate voters will be forced to pay land tax for the first time, MP Peter Walsh told State Parliament on Tuesday.

The Nationals leader said Treasurer Tim Pallas had to “explain, let alone justify” radical and punitive changes to the state’s land tax charges.

He asked Mr Pallas why the Government had changed the criteria to force thousands ”of Murray plains constituents to pay a land tax for the first time”.

“Like my constituents, I look forward to seeing how the Treasurer will justify this latest blatant tax grab.

“Labor’s decision to slash the tax-free threshold from $300,000 to $50,000, while also slapping an additional flat tax up to $975 on Victorian households is daylight robbery,” Mr Walsh said.

“Treasurer Tim Pallas has tried to soften the blow by claiming his land tax hike will cost the average Victorian household an additional $1300 every year – but we are hearing reports of much greater damage to the bottom lines of ordinary Victorians trying to get ahead,” he says.

“These changes will punish and divide homeowners and renters across Victoria and is just the latest of many examples of Labor punishing Victorians for its own economic mismanagement,” Mr Walsh said.

We are family, friends, colleagues and neighbours

Parched landscape in February

We are family, friends, colleagues and neighbours

Peter

Dunolly was the driest district for February with just 0.4mm registered.

For the latest Coronavirus information go to peterwalsh.org.au or follow us on We are in this together, and together we will get through.

LOW rainfall is tipped for the region for another three months after gauges were barely used across the Loddon in February.

If you need advice or assistance with anything related to government, or in your general day-to-day life, please contact my of ce on the details below and we will do our best to help you.

The coronavirus pandemic has had a profound impact on all our lives so looking after your mental wellbeing is essential. It is normal to feel anxious, stressed and fearful during times of crisis. The Federal Government is providing support for the mental health and wellbeing of Australians as we face the challenges of the pandemic; go to www.headtohealth.gov.au if you feel like you might need some additional help coping with anxiety and worry about Coronavirus.

The coronavirus pandemic has had a profound impact on all our lives so looking after your mental wellbeing is essential. It is normal to feel anxious, stressed and fearful during times of crisis. The Federal Government is providing support for the mental health and wellbeing of Australians as we face the challenges of the pandemic; go to www.headtohealth.gov.au if you feel like you might need some additional help coping with anxiety and worry about Coronavirus.

If you need advice or assistance with anything related to government, or in your general day-to-day life, please contact my of ce on the details below and we will do our best to help you.

The Bureau of Meteorology says falls through to May are expected to remain below average while maximum and minimum temperatures will be up.

Most Loddon districts recorded rain on just one day last month with the lowest fall of 1.2mm at Boort compared with a monthly average of 26mm.

The highest fall for February was at Mincha where a total of 18.2mm was tipped from the official gauge, just below the monthly average of 18.2mm Mincha had falls on four days, including two above 7mm.

Inglewood’s monthly rainfall total was 4.4mm compared with the average of 29mm while in Wedderburn the rainfall was 3mm against the average of 26.6mm.

The average for the town in February is 29.9mm.

Charlton’s monthly figure was 5.8mm compared with the average of 22.9mm. February figures were in contrast to January where near-record falls were recorded in some local areas.

The Australasian Fire and Emergency Service Authorities Autumn Seasonal Bushfire Outlook released last week indicates Victoria had above average summer rainfall and less than average bushfire activity, little to no rainfall since mid-January shifted things significantly in the west of the state.

The BoM says record-warm oceans globally and a weakening El Niño are influencing its predictions.

Rainfall in Loddon districts to date for the 2024 is more than 150mm.

Boort District School’s fete

was well attended by students and the community including (from left) Fergus Herrington and Eliana Haw, Sienna Boyd and Johno Vernon and Kaitlyn Cockerell and Dillon Lersen. LH PHOTOS

Mae McNally, Sienna Adams and Lexie Kane

Daisy Nuttall tucked into refreshing water melon at the fresh produce stall where mum Sherry was selling goods donated to boost the fete’s fundraising activites

Book shares stories of sacrifice

By CHRIS EARL

STORIES of service and sacrifice by more than 100 men from across the Loddon Shire have been shared in historian Geoff Arnott’s latest book.

Launched by RSL Victoria vice-president Des Callaghan in Wedderburn on Saturday, Geoff was lauded for his meticulous research of soldiers, sailors and airmen who enlisted to serve under colonial and Australian flags from the Boer War in the last 19th century through to Iraq.

The book - War Veterans from Wedderburn and District - has a strong emphasis on soldiers who served in World War 1.

Mr Callaghan told the launch attended by more than 100 people that 48 per cent of the Australian male population aged between 18 and 35 had served in that war.

Among them was the first Victoria Cross recipient, Albert Jacka.

Geoff said Jacka’s heroism typified a lot of soldiers in World War One.

“From this district, there were 12 soldiers who were awarded the Victoria Cross or Military Cross,” he said.

Geoff said many soldiers were a name on a memorial in France but their stories still had to be told for people today to “know what sacrifice was”.

“Otherwise, after 50 years or so people won’t even know they existed or the sacrifices they made.”

Sales of Geoff’s book will raise funds for the historical records

society. Its members were joined by descendants of many soldiers featured in the new book.

Geoff recounted the story of Colin Cameron, a Z Force commando in World War Two.

“There were 23 commandos sent to Singapore and all would be killed,” he said. “He was killed after first fending off the Japanese while under fire and enabling others to escape. Sgt Colin Cameron of Wedderburn ... he should have received the VC.”

Geoff said everyone who had served in war, whether they returned home or not had been a “casualty in some way”.

And he said many of those who did come back from war had made positive contributions to local communities.

Among them, Geoff said, was Ron Webb who had trained the Z Force commandos.

Mayor Gavan Holt said the new book was a credit to Geoff.

“There is tremendous history not only in Wedderburn but in other towns and among the soldiers mentioned in the book from Inglewood and Boort and other towns,” he said.

“Many of us can relate to the many families Geoff has mentioned in the book.”

Loddon Shire Council ward boundary review

The Victorian Electoral Commission (VEC) is reviewing the ward boundaries of Loddon Shire Council at the request of the Minister for Local Government and is seeking your input.

The preliminary report and response submissions for the Loddon Shire Council review opened on Wednesday 21 February. Submissions close at 5pm Wednesday 13 March 2024.

In your submission, you can also ask to speak at a public hearing.

At the end of the review, the VEC will make a nal recommendation to the Minister for Local Government. Any changes to the ward boundaries of Loddon Shire Council following this review are expected to apply at the next local council elections.

To nd out more about the review process and how you can have your say, visit www.vec.vic.gov.au/loddon

Network calls for community representatives

Council is seeking expressions of interest from residents across the Loddon Shire Council area to represent the community on the Loddon Healthy Minds Network. If you have an interest in improving mental health and wellbeing in the wider Loddon Shire community, we would be interested in hearing from you. For more information or to submit an expression of interest: https://www.loddonhealthyminds.com.au/news/loddonhealthy-minds-committee-community-representatives

Geoff said he had enjoyed writing the book that had funding from Loddon Shire and Inglewood and District Community Bank.

“I love research and writing about Wedderburn and district,” he said.

Earlier books on the district written by Geoff include Remembering Wedderburn & Neighbouring Towns and The Golden Harvest: A History of Wedderburn co-authored with Keith Ring.

“It is most important we don’t forget the local soldiers who served,” Geoff said after the book had been launched.

Historical society president Darryl Arnott, author Geoff Arnott, Des Callaghan and Mayor Gavan Holt. LH PHOTO

Webb descendants Judith Kilcullen (front) and Joyce Lucas, Marlene Ellis and Shirley Webb.

Jayne Burton and Julie Edwards, nieces of Colin Cameron.

Geoff autographs copies of his latest book at the launch.

WOOL REPORT

After six consecutive selling series of no overall positive movement, the Australian wool market has finally managed an overall increase, albeit by the barest of margins. The national offering fell slightly to 38,137 bales. Compared to the corresponding sale of the previous season there has been just 8,280 more bales offered, an increase of 0.7%. In the merino fleece, the market movements were varied, although across all microns, any good style wool possessing favourable additional measurement results, continued to attract very strong support, generally recording only positive movements. The other standout was the 19.5-micron group. Strong demand pushing prices higher, the individual Micron Price Guides (MPGs) for 19.5 micron where the only ones to post an increase in all three centres (between 7 and 16 cents). The MPG movements across the country ranged between minus 26 and plus 16 cents for merino fleece. The market was stronger on the first selling day, the AWEX Eastern Market Indicator (EMI) adding 4 cents, the EMI closed day one at 1,161 cents. The second day the market eased across all three selling centres. The EMI gave back 3 cents of the first day’s gain, closing the week 1 cent higher at 1,158 cents. After rising last series in USD terms, currency movement has prevented the EMI from doing so again. The EMI dropped 4 US cents, closing at 755 US cents. Although the total amount of bales offered so far this season continues to track above the previous, the total dollar amount of wool sold is well down. The $47.64 million sold this week, pushed the season to date total to $1,479 million. This is $146 million dollars less than last season, with more wool sold. Next week, a similar quantity is expected.

There are currently 41,1154 bales rostered for sale nationally, with again only two selling days required.

Source: AWEX

THERE was a slight lift in both lamb and sheep supply at Bendigo on Monday but the main issue for this market appeared to be processor demand and kill space.

The market opened soft and then progressively got cheaper as buyers filled limited orders. At least four buyers didn’t follow onto the sheep sale and the mutton market suffered a late collapse of up to $50 per head after starting at $20 to $30 off the pace of last Monday.

In the lamb section the main supermarkets and a key southern exporter remained absent while most other buyers were selective and operating at reduced levels. Heavier slaughter lambs over 24kg cwt were $5 to $15 cheaper.

Light lambs under 20kg held their value and many onlookers commented on how they were still selling well compared to the reduced rates for heavy lamb and sheep categories.

Bidding for the lead pens of export lambs weakened as the sale progressed for a range of $174 to $224, or 550c to 650c/ kg cwt depending on where in the auction they sold. The cost to exporters for runs of heavy lambs was estimated at 590c to 610c/kg cwt. Better presented trade lambs $130 to $160/hd for a ballpark average of 580c/kg on the main runs.

Plainer and small pen lots of lambs were often treated harshly in this sale and were pulled below 550c at times. In comparison light lambs still sold to solid demand at $100 to $125 for the better framed types, and $60 to $90 for small lambs.

Restocking demand was subdued although some agents stepped in and purchased bigger trade weights as the market eased.

In the early sheep run prices were $20 to $30 softer but later in the auction the market lost up to $50 per head compared to a week ago. It meant there was a wide price spread of 100c to 260c/kg recorded over the mutton run.

Bendigo Sheep & Lamb Market Report

Heavy lambs and sheep were $10-20 cheaper, with most major operators operating in a very limited capacity.

Monday, March 4th 2023 - Bendigo Yarding: Lambs - 16,000

To discuss the marketing opportunities available for your livestock, contact the McKean McGregor team.

Early in the auction there was big Merino ewes in a skin to $95 and Merino wethers to $88, but the sale then dropped to between $20 to $60 over a lot of trade and heavy sheep. Rams were $2 to $10/hd.

CROSSBRED LAMBS

Shipps Holding P/L Normanville (43) $224. GJ & DA Turnbull Wycheproof (46) $214. B & A Martin Burraboi (45) $210. PJ Main Deniliquin (103) $208. M & P Tyquin Canary Island (55) $205. Cain Bros Laanecoorie (52) $202. Parklea Nagambie (57) $199. DM & MN Tuohey Myola (55) $193. J & C Pay Murrabit (54) $188. P Webb Bridgewater (134) $176. RE & SL Pedersen Kamarooka (15) $175. A & K Gould Yarrawalla (91) $168. Whinfield Farms P/L Macorna (20) $166. B & F Moon Pyramid Hill (42) $159. CA & MJ Stone Raywood (111) $158. IL Filbey Creek View (48) $156.

MERINO LAMBS

Wanbi Plains Raywood (104) $147. McKay Farms Drummartin (140) $135.

HOGGETTS

AD Weston & SK Fletcher-Wells Rushworth (47) $160. R & B, D & J Pascoe Elmore (90) $120. IR Landale Deniliquin (24) $105. TW & CL Wakefield Arumpo (20) $102. K & S Canfield Salisbury West (84) $100.

MERINO WETHERS

B & F Moon Pyramid Hill (64) $88.

CROSSBRED EWES

Cain Bros Laanecoorie (41) $83. Tivey Past Metcalfe (64) $70. R & G Stone Woodstock (22) $64. P & S Reynold Glenaroua (11) $55.

MERINO EWES

M Warr Arnold West (99) $95. M & J Durie Bungaluke (139) $88. McNaul’s Farming Wakool (41) $84. DR & JA Brawn Pental Island (58) $82. B Weaver & Co Boort (99) $80. B & A Martin Burraboi (63) $50.

SUPPLIED BY ASSOCIATED STOCK AGENTS grain

BOORT Grain Co-op prices on Monday.

Wheat – H2 $295 FIS. APW $292 FIS. ASW $279 FIS. GP1$259 FIS. Barley – Maximus $263 FIS. Planet $296 FIS. Spartacus $279 FIS. Bar1 $253 FIS. Bar2 $233 FIS. Pulses – Faba1 $445 FIS. Faba2 $435 FIS. Nipper $810 FIS. Field pea $445 FIS. New crop 2024-2025 – APW MG $300. Bar1 $258.

Alex Pollock - 0409

Henry Bugge - 0403 671 917

Will Lowe - 0498 381 584

Stud’s super week

TERRICK West Poll Stud capped off a stunning week winning the ram and ewe competitions at last Friday’s Loddon Valley Merino Field Day.

It was the McGauchie family’s first success in the prestige best pen of three rams since 2008.

The stud also won the best pen of three commercial ewes in only the second year of that competition.

Friday’s successes came after another stunning return for Terrick West to the Great Southern Supreme Show at its new location in Bathurst.

Max - TW 220405 (M61) - won the champion Medium wool August shorn poll ram and went on to win the Champion August shorn poll ram and junior Champion August shorn poll ram.

He was the reserve champion August shorn Medium wool poll ram and champion August shorn Medium wool poll ewe.

Terrick West had 12 Great Southern ribbons on show for the field crowd touring four on-property stud displays in the region and inspecting rams displayed by member studs at Janiember Park, Serpentine.

Ram judges Daniel Rogers and Will Miller said the Terrick West entry had been a standout and it was hard to find faults.

Good wool length saw Alan Harris’ Koolevale Stud awarded second and Norm Weir’s Kerrilyn third with special mention made of the well-presented trio at Willera Merinos.

This year’s ewe competition honoured the contribution to the Merino industry of Ian Bennett who died last year and was judged by son Leigh and Graeme Harvey.

Second was John Humbert’s Kedleston Park with Kerrilyn third.

Loddon Valley Stud Merino Breeders’ Association president Kevin Hynam said the larger trade display at Janiember Park had helped boost the number of farmers from across Victoria and southern New South Wales at this year’s field day.

Mr Hynam said the introduction of the fleece competition had also been a success with 30

fleeces entered from studs and commercial farmers.

“We see there is real potential to increase the involvement of commercial famers in the field day through the fleece competition,” he said.

“Our studs have many regular buyers of their rams .. the competition expands the potential for involvement and showcasing the progeny of our member studs at work on commercial farms.”

Mr Hynam said farmers should

keep an eye on fleeces being clipped in district shearing sheds over the next six months and place them aside ready for next year’s competition.

“Wool has been the backbone of the Merino industry and I hope there is a good focus among our studs and their farmer clients to help us grow this new competition at the field day.”

Meanwhile, Terrick West is already preparing for its next tilt at show success.

Claire McGauchie will take a

team to Horsham for the annual Wimmera Merino Show this month while father Ross heads to the Royal Show in Sydney where he will judge Merino sections over Easter.

“The Wimmera event is the only Victorian show on the calendar for August-shorn sheep,” he said.

Before judging, the McGauchies have their flock heading into the shearing shed this week.

- CHRIS EARL

Breeders honour industry icon

VETERAN Mysia studmaster Bob Rollinson was recognised with life membership of the Loddon Valley Stud Merino Breeders’ Association during Friday’s field day.

The industry icon still oversees the Concordia stud founded in 1920 by his late Lindsay (Darb) Rollinson on Wanganella ewes and rams.

Since the early 1950s the stud has been managed and classed by Bob.

“Our breeding objectives at Concordia have remained unchanged – to have big framed, strong constitutional sheep producing long stapled soft handling fleeces.”

The stud’s two and three-yearold sheep average 22.5 microns.

“Weaner sheep are finer while the older sheep a little stronger,” Bob said.

He was presented with the award by association secretary Robyn McGauchie.

Champion

Fine

(Wattle Bank) 2,

Medium wool - Rob and Amy Pratt (Kerrilyn progeny) 1, Kerrilyn 2.

Strong wool - Kerrilyn 1, Alan Harris (Koole Vale) 2.

Fine premium - Steve Wheeler - Eildon Springs 1, Steve wheeler- Eildon Springs 2.

Medium premium - Alan Harris (Koole Vale) 1, Terrick West.

Strong premium - Kevin Hynam (Hynam Poll) 1, Ryan Dean (Forest Springs) 2.

Claire McGauchie, Peter and Paul Roustley, Ross McGauchie and Chris Bowman with the award-winning Max at Terrick West Stud last Friday. LH PHOTO

Kerrilyn stud’s Norm Weir

Powlett’s Peter Colvin with John Humbert at Kedleston Park

Daniel Rogers, Kevin Hynam, and Will Miller

Robyn McGauchie and Bob Rollinson

Better treatment of women’s health

By JACINTA ALLAN

THE release of a landmark survey dedicated to Victorian women’s health undertaken by the Victorian Labor Government has confirmed what women already know; their pain is real and regularly overlooked.

The results of the survey show that close to half of all women are impacted by issues related to their periods, pregnancy, birth and postnatal care, or conditions like endometriosis. Nearly 60 per cent of participants reported having had positive healthcare interactions, but one in three said they’d experienced insensitive and disrespectful practitioners who left them feeling dismissed and unheard.

The Listening to Women’s Voices report comprises the insights of more than 1,700 Victorian women who shared their personal experiences of our health care system.

Findings from the survey include:

„ Four in 10 Victorian women live with chronic pain.

„ Around half of the participants reported that period-related conditions affected their health and wellbeing.

„ Similarly, about 50 per cent said that pregnancy and birth complications continued to impact their health.

„ Around 30 per cent said they were affected by the symptoms of perimenopause or menopause.

„ 30 per cent said conditions such as endometriosis, menopause and chronic pain led to poor mental health.

„ One in three have health conditions that affect their ability to work and keep a job.

„ 20 percent said they missed out on social connections because of their health.

The report also includes participants’ personal stories. In an all-too-common occurrence, one woman said she was prescribed antidepressants when she had acute pelvic pain that was stopping her sleeping and working but was later diagnosed with advanced endometriosis.

As part of the next stage of the Labor Govern-

STATE PERSPECTIVE

ment’s nation leading $153 million women’s health transformation, I was pleased to recently announce, along with the Minister for Health, MaryAnne Thomas, the new Inquiry into Women’s Pain.

The inquiry will examine systemic issues and solutions and hear directly from women across Victoria. Led by a panel of experts and overseen by the Women’s Health Advisory Council. Submissions can be made at health.vic.gov.au/public-health/ inquiry-into-womens-pain, and close on the 12 March, 2024.

Victoria has a proud track record of work to improve women’s health outcomes, from establishing Victoria’s first clinic for women’s heart health, delivering 11 sexual and reproductive health hubs, and launching the state’s first ever sexual and reproductive health phone line.

However, as the results of the survey show, there is still more to do.

Work is underway to establish 20 new comprehensive women’s health clinic, which will be crucial to overcoming some of the barriers women face in accessing healthcare. Regional sites for the clinics include Bendigo Hospital, Goulburn Valley Health, Ballarat Base Hospital, Latrobe Regional Hospital, Barwon Health, Geelong, (which already runs a clinic, extended from one to five days a week), Mildura Base Hospital, Northeast Health Wangaratta, and Warrnambool Base Hospital.

Offering free, wide-ranging care and support, the clinics will allow women to see specialists in the one spot, making it easier and faster to access the world-class care for conditions like endometriosis, pelvic pain, and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).

Women’s health has been overlooked and under diagnosed for too long. The Victorian Government is working to completely change the way women’s health issues are treated in our state.

*JacintaAllanisthememberforBendigoEast andVictorianPremier

VEC reviews Loddon Shire ward boundaries

Darren Quigley wrote: In order for Korong Vale to be in the Wedderburn Ward or even in the Boort Ward council needs to place more attention on Korong Vale with future works and developments

As you can see Korong Vale has missed out on infrastructure improvements for many years and council are mainly concentrated on the likes of Boort and Wedderburn due to councillors residing there The VEC

BUShy TALES

Loddon Shire looks to sell former Korong Vale community centre

Cath Bratic wrote: These small towns need a community hub, somewhere where they can gather for special functions or just casual events like planned activity groups. A place where they can sit and catch up, have a cuppa and a chat ...why get rid of them?

Water pressure in local communities

Karren Chuter wrote: Yes l have noticed water pressure low mostly some mornings in Pyramid Hill.

20 QUESTION QUIZ

1. Which city is known as “The Big Apple”?

2. Which fictional talking bear comes from “Darkest Peru”

3. Melbourne is home to which major art gallery?

4. TV show ‘Call the Midwife’ is set in which London neighbourhood?

5. According to the nursery rhyme, Jack fell down and broke his what?

6. Who was the first person to reach the South Pole?

7. And in which year was this feat achieved?

8. Of the three main categories of rock, to which does marble belong?

9. In the musical ‘The Lion King’, what type of animal is Timon?

10. What was of Leonardo DiCaprio’s character, Jack, in the movie ‘Titanic’?

11. In which year did the nuclear disaster at Chernobyl take place?

12. What is Australia’s national bird?

13. Chickpeas are the main ingredient in which popular dip?

14. What is the smallest species of penguin?

15. For which industry were the Wright brothers pioneers?

16. Which city is playing host to the 2024 Summer Olympics?

17. Who wrote ‘The Great Gatsby’?

18. A domestic cat usually has how many claws?

19. The musical ‘Wicked’ serves as a prequel to which movie musical starring Judy Garland?

20. What is the name of Qantas’ smaller subsidiary airline servicing regional airports?

ANSWERS

APRETTY apt sign from Bradley of Boort this week, what with summer sports coming to the pointy end of the seasons and ladder positions changing.

WE’VE picked up a bit of local humour from one summer sport in particular over the weekendlawn bowlers have provided the fodder indeed. There was one bowler hobbling to his car ahead of the Blowfly Battle between Calivil and Dingee at Inglewood. What happened, we asked. Had an encounter with a shopping trolley during the week. And almost as if on cue, young local bowler comes across the lane from rear of parents’ shop wheeling ... you guessed it, a shopping trolley.

THE brief bit of banter was nothing compared with the cheer squads assembled around their barracking. One wife told us she had come armed with an array of phrases to

gee up, cajole and needle players. Not mine, she said, but provided by favourite daughter.

AND there was a fair bit of cricket barracking too. A so-called solid hitout by Wedderburn footballers did not reduce the vocal strength exhibited by nonwhite flannelled spectators later in the day.

NOT sure is OTF has awarded a hero of the week prize before but Boort school assistant principal Tom Bleisher saved the day on Sunday. Troops had bottomed out in their quest to catch yabbies for special racing at the trots meeting. Tom gave the nets one more drop just an hour or two before midday and, bingo,caught some nice big black “inland crays”.

THOSE yabbies would have cooked up nicely to be topped with vinegar and salt.

1. New York 2. Paddington 3. National Gallery of Victoria 4. Poplar 5. Crown 6. Roald Amundsen 7. 1911 8. Metamorphic 9. Meerkat 10. Dawson 11.

1986 12. Emu 13. Hummus 14. Fairy penguin 15. Aviation 16. Paris 17. F.

Scott Fitzgerald 18. Eighteen 19. The Wizard of Oz 20. Qantaslink

LOCAL NEWS AT RISK AFTER META ANNOUNCEMENT

By ANDREW SCHREYER

AUSTRALIA’S largest organisation of newspaper publishers has attacked the announcement by Meta that it will no longer negotiate deals with publishers once current agreements expire.

Country Press Australia represents more than 230 regional, rural and outer suburban publications across the nation, including the Loddon Herald.

The organisation was advised through an email from Meta early Friday afternoon that “our company priorities have substantially shifted in the past year and, as a result, we will no longer be making Facebook News Tab available in Australia”.

Meta also confirmed “This doesn’t affect our agreement with Country Press Australia which will continue in accordance with its terms and conditions until it expires”.

In a subsequent meeting on Friday afternoon between Country Press Australia and Meta it was made clear that Country Press Australia’s agreement with Meta would not be renewed.

This is a devastating blow to our members who are party to the agreement. All are publishers of regional and local public interest journalism.

Meta has been providing grants to Country Press Australia publishers which has provided vital sustainability.

There will be publishers who close the doors and won’t be able to continue supporting their communities with news in the wake of this announcement.

These regional and local publishers are the major, and in most cases sole, providers of local public interest journalism in their communities.

In times of trouble and in emergency situations, such as during floods and in major bushfire events, the local publisher’s Facebook page is never more important or appreciated by people in our communities.

Meta’s actions undermine our democracy in the way the com-

pany displays such disdain for the work of the news industry. It also undermines public confidence in the media sector.

The most popular Facebook pages in most regional and rural communities are those of the local news publishing company, yet Meta says people don’t go to Facebook for news or political content.

What about in times of bushfire and floods or when the chips are down and someone in the community needs help?

Local experience would suggest otherwise.

If, by Meta’s own admission, Australians don’t go to Facebook

for news or political content, then the federal government should heed the advice of Meta and immediately cease advertising on Meta’s platforms.

Sadly, jobs will definitely be lost as a result of Meta’s decision, but it’s hard to put a number on this.

Given the already well-documented challenges our industry faces (major cost increases for newsprint, ink, energy and the decline in federal government advertising spend), this announcement will force many publishers to confront the issues ahead of them and cut staff.

The reaction from our mem-

bers in the aftermath of Friday’s announcement has been one of deep concern, alarm and even anger

The Federal Government must act to give assurance to our industry and to support the democratic infrastructure that is the newspaper industry. And it needs to move swiftly, decisively and with purpose.

We need government to support the news industry and invoke the news media bargaining code.

Our government must also do what it can to assure Australians that the government values the news industry’s role in our democracy to mitigate disruptions to the news industry.

Facebook reaped the benefits of our members’ unique local content for many years, and has paid those local and regional publishers for only the last three years and will now not renew their agreement with Country Press Australia.

A democracy cannot function without a healthy news sector, and this is now heavily at risk in regional and local communities after Meta’s decision.

It is important that the Federal Government responds swiftly to this decision and considers all possible action including designating Meta under the News Media Bargaining Code and other options available to them and the ACCC.

It is vital that news media is adequately compensated for the content that Facebook has been able to build their business from over many years and ensure a strong and robust news media industry which is vital for a healthy democracy.

It is also vital that the Federal Government ensures strong support of the industry now more than ever before and ensures the News Media Assistance Program (News MAP) is finalised urgently.

*AndrewSchreyerispresident ofCountryPressAustralia

Gritty issues are dominating new year

FOR some in our local communities there was no clean break from one year to the next - summer storm floods put an end to that customary hiatus that would normally allow time for reflection and contemplation.

The storms in late December and January also, perhaps, served as a potent and ominous sign that there will be big issues on the agenda across our Loddon communities in 2024.

The first two months of a new year have seen the launch of an investigation by Agriculture Victoria into farming practices at a farm near Newbridge.

There are local concerns about poor, and some would say declining, standards in mobile phone and internet connectivity.

For the first time that many are able to remember, Coliban Water put out the call to limit water use on hot days - if high 30s can be classified as hot when many resi-

EDITORIAL

dents retain vivid memories of successive days of an expanding mercury going over 40 degrees.

Living memory has also been tested with news that the northern half of the Loddon Shire is without a permanent police presence. Stations at Pyramid Hill, Serpentine and Boort without a regular officer, some say for the first time.

And there have been the “unfinished business” issues of the VNI West renewable energy transmission line project and Loddon Shire enforcing, for protection of shopkeepers and itself, federal disability access requirements around displaying goods on footpaths.

Now this week there is the news that the new Donaldson Park complex cannot get a

certificate of occupancy after failing a fire hydrant test - depending on who makes the analogy, the difference between tested pressure and mandated pressure is either the contents of a pot of beer or maybe a pint in the old measurement language.

Unlike some questions to government ministers and departments, Loddon Shire has been open and provided answers on the Donaldson Park conundrum. What was to work in theory doesn’t. The preconstruction tests developed specifications to meet government-mandated pressure requirements.

Council has no choice but to comply with those requirements, stringent and perhaps designed by desktop modellers for application on big construction projects in

Melbourne. We wonder, did those requirements go through the four layers of approval that Loddon’s October 2022 flood recovery works are to negotiate?

Four layers! A waste of time and resources. For sure, government money must be properly applied and acquitted. But four layers? Seriously, the administration of government bureaucracy only adds to delays and costs in starting, let alone completing, repair work.

The issue was raised with Premier Jacinta Allan two months ago by this newspaper. And still there has been no improvement to the approval process. The state says it’s up to the feds. Here’s betting the feds say it’s up to the state.

In the country, people just want to get things happening. Red tape makes progress more than difficult and is clearly frustrating and annoying in the bush where things can already take too long.

public noticeS

Yung Balug Keeping Place

The Museum is situated on the property of Paul & Cathie Haw.

Well worth a visit to see the amazing Artefacts collected from the Boort Region.

A recent addition is 34 photos taken by John Hunter Kerr in the 1850s. This was made possible by the State Library of Victoria.

Everyone is welcome. but please call or Email before visiting.

Phone - 0417 333 171

Email - paulcathiehaw@gmail.com

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Loddon theatre group BBAC Productions wrapped up its season of The Traveller’s Table with performances in Boort last weekend. Cast member Karen Haw (centre) is pictured with audience members Alvin and Narelle Chai after the show.

Caravan club donates $8000 to groups

MEMBERS of the Essential Caravan Owners’ Club have raised more than $8000 for Loddon groups.

More than 200 members in 93 vans camped at Bridgewater Caravan Park last week where activities, auctions and raffles aided Inglewood Kindergarten, Inglewood-Bridgewater Men’s Shed, Inglewood and Districts Health Services and Kooyoora Women’s Network. Each group received $2100.

Club organiser Duane Pendlebury said the weekend had been a great success.

“Everyone was so friendly, easy going and enjoyed each other’s company,” he said.

While in Bridgewater, club members also enjoyed an evening of lawn bowls and a dinner at the town’s hotel.

Mr Pendlebury said support of members in raising funds for Loddon organisations had again be strong.

Old

with town or company names.

Marble bottles, Ginger Beer, Milk Bottles, Soda Syphons

Cup glory all the way

FEATURE race winners at Boort Trotting Club’s cops meeting on Sunday dominated the track.

Wish Upon a Dream led the entire 2612-metre journey to win the Peter Walsh Trotter’s Cup.

And Harryhoo repeated the feat over 2250 metres in almost track record time to take out the Neil Beattie and Family Pacing Cup in 2:47.4.

Driver Michelle Phillips judged the start to perfection as Harryhoo, backed for the win at $16. set up an ultimate victory by just under six metres.

It was the first win since Charlton in January for Junortoun trainer Danny Curran.

Interpretation finished second, unable to bridge the gap as the field headed past the post on the bell.

Cup favourite Hanging Fire ($3.80) went three wide early and finished a disappointing sixth in the field of 10.

Curran said Harryhoo had run a terrific race and praised the drive of Phillips who has now had three wins in the sulky with the 2024 cup winner.

That bond between driver and trainer was also on show in the trotter’s cup where Michael Bellman drove Wish Upon a Star to her second victory in a fortnight.

Trained by Rebecca Morrisey at Longlea, Wish Upon a Star started the race as third favourite but finished a neck clear of punter favourite Berriesandcherries in the cracking final metres to the finish line.

Berriesandcherries had raced roughly soon after the start, only to recover and be one out, one back at the bell.

Tripod was a strong finisher in the trotter’s cup to come in third, although nine metres behind the leading pair.

Phillips also drove Outback Queenie to victory in the Ian Mercer Tribute Pace, beating out the favourite Joe Got Rolled by 5.9 metres.

The race was also the first heat of the Victorian pacing championship for 2024.

Inglewood-trained Ontherunway surrendered the bell lap lead to finish second in the Robert Coutts Maiden Trot.

It was the first start for the mare trained by Trevor Ralph who put the horse into training only last November.

Ralph said Ontherun would have its next start at Birchip on Sunday.

Sunday’s cup meeting was the first for new club president Tim Byrne who has become the fifth father-son combination to have led the club since its formation in 1893. His father was president from 1992 to 2001.

The all-female driver Patrick Dwyer Tribute Pace saw the Boort event build on donations already totalling $28,000 for the Team Teal initiative raising funds for ovarian cancer.

A total of $1200 was raised on the back of success in three races for the female drivers at Boort.

The Joe Thompson trained Fair Chance finished fifth in the Ned Fitzpatrick Tribute Pace Wedderburn Harness Racing Club continues to race at the Maryborough club’s Carisbrook track and has its next meeting scheduled there tomorrow.

Wish Upon a Dream takes out the trotter’s cup presented by Murray Plains MP Peter Walsh to trainer Rebecca Morrisey and driver MIchael Bellman with club president Tim Byrne.

Club president Tim Byrne, trainer Danny Curran, driver Michelle Phillips, Neil Beattie and Harness Racing Victoria’s Dale Monteith after the Pacing Cup presentation at Boort on Sunday. LH PHOTO

Harryhoo crosses the finish line to claim the 2024 pacing cup.

Fentons Creek beats dogged opponents for flag honours

FENTONS Creek defeated co-Wedderburn club rival Wedderburn Junction to claim the 2024 Inglewood association pennant on Saturday.

Scores had been tied up with the final mixed sets to play and the epic finish saw Fentons claim all two sets, losing the third when Reece Carroll and Karen Weston won for Junction in a tiebreaker.

Celebrations on Saturday night for the

Juniors contest championships

LODDON Valley association junior championships were played at Dingee on Sunday.

Ava Maxted took out both the singles and doubles titles for under 17 girls.

Doubles - Under 11 boys: Dusty Balic. Runner-up: Tommy Ralphs.

Girls: Jemma Lenton. Runner-up: Emily Lister. Under 14 boys: Ollie Lister. Girls: Penny Balic. Runners-up: Jess Diss, Paige Smith. Under 17 boys: Oscar Balic. Runner-up: Alex Lister.

Girls: Ava Maxted. Runner-up: Emily Diss.

Singles - Under 11 girls: Lisa Wiltshire. Runner-up: Jemma Lenton. Boys: Dusty Balic. Runner-up: Jake Wiltshire. Under 14 girls: Penny Balic. Runner-up: Sarah Duncan. Boys: Ollie Lister. Runner-up: Jake Wiltshire. Under 17 girls: Ava Maxted. Runner-up: Emily Diss. Boys: Oscar Balic. Runner-up: Kyen Maxted.

clubs saw presentations of the season’s club championship trophies to Susie Lockart and Oscar Holt. Rachel Elsmore was awarded the best clubperson trophy.

Fentons Creek d Wedderburn Junction 110-103

MEN:

Carroll 5-8. S. Lockhart M. Birthisel d C. Holt R. Carroll 8-2.

LADIES: E. Lockhart A. Lockhart lost to S. Lockhart M. Lowry 2-8. A. Lockhart G. Lockhart d M. Lowry M. Postle 8-7. E. Lockhart G. Lockhart lost to S. Lockhart M. Postle

4-8. O. Lockhart J. Millie lost to S. Turnbull K. Weston 1-8.

J. Millie V. Van Humen d K. Weston R. Ellsmore 8-5.

O. Holt G. Lockhart d C. Hargreaves M. Postle

Lockhart O. Lockhart lost to C. Holt S. Turnbull 5-8.

Millie d J. Hayes R. Ellsmore 8-4. M. Birthisel P. Van Humen lost to R. Carroll K. Weston 7-8.

Mixed sets prove undoing of strong finishing Maroons

DOMINANCE in the women’s sets was not enough for Newbridge to take honours in Saturday’s Marong association semi-final against top of ladder Marong.

The Maroons went down by eight games, only able to take one set in the mixed.

Marong

A

B

Harcourt

A

LODDON VALLEY

Raywood lost to Dingee 82-115

MEN: P. Harris B. Harvey lost to A. Hocking M. Harvey 3-7. P. Harris J. Harvey d A. Hocking R. Haw 7-6. B. Harvey J. Harvey d M. Harvey R. Haw 7-4. R. Haw A. Wall d B. Duncan R. Ellis 7-4. R. Haw N. Marlow lost to B. Duncan M. Hocking 4-7. A. Wall N. Marlow d R. Ellis M. Hocking 7-6. LADIES: P. Wall B. Zuidema d C. Whitfield B. Baker 7-5. P. Wall H. Vinnicombe lost to C. Whitfield S. Hay 4-7. B. Zuidema H. Vinnicombe lost to B. Baker S. Hay 3-7. M. Ludeman C. Sinclair lost to J. Pay E. Pay 4-7. M. Ludeman M. Haw lost to J. Pay K. Ellis 2-7. C. Sinclair M. Haw lost to E. Pay K. Ellis 1-7.

MIXED: P. Harris P. Wall d A. Hocking B. Baker 7-6. B. Harvey B. Zuidema lost to R. Ellis C. Whitfield 4-7. J. Harvey H. Vinnicombe lost to M. Harvey J. Pay 6-7. M. Collins M. Ludeman lost to R. Lawry S. Hay 5-7. R. Haw M. Haw lost to B. Duncan E. Pay 3-7. N. Marlow C. Sinclair lost to M. Hocking K. Ellis 1-7.

Calivil North d Mincha West 116-81

MEN: R. Maxted L. Maxted d D. Mann B. Wagner 7-5. R. Maxted J. Smith d D. Mann C. Mann 7-6. L Maxted J. Smith lost to B. Wagner C. Mann 6-7. O. Balic L. Strachan lost to P. Gargen R. Wagner 3-7. O. Balic K. Maxted lost to P. Gargen J. Pepperell 5-7. L. Strachan K. Maxted d R. Wagner J. Pepperell 7-6.

LADIES: M. Balic C. Rogers d E. Prout J. Wagner 7-3. M. Balic G. Maxted d E. Prout

T. Stewart 7-3. C. Rogers G. Maxted d J. Wagner T. Stewart 7-3. L. Strachan A. Lister lost to J. Stewart C. Pickles 5-7. L. Strachan A. Maxted lost to J. Stewart C. Mann 6-7. A. Lister A. Maxted d C. Pickles C. Mann 7-4. MIXED: R. Maxted C. Rogers d D. Mann E. Prout 7-5. O. Balic M. Balic d J. Wagner B. Wagner 7-0. L. Maxted G. Maxted d C. Mann J. Stewart 7-3. J. Smith A. Maxted d T. Stewart R. Wagner 7-2. L. Strachan A. Lister d C. Pickles P. Gargen 7-5. K. Maxted L. Strachan d C. Mann J. Pepperell 7-1. Lake Meran d Yarrawalla 96-92

MEN: C. Chamberlain A. Chamberlain d L. Forster M. Scott 7-0. C. Chamberlain I. Carracher d L. Forster S. Bird 7-5. A. Chamberlain I. Carracher lost to M. Scott S. Bird 6-7. E. Moresi B. Moresi lost to V. Herrick R. Forster 2-7. E. Moresi R. Fawcett lost to V. Herrick T. Broad 1-7. B. Moresi R. Fawcett lost to R. Forster T. Broad 3-7.

LADIES: C. Downs C. Moresi d E. Moon K. Broad 7-3. C. Downs I. Hosking d E. Moon C. Challis-Broad 7-5. C. Moresi I. Hosking lost to K. Broad C. Challis-Broad 3-7. L. Hosking V. Moresi d G. Scott M. Schmidt 7-3. L. Hosking T. Pickering d G. Scott L. Fox 7-2. V. Moresi T. Pickering d M. Schmidt L. Fox 7-3.

MIXED: I. Carracher C. Downs lost to L. Forster C. Challis-Broad 4-7. A. Chamberlain C. Moresi d S. Bird E. Moon 7-6. C.

Chamberlain I. Hosking d M. Scott K. Broad 7-6. E. Moresi L. Hosking lost to V. Herrick G. Scott 3-7. B. Moresi V. Moresi d R. Forster M. Schmidt 7-3. R. Fawcett T. Pickering lost to T. Broad L. Fox 4-7.

LADDER

Mincha West 3.97

Calivil North 3.50

Dingee 2.97

Raywood 2.57

Serpentine 1.93

Yarrawalla 1.77

Lake Meran 0.64

„ Semi finals this Saturday: Mincha West v Raywood, Calivil North v Dingee. Venues to be decided.

BOORT

Leaghur 5-55 d Mysia 4-53

G. Boyd D. Lanyon d D. Hatcher J. Boyd 8-4. L. Clark J. Malone d M. Stringer C. Hird 8-5. H. Lanyon K. Waldron lost to A. Bear A. Potter 5-8. G. Boyd L. Clark d D. Hatcher M. Stringer 8-4. D. Lanyon H. Lanyon lost to J. Boyd A. Bear 4-8. J. Malone K. Waldron lost to C. Hird A. Potter 5-8. G. Boyd H. Lanyon d D. Hatcher A. Bear 8-6. L. Clark K. Waldron lost to M. Stringer A. Potter 1-8. D. Lanyon J. Malone d J. Boyd C. Hird 8-2. Barraport 7-65 d Marmal 2-49 A. Potter S. Gould lost to J. Moresi G. Bear 6-8. M. Beattie R. Wright d O. Byrne B. McPherson 8-6. K. Hare F. Herrington lost to L. Boyd D. Perryman 3-8. A. Potter M. Beattie d J. Moresi O. Byrne 8-7. S. Gould K. Hare d G. Bear L. Boyd 8-4. R. Wright F. Herrington d B. McPherson D. Perryman 8-2. A. Potter K. Hare d J. Moresi L. Boyd 8-5. M. Beattie F. Herrington d O. Byrne D Perryman 8-7. S. Gould R. Wright d G. Bear

B. McPherson 8-2.

LADDER

Marmal 28

Leaghur 20

Barraport 97.2

Mysia 85.9

„ Finals start March 12

Inglewood association 2023-2024 premiers Fentons Creek. LH PHOTO

The Loddon Valley association’s junior champions

Wedderburn’s victorious North Central playing area Division 1 team. LH PHOTO

Monday

Tuesday

Wedderburn’s super season

Wedderburn defeated St Arnaud by 37 shots, the largest margin between the teams all season.

Friday – Open Midday

Lunch from 12.00pm

Dinner from 5.30pm

Happy Hour 5.00pm – 6.30pm

With

Hot Bar Snacks, Meat Raffle

Lunch from 12.00pm

Dinner from 5.30pm

All Day Pizza Menu  Close

Home green wins to the combatants had meant little in the final series with Wedderburn increasingly superior on the march to the premiership. The two had finished on equal points at the end of the home and away season, St Arnaud sneaking into top spot by less than five per cent.

Wedderburn lost just one rink in the grand final and that was by a single shot.

Alan Jackson’s quartet was the biggest

winner and capped off a great week for the club after earlier winning the midweek pennant title.

Wedderburn’s shots in the final denied St Arnaud many opportunities to get back into the play.

Bruce Hargreaves was promoted to Division 1 for the grand final.

Club coach and rink skipper Laurie Witham said Wedderburn had had a terrific season with all three pennant sides playing off in grand finals.

He paid credit to fellow skippers and the depth of players in each rink for the successes.

A trio of flags was denied Wedderburn

Umpire’s tape out to decide final end

DINGEE has caused another upset in the Bendigo playing area finals series.

when the strong Wycheproof outfit deafeated the Redbacks in Division 2.

Division 1 – Wedderburn d St Arnaud 87-50. B Hargreaves W Roberts, C Mills, N Holt (s) lost to T Marland, M Wood, T McSwain, A Dyke (d) 2425. R Guelfo, A Holt, A Caserta, A Jackson (s) d D Shepherd, G Simpson, C Marchment, P McRae (s) 34-10, A Roberts, D Stephenson, R Montebello, L Witham (s) d T Amos, G McNally, G Hancock, S Zsidmond (s) 29-15.

Division 2 – Wycheproof d Wedderburn 91-50. V Grant, J Grylls, M Nicholls, J McKay (s) d S Lear, S Steel, A Nordennen, I Hall (s) 26-23. S Barratt, D Denney, P Coles, B Macdonald (s) d N White, J Matthews, H Hall, G Burnside (s) 31-14. D Nicholls, J McLean, R Coles, R Grylls (s) d J Grant, A Benaim, L Holt, L Standfield (s) 34-13.

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Struggling for wins in the second half of the Division 4 season - just two since before Christmas in the home and away season - Dingee has found form at the right end of the draw.

After upsetting White Hills with a seven-shot win in the semi-final, Dingee had another crack at Calivil in the preliminary final played on Saturday at Inglewood in the battle of the Blowfly Clubs.

After 50 ends, scores were tied at 50 shots each.

With one rink left to play their last end, the scores were tied at 76 shots all.

Graham Maxted (Calivil) and Fyfe Grieves (Dingee) were the two skippers and the final decision was that close that the umpire was called to decide the outcome.

After going back and forth a couple of times the umpire finally decided that Dingee held the winning shot - the difference no thicker than a piece of paper.

Dingee’s strength in skippers and leaders plus handy bowlers at two and three in each rink proved the differ-

ence in one of the tightest finals played. Both clubs also applauded the Bendigo playing area executive for scheduling the clash of two Loddon sides at another Loddon venue instead of taking clubs into Bendigo.

In the Division 3 preliminary final, Serpentine made sure it would have another tilt at Heathcote.

Serp had gone down to Heathcote in the previous week’s semi-final that has Heathcote holding a 2-1 win ratio for the season in clashes of the two top teams.

The preliminary final saw Serpentine comprehensively account for South Bendigo by 39 shots to win all except one rink and that was decided by just two shots.

Alan Bish’s rink was the best performed for Serpentine winning by 19 shots.

DIngee’s Lew Hocking bowls in the tense final on Saturday. LH PHOTO

A

Scrooge balls slam target

WEDDERBURN proved masters of the turf with its most powerful display of the season on Saturday.

The Band set an admirable target of 141 for Kingower to match - Smith top scoring with 38 while a trio of 20s came from Isaac Holt and tailenders Matt Lockhart and Cam Weston.

Smith’s top score came off 35 balls and included seven boundaries and a six.

Skipper Leach was the best of Kingower’s bowlers but would be outshone when Wedderburn got control of the ball.

Runs were hard to find for Kingower batsmen when the run chase started.

Opening bowler Adam Postle may not have claimed any wickets - the story of his season - but his seven-over contribution conceded a mere six runs and three overs were maidens.

Postle had the Kingower batsmen frustrated and allowed Luke Holt and Woods to claim crucial wickets.

At the drinks break, Kingower was 4/34 after Cam Weston sent the ball hurtling back to the bowler’s end to have Leach run out.

Holt struck again soon after play resumed, dismissing key bat Kyle Simpson for just five runs

Brodie McPherson

McPherson wins association award

BRODIE McPherson has won the Northern District Cricket Association under 13 champion player award. McPherson amassed 260 points for the season playing for Boort Yando who finished runners-up in the competition to Murrabit.

His 11 catches in the field also saw the wicket award make its way back to Boort.

The award for most dismissals was shared by Evan McNeil (Murrabit) and Boort Yando’s Eddie Puddick. Each claimed eight scalps for the season.

Boort Yando will hold its presentation evening for all grades next week.

and bringing up his third wicket for the afternoon.

It was left to Pickles, David Rose and DeJong to accelerate the run rate but Kingower fell short by 24 runs.

Wedderburn v Kingower

M.

J. Leach run out (C. Weston)

K.

B. Pickles c M. Smith b J. Van de Wettering ...12

D.

L.

Bowling A. Postle 7-3-0-6, M. Woods 7-11-25, I. Holt 5-1-0-16, L. Holt 7-0-3-24, S. Giorlando 4-0-0-15, J. Van de Wettering 2-11-4, F. Turnbull 3-0-0-26.

Ominous signs in great opening stand

JOSH Smith and Jarod Hodoras took just 28 overs to propel Boort Yando to victory in Saturday’s match against Arnold.

The opening stand had Hodoras scoring just the second century in the association this season.

He peppered the ground with fours and capped off the brilliant innings with three sixes as the pair secured what was a rare win for Boort Yando in 2023-2024 in the club’s first match for a month.

Arnold was also wayward with some deliveries, putting seven wides and no balls on to the Boort Yando total and conceding 16 byes.

The Redbacks tried six bowlers including veteran Phil Scholes but none were able to break the ominous dominance of the openers with skipper Smith hitting the final runs to claim victory.

Cam and Mick Dale had earlier settled Arnold at the crease after the quick dismissals of Kale Hewett and Scholes had the visitors at 2/7.

The pair enjoyed a 43-run partnership until Mick was dismissed when caught by Zanker off the bowling of Fergus Bear.

Alex Cockerell, who had bowler opened Hewett, took the key wicket of Cam Dale and later joined with Smith for the departure of Metelmann.

Henry McCullough kept the Arnold tail wagging and finished with 35 not out and was the driver for the Redbacks ticking the scoreboard over in the final eight overs although last couple were somewhat lacklustre.

Boort Yando was also more ac curate with deliveries, with six no balls and one bye for the session.

Cockerell, Hodoras and Zanker and Minogue were the best of Boort Yando’s bowlers.

2-0-0-7, B Minogue 4-0-1-18.

Boort Yando

J Smith not out .......................................59

J Hodoras not out .................................102

Extras .....................................................14

Total ...........................................0/175

Bowling: H McCullough 7-1-0-38, M Dale 3-0-0-14, C Hancock 4-0-0-28, H Lock 4-10-18, C Dale 6-0-0-39, A Davies 1-0-0-12, P Scholes 3-0-0-19.

Time arrives for four to true real form

THE pointy end of Upper Loddon cricket’s season has arrived.

Four teams have taken the field most weeks - forfeits common in a season when everyone has been assured of playing finalsand often bumped up by talented youngsters.

The forfeits have been regular than centuries hit the bat or killer bowling spells.

Every match since last October now counts for little when the quartet of teams meet in the cut-throat semi-finals on Saturday.

Reigning premiers Kingower dominated the home and away season, were given a few scares and lowered colours to Wedderburn

in the final home and away round. This loss was not enough to dislodge the Gower from top spot.

On Saturday, Arnold faces the daunting trip to Kingower both with the knowledge it can more than push the home side.

Only a fortnight ago, the Redbacks were tracking for an upset over Kingower.

The 40-over format for finals may suit Kingower, particularly if there’s an early Arnold collapse.

But with Heath Lock expected to be back in the action and the consistency of Henry McCullough, the bowling pair will make it

difficult for Kingower’s openers. A wily tail end of Kingower bats could also be the difference.

Wedderburn is at home to Boort Yando in the other final. The clash on turf will surely favour the Band and with the added return of Will Holt to the bowling attack this Saturday will be difficult to defeat.

Boort Yando will be playing only its second game in five weeks. But after a season struggling to muster numbers, Boort Yando has key players back on the ground and will be dogged with bat and ball.

- CHRIS EARL

The Luke Holt delivery that saw Kingower’s Kyle Simpson dismissed. LH PHOTO

Loddon HERALD sport

Thursday March 7, 2024

MODERN BLISS SCORES BIGGEST CAREER WIN

MAXTED’S MARVEL

By CHRIS EARL

JARKLIN-OWNED and bred pacer Modern Bliss has pulled off the biggest win of his long racing career.

The 12-year-old ducked into the sprint lane in Saturday’s Tasmanian Cup to win by 1.8 metres.

Modern Bliss delivered the first group one race win for Geelong trainer Ash Wharton and driver Ewa Justice.

Backed at $16 with bookmakers, Modern Bliss avenged a poor start in his cup heat a week before when galloping at the early before a strong third place finish.

“Modern Bliss has been by far the best for duration and return for enjoyment in the game,” said owner Graham Maxted after the win.

“Breeding horses started back with my father and has been a family thing ever since.

“I’ve probably bred 20 horses over the years. Modern Bliss has rewarded us with the best win ever.”

Wharton’s lease of the black gelding who has now amassed $275,734 in stakemoney expires at the end of next season.

But both trainer and owner believe retirement is close.

“We might have to retire now. I wanted to retire him on a good note. He is 12 years old and he has done a great job,” Wharton said.

Maxted said: “When he comes home he will have a good retirement. He will be looked after for the rest of his life.”

Wharton took on Modern Bliss after the horse had been spelled more than four years ago.

“Modern Bliss was broken in for me by Joe Thompson at Charlton and we then sent him

to Chris Alford who raced as a three, four and five-year-old,” said Maxted. “Then he got a bad leg injury and he spent two years in a paddock at our daughter’s property at Romsey.

“I was down there one day and thought he was just getting fat and lazy so we took him back to Chris Alford and after 12 months he started racing but couldn’t get a win.

“That’s when Ash Wharton came on board. Lots of beach work and swimming had him back racing and winning.”

Saturday night’s cup win was the 22nd for Modern Bliss in a career of 88 starts and his second this season, the other coming at Terang just three weeks ago.

Maxted said Modern Bliss has settled into the Hobart training complex a week before the cup heat and had been well prepared for the cup assault. He paid credit to Wharton and 21-year-old Justice. “It was the drive of a lifetime for her”. And Wharton said: “It was a great drive, and I can’t thank Ewa enough. For a junior driver to drive like that and not panic, she has got a good future.”

Maxted said: “Modern Bliss doesn’t have to tick any more boxes.

“We’ve been lucky. The percentage of those who make it to the track is very low,” he said.

“To have success you need the horse, luck on the night and a good driver. That’s what happened on Saturday night.”

Flags fluttering in final flurries of bowls season

THE Loddon’s booty of lawn bowls premiership pennants this season is poised to grow at the weekend. A week after Wedderburn claimed both the midweek and Saturday Division 1 flags in North Central playing area, three Loddon clubs are in the hunt for Bendigo playing area season honours. Serpentine will face off against Heathcote in the Division 3 decider at Golden Square. Heathcote has won two of

the three classes with Serpentine this season.

Dingee has come from fourth spot after the home and away season to book its spot in the Division 4 clash against Woodbury at North Bendigo.

And Inglewood, after going straight through from the second semi-final, meets Castlemaine for Division 6 honours at Bendigo.

PREMIERSHIP JOY FOR WEDDERBURN - PAGE 20

Modern Bliss salutes the judges in Saturday night’s Tasmanian Cup

Latest equipment links with history

THE bush around Wedderburn has been worked for gold over and over again since the 1850s.

And every time, there’s been treasure of some kind found in later years by prospectors using a Minelab detector.

Minelab is the major sponsor of the Wedderburn Detector Jamboree and makes sure modern prospectors are armed with the best equipment to use in their quest for gold.

They know that once you’ve made the decision to buy a metal detector and get home with it, you no doubt can’t wait to get started with some detecting.

But where exactly should you start? You can take your detector with you practically anywhere – the opportunities are endless and limited only by your imagination.

Treasures and bargains

TREASURES will not only be found in the ground at Wedderburn on Saturday. The community house is organising its annual town garage sale where old treasures are on the table for a new home. Maps for the garage sale locations will be avalable at the community house in Wilson Street.

Finds can be made anywhere; you only need to take a look at any recent detecting magazine or website and you will see that there is an abundance of amazing finds being made.

This shows there are still plenty of treasures waiting to be found, but some sites are more productive than others, so it helps to know the best type of places to go detecting.

All it takes is a little bit of research to identify the most promising and productive goldfields or treasure hunting sites to detect.

There are many different types of valuable objects you can find with your metal detector, such as rare coins, ancient relics, lost jewellery and gold nuggets. Nuggets are generally found in different places to where you would typically find coins, relics or jewellery, so where you go detecting depends greatly on what you would like to find. The best places to detect for gold nuggets are where gold has previously been found, and surrounding areas with similar geology. So again, do your research to find out about historic goldfields. Such as:

„ Tailings from goldmine sites

„ Old diggings (areas where prospectors dug for gold in the 1800s)

„ In or near streams where gold can be panned

„ Dry-blowing locations (usually in arid areas where water was scarce)

„ Old reef mine dumps and slopes

“When detecting for coins, relics or jewellery, use your imagination –anywhere people are likely to have left things behind – you are likely to make good finds,” says Minelab.

“Also, don’t forget the places right under your feet; you never know what you might dig up even in your own backyard.

“Ideal sources for research are the local library or historical society, Government Department of Mines, newspaper archives, local town plans, etc. Don’t forget to talk to the local people. They’ll often tell you about the popular swimming holes they used when growing up, the field that used to be a sports ground or perhaps a park that was used for a local market.

“These links to the past are all potential hot spots for you and your detector. The older the site is, the better – as your potential to find coins and relics from long ago increases.”

And Minelab tells its customers: Always remember to obtain permission to enter and detect on private property.

Volunteers are the backbone of the Minelab Wedderburn Detector Jamboree. They contribute many hours of their time and enthusiasm for one of the town’s biggest weekends of the year. This Saturday, they will honour Robbie Collins, a stalwart of the event and life member of Wedderburn Tourism, who passed away earlier this year. The tribute will be held at 4pm.

AUTUMN IN THE LODDON VALLEY

Create your own adventure in the Loddon Valley during Autumn With endless blue skies and golden horizons, Autumn is the perfect time to experience the remarkable beauty of the Loddon Valley.

AUTUMN MUST DO’S

your adventure awaits

From culturally enriching tours, to walking and riding spectacular trails, from treasure hunting that must-have vintage piece or cold brews in eclectic cafés and beer gardens… Autumn shines in Loddon.

UPCOMING EVENTS

MARCH 2024

Minelab Wedderburn

Detector Jamboree

9-10 March Wedderburn

Festival of Small Halls

21 March Pyramid Hill

Eddington Vintage

Sports Car Club Sprints

March 23 Eddington

National Eucalyptus Day –Inglewood Eucalyptus

Distillery Museum

March 23 Inglewood

APRIL 2024

Rheola Charity Carnival

1 April Rheola

Logan Car Show

20 April Logan

MAY 2024

Bridgewater on Loddon, Mother’s Day Classic

May 12 Bridgewater

Cultural heartbeat: Participate on a Djaara cultural tour at Kooyoora State Park, or be enriched at the Wedderburn Coach House Gallery and the Inglewood Eucalyptus Distillery.

Adventure time: Hire a canoe and paddle Little Lake Boort, or bring your own bike and ride the loop trail around the stunning lake.

Cellar Doors: Visit local cellar doors for a wine tasting at Water Wheel Vineyard, Both Banks Vineyard, Old Kingower Vineyard and Connor Park Winery.

Golden delights: Fossick for gold in Wedderburn or Inglewood on a personalised tour with the Gold Nugget Hunter.

Wedderburn Annual Swap Meet & Market

18 May Wedderburn

Picnic: Relax on the bank of the Loddon River in Bridgewater, and enjoy a picnic from award-winning Bridgewater Bakehouse.

Iconic Views: Take in the breathtaking views of the northern Loddon region at Mount Hope, Terrick Terrick National Park or Pyramid Hill.

Retail therapy: Visit the vintage and collectables precinct in Inglewood to unearth your own treasure.

For a full list of events and experiences: www.visitloddonvalley.com.au