Loddon Herald 24 August 2023

MARONG is embroiled in a gambling endorsement furore on the eve of its Loddon Valley football title defence.

Online gambling giant Ladbrokes last week posted branded promotional videos of forward Brandyn Grenfell kicking his 100th goal of the season.

Two videos, since viewed by more than 11,000 people, feature interviews with the goal gun and skipper Corey Gregg, footage in the Panthers’ rooms and match drone footage.

Grenfell’s 100th goal came in the opening quarter against Bridgewater on August 5 after his first six shots wobbled through for behinds.

Bridgewater, one of two Loddon Valley league clubs part of Victorian Responsible Gambling Foundation’s Love

The Game Not the Odds initiative, did not give permission for its players to appear in the Ladbrokes promotion.

Club vice-president Gary Walters said: “I was president when we signed up for Love the Game ... we don’t want to be putting our colours to the advertisements.”

The foundation started Love the Game Not the Odds in 2014 after “community concern about the convergence of sport and gambling”.

By CHRIS EARL

AFL Victoria this year is also part of the responsible gaming campaign.

A partnership announcement with the foundation says: “Our dedicated Love the Game Rounds aim to help increase community awareness about the issue of gambling in sport and protect children from sports betting promotions.

It is believed AFL Victoria reviewed the videos but found Marong’s co-operation and participation in the videos did not breach its regulations.

or the promotion of gambling of any form at council owned or managed facilities”.

However, council manager active and healthy communities Amy Johnston: “People attending local footy matches do not require permission from the City of Greater Bendigo to take video and photographs of football matches. The video in question is promoting the achievements of a player in the Loddon Valley Football League.

“The city is also supportive of clubs and leagues promoting key messages of the AFL’s Love the Game initiative.”

Ms Johnston said council’s gambling policy related to signage promotion at city-owned assets.

AFL Central Victoria general manager Craig Armstead said: “We have spoken with the club and understand how it (the videos) occurred.”

The online promotion has also been cleared under City of Greater Bendigo’s reducing harm from gambling policy.

Bendigo council manages the Panthers’ home ground Malone Park with the policy saying it will “not permit advertising and/

“The city cannot directly stop clubs from accepting support from sponsors that may be providing funds that are the proceeds of gambling, however staff have recently started to speak with sporting clubs about diversifying sponsorship offerings,” she said.

“This has included sharing resources and information where sponsorship can come from less traditional sources that reflect the club’s values and priorities, while promoting positive health and wellbeing.”

Marong president Danny Tyler on Tuesday confirmed Labrokes had approached the Pan-

thers and that no fee had been received by the club.

“I’ve got no other comment ... some people are upset by the sounds of what’s going about,” Tyler said, refusing to say whether Bridgewater was told the match would be filmed.

Ladbrokes was asked for comment but did not respond.

In the video, league goalkicking record holder Grenfell says:

“I do find it easy to kick goals ...I don’t know what losing is like anymore because it’s been such a good run (for the club).”

The video has Grenfell saying it was good for the club to have Ladbrokes’ cameras at the match before vision switches to his shots for goal and being swamped by young fans after kicking the 100th major of the season.

For full details and photos visit our website www.fpnevins.com.au

Betting giant’s videos capture Grenfell’s 100th goal Online video gets 11,000 views

WHEN you’re on a good thing, stick to it! Bradley of Boort has done that with his latest Treemendous sign, unable to side-step the ladder theme as sports finals are being played out.

WHILE Bradley is stuck in rung rut, one football head honcho has put variety in to his life at the business end of the season. Instead of his more habitual farmer junket, we hear the royal has taken flight north for a week, all in the name of picking up information to keep everyone safe during the summer fire season. At least, that’s the official excuse put forward. Won’t stop OTF milking the yarn for every drop.

SUGAR is a natural and quick source of energy for every cell in the human body. We’ve all seen those glossy pictures of a cane cutter squeezing every last drop. Turns out at the weekend one fitness conscious chap went slithering away when one of his umpire mates (loose definition interpretation) thought an energy boost was needed at halftime. Flatly refused offer of a glucose-building raspberry snake. Said mate found eager takers over at the netball courts ... for the packet. Luckless Grills

was seen consuming these snakes as he negotiated the crowd between two sporting arenas.

APPARENTLY raspberry and blackcurrent snakes are the most popular in Australia. There’s also orange, banana, and apple flavours that can be brewed when combining, for some brands anyway, glucose syrup (from wheat and corn), cane sugar, thickener (acid modified wheat starch), water, gelatine, food acid (citric), fruit juice concentrate, natural food colours (grape skin extract, anthocyanins, black carrot, spirulina, paprika oleoresin, turmeric). Perhaps that combo makes The Oracle’s decision to refuse kind offer of a raspberry snake wise indeed.

NOW on eating lolly snakes, read this! Humans aren’t the only living things that bite off more than they can chew. It’s been reported that a rim rock crowned snake (Tantilla oolitica), considered the rarest snake in North America, gave scientists a fright when they came upon the corpse of one of these elusive creatures at John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park in Key Largo, Florida. Lodged in its mouth and partway down its gullet was a giant centipede, which the snake had attempted to swallow headfirst. Even though its prey was one-third its size, the snake lost the battle, succumbing to the centipede’s venom.

BACK to ladders (without the snakes). The first step ladder was 10,000 years ago, a discovery confirmed with paintings found in a Spanish cave.

Last week for trail registrations

WHEN Bridgewater artist, Ainsley McPherson first approached the Loddon Shire in 2020 with her idea for the Loddon Valley Arts Trail, she never imagined things would turn out quite how they did in the last three years.

Initially delayed by lockdowns in 2021 and floods in 2022, Ainsley is looking forward to the trail finally going ahead in 2023. She is encouraging as many artists as possible to join in the fun and get on board to make the trail a success.

“It is a great opportunity that will benefit all Loddon artists,” she said. “It’s also a fantastic and fun way to welcome tourists back to our region after the years

of devastation we’ve all just endured.”

Ainsley’s studio shop on Main Street in Bridgewater, Arts of Olde, will be exhibiting works from local and regional artists over the Loddon Valley Arts Trail, including, Di Cardinal, Joe Jakitsch, Coral Calnan, Jan Broadbent, as well as Ainsley’s own significant body work.

The Loddon Valley Arts Trail will run on the weekend of October 7 and 8. Inglewood Community Neighbourhood House is coordinating planning for the trail and organiser Tenar Dwyer said registrations from Loddon artists to be part of the weekend festival would close next Wednesday.

Kindergarten gets national standard approval

PYRAMID Hill Kindergarten has been given the tick of approval after an Australian Children’s Education and Care Quality Authority assessment.

The town’s kindergarten met

national quality standards in all assessment areas, Loddon Shire councillors were told on Tuesday. The seven standards include programs, safety, family partnerships and leadership.

Bridgewater artist Ainsley McPherson

Hemp testing to start

THE first trials to process industrial hemp in Pyramid Hill are expected to start next month.

Tom Smith has received planning approval from Loddon Shire to convert the former Bush’s pet food factory, last in operation in 2009, into a processing plant.

However, Mr Smith said this week there were still hurdles to jump in plans to separate fibre from hemp plants and create products for industrial use.

He said suitable processing equipment was still being tested and growing sufficient quantity of hemp in the area was still to be achieved.

“We will run processing trials in the coming weeks with equipment that can then separate hemp straw well but does not

have capacity for the quantity required for the operation,” Mr Smith said.

“We also need to prove we can grow the hemp. Three of us

tried last season but we were late sowing and that didn’t result in good germination in the clay loam soils.

“I will be putting in a significant amount of seed this year ... we’re in no hurry as we need to prove we can grow the hemp and also have the right gear in the factory.”

Mr Smith said a minimum of 5000 tonnes of hemp straw would be needed to make the plant viable.

“That works out to about 500 hectares of crop,” he said.

Mr Smith said demand for industrial hemp would increase with the demise of timber logging.

He said the strength and durability of hemp products could

loom as a replacement for housing construction.

“The demand will be there,” he said.

Mr Smith first floated establishing a processing plant in the old pet foot factory 12 months ago at meetings with local farmers.

Assisting Mr Smith has been Brett Boag, a hemp innovator and Founder at Hexcore Hemp Processing, who last month said industrial hemp “in some applications rivals steel”.

“As an industrial material it’s far superior to so many products and people don’t even know about it,” he said.

“Any kind of timber products made of hard or soft wood, hemp is harder.”

Basin change

VICTORIAN Farmers Federation has slammed the Federal Government’s announcement this week that it will alter the Murray Darling Basin Plan in an attempt to take more water from farmers. President Emma Germano said the deal done behind closed doors between the Commonwealth and state governments, which excluded the Victorian Government, would have a devastating impact on Victorian farming communities. “This deal not only undermines the livelihoods of Victorian farmers, but also threatens the long-term sustainability of our regions.”

Permit approved

A PLANNING permit has been approved to build a house near an existing piggery at Bridgewater. The permit with conditions for land on Bridgewater-Maldon Road was approved by Loddon Shire councillors at their meeting on Tuesday.

Audit committee

FIRE extensively damaged a weatherboard house in Wedderburn on Sunday afternoon. The sole occupant of the High Street house was at home and was able to evacuate before emergency services arrived soon after 3.15pm. Police said there had been significant internal damage but the blaze did not appear to be suspicious. Investigations are continuiing.

Vandals damage gate entrance at new ambulance station

LIGHTING and a gate entry motor at Inglewood’s new multi-million ambulance station have been damaged by vandals.

Leading Senior Constable Stephen Thomas said vandals had kicked the motor box to the front gate between 5pm last Thursday and 7.30am Friday.

“Whilst at the address the offender or of-

fenders have also damaged and pulled down lights from the front wall of the property and unscrewed the lights from the garden area,” he said.

“To say police are disappointed by these actions is an understatement and this senseless behaviour will not be tolerated, and should not be conducted by anyone in the commu-

nity. The damage caused in this incident is estimated to be in the vicinity of $500 to $1000.”

Police investigations continue and Senior Constable Thomas said anyone with information about the “senseless criminal damage” cam contact Inglewood police on 5438 3200 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 .

MARG Allan has been appointed an independent member of Loddon Shire’s audit and risk committee. The apppointment was made during a confidential section of council’s July meeting and confirmed in papers considered by councillors on Tuesday. Ms Allan is a former City of Greater of Bendigo director and holds several State Government appointments.

Formal planning

RHEOLA Community Planning has been formally recognised as the town’s community planning committee. Loddon Shire councillors on Tuesday endorsed the offcer recommendation to formalise the group’s relationship with council.

Tom Smith

Book Week was celebrated at St Mary’s Primary School Inglewood yesterday

Love our local!

The

Trading hours

Monday – Open 3.00pm

Dinner from 6.00pm  Social Darts Night

Tuesday – Open 2.00pm Dinner from 6.00pm  Trivia Night

Wednesday – Open Midday

Lunch from 12.00pm Dinner from 6.00pm  Pot’n’Parma Night

Thursday – Open Midday Dinner from 5.30pm Steak’n’Pot Night

Friday – Open Midday

Lunch from 12.00pm Dinner from 5.30pm

Happy Hour 5.00pm – 6.30pm

With Hot Bar Snacks, Meat Raffle

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

TRANSMISSION LINE PLANS

2km path set: no map detail

TRANSMISSION Company Victoria has locked in its draft corridor for the controversial VNI transmission line project.

Australian Energy Market Operator has refused to release a new shaded map that reduces its area of interest from up to 50km wide to about 2km.

The decision was released to media Monday afternoon with a publication embargo of 12.01am Tuesday.

TCV says its landholder liaison team will begin calling landholders from this week telling them that their property or farm is within the draft corridor for VNI West, just a week after hundreds of farmers from across country Victoria protested on the steps of Parliament House, Melbourne.

The company says the draft corridor had been finalised after “feedback from landholders, community members, traditional owners and government agencies, as well as data from engineering, environmental and cultural assessments”.

”Out of respect for the landholders in the draft corridor, TCV has committed to do everything it can to contact these farmers and property owners before publishing details of the draft corridor,” the statement said.

Spokesperson Nicola Falcon said: “This is a significant milestone as it now allows one-on-one conversations with farmers and landholders, to listen and answer questions related to their properties.

“These conversations are an essential element of the work to refine the route for VNI West and confirm the information and insights from recent community consultation, technical analysis and the interactive map,” she said.

The draft corridor for the project which runs from the Murray River through to

Mystery callers on line of research

RESEARCH into Loddon residents’ attitudes to VNI West and the shire’s stance on the issue have raised questions in the past week.

Several residents have told of receiving telephone calls where they were asked questions on the controversial project.

They have raised concerns with the Loddon Herald and also Mayor Dan Straub who said: “There’s a please explain needed to find out who is conducting this research and in the process make a clandestine assessment on the Loddon Shire.”

“It’s all very well for research to be commissioned into a project that could bring about massive change to our area. It’s another thing to then start asking about the council’s handling of an issue that sits ssquarely with the State and Federal Governments,” Cr Straub said.

However. who commissioned the research remains a mystery, Australian Energy Market Operation was quick with its reply” “No, we have not commissioned any research recently on VNI West.”

The State Government was equally direct. “Victorian Government has not commissioned this research. If you get any leads let us know,” a spokesperson said.

More talks coming

TRANSMISSION Company Victoria is planning a new series of community engagement events in October.

Some stakeholders were briefed last week on AEMO activities along the route from Bulgana, near Stawell, to north of Kerang.

However, a draft list of locations did not include a session within the Loddon Shire. AEMO held initial pop-up sessions in Wedderburn and Boort after its preferred Option 5A route was announced in February and a consultation session in Boort last month.

Bulgana, averaging about 2km in width. “We were hoping to get down to a narrower corridor by this stage but with the data collected through studies and consultation, we decided to focus on a broader corridor for the next phase of the project to provide more flexibility and better options to find the optimal route,” Ms Falcon said.

“This approach will allow us to incorporate the feedback and insights our land team gathers from landholders into the route refining process,” she said.

Monday’s statement said TCV would refer a draft corridor to the Minister for Planning to consider whether an Environment Effects Statement was required.

“VNI West cannot proceed without planning approval from the State and Commonwealth Governments, which will require comprehensive environmental assessments over the next 12 to 18 months.

“The TCV land team will be asking for access to properties for environmental field studies in coming months, but not all the land holdings in the corridor will be required for this work.

“Our land team will negotiate access agreements, including biosecurity requirements, before any field surveys commence.”

TCV has offered landholders up to $10,000 over two years if approval is granted to enter their land, an offer that was rejected by protesters in Melbourne last week.

“This payment recognises the time commitment required to negotiate these agreements, including time that ill take a farmer and their family away from their normal work and routine. TCV will also fund landholders’ reasonable costs for le-

gal review of the land access agreement.” TCV has capped legal fee reimbursement for farmers at $1000.

“Discussions with landholders will help to validate data collected in the planning process so far. This includes verifying constraints identified in the recent Environmental Constraints Summary Report and through community feedback on the interactive map,” TCV said.

Ms Falcon said: “TCV will continue to further refine the route for VNI West that has the least impact to agriculture, cultural heritage and values rural communities and the environment.

“Input from the community and landholders is a critical part of that process.”

Proresters at last Tuesday’s Melbourne rally backed the Plan B proposal from the Victorian Energy Policy Centre at Victoria University.

They also criticised Ripon MP Martha Haylett for not attending the rally that brought farmers, tractors and front-end loaders from across the Loddon and adjoining areas to join forces with farmers south of the Great Divide wanting the State Government to halt the both VNI West and Western Renewables Link project.

Ms Haylett later told the Loddon Herald: “My position on the Western Renewables Link is very clear. I have spoken about it in my maiden speech and at the recent Labor Party state conference. I continue to fight for my community every single day.”

Under a plan co-authored by Professor Bruce Mountain, both projects would be scrapped and existing transmission line easements upgraded and expanded. That would include the current BendigoKerang line through Prairie.

CERT originals mark service milestone

TWO Ambulance Victoria community officers have celebrated 20 years with the service.

Boort’s Vikki Couper and Deanne Smith were the town’s first Community Emergency Response Team members when the service was established in August 2003.

Local volunteer CERTs provide 24-hour emergency medical support in less populated areas, responding to traffic accidents, medical cases and other incidents requiring urgent care but do not transport patients to hospital.

Ms Couper said she was inspired to join after a community meeting about the new team.

“The CERT offered an opportunity to give back to our small town by helping to provide emergency assistance,” she said.

The pair later undertook additional training and hit the road as ambulance community officers in 2016.

ACOs are also first responders but are employed on a casual basis to work “on call” in rural and remote areas.

They are trained to provide advanced first aid in communities where the ambulance case-

load is low and can transport patients to hospital.

Ms Couper said the extra responsibilities allowed her to make a bigger difference.

“Being able to transport patients to hospital is extremely beneficial in providing timely care for our local and neighbouring communities,” Ms Couper said.

“I was also fortunate enough to receive a scholarship through Ambulance Victoria to complete a Diploma in Emergency Health.

“This was a fabulous opportunity which enabled me to increase my skills and be a more productive member of our team.”

Ms Couper said the role kept her fulfilled and was one she planed to continue long-term.

“People call Triple Zero (000) when they are in vulnerable or traumatic situations and being able to help patients and their families by providing reassurance, treatment and support is not only comforting but also rewarding,” she said.

“It’s always a highlight to see the relief on a patient’s face when you arrive.”

Ms Smith said a few reasons

made her first sign up as a CERT member and these same reasons have kept her to stay for two decades.

“I became a CERT member because I wanted to challenge myself, gain new skills and become involved in the care and

Remembrance on 50th anniversary

THE 50th anniversary of Australia’s involvement in the Vietnam War ending was observed at a twilight service in Inglewood on Friday.

The brief service at the Grant Street memorial saw Vietnam War veteran Mal Gilmour lay a wreath in remembrance while Inglewood and Bridgewater RSL sub-branch secretary Bill Concol placed a wreath on behalf of Timor veterans.

Twenty people attended the service.

Australians were involved in the Vietnam War from 1962 until December 1972.

More than 50,000 Australian personnel had served in Vietnam with 2398 wounded and 521 killed.

Fighting between South and North Vietnam ended in 1975 with the fall of Saigon to the North Vietnamese.

future of the local community,” she said.

“I love working within Boort and seeing the positive outcomes we can have on individuals –both in their time of need and their future care,” Ms Smith said.

Vikki Couper and Deanne Smith ... 20 years of service.

Vietnam veteran Mal Gilmour at Friday’s commemoration. LH PHOTO

Mr,

Club starts final round of farewells

GROUPS have began their round of farewells to the building that has been home to Wedderburn sporting groups for more than 60 years.

The 1958 Wedderburn Football Club rooms at Donaldson Park have been extended and renovated multiple times since its opening before the start of the winter sports season that year.

The rooms originally built by Bill Chalmers, on Sunday hosted senior football, netball and hockey vote counts for the Wedderburn club, one of the last functions that will be hosted there before the rooms are demolished.

Work is expected to be completed this year on a new $5 million community hub that will house the three sporting codes and the harness racing club.

Players marked the occasion with a group photograph. Club stalwart Bob Steel spoke about

The Railway Hotel

the building’s history and its role as a club hub.

“Before the current clubrooms were built, the two football teams would change in an old weatherboard building only separated by a partition down the middle,” he said.

“And when we got the new rooms, visiting clubs still used that weatherboard building.

“Over the years there have been extensions and renovations. It wasn’t until the early 1960s that we had a thirds football team and since then we have had netball teams and hockey also sharing the building.

“There used to be a copper and a fire in one corner. Out the front there wasn’t much room for ladies in the canteen between their counter and the wall.”

Bob said the club was looking forward to moving into the new hub.

Mrs,

Miss shown door by council

NEW governance rules had been in place minutes before Loddon Shire councillors slipped up at Tuesday’s meeting.

A point of order by Cr Gavan Holt reminded councillors and officers that rules now required meeting attendees to use non-discriminatory terms when addressing councillors or officers.

Mayor Dan Straub had just called for wellbeing director Wendy Gladman to present a report.

His nod to Mrs Gladman went against new rules that require her to be addressed as “director Gladman”.

Cr Holt said: “I noticed we passed the new governance rules 15 minutes ago. We’re already deviating from them on the matter of how we address each other.”

With chuckles from councillors and officers, Cr Straub said: “Thank you for picking up that point of order Cr Holt. ... from this point forward I think we will try as individuals to stick to those new rules adopted in the way we address each other.”

“Thank you for picking up on that Cr Holt,” he said. Loddon Shire’s governance rules now state that “all officers should be addressed as Officer … [surname] or by their official title.”

“Hole in One” competition presented by

Bob Steel shares memories of the old clubrooms. AP PHOTO

One last photograph before the clubrooms are demolished as part of the Donaldson Park upgrade. AP PHOTO

Pirates pack in hearty audience

GILBERT and Sullivan Opera Victoria had a full house on board for its 2023 season opening of The Pirates of Penzance in Inglewood on Saturday.

The hearty performance had the main hall and balcony at capacity for the swashbuckling afternoon of music from the famous operetta.

People came from across the Loddon, central Victoria and Melbourne for the first of seven performances by the musical company this season.

Cast helped usher the audience to their seats and cast their eye of ship’s rations being prepared in the kitchen - volunteers from the community hub with dozens of scones ready for afternoon tea.

PIRATE AT WORK: Louise Bewley catches cast member Stephen Capon trying to nick a bag of scones before he hit the stage in Inglewood on Saturday.

including

One city project would fix local potholes: MP

STATE Parliament was told last week that the cost of one road overpass project in Melbourne would be enough to repair flood damage to Loddon roads.

Northern Victoria Region MP Gaelle Broad has called on the Government to allocate more road maintenance funding to rural and regional areas.

“As I drive across the region, there are still many uneven roads with deep potholes in need of repair, and the only work done in the past 10 months is to put up signs reducing the speed limit to 40kmh and advising ‘rough surface,” Ms Broad told Parliament. Ms Broad said Victorians were required to drive roadworthy vehicles and the Government had collected a record $2.5 billion from vehicle registration in the past year.

“We expect the State Government to provide roads that are safe to drive on – but our roads are anything but safe.

“Hidden bumps and potholes are extremely dangerous for motorcyclists. In the last five years almost 200 motorcycle riders and pillion passengers have been killed on Victorian roads. 78 per cent were in Regional Victoria.

“At a meeting of the Loddon Campaspe Group of Councils last week a point was made that just one overpass built in Melbourne would be enough to repair flood damaged roads across the whole of the Loddon Shire,” she told Parliament.

Rachel Buckley, Lisa Callandro and Jenny Selkirk-Bell get into the operetta spirit.

RIGHT: Colin Marshall made an arresting sight as patrons

Tilly Boadle and Maddi Paton arrived to take their seats. LHG PHOTO

Street works top action wishlist

STREETSCAPE improvements and better safety in Godfrey Street have been made a high priority in Boort Tourism and Development’s draft new 10year community plan.

Committee members met with Loddon Shire CEO Lincoln Fitzgerald last month where issues with kerb and guttering were raised.

Local residents had earlier raised concerns about safety in Godfrey Street where resurfacing works had created a deep gutter on the north side making parking and access to and from cars difficult.

The new community plan says all-ability inclusive parking is limited both sides of Godfrey Street.

The high priority street work requests also include construction of a safe crossing for all abilities at the Lake View and Godfrey Street intersection and Godfrey and Station Street intersection.

Under the plan bicycle racks would also be installed in Godfrey Street.

Committee members want provision of off-street parking, improved street lighting and electricity lines put underground.

Streetscape works have been listed as one of six priority projects.

The draft community plan makes ongoing development of Little Lake Boort foreshore the No 1 project.

Synthetic turf was installed at the bowls club under stage one with stage two works to include obtaining funds for a skate park, tennis court fencing and lighting, half basketball court and croquet facilities.

Improved drainage and piping the No 3 channel near Boort Lakes Holiday Park, cricket club shed and shade facilities and Boort Park upgrades are also on the priority project list.

The park’s netball courts do not meet Netball Victoria standards for safe playing.

Housing has also been made a priority with a 10-lot sub-division site already identified.

The draft plan is open for community comment until this week.

Regional pot eyed to fund community centre work

THE Federal Government’s Growing Regions program will be targeted for funds to complete stages two and three of the Pyramid Hill community centre project.

Loddon Shire councillors on Tuesday endorsed a recommendation from wellbeing director Wendy Gladman to submit an expression of interest for funding.

Mrs Gladman said the stages would accommodate the town’s

library, community house and include a fitness centre.

She said tenders for stage one of the new complex at the senior citizens’ centre would be called this month.

A Regional Infrastructure Fund grant in 2021 funded design work for all three stages and development of allied health facilities in the first stage.

Projects in areas hit by natural disasters since May 2022 can ap-

Growing sprigs of rosemary

ply for funding up to 90 per cent of project costs.

“The Pyramid Hill Community Centre project will centralise and co-locate services such as community health, maternal and child health, senior citizens program, United Filipino Organisation, neighbourhood house and the library agency,” Mrs Gladman said.

“These services are currently delivered across multiple sites.”

SPRIGS of the ancient herb of remembrance, rosemary, will be in bountiful quantities when Korong Vale residents next gather in Borella Park on Anzac Day.

Members of Wedderburn Garden Club on Monday planted a rosemary bush in the park at the suggestion of Margaret Wright.

Margaret had been listening to her brother Peter McHugh

Advocacy for ood victims

The fth meeting of the Loddon Municipal Flood Recovery Committee was attended by representatives from the Financial Rights Legal Centre, an organisation dedicated to providing advice for those facing nancial hardship. They outlined their advocacy e orts on behalf of ood a ected victims.

If you or someone you know needs assistance with an insurance claim related to the oods, reach out to the Financial Rights Legal Centre. They are available on 1300 663 464, Monday to Friday from10am to 1pm.

In addition, there was an update from the North Central Catchment Management Authority. NCCMA have secured $250,000 from Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action Sustainable Irrigation Program. These fund will be used to repair infrastructure and remove blockages alongside designated waterways in the Bullock Creek catchments. A targeted laser light survey across the catchments is also planned to identify any further blockages. This is a signi cant step towards restoring waterways.

The committee endorsed the draft Loddon Municipal Flood Recovery Plan. During the next meeting in October, there will be a progress report on the various ood recovery initiatives across the Loddon Shire.

Please stay informed about all the community recovery events taking place across the Loddon Shire. Our fortnightly ood recovery bulletins are published in the Loddon Herald and are also accessible on the Loddon Shire Council’s website www.loddon.vic.gov.au/For-residents/Community-Flood-Recovery

speak at the town’s service this year and saw there was not a rosemary bush.

“Margaret discussed the idea of planting a rosemary bush with Roger Patterson, president of the Wedderburn RSL, who thought it was a great idea, was proposed to the Wedderburn Garden Club and members decided to take on the project,” said club president Carolyn McHugh.

13 September - Dinner with Rob Gordon Dingee Hotel

As we approach the one year anniversary of the October 2022 oods, join us for dinner with clinical psychologist Dr Rob Gordon OAM who has dedicated his career since the terrible Ash Wednesday res of 1983 to helping traumatised communities and emergency service workers recover after disaster.

Margaret Wright, Glenda Hunter , Carolyn McHugh, Glynis White and Betty Jackel in Borella Park on Monday.

Youth have flood recovery say

YOUNG people in country Victoria want a greater focus on road maintenance and levee banks as part of future emergency responses, according to the Youth Affairs Council of Victoria submission to a Parliamentary inquiry into October’s flood emergency.

The submission was prepared after consultation sessions and surveys of youth, including in Loddon River communities and at Boort.

Youth have also called for a reduction in the age Victorians can become eligible for a provisional driving licence to bring Victoria into line with other states where the age is 17.

And the council has called for lifting the restriction on the number of passengers who can be carried by provisional drivers in rural and regional areas “at least during daylight hours and during disaster events”.

There is also a recommendation for creation of dedicated roles for young people on all local government disaster planning committees “to bring their unique experiences and perspectives to decision making in their communities. This includes providing more networking opportunities

between council areas to create a stronger community support network, with young people represented through meetings and processes”.

Other youth and community support recommendations in the council’s submission include:

z Support young people to build support networks and have social connectedness before, during and after disasters to reduce risk of isolation and as a mental health protective factor.

z Provide funding for young people to undertake alternative social activities when their usual options have been affected by the disaster.

z Provide funding for more youth workers through all stages of disaster preparedness and recovery, to ensure timely and trusted outreach and wraparound support; and

z Improve communication in the leadup to a flood event, with more comprehensive warning systems and consistent messages from all emergency services and organisations. Ensure communication is credible, relevant and accessible (both format and channels) for young people and distributed through communities.

Pygmy perch start swimming into creek

SOUTHERN pygmy perch were released into 12 Mile Creek at Canary Island yesterday by North Central Catchment Management Authority.

The release by Peter Rose on Jo and Greg Bear’s property is part the Healthy River program where schools and ecologists

work to create flourishing waterways and riparian ecosystems for indigenous fauna, flora and freshwater fish.

Schools are participating in the tree planting program as part of a $72,276 grant awarded last year for the Canary Island project.

Boort District Health are very pleased to be partnering with Women’s Health Loddon Mallee again to commit to being an active member of the Loddon Mallee Collective Action for Respect and Equality (CARE) partnership.

CARE is a regional partnership that exists to support and motivate organisations to take action when it comes to preventing gender-based violence, with a focus on promoting gender equality, reducing discrimination and encouraging respectful relationships.

By working together we can build a safer community for everyone in the Loddon Mallee region

Valuable work of amazing volunteers

e BDH ladies auxiliary have continued to be amazing volunteers operating the hospital Op Shop. rough their dedication and commitment, BDH have been gracious recipients of the following items in the last 12 months alone.

Items have included:

z 2 electric remote controlled outdoor purpose wheelchairs ($8000)

z 24 heart holter monitor ($1000)

z 24 hour ambulatory blood pressure monitor ($1,425)

z A pressure relieving roho chair cushion ($1,000)

z 2 day beds ($8,500)

z An electronic tagging machine ($5,390)

z Mobile storage compactors ($18,250)

We are eagerly awaiting the arrival of 7 brand new acute hospital beds (approx. $50,000)

Book appointment with new denitst

BDH welcomed our new permanent Dentist Dr Diana Aio.

Diana has extensive dental experience having previously worked in Iraq, Gippsland and Melbourne. She brings a wealth of knowledge treating patients in rural and regional areas and is looking forward to meeting the local community and taking care of all your dental needs. Boort Dental Services are available to both public and private patients - phone 5451 5230 or email dental@bdh.vic.gov.au

BDH are now delivering home-based services to our area of Loddon. ese services include domestic assistance, personal care, property maintenance, exible respite, social support group and one-on-one services and meals on wheels.

It has been wonderful to extend our scope of services to include this support to our clients in the community. We have grown our team to include 5 new sta members who are now out and about in Boort, Pyramid Hill, Calivil and Borung.

Slight drop in olive harvest production

COBRAM Estate Olives will release its financial year results tomorrow.

The company’s groves includes Boort where its new production plant was used for the first time this year.

The plant is part of a $25 million expansion at Boort.

Cobram Estate has reported production for the harvest from its own groves was 12.5 million litres.

“(This was) down slightly on the previously announced range of between 12.6 million and 13.2 million litres,” it said.

“In addition, the company processed 0.9 million litres of third-party oil that will also be

SHEEP

THERE was a slightly smaller yarding at Bendigo on Monday of 8775 lambs.

Although new season stock are slowing building and accounted for around 1800 head in this sale. Full field of buyers although not all orders operated fully. Price outcomes were mixed.

The heaviest export old lambs were $10 to $15 cheaper.

from $130 to $145 at an estimated 410c to 420c/kg cwt average.

The main run of heavy crossbred lambs, 26-30kg, varied from $120 to $140 and there was some stand-out sales in this category for lambs around 26-27kg cwt which sold to domestic processors.

Webb Bridgewater (116) $144. I & P Durie Wycheproof (79) $140. Forres P/L Rochester (162) $140. D & D Pelligrino Wycheproof

marketed by the company. The lower than expected crop has been driven by the unusually cold and shorter growing season delivering lower-than-average oil content in the fruit combined with smaller-than-normal fruit size.

“Olive oil quality is excellent, with an historical high percentage of the oil produced being classified as premium or ultrapremium extra virgin olive oil.”

Cobram Estate said it would have sufficient supply to meet the requirements of its packaged goods sales plan over the next 12 months.

Cobram Estate shares closed at $1.25 on Monday.

Field day introduces student tours

A TOUR designed for secondary school students has been added to next month’s Birchip Cropping Group field day.

North Central LLEN’s agriculture education project co-ordinator Susan Gould said the tours were an authentic way for stu-

dents to immerse themselves in the gold standard of broadacre cropping and livestock research.

“For our students who aspire to be farmers, it is essential to show them the depth and range of quality information available in their local region,” she said.

The sweet spot of the sale was nicely weighted trade lambs in the 22-27kg range, and this led to the unusual result of heavy trades claiming the top dollar per head price against much heavier lambs.

The market top was $148 for heavy trade new season lambs which averaged dearer than a week ago.

There was mixed price results over the general run of old season lambs, some of the lighter and plainer types improving on a week ago.

Demand was keenest over the new season lambs, with fresh 2426kg pens selling from $136 to a top of $148.

The heaviest pen of new season lambs made $138, showing how trade types were favoured in this sale.

Medium trade young lambs $115 to $125, and light types to processors $65 to $107.

The lead pens of young lambs to processors were estimated as costing from 530c to 570c/kg cwt. Competition was dull for extra heavy old lambs which sold

Tradeweight old lambs 22-24kg mostly $92 to $112. The trend for old season lambs to processors was 420c to 480c/kg cwt.

Light and plainer lambs mostly $30 to $90, some sales showing stronger results on the discounted rates of the past fortnight. It was a negative sheep sale across all weights and grades.

Price falls of $10 to $20/head were common. Heavy ewes $55 to a top of $88, with a standout pen of extra large crossbred wethers making the top price of $124.

General run of medium and light sheep $10 to $50/head. Majority of sheep tracked under 200c/kg cwt, the exception being the best of the nicely weighted trade lots that made 200c to 235c/kg at times.

Restockers paid $88 to $128 for SIL crossbred ewes.

SUCKERS

Womboota Past Womboota (87) $140. B & J Colvin Bunnaloo (34) $137.

MERINO STORE LAMBS

Bronte Past Ivanhoe (130) $55. Bronte Past Ivanhoe (298) $46.50.

CROSSBRED LAMBS

McRae Oaks Gre Gre Nth (36) $145. P

GRAIN

Boort

First-time buyer picks up six

LOCAL buyers were again prominent at Kedleston Park Merino and Poll Merino Stud’s on-property ram sale last Friday.

Fentons Creek’s Steven Finch was a first-time buyer at the Calivil stud auction.

Steven said the genetics of Kedleston Park ticked his boxes for lambing percentages, wool and frame.

“We run 2500 Merino ewes that were joined to white Suffolks this year,” Steven said.

“With these six new rams, we’ll have about half being joined to Merinos next year.”

Steven said he had decided to make the switch to Kedleston Park after viewing the stud’s rams at this month’s Victorian State Field Day.

Regular local buyers at Kedleston Park, including the Tonkins of Wedderburn, Isaacs of Powlett Plains and the Colvins, also of Powlett Plains, were successful bidders on multiple lots.

The auction sold 41 of 60 rams offered for an average of $2181 with a number of passed-in rams sold later in the afternoon.

Everton’s Grant Heywood purchased five rams for the day. Two went for the equal sale top price of $4000. Grant first bought Ke-

dleston Park Merinos in 2016 after the Calivil stud was part of a wether trial.

“I find their genetics give us better value and very productive sheep,” he said. “We run in a higher rainfall area - averaging 720mm - and the wool handles well and cuts well.”

Grant’s top bid rams were at 18 and 17.9 microns, standard deviation 2.4 and 3.3, coefficient of variation 13.1 and 18.5 and comfort factor of 99.9 and 99,4 per cent.

Also buying at top price were Geordie and Rowena McDonald, of Jubb Pastoral, Hexham, for a ram of 18.3 micron, standard deviation 2.7, coefficient of variation of 14.7 and comfort factor of 99.7 per cent.

Bendigo Sheep & Lamb Market

Report

The yarding featured limited weight variation. Secondary lambs experienced a $10 increase in price, while light mutton saw a $10 reduction.

Kedleston Park principal John Humbert said the annual auction had missed some regular buyers after recent retirements.

He said lower price bids were also a reflection of the industry at the moment.

“But there has been new interest too and we sold five rams soon after the auction finished,” he said.

The Loddon ram sale season continues at Willera Merinos tomorrow.

To discuss the marketing opportunities available for your livestock, contact the McKean McGregor team.

Steven Finch

Kedleston Park principal John Humbert with Grant Heywood and agent Steven Chalmers are paying equal top price on two rams at Friday’s on-property sale. LH PHOTO

By PETER WALSH

VICTORIA must immediately follow Western Australia and pull back from the brink of the outrageous overreach of its backroom deal to give indigenous groups across the Wimmera sweeping powers to totally rewrite and run everything from renaming roads to co-managing critical functions such as biosecurity and waterways.

A deal with 39 protocols, to which the 10 councils were blindsided by the bombshell announcement must not only adhere but must also fund at ratepayer expense.

In WA last week, the Premier Roger Cook apologised to the people of his state for laws he says, “put simply” went too far. Sorry is not a word you will ever hear from Daniel Andrews, but the stealth attack he has sprung on the Wimmera is an incredibly sorry shambles which is only creating more division, not less – and is an attack on the rights of all Victorians.

Reconciliation is ‘the action of making one view or belief compatible with another’. Reconciliation is also, just as clearly, neither about give, nor take, but about give and take – to be embraced by all Australians, it needs to be embraced by everyone living in Australia.

Yes, it’s a cultural process, but it’s also a social process, educational, generational and, in this day and age, it’s also a financial process.

After 21 years in Parliament, the past five as shadow minister for Aboriginal affairs, I have learnt both sides of this unresolved debate have a long list of issues, questions, demands and expectations they want met – by the other side.

Points on both sides are valid. Many are not. Ranging from the emotive to the ridiculous, they have been there for a long time, have marred debate for decades and will continue as potholes and hurdles in the years ahead.

All these overreactions – the West Wimmera decision, the laws in WA, and definitely the Voice in Canberra – all exacerbate the sense of division, creating an opaque scenario. In Canberra, the Prime

STATE PERSPECTIVE

Minister seems determined not to bring us closer together but to enshrine in our Constitution a genuine separateness. In Spring Street the Premier has done his deal in secret and then dumped a fait accompli on the unsuspecting region. WA did theirs in the open and had the wisdom to realise they had got it terribly wrong and apologised to everyone.

You can look around regional Victoria today and see just how far this had got beyond a joke.

Look at our cultural heritage overlays, where indigenous corporations, elders or just about anyone whose heritage identifies with a certain area, have been given enormous, intangible, powers over who can, and cannot, do everything or nothing.

No qualifications needed, no licensing protocols, and absolutely no regulations, which rule every other part of our working lives.

If you contact the relevant individuals/organisations to discuss overlay implications on your project, it can take weeks, or months, just to get someone to return your initial call or email.

There is no established scale of fees, decision makers can charge what they want – and they do.

I have a constituent wanting to build guest cabins on his private property. Denied. To appeal he was told it would cost $30,000 to commission a report – and he wouldn’t get a copy.

One Kow Swamp farmer wanted to bring in machinery to dredge his GMW channels. Denied. Another wants vehicular access to his pump. Denied. Although he can carry whatever he wants, after climbing a fence. This is not just wrong, it’s unbelievable. When the Kow Swamp farmers finally got someone from the indigenous corporation to answer a phone, they conceded they had never been to the swamp. Seriously?

Three per cent of Australians ‘identify as being indigenous’ according to the ABS. This isn’t even a case of the tail wagging the dog. The whole system is out of kilter and everyone’s paying the price.

*PeterWalshisthememberforMurrayPlains

1. Name the layer of the Earth situated between the crust and the core.

2. In which town/city would you find the longest train station platform in Australia?

3. The popular board game ‘Battleship’ has how many classes of ship?

4. Name them.

5. Where on a fish is the caudal fin?

6. What would you call a pair of glasses with a long handle on one side?

7. Moaning Myrtle is a character in which famous book and movie series?

8. A blue steak is a steak that has been seared on the outside, but is what in the middle?

9. 30 years of marriage is symbolised by which object?

10. In which year was Tutankhamun’s tomb discovered?

11. Murophobia is the fear of what?

12. Saint James is the patron saint of which country?

13. What colour is the ribbon of the Victoria Cross medal?

14. Which continent separated from Australia to create the Great Australian Bite?

15. A male bear is called a what?

16. Mead is made by fermenting what?

17. Which character from Scooby-Doo wears glasses?

18. Minerva was the Roman Goddess of what?

19. In a game of croquet, how many hoops are used?

20. Which author created the character Noddy?

ANSWERS

PETER

WALSH

VOICE IN PARLIAMENT

We are family, friends, colleagues and neighbours

We are family, friends, colleagues and neighbours

— but most of all we are a community.

We are family, friends, colleagues and neighbours

If you need advice or assistance with anything related to government,

The coronavirus pandemic has had a profound impact on all our lives so looking after your mental wellbeing is essential. It is normal to feel anxious, stressed and fearful during times of crisis. The Federal Government is providing support for the mental health and wellbeing of Australians as we face the challenges of the pandemic; go to www.headtohealth.gov.au if you feel like you might need some additional help coping with anxiety and worry about Coronavirus.

The coronavirus pandemic has had a profound impact on all our lives so looking after your mental wellbeing is essential. It is normal to feel anxious, stressed and fearful during times of crisis. The Federal Government is providing support for the mental health and wellbeing of Australians as we face the challenges of the pandemic; go to www.headtohealth.gov.au if you feel like you might need some additional help coping with anxiety and worry about Coronavirus.

in your general day-to-day life, please contact my of ce on the details below and we will do our best to help you.

We are in this together, and together we will get through.

For the latest Coronavirus information go to peterwalsh.org.au or follow us on

For the latest Coronavirus information go to peterwalsh.org.au or follow us on

The coronavirus pandemic has had a profound impact on all our lives so looking after your mental wellbeing is essential. It is normal to feel anxious, stressed and fearful during times of crisis. The Federal Government is providing support for the mental health and wellbeing of Australians as we face the challenges of the pandemic; go to www.headtohealth.gov.au if you feel like you might need some additional help coping with anxiety and worry about Coronavirus. Peter

of We are in this together, and together we will get through.

1. Mantle 2. Albury, NSW 3. Five 4.

Carrier, Battleship, Destroyer, -Subma rine, Patrol Boat 5. Tail 6. Lorgnette 7. Harry Potter 8. Raw 9. Pearl 10. 1922 11. Mice and rats

or

our best to help you.

Whole system out of kilter

RICHARD EVANS TELLS THE LODDON HERALD’S CHRIS EARL ABOUT HIS GREAT BARN FIND

Listen to that purr

THEY were the trucks of Richard Evans’ childhood, emblazoned with a griffin making their way up hills and through the dales of Wales.

Medium-duty Bedford trucks that ventured on British motorways from the 1920s, production adapted to make military vehicles during World War Two.

And as Britain edged back to life after war ended in 1945, Bedford trucks were back in production.

One of the first off the production line post-war was the Model M, a version straight from Richard’s childhood and never forgotten for the Welshman who has tinkered with engines most of his life.

For 50 years, Richard has been an Australian and living in Serpentine where he ran the town’s garage and drove the school bus until retirement beckoned just a couple of years ago.

One of the projects waiting on the workbench was an Australian version 1948 Bedford Model M.

“It was a typical barn find,” said Richard of the truck found in a shed at Rheola 20 years ago and now brought back to life.

“Listen to that purr,” he says when starting the engine and letting it idle.

“I started at the front and worked to the back. Stripped everything right back and had it sandblasted.

“Listen to that purr ... a Bedford big six (cylinder),” he says again.

The Bedford had once been owned by the Conways at Rheola. On the doors was painted their farm sign featuring garlic and its Latin name allium sativum.

“When I was having the body painted, I asked that signwriting be preserved. The advice came back that it had been painted on with ordinary house paint, become chalky and couldn’t be saved. So they had a designer replicate the heritage-style sign on the door panels,” he said.

While garlic inhibits and destroys bacteria, fungus, and parasites, as well as lowers blood pressure, cholesterol, and sugar levels, preventing blood clotting and protecting the liver, it has not once deterred Richard from his project and provides company to the griffin that proudly waves the Bedford flag on the

truck’s badge. The Bedford M model stayed in production until 1952. Part of the General-Motors group, Bedford would be exported to Commonwealth countries in good numbers after World War Two and even manufactured in Australia.

A partnership with Isuzu saw the Bedford badge dropped in the 1990s.

Richard is still on the lookout for some authentic Bedford parts.

“On the English model, the windscreen folds out. I would re-

ally like to add that to this truck. And the driver’s window trim ... on the English model you would push the window down but the Australian model is rolled down.”

Restoration of the Model M has been a love affair for Richard. “I grew up with these old girls ... knew their failings and how to fix them.”

Adapting plans has also been part of the project. “The original plan was to turn the tray into a campervan and for my wife Mary and I to head off in it around the

world after retirement,” he said. “I wanted to take it back to Wales for a visit.”

Bedford was the commercial vehicle arm of GM’s British outfit Vauxhalls. The first vehicles to roll off the UK production lines were vans, ambulances and small bus models in 1929, trucks and larger buses appeared two years later.

Like the griffin of Bedfords and Vauxhalls - the mythical creature with the body of a lion and the head and often wings of an

eagle - Richard won’t discount the notion of adventures abroad for his Model M just back in his shed, motor nicely purring, receiving its bright red paint job.

“Who knows,” he said as the contented Bedford engine whirs in the background and sends Richard’s eyes darting towards more restoration projects sitting on the retirement workbench.

And one of the first local trips for his Bedford? Back out Rheola way to where the Model M was found in a barn shed.

Richard Evans with his restoration pride and joy ... a 1948 Bedford M model. LH PHOTO

Serpentine’s Richard Evans brings the Bedford home after its restoration paint coat. LH PHOTOS

SPORT

LAST, Richard

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

Notice of an Application for Planning Approval

The land a ected by the application is located at: 1477 Yorkshire Road, Newbridge VIC 3551

The application is for a permit to: Use and development of the land for a composting and bagging facility (industry)

The applicant for the permit is: Sage Hanh, Van Shalk’s Bio Gro

The application reference number is: 5901

You may look at the application and any documents that support the application at the o ce of the Responsible Authority. Loddon Shire Council O ces – 41 High Street Wedderburn VIC 3518

This can be done during o ce hours and is free of charge.

Please direct any queries to the Planning Department by calling (03) 5494 1200 or emailing planning@loddon.vic.gov.au .

Any person who may be a ected by the granting of the permit may object or make other submissions to the Responsible Authority.

An objection must:

 be in writing

 state how you will be a ected by the granting of the permit  be sent to the Responsible Authority at PO Box 21 Wedderburn 3518

The Responsible Authority will not decide on this application before: 14 September 2023

If you object, the Responsible Authority will tell you its decision

Careers at Loddon

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.

Manager Community Services - ref. J/233

 Full-time, permanent position

 Based at the Wedderburn O ce with exible work location options available

 Band 8 - $112,907 - $125,730 per annum plus employer superannuation.

Manager Community Partnerships - ref. J/234

 Full-time, permanent position

 Based at the Wedderburn O ce with exible work location options available  Band 8 - $112,907 - $125,730 per annum plus employer superannuation.

Community Recovery Support O cerref.J/226

 Part-time, xed term position (until March 2024)

 Based at our Wedderburn O ce with exible work location options available

 Band 4 - $64,566.32 - $69,060.16 per annum pro rata plus employer superannuation

Applications for the position above will close on Monday 4 September 2023 at 5pm.

Visitor Information Centre Administration O cer - ref.J/228

 Part-time, permanent position

 Based at the Loddon Information Centre

 Band 3 (Special Engagement)

Applications for the position above will close on Monday 28 August 2023 at 5pm. 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.

Back: Ash Rigg (C Grade best), Jess Polkinghorne (most Improved), Bec Hughes (coach’s award), Holly Lockhart(A Grade runner-up), Aliza Lockhart(A Grade best). Front: Susie Lockhart(C Grade runer-up), Olivia Lockhart (A Grade players’ choice)), Ingrid Gould (B Grade best), Bec Turnbull (coach’s Award), Courtney Gleeson (A Grade coach’s award).

WEDDERBURN held its senior best and fairest counts on Sunday with Jordan Rosengren taking out the top football award. Rosengren is pictured (centre) with Darcy Jackson (coach’s award), equal runnersup Joe Lockhart and Tom Campbell and coach Sam Barnes who was the top goal kicker. Cam Long won the reserves’ best and fairest from Dane Keuken with the coach’s award going to Max Chapman and Gerald Riley the leading goal kicker. The club’s junior presentations will be made tomorrow night.

Fitzpatrick romps home

JARROD Fitzpatrick was awarded the Geoff Allison Memorial Shield after winning Boort Football Club’s best and fairest on Sunday.

Fitzpatrick polled 72 votes to win from Rhyan McGhie with 49.

Eddie Moresi was awarded the Wally Manallack Junior Club Person Award.

Eddie is a member of the Pies’ under 17s, regularly acts as a boundary umpire and runs water for the senior games.

This year Eddie has become a trainer and has been assisting with reserves and seniors after he has played, in addition to this Eddie regularly tapes and helps out his team mates before training and games.

Seniors – best and fairest: Jarrod Fitzpzatrick. Runnere-up: Ryan McGhie. Most

consistent: Alex Davis. Most valuable Jack Smith. Rising star: Tom Potter. Coach’s award: Jarrod Starr. Reserves – best and fairest: Pat

O’Rourke. Runner-up: Ethan Coleman.

Most consistent: Jack Kerr. Most valuable: Jordy Sheahan. Utility: Kobie Streader.

Coach’s award: Tim Flick.

Under 17 – best and fairest: Lachlan

Hall. Runner-up: Max Beattie. Most consistent: Riley Wagner. Most determined: Alex

Cockerell. Most improved: Brodie Arnold.

Most improved: Beau Herrington.

Under 14 – best and fairest: Cooper

Gooding. Runner-up: Seth Muller. Most

improved: Deklan Kinh. Best team player: Chaise Hird. Coach’s award: Noah Howe

Netball - Under 17 best and fairest: Eliza

Perryman. Runner-up Phoebe Henderson.

Coach’s award: Isabell Hosking, Bridie Doyle. Wally Manallack award: Eliza Perryman. C Grade - Pheobe Malone. Runnerup Brooke Arnold, Coach’s award: Mikayla Millar. B Grade - Emmerson Doyle. Runnerup Kazz Adams. A Grade - Carly Isaac. Run-

ner-up Roxy Train. A and B coach’s award

Emma Darker, Grace Hosking, Montanna Twigg.

Mann takes out final round of singles’ knockout

THE final of the singles knockout was played by Pyramid Hill golfers on Sunday and it was a thrilling finish with David Mann defeating Wayne Maxted on the 19th hole.

Ted Carmody continued his good form and was the overall winner of the day with 37 points. Runner-up was Maree Ring with 36 points. Nearest the pin on hole 16 was John Kennedy.

BOORT

WITH the nine-hole course

now in play, it was great to have eight players battle it out in Saturday’s stableford competition at Boort.

Continuing on with his consistent form all year, Kevin Linehan racked up yet another win with an impressive 40 points. He was three clear of Stuart Tweddle and Peter Eicher, who were left to claim the two balls up for grabs in the ball pool.

In the nearest the pins, Doug Couper won two, while Hamish Lanyon picked up the remaining one.

Under 17 netball best and fairest Eliza Perryman

LODDON VALLEY QUALIFYING FINALS

Magpies have horror run to finals

NORTH Central A Grade netball top side Boort has had its third defeat in almost as many weeks.

On the eve of finals, the Pies went down in a two-goal throller to fellow flag contender Nullawil in a match that was tight on the court and scoreboard all day.

14 AND UNDER A

Birchip Watchem 10, 22, 31, 39, (39) d St Arnaud 9, 14, 23, 25, (25). Wedderburn 0, 1,

2, 2, (2) lost to Sea Lake Nandaly 13, 23, 32, 32, (32). Donald 7, 17, 21, 30, (30) d Charlton

1, 6, 9, 10, (10). Boort 4, 8, 14, 19, (19) lost to

Nullawil 4, 16, 27, 36, (36).

17 AND UNDER

Boort 7, 13, 18, 22, (22) dNullawil 6, 8, 11, 17, (17). Wedderburn 5, 11, 2 2, 32, (32) lost to Sea Lake Nandaly 12, 24, 28, 33, (33). Donald 4, 11, 25, 35, (35) d Charlton 5, 11, 13, 16, (16).

Birchip Watchem 12, 29, 43, 50, (50) d St Arnaud 5, 5, 7, 12, (12).

B GRADE

Donald 11, 21, 32, 49, (49) d Charlton 10, 20, 30, 36, (36). Boort 9, 17, 29, 41, (41) lost to Nullawil 10, 22, 36, 48, (48). Wedderburn 17, 34, 49, 68, (68) d Sea Lake Nandaly 7, 13, 20, 25, (25). Birchip Watchem 17, 31, 48, 66, (66) d St Arnaud 6, 7, 11, 20, (20), 70, (70).

A GRADE

Boort 11, 21, 29, 42, (42) lost to Nullawil 11, 26, 33, 44, (44). Donald 8, 22, 33, 47, (47) d Charlton 7, 20, 29, 39, (39). Wedderburn 16, 35, 49, 64, (64) d Sea Lake Nandaly 6, 13, 19, 31, (31). Birchip Watchem 14, 31, 45, 64, (64)d

14 AND UNDER B

Birchip Watchem 0, 3, 4, 6, (6) lost to St Arnaud 5, 8, 9, 12, (12). Wedderburn lost to Sea Lake Nandaly 0-20. Donald d Charlton 22-5.

NORTH CENTRAL JUNIOR FOOTBALL

\UNDER 14

Wedderburn

Sea Lake

(22)

GOALS - Wedderburn: Not supplied. Sea Lake Nandaly: C. O’Sullivan 2, B. Barbary, H. Cox, Z. Wight, C. WinterGoldman.

BEST - Wedderburn: B. Cramp, C. Finch, A. Roberts, W. Huismann, B. Turnbull. Sea Lake Nandaly: N. McClelland, C. Winter-Goldman, T. Borlase, S. Barbary, M. Bailey, B. Barbary. Boort

GOALS - Not supplied.

BEST - Boort: B. McPherson, J. O’Flaherty, S. McClelland, O. Byrne, L. King. Nullawil: T. Vearing, D. Coles, H. Humphreys, L. Higgins, T. Kemp.

C GRADE

Donald 12, 27, 48, 63, (63) d Charlton 6, 10, 14, 18, (18). Boort 13, 24, 36, 43, (43) d Nullawil 12, 18, 25, 37, (37). Wedderburn 15, 26, 37, 45, (45) lost to Sea Lake Nandaly 11, 24, 36, 48, (48). Birchip Watchem 12, 26, 41, 54, (54) d St Arnaud 7, 11, 13, 15, (15).

THIS WEEKEND’S NETBALL FINALS

LODDON VALLEY

A GRADE

First semi-final

Marong v Pyramid Hill

Second semi-final

Maiden Gully v Mitiamo

B GRADE

First semi-final

Pyramid Hill v Bridgewater

Second semi-final

Marong v Maiden Gully

C GRADE

First semi-final

Pyramid Hill v Newbridge

Second semi-final

Maiden Gully v Marong

C RESERVE

First semi-final

Bears Lagoon Serpentine v Newbridge

Second semi-final

Marong v Maiden Gully

17 AND UNDER

First semi-final

Bears Lagoon Serpentine v Maiden Gully

Second semi-final

Marong v Bridgewater

15 AND UNDER

First semi-final

Inglewood v Maiden Gully

Second semi-final

Calivil v Bridgewater

13 AND UNDER

First semi-final

Maiden Gully v Inglewood

Second semi-final

Calivil v Bridgewater

NORTH CENTRAL

FIRST SEMI-FINALS

A GRADE

Birchip Watchem v Nullawil

B GRADE

Donald v Wedderburn

C GRADE

Birchip Watchem v Donald

17 & Under A

Nullawil v Donald

14 & Under A

Sea Lake Nandaly v Birchip

Watchem

14 and under B

Sea Lake Nandaly v Donald

NORTH CENTRAL HOCKEY

GOALS - Wedderburn: T. Lowe. Sea Lake Nandaly: F. Warne, E. Ellis, C. OSullivan 6, C. Winter-Goldman, R. Billman, T. Griffiths, J. Stacey.

BEST - Wedderburn: N. Winslett, M. Punguika, T. Lovett, F. Lock. Sea Lake Nandaly: F. Warne, J. Newick, B. Allan, C. OSullivan, T. Griffiths, J. Stacey.

BEST - Boort: N. Scott, M. Beattie, H. Malone, B. Wagner, F. Gjørup. Nullawil: S. Kelly, L. Cooper, J. Box, T.

M. Fawcett.

LADDER: Sea Lake Nandaly 60, Donald 56, Boort 52, Charlton 36, St Arnaud 32, Nullawil 24, Birchip Watchem 20, Wycheproof Narraport 4, Wedderburn

Wedderburn 21, Donald 0.

Men: Birchip Watchem lost to St Arnaud 8, Donald d Charlton 3-0. Ladder: Wycheproof Narraport 86, St Arnaud 86, Boort 75, Donald 50, Sea Lake Nandaly 22, Charlton 19, Birchip Watchem 3.

Under 12: Birchip Watchem lost to St Arnaud 0-4, Donald lost to Charlton 0-3, Wedderburn lost to Sea Lake Nandaly Tigers 0-1. Ladder: St Arnaud 94, Wycheproof Narraport 76, Charlton 62, Birchip Watchem 60, Donald 40, Sea Lake Nandaly 36, Wedderburn 14, Boort 0. Under 15: Birchip Watchem d St Arnaud 1-0, Donald lost to Charlton 1-4, Wedderburn lost to Sea Lake Nandaly 0-5. Ladder: Sea Lake Nandaly 81, St Arnaud 81, Birchip Watchem 79, Boort 55, Charlton 40, Donald 33, Wycheproof Narraport

14, Wedderburn 7. Women: Birchip Watchem lost to St Arnaud 2-3, Donald lost to Charlton 0-11, Wedderburn lost to Sea Lake Nandaly Tigers 0-1. Ladder: Charlton 95, Wycheproof Narraport 81, St Arnaud 57, Birchip Watchem 57, Boort 38, Sea Lake Nandaly 38,

Boort Hockey Club’s senior best and fairest Ella Lanyon. AP PHOTO

Pyramid Hill A Grade team’s wing attack Amber Angel

Straight back to business

NEW Boort life members Nathan and Kristen Gooding have had little time for celebration since receiving their awards on Sunday.

The pair were recognised by the football and netball clubs ahead of the North Central finals series where Boort features in three football four netball grades.

Nathan, who earlier this month played his 400th game for the club, will be among Pies taking the field in Saturday’s reserves first sem-final against Birchip Watchem.

He was praised at Sunday’s club presentation day for extraordinary dedication and commitment.

Nathan has won premierships in under 14s, 16s, seniors and reserves. And he has coached both under 14s and reserves during a celebrated career.

Boort has had just two losses and a draw in the home again season and will go in against the Bulls as favourites.

The Pies could be bolstered by a several players who had been called up to cover injuries in the senior side in recent weeks.

Good starts in final season encounters

SEASON 2023 has ended for Boort and Wedderburn clubs with losses in the final home and away round.

Wedderburn had the toughest assigned against undefeated Sea Lake Nandaly but held sway on the scoreboard in the first half.

However, the Redbacks were held to just one goal after the main break as the Tigers took hold of play.

Boort again put in a competitive opening term before Nullawil went away with the match.

Fitzpatrick was again best for the Magpies with good support coming from Potter, Davis and Chisari. McLaren and Holland each kicked two goals.

Just nine per cent denied Boort finishing second on the ladder after finishing the home and away season level on points with Nullawil.

Boort defeated the Maroons by 25 points last Saturday, breaking away with a blitzing final term.

In the under 14s, Boort has been one of three standout sides for the season, dropping just three games.

Along with Sea Lake Nandaly and Donald, the Pies have dominated the competition and should be too strong for Saturday’s first semi-final opponent Charlton.

Brodie McPherson, Jake O’Flaherty, Samuel McClelland, Owen Byrne and Liam King were among their best in last Saturday’s win over Nullawil.

And new netball life member Kristen Gooding and her teammates, like Boort under 17 footballers, have an extra week to prepare for their second-semi final encounters.

The Pies finished on top of the A, B and C Grade ladders, the C grade team undefeated. The under 17 footballers also finished second.

Feeny Medal nine for Loddon pair

BOORT’S Jarrod Fitzpatrick and Wedderburn’s Jordan Rosengren were the highest-polling Loddon club players in Saturday’s North Central league Feeny Medal count.

They each scored nine votes in the 18-round home and away season.

Fitzpatrick was judged best on ground by umpires in the round 11 clash against Charlton and again in round 17 against St Arnaud.

When the Loddon sides clashed in round five, the votes went to Wedderburn’s Jayden Jones (3), Sam Lockhart (2) and Boort’s Nat McLaren (1).

The return encounter had Wedderburn’s Tom Campbell (3), Sam Barnes (2) and Boort’s Chris Hatcher (1).

The medal was shared by Nicholas Rippon (Birchip Watchem) and Trent Donnan (Sea Lake Nandaly), each on 20 votes,

IN FRONT OF GOAL

SENIORS 89 - (10) - Sam Dunstan - Donald 84 - (15) - Ben Edwards - Birchip Watchem 57 - (1) - Sam Barnes - Wedderburn 46 - (3) - Billy Mcinnes - Sea Lake Nandaly

41 - (0) - Nick Thompson - Charlton

40 - (2) - Adam Thomson - Nullawil

39 - (1) - Nathan Gordon - Birchip Watchem

36 - (4) - John Summerhayes - Sea Lake N

36 - (0) - Joshua Jenkins - Sea Lake Nandaly

SENIORS

35 - (2) - Tom Campbell - Wedderburn

32 - (6) - Jordan Humphreys - Nullawil

32 - (3) - Daniel Castellano - Birchip Watchem RESERVES

50 - (0) - Billy Poulton - Sea Lake Nandaly

41 - (1) - Patrick O’Rourke - Boort

40 - (2) - Callum Goode - Birchip Watchem

38 - (0) - Ben Brennan - Wycheproof N

34 - (0) - Jarrod Taylor - Nullawil

from 2022 winner Ross Young and Donald team mate Ryley Barrack on 16.

Sea Lake Nandaly’s Callan Noonan won the reserves best and fairest with 18 votes, all coming in the first nine rounds. He was a regular in the senior side for the second half of the season.

Boort’s highest polling reserves were Patrick O’Rourke with 13 votes and Mitch Buchanan 12.

Lachlan Hall and Alex Cockerell polled strongly for Boort in the under 17 vote count. Both have had senior games this season. Hall finished with 21 and Cockerell 20 to end third and fourth in the count.

Nullawil’s Sol Kelly took out the award with 35 votes from St Arnaud’s Tyson Funston.

Wedderburn’s Robert Whyman, polled 10 votes.

THIS WEEK

FIRST SEMI FINALS

SENIORS Donald v Nullawil

RESERVES Boort v Birchip Watchem

UNDER 17 Birchip Watchem v Sea Lake Nandaly

UNDER 14 Boort v Charlton

New league plan abruptly pulled from table

AFL Central Victoria late last Thursday abruptly dropped plans for a new league in 2024.

The announcement came a week after the idea was floated aimed at clubs “who feel that the league they are currently competing in is not aligned to their shortand long-term goals”.

AFL Central Victoria had wanted either a new two-tier Bendigo league or standalone competition but backlash from leagues and clubs has seen plans dropped.

It is understood the commission met with several clubs to gauge their interest in the change. While not naming those clubs, it is believed Loddon Valley clubs Marong and Maiden Gully were part of talks.

The two clubs have lodged applications to switch to the Heathcote league in 2024, citing junior pathways as their reason.

In a statement, AFL Central Victoria

meneral manager Craig Armstead said: “Earlier this week AFL Central Vic Commission members met with executive members from a number of our clubs.

“The purpose of the meeting was to consider the future of senior football and netball in the Greater Bendigo region.

“Consistent with a meeting held on the same topic on July 30, and subsequent discussions, the session was well attended, with club representatives engaged and offering valuable feedback and ideas.

“The meeting provided further evidence to the commission that there is desire and support for change to the current structure of competitions.

“However, there was unanimous agreement that any change needs to be fully planned and well executed. Any change is significant with senior football, senior and junior netball, and junior football all important considerations. Therefore, it

is confirmed that there will not be any changes to the senior football/netball competitions for the 2024 season.”

Armstead said: “It is noted that consistent with AFL Victoria Community Affiliate Regulations, club transfers between leagues for the 2024 season can occur at any time between August 1 and October 31 2023. Existing requests for clubs to transfer Leagues for 2024 will continue the process they are currently undertaking. All parties agreed that there has been great value in the meetings which had occurred, and a commitment was made to hold these sessions on a quarterly basis.

In the interim, AFL Central Vic will continue to undertake research and prepare information and options for consideration,” Armstead said.

Heathcote league was due to meet last night to decide the fate of Maiden Gully and Marong applications.

GOALS - Birchip Watchem: B. Edwards

D. Castellano 3, B. Christodoulou, N. Rippon 2, M. Rippon, N. Gordon, J. Randal.

BEST - Birchip Watchem: B. Edwards, N. Rippon, L. Sirett, C. Wilson, D. Reid. St Arnaud: M. Birthisel, M. Egan, H. McNally, A. Bourke, H. Durward, D. Gifford.

GOALS - Donald: S. Dunstan

R. Young, T. Grant 4, H. Geddes, S. Dinnell 2, J. Wallin, B. Grant, R. Bath, D. Bell-Warren, H. Forrest. Charlton: C. Gavaghan, H. Taylor, S. Woods.

BEST - Donald: S. Dunstan, B. Grant, R. Young, D. Bell-Warren, J. Wallin, H. Geddes. Charlton: S. Woods, J. Thompson, J. Cowling, A. Judd, J. Taylor, N. Thompson.

GOALS - Wedderburn: T. Campbell 2, J. Rosengren, Louis Holt, M. McEwen, S. Barnes, J. McEwen. Sea Lake Nandaly: J. Summerhayes 4, T. McKenzie, T. Cox, B. McInnes 3, C. Cox, M. Elliott, B. Delmenico, T. Donnan.

GOALS - Boort: N. McLaren, F. Holland 2, J. Mulquiny, S. Biggs, H. Weaver, T. Potter, S. Green. Nullawil: J. Humphreys 6, A. Oberdorfer 5, A. Thomson, D. Smith 2, D. Isbister, M. Thomson, Z. Caccaviello.

BEST - Boort: J. Fitzpatrick, T. Potter, A. Davis, M. Chisari, M. Hodoras. Nullawil: D. Smith, P. Kelly, J. Humphreys, M. Quigley, J. Casey, A. Oberdorfer.

RESERVES

GOALS - Boort: A. Jackson, T. Rhook 2, M. Rice, P. O’Rourke, C. O’Rourke, J. Coleman. Nullawil: Not supplied.

BEST - Boort: J. Hall, J. Coleman, M. Buchanan, E. Coleman, A. Jackson, J. Dowling. Nullawil: M. Barry, M. Hogan, J. Barry, J. Vearing, C. Fawcett, T. Fawcett.

Birchip Watchem 21-14 (140)

St Arnaud 0.3 (3)

GOALS - Birchip Watchem: D. Batarilo 8, J. Boyle 5, J. Goldsmith 4, C. Goode 2, T. Batarilo, L. Randall.

BEST - Birchip Watchem: Not supplied. St Arnaud: H. McNally, S. Elliott, S. Male, W. Deason, A. Craddock, T. Johns.

Donald 0.1 1.4 1.4 2.6 (18) Charlton 4.4 4.4 5.9 5.11 (41)

GOALS - Donald: B. Dixon, G. Beckham. Charlton: A. Nisbet 2, L. Whykes, J. Lanyon, P. Soulsby.

BEST - Donald: N. Clark, J. Adams, D. Gowlett, D. Hawkes, B. Dixon, G. Beckham. Charlton: B. Sexton, L. Whykes, T. Catherine, L. Holmes-Brown, P. Soulsby, D. Whykes.

Wedderburn 0.0 1.2 1.2 1.2 (8) Sea Lake N 8.6 15.7 23.12 29.15 (189)

GOALS - Not supplied.

BEST - Wedderburn: J. Hayes, A. Brett, A. Younghusband, C. Hargreaves, F. Turnbull, C. Cunningham. Sea Lake Nandaly: C. Allan, A. Collins, C. Michael, D. Hickey, C. Tait, C. Elliott.

Nathan and Kristen Gooding ... awarded life memberships of the Boort football and netball clubs on Sunday.

Pointy end experience makes the difference

BRIDGEWATER made an ominous statement in its elimination final thriller over Inglewood on Sunday.

Your can’t beat experience, were the words that could have come from Harry Donegan, Tyler Estrada, Joshua Martyn and Alexander Pollock.

The quartet brought young Mean Machiners into the game - Harry McKinley, Darcy Wood - particularly in the final term when Inglewood finally hit the lead mid-way through the fourth quarter.

The Blues were playing their first final in two decades, the pressure obvious early in the game before a classic final unfolded.

Inglewood would get close, only for the Mean Machine to break away again, even if momentarily.

But it was the pressure applied by Bridgewater in the final 15 minutes that made the difference. The Blues, who had been slick

Three will be back for another season

PYRAMID Hill has re-appointed Nathan Fitzpatrick as coach for a third season.

President Bruce Moon made the announcement to players after Saturday’s qualifying final victory.

Moon said Fitzpatrick was a popular coach at the Mitchell Park kennel and the Bulldogs wanted to continue that relationship.

Fitzpatrick on Sunday backed up on his coaching role by acting as runner for the under 18s.

And Newbridge capped off a big weekend hosting the elimination final with the reappointment of coaches Sam Gale and Daniel Smith for 2024. “After a late start to the 2023 pre-season, both Sam and Smithy put in a mountain of work with our young group and we started seeing the benefits of this work during the second half of the season,” said president Andrew Friswell.

and committed all season delivering hope and success after years in the wilderness, fumbled at key moments in front of goal.

Defence and mid-field turnovers by Charlie Ingham, Thomas Kennedy, Sam Polack, Gabe Nevins, Cody Stobaus and Fergus Payne that had been successful in the third term were bottled up by the Mean Machine.

There was a return to all players in Inglewood’s forward half that had hampered the Blues in the first quarter.

Donegan’s peripheral vision constantly saw opportunities that opened the door for another forward lunge.

Skipper Martyn, who had been out of the side since round 11 back in June, was part of those passages and also finished the day with five goals.

Two came in the third quarter - a stumble on the line saw him just get boot to ball in time, another only minutes later from a mid-air kick of a floating ball.

Inglewood outscored Bridge-

water in the third quarter, a late goal to Fergus Payne bringing the margin back to 10 points at the final change.

Sam Dorevitch and Alex Lowe lifted for Inglewood in the fourth quarter and a series of behinds had the difference down to five points.

Bregon Cotchett snapped to put the Blues in front only for Bridgewater’s Pollock to win the ball from the bounce and set up a goal for Estrada. Charlton Hindle then put the Bridgey 10 points up More Bridgewater goals in the last five minutes to Nicholas Hall and Martyn exaggerated a scoreboard that had been tight most of the game.

Inglewood battled this match out to the final siren. The gritty Blues may have been beaten but they have made huge strides and earned respect in 2023.

For Bridgewater, a mid-season slump is over and a hint that a repeat of 2022 in overcoming underdog status this year is again possible.

One-side finals club has seconds’ depth

INGLEWOOD still had a chance when Thomas Sawers kicked the Blues first goal mid-way through the third quarter of the reserves elimination final against Maiden Gully.

Just a few kicks separated the two in their cut-throat final after more than an hour of football that had seen fluctuating patches at both ends of the ground.

At the first break, Inglewood had one more scoring shot than its opponents.

There were free kicks paid in opportune positions that resulted in offline kicks around sticks for both sides.

The Blues had most of the play early in the third term, Deklen Gorrie carrying on

his work around the ground that was key since the opening bounce.

There was a hint that the Blues were about to the bridge that gap. The game was still in reach and neither side had played a style of football to break free.

But come the final quarter Maiden Gully used its greater strength, and disciplinewhile its on-field depth was aided by players who had picked up a few games in the seniors this season - to start putting the game beyond reach.

The Eagles, with the benefit of only fielding one side in the finals series, set about punishing Inglewood’s kicking inaccuracy up forward. Late goals to Ryan Strauch and

14 Pups with bark to grab win

A LATE goal to Jacob Clough-Fidler saw Pyramid Hill take a one-point victory in Sunday’s elimination final.

The Young Pups, although playing with just 14 players, had surged to a three-goal lead in the opening term and held sway on the scoreboard against Bridgewater until half time.

Bridgewater then turned the tables in the third term with McMahon, Orton and Cale Woodhatch constantly sending the Mean Machine deep forward.

The results were not always accurate - four goals and nine behinds for the term.

Woodhatch, who would kick three majors for the morning, goaled late in the quarter to give the Mean Machine a two-point advantage at the final break.

Pyramid Hill made the most of early play in the last term and soon regained the lead with a goal by Connor McCoy to cap off crucial work in the midfield by Riley Hutton.

The sea-sawing fortunes then played out on the field and the scoreboard.

Woodhatch put Bridgewater back in front, McCoy returned the favour from Pyramid Hill.

Constantly a part of turning over the Mean Machine’s forward lunges were Pups’ co-captains Blake Gibson and Harrison Goodes.

The pair took telling marks at crucial times and created opportunities to score - the game was on a knife-edge and even a behind was

useful. The Pups would add six behinds for the term.

And they were central to stemming momentum-driven passages out of Bridgewater’s defence zone and the dash of Orton and Woodhatch.

It was only the second win of the season for Pyramid Hill, back with a junior side for the first time since 2019.

The season’s improvement was reward for effort. However, a much tougher assignment awaits in this weekend’s first semi-final against Inglewood.

Joey Doolan only inflated the lead beyond the tight tussle that had played out for most of the game.

Those goals came off the back of some undisciplined play from the Blues that opened the day for the Eagles to soar.

Maiden Gully faces a rebounding Bears Lagoon Serpentine in this weekend’s first semi-final.

The Bears have players in their seconds with senior experience and a crop of younger, developing players.

That combination - more skilful tooshould see the Bears get another crack in the finals series.

- CHRIS EARL

SENIORS

(86)

GOALS - Inglewood: F. Payne, A. Lowe 2, J. Leach, C. Ingham, D. Polack, C. Wright, B. Cotchett.Bridgewater: J. Martyn 5, H. Donegan, N. Hall 2, B. Derrick, H. McKinley, C. Hindle, T. Estrada.

BEST - Inglewood: C. Ingham, T. Kennedy, S. Polack, G. Nevins, C. Stobaus, F. Payne. Bridgewater: H. Donegan, C. Hindle, L. Cohen, H. McKinley, T. Estrada, J. Martyn

RESERVES

GOALS - Inglewood: T. Sawers. Maiden Gully: H. Minnis 3, M. Clark, J. Doolan, R. Strauch, T. Hudson.

BEST - Inglewood: K. Dundas, P. Ingamells, J. Phillips, S. Dundas, D. Gorrie, D. Mackay. Maiden Gully: G. Brown, S. Turner, M. Dean, J. Crisp, D. Bice, H. Minnis.

UNDER 18

GOALS - Bridgewater: C. Woodhatch 3, J. Hetherton, T. Pidoto 2. Pyramid Hill: H. Goodes, J. Clough-Fidler, L. Stubbs, C. McCoy.

BEST - Bridgewater: S. McMahon, C. Orton, C. Woodhatch, T. Pidoto, L. Morse-McNabb, W. Salau.

Pyramid Hill: B. Gibson, H. Goodes, R. Hutton, C. McCoy, L. Stubbs, J. Clough-Fidler.

Pyramid Hill’s Dylan Woodbine goes the smother in an intense final term. LH PHOTO

Harry Donegan puts in a mercurial performance. LH PHOTO

Darth Mackay ... among Inglewood’s best

Full-bite Dogs take grunt out of Bears

MINUTES after Bears Lagoon Serpentine’s opening blitz in Saturday’s Loddon Valley league qualifying final, Pyramid Hill showed who was really top dog.

James Rippendale had put the Bears on the scoreboard with a goal straight from the opening bounce.

Intensity and domination was with the Bears in those opening 15 minutes - Rippendale added another two majors to his opening quarter tally. One came from 50 metres out, the other straight from the return centre bounce through a Callum Draper pass.

But Pyramid Hill, boosted by the return of Brodie Carroll and Adrian Holland, was soon looking ominous.

Jack Hickmott, Ed Caburnay and Collis helped Carroll and Billy Micevski into the game. Sidebottom was menacing around the

ground and by quarter time, the Bulldogs had momentum to lead by two points.

An early Carroll goal started a seven-goal haul for Pyramid Hill in the second term. Caburnay’s mid-term air-twisting kick showed the Bulldogs wanted to overcome any obstacle in their quest for a shot at Marong in the second semi-final.

Pyramid Hill had the optics of committed play. They kept Bears’ coach Justin Laird to limited cameos and when Laird did try to lift his side, Pyramid’s defenders were more than equal to the task.

Rippendale’s mid-term goal one of the few highlights for the Bears in the term.

Laird gave a brief glimmer of hope for the Bears when he set up play in the midfield, found Draper who scored what would be the team’s only goal of the second

half early in the third term. Dylan Morison was on top in defence for Pyramid Hill and Sidebottom had his ruck advantage.

Micevski, skipper Steve Gunther and Will Perryman goals capped off the dynamic work of Carroll across the midfield and up forward for the term.

The final quarter degenerated into a lacklustre affair and the ball criss-crossed the Newbridge recreation reserve.

Draper, Dowling and Gadsden refused to give in but Pyramid Hill quickly turned over any forward moves by Serpentine.

Bulldogs coach Nathan Fitzpatrick said his team had moved the ball well after quarter time. That movement, and control, by a Bulldogs’ outfit finally back at strength, was the difference.

- CHRIS EARL

When

the team gets back together

PYRAMID Hill reserves were back at their barking best in Saturday’s qualifying final win over Bears Lagoon Serpentine.

For much of the home and away season, the Bulldogs had been forced to raid their seconds to cover injury gaps in the top side.

While injuries had cruelled their 2022 assaults in the finals, a year later the team is back at strength at the right end of the season.

Andrew Dye and Mitch Gunther, who have accumu-

Youthful wizardry puts Rams on control

INTENSE tackling and a livewire performance from Tyler Rasmussen has seen East Loddon take out the first final for 2023.

The Rams, in only their second year in the competition, broke clear of Inglewood in the last quarter of Saturday’s qualifying final against Inglewood to win by 17 points.

Inglewood had worked to a one-point advantage in the third, after a turnover started on the last line of defence by Jaspa Wendels and worked its way down the ground to Mitchell Jeffrey who kicked

CHRIS EARL

Loddon Herald

SENIORS

First semi-final - Bears Lagoon Serpentine v Bridgewater

Second semi final - Marong v Pyramid Hill RESERVES

First semi-final - Bears Lagoon Serpentine v Maiden Gully

Second semi-final Marong v Pyramid Hill

one of two goals for the game. Wendels, Nevins and Murphy worked to keep the Rams scoreless in the term.

With Rasmussen popping up everywhere, the Rams had final term momentum with an early goal by Jaggar Thomas.

The Blues had their chances but East Loddon kept creating more effective play. A massive knock from Mason Hocking was soon followed by a goal off the boot of Noah Ramskill.

A goal to Jye Rasmussen seconds before the final siren capped off a solid start to finals for the Rams.

THIS WEEKEND’S TIPS

GLENN CATTO

The Oracle

SENIORS

First semi-final - Bears Lagoon Serpentine v Bridgewater

Second semi final - Marong v Pyramid Hill RESERVES

First semi-final - Bears Lagoon Serpentine v Maiden Gully

Second semi-final Marong v Pyramid Hill

lated senior games this season, showed what a difference that experience can makes in the reserves.

Nathan and Matthew Moon, Hetherington and Walker made their presence felt and helped steer Pyramid Hill to a commanding 69-point win.

Dye would kick three goals and the league’s leading goalkicker in the twos, Rowan Pollack also booted three.

The unselfish Pollack set up the first of the side’s 13 goals when he was tackled, handballed

to Dye who scored an early goal as both teams battled for supremacy in the first quarter.

A Thomas Walker snap from half-forward and a wind-assisted major from Tyler Aitken then gave Pyramid Hill the momentum.

The Bulldogs carried that through for the next three quarters.

Nathan Moon had a cracking second term around the scoringend goal as the Bulldogs held Serpentine to one behind and went on to control the match.

SENIORS

GOALS - Pyramid Hill: J. Sheahan, T. Brennan, S. Gunther, B. Micevski, B. Carroll 2, B. Morison, W. Perryman, S. Relouw, L. Sidebottom, Z. Alford, E. Caburnay. Bears Lagoon Serpentine: J. Rippingale 4, C. Draper, J. Bailey.

BEST - Pyramid Hill: B. Carroll, L. Sidebottom, T. McGregor, G. James, J. Sheahan, S. Mann. Bears Lagoon Serpentine: O. Downing, H. Gadsden, J. Rippingale, C. Gadsden, B. Harrison, C. Draper.

RESERVES

BL Serpentine

SENIORS

First semi-final - Bears Lagoon Serpentine v Bridgewater

Second semi final - Marong v Pyramid Hill RESERVES

First semi-final - Bears Lagoon Serpentine v Maiden Gully

Second semi-final Marong v Pyramid Hill

(16)

(85)

GOALS - Bears Lagoon Serpentine: J. Gladman 2. Pyramid Hill: N. Moon, R. Pollock 3, A. Dye 2, T. Walker, T. Aitken, D. Hetherington, B. Culross, D. Mann.

BEST - Bears Lagoon Serpentine: Z. Hollis, A. Edwards, J. Wingrave, Z. Stone, K. Walton, C. O’Shannessy. Pyramid Hill: N. Moon, D. Hetherington, T. Walker, M. Moon, D. Goulding, G. Quinn.

UNDER 18

East Loddon 1.2 3.5 3.5 6.7 (43) Inglewood 0.3 1.5 3.6 3.8 (26)

GOALS - East Loddon: J. Thomas, J. Rasmussen, N. Ramskill, L. James, J. Diss, M. Hancock. Inglewood: M. Jeffrey 2, Z. Joyner.

BEST - East Loddon: T. Rasmussen, J. Diss, C. Tuohey, J. Addlem, T. Harcourt, J. Rasmussen. Inglewood: J. Wendels, G. Nevins, T. Murphy, C. Hackett, M. Jeffrey, C. Hancock.

Richard Hicks LVFNL vice-chair

Tom Hetherington turns over play for Pyramid Hill on Saturday. LH PHOTO

Qualifying final action in the reserves. LH PHOTO

Noah Ramskill wins the bounce for East Loddon.

NO LOCAL BIAS! ALISTAIR McDougal was counting the shots for his Boort team on Sunday when players from across Victoria competed in the local indoor bias bowls club’s ninth annual tournament. Glenn Hudson and Ian Potter skippered local teams to finish in the top 10, Hudson’s team winning two games and drawing one. George Draffin’s Warrnambool rink topped the competition and conceded just seven shots for the day without dropping a game. Two other Warrnambool teams went through undefeated.

AP PHOTO

sport

Thursday August 24, 2023

MOMENT OF HOPE

By CHRIS EARL

LODDON Valley football has been dominated by one club for almost two seasons.

Marong has not been defeated since Pyramid Hill knocked off the Panthers at Malone Park in round four of what would end as a triple premiership season and, for the seniors, a winning streak now sitting at 30 games.

Saturday’s second semi-final at Serpentine will see arguably the two best clubs in the competition battle for direct entry into the grand final.

Marong will take the field rested after sitting out the first week of finals, Pyramid with renewed confidence and at full strength after a commanding win over Bears Lagoon Serpentine last weekend.

Earlier results this season will count for little. The last meeting had Marong winners by 120 points, holding the Bulldogs goalless, when the Mitchell Park outfit was at a low ebb after a string of injuries that had a fair whack watching from the sidelines.

The return of Brodie Carroll injected inspiration into the Bulldogs last Saturday.

While Marong has viritually won every game in the second half of the season by 100-plus points, Pyramid Hill should

challenge like no other team has for two months.

Sunday’s first sem-final at Pyramid Hill will be a huge test of character for Bears Lagoon Serpentine. The Bears on paper can account for Bridgewater but how they bounce back from the qualifying drubbing will be a true indication of character and depth.

Bridgewater last season went all the way to the grand final. The Mean Machine have enough experienced finals campaigners to bring younger players into the game and more than challenge.

From floods to finals: volunteers praised

CONGRATULATIONS have been heaped on Newbridge Football Netball Club for hosting Sunday’s Loddon Valley league elimination final.

The ground that 10 months ago was under water and facilities damaged when the Loddon River hit record levels for the second time in just over a decade, was in top shape for netball and football matches.

Club president Andrew Friswell told the Loddon Herald’s Editor and The Oracle

podcast this week: “We’re blessed to have so many wonderful volunteers.”

Friswell said those volunteers and Loddon Shire Council assistance since the floods had made hosting a final possible in a tough year for the Maroons who played the first half of the season at away grounds. “It’s been a tough season,” he said. THIS WEEK’S EDITOR AND THE ORACLE PODCAST - WWW.LODDONHERALD.COM.AU

Brodie Carroll