PYRAMID Hill has had the sort of sporting weekend that dreams are made of. The senior and reserve football teams are through to the Loddon Valley league grand final after wins over Marong along with the A Grade netballers who knocked off minor premiers Mitiamo.
Local café Coffee Bank was quick to get into the grand final mood with staff in Bulldogs colours and red, white and blue streamers adorning the counters on Monday.
Pyramid Hill’s senior footy side last saluted way back in 1950 in the long-forgotten Mitiamo District Football League.
The Bulldogs joined the Loddon Valley league in 1995 and have reached the grand final five times this century without success.
The A Grade netball team has won four premierships in the Loddon Valley, the last in 2017.
THE BITE OF THE BULLDOGS - SPORTS PAGES
Oakley survives his second Brooke Street blaze
Cracked and teetering ornate facade knocked down Stories, photos - PAGES 6 & 7
BLOWING IN
Talks on 150 turbines, mineral sands mining
FARMERS are holding meetings as energy and mining companies circle on Loddon land.
Acciona Energia wants land for 150 wind towers near Boort, meeting with some landowners last Thursday.
Renewable energy companies have also contacted Wychitella farmers in the last month.
Falcon Metals wants land access after it said tests had indicated favourable metallurgical characteristics of high-grade mineral sands at Mysia where farmers are planning their own talks this week following Thursday’s announcement to the Australian Stock Exchange.
The two bids for prime Loddon agricultural land come just weeks before Transmission Company Victoria releases its VNI West renewable energy transmission line corridor.
David Oakley watches as firefighters arrive at his Brooke Street store on Thursday. Inset: Demolition on Brooke Street. LH PHOTOS
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On the trail of snap-happy shots
GET snapping! A smartphone photo competition has been launched for next month’s Loddon Valley Arts Trail.
The competition will have three categories - children (12 and under), youth (13-21) and adult - with a $150 voucher as the prize in each section.
As part of the Trail exhibition and events program, Camperdown couple Greg and Heidi Wane will have an exhibition at Wedderburn’s Coach House Gal-
lery where Greg will display photographs taken with traditional cameras and snaps by Heidi on a smartphone.
“Their idea is that, no matter what equipment you use, it’s the imagination and eye for detail that makes a great photo,” said one of the trail organisers Rosemary Sorensen.
The Wane exhibition will be one of three arts trail events featuring photography.
Entries in the Get Smart com-
petition will be displayed at Wedderburn Community House between October 4 and 6. The close date for the competition is October 2.
“So get snapping, with your view of life in Loddon Valley,” Rosemary said.
And the Loddon Herald will have its Faces of News photography exhibition at the old Inglewood goods shed featuring award-winning images that have appeared in the local newspaper.
Tarna’s big weekend
TARNAGULLA and Newbridge communities will unite on Saturday for the 8km One Foot Forward wellbeing walk. And on Sunday Tarnagulla hosts its annual Strictly Vintage Fair with activities and competitions through the day. People are encouraged to attend in their daggy glad rags.
Main renewal
COLIBAN Water has renewed 130 metres of water main along the Laanecoorie Cycle Track. This work is part of $18 million of sewer and water main upgrades that will be completed before the end of 2028 to ensure this critical infrastructure is up to the task for years to come, Coliban says.
Cancer awareness
EAST Loddon P12 College 2024 school for leadership participants Ella Gleisner, Piper Long, Jake Smith, Matilda Smith and Zane Tyzack organised a walk for cancer awareness on Daffodil Day last week.
Pharmacy savings
LOWERING the maximum Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme co-payment WAS the best way to make medicines cheaper and support Australians challenged by the cost of living to meet their healthcare needs, Pharmacy Guild of Australia President Professor Trent Twomey said.
MUFFIN BREAK: Inglewood Primary School students Ruby Lawson, Jayden Smith and Thane Bull showed they were good cooks and handy with the sales pitch when selling muffins at Inglewood IGA last Thursday. Don Robinson (left) was among customers who purchased 400 muffins made by students, raising funds for a bicycle pump track. LH PHOTO
Nominations open Monday
THE Victorian Electoral Commission last night was due to hold a candidate information sessions in Wedderburn.
Nominations for next month’s Loddon Shire elections open on Monday.
The most interest has been in Tarnagulla Ward where three people have announced they will challenge first term councillor Linda Jungwirth - Laanecoorie electrical engineer Nick Angelo, Arnold farmer Carly Noble and Moliagul businesswoman Charmain Shepherd.
Old convent has new life
THE new Nano Nagle Centre at St Mary’s Primary School Inglewood was a hive of activity ahead of yesterday afternoon’s official opening of the repurposed former convent.
School and kindergarten students were joined on Tuesday by playgroup children for a Teddy Bear’s Picnic.
Emelia Leahy and Malik Assi were among the children to enjoy specially-iced cakes and a story from Teddy.
The centre will be used for the school’s art, music and wellbeing activities and parish and community events.
There has been speculation that a fifth candidate could emerge before nominations close on September 17.
Farmer David Weaver is the only person to announce they will stand in Boort Ward where former mayor Cr Neil Beattie will retire after more than 20 years in local government.
Current mayor Gavan Holt has said his preference is to retire at this election but would “not leave the (Wedderburn) ward in the lurch” if there was no other candidate.
He told the Loddon Herald last month that if he did seek another term, it would be his last.
Sitting Terrick Ward councillor Dan Straub, who served two years as mayor in his first term on council, has said he is running again. And the third first-term councillor elected at the 2020 polls, Inglewood Ward’s Wendy Murphy is also putting up her hand for another four-year term.
The Loddon Herald has been told that challenges could be mounted against both Cr Straub and Cr Murphy.
Voting is compulsory in local government elections.
Ballot packs will be mailed to enrolled voters October 7. The VEC says completed ballot material must be in the mail or delivered to the election manager by 6 pm on October 25. People away during that time can vote early from 10am September 18 at the VEC’s Loddon election office, 37 Peppercorn Way, Serpentine.
Induction of new councillors will be held after results are known and a mayor elected in November.
IN BRIEF
Register burn-offs
AS residents begin preparing their property for fire season, emergency services are encouraging landowners to register any planned burn-offs online, through the Fire Permits Victoria website. Landowners will be looking to take advantage of the spring conditions and authorities expect a surge in burn-off registrations over the coming weeks.
Shearing school
THE annual Wedderburn shearing school starts on Monday. Shearers and woolclassers will spend the week receiving tuition from industry experts.
New exhibition
OIL and acrylic paintings by Bundalong’s Fleur Johnson, charming country scenes: farming, landscapes, dogs and flowers have gone on display at Wedderburn’s Coach House Gallery.
TRANSMISSION Company Victoria yesterday said it now had land agreements with 100 properties in the VNI West draft corridor to allow survey work. Depending on the area of land covered by the two-year agreement, landholders will receive payments of up to $50,000, TCV said.
LATE NEWS
Been there! VCE study tips shared
EAST Loddon P12 College’s Year 12 students met with some familiar faces on Friday,
Last year’s captains Josh Diss and Steph Demeo and former SRC president Libby Clymo spoke about their challenges since leaving school, what they loved about school, tips and strategies for success ahead of examinations and how to maximise the most from small classes and staff.
Libby emphasised working hard now, pushing yourself, so you can feel proud at the end of the year that you gave it every-
thing. Steph emphasised how lucky and grateful students were to be in a small, closeknit, caring community school plus tips relating to creating summary notes based on the key skills and key knowledge of the subjects.
While Josh said that taking a GAP year was right for him, to make his decision re further study and save some money.
Students also participated in an Elevate Education session the same day, where specific proven study strategies from top performing ATAR high achievers.
500 put name on corella action petition
A PETITION for action to control corellas at Bridgewater was tabled in State Parliament last week.
Northern Victoria Region MP Gaelle Broad handed in the petition with 497 signatures with people continuing to add their voice to petition forms in Bridgewater businesses.
Bridgewater on Loddon Development launched the petition in July after thousands of corellas continued to strip leaves and bark from gum trees along the Loddon River.
The petition says: “Thousands of corellas are causing irreparable damage to the local community, destroying native river red gums and local crops and causing extensive damage to street lighting, powerline infrastructure and local homes.”
Ms Broad told Parliament: “If you can imagine thousands of corellas screeching every single day, day after day, you may get an insight into what it is like to live with a plague of destructive corellas on your doorstep.
“This is something that has been having a huge impact on the mental health of residents, and this is an area that has actually been devastated by floods in recent years as well. So it is very disappointing that they have had very little support to address this issue. We know corellas have been a problem there since 2011.”
Grants have been allocated under the Victorian Corella Strategy 2022–2032 but the Government is yet to announce funded projects.
Ms Broad said Bridgewater needed State Government help “because this issue is far bigger than they can manage by themselves.”
Weather hits phone plans second time
WILD winds have delayed a start on blackspot upgrades at the Mount Moliagul phone tower a second time.
Planned for last month, Telstra is making a start this week.
“Telstra will be upgrading its mobile base station in Mt Moliagul, adding additional infrastructure to bring better 4G services and new 5G coverage to the community, but the works will require a series of temporary outages or reduction in mobile coverage,” a spokesperson said.
“From Monday at 8am to Friday at 5pm there will be no Telstra mobile coverage from this site.
“Work will continue from Saturday to (next) Wednesday with disruption to the mobile network during daylight hours.
“The mobile network will be restored at the end of each day, as we complete the call testing and integration of the mobile network,” the spokesperson said.
Tips from past students are shared at East Loddon P12 College
150 turbines: Spanish want turbine land
SPANISH-OWNED Acciona Ener-
gia is eyeing Loddon land to build 150 wind turbines.
A meeting with farmers in the Barraport district last Thursday was described by some landowners as “a fishing expedition” to build the towers in one of Victoria’s proposed tier one renewable energy zones.
More talks are expected to be held in a fortnight.
Boort’s Ian Potter attended the Barraport talks after word-ofmouth alerted farmers to Acciona’s plans.
“One of the biggest issues we have is that our farming practices are GPS-driven. Wind turbines would be an issue with sowing methods where we work nice and neat at the moment,” Mr Potter said.
Last week’s 90-minute meeting was attended by 10 landowners with questions asked on the rights of owners and leaseholders if turbines were erected on the land.
Vaughan Toose, who is also a member of the VNI West renewable energy project community reference group, said whether the move by Acciona was successful would be determined by economics.
But he said the bigger concern for the area was the possibility of solar farms. “Solar panels take up a lot more land.”
Mr Toose said a change of gov-
ernment was needed to put more perspective into the energy debate.
“We need a bit more of everything - renewables, nuclear,” he said.
Mr Toose said there was negativity, scepticism and a lot of caution about talk of wind turbines and solar farms in the area.
“And there are grey areas that insurances companies will exploit,” he said.
“Agriculture is under threat by all of this. We seem to be rapidly heading into a new world.”
The Loddon Herald has also been told that renewable energy companies have contacted farmers in the Wychitella area in the past month.
Acciona was contacted for details of its Loddon Shire plans but had not responded when we went to print this week.
According to the company’s website, Aacciona is a “global
leader in renewable energy and infrastructure solutions. With a commitment to economic, environmental, and social progress, Acciona actively drives the transition towards a low-carbon economy and is dedicated to contributing to a sustainable future in Australia and New Zealand”.
“Acciona aims to contribute to Australia and New Zealand’s sustainable development through their projects and the positive impact they have on people and the planet. The company takes on ambitious projects and showcases unmatched technical expertise in building regenerative infrastructure like roads, rail and bridges, water treatment facilities, and renewable energy assets. In Australia and New Zealand, the company focuses on wind and solar technologies, and they are currently at the helm of constructing one of the largest wind farms in the southern hemisphere.”
Sand tests trigger bid to access farmlands
FALCON Metals wants to access land in the Mysia district to test the extent of mineral sands.
The company last Thursday told the Australian Stock Exchange that a preliminary metallurgical assessment confirmed its high-grade Farrelly Mineral Sands Deposit had favourable metallurgical characteristics with no notable processing issues.
Falcon, with exploration licences for gold in the Boort and Pyramid Hill districts, in May flagged its interest in advancing mineral sands exploration at Mysia.
Landowners in the area told the Loddon Herald they would hold neighbourhood talks this week before responding to the latest Falcon announcement.
“Planning for further drilling underway to determine the extent of the deposit - expected to commence in quarter four 2024 subject to land access, cropping and ground conditions,” Falcon told the ASX.
Managing director Tim Markwell said: “It is still early days for the high-grade Farrelly discovery, however it is highly encouraging to see the sighter test confirming the deposit is amenable to conventional processing methods without any notable issues.
“It is also pleasing that the slimes are easily separated from the heavy minerals and settle well using conventional methods, and that the grain size is considered coarser than is often the case with other Victorian deposits, which should translate
to a streamlined flow sheet,” Mr Markwell said.
“With no major material processing issues identified in the scope of the test work to date, Falcon’s focus will return to continuing exploration to determine just how large this deposit is.”
Falcon said earlier testing showed the sand fraction component comprised 47.5 per cent of the composite sample mass.
The company said it was at an advanced stage of planning for the extensional drilling program in the final months of 2024.
The Mysia area was included in the revised VNI West route when Australian Energy Market Operator switched the proposed renewable enery transmission line route to Stawell-Kerang through the Loddon Shire after previous options had the line running from Bendigo to Kerang through Prairie.
Many farmers in the Mysia district were part of early protests against VNI West and local farmer Sue Gould was appointed to a Victorian Farmers’ Federation taskforce on renewable energy.
BROOKE STREET FIRE
Historic store in flames
A GAP has been left on Inglewood’s historic streetscape after fire destroyed the Jennings Store building last Thursday.
More than 30 firefighters from Inglewood, Bridgewater and specialist Bendigo crews battled the blaze for more than three hours.
General hardware shop owner David Oakley was treated at the scene by paramedics and immediately comforted by neighbours and friends.
Nearby business staff had noticed flames in the building, believed to have been built in 1866, and helped David leave the building.
“We saw David trying to put out the flames that had come from a stove and were heading to the ceiling. We wanted him out safely,” one said.
Police quickly closed Brooke Street between Verdon and Grant Streets. Businesses and residents in the block were told to switch off electricity at the meter.
Winds fanned thick black smoke and
flames towards Bendigo while on the opposite side of Jennings Store, firefighters and neighbours poured water on the wall to prevent fire spreading towards Inglewood Emporium and a garage used to store historic vehicles.
Firefighters tackled the blaze from Brooke Street and Storm Lane, donning breathing apparatus as smoke became more acrid. Water also fell on chicken yards next to Mr Oakley’s store to prevent heat stress on more than 250 birds.
A Fire Rescue Victoria ladder platform arrived about 4pm as the battle to control the fire continued. A jet of water was sent through the front door while a fireman poured water from above the collapsed roof.
CFA Loddon commander Bryan Suckling said the building had become unstable. “The jet of water has created ventilation and we can see what has happened inside the building without sending firefighters in,” he said.
“Because of (building) cracks (in the building) we don’t want to send people in.”
There was a halt to overhead firefighting when the platform’s hydraulic system failed and oil spurted onto Brooke Street. The platform’s secondary hydraulic system was used to bring the fireman and the platform back to ground level and then manoeuvre the ladder back onto its truck.
Powercor crews cut electricity in the block soon after 5.20pm and Wedderburn SES unit later arrived to erect portable lighting before demolition of the facade.
The store had been home to Mr Oakley’s business since 1979, based in the building originally owned by merchant William Jennings whose family traded from the 1860s until 1965.
Agriculture Victoria on Friday inspected the chickens, the base of Mr Oakley’s business.
Given the all-clear, Mr Oakley was again selling chicks within 24 hours of the fire that destroyed his shop.
A special Fire Rescue Victoria unit from Bendigo fights the fire from above
Wedderburn SES erects lighting
James Nevins, Maryanne Murdoch and Denise Gartside comfort David Oakley
Friefighters in Brooke Street
BROOKE STREET FIRE
Chicks chirp David’s faith
DAVID Oakley confessed to having undaunted strength and faith as he tended chirping chickens on Sunday morning.
Selling birds has been part of David’s business for decades before buying the now-destroyed W Jennings building in 1979.
His customers have come from all over Victoria, South Australia and New South Wales for the Hyline brown chickens. “They are the world’s best (egg) layers”, he said.
David was checking in on the chickens just minutes after a friend had driven along Storm Lane and gave him a Bible.
Lost in the fire had been Bibles that David would sell or give to people interested in Christianity.
By CHRIS EARL
Not lost, the life-size Guide Dog that had received loose change donations. It had stood sentinel at the doorway to the 1866 building and continued David’s support of guide dogs that saw he and mother Minn train dogs to assist the vision impaired.
“In the 70s, 80s and early 90s we trained 34 dogs,” he said.
That was soon after David arrived in Inglewood in the 1970s and when he placed an annual order for chickens that would arrive by train at 6am.
“That was an order once a year ... 25 sent by rail. Now I order 10 times a year,” he said.
Last Thursday’s fire was not the first misfortune David has experienced.
As a young man in his 20s - he turns 87 this October - David was electrocuted and unable to work.
When he came to Inglewood, business was making PA systems and amplifiers from the former Pelican Hotel building across Brooke Street from the Jennings store ... and selling chickens.
He also sold Hornby train sets, continued collecting nuts, bolts and screws. Control units for train sets were also made by David for clubs in central Victoria.
David was living in a rear section of the Pelican Hotel when fire destroyed his home a first time on December 19, 1999. “That
was the birth date of my grandfather.” There was no insurance claim on the Pelican fire, just like last week’s blaze.
“I was offered insurance on the Pelican at (a premium) of 25 per cent of the building’s valuation, I declined and took out a self-employed retirement fund instead,” David said.
His eyebrows and hair still singed from Thursday’s fire, David had left the building mid-afternoon to take books and model sets to another of his properties.
“As I was coming back, I saw smoke. I opened the fire doorthe original back door of the store - a little and promptly closed it. As I walked I asked the phone to call 000.
“Inverters on the solar panel starting beeping, I turned them off.”
Last week’s fire destroyed the historic store, unique stock that filled shelves and every centimetre of floor space.
“I will continue with the chickens. We need to look after the food,” David said.
The octogenarian businessman said he was comforted by friends and neighbours in the days after the blaze. And his companion, Victor a mareema dog. “I am very thankful for a lot of good neighbours and friends.”
Handy hall crew had ‘demolition ticket’
THE first structural assessment of the Jennings Store was made within two hours of the fire starting. A large crack had appeared in the parapet and side walls already had gaping holes.
Loddon Shire’s manager development and compliance Glenn Harvey consulted with firefighters about the historic building’s safety.
An excavator from Reeves Earthmoving, Wedderburn, arrived about 7.10pm and staff from Duobuild working on the Inglewood Town Hall roof replacement project arrived to finalise demolition plans. Duo-build is a also a registered demolition company.
Firefighters hosed Brooke Street as the excavator first knocked down the verandah, negotiated power lines and then pushed back the historic facade that had been part of the Brooke Street landscape since about 1866.
End of an era ... the historic store gutted by fire and knocked down last Thursday. L;H PHOTOS
Challenging conversations
A NEW Loddon Shire strategy could force difficult decisions on the future of community infrastructure.
The social infrastructure document was not imposing outcomes on the community but “certainly flagging that some difficult decisions may have to be made”, Mayor Gavan Holt told last week’s council meeting.
However, he said those decisions would not be made without further consultation.
Tarnagulla Ward’s Linda Jungwirth was the only councillor to vote against adoption of the strategy fearing facilities in smaller towns would miss out.
She said the strategy had too strong an emphasis on larger towns and services should be based on town needs not population.
“It’s a divisive method of reducing services and places too much importance on our large towns,” she said. “The Tarnagulla Ward is disproportionately impacted.”
Cr Jungwirth said Tarnagulla Ward had only small towns.
Wellbeing director Wendy Gladman said: “The social infrastructure Strategy provides a framework for how council can foster reasonable community access to social infrastructure across Loddon Shire. Social infrastructure includes, for example, facilities such as public halls, community centres, sports fa-
cilities and recreational spaces.
“Whilst council acknowledges that these facilities support individuals, families, groups and communities to meet their social needs and enhance community wellbeing, it is also understood that there is an historic duplication of assets, many of whom are or will soon reach end of life, and influences a renewal gap that places increasing pressure on council’s long-term financial position,” Mrs Gladman said.
“The social infrastructure Strat-
facilities and services, including health services and supermarkets, unavailable in the small towns. All localities in the Loddon Shire are within 30 minutes of drive time from at least one of the larger towns.
“Nearby towns ... several towns near the Loddon Shire offer facilities, goods, and services not available within the Shire or closer to some Loddon communities. The largest nearby town is Bendigo, a major regional centre offering many facilities and
egy will provide the platform to start conversations with our community about the infrastructure that supports their social and health/wellbeing needs, the position that council faces in relation to the ability to adequately service the current social infrastructure offering and the future decisions that council will need to make to support long-term financial sustainability.”
The strategy says: “The larger towns in the Loddon Shire - ie Wedderburn, Inglewood, Bridgewater on Loddon, Boort, and Pyramid Hill - have a range of
services. Almost 100 per cent of the Loddon Shire population can reach Bendigo within a 60-minute drive.”
The strategy lists current recreation spaces, more than 70 meeting places and other facilities in all Loddon towns.
“The population growth in urban centres does not indicate a need for additional social infrastructure ... there are multiple options available for the urban centres, including access to opportunities in nearby LGAs. The challenge is determining whether the existing social infrastructure
assets meet the contemporary requirements and provide sufficient functionality, if there is an overlap in the availability of similar functionality, and if so, which facilities should be targeted for ongoing investment.
“Small towns accounted for less than 20 per cent of the population growth experienced in the Loddon Shire since the 2016 ABS Census.”
The strategy recommends three projects in the next year:
Identify the implications for the need or usage of town facilities based on the ROSA, Economic Development Strategy and Visitor Economy Strategy recommendations.
Develop a practical data collection process for the council, “management committees” and users to establish actual facility usage — both frequency and type. Collect usage data.
Complete asset assessments for all social infrastructure facilities that identify facilities that are at, or close to, end of life” and for which there are alternate spaces.
A three-year review of the shire’s community planning framework is proposed over three years to include a focus on identifying existing facilities that provide the most appropriate and usable indoor meeting space and spaces that are infrequently used (or not used at all).
Pools - Cost and benefit of investment
THE community accepts fewer facilities if facilities are of high quality, according to the draft recreation open space and aquatic strategy put out for public comment by Loddon Shire this week.
The strategy said: “While a significant portion of respondents are willing to pay higher rates to maintain current sport and recreation facilities, a slightly larger group would accept fewer but higher-quality facilities, indicating a preference for prioritising maintenance and enhancement of existing infrastructure over new developments.”
The draft also talks of the burdening “cost versus benefit” of Loddon’s five swimming pools.
“There needs to be a careful evaluation of investment in aquatic facilities to ensure they align with community needs and provide significant value relative to their cost.
“The community desire to see council spending increase in sport and active recreation suggests a need for prioritising budget allocations towards provision of sport and active recreation in Loddon Shire to promote physical activity, social engagement, and community cohesion,” the strategy says that proposes improvements and reviews at more than 60 reserves and open space areas.
Op-shop opens with cake and ribbon
INGLEWOOD’S iconic Ambu-
lance Auxiliary Op-Shop’s new home was officially opened on Saturday.
Auxiliary president Tony Gibbons and co-owner of the former Royal Hotel building Graham Francis cut the ribbon to mark the shop’s move from Brooke Street to the old hall part of the historic hotel.
Mr Gibbons said the auxiliary was more than 50 years old and had raised “many hundreds of thousands of dollars” to help equip the local ambulance station with better equipment.
“We are the envy of many othert areas and it’s great to have had Graham step up when we needed to find a new home,” he said.
“There’s a lot of support in the community for the op-shop and the ambulance auxiliary.”
Mr Francis said he was pleased to support the auxiliary and hoped the opening would be the start of more new ventures in the old hotel.
Auxiliary members and volunteers shared a special cake with ambulance officers from across the region at Saturday morning’s opening in between serving customers looking for a bargain.
Coach tickets buy rides on convenient digital route
ELECTRONIC tickets will be part of V/Line coach and train travel from this month.
The State Government on Tuesday announced the new ticketing option’s introduction from September 18.
The new system will provide passengers with a link to their ticket via SMS or email when they make a reservation for a longdistance train or scheduled coach service – rather than visiting a staffed station to buy a ticket or have one mailed by post.
The eTickets will be available on V/Line scheduled coach services as well as the Albury, Ararat, Bairnsdale, Echuca, Maryborough, Shepparton, Swan Hill and Warrnambool train lines.
Tickets can be added to a passenger’s Apple or Google Wallet, or downloaded as
a PDF which can be printed at home and brought with them when they travel.
The tickets will also cover additional travel on Victoria’s public transport network, such as metropolitan trains, trams and buses, in the same way that a paper ticket currently does. Passengers can still choose to collect tickets they have purchased online from their nearest staffed V/Line station, V/Line ticket agent, or premium Metro station, or have them sent via post before they travel.
Public Transport Minister Gabrielle Williams said: “Passengers have told us that they want more options for how they receive their V/Line tickets and eTicketing means they can now be displayed on smart phones or printed at home.”
Canberra talks on Basin water
MURRAY River Group of Councils has taken its key regional messages about the impact of the Basin Plan, housing availability and renewable energy to Canberra. Chair and Gannawarra Council Mayor Ross Stanton, mayors and CEOs representing the six member Councils, including Loddon, met with ministers and advisers last month.
“Our six councils have been working collaboratively for years and the message we took to Canberra was that we want to work with the commonwealth to deliver for our communities,” Cr Stanton said.
Water was the key issue raised during meetings with the office of Water Minister Tanya Plibersek and Agriculture Minister Julie Collins, as well as Shadow Minister for Water Senator Perin Davey.
Faye Orange, Deb Smith, Tony Gibbons, Graham Francis and Deb Coon cut the ribbon at Saturday’s opening while (left) Judy Metcalf, Karen Trevaskis and Wendy Wilson cut cake to share with volunteers and customers.
LH PHOTO
“We are very concerned about the impact that the Government’s non-strategic, open tender water purchase program will have on our communities,” Cr Stanton said.
“The scatter gun, open tender approach to water purchase from our irrigation districts, with no planning, is going to put input costs up. Around half of all farm businesses across our region rely on irrigation so that will flow on to supermarket prices.
“We support the Basin Plan but there is a better way of implementing it that will deliver better outcomes for the environment and will leave a sustainable irrigation sector,” according to Cr Stanton.
‘Extensive evidence’ to get flood money
THE STATE Government says extensive evidence is required for Loddon Shire flood repair work for it to be reimbursed by Canberra.
Loddon Shire has been battling bureaucracy as it faces not meeting next June’s deadline to finish October 2022 flood repair projects.
The council has had only three groups of projects approved this year with $22 million of works still to get the State Government’s tick.
Concerns about 2022 work delays were first raised with Premier Jacinta Allan by the Loddon Herald in January after the region was first hit in summer storms that wreaked havoc on Victoria.
The Government last Thursday said: “We are working with Loddon Shire Council to work through their claims and bring their costings approach in line with the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangement guidelines.
“The Department of Transport
and Planning and Emergency Recovery Victoria have been meeting with the council to identify their concerns and the department have also held workshops with council staff to help them with processing damage estimates.
“Certified estimates are currently being worked through by the department and ERV, in priority order as requested by Loddon Shire Council and will continue over the coming months.
“Currently under joint-funding arrangements, affected eligible councils bill the state for recovery funds, and the state then seeks reimbursement from the Federal Government.
“To access this money, council must provide an extensive assessment with evidence. This is necessary to ensure costs can be shared between the Victorian and Federal Governments,” a backgrounder from the State Government said.
A spokesperson said the State Government had successfully
advocated to the Federal Government for other changes under the DRFA, including changes to how councils could use their own labour to undertake repairs, changes to plant and equipment hiring arrangements, and regular advance payments from the state to improve cash flow.
“We have stood with our floodaffected communities throughout this devastating event and will continue to do so, with nearly $2 billion dedicated by both the state and federal governments for recovery efforts.
“We’ve listened to Victorian councils who have told us that the biggest hurdle to getting recovery funding is overly bureaucratic ways to assess damages and submit claims under jointfunding arrangements.
“We’re working with the Federal Government to help money get to communities faster by reducing the burdensome red tape that councils have to go through to access funding,” the spokesperson said.
Supermarket pop-up to spread RUOK Day message
SHOPPERS at Inglewood IGA next Thursday will be able to help share the national RUOK Day message by having meaningful conversations.
Inglewood and Districts Health Service staff will run a pop-up information stall from 10am. RUOK is a national day of action highlighting the importance of meaningful conversations. This
year’s theme is Ask RUOK? Any Day because life happens every day.
RUOK CEO Katherine Newton said: “We don’t want people waiting until September to reach out to the people in their world who might be struggling because life happens every day.” People are encouraged to have regular conversations with others.
Dad’s sizzle with colour
ST PATRICK’S Catholic Primary School students treated their fathers as royalty on Friday. Students and their dads sported football club colours
and between kicks of the football, enjoyed a sausage sizzle to set the scene for more fun on Sunday for Father’s Day when families had special lunches or headed to sporting finals.
Jace and Jeff Pacala -Winners of the football contest
Aziel and Julius Domingo
Crows in Willera genetic swoop
SOUTH Australian buyers made their mark at Friday’s Willera Merino 6th on-property ram sale.
Farmers Leap Produce paid the top price of $6500 for the sale’s premium index ram.
The Padthaway rural business - the 10,000 acre property Limecoast property, near Bordertown, also has a vineyard and grows onions - was one of the volume buyers at the sale.
Six Willera rams bought for between $3000 and $6500 will go over the farm’s new first-drop Merino self-replacing flock.
Farmers Leap’s livestock manager Jo Roper said the top ram had met her specific objectives for the flock.
She said the ram had the right micron, fat and fleece measurements. Australian Sheep Breeding Values had several in the top 20 per cent - 9.02 adult weight, 2.51 yearling eye muscle depth, 0.52 yearling fat depth, 28.74 yearling clean fleece weight, 15.48 yearling staple length and -1.95 yearling fibre diameter.
The sale cleared 132 of 172 Merino rams at an average of $2217. Last year 153 of 177 rams were cleared with a top price of $5000 and an average of $2426. Clearances at stud sales have been lower this season as the
industry faces up to challenging weather and dryer conditions in some parts of Victoria.
South Australian buyers were also active online last Friday with the on-property sale running parallel on the AuctionPlus platform.
Willera manager Simon Coutts said a number of potential South Australian buyers had attended the pre-sale inspection at Willera’s Bears Lagoon property the previous week.
Mr Coutts said South Australian buyers were looking for strong returns on wool.
“Our buyer base in that state is certainly on the rise,” Mr Coutts said.
state and has grown stud
Local buyers were again well represented at the Willera auc tion, among them Borung’s Pe ter and Amber Gibson who are among regular auction and pri vate buyers from the stud.
Daryl and Deb Hancock, who
2024 MAIN FIELD DAY PROGRAM
Ashlee Tierney, Brooke Bennett, Pip Lees (BCG)
Dr Yolanda Plowman (BCG), Prof James Hunt (University of Melbourne)
Dr Julie Nicol
Dr Mark Dieters
Callum Wesley (WA Farmer) & Dr Greg Rebetzke (CSIRO)
Callum
Kat Bidstrup (Think Digital), Jess
(BCG)
Strong
Casey
(Agriculture
Hands-On
Thomas Jones (BCG)
or
Angus Butterfield, Matthew Lade, (BCG), Chris Davey (WeedSmart)
Beyond Scepter: Exploring the Next Generation of Cereal Varieties for
Ashlee Tierney, Brooke Bennett, Pip Lees (BCG)
(University of Sydney),
(University of Queensland), Anna Marcus (BCG) Dr Grant Hollaway (AstuteAg), Dr Hari Dadu (Agriculture Victoria), Thomas Jones, Jess Bidstrup (BCG)
The Herbicide Matrix:
Prof Ross Kingwell (DPIRD)
Dr Yolanda Plowman (BCG)
Bidstrup
Stuart Nagel (SARDI)
Stuart Nagel (SARDI)
Kelly Angel, Matthew Lade (BCG), Audrey Delahunty (Agriculture Victoria)
Dr Jason Brand (Frontier Farming Systems)
Simon Coutts and Jo Roper with the top selling ram. LH PHOTOS
Peter and Amber Gibson
TERRICK West Merino Stud last week won the Grand Champion March Shorn Ram at the National Ram Show and Sale in Dubbo. The McGauchies also brought home the champion March shorn pair sash. champion fine/ medium poll ewe that later went on to win reserve champion March shorn ewe of the show. champion fine/medium march shorn ram and champion medium wool, march shorn ewe.
A SIMILAR sized yarding of 9380 lambs at Bendigo on MOnday but quality continues to be a challenge for buyers, particularly in the old season lambs as the last of the winter clean-up lots are sold.
Prices did perform around condition and presentation with the best new season and shorn lambs firm to dearer in places, but secondary trade and heavy pens were often cheaper.
All the regular buyers attended but some were not fully engaged.
What did sell well today was decent lines of light MK processing lambs which were consistently dearer.
New season lambs topped the market at $280/head for an extra heavy pen estimated above 30kg cwt. The next best price was $260/head.
Most of the lead pens of young lambs were in the 24-28kg cwt range and sold from $200 to $248 - this put them in the realm of 860c to 890c/kg cwt based on slightly improved skin returns of $3 to $4.
But drop weight and finish and the price was $150 to $185/ head for the general run of young trade lambs at 780c to 850c/kg cwt. Included in this was a lot of new season Dorpers at $153 to $198/head.
Lightweight young lambs mostly $80 to $128 for crossbreds, down to $47 for Merinos and $39 for immature Dorpers.
Less weight was evident in the old season lambs, the limited
lines of export grades from $227 to a top of $272/head. The best of the heavy trade lambs $180 to $220/head, followed by the general run of trades at $155 to $180/ head.
It was a two speed market with the best conditioned and presented old lambs from 800c to 860c/ kg while the wintery clean-up lots were mostly in the 720c to 780c/kg cwt price bracket.
A segment of the market which was consistently dearer was good light MK lambs under 18kg cwt at $115 to $145/head for the decent lambs, odd lots $50 to $100/head.
The sheep sale showed a lot of price variance across a bigger offering of 8150 head.
Early sales were subdued while the market gained momentum late in the auction.
Heavy ewes were up to $10 off, while leaner trades were sometimes dearer which compressed a lot of ewes into the dollar space of $70 to $110 per head regardless of size.
Some big crossbred ewes topped at $137 and crossbred wethers to $142/head.
Good lines of mutton were estimated as costing from 350c to 420c/kg cwt. Noting buyers were reluctant to purchase very light conditioned ewes at times.
SUCKERS
ALB & R McIntosh Wanalta (50) $280. RE & SL Pedersen Kamarooka (43) $260. DJ & ED Lees Rochester (190) $256. Lislea Lodge Picola (122) $244. B & M Barlow Warulta (90) $240. GJ & GM Bremner Pty Ltd Quambat-
WOOL REPORT
The Australian wool market has recorded an overall fall for the second consecutive selling series last week, hitting four-year lows. From the opening lot of the first day of selling, it was immediately apparent that the market was in decline. Buyer activity was best described as cautious, with prices deteriorating as the sale progressed. By the end of the first day the individual Micron Price Guides (MPGs) for merino fleece had fallen by between 4 and 44 cents, only the 17.0-micron MPG in the North defying the trend, posting a 13-cent increase.
Falls in the other sectors resulted in an 18-cent fall in the benchmark AWEX Eastern Market Indicator (EMI). The 18-cent fall in the EMI was the largest daily fall of the season and the largest since the 22nd of August last year. The EMI fell to 1,095 cents. This was the first time the EMI dropped below 1,100 cents since the 13th of October 2020, when the EMI was trading at 1,066 cents. The second day only Melbourne and Sydney were in operation, where further falls were recorded, although less severe than the first day.
The merino fleece MPGs dropped by a further 1 to 36 cents, the largest fall was in the 17.0-micron MPG in the North, pushing into negative territory for the week. The EMI lost a further 8 cents. The EMI closed the week at 1,087 cents, 26 cents lower. This was the largest weekly fall in the EMI since Week 8 last season (23rd of August 2023). The drop in prices was met with seller resistance across all three centres, pushing the passed in rate up to 11.9%.
This week’s national offering is smaller, due in part to the lower prices on offer this week, discouraging some sellers. There are currently 33,830 bales on offer in Sydney, Melbourne and Fremantle.
Source: AWEX
Branch Manager & Senior Agronomist
Craig Sharam 0408 188 351
Wool - Adam Millard 0400 499 064
Livestock - Nigel Starick 0408 528 322
Wade Broadstock 0427 337 231
Lachie McAlister 0428 717 403
Chris Anderson 0408 921 540
Merchandise - Glenn Jackson 0429 076 459
Agronomy - Anton Mannes 0499 708 044
Josh Mcleod 0447 678 609
Industry experts will share insights of irrigated trial
SEED industry experts will share insights from irrigated variety trials at an Irrigation Farmers’ Network field day this month.
The network says its field day a unique platform to explore research in irrigated crop production.
Executive officer Charlie Aves said farmers and industry could come to come together at the Kerang site, walk through local irrigated trials, and discuss results that would have direct benefit to farmers across the region.
“The field day promises a day of discussions, research results, and hands-on exploration of the latest crop varieties in the field,” she said.
“A key project covered this year will be the flexible irrigated farm systems, which is all about responding flexibly to climate and in-season weather.”
Network research manager Damian Jones will share research designed to ensure farmers can set up their system to adapt and respond to optimise profitability. “The irrigated variety trials are one of the key reasons growers attend, there is nowhere else you can get irrigated variety information.
“This session will feature seed industry experts, including AGT, Pioneer Seeds, Intergrain, Pacific Seeds, Long Reach Plant Breeders, NuSeed, Seednet, BASF and RAGT. They will share insights from our irrigated variety trials, discussing the nuances of selecting the best varieties for optimal results.”
Soil moisture monitoring is also on the agenda, Adam Taylor and Tim Robertson from Agriculture Victoria will discuss information to help make more informed decisions about water scheduling.
Milk team visits research site
A NEW dairy project partnership’s technical group has inspected a dryland research site at Mitiamo.
The C4Milk project is a 3-year partnership between Murray Dairy, Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries dairy group, Dairy Australia and Gardiner Foundation.
It was developed from the outcomes of previous Murray Dairy projects that tracked changes to inland dairy farm systems and the increased utilisation of grain crops for fodder.
The new project is part of the national
Bendigo Sheep & Lamb Market Report
A solid sale today for the first market of Spring!
To discuss the marketing opportunities available for your livestock, contact the McKean McGregor team. Monday, September 2nd, 2024 - Bendigo Yarding: Lambs - 9,300 | Sheep - 8,000 Alex Collins - 0408 314 768 Drew Stratton - 0414 576
C4 Milk Research Program and aims to evaluate consecutive crop effects in forage production systems.
According to the foundation, by understanding the cumulative impact of intensive cropping rotations on the profitability and sustainability of dairy farms, the research will shed light on the role break crops play in these systems.
Experiments are being carried out by two field research organisations at two locations in northern Victoria – the dryland site near Mitiamo and an irrigated site near Kerang.
BENDIGO
Loddon HERALD
AGE OF CONSENT
ing the loudest voice makes them the most important.
Lesley Whelan wrote: Are they also now allowing workers to address their spouses as husband and wife?
pools!? Apart from the extreme heat that comes with country living, removing the pools removes access to swimming lessons for kids to protect them from drowning. What are the kids going to do all summer now?
20 QUESTION QUIZ
which popular song about a fictional creature?
Ian Marshall wrote: We’ve all had enough of this woke rubbish. Next to go should be the acknowledgment of the original inhabitants!
COUNCIL’S NON-GENDER PRONOUN DEBATE
Jo Guthrie wrote: I think there are far more important things to spend their time on!
Cheryl Bartels wrote: Our shire councillors should have more important issues than pronouns. Move on.
Robyn Vella wrote: I think Loddon Shire has lost their focus and direction for their ratepayers please concentrate on important matters that make a difference to our vision of Live, Work and Visit.
Eric Hocking wrote: Let’s work on important things like road infrastructure. Let’s not get caught up in rainbows and fairies and address issues that make peoples lives safer on the roads and bring the community together.
Tracey Cox wrote: Loddon Shire councillors need to have more human resource education if they want to move from non gender specific pronouns. Non gender pronouns are respectful and inclusive to all their constituents. Not many today are Mrs or Mr!
Craig Pearce wrote: I’m a Mr and my wife goes by Mrs sorry.
Victoria Talbot wrote: Perhaps the shire needs to concentrate on important issues and stop pandering to a minority who think be-
Sally Maxted wrote: How about they focus on ‘real’ issues that impact Loddon Shire rate payers. I wonder how much of our money went into consulting fees and wasted research dollars on using non-gender specific pronouns in a government organisation, only to have it voted out!
Charlie Ross wrote: Load of crap about time they started engaging with the community and addressing our concerns rather than wasting money and time appeasing to woke b....., what a joke.
FUTURE OF LODDON’S FIVE SWIMMING POOLS
Rykie Yates wrote: Why even bother paying rates in this shire? Honestly! The roads and stuffed, the foot paths are stuffed and now you’re taking away the kids
lEttER tO thE EDItOR
Insensitivity of decision
Sir, The livestream of Loddon Sire Council’s August meeting was farcical viewing. In choosing to revisit the use of non-gendered titles in place of pronouns in the council chamber, the ‘Mister Men’ have embarrassed both themselves and their ratepayers. In defending his motion on the basis that it would increase inclusivity, Cr Straub, tied himself in verbal knots reminiscent of Sir Joh Bjelke-Petersen on a bad day. Cr Beattie was mercifully brief. Councillors Murphy and Jungwirth showed admirable restraint in voicing their opposition.
Victoria Talbot wrote: Ah yes, remove public pools so people buy their own and then charge them for permits and reoccurring fees to check fencing.
Elizabeth Rewiti wrote: Instead of streetscape do the pool.
Peter Williams wrote: Another resource let go to ruin. Just like the rest. Get rid of contractors and bring back municipal employees. At least they live in the area and care about it.
Beth Dutton wrote: The pools are community service and essential to small towns on locations that experience extreme heat. So do council want to see kids go back to swimming in dams and creeks? Will drownings rise? What is the cost of a life? What is the cost of a life? What are the plans to build new pools? Are they looking for grants to do this and starting the planning? Will they drop the ridiculous over regulation of home pools so people can afford one if they don’t have a local pool to attend? Will the crime rate go up So many unanswered questions. These issues start to explode when you get finance people running councils instead of community minded people who understand the needs of the population.
Gordon Stevenson wrote: Lack of money spent on maintenance.
Chris Young wrote: And no money to build new ones! So it’s the end of pools.
Marilyn Cumming wrote: Sounds like an excuse. Pools should not have to make a profit.
Mayor Holt chose to use his casting vote to support the stupidity. Unsurprising, given that the same three ‘Mister Men’, in order to keep ‘wokeism’ out of the council chamber, had previously conspired to deny Councillor Murphy the mayoral role. That corporate director Michelle Steadman and wellbeing director Wendy Gladman chose to continue to be addressed as ‘Director’ or ‘Officer’ reinforced the insensitivity of the decision. On this occasion the ‘Mister Men’ came across as merely pandering to their own insecurities.
MaxHiggs Bridgewater
1. In what year was the goods and services tax (GST) introduced in Australia?
2. Which former world leader was in jail for 27 years?
3. True or false – dogs can only see in black and white, and shades of grey.
4. What is the official currency of Egypt?
5. Which protein is the most abundant in the human body?
6. The Boeing 727 is powered by how many engines?
7. A chandler is someone who makes or sells what?
8. Which university is the oldest in Australia?
9. Kim is the most common family name in which Asian country?
10. How many seconds does a netballer have to pass or shoot the ball?
11. Peter Yarrow wrote
12. After a 35-year run on Broadway, which musical closed in February 2023?
13. Former Australian wicketkeeper Rod Marsh was known by what nickname?
14. What does RRP stand for with regards to product sales?
15. Which operator ran Melbourne’s metropolitan trains before Metro?
16. John Lennon airport serves which city?
17. Which vegetable is allegedly meant to help you see in the dark?
18. If you have glossophobia, what do you fear?
19. Former Australian tennis player Ash Barty supports which AFL club?
20. What colour is made when red and blue are mixed?
BRADLEY of Boort is more than showing his age ... he actually remembers having a wallet. A bit like the wrist watch and beDside alarm clocks, the old wallet has been superseded a bit these days by the mobile phone. Yet, like Father’s Day itself, guess its the sentiment that counts.
THE Boort wit is spicing things up on the Treemendous Tree. He tells us: “Starting a series on nicknames. I’ve collected quite a few so I’m aiming to put up a new one each Monday Wednesday and Friday for a while.”
W ILL there be a Giggles, Nuggets, Teacup, Kiddo, Smarty, Boomer, Scout or Ace grace the tree? Apparently they are popular nicknames,
W E Lord Stinger of Calivil took a few mates out on the town last Friday. Headed to the big smoke of Bendigo for a whisky tasting night. Ended up on the Deck ... some nightclub where they were certainly in the senior citizen category.
N OT SURE the drops they sampled but good bet not from a 60-yearold bottle of Macallan that was bought at a Sotheby’s auction in 2018 for $US1.9 million. Originally distilled in 1926, it was sold in its original cask.
Candles 8. University of Sydney
South Korea
seconds
Puff, the Magic Dragon 12. The Phantom of the Opera 13. Iron Gloves 14.
Recommended retail price 15. Connex 16. Liverpool 17. Carrots 18. Public
bUShy tAlES by IAN jONES
KEN ARNOLD DELVES INTO THE FASCINATING STORY OF MURDERER’S HILL
A tangled web
ON A gentle rise in the road between Tarnagulla and Dunolly sits a sign noting the place as Murderers Hill. The story of how it came to have that name is as fascinating as it is tangled.
Robert Campbell Dunlop, born in June 1823 in Scotland, had arrived in the colony of Victoria prior to the gold rush. He married Mary Guthrie in Sydney in 1852, and they had a daughter, Mary Sophia, and possibly another child before they moved to Burnt Creek, now Dunolly.
However, the family was living near Thomson’s store at Long Gully, Jones’s Creek, when Dunlop was murdered around the end of October 1857, aged 35. At that time his wife was pregnant and she was left destitute. She married William Callister around 1879.
Hugh McLean, born Scotland about 1817, was found with a hole in his calico cap matching the hole in his head which had probably been made by a pick when he was also murdered about the same time. Both men were buried at Dunolly.
It seems Dunlop and McLean had found good gold which they took to sell at Chinaman’s Flat, between Timor and Maryborough, in October 1857, so as not to create any suspicion at Jones’s Creek.
At a shop in Dunolly it seems that Job Neil and William Brown noticed they were carrying a lot of money. The two men met up with Richard Dunbeer and his partner Mary Ann Dodd, convincing them to take part in robbing McLean and Dunlop.
Dodd remained by a large tree on the Dunolly to Sandy Creek, now the Tarnagulla road, where she acted as the lookout. As Dunlop struggled with Dunbeer, Neil struck him with a pick prior to McLean being murdered. The bodies were carried to a water hole.
On Sunday November 29, 1857, William Henry Dean saw a partially covered foot protruding from beneath a possum skin rug. Dean returned to Dunolly where he spoke to police officer John McCormack. The area quickly became known as Murderers Hill.
An inquest was told the victims had died by being struck on the back of the head by a sharp object, such as a pick, and they had been in the water hole for some weeks. Although it was thought that one man could not have committed the murders alone Dean was still arrested but was soon released because of insufficient evidence.
He – described as a black man – was again arrested when blood was found on his pick handle, and he spent some weeks in jail before remembering that he had taken the pick into the butcher’s shop in Dunolly.
Community
By MARTHA HAYLETT
ONE of my favourite things about the Loddon Shire is its community spirit. No matter what town I drive in to on my regular visits, I know I’ll be greeted by some of the best people you’ll ever meet.
That community spirit can be seen in the hundreds of volunteer groups across the Shire – from Landcare groups to CFA brigades, Hall committees, RSL sub-branches, Men’s Sheds, sporting clubs and more.
It is important to me as your Member of Parliament that these groups can receive state government grants to support events, fix building repairs, and remain sustainable long-term.
I have started a grants alert system that
The story was corroborated by the butcher, and he was again released.
After the offer of a one-hundred-pound reward and free pardon for an accomplice, Samuel Dryden, Robert Jones, John Anderson and Thomas Dearling were arrested in Tarnagulla and taken to Carisbrook charged with the murders. However, the police were unable to produce any real evidence against them and they were soon released, to the cheers of their friends, and much criticism of Her Majesty’s Police Force.
On February 18, 1859, Dunbeer gave himself up and implicated Neil, Brown and Dodd. Dodd also made a statement implicating Neil, however in August 1859 they were charged with perjury as it seems that Dunbeer had implicated Neil as an act of revenge. Dodd, who had been his girl, had left him because of their violent rows saying she was going to her sister in Sydney, but instead had moved in with Neil.
The police believed Dunbeer so they ar-
rested Dodd at Dunolly, but Brown eluded capture. In a backflip, Dunbeer denied he had confessed and implicated the others. There was confusion, the judges were incensed, and much conflicting evidence was presented at trial.
Dodd’s account was very descriptive and put the blame on Neil and Brown, with her statements matching what the police already knew.
Neil denied he was in the area at the time of the murders and said Dodd, whom he called “Polly”, and her sister Mrs Unwin, who was the keeper of a shanty on Sporting Flat, just to the north Dunolly, had admitted that their original evidence was false.
Thomas Unwin went to pieces in the witness box in having to deny his original evidence that supported his wife and “Polly”. By that time Elizabeth Bowen, a sister-in-law to Unwin, was implicated in the trial. During the confused and contradictory evidence, mention was made that
the murdered men were ambushed not far from Boan’s shanty, later to become the White Swan hotel at Jones’s Creek. Unwin, his wife Clara and her sister were all charged with perjury but acquitted in August 1859. Neil was acquitted and released from jail in July 1859. As Dodd was being released from the Castlemaine jail, she unfortunately encountered Dunbeer, who asked permission to speak to her and her two children.
Although handcuffed Dunbeer lurched forward and bit off part of Dodd’s nose. He was charged and was sentenced to three years’ hard labour; his plea of insanity having failed. Nothing further is known about Dunbeer, who died at Tylden in 1903, or Dodd, who died in 1906/7.
The large gum tree under which Mary Ann Dodd sat on the day of the murders was felled in September 1860 to make for the telegraph from Dunolly to Jones’s Creek. Maybe it was revenge for its participation in the horrible deed.
sends information about available grants to our community, and anyone can sign up at marthahaylett.com.au, or by calling my office on 5461 1255.
I wanted to give readers a wrap up of available state government grants right now, in case you or others want to apply. Firstly, up to $100,000 is available for brand-new men’s sheds, upgrades of current sheds, or new equipment until 16 October.
Next is grants up to $10,000 for community groups or tourist and heritage rail groups who use VicTrack properties. This grant is open until 23 September and may
help groups with small refurbishment projects, like in Bridgewater.
The Country Football Netball Program is also open until 30 September, providing grants up to $250,000 to councils to help rural football and netball clubs, associations and umpiring organisations to upgrade their facilities. It could benefit clubs by upgrading change rooms, ovals, pavilions, or sports lighting.
Food relief grants are also available for the first time, helping neighbourhood houses, volunteer organisations, and others to provide fresh and healthy food to those struggling with the cost of groceries.
The program is open until 10 September and includes local grants between $10,000 and $50,000.
Lastly, the next round of the muchloved Tiny Towns Fund is also open until 25 October. The fund provides grants from $5,000 to $50,000 for projects in communities with less than 5,000 residents.
Local groups can apply to fix their community hall, build a new playground or bike trail, install art, and more.
If you or a volunteer group you are a part of would like more information about any of these grants, feel free to reach out and I’d be happy to write you a letter of support to the relevant State Government Minister.
*MarthaHaylettisthememberforRipon
BOORT
BRIDGEWATER
BRIDGEWATER
BRIDGEWATER
BRIDGEWATER
BRIDGEWATER
DINGEE
FOUR
INGLEWOOD
INGLEWOOD
STEVE’S
INGLEWOOD
KANGAROO
PYRAMID
VICTORIA
LODDON AUSTRALIA DAY COMMITTEE – TERRICK WARD REPRESENTATIVE
Expressions of interest are invited from members of the Loddon Shire Terrick Ward to ll a vacant position on the Loddon Australia Day Committee.
The Loddon Australia Day Committee comprises a volunteer community representative from each Loddon Shire Ward, and a Loddon Shire Councillor as non-voting Committee Chairperson.
The Committee meets in-person, at a central location, generally 2-3 times each year to ful l its role in assessing nominations and selecting Loddon Australia Day Award recipients, and assessing entries and selecting winners of Australia Day competitions.
To be considered for this role, you must be a resident of the Terrick Ward, be able to demonstrate a keen community interest in your Ward and the Loddon Shire, and be available to attend meetings in November and December.
Expressions of interest will be accepted until 9.00 am on Monday, 16 September 2024, by post to the Loddon Australia Day Committee, PO Box 21, Wedderburn, 3518, or email to australiaday@loddon.vic.gov.au.
For further information please contact Council on 5494 1200.
POLLOCK REUNION
20th OCTOBER
MARONG HALL
11am BYO lunch
Combined afternoon tea
More information
Rob Pollock 5435 2295
Wedderburn Patchwork Group Inc. presents The Wedderburn Community Christmas and Arts Festival
Pyramid Hill Senior Citizens have not been active in recent times. A new committee has been elected and will welcome anyone interested in becoming a member
The Club has activities planned from 1pm on the second Friday of each month in the supper room at the Memorial Hall. On the fourth Friday of each month, a light meal will be available costing $10 -00. Again in the supper room at the Memorial Hall. You are welcome to pop in even if you would prefer just a cup of tea/coffee and a chat. There is no pressure to participate in the available activities.
Membership fee is $5-00 annually.
The above will be in place until the Club moves to the new building currently being constructed in McKay St. Terry Wood email tp.wood@bigpond.com Ph 0429843479
WANTED
WANTED TO BUY
Old bottles with town or company names.
Marble bottles, Ginger Beer, Milk Bottles, Soda Syphons Any old bottles - single items or box lots
CASH PAID ON DAY Phone 0452 264 661
WANTED TO BUY
Delivery share or part delivery share for Waranga Western channel Zone 1B Boort area.
$30,000 for full share
Contact 0487 278 045
EM pl OYMENT
Support Workers wanted to service Boort and surrounds. Must have Cert 3 in Aged Care. Please send resume to admin@trinityhomeservices.com.au
Bees colonise community beds
CARMEN’S Trees for Bees Program has brightened up the gardens of the Inglewood and Districts Health Service.
The Loddon Plains Landcare Network project aims to bring more bees to the hospital’s community garden.
After receiving a grant from Carmen’s trees for bees, the network’s Will Sanson and Andrew Perryman chose to plant the bee friendly flora in the community garden.
With assistance from hostel residents Henry Oblak and Joe Watts, a mixture of plants were sown among the established vegetable garden beds in Tuesday’s sunshine.
Loddon Plains is one of 20 recipients of a $500 grant from Carmen’s Trees for Bees, who in partnership with the Wheen Bee Foundation to support the bee population by growing more native vegetation across Australia.
AND REMOVAL OF THE
Joe Watts and Henry Oblak busy in the garden
Will Sanson enlists the help of Joe and Henry for the bee project
Boort’s Kath Lanyon in the thrilling C Grade second semi-final. LH PHOTOS
Cheers from spectators as Boort wins the C Grade final by one goal
A heated moment in the Bears Lagoon Serpentine-Bridgewater clash
Bridgewater’s Harry Conway
Action at Malone Park on Sunday
Boort juniors smother a St Arnaud passage
The Bears’ Tyler Miles is held by Bo Alexander Tense times
A Grade netball
Malone stars at hockey count
BOORT attacker Harry Malone has come within a whisker of winning North Central Hockey Association men’s best and fairest.
With three rounds to go Malone was ahead, however in the final rounds Henry Bourke (Charlton) overtook Malone by a single vote to claim the title.
Malone was a standout name in the awards night. He picked up the association’s junior champion award for his contributions to coaching the underage team, his involvement in umpiring indoor and women’s competitions, and his status as a role model for both his team and his peers.
Malone was also named in the association’s men’s Team of the Year alongside fellow Boort players, Greg Boyd (goalkeeper), Jake Boyd (defender), Luke Slatter (midfielder), Blake Slatter (interchange). Magpie Bridie Casey (interchange) featured in the women’s team.
Ali-Jane Thompson from Sea Lake Nandaly Tigers collected the junior goalkeeper award, Nathan Hendry from St Arnaud received the trainee umpire award and Kate Gifford was presented the senior champion award.
Joint best and fairest winners in the underage female competi-
tion category were Beau Haslam (Birchip Watchem) and Madeleine Lanyon (Sea Lake Nandaly Tigers). In the Underage male category, Baylee Pearse (Donald) secured the best and fairest with 2 votes over Jake O’Flaherty (Boort) and Murphy Fitzpatrick (Charlton).
The women’s title was claimed by Elise Fitzpatrick (Charlton) with 48 votes, followed closely by Brylea Swanton (St Arnaud) with 47 votes.
In the men’s second semi-final at Donald on Saturday, Boort started aggressively with two short corners in the first couple of minutes but were unable to capitalise. The second quarter saw Boort’s Harry Malone’s advantage goal awarded. The score remained 1-0 at half time.
A strong hit from Zac Griffiths equalised the score in the third quarter, with Glenn Pearse’s goal pushing Donald into the lead. Seconds before the end of the quarter Glenn Pearse scored again increasing Donald’s lead to 3-1.
The fourth quarter saw Boort awarded a stroke which was put away by Harry Malone. Tired players and aggressive play saw several cards handed out.
Donald 3 d Boort 2. GoalsDonald: Glenn Pearse 2, Zac Grif-
fiths. Boort: Harry Malone 2. Best - Donald: Lincoln Westerland, Henry Bourchier, Glenn Pearse. Boort: Harry Malone, Zac Poxon, Jake Boyd.
Women - Wycheproof-Narraport 7 d Charlton 4. GoalsWycheproof: Alyssa Fisher 3, Samantha Giorlando 2, Sarah Botheras, Shelby Giorland. Charlton: Tessa Fitzpatrick, Xanthe Fitzpatrick, Emily Lanyon, Kelly Wright. Best - Wycheproof-Narraport: Saray Botheras, Alyssa Fisher, Priya Coatsworth. Charlton: Xanthe Fitzpatrick, Amali Fitzpatrick, Jessica White.
Underage - St Arnaud 1 d. Donald 0. Goal - St Arnaud: Jack Batters
Under 12 - St Arnaud 2 d Charlton 1 Goals - St Arnaud: Patrick Zigamond, Lewis Lowe. Charlton: Sophie Roberts.
players at last month’s Boort indoor bowls tounament. LH PHOTO
Clubs start appointing coaches
THREE Loddon Valley football clubs have wasted no time making coaching appointments for 2025.
Inglewood, Mitiamo and Calivil, missing the senior finals actions, had made the announcement with online statements.
The Blues, who advertise the position each year, have re-appointed Fergus Payne for a second year at the helm.
Mitiamo has named club veteran Luke Lougoon to take the reins at John Forbes Oval.
He will replace Jon Vercoe who stepped in two years ago when the club was struggling for a coach and players.
And Calivil will be coached in 2025 by Sam Maher.
Off to titles
INGLEWOOD lawn bowler Geoff Wilson is
off to the national arm bowlers championships in Newcastle this weekend. It will be the fourth time Wilson has represented Victoria. He is part of the current national champion team.
Mitiamo golf
MITIAMO golf’s A Grade winner last week was Barry Meighan with 39 points. Runner-up was Jamie (Herb) Lister with 37 points.
B Grade was taken out by Phillip (Trout) Harrison with 38 points, while the runnerup was Peter Meighan on 37 points. Nearest the pin on No.2 was Phillip Harrison, and on No.11 was Paul Condliffe.
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Wedderburn
North Central hockey’s men’s team of the year (top) and men’s best and fairest Henry Bourke, association life member Michelle Hargreaves and runnerup Harry Malone
Redbacks power on display
WEDDERBURN is through to the grand final in both A Grade and B Grade of North Central netball after wins in the second semifinals.
The Redbacks comprehensively defeated Boort in A Grade, 65-40, while B Grade beat Birchip Watchem, 58-35.
Boort C Grade’s one-goal win over Nullawil sees them in the grand final, while the A Grade Magpies live to fight again in the preliminary final against Charlton.
The Redbacks A Grade side bolted from the gates against Boort, with the ball living in Wedderburn’s half of the court as shooters Paige Stephenson and Holly Lockhart were well on top of their opponents.
Boort steadied after trailing by 10 goals at quarter-time with the fresh legs of Britney Sykes making a difference, and the Magpies went to the half-time break 13 goals behind, but with some momentum.
Wedderburn quickly put the contest to bed with 10 consecutive goals after the break and cruised to a 25-goal win. Umpires judged Stephenson and Boort’s Carly Isaac as best players.
A dominant second quarter saw the Redbacks B Grade team comfortably dispose of Birchip Watchem, with Olivia Lockhart best on court.
In C Grade Boort prevailed 3029 over Nullawil. The Magpies led all day, but the Maroons kept nipping at their heels to the end.
The fast hands of Boort’s Brooke Arnold kept Nullawil defenders Amy Smith and Elizabeth Theoharethes on their toes with both teams fighting for possession.
Boort will have to beat Charlton on the Navy Blues’ home court this Saturday if they are to reach the North Central A Grade grand final and have a second crack at Wedderburn.
The two clashes between the teams this season have produced
Released for comment
almost mirror-image results. Boort won 42-26 in round two, but Charlton turned the tables 4127 in the return match.
Both team’s wins were on their home court.
The Magpies lost 65-40 against Wedderburn in the second semi-
Recreation, Open Space and Aquatic Strategy
Council has placed the draft Recreation, Open Space and Aquatic Strategy (ROSA) on display and invites interested community members or groups to provide their feedback.
ROSA is a 10-year strategic plan that establishes a clear direction for providing, developing and managing its sport and recreation, open space and aquatic facilities.
How you can provide us with your feedback
You can get more information about the Strategy and provide feedback at: https://connect.loddon.vic.gov.au/recreation-open- space-and-aquatic-strategy
Hard copies of the Strategy are available by contacting Council’s customer service team on 5494 1200.
Other ways to provide feedback: Email: loddon@loddon.vic.gov.au Mail: P.O. Box 21, Wedderburn 3518.
Feedback period closes Sunday 15 September
final last Saturday in a surprisingly one-sided match.
Wedderburn coach Emma Lockhart said of her team’s big win against Boort: “Everyone came to play their best netball on the day”.
The Redbacks will train on Sat-
urday, boosted by having both A and B Grade teams in the grand final. “We’ll make it as game-daylike as possible with a practice match,” Lockhart said.
“It will be hard work throughout the week. We have to make sure that we are at 100 per cent.”
A GrAde
C GrAde
NOrTH CeNTrAL NeTBALL reSULTS
Boort’s Carly Isaac. LH PHOTO
Action from Wedderburn’s day of big wins
Dogs head straight into grand final
PYRAMID Hill withstood repeated comebacks from Mitiamo to seal a place in the Loddon Valley netball A Grade grand final at Bridgewater on Saturday.
Late in the second quarter the Bulldogs led by nine goals, with the Superoos struggling to find their groove after a week off.
Having lost just once this season – to Pyramid Hill in round five – Mitiamo was always going to drag itself back into the contest.
And so it proved, with the Superoos going on a brilliant scoring run that saw them take the lead early in the third quarter.
It was all square at the final change, before Pyramid Hill flicked the switch and ran away to a nine-goal win, with goal shooter Jess Holdstock and star centre Imogen Broad best on court for the Bulldogs.
Mitiamo, which now must beat Bridgewater to make the grand final after a dominant season, was well served by goal shooter Carly Scholes, goal attack Laura Hicks and hard-working centre Amelia Ludeman.
The Mean Machine comprehensively disposed of Newbridge in the first semi-final, with the 20-goal defeat ending the Ma-
roons season. Bridgewater playing coach Caz Wood was best on court. After a tight first quarter, with just two goals separating the teams, the Mean Machine stepped up the scoring to dominate the rest of the game.
Mitiamo has beaten Bridgewater both times they have met this season, by a narrow two-goal margin in round 17 and by 13 goals in round eight.
Newbridge B Grade is in the grand final after a big win over Pyramid Hill, with the Bulldogs facing Marong for the chance to have another crack at the Maroons.
LOddOn vALLeY neTBALL resuLTs
Pyramid Hill’s Aleesha Flanagan. LH PHOTOS
Newbridge gets instructions from Selina Holland
Pressure in final cooker
By GARY WALSH
PRESSURE was the key to Wedderburn’s chances of reaching the North Central football grand final, according to coach Tom Metherell.
Metherell has led the Redbacks to the preliminary final in his first season as coach, and they face Sea Lake Nandaly on Saturday in their bid to take on Birchip Watchem in the season-decider.
He said the week off had paid dividends for his players, who were looking for a break after eight successive games leading into the finals.
Wedderburn has lost twice to Sea Lake this season, by 16 points in round two and by 59 points in the wet in round 11.
“We definitely took it up to them in round two, and then we didn’t play good wet-weather football the second time,” Metherell said.
“We’ve got a full list to choose from, and we had a good session on the track last night.”
Metherell said Tigers key forward and former AFL star Josh Jenkins was a threat, but he was confident in his team’s ability to shut down delivery to the big man.
“We have got to be consistent across the board, with 21 players all playing their roles,” he said.
“We base our game on pressure, and when our playing style comes to the fore and we play our best footy, we can beat anyone.”
Wedderburn is
in the final home and away game and missed the first semi-final victory over Donald.
Young Pies get second crack at grand final berth
BOORT will be out for redemption when its under 17 and under 14 sides play in Saturday’s North Central preliminary finals.
The young Pies had uncharacteristic losses in second semifinals at Donald.
The torrid wind played havoc with the under 17s’ game plan, unable to capitalise at the scoring
end in the first and third quarters. The more precision-like St Arnaud was as accurate in the third term.
The Saints powered home, peppering the goal square with a mixture of majors and behind giving them a 19 point victory. Bird, Malone and Hall were among the best for Boort while
Gooding kicked two of the Pies’ five goals. Boort plays Sea Lake Nandaly this Saturday.
In the under 14s, a stronger Sea Lake Nandaly broke clear in the third quarter with two goals while holding the Pies to no score.
Boort had three goal kickers for the day with Muller, Clapp and Young in the best.
Sunday’s first semi-final between Inglewood and Bridgewater. LH PHOTO
Rams into a second season decider
EAST Loddon is into its second grand final in as many years in the Loddon Valley Under-18s after a shock win over previously unbeaten Marong.
The Panthers were searching for their 41st consecutive victory on Saturday at Bridgewater in conditions dominated by a fierce wind blowing to the Calder Highway end of the ground.
Despite that, Marong kicked the first goal of the game through Cooper Murphy before the elements prevailed and East Loddon kicked the next three.
The second quarter provided Marong with the opportunity to capitalise on the wind, but Max Lowery’s midfield presence was causing headaches for the Panthers,
who only managed one goal for the quarter. After half-time it was to be a battle of who could use the conditions best, and in the third quarter East Loddon took control with goals to Brodie Wagner, Fynn Clymo, Joseph Ketterer and full forward Mitch Hancock.
Marong’s Murray was playing a lone hand in attack and added his third goal to keep the Panthers in the contest.
Marong dominated territory in the last quarter, but inaccuracy saw them add only 0.3 for the term, while the Rams managed a single goal to run out 27-point winners.
Best players: Marong: Cooper Quinlan, Cooper Murphy, Jett Bird,
Kepler Thomson, Kane Harris and Bailey O’Neill. East Loddon: Mason Hocking, Tyler Rasmussen, Blake Dowton, Patrick Cunningham, Liam Stephens and Brodie Wagner.
The Panthers will now play Inglewood on the Blues’ turf in a suddendeath preliminary final.
In the first semi-final, Inglewood kepts it chances alive with 34-point win over Bridgewater.
The Blues set up victory with a strong opening term, including two early goals from crafty forward pocket Ryder Smith.
The Blues were bolstered by the return of Riley Murphy after recovery from a broken leg early in the season.
- ISAAC JOHNSTONE-McCLOUD
SENIORS
GOALS - Sea Lake Nandaly: T. Cox, J. McMahon 2, M. Cahoon, W. Donnan, T. McKenzie , L. McClelland, R. O’Sullivan, B. Weir . Birchip Watchem: B. Edwards 4, N. Rippon, J. Reid 2, M. Buchanan, D. Bell, L. Ryan.
BEST - Sea Lake Nandaly: T. Cox, W. Donnan, L. Martin, T. McKenzie, J. Poulton, C. Cox. Birchip Watchem: A. Butterfield, L. Ryan, M. Buchanan, N. Rippon, H. Hosking, J. Noonan,
RESERvES
GOALS - Nullawil: S. Goldsmith, J. Barry, D. Kelly, J. Coghlan, T. Fawcett, Z. Kelly, A. Forrester. Sea Lake Nandaly: J. Clohesy 2, H. Harcourt, F. Warne, N. Wight.
BEST - Nullawil: A. Forrester, Z. Kelly, M. Barry, B. Forrester, J. Coghlan, J. Barry. Sea Lake Nandaly: J. Clohesy, I. Durie, W. Landry, F. Warne, J. Bath, C. Tait.
UNDER 17
GOALS - Boort: C. Gooding 2, J. O’Flaherty, L. Hall, D. Perryman. St Arnaud: J. Needs, G. Gorrie 2, H. Tannock, C. Hendy, O. Lowe, F. Donald.
BEST - Boort: J. Bird, H. Malone, L. Hall, C. Gooding, J. Potter, M. Beattie. St Arnaud: F. Donald, B. Greenaway, O. Lowe, S. Bridgeman, K. Torney, J. Needs.
UNDER 14
- Sea Lake Nandaly: C. Symes 2, J. O’Sullivan, H. Warne, H. Cox, O. Conlan. Boort: L. King, D. Perryman, B. McPherson.
BEST - Sea Lake Nandaly: H. Cox, Z. Wight, R. Newick, R. Allan, H. Warne, O. Conlan. Boort: S Muller, H. Clapp, M. Young, A. Lee, C. McNally, D.
Perryman.
expected to regain Adam Postle for the preliminary final. Postle was injured
Knight of valour
MARONG will rue two critical mistakes just before half-time of the second semi-final at Bridgewater, with their second loss to Pyramid Hill this season costing the Panthers direct entry into the grand final.
As the clock ticked down in the first half, full-forward Kane Robins marked about 15 metres out from goal and after a stuttering run up kicked the ball into the man on the mark.
A goal would have put Marong 21 points up on a wild and windy day when scoring was extremely tough.
Immediately afterwards, Ryley Taylor won a free kick almost in the goal square, but inexplicably played on and the ball was touched off his boot.
If a dominant Marong had not missed those two simple chances, the match might have been effectively over.
Instead, Pyramid Hill swept
By GARY WALSH
the ball forward and a neat snap from Gavin James brought the Bulldogs within 11 points at the main break.
Pyramid Hill looked outclassed in the first quarter, with Marong on top all over the field and taking a 20-point lead into the second term. The Bulldogs lost Jack Timmins to concussion during the opening quarter, which limited their interchanges for the rest of the match.
While the wind raged mainly across the ground, there was a slight advantage to the highway end, but Pyramid Hill smashed open the game in the third term kicking the other way, scoring 3.2 to 0.3 and snatching the lead at three-quarter time.
The Bulldogs defence, led by centre half-back Tom McGregor, was impassable in the third quarter, and rugged wingman Ben
Knight marshalled a stunning fightback from the on-ball brigade.
The Panthers, having lost only once in three seasons – to Pyramid Hill in round 12 this year –were under siege, and their structure and ball use fell away as the Bulldogs took a six-point margin into the last quarter.
A brilliant snap over the shoulder increased Pyramid Hill’s margin at the start of the final term, and try as Marong might, the Bulldogs could not be caught, with a goal after the siren securing a 13-point win.
Pyramid Hill now goes into the grand final on September 14 with a great chance to win a first senior flag since 1950, when the club played in the now defunct Mitiamo District League.
The Panthers regroup to face Bridgewater in the preliminary final after a tough day for the club.
Mean Machine simply better
BRIDGEWATER has pulled off a thrilling Loddon Valley league first sem-final victory driven by hunger for success.
The Mean Machine could have wilted when Bears Lagoon Serpentine came surging from behind and snatched the lead late in Sunday’s fourth quarter at Malone Park, Marong.
Then up stepped the experienced Lee Coghlan, goal gun Lachie Sharp who had drifted further into the midfield and Bo Alexander.
They brought every Bridgewater player to new heights. When Alexander looked for the better option, he found Harry McKinley 10 metres out from goal.
One of the Mean Machine’s big improvers this season, McKinley put Bridgewater back in front by two points as the clock ticked into time on, Justin Laird, Nathan Twigg and Bailey Harrison drove one last roll of the dice for the Bears.
Deep forward they pushed. Touched on the line called the umpire and Bridgewater wasted no time going deep forward.
As the siren sounded, Sharp had marked. Too far out to add another goal to four for the day.
It didn’t matter as Bridgewater had booked its second preliminary final appearance in three years and avenged the 2024 first semi-final loss to the Bears.
Bridgewater had started the better in the first half, even if Jake Wilkinson’s Bears were first to rattle the scoreboard.
The Mean Machine at times made Serpentine look sloppy, slow and indecisive.
Callum Draper, Josh Taig and Harry Gadsen has kept the Bears thereabouts. Laird lit a late second term spark that saw two quick goals, one
from Gadsden with poise on the run.
The challenge was on from the start of the third quarter - straight down deep 50 and James Rippingale had the Bears scoring.
A Laird goal was one of four for the term but there were more behinds, including a poster.
Bridgewater briefly surrendered the lead until up bobbed another of the experienced brigade Andrew
Collins who ended the day with five goals. Another vital Collins goal would come mid-way through the last quarter.
Nathan Twigg’s firm hands marked often to halt the Mean Machine as the lead see-sawed.
In the end, McKinley’s goal and a slicker Bridgewater were to bundle Bears Lagoon Serpentine out of the finals race in straight games.
Trio of champions stumble on second semi weekend
FOR the past three seasons, Marong has dominated all three grades of local football.
Its under 18s had not dropped a game since round five back in April 2022.
Last year the juniors went through
the season undefeated and ended up premiers and champions, and holders of back-to-back flags.
The reserves were premiers and champions in 2022 and 2023. This season only Pyramid Hill had dented the record with a round three win.
And the seniors had lowered the colours to Pyramid Hill in the home and away season.
All three Panther sides were on top of the ladder and had the first week of finals off. On Saturday, challengers to the throne struck.
SENIORS
(79)
(80)
GOALS - Bears Lagoon Serpentine: C. Gadsden, H. Gadsden 2, N. Kemp, R. Turner, J. Rippingale, J. Laird, L. Mott, J. Wilkinson, F. Priest. Bridgewater: A. Collins 5, L. Sharp 4, J. Neylon, B. Alexander, H. McKinley.
BEST - Bears Lagoon Serpentine: J. Taig, R. Turner, J. Laird, N. Kemp, N. Twigg, H. Gadsden. Bridgewater: J. Mayes, L. Coghlan, J. Coghlan, B. Derrick, J. Rusbridge, H. Terry. Marong
(67)
(54) Pyramid Hill
GOALS - Marong: S. Knott 3, R. Taylor, C. Gregg, K. Robins, N. Devanny. Pyramid Hill: Z. Alford 2, B. George, S. Gunther, G. James, B. Dickens, J. Burns, B. Ladson, J. Cowling, B. Knight. BEST - Marong: M. Riordan, M. Bradbury, M. Willox, J. Gadsden, T. Davies, J. McCaig. Pyramid Hill: G. James, S. Gunther, B. Ladson, T. Mcgregor, J. Cowling, B. Knight.
RESERvES
GOALS - Bridgewater: N. Hall
Brooks
S. Dewar, J. Roberts . Bears Lagoon Serpentine: J. Podosky, J. Murley, J. Gladman 2, C. Anstee, S. Gladman, K. Paxton.
BEST - Bridgewater: T. Hywood, M. Brooks, N. Hall, J. McKinley, O. Horan, T. Naughton. Bears Lagoon Serpentine: Z. Stone, M. Addlem, J. Gladman, K. Paxton, B. Roy-Clements, M. Frecker.
GOALS - Marong: T. Grant, D. Blume. Pyramid Hill: H. Goodes, N. Moon, T. Walker.
BEST - Marong: S. Dean, M. Grant, W. Gadsden, H. Baker, Z. Turnbull, A. Collins. Pyramid Hill: B. Moon, T. Walker, G. James, M. Gunther, N. Coyle, G. Quinn.
UNDER 18
GOALS - Bridgewater: J. Larson, J. Friswell, C. Orton, O. Clapp. Inglewood: T. Murphy 5, R. Smith, H. Noble 2, D. Gilbee.
BEST - Bridgewater: S. McMahon, O. Clapp, L. Lonsdale, C. Orton, T. Pidoto, J. Larson. Inglewood: T. Murphy, W. Schepers, D. Gilbee, J. Penrose, K. McClellan, M. Lonza.
- Marong: C. Murphy 3. East Loddon: L. Stephens, M. Hancock 2, F. Clymo, B. Wagner, J. Ketterer, A. Roulston. BEST - Marong: C. Quinlan, C. Murphy, J. Bird, K. Thomson, K. Harris, B. O’Neill. East Loddon: M. Hocking, T. Rasmussen, B. Dowton, P.
Cunningham, L. Stephens, B. Wagner.
Ben Knight was among Pyramid Hill’s best. LH PHOTO
Harry McKinley’s goal books Bridgewater a preliminary final spot.
LH PHOTO
Gutsy Bridgey primed for assault on Panthers
MARONG’S bid for a thirdstraight Loddon Valley flag has a Bridgewater-shaped obstacle in its way after a loss to Pyramid Hill sent the Panthers into a preliminary final showdown with the Mean Machine.
Results this season suggest a romp for the reigning premiers but Bridgewater’s gutsy first semi-final win over Bears Lagoon Serpentine has the Mean Machine eyeing off an unexpected grand final spot.
In round six, Marong beat Bridgewater by 56 points and in round 15 by 68 points, with gun full-forward Lachlan Sharp held to two goals in each clash.
He sits on 137 goals for the season, so the effort in keeping him quiet speaks volumes not only for the Panthers’ defence but also for their midfield’s ability to shut down their opponents and reduce the service to Sharp.
How much will the loss to Pyramid Hill shake Marong’s confidence, and how much will the de-
THIS WEEK’S LODDON VALLEY PREDICTIONS
Gary Walsh
Marong by 25 points
Glenn Catto
Marong by 41 points
Chris Earl
Marong by three points
sire for revenge colour the team’s thinking?
It will be a challenge for the players to focus on the Bridgewater clash at Inglewood’s home ground and not cast their minds further ahead to another potential battle with the Bulldogs. With two losses this season to Pyramid Hill – the team’s only defeats since round four of 2022 – the thought of turning the ta-
bles inevitably will be on the Panthers’ minds.
Bridgewater had a bad patch of form immediately after Sharp reached his century, losing heavily to Pyramid Hill, Serpentine and Marong in successive weeks as the full-forward struggled with a bad corked calf.
However, their one-point win over the Bears will have the Mean Machine feeling fearless and convinced of their ability to beat anyone on their day.
Marong’s three-pronged attack of Kain Robins, Ryley Taylor and Ryan Wellington have kicked 168 goals between them this season, which presents a massive challenge for Bridgewater’s defence.
With two potent forward lines, the result of the game will likely come down to which midfield can more effectively limit supply to its opponent’s goalkickers.
And with the weekend off, Pyramid Hill’s players and coaches will sit back and hope for a bruising contest in this do-or-die clash.
From mud glug to sandy centre
FROM one centre of annoyance to another, players in Loddon Valley football finals have been caught in a mire or tempted to bring out the beach shovel and spade. In the opening week, the state of Maiden Gully’s home ground at Marist College was a concern for players during the qualifying final between Pyramid Hill and Bears Lagoon Serpentine. Heavy, cloying mud in the centre square – despite a week without the predicted heavy rain – made conditions tough and placed a premium on skills.
Ideally, clubs want the best venues for the finals, and Maiden Gully’s ground – despite the venue’s excellent off-field facilities –simply was not up to scratch.
The pronounced mound in the centre of the field makes spectating difficult, with players on the far side of the oval often seen only from the waist up, and it is hard to judge on field distances. As well, the absence of a bound-
From bank to Bulldogs’ hero: John Schultz dies, aged 85
FIVE-TIME Footscray best and fairest and AFL Hall of Fame
member John Schultz died on Sunday, aged 85.
Schultz, the 1960 Brownlow medalist had been recruited from Boort in 1958 where he was working in the State Savings Bank.
Former Gordon Shire secretary Trevor Forbes said Schultz’s mother ran a small shop in Godfrey Street and had married Elaine Graham, of Durham Ox. Elaine died in 2013.
Forbes said the Footscray legend regularly returned to Boort to play in the annual Easter tennis tournament.
“He had a great association with Boort and was a nice fellow, quiet and reserved and
ary fence on one side of the field can be dangerous. Two players crashed into spectators in the second quarter as they fought for a ball close to the boundary line. Fortunately, there were no casualties.
And last Sunday at Marong, officials made an inspection of sand covering the centre wicket before games started and raked the surface.
In the seniors first semi-final, Bears Lagoon Serpentine players and their Bridgewater opponents sent up small plumes of dust each time play was bottled up in the centre.
Frank Harding Medal
Justin Laird (BLS) 28, Ben Knight (PH) 18, Lachlan Sharp (BW) 18, Farran Priest (BLS) 15, Bailey George (PH) 14, Josh Worsley (MGYC) 14, Nathan Devanny (MAR) 13,8 Corey Gregg (MAR) 12, Kain Robins (MAR) 11, Tyler McLeod (NB) 11, Josh Mellington (BLS) 10, Tyler Constable (NB) 10, Zach Alford (PH) 10, Jack Neylon (BW) 9, Jonty Davis (MAR) 9, Nathan Twigg (BLS) 9, Daniel Polack (IW) 8, Luke Lougoon (MITI) 8, Andrew Collins (BW) 7, Samuel Green (CU) 7, Ryley Taylor (MAR) 6, Steven Gunther (PH) 6, Thomas Kennedy (IW) 6, Ben McKinley (NB) 5, Cooper Hale (MAR) 5, Harry McKinley (BW) 5, Lachlan Sidebottom (PH) 5, Mathew Crooks (MGYC) 5, William Daly (NB) 5, Jimmy Gadsden (MAR) 4, Lachlan Lee (MAR) 4, Michael Bradbury (MAR) 4, Mitchell Conlan (IW) 4, Ryan Wellington (MAR) 4, Sam Gale* (NB) 4, Thomas Brennan (PH) 4, Thomas Hobson (NB) 4, Will Allen (1) (IW) 4, Anthony Dennis (CU) 3, Ben Gregg (MAR) 3, Brandon Dimech (NB) 3, Charlie Gadsden (BLS) 3, Harry Symons (BW) 3, Jack Maher (CU) 3, Joseph Mayes (BW) 3, Lee Coghlan (BW) 3, Noah McCaig (MAR) 3, Oliver Watt (BW) 3, Sam Polack (IW) 3, Sebastian Relouw (PH) 3, Xavier Walsh (BW) 3, Adrian Holland (PH) 2, Andrew Gladman (BLS) 2, Angus Fortune (NB) 2, Boden Alexander (BW) 2, Brad Ladson (PH) 2, Bryden Morison (PH) 2, Callum Draper (BLS) 2, Cameron Ilett (CU) 2, Declan Phyland (MGYC) 2, Ed Crisp (MGYC) 2, Harry Donegan (BW) 2, James Rippingale (BLS) 2, Jayden Matthews (MITI) 2, Jaydon Cowling (PH) 2, Jesse Sheahan (PH) 2, Jonathon Coghlan (BW) 2, Josiah Farrer (MGYC) 2, Justin Hynes (CU) 2, Lachlan Frankel (MAR) 2, Luke Deslandes (MGYC) 2, Matthew Willox (MAR) 2, Sam Dean (MAR) 2, Alexander Pollock (BW) 1, Bailey Scott (PH) 1, Ben Irvine (BW) 1, Caleb Argus (NB) 1, Damon Hemphill (PH) 1, Doolan Nihill (BLS) 1, Hamish McGregor (CU) 1, Jack McCaig (MAR) 1, Jack Vinnicombe (MITI) 1, Jacob Murley (BLS) 1, Josh Taig (BLS) 1, Kepler Thomson (MAR) 1, Lachie Costelow (PH) 1, Liam Shiell (MITI) 1, Liam Stephens (CU) 1, Matthew McArthur (NB) 1, Matthew Riordan (MAR) 1, Rhys Lourie (CU) 1, Ross Turner (BLS) 1, Tyler Miles (BLS) 1, William Copland (NB) 1.
John Forbes Medal
an absolute gentleman,” said Forbes.
Schultz was 21 when he won the 1960 Brownlow by one vote from Fitzroy’s Kevin Murray. He was Footscray’s best and fairest player five times (1960, 1962, 1964–66), played for Victoria 21 times and was an All-Australian in 1961.
Commentators of the era said Schultz was an effective knock ruckman, he was acclaimed for good tackling, elegant marking, and hard, fair bumping across 188 VFL games. He was named in the Footscray-Western Bulldogs team of the century and presented the AFL premiership cup to the Bulldogs after the club’s drought-breaking grand final win in 2016.
(BW) 1,
(MITI) 1,
(MAR) 1, Joshua Scott (MAR) 1, Kalem Paxton (BLS) 1, Kiel Kerrison (MGYC) 1, Lachlan Petri (CU) 1, Mitch Gunther (PH) 1, Stephen Fawcett (CU) 1, Toby Naughton (BW) 1.
Brodie Wagner Stephen Dowling Award Brodie Wagner (ELR) 27, Kane Harris (MAR) 23, Tyler Murphy (IW) 14, Kepler Thomson (MAR) 11, Max Lowery (MAR) 10, Blake Gibson (PH) 9, Harrison Goodes (PH) 9, Sam McMahon (BW) 6, Evan McCoy (IW) 5, Jack McMurray (MAR) 5, Noah Ramskill (ELR) 5, Fynn Clymo (ELR) 4, Harrison Noble (IW) 4, Riley Kerr (MAR) 4, Sebastian Vinnicombe (MAR) 4, Tyler Rasmussen (ELR) 4, Cade Tuohey (ELR) 3, Connor McCoy (PH) 3, Harvey White (ELR) 3, Kyle McClellan (IW) 3, Lewis Pigdon (PH) 3, Liam Stephens (ELR) 3, Mason Hocking (ELR) 3, Ned Howe (BW) 3, Ollie Clapp (BW) 3, Riley Doorty (MAR) 3, Riley Murphy (IW) 3, Seth Hewett (BW) 3, Aidan Roulston (ELR) 2, Blake Dowton (ELR) 2, Cahal Blandthorn (MAR) 2, Campbell Hancock (IW) 2, Chase Poyser (BW) 2, Jackson Luckman (IW) 2, Josh Curnow (MAR) 2, Lachlan Bartlett (BW) 2, Lewis Lonsdale (BW) 2, Lewis Stubbs (PH) 2, Max Gray (ELR) 2, Wilhelm Thomson (MAR) 2, Xavier Emmerson (PH) 2, Cooper Orton (BW) 1, Darby Thomson (MAR) 1, Elliott Bird (MAR) 1, Harry Mannix (MAR) 1, Jackson Hetherton (BW) 1, James Hercott (PH) 1, Jamie Penrose (IW) 1, Joseph
Zack Turnbull (MAR) 32, Tom Grant (MAR) 26, Evan Ritchie (CU) 21, Jack Lovett (IW) 13, Jirah Dawkins (NB) 12, Mitchell Dingwall (PH) 11, Samuel Gorrie (IW) 10, Lachlan Murley (BLS) 9, Sam Dewar (BW) 9, Nathan Moon (PH) 8, Thomas Clarke (BLS) 8, Matthew Grant (MAR) 7, Hamish Terry (BW) 6, Nicholas Gray (NB) 6, Tynan Hywood (BW) 6, Adrian Holland (PH) 5, Caleb Milne (MITI) 5, Craig Davies (BLS) 5, Jayden Leach (IW) 5, Jeremy Campbell (BW) 5, Mana Clark* (MGYC) 5, Steve Gladman (BLS) 5, Zachary Stone (BLS) 5, Aidan Moore (NB) 4, Bradley Matthews (MAR) 4, Damien Whan (NB) 4, David Blume (MAR) 4, Deklen Gorrie (IW) 4, Dolf Reid (PH) 4, Gregory Quinn (PH) 4, Jack Burns (PH) 4, Kaylin Griffin (MGYC) 4, Michael Brooks (BW) 4, Nicholas Hall (BW) 4, Noah Ramskill (MITI) 4, Oliver Muggleton (BW) 4, Trent Stevenson (IW) 4, Tyler Murphy (IW) 4, Allan Edwards (BLS) 3, Ashley Woodman (BW) 3, Blake Gibson (PH) 3, Harrison Gadsden (BLS) 3, Harry Baker (MAR) 3, Harry Bogaski (IW) 3, Jacob Murley (BLS) 3, Louis Mott (BLS) 3, Mason Hocking (MITI) 3, Matt Smith (PH) 3, Matthew Frecker (BLS) 3, Michael Niezen (BLS) 3, Mitch Hogan (BW) 3, Mitchell Stephens (CU) 3, Nicholas Davis (NB) 3, Peter Rothacker (BW) 3, Rylan Delamare (PH) 3, Samuel Brynhildsen (NB) 3, Thomas Walker (PH) 3, Thomas Wilson (NB) 3, Tom Wakefield (CU) 3, William Anderson (MGYC) 3, Ben Irvine (BW) 2, Bradley Delamare (PH) 2, Bradley Masson (CU) 2, Brady Jones (MGYC) 2, Cameron Grant (NB) 2, Clay Anstee (BLS) 2, Daniel Canfield (CU) 2, Dean McKay (BLS) 2, Emile Pavlich (BW) 2, Fraser Stewart (MAR) 2, Hamish McGregor (CU) 2, Harry Symons (BW) 2, Hayden Devanny (MGYC) 2, Jack Mills (IW) 2, James Naughton (BW) 2, Jas Phillips (IW) 2, Kaleb Quinn (PH) 2, Kyle Pentreath (MITI) 2, Lachlan Harris (IW) 2, Matthew Moon (PH) 2, Ned Cartwright (CU) 2, Nicholas Hicks (MITI) 2, Paris Walker (PH) 2, Peter Wardell (BW)
LODDON VALLEY - HOW PLAYERS POLLED
Kain Robins
John Schultz at the 2016 AFL grand final
Laird bolts his way to LV best and fairest
By GARY WALSH
JUSTIN Laird said giving up the Bears Lagoon Serpentine coaching role this season played a major part in his runaway win in the Loddon Valley best-andfairest award.
Laird scored 28 votes to win the Frank Harding Medal by 10 over joint runners-up Ben Knight from Pyramid Hill – the 2017 winner – and Bridgewater’s gun full-forward Lachlan Sharp.
The Bears onballer told the Loddon Herald it was his best year of football: “I got a bit fitter, and after relinquishing the coaching I feel like I just went into games with a fresh mind.
“I didn’t have to worry about anything else other than my own form.”
Laird, 28, said he didn’t go into the count on Monday night with any expectations.
“I don’t think anyone does,” he said. “You just don’t know how the umpires see the game.”
Clearly the umpires saw Laird starring. He polled votes in 12 of the 16 matches, including five as best-on-ground.
He had sealed the win before the last couple of rounds were counted, so dominant was his season.
Laird hit the scoreboard too when full-forward Josh Mellington’s hamstring tear ended his season after 93 goals in nine games (and 10 medal votes).
He kicked 17 goals in three matches playing a mix of midfield and forward line.
While Serp tumbled out of the finals with a loss to Bridgewater, Bears fans can take solace in the fact that Laird will pull on the jumper again next season.
Marong’s Zach Turnbull won the John Forbes Medal as reserves best-and-fairest for the second year running. He won by six votes over teammate Tom Grant.
Turnbull has played one senior match for the Panthers this season, after two in 2023.
Experienced recruit snags Helen Ward Medal
BRIDGEWATER’S Carly Van Den Heuvel has capped an outstanding first season in the Loddon Valley netball league by winning the Helen Ward Medal as the competition’s best and fairest player.
And it came as a pleasant surprise. “I didn’t even know it was on until it came up on Facebook,” she told the Loddon Herald.
“I didn’t get invited to the dinner (next week), so I didn’t think I was in the running.
In the Bendigo league you get invited to the dinner if you’re a chance.
“A friend from the Bendigo league called me up and wished me good luck, so I was just propped up in bed watching the live feed on Facebook.”
Goal defence Van Den Heuvel, 30, joined
the Mean Machine from Kangaroo Flat in the Bendigo league, previously having won three A Grade premierships with Sandhurst.
She was awarded 24 votes, winning votes in 11 matches, to edge out Bears Lagoon Serpentine’s teenage goal shooter Ava Francis, who finished on 22 votes.
After voting in nine of the first 10 games, Van Den Heuvel hit a flat spot and failed to win a vote in four consecutive matches.
“We lost two games in a row, then I went into shooter for a couple of games, which didn’t work out well. I was good after that,” she said. Third in the award was Mitiamo goaler Laura Hicks on 19 votes.
- GARY WALSH
INGLEWOOD young gun Gabe
Nevins has been named the Loddon Valley football league’s Rising Star despite a season blighted by injury.
And Bears Lagoon Serpentine goal shooter Ava Francis has taken out the rising star award for netball after a stunning first season of A Grade.
Nevins, a two-time winner of the league’s Under-18 best and fairest, suffered a serious leg injury in round three that sidelined him for 10 weeks.
Three matches after his return he was concussed in a clash that saw Newbridge co-coach Sam Gale suspended for two matches, meaning Nevins missed another two games.
He managed to play only seven matches for the season, and really hit form in the last couple of rounds, but still did enough to win the award.
Francis, 17, has emerged as a shining light of the competition, finishing second in the Helen Ward Medal for A Grade as well as taking out the Rising Star award. Her outstanding shooting took the Bears back to the finals for the first time in 18 years.
2024 Loddon Valley best and fairest Justin Laird. LH PHOTO
SPRING IN THE LODDON VALLEY
With endless blue skies and golden horizons, Spring is the perfect time to experience the remarkable beauty of the Loddon Valley.
From culturally enriching tours, to walking amongst ancient boulders in State Parks, from treasure hunting that must-have vintage piece, or sipping delicious wines and brews in cellar doors and beer gardens, Spring shines in Loddon.
SPRING MUST DO’S
Cultural heartbeat
Participate on a Djaara cultural tour at Kooyoora State Park, or be enriched at the Wedderburn Coach House Gallery and the Inglewood Eucalyptus Distillery.
Golden delights
Bird watching ‘twitching’ Join the ‘twitching’ craze and go bird watching across the Loddon region in the many state parks and reserves.
Delicious reds
Visit local cellar doors for a wine tasting at Water Wheel Vineyard, Both Banks Vineyard, Old Kingower Vineyard and Connor Park Winery.
Fossick for gold in Wedderburn or Inglewood on a personalised tour with the Gold Nugget Hunter.
Picnic with a view
Relax on the bank of the Loddon River in Bridgewater and enjoy a picnic from award-winning Bridgewater Bakehouse.
Iconic views
Take in the breathtaking views of the northern Loddon region at Mount Hope, Terrick Terrick National Park or Pyramid Hill.
Retail therapy
SPRING EVENTS
Tarnagulla Strictly Vintage Fair
September 8 | Tarnagulla
32nd Annual Wedderburn
Vintage Machinery Rally
September 14 – 15 | Wedderburn
Loddon Valley Arts Trail
October 4, 5 and 6 | Loddon Shire wide
Laanecoorie Gold Bash
October 11 – 13 | Laanecoorie
2024 Boort Annual Show and Truck Show
October 12 | Boort
Visit the vintage and collectables precinct in Inglewood to unearth your own treasure.
For a full list of events and experiences: www.visitloddonvalley.com.au
