Loddon Herald 13 July 2023

Loddon HERALD

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LIVE music will take centre stage across the region in October with the State Government yesterday announcing the Whole Loddon Love festival.

Performances in Boort, Bridgewater, Pyramid Hill and Newbridge over four nights will be part of flood recovery initiatives.

“The shows will be free for locals, superaffordable for those travelling from outside the Loddon Valley, and feature live music from a minimum of three acts each night, including artists from the local community,” said producer Fionna Allan.

Performances will raise funds for local organisations in their flood recovery programs.

Fionna said: “The artists performing at Whole Loddon Love hold regional Victoria close to their heart, and are all excited to be hitting up country pubs and community halls in support of the locals and each other, bringing not only a joyful and rollicking good time, but bringing together communities and acknowledging the tough times they have been through.”

The music festival tour will kick off in Pyramid Hill on October 6 and Boort the following night. The next weekend bands will head to Bridgewater and Newbridge before a third performance in Baringhup.

Loddon Shire performances will be in local town hotels. Owner of Pyramid Hill’s Victoria Hotel and manager of the Railway in Boort, Paul Carter said: “Our towns love their live music and to be part of the Whole Loddon Love tour will bring joy to local communities in the journey of recovery from last October’s floods.”

Fionna is teaming with Loddon Shire for the festival that is part of the Government’s Live Music for Flood Recovery Program.

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Whole Loddon Love musicians Jess Parker, Marty McKenna, Rebecca Howe and Newbridge’s Michele Mizzi with event producer Fionna Allan (front) on the banks of the Loddon River preparing for the four-town tour.

WEATHER, spiders and afternoon tea. There’s a common link by degrees of little separation between the three and Bradley of Boort’s midJuly Treemendous sign that sets the scene for this week’s OTF on the antics, swift and all, of some Loddon residents.

WE’LL start with weather and spiders. The Good Doc must have by-passed airport security and dispatched his Bill Collins of weather forecasting off the land of Uncle Sam after failing to accurately predict weekend rain. It would appear Bill has been exiled to Horeshoe Bend, Idaho, to torment our golden rally girl Rhianon Gelsomino and endure temperatures up in the high 30s. She spotted one in the bowl of her toilet and then ventured outside to spot a snake. “Can’t remember a spider in the toilet and a snake in my garage in one morning when I lived in Australia,” Rhiannon said.

THE Good Doc is temporarily enjoying similar temperatures dispensing the Hippocratic Oath

that has some of his Bendigo-based footy umpires stocking up the larder for their road trips to Loddon Valley and North Central matches. For they have blown the whistle on the dietary requirements of the Good Doc at half-time. “He devours the afternoon offering faster than ... ants escaping a spider,” one said.

THE speed of ants must have been inspiration for two Loddon residents - King Richard and the Cockerell. Wanting to preserve marital bliss, they spent hours peddling the erratic internet connection around Serpentine and Calivil in a bid to secure coveted tickets for a Taylor Swift concert. King Richard prevailed and we can confirm the Queen Consort is off to hear this music diva. Only problem, he missed out on a Melbourne golden ticket and instead she will be heading to the Sydney gig. The King fears the flight will be from Melbourne, not Bendigo. More shops to browse while waiting to board, perhaps.

FOR those asking who the heck is Taylor Swift, apparently she is an American pop and country music singer-songwriter whose tales of young heartache achieved widespread success in the early 21st century, according to Encyclopaedia Britannica.

WE RECKON that in any weather, it would be easier on the wallet to put on a lavish

BRIGADE’S NEW TOOLS Pyramid Hill Fire Brigade has taken delivery of new tools purchased from gold coin donations at the local football club’s annual community football and netball day earlier this year. Brigade captain Steve Mann on Saturday displayed a sabre saw, impact drive and drill to club secretary Geoff Hickmott and president Bruce Moon. The community day involved clubs from central and northern Victoria, including Boort and Newbridge teams. For a third year, gate donations were given to the fire brigade. LH PHOTO

Plates snatched from parked car

POLICE are investigating the theft of car registration plates from a parked vehicle in Inglewood.

Leading Senior Constable Stephen Thomas said the plates were stolen between July 1 and last Tuesday.

“The victim parked her vehicle on the nature strip outside her home in Sullivan Street and sometime between 11.30am on July 1 and 12.25am on the July

4, unknown person/s have attended to the victims vehicle and removed the rear registration plate and screws from the victim’s vehicle,” he said. Police have appealed for any witnesses to assist in their investigation.

People can contact Leading Senior Constable Thomas at the Inglewood Police Station on 54383200 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Footpath crackdown angers town traders

SHOPKEEPERS are up in arms with Loddon Shire’s rollout of new fees for footpath signs and displays.

Some businesses are facing an annual permit bill of several hundred dollars while others have been told for the first time that they need a permit.

A flat fee of $28.90 for furniture outside cafes has been changed to $20 a table and $10 a chair.

Traders started receiving letters from council on Monday

Council operations director Steven Phillips said the shire’s new community law adopted last year included changes to permit requirements.

But traders have been left angry with the crackdown.

Wedderburn’s Tammy Martin said it was the first time in 17 years husband Cam had seen a letter from council requiring their butcher shop to obtain a permit an A-frame.

“We’d be happy to pay if the council cleaned the footpaths and gutters,” she said.

And Inglewood antique store owner Catherine Norman said it was the first time in eight years that her business had been told it needed to pay for a permit to display signs and goods on the footpath.

Mr Phillips said: “This financial year council has written to all

businesses that place items on the footpath or nature strip advising and reminding of the permit requirements.

“Going forward, council’s approach is to improve consistency across the Shire for premises having permits.”

Mr Phillips said the new fee structure “enabled a system to cater for both smaller and larger businesses, depending upon the amount or scale of items they intend to place out on the footpath”.

Council has also cited the Disability Discrimination Act 1992 for its crackdown.

It said the Act required a “continuous accessible path of travel

IN BRIEF

Cash taken

to allow people with a range of abilities to use the footpath without encountering barriers”.

Mr Phillips said: “Tables and chairs, displayed goods and advertising signs placed against the property line and shop front is therefore not permitted.

“Permit holders must ensure a clear and consistent passageway for pedestrians ordinarily passing by the premises and at road intersections. This is especially important for those with limited vision and persons on mobility scooters.”

Mr Phillips said the new fees in council’s budget did not receive any comments during community consultations.

POLICE are investigating two Serpentine break-ins last week. Sgt Sean Dixon, of Inglewood police, said several leads were being investigated following the breakins at Loddon Shire Council offices in Peppercorn Way and at the Serpentine Memorial Hall. He said $4000 has been reported stolen from the hall but it appeared thieves left empty-handed from the council offices. Sgt Dixon said anyone who had seen or heard anything unusual, or who may have CCTV footage, should contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or call 000.

Emergency recruits

STATE Emergency Service‘s Wedderburn unit is expected to announce a new unit controller soon. SES regional headquarters started searching for a controller three months ago. Previous controller Paul Gordon Cooke resigned.

Rates in mail

LODDON Shire could expect 17,000 extra visitors a year if the Goldfields bid for World Heritage listing bid by 13 council was backed by UNESCO.

City of Ballarat’s World Heritage and regional development lead Susan Fayad briefed local tourism operators at Monday night’s Loddon Valley Tourism business network dinner in Inglewood.

More than 40 people from all parts of the shire were told that a World Heritage bid survey had found most Loddon residents wanted an increase in tourism.

Ms Fayad said the survey found Loddon people “loved their rural space” and wanted to retain freedom to use the land.

“Locals value what they have,” she said. “Each area will have its own priorities.”

Ms Fayad said the World Heritage listing would build the story of the region and boost its visitor economy.

“The bid is based on broad engagement and support,” she said.

A masterplan being developed will have themes around Aborigines, miners, rebels, migrators and makers and highlight signature experiences in the region that includes Bendigo and Ballarat.

Ms Fayad said it was important

for the region “to get World Heritage ready ... being world class”.

The formal UNESCO nomination is planned to be made in 2027.

By 2030, the World Heritage bid consortium wants to see township presentation upgrades,

MARK Lacey will close the doors of his Bendigo Bank agency in Pyramid Hill for the last time next Thursday.

The Pyramid Hill agency is one of more than a dozen being pulled from rural towns and regional suburbs.

Bendigo Bank claimed the closures came after a drop in over-the-counter transactions and more people using online services.

The bank said the decline had put pressure on its agency model.

Mr Lacey was among a group of Pyramid Hill residents to attend a protest in Cohuna in April that called for the agencies to be retained. They were supported by Murray Plains MP Peter Walsh.

Ahead of next week’s midday closure, Mr Lacey said remaining customers were trying to adapt their banking activities to the change.

infrastructure at experience hubs and improved rest areas.

Ms Fayad said more than 2500 sites had been mapped across the Goldfields in the process to select 14 key locations in the bid.

Loddon Shire’s economic development and tourism man-

“A lot have left (Bendigo Bank) ... they are voting with their feet.”

The Pyramid Hill closure leaves the town without a bank or an ATM.

The agency had been in the town’s supermarket for 13 years before being taken on as a local business by Mr Lacey seven years ago.

When the closures were announced Mr Lacey said the value of local bank accounts had tripled, bringing new customers into the network that saw him paid a commission by Bendigo Bank,

Mr Lacey said this week he was reviewing opening hours of the Filipino store that he ran as part of his Kelly Street business. Hours could be reduced following the bank agency closure.

The store is the only dedicated Filipino grocery store in country Victoria serving the large expat local community.

ager David Stretch and tourism co-ordinator Bradd Worrell told Monday’s network briefing that tourism would have a concerted focus and make a significant impact on the shire’s economy.

Mr Worrell said a tourism signage audit was also in progress.

World Heritage bid priorities explained Bank’s final days of service

LODDON Shire will send out rate notices this month. Council adopted a 3.5 per cent rate rise this year. Rates are to be paid by February 15 or in quarterly instalments, due in September, November, February and May.

Centenary plans

DINGEE Bush Nursing Centre will launch a special centenary yearbook in November. Members of East Loddon Historical Society are preparing the publication charting the centre’s history of service.

Zero cases

THERE were no COVID-19 cases reported in Loddon Shire communities last week. Under government changes to reporting, only positive PCR results are now included in weekly numbers.

Care interest

NORTHERN District Community Health has confirmed its interest in delivering in-home and community aged care and disability services in Gannawarra Shire after the council voted to conclude its current funding and service arrangements with the Commonwealth and Victorian Governments.

Susan Fayad with Loddon Tourism’s Bradd Worrell and Faith Cooper at Monday’s business network dinner. LH PHOTO

Towns record triple monthly rainfalls

SEVERAL Loddon towns had their average June rainfall in one day last month.

Steady rain on June 8 saw Wedderburn record 49mm, more than 3mm above monthly average, as it went on to record 115.6mm for the month and has now had 226.4mm in the first half of the year.

At Mincha, the average of 34mm was almost doubled in the one day when 52.8mm fell taking the monthly figure to 86mm and 202.8mm for the year.

Inglewood tipped 99.1mm from the gauge for June, including 49mm on June 8. The average is 46mm while 251mm has now fallen in the town in the first six months of 2023.

Dunolly has recorded 110mm compared with the average 48.5mm with 42.6mm on June 8. The year total is now at 249.4mm.

Boort’s June average is 34mm and just one millimetre less was recorded on June 8 as the town went on to have falls of 74.8mm over 30 days and 204.6mm so far for the year.

In Charlton, just 27.8mm was recorded on June 8 and 73.5mm for the month. The town’s monthly average is 39.5mm and the yearly total is now 170.8mm

The BoM says that last month for northern Victoria was in the wettest 10 per cent of Junes since records began in 1900.

Bureau of Meteorology is predicting up to an 80 per cent chance of below median rainfall for most of Australia between August and October.

Reservoir hits July peak

LAANECOORIE reservoir is at its highest July level on record.

Latest figures have the reservoir at 90 per cent capacity compared with 39.8 per cent a year ago.

Upstream, Tullaroop reservoir started spilling this week and Cairn Curran to just under 95 per cent.

The 7255 ML currently in Laanecoorie has historically been recorded in August and September, according to records that start in 1963.

Goulburn Murray Water says it will continue to pass all inflows into Laanecoorie.

Water storage services general manager Martina Cusack said on Tuesday: “Laanecoorie Reservoir is currently passing all inflows, ensuring the level of the storage remains stable.

“Approximately 800 ML per day is being released from Laanecoorie reservoir as of Monday,” she said.

“The storage is receiving about 350 ML per day from water that

Road Updates

is being released from Cairn Curran reservoir, and a further 200 ML per day from water spilling at Tullaroop Reservoir.

“Flows from Cairn Curran reservoir and Tullaroop reservoir have risen following recent rainfall.

“These flows are expected to continue and may change in re-

sponse to inflows into the storages. GMW will continue to pass all inflows into Laanecoorie Reservoir.”

The Loddon River downstream of Laanecoorie on Monday was 1.21 metres compared with 0.45 metres a fortnight ago.

GMW says Laanecoorie Reservoir is a tilt gate storage.

Push to delay Basin plan delivery

CALLS for an extension in timelines to deliver the Murray Basin Plan have been welcomed this week by Murray Group of Councils.

The six-council member group, including Loddon Shire, has backed the move by federal Water Minister Tania Plibersek.

“This means that once the reservoir level reaches a certain height, the tilt gates open due to the weight of the water,” it said.

“Like a fixed crest spillway, flows downstream are governed by the water level in the reservoir.

“River flows in the Loddon system rise and fall very quickly in response to heavy rain.

”Laanecoorie reservoir has a capacity of 8000 ML.

“This means it is relatively small in the scheme of the Loddon catchment.

“For example, during the October 2022 floods, inflows into Laanecoorie reservoir peaked at about 144,000 ML per day, which is 18 times the capacity of Laanecoorie Reservoir.

“Even in events like this, Laanecoorie reservoir does help lessen peak flows downstream.”

Meanwhile, GMW on Monday started releasing 800 ML a day from Lake Eppalock, with Ms Cusack saying the decision was based on projected inflows.

“The bulk of the impact of the Murray Darling Basin Plan has been borne by our communities across northern Victoria. We welcome the Ministers call to delay the implementation of the Murray Darling Basin Plan, so our communities can be heard and listened to,” Murray River Group of Councils Chair Cr Rob Amos said.

“The impact of the Murray Darling Basin Plan has been significant for many who live in our part of northern Victoria. For many years we have been requesting the Federal Government to listen and understand the negative impacts that water recovery has had on our communities and that further water recovery would have on them.

“Our communities are concerned at the prospect of more buy backs, particularly as they seem to be aimed at recovering significant further volumes from the irrigation districts that support our region.”

Ms Plibersek has written to Murray Darling Basin Authority chair Angus Huston asking whether the plan can be delivered by mid-2024.

In recent months, the Loddon Shire Council has successfully awarded seven packages of ood restoration works in response to the October oods. These packages are in addition to the extensive work undertaken by our works crews.

By the end of December, Loddon Shire Council is aiming to deliver in the order of $6 million of restoration work under this category of funding. This work is separate to the $20 million 2023/24 restoration program which has already been endorsed by Council.

Gravel resheets in Jarklin Jarklin West Road, Ellerslie Road, Pattison Road, Hollands Road, No. 2 Weir Road.

Sealed roads in Fernihurst Borung Prairie Road, Loddon West Road, Boort Fernihurst Road.

Gravel resheets Boort Boort Fernihurst Road.

Sealed and gravel roads Dingee Tandara Elmore Road, Dingee Rochester Road, McElwainsRoadRd.

Gravel resheets Leitchville Old Leitchville Road, Churchs Road, Hore Lane, Ottreys Bridge Road.

Gravel resheets Mincha Mincha Canary Island Road, Mincha Canary Island Road Culverts, Frank Manns Road, Pyramid Cohuna Road, Ruddock Paddock Road.

Gravel resheets Pyramid Hill Mitiamo Kerang Road Culverts, Mitiamo Kerang Road, Cassidy Road, Ervins Road, Hampsons Road.

Laanecoorie reservoir last October

Bid to keep old ambulance station

INGLEWOOD residents have threatened a sit-in at the town’s old ambulance station slated for demolition.

They want the 1970s building transferred to Inglewood and Districts Health Service.

Howard Rochester, Faye Orange and Colleen Condliffe say the building could be used as the administrative centre of the hospital and hostel metres away.

“We need to save it and recycle it,” said Howard, who is Loddon Shire’s citizen of the year.

“Our local walking group would stage a sit-in to have the building saved from demolition and put to use for the benefit of the community.

“We’ve done sit-ins before ... the old

Young give leadership on rural mental health

YEAR 9 students at Boort District School are back in familiar classrooms this week after returning from eight weeks at the Snowy River Campus School for Student Leadership.

The students presented their community leadership program during the eight ways on camp.

They are raising awareness and funds for farmers’ mental health.

Schools returned across the Loddon this week for the start of term three.

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railway station, pushing for pedestrian lights in the main street for people to cross the Calder Highway safely. We can do it again.”

The trio say they are preparing a petition and will be contacting members of Parliament.

“There’s been no real reason why the old station should be knocked down,” said Faye.

“There’s still a need for it in our community. Our population is growing again and the building could be well used.”

Colleen said: “We want this saved for the community and continue to be of benefit for the community that it was originally built for.”

“This is an asset in the community that can be given a new use without the expense of demolition,” she said.

The adjacent former ambulance station residence built with funds raised locally was demolished for the new station constructed over the past six months.

Ambulance crews are expected to move into the new building within weeks.

raised by volunteers at Inglewood’s

Debbie Youngson and Sue McLean

Colleen Condliffe, Howard Rochester and Faye Orange want the old ambulance station saved and given to the health service as an administration centre. LH PHOTO

Beacon boosts connection

AMATEUR radio operators have turned on the switch at a repeater station that will boost communication connectivity in the Loddon.

Central Victorian Radio Operators’ member Nick Angelo and other club volunteers have erected the repeater on land near Dunolly.

The Woodstock West Fire Brigade volunteer said the repeater had boosted the signal for UHF, amateur and CB radio operators between Bendigo and Ballarat and north to Wedderburn.

And he says the repeater will benefit CFA volunteers responding to fire calls in areas renowned for poor telephone and other communication signals.

“Just about everyone around here has a UHF radio in their vehicle. The repeater station will be a great back-up for communications in the fire season,” said the Laanecoorie resident.

Nick said the idea to build a repeater station had come from a conversation with fellow southern Loddon radio operators, including one friend who had been a member of the now-defunct Dunolly SES unit.

Two years in the planning, Nick said group members purchased and sourced equipment needed for the repeater station.

“This repeater was setup for the community to use and it will help with communications during the fire season as most people have a UHF radio in their car and some of us have them in our homes,” he said.

“We went through the process

of getting a licence from Australian Communications and Media Authority earlier this year.

““We had a few working bees installing equipment, battery banks and solar panels and then did the first test run from my driveway. It’s working well and

we’ll keep tweaking to make sure people can be connected.

“I have gone driving around the area and the signal could still be picked up 5km from Wedderburn.

“The repeater station helps remove some blackspots and will

Call for summer firefighters

FOREST Fire Management Victoria has started recruiting summer firefighters to be based at Inglewood.

The Loddon is one of 15 bases to have a firefighter boost each year to have teams ready for quick responses to fires. Other locations include Avoca, Bendigo, Castlemaine, Cohuna,

“These fixed-term positions are a fantastic opportunity for people from all walks of life, who are physically fit, to get out in the bush, protect our region from bushfires and help maintain public land,” FFMVic Acting Deputy Chief Fire Officer, Paul Bates, said.

“New recruits will be involved in responding to bushfires, conducting planned burns, looking after recreation areas, pest and weed control, maintaining access to fire trails and roads, and supporting other

Station site talks Tuesday

MEMBERS of Wedderburn Lions Club aged care steering committee will meet representatives of Ambulance Victoria on Tuesday for talks on station site options.

Ambulance Victoria wants to construct a permanent station in the town and has identified Wilson Street land currently set aside for a proposed Lions aged care facility.

Steering committee chair Jude Raftis said Lions had a long association with Ambulance Victoria, having assisted with establishment of the town’s CERT team.

The Wilson Street site is owned by Loddon Shire with the current agreement reserving it for aged care due to expire next year. Ambulance Victoria has also had talks with council.

Bouncing back

be a second line of defence in an emergency.”

Nick said Central Victorian Radio Operators had 20 members in the district.

“The repeater station is one way we can give back to the community,” Nick said.

THE jumping pillow has been saved. A week after the popular Bridgewater Caravan Park activity looked doomed, an insurance company has been found to provide cover. New park lessees Kristy and Warrick Hourigan continued their search after earlier knockbacks by insurance companies and this week said there had been success.

emergency work to help protect the community and environment.”

“They can also be called on to support other emergencies like last year’s Victorian floods.

“Many of the forest firefighters deployed to the current Canadian bushfires started their careers as project firefighters.”

FFMVic recruits seasonal project firefighters each year. Roles include general firefighters, fire support officers and rappel crew firefighters. Firefighters are employed full-time from October until April.

“Successful recruits will be fully trained and get the opportunity to work with experienced staff from a range of fire management agencies across the state,” Mr Bates said.

“These are very rewarding roles, where no two days are ever the same.”

Nick Angelo talks to Loddon residents thanks to a new repeater station erected by volunteers. LH PHOTO

70 rings of the old school bell

A MILESTONE birthday year for the former Laanecoorie Primary School’s Class of ‘58 became a full school reunion on Sunday.

Judy Lawy had planned a 70th birthday get together with her five fellow class students.

Her family had moved from the Mallee and ran the town store for 11 years.

“I did all my primary schooling at Laanecoorie and the reunion idea started with the rest of our class all turning 70,” she said.

“Then we thought, why not ask all former students.”

Her sister Margaret had planned to return from her home of the last 50 years, South Africa, but a recent fall prevented a trip for the reunion.

However, Graham Rumbold and his family travelled from Kerang. Graham, 94, was the oldest former student at Sunday’s reunion.

More than 40 people gathered at the Mechanics’ Institute Hall where the old school bell and sign now hang and old photographs were displayed.

Wayside stop: lanes caught in review

FEDERAL funding of Calder Highway overtaking lanes is under review.

Lanes earmarked for construction at Derby are among projects the Government had sent for an independent review over the next three months.

Mallee MP Anne Webster said” “Right around Mallee one of the biggest issues raised with me is road safety.

“With such a high volume of traffic on the Calder Highway between Marong and Bridgewater these overtaking lanes are a key initiative to improve that,” she said.

“It beggars belief that with roads in such poor shape, Labor would consider pulling funding.”

“That section of the highway connects a large part of the growing Loddon community to work and education options in Bendigo as well as being an important freight and tourism route with Melbourne.”

Dr Webster said funding of other future work on the highway between Melbourne and Mildura had also been sent for review.

They are among 10 road and bridge projects in Mallee where funding is now in doubt.

Social Support August Calendar 2023

10 WEDDERBURN

9 INGLEWOOD

10:00 – 2:00 pm

Centre Based

Loddon

Picking up from Wedderburn, Korong Vale & Inglewood

16 INGLEWOOD

10:00 – 2:00 pm

Centre Based Activities Games, exercises, social engagement

23 The Yarn Bomb Tram Cost: $12.50 per person Time: 10:00 am leaving from Inglewood. For this event, you need to book in July

10:00 am – 2:00 pm

Centre Based Activities

Bingo, Trivia, Rummikub, Exercises & Social engagement

17 WEDDERBURN

10:00 am – 2:00 pm

Centre Based Activities

Bingo, Trivia, Rummikub, Exercises & Social engagement

Centre Based Activities Bingo, Trivia, Rummikub, Exercises & Social engagement 22 Morning Outing

Due to unforeseen circumstances, the calendar is subject to change; please get in touch with Vas or Deb to confirm your attendance on 54 317 000 or 0456 776 248.

Richard Cain, Ken Galloway, Robyn Pollock, Graeme Cain and Harold Cain.

Geoff Curnow, Dianne English, Wendy Malcolmson and Glen Cole.

Ian Rumbold, Graham Rumbold, Jenette Dawson, Keith Rumbold and John Rumbold.

Laanecoorie’s class of 1958: Max Scholes, Alan Smith, Margaret Cunningham, Geoff Lyon, Judy Lawy and Brian Baker at Sunday’s reunion. LH PHOTO

Reference group first meeting

MEMBERS of a Transmission Company Victoria community reference group will meet for the first time text month.

TCV has called for expressions of interest across five municipalities, including Loddon. but has yet to release the committee’s membership.

Spokesperson Nicola Falcon said: “The group will provide a forum for community members to collaborate with the VNI West project team through the planning and approvals process for this essential infrastructure project. These meetings will help the project team understand local perspectives and provide opportunities for feedback.”

Mountain flags new option

VNI West critic Professor Bruce Mountain wants the controversial project dumped and replaced by augmenting existing transmission lines.

Professor Mountain, who heads the Victoria Energy Policy Centre at Victoria University, this week said he would launch Plan B next month.

He said VNI West running from Bulgana, Stawell through the Loddon Shire and to Kerang promised much but will deliver little.

“In fact AEMO/TransGrid’s modelling results show that the already extraordinary curtailment of renewable generators

The Railway Hotel BOORT

in Victoria will barely improve after it is commissioned, and then it will get even worse than it is now,” he said.

“This means that the enormous expansion of renewable electricity needed to achieve Victoria’s energy transition will not happen without big subsidies to compensate generators for the curtailment that AEMO/TransGrid’s VNI-West will deliver.

“With VNI West it is more likely that the Victorian Government’s renewable electricity targets will not be met and instead the Government will be forced to subsidise the continued operation of Victoria’s brown coal generators in order to keep the lights on.

“The common perception is that the big losers from VNI West will be affected land holders in Victoria.

“In fact the list of losers also includes the environment, consumers and renew-

able electricity producers,” Professor Mountain said.

Professor Mountain said he had collaborated with Simon Bartlett and Darren Edwards to propose augmentation mostly of existing transmission lines in place of the VNI West super-highway.

“Our plan will deliver results quickly and will expand Victoria’s renewable generation hosting capacity much more than VNI West,” he said.

“Most importantly our Plan B will have a much smaller impact on consumers, landholders and the environment, and will deliver a much more secure transmission system.”

Professor Mountain first flagged development of an alternative transmission line plan when speaking at the Loddon Herald forum in Wedderburn in May. The plan is in the report, No Longer Lost in Transmission, to be launched on August 2.

Dupe tactics are misleading farmers, says VFF leader

LANDOWNERS must receive clear and accurate information on Transmission Company Victoria’s plans for 80-metre tall towers across the Loddon.

The Essential Services Commission statement comes as Victorian Farmers’ Federation president Emma Germano said TCV information had been designed to pressure landowners into signing away access to their land.

“The tactics used by AEMO to try and coerce farmers into signing away their rights is shameful and is yet another example of the way they have acted in bad faith with farming communities.”

ESC on Monday said: “The Transmission Company Victoria does not currently hold a transmission licence in Victoria.

“ A person who wants to engage in the activity of transmitting electricity in Victoria is required to hold a licence granted by the Essential Services Commission.

“The commission has a comprehensive, independent process for assessing and granting licence applications. This involves public consultation with stakeholders, including landowners once the application paperwork has been completed by the applicant and is ready for assessment by the commission.

“The commission is aware of concerns about information provided by Transmission Company Victoria, which may have led to potentially affected stakeholders, including local farmers, having incorrect impressions in relation to the land access rights. It is important that stakeholders,

including landowners, receive clear and accurate information relating to decisions that have an impact on them.”

Ms Germano said if the State Government continued to allow TCV’s behaviour, farmers would not co-operate and “there is no way that Victoria will be able to meet its renewable energy targets and keep the lights on”.

Ms Germano said TCV’s landholder guide suggested that it might use powers under legislation to force entry onto farms to undertake surveying.

TCV’s Nicola Falcon told the Loddon Herald in Boort last week it would persevere with landholder negotiations for access to land on the Option 5A route.

“We want to work with people, with landholders, to co-exist,” she said, adding there could be exceptional circumstances where 99 landholders had granted access and one had not.

Ms Germano said the access issue had been compounded by landholders being offered $10,000 payments to enter into a land access agreement with TCV over two years.

“It is unconscionable that TCV would be offering a $10,000 inducement for farmers to give up access to their land, otherwise they’ll use legal powers to force entry, when they do not have that power.”

The VFF understands that the ESC has contacted AEMO to advise them that the information they have provided is misleading and has requested that their materials be re-written.

Chickens crack market at pubs, shops and footy

CAMPBELL Harcourt’s chickens have moved from their coop near the mulberry tree to sharing a lush lucerne paddock with sheep.

It’s been one of the big changes for the Pompapiel youngster since his Golden Girls eggs were first sold earlier this year.

A selling network to family and friends has expanded to more than a dozen shops, cafes, butchers and hotels across the Loddon.

The eggs are even sold at local football matches where Campbell has been volunteering to help in the canteen at Serpentine, Calivil and Pyramid Hill.

Less active laying in winter by his several hundred chickens has also seen supply outstripped by demand in Inglewood, Wedder burn and Boort and nearer home at Pyramid Hill, Mitiamo and Din gee.

“We have moved them to new lucerne pasture ... they are eating good sheep food but also being fed chicken food,” said Campbell of his chickens now competing for grazing land a the self-replac ing Merino flock.

Campbell has met challenges of supply and distribution with determination following the unexpected passing of his mother Sharon just weeks after the egg empire took off in March.

Husband Darryl Chappel said: “Campbell’s mum was very into supporting him with the business and would be proud of how things have grown.”

“I’m a farmer and to cold call people talking about chooks took me out of the comfort zone,” Darryl said.

“And the workload increased.

The chickens were Sharon and Campbell’s thing.”

Pyramid Hill Coffee Bank’s Deb Forster receives her weekly delivery from Campbell. LH PHOTO

Last day to lodge flood grant bids

FARMER flood recovery grant applications close today.

The State Government says more than 4500 support payments have already been processed to farmers impacted by the 2022-2023 floods and storms, providing relief to primary producers across Victoria.

Minister for Agriculture Gayle Tierney said $130 million in Primary Producer Flood Recovery and Rural Landholder grants had been claimed, with the initiative part of the broader Primary Producer Flood Recovery Package announced last October.

She said the grants had provided vital support for clean-up, relief and recovery costs for primary producers who suffered direct loss or damage as a result of the

floods and storms. Among Loddon farmers to receive a recovery grant had been Canary Island sheep producers Greg and Jo Bear.

Agriculture Victoria said their grant was to combat weeds and build new fences after their pastures were severely impacted and five kilometres of fencing was lost or damaged.

Through the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements, the Australian and Victorian Governments have also provided mental health and wellbeing support to the National Centre for Farmer Health and the Rural Financial Counselling Service.

Financial support from the Primary Producer Flood Recovery Package will remains open until 4 pm today.

First national farm crime survey

LIVESTOCK theft in Victoria has hit a 10year high and Victorian Farmers’ Federation wants farmers to be part of the first national farm crime survey in two decades.

The survey has been commissioned by the University of New England and aims to provide a comprehensive snapshot of all farm crime across Australia.

VFF president Emma Germano said livestock theft in Victoria last year cost farmers $6.7 million.

“Whether it be theft involving livestock, farm equipment or property damage and illegal trespass, farm crime has an enormous financial impact and can be a terrifying experience for farming families and staff, which can’t be tolerated,”

Ms Germano said results of the survey would be used to advocate for greater resources and awareness campaigns to combat farm crime. “It’s so important that as many Victorian farmers as possible take part in the survey.”

sheep market

ANOTHER small winter yarding of just 4450 lambs and 1270 sheep for the rarity of Bendigo yarding on Monday, less than 6000 head for two consecutive weeks.

Demand improved with nearly a full field of buyers attending despite the small numbers.

Prices for trade and heavy lambs lifted by $10 to $20 per head, some pens showing rises of up to $30 on the suppressed rates of recent weeks.

Overall most decent processing lambs rallied to trend between 560c to 620c/kg cwt.

Results for light and secondary lambs were more varied, with bidding still selective on plain and mixed lots.

The smallest and most secondary Merinos sold down to $9. Export lambs over 30kg cwt sold from $179 to a top of $205 as rates lifted to between an estimated 570c to 620c/kg cwt for most.

Heavy 26-30kg lambs $154 to $186, with the main fat score 3 and 4 category crossbreds averaging over 600c/kg cwt.

The lead of the trade lambs $135 to $159 to reach up to 660c/kg cwt; plainer trades $104 to $130 with those with limited fat cover still pegged at 500c to 550c/kg at times.

Light lambs were very mixed for breed

G ra IN

Boort Grain Co-op prices Monday.

Wheat – H1 $388 FIS. H2 $358 FIS. APW1 $341.50 FIS. ASW $341.50 FIS. AGP1 $340 FIS.

SFW1 $340 FIS. FED1 $313 FIS.

Barley - PL1 $318 FIS. SP1 $318 FIS. Bar1 $278 FIS. Bar2 $267 FIS. Bar3 $247 FIS. Bar4 $227 FIS.

Bendigo Sheep & Lamb Market Report

Yardings remain low but on the positive side, prices have increased

type and quality and this was reflected in prices, with most of the reasonable small lambs from $40 to $90.

The Merinos in this sale tended to be lighter types.

Heavy mutton showed a dearer trend with big crossbred ewes $80 to $112. Some tradeweight sheep also posted dearer results but on limited numbers.

CROSSBRED LAMBS

C Graham Family Arnold (42) $180, B & F Moon Pyramid Hill (55) $179, PW Slatter, Diggora (11) $170, GK & TA Turnbull Bridgewater (40) $161, Fowles Farm P/L Euroa (37) $159.

CROSSBRED EWES

GK & TA Turnbull Bridgewater (26) $108.

MERINO EWES

WW & RG Farming Macorna (49) $112, B & F Moon Pyramid Hill (38) $93.

Order of sales next week: Nuttall, Nutrien, Nevins, Elders, McKean McGregor.

SUPPLIED BY ASSOCIATED STOCK AGENTS

Faba1 $375 FIS. Faba2 $375 FIS. *GM CANOLA - ISCC +/- AOF $639 FIS. NON GM CANOLA +/- AOF $629 FIS. *GM CANOLA - ISCC +/- AOF $615 FIS. *GM CANOLA +/- AOF **CANGS $604.25 FIS

2023-2024 - APW MG $355. ASW $315. BAR1 MG $285. Non-GM canola $651. GM canola $631.

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

CONGRATULATIONS TO ...

Bluey says hello to all the young readers of the Loddon Herald ... with special activities on our young reader’s page this month.

Winners of last month’s competition are Chelsea S, Abbey T and Olivia D. Entries for this month’s special Robot colouring competition close August 2.

Send your entries to Bluey, Loddon Herald, PO Box 1188

Kangaroo Flat 3555 or email loddonherald@gmail.com

And remember to include your name, age and address so Bluey can pick the right prizes for our lucky winners of the colouring competition.

Hi there everybody! We have jumped into the time machine to visit ancient Greece to learn about characters like Hercules, Medusa and others found in...

Letter swap Letter swap

TASK BULL

One of the twelve labours of Hercules was the TASK to wrestle a rogue BULL in Crete. Can you change TASK to BULL by changing only one letter at a time?

It was said that looking directly at Medusa would result in you turning to stone. The only safe way of looking at her was through a mirror. Which reflection of Medusa is a match to the first drawing?

Picture Puzzle

Picture Puzzle

Changing age of retirement

By IAN HENSCHKE

FOR decades, men could look forward to retiring at 65 and getting the pension. For women, it was 60. Their eligibility was increased over 10 years between 1995 and 2004 until they too reached the same qualifying age.

In 2009 the Rudd Government lifted it to 67 for men and women but it was to be phased in from 2015, with six month increases every two years, starting from July 1, 2017. Now we’ve arrived, after almost 30 years, at a pension age of 67 from July 1! But it could have been worse.

Almost 10 years ago Treasurer, Joe Hockey, announced it would go to 70 by 2035. He asserted it was “highly probable a child born today would live to 150.” Really? His move followed on from a report from the Commission of Audit, which recommended the qualifying age be linked to life expectancy. The thinking was because we are living longer than our parents and grandparents, we should remain in the workforce longer.

There was a huge backlash including a campaign led by National Seniors. A popular slogan at the time was: “Only someone who’s worked in an office their whole life would think you can work until you’re 70!”

In the run up to the 2019 election Scott Morrison dropped the age-70 target as Liberal policy. His deputy, Michael McCormack said it was “probably a step too far” adding “I think if you’re a tradie, or a brickie, or a shearer in rural and regional Australia you don’t want some suit in Canberra telling you you’re going to have to work until you’re 70.”

At National Seniors, we were pleased the government “backed away from the unpopular idea” and called the decision “a

LETTER TO THE EDITOR Look at alternatives

Sir, It is so much more than “opposing the project which they say will run through their properties” when it comes to the VNI West project. It is about democracy!

Generally, ‘community consultation’ has been a sham – ticking the box for AEMO, not the community, $10 paid to complete an Ipad survey is coercion. There has been no transparency for questions still remain unanswered. Compulsory acquisition, of what a sickening ring those two words make!

Just for a moment imagine 28,000km of transmission lines running from southern Victoria to northern Queensland. Imagine the materials needed. Are they going to be imported from our exports? Are they coming from a country which is the

PERSPECTIVE

win for common sense”. Now a group of academics has revisited the statistics and released a report saying a further rise is warranted to ensure the country has a sufficient supply of workers into the future.

Macquarie University Business School

Professor Hanlin Shang and his co-authors say there should be three more pensionage increases over the next 27 years. They suggest 68 by 2030, rising to 69 in 2036, and 70 by 2050.

Professor Shang says Australia’s low birth rate is one of the key factors.

“Less people in the working group and more in retirement will make the old age dependency ratio (OADR) higher,” he said.

“What this means is there is less working people to support elderly people. And with more elderly people in the population, this will create a burden for the government pension system.”

Professor Shang and his team should read, or hopefully re read, “The Age Pension in the 21st Century” by 2018 Actuary of the Year Michael Rice. He revealed the cost of the age pension as a per centage of GDP will fall, not rise in the decades to come. There will be far fewer full pensioners, and far more part pensioners and selffunded retirees.

The “burden” simply won’t be there. The pension was 2.9 per cent of GDP when Peter Costello’s 2002 Intergenerational Report predicted it would grow to 4.6 per cent of GDP by 2042. But it was it was just 2.7 per cent of GDP five years ago, and Rice Warner projected “expenditure to fall to 2.5 per cent of GDP by 2038.” It added “the downward trend will continue well into the future.”

biggest annual emitter of planet warming greenhouse gases? How clean and green is that? Is Australia simply becoming a milk bar? Do we simply buy in and sell on to our citizens?

During COVID we felt and experienced the need as a nation to become self-sufficient and therefore, the need for more manufacturing in Australia.

As COVID subsides, sadly it seems, so does the need for self-sufficiency. Like me, these transmission poles and wires have a life span – they say 60 years. What happens then?

The question was raised at Charlton’s TCV community meeting last Wednesday evening and the answer was probably scrap metal!

This is all in the name of transitioning to clean energy. Almost forgot the 17 truck

It’s predicted to be just 2.1 per cent of GDP by 2060. Why? Superannuation has been delivering, just as Paul Keating predicted. His “magic of compound interest” has been adding to the retirement incomes of millions.

We reject calls for raising the age to 70 on both fiscal and social policy grounds. Many people exit the workforce because of ill health.

We should consider a Canadian style system where you can opt to get the pension earlier but get a bit less.

We’ve also argued the best way to tackle declining participation is to provide incentives to those who choose to work longer.

Our Let Pensioners Work campaign calls for a reduction in the income test taper rates so you can keep more of your pension if you choose to continue working. This is fairer than raising the pension age because it rewards people who want and need to work.

Pensioners who chose to work would benefit from extra income and their participation would also help the economy.

If you are on a pension, and you want to keep working it’ll be a win for the economy, it’ll be a win for the pensioners, and it will be a win for the government.

A note to politicians, our latest poll of more than two thousand people showed just seven per cent support the move to 70, 45 per cent are fine with 67 and 46 per cent want it back to 65.

An election winning policy would be to lower it back to 65 as they’ve just done in Canada.

* Ian Henschke Chief Advocate National SeniorsAustralia

loads of concrete for one transmission pole

There are solid alternatives being put forward for a better way which present day infrastructure can facilitate, a cheaper way, a way with far less environmental impact and thus a lesser impact on human well being. Our Government needs to ask questions and listen to their people. alternatives must be investigated, there has to be a better way forward than what is proposed.

If the Government isn’t willing to look at these alternatives, then there must be a Senate Inquiry to do so. It is so much more than power lines going through property, it is about sustainability, environmental impact. It is about democracy!

GlendaWatts Charlton

1. Marie Curie was the first woman to win what famed award?

2. Pearls are found in which aquatic creature?

3. What is the real name of Robin (Batman’s sidekick)?

4. In ballet, what term is used for when you bend at the knees?

5. What animal forms part of the logo for car manufacturer Lamborghini?

6. Which Williams sister has won more grand slam tennis titles?

7. What is the name of the hottest chilli in the world?

8. And what unit of measurement is used to measure the chilli heat of food?

9. The four strings of a violin are tuned to what notes?

10. The femur is found in which part of the human body?

11. What is the smallest country in the world?

12. Queen Cleopatra of Egypt was not Egyptian, what was her ethnicity?

13. What is the main ingredient of hummus?

14. The Australian Grand Prix has been held at which venue since 1996?

15. American President John F. Kennedy was assassinated in which city in 1963?

16. In Norse mythology, Thor was the son of which God?

17. Arthur Conan Doyle is the creator of which famous detective?

18. And from whose perspective are those books written?

19. Levi’s is a well-known brand of which item of clothing?

20. What was the most popular dog breed in Australia in 2022?

ANSWERS

YOUR VOICE IN PARLIAMENT

We are family, friends, colleagues and neighbours

We are family, friends, colleagues and neighbours

family, friends, colleagues and neighbours

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.

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.

of

1. Nobel Prize (1903) 2. Oyster 3. Dick Grayson 4. Plié 5. Bull 6. Serena (23) 7. Carolina Reaper 8. Scoville 9. G, D, A, E 10. Leg 11. Vatican City 12. Macedonian Greek 13. Chickpeas 14. Albert Park Circuit, -Mel bourne 15. Dallas 16. Odin 17. Sherlock Holmes 18. Dr John Watson 19. Jeans 20. Cavoodle

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.

Blistering reality check Peter Walsh walks in the steps of Australia’s World War Two soldiers

By ANDREW MOLE

PETER Walsh didn’t know it a month ago, but what he thought would happen walking the Kokoda Track would turn out to be not even within coo-ee of reality.

And days after getting home from walking the Kokoda Track where Australian soldiers fought in the jungles of New Guinea in World War Two, the 20-year MP for Boort and areas north is still getting over the whole experience – physically and emotionally.

Would he do it again? Certainly not next week, or next year, maybe not ever. Then again, he just might.

However, despite being treated for some seriously ugly blisters, despite almost hitting the wall two days from Kokoda and despite days of trudging up and down mountains on a trail well-hidden between endless tangles of massive tree roots, in clothes you could never dry and pouring five litres of water down your throat to try and compensate for the fluids you were losing faster than you would have thought possible in the steamy depths of the Owen Stanley Ranges, there’s no way Peter Walsh is ever going to forget it.

After all, he, fellow MPs Mel Bath and Tim Bull, former MP Gary Blackwood and a group of secondary school students had just spent eight days walking, as he put it, “in the footsteps of heroes”.

“This proved to be, more than anything I expected, I think we expected, to be such an emotional experience even though it gives you just the very slightest comprehension, an incredibly tiny window into what our soldiers had gone through, in far, far worse conditions,” Peter says.

“Even that fraction of the true story gives you a much greater understanding, an awareness I sincerely doubt you would ever have unless you go to Papua New Guinea and walk the Kokoda yourself,” he says.

“By comparison we didn’t do much but walk for those eight days, sure, it was hard, very hard, but we had good food every day, unlimited access to water, porters and guides carrying everything you needed except your daily necessities. We’d had vaccinations, carried effective malaria pills, dysentery was unheard of, and, two steps in front of us (going uphill), and one step behind (downhill), was our personal porter, much of the way down he had a hold of your backpack to grab you in case you stumbled or fell, going uphill he was there to pull you along.

“My porter for the whole trip was Nick Lalaga, he was a very quiet, very shy young man, who might have been 60kg wringing wet, so I did have some concerns about how he might anchor me if I went over the edge somewhere – and he did the whole trip in thongs, until he broke one, and then he finished the trip with one thong and a bare foot,” he marvelled.”

Fortunately the most treacherous stretch, a very narrow track (with a chain to hang onto) was one step from a sheer 1000-foot drop, passed relatively uneventfully.

“Of course the obvious differences are we weren’t lugging rifles weighing 3.5kg, we weren’t limited to drinking water from streams (on a good day), we hadn’t cut out the seat of our pants because the dysentery was so bad, we knew there would be breakfast, lunch and dinner, and no one was shooting at us, throwing grenades, or lobbing mortar shells at us.”

This, Peter says, is the historical backdrop of the Kokoda Trail during four months in the middle of 1942.

It was a close quarters encounter, of battle after battle, with two armies mauling each other often in hand-to-hand combat,

or frantic defence against suicidal Banzai charges.

He says you can read about it, see the documentaries or the movies, but none of it can prepare you for that first step off the plane, into a heat and humidity which simply saps the energy out of every pore in your body.

“At that point you can raise your eyes to the skies and clouds, you can see mountains reaching right up to them, and you already know whatever training you have done, whatever you saw in the back of your mind, it all just went out the window,” Peter adds.

“And you could see it in almost everyone’s face, that sudden doubt, concern even. But really, there is only one way to go about this. You don’t look up, you don’t look back, you take one step, then another, and

es such as the Golden Staircase (don’t let the name fool you), the sheer rock face of ‘fortress Imita’ before heading down to another valley creek crossing, another steep climb and then running into Ioribaiwa, the bloody scene of the furthest point of the Japanese advance.

“Surprisingly, the next day had us back on the road at the crack of dawn, with another massif in front of us, on another hot steamy day – this would be a signature part of the journey, you are never dry, you can never get clothes dry, you pull on half wet skins to walk in, wet tops and soon after you are drenched again anyway,” Peter explains.

“Thanks heavens my wife Liz convinced me to pack enough socks so I had a new pair every day – they were lifesavers,” he says. “Because I hate to think how badly this

It hurt like buggery when you started each morning, or after any break, but once you got going it wasn’t quite so bad, but the worst blister, on the inside of my left heel, got to about two inches long

another, and you keep going until the group leader says we are stopping for a break, or to camp.”

After a few months hard-slog training –complete with mandatory 8kg backpack –and some (possibly a little behind schedule) trips to the Kokoda Track Memorial Walk 1000 Steps climb at Ferntree Gully and the 15km of the old class-five Sunset Track up Gentle Annie in Bunyip State Park near Gembrook, Peter was on a plane to Port Moresby last month.

Where he became one of a party of 29 that swelled to 90 by the time you added all the guides, porters, helpers and one medico wearing a vest which read Trek Dokta, who were up before 5.30am the next day, in two mini-buses on their way to Owers Corner, a gentle introduction to the neighbourhood, looking at memorials and old artillery pieces and then the trek began.

Past old weapon pits, live shells dug up decades after the war ended, through plac-

could have gone with constantly wet socks, the blisters I did end up with just about did for me on top of the tiredness that became exhaustion to the point if I had woken up on Day 7 and been told there was a mistake and we had two or three days to go I would have been gone.”

But at the same time the senior citizens of the group could not help but be buoyed by the sheer enthusiasm and wonderment of the students in their party.

And what Peter says he can only describe as a “fascinating evolution” as one day turned into the next.

“I guess being young gives you all that extra energy, but every time we had a break in a village, the students would be out with a ball playing with the local kids, and then start walking again,” he added.

“But starting with the hotel in Moresby, which is gated for safety, with every village through which we passed, like a dripping tap the message got hammered home and

nearly all of them came to realise what a truly privileged life they have in Australia.

“And that awareness was beautifully complemented, for all of us, by the many presentations done by fellow Nat Tim Bull, a long-time and very serious student of military history in general, and the Kokoda in particular – he is a veteran of multiple trips and his wartime briefings were inspiring, humbling, at times chilling, and always emotional.

“He brought most of us, myself included, to tears during the Dawn Service at Isurava Memorial – with some unexpected and spectacular singing by our porters and guides.

“No one who took part in that service will ever forget it.”

Just as Peter is trying to forget the pain of his last few days on the trek, with blisters on both feet, despite the dry socks, which threatened to derail the whole experience, although he swears nothing was going to stop him.

“It hurt like buggery when you started each morning, or after any break, but once you got going it wasn’t quite so bad, but the worst blister, on the inside of my left heel, got to about two inches long and was turning into a bit of a mess.”

In the end, however, even Peter got a wakeup call about his privileged life in Australia.

A life he would have told anyone preKokoda he understood just how lucky he was to be born in Australia.

“Until we were on the final stretch down to Kokoda, we only had a few kilometres to go, and we met this PNG family coming the other way,” he recalls.

“For them the trail was their main road, it got them from point A to B, in this case it had got them down to Kokoda to do their shopping for food.

“There was mum and dad, with three kids. Going uphill, towards Deniki. That’s about 14km down and 14km back, and a climb to about 1600 metres above sea level. The mother was carrying the youngest child; dad and the others shared their shopping – all dry food or canned so it wouldn’t spoil. So they smiled as they passed and kept going.”

For those last few kilometres to Kokoda and flights back to Moresby, Brisbane and home, those blisters didn’t seem quite so bad for Murray MP Peter Walsh.

Peter Walsh takes a break with students on their walk of the Kokoda Track.

GOLF

Part Time Administration officer

We are seeking a part time administration officer to join our friendly team. This position is a minimum of 12 hours per week plus additional hours to cover holiday and Sick Leave. Previous experience in office administration will be an advantage, competent computer skills, good communication and time management skills, maintain privacy and confidentiality, hold a current First aid Level 2 andWorking with Children Certificate or willing to obtain.

Please send application letter and CV to Centre Manager on the below details

Applications close at 1630pm 14th July 2023.

To apply for this position or to obtain further information, please contact:

Kylie Smith

Centre Manager

Dingee Bush Nursing Centre

21 King St, Dingee, Vic 3571

PH: 54 368 309

Email: admin@dbnc.com.au

Southern Riverlands Poultry located in Boort has a casual position available for a reliable and energetic member to join our growing team. This role includes some weekend work. Must have driver’s licence and own transport.

If you are interested and would like more information please contact Kane via email at farm1@southernriverlands.com.au

WANTED TO BUY

Old bottles with town or company names.

Marble bottles, Ginger Beer, Milk Bottles, Soda Syphons

Any old bottles - single items or box lots

PYRAMID HILL

WINNER of the day was Tony Mullins with 85-18-67 on a countback from James Ritchie 76-9-67.

Nearest the pin on hole 16 was Jed Stewart.

WEDDERBURN

A SMALL field contested last Saturday’s stableford event at Wedderburn in tough conditions. Winner was Liam McNeill.

CLASSIFIEDS CONNECT

LODDON HERALD BUSINESS, TRADES & SERVICES

Wool buyer

Cash payments

On-farm appraisals

92 Rowena Street, East Bendigo Ph 5406 0629

Alexander Thomas was among juniors taking part in Inglewood Golf Club clinics during the school holidays. LH PHOTO

EMPLOYMENT

Part Time Endorsed Enrolled Nurse

We are seeking a part time Endorsed Enrolled Nurse to join our friendly team. This position is for 4 days per week, negotiable. Previous experience in wound management, pathology collection and health assessments an advantage.

Please send application letter and CV to Centre Manager.

Applications close at 4.30pm 21st July 2023.

To apply for this position or to obtain further information, please contact:

Kylie Smith/Heather Gale Centre Manager

Dingee Bush Nursing Centre 21 King St, Dingee, Vic 3571 PH: 5436 8309

Email: centre.manager@dbnc.com.au

Truck Driver

Reeves Earth Moving Pty Ltd are currently seeking experienced Truck Drivers to join our growing team.

Reeves Earth Moving are a family-owned business based out of Wedderburn, Victoria. We operate trucks and machinery, carting quarry products and completing earthworks including but not limited to shed pads, driveways, sheep yards, dams etc.

Essential Requirements:

 Current HC or MC Drivers Licence

 Ability to work unsupervised and follow directions.

 Available Monday-Friday with optional Saturday work

Non-Essential Requirements:

 Ability to Operate Heavy Machinery including but not limited to: Front End Loader, Grader, Excavator, Bulldozer, Roller, Bobcat is advantageous but not a requirement.

Benefits:

 Above award pay rate

 The right candidate can expect regular work in and around the North Central Region

 A safe, professional and family run business.

For more information or to apply: email admin@reevesearthmoving.com.au or by post to PO Box 36, Wedderburn Victoria 3518.

The Loddon Herald is published by Muso’s Media Pty Ltd, PO Box 1188, Kangaroo Flat, 3555, and printed for the publishers by Newsprinters Pty Ltd McKoy Street, West Wodonga, VIC 3690

The Kerang Turf Club conducts 2 event race meetings per season and 3-4 sets of jump outs.

An exciting opportunity to lead the Club as its Club Manager now exists. This role is responsible for professionally, effectively and efficiently managing the Club’s business activities, including stakeholder relationship management, and maximising revenue returns through the profitable conduct of racing and non-racing events and operations.

You will ideally have demonstrated experience operating in a leadership role within a successful management, hospitality, or event management setting. Your application should demonstrate the following:

 Strong nancial and event management skills

 Sound business judgement and decision making capability

 An ability to work with diverse stakeholders and build positive working relationships

 Strong team leadership capabilities

 Exceptional organisational, communication and public relation skills.

A Position Description is available upon request.

Applications should be emailed to: kerangturfclub@hotmail.com

Applications close 5:00pm Friday 21st July 2023

Careers at Loddon

Loddon Shire Council is seeking applications for the following positions from highly motivated, enthusiastic, energetic and outcome focused individuals who want to make a di erence and help shape our future.

Waste Administration O cer- ref.J/225

 Full-time, permanent position

 Based at our Wedderburn Depot with exible working locations available  Band 4 salary range $64,566.32$69,060.16 per annum plus employer superannuation.

Applications for the position above will close on Monday 17 July 2023 at 5pm.

Inclusive Communities O cer- ref.J/201

 Full-time, permanent position

 Based at our Wedderburn O ce with exible work location options available

 Band 6 - $85,590.96 - $92,720.68 per annum plus employer superannuation

Applications for the position above will close on Monday 24 July 2023 at 5pm. For further information, including a detailed position description and details on how to apply, please visit Council’s website www.loddon.vic.gov.au or contact Council’s Organisation Development Unit on (03) 5494 1200.

LODDON HERALD CLASSIFIEDS CONNECT

NORTH CENTRAL FOOTBALL UNDER 14

GOALS - Donald: B. Donnellon 2, C. Jones, C. Slater, J. Clapham, M. Reilly, H. Funcke, E. Rotherham, J. Reilly, J. Reynen. Wedderburn: W. Huismann

BEST - Donald: B. Donnellon, J. Lydom, H. Clark, J. Reynen. Wedderburn: B. Treuel, W. Huismann, J. Baltas-brew, L. Martin, A. Derks.

GOALS - Wycheproof Narraport: H. Bartlett. Boort: D. King 6, B. McPherson 5, L. King, D. Perryman 3, F. Arnold, J. O’Flaherty, C. McNally, O. Byrne, C. Gooding.

- Wycheproof Narraport: M. Beattie, A. McNaughton, S. Al Amoudi. Boort: B. McPherson, C. McNally, A. Lee, M. Young, T. Broad,.

Darts grand final Sunday

GOLD DIGGERS and Chuckers will play off in Loddon Darts Association grand final in Wedderburn on Sunday.

Chuckers secured their spot in the season decider with a close win over Flamingoes.

The result come down to the last double wire after Chuckers jumped out of the blocks and got a 3-0 lead.

But flamingoes fought back hard to bring the game to a wire decider.

The association final series has been split with hosting the annual Loddon Gold Fossicker’s Cup.

Teams from across Victoria competed over two days at Wedderburn Mechanics’ Institute Hall where the men’s section was won by All Stars for the sixth time since 2007.

They took honours from Wanderers after being separated after percentage.

Secretary Robert Day said: “This was

the closest tournament we have ever had.”

Most 180s: Riley Berry, Mark Robinson. Most wins: 16 steve Horvatek. High peg: 158 Jason Masters. Short game: 11 Mark Robinson.

Winners of the women’s title was Vee Gees.

Seventeen teams contested the men’s events while 12 combinations lined up in the women’s section.

Wilson selected for bowls title defence

GEOFF Wilson has been selected in the Victorian arm bowlers team for September’s national championships.

His selection for a third year was confirmed after trials last month.

Wilson was a member of the Victorian team that last year took out the national title contested over five days in Perth.

This year’s 17-member state squad was selected under new rules requiring at least three women bowlers.

Wilson said he was pleased to have received the nod of selectors for this year’s championship in Devonport.

One of the team veterans, Wilson said five players had been chosen to make their debut for Victoria at the National Bowling Arm Sides Championships. All states will take to the rinks at Devonport where Victoria will face Queensland on the first day of play.

The championships were first held in 2011.

BOORT GOLF CLUB 93nd ANNUAL OPEN GOLF TOURNAMENT

WOMEN’S FOURBALL - Thursday 13th July

FOURBALL BEST BALL STABLEFORD (2 grades)

ENTER WITH PARTNER - $40.00 per pair. and a teams event for any two pairs.

ASSEMBLE - 10.00am, START - 10.30am.

Entries close Wednesday 12th July with the Women’s

Captain, Dianne Johnston, Mob: 0427434625

MEN’S DAY - Saturday 15th July

27 HOLES - SCRATCH & HANDICAP (2 grades)$35.00 per player (includes lunch).

Teams event of 3 players for afternoon 18 holes.

Entries close Friday 14th July with the Captainemail: andrewmaxwellkane@hotmail.com

ASSEMBLE - 9.30am for 9.45am SHOT GUN START.

INCORPORATING WOMEN’S DAY 18 HOLES -

SCRATCH & HANDICAP - $15.00 per player.

ASSEMBLE – 11.45am, START – 12.15pm.

(Lunch available if required at $10.00 per person)

MEN’S FOURBALL - Friday 14th July

FOURBALL BEST BALL STABLEFORD (2 grades)

ENTER WITH PARTNER - $40.00 per pair.

ASSEMBLE - 11.00am, START - 11.30am.

MIXED - Sunday 16th July

18 HOLES MIXED PINEHURST FOURSOMES (2 grades) ENTER WITH PARTNER - $40.00 per pair. ASSEMBLE - 11.00am, START - 11.30am. BRUCE AND NANCE WEAVER MEMORIAL TROPHY - for best net overall CAPTAIN

Nullawil 16, Birchip Watchem 12, Wycheproof Narraport 4, Wedderburn 4.

GOALS - Donald: B. Griffiths 4, C. Anderson 3. Wedderburn: R. Whyman 2, O. Huismann.

BEST - Donald: B. Griffiths, R. Godkin, C. Anderson, J. Lewis. Wedderburn: D. Caruana, R. Whyman, N. Winslett, J. Sanderson.

GOALS - Wycheproof Narraport: A. Cowell, H. Senior. Boort: B. Wagner 6, L. Baker, A. Cockerell 2, R. Wagner, D. Hird, B. Arnold, A. Chamberlain.

BEST - Wycheproof Narraport: T. Cotton, X. McKersie, L. Seddon, L. Coles, S. Nicholls. Boort: M. Beattie, L. Hall, B. Wagner, S. Toose, B. Arnold.

Ladder: St Arnaud 40, Boort 38, Birchip Watchem 34, Sea Lake Nandaly 22, Wycheproof Narraport 18, Donald 16, Charlton 12, Nullawil 10, Wedderburn 2.

AFL CENTRAL VICTORIA

GOALS - Inglewood: L. Harris 8, M. Jeffrey 4, J. Luckman, T. Murphy, K. McClellan, E. McCoy. Bridgewater: Not supplied.

BEST - Inglewood: J. Wendels, L. Harris, A. Tresize, M. Jeffrey, O. Mathews, E. McCoy. Bridgewater: L. Lonsdale, S. McMahon, C. Woodhatch, W. Salau, R. Smith.

(71) GOALS - East Loddon: A. Addlem, details incomplete. Marong: H. Bourke, S. Taylor 2, D. Tannock, K. McCaig, K. Harris, K. Terrill, L. Hale, H. Cruise, L. Rielley.

BEST - East Loddon: J. Rasmussen, T. Rasmussen, F. Clymo, J. Addlem, M. Green. Marong: H. Mannix, K. Terrill, F. Waters, L. Hale, B. Rogers, L. Rielley.

NORTH CENTRAL HOCKEY

WEDDERBURN had its second win of the women’s season over Donald on Saturday.

Neve Nisbet, Ava Rose and Haley Smith were the goal scorers in the 3-0 victory while best were Emily Caruana and Hayley Smith.

Boort went down to equal top side Wycheproof Narraport. Best for the Pies were Molly Meadows and Sienna Boyd.

Meanwhile, North Central players to pick up awards at the junior lightning championships included Boort’s Tia Lanyon and Harry Malone.

RESULTS

Under 12: Charlton lost to Birchip Watchem 1-2, Donald d Wedderburn 4-0, Sea Lake Nandaly lost to St Arnaud 0-5, Wycheproof Narraport d Boort 3-1.

Ladder: St Arnaud 92, Wycheproof Narraport 83, Charlton 73, Birchip Watchem 63, Sea Lake Nandaly 37, Donald 37, Wedderburn 10, Boort 0.

Under 15: Charlton lost to Birchip Watchem 2-3, Donald d Wedderburn 5-0, Sea Lake Nandaly lost to St Arnaud 2-3, Wycheproof Narraport lost to Boort 0-4.

Ladder: St Arnaud 88, Birchip Watchem 78, Sea Lake Nandaly 73, Donald 52, Charlton 47, Boort 43, Wycheproof Narraport 10, Wedderburn 10.

Women: Charlton d Birchip Watchem 3-0, Donald lost to Wedderburn 0-3, Sea Lake Nandaly lost to St Arnaud 0-1, Wycheproof Narraport d Boort 4-0.

Ladder: Charlton 93, Wycheproof Narraport 93, Birchip Watchem 67, St Arnaud 58, Sea Lake Nandaly 33, Boort 30, Wedderburn 20, Donald 0.

Men: Charlton d Birchip Watchem 4-1, Sea Lake Nandaly lost to St Arnaud 2-6, Wycheproof Narraport d Boort 6-3.

Ladder: Wycheproof Narraport 88, St Arnaud 86, Boort 78, Donald 43, Sea Lake Nandaly 26, Charlton 26, Birchip Watchem 4.

Geoff Wilson ... again selected in the Victorian team.

All Stars after winning their sixth Loddon Darts Gold Fossickers Cup.

LODDON VALLEY Balls of havoc on swirling rings

GOALSHOOTERS contended with erratic winds hovering over rings when top A Grade sides Pyramid Hill and Marong played out an epic finish on Saturday.

Pyramid Hill had a flying start before the Panthers came back in the second term despite multiple shots for goal seeing the ball swirl above and be blown off the court.

The Bulldogs led by two at the main break before the second half turned into a see-saw game.

Marong held off the better finishing Bulldogs to win by three goals.

Newbridge continued with good form by defeating Bridgewater and almost locking in fifth spot on the ladder, now two games clear of the Mean Machine. 13

clash with undefeated Boort. The Demons took the lead at every break in a tight tussle before Boort, through Roxy Train and Steph Wilson gained some final breathing space to win by four goals on the siren.

Top spot rival Wedderburn had a bigger winning margin, accounting for Donald by 13 goals.

Olivia and Holly Lockhart and Courtney Gleeson were again among the best players.

14

Charlton

(24) d St Arnaud 8, 14, 17, 20, (20).

NORTH CENTRAL

Come from behind win for Pies

WYCHEPROOF Narraport put up a real challenge in the A Grade

Charlton 0, 0, 1, 1, (1) lost to Birchip Watchem 9, 15, 25, 31, (31). Donald d Wed-

derburn 20-0.

Marong’s Mia McCrann-Peters and Jessica Holdstock (Pyramid Hill) in the A Grade action. LH PHOTO

Mikayla Burg (Pyramid Hill) and Katie Bond (Marong) in the B Grade clash. LH PHOTO Pyramid Hill’s B Grade captain Karly Mitchell. LH PHOTO

Sam’s super seven leads fast-finishing Redbacks

SLICKER-FINISHING Wedderburn has fallen 32 points short of upsetting Donald in North Central league on Saturday.

The Redbacks outscored Donald in the final term after the lead had been blown out by the Royals’ seven-goal blitz in the third quarter.

Almost half the Redbacks’ scores for the day came in that final 30 minutes and key was coach Sam Barnes down at fullforward.

Barnes kicked seven goals - for the first time this season able to make the lead, create space and have the ball delivered.

“I got off the leash and put a couple through,” he said after the game.

“As coach, I have been trying to bring others into games and perhaps sometimes you need a bit of a selfish full-forward to get the edge. Guess that happened in the end on Saturday.”

Wedderburn’s centreline of Jordan Rosengren, Darcy Jack-

son and Hamish Lockhart were also up among the best on Saturday.

The Redbacks have lacked strength across the midfield in recent seasons but the trio has proven one of the shining lines this year.

Rosengreen worked overtime at the stoppages and clearance on Saturday and Luke Holt was another of the midfielders who found good touch.

And while Barnes was starring for Wedderburn, Donald had Sam Dunstan in equally good form as he booted six goals for the day.

Former Bendigo Pioneers talent league player Will Burke was best on ground for Donald.

Wedderburn has the bye this weekend and coach Barnes is hoping to see the return from injury of ruckman Adam Postle, captain Corey Lowry and Jones when the Redbacks and Loddon rivals Boort clash at Donaldson Park on July 22.

Defenders deny credit inside 50

BOORT was forced to play catch-up football after conceding the two early first quarter goals to Wycheproof Narraport in Saturday’s North Central clash.

The Pies’ struggles with player depth and goal front inaccuracy were exposed further by blustery conditions and a Demons’ outfit keen to go one better than the drawn result earlier in the season.

Wycheproof Narraport defenders were up to the task, constantly turning over forward thrusts from Boort who would end up have much forward 50 play for the day.

Still depleted by injuries, the Pies were unable to score a goal in the first half but only trailed by 19 points at the main break.

A better second quarter saw the Pies put three behinds on the board while holding their opponents to 1.2.

The second half fightback was driven by Ryan McGhie, Jarrod Fitzpatrick and Tom Potter across the midfield.

SENIORS

GOALS - Sea Lake Nandaly: J. Summerhayes 5, B. McInnes 4, B. Poulton 3, C. Cox, T. Cox, W. Simpson 2, T. McKenzie, T. Donnan. St Arnaud: O. Lowe, J. Male 2, Z. Notting.

BEST - Sea Lake Nandaly: T. Donnan, C. Cox, T. McKenzie, L. Martin, W. Simpson, R. O’Sullivan. St Arnaud: J. Male, O. Lowe, W. Jackson, W. Bertalli, M. Birthisel, N. Birthisel.

(83)

GOALS - Charlton: C. Gavaghan 4, N. Thompson 3, S. Woods 2, R. Thiesz, M. Heenan. Birchip Watchem: N. Gordon 5, B. Edwards 4, N. Rippon, B. Christodoulou, L. Ryan, D. Castellano.

Potter has been consistently in the Pies’ best this season. While a bit off the blistering pace he set in opening games in recent weeks, the youthful Potter slipped back into top form on Saturday.

Fitzpatrick ended the best for Boort in front of goal with two majors while Aitken and full-forward Levi Moss kicked singles.

The Pies actually got back to within a couple of kicks of the lead before Wycheproof Narraport skipped away late in the quarter to win by 25 points.

Boort outscored the home team in that term and finished with equal scoring shots for the match.

The difference in play came down to the defenders. Whenever Boort kicked a goal, the Demons would reply with two. And they had multiple avenues to the sticks that saw seven players score majors.

Spencer Allan, Rick Allan, Joe Kenny and Gedd Hommelhoff were best for

Wycheproof Narraport who remain in the hunt for a top four spot on the ladder.

A slip by Birchip Watchem or Donald could see the Demons jump into possible finals action, the two points from the earlier season draw with Boort compensating for an inferior percentage.

Boort’s injury and availability woes at the weekend saw juniors elevated to the reserves side.

Senior coach Dale Cameron later said he was impressed with the talent coming up through club ranks.

And Cameron himself also pulled on the boots, kicking two goals as the Pies bolted out to a 92-point victory.

Charlton has shown its upset win over Boort a fortnight ago was the fair dinkum indication of improvement looming in the second half of the season.

The Navies put in a stunning third quarter the draw level with Birchip Watchem on Saturday before the Bulls snuck home by two goals.

Strength boosters tipped to gain selection night nod

BOORT could field its best team in a month when the Pies take on finals’ bound Donald on Saturday.

Mid-season recruit Luke Dowdle is expected to be named in the midfield after returning from overseas. Dowdle is another North Heidelberg recruit lured to Boort Park this year.

Selectors are also hoping ruckman Na-

than Twigg will be back in the side after recovering from a heavy knock last month.

Coach Dale Cameron is also tipping the likely return of Jim Wilson, Shane Biggs and Matthew Chisari.

The Pies have continued to struggle in front of goal and the inclusion of even just two or three will give renewed drive

IN FRONT OF GOAL SENIORS

49 - (6) - Sam Dunstan - Donald

43 - (4) - Ben Edwards - Birchip Watchem

33 - (4) - Billy Mcinnes - Sea Lake Nandaly

32 - (7) - Sam Barnes - Wedderburn

31 - (0) - Adam Thomson - Nullawil

30 - (5) - Nathan Gordon - Birchip Watchem

25 - (1) - Tom Campbell - Wedderburn

24 - (0) - Joshua Jenkins - Sea Lake Nandaly

23 - (1) - Gedd Hommelhoff - Wycheproof N

23 - (3) - Nick Thompson - Charlton

22 - (2) - Will Simpson - Sea Lake Nandaly

21 - (1) - Daniel Castellano - Birchip Watchem

19 - (2) - Jarrod Fitzpatrick - Boort

RESERVES

39 - (0) - Billy Poulton - Sea Lake Nandaly

30 - (0) - Ben Brennan - Wycheproof N

28 - (3) - Callum Goode - Birchip Watchem

27 - (0) - Sam Goldsmith - Nullawil Reserves

25 - (6) - Patrick O’Rourke - Boort

as they take on Donald that cannot afford to drop a game.

The Royal Blues are expected to have their big mid-season recruit lining up for the first time. Former Fremantle and Casey Scorpions defender Peter Faulks will add to their potency.

It’s Donald on form but a strengthened Boort can cause mischief on home turf.

THIS SATURDAY

LODDON HERALD TIPS

St Arnaud v Charlton Birchip Watchem v Wycheproof Narraport Boort v Donald Nullawil v Sea Lake Nandaly

Wedderburn bye

BEST - Charlton: J. Taylor, S. Woods, C. Gavaghan, N. Thompson, P. Soulsby, B. Dixon. Birchip Watchem: N. Gordon, N. Rippon, D. Hinkley, M. Rippon, J. Randall, D. Reid. Wycheproof

(62)

GOALS - Wycheproof Narraport: D. Horbury, R. Allan 2, B. Brennan, R. Jones, J. Turner, K. Hommelhoff, G. Hommelhoff. Boort: J. Fitzpatrick 2, L. Moss, B. Aitken.

BEST - Wycheproof Narraport: S. Allan, R. Allan, J. Kenny, G. Hommelhoff, K. Hommelhoff, J. Walsh. Boort: R. McGhie, J. Fitzpatrick, T. Potter, S. Green, N. McLaren, M. Hodoras,.

(77)

GOALS - Donald: S. Dunstan 6, S. Dinnell 3, R. Bath, T. Grant 2, C. Anderson, R. Young, J. Potter. Wedderburn: S. Barnes 7, M. McEwen 2, J. Rosengren, D. Benaim, T. Campbell.

BEST - Donald: W. Burke, R. Barrack, T. Grant, J. Potter, R. Young, S. Dunstan. Wedderburn: J. Rosengren, S. Barnes, D. Jackson, H. Lockhart, M. Mcewen, L.

RESERVES

GOALS - Birchip Watchem: C. Goode 3, T. Colbert 2, J. Goldsmith, T. Wiantara, K. Leith, J. Ryan.

- Charlton: T. Catherine, L. Holmes-Brown, D. Fitzpatrick, D. Whykes, H. Bourke, J. Lanyon. Birchip Watchem: A. Noonan, T. Colbert, J. Ryan, J. Noonan, M. Love.

GOALS - Donald: B. Burke, B. Dixon 2, G. Beckham, B. Griffiths, M. Donnellon. Wedderburn: J. Douglas, G. Riley 3, C. Hargreaves. BEST - Donald: K. Green, G. Beckham, B. Dixon, D. Hawkes, J. Talty, T. Letts. Wedderburn: D. Keuken, C. Lang, K. Wright, T. Webster, L. Price, M. Lockhart. Sea Lake N 3.2 9.6 13.12 21.15 (141) St Arnaud 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 (0)

GOALS - Sea Lake Nandaly: N. Wight 9, M. Cahoon 4, C. Tait 3, C. Allan, Z. Wemyss 2, J. Donnan.

BEST - Sea Lake Nandaly: L. McClelland, M. Cahoon, A. Collins, C. Allan, N. Wight, C. Tait. St Arnaud: H. Meagher, R. Kirk, S. Penfold, E. Swanton, K. Torney, H. Darby.

(16)

(108)

- Wycheproof Narraport: Z. Cruse, H. Fawcett. Boort: P. O’Rourke 6, D. Cameron, C. O’Rourke, K. Streader 2, J. Hird, N. Scott, B. Slatter, M. Buchanan, J. Sheahan.

BEST - Wycheproof Narraport: R. Botheras, K. Henshaw, T. Rumbold, T. Keane, Z. Cruse, W. Allan. Boort: P. O’Rourke, B. Slatter, M. Buchanan, N. Gooding, O. Toose, A. Cockerell.

Seven goals ... Wedderburn coach Sam Barnes

Winds blow mischief

ERRACTIC winds did more to tame Marong at Mitchell Park on Saturday than the injury-depleted Pyramid Hill in Saturday’s Loddon Valley round.

What the pouncing Panthers lacked in adjusting to conditions, they made up with defensive turnovers weaving back through Pyramid Hill’s midfield with handballs, cross-ground kicks and deep moves forward.

The pressure on Pyramid Hill’s defenders was relentless and too often broken as Marong exploited gaps in the normallysolid Bulldog game plan.

The Bulldogs were down near enough to half a team of regulars as injuries have taken a huge toll on the league’s No 2 side.

Dylan Morison, Sebastian Relouw and Zac Dingwall were constantly under pressure, often sending Pyramid Hill back to the midfield.

Richard Tibbett was solid across halfback for Marong and his tenacity set up

Experienced

TWO wins in two weeks - the jump is back with Mitiamo and has the Superoos poised for a solid run to the end of the season.

They handed finals-bound Inglewood a football lesson and reversed the scoreline from earlier in the season with a spectacular performance led by Jay Reynolds, Luke Lougoon, Ross Turner and Doug Thomas.

Reynolds finished the day with nine of the club’s 15 goals.

The final 67-margin amounted to a 15goal improvement for Mitiamo against

success on the scoreboard where Taylor added six goals and Grenfell four.

Pyramid Hill was able to land one tackle but not follow up as Marong popped the ball over heads and forward.

Two quick snap goals from Jimmy Gadsden and Kyle Manley mid-way through the second showed the superiority of Marong.

Pyramid Hill was unable to score a goal for the day as Marong registered another 100-point plus win.

Adrian Holland rucked hard for the Bulldogs with Bryden Morison constantly battling for the crumbs.

Marong also had a dominance, if wayward at times, around the boundary as winds pushed the ball wide constantly in the first half.

The Panthers, with numbers at the ready, always quickly regaining control of play and constantly surging like the wind towards goals.

Pyramid Hill’s Matthew Moon. LH PHOTO

hands behind reality check

Inglewood this season. Inglewood was without the Polack brothers, Ingram, McGaw and Nevins - all regularly in the Blues’ best this season - and lost key midfielder Dovovitch with an ankle injury early in the game.

But in the end it was Mitiamo who had greater hunger for the ball, powering on from a slender five-point lead at the first break.

The Superoos also had a better setup around the ground to expose for the first time this season the still developing depth at Inglewood.

They also handled the weather better. While not a lot of rain at Inglewood when it fell, it was horizontal.

Blues’ coach Darrell Billett has praised Mitiamo for their superb performance and improvement in the second half of the season.

“We didn’t read the conditions, Miti did and that showed on the scoreboard,” Billett said. “The result showed that our greater depth is not quite what I thought it was.”

Inglewood is expected to regain six players for this weekend.

Brief lapse goals

TWO quick Anthony Dennis-inspired goals gave Calivil a brief moment of momentum in the final term against Bears Lagoon Serpentine.

Coach Dennis kicked one and then set up the score by Jake Lawry before the Bears resumed their steamroller game plan to win by 100 points.

Justin Laird and Zass each kicked four for the Bears and Andrew Gladman three in a dominant display by the visitors. Zass’s goal late in the final term came after he marked a well-placed chip kick from Bailey Harrison.

Aidan Brohm was in control in the ruck and for the fourth game in succession named the Bears’ best while Laird and Charlie Gadsden were also key.

Bragging rights to shape top five go on the line

BACK in April it was unconceivable Newbridge and Mitiamo would be playing in a top billing Loddon Valley match.

But after recent form surges, Saturday’s clash between the Maroons and Superoos will almost overshadow other matches.

The winner will emerge with bragging rights - the club with little or no chance of making the finals with the capacity to shape where top five sides finish on the ladder.

SENIORS

Both starred last Saturday. The Superoos claimed a massive turnaround against Inglewood.

In fact, the record shows in recent weeks that the Mitiamo outfit has improved 15 goals.

Reynolds, Clohesy and Lougoon are a pretty experienced trio and they should give the Superoos an edge against an also-improving Newbridge.

Pyramid Hill has been shattered by injuries and availability but the experience

IN FRONT OF GOAL

81 - (4) - Brandyn Grenfell - Marong

42 - (2) - Kain Robins - Marong

39 - (0) - Joshua Martyn - Bridgewater

35 - (6) - Ryley Taylor - Marong

34 - (0) - Matthew Riordan - Marong

30 - (0) - Charlie McGaw - Inglewood

29 - (3) - Andrew Gladman - BL Serpentine

27 - (4) - Justin Laird - BL Serpentine

26 - (9) - jay reynolds - Mitiamo

24 - (0) - Bailey George - Pyramid Hill

SENIORS

GOALS - Inglewood: B. Cauchi, F. Payne, K. Payne, T. Kennedy, C. Wright. Mitiamo: J. Reynolds 9, A. Cussen 2, T. Rasmussen, D. Thomas, S. Wright, R. Turner.

Calivil 2.1 3.4 4.5 8.5 (53) BL Serpentine 5.5 11.10 18.15 23.15 (153)

GOALS - Calivil: J. Lawry, M. Avard 2, K. Newton, L. Brook, B. Baker, A. Dennis. Bears Lagoon Serpentine: J. Laird, K. Zass 4, A. Gladman 3, J. Rippingale, N. Kemp, J. Bailey, H. Gadsden 2, L. Mott, C. Draper, B. Harrison, J. Addlem.

BEST - Calivil: C. Thompson, M. Avard, L. Brook, E. Ritchie, T. Martin, H. Wall. Bears Lagoon Serpentine: A. Brohm, J. Laird, C. Gadsden, L. Mott, B. Harrison, H. Gadsden.

Newbridge

1.4 4.6 6.8 10.10

GOALS - Newbridge: A. Fortune 3, C. Dixon 2, A. Fithall, C. Sanders, A. Mayo, J. Murray, S. Gale. Bridgewater: L. Cohen 2, T. Estrada, N. Naughton, B. Derrick, J. Green, B. Stepien, D. Wood.

22 - (0) - Zach Alford - Pyramid Hill 20 - (1) - Jack McCaig - Marong

20 - (1) - Keelan Payne - Inglewood

RESERVES

43 - (0) - Rowan Pollock - Pyramid Hill

32 - (1) - Bradley Matthews - Marong

20 - (0) - Clay Anstee - BL Serpentine

20 - (1) - Kyle Simpson - Inglewood

18 - (3) - Joel Pianto - Mitiamo Reserves

of the Bulldogs should prove too much for Bridgewater in what will likely be an animated clash.

Inglewood will be strengthened with the return of several key players who had been consistently in the Blues’ best until unavailable last week. Bruised by Mitiamo, the Blues should bounce back against Maiden Gully.

The final match of the round has Marong at home to Calivil. The Panthers will be challenged for a few moments.

THIS SATURDAY

LODDON HERALD TIPS

Bridgewater v Pyramid Hill

Newbridge v Mitiamo

Maiden Gully v Inglewood Marong v Calivil

Pyramid Hill 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.4 (4) Marong 4.3 10.6 13.8 19.10

(124)

Marong 12 12 0 1933 315 613.65 48 Pyramid Hill 11 9 2 1163 718 161.98 36 BL Serpentine 12 9 3 1198 917 130.64 36 Inglewood 12 6 6 1081 1080 100.09 24 Bridgewater 12 6 6 791 857 92.30 24 Mitiamo 11 3 8 662 1210 54.71 12 Newbridge 12 3 9 573 1283 44.66 12 Calivil 11 2 9 604 1078 56.03 8 Maiden Gully 11 2 9 504 1051 47.95 8 RESERVES Inglewood 2.3 3.5 4.6 6.10 (46) Mitiamo 3.2 4.5 8.5 8.8 (56)

BEST

C. Williams.

- Inglewood: J. Mills, M. Jeffrey, E. Wright, K. Healey, J. Sleep, M. Hunt. Mitiamo: A. McKean, M. Watson, M. Galvin, J. Rawlings, J. Watt,

Marong

1.3 1.3 1.4

3.3 5.4 9.6 11.7

GOALS - Pyramid Hill: P. Walker. Marong: T. Thach 3, R. Hender, G. Dowler 2, B. Matthews, A. Collins, N. McCaig, J. Evenden.

Bridgewater

0.0 0.1 1.5 2.8 (20)

Marong 12 12 0 1371 264 519.32 48 BL Serpentine 12 10 2 712 555 128.29 40 Pyramid Hill 11 7 4 825 524 157.44 28 Inglewood 12 5 7 758 651 116.44 20 Newbridge 12 5 7 696 654 106.42 20 Maiden Gully 11 5 6 521 688 75.73 20 Mitiamo 11 3 8 491 703 69.84 12 Bridgewater 12 3 9 414 838 49.40 12 Calivil 11 2 9 264 1175 22.47 8

Cody Anderson clears defence for Calivl in Saturday’s match against Bears Lagoon Serpentine. LH PHOTO

sport

Thursday July 13, 2023

MID-YEAR BLUES

By CHRIS EARL

UMPIRES are cracking down on dangerous tackles as mid-year injury woes and frustrations hit Loddon Valley football.

One weekend senior match saw umpires dish out 17 50-metre penalties and the men in white are being schooled to detect cues for bad tackles and prohibited contact.

The umpire blitz comes as a Bridgewater player copped a four-week ban for a tackle on Inglewood’s Gabe Nevins.

The Blues’ rising star was left unconscious in the July 1 clash

n Umpires’ sling crackdown

n Huge 50-metre free stat

before recovering off the field. Nevins was one of five key Inglewood players missing from Saturday’s lineup that went down to rapid season improver Mitiamo.

The Bridgewater player was charged after umpires reviewed the match video. He gave the AFL Central Victoria match review officer an early guilty plea last week that reduced the suspension to three weeks.

Mid-season frustrations have seen on-field skirmishes at sev-

eral Loddon Valley games in the past month and instances of sling tackles.

Bendigo Umpires’ boss Dean Goodridge said umpires from the weekend’s Newbridge-Bridgewater match had also requested to review video footage.

However, according to Goodridge, the videographer engaged to record the match did not turn up at the Newbridge ground.

Players and spectators at the Newbridge senior game were

left confused and bemused when field umpires dished out 50-metre penalties on average every five minutes.

Goodridge wants league coaches to end their ignorance of legal tackling.

He said umpires were looking for cues - excessive body rotation, lifting players off the ground, head or body pinned in a vulnerable position - in blowing the whistle on dangerous tackles and prohibited contact.

“We are spending 75 per cent of our coaching sessions looking at (how to detect) the cues,” he said. “And video vision is helping umpires identify a dangerous tackle as part of our training.”

Loddon Valley, Bendigo and North Central leagues have video footage available for umpires to review and decide whether a player should be reported.

Mid-year blues for clubs have been caused by a combination of injuries, school holidays and player availability.

Top three club Pyramid Hill was without more than half its senior team when the Bulldogs were rocked by ladder leaders Marong on Saturday.

The Bulldogs expect to start regaining injured stars over the next fortnight and have a solid month running into finals.

WINDS BLOW MISCHIEF - PAGE 19

PYRAMID Hill A Grade netballers battled the Panthers, wind and horizontal rain in the most exciting finish of the weekend’s Loddon Valley round.

The battle of the top teams produced a fast-moving game that saw Marong sneak home by just three goals. In the thick of contending with the swirling wind at Mitchell Park was the Bulldogs’ Jessica Holdstock (above) whole Jemma McNair (right) was another key contributor for Pyramid Hill who has been the mostimproved side in the competition this season.

LH PHOTOS