April’s active challenge month

THE challenge is out! Be exercise active for 30 minutes a day in April.

Inglewood and Districts Health Service clinical and community services director April McKenzie is leading the local Active April campaign

“Active April is a great opportunity to either get active again or discover a new exercise in your daily routine with exercise as a fun and social activity,” she said at the campaign’s launch last week.

“I’m challenging all IDHS staff and the community to step up this April and get involved no matter your age, ability or fitness level.

“There are free classes at the Healthy Loddon Campaspe outdoor exercise equipment in Inglewood as well as boot camp classes run by IDHS as part of our 30-day Active April calen- dar. You can also try something new online such as Thai Chi, yoga and pilates.”

And on Tuesday, the IDHS team is running a healthy community lunch at the Lions Park in Inglewood.

April said the active challenge included a special April calendar with events and activities.

Your Active April Calendar - Page 14

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OOTBALL is pumped bigger than ever with wild and rash predictions leaving many a devoted AFL fan open for personally delivered messages from, we shall say friends, about the fortunes of several teams. Quick out of the pack has been none other veteran walloper Ray Stoman up in Boort. Taking a wee break from preserving law and order, Ray has kept his investigative skills up to par when it comes to the interesting fortunes of the town’s resident Big Cat Alister. Ray was concerned that news of Geelong’s early season demise may not have reached the columns of big city newspapers being dispatched by Alister to local homes early in the morning after there was another torrent of tears flooding the Princes Highway from Melbourne back to Sleepy Hollow. Ray put out the call: “In Geelong today. Shops closed, GMHBA stadium closed, people grumpy, no cars, Spirit of Tasmania not operating, generally not a happy town. As Alister not receiving any messages. I ask the Boort community to inquire with Alister as to the problem in Geelong today. True Blue — feeling fantastic.” Alister was soon inundated with friendly phone calls from around the district inquiring as to his wellbeing and that of the Handbaggers. And we’re reliably informed that the defeat of Geelong has already cost him one Tattslotto ticket this season.

FOOTBALL has its tragics and it has it’s real tragics. The Oracle is thumbing through his brittle, faded and dog-eared copy of the 1966 Grand Final Record - fired in a text message claiming that his beloved Saints of 2023 have a hint of 1966 about them after starting the season 2-0. Here at OTF, we love champions in March, a measure of some success for those long starved of ultimate football enjoyment.

AS summer sport wrapped up at the weekend, we reckon there’s only one group friendlier than Alister friends overloading the mobile phone network after a(nother) Geelong loss. Those flies at Dingee were in buzzing premiership form when tennis grand finals were played on Saturday. As John McEnroe would have said, seriously how can there be some many flitting around.

POPPING into the BABBA concert on Saturday night, couldn’t help notice the attire of one leading Inglewood citizen. Forget the frizzy wigs and platform shoes, said person wore a ripper Hawaiian shirt instead. Adds to speculation the Swedish pop stars don’t mind pineapple on their pizza.

WE FOUND a whole lot of ABBA jokes out there on the internet. Every now and then I’ll get ABBA stuck in my head... and I’ll think to myself, Mama Mia, here I go again. What did the dancing queen use to solve her math problems? An ABBAcus. Yesterday, a mate asked if I’d take ABBA out for lunch I replied, “I would, my friend. For Nando’s”.

WINTER devotees of OTF know that we like to assist in the promotion of worthy causes. And football wise, the unique fundraising formula of the Redbacks for their end-of-season trip includes special contributions from players who have their mug in the Loddon Herald is a favourite cause. When chief fundraiser was advised we might just go easy on any player about to become a dad (first or repeat) this season, there were frowns and grimaces. “They’re our best donors ... you can’t do that,” came the fiscally responsible response.

FINALLY this week, the 40th annual World Clown Association convention has just finished in Orlando, Florida. Their mission: Bring happiness, joy, fun and comic relief to children of all ages.” We reckon script ideas abound in OTF.

MAIN STREET COVER UP The old butcher’s shop in Brooke Street Inglewood has been boarded up ready to be temporarily adorned by a bright mural while restoration and renovation works of Porter’s Corner continue. New building owners Jerry (pictured) and Pauline Wellman have spent the first months of 2023 tidying the external appearance of shops and vacant land and are now ready to tackle the interiors. The temporary mural is expected to emerge in coming weeks. LH PHOTO

Post boxes get makeover

AUSTRALIA Post boxes at Jarklin have been given a makeover and moved to a new position.

Boxes were shifted from outside the long-disused service station and roadhouse to the nearby hotel. The move followed requests from residents to Australia Post for the new location that has also seen parcel delivery storage lockers added to the 27 mail boxes, allowing local deliveries instead of residents travelling to a post office or agency. Locals arranged for a concrete base and roof over the boxes at their new location and a coat of paint.

Reserve septic tanks being installed

NEW septic tanks are being installed at Tarnagulla Recreation Reserve.

Work started last week, almost two years after the reserve’s system failed and limits were put on camping numbers days out from Easter. Department of Environment, Water, Land and Planning in January confirmed a $120,576 grant to replace the reserve’s septic treatment system apply.