Loddon Herald 15 December 2022

STUDENTS FINISH THEIR SCHOOL YEARS ...

CLASS STARS

Mitch Gunther topped the VCE scores for local schools when results were released on Monday with an ATAR of 94.55.

The aspiring builder from Mologa completed his VCE years as dux at Boort District School after 11 years at Pyramid Hill P10 College.

Mitch received study scores of 46 for further mathematics and 47 in outdoor and environmental studies.

He said an offer of a building apprenticeship in Bendigo came as he was about to enter the room for his mathematics examination in early November.

“I first did work experience with Brendan James in Year 10 and have also done some work during school holidays. It was good to have a job in the pipeline before exams,” Mitch said.

But there was uncertainty for the Pyramid Hill footballer and Boort cricketer leading into examinations.

“The road to Boort re-opened the day before the first exam after being closed by floods, A day out and I wasn’t sure if I would have to go to East Loddon or Cohuna to sit the exam,” he said.

One of Mitch’s former fellow students at Pyramid Hill College, Raphael Umali, received three study scores in the 40s at Cohuna College - English 41, mathematical methods 40 and physics 41 - and was named dux.

Boort assistant principal Tom

Bleicher said Mitch was one of two other Boort students to receive ATARs above 94.

One was Fergus Bear who received a study score of 44 in further mathematics.

He described the results for Boort’s VCE students as awesome.

At East Loddon College, Inglewood’s Ciaran Gale has been named dux with an ATAR of 91.75. Senior sub-school leader Sarah Krahe congratulated students for “their hard work, determination and effort to achieve their best results”.

And at Wedderburn College,

2022

captain Olivia Lockhart has been awarded dux after edging out twin sister Aliza.

The Loddon students were among 49,581 VCE students and 15,163 VCAL students to graduate this year.

Top five VCE studies areas this year were English, further Math-

ematics, psychology, mathematics methods and biology.

First round university offers will be made next month, about the same time the the region’s top VCE performer Mitch Gunther will start his building apprenticeship.

LODDON schools and families are celebrating achievements of the region’s VCE cohort.

school

Duxes of the Loddon: Mitch Gunther (main photo) Ciaran Gale and Olivia Lockhart. LH PHOTOS

Next week in your local Loddon Herald

T’S all about shapes and tastes this weekthe star is flickering from atop Christmas trees and Bradley of Boort isn’t sure what universe he’s parked in at the moment. Have to agree with Bradley - some of the traffic out on the roads the last week only prove King Richard’s exploits (dobbed in exclusively to OTF last week) were meek and tame compared with some of the fast and slow hitting the public bitumen, many failing to comprehend the importance of using indicators.

I

T HERE was discussion when we called in at Jarklin the other night about another shape. Yes, the great do you have pineapple on pizza debate heated up. Diced pineapple bits are great in a fruit salad or served cold on a ham steak (or as the Poms called it, gammon steak) but seriously, cooked in an oven smothered in shredded ham and other

TRAVELLING the roads and towns you often look for that quick heated snack the dim sim. But called in at two roadhouses within 24 hours and there’s none to be had (smothered in salt of course). Turns out it’s not just around the Loddon that the Chineseinspired meat and vegetable dumpling-style snack food is in short supply. Seems to be the case in a few places. One chap was posted on the internet: The other day I went to pick up a packet of dim sims from Coles, but none of the Coles or Woolies near me have any, and the frozen chip section is also completely empty. The Sky is Falling wrote on website the other week: Is there some sort of dim sim shortage going on that I haven’t heard about? And if so why is it not being talked about, dim sims are more important than those little toilet paper shortages we had . Another wag blamed the shortage on the floods.

W E think Ollie might have something to say about that. Ollie is the princess parrot of Bridgewater caravan park resident managers Rhonda and Darren. During the hiatus after the floods, Ollie has been in training, perhaps as the new switchboard operator. He has expanded the vocabulary to include “Welcome to Bridgey”. Now the

Rainfall headed to decade high

PARTS of the Loddon will record their highest annual rainfalls since the record-breaking 2010.

The Bridgewater and Inglewood district has received 770mm for the year to the end of November when 49.8mm was recorded.

The record rainfall year was 2010 with 867.8mm, eclipsing 722mm in 1992 and 724mm in 1887.

Wedderburn’s November rainfall was 38.2mm, slightly below

the 10-year monthly average and just a few millimetres under November last year when a massive rain dump swelled the Nardoo Creek, splitting the town for several hours.

Mincha recorded 55.2mm in November, also the area’s highest monthly total since 2010.

Bureau of Meteorology data shows that Canary Island recorded 53.4mm for the month and Prairie 49.4mm. Pyramid Hill has received 579mm for the year.

Look out for your free 2023 Loddon Herald calendar and rainfall chart in next week’s bumper Christmas week edition. There will also be a special feature celebrating the achievements of local students as the school year comes to a close, a special Christmas puzzle page plus the latest in local news and sport. Our December 23 edition will be the last for 2022 with publication resuming on January 19 2023.

‘Authority’ legal hitch

REDEVELOPMENT of Kooyoora State Park is in legal limbo.

A year after Bendigo-based DJAARA unveiled its plans for the park, chief executive officer Rodney Carter says uncertainty over legal authority has delayed work at the park.

Plans shown to Friends of Kooyoora last December included new shelters, Aboriginal interpretative and cultural activity spaces defined camping areas and artwork at the park.

“Unfortunately, a legal issue has delayed the commencement of works,” Mr Carter said.

“The precise authority for DJAARA to carry out such works has been uncertain: despite Dja Dja Wurrung holding title to the national park, the public land manager power and responsibility to enable DJAARA to carry out the works is uncertain.

“It is a challenge sometimes for implementation of a groundbreaking agreement like the Recognition and Settlement Agreement. DJAARA has been working with Parks Victoria and other state agencies to clarify that issue.”

A Parks Victoria spokesman said: “Parks Victoria works closely with DJAARA to implement the RSA and the joint management plan for the six jointly managed parks in north central Victoria.

“The Kooyoora project is an example of how the RSA is being practically achieved with DJAARA planning and implementing improvements on country to bring Djaara values into park management.

“Implementing new facilities on land managed as public parks requires various legislative planning approvals that must be met by any organisation, including Parks Victoria, before works can commence. Parks Victoria will continue to work in partnership with DJAARA on these elements of project management.

“The considerable consultation DJAARA has undertaken with the community on planning for Kooyoora will see wonderful results for Djaara people and all park users.”

Mr Carter also said bushfire management issues had contributed to delays in starting the project.

“DJAARA is also navigating the requirements of bushfire management responsibility, the impacts on native vegetation, and some planning issues with the (Loddon Shire) council,” he said.

Council operations director Steven Phillips said council was unaware of any statutory planning conversations or lodgements of applications for Kooyoora State Park.

Mr Carter said: “The recent

flood events also means that the park is currently closed and access is affected by flood damage. DJAARA is supporting our management partner, Parks Victoria, to undertake those works.

“The funds for these (redevelopment) works are coming from DJAARA. The budget for these much-anticipated works is currently being reviewed to take into account the effects of inflation and the increasing cost of materials and labour.

“We are proud to deliver infrastructure improvements at Kooyoora and like many of your readers look forward to using the improved facilities as part of our responsibility to manage and restore Country to health and to improve the visitor experience at that important place.”

Redevelopment of Kooyoora has been plagued by delays and controversy for two years.

A strong local community campaign in early 2021 convinced DJAARA to retain historic Catto Lodge after early concepts had it slated for demolition.

And project manager Mike Hayes and program manager Harvey Douglas flagged a review of campsite management with discussions to be held on whether access was for schools and organised groups only when speaking to Friends of Kooyoora last December.

The park has been closed to the public since early November, including the Melville Caves camp ground, after flood damage.

- CHRIS EARL

Health service restrictions as COVID cases rise

VISITOR restrictions remain in place at Boort District Health.

A number of aged care residents tested positive to COVID late last week, the first time COVID had been detected at BDH since the pandemic was declared in March 2020. Restrictions also meant BDH had to cancel its final event for the 16 Days of Activism campaign on Saturday.

The Loddon Shire last Friday had 30 ac-

tive cases of COVID-19. A statement by the Victorian Health Department said COVID-19 case numbers had shown signs of stabilising, however “there remains significant uncertainty around the duration and severity of this wave due to the role of multiple new variants circulating in Victoria.

“The recombinant strain XBF and the Omicron subvariant BQ.1 have shown significant growth in Victoria, accounting for 20 per

cent and 25 per cent of the average proportion in wastewater surveillance respectively. No single sub-variant significantly predominates amongst circulating strains.”

The department said there were 27,790 COVID-19 cases reported in Victoria last week, an increase of 3.4 per cent on the previous week.

A total of 2016 have been reported in Loddon communities since March 2020.

IN BRIEF

Blitz starts

POLICE begin their Christmas blitz from midnight tonight. Operation Roadwise comes as the number of lives lost in Victoria reaches 236, already surpassing last year’s total of 234 and sitting above the five-year average of 221. With 40 per cent of last year’s Operation Roadwise infringements issued for speeding, police are reminding motorists to keep the foot off the accelerator to avoid a costly Christmas – the penalty for speeding by more than 10kmh but less than 15kmh is $370 and three demerit points, with those exceeding the speed limit by more than 25kmh facing even more significant penalties and a suspended licence.

Whip cracking

THE world’s top whip cracker Nathan Griggs is heading to the Loddon tonight to perform at Jarklin’s Four Posts Hotel. Based in the Northern Territory, Griggs is currently on an Australian tour and is billed as Australia’s No 1 whip cracking entertainer. He is a five-time whip cracking Guinness world record holder

Full house

BOORT Memorial Hall was at capacity on Sunday evening for the performance by Melbourne Grammar School symphony orchestra. The orchestra has been touring regional Victoria by train.

Still open

ENTRIES will remain open until Monday for the Inglewood Lions Club Christmas light competition open to homes in Bridgewater and Inbglewood. To enter email lionsclubinglewood3517@ gmail.com

The Loddon Herald report from December 16 2021 when park plans were unveiled.

Orchestra members in Boort

Peg enters centenary club

FROM being a child on a farm with Clydesdale horses to growing pineapples and mastering an ipad, the Loddon’s new centenarian Peg Cameron has seen changes over 100 years.

At the weekend, she was joined by family and friends at Pyramid Hill Bowls Club where those stories of life were recalled.

Peg and late husband Norm moved to Pyramid Hill 53 years ago from Warracknabeal.

Norm managed the spare parts department at the local garage and they lived next to Ivan Vanderwell who turned 100 in June. Together they won many trophies on the bowling green.

Peg, who still lives independently, was born in Finley, New South Wales, in an era when “we did things machines do now”. Her father bred Clydesdales.

After finishing school, Peg worked on the farm and in a bakery.

She met Norm who had a motorcycle. “He put on the sidecar and we went to the pictures ... my mum knew before I got home to tell her where I had been,” Peg said.

Peg and Norm were engaged before World War Two, just as Norm enlisted in the Australian Army and was sent to the Middle East. They were married in

1942 when Norm returned and soon after he joined the Royal Australian Air Force serving in Australia’s north. After coming to Pyramid Hill, they both became involved in the RSL subbranch.

Peg was active in the ladies’ auxiliary and later was secretary of the sub-branch.

That was after the venture growing pineapples in Queensland. “When we got there, they

said there had not been a frost for years. We arrived, there was a frost and we lost the lot,” Peg said.

Peg and Norm had two daughters, Joy and Jeanette.

It has been the introduction to technology that keeps Peg in touch with her seven grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. “The ipad’s one of the best things I have ever got.”

Peg keeps up contact with the

Pyramid Hill community with weekly visits to the senior citizens’ centre every Friday.

“There’s about seven or eight of us who play cards,” she said. And Peg is unfazed about another warm summer.

“When I was a child there was no air-conditioning ... my father would fill the tin bath with cold water at 2 o’clock in the morning to cool down,” said Peg reflecting on 100 years.

Brigade call outs bring warning

LODDON fire brigades have warned farmers to take extra care during harvest after fires across the region days before restrictions started.

Terrick group officer Richard Hicks said brigades were called to a small fire near Dingee last Thursday when a header overheated.

The same day, 10 Rheola and Murphy’s Creek firefighters took 20 minutes to control a small grassfire at Arnold West where a landholder was treated for smoke inhalation by paramedics.

Mr Hicks said brigades in the Terrick group also put out two fires Friday afternoon.

He said the first burnt about 10 hectares, flaring from a morning burn-off of rubbish at Jarklin.

A burn-off at Calivil had also escaped its containment area.

Mr Hicks said the landowner did not have appropriate firefighting equipment to manage the burn-off.

“These fires are a timely reminder that while it has been wet, the countryside has dried quite quickly and there is a real fire risk,” he said.

“Farmers should make sure they have all necessary equipment on hand during harvest.”

Machinery should be checked regularly during harvest to reduce risk of fire, the CFA has told farmers.

Fire restrictions officially started across the Loddon Shire last Monday.

The Loddon’s newest centenarian ... Pyramid Hill’s Peg Cameron. LH PHOTO

VCE ACHIEVERS OF 2022

Ciaran’s science of study

EAST Loddon College dux Ciaran Gale has his sights set on studying for a bachelor of science at Monash University.

The Inglewood student studied chemisty, physics and biology in VCE.

“Chemistry especially has always been incredibly fascinating to me,” he said.

“I’ll start the course and see what speciality areas open up,” said Ciaran who had been at East Loddon since prep.

Ciaran said he had found remote learning during COVID years a challenge “but it all worked out in the end”.

College senior sub-school leader Sarah Krahe said two students had ATARs in the 90s and many other students achieving the scores they required for university entry in 2023.

Levi Ryan achieved a score

of 90.3 and is still deciding between a Double Degree at La Trobe University in criminology, psychological science law.

Alicia Hay achieved a score of 85.75, gaining entry into a bachelor of physiotherapy at La Trobe Bendigo through the Aspire program while Roscoe Calder achieved 84.1 and hopes to study science.

Trista Wagner aims to study a bachelor of illustration while Brodie Wagner has received an Aspire (Early Entry) program offer to study a bachelor of education.

Lachy Fletcher is considering his options and likely to study at La Trobe University and Montana Twigg received an early entrance offer with Australian Catholic University Ballarat to study a bachelor of nursing.

TOP SCORES

It’s hard to separate sisters

WEDDERBURN

dux Ol-

Olivia earned the college’s top academic award, by a slim margin from younger twin sister Aliza.

The girls had been joint college captains this year and also played in the champion Wedderburn Redbacks netball side.

Olivia, the elder by eight minutes, said: “We certainly tried to help each other.

“We did all the same subjects - further mathematics, hospitality, physical education - but Aliza did not do food studies,” Olivia said.

“I’m honoured to be the dux. Sometimes Olivia wins, sometimes I do and this time I edged ahead.”

Olivia said she had found VCE at times stressful but “you make the most of every opportunity and always try hard in tough times, even when you didn’t feel like studying”.

And while likely to be in Melbourne next year, she hopes to return to Wedderburn when possible to play for the Wedderburn Redbacks.

Aliza hopes to study primary teaching at La Trobe University Bendigo.

Gemma Maxted

Gunther

Environmental Studies

Olivia (left) and Aliza Lockart as school captains at Wedderburn College this year. LH PHOTO

College

ivia Lockhart wants to take her interest in health and nutrition onto university study.

Local Lions’ $1000 gift of Christmas support

WEDDERBURN Lions Club last week donated $1000 towards food and grocery vouchers for families rebuilding from the flood emergency.

Secretary Jon Chandler said club members wanted to show support to neighbouring Loddon communities.

“We have decided to provide $1000 worth of vouchers through Inglewood IGA and The Fat Butcher to give practical assistance,” he said.

“Our communities are connected in so many ways ... Lions is pleased to help local people recover and rebuild.”

The Lions club gesture follows a donation of $500 from Wedderburn-Korong Vale RSL subbranch towards vouchers and similar donations from Kyneton Rotary and angling clubs.

Vouchers from the two Inglewood businesses are being distributed by local support agencies.

IGA’s Peter Moore and The Fat Butcher’s Debbie Hancock said vouchers already distributed had been appreciated by families in the area.

“They have a lot to focus on as damage is cleaned up and replaced. And with harvest also underway for farmers, the help

from clubs like Lions shows there is wonderful support ... communities out helping each other,” Debbie said.

Support groups in Inglewood and Bridgewater are also operating their community food banks with donated goods.

Organisations donating funds have asked that the money be spent with local businesses.

Phones, wedding ring in re-opening

DOUG Cartwright was first to check in when Bridgewater caravan park re-opened on Saturday.

The eager groom from Bendigo was there to greet family and friends from Victoria and Queensland arriving to witness him marry Martine that afternoon at the Bridgewater Hotel.

“We were a bit concerned at one stage that the park might not be open,” Doug said.

But with phones ringing in the background with bookings for the holiday season, resident park manager Rhonda Marshall had Doug on his way to setting up camp.

“We come here quite often and thought it was a great place to bring people together for our wedding,” Doug said.

“And it’s ideal with people coming from everywhere.”

Two months ago the park was underwater when the

Loddon River hit a peak of 7.3 metres.

Loddon Shire staff and contractors reinstated key services and repaired damaged infrastructure ahead of the weekend’s re-opening. With the park back open for business, local traders are preparing for an influx of visitors to the town for the busy Christmas-New Year holidays.

Mozzie munchers dragon their tucker

DRAGON flies are swarming above stagnant water pools beside Loddon roads munching on mosquitoes that have taken up residence since the October flood emergency.

The largest number of dragonflies has been reported near Durham Ox where they are competing for space with vehicles travelling local roads.

Dragonflies are natural predators for mosquitoes and an individual dragonfly can eat hundreds

of mosquitoes each day. Australian ecologists say dragonflies, damselflies and bats “are the mosquito controllers of the world”.

With heightened awareness of the risk of Japanese encephalitis being spread by mosquitoes since the floods, Loddon Shire and Bendigo Health are running pop-up vaccination clinics in towns across the shire until Christmas Eve. Clinics have been well attended in the past fortnight.

Our regions have been hit hard with extreme wet weather over the past few months. But Victorians know how quickly the conditions can change. Increased rainfall causes vegetation to grow, so there’s more fuel on the ground. It’s important Victorians plan and prepare this fire season.

Rhonda Marshall with Doug Cartwright after booking in his camp group. LH PHOTO

Jon Chandler, Peter Moore and Debbie Hancock. LH PHOTO

A job very well done

GRAEME Allen has been in Bridgewater for eight weeks coordinating Blazeaid volunteers from across Australia as they rebuild fences damaged in the October flood emergency.

More than 125 volunteers have cleared 62km of fences and rebuilt or stood up another 45km.

They have camped in caravans and tents at Bridgewater recreation reserve, amassing 800 volunteer days across 66 properties in the Loddon Shire and neighbouring areas.

This week, the final projects are being completed as Graeme winds up the Loddon base and volunteers move to new camps in other communities where recovery and rebuilding efforts enter a new phase.

Graeme had been returning to his home in Woodend at weekends but last Saturday was busily allocating volunteers for those last jobs.

Among them were five members of the Namdhari Sikh Society Australia who had travelled from Melbourne.

It was not their first visit to the area - when the emergency

was at its height, members delivered meals to local towns.

Graeme said the Sikh community had joined with many local organisations to provide food for volunteers at Bridgewater.

“We have constantly had slices, casseroles, cakes and soup dropped off,” he said.

Graeme pointed to a list on the wall of donations from organisations and businesses - Inglewood’s kindergarten and football club, Raywood CFA, Bendigo CWA and local businesses the Bridgewater Hotel and Bridgewater Bakehouse, Steve’s Empire State Hotel and Cafe 3517.

Graeme will take a break over Christmas before his skills in project management are again called on by Blazeaid.

The retired civil engineer and airport project manager had his first experience with Blazeaid in the Black Summer fires of 20192020.

He ended up in Buchan, planning to stay a week but with COVID lockdowns and restrictions, was part of the effort in Gippsland for almost six months managing teams that included

“I don’t mind the co-ordinators role but I am just as happy to be volunteering out in the paddocks,” he said.

Graeme said the 2011 Bridgewater Blazeaid camp was the organisation’s first after it was formed in the aftermath of 2009’s Black Saturday.

“We have a special association with Bridgewater,” Graeme said as pack-up continued.

backpackers by then stranded in Australia.

Sikh community volunteers Hardev Singh, Ranbir Singh, Jagmit Singh and Phupinder Sing at Bridgewater base camp on Saturday (and inset) Graeme Allen. LH PHOTOS

New MP puts care talks high on list

NEW Ripon MP Martha Haylett says she will “not waste a day” bringing child care to the Loddon.

Ms Haylett last Thusday was declared the winner of November’s election after finishing 2535 votes ahead of the Liberals’ Louse Staley.

A redistribution had made Ripon a notional Labor seat with a 2.8 per cent margin. Ms Haylet’s final margin was 2.99 per cent.

She said delivering the Government’s promise to Loddon of one of 50 new colocated child care centres would be led by consultation with local communities.

Ms Haylett said different towns wanted child care and acknowledged the strong campaign in Wedderburn.

“I know we needed child care (in Loddon) yesterday and I want to fight to have the shire in the first tranche of centres,” she said.

The Government announced the first 26 locations - six to open in 2025 and the next 20, including Loddon, the following year.

“I have made inquiries to the minister (Ingrid Stitt) and will have a stronger sense (of when processes start) after talking to her,” she said.

Ms Haylett said her “focus” areas as the new MP also included roads, health, cost of living and jobs.

During the campaign, Ms Haylett said a different approach was needed for rural road maintenance, including rebuilding some roads from scratch and at the weekend said she would advance discussions within the Government.

Ms Haylett also pledged to have conversations with the Newbridge community on connecting the town to water and sewerage.

The Coalition commitment to connect the town for future growth was not matched by Labor during the campaign.

She thanked Ms Staley for her service as the local MP for eight years.

“It is with pride that I can now say I will be the next member for Ripon in the Vic-

torian Parliament,” Ms Haylett said. “To the voters of Ripon, I am humbled by your support.

“I understand the job you’ve given me and I will not let you down.

“I am incredibly grateful to my campaign team and the local true believers who worked so hard, and have waited a long time to turn Ripon red.

“Together we achieved a result many thought we couldn’t.

“We ran a people-powered campaign with a strong message of what a Labor Government can do for our community.

“We will get straight to work on delivering key promises, including making V/ Line fares equal with metro Melbourne, re-establishing the State Electricity Commission to reduce power bills, upgrading sporting facilities, and building brandnew child care centres.

“It will be the honour of my life to represent Ripon in the Victorian Parliament and do what matters for our region.”

Meanwhile, the Victorian Electoral Commission was yesterday afternoon finalising voting to determine composition of the Legislative Council.

Public life has ended: Staley

LOUISE Staley conceded Ripon last Wednesday after final votes had been counted.

Ms Staley had held the seat for the Liberal Party for eight years and had been a Coalition frontbencher.

She said: “Representing the people of Ripon in the Victorian Parliament has been the greatest honour and delight of my professional life. I loved every minute of it and I thank the Liberal Party for preselecting me and the voters for electing me twice.

“The communities of Ripon rightly demand much of their MP and I worked every day to repay the trust placed in me over eight years.

“My time in public life has now ended. I will not be a candidate in the future but I look forward to backing the next Liberal candidate for Ripon and helping her or him win back the seat for the Liberal Party in 2026.

“I congratulate Martha Haylett MP on her election,” said Ms Staley who has been touted as the next Liberal Party state director.

Martha Haylett

Plan ahead if you’re travelling to Melbourne this summer

Victoria’s Big Build is building a better road and rail network in December and January while there are fewer people on our trains and less cars on the road. This includes major works on the Metro Tunnel with crews working around the clock to upgrade tracks and install new high-tech signalling. Significant delays are expected as vital maintenance takes place on the West Gate Bridge from Boxing Day. We’re also upgrading the City Loop and continuing to build the West Gate Tunnel, and its connections into the city and CityLink.

Summer disruptions

City Loop closed

Freeway disruptions: Changed traffic conditions or closed lanes and ramps

West Gate Bridge 9pm 26 Dec to 6am 4 Jan Four outbound lanes closed

Monash Freeway Some nights in Jan Closed between Warrigal Road and EastLink

Princes Freeway Some nights in Jan Closed between Princes Highway and Cardinia Road

Road disruptions: Closed roads, lanes and ramps

Dynon Road, West Melbourne Until 21 DecBetween Dryburgh Street and Dynon Road inbound exit ramp from CityLink

Greensborough Road, Watsonia Until 22 DecLanes closed and speeds reduced

Jan to Feb Intersection closed

Narre WarrenCranbourne Road and Thompsons Road, Cranbourne

Craigieburn Road, Craigieburn Jan to FebBetween Hume Highway and Hanson Road

Road, Sunbury

to FebAt Sunbury Road

Steph named Lions’ top youth award winner

STEPH DEMEO will represent East Loddon Lions Club at district level after being named Youth of the Year last week.

The East Loddon P12 student was named recipient of the club’s 39th award after speaking before judges Diana Linton, Elizabeth McGauchie and Geoff Thomas.

Other finalists were Joshua Diss and Sam Hicks with Joshua receiving the public speaking prize.

Club president Alan Guthrie congratu-

lated the three finalists and made presentations of certificates.

The trio spoke before an audience of club members, parents and school representatives at the Lions Den.

Lions’ Youth of the Year program encourages leadership skills in students approaching the end of their secondary school years. It emphasises academic skills, sporting and cultural involvement, public speaking and community.

Saturday, 17 December 2022 12:30pm - 4pm

Wedderburn Senior Citizens Centre 12-14 Peters Street, Wedderburn

Tuesday, 20 December 2022 12:30pm - 4pm

Boort Senior Citizens Centre Godfrey Street, Boort

Wednesday, 21 December 2022 12pm - 4pm

Loddon Shire Council O ce 38 Peppercorn Way, Serpentine

Thursday, 22 December 2022 12pm - 4pm

Tarnagulla Community Centre 8 Sandy Creek Lane, Tarnagulla

Friday, 23 December 2022 12:30pm - 4pm

Wedderburn Senior Citizens Centre 12-14 Peters Street, Wedderburn

Saturday, 24 December 2022 12pm - 4pm

Inglewood Railway Building 6 Thompson Street, Inglewood

Limited walk-ins may be available on the day but there is a state wide shortage of the JEV Vaccination therefore BOOKINGS ARE HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.

Bookings can be made by nding the relevant clinic on the Bendigo Health outreach vaccination webpage https://bendigohealth.org.au/outreachvaccination/

Please ensure that you meet the eligibility criteria before booking.

If you have any questions, please contact Bendigo Health on 1800 329 189

Full to brim for Christmas

WATER is expected to start flowing into Little Lake Boort this week ahead of the busy summer holiday season. Little Lakes committee member Paul Haw said he expected the lake “will be brim full by Christmas and will be kept full all summer”.

Starting from Christmas there is expected to be an influx of 1000 tourists enjoying water sports at Little Lake Boort, he said.

“The caravan park is in top condition,

and even if the park is full, accommodation can be located in other parts of Boort.

“Earlier in the year, people were concerned about the dense growth of the aquatic plants in the lake.

“Curley pond weed is the dominate species. Curley pond weed grows vigorously in spring reaching maturity early then rapidly disintegrating.

“Speed boats and skiers should be guaranteed a great year,” Paul said of the lake’s readiness for summer action.

Councillors review CEO performance

LODDON Shire councillors on Tuesday conducted their performance review of chief executive officer Lincoln Fitzgerald. The review was listed as a confidential item at the end of council’s monthly meeting. Mr Fitzgerald took up the position

last November after holding positions at City of Greater Bendigo and Mount Alexander Shire.

Tuesday’s meeting was the last time councillors will formally meet for 2022 with the next meeting on January 24.

Sam Hicks, Joshua Diss, Steph Demeo and Lions

president Alan Guthrie. LH PHOTO

John joined the CFA in 1962 at Fentons Creek and in 1967 moved to the Tarnagulla brigade where he has held many roles including captain, first lieutenant, secretary and communications officer. During his six decades as a volunteer firefighter, John has been recognised with life membership of the CFA and the Tarnagulla Urban Fire Brigade.

ACFO Pitcher presented service certificates and medals to Tarnagulla brigade members at their Christmas party.

Five-year certificates: John Hazelgrove, Margaret Edward, Michael Firth, Matt Asher.

Medals - 10 years: Brett Treneman, George Filev, Han Read. 15 years: Martin James, Joan James. 20 years: Janene Godden, Louise Dennis. 25 years: Teresa Bilbrough. 40 years: Wendy Sutton.

During the Christmas party, members also formally farewelled former secretary Paul Davis and wife Julie.

Bridge work earns Vivien prize

VIVIEN Murnane has been named the NSW Acoustic Logic Regional Woman of the Year in the National Association of Women In Construction awards.

The former Korong Vale Primary School and Wedderburn College student is a project manager with Transport for NSW.

The award was for her work planning demolition of the Bateman’s Bay Bridge near a sensitive marine park and a heavily-used boating channel.

“I identified a gap in standardised river traffic management and worked with NSW Maritime to develop base technical requirements which are now being adapted for use across NSW projects over navigable waters for consistency,” Ms Murnane said.

Wollongong-based Vivien was praised for balancing strong technical skills with

innovative thinking to deliver infrastructure that enhances connectivity, builds community and respects local heritage.

“The $258 million Batemans Bay Bridge replacement project, for instance, involved complex deconstruction in a sensitive marine park. Vivien developed new technical requirements for projects over navigable waters that are now being used across New South Wales,” the award said,

Vivien later said: “Growing up on a farm in central Victoria I couldn’t have envisaged attending such a distinguished ceremony.”

She studied civil engineering at La Trobe University Bendigo and was the top course student. Vivien moved to NSW a decade ago.

Vivien is the daughter of John and Joan Murnane, of Korong Vale.

Fitness station ready for use

AN OUTDOOR fitness station in Inglewood will be officially opened tomorrow.

The equipment at Inglewood Recreation Reserve includes a balance beam, aerobic cycle, pull downs, leg press, chest press, body twist and step-ups.

Inglewood outdoor fitness station is the fourth to be installed in Loddon Shire through the Healthy Loddon Campaspe initiative, with stations also in Boort, Pyramid Hill and Wedderburn.

Installing outdoor exercise equipment was identified as an action in goal four of the Inglewood Community Plan 20212031. Healthy Loddon Campaspe has been leading project management.

The 2019 Active Living Census highlighted that 56 per cent of females and 53 per cent of males in the Loddon Shire wanted to exercise more.

- HOTEL -

Come and join us at the Victoria Hotel in Pyramid Hill

We offer classic pub meals, ice cold drinks, clean accommodation and a stocked bottle shop.

Our winter trading hours are as follows

MONDAY • OPEN 3.00PM DINNER FROM 6.00PM

SOCIAL DARTS NIGHT

TUESDAY • OPEN 2.00PM DINNER FROM 6.00PM

WEDNESDAY • OPEN MIDDAY LUNCH FROM 12.00 POT’N’PARMA NIGHT DINNER FROM 6.00PM

THURSDAY • OPEN 11.00AM DINNER FROM 5.30PM

STEAK’N’POT NIGHT

FRIDAY • OPEN MIDDAY LUNCH FROM 12.00

HAPPY HOUR 5.00-6.30 DINNER FROM 5.30PM

JOKER POKER 5.00-8.00

MEAT TRAY RAFFLE

SATURDAY • OPEN MIDDAY LUNCH FROM 12.00 DINNER FROM 5.30PM

SUNDAY • OPEN MIDDAY ALL DAY PIZZA MENU

60-YEAR MEDAL VETERAN Country Fire Authority volunteer John Sutton on Sunday received his 60-year service medal from Tarnagulla captain George Filev and assistant chief fire officer Steve Pitcher.

Vivien Murnane accepts her NSW National Women in Construction award.

MONDAY - OPEN 4.00PM NO DINNER

TUESDAY - OPEN 4.00PM DINNER FROM 6.00PM PARMA NIGHT

EXTENDED PARMA MENU

WEDNESDAY - OPEN 4.00PM

DINNER FROM 6.00PM

FULL MENU AVAILABLE

New honours for amazing youth

THE inaugural Buloke-Loddon-Gannawarra Youth Awards were presented in Boort Memorial Hall on Friday night.

The awards, an initiative of Northern District Community Health and North Central LLEN, were presented to 132 young people from the three shires recognising their work in leadership, creativity, resilience and teamwork.

More than 150 people attended the ceremony including Loddon Mayor Dan Straub who presented awards in the creativity section.

Friday’s event came a week after North Central LLEN brought the Youthrive Victoria Dream Seeds team to Buloke and Loddon Shires with visit to Pyramid Hill, Boort Wycheproof, Sea Lake and Charlton presenting their 90 minute workshops teaching students about values, the importance and power of community and team work, making decisions, and setting goals.

Webster slams gas and intervention

THE Federal Government’s proposed intervention into the coal and gas market risked destroying investor confidence and jeopardise supply in the medium to long term, said Mallee MP Anne Webster.

“After months of inaction and delay the Federal Government’s response to its broken promise of a $275 reduction in power bills is to step towards nationalising our energy industry – certainly on the east coast,” Dr Webster said.

“Meanwhile the Government has set aside $1.5 billion to fund consumer rebates for people on federal government payments but we still don’t have the details of how much support individuals will actually receive – that is the burning question for people in Mallee.

“The Government has had six months to develop a response to this crisis and here they are rushing legislation at the last minute.”

The Government’s intervention includes price caps in 2023 of $12 a gigajoule on uncontracted gas and $125 a tonne on coal in the east coast market.

It will also introduce ongoing controls on gas prices through a mandatory code, according to Dr Webster.

Progress group leader

JILL Ramskill was re-elected president of Mitiamo Progress Association at Tuesday’s annual general meeting.

Loddon Mayor Dan Straub thanked all the volunteers for their efforts during the recent flood events and answered a range of local concerns at the well-attended meeting.

Deputy president is Wayne Shepherd, secretary Catriona Freeman and treasurer Tracey Cox.

Members also discussed constitutional rules, membership, liability insurance and the proposed Mitiamo and district community plan.

Wedderburn College’s Crystal Haridman received an award for resilience. LH PHOTO

Mia Brough, Jasmine Twigg, Imogen Broad and Jacob Clough from Pyramid Hill College.

Cr Straub (second left) with Owen Byrne, Jake Murphy, Chelsea Cunningham, Austin Malone, Josephine Cedballos and Elias Lanyon.

Young ideas put spark into festive shopping

HUNDREDS of people wandered through Pyramid Hill Memorial Hall on Saturday for the town’s Christmas market.

Seasoned stallholders were joined by local youngsters pitching their wares and creations to the crowd as Christmas carols were played by Bendigo’s Marist Brass Band.

Mikayla Gibson and Eloise Walters made their business debut with scented lip balm.

The teenagers had spent recent weeks making and packaging the balm.

Eloise and Mikayla said the venture would help them buy Christmas presents for family.

Cooper Gould, 12, was one of the youngest stallholders.

His 3D print creations were popular with the crowd. Cooper said he disocvered designs for his creations on the internet.

Some took 23 hours to print, Cooper said.

The Christmas market was organised by the neighbourhood house.

Co-ordinator Kim Bennett said: “Thank you to the neighbourhood house team, staff and committee who have had such

energy for the market from the first time we talked about it - all the way to cleaning up at the end of the night together.

“I loved every single stallsuch a diverse bunch of things to see and buy. I was also impressed with how many stalls there were run by young people!”

The market had more than 25 stallholders who had set up from midday to be ready for the official opening of doors later in the afternoon, timed for lawn bowlers and tennis players to call in after their day’s sport.

Between buying, the crowd enjoyed relaxation time over refreshments with the Coffee Bank opening for the afternoon and special food stalls in the hall.

Children were also busy at the colouring table.

Special stop for Santa at Wonderland

FATHER Christmas will make a special stop in the Loddon on Saturday night when he visits Mysia’s Christmas Wonderland.

Alison Dean’s magical festive creation will be the setting for Santa’s visit, again attracting children keen for a glimpse of the jolly chap.

Christmas Wonderland will be raising money for the Royal Children’s Hospital.

Community Christmas trees continue in the Loddon with Serpentine hosting Santa tomorrow night.

Boort will be staging its Christmas street party in Godfrey Street from 5pm tomorrow with stalls and activities running through to 9pm.

On Saturday night, carols wll be sung in the grounds of Wedderburn Uniting Church.

Eaglehawk Salvation Army band and other performers will provide music for the community celebration.

And for children keen to let Santa know their special requests for the big day itself - now just over a week away - Loddon post offices have been receiving letters for delivery to his home at the North Pole.

Youngsters who letters posted to Santa before the start of December will receive a special reply.

Marist Brass players Lex Gray and John O’Connor. LH PHOTO

Kelly and Cooper Gould

Mikayla Gibson and Eloise Walters

Disease strategy focus of review

DISEASE management will be a key focus of Birchip Cropping Group’s trials review day next year.

BCG said stripe rust, chocolate spot and grey mould had caused heavy yield losses across large areas of the Wimmera, Mallee and north central.

Issues with disease have been two- fold. While the wet weather has provided conducive conditions for stripe rust in wheat, chocolate spot in beans and grey mould in lentils, it has also made management of these diseases difficult with many growers unable to access paddocks to spray or getting bogged in the process.

“With high rainfall and full soil profiles creating a green bridge, spores are likely to carry over to season 2023,” senior manager of extension and communications Kelly Angel said.

“BCG’s trials review day will deliver strategies for growers to support 2023 disease management decisions to optimise production and ultimately, profitability.”

Nutrition, varieties, industry trends and farmer experience will also feature on the program with the latest research delivered to arm farmers with the science required to inform 2023 decisions.

“As a farmer-driven, not for profit, research organisation our event topics are determined by our farmers and supported by a robust research committee. We look forward to presenting our research from the Wimmera, Mallee and North Central regions to our members.

“Trials review day also provides local farmers with access to shared experiences and ground-breaking research from across Australia and further afield as the organisation has done for the past 30-years,” Ms Angel said.

GRAIN

Boort Grain Co-op prices on Tuesday.

Wheat - H1 $393. H2 $393. APW $348. GP1 332. SFW1 #336. FED1 $300.

Barley - PL1 $308. SP1 $308. Bar1 $280. Bar2 $260. Bar3 $210.

Canola - Non-GM canola ISCC +/- AOF $651. Non-GM canola +/AOF $663. Non GM cans +/- AOF $662. *GM canola ISCC +/- AOF $631. *GM canola +/- AOF CANGS $660.

Pulses - Faba1 $390 fot. Faba2 #360.

Oats 1 $330. Oats 2 $270.

Mechanics of Peter’s chicken run

Protecting What Matters Most

PETER Maher is the odd-job volunteer at Derby Derby Downs Poll Dorset Stud.

It gives the former Serpentine garage owner the chance to continue his hobby of breeding and showing bantam chickens.

Peter, who operated his business at Serpentine

for more than 30 years before retiring into Bendigo, travels daily to the local stud near Marong to tend his prize-winning chickens.

A mechanic since he left school at 15, Peter says he enjoys tinkering on jobs around the stud and spending time in his chicken shed.

Peter Maher and one of his prize-winning bantams at Derby Downs. LH PHOTO

Yield surprise after weeks under water

CANOLA crops water-logged two months ago have yielded up to two tonnes a hectare in some northern Loddon areas.

Slow-moving floodwaters put crops under water for up to eight weeks and delayed the start to this season’s harvest.

But Mincha’s Steve Mann said at the weekend he was surprised with the yield.

“They (crops) were under water for four to six weeks and we’ve had to skip harvesting some areas,” he said.

“To get two tonnes a hectare was not too bad and barley has been yielding okay but at a very light weight.

“At least we are getting something. Six weeks ago it was looking like nothing.”

Wheat receivals across the Loddon have started to trickle in to silos in the past week.

Graincorp said this week the Victorian harvest now well underway with all sites building momentum.

“Canola deliveries have slowed

in some areas as growers move to harvesting and delivering cereal crops,’ Graincorp said.

“Large outload program continues across the GrainCorp network to create capacity for more receivals, with more than 230,000 tonnes of grain being outloaded per week.

“We continue to see the full spectrum of grades delivered to our network, including milling wheat and malting barley. Teams continue to assess requirements for segregations as needed.

Its report said Queensland harvest was now mostly complete, with some receivals still trickling in around the Goondiwindi area.

“The central Queensland and Western Downs clusters have recorded their best ever winter crop harvest season, with over 10 sites reaching receival records to date.”

Graincorp received 683,830 tonnes in Victoria, taking this season’s receivals to 1,387,280 tonnes.

SUPPLY increased to 16,000 lambs and 8000 sheep, up 10,000 head, at Bendigo on Monday.

But while there was a lot more lambs it was basically a store market, with hardly any genuine prime conditioned lots over 24kg cwt.

It meant the best heavy lambs from 24kg to just over 30kg cwt were firm to $10 dearer despite not all the major processors operating.

The average run of young unshorn domestic lambs traded a few dollars either side of last weeks prices in another erratic market.

The yarding was dominated by store conditioned lambs and the lightest categories under 18kg cwt were $3 to $9 softer, pulled back by a lot of secondary types.

Heavy shorn lambs sold to $244 and the best heavy young lambs from $200 to a top of $242, but this money only covered a few hundred lambs in the yarding.

The general run of woolly trade lambs, 20-24kg cwt, sold from $140 to $190 amid selective bidding at an estimated 700c to 770c/kg cwt for most.

There was big volumes of store lambs.

The best bred crossbred lines showing scope at 18-20kg cwt sold from $126 to $150 to average firm at $135, this category supported by a strong NSW based order.

Lighter store lambs were cheaper, the 16-18kg types from $100 to $131 and the smallest lots mostly $70 to $114 to av $95 to the paddock. L ight sheep prices started off $5 to $15 dearer before the market retreated again in later sales.

Heavier sheep just firm to slightly dearer at $105 to a top of $140 for big crossbreds. Most sheep $65 to $110.

SUCKERS

JM Hiscock & Sons Pyalong (42) $240, G Patterson & Pyalong Park Pyalong (36) $230, JM Hiscock & Sons Pyalong (129) $228, DJ & SL Lloyd Stuart Mill (33) $228, RH & ML Boyd Jarklin (62) $220, Glenlyon Past Highlands (55) $220, DS & EG Morton Benalla (26) $215, GR & H Nankivell Raywood (36) $200, C & P Head Seymour (22) $180, T & M Kelly Kilmore (30) $180, BV & EC Kelly Kilmore East (71) $179, Woodthorpe Past Metcalfe (20) $176.

MERINO SUCKERS

J Tonkin Wedderburn (153) $104.

CROSSBRED LAMBS

DJ & SL Lloyd Stuart Mill (33) $244.

MERINO WETHERS

RJC Comini P/L Harcourt (173), $150, GA & JW Broughton Euroa (56) $130.

CROSSBRED EWES

EJ Roberts Longlea (31) $140, H & P Bennett Spring Plains (63) $140, CA Treweeh & ML Whelan

Wakool (8) $139, W & HL McPherson Ravenswood (134) $130, Maxted Holdings Durham Ox (7) $125, Glenlyon Past Highlands (45) $125, DT Leahy Tallarook (67) $120, J & D Greenwood Romsey (53) $110.

MERINO EWES

G & H Pollard Redesdale (39) $140, GB & CT Kelly Kilmore (27) $130, LJ & HL McPherson Ravenswood (238) $130, Northrum Past Wanganella (45) $123, K & C Tonkin Wedderburn (127) $115, NB & DA Allen Mitiamo (196) $105.

Native grass workshop

LODDON Plains Landcare Network held a native grasses workshop and field day last week.

The well-attended workshop was conducted at the LPLN Goodshed and in the field near Serpentine.

Guest experts were Iestyn Hosking and Mirinda Thorpe from the Wimmera.

The day was part of a series of workshops run by the LPLN Loddon Plains future farmers regenerative agriculture group through support from the Federal Government National Landcare Program and the North Central Catchment Management Authority. The workshop looked at encouraging grassland species and identifying species in the field, herbs and forbs.

‘Mount Buckra’ presents in a stunning location on the slopes of Mount Buckrabanyule with sweeping views of the surrounding plains and ranges. The property features a homestead with character that suits the environment and lends to a peaceful lifestyle. Enjoy nature at its best.

The homestead is situated on 220 acres on the southern slope of Mount Buckrabanyule, lending to farming pursuits. A further 100 acres is also available in this sale, currently cropped and leased. Improvements at the homestead block include machinery shed, workshop, barn, windmill and 3 catchment dams. The homestead features 3 bedrooms, kitchen with gas cooktop & pantry, laundry utility room with second shower and toilet, solar HW system, delightful sun room to further enjoy the landscape. Wimmera Mallee pipeline is connected to both lots being offered.

Expressions of Interest close 12 noon Wednesday 10th February 2023.

Expression of Interest forms available from the selling agent, inspections strictly by appointment.

Noel Bennett 0417 562 691

Elders Wycheproof 03 5493 6400

the farmland that surrounds it

Taking fizz out of sugary advertising

By STEPH DEMEO

DO you or I really want to be living in a world where multi million dollar companies are selling us drinks that they know for a fact will definitely cause us severe health issues?

And we as consumers are just throwing our money at these big companies who know what their products will do to destroy our health. So why do we continue to buy these unhealthy but cheap drinks?

Companies obviously don’t care about us and our future it’s all about the money.

Capitalism is trumping health. It’s terrifyingly scary to learn that one in four kids in Australia, aged two to 17 are overweight or obese. From such a young age these kids are already pigeonholed into being isolated into this category at no fault of their own.

Young kids rely on their parents to guide their dietary habits, however parents are placing their trust in these companies, who are betraying us, convincing us to consume these sugary drinks.

We can’t as a nation allow this to be our future and not act.

A sugar tax. Mexico, the UK, Belgium, France, Ireland, Poland, and South Africaa never ending list of countries that have taken the brave but logical step to implement a tax on sugary drinks. So put simply the tax on drinks is based on their sugar content, so a once $3 can of soft drink could become nearly $4, it all adds up.

The overall aim to force people to reconsider their choices, seeing an expensive drink and making the wiser choice to not

buy it. I can comfortably stand here and say someone in this room would have had a sugary drink whether it be a soft drink or cordial recently and no one would disagree. But no one would agree with me to say they’ve eaten 10 teaspoons of sugar off a spoon. Well you have!! Crazy right, 10 whole teaspoons in a drink, no wonder people think some of these drinks taste good.

Sugary drinks are exactly as their name explains, full of sugar. They are energy dense and nutrient poor not providing a feeling of fullness which results in a vicious cycle of overconsuming excess calories leading to weight gain.

Without a willingness to change our habits we will see the rates of type 2 diabetes, heart attacks, cardiovascular disease, cancer, high blood pressure, and strokes skyrocket.

I stand here with no credentials or expertise’s telling you about these lifethreatening diseases, so I understand they may be going in one ear and out the other, but the reality is it doesn’t take any number of years at uni to realise the serious and deadly nature to these conditions.

Our health is the most integral part to the rest of our lives. We are nothing without our health.

Australia. Listed as the 8th highest developed country as of 2022, yet 31 per cent of our adult population are classified as obese. Providing a stark reality check is

comparing this to 37 per cent of the American population being obese.

We tend to have the perception of fat Americans that drink their soda and burgers but us Aussies need to realise that we are heading in the same direction fast, if not already there, the stats don’t lie.

We have witnessed over 50 other countries reap the rewards from a sugar tax, after just three years of a tax Mexico had a significant reduction in soft drink consumption. Yet Australia is still not willing to implement any policies here, a 2017 national survey proved that 77 per cent of Australians supported the implementation of a sugar tax, you heard me 77 per cent, that’s over three quarters of the country. If that’s not enough, key health and medical organisations in Australia the ones responsible for having to treat the chronic conditions as a result of high sugar consumption also back in the tax. What is stopping us?

Its ignorant to assume a tax will solve all our sugar related health problems. I get it. While the drinks are still on the shelves people are still going to pay the money for

them despite the price increase. Although, the UK has demonstrated how the introduction of a sugar tax led to many companies refining their products by reducing the sugar in their drinks to avoid having to deal with the increased prices. This is a win-win situation for everyone. Not too expensive but also not too sugary.

People are becoming dependent and more or less even addicted to sugary drinks so much so it is shown that aussies consume on average 960 Olympic sized swimming pools worth of soft drink each year.

Shocking. Therefore, it’s our own responsibility as individuals to work towards changing such dire statistics and alter the attitude around sugary drinks, yet we also need the food industry and government to step in and create a shift away from advertisement and loading our shelves with sugary drinks and rather begin to work with us for the implementation of a sugar tax.

*StephDemeoisthe2022EastLoddon LionsClubYouthoftheYear.Thiswasher speechinthefinal.

Christmas-New Year arrangements Parking Permits

The

The new Accessible Parking Permit (APP) Scheme will make the application and assessment process fairer, simpler and consistent across Victoria.

To apply for an Accessible Parking permit please visit https://www. vicroads.vic.gov.au/safety-androad-rules/road-rules/disabilityparkingYou can also apply for renewals, replacements and cancellations to your current permit via this process.

If you require assistance through the application process, please contact Council’s customer support team on 54942101

Council o ce in Wedderburn will be closed from 12pm Friday 23 December 2022 and will reopen at 8.15am on Tuesday 3 January 2023.

Loddon Visitor Information Centre will be closed on Christmas Day Sunday 25 December 2022 but is otherwise open Monday to Saturday from 9am to 5pm and from 10am to 2pm on public holidays.

For enquiries phone (03) 5494 3489 or email loddonvisitorinformation@ loddon.vic.gov.au 

The Community Care team will provide limited services between Saturday 24 December 2022 and Monday 2 January 2023. The o ce will reopen at 8.15am on Tuesday

3 January 2023. Clients will be contacted to discuss their personal care needs and meals on wheels requirements for this period. There will be no home care, respite care, social support or property maintenance services delivered during the closure period.

 For urgent Community Care assistance during this period, please contact the Wedderburn o ce on 5494 1200 and select option 3 for Aged Care.



Kerbside waste and recycling collections during December 2022 and January 2023 will operate as scheduled, with no changes to collections.

 Waste facilities across the Shire will be closed on Sunday 25 December 2022, Tuesday 27 December 2022 and Sunday 1 January 2023.

Victorian Government has made changes to disability parking to create an easier and fairer system for all.

The CFA has declared the Fire Danger Period for Loddon Shire Council from 12 December 2022 to 1 May 2023. Fire prevention o cers have commenced Council’s re prevention program, including re hazard inspections throughout the municipality, identifying vacant blocks and areas surrounding dwellings that pose a re risk.

Youth of the Year winner Steph Demeo. LH PHOTO

Thomas Bulch

Waltzing Craigielee Banjo, Thomas and debate over

WHEN historical slueth Howard Rochester linked an early Inglewood resident with Australia’s not-quite national anthem Waltzing Matilda, musicians in the know were keen to debate whether the tune had been penned by the celebrated AB “Banjo” Paterson or a luminary of colonial composition Thomas Bulch. Howard and others last year put the spotlight on Elizabeth Paterson (no relation to Banjo), who lived in Sullivan Street and died from colon cancer and perforation of the bowel in 1895 aged 91.

He grandson-in-law was Thomas Bulch who was at that time a celebrated brass band conductor, composer and arranger.

Bulch penned marches for brass bands in many Victorian towns and is credited with writing Craigielee, a tune perhaps heard by Paterson while at the races in Warrnambool, a composition many musicologists believe pre-dates and has amazing similarities with Banjo’s Waltzing Matilda.

So who was Thomas Bulch? In the book Legends in Brass by Jack Grieves and Chris Earl (Muso’s Media 2000), Bulch’s life as a king of goldfields brass minstrel is explored.

Before the turn of the 19th century many bands throughout Australia had as their bandmasters expatriot British musicians who brought with them a wealth of musical knowledge gained either from direct involvenent with the brass band movement in Britain or as a result of service as a bandsman with the British Army.

Thomas E. Bulch was one such person. He was born in Shildon, Durhamshire, England, in 1860 and arrived in Australia in May 1884.

Tom Bulch almost immediately was given the conductorship of the Allandale and Kingston Brass Band. By the end of 1886 he was also bandmaster of the Ballarat Temperance Brass Band and the band of the recentlyformed 3rd Battalion Militia.

In partnership with Mr J. Malthouse he also owned and operated a music warehouse in Sturt Street, Ballarat, from where some of his earliest compositions were issued as part of the Intercolonial Brass and Military Band Journal.

To celebrate the eighth anniversary of the Creswick Miners’ Association on October

27, 1886, a public holiday was declared and a large sports meeting held during which a band contest took place. Bulch’s 3rd Battalion Band was one of four who competed and was awarded first prize.

Following a dispute with the militia, he formed a new group which he named Bulch’s Model Band, the nucleus of which were former members of the militia band who resigned in support of their bandmaster.

band competition in 1900. And he was called to New Zealand twice - 1893 and 1896 - to judge their national championships. He was the first judge from outside New Zealand to be invited to adjudicate the event.

In Legends in Brass, it is said that it was really as a composer of music for bands and as a contest adjudicator that made the name of Thomas E. Bulch so familiar to several generations of Australian bandsmen. Bulch began composing music for bands at an early age, in fact he wrote his first march entitled The Typhoon when only 17 .

Some of his early compositions were issued as part of his own Bulch’s Band Journal and the Intercolonial Brass & .Military Band Journal during his years in Ballarat when he operated his music business in partnership with Mr. J. Malthouse.

The bulk of his music, however, was originally published by two Melbourne music houses: Lyons and Suttons. The former issued most of his music as part of their publications also known as The Intercolonial Brass & Military Band Journal. One of his contest marches Chef D’Oeuvre was published in England by T.A Haigh of Hull. In later years another Melbourne publishing house, Allans, acquired rights to much of his music.

He adopted the practice of using several noms-de-plume, including Henri Laski, Godfrey Parker, Carl Volti, and Eugene Lacosta. He is known to have used these pen names but it is possible that others were also employed and many of his compositions were published for piano as well as bands.

1. What is a single strand of spaghetti called?

2. What’s the best-selling Christmas single of all time?

3. Which singer’s real name is Robyn Fenty?

4. Where do U.S. vice presidents live?

5. What was the name of the high school in Grease

6. How many pounds are in a ton?

7. In Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, what keeps the three-headed dog asleep?

8. What year was the original Jurassic Park released?

9. Who is Barbie’s little sister?

10. What color is a giraffe’s tongue?

11. Name the first horse to be a three-time winner of the Melbourne Cup?

12. The first Australian lifesaving club was founded on which Aussie beach?

13. From a giant prawn in Ballina to an enormous ram in Goulburn, what is considered the first “BIG thing” in Australia?

14. Who was the first person to perform at the iconic Australia landmark, the Sydney Opera House, when he sang Ol’ Man River?

15. The first mobile phone went on sale in Australia for $4,250 in the 1980s, which year?

16. Which sport was first played at Ballarat goldfields Australia in 1855?

17. Who in 1984 became Australia’s first female heart transplant recipient?

18. On what occasion was Advance Australia Fair first played internationally as the national anthem?

19. In what year did Victoria become the first state in Australia to introduce random breath testing?

20. What year was the Australian $50 note introduced?

ANSWERS

This band would win prizes in Victoria, New South Wales and South Australia before he accepted a series of appointments as bandmaster around Australia.

As well as being a successful bandmaster and teacher, Bulch was also a popular adjudicator who judged many contests in Australia. He was popular because he was regarded by bandsmen as a judge in whom they could place implicit faith. He was one of three adjudicators chosen by the Royal South Street Society Ballarat for the first

By today’s standards Bulch’s compositions are in the main “old hat” but to several former generations of Australian bandsmen his numerous musical works, particularly his marches, were widely known and played. Indeed, it would be extremely doubtful if any brass band library of yesteryear did not contain a large number of his compositions.

The origins of the tune Waltzing Matilda have long been debated. If the composer was indeed Thomas Bulch, the tune Cragielee that was dedicated to Elizabeth Paterson has earned a lasting place in Australian music.

- CHRIS EARL

1. Spaghetto. 2. White Christmas (Bing Crosby). 3. Rihanna. 4. On the grounds of the US Naval -Observa tory. 5. Rydell High. 6. 2000. 7. An enchanted harp. 8. 1993. 9. Skipper. 10. Purple. 11 Makybe Diva. 12. -Bon di. 13. The Big Scotsman (Medindie South). 14. Paul Robeson. 15. 1987. 16. Australian rules football. 17. Fiona Coote. 18. Los Angeles Olympics 1984. 19. 1976. 20. 1973.

“Banjo” Paterson

Loddon

FISHER - Terry Wayne

15.03.1945 – 01.12.2022

Hi everybody, Just letting you know that I have passed away and am now at peace. Keeping you all close to my heart and always in my thoughts, I will be spending my next chapter looking down and shining light on you all.

- Fish

McDowall (nee Stone) Eileen Rebecca

Aged 69 years

Passed away peacefully on 11th December, 2022.

Dearly beloved wife of Wesley, much loved mother of Andrew, Jamie Robbie, Shane and Matthew and mother-in-law to Ret, Joanne, Kate, Meggan and Ashlee.

Cherished grandmother of Caitlyn, Dalton, Bailey, Harrison, Jackson, Emerson, Laura, Emma, Molly-Jane, Logan and Killian.

God has her in His keeping We will have her forever in our hearts

McDowall - Eileen Rebecca (nee Stone)

Passed away 11/12/22

Dearly loved sister of Edith & Carl (dec) Much loved Aunty Eileen to Angela, Ian, Keith, Steven & Chris and their families

Your

Your memory a treasure

You are loved beyond words And will be missed beyond measure

TONKIN (nee Taylor)

Valerie Dawn

9.10.1932 – 12.12.2022

Passed away peacefully at Inglewood Hostel.

Aged 90 years.

Devoted and loving Mother to Jeanette and Paul.

Nanny to Jessica and Nic, Ryan, Hannah, Pagan, Leigh and Rohan.

Great Nanny to Tully and Margot.

A piece of us is missing. So dearly loved and sadly missed. Forever in our hearts.

Thanks to the caring staff at Inglewood IDHS.

TONKIN

Wagner (Nee Keeble) ‘Betty’ 8/8/1929 -13/12/2022

Loving wife of Roy [dec]. Mother & Mother in law to David and Rhonda [dec.], Bruce and Jeanette, Gayle and John, Andrew and Tanya.

Cherished Nan to Lauren; Christopher and Kim, Timothy and Jeannie, & Donna; Zoe, Mia & Alex.

Devoted Gran Nan to Brianna, Caleb, Dillon; Madeline, Danika, Kassidy, Delaney; Trista, Brodie and Riley; Charlie, Logan and Jenson.

Loved by all. For funeral details please see: www.adamsdfunerals.com.au

(nee Taylor)

Valerie Dawn

9.10.1932 – 12.12.2022

Loved Daughter of Richard and Gladys Taylor (both dec.).

Loving Sister of Geoffrey and Margaret (both dec.).

Forever in our hearts.

TONKIN Valerie Dawn

On 12th December. Aged 90 years.

My precious Mother. There is a place in my heart that is yours alone, apart of our lives that no one else can own, the tears in my eyes I can wipe away, but the love in my heart will forever stay.

Blessed to have had you for so long.

Love you! Love you more!! - Jeanette xoxo

TONKIN Valerie Dawn

In loving memory of dear Val.

The best Sister-in-law and Auntie anyone could ever wish to have.

Cherished memories, forever in our hearts.

Love Ken, Chris, Michael, Lara, Robert, Carly and Family.

FUNERAL

PUBLIC NOTICES

Rest in Peace

Funeral Prayers for Mrs Eileen Rebecca McDowall will be held at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, Pyramid Hill, on Wednesday 21 December commencing at 1.30pm.

A Burial Service will follow at the Pyramid Hill Cemetery.

Livestreaming of both services is via: www.adamsfunerals.com.au

life was a blessing

Eileen Rebecca McDOWALL (nee Stone)

Temporary Public Toilets Closure, Commercial Road, Tarnagulla.

The following public toilets in Tarnagulla will be closed to users from Sunday 18th December 2022 for the completion of the septic System upgrades:

Tarnagulla Public Toilets, Commercial Road.

It is expected that the public toilet will be closed for 3 days.

Any further changes to the closure will be advised through Council’s Facebook page.

Temporary Street Closure

The following street in Boort will be closed to through tra c from 4:00pm to 9.00pm on Friday 16 December 2022 as part of the Boort Christmas Festival 2022.  Temporary closure of Godfrey Street (Boort Pyramid Rd) between Lake View Street and Railway Crescent. Malone Street from Boort Kerang Rd to Boort Wycheproof Rd to Boort Charlton Rd to be used to detour vehicles and heavy/or oversize vehicles.

THANKS

Ken O’Shea Newbridge.

Woodies - summer champions

The Inglewood club started with a few nerves after going through the season undefeated.

But the youngsters soon settled and went on to register a 22-10 victory.

Coach Rebecca Luckman said the girls had put in a strong second half of the Loddon Valley netball season.

“To keep the momentum going, I suggested to the girls they enter the Golden City twilight competition, as a way to continue building their skills and learning to play as a team,” she said.

“The suggestion that paid off in a premiership win!

“These girls played their hearts out each week in rain, hail and sunshine. They won every game, going into the grand final undefeated.

“It was so pleasing to see the girls enjoying the game and furthering their skills. It can sometimes be hard being in a rural setting where the age gap can mean girls the age of 12 are playing against 15 year olds.

“This was what our team was facing this year.

“We had a very young side and

each week our girls knew they were going to lose and it was hard to build their resilience and enjoyment for the game.

“Playing Twilight allowed the girls to see how they can perform against teams the same age as them.

“The girls went in each week feeling more confident and as a result, their skills and ability to

play as a team were exceptional. It was evident in the grand final by the way they could interpret teammates’ moves and pass the ball where they would be. It was an absolute pleasure to witness,” Luckman said.

The grand final nerves were settled once the first goal was shot by Lillie Luckman.

The girls started playing their

game, The leading down the court and teamwork was impressive to witness.

Luckman has grown as a player this season, she is moving more confidently around the ring and is reading the play beautifully.

Lillie’s shooting average is 97 per cent, an impressive feat for such a young player. Evie Pay played a strong game as usual in

Sianna Thatcher, a new recruit to Inglewood with her debut in the twilight competition,was a strong attacking player.

Macey Scoble was the little pocket rocket of the premiership team while another new recruit for the young Woodies. Chloe Looby, proved a good all-round netballer able to read the play and intercept the ball.

Indi Simpson had a stellar game. She was all over the court and stuck to her player like glue; her coach was very impressed and happy. Lexi Ward owned her position as goalkeeper and each week took pride in stopping the goal shooter from getting one up on her.

Unfortunately, Sienna Ward the team’s captain was unable to play in the Grand Final due to school camp, however, she was a vital team member and wasmissed on the night.

Completing the Loddon presence in Golden City grand finals was Calivil who went down to South Bendigo in a well-contested under 13 encounter.

PREMIERSHIP medals have made their way to Inglewood after the Screaming Divas took out last Wednesday’s Golden City unmder 15 grand final.

the centre and goal attack, not missing many shoots. Evie was a fabulous all-rounder who always plays at her best. and Halle Birthisel dominated in wing attack with strong leads and some good intercepts.

Lillie Luckman (left) and Halle Birthisel in action during the Woodies’ flag win. LH PHOTOS

Calivil’s Caity Ralphs.

Abby Twigg (Calivil) takes front position.

Chloe Looby sends Inglewood into attack.

‘Hero effort’ delivers

INGLEWOOD division five side has extended its ladder lead with a 10-shot win over Dingee in Bendigo playing group matches at the weekend.

The group of 16 have been hailed the club’s ‘hero side”, down on usual personnel and coming from behind for the victory.

Inglewood remains undefeated on top of the ladder and may the good form continue in this week’s tough encounter againsty fellow premiership contender Kangaroo Flat.

Best rink on last Saturday was Edna Patterson, Robert Stranger, Tony Noonan and Arthur Harrison with a 13-shot win.

Grand finalists from two seasons ago, Calivil, is finally finding that form and sitting in third spot on the ladder.

At the weekend Calivil at home had a 30-shot win over Campbells Creek.

In division one, Inglewood had three rinks up in a very important win against a team who have surprised all this yearMarong - with some fine performances in their first year in the top division.

Best winning rink was Merilyn Chamberlain, Denis Wilson, Geoff Wilson and Ian Chamberlain who were the winners of the Café 3517 award with a 15-shot win.

Another big game this Saturday for Inglewood, up against Castlemaine and then off to Moama on Sunday to complete the last double-header for the season.

In last week’s midweek pennant, Ingewood division one knocked off top team Golden Square.

It was a very satisfying win with two rinks having great wins to set up the victory.

Now just to follow this up with a strong performance up to the break.

The division five team suffered its first defeat of the season at the hands of Strathfield-

saye. Both rinks tasted defeat, and thankfully they are still top of the ladder.

A terrific effort was put in by the ladies of Inglewood club, lead by Chris McEwan and Pam Kelly, to run a very successful Christmas raffle and a Christmas meal for past members and friends. Past members enjoyed being in the familiar surroundings.

BRIDGEWATER

Bridgewater hosted Bendigo on Saturday but with several players unavailable due to holidays and covid, was always on the back foot against a top of the table contender.

At the break the rinks were even, with two sides up and two down, with Glenn Mangan and Alan Harrison’s rinks holding a slight lead. After the break Bendigo stamped their authority to win on all four rinks.

BENDIGO

Division 1 – Inglewood 91-16 d Marong 73-2. B Jackson, J Jackman, W Roberts, R Day (s) d R Farrell, W Gretgrix, T Hayes, D Fulton (s) 21-15. B McClymont, D Vanston, J Nevins, M McLean (s) d G Fawcett, W Gneil, G Farnsworth, A Whatley (s) 24-18. M Chamberlain, D Wilson, G Wilson, I Chamberlain (s) d L Nemeth, J Lee, D Marshall, M Dickins (s) 26-11. D Garrett, C Kelly, V Tierney, L Kelly (s) lost to G Hamilton, R Siesmaa, C Fry, C Bramley (s) 20-29.

Division 3 – Serpentine 82-13 d Kangaroo Flat 77-5. S Rollinson, R Hasty, D Walker, D Anset (s) d J Lynch, J White, N Hardwood, B Waegeli (s) 28-16. P Britton, S Rudkins, B Gladman, L Cadzow (s) lost to C Verbeek, F Nolan, L Hardingham, D Allison (s) 14-18. W Gladman, K Canfield, B Long, R Gladman (s) lost to B Davies, K Reed, G Waegeli, R Short (s) 20-23. J Collinson, B Tuohey, A Bish, N Tonkin (s) drew G Dickie, B Coutanche, A Mills, B Guest (s) 20-20.

Ladder: South Bendigo 96, North Bendigo 89, Kangaroo Flat 83, Strathfieldsaye 73, Bendigo East 52, Heathcote 41, Serpentine 38, Bendigo 32.

(s) 20-13. G Clarke, S Sproull, Lyn Demeo, Leo Demeo (s) lost to E Patterson, R Stranger, A Noonan, A Harrison (s) 13-26.

Ladder: Inglewood 101, Marong 84, Calivil 79, Kangaroo Flat 72, Castlemaine 48, Campbells Creek 44, Dingee 38, Strathfieldsaye 38. Division 6 – Bridgewater 67-0 lost to Bendigo 88-18. F Shea, C Mangan, R Broadbent, G Managan (s) lost to R Capener, C Keck, L Trehair, A Champion (s) 19-22. P Gath, D Grant, D Futter, A Harrison (s) lost to G Painter, T Obudzinski, R Painter, P McMaster-Smith (s) 15-23. V Wilson, R Brown, P Short, R Smith (s) lost to A Wright, D Bennet, D Penfold, H Champion (s) 18-27. J Hosking, D Wilson, J Fagan, B Oughtred (s) lost to B Pontell, Penfold, T White, R Flanagan (s) 15-16.

WEDDERBURN

An 11-shot victory over St Arnaud Country has kept Wedderburn breathing down the necks of ladder leaders Wycheproof.

A 19-shot win to Laurie Witham’s rink set up the victory.

St Arnaud Country took out the other two rinks.

In the North Central playing area division two clash between Boort and St Arnaud, Boort had a thrilling one-shot win.

Little separated the two clubs all day but Boort was able to defeat St Arnaud which sits higher on the ladder.

PYRAMID HILL

Pyramid Hill is sitting second on the Northern playing area midweek division ladder after another win last week.

Pyramid accounted for Cohuna 2 to take honours by 25 shots with close results on all rinks.

PENNANT RESULTS

48-2.

E Bell, A Churchill, N Attrill, F Gargiulo (s) 31-17. S Ellis, P Plant, B West, F Grieves (s) lost to G Gardner, J Austin, L Aiello, G Austin (s) 15-16. N Thomas, S Lawry, Leo Demeo, Lyn Demeo (s) d M Carter, M Shawyer, A Fielder, D Fielder (s) 21-15.

Calivil Serpentine 52-13 d Bendigo VRI 50-3. I Mansbridge, J Clymo, L Gronow, C Maxted (s) drew J Dullard, E Wilkinson, V Evans, S Huggard (s) 19-19. L Dennis, L Lister, N Ralphs, C Mitchell (s) d J Hawkins, G Allen, M McMahon, B Hawkins (s) 23-13. J Wiltshire, M Boyd, K Richards, D Walker (s) lost to M Thomson, M Gorrie, P Simmons, P Williams (s) 10-18.

Witham (s) 16-35. M Poole, L Lynch, J Nevill, J Abbott (s) d A Holt, C Mills, B Montebello, A Jackson (s) 29-25.

Boort 68-2 lost to St Arnaud 83-10. K Walton, G Gardner, T Moresi, K de Piazza (s) lost to G McNally, D Shepherd, T McSwain, A Duke (s) 18-37. D Gibson, K Birt, J Gibson, I Mercer (s) lost to T Amos, P Duncan, C Marchment, P McRae (s) 22-25. P Waters, J Maxted, L Maxted, S Morris (s) d K Bibby, L Goddard, M Wood, S Zigmund (s) 28-21.

Ladder: Wycheproof 99, Wedderburn 86, Donald Golf 84, St Arnaud 76, St Arnaud Country 56, Donald 32, Charlton 28, Boort 19.

AROUND THE RINKS

ABOVE: Pyramid Hill’s Marie Scott assesses the state of play against Cohuna Golf.

LEFT: Laurie Cadzow and Brian Gladman eye victory in Serpentine’s against Kangaroo Flat.

BELOW: Bridgewater’s Curtis Mangan.

LH PHOTOS

(s) 2224. G Hunter, R Little, R Hall, A Roberts (s) lost to G Barnard, E Rosewall, D McCallum, L Southwell (s) 20-26.

NORTHERN

Division 2 – Pyramid Hill 60-10 d Cohuna Golf (3) 56-2. G Moon, W Boyd, E Carmody, M Scott (s) lost to J Prout, M McLoughlan, D Peace, J Holloway (s) 19-25. R Harris, M Noelker, I Bartels, J Leed (s) d R Ladson, W Waters, G Farrant, M Appleby (s) 18-17. G Tate, J Mann, K Wood, L Mann (s) d A Dunne, G Mathers, L McManus, D Easton (s) 23-14.

Ladder: South Bendigo 122, Golden Square 92, White Hills 75, Calivil Serpentine 69, Harcourt 68, Dingee 66, Bendigo VRI 46, Campbells Creek 38. Division 5 – Bridgewater 31-0 lost to Inglewood 46-14. J Hosking, J Oughtred, C Wattie, B Oughtred (s) lost to J Roberts, K Stewart, I Bradley, P Kelly (s) 15-23. D Smith, B Gath, R Shea, M Wright (s) lost to E Patterson, P McEwan, D Garrett, D Whitehead (s) 16-23.

Division 2 – St Arnaud Country 65-10 d Wedderburn 61-2. G White, G Fullarton, J Jorgensen, A Marland (s) d R Ashley, K Griffiths, T Nisbet, R Hall (s) 24-22. A Bond, P Mullins, R Pole, C Webb (s) d H Stephenson, B Green, N White, A Roberts (s) 21-15. F Rodger, N Robinson, D McAllister, D Moulday (s) lost to R Guelfo, A Benaim, L Holt, L Standfield (s) 20-24.

Ladder: Barham 2 75, Kerand 66, Cohuna Golf 2 60, Cohuna 58, Barham 3 47, Pyramid Hill 45, Cohuna Golf 3 43, Kerang Golf 38. Division 3 – Pyramid Hill on forfeit from Cohuna Golf.

Division 5 – Calivil 78-16 d Castlemaine 48-2. I Mansbridge, M Dennis, W Miles, N Dennis (s) lost to E Hayward, H Fleury, I Devereaux, D Carlin (s) 15-17. R Lourie, H Miles, G Ray, G Maxted (s) d P Rotteveel, P McKnight, R Fleury, P Fraser (s) 25-8. A Dennis, R Boyd, B Meighan, A Leech (s) d G McClure, D

Midweek - Division 1 – Bendigo 59-14 d Inglewood 50-2. V White, M Bennett, B Morley, L Harris (s) d D Vanston, B Taig, A Harrison, L Kelly (s) 28-12. M McQualter, K Meadows, M Anderson, V Greenwood (s) lost to M Chamberlain, P Lyndon, I Chamberlain, L Witham (s) 12-20. J Ovenden, G McQualter, S Koch, P O’Neill (s) d C McEwan, H Leech, A Caserta, R Day (s) 19-18.

W Walsh, N Hufer (s) 20-11. K

(s)

L McClure, S Phillips, P Devereaux, C Madgin (s) 18-12.

Ladder: Eaglehawk 102, Kangaroo Flat 88, Inglewood 81, Golden Square 76, South Bendigo 71, Bendigo East 69, Bendigo 47, White Hills 42. Division 4 – Dingee 67-14 d White Hills

Ladder: Inglewood 92, White Hills 84, South Bendigo 83, Strathfieldsaye 67, Bridgewater 53, Bendigo 50, Bendigo East 48, Eaglehawk 27.

NORTH CENTRAL

Division 1 – St Arnaud Country 75-4 lost to Wedderburn 86-8. T Marland, D Mullins, W Rodger, S Elliott (s) d A Noordennen, B Hargreaves, A Caserta, N Holt (s) 30-26. K Mead, P Elliott, T McDonald, M Esmore (s) lost to D Stephenson, G Burnside, I Hall, L

Boort 73-10 d St Arnaud 72-2. R Taylor, J Nelson, A Gould, G Hudson (s) d M McRae, L Arbuckle, B Eccles, W Rourke (s) 26-21. L Cameron, J Earl, Y Cashen, A Matley (s) d T Robertson, Smith, G McIntyre, C Coates (s) 29-21. G Moresi, J Hampson, P Gould, G Tweddle (s) lost to F James, D Ostarcevic, J Prendergast, G Shinners (s) 18-30.

Ladder: St Arnaud Country 84, Wycheproof 80, Donald Golf 72, Donald 60, Wedderburn 58, St Arnaud 54, Boort 53, Charlton 19

Midweek - Division 1 – Wedderburn 82-8 d Charlton 63-4. H Stephenson, S Steel, A Caserta, A Jackson (s) d S Nelson, G Bateson,

Midweek – Division 1: Cohuna 2 38-0 lost to Pyramid Hill 63-12. K Foreman, M Mooney, V Dehne, W Brooks (s) lost to R Harris, K Wood, I Bartels, A Cantwell (s) 12-27. M Smith, M Maud, N Hosking, T Dehne (s) lost to G Moon, M L’Hullier, E Carmody, M Scott (s) 13-18. B Hildebrand, J Hipwell, B Main, P van der Zande (s) lost to P Coates, M Noelker, J Leed, R Opie (s) 13-18.

Ladder: Cohuna 1 58, Pyramid Hill 50, Kerang 48, Barham 44, Cohuna 2 44, Cohuna Golf 44.

Division 2 – Pyramid Hill 30-2 lost to Cohuna 49-6. C Cauchi, J Cauchi, T Strobaus, D Miller (s) lost to C Jones, S Burgess, T Allen, TY Hancock (s) 5-30. A Fidler, R Fidler, W Boyd, L Dingwall (s) d L Smith, R Wilson, R Hipwell, K Holmes (s) 25-19.

Street,

Richards, G Lourie, J Pickles, L Gronow

d

Dingee 64-4 lost to Inglewood 74-14. N Thomas, V Sproull, K Pollock, F Grieves (s) d K Stewart, P Kelly, B Taig, C McEwan (s) 1815. A Hay, P Plant, R Robertson, B Lawry (s) lost to P Lyndon, T Schill, H Leech, I Bradley (s) 13-20. T Kavanagh,m L Hocking, B West, N Lister (s) d G Sommers, C Wardm J McClymont, D Whitehead

T Kavanagh, V Sproull, K Pollock, M Grieves (s) d

R Porter, W Keenan (s) 40-13. R Witham, S Standfield, L Standfield, L Witham (s) lost to G Wain, N Cossar, J Headon, K Willey

SPORT | TENNIS

MARONG

Wilsons Reef 2-50 lost to Marong 16-102

A LADIES: G. Thompson E. Molenaar lost R. McCaig G. Turnbull 1-6. G. Thompson C. McKinstry lost to R. McCaig J. Cornish 1-6. E. Molenaar C. McKinstry lost to G. Turnbull J. Cornish 3-6.

B LADIES: T. Taylor A. McGee l;ost to H. Turnbull R. Turnbull 2-6. T. Taylor A. Coghill lost to H. Turnbull S. Turnbull 5-6. A. McGee A. Coghill lost to R. Turnbull S. Turnbull 1-6.

A MEN: S. Taylor B. Taylor d L. Frankel Z. Turnbull 6-2. S. Taylor J. Wilkinson lost to L. Frankel J. McCaig 4-6. B. Taylor J. Wilkinson lost to Z. Turnbull J. McCaig 2-6.

B MEN: J. Jaylor L. Taylor lost to P. Leersen M. McCaig 2-6. J. Taylor C. Pickles lost to P. Leersen K. McCaig 2-6. L. Taylor C. Pickles lost to M. McCaig K. McCaig 2-6.

MIXED: G. Thompson S. Taylor lost to R. McCaig L. Frankel 5-6. E. Molenaar B. Taylor d J. McCaig J. Cornish 6-4. C. McKinstry J. Taylor lost to G. Turnbull P. Leersen 1-6. T. Taylor L. Taylor lost to S. Turnbull Z. Turnbull 2-6. A. McGee J. Wilkinson lost to H. Turnbull M. McCaig 2-6. A. Coghill C. Pickles lost to R. Turnbull K. McCaig 1-6.

Newbridge 15-95 d Woodstock 3-40

A LADIES: E. Jenkyn S. Wallace d N. Earl J. Leversha 6-1. E. Jenkyn A. Price d N. Earl H. McKinley 6-0. S. Wallace A. Price d J. Leversha H. McKinley 6-2.

B LADIES: N. Jenkyn M. Atkins d A. Andrews-Stone H. Stone 6-3. N. Jenkyn A. Broom d A. Andrews-Stone K. Punton 6-1. M. Mitchell A. Broom lost to H. Stone K. Punton 0-6.

A MEN: S. Atkins D. Graham d G. Leach D. Heather 6-0. S. Atkins J. Sutherland d G. Leach N. Punton 6-0. D. Graham J. Sutherland d D. Heather N. Punton 6-4.

B MEN: D. White A. Waller d L. Stone A. Curnow 6-5. D. White D. Jenkyn lost to L. Stone F. Curnow 3-6. A. Waller D. Jenkyn d A. Curnow F. Curnow 6-2.

MIXED: E. Jenkyn D. Graham d N. Earl G. Leach 6-0. S. Wallace S. Atkins d J. Leversha N. Punton 6-0. A. Price J. Sutherland d H. McKinley D. Heather 6-0. N. Jenkyn D. White d A. Andrews-Stone L. Stone 6-3.

A. Broom A. Waller d K. Punton A. Curnow 6-1. M. Atkins D. Jenkyn lost to H. Stone F. Curnow 2-6.

Derby 10-89 d Harcourt 8-67

A LADIES: M. Simons L. Naughton lost to A. Manning E. Landy 3-6. M. Simons P. Normoyle lost to A. Manning N. Trethowan 0-6. L. Naughton P. Normoyle lost to E. Landy N. Trethowan 3-6.

Vale takes on top team in last pre-break clash

KORONG Vale takes on top team Fentons Creek in Saturday’s final round of Inglewood association before the Christmas break.

The Vale is sitting in fourth position on the ladder, above Wedderburn Junction who have forfeited several games this season.

However, Fentons is well ahead in top spot from the Inglewood teams of Loddon Eagles and Powlett. who has the bye.

In Saturday’s clash of the Inglewood clubs, Powlett had a convincing win to gain an edge over Eagles on the ladder. Powlett dominated the men’s sets but was pushed by Eagles’ women.

Powlett 19 v Loddon Eagles 5

MEN: B. Isaac G. Leech d S. Smith G. Madden 8-5. B. Leech H. Lock d G. Madden J. Millie 8-3. B. Isaac H. Lock d S. Smith J. Millie 8-3. S. Leech M. Livingstone d K. Fazzani R. Last 8-2. M. Livingstone J. Luckman d R.Last S. Fahey 8-0. S. Leech J. Luckman d

INGLEWOOD

K. Fazzani S. Fahey 8-1.

LADIES:

MIXED: B. Isaac A. Leech d S. Smith C. Smith 8-3. B. Leech B. Lock lost to G. Madden A. Higgs 5-8. H. Lock D. Wayman d J. Millie D. Collins 8-1. S. Leech S. Keller d K. Fazzani C. Sinclair 8-1. M. Livingstone C. Gilmour lost to R. Last R. Madden 5-8. J. Luckman K. Ward d S. Fahey D. Boumester 8-0.

B LADIES: D. Normoyle K. Galea d P. Erny C. Hamilton 6-1. D. Normoyle H. Hogan d P. Erny B. Trethowan 6-0. K. Galea H. Hogan d C. Hamilton B. Trethowan 6-3.

A MEN: M. Dineen B. Galea lost to L. Tunn C. Green 4-6. M. Dineen N. Pollock lost to L. Tunn B. Bickford 5-6. B. Galea N. Pollock lost to C. Green B. Bickford 5-6.

B MEN: S. Bruce N. Naughton d K. Walters D. Gearing 6-1. S. Bruce S. Nihill d K.

Walters A. Trethowan 6-1. N. Naughton S. Nihill d D. Gearing A. Trethowan 6-1. MIXED: L. Naughton M. Dineen lost to A. Manning L. Tunn 4-6. D. Normoyle N. Naughton d E. Landy K. Walters 6-5. M. Simons N. Pollock d P. Erny C. Green 6-3. K. Galea B. Galea lost to C. Hamilton B. Bickford 5-6, P. Normoyle S. Bruce d B. Trethowan D. Gearing 6-0. H. Hogan S. Nihill d N. Trethowan A. Trethowan 6-4.

Dingee 5 (89) d Lake Meran 0 (46)

MEN: M. Harvey M. Lister d J. Sinclair A. Chamberlain 6-4. M. Harvey J. Diss d J. Sinclair E. Moresi 6-2. . Lister J. Diss d A. Chamberlain E. Moresi 6-1. M. Harvey M. Hocking lost to J. Sinclair C. Downs 5-6. M. Lister M. Hocking d A. Chamberlain C. Downs 6-2. J. Diss M. Hocking lost to C. Downs E. Morisi 5-6.

LADIES: J. Condliffe A. Hay d V. Morisi H. Simpson 6-4. J. Condliffe S. Hay d V. Morisi B. Chamerlain 6-3. A. Hay S. Hay d H. Simpson B. Chamberlain 6-0. J. Condliffe K. Pay d V. Moresi T. Pickering 6-0. A. Hay K. Pay d H. Simpson T. Pickering 6-4. S. Hay K. Pay d B. Chamberlain T. Pickering 6-2.

MIXED: M. Harvey J. Concliffe lost to J. Sinclair V. Moresi 1-6. M. Lister A. Hay d A. Chamberlain H. Simpson 6-3. J. Diss S. Hay d E. Moresi B. Chamberlain 6-2. M. Hocking K. Pay d C. Downs T. Pickering 6-1 Mincha West 4 (100) d Yarrawalla 1 (93)

MEN: D. Stewart E. Prout lost to J. Kuchel H. Emmerson 4-7. D. Stewart P. Gargan d J. Kuchel S. Scoble 7-6. E. Prout P. Gargan d H. Emmerson S. Scoble 7-2. V. Herrick R. Wagner lost to R. Broad P. Thompson 6-7. V. Herrick A. Prout d R. Broad R. Wilkinson 7-0. R. Wagner A. Prout lost to P. Thompson R. Wilkinson 3-7.

LADIES: J. Wagner T. Wagner lost to C. Emmerson C. Broad 5-7. J. Wagner E. Hoare d C. Emmerson L. Driscoll 7-6. T. Wagner E. Hoare d C. Broad L. Driscoll 7-2. C. Mann M. Stewart d K. Broad M. Schmidt 7-2. C. Mann E. Farrar lost to K. Broad G. Scott 4-7. M. Stewart E. Farrar lost to M. Schmidt G. Scott 5-7.

MIXED: E. Prout J. Wagner d J. Kuchel C. Emmerson 7-4. D. Stewart T. Wagner d H. Emmerson C. Broad 7-2. P. Gargan E. Hoare d S. Scoble L. Driscoll 7-6. A. Prout C. Mann lost to R. Broad K. Broad 6-7. V. Herrick E Farrar lost to P. Thompson M. Schmidt 3-7. R. Wagner M. Stewart lost to R. Wilkinson G. Scott 1-7.

Calivil North 5 (101) d Calivil 0 (54) MENS: C. Smith J. Smith lost to J. Clymo R Hicks 6-7. K. Maxted L. Strachan d N. Marlow Z. Clarke 7-5. C. Smith L. Strachan d J. Clymo N. Marlow 7-6. O. Balic J. Smith d R. Hicks N. Verley 7-2. O. Balic A. Roulston d N. Verley Z. Clarke 7-4.

LADIES: M. Balic L. Strachan d L. Clymo B. Clymo 7-1. H. Vinnecombe G. Maxted d F. Clymo C. Clark 7-5. M. Balic G. Maxted d L. Clymo F. Clymo 7-2. L. Strachan J. Smith lost to B. Clymo J. Hicks 6-7. J. Smith H. Vinnecombe d J. Hick C. Clark 7-1.

MIXED: J. Smith M. Balic d J. Clymo L. Clymo 7-1. C. Smith G. Maxted d R. Hicks B. Clymo 7-6. K. Maxted L. Strachan lost to N. Marlow F. Clymo 5-7. L. Strachan J. Smith d N. Verley J. Hicks 7-0. A. Roulston H. Vinnecombe d Z. Clarke C. Clark 7-0.

Harness racing dynasty loses a legend

THE Bridgewater dynasty lost another family member when Stuart Victor Rothacker passed away.

Stuart, the third son of Victor and Susie Rothacker and brother of Eric (deceased) and R.D (Des) now in his 90s, had a wonderful career in harness racing with horses such as Supreme Report trained by Vic in the Melbourne Showgrounds era who won many races including the Italian Cup and Harry Holmfield Free For All in 1963.

Rising Flood was another of the team who scored in a plethora of races after transferring from Bernie Clarke in Terang – these included an Inter Dominion Consolation 1965, The Maribyrnong Mile FFA and The Shepparton Rising Cup both in 1965.

By LEN BAKER

Stuart was also the regular driver of a very good trotter by the name of Hilton Adios (trained by his dad) who was often in the winner’s stall during the 1970s including the 1979 Inter Dominion Trotters’ Consolation.

Others to greet the judge were prolific winner Hilton Bear, Shady Park (1983 Victoria Trotters’ Oaks), Leo Miss (1984 Kapunda Cup and 1985 McNamara Trotters Cup at Geelong).

But it was the very good trotting mare Trinket that brought his name to the fore with wins including the Bendigo, Warragul and Shepparton Trotters Cups winning more than $100,000 in stakes.

Other handy pacers he was involved with were Copybook, Ata Strike, Motor Olivia and Catacomb Moth who were all Moonee Valley winners.

After retiring from the sport Stuart and wife Evelyn shifted to thesunshine of Merimbula, New South Wales, in 1992 before going further north to Cairns.

They later returned to Merimbula before calling Bendigo home some years later.

Stuart was a handy footballer whilst playing for Bridgewater who were to win three flags, with Stuart also taking out the club best and fairest in 1965.

He is survived by wife Evelyn and Leanne, Stuart junior and Greg.

A funeral service was held this week.

forfeited to Serpentine

Jess Polkinghorne (Fentons Creek) in action recently.

Derby’s Ben Galea returns serve in Saturday’s tussle with Harcourt. LH PHOTO

Big bats bounce balls to boundary

Bridgewater has overcome a sluggish start to the season with Saturday’s second win coming over reigning premiers Arnold.

Murphy’s 68 came off 75 balls in 80 minutes, the opener only stopped when caught by wicketkeeper Phil Scholes off a Ryan Metelmann delivery.

Murphy lost his opening partner Tom Staniforth when the score was on 20. But with Bode Stevens joining him at the crease, took the score out to 112 only for Murphy to fall 10 runs later.

It was left to Darcy Wood and Ryley Taylor to hit the runs needed to overtake Arnold’s 149 target.

The feat was achieved with six overs to spare. The bright spot for Arnold was it did not concede any extras with the ball.

Batting first, mid-order bat Michael Dale kept the day’s hopes burning for Arnold as did captain Cam Dale with solid knocks.

Chas Pickering was the best of Bridgewater’s bowlers with three wickets.

At Kingower, Will Deason and Braydon Walsh found multiple boundaries on the small ground against Boort Yando.

Welsh’s 54 abruptly ended a spurt of big hits in his 648 balls faced. He departed with the score on 103 and four runs later Deason, who had joined the boundary party, was back to the pavilion with 49 to his name.

Leach and Simpson then carried on the run spree for Kingower, finding opportunity in Boort Yando deliveries - the bowlers often delivering good length but the home side batsmen too cavalier.

The early loss of Gould did not bode well for Boort Yando but multiple batsmen kept chipping away hitting well into double figures.

Fergus Bear top scored with 44 and his departure ended Boort Yando’s hopes, the tail barely raising a whimper.

Simpson finished with three wickets with Leach the most economical and with two scalps to his name.

Kingower d Boort Yando KINGOWER

Rowe c J Smith b L Malone 0

Deason b A Cockerell 49

Welsh st B Slatter b F Bear 54

Leach c W Gould b J Hodoras 40

Simpson not out 31

Pickles not out 4 Extras 13 Total 4/191 (cc)

Bowling: L Malone 7-0-1-61, A Cockerell 6-0-1-33, J Hodoras 7-0-1-23,D Crilly 7-10-33, F Bear 7-0-1-34, W Gould 1-0-0-5.

BOORT-YANDO

McNeil 30

Bowling: J Leach 7-1-2-14, K Simpson 6.50-3-34, BC Pickles 4-0-0-25, L DeJong 5-01-20, L McNeil 5-2-2-13, T Nunn 4-0-1-22, Z Gray 2-0-0-23.

Arnold lost to Bridgewater ARNOLD R Metelmann c & b PB Murphy 25 HR McCullough c D Harrison b B Stevens 8 P Scholes c T Naughton b C Pickering 5 M Dale not out 43 K Hewett-Scull c PB Murphy b C Pickering 6 C Hancock c R Taylor b C Pickering 2 C Dale c PB Murphy b TM Staniforth 31 B Power b D Wood 11 B Hill not out 10 Extras 8 Total 7/149 (cc)

Bowling: D Wood 7-0-1-25, B Stevens 4-01-29, PB Murphy 7-0-1-18, C Pickering 7-03-23, T Naughton 2-0-0-13, TM Staniforth 6-0-1-31, R Taylor 2-0-0-8.

BRIDGEWATER

PB Murphy c P Scholes b R Metelmann 68 TM Staniforth lbw B Power 6 B Stevens c P Scholes b B Hill 40 D Wood not out 28 R Taylor not out 12

Extras 0 Total 3/154

Bowling: R Metelmann 7-0-1-33, B Power 7-0-1-40, M Dale 6-0-0-33, C Dale 5-0-0-24, C Hancock 2-0-0-13, B Hill 2-0-1-11.

Batting averages

M NO HS Runs Av

Braydon Welsh (Kingower) 5 0 80 192 38.40 Jayden Leach 6 0 43 134 22.33

Luke Holt (Wedderburn) 4 1 53* 127 42.33 Alex Cockerell (Boort Yando) 6 1 57* 123 24.60 Joshua Smith (Boort Yando) 6 0 44 118 19.67 Bowling averages O M R W B Av Str

Kyle Simpson (Kingower) 40 7 134 14 4/10 9.57 17.14

Fergus Bear (Boort Yando) 42 2 174 14 5/49 12.43 18.00

Tom McKinley (Bridgewater) 35 5 98 13 5/22 7.54 16.15

Lachlan de Jong (Kingower) 27 1 102 9 3/16 11.33 3.78

Drew Crilly (Boort Yando) 41 16 79 8 4/8 9.88 30.75

ROUND seven of Upper Loddon junior cricket saw the return of the two-day format with the featured game between Arnold and Kingower.

Arnold batsman Kale Hewitt provided the highlight of the day with a career-best 70 runs, before being the last man dismissed in Arnold’s total of 144. Hewitt featured in three key partnerships which produced the bulk of Arnold’s total.

Firstly he figured in an opening partnership of 59 with Campbell Hancock, after being asked to bat by Kingower. Hancock made a solid contribution of 30 runs.

Hewitt also enjoyed a 30 run stand for the fourth wicket with Ryan Smith and a 25-run partnership with Flynn Lonza after he returned from retirement.

Kingower’s bowling was led by Ryder Smith who decimated Arnold’s middle order, taking three wickets in his fifth over, as well

as claiming Hewitt’s wicket later. Evan McCoy made the first two breakthroughs to be the other multiple wicket taker.

Wedderburn was able to get on the park for the first time this season and hosted Bridgewater.

The Bridgewater batsmen had a bit of difficulty defending their wicket, as nine of the 10 dismissals in their total of 78 were cleaned bowled.

Hunter Daldy top scored for Bridgewater while Ned Wickham and Xavier Power did well to add 26 runs for the eighth wicket.

The Turner siblings did most of the damage for Wedderburn. Nash claimed three victims, Aihen two, while Zavier although only claiming the one wicket, finished with the impressive figures of 10 overs for just four runs including six maidens.

Blaz Cramp and Trai Clarke gave good support with each taking two wickets.

LADDER

HALF-CENTURIES from Pat Murphy and Braydon Walsh have propelled Bridgewater and Kingower to stunning weekend victories.

Braydon Welsh powers to a half-century and helps sets up a strong Kingower victory on Saturday. LH PHOTO

DYNAMIC COMBO

CLUB LEGENDS TEAM FOR TOP GRADE DRIVE

By CHRIS EARL

The duo has teamed up to coach the Woodies who were without a top tier side in the league this season.

Ward and Wayman spearheaded the club’s last A Grade premiership side in 1994 - six-time league best and fairest Ward as captain and Wayman as coach.

Their appointment came in a week of success and excitement for Inglewood netballers. The under 15 team won the Golden City association flag on Wednesday night.

With 47 players already trialling for next season and another session scheduled for next month, Ward and Wayman want to create strong bonds between players and build success.

“We’re keen to have more local girls back playing netball,” said Ward who coached the under 17s until three seasons ago.“This will help create a real sense of community.”

Wayman said: “And we have enough (players) to be able to field an A Grade side.”

She said the return to coaching followed talks with Ward who had been prepared to step into the A Grade coach role if required.

“Two heads are better than one,” said Wayman. “We’ve played both ends of the court, our views are similar but we see different things.

“We played well together ... Helen was a very attacking player that gave me lots of chances for intercepts,” Wayman said.

Ward and Wayman want a top side that can be “true to themselves and the team”.

“We will have a good team ... it’s a belief,” she said. Ward added: “To learn how to win you have to have a faith in yourself.”

Wayman and Ward will also coach the B Grade team in the 2023 Loddon Valley season.

Club secretary David Rose said: “Both Helen and Dianne are highly regarded and experienced Inglewood netballers.

“Our netballers will be able to tap into the wealth of experience and knowledge of these two accomplished players and coaches.”

Band musters numbers in competition boost

JUNIOR cricketers are back on Wedderburn’s Market Square turf wicket.

Wedderburn Band made its junior cricket season debut on Saturday, ending a run of false starts and overcoming challenges of raising a team in the Upper Loddon junior competition.

Club stalwart Bob Steel has taken up the coaching reigns, adding to his work preparing the wicket.

“There were Saturdays when we could only muster three or four or five players. On Saturday we had nine to take the field,” Steel said.

“There’re keen and hopefully we can keep the players together and play matches for the remainder of the season.”

Steel said the youngsters were training after school on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Upper Loddon secretary Michael Rose welcomed the return to play of Wedderburn juniors.

While Wedderburn’s matches will not be for premiership points this season, Rose said it was pleasing to have a fourth side back in the junior competition.

“It means all our clubs can play every week,” Rose said.

Boort Yando withdrew from the competition at the start of the

season when the club could not sign up enough youngsters.

The temporary absence of Wedderburn from fixtures had reduced Upper Loddon to one junior game a week.

The Turner brothers Nash, Aihen and Zavier were among Wedderburn’s best on Saturday in the first match of the season against Bridgewater.

Zavier Turner

LODDON Valley netball legends Helen Ward and Dianne Wayman will drive Inglewood’s return to A Grade netball.

Dianne Wayman and Helen Ward plot the Woodies’ top tier return. LH PHOTO