VICTORIA HOTEL

Crackling yarns around fire

CRACKING yarns and music filled the night air around a crackling bonfire in Yarrawalla on Friday night.

The community came together for the district’s first major get-together in more than three years.

Key organiser Sue Bennett said more than 80 people turned out, including many newer residents in the district.

“After COVID, we had been a little concerned that the community was not getting together, particularly those who have moved into the area,” she said.

Friday – Open Midday Lunch from 12.00pm Dinner from 5.30pm Happy Hour 5.00pm – 6.30pm With Hot Bar Snacks, Meat Raffle

Saturday – Open Midday Lunch from 12.00pm Dinner from 5.30pm Sunday – Open Midday All Day Pizza Menu Close 11.00pm

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Live Music Duo

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Tom and Brian Smith built the bonfire that was surrounded by residents listening to yarns from storyteller Jan Wositzky and vocalist Sherri Parry at the event assisted by Loddon Shire Council. And Sue said discussion also turned to holding more social functions that will be discussed at a community meeting next month.

“On Friday night we decided to form a local walking club as one of the first ways to bring the community together,” Sue said.

Cancer, heart disease biggest killers

HEART disease and cancers are the biggest killer of people in Loddon communities.

Australian Institute of Health and Welfare data released last week showed 60 people died in the Loddon Shire from cancers between 2017 and 2021.

There were 52 people who died from heart disease in the shire’s total of 265 for the five years.

Dementia has jumped to the No 1 cause of death in women across Australia and in Loddon there were 19 people who died with the disease in 2017-2021.

Nationally, coronary heart disease was the leading cause of death in both 2011 and 2021 for men, accounting for 16 per cent of deaths in 2011 and 12 per cent in 2021.

The largest change in leading causes of death for males from 2011 to 2021 was the rise of dementia including Alzheimer’s disease, from sixth to second place.

The rankings for all cancers within the top 10 causes of death (lung, prostate and colorectal) decreased between 2011 and 2021. For women, coronary heart disease and cerebrovascular disease fell in rank from 2011 to 2021.

There was a notable increase for demen- tia including Alzheimer’s disease from third to first place, accounting for nine per cent of deaths in 2011 and 13 per cent of deaths in 2021.

The ranking for breast cancer was the only cancer within the top 10 causes of death to decrease between 2011 and 2021.

Influenza and pneumonia moved out of the 10 leading causes of death for women after 2011 and was replaced by accidental falls in

Three injured in crash

TWO 21-year-old men were injured in an early morning accident at Wedderburn on Sunday.

The men from Inglewood and Wedderburn were passengers in a vehicle that hit a tree in Bond’s Road.

One was airlifted to Royal Melbourne Hospital and the other taken by ambulance to Bendigo Health. They were in a satisfactory condition.

Police said the driver, a Wedderburn man, 21, received minor injuries.

2021. Similarly, for men, heart failure and other complications moved out of the top 10 causes of death after 2011 and was replaced by accidental falls in 2021.

In Loddon there were four deaths from accidental falls recorded for the five years.

There were six deaths listed from Loddon road accidents.

Second club theft POLICE are investigating a second football clubroom theft in a week. Thieves stole alcohol valued at more than $2000 at Newbridge Recreation Reserve last Tuesday after forcing open a door. Police are reviewing CCTV footage. A week earlier, $4000 was stolen from Serpentine Recreation Reserve.