Loddon Herald 20 June 2024

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CRAFTY women in Inglewood were keeping the fingers warm on Tuesday as they worked on new arty creations.

Janice Bannister was among the group that regularly meets at the town hall where they spend their time knitting, crocheting and bringing applique designs to life.

And this week the hands were working overtime after the coldest night for the year in Loddon com-

Janice Bannister is rugged up and keeping the hands warm at the weekly craft group session in Inglewood. LH PHOTO

IN BRIEF

Tanks take shape

THE shells of two one-megalitre drinking water storage tanks under construction at Laanecoorie have been poured. The tanks are each 4.5 metres high and 20 metres in diameter. Coliban Water said that together with a new pump station housing two raw water pumps, tanks will receive and store water from the South West Loddon Pipeline, providing water for Bealiba, Dunolly, Laanecoorie, and Tarnagulla.

Taster day

THIRTY Year 9 and 10 East Loddon P12 College students attended a VET taster day at Charlton last week. They were among 150 students from across the Loddon Shire who took part in classes to get a feel for VET study opportunities.

Big choir

munities. The mercury plunged to minus 4 degrees in some areas, including Berrimal and did not enter positive territory until after 9am when the morning sun began to thaw a heavy frost.

The official overnight low in Charlton was minus 0.08 while at Bendigo it was minus 2.6.

Temperatures are forecast to be a few degrees higher until tomorrow when another two consecutive nights are tipped to hover around zero.

BENDIGO Chorale will be presenting Karl Jenkins’ Requiem and Mozart’s Laudate Dominum at St Paul’s Anglican Cathedral in Bendigo on June 29. The chorale will combine with Glen Eira City Choir to form a chorus of 60 choristers accompanied by an instrumental ensemble comprising horn, flute, harp, violin, percussion and piano.

CFA foaming fit

CFA has started the new $3.19 million foam protection retrofit of its ultralight vehicles.

Loddon Herald is published

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Medal pair first to help

TWO men who attempted to rescue a woman trapped in a car accident have received the Royal Humane Society Of Australasia’s Bronze Medal for Bravery.

Greg Keegan and Peter McClelland were invested with the awards by Victoria’s Lieutenant Government Professor James Angus at Government House last Thursday.

Leading Senior Constable Denis Farrell, of Tarnagulla, had nominated the pair for their efforts at the fatal crash scene at Moliagul on March 27, 2020.

“These men arrived at the scene and attempted a rescue of the driver whilst the vehicle was on fire,” Senior Constable Farrell said.

Greg had been returning to his Moliagul home after a day gold prospecting while Peter, of Dunolly, had been kilometres from home after checking 2000 sheep on agistment at Birchip.

They were first on the scene and tried to free the trapped driver of the burning vehicle.

“In the end, the fire forced us back,” the two said this week.

Peter said: “I used to drive trucks but had never seen an accident like this before.”

He agreed with Greg who said: “We didn’t do anything exceptional. Growing up in the country, you stop to help when there is an accident.”

“If you see an accident, you do the best you can,” said Greg.

IN BRIEF

Water prices set

GOULBURN Murray Water’s fees and services for the next four years have been finalised with the corporation saying customers will enjoy stable prices in. The Essential Services Commission – the independent regulator for Victoria’s water, energy, and transport sectors – found that GMW’s price submission was a “high quality” proposal that demonstrated “prudency and efficiency”. The new price submission will come into effect on July 1 with many gravity irrigation customers set to experience a steady or lower typical bill before inflation, and some medium and large gravity irrigation customers experiencing slight increases.

Extend school bonus call

THE Nationals have launched a Fair School Bonus campaign to highlight what they claim is regional Victorians being blatantly ignored by the Government. MP Gaelle Broad. the $400 school saving bonus, introduced in the State Budget ignored for students in low-fee Catholic and independent schools.

Op shop’s break

“As a result of the collision investigation, I forwarded my recommendations to the Royal Humane Society for Greg and Peter to be recognised for their brav-

Peter and Greg said they were surprised when Senior Constable Farrell later asked them to sign forms agreeing to the bravery award nomination. “I also attended the scene as the first responder and forward commander,” Senior Constable Farrell said.

ery. Local CFA units, SES, Ambulance Victoria, other police units and other members of the public stopped to assist, all helping greatly in a very stressful situation.”

Greg and Peter said their awards were tinged with sadness as the driver was unable to

be saved and died at the scene. The 2020 accident happened on the Dunolly-Moliagul Road about 7.30pm. The first of Victoria’s COVID lockdowns had started the previous day in Melbourne.

Senior Constable Farrell joined Greg and Peter for last week’s investiture.

INGLEWOOD Ambulance

Auxiliary op shop in Brooke Street has closed while volunteers prepare to move stock to new premise in the old Royal Hotel. The shop is expected to re-open next month.

Peter McClelland, Greg Keegan and Senior Constable Farrell at the investiture ceremony

Farming with transmission lines

Around 6,500 km of transmission lines currently operate in Victoria, many of which successfully coexist with farming and agriculture.

TCV will work closely with farmers in the VNI West draft corridor to find the best location for a new 500Kv transmission line - with the least impact on farm operations and productivity.

Machinery up to 5m high can operate under transmission lines, and taller machinery up to 8.6m may also be used subject to a safety assessment. TCV will work with the Transmission Network Service Provider responsible for VNI West operation to publish guidelines on this assessment.

For information on farming with transmission, along with details about the conditions for machinery use and farming activities, visit the TCV website and access our Farming with Transmission fact sheet.

Farming activities which take place in transmission easements:

Community facilities star in week of chats

The first of 13 pop-up sessions was

in Serpentine on Monday morning.

Consultation teams have since heard feedback on planning the future of community facilities from residents in Dingee, Inglewood, Bridgewater, Boort and Wedderburn.

Further sessions will; be today in Pyramid Hill and Mitiamo with council teams visiting Laanecoorie, Eddington, Tarnagulla, Newbridge and Korong Vale tomorrow.

The strategy proposes facility management plans for each town, identifying facilities that are at or near ‘end of life’ and assessing use of facilities.

Mayor Gavan Holt said: “Our community buildings improve wellbeing and help communities meet their social needs and reach their potential.

“Many of our buildings and recreation spaces offer great opportunities for broader use, while others are ageing and need

substantial investment. We have a great advantage in Loddon: almost all residents are within a 30 minute drive of at least one of our large towns, meaning we all have great access to valuable services and facilities.”

The draft strategy suggests that, predominantly, people living in Loddon towns should have access to:

„ An indoor meeting place, equipped play space and recreation spaces and acilities within a 15-minute drive

„ A pre-school, maternal and child health service, library, community centre, swimming pool and waste facility within a 30 minute drive.

Council said the the draft paved the way for further work including understanding how often community buildings and recreation spaces are used and what condition they are in. “This work will enable us to identify which facilities require updating in order to meet present needs and standards, and those at or nearing ‘end of life’ for which better alternatives may exist.”

New book chronicles 150 years of carnival

FIVE years of research by Julie Piening will culminate on Saturday with the launch of her book charting the first 150 years of Rheola Charity Carnival.

All Roads Lead to Rheola has drawn on contemporary newspaper reports. records and photographs since the carnival was first held in 1871.

The 294-page book will be centre of attention at Rheola Hall on Saturday afternoon.

Julie gave a glimpse of the carnival’s rich history in a special series of articles published in the Loddon Herald in the countdown to last year’s 150th carnival, delayed for three years by COVID lockdowns and compliance restrictions.

She said the afternoon would be a chance for local residents and people with connection to the Loddon Shire’s oldest event to “pop in, have a chat and pick up a copy of the book”.

Freecall: 1800 824

Email: enquiries@transmissionvictoria.com.au Website: transmissionvictoria.com.au

LODDON Shire Council is taking conversation on its draft social infrastructure plan into the community this week.

held

Kylie Addlem discusses the draft strategy with council’s Wendy Gladman in Serpentine. LH PHOTO

Murray makes last deliveries

MURRAY Keller will head up country lanes and along dirt tracks delivering letters and parcels for the last time next Thursday.

After 26 years delivering mail for Australia Post and putting newspapers in letterboxes, Murray will drive off into retirement after have driven more than 1.6 million kilometres.

Murray took over the Australia Post contract for Inglewood, Serpentine, Jarklin, Powlett, Kurting, Kingower and Rheola from Graham Nesbit in July 1998.

His days have started at the Inglewood Post Office where he sorts the mail and parcels into order for the 160 delivery points, before loading the car for the 220km five-hour round trip.

“I’ve travelled something like 60,000km in the car each year,” he said. “Works out at around 1.6 million kilometres over the years driving trusty Daewoos, Barinas and Hyundais.

“No two days are the same on the mail run. One day might be lots of letters and not many parcels, the next could be the opposite.

“The months leading up to Christmas have always the busiest time.”

Murray said that in 2017-2018 he was delivering about 75,000 letters and 2000 parcels a year to people around the district.

“Over time and with the increase in online shopping availability, the amount of parcels has increased, and letters decreased,”

Murray said

“And I think there have been around 180,000 newspapers

dropped into the letterboxes over the years.”

Being a country postie is not just about delivering the mail.

Murray said he had encountered dust storms, fires, hail and thunderstorms, floods, and plenty of crazy drivers in making sure the mail got through. “There have also been the stops to help motorists with flat tyres, broken down cars, giving directions to hard-to-find farms and even putting wandering sheep, cattle and horses back into paddocks.

“But the most interesting part

of the mail run has been the people I have come to know.

“Often they are eagerly waiting at their letterbox for him to arrive with the daily deliveries.

“A five-minute chat about the rain, the heat, what the crops are doing, the news of the day and away he goes again down the road to do it all again at the next box. You never know from day to day as to what or who you will see, which makes for a very interesting day and week as a postie.

Murray had his first taste of be-

ing a rural postie when occasionally helping wife Susan when she had the delivery contract for Korong Vale and Mysia.

“When the contract came up 26 years ago, I jumped at the chance as a back injury had limited what I could do on the farm,” he said. “But now it’s time to look to retirement and enjoy pursuing some of our hobbies,” said Murray who is an active member of Wedderburn Historic Engine and Machinery Society and helps organise Korong Vale’s Anzac Day commemoration.

Joint effort to bolster cybersecurity

EIGHT councils will pilot a model for shared services. Loddon Shire has put $5000 towards the $90,000 project for cybersecurity, procurement and legal services to start in the new financial year.

Local Government Minister Melissa Horne committed the State Government to $50,000 when Loddon Campaspe Group of Councils met in Bendigo last Friday.

A Loddon spokesperson said: “Loddon Campaspe Councils group collaborated to identify internal services that would benefit from a shared service model while prioritising services that addressed elements of business risk.

“The selected areas offer opportunities for more competitive purchasing power and attraction of specialist resourcing difficult for individual councils to attract alone on a small part-time basis; gaps which are often filled with consultancy arrangements.”

The group includes also includes Greater Bendigo, Buloke, Campaspe, Central Goldfields, Gannawarra, Hepburn, Macedon Ranges and Mount Alexander Shire councils. The Government said the pilot may be extended to other councils.

Murray Keller has travelled more than 1.6 million kilometres delivering letters. LH PHOTO

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Dismantling ‘our Taj Mahal’

Shire faces $35m short fall

ROADS across the Loddon Shire will deteriorate over the next decade without better funding for local government.

A WEDDERBURN couple faces an uncertain future after being ordered to demolish a shed on the outskirts of town that they have made their home for four years.

Dave Cook and Sally Armstrong bought the Bobseins Hill Road property in late 2019, making it their base when COVID hit and employment in Ballarat and Castlemaine ended.

The shire has told a Federal Parliament inquiry that it faces a $35 million gap between available cash and asset renewal needs.

Mayor Gavan Holt said: “Council is critically reliant upon financial assistance grants to remain sustainable, with these grants making up around one-third of council’s budget.

Finding local work as a farmhand, Dave started to build the shed with recycled materials. Sally gained work at the local fish and chip shop.

They admit not having first gained a permit for the shed that became their home after living in a small caravan on the land.

“When introduced in 1974, these grants were the equivalent of one per cent of federal taxation; however, in recent decades this amount has been reduced to just below 0.5 per cent.”

Assistance grants to Loddon Shire this financial have been $10.5 million.

“It’s not the Taj Mahal but it is our home,” Sally said. “We are comfortable here, it’s warm in winter and cool in summer.”

Cr Holt has written to the inquiry on local government sustainability saying: “If these grants were no longer available, significant service reductions and our investment in roads and other assets would decline significantly, making it challenging to maintain our staffing headcount.”

The couple is disappointed with the sudden order to vacate the land and council giving them no hope to discuss applying for a retrospective permit.

“We were living in a 12-foot caravan ... we needed something better, we owned the land and we have nowhere else to go,” said Dave.

Loddon’s road network is more than 4700km.

“Local roads grant allocations are based on road lengths, traffic volumes and local characteristics (climate, freight and sub-grades).

“We’ve been told we have two weeks to vacate and remove the shed otherwise it will be demolished.

Loddon’s $4.5 million grant is 16.9 per cent of its relative need,” said Cr Holt.

“We might be able to borrow a caravan but we won’t be able to live on the block.

“It’s a sad position to be in but we have support from our neighbours.”

Dave and Sally said they were confused about not living on land they owned when there was a

“State Government funding is typically provided for once-off programs and projects. These funding streams are highly subject to annual change meaning it is difficult to plan for the long

ters. After recent flood events, council has invested significantlyfrastructure to reduce cost and impact of future events. This growing asset has impacted onnewal program, with individual projects being of a higher upfront

“Due to financial imbalance,

tween rural and metropolitan council service offerings. Rural

nity expectations regarding the services they offer, focusing on

set renewal while metropolitan councils provide a wider range of services and address growth

Cr Holt said staff recruitment

lenge to sustainability of local

“Council is currently facing

“Reduced federal funding, cost shifting from other levels of government, increased expectations upon council and inflation outpacing income growth all lead to a challenging financial outlook for local government.

housing crisis. “It doesn’t make sense.”

Sally said: “It’s disheartening as we like living here, the quiet lifestyle and room for our goats.

“I understand we did the wrong thing by not getting a permit but we want to work with council and resolve this.”

“If the current funding model is not changed, local governments across Victoria will be forced to reduce services and infrastructure further.”

The couple say they have spent about $35,000 creating their

Loddon Shire has told the inquiry it wants financial assis-

home in the shed but if materials had to be sold, they might get back $20,000.

community. While there is a community desire for Council to grow and expand our service footprint, financial constraints limit our capacity to do so, due to the limited revenue and cost of services across a large, dispersed area.

“And if we sell the block, we’re only handballing a problem to someone else,” said Dave pointing to the heavily scoured dirt track that leads to their front gate.

sions such as engineers, building surveyors and environmental health officers. The proportion of local governments expecting shortages in these occupational areas has increased from ... to 37 to 53 per cent in 2022.

sations with council and he had offered to make any needed repairs. “Nobody wants to listen. We’ve been told to get out.”

Hardy decisions looms. says council lobby

Target 500: Government home hope

RURAL communities faced hard decisions about whether to close swimming pools, shutter libraries, curb the use of sports facilities, abandon playgrounds, and severely cut or close aged care and childcare, the federal inquiry has been told.

THE State Government wants Loddon Shire to be first in identifying where new homes can be built over the next 30 years.

The shire has been set a target of 500 new homes by 2051 under a draft housing capacity targets released on Sunday.

The draft council housing targets have been largely based on access to jobs, transport and services, according to Premier Jacinta Allan.

Rural Councils Victoria said many small rural councils were on the financial brink and rural communities face losing essential community services and the only leisure facilities some communities have.

Loddon’s draft target averages 16 new homes a year, a number consistently exceeded in the shire for the last five years.

“We are at a point where we have to make some hard decisions,” chair Mary-Ann Brown said.

Council earlier this year released a report it had commissioned from Villawood Properties to unlock residential development in Loddon towns.

“Councils only have two reliable sources of income, rates – which are capped – and grants, which have been declining in real terms for years.

A housing expo is planned for September in Bridgewater where earthworks have started on the first stage of a major residential estate that alone could have up to 60 new homes when all land is released.

Lack of housing has been cited by several Loddon employers as hampering staff recruitment.

“Small rural communities are resilient and self-reliant but rural councils are being hit from many directions all at once. In recent years there have been successive natural disasters, a cost of living crisis, community expectations have changed and the system for financing councils and council services has not kept up.

“Further limiting council’s financial capacity to expand services is the impact of severe weather events. There is a fair expectation that council builds

Dave said the condition of the road had been raised in conver-

According to Dave and Sally, they have until Monday to demolish the shed and find another place to live.

Loddon Shire Council was contacted for comment on property compliance inspections.

“The most common factors contributing to these shortages include a lack of suitably skilled candidates, an inability to compete with the private sector and other local governments remuneration and locational disadvantages,” Cr Holt said in council’s submission to the inquiry.

The Government on Sunday said: “In regional cities and rural areas, the targets will also help deliver more new homes in cities and towns to boost key worker and affordable housing.

“Councils have the powers to unlock space for more homes by proposing changes to local planning rules. The Government will consult closely with councils to harness their local knowledge.”

“Put simply, councils need more resources, and we need federal and state governments to help us keep up with inflation. The best and easiest thing that the Federal Government could do for the sustainability of local government and small rural communities across Australia would be to increase the amount of the financial assistance grants.”

Dave Cook and Sallty Armstrong face an uncertain future. LH PHOTO

1874

Love Our Local!

The friendly pup open for meals every day with Friday happy hour, raffles

The friendly pub open for meals every day with Friday happy hour, trivia, raffles and a chance to win $1,000

Love our local!

Trading hours

Monday – Open 3.00pm  Dinner from 6.00pm

The friendly pub open for meals every day with Friday happy hour, trivia, raffles and a chance to win $1,000

Tuesday – Open 2.00pm

Dinner from 6.00pm

Wednesday – Open Midday

Lunch from 12.00pm

Trading hours

Dinner from 6.00pm

Monday – Open 3.00pm

Pot’n’Parma Night

Dinner from 6.00pm

Thursday – Open Midday

Social Darts Night

Dinner from 5.30pm

Tuesday – Open 2.00pm

Steak’n’Pot Night

Friday – Open Midday

Dinner from 6.00pm  Trivia Night

Lunch from 12.00pm

Wednesday – Open Midday

Dinner from 5.30pm

Lunch from 12.00pm

Happy Hour 5.00pm – 6.30pm

Dinner from 6.00pm

With Hot Bar Snacks, Meat Raffle

CORKS were popping at Inglewood’s most stately residence on Saturday when a television film crew wrapped up four years recording the rejuvenation of Nimmitabel by owners Lisa Calandro and Justin Lewis.,

Pot’n’Parma Night

Thursday – Open Midday

Saturday – Open Midday

Dinner from 5.30pm

Lunch from 12.00pm

Steak’n’Pot Night

Dinner from 5.30pm

Friday – Open Midday

Sunday – Open Midday

Lunch from 12.00pm

Restoration Australia host Anthony Burke and his ABC program crew had recorded the transformation of the 1881 home in Verdon Street.

All Day Pizza Menu  Close 11.00pm

Dinner from 5.30pm

5.00pm – 6.30pm

When the last scene was shot and the production lights turned off, Justin and Lisa were joined by friends made across the district since buying the two-storey house.

Among them was Melbourne artist Shaun Lu, commissioned to design and paint a mural that now adorns the staircase wall.

“Lisa had a specific brief - to pay homage to the house, to pay homage to the flora and fauna of the area,” Shaun said,

Shaun, one of seven artists who pitched for the commission, spent almost four weeks creating his masterpiece that also pays homage to William Morris whose original wallpaper is still on the walls of Nimmitabel while also adding a magpie and a kangaroo.

Lisa said the restoration had brought Nimmitabel into the 20th century and “maybe even edging into the 21st.”

“When we bought the house, there were

LIVEMUSICDUO

only three powerpoints. Our restoration project and coming to Inglewood so often, has allowed us to make so many new friends,” she said.

“Restoration Australia started filming with us in 2020 - and this was their final filming session - for the ‘reveal’ of kitchen, dining room and staircase mural.”

Justin said: “The house was already a celebrity, we are riding on the coat tails. It’s been a great ride and a real privilege.” Nimmitabel is scheduled to feature in the 2025 season of Restoration Australia.

Lisa Calandro and Rachel Buckley at the party

Artist Shaun Lu and his mural on the staircase of Nimmitabel. LH PHOTO

VNI West ‘controlled action’ check call

THE controversial VNI West renewable energy transmission line will need federal approval.

Transmission Company Victoria says Environment Minister Tanya Pliberseck has confirmed an assessment will be made of the line proposed to run from Stawell to Kerang and through the Loddon Shire.

TCV’s website update said the minister’s decision was made this month.

Ms Pliberseck has decided VNI West is a “controlled action” under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation. Assessment Act will be made under the agreement between the Commonwealth and Victorian Governments.

Meanwhile, Mallee MP Anne Webster has backed the Coali-

tion’s call not to support Labor’s 2030 renewable energy targets.

“They are fanciful – they cannot be reached. Australians need a federal government that will tell the truth about the rush into renewables, and the genuine cost to households and communities,”

Dr Webster said.

She said the Government had engaged in a destructive renewable energy rush

“The Prime Minister has not released the modelling on the renewable rollout’s true cost. He has not delivered on the permanent $275 power bill reduction voters were promised 97 times before the last election. “A one-off $300 discount over four quarters of 2024-2025 simply doesn’t cut it.”

Dr Webster said the Federal and Victorian Governments

backflipped on the role that gas would play in the energy transition, while the New South Wales Government had extended the operation of coal-fired power.

“In Mallee, the divisive roll-out of hundreds of kilometres of the VNI West transmission line and myriad wind turbine proposals is stirring bad blood in local farming communities who are at the pointy end of Labor’s political and unachievable 82 per cent renewables rollout target,” Dr Webster said.

“The Coalition is committed to a net zero energy mix by 2050, which could include nuclear energy - if the business case and local community support is there in former coal-fired power station sites already connected to transmission networks.”

How good are river trees? That’s an unknown

THE long-term impact of corellas stripping trees along the Loddon River at Bridgewater has not been assessed.

Loddon Shire Council this week said the health of trees after years of attack by corellas was “unknown”.

“In March 2024, council audited the trees within Bridgewater Caravan Park which resulted in some work being undertaken for the safety of patrons,” a spokesperson said.

“Council has not undertaken a full tree audit along the Loddon River in the past 12 months.

“The previous full audit was undertaken in 2018 which resulted in some tree safety works being undertaken. Council staff undertake a visual audit annually.”

Bridgewater residents are calling for action to control corella numbers along the river amid concerns for the long-term health of trees.

Department of Energy, Envi-

ronment and Climate Action has told the Loddon Herald: “Council is responsible for assessing tree health and managing impacts of wildlife on their land”.

However, council sources have said that the shire does not have resources or expertise to manage wildlife. Loddon Shire manages the public areas of State Government land along the river.

DEECA’s corella management program grants will be announced next month.

Slice of the good life in Men’s Health Week

MEMBERS of the Inglewood and Bridgewater Men’s Shed were the heroes of International Men’s Health Week at a special pizza luncheon.

Inglewood and Districts Health Service hosted shed members last week to build strong and supportive relationships crucial for a long and healthy life.

The luncheon was part of the Good Health Heroes program.

Good Health Heroes campaign aims to educate Australian men on the health issues

most likely to affect them and encourage prevention through sustainable lifestyle changes.

The campaign focuses on six key foundations of good health in men — nutrition, exercise, connection, reducing risk-taking, health literacy and sleep.

IDHS holds regular functions for the men’s shed that meets weekly in purpose-built sheds behind the hospital.

A function is being planned for the later in the year involving members of the Wedderburn Men’s Shed.

Free Kinder is available for three- and four-year-old children in Victoria at participating services. Free Kinder is available in sessional (standalone) and long day care (childcare) settings, saving families up to $2,563 each year, per child.

At kindergarten, your child will:

• learn language, literacy and numeracy skills through play, art, music and dance

• learn to express themself and make friends in a safe and caring environment

• build skills and confidence before primary school.

Contact your preferred kinder service or local council to learn about how to enrol for 2025. Visit vic.gov.au/kinder

David Grant and David Heather enjoy the Men’s Health Week lunch

Charlie’s Carlie Calder move

RETAILER Charlie Woodman is preparing to move his clothing and accessories store.

The Wedderburn business will close its doors this Saturday ahead of a move for Carlie Clothing and Accessories down the Calder Highway to Inglewood. The store is expected to open within weeks in the restored Porter’s store on the corner of Brooke and Verdon Streets.

Charlie said the new shop would offer a bigger and brighter location.

Building owners Pauline and Gerry Wellman had completed renovation of the historic building that also houses the studio and gallery of renowned artist Bill Offord.

Give support for teaching of phonics reading: specialist

THE back-to-basics approach to reading announced by the State Government last week is already being used in many Loddon schools.

Boort District School literacy specialist

Sharon Pickering has welcomed the move but says there should also be support for training of teachers in phonics instruction of students.

“Boort District School already uses a systematic synthetic phonics program, as do many schools in the region,” she said

“I hope the Government will also support teachers to undertake high quality training in the Science of Reading and phonics

instruction, for the benefit of all children across Victoria.

“We are lucky to have the SOLAR Lab at La Trobe University Bendigo, headed by Science of Reading experts Professors Pamela Snow and Tanya Serry, which offers several excellent short courses.”

Victorian Education Minister Ben Carroll announced the updated Victorian Teaching and Learning Model for all government schools from 2025 with explicit teaching at its core.

Students from Prep to Grade 2 will be taught using a systematic synthetic phonics approach as part of their reading pro-

grams, with a minimum of 25 minutes daily explicit teaching of phonics and phonemic awareness.

The Government says this will be a core component of a comprehensive reading program that also includes explicit teaching of oral language, vocabulary, reading fluency and comprehension.

“Systematic synthetic phonics is a structured approach that explicitly teaches the relationship between sounds and letters to read words,” it said.

While the Government directive is only for state schools, St Mary’s Catholic Primary School Inglewood principal Steve O’Shannessy said his school had been completing evidence-based explicit daily sessions on phonics and other areas of reading which provides the basis of reading skills.

“There are two main branches to be able to read, each with their own sub-branches. The main branches are word recognition and language comprehension,” Mr O’Shannessy said.

“Language comprehension is made up of background knowledge, vocabulary, language structure, visual reasoning and literacy knowledge.

“Word recognition is where phonics lie; it’s made of phonological awareness, decoding, and sight recognition.

“Oral language is another component which is heavily linked reading and writing. When all these are taught explicitly to students, they have an accelerated rate of learning the skills required to read. In addition, using the Science of Reading approach enables greater success for more students. Interventions, practise, and programs are still in place to assist students who require additional support. “ Mr O’Shannessy said implementation of explicit phonics into lessons was a good start.

“However, the other areas still need to be covered to achieve maximum success and ensure the use of evidence-based research and pedagogical practices,” he said.

Group aims to grow vibrant food system

A NEW regional program wants to create a vibrant and sustainable food system that will promote health, equity, and resilience.

Loddon Shire is one of six areas in Healthy Loddon Campaspe’s Flourish initiative aimed at improving health outcomes in the region.

Flourish wants to build food movements across the region to generate change, expand ecological farming principles and practices to improve the health of landscapes, improve farmland access and protection to diversify our food system from the ground up, re-design community food environments to prioritise healthy, seasonal, and culturally appropriate foods from values-led regional food chains and grow food system knowledge to reconnect people with healthy food.

Loddon CEO and Healthy Loddon Campaspe chairperson, Lincoln Fitzgerald said Flourish had been developed through “a comprehensive process led by a food systems expert and included significant background analysis of local policies and plans, a regional food system assessment, co-design workshops with local stakeholders, and most recently an Equity Impact Assessment focused on governance.

“We’re excited to now move to the next stage, which will build on the amazing work already underway in the region, and guide future approaches tailored for our local communities to create a vibrant and sustainable regional food system,” Mr Fitzgerald said.

Healthy Loddon Campaspe is currently calling for members of a Flourish governance taskforce.

Right Royal roast for Jack

FAMILY, friends and even Royalty combined on Sunday to roast and toast the Loddon’s newest centenarian.

Jack Harrison was feted with a birthday afternoon tea at Pyramid Hill Golf Club.

The club life member and former champion was honoured with a special birthday card from King Charles and Queen Camilla while Murray Plains MP Peter Walsh had given Jack a certificate honouring his amazing 100 years.

Jack caught up with family and friends, joined by golf club members who scheduled their weekly competition to start earlier to be part of the celebrations, many with memories of Jack introducing them to the game and teaching some of them the finer points.

Jack’s 100th birthday treat - his favourite sponge cake - was shared with guests who had travelled from Loddon towns and further away.

Earlier in the week, Jack had been pre-

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Her Majesty will be impressed

QUEEN Victoria will take to the stage next week when Rachel Buckley’s Royal Harmony stage production starts its mini-country tour.

Gilbert and Sullivan stalwart Rachel, known for her regular appearances at Queen Victoria at Loddon events, has drawn on songs written by Prince Albert for his wife in the concert that has an elder Queen reminiscing on a meeting she and Prince Albert had with composer Felix Mendelssohn when he visited Buckingham Palace in 1842.

Rachel and members of the Dunolly Gilbert and Sullivan Society will perform the concert at Charlton’s Rex Theatre.

“The Queen’s diary entries show a merry time of music making and singing. Prince Albert was a talented organist and pianist who wrote many songs –including one sung at their wedding – and Queen Victoria had a pure and charming voice,” said Rachel.

The Charlton performance follows two shows in Melbourne with a fourth already planned for Queenscliffe.

sented with the Country Fire Authority 80year service badge and life membership. Chief Officer Jason Heffernan recorded a video message played during the ceremony.

As Jack spent time chatting with cousins Hazel Whitmore and Lorna Fawcett, nephew Chris Harrison said Jack had enjoyed the week of celebrations.

“He’s been as lively as ever, telling stories that you can only know after 100 years of living a great life,” Chris said.

“Critics have said Prince Albert’s music didn’t appear to be inferior to that of his more famous friend, and definitely deserves to be heard,” Rachel said.

“Most of the music in our Royal Harmony show was written by the Prince, with the rest by Mendelssohn and his older sister, Fanny. I hope Queen Victoria will be impressed.”

Jack Harrison with family (left) and cousins Hazel Whitmore and Lorna Fawcett (above) while Will Pattison and Khristine McIntosh sign the birthday book. LH PHOTOS

Thomas coy on health mergers

HEALTH Minister Mary Anne Thomas has stopped short of ruling out mergers of small rural health services into a Bendigobased monolith,

The Victorian minister at the weekend told the Loddon Herald that there would not be hospital closures.

“Our track record speaks for itself – there will be no hospital closures under Labor,” she told the Loddon Herald when asked whether health services would be merged.

Internal government proposals have Boort District Health and Inglewood and Districts Health Service coming under the umbrella of Bendigo Health in a state-wide restructure of regional and rural health services.

The Government has appointed an “experienced independent expert advisory committee” to review the public health system.

Former Labor Government minister and Bendigo Health chairman Bob Cameron is chairing the committee. Mr Cameron last year became chairman of Coliban Water.

Also on the review committee are Dr Alex Cockram, Professor Christine Kilpatrick, Therese Tierney and Lance Wallace.

“The Government will consider the recommendations of the independent committee and Department of Health before making any decisions,” a Government background statement said.

“The current structure of Victoria’s health system has been in place for over 20 years, despite massive changes in how healthcare is delivered, and the specific

healthcare needs of our communities.

“We have sought the invaluable insights of all of Victoria’s health services to contribute to the optimal design and governance of the public health service system – looking at how public health services can better work together and best utilise resources to deliver the best care for all Victorians closer to home as soon as possible.”

Ms Thomas last week flagged patients at Bendigo Health returning to rural hospitals soon after treatment to relieve pressure

on the major health provider. However, Ms Thomas did not answer questions on whether there had been a review of capacity at Boort and Inglewood for earlytransfer patients.

She also did not answer questions on funding that will be available for the Boort and Inglewood services this year with Coalition claims there would be cuts for at least 20 health services.

Instead, Ms Thomas said: “While the Liberal Nationals are playing politics, we are getting on and building a better health system which is why our recent

Works update

Pyramid Yarraberb Road – Reconstruction of 2.6km of Pyramid Yarraberb Road has commenced, with works completed on the rst half of the project in mid-May.

The Pyramid Yarraberb Road runs north south between Boort Mitiamo Road and Loddon Valley Highway, an important connecting road between Bendigo, Pyramid Hill and surrounding areas. The road was a ected by the October 2022 ood event, resulting in 1.36km of the road requiring reconstruction work.

Canary Island culvert replacement – Works on the replacement of three culverts along Canary Island Leaghur Road, Canary Island are underway.

The works include a new 6m by 1.8m twin culvert, 9m by 1.8m triple cell culvert and a 3m by 1.5m culvert. The culvert replacements are being completed by Avard Civil and are anticipated to be nished in July.

Annual reseal program – Council’s annual

reseal program is complete. This year’s program included reseals on 56.7km of Council roads, with a total area of 307.9m².

Tarnagulla Footpath Renewal Project – At its March Meeting, Council awarded the tender for the Tarnagulla Footpath Renewal Project to Maine Civil. The footpath renewal project includes four sections of Commercial Road, between Wayman and King streets.

Building improvement program – The tender for Inglewood Town Hall Hub and Boort Historical Society (former Court House)

Budget delivers better facilities, more healthcare workers and a record investment of $8.8 billion for our hospitals to make sure every Victorian gets the best care, no matter where they live.”

In one radio interview, she said: ““We currently have 76 health services, all with their own boards ... that’s great and it has served us well but it is time to look at whether it is the right model for the future,” she said.

A Government spokesperson said individual health services would be consulted by the department of health before any budget modelling is finalised.

The spokesperson said planned funding would ‘mark a return to pre-COVID funding models’ and aims to ensure regional hospitals can reduce their ‘reliance on topup funding.’

Shadow health minister Georgie Crozier said: “Labor must come clean on their secret plan to cut funding and amalgamate health services across Victoria.

“The Allan Labor Government has admitted it will cut funding to at least 20 of Victoria’s health services which will make it impossible for them to continue to serve their community,” she said.

Murray Plains MP Peter Walsh last month said local health services were in the Government’s firing line “with their funding already on life support and their independence almost certain to be lost, with centralised control putting Bendigo in charge of everything west to Mildura”. Mr Walsh said the State Budget could have brutal consequences for country towns.

Students share in culture day

INGLEWEOOD and Bridgewater Primary School students last Thursday participated in culture day.

Activities included indigenous games where they used a tennis ball and catapult in place of a woomera and spear to practice hunting skills, making head bands using gum nuts and emu feathers and necklaces using emu feathers.

“It was a fantastic day and at Inglewood Primary School and the students loved playing with some new faces,” said Bridgewater principal Matthew Lehane.

Bridgewater saw the arrival of its new Prep-Year Two teacher last week. Emalee Deane returns to central Victoria after teaching in the Northern Territory.

Youngsters have fun in the city

GRADE Five students at Tarnagulla Primary School have returned from their threeday urban camp.

Students joined students from Talbot Primary School on the trip that included visits to the Melbourne Zoo, Scienceworks in Spotswood, a tour of Parliament House, Old Melbourne Gaol, the MCG and the Queen Victoria Market.

roof work has been awarded to Duobuild Pty Ltd.

Roof work at the Boort Historical Society started on 20 May, with the Inglewood Town Hall Hub expected to start later this year.

Capital works completed – From 1 July 2023 to 31 March 2024, road projects delivered by the Works Department saw the completion of 22.5km of local road and road shoulder re-sheets, and 5.2km of local road constructions.

Road maintenance inspection – From 1 July 2023 to 31 March 2024, 565 inspections were completed (with 2,592 defects raised).

Road maintenance recti cation – From 1 July 2023 to 31 March 2024, 6,244 defects were recti ed, with 94.4% of all defects (5,896 in total) completed before their due date.

Road maintenance grading – From 1 July

2023 to 31 March 2024, 729 maintenance grading work actions were completed resulting in 1,449km of grading. Additionally, 3,935km of roads were inspected. To report an issue to Council call 5494 1200.

Hard waste – The annual kerbside hard waste collection within township boundaries took place from 4 March to coincide with Clean Up Australia Day, andwas completed over a twoweek period with around 629 collections.

This included 157 items of e-waste; 98 whitegoods items; 300m³ of furniture; 332m³ of metal and 234m³ of waste.

Waste vouchers

Vouchers 3 and 4 are due to expire on 30 June 2024. Vouchers can be used to dispose of up to four cubic metres of general domestic waste free of charge at Council’s land ll and transfer stations.

Each voucher can only be used once, and only one voucher used per transaction. The voucher must be presented to attendants at land ll and transfer stations.

Health Minister Mary Anne Thomas

New steam building at eucalyptus museum

VOLUNTEERS at Inglewood’s Eucalyptus Distillery Museum had a double dose of good news last week.

One of the last concrete crossings of the enlarged miniature railway circuit was laid and the museum committee was told it will receive a State Government local history grant.

Railway enthusiasts Greg Morrow and John Little were on site on Friday when the crossing was boxed and filled with concrete.

The concrete crossing will make it possible for the historic Cliff and Bunting steam engine to be moved to the museum.

The last of six engines made, it had been brought to Inglewood in the 1920s when used by Alf Leech for contract chaff-cutting and road haulage - pulling loads such as timber houses, machinery and firewood

for the local gold mines. During the 1930s, the engine was acquired by Ernest Jones, who operated a eucalyptus distillery.

Mr Morrow said the miniature railway track had been expanded and volunteers hoped to have trains running by the end of the year.

“We’re still to work through insurance to carry passengers though,” he said.

The State Government grant of $2547 will be used for new audio visual stands telling story of eucalyptus harvesting in the area.

Ripon MP Martha Haylett said: “A big congratulations to the team at the Inglewood Eucalyptus Distillery Museum, who are worthy recipients of this grant. Our Loddon towns have so much history and it’s essential that we continue to pass this on from generation to generation.”

Adapting farm skills for future

THE first of three Agriculture Victoria short courses on adaptive skills for future farming will be held in the Loddon next month.

Bridgewater will start the regional tour of the two-day short courses presented by farm consultant Kate Burke.

Aimed at grain and mixed farmers, Kate will share her evidence-based approach with farmers.

Topics covered in the short course will include key profit drivers and high-level benchmarks, income versus cost of pro-

duction and impact of rotation, calculating basic financial benchmarks, understanding personal appetite for risk, understanding production potential to assess variation in profit, managing climate variability and farm financial performance and scenario planning for the 2024 and 2025 seasons and beyond.

Kate, who has a PhD and extensive experience in crop agronomy and dryland agriculture, will also present the course in Brim and Goroke later in July and early August.

YOUR VOICE IN PARLIAMENT

Greg Morrow and John Little preparing boxing for the new miniature railway concrete crossing at the eucalyptus museum. LH PHOTO

2024 Local Council Elections

Every four years, Loddon Shire residents and ratepayers vote to elect five Councillors to represent our community for the 2024-2028 term. The last Loddon Shire Council election was held in October 2020.

The next council elections will be held by postal ballot in October 2024 and will be administered by the Victorian Electoral Commission (VEC).

For information about the voting process and key dates, visit the VEC website https://www.vec.vic.gov.au/voting/types-of-elections/ local-council-elections

Voting

Why enrol to vote?

Enrolling to vote in council elections means you get to have a say in who represents your community. It’s your chance to choose candidates who understand and address your local needs, from planning and safety to community projects and environmental issues. By being on the voters’ roll and voting in an election, you actively shape the future of your area and ensure your voice matters in decisions that impact your community. It’s a simple yet powerful way to contribute to your community’s well-being and have a direct impact on local policies and initiatives.

Close of the roll

On 30 April 2024, the Government introduced the Local Government Amendment (Governance and Integrity) Bill 2024 into Parliament.

Based on advice from the VEC, the Bill includes an amendment to the date for the close of the roll for the upcoming October 2024 council elections to 7 August 2024.

The VEC will update their website with clear information as soon as the key dates are confirmed. For more information, visit https://www.vec.vic.gov.au/voting/2024-local-council-elections

Council-enrolled voters

If you are a Loddon Shire Council ratepayer, but you are not enrolled to vote on the state electoral roll at an address within Loddon Shire, you will have received a letter in the mail encouraging you to enrol.

If you think you should have received a letter but have not, please contact Loddon Shire Council on 03 5494 1200.

Voting is compulsory for everyone enrolled to vote. If you are enrolled to vote and do not vote you may receive a fine from the VEC.

To find out if you are on the state roll, visit https://enrolment.vec.vic.gov.au/

For more information about enrolling for Council elections, visit the VEC website https://www.vec.vic.gov.au/voting/types-of-elections/ local-council-elections

Upcoming candidate sessions

Community and Candidate Information Session –hosted by the Municipal Association of Victoria. Wednesday 17 July 2024

50 View Street, Bendigo

In-person check in 6.00pm to 6.30pm Session 6.30pm to 8.30pm Virtual option is also available

Community and Candidate Information Session –hosted by the Municipal Association of Victoria. Wednesday 7 August 2024

53-57 McCallum Street, Swan Hill

In-person check in 6.00pm to 6.30pm Session 6.30pm to 8.30pm Virtual option is also available

Scan the QR code or visit https://mavevents.cventevents. com/event/2b17085d-a5b84472-82c1- b38868e26d24/ websitePage:4908a84c-9a5a42e1-9fc0-81de42960b35

You can stay informed about upcoming events by visiting Council’s website https://www.loddon.vic.gov. au/Our-Council/Council/ Council-elections

Key dates

Candidate nominations open Monday 9 September 2024 (to be confirmed)

Candidate nominations close Tuesday 17 September 2024 (to be confirmed)

Mail out of ballot packs

Monday 7 to Thursday 10 October 2024

VEC sends postal voting packs to enrolled voters.

Close of voting

6:00pm Friday 25 October 2024

Your ballot paper must be with the Returning Officer or in the mail by this time. Only votes posted before the close of voting can be accepted.

Election Day (No in person voting) Saturday 26 October 2024

Lentils return top pulse in crop trials at Pyramid Hill

LENTILS were the most profitable pulse crop in 2023., according to latest research by Birchip Cropping Group on pulse trial sites at Pyramid Hill.

The group’s Demi Taylor says GIA Thunder, an imidazolinone tolerant lentil variety, was the best performing variety in the North Central region last year and lentil and field pea yields in the North Central region were comparable to Mallee.

The North Central lentil trial site at Pyramid Hill averaged 1.7 t/ha (similar to the Mallee NVT site average of 1.8 t/ha).

However, BCG says caution must be taken when comparing region averages in 2023 as rainfall, trial design and varieties differed between sites.

However, writing about the report, Demi said the season did demonstrate the ability to grow lentils in a more marginal soil type with slightly above average rainfall.

In the North Central region, GIA Thunder (2.1 t/ha) and PBA Hallmark XT (2.0 t/ha) were the top performers, yielding more than 120 per cent above the site average. GIA Thunder has shown great adaptation to a range of soil types, performing well on sandy and clay soils.

The field pea trial site at Pyramid Hill averaged 2.6 t/ha, yield-

ing slightly better than the Mallee NVT sites average of 2.4 t/ha.

Again, BCG has urged caution when comparing region averages in 2023 as rainfall, number of trials and varieties were different across the sites.

At Pyramid Hill in 2023, variety choice seemed to be less important for grain as there were no significant differences between varieties for grain yields. In terms of hay yields however, there was a difference, with PBA Hayman, breeding line OZP2103 and APB Bondi producing the largest biomass (yielding more than 3 t/ha). Twilight was the worst performer in the trial, producing only 2.3 t/ha.

OZP2103 and APB Bondi may be good dual-purpose options for the future, producing good grain and hay yields in 2023.

Lentil and field peas were highly profitable in the North Central region in 2023.

BCG says that given the high price of lentils, they were the most profitable crop, providing similar returns to growers from both the North Central and Mallee regions.

End-use had little impact on profitability in field peas, with similar returns from hay and grain. Lentils, however, are higher risk in the North Central due to their intolerance to salinity;

yield was affected in soils testing above 2dS/m (Katerji et al., 2001).

Consistent rain during 2023 at Pyramid Hill meant crops did not have to rely on deeper and more saline subsoil moisture. Therefore, in a drier year, there might be bigger yield penalties, according to the report.

“If considering growing lentils, it is crucial for growers to carry out soil sampling pre-sowing and ensure salinity is less than 2dS/m in the top 40-60cm. Field peas present a slightly lower risk option due to their dual-purpose ability,” reported BCG.

“Variety selection is an important consideration for all crop types, including lentils and field peas. When considering changing a variety, long-term performance must be considered instead of changing over on the basis of yield results for a single year.

“When making a crop rotation decision, it is important to consider a range of factors, including logistics. Small areas of pulses sown in the overall farming system may allow for some risk to be spread, as well as improving some operational flexibility.

“The potential benefits from a pulse crop, while difficult to quantify, should not be dismissed, particularly for residual nitrogen and for managing weeds and disease.“

Farmer leader talks at branch meeting about challenges

BIRCHIP Cropping Group board member and Farmers for Climate Action director Brett Hosking was guest speaker at last week’s Victorian Farmers’ Federation Laanecoorie branch meeting. VFF members from the Laanecoorie and Wedderburn branch attended the dinner in Newbridge where Mr Hosking

spoke on his roles with the two organisations.

The Quambatook farmer is also a former chair of the VFF grains group.

He told the meeting that modern farmers needed to be more adaptable than ever.

Mr Hosking has said big challenges were rising input costs and climate change.

Brett Hosking addresses Laanecoorie VFF members

The AWEX Eastern Market Indicator (AWEX-EMI) surged 18 cents higher last week to finish at 1170 cents, its largest weekly rise in six months. Auctions were rostered as a Wednesday/Thursday program to allow for the East-Coast public holiday on Monday.

Sentiment was notably positive from the outset with good support pushing the AWEX-EMI 12 cents higher on the first day. Although Thursday was more sedate there was enough pressure for another 6-cent gain in the EMI. The rises for the week made it six consecutive daily increases, the longest rally in two years.

Total volumes for the week were just below 32,000 bales which was similar to previous auctions and in line with forecast catalogues over the next few weeks. Volumes are typically smaller at this time of the year, however January to May this year was almost 11% lower than the previous year, contributing to challenging conditions for buyers as they seek out the limited number of lots with desirable traits.

Best-style, high yields, low vegetable matter, and high tensile strength were all keenly sought after this week whilst Average and Inferior styles attracted larger discounts.

Merino Skirtings also found good support with the better types the main beneficiary. Crossbreds were generally 10 cents dearer for the sale as were Merino Carding types.

With no sale rostered in Fremantle this week week the national total is forecast to dip to 28,226 bales.

Source: AWEX

Phone 03 5455 6333

SHEEP AND LAMBS

THERE was a slight increase to 11,560 lambs and 6540 sheep as selling resumed at Bendigo after the week’s break for the Kings Birthday holiday.

Quality continued to decline with less weight and finish evident in a wintery yarding that was very plain in places. Two major exports watched but didn’t operate, while the rest of the buyers picked through the offering.

The few heavy export lambs were unchanged on an average run, while the best trade lambs were dearer. Decent light lambs suiting MK processing orders or restockers considerably dearer and were arguably the highlight of the market, noting the price comparisons in this report refer back to the last Bendigo sale on June 3.

As a guide, the majority of processing lambs sold in the range of 680c to 740c/ kg cwt, with spikes out to 780c/kg for neat types in the sweet weight range of 24-27kg cwt if a couple of buyers locked-on.

Trade lambs did outsell heavier stock today, meaning they recorded the higher c/ kg rates amid more depth of buying compared to the export run. The few pens of 30kg plus export lambs sold from $215 to a top of $244 at around 700c/kg cwt.

The heavy 26-30kg cwt lambs had some price bounces when domestic buyers stepped in, selling from $183 to $224 to average a ballpark 710c/kg cwt. Good heavy trade lambs 24-26kg cwt $168 to $196, and the mediums from $155 to $188/head - these main trade lamb categories costing buyers 710c to 740c/kg cwt.

Plainer and light trade lambs $128 to $148/head. In the light lamb run there was a lot of small Merinos in the 12-16kg cwt bracket which sold from $69 to $110/head to average a ballpark 550c/kg cwt. Decent pens of light crossbred lambs mostly $80

to $128/head amid more restocking and feeder support, with the better types costing over 700c/kg cwt.

The mutton sale was cheaper with key exporters not active, and few sales of younger sheep managed to get over 400c/ kg cwt. Merino ewes sold to $115 and crossbreds to $112, most sheep $60 to $100 - the main lines of tradeweight mutton estimated at around 365c/kg cwt.

The sheep sale also lost momentum

in the auction with buyers purchasing some lots under 300c/kg cwt.

AUCTION

MILLETT STREET ST ARNAUD SATURDAY

900 Email: inglewood@fpnevins.com.au

late

LAMBS

W &G Twigg (29) Bears Lagoon $215, Zach Morrison (45) Tandarra $195, Mrs S Dorrington (33) Marong $186, Hopeavon P/L (59) Kurting $185, B & E Wilson (60) Kurting $185, D &H McKinley (85) Leichardt $180, I & P Durie (51) Wycheproof $198, DJ Johnson (51) Boort $230, HA & ER Westblade (61) Kerang $224, RJ & DM Johnson (59) Boort $226, Moorilim Past (29) Moorilim

Time to check yield potential

AS WE move into the winter months in central Victoria with mostly well established crops and plenty of yield potential, it’s a good time to assess where we think our crops could go in relation to yield potential.

Wheelhouse AGnVet agronomist Andrew Bissett says nitrogen is the most important nutrient in driving yield for winter crops. To maximise moisture conversion to grain yield, crop nitrogen requirements need to be tailored to available and forecast moisture.

“October rains, Big Grains” is often spruiked, which is true, however the issue is that late season rains providing additional yield will dilute protein, which indicates that the crop has run out of nitrogen before running out of moisture. In dryland cropping systems this is a missed opportunity.

The table from a Mallee wheat trial in 2014 shows the importance of nitrogen in maximising water use efficiency. This information is also relevant to central Victoria as the same trends are always seen locally - (stored 20mm, GSR 214mm, 100mm non-productive moisture)

plied earlier in the season based on stored soil moisture and rainfall forecast outlook. Last year the outlook was for a drier spring and even a super El Nino, which provided little confidence in more N applications. There was however residual soil moisture from the previous very wet spring and a wet June that provided full soil moisture profiles, giving confidence to match nitrogen to average and above yield targets.

Yield is derived from the number of heads/m 2 (spikes), the number of spikelets/spike (number of grain positions on head), grains/spiklet (number of grains/ position – grains wide) and grain weight. Stresses during any of these physiological growth stages can decrease yield. Nitrogen, moisture and temperature (cold or hot) stresses are the main culprits in stealing yield.

(APW1 grade). The preference is to target 11.5 per cent as this allows a buffer for a cooler wetter finish where yield will be less constrained (protein falls back) or in a drier season finish where yield is constrained but protein is pushed higher. The graph is a wheat x nitrogen trial conducted by IPF in Jamestown SA in 2017. Lee Menhenett, IPL, says The graph illustrates the importance of nitrogen driving yield and how that is reflected in associated protein.

Yield was maximised at 150kgN/ha at around 4.5t/ha and 11.5 per cent protein (APW grade). At the lower N rate of 60kgN/ha yield dropped to around 4.1t/ha and 10 per cent protein (ASW grade).

Graph 1 looks at the wheat trial in Jamestown, South Australia, in 2017.

be assessed and provides the N credit side of the budgeting equation. Without soil mineral N data the budgeting process becomes guess work.

The difficulty is that most of the N decisions are made and ap-

When budgeting for nitrogen requirements, water use efficiencies multiplied by stored and forecast moisture are used to predict yields. These N budgets are a moving target and adjusted throughout the growing season as moisture builds or becomes limiting. The one constant in N budgeting is protein. Grain critical protein is referenced to where yield has been maximised, and while this critical protein perecentage can vary from 10.512.5 per cent, typically critical protein on main season wheat will be around 11-11.5 per cent

Grain production is directly linked to moisture, so it stands to reason that with the run of good seasons, grain yields have also been excellent.

Higher grain yields remove more nutrients from the cropping system, so it would be expected that if there is a duration of higher yielding seasons soil N reserves will fall. Lower protein wheat (ASW) is the obvious and immediate indicator that N supply has been limited. The only other method available to farmers and agronomists for N budgeting is deep soil sampling. This allows mineral N (and S) levels to

Bendigo Sheep & Lamb Market Report

Mixed yarding with lambs remaining firm whilst mutton was cheaper.

To discuss the marketing opportunities available for your livestock, contact the McKean McGregor team. Monday, June 18th 2024 - Bendigo Yarding: Lambs - 12,000 | Sheep - 6,500

Andrew Bissett, agronomist with AGnVET says early deep N tests conducted locally by AGnVET’s technical services representative Travis Jensen have shown robust urea rates in previous seasons to be holding soil N levels at reasonable levels, whereas where urea has been constrained, soil N levels are lower and this has probably been represented by low protein grain coming off those paddocks for the last four years.

Seasonal confidence in dryland winter cropping systems is primarily driven by stored soil moisture. Growing season rainfall is critical, however can be fickle, therefore confidence in any season is linked to increasing

soil moisture levels. The Bureau of Meteorology rainfall accumulation totals for Victoria from December to May. The Eastern Mallee and Northern Country districts have received 200-300mm due to numerous rain events in the early summer period. With good summer weed control, at least 30 per cent of these rainfall totals should be stored in the soil. For every 1mm moisture lost through summer weed growth soil mineral N levels also reduce by 0.56kgN/ha (McMaster and Graham, 2014). Given large grain N removal at harvest, and then excellent summer rain accumulating soil moisture, it is recommended to take deep soil samples to evaluate mineral N status, either prior to sowing or early crop development.

*SuppliedbyWheelhouse AGnVet

FLOOD RECOVERY UPDATE BULLETIN

HEALTH & WELLBEING SUPPORT

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

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

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

Orange Door - You have a right to be safe

- Call 1800 512 359

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Translation and Interpreter Services

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

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

LOCAL SUPPORT SERVICES

Community Health/Hospitals

Boort District Health

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

Inglewood and District Health Services

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

Northern District Community Health P: (03) 5451 0200

Boort Medical Centre

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

Dingee Bush Nursing Centre

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

Marong Medical Practice

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

Wedderburn Health Clinic

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

Legal Services

Loddon Campaspe Community Legal Service P: 1800 450 909

Neighbourhood Houses

Boort Resource and Information Centre

(BRIC) 119-121 Godfrey St, Boort P: (03) 5455 2716

Inglewood Community

Neighbourhood House

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

Pyramid Hill Neighbourhood House

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

Wedderburn Community House

24 Wilson St, Wedderburn P: (03) 5494 3489

This NAIDOC Week (7-14 July 2024), Inglewood will host artworks, workshops and activities celebrating the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. All Loddon residents are invited to embrace and take part in the week of free activities, developed by DUMAWUL, Dja Dja Wurrung creative arts and cultural tourism enterprises, and the Loddon Shire Council.

Join a Cultural Tour at Kooyoora State Park to understand the igni cance of the Park to Dja Dja Wurrung Peoples, as well as the bene ts to Inglewood’s businesses and community being at the gateway to the Park.

As well as Kooyoora State Park Cultural Tours, Loddon Shire Council is proud to be working alongside DUMAWUL to o er free entry to a week-long exhibition of Dja Dja Wurrung artworks and artefacts at the Inglewood Town Hall, plus weaving workshops for a hands-on cultural learning experience. Registrations are essential and places are limited.

FEATURES | OPINION AND QUIZ

Strip away the housing spin

DON’T be blinded by figures. The weekend’s announcement that the State Government is wanting 500 new houses in the Loddon Shire within 30 years is a statement serving only to highlight that government has no direction for growth of local communities.

For a start, various stages of the estate being constructed at Bridgewater will alone deliver more than 60 home blocks within a few years, if the sales are made.

That’s one community. The number of new home permits in the Loddon Shire to March, with three months still to go in the financial year, was 12, according to statistics that also show there were 25-plus in each of the three previous years.

Do the maths - 500 new homes in 30 years equals 16.66! The Government’s announcement

lEttER tO thE EDItOR

EDItORIAl

therefore does not come close to claims of boosting key worker and affordable housing.

Loddon Shire has already done the early work to identify opportunities to unlock residential development in local towns.

That report showed the Calder corridor was primed for growth but that investment is needed.

To date, that investment has come not from government but from private enterprise.

The Government says it wants more housing that is accessible for transport yet in local communities in that corridor, the train line remains disused while millions of dollars have been invested at Raywood and Goornong. Grand statements of build-

Petition to reverse honour

Sir, Former Premier Daniel Andrews doesn’t deserve a King’s Birthday honour, and I am looking forward to presenting the Governor-General with a petition calling for it to be revoked.

The decision to start a petition against the inappropriate and unjustified awarding of a Companion of the Order of Australia wasn’t taken lightly and the response has been overwhelming.

We at The Nationals will make sure all responses are taken to the highest office.

Under no circumstances should Mr Andrews retain the Companion of the Order of Australia, and we will do our utmost to make sure it is removed.

Victorians have been left to pick up the pieces, now burdened with record debt because Mr Andrews couldn’t manage money.

yOUR ONlINE WORDS

Residents angry after Chamberlains Road bridge closed

Bernard Bracken wrote: Absolutely abhorrent to have rate payers waiting so long for action. Shame.

Catherine Dowden Gunston wrote: Great story. That’s the trouble the shire does not maintain the drains which are town assets that are just left.

Peter Talbot wrote: Catherine Dowden Gunston, we don’t live in Wedderburn that’s why we have been waiting two years to get bridge fixed.

Minister’s announcement of $5 million for Aboriginal heritage project

Karren Chuter wrote: What about other Australian citizens who worked all their lives.

Anthony Collins wrote: Government hasn’t got $5 to spend, so don’t waste it.

Bernard Bracken wrote: While many rural Aboriginal folk are living in 3rd world poverty. Bring on audits

ing housing stock in the Loddon Shire, aspirational as they may be for the Government, are only in sync with recent averages.

We would trust that during consultation on the draft strategy that empowers local government to unlock land for housing, that the Government reveals how it will invest in the infrastructure and services needed for growing our local populations - rail, roads, water, sewerage.

And then there’s planning, an area fraught with hurdles and delays that the Government could consider ripe for an overhaul.

At the moment, the figures look great but don’t be fooledthey are already being exceeded in the Loddon Shire.

New Premier Jacinta Allan is carrying on the legacy of mismanagement and all regional Victorians are being burdened with the pain.

Since the start of Mr Andrews’ reign as Premier, Labor has slapped Victorians with 55 new or increased taxes or charges. The bad news keeps rolling with Ms Allan at the helm.

Our finances are a mess. Labor can’t manage money, and all regional Victorians are paying the price.

Mr Andrews failed Victorians and that is nothing to celebrate. He has done nothing to deserve such a high honour. Follow the link to The Nationals’ petition here vicn.at/no-award-for-dan

PeterWalsh,LeaderoftheNationalsand memberforMurrayPlains

20 QUESTION QUIZ

1. What is an archipelago?

2. Machu Picchu was built by which ancient civilisation?

3. Which actor played James Bond in Die Another Day?

4. Toro is the Spanish word for which animal?

5. Which band is the bestselling Swedish artist of all time?

6. What term is given to the smallest animal in a litter?

7. Oktoberfest was first celebrated in which country in 1810?

8. Alcatraz is a former prison located on an island off the coast of which country?

9. What do pitcher plants eat?

10. Who wrote the book “Les Misérables”?

11. Kata Tjuta is also known by which other name?

12. From Earth, which star shines the brightest after the sun?

13. What does a mixologist make?

14. Who was King Henry VIII’s second wife?

15. Caviar comes from the eggs of which fish?

16. In the nursery rhyme, when Jack fell down what did he break?

17. What does UFO stand for?

18. What word is given to a feather modified for writing?

19. Which language contains the letter gamma?

20. The three main types of rock are sedimentary, metamorphic, and?

ODELIVERY of glossy catalogues with tempting sales pitches look to be wasted on Bradley of Boort. No end of financial year sale madness for Bradley, the only stock clearance for him is decluttering the kitchen table, based on one of his latest Treemendous Signs. Scrooge will surely be impressed that the Decembral vibe created by Dickens has become entrenched in Bradley’s winter-chilled psyche.

CATALOGUES are a bit of night-time reading staple for shoppers. Back in the late 20th century, before many of our OTF readers were even born, one catalogue had the very tempting price of 99 cents for a tub of yoghurt at one Loddon supermarket.

F COURSE, catalogues have been around long before the days of computer deals. In the 19th century, many a farm household would gather around the kerosine lamp at night and make selections of all kinds of household goods, clothing and tools that would be ordered by mail and turn up a few weeks later.

SOME of those old catalogues can be worth a few bob or more these days. Antique stores have been known to have them at tempting prices ... even at the end of a financial year.

APPARENTLY the financial year in Australia was set at July 1-June 30 back in 1851 to simplify taxation reporting. In the US, the fiscal year starts on October 1 and in Britain on April 6 and over the ditch in New Zealand, yes seriously, April 1.

1. An extensive group of islands 2. Incas 3. Pierce Brosnan 4. Bull

5. ABBA 6. Runt 7. Munich 8. U.S.A. 9.

Victor Hugo

Cocktails

Anne

Boleyn

Sturgeon

Crown 17. Unidentified flying object

Quill 19. Greek 20. Igneous

bUShy tAlES by IAN jONES

Shire roof works in historic buildings

Peter Bell wrote:

Supermarket owners to checkout after 40 years

Scales of service

THE scales were used to weigh nails, chicken feed, sausages and saveloys.

That was the life of new retailers Peter and Sue Moore when they arrived in Inglewood 40 years ago to take over the town’s 4 Square grocery store and hardware suppliers.

Inglewood had won out as the couple’s first business venture after surveying opportunities in Queensland.

“We looked at Queensland and the best we could find was the leasehold on a rundown business, in Victoria we were able to buy the freehold,” Peter said last week ahead of retirement for he and Sue from next month.

“When we came here, Sue did the register up front and I looked after the stock. And we had Charlie Seaman helping on a Saturday morning.”

They quickly made Inglewood home after the shift from Forbes in central New South Wales where Sue had been a bank loans officers and Peter ran the local council’s store and depot.

The former Nixon Bros store was soon packed with stock and outgrowing the heritage Brooke Street building.

Peter said the hardware section was moved across the street and when the town’s newsagents suddenly closed in 2005, he and Sue took on selling newspapers and Tattslotto tickets.

Three years later a partnership with Champions IGA, the supermarket moved to new premises after opening celebrations that saw local MP Peter Walsh unveil the plaque.

“I hate to think now how many drafts we had of plans for the new building ... and we included the disused council depot that’s now the supermarket carpark,” he said.

“We even got robbed in the first week of trading from the new building. The culprit was easily found - followed the tracks left by a wheelie bin used to cart off the loot.”

Peter said the 2008 building of new premises would not have happened without Champions IGA, who take over as owners of Peter and Sue’s business from July 1. “It was so big when we opened, we wondered what we had done,” said Peter. “Now, the

By CHRIS EARL

aisles and shelves are full, we have 46 employees and keep getting busier all the time.”

The supermarket and hardware departments have picked up their share of awards over the last 40 years.

And Peter and Sue have supported local organisations with sponsorships and donations through the IGA Community Chest - schools, the RSL, sporting clubs, raffles and events.

Peter has also been active in town affairs. He looks back on the campaign for water and sewerage connection. “The town’s population was shrinking the first five to eight years we were here but we needed sewerage, even if people could not afford it. The smell was horrible. Having sewerage connected has cleaned up the town and water quality has improved as well.”

The town’s development and tourism committee - Peter is currently in his second stint as president - has been a key vehicle for Peter’s contribution to Inglewood’s prosperity.

The push for a Brooke Street pedestrian crossing was an early success. “The school had asked us to support having a lollypop lady. We were being handballed between council and VicRoads and we ended having a committee meeting in the middle of the street ... the police kept an eye on traffic,” he said.

“VicRoads promised a study, we had another meeting, a bigger meeting, and by Christmas Eve came the announcement that pedestrian crossing lights would be installed.”

Peter also was at the fore of last year’s community campaign that achieved the introduction of a 40kmh zone in Brooke Street.

With Max Higgs, Peter was at meetings in the former Royal Hotel when the State Savings Bank and Westpac in quick succession quit Inglewood.

“I was having to drive to Bendigo twice a week with the supermarket takings,” Peter said.

“That was two hours out of the day and a security risk, other people were being more than inconvenienced.

“We tried other banks and ended getting IOOF into town. There

was a community working bee to get the building ready.”

Peter said the work of Max and other locals in later securing the Bendigo Bank and transitioning to a community bank had made a big difference to the town.

For 40 years, Peter says there has been loyalty from the community and wider districts for their local supermarket.

“During COVID, people became even more loyal and I think that helped the town grow appreciation for what it has,” he said.

“When Sue and I came here we were very careful with our outlays. The goldmine was a good customer until owners went under financially and then when the flour mill had difficulty, well that made us very cautious about giving credit.”

After working seven days a week building a major local business and customer loyalty through always stocking the supermarket lines available in bigger communities, talk in recent years turned to retirement.

“One day, Sue asked when we were going to retire. I’m 70 later this year and it’s probably time to step back from early starts and long days,” Peter said.

“We’re staying in Inglewoodit’s where our children grew up and where we built our home.

“There’ll be a few trips around Australia and overseas and more time with the grandchildren.”

Peter says customers at Champions IGA and Mitre 10 will not notice the change of ownership.

“All the staff are staying, some are stepping up into management roles,” he said. “Inglewood is growing, the district has some exciting times ahead and Sue and I are leaving a great local team to continue serving customers and the community.”

Peter Moore in the aisles of Inglewood IGA. LH PHOTO

Sue and Peter on their first day in Inglewood

PUBLIC NOTICES

COE Donald

The Chairman, Board, Management, members of CFA North West Region and District 20 regret the passing of their colleague and offer their deepest sympathy to his family.

PUBLIC NOTICES

CAREERS AT LODDON SHIRE

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

Project O cer- Healthy Loddon Campaspe – ref.J/271

 Part-time, xed term position (until June 2025)

 Band 5 salary- $73,079.16 per annum pro rata

 Based at our Wedderburn O ce Community Compliance O cer- Tidy Properties – ref.J/244

 Full-time, Permanent position

 Band 5 salary range $73,079.16$84,077.74 per annum plus employer superannuation

 Based at our Wedderburn O ce Applications for the positions above will close Monday 24 June 2024 at 5pm.

Ranger – ref.J/266

 Casual position

 Band 1 salary- $34.54 per hour plus applicable allowances

 Based at our Wedderburn O ce

Casual Early Childhood Teacher –ref.J/124

 Casual position with exibility to choose your own days

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

 Positions available at all of our services Applications for the positions above will be considered as they are received.

For further information, including a detailed position description and details on how to apply, please visit Council’s website www.loddon.vic.gov.au or contact Council’s Organisation Development Unit on (03) 5494 1200.

Momentum on show in second victory

EXCITEMENT has been contagious for Wedderburn women’s hockey side with a second consecutive win.

Saturday’s game against Donald started with the young and fast Royal attacking well. First year Redback goalkeeper Gen Plozza was busy the first quarter with the assistance from ever reliable full backs Kelsea Nisbet and Carlie Turnbull.

Wedderburn found its momentum with some great work by Neve Nisbet, Ayla Hartnell and Brittany Faduk working down the centre with returning player Annabelle Hargreaves. Annabelle’s last game with the Redbacks was back in 2009.

Playing on grass compared with a synthetic surface after a long period was a challenge, but Annabelle was impressive how quickly she adapted with her direct passes to team mates. Laura and Leane playing the wings were challenged to get the ball across the goals with inceptions from the full backs.

Brittany was the first to score a goal giving the team a great boost.

By the third quarter Taryn Roberts was in the perfect spot in goals to assist a pass from Brittany past the goalie.

The last quarter Taryn was on repeat scoring the final goal for Wedderburn for the win 3-0.

Out for the next few weeks is Maddie Hendy and Annabelle Hargreaves. Back in this week is Shannon McMillan and Johanna Maher.

Last time Wedderburn played St Arnaud was in the first round with a shock 3-3.

Best on ground went to Neve Nisbet,

Coach’s award, Annabelle Hargreaves, Encouragement, Taryn Roberts and Brittany Faduk

Underage had nine players on Saturday and welcomed back last season’s player Jacob Ward. Donald had plenty of junior players so the game was played with 11 a side. Donald was very dominant with some big strong hitters. The final score was 5-0. Best on ground was Dakota Martin. Encouragement: Sullivan Steel.

Bird retains A Grade champion title

BYRON Bird has defended his Wedderburn club A Grade champion title.

Bird won the final round on Saturday to claim the title hitting 74-7-67, two ahead of Owen Bailey 76.7.69.

Jon Chandler won the B Grade championship.

BOORT

Despite wet and miserable weather the day before, conditions for Saturday golf couldn’t get much better as nine players battled it in the second round of the club championships.

Returning to form, President Damien Lanyon turned in the best of the day with nett 72, with Andrew Kane, Graham Ball and Kevin Linehan not far behind to make up the ball pool. In the nearest the pins, Di Johnston continued her dominance to pick up the 9th again from Wednesday, along with the longest putt on the 18th , while David, Graham and Andrew shared the rest.

In the championships, Andrew opened up a 10-shot lead over Stuart Tweddle in the A Grade championship while David’s lead was cut to three from Kevin in B Grade. An intriguing battle looms in the Weaver Cup with Graham ahead by one from Damien, but Stuart, Kevin, Scott and Peter Eicher are all lurking within striking distance.

This week will see an afternoon working bee on the Saturday, with the championships being played on the Sunday from 11am.

MITIAMO

A Grade winner on Sunday was Adam Gould with 41 points from Simon Ray on 33 on countback from Dale Anderson.

B Grade winner was Phil Hamley with with 40 points and runner-up Mark Forster with 29.

Nearest the pin second shot No. 2 was Phil Hamley and nearest the pin on the 11th was Sam Wilson.

Laura Stilo and Annabelle Hargreaves

Ron Ritchie tallies his score

seniors

Maiden Gully

0.0 0.0 1.0 1.1 (7)

Pyramid Hill 6.9 11.15 18.18 5.24 (174)

GOALS - Maiden Gully: W. Noden. Pyramid Hill: Z. Alford 4, B. Scott, B. George, J. Sheahan 3, B. Dickens, T. Brennan, D. Hemphill 2, B. Gibson, J. Cowling, B. Knight, S. Relouw, S. Gunther, B. Ladson.

BEST - Maiden Gully: A. Monfries, T. Pridgeon, D. Phyland, J. McHutchison, J. Worsley, B. Franzini. Pyramid Hill: T. Mcgregor, D. Hemphill, B. Ladson, B. George, B. Knight, S. Gunther.

Marong 6.7 9.12 16.16 22.24 (156)

Inglewood 0.1 1.3 3.4 4.6 (30)

GOALS - Marong: K. Robins, M. Riordan 5, C. Hale 3, R. Taylor 2, B. Stewart, R. Tibbett, D. Johnstone, K. Manley, J. McCaig, L. Lee, N. McCaig. Inglewood: D. Polack, M. Conlan, B. Cauchi, C. Love.

BEST - Marong: K. Robins, C. Gregg, L. Frankel, M. Riordan, N. McCaig, J. McCaig. Inglewood Seniors: D. Hughes, W. Allen (1), C. Stobaus, D. Polack, T. Kennedy, M. Conlan.

Calivil 0.2 1.3 3.5 7.9 (51)

Bridgewater 6.3 12.6 19.10 23.13 (151)

GOALS - Calivil: T. Piazza 3, M. Stephens 2, A. Dennis, B. Baker . Bridgewater: L. Sharp 13, J. Neylon 3, B. Alexander 2, H. McKinley, N. Naughton, C. Hindle, T. Estrada, J. Martyn.

BEST - Calivil: C. Thompson, M. Stephens, S. Green, J. Maher, R. Lourie, D. Thompson. Bridgewater: B. Alexander, L. Sharp, O. Watt, J. Neylon, H. Donegan, D. Wood.

Mitiamo

(28)

Newbridge 0.6 4.13 5.17 8.19 (67)

GOALS - Mitiamo: A. Lloyd, K. Coatsworth, J. Matthews. Newbridge: B. McKinley, C. Dixon 2, S. Gale, T. McLeod, M. McArthur, C. Sanders.

BEST - Mitiamo: K. Galvin, J. Vinnicombe, L. Shiell, W. Draper, Z. Myers, N. Twigg. Newbridge Seniors: B. McKinley, D. Lloyd, T. McLeod, J. Teasdale, C. Sanders, K. Friswell.

8 8 0 0 1 356.35 32

UnDer 18

Pyramid Hill

GOALS - Bridgewater: M. Brown 4, K. Hewett

GOALS - Wedderburn: M. Lockhart 3, H. Lock, C. Hargreaves. Donald: G. Morgan 3, W. Noble, J. Donnellon 2, J. Smulders, C. Anderson.

BEST - Wedderburn: R. Tonkin, S. Carroll, M. Lockhart, M. Punguika, L. Sims, H. Lock. Donald: E. Landwehr, G. Morgan, P. Morgan, K. Green, D. Hawkes, L. Clark. Boort

(150) St Arnaud

1.4 (10)

(55)

(42)

Marong

Pyramid 8 6 2 0 1 314.41 24 Bridgewater 8 6 2 0 1 192.06 24 BL Serpentine 8 6 2 0 1 167.45 24 Newbridge 8 3 5 0 1 72.91 12 Inglewood 8

12

Mitiamo 2.0 3.0 6.1 7.3 (45)

Newbridge 3.3 5.7 7.10 10.13 (73)

GOALS - Mitiamo: M. Hocking 3, K. Pentreath 2, C. Collins, B. Burkitt. Newbridge: D. Whan, J. Dawkins 2, B. Harris, R. Hipworth, O. Friswell, B. Pearce, N. Gray, C. Grant. BEST - Mitiamo: E. Hocking, M. Hocking, T. Metcalf, A. Daley, L. Hocking, D. Mitchell. Newbridge: B. Harris, A. Moore, J. Dawkins, D. Whan, R. Hipworth, N. Gray. Calivil 1.1 2.1 2.1 3.1 (19) Bridgewater 3.0 5.5 13.7 16.11 (107)

GOALS - Calivil: M. Hore 2, K. Newton. Bridgewater: Not supplied.

BEST - Calivil: E. Ritchie, J. Manderson, S. Fawcett, E. Oaten, T. Rial, T. Harcourt. Bridgewater: Not supplied. Maiden Gully 0.0 1.0 1.0 3.0 (18) Pyramid Hill 3.5 10.8 19.10 26.16 (172)

GOALS - Maiden Gully: W. Donaczy 2, C. Sungalis. Pyramid Hill: M. Klein-Breteler 9, L. Barker 4, H. Goodes, P. Walker, G. Quinn, T. Walker 2, K. Quinn, E. Caburnay, J. Burns, M. Swiney, T. Nunn.

BEST - Maiden Gully: J. Brown, T. Baker, K. Henshaw, C. Laity, W. Donaczy, K. Griffin. Pyramid Hill: J. Burns, M. Klein-Breteler, B. Moon, A. Dye, L. Barker, H. Goodes. Marong 3.5 8.6 13.9 19.11 (125) Inglewood 1.0 2.0 5.1 6.4 (40)

GOALS - Marong: Z. Turnbull 7, D. Blume 4, L. Hale 2, D. Bourke, J. Scott, B. Matthews, H. Baker, K. McCaig, S. Taylor. Inglewood: T. Murphy 2, M. Midgley, S. Erharter, I. Povey, J. Sleep.

BEST - Marong: Z. Turnbull, L. Hale, K. Terrill, B. Hartland, H. Baker, S. Taylor. Inglewood: T. Beriman, S. Erharter, J. Abbott, T. Kendal, J. Lovett, I. Povey.

Marong

12

J. Friswell, S. Hewett. Pyramid Hill: L. Stubbs, H. Goodes 2, J. Peter. BEST - Bridgewater: C. Poyser, S. McMahon, M. Armstrong, C. Orton, M. Brown, K. Hewett. Pyramid Hill: L. Pigdon, X. Emmerson, H. Goodes, B. Gibson, C. McCoy. Marong

Inglewood

(162)

(11)

GOALS - M. Lowery, K. Harris 4, C. Murphy, K. Thomson 3, L. Bowen, R. Hayden 2, R. Doorty, R. Kleehammer, R. Kerr, J. McMurray, H. Mannix, J. Bird. Inglewood: K. McClellan. BEST - Marong: C. Murphy, T. Jennings, J. McMurray, L. Bowen, M. Lowery, K. Harris. Inglewood: W. Schepers, J. Penrose, E. McCoy, C. Hancock, H. Noble, R. Smith

Marong

Loddon

seniors

GOALS - Wedderburn: N. Furlong, D. Jackson 2, M. McEwen, T. Campbell. Donald: T. Grant 5, N. Berry 4, J. Papalia 2, R. Hards, R. Bath, B. Grant, T. Stevenson. BEST - Wedderburn: J. McEwen, J. Lockhart, D. Benaim, N. Furlong, J. Jones, D. Jackson. Donald: N. Berry, J. Wallin, T. Grant, A. Browne, B. Grant, R. Hards. Wycheproof N

(121) Nullawil

(63) GOALS - Wycheproof Narraport: N. Grabowski 8, W. Mitrovic 5, K. Hommelhoff, J. Marlais, R. Allan, J. Grabowski, M. Murgov . Nullawil: M. Farmer 5, A. Thomson 2, T. Cloke, A. Oberdorfer.

BEST - Wycheproof Narraport: N. Grabowski, C. Cox, M. Fawcett, J. Grabowski, M. Murgov, J. Bish. Nullawil: D. Watts, M. Farmer, B. Brennan, B. Forrester, D. Kelly. Boort 4.0 11.6 14.8 18.10 (118) St Arnaud 2.2 2.2 2.4 3.4 (22)

GOALS - Boort: J. Keeble 6, N. McLaren 3, W. Perryman, J. Wilson, T. Potter, W. Broadstock, M. Austin, J. Byrne, N. Whyte, E. Coleman, J. Baddeley-Kelly. St Arnaud: J. Kell, J. Needs, B. Nicholas.

BEST - Boort: J. Baddeley-Kelly, T. Potter, E. Coleman, J. Keeble, J. Wilson, N. McLaren. St Arnaud: H. Durward, O. Lowe, D. Gifford, M. Goode, H. Darby, K. Torney.

Charlton 0.1 2.3 3.3 5.5 (35)

Sea Lake Nandaly 5.4

(139)

GOALS - Charlton: J. Zagame, M. Collins, E. Fitzpatrick, K. Blow, C. Gavaghan. Sea Lake Nandaly: J. Jenkins 10, T. McKenzie 3, B. Weir, W. Simpson 2, L. McClelland, W. Donnan, M. Cahoon, J. Wright.

BEST - Charlton: P. Soulsby, S. Woods, R. Woods, D. Roberts, B. Sexton, K. Blow. Sea Lake Nandaly Seniors: J. Jenkins, R. O’Sullivan, T. McKenzie, B. Delmenico, L. Martin, J. Poulton.

GOALS - Boort: C. O’Rourke 7, A. Cockerell 6, M. Kane, N. Scott 3, C. Keanelly, D. Hatcher, H. Weaver. St Arnaud: F. Donald.

GOALS - Charlton: P. Sanderson, T. Salmon. Sea Lake Nandaly: J. Clohesy, B. Poulton 3, I. Durie 2, T. Considine, N. Wight, E. Ellis, Z. Wemyss, C. Allan.

BEST - Charlton: B. Dixon, T. Catherine, A. Judd, O. Wyrzykowski, T. Bates, H. Sait. Sea Lake Nandaly: C. Elliott, C. Michael, I. Durie, J. Clohesy, Z. Martin, C. Allan.

BEST - Boort: M. Kane, J. Dowling, D. Hatcher, J. Sheahan, A. Cockerell, Z. MacIntosh. St Arnaud: C. Zander, F. Donald, T. Scarce, T. Berryman, M. MacTaggart, C. Campbell. Wycheproof N

(48)

(68) GOALS - Wycheproof Narraport: B. Brennan 3, R. Jones 2, J. Harrison, L. Coles. Nullawil: S. Goldsmith 5, L. Braine 2, M. Fawcett, T. Vearing, G. Forrester.

BEST - Wycheproof Narraport: J. Coatsworth, R. Jones, T. Martin, H. Senior, D. Murray, W. Rodda. Nullawil: G. Forrester, J. Barry, S. Goldsmith, T. Vearing, S. Nicholls, L. Braine.

UnDer 17

GOALS - Wedderburn: W. Huismann, J. Smith. Donald: M. Burke, G. Pearse 4, L. Rice, E. Clapham 2, L. Stopps, J. Pareja, J. Lydom, C. Campbell.

BEST - Wedderburn: T. Blair, J. Dingfelder, L. Budge, B. Cramp, L. Sellick. Donald: E. Clapham, L. Rice, M. Burke, G. Pearse.

(16) GOALS - Not supplied.

BEST - Boort: M. Clark, R. Wagner, H. Malone, B. Arnold, D. Hird. St Arnaud: Not supplied.

- Charlton: J. Kervin, B. Henson, S. Zagame, C. Boyle, M. Fitzpatrick, J. Roberts. Sea Lake Nandaly: T. Griffiths, J. Tait, J. Newick, E. Ellis, C. Wight, C. Goldman.

UnDer 14

BEST - Wedderburn: B. Cramp, L. Martin, Z. Polkinghorne, A. Polkinghorne, N. Turnbull. Donald: J. Reilly, N. Michael, E. Geddes, L. Holland.

(2)

- Boort: T. Broad, D. Perryman, B. McPherson, T. Bennett, Z. Gould. St Arnaud: L. Lowe, F. Evans, S. Weir, N. Hando, S. Kay, I. Johns.

BEST - Charlton: I. Roberts, F. Zagame, S. Good, T. Bourke, J. Bartlett, T. Mcgurk. Sea Lake Nandaly: R. Newick, O. Conlan, T. McClelland, E. Conlan, R. Allan, J. Hodgson.

BEST - Wycheproof Narraport: R. Harrison, M. Beattie, D. Polzin, F. Polzin. Nullawil: B. Kemp, H. Humphreys, R. Ryan, L. Pollington, N. Harrison

norTH CenTrAL

LoDDon VALLeY

SPORT

LODDON VALLEY

A Grade

Mitiamo 15, 35, 52, 67, (67) d Newbridge 15, 23, 32, 45, (45). Calivil 8, 19, 26, 39, (39) lost to Bridgewater 13, 22, 39, 51, (51). Maiden Gully 12, 20, 29, 41, (41) lost to Pyramid Hill 12, 27, 44, 58, (58). Marong 16, 34, 45, 66, (66) d Inglewood 5, 8, 16, 18, (18).

Mitiamo 183.56 28

Pyramid Hill 160.00 28

Newbridge 119.32 24

Bridgewater 121.41 20

BL Serpentine 110.89 16

Marong 95.72 16

Maiden Gully 91.49 8

Calivil 54.24 4

Inglewood 37.21 0

B Grade

Maiden Gully 9, 22, 29, 44, (44) lost to Pyramid Hill 15, 29, 39, 53, (53). Marong 18, 32, 43, 60, (60) d Inglewood 2, 11, 14, 20, (20). Calivil 13, 17, 28, 38, (38) lost to Bridgewater 16, 29, 44, 64, (64). Mitiamo 7, 16, 24, 32, (32) lost to Newbridge 9, 21, 37, 53, (53).

Newbridge 177.87 32

Pyramid Hill 139.29 28

Marong 139.56 24

Bridgewater 106.71 18

Mitiamo 93.97 14

Maiden Gully 102.00 12

BL Serpentine 77.43 8

Calivil 66.82 8

Inglewood 47.26 0

C Grade

Marong 13, 35, 49, 64, (64) d Inglewood 9, 14, 26, 33, (33). Mitiamo 11, 17, 27, 32, (32) lost to Newbridge 8, 19, 32, 43, (43). Calivil 11, 17, 26, 33, (33) lost to Bridgewater 7, 18, 33, 41, (41). Maiden Gully 10, 19, 28, 32, (32) lost to Pyramid Hill 11, 18, 32, 42, (42).

Pyramid Hill 143.09 30

Newbridge 145.31 28

Bridgewater 130.27 24

Maiden Gully 103.87 18

Marong 110.74 16

Boort’s mini netballers ahead of the recent match wth Donald

BL Serpentine 107.40 16

Mitiamo 91.56 8

Calivil 61.38 4

Inglewood 47.12 0

C Reserve

Calivil 3, 10, 13, 23, (23) lost to Bridgewater 15, 28, 42, 53, (53). Mitiamo 2, 5, 13, 19, (19) lost to Newbridge 11, 23, 35, 44, (44). Maiden Gully 10, 19, 30, 39, (39) d Pyramid Hill 8, 15, 21, 28, (28). Marong 13, 25, 37, 56, (56) d Inglewood 6, 16, 19, 26, (26).

Marong 184.85 28 Maiden Gully 130.77 28

Newbridge 149.09 24

Bridgewater 125.70 20

Pyramid Hill 112.69 20

BL Serpentine 83.57 12

Mitiamo 59.62 8

Inglewood 69.55 4

Calivil 50.40 0 17 & Under

Calivil 7, 18, 29, 39, (39) lost to Bridgewater 16, 29, 41, 56, (56). Marong 26, 42, 61, 87, (87) d Inglewood 6, 11, 19, 27, (27). Maiden Gully 7, 17, 28, 33, (33) lost to Pyramid Hill 11, 18, 25, 36, (36).

Bridgewater 186.63 28

Marong 171.05 28 Maiden Gully 122.00 24 Calivil 131.98 20

8

34.27 0 15 & Under

Calivil 13, 27, 38, 47, (47) d Bridgewater 9, 16, 26, 36, (36). Maiden Gully 17, 22, 36, 50, (50) d Pyramid Hill 2, 9, 13, 20, (20). Marong 18, 36, 48, 62, (62) d Inglewood 6, 18, 28, 33, (33). Calivil 254.17

Maiden Gully 48.54 4

Mitiamo 42.00 4

NORTH CENTRAL

A Grade

Wedderburn 16, 30, 39, 51, (51) d Donald 9, 16, 25, 39, (39). Charlton 11, 23, 39, 57, (57) d Sea Lake Nandaly 13, 22, 32, 39, (39).

Wycheproof Narraport 7, 17, 23, 33, (33) lost to Nullawil 15, 24, 41, 50, (50). Boort 14, 26, 39, 57, (57) d St Arnaud 9, 18, 28, 31, (31).

Boort 144.71 26

Nullawil 105.69 24

Wedderbur n 147.75 22

Birchip Watchem 119.62 20

Charlton 109.78 16

Sea Lake Nandaly 89.24 16

Donald 100.29 12

Wycheproof 57.91 8

St Arnaud 56.63 0

B Grade

Charlton 9, 17, 25, 30, (30) lost to Sea Lake Nandaly 14, 25, 33, 44, (44). Wedderburn 16, 37, 55, 70, (70) d Donald 9, 19, 30, 44, (44).

Wycheproof Narraport 3, 6, 7, 13, (13) lost to Nullawil 19, 35, 48, 66, (66). Boort 20, 42, 60, 70, (70) d St Arnaud 8, 12, 21, 34, (34).

Wedderburn 221.29 32

Birchip Watchem 168.46 26

Nullawil 140.15 20

Sea Lake Nandaly 117.90 20

Donald 117.45 18

Boort 118.37 16

Charlton 61.07 8

St Arnaud 48.09 4

13 & Under

Calivil 4, 21, 25, 34, (34) d Bridgewater 3, 6, 10, 14, (14). Marong 08, 15, 20, 29, (29) d Inglewood 4, 11, 18, 24, (24). Maiden Gully 3, 11, 16, 21, (21) lost to Pyramid Hill 3, 14, 23, 30, (30).

Pies take full flight in final quarter

BOORT hit top gear in the final quarter to storm home against St Arnaud in Saturday’s North Central A Grade netball.

The Pies piled on 18 goals for the term while holding St Arnaud to just three.

On home courts, Boort had control of the match throughout with Carly Isaac again in blistering form across the mid-court and Georgia Sheahan in the groove around the ring.

Meanwhile, Wedderburn displayed better system and co-ordination to put an important buffer in place as they return to the four.

Wounds from the shock loss the previous week against reigning premiers Nullawil were quickly healed as the Redbacks put a severe dent in Donald’s end of season aspirations.

Up and down the court, Wedderburn had the fluency of old. Maddi Postle was again named the best in what has proven a consistent first half of the season after a year

off from the game. Grace Lockhart, Courtney Gleeson and Holly Lockhart were also named in the best among a side with all players contributing.

The weekend’s 12-goal win over Donald was set up with a 16-9 opening blitz from the Redbacks.

At the half-way point of the season, Boort sits on top of the ladder while Wedderburn in third spot is just a game behind and as many match points clear of rivals chasing a top four spot.

Netballers at both matches joined footballers and hockey players for a tribute to Maddi Fitzpatrick before senior games started.

Maddi’s Round saw netballers don lavender bibs and ribbons were handed to spectators arriving at the grounds in honour of Charlton’s Maddi who lost a battle with cancer earlier this year.

Charlton club had an important A Grade win over Sea Lake Nandaly.

Exciting run hits Superoo barrier

NEWBRIDGE’S classy run of dominance and upsets has come to a crashing halt in Loddon Valley A Grade netball.

The Maroons were outclassed by a slick Mitiamo in Saturday’s match of the round, falling short by 22 goals.

But it took Mitiamo more than a quarter to shake up the determined challengers, going to the first break with scores tied.

Mitiamo then piled on 20 goals for the second term and virtually put the match beyond doubt to end Newbridge’s fivegame winning streak that included a nailbiting victory over Pyramid Hill.

The Bulldogs are second on the ladder behind Mitiamo at the half-way mark of

the season, separated by percentage. Pyramid Hill faced a spirited Maiden Gully last Saturday where scores were also locked at 12-all at quarter time.

Pyramid Hill was able to break away in the second term against last year’s premiers who are languishing in seventh spot with just two wins for the season.

This weekend, interest will be high when Newbridge meets Bridgewater in the battle for fifth spot.

Newbridge sit one game clear of the Mean Machine but another stumble could be costly.

Bears Lagoon Serpentine, sitting fifth faces off against Pyramid Hill.

Wycheproof 28.43 0

C Grade

Charlton 4, 14, 24, 28, (28) lost to Sea Lake Nandaly 17, 31, 49, 68, (68). Wedderburn 14, 29, 40, 53, (53) d Donald 4, 7, 14, 20, (20).

Wycheproof Narraport 2, 2, 3, 5, (5) lost to Nullawil 16, 28, 42, 56, (56). Boort 21, 36, 45, 60, (60) d St Arnaud 6, 16, 22, 28, (28).

Nullawil 207.14 28

Birchip Watchem 167.71 24 Wedderbur n 140.89 24 Boort 166.80 20

& Under A

Narraport 4, 9, 13, 20, (20) lost to Nullawil 10, 19, 29, 42, (42).

- Nullawil

- Joseph McGrath - Charlton

Inglewood’s Campbell Love again a goal kicker for the Blues

LODDON VALLEY

Calivil v Maiden Gully Newbridge v Bridgewater Mitiamo v Marong

Pyramid Hill v Bears Lagoon Serpentine Inglewood bye NORTH CENTRAL

Boort v Sea Lake Nandaly

Wedderburn v St Arnaud

Wycheproof Narraport v Donald Birchip Watchem v Nullawil Charlton bye

League teams available on Thursday nights at www.loddonherald.com.au

Cheers come from family and mates

ADAM Postle strode down the steps of the new Donaldson Park complex on Saturday with children Albert, Marigold and Clancy sharing the moment of Wedderburn sporting history.

Postle took to the field for his 300th senior game to applause from players and family.

Former coaches Sam Barnes and Dean Lockhart were among the large crowd to witness the moment while former Boort president and best man at Postle’s marriage to Maddi, Kane Arnold, also made sure he was there for the moment.

Postle joined Danny Benaim and Andrew Lockhart as a member of the select 300-senior game club.

And while he pulled a hamstring early in the second quarter, spending the rest of the game on the bench, Postle was rewarded with Redbacks’ life membership at the post-match function.

Big day dampeners

DONALD unleashed a devastating dampening at Donaldson Park on Saturday.

In what was scripted to be a day of joy for celebrated Wedderburn and North Central icon Adam Postle, there were tears appearing in the Redbacks’ plan within minutes of the opening bounce.

Donald gave a glimpse of its ability to tear opponents apartbig man Andrew Browne prowling the centre and popping up in defence, Jesse Wallin the terrier often thwarting opponents.

Noah Berry had the Royals with their first goal in under two minutes.

That stirred Wedderburn’s Tommy Campbell to slot the ball through after Jackson McEwen and Jayden Jones worked the turnovers.

Both sides were giving away the free near goal squares and going shot for shot.

Wedderburn was already starting to look frayed, not manning up and failing to link passages created in defence by Benaim and Postle.

A late Noah Furlong goal - again from a free - gave Wedderburn a two-point edge at the first break.

The Redbacks had their chances, many of them, early in the second term but could not convert.

Keeble goal king as Pies ram home final hopes

A STUNNING first half in front of goal by James Keeble has kept Boort in the race for a spot in the North Central finals.

The Pies were systematic in knocking the wind out of St Arnaud’s sails after the Saints drought-breaking win the previous round.

Keeble finished the game with six goals in three quarters. He spent the last term watching from the bench as Jhye Baddeley-Kelly, Tom Potter and Ethan Coleman helped lock away the 96-point victory.

The Pies had gone into the match without Jarrod Fitzpatrick after doctors ruled him out, waiting on scans of a hand injury. St Arnaud, too, was undermanned and it took both sides most of the first quarter to find rhythm.

Both had four shots at goal in the opening 25 minutes with

Boort on target to skip to a 10-point lead.

A seven-goal second quarter showed lifted levels of intensity from Boort, defenders on top cutting off every attempt of the Saints to register a score.

Boort was not without error for the game and had another sevengoal haul in the final term. There was many misses around goal from 30 and 35 metres out.

Coach Dale Cameron believes his Pies have turned a corner since the 118-drubbing at the hands of Birchip Watchem in round six.

“That was a very poor game and on results and form of recent weeks, the group has learned some good lessons.”

Boort plays Sea Lake Nandaly this week and will need to negate Joshua Jenkins who kicked eight when they met in round one.

It was Donald who broke the sale with goals to Trent Grant signalling the Royals were about to break away.

Josh Potter, Browne and Wallin were doing damage to the Wedderburn attack, turnovers happening easily as the Redbacks were a metre or two off their opponents.

Berry had an easy goal, standing alone and picking up a loose goal in the square.

Jamie Papalia followed suit soon after and Donald went to the main break 28 points up.

After missing opportunities in the draw against Boort a week earlier, the visiting Royals were not going to waste any opportunities at Donaldson Park.

Berry, Wallin, Grant, Browne, Blake Grant and Ryan Hards rammed home the advantage throughout the second half.

Joe Lockhart and Benaim bat-

tled for four quarters but the dominance of Browne at centre bounces gave the Royals too much momentum.

In the battle of 2025 merger partners, Wycheproof Narraport won by 58 points over Nullawil.

The clubs used their penultimate clash to announce they will be known as Calder United Lions next season.

Both clubs are now locked in battle with Wedderburn and Boort for fourth spot on the ladder.

The merged club will play at both Wycheproof and Nullawil next year with a hockey field to be built at Nullawil.

The Maroons have been hit with injuries to Jordan Humphreys, Matthew Wade and Dean Put while Travis Cloke lined up for a second game and kicked a single goal in Saturday’s clash with the Demons.

Reliable Lockhart breathes life back into reserves’ clash

THE Redbacks made a promising start against the Royal Blues and led at quarter time in the reserves clash at Donaldson Park.

Goals hard to find. Both teams with five scoring shots, the Redbacks scoring the only goal of the term.

The Donald boys were off target and their three goals 12 behinds at half time was a good indicator.

A scoreless second term did not help the Redbacks cause and it wasn’t until the final quarter when ever reliable ruckman Matt Lockhart breathed life into the contest.

He rammed home three quick goals which promptly doubled the Redbacks’ score.

Donald had a comfortable win with the Redbacks always competing but lacking a little polish to finish off some handy work at times.

Robbie Tonkin on a half back flank continues to show the benefits of a strict and well structured training programme. Another big performance as he led the way with determined and aggressive attack on the footy. Sam Carroll at full back produced his best form for the year.

Lockhart rucked well all day and capped his efforts with goals as mentioned earlier. Maikia Punguika in defence gets better every game and is turning in consistent performances. Levi Sims found the footy plenty of times in a sound effort and Heath Lock in his first game for the Redbacks for a while showed good touch and will be keen to pull on the Red and Black jumper again and again.

Donald were best served by Eddie Landwehr, George and Patrick Morgan, Kalon Green, Dion Hawkes and Lachlan Clark.

Danny Benaim

Contempt or careless?

FORGET the scoreboard, Marong’s dominance against Inglewood on Saturday came from its renowned clearances across the midfield.

Success for the Loddon Valley league powerhouse with an eye on stretching its unbeaten run did not come with application or accuracy in the forward zone.

While the Panthers blazed away at goal - and that’s what it was, blazing, popping and hoping - they were frustrated and annoyed by a tenacious Inglewood.

The misses meant Marong only had more goals than behinds in one quarter. Easy shots offline, short or fumbled in a display far from befitting the league’s top side.

The drive and determination coming out of defence became a wasted commodity all too often. It didn’t look careless, more playing with an air of contempt, knowing the match was in the bag and sloppy forward work of little consequence.

Luck stepped in a couple of times, particularly in the last quarter when Inglewood was punished with poor kick-ins that allowed the Panthers immediate redemption with goals.

When Inglewood got its run going, the Blues looked good, none better that a passage later in the third term when Bowen Cauchi handballed to Sam Polack who then passed to brother Dan for a goal.

Marong was 100 points up at the last break, veterans Kain Robins and Corey Gregg already well on their way to being

named in the best players for the Malone Park outfit.

Where it could have been easy for Inglewood to play with an air of despondency, that was not evident from the moment the clock started ticking on the final 25 minutes of play.

Liam Marciano didn’t stop running, in one passage linking play from deep in defence right to the Inglewood goal square. He did the same thing minutes later.

But on both occasions, Marong turned over play to score goals.

The other player who showed spirit for the Blues was defender

Will Allen. His agility helped in stopping the Panthers racing through the floodgates in tsunami proportions.

Marong has repeated its dominance of 2022 and 2023 in the first half of the season to be officially tagged the flag favourite. Inglewood has a few tough matches ahead as it tries to reclaim a spot in the top five.

„ The scoreboard looked like a gale was blowing at Mitiamo on Saturday but it was just an indication of pressure from Newbridge and resistance from the Superoos. Not a goal was scored in the

was ringing

THIS WEEK’S LODDON VALLEY PREDICTIONS

first quarter at John Forbes Oval. Ben McKinley, Dylan Lloyd and Tyler McLeod then stirred Newbridge in the second term when it took a 20-point lead at the main break.

McKinley would finish the day as Newbridge’s best in a performance that included two of the side’s eight goals. Just 11 majors were kicked for the match compared with 29 behinds, the scoreboard mirroring on-ground intensity and desperation.

„ The Sharp Show rolled into Calivil where Bridgewater notched up a 100-point win and its star goal gun finished the day with 13.

Victory was firmly set up in the opening term blitz led by Boden Alexander for the Mean Machine that left Calivil flat-footed.

It was only in the final term that Calivil was a whisker more competitive. Coaches Lachlan Sharp and Rick Ladson saw youngster Darcy Wood put in his best game this season.

„ Pyramid Hill was also plagued by scoreboard accuracy in its annihilation of Maiden Gully.

The round’s biggest winners, Pyramid Hill had 13 goal kickers in the 167-point win.

Zach Alford finished the day with four but it was the sterling contribution of Tom McGregor again in defence that thwarted any attempts by Maiden Gully to go deep into its forward zone.

The Eagles only troubled the scoreboard twice for the day.

Bailey George and skipper Steve Gunther were also named in the Bulldogs’ emphatic win over the hapless Eagles.

FADED and yellowed pages of the football records were being thumbed through last week quicker than Mellington or Sharp can kick goals.

Loyal readers of TOCB were quick to offer up names of Loddon Valley goalkicking greats after my column last week. With memories sharper than my crystal ball Bruce McCahon was quick to write: “Chilcott kicked 100 for Pyramid Hill. There was also the season when Greg Gadsden and Wayne Maxted both did at Bears Lagoon Serpentine while Ian Phillips did at Pyramid Hill. Phil Hetherington at Calivil? Would’ve bagged a ton in at least 2005.,” And Inglewood’s hive of history David Rose reminded me of another to kick a century in the same year as Gadsden and Phillips in 2003 - Bart Leahy.

So how will the 2024 shooters go on Saturday. I’ve got Bridgewater’s Sharp pencilled in for 12 against Newbridge.

THE Loddon Valley league’s nine clubs have now played opponents once as coaches look to the second half of the season.

How have the performances stacked up:

MARONG: Any doubts about depth and a double premiership hangover have been quickly dispatched. Haven’t lost a game since round four 2022 against Pyramid Hill - that’s 42 games on top.

PYRAMID HILL: After an uncharacteristic start to season 2024, the Bulldogs have shown they are looming as the only genuine contender to stop the Panthers in their tracks.

BRIDGEWATER: Good blend of younger players and seasoned veterans. Lachlan Sharp in goals and Boden Alexander a favourite for the league best and fairest. Way above everyone except Marong and Pyramid Hill who exposed flaws in game.

BEARS LAGOON SERPENTINE: Improved but still being challenged for four consistent quarters. Mellington up forward a star magnet but Bears still need to develop more avenues to goal against higher-placed sides.

NEWBRIDGE: There was preseason hype, still many doubters. Maroons’ season could hinge in return encounter with Inglewood.

INGLEWOOD: The 2023 glamour side has found things a bit tougher and challenged by injury and availability. Tenacity, however, not a problem.

CALIVIL: Still an outside chance for finals actions but really a couple of key players short.

MITIAMO AND MAIDEN GULLY: It’s tough at the bottom.

pened when Ant Dennis’ boys fell short against Maiden Gully at the Dome. They should have won back in April and need to win this weekend to keep a glimmer of the finals alive. Redlegs by three goals.

The Panthers will travel the Prairie Highway with more bad tidings when they meet Mitiamo. No doubt about this result.

And this brings us to the match of the round - Pyramid Hill versus Bears Lagoon Serpentine.

LH PHOTO

Have no doubt the Maroons are warming up slowly but surely after giving Bridgewater a scare back in round one.

They always seem to play well against the Mean Machine but I just don’t see them with the mid-season depth to repeat that opening encounter result.

Up at Rodeo Park, Calivil will not want to let a win slip through the fingers as hap-

It’s at the Mitchell Park kennel, the Bears are coming of no football in three weeks and a hungry Pyramid Hill certain to show that first-up loss at Janiember Park was a complete aberration.

Top Dog Nathan Fitzpatrick will have strategies in place to nullify Mellington this time around.

No double-digit haul for Mello at Mitchell Park, may be seven or eight. The match will be a bigger cracker than the old Guy Fawke’s nights.

- GLENN CATTO

THE scoreboard at Marong’s Malone Park disappeared after being damaged in the summer storm floods and now Panthers’ officials have resorted to “old technology’ to signal the start and finish of each quarter. Timekeeper Tim Hayes (pictured)

the bell on Saturday, players and supporters saying it penetrates better than the temporary handheld siren. Scores are displayed on a small board near the town end goals until a new scoreboard is built.

Inglewood’s Matt Rowe tmakes an attempt to smother play. LH PHOTO

Loddon HERALD sport

Thursday JUNE 20, 2024

Harness clubs are stripped of meetings

PUNT SHUNT

By CHRIS EARL

COUNTRY harness racing clubs are facing their biggest fight for survival in 20 years after being stripped of race meetings.

Boort and Wedderburn clubs have had their race meetings cut for 2025 - only the cup meetings still on the calendar as Harness Racing Victoria attempts to claw itself back from a financial mess.

Beneficiaries of the shake-up that HRV says is data-driven will be Bendigo and Shepparton.

But local club officials and Trots Clubs Victoria dispute the HRV decision amid scepticism that the board will not release data behind the reduction of small country club meetings.

“The news came out the blue and is a total shock that will impact our clubs and have a negative effect on harness racing in our area and on our communities,” said Tom Nisbet, secretary of the Wedderburn and Boort clubs.

Former Boort president John Campbell was at the forefront of lobbying to return harness racing to local clubs a decade ago after tracks were shut down by the then State Government in 2005.

“We’re devastated to lose our very popular and successful Northern Oasis meeting each January,” said Campbell.

“We have raised money through sponsors and other activities to

couple of years and look at closing single-meeting tracks.”

Nisbet said clubs would use Sunday’s TCV annual awards luncheon to lobby HRV officials for reinstatement of two meetings a year at the Loddon clubs.

TCV president Paul Rouse said new HRV chairman Adam Kilgour had committed the industry to a 12-month trial of meeting al-

that comment,” said Rouse. He said HRV had not disclosed its plans for years two and three of the strategy to lift race day turnover in harness racing.

home of the trots on Wednesday nights while the fantastic facilities at Charlton will still be enjoyed across 16 afternoon race meetings.

at venues with the greatest horse populations, facilities and engagement, while continuing its commitment to race at all 27 tracks”.

“This is seen as an important evolution in strengthening the future of harness racing in Victoria, which like all Australian racing codes has been impacted by the declining wagering market”.

HRV says the calendar was adopted in consultation with the clubs, a claim disputed by Wedderburn and Boort.

Campbell said: “There was no consultation, only rumours.”

Boort club met last week and decided to take their disappointment to HRV and the Government. Campbell said facilities at Boort Park had been improved in recent years by the committee while Wedderburn’s new Donaldson Park complex received $100,000 from HRV and includes new race day facilities.

Former TCV president and Loddon Mayor Gavan Holt said the local clubs were not a drain on HRV finances.

“When the Wedderburn track was washed away in the storms at Christmas, it was the local club that reinstated the surface without a cent from HRV,” Holt said on Monday.

Rouse agreed with Campbell that the loss of meetings at small country clubs would increase challenges for those committees to keep local communities engaged.

“He’s said if HRV is not successful in increasing turnover, they’ll consider going back to what we have had. We will hold him to

HRV chief executive officer Matt Issacs said: “Racing in central Victoria will only be stronger and more prolific for these changes, with Bendigo to be the new

“This is in addition to big cup days at Wedderburn, Boort and nearby St Arnaud and Gunbower,” he said.

Under the plan, Bendigo will have 47 race meetings and Shepparton 52. Echuca is cut from 12 to six with other big reductions at Cobram and Yarra Glen.

Isaacs said the new calendar “consolidates regular time slots

“The rationalisation of tracks didn’t work 20 years ago and cutting country meetings now won’t either.”

Under the current HRV plan to claw back its debt, Wedderburn Cup will be on January 26 and Boort Cup in March.

Isaacs said: “We appreciate the importance of maintaining a cup day in these fantastic harness racing heartlands that have rich traditions and great passion for the sport.”

Ready for new battle ... Tom Nisbet is secretary of the Wedderburn and Boort harness racing clubs. LH PHOTO