Loddon Herald 24 November 2022

„ Premier Daniel Andrews commits a re-elected Labor government to a co-located centre in Loddon

„ Both Labor and the Coalition have now pledged to end the local child care crisis

„ Under Mr Andrews’ plan, the Loddon centre will be ready in 2026. No confirmation has been given on its location

„ The Coalition has pledged to build at Wedderburn College with part of that school’s $12.9 million upgrade budget next year

LH PHOTO

FROM LITTLE THINGS BIG THINGS GROW: Cass Reeves and Jess Polkinghorne have been part of the campaign for child care in the Loddon for their children Darla and Ollie and other families. They have welcomed commitments to end the Loddon’s child care crisis. LH PHOTO

W HO says telecommunication connec tivity is an issue across the Loddon? The way the phone calls and text messages have been flying around the last week, we know for certain there are members of the fantastic farming community well trained in finding that one square inch of land on their patch that delivers service. We’ve had more snippets than campaigning political candidates pass our way.

W E’LL start with the owner of perhaps the best new esky in the Loddon. The Cockerell has taken delivery of a hotel prize that he collected on the farmer junket north a few months back when stopping off for an obligatory rest (and rehydration) break. His mates say the deal is pretty simple: Bring the esky to tennis fully stocked.

HE DID come close when tennis was played a fortnight back up Calivil way. The sight of refreshment was enough for one regular name in OTF to get a little side tracked and leave his mobile phone behind. Didn’t realise until the next day, according to one well-informed spy who assisted with temporary recruitment of said player from a more sedate form of sporting balls on grass.

I F YOU’RE reading OTF before flicking through to the sports pages, be warned. There was no pennant bowls at the weekend - apparently some biggish event on the state calendar meant a general bye was decreed. Not to worry though, Inglewood put on a skins tournament. Our spy from a neigh bouring club was particularly impressed with overall joint winner Steve McLean, not for his bowling but talking. “Steve made a particularly good thank you speech, cov ering many aspects of the night and con gratulating his club, for taking on a dif

ferent style of tournament,” our diligent rinkside correspondent reported.

A

BIT of bad news for followers of the Democracy Sausage. Have been told the Campbells Forest crew will not be out on election day at Bridgewater offering up snags. Voters will perhaps be hoping for fine weather this Saturday, getting their nour ishment from morning and afternoon teas at bowls, cricket and tennis instead.

WE’RE not sure if the bus driver saw the signs, but a certain CFA captain in the centre of the Loddon may well have seen red when arriving back from the pad docks on Monday to be greeted with a political candidate corflute hanging from the front fence in colours different to his reported normal leanings. Turns out, said a quick-reporting on-the-ground OTF cor respondent, that said captain’s friends con spired and concocted to erect such sign. No information has been provided on where the “gang of four” sourced said sign.

A BIT of speculation, perpetrators of the fence decoration may be deleted from the upcoming Christmas card list.

Four with compliance challenges

LODDON health inspectors found four food premises with major non-compliance deficien cies in the September quarter.

Senior public health officer Te resa Arnup told Tuesday’s shire council meeting that 24 inspec tions had been made for the quarter.

“Council officers are working with the non-compliant prem ises to address the issues that were identified,” she said.

“Compliant includes sites that were fully compliant and some

sites that required minor actions to become compliant.”

Ms Arnup said two complaints had been received about food premises and resolved.

She said council was “pursu ing resolution” on a waste water complaint.

Meanwhile, council’s public health unit received eight septic system permit applications for the quarter.

The average processing time for permits to install or alter sys tems was 12 days.

REDUCING RISK Rapid growth of grass and weeds across the Loddon has seen mowers and whipper-snippers working overtime the past fortnight reducing risk ahead of the fire season. While restrictions are yet to be declared, Ian Collie was leading a team of volunteers at Inglewood’s Eucalyptus Distillery Museum on Thursday. Volunteers spent several hours cutting and clearing prolific spring growth.

LH PHOTO

Consultation and staff will be care key, says Haylett

By CHRIS EARL

MARTHA Haylett expects the Loddon’s co-located child care centre will be in Wedderburn.

But the Labor candidate for Ripon said consultation by the Department of Early Childhood would make sure the centre “is in the right location”.

Ms Haylett also said planning for the location would include workforce availability assess ments.

“We don’t want it to be open and then close for a few days be cause there isn’t the workforce,” she said.

Ms Haylett said Wedderburn had already done much work on the need for child care services in that town and across the Loddon Shire. She said that ideally, there would be more than one child care centre.

“The announcement (on Sun day) is a game changer for rural communities. We know so many mums and dads in Loddon and across Ripon have raised the lack of child care,” she said.

“It’s important for mental health ... the economy ... our lit tlest Victorians and I want it built sooner rather than later.

“But we need to do this right.”

Wedderburn College principal Danny Forrest said: “We’re ready to go from 2023 or whenever.

“We’re happy to be first cab off

the rank and be the pilot for the rollout of co-located centres.

“We already have people liv ing in local communities with the qualifications to work in a child care centre.

“We’ve done the work, made the case and now the school community and all communities in the shire just want child care available.”

Mr Forrest said that because Loddon Shire was the only part of Victoria in a total child care desert, the department might consider bringing forward its planned 2026 opening date.

“We have all the information ready to do a thorough assess ment and evaluation without any

Snag a date with history

DEMOCRACY sausages and a look at history will help Ingle wood Primary School finally celebrate its 150th anniversary on Saturday after COVID years, The school is one of five Ripon polling booths in Loddon and principal Lex Johnstone hopes voters will take time to view a special memorabilia dis play between casting their bal lots and buying a sausage.

Parents’ and friends’ club members will also be selling its recently-released community

cookbook. “It is jam-packed with great recipes from locals as well as our students, who hone their cooking skills each fortnight as part of their regu lar cooking classes,” Mr John stone said.

He said funds raised on elec tion day would be used to buy new decodable readers for the whole school.

Inglewood is the only Lod don site registered on the De mocracy Sausage website.

delays,” Mr Forrest said. Premier Daniel Andrews’ announcement on Sunday said a Labor govern ment would invest $584 million across the 50 services – with all to be open by 2028.

”And because only Labor will back our incredible early child hood educators, we’ll invest $159 million as part of a major work force package – to attract, retain, and develop talented and dedi cated professionals.

“Labor will help more Victori ans kickstart a new career, with 700 extra early childhood schol arships – worth between $12,000 to $34,000 – available to people looking to become early child hood teachers through under graduate degree pathways. We’ll

also deliver extra incentives of between $9,000 and $50,000 for teachers and educators mov ing into, or re-joining, the sector and for priority services in plac es that struggle to find qualified staff.”

Wedderburn mothers who last week called for action not advo cacy on the Loddon’s child care crisis have cautiously welcomed the news.

Cass Reeves said: “Waiting four years for a centre is better than no centre at all.”

And Tammy Martin said: “It’s great news but I wish they (the government) were a lot more specific about the location.

“Child care is needed now and will be needed in the future in Wedderburn and right across the Loddon Shire ... just a shame it has to be so long to wait.”

Ms Haylett said: “It’s important that we get this done quickly, but it’s also important that we get it done right.

“Whilst others will promise the world and deliver an atlas, I want to be honest with the community and work with them to deliver real outcomes. Labor has a com prehensive plan to consult and build these centres and ensure that they are staffed with world class educators.”

Parents have been campaign ing for 18 months to have the Loddon’s child care crisis ad dressed.

Finals days of campaign

THE election campaign has brought announcements and commitments for Loddon com munities on child care, water and sewerage, community hous es and Wedderburn’s Donald Park development.

That all have been at the south ern end of the shire reflects the tightness in the race for Ripon.

Louise Staley (Liberal) won the seat in 2018 by just 15 votes. Her Labor challenger this time, Mar tha Haylett, has a notional ma jority of 2.8 per cent.

Pundits are predicting it could

be days after polling booths close at 6pm Saturday before a result is known.

The opposite is expected in Murray Plains held by Nationals’ leader Peter Walsh and Bendigo East by Deputy Premier Jacinta Allan - both sit on large majori ties.

But with state commentary suggesting dramatic changes in voter sentiment since 2018, Ripon could be a seat that de cides the election.

Voting on Saturday is compul sory.

IN BRIEF

Report for coroner

POLICE will prepare a re port for the Coroner after a search on Monday found the body of man on his prop erty near Wedderburn. The 72-year-old was reported missing at 3pm and found about 6.,20pm after a search by SES volunteers and po lice. A police helicopter was also part of the search. His death is not being treated as suspicious.

Cold start

THE mid-November burst of cold weather put paid to last weekend’s planned opening of Loddon’s five swimming pools. Belgravia Leisure had recruited lifeguards and cleaned pools at Boort, Ingle wood, Mitiamo, Pyramid Hill and Wedderburn for open ing weekend. The forecast is looking better for this Sat urday and Sunday with tem peratures forecast in the low to mid-20s.

New art date

PYRAMID Hill Progress As sociation has set new dates for its Major’s Vision Art Show and competition that was postponed after- floods hit the region last month. Entries will open on January 1 with the exhibition run ning from February 17 to 23. Meanwhile, Andre Bewicke has been re-elected associa tion president.

Fire ready

RHEOLA Fire Brigade is holding a fire season com munity information evening at Moliagul on December 3.

Tammy Martin and Danny Forrest at the start of Loddon’s campain for child care centres last year. LH PHOTO

Shire votes to quit aged services

DETAILS of Loddon Shire’s tran sition out of providing age ser vices will not be released until agreed by the Federal and State Governments.

Councillors on Tuesday voted to end its 37-year provision of Commonwealth home support program services, state home and community care program for younger people services and vet erans home care services from next June.

Loddon’s decision came less than 24 hours after City of Great er Bendigo made the same deci sion. Mayor Dan Straub said the decision followed a federal report and review findings that were imposed on council,

Cr Linda Jungwirth said federal changes had made council’s con tinued involvement in providing care prohibitive.

Councillors accepted the rec ommendation of wellbeing di rector Wendy Gladman that “all processes and matters related to the transition process will re main confidential until the Com monwealth and Victorian gov ernments provide consent for release of information”.

Loddon Shire will work with the Federal and Victorian Gov ernments to negotiate timing and transition processes to sup port clients, families, staff, and the community. Councillors also agreed to maintain an active role

in advocating that the new aged care service system delivers high quality service and meets the needs of the community.

A designated staff member was flagged by Mrs Gladman for a two-year transition support role assisting people to navigate the new aged care service system to access the supports and services which best meet their needs.

Mrs Gladman said: “The Home and Community Care program was introduced in Victoria in 1985 and was designed to pro vide low level assistance to help people to remain independent in their homes and communities.

“Council delivered the program on behalf of the Commonwealth,

Vote this Saturday and help shape Victoria

When you go to vote you’ll be given two ballot papers, a small ballot paper for the Lower House (Legislative Assembly) and a large ballot paper for the Upper House (Legislative Council). Read the instructions carefully.

Small ballot paper for the Lower House

You must number ALL the boxes on this ballot paper. Put the number 1 in the box next to the candidate you most want to see elected. Then number all the other boxes in the order of your choice.

Large ballot paper for the Upper House

For the Upper House you can vote in one of two ways. Either vote for a party or group by putting the number 1 in just one of the boxes above the line. Or vote for individual candidates by putting the numbers 1 to at least 5 in the boxes below the line. You may continue numbering more than 5 if you wish.

Where to vote

It is easier to vote in your own district, but if you will not be in your district on Saturday, you can vote at any other voting centre in Victoria. For information on where to find your nearest voting centre, please scan the QR code below or visit vec.vic.gov.au.

Who can vote

All Australian citizens aged 18 or over who have lived in Victoria for at least a month will be able to cast a vote at a voting centre, even if you missed the close of roll. If you are not on the roll, you should bring proof of identity with you.

Evidence of identity includes an Australian driver licence or learner permit, an Australian passport, a council rates notice or a current electricity bill showing your name and address.

Remember, voting is compulsory Voting centres open Saturday 8 am to 6 pm

Bendigo East District

Dingee (LNWA)

Dingee Memorial Hall, 26 Mack Street

Raywood (AWA) Raywood Public Hall, 50–52 Inglewood Street

Serpentine (AWA)

Loddon Shire Council Offices, 37 Peppercorn Way

Murray Plains District

Boort (AWA)

Boort Resource and Information Centre (BRIC), 119–121 Godfrey Street Calivil (LNWA)

Calivil Public Hall, 529 Prairie West Road Pyramid Hill (AWA) Pyramid Hill Memorial Hall, 32 Kelly Street

Ripon District

Bridgewater (LNWA) Bridgewater Hall, 39–41 Eldon Street

Inglewood (IWA) Inglewood Primary School, 75–83 Sullivan Street Newbridge (LNWA) Newbridge Public Hall, 38 Burke Street

Tarnagulla (AWA) Victoria Theatre/ Tarnagulla Hall, 69–71 Commercial Road Wedderburn (LNWA) Wedderburn Senior Citizens Centre, 19 Kerr Street (IWA) Independent Wheelchair Access (AWA) Assisted Wheelchair

via the State Government who established the program criteria and administered the provision of funding,” she said.

“In Victoria, local governments provided a co-contribution to en sure the successful delivery of a high quality program.

“Since its commencement, Lod don Shire Council has had a team of highly dedicated staff who pro vided support to our community under this program,” she said.

“The aged care service system in Victoria moved to two systems in 2016 with the introduction of the Commonwealth Home Sup port Program (CHSP). People over 65 years of age receive services through the commonwealth

funded CHSP and those under 65 years of age from the state fund ed Home and Community Care Program for Younger People.

“With the introduction of this split in the service system, ser vice providers received fund ing from the Commonwealth for CHSP and from the State for HACCPYP. This coincided with the introduction of the NDIS pro gram as another form of funding for people with a disability eligi ble to enter that service system.”

Council’s care services are de livered by 20 permanent staff and two casuals. A statement was issued by council late Tuesday and the Loddon Herald will have further reports next week.

Staff shortage hinders property clean-up compliance checks

UNRESOLVED action to clean-up unsight ly properties did not make good reading, Cr Gavan Holt told Tuesday’s Loddon Shire Council meeting.

Cr Holt asked if there was a resourcing issue for council after the quarterly com pliance report showed council was still pursuing action at 52 properties, the same number as three months ago with only four previous matters resolved.

CEO Lincoln Fitzgerald said there had been a staff vacancy in the role “for some time” and resourcing and priorities on un

sightly properties would be reviewed. Mr Fitzgerald said there were often other is sues with those sites.

Nineteen of the outstanding properties are in Wedderburn and six in Inglewood, five in Newbridge, four in each of Borung, Boort and Pyramid Hill, two in Eddington and Bridgewater.

There are also properties in Tarnagulla, Mitiamo and Dingee.

During the quarter, council staff had four on-site meetings to discuss unsightly properties.

Wait on World Heritage bid sites

LODDON sites in a central Victorian coun cil consortium wanting to achieve World Heritage listing for the region will not be known until a masterplan is completed.

Loddon Shire is one of 13 councils con tributing to the Central Victorian Gold fields World Heritage bid.

The State Government recently an nounced funding for the consortium to shortlist potential World Heritage sites within the Goldfields region and prepare a masterplan for regional investment.

“A number of sites across the Goldfields region including in Loddon Shire, are be

ing considered as part of the masterplan. Following this process, the selected sites will be identified in the final document,” a Loddon Shire spokesperson said last week.

“We are working with the project team to maximise the economic, social and cul tural benefits this project will deliver to Loddon Shire.

“We expect to see our towns and region featured in heritage travel journeys, en suring delivery of a key project objective - to spread tourism benefits more evenly across the Goldfields region.”

Vaccine pop-up planning criticism

A SERPENTINE mother says the rollout of Japanese encephalitis vaccine in the Lod don is a debacle.

/electionsvic 131 832 vec.vic.gov.au @electionsvic

Collins Street, Melbourne, 3000

Prue Milgate claimed pop-up clinics by Bendigo Health’s public health outreach team were being poorly promoted.

Mrs Milgate said local communities were concerned about the health of their chil dren after last month’s floods and growth in the mosquito population.

“They told us to drive to Lockington (for vaccination),” she told the Loddon Herald last week.

“We have families not letting their chil dren go outside at the moment.”

Bendigo Health has listed pop-up clin ics for Japanese encephalitis, COVID and flu on its website and have been promoted through local agencies.,

However, the Loddon Herald was told no one attended the clinic in Inglewood last week that did not appear on the website.

Meanwhile, demand has been strong for a series of pop-up clinics being conducted in Pyramid Hill with scheduled for this weekend.

Authorised by W. Gately, AM, Electoral Commissioner, 530

Tunnel plans lodged

CONSTRUCTION of a gold explo ration tunnel near Mitiamo could start within 12 months.

Catalyst Metals has lodged a work plan for the 3.6km-long tunnel running 140 metres below ground.

The company says the plan is an “important step in its strategy to find the extension of the his toric Bendigo goldfield by start ing the approvals process for a proposed exploration tunnel at the Four Eagles Gold Project”.

General manager Victorian op erations Adam Place said the 1000page plan would be reviewed by multiple government agencies.

The approval process is ex pected to take nine months with stage one development possible from next July and underground drilling starting mid-2024.

The tunnell plan has been lodged with Earth Resources Reg ulation, the State Government’s resources and mineral explora tion regulator.

Catalyst told the Australian Stock Exchange that when com pleted, the tunnel would allow for extensive drilling.

“The aim of this program would be to observe important geologi cal information that could not otherwise be seen from the sur face,” Catalyst said,

“The exploration tunnel ena bles drilling to be conducted all year-round. It also allows Cata lyst to explore for deeper exten sions to the already known goldbearing structures.”

Technical director Bruce Kay, said: “The Boyd’s Dam explora

tion tunnel would be an impor tant step for Catalyst and for lowimpact exploration under cover in Victoria. An exploration tun nel would provide Catalyst with an opportunity to explore deeper and more efficiently below the current mineralisation at Boyd’s Dam and Hayanmi.

“The submission of the work plan application is a critical first step in the approvals process which will involve a thorough as sessment of Catalyst’s technical studies and designs.

“We look forward to working with government in this process.”

The company told sharehold

ers the tunnel would enable low surface impact drilling of targets which have historically been dif ficult to access due to the overly ing Murray Basin sediments and limited by seasonal cropping and weather.

“An extensive stakeholder en gagement program over the past nine months involved more than 50 briefing sessions, site meet ings, kitchen table conversations and presentations with land owners, neighbours, community members, the Victorian Govern

throughout the approvals pro cess.”

Catalyst earlier this year formed a community consulta tive committee of residents in the district.

Last week’s announcement co incided with Catalyst Metals’ an nual general meeting in Perth.

In Victoria, Catalyst manages the entire Whitelaw Gold Belt and has interests in 13 explora tion licences and two retention licences which extend for 75 kms along both the Whitelaw and

Local COVID cases back on the rise

ACTIVE reported cases of COVID-19 cases in Loddon communities are at a twomonth high.

Data released on Friday showed there were nine ac tive cases in the shire com pared with three the previ ous week.

At the end of September there were 10 cases listed after 30 were recorded a week earlier.

There were 20,398 COV ID-19 cases reported in Vic toria last week, an increase of 22.8 per cent on the pre vious week. The average daily number of new cases was 2914, up from 2377 the previous week.

A new BA.2.75/BA.5 recombinant, XBF, has been identified in Victo ria through wastewater and clinical genomic sur veillance. The Health De partment said. There was currently no evidence to suggest these subvariants cause more severe disease.

Wine fiesta time

FOUR Loddon vineyards will be part of the Bendigo Spring Wine Fiesta at the weekend. Black Wallaby, Newbridge, Turner’s Cross ing and Water Wheel will join 12 other region winer ies at the event.

A site plan for tunnel entrance proposed by Catalyst Metals.

Big water fix list in region

MORE than a third of Goulburn

Murray Water’s flood repair pro jects to be completed are in the Loddon.

The water corporation on Monday released an interactive map showing 96 of 178 works had been finished, including 16 around Boort, Dingee and Mi tiamo. However, more than 30 remain on the to-do list, many along the Waranga Western Channel.

GMW said flood recovery works were progressing in areas

Rotary chips in with local food hampers

where the floodwaters had re ceded.

Incident and recovery general manager Daniel Irwin said the interactive maps would help cus tomers understand which areas have been impacted.

“The incident and recovery team has made the identification and reinstatement of flood-im pacted assets a priority,” he said.

“Customers can use the inter active water delivery availability status map on our website to see whether their network has been

affected or whether they are able to order water as normal.”

Some delivery networks need to undergo repairs before cus tomers with service points on the network can order water again.

GMW has also developed an infrastructure recovery map to provide an overview of as sessments and repairs. The map shows the locations of repair works and their status and details the number of rapid assessments that are pending and the number that have been completed.

“Based on the extent of the flooding in different areas we have identified which of our as sets may have been impacted and scheduled an assessment to be undertaken,” Mr Irwin said.

“If the assessment reveals an asset does need repair, it is then added to our list of required works.

“The infrastructure recovery map enables people to see where assets have been repaired and where we have identified assets in need of repair.”

Praise for optimism

THE optimism and inspiration of Loddon communities has been praised in Federal Parliament. following the October flood emergency Mallee MP Anne Webster told other MPs that nine of 12 council areas in the electorate had been hit by the floods.

“In Newbridge, amid the sod den ruins of the multimillion dollar sporting complex, I met three ladies: Kaye Graham, Col leen Young and Sue Horsley,” she said.

“They are members of the Newbridge Recreation Reserve Committee of Management. While the recreation reserve was hit hard by the floods, their strength and optimism were in spirational.

KYNETON Rotary Club has donated lo cal food hampers to families impacted by the floods with a $1000 donation.

Member John Condliffe visited Ingle wood on Monday to hand over funds for hampers to Inglewood IGA and The Fat Butcher.

John (second) left is pictured with Deb Hancock and Peter Moore who will pro vide hampers for distribution by local support groups.

He said club members wanted to pro vide practical assistance to local people as they recovered from the floods.

And members had been specific in also supporting Loddon businesses, he said.

“At Bridgewater’s famous Bridgewater Bakehouse I met the owner, Theresa O’Toole.

“We stood in her shop survey ing the damage to her family’s livelihood. She told me she was committed to rebuilding and getting back to business.”

Disposal of sandbags

USED sandbags can be taken to Loddon Shire landfill facili ties and transfer stations free of charge or dropped off at the lo cation of the sand piles that were set up across the shire.

Council says sand piles and any sandbags will be collected over the next month.

Orange spotlight shines in campaign against violence

LOCAL communities are light ing up orange for 16 days from tomorrow in the awareness cam paign to prevent and respond to violence against women.

From special events to the masterhead of the Loddon Her ald, 16 Days of Activism in the shire is being support by Boort District Health and Inglewood and District’s Health Service.

They want the community to have conversations that promote and practise respectful relation ships, gender equality and posi tive attitudes towards girls and women.

“Our Loddon community has a long history of responding to the call to action that is the global 16 Days of Activism,” said Boort Dis trict Health CEO Donna Doyle.

“Many will remember our or ange pom pom’s that adorned the Boort township. This year our famous pine out the front of the hospital will be lit up orange over the 16 days amongst a range of other community activities to show our support of the preven tion of violence against women and children.

“We hope to see other build ings in the shire lit up in orange lighting to show their support throughout the 16-day cam paign,” she said.

Inglewood and Districts Health Service is again collaborating with the Kooyoora Women’s Net

work to host the Loddon Orange Dinner at the Bridgewater Hotel next Wednesday.

The network boasts a member ship of about 80 women, who will all wear orange and hear from April McKenzie, director of community and clinical services at IDHS.

Northern District Community Health CEO Mandy Hutchinson said: “This year’s campaign in Loddon features a post card that will go to every household in the shire to support a conversation about equality and residents are encouraged to display it in a pub lic place to show their support of the campaign messages.

“The prevention of violence against women and children is every bodies business and re

sponsibility and we all can make a difference to the tragedy that is family violence, gender equal ity is the key to ending violence,” Ms Hutchinson said.

‘NDCH will host Jane Gilmore, author of Fixed It: Violence and the Representation of Women in the Media and Teaching Consent at its annual meeting next week.

Jane is an advocate for keeping women safe at home, at work and everywhere in between.

“We’re inviting the community along to hear from this inspiring author,” Ms. Hutchinson said. The 2022 Loddon Lights up Orange Campaign had been coordinated by the Loddon Family Violence Network.- The annual 16 Days of Activism campaign begins to morrow, the International Day of Elimination of Violence Against Women, and ends on December 10, which is International Human Rights Day.

Boort will hold an orange walk at Nolen’s Park tomorrow even ing after local students earlier in the day tie orange ribbons to the school fence.

Other events include a bar becue in Godfrey Street on De cember 2 and free yoghurt at the Parkrun on December 10.

If you, or someone you know, is impacted by sexual assault, do mestic or family violence, please phone The Orange Door Loddon on 1800 512 359.

Labor is doing what matters for the Loddon Shire

Lions make call for care package consistency

CONSISTENCY for use of home care packages would make a proposed aged supported resi dential centre in Wedderburn sustainable.

Lions club sub-committee chair Jude Raftis said the club’s business plan would only stack up with government assis tance.

“We need our elderly to be able to bring their home care packages with them into our proposed community run not for profit facility,” she said.

“If you are on an NDIS pack age, this could come to the fa cility but not aged care.

“Working on our proposed model with 75 per cent oc cupancy would mean 22 resi dents.

“Even if they only brought half of their package with them this would be an addi tional $440,000 into the facil ity which would be more than enough to make it sustainable.

Jude said the business plan allowed the club to work on 85 per cent of the resident’s pen sion leaving us a shortfall of about $80,000 a year.

“it would be sustainable if we had 100 per cent occupancy,” she said.

“At present the Federal Gov ernment funds aged care by contributing $150 per person per day as well as the facility taking 85 per cent of their pen sion.

“The $150 per day alone equates to $1,204,500 with out the additional income from pensions.

“This is a no brainer for gov ernment to consider as it would save them millions of dollars while still providing quality low level aged care.”

Wedderburn has been cam paigning for two decades to establish an aged care facility in the town and last month re leased its business plan.

Celebration of region youth

LODDON youth will be recog nised for creativity, leadership, resilience and teamwork next month.

The first Buloke Loddon Gan nawarra Youth Awards are be ing organised by Northern Dis trict Community Health and North Central LLEN

“We are loving seeing how passionate people are about our young people with the incoming nominations so far,” said North Central LLEN’s Ollie Meadows,

“especially as it’s been a chal lenging few years.”

“We are delighted to celebrate the vast and diverse ways that young people contribute to our rural communities,” said North ern District Community Health CEO Mandy Hutchinson.

Nominations are open to peo ple aged 12 to 25 and presenta tions will be made at a gala din ner in Boort with entertainment from artists including Boort’s Elias Lanyon.

Donna Doyle

By gum! New pot stews good oil

A NEW generation of living Lod don volunteer treasures on Sun day saw the first batch of euca lyptus oil come from a new stew pot at Wedderburn’s Hard Hill Reserve.

The town’s tourist committee had raised funds for the third pot on site through its annual detec tor jambouree.

Robbie Collins, who had worked the original Hard Hill stew pot before its was moved to the tourist reserve from Woolshed Flat, had the honour of unveiling the new pot.

His daughter and president of Wedderburn Tourism, Robyn Vella, then put the pot into ac tion with other volunteers.

Robyn and Loddon Shire’s Cr Gavan Holt spoke of the vital role played by volunteers in the history of the reserve.

They recalled the drive of Ar thur Martin in establishing the reserve as a tourist attraction in the 1970s and 1980s, Arthur, who died in 1988, was named a Victorian Living Treasure along with another Wedderbunian, Lindsay Holt, by the then Vic torian Tourism Commission in 1986.

“Wedderburn Tourism is a strong team,” Robyn said.

“And eucalyptus (oil) is part of

Wedderburn’s heritage and cul ture.”

Cr Holt said: “Volunteers are the glue holding our communi ties together. Our communities would not work without volun teers”

Peter Norman also spoke of the role Arthur and the tourism committee had played in driving tourism for the town over the last 50 years.

He recalled early gold dig festi vals, the first on the site of Wed derburn’s original gold discov ery in 1852 before being shifted to Hard Hill - named because miners came in from the side, the surface too hard to dig..

Peter said the tourism com mittee developed the reserve with the historic gold crushing battery and replica puddler and there had been plans for a holi day camp in the 1970s.

And he said Arthur Martin was a real character who also drove the town’s folk festival and the local entry in Melbourne’s Moomba parades that won five Lord Mayor’s prizes for best country float.

Robyn said the new stew pot would produce eucalyptus oil to be sold in local businesses and at Hard Hill Reserve to visiting tour groups.

“We started this project during COVID ... more than 12 months ago,” she said.

The greatest challenge had been to find a factory with ca pacity to roll the steel pot.

Geoff Burnside, of Wedder burn’s Turf Engineering, con nected the committee with an Echuca company. Turf Engi neering constructed the fire box chimney.

Robyn said a 6x4 trailer of eu calyptus leaves filled the new pot, taking up to five hours to stew up to six litres of the town’s famous Blue Mallee oil.

Home owner disturbs would-be shed thieves

A HOME owner disturbed three teenagers attempting to steal items from a Bridge water shed on Saturday.

Sgt Sean Dixon, of Inglewood police, said the youngsters immediately fled the scene and inquiries were continuing.

Police are also investigating a petrol drive-off in Inglewood about 7am Satur day.

Sgt Dixon said a 1989 Nissan Patrol re ported stolen from South Australia alleg edly left the service station after filling up with $168 worth of fuel.

He said the vehicle was described as two tone - a blue top and silver bottom.

Sgt Dixon appealed to anyone with dashcam footage to contact local police or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Meanwhile, police and Wedderburn SES were called to multiple incidents on Sun day as winds across the region brought down trees.

A tree had to be removed from the Lo gan-Kingower Road about 2.50pm while a tree toppled in the front yard of a Wil son Street, Wedderburn, property about

4.40pm crashing through power lines and damaging the bonnet and driver’s door of a late model Toyota sedan.

And about 8.40pm, SES volunteers re moved a tree from the Wehla-Rheola Road.

The tree had a one-metre diameter trunk and it took more than 30 minutes to have the road cleared.

A Jung woman escaped injury when her car left the Inglewood-Kingower Road about 7.20pm last Wednesday.

Senior Constable Andrew Gibbs said the car became wedged beside a tree after leaving the road on sunset.

A passing motorist took the woman into Inglewood.

Larder’s French connection

LODDON produce is making its way to France after tourists walked into a local business’s new venture in the Gold Coast hinterland.

Gaylia Bell has replicated her Inglewood store in the northern state where daugh ter Tarlia is selling products ranging from Loddon eucalyptus oil to soaps.

The new store’s floor even replicates the famous news pages laid by Gaylia in her Brooke Street store during COVID lockdowns.

She sourced more newspapers and mag azines from Inglewood antique shops, took

them to Queensland and spent five weeks creating a copy of the Inglewood shop.

And among the first northern custom ers were the French tourists who picked up some Loddon produce for the trip back to Europe.

“Up there, I’ve been telling everyone to come here to Inglewood,” said Gaylia.

“I’ve been selling the attraction of the great local antique shops in Brooke Street and hope they will come to our town.”

Gaylia has long promoted local eucalyp tus oil cleaning products in her shop and is now taking them to Queensland.

CELEBRATIONS

Congratulations to our graduating class to 2022! Over the past few years, this year level has faced many challenges beyond their control but have demonstrated steadfast resilience! We wish them all the best with their future pathways. The college is very proud of their achievements.

Warren Smith cuts gum leaves for stewing in the new pot.LH PHOTO

Robyn Vella. LH PHOTO

Robbie Collins. LH PHOTO

Love and happiness in a cup

CHARGED with energy and excitement for the day serving customers, there’s plenty of love and happiness at Bridgewater’s Coffee on Loddon.

“We aim to put a smile on faces with our coffee and customer service and they really put one on ours when they keep coming back,” said owner Nicole Cox.

“The coffee they tell us is always consistent and tasting great ... that’s our aim every day.

“Customers are regularly saying their coffees,

artisan cakes and biscuits are simply awesome.

“That makes our new business really rewarding, knowing our customers like what we do,” said Nicole.

Nicole says Coffee on Loddon has been overwhelmed with the support encouragement of local residents and customers regularly travelling the Calder Highway since opening in April this year.

“We’ve cups full of love and happiness sharing in our coffee and snacks,” she said.

AN INTERNATIONAL crew helped Khanh Cung launch Inglewood Nails and Beauty on Sunday.

Khanh was joined by her brother Quan and his friend Mathias Meltsas, straight off a plane from Finland after being voted off that country’s version of the TV reality show Big Brother.

Together with Khan’s husband and In glewood Pharmacy owner Kal Selwanes, they welcomed opening day customers to the new Brooke Street shop to share in a pamper while enjoying champagne and nibbles.

Knanh had a stream of new custom

Big Brother helps nail shop opening Patchwork

ers throughout the day and said she was pleased Quan and Mathias had been able to assist.

Mathias had only left Finland a week earlier for Melbourne, not expecting that his acclaimed customer service skills would bring him to Inglewood.

“I had just got voted out and immedi ately booked a flight to Australia,” said Mathias who was a finalist in Finland’s professional waiter of year competition in 2020.

Inglewood Nails and Beauty is open by appointment.

Developing a new Strategic Plan

Boort District Health (BDH) has begun the process of developing a new Strategic Plan. It is a legal requirement that BDH complete this process. It is expected that our strategic plan cover a period of three to ve years and documents the health services context, purpose, vision, objectives and longer term strategies to deliver Government policy and other Statewide plans. e Department of Health (DoH), Strategic Planning Guidelines describe strategic planning as, “the process of producing fundamental decisions and actions that shape and guide what an organisation is, what it does and why it does it.” Further community consultation will occur a er the initial stages have commenced. Watch is Space!

Infrastructure funding approved

Boort District Health has been successful with an application for funding under the Regional Health Infrastructure Fund (RHIF).

In 2016 the Victorian Government established the RHIF to improve health services and agencies in rural and regional Victoria. e funding helps to expand capacity, improve safety, quality and e ciency, and deliver better care to patients, no matter where they live.

BDH Approved Projects include an Upgrade to Car Parking to provide safe and secure sta parking including pedestrian access to the building and rezone public parking bays to incorporate additional disabled carparks, hospital bus zone and gopher parks.

e second Approved Project is the Removal of Asbestos and Refurbishment Removal of asbestos from determined areas.

THIRTY days from Christmas and mem bers of Wedderburn Patchwork Group are ready to receive entries today for the town’s Community Christmas and Arts Festival.

Organisers hope people have let their imaginations run wild in creating entries to go on show in the Mechanics’ Institute Hall tomorrow and Saturday. The 30th festival, last held in 2019, will mark the beginning of the festive season across the Loddon.

Group treasurer Irene Finch said mem bers had been assisted by other local hand icraft lovers in preparing for the two-day exhibition and competition.

“The COVID lockdowns were busy for young families who had to contend with remote learning. For others, especially re tirees, many had never had so much ‘me time’ and many learned new skills, re turned to unfinished projects, or complet ed projects on their ‘bucket list,” she said.

“The 2022 festival has been organised

as an opportunity for our community to show off their COVID achievements.

“There are fewer prizes as the organisers believe “everyone’s a winner” by entering the sections on the schedule. There are no limits on the number of items that exhibi tors may enter.”

Judges will award a best entry in sec tion certificate and there is a prize for the Christmas Challenge, Almost Anything Goes for any item, no bigger than 50 X 50 X 50cm, with a “touch of orange” on the front of the entry.

Entries will be received until 6pm to night with the exhibition open from 10.30am to 7pm tomorrow and 10am to 3pm Saturday.

Group members will raffle a quilt while the exhibition will also have catering by Susie Lockhart, market stalls, a large trad ing table and the local choir entertaining tomorrow afternoon. And Irene hopes peo ple will visit before or after voting on Sat urday in the state election.

Kiniry Street, Boort Victoria, 3537

Phone: (03) 5451 5200 Email: admin@bdh.vic.gov.au www. bdh.vic.gov.au

OPENING DAY: Khanh Cung completes a manicure for Kathryn Paton on opening day of her new Inglewood business. LH PHOTO

Quan Cung and Maggie Paton. LH PHOTO Mathias Meltsas. LH PHOTO

MONDAY - OPEN 4.00PM

NO DINNER

TUESDAY - OPEN 4.00PM

DINNER FROM 6.00PM

PARMA NIGHT

EXTENDED PARMA MENU

WEDNESDAY - OPEN 4.00PM

DINNER FROM 6.00PM

FULL MENU AVAILABLE

THURSDAY - OPEN 4.00PM

DINNER FROM 6.00PM

STEAK’N’POT NIGHT

FRIDAY - OPEN MIDDAY

LUNCH FROM 12.00 LUNCHTIME SENIORS DAY DINNER FROM 5.30PM

MEAT TRAY RAFFLE

FULL MENU AVAILABLE

SATURDAY - OPEN 4.00PM DINNER FROM 5.30PM SUNDAY - OPEN 4.00PM

Residents have brush with fame

EXCITEMENT came in all ages when In glewood District Health Service hung works of art in the town hall last week.

Headlining the show was the painting of a blue wren by Wilma Innes, awarded first prize for resident art in the Inglewood and Districts Health Service show.

Wilma’s wren generated enthusiasm with patrons who included students from Inglewood and St Mary’s Primary School

Paintings by residents had been com pleted over the past two years, some made into greeting cards that now raise money for the service’s leisure and life style activities.

Residents and their families took turns

selling the cards to show patrons over two days.

Also on show were works by acclaimed Australian artist Jessie McQueen Mack intosh.

They came from the private collection of Roslyn Scafati, who passed away ear lier this year, and her husband Enzo.

A selection of Roslyn’s paintings were also included in the show.

who had their own works on show, min gling with health service residents who were bussed to the town hall for their special show.

Franceen Innes with her mother-in-law Wilma and Maddy Foster. LH PHOTO

Sally Young, Denise and Emma Gartside. LH PHOTO

St Mary’s Primary School students. LH PHOTO

IDHS staff and volunteers Louise Lamprell, Reece Carroll, Karen McCrann and Pam King. LH PHOTO

Jenny and Anne Parish with their mother Dawn and her painting now an IDHS greeting card. LH PHOTO

Scents the season

Available from Inglewood Pharmacy

Perfume is like a new dress, it makes you quite simply marvellous. ... Perfume is a story in odour, sometimes poetry in memory. ...

Fragrance makes us dream. ...

Inglewood Pharmacy has a an extensice range of Red Bacarra perfumes for womena gift that makes memories come alive.

This ethereal scent opens with notes of jasmine and saffron, before softening into a woodier blend of amber accord and cedar. Inspired by Malson Francis Kurkdjian Baccarat Rouge.

Let’s raise your glass

Available from Water Wheel Winery

Since the first Shiraz was released in 1974, Water Wheel has been producing excellent, rich red wines as well as refreshing white wines. The Sauvignon Blanc has exciting aromatics of pineapple and lime leaves. The rounded palate of the wine is refreshing and bright, full of grapefruit and citrus zest - an ideal wine for summer, relaxing and refreshing ready for a New Year of fun, adventure and achievement.

It’s Not . . . It Is

It’s sharing your gifts, not purchasing gifts; It’s not wrapping presents, It’s being present and wrapping your arms around the ones you love;

It’s not getting Christmas cards out on time. It’s sending any card, anytime, at the right time; It’s not having the biggest and best Christmas light display,

It’s displaying the Christ light that comes from your heart;

It’s not Santa coming down the chimney, It’s Jesus coming down from heaven, and giving us the gift of eternal life.

Santa’s Helpers

Poet:

M. Nora Boylan

The fairies and brownies on last Christmas-tide Decided to open their hearts very wide, And spend extra time, throughout the whole year, In helping their grandfather - Santa Claus dear.

“Our fingers are nimble. We’ll quickly make toys Enough to supply all the girls and the boys, And Santa may watch us to see if it’s right, So all will be ready before Christmas night.”

Then bravely they all went to work with a will, And soon all was quiet in workshop and mill; For old Santa said, “Enough, and well done, We’ve toys enough now to make all kinds of fun.”

We thank you, old Santa, and your helpers, too, For all of the many kind things that you do; And should you need more help in making your toys, Just call on your small friends, the girls and the boys.

Glimpses of Central Victoria

Available from kenarnold.com.au

A selection of photographs taken by Ken Arnold. 192 pages, section sewn, laminated limp cover.

Full colour photographs, one per page of old buildings, landmarks, sheds etc, mostly taken up back or little used roads hence most are not seen by the passing traffic. Also available: Notably Newbridge & Poseidon, pre 1925, Tarnagulla and District, Tarnagulla Revisited and many other titles.

Award winning hams,

smallgoods

and sausages

Available from Arnold Family Butchers Boort

Victoria’s best short cut bacon and Italian sausages can be found at Jye and Kristy Arnold’s award-winning Boort butchers. Ideal for the festive kitchen and barbecue. Winners of the state’s top prize this month, their smallgoods are the taste of Loddon.

And you can also stock up on award-winning cheese kransky, salami and other wonderful cuisine created and crafted by the amazing Jye.

lights

Wearable

Quirky and colourful

Creations

Gift voucher for that someone special Available from Inglewood Nails and Beauty

The Loddon’s newest business - Inglewood Nails and Beauty - is the place to pamper mum or the special person in your life with a manicure, pedicure or waxing. A gift voucher from Inglewood Nails and Beauty is a sure way to show your love this Christmas.

Planes, trains and automobiles

Available from Inglewood Pharmacy

It will be a close call on who has the most energy on Christmas morning when youngsters find one of these beautifully made wooden toys in Santa’s Sack.

Inglewood Pharmacy has a wide range of children’s toys and gifts priced from under $10 that will drive hours of pleasure and fun over the holidays and become a treasured and special gift. There’s also games and other unique gifts on the shelves to fill up the stockings.

Zoom in and check out the wonderful collection.

Bush memories

Available from the Loddon Shed

The Loddon Valley is the beating heart of Eucalyptus Country. This entire hamper is created using products that are solely created using Eucalyptus harvested from the Loddon Valley - contains Bosisto’s Floor Cleaner, Bosisto’s Bathroom & Shower Cleaner, Australian Eucalyptus Co All Natural Dog Wash, Australian Eucalyptus Co Eucalyptus Laundry Powder, Australian Eucalyptus Co Eucalyptus Drops, Australian Eucalyptus Co Rinse Free Hand Wash, Australian Eucalyptus Co Pure Castile Hand Wash with Eucalyptus & Lemon Scented Tea Tree, Australian Eucalyptus Co Australian Eucalyptus Bench Spray, Wedderburn Pure Blue Mallee Eucalyptus Oil.

Light up the night

Available from Bridgewater NUrsery

Home-made soy candles in a wide range of scents - ideal for Kris Kringle gifts or a special small thank you to friends you know deserve a gift at Christmas for just being ... a good friend.

Feels so Availablegood from Bridgewater Berets

Bridgewater artisan Jenny Hosking has expanded her beautifully-made range of hats and berets.

Now you can select from Jenny’s latest felt creations that have been a hit at trade shows and major rural gatherings around Australia as well as the famous tartan berets that can be found around the world.

Join the Kabana club

Available from The Fat Butcher Inglewood

Matched with Loddon wine and your favourite cheeses, one stick of Kabana is never enough from The Fat Butcher. Preparing to host family and friends over the festive season requires a minimum two sticks of the tasty smallgood - one for them and one for you to taste-test while preparing the plates and trays of nibbles.

You’ll like it so much, there may be a quick trip back for reserves to see you through to New Year’s Eve.

Sox it to you

Available from Boort Newsagency

RedFoxSox have some of the most unique and fabulous fashion statements to hit bamboo since the creation of the Panda!.

They’ve have worked with local and international designers and paired them with a high quality, high bamboo fibre content sock that delivers luxury, comfort, hygiene and style all in one.

Pop into Boort Newsagency and select the design to show your true self.

Straight to the pool room Available from Inglewood Pharmacy

Dad will just love your selection from the range of special gifts available for him at Inglewood Pharmacy.

You can even conjure up some puns - or dad joke’s - to add extra laughter and hilarity to Christmas Day when he unwraps your present.

You can bet he’ll take your gift straight to the pool room.

Fly in for a dip

Available from Bridgewater Nursey

From bird baths and sculptures to amazing wall art, Bridgewater Nursery will help you add creativity and enjoyment to the garden this summer.

You can already hear the birds chipping with happiness as they take a dip in one of these baths.

Desert creatures Available from Secret Platypus

Tjanpi Desery Weavers is a social enterprise of the Ngaanyatjarra Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara Women’s Council, working with women in the remote Central and Western deserts who earn an income from contemporary fibre art.

Tjanpi artists use native grasses to make spectacular contemporary fibre art, weaving beautiful baskets and sculptures and displaying endless creativity and inventiveness. Originally developed from the traditional practice of making manguri rings, working with fibre in this way has become a fundamental part of central and western desert culture.

Spinning in the wind

Just for Dad

Available from Inglewood Pharmacy

This stylish men’s grooming kit comes with all the shave and grooming tools he needs in a stylish zip-up carry case that’s perfect for travelling. The measure of a man is in the details. Packing to travel has never been so easy with this stylish travel grooming kit for men. He’ll be perfectly manscaped and looking his best on every trip with a complete set of grooming tools and essential shaving and hygiene products. The zip-up case comes with manicure and pedicure tools, shave kit including hair trimmer, tweezers, hair comb, toothbrush with cover, and even a bottle opener.

Available from Bridgewater Nursery and Carlie Clothing and Accessories Wedderburn

Wind spinners are the perfect garden ornament, adding movement, colour and ambience to your outside space. They come in a range of colours, shapes and sizes, from large statement pieces to stake in the back of a flower bed to smaller wind sculptures you can hang from a tree.

Wind spinners are a low-maintenance ornament for your garden and make a unique, beautiful gift for a friend or loved one.

Singin’ in the New Year Bridgewater Hotel

AC2ZZ is an energetic band who plays rock covers from the 70s to now. Everything from A 2 Z and they’ll be at the Bridgewater Hotel on New Year’s Eve helping you say goodbye to the year that was and welcoming in the next year in life’s great adventure.

If you can’t wait to drop into the Bridgewater Hotel, book in your special Christmas function in the stunning riverfront outdoor area or in the dining room for a fine experience with Loddon cuisine.

Rockin’ in the country New Year’s Eve Newbridge Hotel

Top cover band Van-Yt will have you rockin’ on New Year’s Eve to music from the 50s right through to today’s popular music, mixing country with rock and contemporary.

Publicans Michele and Matt are also taking Christmas dinner bookings or just pop in on a Thursday for their $20 pot and parma night.

Flavour favour Available from Wedderburn Hotel

Billson’s triple distilled vodka is crafted using pure alpine spring water from a well in Beechworth. It has been perfectly blended with our classic sodas, all made from the finest local ingredients. To create a light, sparkling mixed spirit that’s ready to drink whenever you are. Billson’s story is about a comeback, a return to quality and the revival of craftsmanship.

New Wedderburn publican Craig Fuller has stocked a wide range of flavours ready for the festive celebrations. He’s taking requests to add more flavours to enjoy when swapping yarns or dining room at the hotel.

THE CHRISTMAS TREE

I love to watch my Christmas tree, It blinks and sparkles bright. So many colours of Christmas time, It sure is a Christmas delight.

- Julie Hebert

Cakes and puddings

Available from Arnold Family Butchers Boort

The Perfect Hamper

Available from The Loddon Shed

The perfect Hamper to showcase the incredible region that is the Loddon Valley. Incred ible ingredients to inspire even the best cooks with this array of products straight from the Farm Gate to you. Includes Salute Olive Oil Extra Virgin, Salute Semi Dried Olives, Red Dog Chillies Peri Peri Habanero Original, Wedderburn Community Centre Tomato Sauce, Wedderburn Community Centre Tomato Relish, Squirrel Gully Saffron Sofrito Salt, Squirrel Gully Saffron and Lime Dulce de Membrillo, Squirrel Gully Saffron infused Honey, Billabong Organics Apple Puree, Bendigo Brittle Pistachio Brittle, The Loddon Shed Yo Yos, Simply Green Tomatoes Simply Spread.

From now until Christmas, we will be stocking the delicious Christmas cakes and puddings from Coffee Bank Pyramid Hill.

And for those having a hot ham this Christmas you can’t go past this Apple Cider & Dijon Mustard Ham Glaze (This ham was cooked in-store by our masterchef Jye)

Order your Christmas Hams early to avoid disappointment ... the dinner table wouldn’t be the same, would it!

Putt up a fairway offer

YOU CAN picture it now ... friends on the patio or out back in the man cave after a hot and dusty day on the tractor. Hearing stories that become more exag gerated as daylight descends into dark ness.

Perhaps helped along by your greatest acquisition - a rare and classic Warbur ton Franki beer fridge well stocked just in case visitors turn up unexpectedly.

The old fridge has helped Inglewood golfers celebrate triumph and others find consolation for decades.

But the golf club is now putting the clas sic Aussie showpiece up for sale and secre tary David Vanstone reckons it will make a great showpiece for the workshop, the patio or the man cave.

The six-compartment fridge with dark stained wooden doors made its way from the Empire State Hotel to the golf club when then publican Enzo Scafati began renovations in 1989.

“We needed a bigger fridge but I re member it kept bottles of Melbourne (Bit ter) nice and icy cold. That’s all they drank

in those days,” Enzo said of the fridge that he believes is about 80 years old.

“When we took over the hotel in 1988, there was an ice-maker on top that we used too.”

Warburton Franki operated across east ern Australia and from the 1920s imported and manufactured Frigidaire refrigerators.

David said the classic fridge was being sold complete with working compressor.

It’s probably the best trophy on offer at at the club this summer, but for a price, David said.

Regional leadership program prepares for graduation day

PARTICIPANTS in the 2022 Lodon Murray Community Leadership Program held their fi nal retreat in Inglewood.

This year’s program has participation from across central Victoria, including the Loddon Shire.

Local residents who are now preparing for tomorrow’s program graduation in Bendigo include Inglewood and District Health Ser vice’s community, consumer and volunteer

engagement officer Cindy Gould and Dingee Bush Nursing Centre board member Andrea Boudville.

And in a break at the retreat on Friday, the program director Jude Hannah was treated to a surprise birthday cake by participants.

During the year, program participants have taken part in training and evaluation work shops to develop skills in community leader ship.

VICTORIA -HOTEL -

Come and join us at the Victoria Hotel in Pyramid Hill

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

MONDAY • OPEN 3.00PM DINNER FROM 6.00PM

SOCIAL DARTS NIGHT

TUESDAY • OPEN 2.00PM DINNER FROM 6.00PM

WEDNESDAY • OPEN MIDDAY LUNCH FROM 12.00

POT’N’PARMA NIGHT DINNER FROM 6.00PM

THURSDAY • OPEN 11.00AM DINNER FROM 5.30PM

STEAK’N’POT NIGHT

FRIDAY • OPEN MIDDAY LUNCH FROM 12.00

HAPPY HOUR 5.00-6.30 DINNER FROM 5.30PM

JOKER POKER 5.00-8.00

MEAT TRAY RAFFLE

SATURDAY • OPEN MIDDAY LUNCH FROM 12.00 DINNER FROM 5.30PM

Art’s influential and valuable

TARNAGULLA artist Philippe De Kraan has been named in the global top 10 most influential and valu able artists by Los Angeles Beverly Arts.

De Kraan finished equal seventh in the jury voting with Chinese artist Jiannan Huang named No 1.

Los Angeles Beverly Arts, the Los Angeles Inter national Art Festival, and the Beverly Arts Online Exhibition feature artists from all over the world.

De Kraan is a regular ex hibitor at the major art col lector US exhibitions and was the only Australian on the top 10 list.

SUNDAY • OPEN MIDDAY ALL DAY PIZZA MENU

Club secretary David Vanstone is hoping to seal a classic beer fridge sale. LH PHOTO

Leadership program participants help Jude Hannah celebrate her birthday during the final course retreat. LH PHOTO

Philippe De Kraan

Monitor stock more after heavy rains

HEAVY rainfall across the state can bring out animal health is sues.

To manage this, livestock own ers need an awareness of what to look out for and what to prevent, you may need to monitor your stock a little more closely and be ready to act quickly and deci sively if and when problems arise, particularly in flood-affected ar eas.

The lush pastures of spring can lead to photosensitisation, which appears as a severe form of sun burn on the uncoloured, less hairy areas of the skin, such as the unpigmented skin and teats of cattle, and the ears and nose of sheep.

Moulds grow easily in wet, hu mid conditions, and some moulds are toxic and can cause stock to die suddenly or create longerterm health problems such as liv er damage, which may also lead to photosensitisation.

Foot abscesses and other foot problems will be common in heavy animals standing on wet, muddy ground.

Warm, humid conditions will also favour the expression and spread of footrot in sheep if it is present in a flock.

A wet season is likely to result in larger than usual insect popula tions. Flystrike is likely to occur

in sheep after wetting, especially if they have a thick wool cover.

Diseases that can be spread mechanically by flies, such as pinkeye, may become more wide spread.

Plus, insect-borne diseases usu ally found further north such as Bovine ephemeral fever, Aka bane disease and Murray Valley encephalitis could extend into Victoria.

Most bacteria thrive and mul tiply in a moist environment, so bacterial diseases can become a real problem during wet condi tions. Pneumonia, diarrhoea, and mastitis are more likely to occur due to exposure and unhygienic conditions.

Vaccinating against clostridial diseases is important with abun dant spring growth.

The sudden flush of feed will make stock susceptible to pulpy kidney. Similarly, leptospirosis vaccination is recommended, as leptospirosis is more likely to be a problem in wet seasons.

A sudden flush of pasture, espe cially clover or lucerne, can cause bloat in cattle or red-gut in sheep.

Worm larvae survive much longer on pasture in moist condi tions, and parasite burdens may increase rapidly.

DrJeffCave,SeniorVeterinary Officer. Agriculture Victoria

sheep market

LAMB supply eased by about 30 per cent at Bendigo on Mon day while sheep numbers were steady.

Not a lot of weight or quality in the lamb run, with most woolly young lambs just borderline for fat cover as they showed signs of the difficult wet and cold season.

A reasonable percentage of the yarding was light store lambs.

The make-up of the yarding, coupled with most of NSW still being waterlogged and Hamil ton in the Western District de laying the start of its split lamb sales, meant competition for any heavy lambs intensified. Best slaughter lambs $10 to $20 dearer.

However the market was twopaced, with secondary trades and plain store lambs often just firm to cheaper. Heavy young lambs 26-30kg cwt $223 to a top of $260 to av $243/head.

The best 24-26kg pens $204 to $236 to av $214.

These good processing lambs were costing a ballpark 850c/kg cwt, with some heavy pens esti mated around 900c at times. But bidding for the general run of domestic lambs under 23kg cwt remained selective with buy ers reluctant on pens that were not properly finished and these showed a wide range of $140 to $190/hd. Less store lamb activ ity.

Well-bred store lambs with some frame held their value at

$125 to $148/hd. A cheaper trend was evident over the small 1216kg types which averaged $93 to the paddock.

Sheep were dearer by $5 to $10, any light mutton selling strongly. Heavy ewes $135 to $155; most light trade sheep $90 to $125.

SUCKERS

S Dorrington Marong (23) $262, A & C Branson Colbinabbin (95) $260, JM Hiscock & Sons Kilmore (94) $260, Killara Past Co P/L Boort (83) $256, A & C Stewart Buck rabanyule (30) $254, C & P Head Seymour (33) $253, DP & SA Lude man Raywood (63) $251, MT & VL Ryan Pyalong (13) $251. JM Hiscock & Sons Kilmore (156) $248, A & K Ogden Wanalta (48) $244, PI & JJ Simcocks Yarch (40) $242, DP & SA Ludeman Raywood (88) $238, Ian M McDonald Dumosa (20) $234, B & M Barlow Wanalta (49) $233, K & S Canfield Powlett Plains (37) $232, RW Densmore Boort (8) $223, S& N Betts Echuca (37) $210, J & B Ket terer Sebastian (37) $210, Barra gunda Past Co Mansfield (92) $208, GD & DG Freemantle Eddington (27) $204, DC & L Lougoon Leich ardt (39) $203, GJ & M Perryman Woodvale (52) $190.

SHORT SUCKERS

Sylvia Dorrington Marong (20) $257, E & Z Stone Shelbourne (8) $210.

MERINO LAMBS

Gulthol P/L Wycheproof (308) $170, Gulthol P/L Wycheproof (262) $144.

MERINO WETHERS

G & R Dickinson Heathcote (27) $125, L Marshall Tamleugh (136) $125.

MERINO HOGGETS

K & S Canfield Salisbury West (70) $214.

CROSSBRED EWES

AA Jensen & Son Raywood (49) $155, RE & SL Pedersen Kamarooka (94) $155, Nulla Vale Enterprises Nulla Vale (163) $155, A & C Bran son Colbinabbin (32) $151, RJ & DM Johnson Boort (85) $150, Mrs R Bailey Leichardt (54) $150, M & J Ford Nathalia (52) $150, GF & JC Leed Pyramid Hill (158) $145, B & J Weeks Echuca (55) $145, GD & DG Freemantle Eddington (29) $144, DA & LM Broad Pyramid Hill (19) $140, Cameron McDonald Tetoora (29) $140, RG Love Violet Town (26) $135, KL & LL McLean Sedg wick (84) $133.

MERINO EWES

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SUPPLIED BY ASSOCIATED STOCK AGENTS

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door.

Voice key to future

THE voice of local farmers would be important to a state-wide re view of Landcare.

Loddon Plains Landcare Net work facilitator Will Sanson said the strategic review would shape the future of Landcare.

“It’s really important that our local farmers and people in ag riculture get on board and have their say,” Will said.

“That’s how Landcare started and I hope our local groups will contribute to the review. The fu ture of will have a series of online workshops but Will said he hoped in-person meetings could also be included.

“If they are, we would certainly like to have a meeting as part of the Victorian review here in Lod don.”

The reviews, a communitydriven planning process, was an nounced on Monday to deliver a new Landcare plan that will es tablish directions for the Land care movement over the next decade and beyond.

Landcare Victoria has engaged consultancy firm Projectura to develop the Plan, with a series of community engagement work shops being held in early Decem ber.

Now a global movement, Land care emerged in Victoria in the mid-1980s and provided commu nity-led responses to urgent is

sues of agricultural and environ mental sustainability.

Landcare Victoria CEO Andrew Maclean said that the aspirations and ideas of the Landcare com munity were vital to the develop ment of the plan.

“This is the first time a move

ment–wide strategic plan for Landcare has been attempted, us ing a community–driven consul tative approach. Essentially, this process will allow the Landcare community to design its own fu ture,” Mr Maclean said.

“We want to engage with as

many people involved in the Landcare movement that we can so that this plan best reflects the needs of our community.

“If you are a member of a Land care group or work in the Land care space and want to have a say in the future of the movement, we would encourage you to at tend one of our workshops.”

The workshops will focus on opportunities and challenges fac ing Landcare, including united action on climate change and biodiversity decline, the delivery of community education, and op portunities to improve existing and new partnerships, difficulties growing local membership bases and attracting sustainable fund ing, as well as ensuring a clear brand and shared purpose for Landcare.

“We want the plan to docu ment the most important shared priorities of Landcare groups, networks, and leaders across Victoria and consider how we can organise ourselves, adapt to changes, keep improving and bal ance grassroots leadership with a unified state-wide movement,” Mr Maclean said.

This current round of engage ment builds on initial consulta tion earlier this year.

Mr Maclean said the final plan was expected to be completed by next June.

First grain drops start trickling in

THE first grain deliveries have been made at Mitiamo.

GrainCorp said this week de livered tonnage had been low. Only early samples have been delivered to Tandarra, Boort, Charlton and Dunolly.

Sites across the Mallee and Swan Hill regions are receiving mostly canola and barley, with some receivals now trickling into central Victoria, the Wim mera and north-east regions with weather delaying on-farm harvest activity.

A total of 16,400 tonnes has been delivered in Victoria, GrainCorp said in its weekly re port on Monday.

Queensland receivals have to talled 1,302,100 tonnes and New South Wales 389,300 tonnes.

GrainCorp is still seeking staff for the Dunolly silo.

Grain

BOORT Grain Co-op prices this week.

Wheat - HL1 $447. HL2 $434. APW $414. ASW $342. GP1 $309. SFW1 $309.

Barley - PL1 $395. SP1 $395. Bar1 $307. Bar 2 $290. Pulses - Non-GM canola ISCC +/- AOF $744. GM Canola NON GM CANOLA +/- AOF $734. *GM CANOLA - ISCC +/- AOF $710.. *GM CANOLA +/- AOF $712. Faba1 $400. Faba2 $400. Field peas $390.

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Lot 1: ”Egans - Home Block” 1491.4 Acres equalling 603.56 Hectares. 13 paddocks, water to all paddocks by bore/ trough & dam. 98% Arable, balance in shelter belts. Lot 2: ”Harrisons” 1111 Acres equalling 449.61 Hectares. 8 paddocks, water by bore, pipeline and 1 dam. 210 Acres Fallow. 98% Arable, balance in shelter belts Lot 3: “Davies” 818 Acres equalling 331.04 Hectares. Adjoins home block, 4 paddocks. Established lucerne 160 Acres. Watered by pipeline and trough. 90% Arable with balance in shelter belts and water course.

Lot 4: “Collins” 433 Acres equalling 175.2 Hectare. Adjoins “Davies” Allotment, 3 paddocks, water by bore to tank. 99% Arable.

Lot 5: “Turnbulls & Nicholsons” 540 Acres equalling 218.5 Hectares. In 2 paddocks, water by bore to tank/ trough. 360 Acres in Canola (2022), excellent allotment.

Landcare facilitator Will Sanson

Is there a sense of belonging?

WHERE do our communities belong? If you’re look ing for an answer in the new Victorian electorate boundaries, there’s a sure chance you will be disap pointed.

Unlike the federal seat of Mallee where all the Loddon shire is contained in one seat, Loddon Shire is split across four electorates at state level.

Some residents may find this strange - it’s cer tainly at odds with the Victorian Electoral Commis sion’s own preference to keep local government ar eas contained within one seat. Not always possible, but seriously, four seats is way beyond the ridicu lous.

It makes efforts for shire-wide solutions and ac tions more challenging, risks a breakdown in vision and cohesion and certainly does no favours for ef ficiency and timeliness.

And confusing? Perhaps not to locals who pretty much know what seat they live in but certainly to centralised political commentators in their analy sis of seats, issues and connections. For example this week, Ripon was called a “Ballarat seat”. Sure that will have impressed, not, the larger centres of Maryborough and Ararat let alone our southern Loddon communities that have no connection or association with Ballarat.

The commentary may have created a perception that Ripon is all about Ballarat and to hell with farremoved smaller communities. But it does highlight the failure of the new electoral boundaries to meet a key criteria - community of interest, Perhaps that’s why some candidates have chosen to ignore Loddon communities in their campaign, whether it be Ripon Murray Plains or Bendigo Eastor for a few people around Eastville, Bendigo West.

Not only do these boundaries at times fall short on community of interests, these missing candi dates have shown no interest in community.

There will probably be another redrawing of state electorate boundaries down the track - could be four years, could be eight - and communities should be ready to say enough of the division of local towns and separation from communities of interest.

The Loddon Shire should reasonably expect to be carved up and allocated to no moire than two state electorates. The current four is totally unacceptable and reduces local capacity and effectiveness in ad vancing local issues and aspirations,

That significant commitments have been made in this campaign perhaps speaks more of one seat in particular being ultra-marginal before the redis tribution than new boundaries that have plonked some in with Ballarat.

Loddon communities are more than outposts of regional capitals and big cities. They are towns with vision and drive to carve an exciting future, getting the services and resources needed to thrive and grow.

Child care has been the one big tick of the 2022 state election campaign - at least both major parties now acknowledge and agree the crisis must end. But one tick does not constitute the end of the game - more is needed like aged care that works in small communities ... oh, and those other lines on maps, roads. Better roads.

1. Which animal has 40 teeth?

2. Brothers Barry, Robin and Maurice Gibb formed which pop group in the late 1950s?

3. What colour is vermilion a shade of?

4. In the song Waltzing Mat ilda, what is a jumbuck?

5. What do deciduous trees do?

6. How many stars are there On the USA flag?

7. Which award has the words “for valour”?

8. Who became the Prime Min ister of Australia in 1940 .

9. What animal was skippy in the TV show of that name?

10. Where in your body is your patella?

11. How many feet in a fath om?

12. What does a funambulist do?

13. A JPEG is a picture file for mat, what does JPEG stand for?

ANSWERS

14. Who sang the theme song in 9 to 5?

15. Which member of the Roy al Family turned 40 this year?

16. Who wrote about Willie Wonka and the Chocolate Fac tory?

17. What animal lives in a drey?

18. What year did the VFL change its name to the AFL?

19. What is the national flower of Australia?

20. In scrabble what two let ters are worth 10 points?

Warning on snakes

Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP) is reminding the community to be on the lookout for snakes, with many snakes having been displaced during the oods. If you see a snake inside your home, calmly leave the area with your pets and children. Call DELWP on 136 186 for advice on snake controllers in your area. If someone is bitten, call 000 immediately. Snakes are protected by law and it is illegal to harm them or capture them without authority.

Sports grants

Are you are a sport or recreation organisation that has been impacted by the oods? The Community Sport Emergency Flood Assistance Program is now open, supporting organisations with grants of up to $5000 for sport/ rst aid equipment, clubroom items and more.

Applications close 13th January 2023

Flood recovery continues

Council sta are continuing to respond to various requests for assistance and support across our Shire.

While the southern parts of our municipality continue their recovery, northern parts of our Shire are seeing oodwaters moving through. As we know, this ood event is slow-moving, so the ood response continues, with ood recovery in other communities an ongoing process.

As mentioned last week, this recovery includes the continued clean-up, inspections and repairs to Council’s 4,800-kilometre road network. Council o cers and contractors are

focusing on xing high-risk locations, with other o cers inspecting and prioritising works for the remainder of the road network.

For road information, including closures, please visit VicTra c at https://tra c.vicroads. vic.gov.au/ A reminder, that if you would like to report water over a road or general road issues for VicRoads roads call 13 11 70. For Council roads call (03) 5494 1200.

A list of VicRoads roads within Loddon Shire can be found on Council’s website at www. loddon.vic.gov.au/Our-Services/Footpathsroads-and-drains/Roads

Discovering Ellis

A PLAQUE at the front of Bridgewater Primary School has set off an adventure and inquiry for students and staff.

Surveying the scene for a new flag pole, they had discovered a plaque that simply says Ellis H. Smellie Garden.

Principal Linda Kingsley wanted to know more. Who was Ellis Smellie? Why was the garden named after him?

Soon former students were soon re calling the former Bridgewater resident who they remember visited the school unveiling the plaque.

He was even identified in a large group photo taken at a Back-to Bridge water decades earlier.

It turns out Ellis Smellie was a legend in morse code - the dot and dash of com munication to send messages in the days before emails and phone texts.

A research paper by American Bart Lee says Ellis was an early australian radiotelegrapher

“According to a website that describes the 31 audiocassette recordings he made that are available at the State Library Victoria, his childhood was spent in Mal lacoota and Bridgewater,” Lee wrote,.

“He began as a telegrapher for the Victorian Railways and later became a radio operator. He would man 35 dif ferent ship and land stations during his long career, including one at Australia’s Thursday Island before World War One.”

Linda has also received a copy of the Smellie family history since putting out the word information was wanted.

He was born at Mallacoota in 1897 but moved to Bridgewater after the death of

his father, attended school and earned the nickname “Skinny” because he was small and thin.

“When he was about nine or 10 he milked cows for Mr Vince. He also set rabbit traps and set illegal lines for fish In his later years, Ellis liked to tell the story of how he always sold the first fish to Mrs Loroche, the policeman’s wife,” the story goes.

engineer operator and became part of the Coastal Radio Service in 1912, taken over during World War One by the Royal Australian Navy, later being stationed at Perth, Exmouth, Geraldton and Broome before retiring at 65 but continued to work on coastal ships as a ship-to-shore radio operator.

One research paper says: “At one of the earliest marine training schools

tralia’s stations including Applecross. He was there in the early 1920s.

“During the six hourly shifts the du ties of the two radio operators always on duty were varied. Skill in Morse code and concentration were crucial.

“During the oral reminiscences of El lis Smellie, he claimed to have reached the high level of 40 words per minute. He likened the learning of Morse code to that of music when eventually a single sound becomes a sentence not just indi vidual dots and dashes.“

Ellis recorded: “My salary had trebled when at 19 I was appointed to the yetunbuilt Thursday Island wireless station.

“In 1914 after the German warships left German New Guinea, Australian troops with warship support captured the nearby German Islands. The Japa nese took the others.

His first job as a telegraph messen ger at Bridgewater Post Office saw Ellis teach himself Morse code before joining Victorian Railways, working at Wyche proof, Maryborough, Wodonga and eventually Melbourne as a telegraphist.

While in Melbourne he stayed with his uncle and aunt, Bob and Agnes Cuyrnick. Ellis went to Thursday Island as an

offered by Marconi (in Western Austral ia) was a 19-year-old Mr Ellis Smellie.

“On leaving school at 12 years of age he quickly picked up Morse code whilst working as a telegram boy at the local post office.

“Having attended the training school he then completed 41 years service with the Coastal Radio Service at most of Aus

“Working Navy procedure, a tremen dous volume of messages passed be tween HMAS Australia and Thursday Is land. As it was decoded at the local Navy office by some conscripted staff, errors could be rectified there. My job was to be there at dusk when signals were first heard, and clear the built-up pile, and then send to Melbourne what my mates had not yet sent.”

Ellis Smellie would also take his Morse code skills to Papua New Guinea after World War One. He died in Western Aus tralia in 1991 but his funeral service was in Bendigo and he was buried at Bridge water where today’s students hope they can crack the code learning more about him.

Rylea Bailey and Isaac Ferguson give the Ellis Smellie Garden plaque a clean.

LH PHOTO

Ellis Smellie

LOUISE STALEY (Liberal)

I know how tough people in our community are doing it right now. The health system is in cri sis, roads are in disrepair, and the cost of living is out of con trol. Labor got us into this mess, and they aren’t offering any real solutions to get us out of it.

Unlike Labor, the Liberals will deliver $1.9m to build a childcare centre at Wedderburn College. We will connect Newbridge to town sewerage and water and deliver a feasibility study into connecting Campbells Forest and district to a secure water supply.

Loddon roads have so dete riorated that they’re downright dangerous. Unlike Daniel An drews, we won’t just put up a 40kmh sign and ignore the prob lem. The Liberals will invest $10 billion to fix our roads properly.

By scrapping Labor’s subur ban rail loop, the Liberals will fix the health crisis without raising taxes. We will also end the tri ple zero crisis and slash surgery waitlists.

The Liberals guarantee no new taxes and an end to wasteful government spending. We will halve the cost of V/Line tickets and establish a fuel prices app, saving motorists up to $800 per year.

We will provide free healthy lunches for all public-school kids and make kinder free. We will also scrap the electricity supply charge for the first six months of 2023 to save families up to $235.

With your support, I will de liver real solutions for all Victo rians and make things better for the hardworking people who call Loddon home.

MARTHA HAYLETT

Labor has delivered record in vestment for rural Victoria. But there’s more to do and only La bor has a plan for our communi ties.

In the Loddon Shire, Labor has invested $12.89 million into Wedderburn College and $1.86 million into Tarnagulla Primary School. We also delivered a 24hour ambulance station in Wed derburn - with a brand new one on the way for Inglewood.

I’ve seen first-hand the chal lenges that young families - par ticularly mums - face in Loddon. There’s no childcare available for our kids, meaning many new mums are left with few options.

That’s why we will deliver a brand new government-operat ed low-cost child care centre in Loddon, helping working fami lies in our community. That’s on top of free kinder for all three and four-year-olds from next year.

We know that all roads lead back to roads in Ripon, and I know as well as anyone how bad our roads are at the moment. It is clear that they have taken an absolute beating with the recent rain and floods. This year alone, Labor has invested over $1 bil lion into our rural and regional roads.

Saving Bonus again next year to save families another $250. The alternative under Matthew Guy’s Liberals is an agenda of cuts and closures, and no vision for the future of our state.

Growing up in Central Victoria under the Kennett Government, I know firsthand what cuts mean to our communities. Our towns need investment, not cuts.

If elected, I will work hard to deliver this investment and be a strong, no-nonsense voice in parliament.

WAYNE RIGG (Independent)

As an emergency services worker I’ve spent my career serving communities across Vic toria and in recent weeks I have been deployed to the floods to assist.

To continue this service, I have nominated as an independent candidate in Ripon.

I’m sick of the major parties and believe most people think the same. During elections they splash cash around like there is no tomorrow and then disap pear and re-emerge during the next election campaign to do the same thing again.

Flood recovery and infrastruc ture, particularly roads are high on my agenda along with sup porting farming communities.

I don’t pretend to have the an swers to all of the issues and I won’t be making any promises, other than to give everyone a fair hearing and you will know where I stand on issues.

I have lived in Ripon for 20plus years. I served six years on Ballarat City Council, am a JP and was awarded the Australian Fire Service Medal this year for services to firefighting and par ticularly aerial firefighting.

I live in Sulky with my family and our horses and dogs and I enjoy spending time hunting and fishing with mates.

BERNARD

QUINCE (Independent)

No one likes politics, but eve ryone opinions that they could do better. I am putting my mon ey where my mouth is and jump ing into the mix. I have heard comments against the Liberal and Labor parties. This election is the time for me to step up. The previous state election was decided by 15 votes. The lowest number of votes, being 251 to an independent, who swayed the result with her preferences.

not just marijuana, but also pol lination species, fruit trees and vegetables, would create many small steps for each household becoming carbon neutral.

To reduce costs seeds, cuttings and home-produce can be trad ed, or given away on the ‘shadow economy’, weakening the grip of Big Brother.

As the Hi-Vis Independent for Ripon, my campaign has been mostly on facebook and I have only lost one shift of my day (evening) job to attend a forum.

I have spent less than $25, out of pocket. My call for all other candidates to make a full disclo sure of their campaign budgets remains unanswered

LUKE SMITH (Shooters, Fishers and Farmers Party)

Luke is a disability worker in Western Victoria whose family has been hunting for many gen erations.

Having worked for many or ganisations in the disability sec tor and as a youth worker for councils he is uniquely attuned to the needs of the helping youth and the disadvantaged in his community.

(Labor)

Over the past eight years,

Labor also has a plan to help address the cost of living by bringing back the SEC, a state owned energy company that the Kennett Government privatised, to put control of our energy back in the hands of people and keep power bills down.

We will also deliver the Power

A vote for an independent will break the duopoly of the major parties and elect a representa tive that will commit the gov ernment to engage rather than ramming through issues using their numbers.

Independents can speak freely and vote how they see fit. Ripon deserves as much attention and funding as Melbourne people and it is time we get our fair share.

This year marks the 20th an niversary of my father’s death. In his final weeks of Motor Neu rone Disease, he was aggravated by the weight of a bed sheet.

His only relief cam from a commercial (low THC and CBD content) hemp hand cream. The internet is full of people suffer ing with MS, Parkinson’s Disease and MND displaying the effects of medical marijuana on their daily lives and dignity.

Increased rates of gardening,

How the seat has changed

The 2020-21 redivision of electoral bound aries saw Ripon lose 5634 voters to Lowan District (Concongella, Deep Lead, Glenorchy, Great Western and Stawell) and 2252 voters to Mildura District (Buckrabanyule, Charlton, Donald, Litchfield and Massey).

The seat moved further into outer Ballarat, picking up 5994 voters from Buninyong (Bun kers Hill, Cambrian Hill, Haddon, Happy Val ley, Linton, Napoleons, Newtown, Nintingbool, Ross Creek, Scarsdale, Smythes Creek and Smythesdale), 390 voters from Polwarth (most of Pittong and Skipton), and 1111 voters from Wendouree (Invermay and Mount Rowan; part of Glen Park).

Luke is very active in support ing the firearms community and is secretary for an active mem bership organisation, he regular ly hunts and loves the outdoors.

Luke is running in Ripon as he wants to see more support for the disability sector, he also wants to keep our public lands open so all members of the pub lic including our disadvantaged can enjoy the bush.

The Loddon Herald has published all responses received by candidates

The Loddon Herald has put questions to the candidates during the campaign ... now on the eve of the 2022 election, those candidates make their final pitch for your vote

LOUISE Staley (left) and Martha Haylett (right) are contesting a seat with different boundaries from 2018.

JACINTA ALLAN

Bendigo is a great place to live and I’m proud to be delivering what matters for our region.

We’ve built the new Bendigo hospital, new train stations at Huntly, Raywood and Gooron ong and delivered more V-Line services.

Over the last eight years we’ve upgraded every school in the re gion, we’ve saved Bendigo TAFE and we’re making kinder free.

We’ve made record invest ments in mental health services, social housing and in the pre vention of family violence.

But we’ve got more to do.

That’s why a re-elected An drews Labor Government will hire new regional nurses and ambos upgrade White Hills, Huntly and Camp Hill primary schools and deliver a new child care centre at Eaglehawk North Primary.

We’ll drive down power bills with a government owned ener gy company and we’ll cap V-line fares so that regional passengers pay the same as people in Mel bourne.

We’ll continue to back local sports clubs and we’ll bring the Commonwealth Games to Ben digo.

The last few years have been tough, and that’s why this elec tion is so important. The choice Victorians have is between a government that gets things done and the Liberal party prom ising cuts and closures.

PETER WALSH (Nationals)

I am standing again because I feel there is still a lot of work to be done to restore Victoria to its position as not just the premier state of Australia but also a place where people want to come to live – not leave in their droves.

In regional Victoria the chal lenge is even more demanding –we are one of the country’s most important food and fibre produc tion locations and large slices of that land have just gone under water and that recovery will be long and hard so it will be the promise of The Nationals to do everything we can, in govern ment or opposition, to help that fightback.

Having got new hospitals for Charlton, Boort, Kerang, and Echuca, I know it’s not just a bricks-and-mortar solution, it’s getting the additional health workforce to ease the burden of the dedicated frontline troops who’ve carried the load too long.

We have also guaranteed $10 billion over 10 years to fast-track bringing our regional and coun try road network back from the neglect it has suffered under too many years of Labor mismanage ment and total disinterest in re gional Vitoria.

And I will be able to call on my time in Parliament, and my now extensive network of contacts, to make sure all these jobs get done. Plus I genuinely believe all Victorians should be able to look at the appalling performance of the current government when it comes to delivering for regional Victoria and realise it’s time to ditch Dan.

JOHN BROWNSTEIN (Greens)

I am teacher and former Man ager of Operations and Emergen

Labor is doing what matters MICHAEL

TOLHURST

(Greens)

It has been a privilege meeting so many people in this election campaign, and gaining a better understanding of the issues fac ing our community.

For those of you who I haven’t met yet, I would introduce my self as a dad, a civil engineer and lover of the outdoors. I love living in this area - the strong community connections, quality of life and connection with the bush are our way of life.

Our region is under threat from the climate crisis, and as a water expert, I’ve seen just how vulnerable we are to environ mental damage. From droughts and heatwaves to floods and fires, every year it gets harder for locals to work on the land, enjoy our area and protect the environment. The Greens will push to replace coal and gas with 100% renewable energy by 2030 and drive immediate ac tion to address the rising cost of living, housing unaffordability, a healthcare system in crisis, and upgrading transport infrastruc ture in regional areas.

We want to look after the land by establishing a Victorian Cen tre for Regenerative Agriculture

and enabling Victoria to become the Australian leader in land res toration.

Your vote is powerful. With your help, we can create a thriv ing Bendigo East for us and fu ture generations to enjoy.

BEN MIHAIL (One Nation)

My name is Ben Mihail, and I am the candidate for Bendigo East with Pauline Hanson’s One Nation.

Over many years, we have seen the deterioration of our political system, which has touched just about every industry that oper ates within it due to severe gov ernment overreach. I am not just talking about the handling of the last 2½ years with the pandemic. That is a situation that requires a full Royal Commission which is the only way that our society will be able to get closure. A pro cess that the incumbent govern ment is trying to avoid.

I am talking about our critical services. Areas such as health, emergency services, education, political integrity, housing and farming (with regards to both food production and water dis tribution).

All of these areas have been neglected by our government for many years, requiring dras tic changes if we are to see them

improve. I am not going to throw around the big numbers the ma jor parties manufacture when ever there is an election coming.

All that I will give you is the truth, sound policy and the promise that I will fight for you when I get to parliament.

If you want to know where to cast your vote, the only two things you need to do is read the candidates/patries policies and meet your candidate to see if they are value-aligned with you.

VYONNE McLELLANDHOWE (Animal Justice Party)

Endorsed Animal Justice Party candidate for East Bendigo Vy onne McLelland-Howe, a mother and grandmother, has had a lifelong passion for animal welfare, but she says the party, which she joined around 18 months ago, is not just about animals but a big ger vision of compassion and kindness for all.

The party’s core values are kindness, equality, rationality, and non-violence, and for me, they go right to my heart.

The former family lawyer, who worked largely in the legal aid system, says she witnessed incredible cruelty over the course of her career and wants to represent the only political party dedicated to stopping all forms of cruelty.

Ms McLelland-Howe argues the AJP has a full suite of ration al evidence-based policies and positions on people and the plan

et as well as animals. In relation to matters that affect commu nities such as Serpentine, Din gee and surrounding areas, she states: “Having lived in Bendigo for nearly 60 years I have had a great deal of involvement with people from these districts, my family members have worked at places such as Dingee Bush Nurs ing Clinic.

“I have had school friends from farms in Serpentine, where I have stayed on holidays and my husband Andrew Howe was raised on a dairy farm in Cal ivil and attended East Loddon School.

“I understand and have lis tened to the issues that people face who live away from the city and will work hard with com munities to ensure that they are cared for and are safe, espe cially from the effects of climate change that are now devastating many communities.

“We must take an holistic view and transform our society so that no species is left behind.

“Our current system has failed to protect us and our environ ment and it is time to use a dif ferent way of solving the prob lems that we face and will face into the future. We must be pro active, not reactive and we must make serious changes, but we will do this together.”

The Loddon Herald has published all responses received by candidates

cy Management for the Depart ment of Education and Training. I have been a Councillor and Mayor of the Benalla Rural City Council.

I am a member of; the Swan Hill SES Unit, Bush Search and Rescue Victoria, Alpine Search and Res cue Victoria and the Lake Boga Yacht Club. I live near Swan Hill and am married with three adult children.

I’m a proud, experienced com munity leader, ready to be the progressive voice Murray Plains needs. We need to tackle the cli mate crisis with an urgency that the National Party has ignored. The Greens want to replace coal and gas with 100% renewable energy by 2030, while protecting workers, creating jobs, boosting uptake of renewables and pro tecting national parks.

The major parties have taken our region for granted, and in stead of looking after people, Labor, the Liberals and the Na tionals give special treatment to big corporate interests, like gas corporations and property devel opers.

The Greens have plans to im prove integrity in politics, re gional health, public education, TAFE and public transport.

Home ownership has become unattainable for too many and rents have skyrocketed. The Greens Plan includes the building of 200,000 public and afford able homes and will limit rent in creases to stop out of control rent rises. I will push for a govern ment that listens to the needs of our communities and works with integrity to build a strong future for our region.

ANDREA OTTO (Indpendent)

My name is Andrea Otto and I’m your community independ ent for Murray Plains.

As your community independ ent I am wanting to bring you along with me on this journey to understand how the community wants me to vote on those im portant pieces of legislation come across my desk so I can shape my vote for you.

We could be the renewable cap ital of Victoria, sending renewa ble power to Melbourne, Adelaide and Southern NSW. Kerang link will be a big part of that and with it will be ongoing jobs.

Yet regional Victorians are un fairly disadvantaged, by systems that see us paying twice the rates as our city cousins, for a property worth half the value.

We have a crisis with our roads, housing, child care and health care that impacts our life expec tancy. In parts of our electorate family abuse is the highest in the state and we have no housing for victims - mostly women and chil dren. Housing should be based on need, not on voting results.

We need to be noisy around MDBP, as it isn’t working for our people, our communities, our farmers or, the environment.

We have amazing resilient communities that pull together in tough times, but we need more equity and support from those in Spring Street.

I know it will not be easy, and the only promise I make during this election is, if elected I will work hard and I will make the best decisions that I can on behalf of the Murray Plains electorate.

Roads big issue gone begging

VICTORIAN Farmers Fed eration has revealed its state election scorecard rating the promises made by the major parties ahead of this week end’s election.

The VFF’s scored the prom ises made by Labor and the Coalition according to the commitments that the VFF sought as part of its Fair Go for Regional Vic campaign.

President Emma Germano said she was disappointed there have not been more commitments put forward by the major parties.

“Our mission has been to draw attention to the chal lenges and opportunities that our communities face on a daily basis and secure elec tion commitments from all candidates and parties to ad dress these issues,” Ms Ger mano said.

“Whilst both major parties have made significant com mitments to regional health, there’s little in the way of significant funding and re form to other rural issues like roads, local government

funding and farm biosecu rity.”

Ms Germano singled out road maintenance and repair as a critical issue that was not being addressed by the Labor Party in particular.

“Labor has committed no funds to invest in regional road maintenance and re pair,” she said.

“Last week I wrote to Pre mier Daniel Andrews calling on him to show that Labor are in touch with country com munities by promising longterm funding certainty.”

“Every pothole regional Victorians drive over on their way to the polling booths will be a reminder of just how ne glected our roads are.

“There is still time for both sides of politics to offer more.”

Ms Germano said farmers should think about what is on offer to them before they vote.

“I encourage all regional Victorians to check out the VFF’s scorecard to see how the Government and Opposi tion compare.”

Mitiamo Progress Association

Annual General Meeting

Monday 12 December 2022

7pm The Mitiamo Tavern All Welcome

Come and contribute ideas and wishes for what you would like to see in Mitiamo.

Contact Jill Ramskill 0429 977 496 mitiamostore@gmail.com

– 3pm

Attractions include quilt display, handcraft exhibits, Christmas trees, excellent catering, choir (5.30pm Friday), raffle quilt & other prizes.

“Something for everyone, old and young.”

For more information, please contact Carol (Ph. 0407 843586) or Irene (Ph 0458 073080) Proudly

CWA Shopping Night Extravaganza

Friday 2nd of December

$5 students $10 adults

Complementary drink on arrival Raffles during the night 30 stallholders

KLC at Wedderburn College Hospital St Wedderburn 6.30pm to 9 pm

Lindsay George Budge late of 1385 Logan-Wedderburn Road, Kurraca West, VIC, 3518, Farmer, deceased.

CREDITORS, next of kin, and others having claims in respect of the estate of the above-named deceased, who died on 19 February 2021 are required by the administrator, Timothy William Lindsay Budge, c/- the undermentioned solicitor to send particulars of their claims to him by the 1 February 2023 after which date the administrator may convey or distribute the assets, having regard only to the claims of which he then has notice.

MCL LEGAL 78 Napier Street St Arnaud VIC 3478

Annual general meeting

Sports Bar – Boort Park 30th November 2022 6pm UPCOMING RACE MEETINGS

Monday 2nd January 2023

Boort the Northern Oasis races

SUNDAY 5th March 2023

Boort Cups Day

Rumble takes all in stride

IT WAS a great day for the local Sanderson family at Charlton last week with father Shane providing the quinella in 2100 me tre Vale Of Avoca 2Y0 Pace with Rumble Stride.

The victor was driven by son Ryan defeating his sister Abby aboard Ourmatemenko by an easy 13 metre margin.

Going forward three wide from outside the front line to join Ourmatemenko (gate four) in the breeze as Delight To Watch (gate three) led, both Abby and Ryan continued their runs with Ourmatemenko crossing, then handing over to Rumble Stride relegating Delight To Watch to three pegs.

Positions remained unaltered for most of the trip, with Rumble Stride a gelded son of Captaint reacherous and Tandias Bromac racing away on the final bend to score easily.

Ourmatemenko safely held second 44.1 metres in advance

of another local Fair Chance trained by Joey Thompson which had moved from the rear to be three markers in the last lap. The mile rate 1-57.

Another local winner was 6Y0 Art Major-Markleigh Princess mare Markleigh Caz for the Mi chael Gadsden/Denbeigh Wade combination in the 1609 metre Serving The Industry For 32 Years Pace.

Driven by Denbeigh, Mar kleigh Cas vacated a one/one trip at the bell to race exposed for the last lap in accounting for the pacemaker Joeys Hangover by

6.7 metres in 1-57.5. All Good af ter trailing the leader was third 4.2 metres back.

Long time participant Roma Pocock was in the winners stall after 8Y0 For A Reason-Czarina Katerina gelding Stormont Star greeted the judge in the pace over 1609 metres.

Driven by Jordan Leedham, Stormont Star was restrained from gate five only to be trapped wide before going forward three wide to cross polemarker Sha wami Lass at the bell and as sume control. Holding a margin on turning, Stormont Star eas ily accounted for Shawami Lass by 10.8 metres and in doing so, recorded his 16th success in 152 outings and first since July.

Didshedoit (three wide last lap from the rear) was third 1.8 me tres back. The mile rate 1-55.4.

Tallygaroopna trainer/driver Mark Lee snared the 3Y0 Maiden Pace over 1609 metres with Al ways B Miki-Hot To Trot Lombo

filly Madam Mario at odds of $81.00. Raced and bred by Mario Cirillo, Madam Mario enjoyed a cosy passage from gate four three pegs as No Bling began fast from gate five to lead.

Bottled up on turning, Madam Mario gained a late split over the concluding stages to gain the day by a nose over Papa Leo (one/ two – four wide home turn), with a death-seating Sounds Like Fun a game third a half neck away third in a thrilling finish. The mile rate 1-59.2.

Lance Justice’s 8Y0 Muscles Mass-Mystic Hush gelding Car nera won his 17th race in 165 outings by taking the Park Bene fiting Our Members Trotters Mo bile over 2100 metres returning a mile rate of 2-02.8.

Raced by John Hawke (well known in harness racing circles), Carnera a bold front runner led all of the way from the pole to register a half head margin in a tricky finish over Lindy Grace

which flashed late after trail ing. Trixy Nixie (four wide home turn) from five back in the mov ing line was third a half neck away in another tight finish.

Alfie Always a gelded son of Yankee Spider and Ima Thrill Seeker was successful in the VHRC / Aldebaran Park Benefit ing Our Members 3Y0 Trotters Mobile over 2100 metres.

Raced by Ray and Janelle Cross and trained by Ray at Bet Bet, Alfie Always driven by stable reinsman Jack McKinnon began fast from gate four to lead and ran his rivals ragged, accounting for My Jerry (gate three) which raced exposed before dropping down to trail to in the last lap.

Hurricane Jane (one/one from the extreme draw) also dropped to the markers in the last lap to follow the pair.

The margins 4.3 by 4.8 metres in a mile rate of 2-04.2.

- LEN BAKER

Drive to lift numbers

UPPER Loddon Cricket Asso ciation is pencilling strategies to boost junior cricket numbers.

The under-age competition has now dropped to three teams with confirmation Wedderburn can not muster a team this season.

The Wedderburn call follows Boort Yando’s decision to stand out and focus on a rebuild of numbers through its under 13 team in the Kerang junior com petition.

Planning to engage more Lod don youngsters in cricket comes as Marong and District Tennis Association is mid-way through a

Leadership in riding

PONY Club members and their horses from clubs around central Victoria converged on Charlton Pony Club Grounds for a “Rally and Ride” event.

The picturesque Charlton grounds were a fabulous setting as riders took part in a range of diverse activities which included dressage, showjumping, crosscountry, campdrafting, mounted games, long reining, an activ ity course which challenged riders and their mounts in various skills, and, to help with flexibility and relaxation,-Yoga.

The weekend was organised by a Bendigo Pony Club member, 15-year-old Emily Monro who is undertaking the Pony Club Austral ia Leadership Certificate. This cer tificate provides members with the opportunity to work with a mentor to develop and practise leadership skills and attain an accreditation that can assist with applications for work and tertiary study.

To secure this program and coaches, Emily obtained sponsor ship from businesses in the region.

The canteen, raffle and merchan dise sales also contributed funds to the event, which made a profit that will be distributed to partici pating clubs, including the Loddon club.

junior development initiative to boost its numbers.

Upper Loddon president Wen dy Murphy said the association would look at clinics and possible new district teams in the Loddon.

She said one option was to es tablish junior sides in a format similar to Loddon Valley Foot ball League’s East Loddon Rams created from juniors around Mi tiamo, Serpentine and Calivil.

Dingee’s cricket club went back into recess two seasons ago after making the Emu Valley grand fi nal. Newbridge senior and junior teams have been absent from the

Upper Loddon cricket for two seasons.

“At the moment we (the as sociation) don’t have a junior side from the biggest towns in the Loddon Shire,” Murphy said of the current state of cricket in Wedderburn, Boort and Ingle wood.

Inglewood has not taken the field since March 2020.

Marong tennis association sec retary Jocelyn Laversha said the first weeks of the clinics had at tracted 30 youngsters.

“We want to try and encourage kids to take up tennis, have a go,

get some coaching - without hav ing to travel into Bendigo etc,” she said.

“Many are total newcomers to the sport. Our junior numbers in the association have dropped off in recent times, particularly dur ing and after COVID so we are hoping that these young kids and indeed their parents and families might enjoy their taste of ten nis and hopefully join one of the eight clubs within the associa tion.

“It would be fantastic if we could get a junior competition running again,” she said.

Women, men combined for pairs title

BRIDGEWATER Bowling Club pairs will take a different turn this season.

At the last monthly meeting, it was voted to combine wom en and men in the annual club knockout competition.

This will replace the men’s pairs and a new draw, should ap pear soon on the Noticeboard.

Two Christmas break ups are planned - the club’s at the Bridgewater Hotel next Thurs day followed by annual com bined Inglewood-Bridgewater get together on December 7.

INGLEWOOD

Inglewood’s midweek division one team reacted to the dangers of slipping further down the lad der with a strong win against South Bendigo. This was led by the rink of Chris McEwan, Helen Leech, Andrew Caserta and Rob Day with an impressive 24 to 13 shot win.

Monday’s match against White Hills .is another crucial game to wards the final goal.

Final scores: Inglewood 54 shots (12pts) defeated South Ben digo 50 shots (2pts).

The division five midweek team continue to impress every one at the club.

Another strong win against Bendigo East saw a fantastic per formance recorded by the rink of Joan Roberts, Kevin Stewart, Ian Bradley and Pam Kelly with a 28 to 7 shot win. It must be a great view from the top of the ladder and hope they don’t get dizzy and stumble.

Final Result: Inglewood 49 shots (14pts) defeated Bendigo East 24 shots (0pts).

The skins tournament last Fri day was a resounding success.

The eventual winners were Bruce McClymont and Stephen McLean with eight wins.

They took home $40, for the wins, plus the $120 jackpot.

Fantastic to see Bruce make a strong return to bowling after a long lay-off with illness.

A big thanks to Vicky Tierney for organising and running a very special event, with many visitors and a great number of new bowlers, which is very en couraging for the future.

Weekend pennant bowls re sumes on Saturday after last week’s bye for the state open.

Loddon Pony Club’s Jasmine Wilkinson rides Leggo at the Charlton event.

A NEAR full-strength Wedder burn Band has accounted for Kingower in Upper Loddon sen ior cricket.

In only Wedderburn’s second match of the season, and its first on home turf, less than 23 overs were needed to overhaul King ower’s 87 runs on Saturday.

The visitors won the toss and batted first but openers Matt Rowe and Will Deason were soon sent back to the outer.

Wicketkeeper Luke Holt took a great catch when Deason tried a shot to the highway end off a Will Holt ball.

With just a seven-run opening partnership, Rowe would stay at the crease until Kingower was on 34, hitting 14 runs off 35 balls.

Braydon Welsh added some respectability to the scoresheet with 25 off 56 before Will Holt took a catch from the bowling of Tom Kirk.

The arrival of bowler Adam Postle quickly put paid to any hopes Kingower had of an im pressive total on the damp Wed derburn ground.

Postle had a role in three of the final wickets to fall - a catch and two balls.

Jimmy vander Wetering also starred in the field for Wedder burn with two catches.

Wedderburn wasted no time chasing down the target.

Lachlan Shelton and Kirk had an opening partnership of 36.

Kirk would finish with 34 not out while Luke Holt chipped in with 13.

Pickles, Simpson and deJong each finished with a wicket to their figures, deJong bowling the only maiden over as Wedder burn declared at 3/96.

First

WEATHER once again had a bearing as round four of Up per Loddon junior cricket was played on Saturday.

In the first of the one dayers, the featured game was between Arnold and Kingower.

Kingower won the toss and elected to bat and despite losing an early wicket, scored a total of five for 114.

Tyler Murphy and Jackson Luckman were both able to walk off the ground with 30 beside their names to make the bulk of Kingower’s total.

Riley Murphy also made a use ful contribution of 13 to keep the scoreboard ticking over.

Flynn Lock and Campbell Han

By MICHAEL ROSE

cock were the pick of the Ar nold’s bowlers with both bowling economical spells whilst picking up two and one wicket respec tively.

Jorja Thomas and Connor Al exander were the other bowlers to take a wicket.

Arnold’s innings began with the weather threatening and af ter eight overs were completed, rain forced the players from the field with the score on 0-17.

Arnold v Kingower Kingower 1st innings T. Murphy retired 30 L. McCoy b C. Hancock 0

Wedderburn d Kingower

Van Harrison recently had his first call-up for Bridgewater. The six-year-old is part of the club’s junior development program on Thursday afternoons.

LH PHOTO

SATURDAY ACTION (clockwise from top): A top Luke Holt catch sees Will Deason on his way back to the pavilion; Tom Kirk finishes the day with wickets and runs in Wedderburn’s win. LH PHOTO

Loddon HERALD sport

Rebacks pull up stumps as rain falls

JUNIOR cricketers headed for cov er at Arnold on Saturday morning as rain forced the match against Kingower to be abandoned.

Mitchell Whitton quickly pulled up stumps and was joined walk ing back to the clubrooms by Seth Hewett and Redbacks’ co-captain Campbell Hancock.

Arnold, in its first game at home this season follow ing installatation of an irrigation system, was chasing Kingower’s 114 with Hancock not out on nine.

Saturday’s rain also forced the cancellation of the senior cricket match between Arnold and Boort Yando.

Inglewood, Marong, Loddon Val ley and Boort tennis rounds went unplayed while there was no pen nant bowls across the Loddon due to the state open in Shepparton.

AFL HERO SIGNS

WESTERN Bulldogs pre miership star Shane Biggs will line up with Boort in North Central Football League.

The 2016 key defender is the biggest in a slew of new recruits heading to Boort Park next sea son.

Biggs played with Bendigo in the Victorian Football League before drafted by Sydney Swans where he played six games in

2013 and 2014. He then switched to the Western Bulldogs for 57 games including the 2016 flag victory.

He has been with top Northern Football League side North Hei delberg since retiring from AFL ranks in 2018.

Magpies president Kane Ar nold on Monday said recruitment of Biggs had been helped by his friendship at North Heildelberg with Jarrod Fitzpatrick and Ryan McGhie who were returning home to Boort for the new season.

“Our aim is to be bringing players who started with Boort home,” said Arnold.

“It started with the appoint ment of coach Dale Cameron ... we want to get quality local foot ballers back.”

Biggs is not the only ex-AFL player who win don the black and white in 2023. Boort has also announced the return of Jesse Smith. who lined up for Carlton a decade ago before playing in the SANFL and Victorian country clubs, including Boort in 2014.

LH PHOTO

Boort star recruit Shane Biggs