RIPPER RHEOLA

A CROWD like never before packed into Rheola’s recreation reserve on Monday for the 150th charity carnival.

The bumper crowd - cars were parked up to 1km from the entrance from early morning - celebrated the milestone carnival.

President Peter Mason said the crowd was easily more than 3000 people, nudging towards 2019’s record gate when the carnival billed as real country entertainment since 1971 was last held.

Mr Mason, Loddon Mayor Dan Straub and Ripon MP Martha Haylett praised the spirit of local volunteers who had driven the iconic carnival’s return. There was special praise from Mr Mason for committee secretary Deb Hancock, applauded for her determination and effort “going above and beyond”. The event’s strong army of volunteers had grown in months leading to Easter Monday’s celebrations. More than 40 people attended a final working bee on Easter Saturday, joined two days later by several hundred more.

“Thanks to the volunteers - people who have stepped forward and done a great job with a massive crowd,” Mr Mason said.

Cr Straub presented Mr Mason with a commemorative plaque honouring volunteers after he declared the carnival officially open. “(Today) shows what country life is about,” he said Among volunteers were generations of local families including Mason, Soulsby, Leach and Catto - some making a special trip back to Rheola to continue their contribution to the day and soaking up the 150th carnival’s atmosphere.

Monday’s crowd also brought former residents of the district back to Rheola, many not wanting to miss the sesquicentenary celebrations.

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ACTIVE April, Boort Bingo and now adding to the seasonal fitness craze sweeping Loddon communities is none other that the Treemendous tree now emblazoned with a special Easter message, we hear erected by Bradley of Boort on Easter Sunday ... just in time to challenge the thinking of people looking to get active. What type of activity? Perhaps heaps after they may have spent the day indulging in the bountiful array of Easter eggs dropped at various locations.

AFEW hops closer to the lake and Boort had it’s premier sporting event of the year on over Easter. Forget about the harness racing or football or even that other Easter event, the tennis. We reckon the real reason these tennis players keep coming back is for the Saturday night ferret races. Again there were some quality fields with starters including One More Beer Please, Jye’s Big Sausage, Bangers and Mash (surely related to the previous starter) and Moolap Mahem.

T HERE was some questioning about the pedigree of Moolap Mahem. Those with a pass in georaphy were quick to point out Moolap is a suburb of Geelong. Was this a ruse by tournament director Alister to divert attention from the absence of another starter that had been expected to race in the blue and white hoops? That starter’s name: Zipandthree. Stewards are investigating, according to sources close to the starting gate.

TRIPPING around over the Easter weekend, you’ve got to say a huge well done to kitchen crews at making sporting tournaments - the roasts at Boort had all hands cooking up heaps of beans and peas while there was a good three meats on the salad plates at Wedderburn, the latter also with something of a reputation of fantastic fish on Good Friday as bowlers juggled play between showers.

NEWS coming in from out Bridgewater North way could see some tense moments over the barbed wire fence this week when the Good Doc’s cold Pies come up against The Oracle’s Sainters, or as he’s calling them, April champions. Sure bet there won’t be any cordial invitation for a leisurely afternoon tea until the dust has settled.

AFTERNOON tea? When OTF tucked into one or two (maybe more) of those salted caramel hot cross buns pumped out of the Bridgewater Bakehouse ovens, they were yummo. More dangerous than a big box of Red Tulip chocolates! Surely they go down as one of the great Loddon culinary creations and definitely be getting our tick of approval and perhaps the need to more active in April.

Disused silos get bombing

MIDNIGHT paint bombers could be responsible for creating an unofficial mural on disused grain silos at Kurting.

The Calder Highway silos last received grain deliveries from Loddon farmers more than three decades ago.

But last Sunday week, the stark weathered white silos changed colour.

Local farmer Brett Wilson said: “They were white and then the next morning mostly red, orange and brown. It looks like a paintbombing job in the cover of darkness,” he said.

Brett said the changed decor had reached the top in places on the 15-metre high silos.

The Murphy-style silos are owned by GrainCorp and when last used had a capacity of 4900 tonnes.

GrainCorp leases out its disused silos across the Loddon.

Quad bike theft under investigation

LODDON police are investigating the alleged theft of a quad bike over the Easter weekend.

Wedderburn police were told that a Polaris Commercial Pro XD 200D bike was taken overnight Friday near Borung. Own- ers told police that a Nissan Navara with a horse logo was seen in the area towing a Pegasus horse float with red stripes.

Anyone with information can contact Crime Stoppers 1800 333 000 or Wedderburn police.