Loddon Herald 14 March 2024

By CHRIS EARL

THE Halal-linked Avicenna Farm has been put up for sale with a price tag of more than $2 million.

The 613-acre property on the Wimmera Highway, near Newbridge, has been investigated since early this year by Agriculture Victoria after alleged animal management complaints.

Agriculture Victoria last month said its “investigation at Newbridge is ongoing and will continue to evolve over the next few weeks”.

Real estate agent Sherif Ahmed has listed the farm for sale and planned an open for inspection at the farm on Sunday.

Instead, he said a prospective buyer was taken over the property on Saturday night and the inspection cancelled.

On Sunday, sheep and cattle were grazing on the ground with several piles of hay but little pick. Empty cardboard boxes and plastic bags have been blown into fences.

District residents and motorists travelling the Wimmera Highway raised concern about animal welfare over Christmas with claims of several hundred head of sheep dying in barren and rocky paddocks.

Some local farmers have told the Loddon Herald that advice to owners to include grain and other nutrients in feeding plans had been ignored.

One experienced farmer said:

“This is not land you can heavily graze. Yes, it comes back quickly but then turns barren just as fast.

“People come up from Melbourne and think there’s quick money in farming. It’s not like that at all and definitely not on this land.

“You have to careful about how much stock you run on this country.”

Residents have told the Loddon Herald that Agriculture Victoria officers had been seen entering and leaving the property several times a week since midJanuary.

According to earlier property searches, the farm has been owned by Western Fruit and

Vegetables, Tarneit, since October 2021, with Trustworthy Nominees Pty Ltd listed as the mortgagee.

Online searches have shown Avicenna Farms is part of a sheep farming and breeding program by Singapore-based HalalXpert Pte Ltd, Wonderz Pty Ltd and Malaysia-based ARK Group of Companies Pte Ltd.

Wonderz is registered at a Mickelham address with its only listed director living in Malaysia.

Avicenna’s telephone number is the same as the Queenslandbased Halal Centre Australia.

Loddon Shire Council has also been investigating alleged clearing of native vegetation on the farm.

Council said officers continued to investigate “the circumstances that led to the clearing of native vegetation on the land. The landowners are assisting us with those enquiries and relevant information has also been provided by the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action. As this remains an ongoing investigation, it would be inappropriate to provide any further details at this time.”

Fire brigades were called to three separate fires at Avicenna Farm late last year. A person was later charged by police.

Mr Ahmed said the farm would be auctioned on-site next month. An indicative price of between $2 million and $2.2 million has been put on the property. An adjoining 150-acre property will be auctioned the same day with an indicative price between $730,000 and $800,00.

The Loddon Herald is not suggesting sale of the farm is linked to the probes.

Loddon HERALD

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WEEKEND FORECAST

Willing helper honoured with top women’s award

KOOYOORA Women’s Network has presented its annual volunteer of year award to Julie Ramsay.

Julie received the award at last week’s network dinner on the eve of International Women’s Day.

The Newbridge resident was hailed for being a willing helper and always busy in community activities.

Network president Colleen Condliffe presented the award.

“Julie has supported husband Frazer on the family farm since returning to the district and is always a willing participant,” she said.

“Julie joined the CWA and was treasurer for many years and is known for co-ordinating catering at local events and organising annual Australia Day and Anzac Day ceremonies in Newbridge.”

Julie, who sang with the Benola Singers in Bendigo, has continued to be part of district choirs and has been an elder and treasurer at Dunolly Uniting Church.

“Julie often takes services and tries hard to keep the toy section of the church op-shop ready for kids to play in,” Colleen said.

Julie told people at the dinner in Bridgewater she was honoured to receive the award.

Guest speaker at the dinner was Inglewood post office owner Kylie Turner who has returned to the district to take on the business.

Kylie spoke of following dreams and being prepared to back ideas “and always having a go.” She also spoke about plans for the relocation of the post office to Brooke Street this year.

International Women’s Day was also celebrated with morning

teas organised by Dingee Bush Nursing Centre, Boort District Health and the Tarnagulla community last Friday.

The theme for International Women’s Day this year was Invest in women: Accelerate progress.

IN BRIEF

Small hall gig

SERPENTINE-BASED singersongwriter and guitarist Lou Green will be on stage when the Festival of Small Halls rolls into Pyramid Hill next Thursday, playing alongside Svavar Knutur from Iceland and folk duo The Maes.

Earlier results

SCHOOLS will receive their NAPLAN test results earlier this year. Tests start in local schools this week and the Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority said on Monday schools could expect results within a month of tests being completed on March 24.

‘In the cold’

FACEBOOK owner Meta’s decision to stop paying news publishers for content should sound the alarm bell for regional media outlets, said Member for Mallee Anne Webster. Dr Webster said she agreed with the Country Press Australia president Andrew Schreyer’s assessment that it was a devastating blow, noting that Meta would keep paying the CPA outlets “until it expires” and would not be renewed.

Fire permits

PERMITS will be considered for farmers wanting to burnoff from this week. The CFA said Schedule 13 permitsburning when during a fire restriction period - will be considered in Loddon, Gannawarra and Campaspe Shires.

Julie Ramsay receives her award from Colleen Condliffe. LH PHOTO

Pools busy on final days

HUNDREDS OF Loddon people and visitors flocked to swimming pools over the long weekend before gates shut for the season on Monday evening.

Pools at Boort, Inglewood, Mitiamo, Pyramid Hill and Wedderburn were refuges for families and youngsters as temperatures hit the high 30s for consecutive days.

One of the busiest pools was Inglewood where more than 100 people came through the gates each afternoon. Patronage at that pool set daily records for the 2023-2024 season.

Loddon’s five pools have been managed for the past three seasons by Belgravia Leisure. The three-year contract expires before the next swimming season.

“Council is currently completing background work to inform the direction going forward regarding the pool operations contract following the expiration,” said Loddon Shire’s wellbeing director Wendy Gladman.

Council has also started a study of open space, recreation and aquatic centres to develop a 10-year strategy. “The strategy will inform how the council can encourage people to be more active,” the shire has said.

Mitiamo pool this season was again hit with equipment failures that closed the pool for two weeks last month.

Police station vacancy will be advertised

VICTORIA Police has committed to advertising the station vacancy at Pyramid Hill.

One of three northern Loddon stations without a permanent officer, Victoria Police last week confirmed it was “in the process of advertising the position at Pyramid Hill”.

The statement did not say when the vacancy would be advertised.

Resident Kel Stewart told the Loddon Her-

ald last month that the town wanted a permanent police presence.

“We hope Victoria Police advertises the position quickly. It will be good to have someone back around town all the time,” she said this week.

Pyramid Hill’s last permanent officer retired last year while Boort and Serpentine are also without permanent police.

Victoria Police last Wednesday said:

“While we are filling this position, an additional police member has been deployed to Pyramid Hill.

“Police from Wedderburn and nearby stations also regularly conduct patrols in the area to ensure an appropriate response is available. If you require immediate police assistance, always call Triple Zero.”

IN BRIEF

Review plans

EAST LODDON P12 College will conduct a whole school review in term three. Principal Steve Leed said: “As part of this process, we will be seeking feedback from a range of sources both in the lead-up to the review, and during the actual review itself.”

Egg record hunt

WEEDERBURN College is aiming to break its 2023 record for Easter eggs donated for fundraising activities at its fete this month. Principal Danny Forrest said: “So far - we have 57 Easter Eggs donated. Last year we set a record of 198 donated easter eggs and we’re hoping to go higher this year.”

Can collectors

BRIDGEWATER Primary School’s junior school council is collecting bottles and cans to raise funds through the Victorian Container Deposit Scheme.

Trust grant

WEDDERBURN is among 48 cemetery trusts across the state to receive a grant under the State Government’s grant program. The $1000 grant aims to support infrastructure, facilities, maintenance, equipment and training.

Send your local news to loddonherald@gmail.com

The Wilson and Van Doors families at Inglewood pool on Monday. LH PHOTO

Towns in eye of new flood mapping tool

BRIDGEWATER and Newbridge will be part of an online flood mapping tool funded by the Federal and State Governments.

Emergency Services Minister Jaclyn Symes stood on the banks of the Loddon River that were swamped in the October 2022 floods to make the announcement. She said North Central Catchment Management Authority would receive more than $448,000 in Risk and Resilience funding to support three projects.

The FloodEye mapping tool will help monitor flood information for Newbridge, Bridgewater, Clunes, Echuca and Quambatook

The Loddon flood warning sys-

tem review will examine in the flood warning systems available to communities in the Loddon catchment, Ms Symes said traditional owner and floodplain management in the Gannawarra Shire would be funded to “better incorporate guidance from traditional owners in floodplain management and flood response activities”.

NCCMA officers took Ms Symes through flood mitigation research in the region for Wedderburn, Korong Vale, Inglewood, Tarnagulla, Moliagul and Bealiba. Waterways and floodplain project manager Nathan Treloar said Wedderburn had significant risk

of flooding because of its small catchment area driving water into creeks.

He said a flash flood took less than six hours to happen after rain started falling.

Chief executive officer Brad Drust said mitigation was a partnership and the studies would

Upper catchment has risk warning gap

WARNINGS before the October 2022 flood had been inaccurate for Newbridge, Loddon Shire chief executive officer Lincoln Fitzgerald told Ms Symes when she announced funding in the town on Friday.

Mr Fitzgerald said residents had been told to prepare for moderate flooding only for a major flood warning to be issued at 5am

on October 14. He was backed by Mayor Gavan Holt who told Ms Symes and NCCMA boss Brad Wust that communities did not accept poor warnings.

NCCMA waterways and floodplain project manager Nathan Treloar said towns in the lower Loddon catchment had weeks to prepare for floods but upper Loddon areas - that include New-

bridge and Bridgewater - had only hours.

Mr Treloar said current warnings issued by the Bureau of Meteorology were based on readings at Appin South.

“That’s good for Kerang ... for the rest of the catchment there’s northing ... a significant lack of information,” Mr Treloar said in Newbridge.

give reliable models for flood scenarios.

Ms Symes said NCCMA reviews would collect evidence on where improvements were needed.

“We’ll never be able to eradicate natural disasters – however we can ensure local communities are better prepared for when

they occur. I look forward to following the success of these crucial projects,” she said.

“These programs highlight the incredible work local organisations are doing to reduce the risk of natural disasters and build resilience within their communities.”

Inglewood and Districts Health Service

IDHS is thrilled to announce the highly anticipated return of the

Friday, April 19th at 7:30 pm.

Wedderburn Mechanics Institute Hall 92 High Street Wedderburn

Jelena will share her captivating journey, drawing from her bestselling autobiography "Unbreakable."

Attendees can engage in a Q&A session with this incredible and inspirational woman.

Doors open from 5:30 pm.

Entertainment- Local Singer Mikala McNeil.

The Women of Wedderburn night is strictly a ticketed event through the QR-

Drinks available on the night

Under 18 years to be accompanied by an adult

Any inquiries to Cindy Gould IDHS on 54317000 or cgould@idhs.vic.gov.au

Jaclyn Symes, Mayor Gavan Holt and Ripon MP Martha Haylett. LH PHOTO

Op-shop part of old hotel plans

INGLEWOOD Ambulance Op-Shop expects to move to a new premises within months.

Co-ordinator Faye Orange and volunteers had been left searching for a home after its long-time shop building in Brooke Street was put on the market.

From mid-year the op-shop expects to be trading from part of the old Royal Hotel after talks with one of the historic building’s owners Graham Francis.

“It’s a huge weight lifted from the shoulders,” Fay said after receiving the key to the original Masonic lodge room section of the 1863 hotel that has been closed for more than three years.

Mr Francis, of GWF Holiday Rentals, said he was developing concepts to convert the

second storey of the building designed by noted goldfields architects William and Robert Getzschmann into apartments and Airbnb accommodation.

“Downstairs in the front section we are looking at creating a wine bar where local wineries can showcase their products, something different but complimentary to what the town already has,” Mr Francis said.

He said the old lodge room facing Verdon Street to be used by the op-shop was self-contained within the hotel building and he wanted to support the town.

Faye said new premises would allow the op-shop to continue more than 40 years of fundraising in the community.

Ward review hearing set

A PUBLIC hearing will be held next Tuesday on a Victoria Electoral Commission proposal to redraw Loddon Shire ward boundaries.

The VEC review received two submissions during the brief consultation period.

Loddon Shire Council CEO Lincoln Fitzgerald told the VEC that council had noted “the ward boundary review process and (to) promote opportunities for community input”

“Councillors further resolved that Loddon Shire Council make a submission ... in favour of the preliminary report,” Mr Fitzgerald said in the council’s submission.

The VEC has put up one proposal, carving some areas around Bridgewater from the Inglewood Ward and transferring voters to the Tarnagulla Ward.

The Loddon Herald used its comment article suggesting the return of Korong Vale to Wedderburn Ward, Bridgewater into Tarnagulla Ward and Serpentine into Boort Ward with district boundary adjustments as an alternative for consideration by the VEC.

The online public hearing will be next Tuesday at 2pm.

The review was ordered by the State Government although none of the shire’s five wards exceed the 10 per cent enrolment differential or projected to be outside the range by October’s council elections.

The VEC will release its final report on April 17 with the final decision on new ward boundaries to be made by Local Government Minister Melissa Horne soon after.

Town market roaring back into action

CRAFT and produce stalls will be back on the streets of Inglewood this Saturday drumming up sales at the first Lions monthly market in almost three years.

COVID restrictions and concerns for safe crossing of Brooke Street by shoppers put an end to the market in 2021.

But a new location around the town hall and enthusiasm from stallholders across the region will see the market’s relaunch.

Organiser Eddie Sydor said: “The stall-

VNI West – delivering benefits for the community and Victoria

VNI West is an important infrastructure project to build a new transmission line between Victoria and New South Wales. TCV recognises that the project is causing concern in some communities and will continue to work closely with local landholders and communities across the draft corridor for the VNI West project as we progress.

Why is VNI West needed?

As coal-fired power stations retire, we will need new sources of electricity to improve the reliability and security of supply.

New transmission lines are needed to connect power from renewable generation as well as new gas, hydro and batteries with our homes and businesses.

What

are the benefits of VNI West?

VNI West will deliver a range of benefits to local communities and more broadly, such as: Strengthen

holders have missed coming to Inglewood, the town has missed a monthly event that brings people here and the Lions Club has aso missed running the market.

“We’ve good a good number of stalls already booked in with more indicating they would like to join us in coming months,” he said.

“Mr Sydor said stalls would be open for customers from around 9am and trade through to 1pm.

Freecall: 1800 824 221

Email: enquiries@transmissionvictoria.com.au

Website: transmissionvictoria.com.au

John Little and Faye Orange prepare to open a new chapter of fundraising for Inglewood’s ambulance op-shop. LH PHOTO

Passion, love of jamboree etched in new plaque

VISITORS to Wedderburn’s Hard Hill Tourist Reserve will see a lasting tribute to the achievements of volunteer passion after the unveiling of a plaque on Saturday.

Local tourism association president Karen Fazzani unveiled the plaque honouring Robbie Collins as hundreds again descended on the hall for the town’s annual detector jamboree.

The plaque will be placed on the eucalyptus stewpot, one of Robbie’s great passions in development of the reserve until his death in December.

“Hard Hill Tourist Reserve has been a passion of Robbie’s since the commencement of restoration work in late 1998,” she said.

“Robbie had a stewpot given to him by the late Eric Nesbit and was going to install it in his backyard to stew eucalyptus while training his greyhounds.

“But in late 1998 Robbie took a drive to Hard Hill and came back to Wedderburn Tourism offering to install the pot at Hard Hill.”

Karen said Robbie, who had served as president and vicepresident of Wedderburn Tourism in organising the jamboree, had continued a passionate commitment to the organisation and

oversaw operation of the stewpot until last year. His commitment saw him become the organisation’s first life member in 2015.

“This plaque is a small token of our appreciation to a special man who made a huge contribution to Wedderburn, to tourism and the community and who will be sorely missed as will his jokes.”

The weekend’s jamboree, originally known as Wedderburn Gold Festival in 1997, adjusted activities this year as extreme heat conditions rolled across the region.

Competitors in the senior and junior detector hunts stopped hunting for hidden keys soon after 1pm each day, relaxing in the shade of Hard Hill reserve where dozens of caravans formed a camp for the weekend.

Karen said continued support from sponsors including Minelab helped with the jamboree’s enduring success.

Garage sales and the Coach House provided extra activities for competitors and their families who made to visit to Wedderburn, many regulars at the jamboree for almost three decades.

Results from the jamboree - Senior

1, Lester Fisher 2, Gabrielle Anfang

3. Junior - 3-7 years James Milgate

1, Jesse Drew 2, Rory Cain 3. 11-13 years: Kara Seja 1, Alex Burrows 2, James Milgate 3. 14-15 years: Max Pinton-Mason 1, Eliza Seja 2, Juliet Ryan 3.

Jodie unlocks golden experiences

SATURDAY’S frustrations turned to Sunday joy for Jodie Liddell when her detector kept beeping on Hard Hill.

The Melbourne gold detectorist was back in Wedderburn for her third jamboree and found three keys hidden beneath the surface of the historic mining reserve.

She was at the jamboree with a handful of other members part from the Australiawide and 1000-strong Golden Girls Group.

“I had just brought my first detector a few years back and joined this group of ladies,” Jodie said as her key finds were handed into organisers.

“That was three years ago and I didn’t know anyone in the group. Now I’ve made friends for life.

“We have a buddy map of other detectorists in the group and we go out together on camps and treasure hunts. It’s a real social group.”

Warracknabeal’s Shane Fisher was a

first-time competitor. He said: “Detecting is a bit of fun and you get to explore the bush “Have no thoughts of making money from the hobby. If you did, you would not realistically take up gold detecting,” he said.

detector hunt: James O’Neil. Junior: Eliza Seja 1, Jackson Guelfo 2, Max Pinton-Mason 3. Senior gold panning: Bill Dempster

Jodie Liddell

Robbie Collins’ daughter Robyn Vella with the special plaque and (left) Karen Fazzani and Dede Williams check key records. LH PHOTOS

THE SOAKED BUT SO WHAT BIT

Mid-year connectivity plan date

RELEASE of a digital connectivity plan for Loddon Shire has been pushed out to mid-2024 after talks decided to merge telephone and NBN aspirations into one document.

Council’s tourism and economic development manager David Stretch has told councillors in a new quarterly report that the draft connectivity plan to identify key threats and opportunities in digital connectivity as an economic and community enabler

had been completed. Mr Stretch said there had also been discussions with NBN to promote upgrades to fixed wireless services in Loddon Shire, as well as notifying business and community of associated outages.

“Now (it has been) agreed that Telstra, NBN and Loddon Shire economic development will merge all connectivity plan work into a single document by mid2024,” he said.

Mr Stretch’s report to coun-

FIRE brigades and schools across the Loddon are starting their fundraising preparations for the Royal Children’s Hospital Good Friday Appeal.

One of the first brigades into action is Wedderburn where veteran members and an enthusiast influx of new volunteers last week started mapping out collection routes around town in the week leading up to Good Friday.

The brigade has already put collection tins in local businesses.

This year’s RCH Good Friday Appeal will for the first time also raise funds for major health services in regional Victoria, including Bendigo Health.

NEXT WEEK - JOE PASSES THE BATON

cil’s February meeting came just a fortnight before Emergency Services Minister Jaclyn Symes was questioned in Newbridge on Friday about State Government plans for improved mobile connectivity in the district that was promised in 2021 but not expected to be delivered until 2026.

Ms Symes said that telecommunications was predominantly a Federal Government issue “that the state has in the past delved into out of desperation”.

She also said Parks Victoria and catchment management authorities were reviewing whether signage in high-risk camping areas could be improved. Crown land river camp spots along the Loddon River do not warn campers of poor mobile connectivity that could hinder receiving emergency alerts.

Ms Symes said she was unaware if the issue had been flagged around Newbridge but hoped a new phone tower would fix reception.

Symes says pressure on telco for backup

TELCOS needed to provide more information on their backup plans when power supplies failed, Emergency Services Minister Jaclyn Symes said on Friday.

Ms Symes said the telcos needed to say more on their mitigation plans and backup generators. She said a question for telcos to answer was: “Where are your options for making sure that this community can rely on the service they are paying their bills for.”

James Cook, Jerone Van Veen, Louise Gamble, Harry Hargreaves and Matt Tansley ready to rattle appeal tins

TCV pulls out of talks in ‘meeting style dispute’

TRANSMISSION Company Victoria ditched meetings last Thursday claiming they had not signed up to “town hall style” meetings organised by Mallee MP Anne Webster.

Dr Webster still held meetings in Tragowel and St Arnaud attended by critics of the controversial VNI West renewable energy transmission line project through the Loddon Shire.

Mitiamo’s Nick Marlow was among those to attend what TCV said were to have been roundtable talks attened by Australian Energy Infrastructure Commission Andrew Dyer.

Dr Webster said: “I am disgusted that this government-run body can treat the community with such contempt. I have worked very hard to bring community

members directly affected by the proposed transmission corridor ... yet, through the commissioner and not even direct to me, I learn at 10:48pm the night before the proponent Transmission Company Victoria and AEMO were not be turning up.”

“TCV’s contempt has been on display from the very start and this has the Energy Minister Chris Bowen’s fingerprints all over it. After the embarrassing scaling back of offshore wind zones yesterday, clearly the Albanese and Allan Labor Government are in panic mode.

“I have heard many complaints about TCV’s divide-and-conquer tactics and plainly they did not want to hear from united community members on the impacts this transmission line will have

upon their homes, their farms, firefighting capacity and more. I will now be galvanising these landholders about their rights and encouraging them to build a protest movement.”

TCV said: “The Australian Energy Infrastructure Commissioner suggested that a town hall format would not be effective for the agreed agenda and discussion and would likely be unproductive for the participants.

“In consultation with the Commissioner, AEMO and TCV have decided to postpone the two proposed meetings.

“TCV will make arrangements to meet landholders and local community members in coming weeks, consistent with our ongoing community consultation program.”

Approval backlog irks neighbouring shires

ADMINISTRATION and maintenance resources to have 2022 October flood repair projects approved were significant, according to one Victorian council.

A week after Loddon Shire operations director Steve Phillips called out four levels of bureaucracy to approve projects, he has been backed by Maryborough-based Central Goldfields Shire.

Its manager infrastructure, assets and planning Matthew Irving said only a quarter of more than 2000 projects had been approved.

“Council continues to engage with government agencies to have claims approved for reimbursement of costs associated with completion of these projects,” Mr Irving said.

“To date approximately a quarter of flood repair jobs have been approved. The level of required administrative project management resources invested into the process are significant.

“A review of the process to improve community outcomes and create efficiencies would be warranted in the future. Due to the moderate size of the works program council is confident that all projects will be complete by June 2025.”

The larger Central Goldfields Shire saw Carisbrook significantly hit by floods in 2022.

Loddon Shire is still waiting on approval of almost 900 projects and Mr Phillips said it would be difficult to have them completed by the June 2025 deadline.

In Campaspe Shire based at Echuca and including Rochester, infrastructure director Kate Lemon said only 31 of 714 projects were still to be done.

“Campaspe Shire’s total repairs are approximately 714, of which 31 are outstanding, consisting of the larger jobs (Restoration of Essential Public Assets (REPA) and Victorian Priority Betterment Funding).

“These jobs are large scale, complex jobs that require design and planning. In regard to the 31 REPA projects which are remaining, none of these projects have been approved yet, however majority are still under final preparation for funding, will be submitted this month. REPA projects are the only projects that receive full budget approval prior to works commencing, all other works receive budget approval at the time of claim submission. Campaspe Shire Council is currently on track to have all works completed by March 2025.”

Works are funded through the joint federal-state Disaster Recovery Funding Program. The State Government last week said approval processes should be reveiwed.

Small business bus visit this month

The Small Business Bus is coming to Wedderburn on Tuesday 26 March 2024.

The bus will be located outside the Council O ce, corner High and Kerr Streets, adjacent to 41 High Street, from 10am to 4pm.

Book in for a free 45-minute mentoring session with a Business Recovery Adviser to help you start or build your small business. To make a booking: https://business.vic.gov.au/

Mallee MP Anne Webster at her “round table” talks last Thursday.

Event volunteers Matt Hendy and Geoff Brown

Mark Holland, Jemma and Vicki Gordon sell refreshments

Newbridge’s Wayne Gibbs and Geoff Pyers of St Arnaud

Brendan Sheen, Grace and Graeme Tennant enjoy the big day

Trading hours

Monday – Open 3.00pm

Ms Symes said in Newbridge on Friday that issues with underground power and connections had held up what was required to start work on the project announced in the State Budget three years ago.

“We have a dedicated unit within the Justice Department ... that will co-ordinate that build, so we should see some

movement in due course,” the minister said. “Serpentine has been given the go-ahead and that is being progressed through the agency and I reckon I will have more to say ... “I have literally come out of a meeting that revisited the funding envelope for that development.”

A Government spokesperson last year said: “The Victorian Government is continuing work to deliver a new and im-

proved Serpentine fire station. “Land acquisition was finalised in late 2022, with planning and design activities due to commence shortly.

“The Victorian Government will continue to work with the CFA to identify and support its infrastructure priorities and resourcing needs.”

The volunteer Serpentine Fire Brigade continues to be based in a tin shed with few facilities and only large enough to store the brigade’s CFA tanker.

were in the winner’s circle at Boort Trotting Club’s cups meeting. The

enjoyed success in the special yabby race conducted between features races. The yabby race had been in doubt when early attempts to dish “race starters” from local dams came up with empty nets. A late-night attempt secured the yabbies on cup eve.

Region roads need dollars: Broad

NORTHERN Victoria Region MP Gaelle Broad has called for more State Government funds to fix rural roads after inspecting damage in the area.

“Some of the worst damage was in the Premier’s own electorate of Bendigo East, but the same issues are found right across regional Victoria.” Ms Broad said.

“We found large potholes, very uneven surfaces, broken road shoulders and cracking on the roads.

“Some potholes are more than 20cm in depth, and the feedback from residents is that on busy roads used by trucks and school buses, they need to wait for other vehicles to pass to avoid potholes.”

Dinner from 6.00pm

Social Darts Night

Tuesday – Open 2.00pm

Dinner from 6.00pm  Trivia Night

Wednesday – Open Midday

Lunch from 12.00pm

Dinner from 6.00pm

Pot’n’Parma Night

Thursday – Open Midday

Dinner from 5.30pm

Steak’n’Pot Night

Friday – Open Midday

Lunch from 12.00pm

Dinner from 5.30pm

Happy Hour 5.00pm – 6.30pm

With Hot Bar Snacks, Meat Raffle

Saturday – Open Midday

Lunch from 12.00pm

Dinner from 5.30pm

Sunday – Open Midday

All Day Pizza Menu  Close 11.00pm

PYRAMID Hill Lions Club volunteers Robyn Spowatt and Julius Domingo were kept busy cooking up lunches and serving refreshments at a farm clearing sale in Sylvaterre this month. Auctioneers FP Nevins and Co engage local service clubs for catering at its major auctions across the district.

LH PHOTO

Maggie Byrne, Connor McNally and Tyler Stringer

trio

LH PHOTO

FLOOD RECOVERY UPDATE BULLETIN

14 MARCH 2024

HEALTH & WELLBEING SUPPORT

Royal Flying Doctor Service - Flying Doctor Wellbeing - Available to those aged 18+. Call (03) 8412 0480.

Rural Financial Counselling Service - free and con dential nancial support - Call 1300 735 578

Mind Australia Bendigo Call 1300 286 463 or visit mindaustralia.org.au

Orange Door - You have a right to be safe - Call 1800 512 359

Australian Community Support Organisation (ACSO) - An intake organisation for Alcohol and other Drugs, Mental health, Youth and other clinical services for the Loddon area.

1800respect - Con dential information, counselling and support service. Call 1800 737 732

Nurse on Call 24 hour caring and professional health advice 1300 60 60 24.

Lifeline: 24hr crisis support and suicide prevention services: 13 11 14 or lifeline. org.au

Beyond Blue Information and support for anxiety and/or depression: 1300 224 636 or beyondblue.com.au

Kids Help Line 24hr phone and online counselling service for people aged 5-25: 1800 551 800 or kidshelpline.com.au

Seniors Rights Victoria - Elder abuse, prevention and support - 1300 368 821

Emerging Minds Provides resources for parents, carers, and families about infant and child mental health: emergingminds.com.au

Translation and Interpreter Services

Provides access to phone and on-site interpreting services. Requests must be submitted at least 48 hours in advance. www.tisnational.gov.au

National Relay Service Assistance making a phone call if you are deaf or have a hearing or speech impediment. Speak and listen number: 1300 555 727.

LOCAL SUPPORT SERVICES

Community Health/Hospitals

Boort District Health

3 Kiniry St, Boort P: (03) 5451 5200

Inglewood and District Health Services

3 Hospital St, Inglewood P: (03) 5431 7000

Northern District Community Health P: (03) 5451 0200

Boort Medical Centre

2 Coutts St, Boort P:(03) 5451 5200

Dingee Bush Nursing Centre

21 King St, Dingee P:(03) 5436 8309

Marong Medical Practice

8 Hospital St, Inglewood P:(03) 5438 3308

Wedderburn Health Clinic

25 Wilson St, Wedderburn P: (03) 5494 3511

Legal Services

Loddon Campaspe Community Legal Service P: 1800 450 909

Neighbourhood Houses

Boort Resource and Information Centre (BRIC) 119-121 Godfrey St, Boort P: (03) 5455 2716

Inglewood Community Neighbourhood House

Cnr Verdon & Market St, Inglewood P: (03)5455 2716

Pyramid Hill Neighbourhood

43 Kelly St, Pyramid Hill P: (03) 5455 7129

Wedderburn

P: (03) 5494 3489

The Loddon Shire Council is pleased to be partnering with Make a Change Australia, bringing their Expand Your Impact program to the Loddon Shire.

It’s FREE from March to June 2024 and all Loddon residents, businesses and organisations are invited to take part.

Expand Your Impact is a collaborative initiative designed to encourage locals to think a little di erently and grow success in any area of life.

Participation can be via subscribing to receive resources; attending online workshops; joining a supportive network, or all the above.

“This program provides useful approaches to develop projects and ideas, and move forward personal, team or organisation goals,” says Karen Corr from Make a Change.

“People participate for many reasons including: reassessing what’s most important, creating new approaches to adapt to change, involving more people in projects and implementing local initiatives more e ectively.”

Wendy Gladman, Council’s Director Community Wellbeing, is particularly interested in Expand Your Impact for the Loddon Shire communities.

Ms Gladman says, “Loddon has strongly connected communities who rally in the face of adversity and look out for each other.  We are so lucky to have such strong community

members who are passionate about caring for their communities and improving where they live. Council is pleased to partner with Jumpleads NFP and other participating councils in the Expand Your Impact Program and provide this opportunity for our residents to reach their own personal goals and achieve great things for their local communities.”

Expand Your Impact explores six key areas useful for making change happen:

 Vision: Discovering and rediscovering ‘what lights YOU UP?’

 Projects: Giving thoughts and ideas the structure to MAKE THEM HAPPEN

 Story: Creating YOUR compelling narrative, to ENGAGE OTHERS

 Audience: Identifying your audience and activating participation to ACHIEVE your goals

 Team: Building networks, growing communities and enlisting SUPPORT

 People: Working together e ectively for GREATER OUTCOMES

FREE from March to June 2024, Loddon residents can get involved in the following ways: Stay in the loop and receive resources Sign up now and keep up-to-date with the latest on this project. Receive a free 6-part email pack, providing inspiration, new ideas and food for thought. Relevant for learning new ways to implement ideas https://bit.ly/eyi2024

Attend online workshops

Come along to FREE online workshops delivered as three interactive sessions, over three consecutive weeks. An opportunity to develop projects and ideas in a supportive format.

Workshops start April 2024. Places limited –Register NOW:

https://events.humanitix.com/host/eyi-2024

More ways to connect

Join the Make a Change Facebook Group to connect with like-minded people. This is a place for anyone who wants to make a change. It’s for sharing knowledge, ideas, inspiration, and support, assisting all to keep going!

www.facebook.com/groups/makeachangeaus

“Expand Your Impact is a chance to take some time out for yourself, learn, re ect, build skills, make projects happen and connect with likeminded people in the community” says Ms Gladman.

“I invite all Loddon residents to take up this terri c opportunity and fast track your goals to make an impact whether for yourself personally, your business or your entire community.”

For more information on the project visit https://makeachange.org.au/expand-yourimpact/

Soils, Decision Making, and What’s Next?

Farmers are being faced with a series of challenges never seen before, which is why making the right decisions about soil is more important than ever. Navigating those choices and nding the opportunities within them is the focus of a FREE forum at the Pyramid Hill Bowling Club from 11am to 2.30pm on Thursday 21 March.

Hear from Think Agri’s Kate Burke, local farmers Jo and Greg Bear, and learn more about the region’s new Soil Health Guide and how it can help you.

Rebecca Mitchell, Agriculture Victoria, will take a deeper look at the new soil health guide, what it covers and how it can help improve your soil management.

This project is delivered by the North Central Catchment Management Authority and Agriculture Victoria, through funding from the Australian Government’s National Landcare Program Smart Farms Small Grants. For bookings go to https://shorturl.at/cfIW0

Farmers praise Blazeaid as Boort camp closes

“Over that time they have helped at eleven properties that registered with them for assistance all within the Loddon Shire.

Korong Vale’s Murray Keller was among farmers who had volunteers based at Boort on the job over the last six weeks.

“These Blazeaid guys have been fantastic helping out many of our local farmers,” Mr Keller said. “They are a fantastic bunch of people.”

Mr Keller lost 1.5km of fencing in the floods, one of many farmers who saw more than 100km of fencing destroyed or damaged as record rainfalls hit the area.

“Volunteers moved to Boort in February after the Christmas floods and based themselves at Boort Park,” Mr Keller said

“In two months they have had 18 volunteers with two teams of four and two in the kitchen and one administrator.

“With the closing of the camp at Boort we only have four volunteers to finish a few jobs.

“Over their time in Boort they have cleaned, pulled down, rolled up and rebuilt fences, the tally for the Boort camp is 17km which is 8km cleared and 9km completed.”

Mr Keller said volunteers always had time for a chat to the farmers.

Blazeaid has since opened two more camps after last month’s fires in Western Victoria - one in Dadswells Bridge and the other at Buangor.

“The volunteers come from all over Australia and stay as long or short time as they like , most of them are retired and love getting out and about helping people. They are truly amazing,” he said.

grain

Biosecurity group will be formed

Pulses

- Faba1 $450. Faba2

Nipper $845. Field pea 1 $450. ISCC nonGM canola $555. ISCC canola

crop

AGRICULTURE Victoria has called for application to join the biosecurity reference group and help implement Victoria’s new biosecurity strategy. Executive Director Katherine Clift said the group would play a vital role in ensuring Victoria’s biosecurity response reflects the entire system. ‘The new Biosecurity Strategy outlines how we can work together to manage biosecurity risks and build our resilience to emerging threats,’ Dr Clift said.

The Australian wool market recorded a solid overall increase last week, driven by strong price rises in the merino fleece sector. The first selling day in the Eastern centres the market was mixed but overall positive. The market closed the day strongly in the West, setting the East up for a robust second day opening. The AWEX Eastern Market Indicator (EMI) added 4 cents for the day. The second day opened dearer as expected, then slowly but noticeably climbed as the sale progressed. All merino fleece Micron Price Guides (MPGs) recorded increases (between 7 and 26 cents). The 10 cent rise in the EMI, was the largest daily rise this calendar year, and the largest since the 13th of December. The EMI added 14 cents for the week, the largest weekly rise of the 2024 calendar year, and the largest weekly rise in the EMI since the close of the 2023 calendar year, where the EMI gained 35 cents for the series. The EMI has now fallen only twice over the last nine selling days, although over this time the market movements have been minimal. The EMI has added 17 cents over this period; however, the average daily movement of the EMI was just 3 cents (both positive and negative movements), across these nine selling days. This small average movement, highlights the stagnant nature of the market over recent months, making this week’s mini spike welcome news to sellers.

This week’s quantity is forecast to rise, due in part to sellers being encouraged to the market. There are currently 42,390 bales rostered nationally. As all centres no longer move if one centre has a local Public Holiday, next week is an unusual selling pattern.

Sydney and Fremantle will sell on Tuesday/Wednesday while Melbourne will sell on Wednesday/Thursday, to accommodate the Melbourne Monday Public Holiday.

Source: AWEX

THE ewe competition at this month’s Loddon Vallery Stud Merino Breeders’ Association Field Day honoured Akeringa stud founder Ian Bennett who died last year aged 98, 65 years after starting farming on Soldier Settler land at Yarraberb Estate. The competition was judged by his son Leigh and Graeme Harvery who are pictured with association president Kevin Hynam (left) and secretary Robyn McGauchie (second from right) at Serpentine’s Janiember Park. LH PHOTO

BOORT Grain Co-op prices on Monday. Wheat (FIS) - H1 $344. H2 $304. APW $284. ASW $281. GP1 $276. Barley (FIS) - Maximus $253. Planet $286. Spartacus $269. Bar1 $261. Bar 2 $251.

(FIS)

$450.

$530. New

2024-2025 - APW MG $289. Bar1 MG $248.

Blazeaid volunteers repair flood-damaged fences in the Loddon

FEATURES | OPINION AND QUIZ

Go direct to access chain of local action

by Cr WENDy MURPhy

DIVISION 5 of the Local Government Act 2020 states “the role of a Councillor is— (a) to participate in the decision making of the council; and (b) to represent the interests of the municipal community in that decision making; and (c) to contribute to the strategic direction of the council through the development and review of key strategic documents of the council, including the council plan.

“In performing the role of a councillor, a councillor must— (a) consider the diversity of interests and needs of the municipal community; and (b) support the role of the council; and (c) acknowledge and support the role of the Mayor; and (d) act lawfully and in accordance with the oath or affirmation of office; and (e) act in accordance with the standards of conduct; and (f) comply with council procedures required for good governance.”

As a councillor, I cannot become involved in or try to influence council staff performing operational matters.

I am only able to make queries through the CEO, not directly to staff. I have encouraged people with operational requests to make them directly to the relevant staff because you as the community can go directly to the source rather than me waiting for the request for information to go from the CEO, along the chain to the staff member then back to the CEO for a reply.

As councillors we are governed by all sorts of Acts, laws and rules.

I often get asked how I’m finding being a councillor and my response is mostly positive.

It has been a huge learning curve and I have appreciated the experience for my own personal growth.

You get some training and guidance along the way, but in the end, the role is what you make of it. I really do enjoy meeting with community, at-

lOCAl PERSPECtIVE

tending meetings to hear what is happening and helping out if I can.

Sometimes I can’t help, but I take time to hear concerns and provide a response. It might not be what you want to hear, but it may help in understanding processes.

But it isn’t all roses. The reading we have to do for council meetings and forums can take hours.

Often 400 pages of reports. That’s twice a month. Time to be found on top of work, family and community pursuits.

My nature is not to be front and centre in anything. I enjoy the community having their stories and achievements highlighted.

But a word left out of a line in a conversation with media or a statement used incorrectly or out of context can lead to a misrepresentation of what was said and can place false labels on you.

With social media being easily accessible to so many, and often taken as gospel, the personal attacks flow freely on the keyboards, but rarely do these same people seek to discuss things to understand.

I don’t respond to the keyboard warriors though. I will respond to people who would like to call or email or catch up face to face for a chat. It always pays to take the time to inform yourself particularly if it is about something that really concerns you.

I know the people of Loddon are positive thinkers, are hardworking and put a lot of effort into your communities. You get good things done. Yes, there are issues impacting individuals which should not be overlooked or trivialised, but the good news stories are important too.

*WendyMurphyisLoddonShire’sInglewood Wardcouncillor

An old record playing same song

THE late withdrawal by Transmission Company Victoria from farmer meetings in the VNI West transmission line corridor last week shows how little has changed in a year for engagement and consultation on the controversial project.

Mallee MP Anne Webster had organised the talks only to see the rug pulled just hours before. TCV later entered into the argy-bargy on the format and attendance at these meetings Dr Webster had called “town hall style”.

TCV has been reluctant and reticent to attend any meetings since announcing the dramatic change of path 12 months ago, unless at forums organised and managed by the company established by the Australian Energy Market Operator to roll out renewable energy transmission lines that will be strung from Stawell to Kerang and go through prime irrigation land in the north of the Loddon Shire.

A rare exception was when representatives from TCV attended a forum organised by the Loddon Herald last May. Negotiations to have TCV involvement in that forum were protracted and confirmation only received in the days before taking place in

by IAN jONES

Wedderburn. We were prepared to have late notification as Dr Webster experienced last week.

Consultation with communities on renewable energy projects has been appalling from the start, promises keep coming that things will improve and, even after a report by the Australian Energy Commissioner highlighting the need for better engagement, TCV (AEMO) continues to give free kicks to critics and opponents.

No matter at what level community consultation is to take place, and irrespective of the project, this form of engagement must be more than seen to be happening. There must be adequate notice of consultation happening through all available avenues.

Whether federal, state or local government, consultation is key to bringing communities on any journey of change, improvement and opportunity. Last minute notification of consultations or cancellations only hinder perceptions and grow cynicism in process and outcome.

20 QUESTION QUIZ

1. How many kilometers are there between the Earth and the Sun to the nearest 10 million?

2. In which year did the Spanish civil war begin?

3. True or false – water boils at 200°F.

4. In Roald Dahl’s ‘Matilda’, what is the name of the head teacher?

5. What is an eight-sided shape called?

6. What is the southernmost country in the world?

7. Name the mode of land transport with two seats and two sets of pedals.

8. A marmoset is what type of animal?

9. What colour are the berries of a rowan tree?

10. What is the fourth letter of

the Greek Alphabet, and also the name of an airline?

11. In rugby league, how many points is a try worth?

12. What type of foodstuff is mascarpone?

13. What does IQ stand for?

14. A goombay is what type of instrument?

15. Who invented the Celius temperature scale?

16. Cortes Generales is the legislative assembly of which country?

17. The Taj Mahal sits on the banks of which river?

18. In the tv show ‘Baywatch’, who played C. J. Parker?

19. The front edge of a plane’s wing is called the what edge?

20. Relating to plastic, what does PVC stand for?

ANSWERS

THE bowling raffle stakes have a new supreme grand champion. The prez at Bridgewater has now completely outdone the amazing record set last year by the Good Doc and His Wife with a win for the fourth straight week. The prez’s sticky fingers have now plucked out a couple of pub vouchers and some great local wine. He says a fifth week is needed to win the meat tray!

ONTO other sporting exploits involving cuisine, the stars of Boort’s C Grade netball side say they are well-positioned to recruit players for their premiership side. Apparently, there’s a few around prepared to line up this season and share in the post-game victory experience.

AND in the drinks department, there were more than a few cricket and tennis players putting in extra yards at the weekend. Some put in more steps during their matches fetching the water container than returning balls.

UNLIKE the detectorists out on Wedderburn’s Hard Hill looking for treasure tokens and gold. They created a somewhat

1. 149 million km 2. 1936

refreshing breeze with the swishing movement of the detector while sipping from backpack water bags.

GOING back in time, when heatwaves saw many days in the 100s (old scale) and air-conditioning was rare, you’d see a water bag strapped to the front bumper of the old FJ. “Made from long flax canvas, its universal handle enables it to be hung on bumper bar, wire fence or on hook or nail,” said a 1959 newspaper advertisement.

HISTORIANS tell us the availability of clean cool drinking water in remote rural locations was essential for survival under the blistering Australian summer sun. This was in a pioneer era when transport, roads and convenience stores were in a lot of “outback” Australia, in short supply and survival was dependent upon what could be carried by vehicle or pack horse.

3. False (212°F)

4. Mrs Trunchbull 5. Octagon 6. Chile 7. Tandem bike 8. Monkey 9. Red 10. Delta 11. Four points 12. Cheese

13. Intelligence Quotient 14. Drum 15. Anders Celsius 16. Spain 17. Jumna

18. Pamela Anderson 19. Leading edge 20. Polyvinyl Chloride

bUShy tAlES

EDItORIAl

Dreams and faitH: the golden find

Kevin and Bep Hillier and their four children were living on Cooglegong, a sheep and wheat farm near Albany when they decided to convert a bus so they could travel around Australia.

As luck would have it the local grader driver had a bus he would sell so 12 months were spent converting it before they made a dash up to Perth then off over the Nullabor Plains, towing their 1967 HR Holden on a trailer.

They eventually reached Cudgewa, near Corryong, where they stopped for three months before heading north to the Bundaberg area.

Although Kevin was working as an itinerant he managed to purchase a metal detector.

However it was not long before he suffered a work place injury.

Kevin and Bep decided to move to the caravan park at Bridgewater on Loddon so that he could go gold detecting.

He had only found a few small nuggets before his back problem worsened hence he had to have an operation.

On recovering Kevin and Bep would go detecting most days, they still only getting small nuggets.

On September 11, 1980 Kevin dreamt that he had found the holy grail. The next morning, without a word of his premonition, he dashed to nearby Inglewood to see Russell Castley. It was there that he described his dream they sketching the nugget.

On September 26 Kevin and Bep went detecting at Moliagal before moving on to Rheola where they hoped to find a large nugget as many had been unearthed there but they had no luck.

As they still had a couple hours to spare before they had to be back in Bridgewater they both tried their luck behind the old Kingower school site.

Bep recalls that she thought she heard a scream but took no

By KEN ARNOLD

notice for some time before there were more excited screams.

Fearing that Kevin had injured himself Bep rushed to him to find him kneeling by a hole, shaking like a leaf in a wind storm.

They both frantically dug around a gold nugget that did not seem to end.

Eventually they lifted the 27kg nugget out of the ground loaded it into their car and drove home slowly, in shock.

Without much fuss they carried the nugget into the motor home before hiding it in a baby bath under their bed.

Mum was the word for severals day until a gold dealer called the following Saturday at which time they christened the nugget The Hand of Faith owing to Bep’s devotion to religion.

The Hilliers were paid a deposit for their nugget, it being taken to Melbourne.

The Hilliers made a dash to Perth so that they would be out of the state when the then Premier of Victoria Dick (Sir Rupert) Hamer made the announcement of the discovery on television.

As this was some days later and as nobody knew the identity of the finder, Russell Castley, on seeing the news jumped out of his chair declaring somebody had found Kevin’s dream nugget.

On returning to Bridgewater the family packed up ready to make a hasty retreat but before the taxi could arrive, Evelyn, a resident at the park rushed down with a huge jar of 20 cent coins saying “I don’t know what your problem is but I want you to have these.”

Kevin purchased a new Toyota Landcruiser troupe carrier.

It was to be sometime before the Federal Government allowed the nugget to be sold to the Golden Nugget casino in Las Vegas, for the equivalent of US$1,000,000.

FEATURES

The nugget was eventually placed in a locked revolving show case at the casino which is in the old part of Las Vegas, not too distant from the property where the Pawn Stars television show is filmed.

The Hillier family eventually moved to Stoneville near Mundaring before they visited Bep’s homeland The Netherlands.

Although the four children had

grown up, the family next moved to Maiden Gully but when the siblings had gone their own ways Kevin and Bep purchased a property at Kingower. A cairn with two plaques was unveiled on the site during 2010. Kevin Hillier died on May 15, 2014. Eventually Bep moved to Spring Gully, an outer suburb of Bendigo.

Incidentally the day I went to see the Hand of Faith nugget at the casino I found it shoved away in a corner of the building rather than being a feature show piece.

„ The nugget was the second largest nugget found in Australia during the 20th century.

„ Hand of Faith is largest found anywhere in the world using a metal detector.

Kevin Hillier with his Hand of Faith nugget

THe unveiling of the cairn and plaques in 2010 to mark where the nugget was discovered

e M plo YM ent

Tarnagulla Recreation Reserve

Notice is given of a Public Meeting to be held at the Tarnagulla Recreation Reserve on Thursday, April 4th 2024, commencing at 7.00pm

The purpose of the meeting is to nominate no less than three (3) or more than nine (9) persons as the Committee of Management for the Tarnagulla Recreation Reserve for the term of three years. The current Committee’s term will expire on 30/4/24. All positions will be declared open and nominations will be accepted prior to or on the night.

Nominations from women,Aboriginal people, people with disabilities, young people and people from culturally diverse backgrounds are encouraged. Further information, nomination forms and nominee declaration forms may be obtained from the secretary, Louise Dennis on 0427202350

CAREERS AT LODDON SHIRE

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.

Community Compliance Team Leader –ref.J/259

 Full-time, permanent position

 Band 6 salary $87,987.51-$95,316.86 per annum plus employer superannuation

 Based at Council’s Wedderburn o ce

Casual Early Childhood Educator –ref.J/123

 Casual position with exibility to choose your own days

 Early Childhood Educator 1.1 - $32.24 per hour (inclusive of casual loading)

 Positions available at all of our services

Casual Early Childhood Teacher –ref.J/124

 Casual position with exibility to choose your own days

 Early Childhood Educator 1.1 - $42.10 per hour (inclusive of casual loading)

 Positions available at all of our services

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.

M inin G notice

NOTICE OF APPLICATION FOR A PROSPECTING LICENCE

Mineral Resources (Sustainable Development) Act 1990 – Section 15(5)

Mineral Resources (Sustainable Development) (Mineral Industries) Regulations 2019 – Regulation 22(1) and Schedule 1

1. Name and address of applicant(s):

Harvey Leonard William Lee C/-PO Box 563, East Maitland NSW 2323

2. Contact details of applicant (for map and other information requests):

Belinda Ingram, Authorised Agent (as employee of Australian Mining & Exploration Title Services)

Mobile: 0428 158 374. Email: vic@amets.com.au

3. Applicant’s Website (see notes) Further information about this application is available at the following website: www.earthresources. vic.gov.au/licenceapplications

4. Details of the application:

Application number: PL008307

Locality of the land to which the application relates: 1km northwest of Llanelly, 4km southwest of Arnold Approximate area of the application (Hectares): 5ha

Date of the application: 29 February 2024

Term the licences are applied for: 7 years Outline of the proposed programs of work: Shallow doze and detect using dozer, grader and excavator. Topsoil removal & stockpiling. Metal detection. Progressive rehabilitation.

5. Objections and Comments:

Any person may object or comment to a licence being granted by:

a. putting the objection or comment in writing; and

b. including the grounds on which it is made Objections or comments must be lodged within 21 days after the latest date on which the application was advertised and can be lodged online or posted to:

The Minister for Energy and Resources

c/- Manager Licensing, Earth Resources Regulation, PO Box 500, East Melbourne Victoria 8002

It is recommended that objections or comments are lodged online to ensure timely consideration:

https://rram.force.com/ObjectionSubmission Enquiries can be made by writing to the Manager Licensing at the above address or by phoning the Earth Resources Information Centre on 136 186.

6. Other information:

a. Subject to other requirements being satisfied, a prospecting licence, if granted, entitles the holder of the licence to prospect or explore for minerals, carry out mining on the relevant land, and do anything else that is incidental to that mining.

b. Further information regarding the requirements that must be complied with prior to work being undertaken is available on the department’s Community & Land Use page: https://earthresources.vic.gov.au/ community-and-land-use

#SHOPLOCAL #SHOPLODDON

Boort’s Shane Morris, Laurie Maxted, Tony Matley and Ken Birt at the weekend took out the North Central bowls playing area regional state fours championship.

North steams way to association decider

CALIVIL North will meet Raywood in Saturday’s Loddon Valley Tennis Association grand final.

The competition’s benchmark team battled through late morning and afternoon heat on Saturday to convincingly win the semi-final clash again Dingee.

The grand final will be played at Calivil.

Calivil North d Dingee 121-46

MEN: R. Maxted L. Maxted d A. Hocking M. Marvey 7-1. R. Maxted C. Smith d A. Hocking R. Lawry 7-2. L. Maxted C. Smith d M. Harvey R. Lawry 7-2. J. Smith L.

Strachan lost to B. Duncan R. Ellis 4-7. J. Smith O. Balic d B. Duncan M. Hocking 7-4. L. Strachan O. Balic d R. Ellis M. Hocking 7-5.

LADIES: M. Balic C. Rogers d C. Whitfield A. Hay 7-0. M. Balic G. Maxted d C. Whitfield B. Baker 7-1. C. Rogers G. Maxted d A. Hay B. Baker 7-0. L. Strachan K. Maxted d S. Hay G. Lawry 7-0. L. Strachan A. Maxted d S. Hay K. Pay 7-1. K. Maxted A. Maxted d E. Lawry K. Pay 7-2.

MIXED: C. Smith M. Balic d A. Hocking C. Whitfield 7-1. R. Maxted C. Rogers d M. Harvey A. Hay 7-2. L. Maxted G. Maxted d R. Lawry B. Baker 7-3. J. Smith L. Strachan d B. Duncan S. Hay 7-2. K. Maxted O. Balic lost to R. Ellis E. Lawry 5-7. A. Lister A. Maxted d M. Hocking K. Pay 7-6.

The world is watching our Facebook fight!

An open letter to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese

Dear Prime Minister,

Your first response to Facebook brazenly announcing they’ll stop paying for our news that they use to make a fortune from was…perfect!

“That’s not the Australian way,” you said.

Exactly.

Australians hate bullies. Australians fight for a fair go. And this battle is not just a fight for a fair go here - the whole world is watching.

Meta, the trillion dollar tech giant that owns Facebook has built an empire out of content they don’t own. They don’t produce anything. They ‘share’ the great work of others and keep the cash.

The Australian government was the first in the world to call out this scandal, and in 2021 the News Media Bargaining Code forced them to finally pay for news content.

But not anymore.

Meta is betting that if they bully the Australian government, they win the world.

PM, this is a fight for the future of news and democracy. This is fight against fake news and a fight for a fair go for all journalists who hold the powerful to account, all around the world.

Let’s make sure Australia shows Facebook what a fair go is.

The world is watching.

Yours sincerely,

Andrew Schreyer President Country Press Australia

FROM PAGE 24 Request timing keeps battle in afternoon heat

“If the two clubs had approached the secretary or myself as president to put that idea forward prior to the finals meeting, a permit and rules committee meeting could have been arranged to hear the request.

“There was no protest at the finals meeting when the ruling of the constitution was referred to.”

Murphy said all clubs are able to bring requested changes to the constitution to the annual general meeting.

“The suggested changes must be received by the ULCA secretary at least two weeks prior to the annual meeting to allow circulation to all clubs to review to form an opinion to vote on at the annual general meeting,” Murphy said.

The home and away season heat rule for the associations senior competition says: “In both one and two day games, if the predicted temperature on the WIN News bulletin on Friday evening is 40 degrees or above, no play will take place on that day.

“If this occurs on the first day of a twoday game, then the game will become a one day fixture the following week.

“If the heat rule occurs on the second day of a two day match, the match will be considered a draw unless a result had already been reached on the first day, in which case the result will stand,” says the rule. All senior matches this season have again been one-day encounters.

The finals’ rule only states number of overs played.

Practice matches start tomorrow

THE FIRST football and netball practice matches will be played tomorrow when Inglewood and Wedderburn meet at Inglewood.

Both senior football sides have new coaches - Fergus Payne at the helm of Inglewood in the Loddon Valley league and Tom Metherell taking charge of the North Central league’s Redbacks after playing with Cohuna in the Central Murray league. Wedderburn has lost Luke Holt and Jordan Rosengreen to Golden Square in the Bendigo league but has already named a swag of recruits.

Inglewood broke its 20-year finals drought last season.

Time for players to chip in

TARNAGULLA Golf Club will play its first event of the year on Sunday.

Afternoon competition will follow a working be and lunch. The club’s season continue through to October.

Calivil North’s Michelle Balic returns serve in the semifinal.

LH PHOTO

TEAMS IN THE SUMMER SEASONS

Summer sport season competitions are drawing to a close. Here are a few of the players proudly wearing Loddon club colours

Bendigo bowls playing area Division 4 finalists Calivil

Bendigo bowls playing area Division 4 runners-up Dingee

Kingower junior cricketer Jaxon Luckman

Upper Loddon junior cricket runners-up Kingower

Inglewood tennis association finalists Powlett

Inglewood tennis association finalists Loddon Eagles

Inglewood tennis association runners-up Wedderburn Junction

ACTION FROM SERPENTINE’S DIVISION 3 VICTORY: Wendy Gladman, Laurence Cadzow and Ken Canfield contribute to the success in Saturday’s grand final that later saw celebratory signs erected around town to greet the victorious team returning home.

Decade average record intact

SERPENTINE kept up its average of winning a bowls premiership every decade by taking out the Bendigo playing area grand final at Golden Square on Saturday.

The club, formed in 1958, has a perfect record in season deciders of 6-0.

As players arrived to meet Heathcote at the weekend, Ken Canfield said the grand final appearance was a good omen for the Division 3 club.

“We were talking during the week, five grand finals for five flags ... let’s try and make it six,” he said.

And Serpentine did, winning two of the four rinks each by nine shots and finishing six shots up on Heathcote who had held the wood over the premiers in the final series.

In Division 4, the strong finish to the season by Dingee came to a halt with the highly-fancied Woodbury taking honours.

Neil Lister’s rink was the best performed for Dingee, going down by just four shots.

The Inglewood Division 6 team turned in a magnificent performance to win the flag over Castlemaine after a convincing semi-final win a fortnight earlier saw the Woodies first to book a grand final berth.

In the latest clash between the division’s leading sides, it was a close contest all the way until, on the fourth last end, Arthur Harrison’s rink picked up an eight to seal the contest.

There were many fine performances during the day from first year players through to the most experienced ones.

This team have worked together well throughout the season and this win is a tribute to their commitment and friendship as many people left the club after last season and this group of people showed what true club spirit entails and the club is very proud of them, said club secretary Lindsay Kelly.

RESULTS

Division 3 – Heathcote 69-4 lost to Serpentine

75-14. G Wilkie, F Dimauro, G Saunders, W Gardiner (s) d K Canfield, G Addlem, B Long, B Gladman (s) 25-13. P Cunningham, B Taylor, B Kelly, A Luxford (s) lost to F Maher, L Cadzow, R Gladman, A Bish 11-20. R Bond, E O’Brien, G Spiers, C Morcom (s) lost to J Collinson, B Tuohey, D Walker, D Anset (s) 13-24. R Edwards, H Hanson, L McGillivray, M Lee (s) d W Gladman, L Baber, R Hasty, N Tonkin (s) 22-18.

Division 4 – Woodbury 103-18 d Dingee 49-0.

J Ryan, R Schulz, P Gould, M McMahon (s) d T Kavanagh, M Grieves, Lyn Demeo, N Lister (s) 21-17. R Craig, K West, S Smith, A Brodie (s) d K Pollock, G Devanny, B Lawry, F Grieves (s) 37-6. N Upton, P O’Connor, G Pritchard, L Handley (s) d A Hay, J Monaghan, R Thompson, K Murphy (s) 19-14. B Cozens, D Power, W McCumber, J Murphy (s) d L Hocking, G Clarke, B West, Leo Demeo (s) 26-12.

Division 6 – Inglewood d Castlemaine 68-54.

S Laird, K Stewart, P Lyndon, V Tierney (s) d R West, J Hunter, R Chapman, P McKnight (s) 15-

13. W Concol, P Kelly, C McEwan, A Harrison (s) d R Ross, D Cameron, I Devereaux, D Carlin (s) 29-24. B Smyth, W Wilson, B Taig, H Leech (s) d I Fisher, G McClure, D Street, V Podestra (s) 24-17.

Dingee’s Lyn Demeo

Wendy Wilson (above) and the Division 6 premiers Inglewood

Band form fine tuned

WEDDERBURN Band goes into Saturday’s Upper Loddon cricket grand final as favourite and on the cusp of claiming its first premiership in six years.

The Band has hit its straps at the right end of the season, helped by player availability settling the lineup over the last month.

Opening bowlers Postle and Will Holt have shown the form needed to win the big dance. They can play the tune, particularly Postle who has bowled economically but was let down in the field earlier in the season.

Holt, too, is more than a handy big-hitter with the bat. A steady and calm stance will aid the opening spell of the Band’s innings.

Wedderburn would have been expecting to face Kingower and avenge a couple of cruel season finishes since that last flag.

But along came Arnold last weekend with other ideas. Scholes, Metelmann and Cam and Mike Dale have shown they can still turn a game.

In the meetings this season, Wedderburn has been on top of the competition’s southern Redbacks.

Wedderburn has usually had more than a couple of overs to spare in run chases although things were closer when the two opted for some 20:20 clashes during the season - the difference was just six runs last month.

Metelmann, Dale steady after disastrous start

ARNOLD proved ladder positions mean nothing in finals, when they unceremoniously dumped minor premiers Kingower out of the premiership race in Saturday’s semi-finals.

Arnold’s efforts were even more meritorious as after being sent in, openers Phil Scholes and Henry McCullough were both back in the shed without a run on the board.

Ryan Metelmann and Cam Dale got the innings back on track with a 50-run third wicket partnership with Metelmann the aggressor, scoring 34 off 30 balls with seven boundaries. Dale was eventually dismissed for a more subdued 31 off 69 balls, however his innings was just what his team needed at that stage.

Davies swung lustily for a quick fire 19, while Heath Lock played a sensible knock occupying the crease while a more than handy 61 runs were added for the last four wickets.

An interesting aspect of the Arnold’s innings was that there was just one two and one six hit, otherwise all the scoring was in boundaries and singles.

For Kingower, Kyle Simpson and Lachie DeJong both took three wickets while David Rose took three catches behind the stumps.

Kingower started their chase brightly with Matt Rowe taking nine off the opening over. Then the rot started when Ben Rose was caught down the leg side off McCullough.

McCullough may not have worried the scorers when batting, however they were made to work with his bowling as his four over spell produced four wickets for just nine runs.

With Metelmann chipping in with the wicket of Rowe, Kingower’s innings was in tatters at five for 27.

A 43 sixth wicket partnership between Simpson and David Rose gave Kingower a glimmer of hope, however when leg spinner Dale bowled Simpson with a quicker ball , Kingower’s innings petered out 49 runs short of their target.

Rose was last man dismissed for 43, caught in the deep by

By MICHAEL ROSE

Campbell Hancock, his third catch of the innings. Phil Scholes also snared three victims behind the stumps while Dale backed up McCullough’s four wickets by bagging three himself.

Kingower v Arnold Arnold

P.

.......19

H. Lock not out ...................................... 33

K. Hewett c D. Rose b M. Rowe .............. 5

B. Metelmann B. Pickles b L. DeJong ..... 9

S. Hewett b L. DeJong ............................ 0

Extras .....................................................20

Total ..............................................161

Bowling J. Leach 8-2-1-41, K. Simpson 8-2-

3-41, M. Rowe 8-2-2-27, L. DeJong 7-1-325, B. Pickles 4-2-0-4, B. Rose 4-1-1-14

Kingower

M. Rowe c P. Scholes b R. Metelmann 10

B. Rose c P. Scholes b H. McCullough ....0

W. Deason c C. Hancock b McCullough 6

J. Leach b H. McCullough ........................8

K. Simpson b C. Dale .............................24

B. Pickles c C. Hancock b McCullough ...0

D. Rose c C. Hancock b Metelmann ......43

L. DeJong c K. Hewett b C. Dale ...........14

I. Johnston-McCloud c P. Scholes b H. Lock 0

R. Smith b C. Dale ....................................3

N. Leach not out .......................................0

Sundries ...................................................4

Total ..............................................112

Bowling R. Metelmann 6.1-0-2-30, H. Mc-

Cullough 4-1-4-9, C. Hancock 3-0-0-18, M.

Dale 4-2-0-12, C. Dale 8-1-3-23, H. Lock 5-0-1-19.

ADAM Postle and Will Holt showed no mercy opening the bowling blitz against Boort Yando in the semi-final at Wedderburn’s Market Square on Saturday.

Wedderburn easily overtook Boort’s 106, needing just 29 overs to secure victory.

Bear would be the best of Boort’s bowlers, dismissing openers Will Holt (19 - four boundaries) and then Luke Holt with the score 2/65.

Cam Steel and Brad Holt then took Wedderburn to 111 after the 40 overs. Steel capped off his innings with a mighty six.

Just one maiden was sent down by Boort - Alex Cockerell in the

There’s none of the quick hit and run style required for the grand final, instead a more methodical approach across 40 overs.

The reduced four-team competition in 2023-2024 has also shown that home and away season form matters for little at the real business end.

Arnold, in its 125th year, is playing its best brand of cricket since winning the flag two seasons ago. The Redbacks have also been blooding a few youngsters, including Hancock and Hewett.

But the Band is on song and deserves to start as favourites.

- CHRIS EARL

By CHRIS EARL

26th over as he proved the most economical in a tough afternoon in the field.

Earlier, Postle and Holt both claimed a wicket in their first overs of the afternoon. For Postle it was also one of four maidens and the first time this season he had claimed three wickets and conceded a miserly eight runs.

Openers Smith and Hodoras were out for ducks.

Holt and Postle then combined to send Alex Cockerell back to the pavilion and Boort floundering at 3/4 after seven overs.

Fergus Bear tried to add some respectability through midorder but it was youngster Harry Malone among the first of the tail who would top score for Boort with 24 before Holt came in for his fourth wicket of the afternoon. Postle came back for one more over, the penultimate of the match, to cheaply bowl Knight before Will Gould was the last wicket to fall in the 33rd over.

Happy to take the pain ... Arnold wicketkeeper Phil Scholes wears the ball that dismisses Kyle Simpson. LH PHOTO

Wedderburn makes a few points last Saturday. LH PHOTO

Loddon HERALD sport

Thursday March 14, 2024

HEAT OF BAT TLE

RESCHEDULING of weekend finals saw a defending premier dramatically drop out of the race for another flag.

But while tennis and bowls start times were changed to avoid playing in temperatures nudging 40 degrees, local cricketers still battled the searing afternoon heat.

Loddon Valley Tennis Associa-

By CHRIS EARL

tion adhered to Tennis Victoria rules requiring competitions to avoid playing matches when the temperature was above 38 degrees.

Officials told clubs on Friday that the normal 1pm start time had been brought forward to 10am.

The earlier start ruled out defending premiers Mincha West, unable to muster team numbers

for the earlier start. Mincha West had been drawn to meet Raywood in one of two semi-finals at Dingee.

Raywood gained the walkover entry into this Saturday’s grand final against Calivil North who accounted for Dingee in the other semi-final.

Hot weather last season saw the association abandon semifinals under its heat policy with the top ladder sides automatically advancing to the grand final.

Upper Loddon Cricket Association, however, does apply its heat policy in finals.

During the home and away season, a forecast temperature 40 degrees or above on Friday evening television news sees games abandoned.

Boort and Wedderburn had agreed to start play earlier in their semi-final on Saturday but a request to the association was refused.

Association president Wen-

dy Murphy said: “Wedderburn and Boort did come to the finals meeting on Monday evening last week and said they had agreed to begin play earlier.

“However, this does not meet the relevant sections of the ULCA Constitution and which have been in the constitution for several years now which is provided to all clubs soon after the ULCA annual general meeting each year,” she said.

CONTINUED PAGE 20

THE perfect record continues for Serpentine Bowling Club after winning the Bendigo playing area Division 3 premiership on Saturday. It was the club’s sixth grand final appearance and sixth flag after finishing on top of fellow division country club Heathcote in the season decider played at Golden Square and reversing the second semi-final result. There was also weekend success for Inglewood in the Division 6 grand final.

LH PHOTO