Crime stats down again

CRIME in the Loddon Shire has dropped to the lowest level in five years.

Annual statistics recorded a 15.2 per cent decrease in 2022 criminal incidents, the lowest since 2017 and the second lowest in a decade.

Crime Statistics Agency said arrests were made and charges laid in 49 per cent of the 457 incidents reported in 2022 with 35.7 per cent of cases unsolved.

Most offences were reported in Wedder-

Brigade captain’s award honour

LEADING Loddon volunteer fireman

Steve Mann has been awarded life membership of the Pyramid Hill brigade.

Members had planned to make the presentation to their captain last year but plans were scuppered by October’s floods where Steve again showed his leadership skills.

He served as captain for a decade until 2010 when the town’s urban and rural brigades merged and has been in the role again since 2014.

Captain Mann, who joined Pyramid Hill brigade in 1996, is also a longtime deputy group officer with the Terrick group. Group officer Richard Hicks said: “Working alongside Steve at group level has allowed our group to function as all groups should, as a support network to brigades and the conduit between staff and our general members.” burn (79) followed by Inglewood (71), Pyramid Hill (44), Tarnagulla (21), Bridgewater (21). There were 15 reported incidents in Boort.

The life membership presentation was made by former Pyramid Hill captain Tony Mullins.

Offences were reported in homes (136) followed by street/footpath (72), farm house (31), service stations (18) and farms (18). with theft, family violence order breaches and criminal damage the main offences.

Assaults, property damage and burglaries were up for the year.

Thumbs up as playground work starts

BRIDGEWATER Primary School students had added excitement last week when construction of a new playground area started.

They gave a thumbs up to crews arriving to work on the $499,125 project first announced more than three years ago.

Synthetic turf for student comfort and safety will be installed as part of the project expected to be finished within months.

Agency chief statistician Fiona Dowsley said: “The majority of offence types increased in the last 12 months, with notable increases in breach of bail offences and acquisitive crime types such as thefts.”

Family incidents in Victoria increased 1.3 per cent in the last 12 months, with 92,296 incidents recorded across Victoria. In Loddon family violence was down 10,3 per cent.

Loddon crime figures remain below the Victoria average.

Bingo launch at Boort

ADVENTURE Bingo – an initiative from Healthy Loddon Campaspe - will be launched in Boort this morning.

An announcement by Loddon Shire Council yesterday morning said students from Boort District P12 School would be walking the Little Lake Boort Adventure Bingo trail from 10am.

Boort is one of six trails across the Loddon Campaspe region part of the initiative where participants spot points of interest listed on a grid during their walk and once they’ve spotted three items in a vertical, horizontal or diagonal line, they’ve got bingo.

Healthy Loddon Campaspe co-ordinator Alicia O’Brien said Adventure Bingo encouraged physical activity, especially for children and families, in the local region in a fun and simple way. Dunolly was announced as an Adventure Bingo location last week.

Park tenders close

FIRST bids to run Bridgewater and Wedderburn caravan parks under 25-year leases close today. Loddon Shire Council has put the parks out for tender through Benalla’s Tower Real Estate. Tenderers have been asked to submit plans to grow visitation at the the two parks.

MY MOBILE OFFICE IS COMING TO INGLEWOOD.

I’ll be at the Inglewood Community Hub on Wednesday 5 April from 2:30pm - 3:30pm

Have a local issue you'd like to discuss? Need help applying for your $250 Power Saving Bonus?

I can help. Call my office to book a meeting time on 5461 1255 Looking forward to seeing you.

Martha Haylett MP Labor Member

Ripon for

Having time of their lives

THEY met their Waterloo and had the time of their lives in Inglewood Town Hall on Saturday when the town was dancing and signing to the songs of Swedish pop sensations ABBA.

Australian cover version BABBA attracted a capacity crowd to the dance floor and more in the history hall balcony raising funds for the next stage of work at the town hall hub.

Many dusted off 70s attire and wigs to pay homage to the Swedish quartet including (clockwise, from above) Matt Rowe, Holly Martin and Jayden Leach; Kath Burke, Fiona Nevins and Tanya Leach; Jan Sherwell, Michelle Hargreaves and Vicki Bainbridge; Matt Vitiritta and Bridie Rodwell; and Macey Martin and Julie Luks.

Hub president Enzo Scafati expected the night to have raised about $4000 and he thanked Pauline and Jerry Wellman, Kristen Ward and Brian Rodwell for their assistance.

Learner driver program

Buloke and Loddon L2P Learner Driver Mentor

Program is a state wide initiative funded by the State Government and managed by VicRoads. This program provides young people the opportunity to complete their 120 hours of driving experience that they may otherwise be unable to achieve.

 L2P is free for eligible young people

 Be between 16 and 20 years of age

 Hold a current learner’s permit, and  Not have access to a vehicle, a supervising driver or both.

The program encourages Loddon residents to act as mentors to young people gaining their experience on the roads.

To become a volunteering mentor in the L2P program, you need to be over 21 years of age, hold a current full Victorian driver’s licence, and meet requirements of the L2P program

If you are interested in assisting the program, contact North Central LLEN on 03 5491 1144 or email l2p@ncllen.org.au

THE Vietnam War will be in focus at next month’s ANZAC Day commemoration in Boort.

Vietnam veteran David Wagner, who grew up in Boort, will be guest speaker and photographs by fellow veteran and Boort RSL sub-president Paul Haw will be displayed in the memorial hall.

This year marks the 50th anniversary of Australia’s involvement in the war ending.

Commemorations will include a march from the resource centre, wreath laying and a service.

Members and supporters of Boort RSL will begin selling ANZAC tokens in Godfrey Street after Easter.

Mr Haw said: “Every year on April 25, Australians are given the opportunity to pause, reflect and to remember the incredible brave Australian and New Zealand soldiers who lost their lives in conflict which includes the 65 soldiers from the Boort District”.

Vietnam images frame ceremony Bids reflect supply

STRONG bidding for agricultural machinery and equipment at a Boort clearing sale reflected supply chain challenges for the sector, said auctioneer Nick Byrne.

Mr Byrne, of Nutrien Harcourts Boort, said there were more than 200 registered bidders at the Glenmore farm clearing sale with a front-end loader selling for $65,000 and strong demand for field bins.

Mark Lanyon previously sold his Glenmore property.

Pet registration time

Cat and dog registration time has rolled around again, and renewal notices will be arriving in pet owners’ mail boxes in the coming weeks.

If a cat or dog isn’t micro-chipped and registered they cannot be identi ed and reunited with their owner. In the best interests of your pet, your family and the community, please ensure your registration renewal is paid by the due date. Every dog and cat over the age of three months must be registered. Owners of dogs and cats being registered for the rst time with Council are required to provide evidence that they have a microchip.

If you have an unregistered pet in your care, please take this opportunity to contact Council and rectify the situation as soon as possible, without fear of penalty. Further information, contact Council’s Local Laws team on 5494 1200.