THE State Government has been given a $3.5 billion proposal to send renewable energy underground through Loddon farms and beside the Calder Highway.
The 2000MW Syncline Community Cable plan from Jeffcott, near Charlton, to a large storage battery at Melton has been two years in the planning.
More than 30 local farmers have already signed agreements with Syncline for the project.
“We’ve been constantly asking (the Government) why VNI West had to be overhead transmission lines ... 19th century transmission technology instead of 21st century,” said Glenalbyn’s Graham Nesbit, one of the landowners to sign a Syncline agreement
“Syncline has consulted first with landowners before going public, the direct opposite to Australian Energy
By CHRIS EARL
Market Operator with the VNI West project.”
Mr Nesbit and Kurting farmers Geoff and Brett Wilson say farming activities can be “worked around” under the visionary Syncline project if it received Government approval. “Maybe this proves that transmission lines can go underground,” said the Wilsons who are yet to sign an agreement.
Syncline’s Phil Galloway briefed Victorian Farmers’ Federation members on plans at a meeting in Wedderburn last Friday.
He says the cable was an opportunity for the government to rethink Western Renewable Link and halve VNI West.
Syncline Energy was started by Mr Galloway, a former global executive with BHP Rio Tinto and Esso, in 2005.
He says Syncline has “ originated more than $5 billion of energy transition in-
frastructure assets, of which $1.7 billion is either under construction or in operation”.
Mr Galloway told the Loddon Herald this an investment bank had been approached to finance the project that would be a viable alternative to overhead power transmission.
Land access agreements would net annual royalty payments of $46,000/ km once the cable is installed. There would be land acquisition compensation for the 30 metre-wide easement.
Mr Galloway wants work to start within two years. “There would be a five-year construction period.”
“The community is looking for viable alternatives to overhead transmission and I strongly believe we have one,” he said. The 243km route minimised impact on cultural and heritage areas.
“Extensive work (has been) undertaken to micro-site route that will avoid native vegetation, ensuring the project
minimises its impact on its communities and is not required to prepare a full environmental effects statement.”
But the State Government has been quick to raise doubts. A spokesperson said: “Initial analysis of the Syncline proposal shows significant challenges, including costs, which would be passed onto consumers through their bills, and accessing the Calder Freeway for extended periods during construction. VicGrid will continue to assess the project with the proponent.”
According to the Government, the Victorian Transmission Plan will be released soon and include the transmission projects the state needs to deliver reliable and affordable electricity into the future.
“When assessing possible projects for inclusion, VicGrid is considering factors including costs to consumers, deliverability, network security, and environmental and community impacts.”
WHO IS SYNCLINE? A DIFFERENT WAY OF DOING THINGS - PAGE
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WEEKEND FORECAST
Brekky wrapping kids with kindness
FUNDRAISING for the Royal Children’s Hospital Good Friday Appeal has started across the Loddon.
Inglewood Fire Brigade and Cafe 3517 have teamed for a second year with $2 from every breakfast roll sold being added to the local appeal total.
Brigade members Tarryn Smith and Shane Maxwell helped owners Brooke and Dave Smyth launch the 2025 effort on Sunday morning.
They are hoping to better last year’s contribution of $400 to the appeal.
“Our community always gets behind the fire brigade and its work for the Good Friday Appeal,” Brooke said. “We had such wonderful support for the initiative last year and we are very pleased to continue support for the appeal and the brigade.”
Brooke said the breakfast rolls were a huge menu hit with customers “from the moment doors open each day”.
She hopes Cafe 3517 will help the brigade top its 2024 fundraising total of $6400.
“We’ll be giving $2 from every breakfast roll sold between now
and Good Friday to the appeal,” Brooke said.
Cafe 3517 is also among 30 local businesses taking part in the shire’s Shop Loddon campaign aimed to boost businesses and the economy.
Meanwhile, raffles for the Good Friday Appeal have already started in Inglewood and Korong Vale and Boort Amity members collected donations at this month’s harness racing cup meeting.
Donation tins will be collected by local volunteers in the days before Good Friday, April 18, as town totals are recorded.
IN BRIEF
Autumn activities
THE latest edition of the Loddon’s very own tourist magazine, Loddon Way, is now released. The autumn edition features activities in local communities that will attract visitors on their journey of Loddon discovery including the 152nd Rheola Charity Carnival. Loddon Way is published by the Loddon Herald.
New president
CHRIS Holt has been elected president of the Victorian Farmers’ Federation Wedderburn branch, succeeding long-serving Graham Nesbit. Secretary is Tony Coombs. Hundreds at opening AN ESTIMATED 200 shooters were reported at Lake Boort yesterday morning for the opening of the 2025 duck hunting season. Large numbers were also reported at Lake Marmal while Lake Lyndger is closed to shooting.
Breakasts raising money for the Good Friday Appeal ... Tarryn Smith, Brooke Smyth, Dave Smyth and Shane Maxwell. LH PHOTO
City rubbish dumped
By CHRIS EARL
ILLEGAL rubbish dumpers have been called out for their lack of respect.
Loddon Shire’s Inglewood Ward councillor Miki Wilson said household rubbish and discarded Melbourne election campaign material beside the Calder Highway, between Inglewood and Kurting, was disrespectful.
“It not only shows a lack of respect for our local people and local communities but also a lack of respect for Australia as a whole,” Cr Wilson said.
Among the pile of rubbish was a cardboard box with the address of a Melbourne resident and election campaign corflutes featuring Victorian Socialist Party candidates Jorge Jorquera and Liz Walsh who stood for city seats in the 2022 state election.
Mr Jorquera was also Maribynong City councillor until his defeat last October. He did not respond to calls from the Loddon Herald.
The dumping was first reported around the time activists defaced the Major Mitchell cairn near Wedderburn.
Victorian Socialist Party supports transgender rights, Aboriginal land rights and a treaty with Aboriginal Australians, as well as support for asylum seekers and the introduction of a carbon neutral economy by 2035.
The Loddon Herald is not suggesting the incidents are connected.
The Calder Highway dumping comes amid growing community concern for littering on roads and in parks across the Loddon Shire. Cr Wilson said there had also been reports of discarded build-
ing materials dumped behind the Bridgewater Bowling Club.
Councillors last month urged people to report illegal dumping.
The Environmental Protection Agency says Victoria is hit with
MP praises high level of care provided by health service
RIPON MP Martha Haylett has told State Parliament that Inglewood and Districts Health Service does ”incredible work to deliver world-class health care in our rural and regional communities despite growing demand”.
Speaking during debate on the Safe Patient Care (Nurse to Patient and Midwife Ratios) Amendment Bill, Ms Haylett singled out health services in her electorate for praise.
“Since we came to government we have grown our healthcare workforce by nearly 50 per cent, which is truly incredible,” she said.
“There are an additional 40,000 nurses, midwives, doctors, allied health professionals and other hospital staff in the
state’s health services. Almost one in four of these roles has been created in rural and regional Victoria, including our amazing health services across Ripon.”
Ms Haylett said local health services had benefited from more funding, upgrades and support than ever before, and “now we are protecting and strengthening their patient ratios”.
She said the Government was redeveloping hospitals and urgent care units in Maryborough, Ararat, Ballarat and Inglewood.
Ms Haylett’s speeches since Parliamentary sittings resumed in February have been the first since last August, shortly before the early birth of her son Liam in September.
an annual illegal littering clean up bill of $30 million.
“Illegal waste disposal is a crime. It is pollution that impacts our health and threatens our natural ecosystem,” the EPA says.
IN BRIEF
Cafe change
REGULAR customers will be missed by Claire Butler who is counting down the days to when the last coffees and meals are served at the Boort cafe she had run for 18 months. Claire said she hoped to find new owners for The Shared Table in Godfrey Street before closing on March 30. “My plan had never been to run a cafe ... I bought the building and had another person running it,” she said. “Then I suddenly had a business and needed to keep the doors open. I’ve loved it, loved the regular customers ... they have been favourites.” However, Claire said running the cafe and also working as an NDIS support co-ordinator had meant it was time to make a decision on the cafe’s future. “The cafe is there for new owners and it would be ideal for a husband and wife or a family to buy.”
CFA commendation
JEFFCOTT Fire Brigade Captain Bradley Burke has received the Chief Officer’s Commendation for Courage after risking his life to rescue a truck driver from a burning vehicle, in late 2023. Captain Burke pulled the driver to safety through the broken windscreen.
Fire permits
FIRE Permits Victoria is now issuing section 13 approvals for agricultural burns in the Loddon Shire.
Dumped beside the Calder Highway ... boxes, rubbish and old election posters. LH PHOTO
Are you a landholder who may be impacted by the proposed
VNI WEST TRANSMISSION LINE?
If yes, we are extending an opportunity for you to provide input to the Agricultural Impact study.
The Agricultural Impact study is part of the Environmental Effects Statement or EES which is a process that aims to ensure feedback from landowners is included in project planning and decisions and is a key document informing Government of the projects impacts to assist the decision if the project goes ahead or not.
RMCG is an independent consulting firm with a 35 year history of working in the fields of agriculture, environment, and regional development and we have been engaged to assess the potential agricultural impacts of the VNI West transmission line’s construction and operation.
RMCG are keen to better understand first hand landholder’s concerns related to agricultural impacts caused by both the construction activity, and the ongoing operation of the Transmission lines. RMCG also want to learn from landowners on actions that may minimise these impacts.
Your insights as a landowner along the proposed route will help ensure that the study accurately reflects the potential agricultural impacts this project may cause.
The discussions will be kept confidential and the information gathered will be used to help inform the Agricultural Impact report.
How to Participate
To register your interest to have a one-on-one discussion at a time and place most convenient for you please call the RMCG at our Bendigo office on 03 5441482. Our senior team members George Warne or Daryl Poole will then be in contact with you to arrange a suitable time and place to catch up with you.
Alternatively, if you simply wish to respond to a survey, please access the online survey using the link or QR code.
Minor parties enter the Mallee fray
NICOLE Rowan and Chris Lahy are back flying minor party flags in the safe National Party seat of Mallee.
The pair have launched webpages ahead of the predicted May federal election.
Woomelang lawyer Ms Rowan will make a second tilt for the Greens in the seat held by Dr Anne Webster on a 19 per cent margin.
Ms Rowan stood in 2019 when Dr Webster first won the seat and received 3.5 per cent of the vote.
In 2020, she was unsuccessful in filling a Greens’ casual vacancy in the Senate. The position went to Aboriginal activist Lydia Thorpe who now sits as an independent.
Ms Rowan’s 2025 election platform says: “We’re in a housing crisis and regional Victoria is being left behind. Labor and the Coalition are both backing new coal and gas and worsening the climate crisis. Meanwhile, regional Victoria is experiencing more climate-related disasters, more often, including bushfires and floods.
“I’m proud to be part of a party that is fighting for no new coal and gas, publicly owned renewable energy, cheaper groceries, and a rent freeze.”
Mr Lahy will make his sixth tilt for Mallee as an Australian Citizens Party candidate.
The Lake Boga landscape gardener says: “Speculation and financial gambling, such as what happened when water rights were
separated from property rights, must be outlawed. As bad as it was for me 18 years ago, it is even worse now for farmers who have to compete with aggressive global speculators and environmental demands, for access to affordable water. We must support the food and fibre producers of this country.
“With the cost of living and housing crisis, inflation and interest rate rises and a drum beat for war, it has never been more urgent to consider the welfare and interests of the next generations. Young people need hope and optimism and vision for the future. I would like to see free access to tertiary education, access to affordable housing, and local training incentives especially in regional areas like the Mallee.”
Former City of Greater Bendigo councillor Vaughan Williams has been named as One Nation’s candidate for Mallee.
Mr Williams said he was “committed to fighting for his community with the passion and straightforwardness One Nation brings to politics”.
He said One National would revise water buyback schemes to prioritise farmers and ensure fair water distribution.
One Nation says it wants to ensure affordable and reliable power by exploring all energy options, including nuclear, coal, and gas. The party opposes costly renewable mandates.”
Labor is yet to name its candidate.
Artists start planning trail exhibitions
MORE Boort district artists will be part of the annual Loddon Arts Trail after a meeting last week to co-ordinate local involvement.
Artists will make Boort Memorial Hall the centrepiece of their participation in October.
Paul Haw, who convened a meeting of district creatives last week, said there was strong support for the trail concept.
“We had more than 10 artists at the meet-
ing and everyone is enthusiastic about being organised and co-ordinated early this year,” he said.
“A number of new artists have moved into town and they share the enthusiasm to showcase works.
“While the memorial hall will be our main hub for Boort’s participation in the 2025 Arts Trail, we are also looking at other nearby venues that can be used and grow our participation.”
Vaughan Williams
Nicole Rowan
Chris Lahy
Anne Webster
Red tape ‘hits at council efficiency’
INCREASED government red tape is driving up costs and hampering efficiency of Loddon Shire Council.
That is the assessment of operations director Steve Phillips who steps down from the role next week.
“The level of justification and administration just continues to grow,” said Mr Phillips who has been in the role since 2018 and on council’s staff for 16 years.
“The regulatory requirements have ... significantly increased. This has meant that things take longer and cost more than they once did,”
“It sometimes feels like as we become more efficient, more new requirements are placed on us, eating into any efficiencies that might have been gained.
“In recent years I have witnessed the withdrawal of State Government agency staff from rural areas. This adds more community expectation onto council to pick up the slack.”
Mr Phillips said Loddon Shire would continue to face significant challenges to maintain its 4700km road network.
“It has always been a struggle for council to raise the necessary funds to keep all its infrastructure in good working condition,”
he said, “This will remain the biggest issue that council faces - how to maintain, renew and replace infrastructure that services the communities.”
Mr Phillips said the most challenging times he had faced with council were the floods of 20102011, October 2022 and the 2023-2024 summer storms.
“It is a credit to the communities of the Loddon Shire in how they help each other and work together to respond to and support subsequent recovery efforts,” he said.
Mr Phillips was last year critical of government red tape that
delayed approval of 2022 flood recovery projects and funding.
Last week, he said the way council delivered services had changed in 16 years. “Council has invested more into its townscapes and waste facilities and I can see the difference from when I began here.
“Over that time council has modernised its plant and equipment, whether it be the (road) patching truck or the laser controlled graders to winged large area mowers or how work is issued and monitored.”
Mr Phillips said “the time has come for me to move on from
The regulatory requirements have ... significantly increased. This has meant that things take longer and cost more
- STEVE PHILLIPS
Booked out! They want to come back
HOLIDAY makers are booking Loddon caravan park sites more than a year ahead.
Bridgewater park is already at capacity for the 2026 March long weekend.
“This year, we had an extensive waitlist, and over 40 people missed out on a site,” said Kristy Hourigan.
“Within days of people returning home, they had been on the phone or email to lock in return visits to Bridgewater next year.
“Bridgewater is seeing fantastic growth as a friendly, riverside holiday destination.”
Kristy said the Flavours of Loddon event had expanded the long weekend offering and added to the park’s atmosphere.
council”. “After 16 years it’s time to let someone step in to continue driving the efficiency of service delivery in the operations area,” he said.
“Council has been a fantastic place to work. Whether it be responding to emergencies, grading roads, repaIring buildings, patching potholes or paying bills every staff members puts in day after day.
“It has been a great 16 years but it’s time to change and I know Loddon Shire will continue to thrive into the future.”
Council has advertised for a new operations director.
“Local food and beverage stalls were right there for campers to enjoy, we had so many raving reviews from the campers who were staying the weekend,” she said.
At Wedderburn, the park was close to capacity over the long weekend for the gold detector jamboree.
Next weekend, the park makes another pitch to gold detector enthusiasts.
The three-day detector experience will start with a Friday night campfire happy hour followed by workshops and goldfield expeditions.
29 MARCH at 2pm30-34 High Street Charlton
The Railway Hotel BOORT
Concepts ‘show social contrast’
SYNCLINE founder Phil Galloway says he has spent almost two years engaging with farmers on the route of his proposed underground transmission line project.
With more than half of the 60 landowners signing agreements, Mr Galloway said the approach showed a contrast with the controversial VNI West renewable energy transmission line project.
“The social license for overhead transmission has been irrevocably lost in rural Victoria whereas underground transmission and the Syncline Community Cable, are strongly supported,” he said.
Mr Galloway has told farmers his project would offer “Victoria downside protection against extreme weather events”.
“During extreme weather and bushfire events that affect overhead HV AC lines, SCC can remain operational and is able to balance power flows at speed and beyond system limit
“On February 13, 2024, a significant storm crossed Victoria, which caused sig-
nificant damage to trees, buildings and the electricity network. Six high voltage transmission towers near Anakie (Geelong) collapsed, which caused 2,120 MW of generation to disconnect in Victoria (Loy Yang A and wind farms) and 900,000 customers to lose power (AEMO issued a direction for load shedding to keep the grid secure).
“Storm caused significant damage to Victoria’s distribution network, affecting 12,000km of distribution lines, and 1100 powerlines. Over one million customers lost power.
“Many essential services impacted throughout Victoria, including telecommunications, water treatment plants, health facilities, schools, supermarkets, dairies and food manufacturing facilities across the event.
“Victoria, a net electricity exporter, became a net electricity importer, with interconnectors reversing direction and providing power to the region,” according to Mr Galloway.
Major projects with aim to end rural town distress
A SWIPE has been taken at the consultation processes used in rural communities by AEMO.
Syncline says it has witnessed first-hand, the distress of rural communities that carry the burden of the energy transition without sharing the benefit.
“Consultation has not been sincere and project designs are finalised with no thought to the impacts on rural life.
“The network planning process is also poor and often the need for transmission has changed dramatically from what was approved years before.
“We think there is a better way.”
Who is Syncline? It is a company founded by Phil Galloway that has been part of major projects in several states.
One is the Melbourne Renewable Energy Hub that started construction in December 2023. It is a 1.6 GWh BESS just outside Melbourne that includes a 500kV substation and was sold to Equis with the State Government’s SEC Victoria as a 40 per cent shareholder.
When fully developed, according to the Syncline’s website, the hub will be one of the largest energy storage facilities in the world with a total connection of 1.2 GW which already has planning approval, network capacity and land reserved.
“Syncline originated the project, having been a pioneer in identifying the need for very large-scale battery energy storage system in late 2018. We scoped the engi-
neering and grid requirements, shortlisted numerous sites and then set about securing the optimal location at Plumpton, just 40km from the Melbourne CBD.”
Syncline was also part of the Bannerton Solar Project, a 110MW site near Robinvale,, on 192 hectares with 319,406 solar panels. Site owners include a UK-listed infrastructure fund Hanwha Energy Corporation and Korea Western Power Co Ltd (KOWEPO).
PYRAMID Hill Senior Citizens’ Club leaders have had a sneak peak at $2.9 million community centre redevelopment. They also met with Loddon Shire representatives to discuss use of the building that is nearing completion. The building includes an allied health wing to accommodate Northern District Community Health and maternal child health services, senior citizens’ room, upgraded toilet facilities, kitchen, improved car parking and access to the building.
Sagging bridge gets inspection
TRANSPORT inspectors will assess the integrity of a school bus route bridge that suddenly dropped 100mm.
Fears for the Boort-Charlton Road bridge were raised last week by retired bridge and roads inspector Barry Kennedy who said there was a danger the deck could drop further.
A Department of Transport and Planning spokesperson said last Wednesday that an inspection had been scheduled to be made within the week.
““We’re aware of the issue raised at the Boort-Charlton Road – Waranga Western Channel bridge and our maintenance team will conduct an inspection,” they said.
“Once the inspection has been undertaken at the Boort-Charlton Road – Waranga Western Channel bridge our team will be able to determine what, if any, repairs need to be made.”
An update after the assessment has not been released.
Meanwhile, the department said road safety experts would inspect the intersection of Bridgewater-Maldon Road and BendigoMaryborough Road after Loddon Shire Tarnagulla Ward councillor and CFA volunteer Nick Angelo called for more safety measures.
Cr Angelo said CFA volunteers had been called to multiple accidents at the intersection in recent weeks.
The department said: “We’re working with Victoria Police to understand the nature of the recent crashes at the intersection.
“(Our) road safety experts will undertake an inspection of the intersection of Bendigo-Maryborough Road and BridgewaterMaldon Road to determine if any safety improvements can be made.”
Cr Angelo had suggested a stepped intersection to expand on existing safety measures that include traffice inslands and signs as a way to reduce accidents at the site.
Turkey exchange plans revived
A THIRD group of East Loddon P12 College students could be on its way to Turkey in 2027.
The college’s exchange program had seen students visit the city of Canakkale in 2015 and 2018 during the Centenary of Anzac commemorations.
Leaders receive their badges
STUDENT leaders at Boort District School were last week presented with their badges at a special assembly.
Teacher Sharon Pickering said: “The students are off to a great start.”
Canakkale is the gateway to World War One battlefields in Turkey.
The school is preparing plans for a third visit to Turkey and has asked families to begin considerating the opportunity.
However, a trip planned in 2020 was abandoned because of the COVID pandemic.
Members of the students’ representative council are already into a series of fundraising activities supporting the local foodbank. They will hold a food night tomorrow, aiming to boost the $1000 also earned.
Meanwhile, Boort students have also celebrated Shrove Tuesday with Year 6 teacher Sarah Featherby organising small groups to cook pancakes. And this Saturday the school has a working bee planned and is calling for community volunteers to assist.
Back row: Dempsey Lee, Laci Streader, Tia Lanyon, Darby Perryman, Sidney Caine, James Hercott, Allarah Ceballos. Centre: Hannah Talbot, Wafa Mubarak, Zoey Gooding, Hayley Stringer, Angel Vincy Sinu, Henry Hawkin, Jessica McClelland. Front: Georgia Dure, Hayley Melville, Cruz Nuttall, Matthew Soumelidis.
Naturalist taps into eucy bush sounds
INGLEWOOD’S Eucalyptus Museum will be listening to sounds of the bush for National Eucalyptus Day on Sunday.
The museum will host a presentation from acoustic ecologist Andrew Skeoch, about his book Deep Listening to Nature. Mr Skeoch is a Victorian naturalist and expert sound recordist of bush sounds.
“Tuning in to these sounds takes us on a journey of discovery into what nature is saying, and the living processes of whole ecologies. As we listen carefully, we begin
to comprehend the languages of the natural world,” he says.
National Eucalyptus Day was started by Eucalypt Australia in 2014 and focuses on celebrating and conserving Australia’s iconic eucalypts, by fostering knowledge, research, and appreciation for Australia’s treasured eucalypts.
Volunteers have been operating the Inglewood museum and shop since last year with extended hours helping increase visitor numbers.
The friendly pub open for meals every day with Friday happy hour, trivia, raffles and a chance to win $1,000
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Dinner from 6.00pm
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Margaret Piccoli was among judges for fashions on the field at this month’s Boort Trotting Club’s cup meeting and pictured confirming results with co-ordinator Leanne Streader. L;H PHOTO
Peter
Leaders asked to give views on local news
POLITICAL leaders across Victoria are being asked their views on the importance of local newspapers and their ongoing sustainability as part of an Australia-first research project.
The Victorian Country Press Association has engaged Deakin University researchers to examine the impact of the State Government’s decision in 2022 to introduce the equivalent of a page of public awareness notices each week in most newspapers across rural and regional Victoria.
The move attempted to provide some surety to the business model supporting local news in a challenging digital environment.
The Victorian Government is the only state government in Australia to make this guaranteed commitment.
The Federal Government has pledged a minimum $3 million of its advertising budget to support local newspapers as part of its new $153.5 million framework to support public interest journalism in Australia.
VCPA executive officer Peter Kennedy said the research project would survey political leaders at local, state and national levels across Victoria as well as local news proprietors.
Professor Kristy Hess said government public messaging was
an important area to research because it differed from election advertising spending as it provided awareness about a range of issues from road safety to bushfire awareness, new infrastructure projects, and health messaging.
She said it was the first-time politicians had been surveyed about their perceptions of, and role in, supporting public interest journalism.
“Government and media are often uneasy bedfellows and tend to keep ‘distance’ from each other, when actually they share a symbiotic relationship,” Professor Hess said.
“Any form of government advertising should not buy favours of the press but it has been an important, unspoken revenue source for local newspapers for decades. A lot of this spend has shifted towards social media in recent years.”
Dr Alison McAdam said all tiers of government would be approached to be involved in the survey.
“We know some local governments, for example, produce their own publications rather than spend money advertising in a newspaper, so we want to understand that further.”
The Loddon Herald is a member of VCPA.
Patchwork group makes final donation
MEMBERS of Wedderburn Patchwork Group
have handed over their final donation of funds raised at the town’s annual Christmas and Arts Festival.
They travelled to Bendigo to hand over the cheque to Bendigo Foodshare and were taken on a tour of the distribution warehouse. Bendigo Foodshare sends food and produce to foodbanks across the region, including several in the Loddon Shire, every week.
Loddon foodbanks operate at Inglewood,
Bridgewater, Boort, Wedderburn Dingee and Pyramid Hill
Completion of the $3.5 million warehouse tripled Foodshare’s storage capacity and is stage one of its vision for the food hub site.
After more than 30 years, the group has decided it is unable to continue running the popular November festival. Outgoing president Irene Finch, who has been one of the key organisers for 15 years, said members wanted another group in the community to take over the reigns.
Irene Finch, Foodshare CEO Michelle Murphy, Carol McSwain, Peter McSwain, Hilary Mackay and Meryl Wiseman.
Quality feed vital ahead of lambing
GRAZIERS should consider consider the higher nutritional needs of ewes as they come closer to lambing, said Millers Ag animal health specialist Heidi Sutherland.
Heidi said this week that farmers with ewes coming up to lambing should make sure they are receiving enough good quality feed to meet their needs.
“Don’t forget pre-lambing vaccinations! Ideally a booster six-in-one or appropriate product for your program, containing sixin-one is given to ewes four to six weeks prior to the start of lambing,” she said.
“This keeps your ewes up to date with their annual booster plus provides a short amount of protection for their lambs via the colostrum.”
Heidi also says farmers should consider the need for a pre-lambing drench.
“However with dry conditions continuing, ewes could be carrying quite a low burden at this time of year,” she said.
“It is great to conduct a worm egg count the week prior to scheduled pre-lambing vaccinations, to inform this decision,” Heidi said.
Rural customers under new bank banner
RURAL Bank customers this week officially transitioned to Bendigo Bank Agribusiness.
Chief customer officer, business bank and agribusiness, Adam Rowse said this alignment meant the bank could now better meet evolving customer expectations to power a more adaptable, sustainable and productive future for Australian farmers.
tinue to share insights, industry-leading information, research and analysis so that farmers can stay up-to-date with the latest developments in agricultural commodity markets, exports, farmland values, business performance and other topical agricultural issues.
The transition is part of the concluding stage of the bank’s current six-year transformation program.
GOULBURN Murray Water is facing calls to boost the capacity of its Waranga Western irrigation channel.
Major Boort irrigator Tony Sawers wants investment in more upgrades and maintenance that will avoid future rationing in the Loddon districts included in the GMW’s winter work schedule.
But GMW on Tuesday said it had no plans for the crucial channel section at Bears Lagoon that Mr Sawers says should be a priority to lifting supply capacity to Boort district farms where irrigators are heading into another week of tightened rationing.
Farmers have been forced to reduce watering at critical times in their crop and pasture cycles. Boort, Calivil and Dingee irrigators have been on rations since early March. GMW has already tightened allocations and not ruled out more cuts as demand for irrigation water remains high.
GMW says the 2025 work program will focus on a 10km stretch south-east of Dingee, between Paxfords Road and Steads Road.
“The remodelling of the Waranga Western Channel is of high importance, as this will be the third consecutive winter works program where GMW has undertaken major works on the channel,” said the Tatura-based water business owned by the State Government. But Mr Sawers has questioned the level of investment in
the Waranga Western Channel around Bears Lagoon. “We are in Boort and pay the same for delivery share each year as someone in Shepparton but they can’t deliver the same service.
Have Your Say Participate in the Social Impact Assessment
“It smacks a little of financial disadvantage,” he said. Mr Sawers said: “Most of the time we have pretty good access but the Boort end of the channel is never given a lot of water.”
Local communities are invited to participate in the Social Impact Assessment as part of the Environment Effects Statement for the VNI West Project.
Conducted by independent consultant Dr Jamie Seaton from The Social Aspect, the assessment aims to understand the potential project impacts on all aspects of community life. This includes health and well-being, community services, culture, surroundings and livelihoods. A range of information will be gathered, and community insights will be a vital part of the assessment.
If you are a landholder or live in the VNI West project area we invite you to participate. Involvement is simple and respects your privacy. Interviews can be conducted online or in person. Each conversation should take no longer than 30 minutes and can include family members or friends. Extracts of the interview may be used to form part of the assessment, but your personal details will not appear in the report.
This is your opportunity to share insights that could lead to long-term improvements for your community. For more information, please email jamie@socialaspect.com.au with your name and contact details.
He said GMW has a plethora of data on the width of channels needed to carry water that could be used in channel modification.
He said moving delivery shares was “a game of chance” and said GMW should consider a singlefarm approach to water management.
Mr Sawers also wants Loddon irrigators allowed to own Loddon supplement water and divert that water into the district channel when rationing was in place.
“There are few things more simpler ... that would be a no brainer,” he said.
GMW said that since the rationing cycle began through to Monday, it had delivered about 8000 ML to irrigators in the Boort, Dingee, Calivil areas.
The Tandara Pondage will be drawn down to supply irrigators when required. But it says the delivery network is already at capacity “meaning water from the pondage will not have a tangible impact on how much water irrigators can access”.
Water delivery services general manager Warren Blyth said: ““GMW is continuing to closely monitor water orders within the Boort, Dingee, and Calivil areas and will update customers if there are any changes to the situation.”
Mr Sawers said smarter software would also help GMW better manage water rationing “and anticipate and avoid dramas”.
‘26 pools’ in pipeline trip
WITH barely 20mm of rain in Loddon districts this year, Southern farmers have tapped into a life-saving 65,000 kilolitres of pipeline water since December.
GWMWater said demand had risen for supply from the South West Loddon pipeline.
“Dry conditions have resulted in a more than 50 per cent increase to water used on the South West Loddon Pipeline this summer, compared to last summer,” a spokesperson said.
“Between December and February 28 customers used 64,636 kilolitres of water, equivalent to almost 26 Olympic-sized swimming pools.
GWMWater has secured funding to improve the quality of water supplied from the Waranga Channel. This will improve the flexibility of the system from a water source perspective, without compromising the quality of water supplied.
GMW’s Laanecoorie Reservoir was this week holding 2970 ML37.13 per cent. Last year it was at 34.25 per cent capacity.
According to Loddon Shire yesterday, demand for water at local standpipes has ballooned.
So far this year, 3774 kilolitres has been drawn from the standpipes compared with 1084 kilolitres between January 1 and March 16 2024. A Coliban Water upgrade of the Wedderburn standpipe was delayed earlier this year.
David Melville and Tony Sawers check progress of the soya bean crop. LH PHOTO
WOOL REPORT
The Australian wool market has continued to trend higher, recoding an overall weekly rise for the third consecutive series and posting daily increases across all three selling days. The national offering rose by 5,648 bales, there was a total of 38,246 bales available to the trade. On the opening day, only Sydney and Fremantle were in operation, with Melbourne shifting to Wednesday/Thursday selling to accommodate a Monday Public Holiday. By the end of the day all sectors, across both centres recorded rises. The benchmark AWEX Eastern Market Indicator (EMI) rose by 5 cents, with only the 12 cent rise in the Northern indicator influencing the result. On the second day all three centres were in action and the market continued to rise. The EMI added a further 9 cents for the day, only a lacklustre performance from the Melbourne crossbred sector preventing a larger increase in the EMI. On the final day Melbourne sold in isolation and the market continued to rise unabated. With only Melbourne contributing to the EMI the increase for the day was 3 cents. This rise in the EMI marked the eighth selling day in row of positive movements, the EMI has added 102 cents across this run. This was the equal longest run of daily rises in the EMI since May 2022. The last time the EMI had a longer upward run of daily rises was back in November 2016, when the EMI posted nine consecutive increases. The EMI finished the week 17 cents higher, closing the selling series at 1,242 cents. The EMI is now 88 cents higher than its 2025 opening and exactly 100 cents higher for the 2024/25 selling season. In welcome news, despite a strengthening of the Australian dollar, the market also rose in USD terms, adding 20 US cents for the week.
This week the national offering is expected to rise to 41,064 bales.
Source: AWEX
109 MIDLAND HIGHWAY,
Adam Millard | Wool | 0400 499 064
Elders Bendigo | 03 5445 6333
Craig Sharam | Branch Manager/Senior
Agronomist | 0408 188 351
Anton Mannes | Agronomist | 0499 708 044
Nigel Starick | Livestock Manager | 0408 528 322
Chris Anderson Territory Sales Manager | 0408 921 540
Glenn Jackson | Merchandise Manager | 0429 076 459
sheep and lambs
LAMB supply lifted to 19,285 to be up nearly 8000 head on Monday as Bendigo came off a public holiday and skipped market last week.
Quality ranged from a lead of very good grainfed lambs down to the usual mixed quality trades and light stock. The issue today was with buyer demand and participation.
The market opened $5 to $10 weaker before there was a dramatic drop-off in value mid-way through the auction for heavy lambs, with the biggest export weights the most affected. At times there was export lambs which were $30 to $40/head cheaper than a week ago, with some buyers not operating and others only interested in purchasing at reduced rates. It opened up a big carcass price spread across the sale, with heavy lambs selling from an estimated 680c to 820c/kg cwt.
Trade lambs were also cheaper but this section tended to have more stability and reasonable support on the better presented pens. Light MK style processing lambs held their value the best. Heavy export lambs over 30kg cwt sold from $219 to a top of $275/head at an estimated cost of 740c/kg.
The heavy 26-30kg cwt crossbred lambs $190 to $236/head to show a fall of $20, and again a wide price costing of 680c to 820c due to how the market played out. The general run of trade lambs from 21-24kg cwt mostly $155 to $190/head at a shandied cost to processors of 750c/kg cwt.
The main run of 22-24kg cwt lambs averaged $176 to show a decline of $13/head compared to a week ago. Light MK processing lambs eased a few dollars but were the category of stock to hold their value the best at $115 to $158/head for quality types showing some shape and fat cover. Small and secondary lambs $17 to $80/head.
Heavy mutton was limited in the run of
Bendigo Sheep & Lamb Market Report
Good quality yarding with a softer trend over trade and heavy lambs. Sheep remain firm to $10 dearer over most categories.
8600 sheep, and prices did improve for the lead lines of crossbreds and Merinos. Big crossbred ewes $130 to a top of $176/head. Good Merinos ewes with size and wool $110 to $152/head. Plainer sheep mostly $60 to $90/head, and it should be noted that support for any very light conditioned ewes in fat score 1 was subdued at times at $15 to $35/head. The best quality mutton was estimated at 400c to 480c/kg cwt.
EXOTIC LAMB
G Smith Tandarra (24) $220.
Monday, March 17th, 2025 - Bendigo Yarding: Lambs - 19,500 | Sheep - 8,000 Alex Collins - 0408 314
To discuss the marketing opportunities available for your livestock, contact the McKean McGregor team.
BENDIGO
Nulla Vale Nulla Vale (29) $190. Ogden W Wanalta (7) $176. CROSSBRED LAMBS
Somerville Feeds Pty Ltd Tragowel (47) $275. Allen GT Wycheproof (42) $260. Comer F/T Woodstock West (14) $260. Pickthall A & K St Arnaud (3) $260. Col Graham Family Trust Arnold (25) $260. Lislea Lodge Dookie (117) $258. Peter F Schlitz Quambatook (68) $257.
Lifestyle home with a twist
system and open fireplace for that real hot spot. The spacious and comfortable living room adjoins the front dining area and has an enclosed fireplace.
Agent James Nevin
A WONDERFUL lifestyle property with a twist, this home gives everything that you would need or want.
Set in the sleepy hollow of Korong Vale and on four titles, this original family weatherboard home on the outskirts of the township, currently existing as a well-established rural horse property with four main horse paddocks.
The weatherboard cottage is warm and inviting and presents in excellent condition for its age, which is around the 1930s.
The house offers two decent sized bedrooms with built in robes, a separate dining or second living area with reverse cycle split
The country style kitchen/ dining area throws back to the lovely times of yester year with the “Lux” slow combustion stove, while also offering modern comforts with an electric wall oven and hotplates.
The bathroom is modern, light and airy following a renovation and offers an open generous shower and vanity as well as non-slip flooring and handrails for ease of movement.
The laundry is original and leads to the rear sunroom/vestibule area, which has wonderful tranquil views of the lovely cottage garden.
Outside is the new Colorbond shed 4m x 6.5m with concrete floor and the old Gal Iron Alfresco area with earth floor, as well as the near new fencing.
AUCTION - ONLINE ON AUCTIONSPLUS
‘‘FIERY
FLAT”
313.5 Hectares / 775 Acres
Thursday 17th April 2025 - 10:30am
‘The River Farm’ in 5 Titles
Loddon West Road
To be offered as a whole:
Extensive frontage of the Loddon River with a mixture of strong Black & Grey loam, with Red loam pockets
Fertile soils, in 4 paddocks
Access to Loddon River & “Hope Creek”
2 Meg/ Ltr HR water right
3 phase power available
90% Arable area with small shelter belts throughout
Terms: 10% Deposit on signing of contracts, Balance 30/60 Days
Immediate working condition (T & C’S Apply) & payment of deposit Register at www.auctionsplus.com.au
Further Particulars / Inspections: Contact Selling Agents Inspection by appointment
James Nevins: 0407 302 900
Email: inglewood@fpnevins.com.au
www.fpnevins.com.au
www.realestate.com .au
www.domain.com.au
Pyramid Hill’s Sam Hickmott and Geoff Finch (Wedderburn) were among more than 100 bidders at last Friday’s clearing sale in Campbells Forest. Bidders from across the region sought out old farm machinery and equipment. The sale conducted by FP Nevins and Co, Inglewood, was well attended
1988 Nexus horse float, stock crate to fit truck, small chaser bin, trailing sheep feeder, 5’ 3PL slasher, 30’ AgWare windrower, 14 Disc Connor Shea 3PL seed drill, 1O disc Connor Shea 3PL seeder (parts only), 13 Tyne 3PL scarifier, 13 Tyne 3PL cultivator, Silvan 3PL 15’ boom spray, Massey- Ferguson 3PL hay rake, 8’ 3PL grader blade, 3PL spreader, Crump trailing super spreader, 3PL post hole digger, 3PL PTO cement mixer, 3PL hay spike, 6 x 4 Box trailer, Fencing trailer, over head fuel tank 2200Ltr, 2x overhead fuel tank 500L, cattle head bail
Collectables & Sundries
Ajax wool press, Antique wool table, large quantity of electrical & hand tools, quantity of air compressors, pumps, generators & small engines, large quantity of sundriestoo numerous to mention
TERMS Cash, Cheque, EFTPOS on day of sale. Number system operating, ID required, No GST
PHOTOS www.fpnevins.com.au
FUTHER PARTICULARS
James Nevins: 0407 302 900
Luke Nevins: 0418 51 0 166
What to do with GST windfall?
Will Victoria’s $3.7b ‘‘gift’be applied to debt cut or pork barrelling,
KA-CHING, ka-ching, ka-ching - was that the jackpot going off last week when the Victorian Government was told it would receive an extra $3.7 billion next financial year?
A state whose finances have been under pressure, perhaps even haemorrhaging, since this week five years ago when the first COVID measures were introduced by then-Premier Daniel Andrews.
Bailouts, payouts and project blowouts have seen the state’s daily interest bill balloon, indeed explode, to more than $25 million a day. State debt beyond $20 billion, only a few billion dollars behind what will be the new federal payout in GST.
“This (increase) is largely driven by its lower capacity to raise mining revenue relative to the main mining states and its higher relative state population growth,” said the Commonwealth Grants Commission. “Victoria’s assessed GST needs also increased substantially because of the change in the method for assessing COVID-19 health and business support expenses.”
Now-Premier Jacinta Allan and her new Treasurer Jaclyn Symes have been conditioning voters to the prospect of public service cuts and tightening of the belt when they bring down the State Budget.
So what now after a massive windfall that ups Victoria’s share of the GST cake, just over a year from the next state election?
How to carve up that $3.7 billion dollars? The prudent would not want any part of the GST jackpot to go straight into consolidated revenue for distribution that the cynical may perceive as attempted pork-barrelling of an electorate that has already unleashed backlash on the Government.
Come up with a responsible formula! Use half to reduce state debt, and therefore the daily interest bill. It may only make a small dent but every little bit will help. Of the remaining $1.85 billion, that can be allocated to getting the state of country roads back to a standard that is safe and reliable.
It has been well documented that country roads have been
yOuR ONLINE WORDS
LODDON SHIRE aDOPTS TOuRISM STRaTEGy
Diane Gordon-Cooke wrote: Great to see positive progress ! We certainly need the tourism in small towns to help keep them alive and as things improve hopefully more businesses will open …. Moving forward is always a positive!
Peter Talbot wrote: Council need to be more helpful in encouraging families to bring in transportable buildings and move here, dealing with Loddon shire is a nightmare and it shouldn’t be
Peter Bell wrote: Unfortunately with restrictions placed on many businesses when they want to expand or increase current businesses it is beyond the owner’s financial situation to do so. You want to expand say a coffee
shop or food retail)? Shire/ Council responses: Well you need to put in more toilet facilities, and you must up grade your Kitchen etc, all to sell a few extra cups of coffee. spend $100,000 just to sell a few extra coffees. It is not viable. Instead of working with the shop owners, the rules involved to expand, force the business to either close or just carry on. The lack of tourism has killed the small country
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Loddon Herald welcomes letters to the editor from readers. Preference will be given to letters of 300 words or less and must include your name with address and phone number provided for verification (not publicaton). We reserve the right to edit letters for legal reasons. Send your letters to loddonherald@gmail.com
OPINION PIECES
asks Chris Earl
starved of vital cash for basic maintenance let alone any upgrades.
I can hear the cries now drifting over the Keilor hills and making their way into Loddon if the Government saw sense and opted for the country road cash boost. There’s a quick retort ready to fire back. Melbourne, you’re already getting highway and rail upgrades using taxpayer money coughed up by Spring Street and Canberra; don’t be so selfish or foolish and acknowledge that good country roads and highways are an imperative to shift your produce from bush to big smoke. Victoria has been complaining for years that it does not get a fair share of the GST pie. Well now that has changed. Days out from calling an election, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has attempted to soothe the economic pain for Victorians, all Victorians unlike his recent transport funding announcement. As the money gets closer to the people, let’s hope the State Government will take a leaf out of Mr Albanese’s GST book and hear the cries.
townships. Covid lock down hasn’t helped neither. The cost of fuel for the visiting family tourists, the amount of people moving out of the region because the regions are losing their facilities like Shopping, hotels, food outlets, petrol, just to name a few businesses.
Glynn Jarrett wrote: What, come and see the ducks and kangaroos get shot, come and see the hunters crap near the lakes, come and see the hunters cut up sacred indigenous scar trees for firewood! Why would tourists want to come to the shire? Especially with your obvious hatred of indigenous people, who wants to witness that? But serious question, why would they visit? Yes Mt Korong is nice, and Boort Lake, when not having to put up with guns going off in the immediate vicinity for three months of the year.
1. Who were all the king’s horses and all the king’s men unable to put back together again?
2. Which crop did the Aztecs primarily farm?
3. How many countries in North America are landlocked?
4. Queen Victoria celebrated which Jubilee in 1897?
5. A teal is what type of animal?
6. True or false – a tundra biome has no trees.
7. The Game Boy was a portable gaming device produced between 1989 and 2003 by which company?
8. Morpheus is a character in which science fiction movie series?
9. Neoprene is a synthetic version of which material?
10. What name is given to a tall, thin, and tapered four-sided monument?
11. From what language do the names of the planets come from?
12. Which percussion instrument’s name begins and ends with the letter ‘g’?
13. Hemoglobin is contained in what type of cells?
SHAMS and scams ... Bradley of Boort is obviously trying to wash them out of hair. His latest Treemendous Sign would be enough to irritate even the most persistent of telemarketers.
HAD one on the phone the order day. Must have been an idle few seconds when better judgement was taking a rest, Decided to say hello, listened to the sales pitch (can’t recall whether it was solar panels or what, to be honest). Moment I started to ask a few probing questions, the caller got all funny and abruptly unleashed with an abuseladen lesson why one must listen to them. And then, with a few choice words, hung up. How rude!
PbuSHy TaLES BY IAN JONES
OOPED by the heat on Saturday, popped into for final stop of the
14. Which animal appears on the logo of clothing brand Lacoste?
15. Which colour of the rainbow is listed last alphabetically?
16. The rack was a torture device that came into use during which period of history?
17. What is the male equivalent of a Duchess?
18. Gouda cheese comes from which country?
19. What type of mustard is named after a city in France?
20. Which disease is abbreviated to TB?
day - the tennis final featuring Derby. There, holding “off court” was team patriarch Rob Pollock with his chair facing the action. While he lamented the looming defeat, his chair placement was better than a grand final a few years back. We’re told the chair ended in the reverse position.
S HOUT out to Bill. Arriving at one of the winter sport practice matches, he beckoned OTF to the bar ... and put a nice cold one in the hand. A cold bottle of water, that is.
N OT like the Kentucky woman went out to get some ice cream from Dairy Queen and ended up winning a $1 million lottery prize. The player told Kentucky Lottery officials she had a hankering for a Dairy Queen the eatery she stopped at the Mount Sterling Shell station and walked out with scratch-off ticket in the hand.
1. Humpty Dumpty 2. Corn 3. None 4. Diamond 5. Duck 6. True 7. Nintendo 8. The Matrix 9. Rubber 10. Obelisk 11. Latin 12. Gong 13. Red blood 14. Crocodile 15. Yellow 16. Medieval 17. Duke 18.
Glue put to gold pot Bridgewater’s brilliant brewing brothers
By KEN ARNOLD
TRAVELLING the road considered to be a “slough of despond” between Eaglehawk, Bendigo and rural Bridgewater on Loddon with plans for brewing, brothers James and William Hedley formed a partnership and set out to establish the Bridgewater Brewery in 1872.
Only four years later, in a competition against the whole colony, the Hedley Bros. ale won the first prize gold medal at the 1876 Grand National Show held at Sandhurst.
On his way to visit the new bluestone brewery being constructed, the Marong Correspondent to the Bendigo Advertiser reported that that the road between Yorkshire hotel (Marong) and Mrs Wuest’s Halfway House hotel at Leichardt, was such a “slough of despond” as the “glue pot” would puzzle the understanding of Macadam. He wondered how the Cobb & Co drivers and others managed to force their way through.
During November 1879 this small report on Bridgewater was published in the Bendigo Advertiser newspaper.
“Bridgewater is a nice little town on the Loddon, with the usual proportion of churches, hotels, shops and stores. It has a police station and railway station, a brewery, soda-water manufactory, two mills (one steam and one water), and a branch of the National Bank.”
The Hedley Brothers continued to run the brewery for 18 years and often exhibited samples of their ales at the Northwestern Agricultural Show held in Inglewood in October 1878. They exhibited a barrel of Colonial ale and Colonial porter in October
1884, a barrel of Colonial ale in 1885 and 1886, and ales in October 1887. The brewery also won a gold locket at the Bendigo Agricultural and Horticultural Show held in May 1877.
The Sandhurst Brewing and Malting Company (Limited) proposed to incorporate the Bridgewater Brewery with several of its other companies, Wm. Bruce & Sons, Graham, Johnson & Illingworth, the late
Jonathan Wharton and Charles Hoffmeye, in 1888. However, this proposal failed.
The brothers, preparing to retire, sold their brewery to George Elliott and Phillip Holler on April 16, 1890.
Elliott and Holler had originally formed a partnership, around August 1880, they trading as the Riverine Brewing Co., Ltd., at Deniliquin. This business was later floated as a company in December 1883,
it then trading as The Riverine Brewery, Aerated Waters & Milling Co. Ltd.
After Phillip’s wife Margaret Holler, died in January 1885, they sold business and purchased the Standard Brewery, Main Street, Campbells Creek which they in turn sold in readiness to purchase the Bridgewater Brewery on April 16, 1890.
Shortly after this at the end of May, their partnership was dissolved and became known as P Holler & Co. The company continued brewing and manufacturing aerated waters.
While Holler advertised for a partner in April 1893, he seems to have been unsuccessful and offered the contents and brewery plant up for auction in May 1893. Earlier in the year, the Bendigo Advertiser published an article that suggested “a company has been formed to erect a new brewery and cordial manufactory at Bridgewater. The lease of the brewery known as Holler’s and owned by Mr. J. Hedley expires in about three months, and the company referred to has been formed in readiness to supply customers with a good article at the lowest possible price. A new plant will be erected in a central position, and every care will be taken to provide ales, aerated waters, etc.”
However, a new brewery was never built and the Cohn Brothers Bendigo who had an extensive brewery in Bridge Street Bendigo purchased the Bridgewater Brewery.
It would appear that Holler & Co., may have continued to manufacture aerated waters as he was still listed in business at the turn of the century. In light of their Bendigo brewery, it is doubtful that the Bridgewater Brewery continued to brew.
public notices
Charlton Film Festival
Fri 21st & Sat 22nd March e Rex eatre
Friday 8pm – Lee
Saturday
10:30am – ere’s Still Tomorrow
Pyramid Hill Senior Citizens
Pyramid Hill Senior Citizens have not been active in recent times. A new committee has been elected and will welcome anyone interested in becoming a member
The Club has activities planned from 1pm on the second Friday of each month in the supper room at the Memorial Hall. On the fourth Friday of each month, a light meal will be available costing $10 -00. Again in the supper room at the Memorial Hall. You are welcome to pop in even if you would prefer just a cup of tea/coffee and a chat. There is no pressure to participate in the available activities. Membership fee is $5-00 annually. The above will be in place until the Club moves to the new building currently being constructed in McKay St. Terry Wood email tp.wood@bigpond.com Ph 0429843479
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MARONG GENERAL STORE
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KERANG IGA
WANTED!
Interested people to run The Wedderburn Community Christmas and Arts Festival 2025.
Following our AGM the Wedderburn Patchwork Group Inc has decided we can no longer organise the festival due to numbers and age.
People or groups who would like to take on this role are invited to contact us to express interest.
Please contact Irene Finch on 0458 073 080 to receive support and documentation from previous Festivals.
Yung Balug Keeping Place
The Museum is situated on the property of Paul & Cathie Haw.
Well worth a visit to see the amazing Artefacts collected from the Boort Region.
A recent addition is 34 photos taken by John Hunter Kerr in the 1850s. This was made possible by the State Library of Victoria.
Everyone is welcome. but please call or Email before visiting. Phone - 0417 333 171 Email - paulcathiehaw@gmail.com
M inin G notice
Notice of Application for a Prospecting Licence (PL008570)
Mineral Resources (Sustainable Development) Act
1990 – Section 15(5)
Mineral Resources (Sustainable Development) (Mineral Industries) Regulations 2019 – Regulation 22(1) and Schedule 1
1. Name and address of applicant
C & M Resources Pty Ltd
Post Office Box 204 Golden Square Vic 3550
2. Contact phone number and email address of the applicant for maps and other information requests
Contact Person.: Matthew Carkeek Telephone: 0418 175 289
Email: Matthewcarkeek@gmail.com.au
3. Applicant’s Website (see notes) Further information about this application is available at the following website: www.earthresources.vic.gov.au/ licenceapplications
4. Details of the Application Application No.: PL008570
Locality: Approx 3.7km North North east from Dunolly, Area of application: 5 hectares
Date of application: 7 March 2025
Term the licence is applied for: 7 years
Outline of proposed works: Proposed works for PL008570 includes doze/excavate and detect style of recovery system. This work includes excavation of smaller pits/ extraction zones using excavator, dozer or Loader and detecting progressively prior to backfilling. Areas to be mined will be generally undertaken using the following process using a moving work zone followed up by progressive back filling and rehabilitation as soon as practical.
Identify exclusion/buffer zones and maintained as required
Excavation work
Soil stockpiled
Detecting ore
Backfill & rehabilitation
The mining type that is intended to be employed is the doze/excavate and detect method. There are no plans to use any other type of mining recovery system. (i.e. no plans for ‘wet’ or chemical recovery techniques).
5. Objections or Comments
Any person may object or comment to a licence being granted. (Sections 24 and 24A, Mineral Resources (Sustainable Development) Act 1990).
A person who objects or comments must: put the objection or comment in writing; and include the grounds on which it is made.
All objections or comments must be lodged within 21 days after the latest date on which the application was advertised and can be lodged online or posted to:
The Minister for Energy and Resources c/ - Manager Licensing Earth Resources Regulator PO Box 500 East Melbourne Victoria 8002
It is recommended that comments or objections are lodged online at https://rram-vic-gov.my.site.com/ ObjectionSubmission to ensure timely consideration. Enquiries can be made by writing to the Manager Licensing at the above address or by phoning the Earth Resources Information Centre on 136 186.
6. Other Statutory Requirements
Subject to other statutory requirements being satisfied, a Prospecting licence, if granted, entitles the holder of the licence to Prospect or explore for minerals, carry out mining on the relevant land and do anything else that is incidental to that mining.
Further information regarding the statutory requirements that must be complied with prior to work being undertaken on a licence, including landowner and occupier consent requirements, is available at: https://resources.vic.gov.au/community-and-land -use.
Lucas corners record
BRISBANE teenager Cornala Lucas has set a new ski course record on the Loddon River at Bridgewater.
The 19-year-old negotiated four buoys behind a 10.25 metre rope on Sunday morning in the slalom event to complete a clean sweep of under 21 events at the Aussie-Kiwi Challenge-Oceania Junior Championship.
His final runs in the slalom started with matching the 10.75 metre rope record before the international crowd cheered the young star to set a new benchmark on his last run of the course.
Lucas had been in Bridgewater since last Tuesday training for the championships contested by Australia and New Zealand’s top 48 young skiers over four
days. “It was a bit bumpy but I did like the feel of the water,” Lucas said after his record-setting run and wading to the bank to cheers from team members.
“To do four buoys behind a 10.25 metre rope has been the goal for the season and I thought there was a chance this weekend.”
Lucas also took out the tricks and jump event for his age group and was a clear winner of the under 21 aggregate.
Australia dominated events in all age groups to take this year’s honours in the challenge that alternates across the Tasman.
Australian team manager Amanda Fletcher said conditions on the Loddon at Bridgewater had been ideal for good
skiing “and that has worked out in the results and personal bests achieved by team members”.
“For a lot of the Australian team members, this was the first time they had competed on the Bridgewater course.
Some have used the weekend as a lead up to their state and national titles in coming weeks and also the Oceania championships in New Zealand.”
Securing the four-day challenge was a coup for Bridgewater Ski Club with members assisting with organisation.
Teams paraded behind national flags at an opening dinner at the Bridgewater Hotel last Wednesday to herald the start of the biennial competition that saw a lift in local visitor numbers.
Record breaker Cornale Lucas
Jumps action ... Australia’s Callum O’Connor Sam McKenzie (New Zealand) and Dylan Wright (Australia)
Enjoying the titles and Australian team manager Amanda Fletcher with captain and Bridgewater club member Milla Bennett who finished second in the under 21 aggregate. LH PHOTOS
Henderson victor after final play-off
LAST weekend’s Boort Lakeside Cro quet Club annual tournament attracted 56 players from many parts of Victoria.
Conditions on Saturday were difficult with the high temperatures, and the decision was made on some sections to cancel the last round of games.
Games took place on seven croquet courts, including four set up on the tennis courts.
Level 1 was conducted in two sections, with a play-off between the two winners Daryl Henderson (Boort) and Trevor Peters (Shepparton) being won by Henderson. Level 2 also had two sections, so Julie Ware (Maldon) and David Searl (Ballarat Alexandra) played off, with Searl taking the victory.
Level 3 had three sections, and after a three-way play-off June Liddy (Horsham) was the winner with Peter Granland (Ballarat
Judd revs ready for new track season
YOUNG motocross star Judd Chislett is revving up for an exciting season as he officially begins his campaign with Scrivens Racing.
Last year the Pyramid Hill youngster clinched the Victorian Seniors title as a C Grade rider, and began his B Grade campaign with an impressive outright second-place finish at the season opener in Wonthaggi.
“I’m thrilled with how the season has started. The competition is tough, but I’m ready to give it my all,” Chislett said after the race.
With upcoming rounds to take place in Traralgon, Horsham and Cobram, Chislett is gearing up for another stretch of intense competition.
In addition to his local events, Chislett will also be contesting the MX3 class at the Promx Nationals.
This year’s series has eight rounds scheduled across various locations from Victoria to Queensland.
Western) runner-up. Sunday’s doubles competition saw much cooler conditions, which was a relief to all players.
Level 1: Winners Daryl Henderson (Boort) and Steve Kelly (Echuca Moama). Level 2: Winners Alan Puttick (Boort) and Peter Granland (Ballarat Western). Level 3: Winners Joy De Piazza (Boort) and Lyn Keillor (Echuca Moama).
Level 4: Winners Trevor Ware (Maldon) and Sid Gomes-. Viera (Echuca Moama). Level 5: Winners Stuart Page (Belmont) and Sandra Alstin (Echuca Moama)
Boort members played in the club championships earlier in March. Winners were Level 1 Daryl Henderson, Level 2 Jean Henderson and Level 3 Alister McDougal On Saturday they will be compete at the Murray Valley Play-offs in Charlton for the right to go to Melbourne and take part in the Regional Championships.
Club champions Jean Henderson, Daryl Henderson Alister McDougal (above) while president Carmel Allison presents Daryl with the tournament’s top prize.
Judd Chislett in training for the new season
Gooding named Pies top player
THE ACCOLADES keep coming for Boort Yando junior Cooper Gooding, who has added his team’s under-17 Player of the Year award to his league title.
Gooding, who averaged almost 180 with the bat in the season just completed, won the Upper Loddon Cricket Association’s top player award and received his club acknowledgement at its end of season presentation night. He won the batting award
along with the player of the year nod, with Owen Byrne taking out the bowling award.
Senior player of the year was Alex Cockerell, who also won the bowling award, while Daniel Lehman collected the batting prize.
Junior bowler Jake O’Flaherty got a special commendation for his hat-trick on senior debut against eventual premiers Kingower.
Connor McNally won both the under-13 batting award and player of the year, with Archer Lee taking out the bowling award.
Encouragement awards went to Indigo Soumeliades, Tarlin Trinchi and Luca Lanyon.
Veteran Garry Zanker was given the ‘Have a Go’ club player award for his long career, while life membership was awarded to Tom ‘DByrne for four decades of involvement with the Magpies.
MONTHLY winners of the Loddon Herald Sports Star of the Year award are taking shape as the half-point of the annual premier sporting trophy nears.
February’s winner is lawn bowler Ruth Hall who took out the North Central area’s singles championship.
She joins Boort cricketer Cooper Gooding who put in a stunning month with bat and ball in January and Bridgewater netballer Rache; Flood who in December was selected for the elite Netball Victoria Talent Academy. Boort basketballer Luke Sharp was the November winner while Wedderburn’s Hayley Smith was named the top sportsperson in October after claiming a Ranch Horse Association of Australia title.
The yearly sports star will be named at a dinner later this year.
BOWLS
CAPACITY rinks are contesting the Bridgewater Bowling Club’s twilight series.
More than 60 players are currently in the competition. Meanwhile, the club’s singles championship has been won by Glenn Mangan who defeated firsyear player Tyler Estrada. Wade Roberts, Dave Smyth and Blake Smyth have won the Inglewood club’s annual Nipper Dowling memorial triples event. They were the only three-game winners.
Cooper Gooding
Alex Cockerell
Honours by five games
CALIVIL North has taken out the Loddon Valley Tennis Association premiership for 2024-25 — remarkably, the club’s 28th win in 37 seasons.
It was a close run thing, with opponents Mincha West putting up a brave fight all day.
In the end, Calivil North took the title 99 games to 94.
The grand final was brought forward because of the extreme heat on Saturday, but players still had to cope with very high temperatures.
Calivil North’s victory was built on the ladies’ doubles results, which the team won 39-21.
Men’s doubles went to Mincha West, 29-42, while the mixed doubles were squared at 31 games apiece.
Winning captain Michelle Balic quipped that the ladies “as usual” were the reason for the win, before admitting “it was a real team effort”.
The topsy-turvy nature of the final was highlighted by some of her own results: she and partner Christie Rogers won their
women’s doubles 7-0, which was a critical victory overall. Yet she also lost a mixed game 7-1, illustrating the closeness of the contest.
Michelle’s 14-year-old son Oscar won the club’s player of the finals award for his performances over two weeks.
She said it highlighted the quality of the young players coming through in the association, which was a good sign for its future.
Calivil North 99 d Mincha West 94 Mens: L Maxted C Smith lost to J Ritchie D Mann 3-7. L Maxted O Balic lost to J Ritchie D Stewart 4-7. C Smith O Balic lost to D Mann D Stewart 6-7. J Smith L Strachan lost to B Wagner P Gargen 6-7. J Smith K Maxted lost to B Wagner R Wagner 6-7. L Strachan K Maxted lost to P Gargen R Wagner 4-7.
Ladies: M Balic C Rogers d E Prout J Wagner 7-0. M Balic G Maxted d E Prout T Wagner 7-4. C Rogers G Maxted d J Wagner T Wagner 7-1. L Strachan H Vinnicombe d T Stewart C Pickles 7-2. L Strachan A Maxted lost to T Stewart C Mann 6-7. H Vinnicombe
A Maxted lost to C Pickles C Mann 5-7.
Mixed: C Smith M Balic lost to J Ritchie J
Wagner 1-7. O Balic C Rogers lost to D Mann E Prout 4-7. L Maxted L Strachan d T Wagner T Wagner 7-5. J MSith G Maxted d P Gorgen T Stewart 7-1. L Strachan H Vinnicombe d B Wagner C Pickles 7-4. K Maxted A Maxted lost to R Wagner C Mann 5-7.
Panthers take flag
MARONG has completed a fairytale finish to the tennis season, defeating Derby in the grand final of the Marong and District Tennis Association competition.
Marong won the final comprehensively, 13-98 to 5-66.
The team only made the finals by beating wooden spooners Woodstockon-Loddon in the last round of home and away matches, jumping from sixth on the ladder to fourth.
Marong then beat top side Lockwood in the semi-finals before thumping Derby, who finished second on the ladder, in the season decider.
Derby sneaked into the final by defeating Newbridge 9-74 to 9-72.
The final was played in extreme heat at Malone Park courts, testing everyone’s fitness and resilience.
Thankfully there was some shade for the spectators as the mercury continued to climb during the matches.
Marong’s victory was its first pre-
miership since the 2019-20 season, with Harcourt having won a remarkable four titles in a row before this season, when it finished sixth of seven clubs.
Derby managed to win only two of the ladies’ and mixed matches, and just one of the men’s clashes.
Marong 13-98 d Derby 5-66
Ladies: R McCaig S Hardingham lost to L Naughton F Dangerfield 4-6. R McCaig J Cornish d L Naughton T Leerson 6-4. S Hardingham J Cornish d F Dangerfield T Leerson 6-4. S Thompson G Turnball lost to P Normoyle D Normoyle 1-6. S Thompson H Turnball d P Normoyle K Galea 6-5. G Turnball H Turnball d D Normoyle T Flood 6-2. Mens: L Frankel Z Turnball d L McCullagh M Dineen 6-3. L Frankel J McCraig d L McCullagh N Pollock 6-2. Z Turnball J McCraig d M Dineen N Pollock 6-0. N McCaig D Turnball d S Crane S Guerra 6-3. N McCaig M Frankel d S Crane N Naughton 6-3. M Frankel K McCaig lost to S Guerra N Naughton 5-6. Mixed: S Hardingham L Frankel d L Naughton L McCullagh 6-2. R McCaig J McCraig d T Leerson M Dineen 6-3. G Turnball Z Turnball d F Dangerfield N Pollock 6-1. S Thompson N McCaig lost to D Normoyle N Naughton 5-6. H Turnball M Frankel d P Normoyle S Crane 6-4. J Cornish K McCaig lost to K Galea S Guerra.
Teams
BOORT Lawn Tennis Club home and away seasonm came to a close last Friday night and players now look forward to playing finals over the next fortnight.
The four teams of eight players have enjoyed the new change of time.
This year the competition has been played on a Friday evening with the last few sets happening under lights.
The new timeslot has brought new players as well as past players returning and a fresh vibe to the club.
The coaching run by the club’s experienced players has been well attended, often with more than 20 children coming along.
Tomorrow night will see the semi finals between Barraport and Mysia with Marmal verse Leaghur. The
ners will play off in the grand final on March 28.
Marmal’s Stuart Gould
Loddon Valley Tennis Association premiers Calivil North.
LH PHOTO
Grand final captains Michelle Balic (left) and Jeannie Wagner. LH PHOTO
Derby’s Tania Leerson. LH PHOTO
Maroons falter in bid to raise junior team
NEWBRIDGE will not be entering an under-18 football team in the Loddon Valley league this season.
An effort to build junior numbers has been unsuccessful, so the Maroons will only field senior and reserves sides in 2025. It comes as a blow to the league, which has been trying to add clubs to what was only a five-team junior competition last season.
Newbridge emerged largely unscathed from its practice match with Dunolly last Saturday.
The Maroons fielded a young team against the Eagles, with 10 senior players
unavailable for selection. “If there had been a scoreboard, they would have won,” assistant coach Tyler Constable said.
“But based on what sort of a team we had, it was good to get a few games into some of the younger players.”
He was particularly impressed with 15-year-old speedster Tom Fox, suggesting senior football might be possible for him this year.
Newbridge will have a final pre-season hit out against Golden Rivers side Wandella as part of a 10-team charity carnival of football at Pyramid Hill on Saturday week.
Sleeveless Sharp
BRIDGEWATER came through its practice match against Calder United as coach Lachlan Sharp hoped — with no injuries and with the Mean Machine’s younger players given a solid hit out.
The game also provided one of football’s rarest sights, that of Sharp playing in a sleeveless guernsey.
The extreme heat on Saturday meant the game was brought forward by a couple of hours and quarters were shortened, with both sides rotating players more heavily than usual.
“Some of our young players got to play against some real, quality country footballers,” Sharp said.
“For us, it was about effort to ensure they didn’t get a run on, and we did that well at times.
“It gave the kids an opportunity to play in positions they might not have played before.”
Sharp admitted his “guns” made their first appearance in many years.
“I can’t remember the last time I wore a sleeveless jumper,” he said, noting that most of the sledging he got was from teammates rather than the opposition.
While scores weren’t kept officially, Calder United — the new North Central league side created from the merger of Wycheproof-Narraport and Nullawil — won the hit out comfortably.
Bridgewater will have its final practice match against Heathcote District club Elmore on Saturday evening.
Sharp said the Mean Machine
would field a mixed team over the six-quarter clash, with senior players featuring towards the end of the match.
Bridgewater begins its Loddon Valley season with a mouth-wa-
tering contest against Bears Lagoon Serpentine.
Full-forward Josh Mellington will return for the Bears, setting up a new race for the century of goals with Sharp.
Last season Mellington kicked 93 goals in nine matches before suffering a major hamstring injury, leaving Sharp a clear run at the ton, which he duly reached on his way to 138 goals for the year.
Woodies left to play between themselves
KYABRAM and District league team Merrigum pulled out of its scheduled pre-season football clash against Inglewood on Saturday, leaving a disappointed Woodies coach Fergus Payne scrambling to find an alternative match up. Payne said he spoke to Merrigum officials last week, and was told they would have 27 players available for the match.
Inglewood had 38 players ready to go, so the club assumed all was well.
“I took it on face value but then heard a few
things, so I called late on Wednesday and the coach said he had only 13 players,” Payne said.
He called around some other clubs to see if anything could be pulled together at the last moment, but was unsuccessful.
“So we played an intra-club match and had a great hit out with what we had. We played 18 a side and evened up the teams as best we could,” he said.
The season’s preparations would not be affected, Payne said, with a practice match
this Saturday against Kyabram league side Lancaster before Inglewood opens the Loddon Valley season with a challenging game against reigning premiers Marong.
“Obviously you plan these games months out. We had this one sorted for three to four months, so it’s disappointing,” he said.
“But it is what it is, and we came up with other plans.”
- GARY WALSH
Pies and Dogs on the menu
PYRAMID Hill and Boort have switched up their pre-season regimes with a joint training session at Mitchell Park last night Bulldogs coach Nathan Fitzpatrick said with many players from both clubs living in Bendigo, it made sense for the two teams to combine their resources.
Boort is one of 10 clubs which will join in a feast of football and netball at Pyramid Hill on Saturday, March 29.
Beginning at 11am, there are five practice matches to be played, culminating with the hosts meeting Kerang at 5pm.
Pyramid Hill, which finished runner up in the Loddon Valley league last season, will have a testing hit out against Kerang, which finished on top of the Central Murray ladder after losing only one game for the season before falling in the grand final to NNW United.
Fitzpatrick said Kerang would have “a different-looking squad to last year” but would be a good opponent one week out from the start of the season.
Pyramid Hill has added veteran midfielder Ryan Semmel to its list, continuing its strong offseason recruiting spree.
Semmel is a three-time league best-and-fairest winner in the Heathcote & District competition and has also claimed six club best-and-fairest awards over a long career.
“We’ve lost a few from the midfield, so he’s another experienced head to chuck in there,”
Fitzpatrick said, noting that Semmel also could play deep forward.
Dale Cameron’s Boort had a hit out against Tooleybuc Manangatang in last Saturday’s blistering heat, fielding a young side with about nine regulars missing.
“The kids are really starting to improve,” he said.
Cameron is looking to seeing key recruit Carlos Egan on the field.
Egan is a small forward/midfielder who played with Essendon in the VFL after coming through the club’s Next Generation Academy, and has trained over summer with Collingwood’s VFL squad.
Bridgewater’s Bo Alexander and Ollie Muggleton jostle for the ball on Saturday. LH PHOTO
Playing tight ... Newbridge and Dunolly in their season warm-up. LH PHOTO
Loddon HERALD sport
Thursday MARCH 20, 2025
KIWI TAKES A TUMBLE: New Zealand Ashton Lange plunged into the Loddon River at Bridgewater on Saturday competing in the under 17 jump event of the Aussie-Kiwi Challenge-Oceania Junior Championship. The best young skiers from Australia and New Zealand competed in events over four days. REPORT, PHOTOS - PAGE 20
Zayde makes impressive showing at titles
INGLEWOOD’S junior javelin star Zayde Williams has returned from the Little Athletics state championships with a new PB — and a new tape measure.
Zayde threw 25.99 metres in the event at Casey Fields — two metres further than his previous best — to finish ninth of 24 competitors. It was an impressive throw, especially given the 39-degree heat on the day.
When the Loddon Herald spoke to Zayde before the state titles, he mentioned he needed a tape measure to keep track of his throws at home.
A kind reader named John approached Zayde’s school, Marong Primary, to talk to students about athletics and the importance of outdoor exercise, and then presented the rising sports star with his own tape measure.
Zayde also competed in the high jump, and while he failed to record a PB he leapt 1.30 metres, placing him 11th in the state.
PB AND A STATE SPOT
MADELYN Lawson doesn’t do things by halves, especially not when it comes to swimming.
Madelyn placed first in the 50-metre breaststroke at the Loddon Mallee Regionals last week with a personal best time and earnt a spot at the state meet in Melbourne in May.
She was the first student in over a decade to represent Inglewood Primary School at the
regional swimming carnival. “Inglewood Primary School doesn’t have a swimming carnival, so the kids have to put their hands up to go to the Sandhurst Division carnival. Both Madelyn and her sister Ruby volunteered to swim at Sandhurst which was great.” said Madelyn’s mum Jayne. “Ruby came second in her 50-metre breaststroke event and Madelyn came first in hers which qualified her for the Loddon Mallee Regionals.”
“Swimming comes very naturally to Madelyn; she loves all sport but especially swimming.” Jayne said, “She started swimming just under two years ago but she’s very determined and committed.
“When she competes, she goes all in with full focus on the event, it’s amazing to watch.”
Madelyn trains with the Bendigo Hawks at least three times a week, “it’s a fantastic club, very family focused with incredible
coaches. She’s gained so much from swimming with them, resilience, courage and friendships, it’s great.” Jayne said.
The State Meet will be Madelyn’s first experience competing against students from the metropolitan area.
“I’m really happy and excited” said Madelyn about qualifying for the state meet.
““She’s done really well and we’re all so proud of her,” mum Jayne said.
