Latrobe Valley Express Wednesday 21 June 2023

New earthworks on Eastern mine batters

ONE of the most visible areas of the Hazelwood mine site willhave anew look in the next few months.

The Eastern batters, the wide area of claycovered embankment visible from the Princes Freeway, particularly for people travelling east, will soon have grasses planted on it.

Topsoil is now being placed on alengthy section of the batter following aprogram of drainage and batter stability works around the mine area. The soil works are scheduled for completion soon,

which will allow grass sowing over the next two months.The top twolevels of thebatter willbe sown firstwith the lower level of thebatter planned for Spring 2023.

It’s hoped the grass will begin to shoot very soon, changing the appearance of the eastern end of the mine.

The works are part of the ongoing rehabilitation of the broadHazelwood Rehabilitation Project, with such works being carried out under relevant approvals.

Youth space future in jeopardy

SINCE launching at 497B Princes Drive in Morwell in May 2021, Latrobe Youth Space has provided asafeand inclusive space for young locals aged 12 to 25.

Latrobe Youth Space has provided numerous programsaimed to upskill, re-engage, mentor, build aspiration, connect to support services, connect to educational and employment opportunities, fostered positive social connections and became a safe place for many young people to drop-in after school, during school holidays and for many during the day.

In the recent state budget, Latrobe Youth Space did not receive ongoing funding, leaving its more than 500 members facing an uncertain future.

The situation was concerning for one young participant.

“Latrobe Youth Space is one of the best youth hubs I’ve ever been to,” they said.

“I regularly use the shower, do my washing, make meals and leave my house. Since coming here I’ve made friends, attended events Iwouldnever have beeninvited before,I’ve donetrainingand learned so many new skills. Latrobe Youth Space has given me so much, to think that this place may not be here breaks my heart and makes me worry about the future for Latrobe youth.”

At arecent meeting, Youth co-chair, Lincoln Ingravalle wasassured by Minister for Youth, Natalie Suleyman and Member for Eastern Victoria,Harriet Shing (Ministerfor Regional Development, Equality, Water and Commonwealth Games Legacy)that the budget outcome wasnot a reflection of the work or value provided to the community by Latrobe Youth Space, and recognised the engagement and support Latrobe YouthSpace offers for young people was outstanding. Both ministers committed to assisting Latrobe Youth Space to find other funding opportunities and secure its future.

In the meeting, Minister Suleyman advised that she had committed to some transition funding for LatrobeYouthSpace to enablesome servicesto continue until the end of 2023.

While the board is working to secure the future of asafedrop-in centre for young locals, Latrobe Youth Space will host aregular ‘Q&A Afternoon Tea’ for young locals on Monday’s from 3pm for therest of themonth, allowing young people to ask questions and discuss developments.

Mr Ingravalle hopedfor greater clarity as the months unfolded.

“I am devastated for young people that amuch needed and loved, safe place for young people is disappearing after being forced to close after operating for such ashort time, and like everyone, closed due to the pandemic,” he said.

“I feel we were just becoming established as the ‘go to’ body for youth services, and Iknow our 14 partner organisations across Latrobe are upset by the budget decision.”

Latrobe Youth Space came into being when a group of local organisations formedacollaborative partnership to tender to deliver the project, and established Latrobe Youth Space Inc. as the new lead agency.

The partners include Baw Baw LLEN, GippSport, GippsCASA, Berry Street, Federation University, TAFE Gippsland, Quantum Support Services, The Centre for Multicultural Youth, The Gathering Place, Kindred Spirits Foundation, VACCA, Youth Insearch, Just One thing and Interchange Gippsland.

Latrobe Youth Space said it remains committed to empowering young people and creating opportunities for youth to thrive.

The board is comprised 50 per cent of people under the age of 25, with the balance of board members representing collaboration partners and committed individuals.

Operations continue ‘as usual’ for its more than 500 members while other sources of funding are explored.

If you find this news distressing, you can reach:

Lifeline 13 11 14 or SMS 0477 131 114 Kids helpline 1800 551 800 https://kidshelpline. com.au

Green machine: Topsoilhas been placed, readyfor grass sowing at Hazelwood. Photograph supplied

Timber tantrum

By ZAIDAGLIBANOVIC

LABOR Member for Eastern Victoria Region, Harriet Shing and NationalsMember for Gippsland South, Danny O'Brien hadsome heated debate that resembled something of ahigh school quarrel at the recentParliamentary inquiry into the 2023-24 state budget estimates.

Ms Shing, who is also Ministerfor Regional Development, came under fire by Mr O’Brien, during question time. Mr O’Brien, amember of the PublicAccountsand Estimates Committee tasked with inquiring into the budget, let rip on Ms Shing regarding the state government’s decision to end native forest logging at the end of the year. The original debate was the discussion of Latrobe Valley Authority funds, but moved onto the transition of the timber industry as Mr O’Brien posed if industry in the Latrobe Valley had afuture.

“We’ve now got the government shutting down the timber industry, we’ve lost 130 jobs already at Maryvale Mill so far this year, and there’s more to come. We’re going to see Yallournclosing in 2028, where is there actually abright future and industries coming to the Valley or to Gippsland?” he asked.

Ms Shing answered, saying, “Transition has been incredibly difficult for Latrobe Valley and Gippsland more broadly.”

“The announcements around the end of native timber harvesting in state forests from 1January next year has been incredibly distressing, and this is where again that $388 million, which is in this year’s budget …ispart of that overall package. Ithink it’s more than $875 million,” she added.

“Transitionisoccurring,asyou well know, across arange of sectors and industries within Gippsland.”

Mr O’Brien suggested that the hardship in transition was “driven by government policy.”

To which Ms Shing retaliated with, “What would you havedone where in fact, Vic Forests spent $14 million on litigations?”

Mr O’Brien was quick to interrupt to say, “You could have amended the timber code of practice” and “Take out the precautionary principles from the act.”

Ms Shing was unfazed by Mr O’Brien’sinterjections, continuing her speech to say, “Where timber yards have been empty for the last six months. Where people have been at home while their mental health suffers,and you say that this could be fixed withthe stroke of apen …wehave advice that this cannot be fixed with legislation.

Mr O’Brien once again interjected, accusing the state government of withholding the legal advice given to them regarding the timber industry.

“Ah, here we go, the advice that no one knows about and yet your government won’t provide anyone with that advice,” he said.

Ms Shing went on the defensive and accused the

Rural Romance

previous Liberal state governments of “botched” efforts to manage forestry.

The Minister for Regional Development went on to say that the government was acting on the reality that timber can’t continue.

“What we are trying to do is not string communities along because they deservebetter: To be told,” she said.

To which Mr O’Brien replied, “They deserve their jobs, Minister.”

The debate began to enter another level as Mr O’Brien resultedtowavinghis hands in the air as Ms Shing withdrew further on the defensive.

“We are not hiding our heads in the sand and saying that there is some magical solution to a problem for the devastation across timber towns,” she said

“No one said it’s magic,” Mr O’Brien commented.

Ms Shing reiterated her speech that she was sure that thetransitionperiod will be difficult and offered further criticism of the opposing sides.

“I am under no illusions, none whatsoever, about the difficultyofthistask. But unlike, unlike those opposite who are very, very happy to say things should be different. We are actually acknowledging the reality of the situation,” she said.

Using other states as an example,MsShing defended the government’s decision to end native forest logging.

“You look to NewSouth Wales, thisgreat example that is held up by you and your colleagues as an answer to all of these questions. They are facingthe same sort of uncertainty, and we need to respectthe fact thatthese workers deservethe decency,” she said.

Mr O’Brien revertedthe debate backtothe undisclosed legal advice that resulted in the government’s shutdown of timber.

“So once again, you and your Premier say, we have legal advice that said we couldn’t act, but you will not release it and tell people,” he said.

Ms Shing said, “The work is hard, Mr O’Brien, and it was hard, we established the Latrobe Valley Authority because Engie gave us six months before they backed out.”

“And now you’re giving the timber industry six months notice,” said Mr O’Brien

“You havejust sold out the timberindustry, and you’resayingtrust the good legal advice,” he added

As the question time ended, Ms Shing closed her remarks by stating how the government will invest arecord amountoffunding into the transition, while also ending the uncertainty of Vic Forests many courtand litigation processes with the sweeping decision that logging is unsustainable.

“The last thingyou should be doing is giving people false hope that this is an industry that can continue just because youmakeupanarrativethat is not legally sound, that is not sustainable despite the best effort of these communities to actually have afuture for them,” she said.

At 5’4, slim build, long brown hair & green eyes.She loves thecountry lifestyle, gardening, cooking, bush walks &travelling. She is looking for agenuine gentlemantoenjoyher life with.

Photo: File

Crossword Puzzle No.8539

with Muzza

ONE POINTERS

1. What was the name of the bar that Sam Malone ran?

2. What is the medical term for the study of the brain and nervous system?

3. What does D&D mean in this roll playing game?

4. Which of the Seven Dwarfs is first alphabetically?

TWO POINTERS

5. What was Beethovens first name??

6. What word, beginning with E, goes after tennis and before room to make two other words?

7. What is the scientific name for laughing gas?

8. Which singer has had hits with ‘I Shot The Sherriff’,‘Tearsin Heaven’ and ‘Layla’

THREE POINTERS

9. How many years is aPearl Wedding Anniversary?

10. In which country would you find the Dolomites?

11. In the nursery rhyme Jack and Jill, what did Jack bind his head with along with brown paper?

12. ‘Carpe Diem’ is popularly translated into English as what?

FOUR POINTERS

13. What is asad anagram of GYRATED?

14. Which horror film used Mike Oldfields ‘Tubular Bells’ as its theme?

FIVE POINTER

15. Guess the Australian celebrity from their eyes. One point for each correct answer

The truth about LVAfunding

By ZAIDAGLIBANOVIC

THE Parliamentary Inquiry intobudget estimates found that the Latrobe ValleyAuthority’s$7.2 million in funding allocated in the 2023-24 state budget would almost entirely go toward operational costs and its 32 fulltime employees.

There has beenmajor confusionoverthe proposed state government’s $7.2millioninfunding for the Latrobe Valley Authority announced in last month’s state budget.

During extensive questions by Members of the Public Accounts and Estimates Committee’s inquiry into the 2023-24 state budget estimates, Member for Eastern Victoriaand Minister for Regional Development Harriet Shing revealedhow funding for the LVA was mainlyfor operational costs

Member for Gippsland South, DannyO’Brien, during his question time as amember of the inquiry committee, asked if the entire $7.2 million dollars wouldgotoLVA staffing costs.

Beth Jones, CEO of Regional Development Victoria, said, “Not fully, Mr O’Brien, the $7.2 (million)islargely for staff wages,but it also includes some program funding for the Ladder Step Up programand for the transition program.”

Thestate budgetpapersindicated that the funding would continuethe Latrobe ValleyAuthority’s (LVA) operations, supportthe management of the economictransition, identifyfuture opportunities through atransition plan and facilitate business concierge services specific to the Latrobe Valley. Funding is also provided for the Ladder Step Up program to provideemploymentsupport for young people in the Latrobe Valley and for the Inclusive Employment Program delivery by the Gippsland Trades and Labour Council. This investment will mitigatethe impacts of industry closuresand ensure that communitiesand workers have the required skills and support to capture emerging opportunities in future growth sectors.

When Mr O’Brien asked if any grant funding was left within the LVA, Ms Shing responded that other grants were available.

After constant questioning from Mr O’Brien, it was later revealed by Ms Shingand Ms Jones that $6.47 million of the total funding will be allocated to staffing and overall operational costs, leaving $730,000 lefttofund the proposed projects.

Ms Jones explained that the $6.47 million was for “Overheads; there’s arange of operational costs, costs of buildings, costs of vehicles, so it’s encompassing all those things.”

Ms Jones also disclosed that 32 fulltime Latrobe Valley Authority employees were based in the Latrobe Valley and that the LVA was “by Gippslanders for Gippslanders,” Ms Shing added.

Mr O’Brienofferedastaunchcriticismofthe Latrobe Valley Authority, stating there has been constant motherhood statements from the LVA

One step forward, twosteps back: Funding hasbeen provided forthe Latrobe ValleyAuthority to again runthe Ladder Step Up program. However, thestate government has attracted criticism afteritwas revealed most of the moneyallocated to theLVA in the statebudget will go toward LVA operational costs and staffwages

regarding atransition but no real action.

“They’ve got adraft of the transition plan out, and there are no recommendations, no concrete actions, it talks about avision …it’smotherhood stuff,” he said.

Mr Shing was quick to defend the LVA stating, “Transition is difficult; the transition has been incredibly challenging for the Latrobe Valley and for Gippsland more broadly.”

Nationals Memberfor Morwell, Martin Cameron in apress statement slammed the state government, saying its decisions againleft Latrobe Valley residents behind.

“The true extent of the rort that is Daniel Andrews’ Latrobe Valley Authority has been exposed,” he said.

“This proves theLatrobe ValleyAuthority is nothing but aglorified shop front set-up by Labor to give the illusion they care about the Latrobe Valley and its futurewhennothingcould be further from the truth.

“The LVA was meant to help the Valley deal with the economic fallout of the closure of Hazelwood, but we haveseen very little in the way of deliverables or evidencetosuggest it has helped in any way.

“I’m sure the Andrews Labor governmentwas hoping it couldjust shut up shop at the LVA, but I, for one, won’t sit idly by and watch this government dish out another blow to the Latrobe Valley.”

Mr Cameron suggestedthe economicsetbacks will persist in the Valley because of the state government’s ill-funding arrangements.

“Daniel Andrews has killed off Maryvale’s white paper production and hundreds of jobs with it; he has failed to deliver on major promises including

the electric vehicle manufacturing plant and food manufacturing precinct; he has shut down the timber industry; and now he is lining the pockets of office staff with money that should be spent on ensuring the Latrobe Valleycan grow and prosper,” he said.

“The Labor government’s ill-conceived and vague plan for helping the Latrobe Valley transition is an absolute sham, and at atimewhenthe region needs real support, we instead have agovernment that is all smoke and mirrors and no substance.”

The Express reached out to agovernmentspokesperson for comment,who remained tight-lipped abouthow the LVA funding would be allocated; they simply stated that the state government remained supportive of the Latrobe Valley workers, families and the community.

“We’ve made arecord investment of more than $2 billion which includes programsand support delivered by the Latrobe ValleyAuthority and created an additional 4000 jobs across the region since 2014,” they said.

“The Victorian Budget 2023/24 includes $7.2 million for the Latrobe Valley Authority to continue its important work in theregion. This includes delivery of the Ladder Step Up program and Inclusive Worker Transition program, along with ongoing support for the region’s transition.”

Giving reference to the fact that overthe past year, the LVA has been developing aLatrobe Valley Transition Plan to ensure that the region is prepared for industry transition.

The plan will focus on strategies for economic diversification and employment growth.

Making health services more inclusive

GIPPSLAND Primary Health Network is planning an initiative to increase greater LGBTIQA+ inclusion in general practice.

An expressionofinterestiscalling forsix Gippsland general practices interested in takingpartina training needs analysis, followed by asmall pilotprogramtoevaluate viability of implementing alargertraining program across Gippsland.

It is hoped the program will lead to greater LGBTIQA+ inclusivity and attendances at practices.

Gippsland PHN acting chief executive, Angela Jacob, said arecent LGBTIQA+ Priority Issues Paper showed LGBTIQA+ people were at higher

risk of poor mental health and suicidal behaviours, and needed improved and safe access to appropriateservices with awell-trained workforce.

Asurvey conducted by Gippsland PHN in 2021 found that LGBTIQA+ people were less likely to:

 Have ausual health care professional;

 See adoctor who was informed about any relevant specialist consultations or hospital stays, and;

 Perceive their health care professional as their centre of care. “This pilot project will help us to understand if there are gaps to implementing LGBTIQA+ inclusive practices and provide guidance to address these gaps,” Mrs Jacob said.

“There is enormous diversity within the LGBTIQA+ communitiesand some carry an even greater burden, including Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples, trans and gender diverse people (especially young trans people), and people with an intersex variation.

“We need to ensure that everyone in our community can access the right care at the right time.”

The EOI is open now and closes June 30.

Two general practices from each of the three Gippsland PHN sub-regions (Wellington-East Gippsland,Baw Baw-Latrobe and South Gippsland-Bass Coast) will be selected to undertake the free training.

File photograph

Submissions for housing crisis inquiry

THE Parliamentary Inquiry into rental and housing crisis in Victoria is under way, with public submissions open until early July.

Member for Eastern Victoria region, Melina Bath said the issue of rental and housing affordability continues to grow across eastern Victoria.

“I have spoken with individuals, relief agencies, local councils and property agents, and the overwhelming response is it’s an incredibly difficult market for people looking for somewhere to live,” Ms Bath said.

“The rise in property prices, cost of living and interest rates have added evenmore pressure, making it challenging to find asafe and secure place to live.

“It is concerning thatVictoria’s public housing waitlist is also experiencing record high levels.

“Thoseinurgent need of public housing assistance are forced to wait years to get a roof above their heads.

“Many have littlechoice and are stuck using unsuitable transitionalhousing options including homelessness,sleeping rough, couch surfing, boarding houses or crisis accommodation.”

Recent analysis by the CounciltoHomeless Persons showed the number of homeless peopleiscontinuing to grow in Eastern Victoria region, with five state electorates listed in the top 20.

Homelessness increased in the Morwell electorate(#5)by85per cent,Pakenham electorate(#12) by 113 per cent, Evelyn electorate (#15), Nepean electorate (#20) by 58 per cent and GippslandEast(#14)electorate by 10 per cent.

The Inquiryinto rental and housing affordabilitycrisisisbeing run by the Parliament’s Upper House Legal and Social Issues Committee.

Ms Bath said this Inquiry is charged with examining the many challenges renters face, and the factors contributing to the current rental and housing affordabilitycrisisin Victoria.

“It is aiming to identify the factorsthat contribute to the low availability and high costs of rental properties,” she said.

“The barriers to first home ownership and the impact that this has on rental stock will also be explored.

“In addition, it will look at the regulations that cover the standards and conditions of rental housing, and the impact of short-stay accommodation on the housing market.

“The committeewants to hear from everyday renters, property owners, industry experts and community organisations.

“Given the surge in homelessness in regional Victoria and low availability and high cost of private rentals, it’s important for the Inquiry to receive many submissions.”

Submissions close on July 72023and the committee is to report back to Parliament by November 17, 2023.

Full details on the Inquiryand how to make asubmission can be foundonthe Parliament of Victoria website: https://new.parliament. vic.gov.au/rentalandhousinginquiry

Calls for PM to help Valley

LATROBE City Councillor, Sharon Gibson, has publicly foreshadowed anotice of motion for the upcoming Latrobe City Council meeting.

At the meeting, to be held Monday, July 3, Cr Gibson will put forward amotion demanding the involvementofthe Prime Minister and the VictorianPremier to address transition policy failure and map out areal future for the Latrobe Valley.

Cr.Gibsonsaidwanted to raiseamotion that would attract the attention of those right at the top.

“I am sickofseeing our industries closing quickly without due notice,” she said.

“Two weeks ago, we learned about the shutting down of native timber logging with six months notice.

“In 2017, we learnedofHazelwood Power Station’s shutdown with six months’ notice. This isn’t transition -it’sthe destruction of our regional economy and more unemployment. Clearly, there’s aproblem whichthe Latrobe Valley Authorityisn’t dealing with. Governments needtoface up to that.

“The Valley needs afrank discussion with the PrimeMinister and the Premier.

“We need to tellthem we are seriousabout havingafuture for Valley people, our children and grandchildren.

“Former Latrobe City Councillors have told me of their grave concernsabout high unemployment and transition policy failure. They’re supporting my motionaswell-known community members and calling on the federal and state government to get real and not play politics with our future.”

FormerLatrobe City Councillor, Lisa Proctor said she fully supported Cr Gibson’s motion.

“Finally, we see acouncillor raising with the highest levels of both governments the devastating job losses that have occurred in the LatrobeValley and future devastating job loss that will occur with the lossofthe timber industry, closure of some paper machines at the Maryvale Mill and closure of the power stations,” she said.

“Enough is enough. We need help, we need a genuine transition plan with actions and funding supported by all levels of government to secure the Latrobe Valley’s future.

“Community has been callingfor this Governments are failing the community. This is unacceptable.”

Former councillor PeterGibbonsechoedthese thoughts.

“It is absolutely imperative that Latrobe City Council meets with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Premier Daniel Andrews to decide the best way forward to create new jobs, in line with Cr. Gibson’s Notice of Motion which Ifully support,” he said.

Voices: Latrobe CityCouncillorSharonGibson(pictured secondfromrightwith supporters)willput forwardanotice of motionatthe next council meeting,calling on thePrime Minister and Premier to attend ajoint summit in the Latrobe Valley.

“The current and expected job loss is occurring against abackdropof35years of devastating job loss from power industry privatisation that continues to cause high unemployment to this day in the Latrobe Valley.”

Former Latrobe City Councillor Sheridan Bond added in.

“It’s abouttime all levels of government truly supported our communities with areal transition plan that drives new job creation and supports our communities,” she said.

“Without support, familiesare falling apart, young people are losing hope. This must be turned around”.

Former Latrobe City Council Mayor and councillor,Sandy Kam is urgingLatrobe City councillors to unanimouslyvote for Cr Gibson’s Notice of Motion.

“We need to bring the Prime Minister and Premier to the forefront of creating aviable Transition Plan,” she said.

Photograph supplied

“No community in Australia has experienced the job devastation like the Valley.Weneed multi-level government support right now.”

Notice of Motion by Cr Sharon Gibson for the July 4, 2023 Ordinary Council Meeting

That the Mayor,Councillors and CEO of Latrobe City Council, urgently request the Prime Minister (Anthony Albanese) and the Premier (Daniel Andrews) to urgently/immediatelyattenda joint summit with Latrobe City Councillors and Officers to discuss the future and transition failure of the Latrobe Valley Authority to deliver afinal Transition Plan, and to develop astrategy for the future of Latrobe City and its Community.

The purpose of the meeting is to discuss the loss of jobsover the last five years, the future loss of jobs now and into the foreseeable future with the closure of the Native Timber Forestry Industry, MaryvaleMill machines andthe LatrobeValley Power Stations.

Get the fishing rods out: Trout restocked

THERE’S more fishing fun in stock for everyone these school holidays, with thousands of rainbow trout stocked in more than 80 lakes across Victoria -including four lakes for Gippsland locals.

More than 30,000 catchable-size trout are being released ahead of the two-week breakfor students, as part of the state government’s Family Fishing initiative.

The state-wide stocking program releasedalmost 10 million fish in 2022,with the majority produced at Snobs Creek and the VFA’s native hatchery at Arcadia, near Shepparton.

The program is supported by the reinvestment of recreational fishing licence fees and the government’s $96 million investmentto“improvefishing, boating, piers and aquaculture.”

Rainbow trout are the ideal catch for budding fishers, as they take avariety of widely available baits like worms or PowerBait.

Most Family Fishing Lakes feature pontoons or jetties, good access paths and parking for fishersof all abilities as well as other nearby facilities like barbecues and toilets.

For Gippslanders, this is how many fish will be stocked for the school holidays:

Lake Hyland -800

Garfield Lake -150

Lake Guthridge (Sale) -250

Heyfield Racecourse Lake -300

TheVFA lists anumberoffishing waters across the state, including Garfield Lake, that willbe stocked with fewer trout due to poor water qualityorlow waterlevels. Morwell Lake cannot be stocked due to water contamination.

“Holidaysare agreat opportunity to get kids into the great outdoors and wetting aline fora rainbow trout gives you the chance to make lasting memories while introducing youngfishers to a

new pastime,” Minister for Outdoor Recreation Sonya Kilkenny said.

“Family Fishing Lakes are located across Victoria and feature good access, regularstockings of catchable-size fish and many are located within suburban areas or close to town so kids everywhere can try their luck.”

In Family Fishing Lakes, adaily bag limit of five trout applies, of which only two trout can exceed 35 centimetres.

More information aboutbag and size limits, permitted equipment and licensing can be found in the Victorian RecreationalFishingGuide,available free from most bait and tackle shops, online at vfa. vic.gov.au/fishingguide or via the free ‘Vic Fishing’ app on your smartphone.

For the full list of waterways stocked for these holidays, visit vfa.vic.gov.au/holidaytrout

Late great receives OAM

LATE Heyfield resident Malcolm Holewas posthumously recognised as part of the King's Birthday Honours.

Mr Hole, along-time councillor with Wellington Shire Council, was awarded an OrderofAustralia Medal (OAM) for service to local government and the community.Cr Hole wasfirst elected to Wellington Shire Council in 2000, and went on to be re-elected at afurther six elections.

He servedtwo terms as mayor in 2002 and 2006, and one term as deputy mayor in 2019.

He died while serving his seventh term as councillor in 2021.

During his time on council, Cr Hole servedon numerous local government committees, includingthe Municipal AssociationofVictoria, Rural CouncilsVictoria,Gippsland Local Government Networkand Local Government Emergency Management Committee.

Additionally, Cr Hole was apassionate advocate of the nativetimber industry, servingonthe boards of the National Timber Councils Association, Timber Towns Victoria andHeyfield Timber Festival during his time as councillor.

His prolific involvement with, and fierce championing for, the Heyfield communityled to him being called the 'unofficial Mayor of Heyfield', serving as acommittee member for the Heyfield and District TradersAssociation,Gordon Street Reserve Committee, Heyfield Rodeo, Heyfield FootballCluband Heyfield Apex Club, of which he was alife member.

Wellington Shire CouncilMayor,Ian Bye shared his gratitudefor the honour on behalf of Wellington Shire.

"Cr Hole was an exceptional individual, and his legacywill remain fixed in the fabric of our community," Cr Bye said.

"Cr Hole worked tirelessly to ensure he left a positive impact on his community and anyone he worked with.

"I am immensely proud to honour Cr Hole's achievements and extend my heartfelt congratulations to Cr Hole's family, friends, and loved ones on this well-deserved recognition.

"CrHole was an extremely dedicated member of his local community,and thisrecognition highlights the exceptional work he has done over his lifetime."

Federal Memberfor Gippsland, Darren Chester honoured Cr Hole in aFacebook post, calling him a"tireless champion for Heyfield and the Wellington Shire", and noted his passion for the

Posthumous: ThelateMalcolm Hole received an Order of Australia Media as partofthe King’sBirthdayHonours. Photograph supplied

native hardwood timber industry.

"His grassrootswork for Gippsland as acouncillor and fearless community advocate is aproud legacy for his family and friends," Mr Chester said.

Timber Towns Victoria president, Cr Karen Stephens also fondly spoke of Cr Hole.

“I am proud to have worked alongside Malcolm for many years and saw first-hand his dedication to his local community and the broader community, and above all else his family,” Ms Stephens said.

“I send awarmest congratulations to his family and friends, and the Wellington Shire Council community. This well-deserved prestigious award highlights the many achievements accomplished by Malcolm throughout his life.”

The King'sBirthday Honours were revealed on Monday, June 12 in recognition of the King's Birthday public holiday -the first to occur under the reign of King Charles III.

WhileCharles'birthday is actually November 14, it is tradition in most Australian statesand territories to recognise the reigning Monarch's birthday on the second Monday of June each year.

Cr Hole was the Wellington Shire's sole recipient of an Order of Australia for this year's longweekend celebrations.

Sessions commence from this Friday daily at 9am, 1pm and 6pm

Ticket prices - $5 a session

Genres: Classical, Tap, Jazz, Lyrical Contemporary, Hip Hop, Song & Dance, Character

◾ 520 performers of all ages from over Victoria will come to dance at the Eisteddfod

◾ 1886 individual entries over ten days

All Abilities section this Fridayfrom11.30am

Come and support our dancers

Morwell Festival of Dance is run by volunteers and relies on sponsorship from the local community and grants from

buy Gold,Antiques &ContemporaryJewellery in Gold,Diamonds, Silver,Sovereigns,Precious Stones including broken Jewellery& Watches

Morwell’sCFA fundraising hero

By KATRINA BRANDON

MADELINE Slater is alocalCFA member in Morwell who is participating in the 28-stair climb at Crown in September.

Duringthe StairClimb, Madelinewill carry 25kg of gear (including abreathing apparatus) while going up the 28 staircases in Melbourne’s Crownbuilding.MsSlaterwill fundraise for manycauses thathelp emergencyservicemembers, including the Peter MacCallum Cancer Foundation, 000, Lifeline’s prevention program that deals with post-traumatic stress disorder, suicide and depression.

“It’s alot of different services that participate as well as some international firefighters as the event also ties to 9/11,” Ms Slater explained. In addition to the 28-stair climb, Ms Slater is also running adonut fundraiser to help get the amount she needs to support those in need.

Recycle your textiles

Every year, Ms Slater sells beaniesatMorwell and other brigades, but this year, she is selling donuts with Krispy Kreme.

“The biggest thing Iwant for people to understand is that it is okay to go get help,” she said.

“When you are feeling okay, you should go out and get support because no one likes to feel down in the dumps, which is why Iamdoing this type of stuff.

“It is important to me, Iwant my daughters to grow up and see and know it is okay to go and seek support.”

To receive donuts, you can donate directly go to https://www.firefighterclimb.org.au/climber/ madelineslater/ and https://www.firefighterclimb. org.au/station/cfa/morwell/ forthe localbrigade.

MorwellCFA electsnew captain -Page 39

HAVE some pre-loved clothesthatyou want to get rid of?

Well, all unwanted clothing items can now be recycled thanks to free textile disposal chutes at the Trafalgar transfer station.

The serviceimprovement, deliveredbyBaw Baw Shire Council in partnership with Upcylce4Better, meansthat Baw Bawresidents now have the option to recycle acceptable textile items that are unable to be recycled as partofstandard kerbside collection at no added cost.

In 2022, textiles made up for around seven per cent of BawBaw Shire’s red garbage binwaste

With the introduction of this sustainable textile recycling program, these previously unrecyclable items can be diverted from ending up in landfill and instead recovered and repurposed for future use.

Baw Baw Shire Mayor, Annaemarie McCabe said the move was apositive one.

“Reducing what ends up in landfill is one of the most impactful actions we can take to help protect our environment,” she said.

“As acouncil we want to do everything we can to make it as easy as possible to reducelandfill waste. We are so pleased to take this step and offer our residents the opportunity to recycle their unwantedclothingand fabric at no additionalcost.

“The positive results we saw recently as part of kerbside collection audits is atestament to our residents, who continue to do afantastic job at recycling. Ihave no doubt our community will take up this program and support any opportunity to create amore sustainable future for Baw Baw.”

Acceptable textiles include itemsofclothing, shoes, underwear, hats, belts, handbags, backpacks, bed linen, towels and soft toys.

Items not accepted include hospital overalls,hotel slippers, face masks and mattresses.

Baw Baw residents are asked to note thattextile itemsmust be dry when placedinto the chute. Any items that are wet or damp will not be accepted.

Australians have ahorrible habit of clothing waste which even the federal government is now acting on.

Areport by Fashion Council found that Australians buy around 15 kilograms of clothing every year, most landing in landfills.

Recycle: BawBaw Shirefound textiles made up foraroundseven per cent of theirred garbage waste. Photograph supplied

The report, funded by the federal government, foundthatatthe other end of the fashion cycle, roughly260,000 tonnes, or 10kg aperson,reaches landfill each year.

The same report found awhopping 210,000 tonnes of clothing is donated or re-used annually, yet very little recycled sourced fibre is used in clothing fabric production.

AccordingtoUpcycle4Better, the work by Baw Baw Shire Council in partnership with Upcycle4Betterwill go towardreal action against climate change and promote awareness of the circular economy. For moredetails, and to learn moreabout recyclingoptions available in Baw Baw Shire, visit www.bawbawshire.vic.gov.au/Recycling.

Council community grants

LATROBE City Council will continue to support community groups, by providingmore than $265,000 worth of funding in RoundTwo of Council’s Community Grants and Sponsorship programs.

The Community Grants and Sponsorship program provides financial support to adiverse rangeofcommunity ledprojects and initiatives that foster social inclusion, cultural enrichment, strengthen community connections and contribute to the overall wellbeing of avibrant city.

At the June Council Meeting, council endorsed atotal of 62 grant applications and one sponsorshipapplicationfor full or part funding across the categories of: Minor Capital Works,Minor Equipment, Community Wellbeing, Community EventsMinor, Community Events Significant and Community Sponsorship Major. Grants funding will be used to assist groups to run community events, purchase much needed equipment and undertake capital works projects.

Latrobe City Mayor, Kellie O’Callaghansaid that council was proud to be acatalyst for community driven initiatives, enabling individualsand organisations to make apositive impact.

“We understand the importance of the Community Grants and SponsorshipProgram to our community and community groups. The program provides financial assistance to successful applicants, enabling them to cover various

Solutions

Target Time No.0162

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project-related costs,such as equipment, venue hire, promotional materials,and professional services,” the mayor said.

“Latrobe City Council is committed to working alongside the community to provide support to organisations and groups that not only helps them to grow, but aids in increasing social connection and improved physicaland mental health outcomes for our communities.

“Councilisproud to be acatalyst for communitydriven initiatives, enabling individuals and organisations to make apositiveimpact within their respective areas of interest.”

The Community Grants Programaimstosupport community initiatives,projectsand events that support the local region and those that have positive social and economic benefits for the broader community, while enabling community, volunteer and not-for-profit organisationsaccess to additional funds to support their projects.

Applications for Round Two of the 2022/23 Community Grants and Sponsorship Programs wereaccepted from February 20 2023 to March 20 2023

To view alist of grant program recipients, visit latrobe.vic.gov.au/Community/ Grants_Sponsorship_and_Awards/Grants/ Grant_Recipients

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The owner has experience with drainage, storm damage clean ups and any earthworks. Also happy to help with tilt trays or towing needs. Contact Aris Lynch on 0457 393 744 arislynch106@gmail.com

Lara Shearman has been aFinancial Adviser for morethan 16 years and has experience withinthe Banking sector,boutique advisory firm and Industry Superannuation Fund, including working with Defined Benefits.

Lara has commenced Stepping Stones Financial Planning as she is passionate about providing tailored professional advice, education and quality personal ongoing service and support to hervalued clients.

Stepping Stones is based in Traralgon and proudly services the Latrobe Valley

We offer the full spectrum of advice, supporting people seeking simple solutions, basic strategies and oneoff advice. We arealso specialists in

complex and comprehensiveadvice requiring astructured approach to ongoing service, portfolio monitoring and Centrelink support.Weaim to simplify the advice process and tailor solutions to your circumstances, ensuring that you understand the advice provided to you and feel confident in your financial future.

We arecurrently taking new clients. If you wishtounderstand how we may be of service to you, thereisnocost for your initial consultation. We are not affiliated with any superannuation funds or product providers.

Stepping Stones Financial Planning Pty Ltd is aCorporate Authorised Representative (No. 1302872) of Capstone Financial Planning Pty Ltd. ABN 24 093 733969.Australian

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Creating local Cinderella stories

By ZAIDAGLIBANOVIC

TUCKED away in little oldNewborough is the stylish and totally glamorous designer dress hire boutique, Dressed to the Nine's.

Leesa and Claudia Cassar, the mother and daughter duo, bought Dressed to the Nine's in late March 2023, renting out designer dresses for budget-friendly prices.

Leesa's business story is one of persistence and resilience after having hadacar crashin2019 which has left her unable to hold down traditional work

Once an aged care nurse, Leesa was fit and healthy and loved her caring job, but post the incident, Leesa suffered extensive injuries.

Having 38 per cent whole-body impairment, lymphatic system failure from her legs being crushed, two slipped disks in her back, and severe post-traumatic stress disorder, Leesa found herself unable to work and without apurpose

The Transport Accident Commission helped support Leesa on her return to work, but she was told she was unemployable and aliability to her previous employer and was let go shortly after.

“I worked full-time in aged care nursing, and I had acar accident back in 2019 which left me with permanent injuries," Leesa recalled.

"I lostmyjob becauseofacar accident: After 12 months, they sacked me and told me Iwas unemployable.Then Ilost my nursing registration becauseIhadn’t donethe 20 hours of education every year,Ifought to getthat back, and Idid, but it was alonghaul

“Through TAC, they put me through job rehabilitation, but honestly, no one was going to employ me. So Iwould sit quite depressed, put on some weight and thought, ‘I can’t live like this; I’ve got to do something’, so Idid.”

Abusinesswas oneofLeesa’s main ideas; knowingshe had akeen interest in fashion but also in the community, she wanted to do something that would benefit her, her family and the locals.

Purchasing Dressed to the Nine’s as an establishedbusiness, neglected by previous owners who were busy with other endeavours, Leesa “Jumped at the opportunity” and foundher purpose in bringing her daughter Claudia along for the ride.

Turning to her daughter, Leesa said, “I have no idea about social networks. Isaidtoher, I’ve got abusiness now what do Idowith it?”

Claudia, Leesa’sdaughter, takes chargeofthe bookings and online presence of the business.

Renting adress can be the most affordable for those people looking to dress up for anight, with aprice range from $25 to $105 for adress to keep things “on abudget,”Claudia says.

“The dresses you would hire from us are dresses no one can ever really buy for $105,” Claudia said as she showcased Leesa wearing a$500dress. Leesa explained how the dresses in stock are of theutmost quality and grandeur, with high-end brands like Zimmerman, Aje, Sir the Label and Sheike.

Recently, the pair got to dress up for the 2023 Gippsland Pride initiativepride gala,getting to

parade their Aje Manifestation gown priced at an eye-watering $895.

“If you like those high-end brands, you’re better off spending that $105 and gettingtowear it, feeling special and feeling excited rather than having to buy it and thenresellitonFacebook marketplace,”

Claudia said.

Leesa said that Dressed to the Nine’s caters to everyone, for all price ranges, body shapes, styles and time constraints.

“We did abit of research whenweboughtthe business, and alot of places only go to a12or 14,” she said “We’ve got dresses that go to a22, whichIthought everybody should have the opportunity to get a dress,” Leesa added.

Looking to expand into other markets, dressed to the nine’s are looking into getting some designer shoes,with already apairofJimmy Choo’s on hand; they also are looking at expanding their collection of designer handbags and other accessories like jewellery and headwear so customerscan rent their entire outfit form their one-stop shop. Unique, accessibleand inclusive is how the business could be described, operating unconventional hours so anyone can access their service.

“I had someone come through at 8pm the other day; she said she had to wait for her husband to come home. She had children. You know Iget it. I’m amum,too,soit’s so hard. Ialsodon’thave time to go dress shopping,” Claudia said.

The service that Dressed to the Nine’s promotes is acircular economy in textiles that has yet to be instated in the fashion industry, and serves as a sustainable and environmentally-friendly fashion practice

“How often do you go to buy something,buy it and try it out at home and don’t even like it,” asked Leesa.

Australians are pretty wasteful when it comes to shopping.According to an Australian governmentcommissioned report into textile waste, the average Aussie buys56clothing items yearly, with asimilar amount discarded in the same time frame.

The second-handmarketplace has beena godsend for fashion lovers to buy, swap and sell items, however it can be quite atedious operation to post alisting online, sort through lowballs and scammers and arrangepick-up or postage.The Cassar family business takes the hassle out of the dress-buying ordealwitheven the drycleaning provided in the service.

...what’s your point of difference?

Do you offer ahome delivery or an at home service that not all providers in your industry type offer?

And, importantly how many residents across Latrobe areawarethatyou do?

The Express is publishing anew monthly featuretitled ‘WeCome To YOU’, to help to get your message promoted to in excess of The Express’ 50,000 readers.

The featurewill be designed in aformat similar to the weekly Business Guide for Trades & Services which been published weekly for many years and which continues to be popular amongst advertisers to this day,and used as agotopage for readers looking for these services.

With affordable advertising packages on offer,and one guaranteed FREE editorial over the term of the package, do yourself afavour and book your space to increase your target market

Forfurther For further information contact: Rebecca Alimpic (for Morwell, Moe &surrounds) on 5135 4409, or Catherine Donelly (Traralgon &surrounds) on 5135 4413.

The idea to rent adress at affordable prices comes at atimewhenmost households are suffering from acost of living crisis.

“Especially now with interests rates, people can’t afford things, rents have gone up, just the cost of living with everything,people have house loans, they have car loans, come to the end of the week they don’t have the couple of hundred dollars to look nice,” Leesa said.

Bridaldresses and debutante dresses might also be on the cards in the near future. With apassion for what they do and the people they serve, the Cassar’s have acommunity-based aspect to their business,wanting to provideeveryone with the opportunity to get dolled up for amemorable night.

“I have been telling Claudia for awhile;we’re in such atinyarea, some people can’t leave the area, so people don’t have the funds to go to their school formal or their debutante ball,” Leesa said.

“Especially being in asmall town, we’re looking to have some wedding dresses to hire. Once Iget married, we’d probably use my weddingdress and seehow that goes,” Claudia said.

When askedifthey haveyet to overcome any challenges with the business, Leesa said: “Sometimes Imissbeing anurse,but no, Idon’t (have any issues);I think (the business) is flexible, I’ve got the grandkids, and if someone wants to come, they’re free to come at any time.”

Leesa explained that the new business venture has worked wonders for her mental health and well-being.

“You’re not sitting on the couch all day drinking 20 litresofcoke all day thinkingofwhatcould be, and that’swhatIfelt. Iwas grieving what I was going through; Icouldn’tgotowork,I was limited to what Icould do, so Ithought, Ihave to do something; Ican’t live my life like this,” Leesa said.

As an additional bonus, the mum-and-daughter duo said they have so much fun working together, with rarely adull moment between the pair; they enjoy working together and make agreat team.

Having almost reached 2000 followers on Instagram, Claudia aims to keep advertising the brand and gain more reach.

Thepair have addedmorethan 100 dressesto their collection, and have already grown the business in the few shortmonths undertheirownership.

“When we bought the business, it didn’t have thefollowingitdoes now; we hadtoreallywork on that; it didn’t have alot of dresses or high-end pieces,” Claudia said.

Currently building ashed to continue operating from home, the Cassar family are driven by big ideas to keep growing the business, with plans to evenincorporate local hairdressersand makeup artists for affordableevent packages to cover all client's dress, hair, and make-up needs and one day, even have ashopintown for themselves.

Leesa’s story truly is one of resilience and resourcefulness.

As a‘never give up’type of person, Leesa put her big ideas intoreality, finding her purposein Dressed to the Nine’s and servicing the Latrobe Valley community.

Perseverance: Leesa and Claudia Cassar boughtDressed to theNine’s event dress hireasanew lease on lifefollowing acar accident that leftLeesa unabletowork.

Photo: Zaida Glibanovic

The volunteers PART TWO

It is heartening to note that when the call first went out for volunteers, more than 70 people came forward, afigure that has remained constant to this day, despite changes of personnel, although more would always be welcome.

These were formed into six teams of about 15 on arotating roster.

HAVE you ever heard of Mick’s Kitchen?

Iamsure many have, but Ireckon there would be many more for whom the name is unfamiliar, and untilabout threemonthsago, Iwas one of these.

Having completed 77 laps round the sun, and stillgoingokayathome, Iwas interestedindoing some kind of communitywork, andmydearfriend Suzanne said “What about Mick’s Kitchen?” What indeed?

Well Isoon found out, and in afew short weeks I have become fully immersed in it, there is nothing about it that Idon’t love! Ishould explain.

It’s no secret that the great church of the Holy See worldwide has had atough few decades, and it’s been just as tough for long faithful followers to witness.

For them, the very public troublesofthe church had drawn attention away from its longstanding and continuing role of providing lovingcare and real help for the weak and the vulnerable in their communities.

The parishioners of Saint Michael’s Catholic Church in Traralgonfelt thistoo, and they yearned to show that at least in their town, the heart of the church was still beating.

To help bring this about, it was decidedthat aweekly meal, prepared, served and paid for by volunteers, would be offered to people in the community who for various reasons, needed some help.

In selecting aname for the program, the parishioners chose adistinctly Australian approach, simply to shorten the name of the church and Mick’s Kitchen it was!

When first launched in early 2016, meals were preparedbythe volunteers in localcommercial kitchens, then transported and served in what had formerly been St Vinnies Op Shop on the corner of Kay Street and Breed St, which had been repurposed for the new venture.

Afterfurther internal renovation, akitchen was later added.

Once underwaythe new project was an instant success, Mick’s Kitchen regularly serving 60 to 70 meals every Thursday. Doors open at 5.45pm

In 2020, the giant wet blanket of COVID descended, shutting downany activitywhere people gathered,and for ashort time Mick’s Kitchen went into recess. But the will of the volunteers to keep going was strong, and the program morphed into atakeawayservice; people could collect their meal or have it delivered to their homes.

But Iknew none of all this -myperspective is of acomplete newcomer, and Iwill always remember the first night Iturned up.

Off the entry you can see through to arestaurant sizekitchen, bustling with apron-clad helpers preparing ameal, then to the leftyou walk through to awide, brightly lit dining area with tables set for about 80 people.

All are welcome and there is no kind of means test.

Perhaps you are feeling isolated and alittle lonely you will be received just as warmly. Extra tables and provisions are always on hand and no one has ever been turned away.

Ihad joined up to help and had been assigned to one of the six teams,but Ichickened out on kitchen duties because Iknewmyankles would swell up and get sore.

Isuggested my role could be to mingle with the guests and get to know them, gradually working my way round the room.

This was something the helpers had wanted to

Warm welcome: Mick’s Kitchen serves everyone and anyone Photo file

do themselves, but were always too busy cooking andserving, so my idea was well received.

On that first night, Ispotted aperson Iknew sitting at atable of six right near the entrance. Sheasked me to sit with them, and Imuch enjoyed meeting them all as the friendly volunteersserved us ahearty meal of lasagne and vegies, then delicious sweets.

On our table was agrandmother who had taken on the task of raising her three lively preteen grandchildren (who ricocheted around the dining room all night interacting with other children

and guests).

There was also afriendly woman who felt lonely at homeand enjoyed the social connection she found at Mick’s, and also aladyIknew who had known hard times and had alifelongattachment to the church.

The conversation round our table was lively and friendly as we got to know each other. Ienjoyed it so much that Idecided Ididn’t want to wait another six weeks for my roster to come round, but would start coming along every week. That was four weeks ago, and although Istill haven’t moved from my original chair,the people around the room are becomingfamiliar,always in the same little groups, sitting at the same tables.

As Iwalk in now, the people at my table look up expectantly and welcome me as Itakemyseat, always the same one. It’s so nice to feel welcome, how could Ipossibly tell them Iwas moving to a different table?

At one end of the room, aseries of large posters tell the stories of church people downthe ages (includingStVincent de Paul himself) who are rememberedfor their extraordinary kindness, with quotes from each one.

It’s easy to imagine that the parishioners of St. Michael’s were inspired by these people, and that Mick’s Kitchen is their response.

This is human kindness in action,and all present are touched and uplifted by it.

It prompts the memoryofalinefrom Shakespeare thatmydear mum once told me about.

It is from The Merchant of Venice, in which mercyhas been shown to spare aman from a hideous death.

His relieved wife to be, Portia, says;

“The quality of mercyisnot strained. It droppeth as the gentle rain from heavenupon the place beneath. It is twice blessed. It blesseth him that gives and him that takes”.

Twice blessed. andthough thecircumstances are not as dire as in Shakespeare’s play, Irealise that this is what is happening at Mick’s Kitchen, that the helpers and the helped are each blessed Inolongerknowwhich of these Iam, Ionly know Iwant to be part of it.

IbeforeE at spelling bee

AFTER atwo-yearhiatus, due to COVID-19, Vicspell is again up and running.

Founded in 2004 by Gippsland volunteer teachers, originally as Gippspell, the competition, which takes aspellingbee format, is opentoall students in Years 5to8

It's aim is to ‘promote and reward good spelling’. The zone finals are based on shire boundaries. Colour certificates are awarded for each school representative and ahandsome glass trophyfor zone winners.

State final winners win bigger trophies and the Oxford two-volume National Dictionary. Importantly, students only compete against their own year level.

Past state final winners from this shire include: Caitlin Doherty (Kurnai College, 2005), Daniel Smith Blakely (LumenChristi,2008), Sam Farmer (Lavalla Catholic College, 2008), Corey

Stocky gets soggy for MND

By KATRINA BRANDON

STAFF and students from Stockdale Road Primary School, Traralgon did their bit to support Neale Daniher and the Fight MND campaign recently.

The junior school council organised asports themedress up day where students could dress up in any sports clothingfor the day and bring along agold coin donation.

As aschool, they were abletoraise justover $500, which will be donated directly to the Fight MND Foundation.

The schoolheldanassembly,where student leaders as well as anumberofstaff hadbuckets of ice cold water tipped on them one-by-one, their own rendition of the Big Freeze event.

"We did it online during COVID, and last year they didn’t do it, but decided to do it this year as it is agreat idea to raise money for afoundation, the kids love it, we had got good community engagement to come watch it," teacher Demi Godenzi said.

"Our junior school captains and school captains had the opportunity to be dunked in ice if they wished.

"We also had afew staff members also put their hands up to be dunkedinice which wasreally good. Ithink we had about 14 staff and the same with the students.

"They all got really excited to see their teachers get dunked."

At thestart of the year, the junior school council gets together and plans events for the year, putting up ideas for multiple fundraisers at atime.

"The kids havealready come back withsome different ideas on how to make it bigger and better next year, and to raisemore money for next time," Ms Godenzi said.

"Some of the big ideas we have already spoken about getting in contact with the foundation abit earlier,getting thebeanies, socks and merchandise out and selling it through the school."

Petersen (St Gabriel’s Primary School, 2009/11), UmandiMuruththetuwegama (St Gabriel’s PS, 2013), CharlotteDorl (St Paul’s Anglican Grammar School Traralgon,2018), Olivia O’Brien (St Paul’s AGS, 2019) and Nathan Whannell (Chairo Christian School Traralgon, 2022).

Eachschool pays aone-offannual fee of $20 covering each studentparticipant. This fee (which barely covers the trophies) has remained unchanged since 2004 thanks to the generosity of Vicspell’s sponsors: Oxford University Press, Bendigo CommunityBank -Neerim South and Triangle Trophies.

The zone finals are conductedinAugust and the state final is on September 12.

The Latrobe City zone final will be at Newborough Primary School on Thursday, August 17. Schools wishing to enquire about Vicspell can email Trevor Sowdon at Vicspell@hotmail.com.

Be biosecurity aware these school holidays

AGRICULTUREVictoriaisasking school holidaymakers to help keep the state’s $17.5 billion agriculture industry safe from biosecurity threats including pests and diseases.

Executive Director Biosecurity Victoria Katherine Clift said there were many ways the community can be biosecurity aware, including complying with state regulations while travelling.

"Victorians travelling interstate should be aware of border quarantine restrictions around moving plants, fruit and vegetables or risk hefty fines," Dr Clift said.

"Biosecurity measures such as not bringing fruit and vegetables into the state willhelp protect Victoria’s valuable horticulture industry from exotic pests including Mediterranean fruit fly.

"If you are planning to visit our excellent wineries, don’t wander into the vineyards in case you get phylloxera on your footwear and spread it elsewhere -this tiny insect can destroy grapevines and significantly impactour $170 million wine industry.

"Beach goers can minimise the risk of pests and diseases by following the steps of Check, Clean and Dry check all vessels, fishing, diving and surfing equipment and remove anything including water, sand and seaweed.

"Also, remember to check your catch for signs of disease.

“Clean boatsathome or at acommercial carwash. Wash wetsuits, fishing and diving equipment with fresh, soapy water.

"Dry all boating, fishing and diving equipment completely before heading out into the water again.’

For those making trips to farms, it’s essential to comply with Biosecurity ManagementPlans and followbiosecurity signagerequirements to help prevent spreading pests and disease.

"When you’re planning to visit afarming property,call ahead to see if there are any specific biosecurity requirements or potential issues," Dr Clift said.

‘When you arrive, sign the visitor record book, wash and disinfect your footwear and arrange to meet your hosts at their house or on asealed or gravel area away from livestock."

When it’s time to go home, farm visitors should wash their footwear again to avoid carrying pests and diseases to other properties or regions.

"If you’re spending alot of time on farms -or travelling to multiple properties -our ComeClean, Stay Clean, Go Clean learning module has great tips to help build your biosecurity awareness," Dr Clift said.

"The shortcourse willonly take around 15 minutes of your time, but could save your friends and relatives so much more if you’re able to keep them safe from biosecurity threats."

Freeze: Junior school council membersfromStockdaleRoad PrimarySchool, Traralgon take on the Big Freezechallenge. Photograph supplied

Starting School StartingSchool 2024

Starting Primary

PARENTS of young children take the responsibility of choosing the correct school to cater for their child’seducational needs veryseriously.Itisofparamount importance that parents are awareofthe advantages that different schools offer,enabling them to make the correct choice for their child’seducation confidently

Makethe right choice foryour child.

Preparing Preps fortomorrow

STARTING school is asignificant and joyful milestone in achild’slife and is something that St Paul’sAnglican Grammar School understands and caters for Each level of the school’scomprehensive Prep Transition Program, designed to foster desire to begin school, gradually develops asense of belonging in your child, assisting them in making asuccessful transition into primary school.

Prep teachers connect with children early by making avisit to their Kindergarten. Meeting your child in their normal environment ensures that they feel recognised and special right away

Prep teachers also collaborate with kindergarten teachers to learnmoreabout each child as an individual.

TwoPlayAfternoons in October introduce children and parents to the Prep environment. These informal sessions allow children to become comfortable with their teachers, make new friends and enjoy the expansive classrooms and nature-play areas.

Four Transition Sessions in November provide children with asense of what to expect throughout atypical school day Your child will participate in arange of specialised activities tailored to strengthen confidence and social skills.

To help alleviate any concerns your child may have about starting Prep, you areinvited to a Personalised Meeting in December to discuss individual needs and abilities, helping the school to best supporteach child’sindividual learning journey

Beginning and during transition, the soon-tobe Preps participate in “The Buddy Program,” which continues into Term 1. They take partinavariety of activities with their Buddies, who become familiar and welcoming faces for the Preps as school begins.

St Paul’siscommitted to ensuring each and everychild hasa personalised learning experience and aresupported to pursue their potential.

St Paul’siscurrently taking enrolments for 2025 and 2026, with limited places still available for 2024.

To find out more, please contact the school’s Enrolments Office on 5175 0133,orvisit their website: stpaulsags.vic.edu.au

School is a milestone and plays an integral partinachild’s education

Welcome to Trafalgar PrimarySchool

We arepleased to advise that Trafalgar Primary School is aFee Free School. Thereare no fees or booklists to pay,all school materials areprovided. Families will be asked only to cover the cost of camps, and excursions.

We arealso conscious that times have been tough.

We offer help to families suffering hardship, and ensurethat no student misses out on camps, excursions, and other activities through financial pressure.

We also help struggling families with uniform.

Trafalgar Primary School Breakfast Club

Trafalgar PrimarySchool has launched a School Breakfast Club program in partnership with Foodbank Victoria.

This gives students access to healthy,nutritious food to help them better engage in the classroom across the school day

The program provides any student at Trafalgar PrimarySchool with afreebreakfast as well as lunches targeted to students in need.

The school is now providing food packages to families in need.

Outside Of School HoursCare(0shc)

Trafalgar PrimarySchool has partnered with YMCA Children’sPrograms for Outside School Hours Careservices that supporttheir school community

Their services include:

•Beforeand after school: 6.30am –8.45am / 3.25pm –6pm Program available daily during the school term.

•Pupil free days available when school is closed for staffdevelopment sessions: 6.30am –6pm

•School Holiday Program: full days of care available outside the school term. These services areanideal solution for busy families, providing afun,friendly and relaxed environment for children to grow and learn beyond the classroom.

Instrumental MusicAnd PerformingArts

Trafalgar PrimarySchool provides students with aperforming arts program that has been developed over many years.

They have recently added anumberof specialist qualified instrumental teachers and can offer lessons in most instruments as well as Dance and Drama.

Sport, Health &Physical Education

Our Sportand Physical Education program focuses on building healthy habits, physical fitness, sporting ability and building positive character traits, such as: Fair Play, Sportsmanship, Resilience, Team work, Coachability,and Leadership.

Everystudent is also offered free swimming lessons through our swimming program. Students have represented our school across a wide variety of interschool competitions.

Trafalgar PrimarySchool is accepting enrolments now

Further information about the school including tours and information sessions can be found on our website or by contacting our friendly team on 5633 1566

For moreinformation or to book atour of our school, please visit https://www.trafps.vic.edu.au

St Vincent’s learning with love

ST VINCENT’S School is committed to fostering an environment wherestudents reach their potential.

As aschool community we strive to act out our values of Respect, Responsibility and Resilience so we create an environment whereweall act and feel safe.

St Vincent’shas along and proud historyin the Morwell community with many families having amulti-generational connection to the school.

We take pride in averystrong and engaging relationship with parents and the wider community

St Vincent’sisaproud member of the network of Catholic schools across the Diocese of Sale and is afeeder school to Lavalla Catholic College.

Our staffare committed professionals who develop learning programs to meet the needs and interests of all students.

We deliver an education which has entitlement for all and promotes high expectations for everystudent.

Apartfromacorefocus on providing outstanding Literacy and Numeracy programs we recognisethe importance of providing extra-curricular activities through our specialist programs and sports program.

St Vincent’siscommitted to all VPSSA local interschool sports competitions and our school has along historyofsuccess in the sporting arena.

Wellbeing is akey featureofCatholic

schools and at St Vincent’swehave an extensive range of wellbeing initiatives that proactively supportour students, families and staff.

Our Foundation students aresupported initially through our Transition activities and when they commence they build aconnection with our school through our Buddies Program.

St Vincent’soffersanextended transition program for those students enrolled in our school.

These days assist the children to be prepared for school life.

These sessions begin in termthree andrun through until the end of the year

Our school is situated on adeliberately designed site with our learning facilities undergoing the largest building program in the school’salmost seventy year history. Matched with our learning facilities, our yard offers arangeofoutdoor learning and play areas to meet the needs of all age groups. We welcome all families to become part of our St Vincent’scommunity wherewe encourage everyone to be involved in their child’slearning journey,establishing aclose partnership between home and school. To find out moreabout ourschool please phone the school on 5134 2060 or email Mr. Dave Cooper ourPrincipal at principal@stvmorwell.catholic.edu.au Formoreinformation about our schoolvisit: www.stvmorwell.catholic.edu.au

Sacred HeartMorwell invites all families to our school

AT Sacred Heartour students arecentral to all learning and we celebrate their unique gifts. We consider each child individually and look at all their attributes when developing astarting point for their learning.

Our teachers work in teams to develop the best educational pathway for each child and rely on evidence-based practice to create progressions of learning.

Through the eyes of Jesuswe...

•Use evidenced based Teaching strategies.

•Teach students at their point of need.

•Looktoour human resource as our greatest resource.

Little Learners- SchoolTransition Program

At Sacred HeartPrimarySchool we believe that transition should be apositive experience for everychild.

Our role is to build confidence so that your child is readyfor the next stage of their learning journey

During our Little Learner Transition Program students aresupported by

•becoming familiar with their surroundings

•socialising with their peers

•developing independence

•being allowed to learnthrough play-based learning strategies

•being given age appropriate literacy and numeracy tasks

Sessions will run on Fridays from October 20th, 2023, to November 24th 2023 from 9am to 10:30am.

The beginning of an exciting journey

Please take alook at our website https://shmorwell.catholic.edu.au and book atour at your convenience via phone on 5134 3718 or email us at principal@shmorwell.catholic.edu.au

Sacred Heart Morwell

Transition should be apositive experience forevery child.

Ourrole is to build confidencesothat your child is readyfor the next stage of their learning journey.

Students are supportedby:

•becoming familiar with their surroundings

•socialising with their peers

•developing independence

•being allowed to learn through play-based learning strategies

•being given age appropriate literacy and numeracytasks

Sessionswill run9am -10.30am on Fridays from 20th October to 24th November

Children arereadytostart schoolwith this program.

WHEN parents areasked what they value most in aschool for their children, answers will often include features such as asafe place to learn, agoodeducation,creative opportunities, acaring community,strong friendships for their children and aclose partnership between home and school.

ChairoChristian School strives to provide each of these things for students from preKinder to Year 8attheir Traralgon campus, and also for students who transition to their Drouin campus for Years9to12, and they do so from abiblical worldview perspective.

Principal, Keryn de Bruyn, explained, “We understand that it’simportant for parents to send their children to school knowing they will be cared for,encouraged, challenged and supported.

We acknowledge that everychild is unique and we intentionally provide opportunities for all students to explorestrengths and abilities in all aspects of their learning.”

Education is alife-long journey,and it is the early years wherethe foundation is laid for learning.

Chairo’sKinder and Prep programs ensure that students begin that journey in afun and supportive, yet challenging, environment –anenvironment that equips them through investigative play and foundational skills to encourage critical thinking and problem-solving.

Caroline, aChairoTraralgon mum said, “The children aremadetofeelthatthey belong, like they area partofabigger family”. Chairo’smission is to provide ‘excellence in Christ-centred education, in partnership with families, within acaring Christian community’, while their vision statement refers to students having an impact in the world through their capability,character and commitment.

The Traralgon campus is currently accepting enrolment applications for 2024 and beyond in most year levels from KindertoYear8

Contact Tonya on 5173 0500 or visit the school website to discover moreand book a family tour

HOROSCOPES

by Joanne Madeline Moore

June 19 -June25, 2023

Aries You’re keen to jump in and act with lightning speed, but other people may need some time to adjust Smart Rams will aim to get the balance right between being spontaneous and thinking things through Then – with the Sun transiting into your home zone (on Wednesday night) – it’s time to focus on home and hearth, domestic matters, your blood family or your family of choice Venus and Mars also highlight creativity, as you connect with your inner muse

Taurus It’s a good week to entertain family and friends at home, as Venus and Mars stimulate your domestic zone Convivial conversation is a bonus But has an old relationship finally run out of steam? Or is a fairweather friend criticising your behaviour and holding you back? The planets urge you to review your partnerships and peer group and discard negative influences Surround yourself with positive people who encourage your talents and support your dreams

Gemini Are you impatient for a Gdventure, excitement and success? Awesome opportunities are circling around you but they’re not immediately obvious They are hidden in unexpected places waiting for you to discover them Gung-ho Geminis love to spring into immediate action but at the moment some of your best work will be done quietly, behind the scenes Others may not notice what you ’ re currently doing, but your efforts will be rewarded in the months ahead

Cancer On Monday, don’t let your Crab curiosity (and fertile imagination) cloud your better judgment Step back and view a complex situation from a wider perspective and a more realistic angle If something sounds too good to be true, then it probably is! This week, strive to get the balance right between your public persona and your private self Some quiet time for rest and relaxation is just as important as networking with colleagues and socialising with friends

Leo Lions can appear to be brazenly bold but sometimes (on the inside) you feel like a much less confident kitten With Venus and Mars both visiting Leo, it’s time to talk up your talents, promote your accomplishments and tackle life with plenty of charm and chutzpah

If you don’t believe in yourself; why should anyone else? As birthday great Nicole Kidman observes: “Life has got all those twists and turns You ve got to hold on tight and off you go ”

Virgo Adventurous Virgo – this week the pg ositive Jupiter/Saturn link is terrific for educational matters, travel arrangements, creative partnerships and joint ventures But don’t let yourself be deceived by fake news, sidetracked by dubious friends, or distracted by empty promises Keep your eyes wide open and your feet firmly planted on the ground! Wednesday and Thursday favour proactive pronouncements at work and lively conversations at home

Win for teachers union

THE AustralianEducation Union Victorian Branch has achieved asignificant winwhich will see the state government provideanadditional $130million forschool budgets over four years to resolve the school camp time in lieu ‘off duty’ disputebefore the Fair Work Commission.

Libra This week Venus and Mars favour romance, friendship and fun It’s also a terrific time to network and socialise with colleagues, as you mix business with plenty of pleasure Librans are clever and capable but are you confident enough for big-time success? The Sun shifts into your career zone (on Wednesday night) so step up and assume a leadership role And remember that your deft diplomatic skills are constantly required at home and at work

Scorpio If you ’ re looking for a promotion or a new job, now ’ s the time to strike, as lucky Venus and proactive Mars enhance your professional persona Communicating with work colleagues, clients and customers will also improve, as you initiate contact and relationships run more smoothly than usual The positive Jupiter/Saturn link should also benefit partnerships, of the romantic and platonic variety So stop sulking and stewing and start mingling!

The win means that public school teachers and education support staff attending aschool camp overnight will be regarded as being at least on call for eight hours and receive apayment for thistime.

In addition, for the remaining hours on aschool camp, outside of the overnight hours and normal hours of duty, employees required to attendaspart of the student supervision ratios will accrue time in lieu for being either on call or performing duties

Critically, the stategovernment has provided the additionalfunding schools will require for the overnight payment. These arrangements, including the overnight on callpayment, will apply to all school camps, other than overseas school camps or any period of aschool camp occurring duringa school holiday period.

“This important win has been achieved as adirect result of the actions of AEU members, including those who lodged local grievances, and builds on the improved entitlements achievedinthe Schools Agreement last year,” Victorian Branch president, Meredith Peace said.

“It means that when ateacher or education support staff member is required to attend acamp overnight or to meet student supervision ratios, they cannot be deemed to be ‘off duty’.

“The significant new funding willreduce the pressure on schools to provide time in lieu to staff where they are required to work outside of their normal hours of duty whileenabling schoolstoplan their camps programs with certainty.

“The outcome respects and recognises the huge contribution teachers and education support staff maketoenablestudents to attend overnight camps.”

The AEU Victorian Branch lodged adispute with the Victorian Department of Education in the Fair Work Commission after it issued school time in lieu operational guidelines, stating that teachers and educationsupport staff requiredtoattend school campscouldbe‘off-duty’ overnightand would therefore not be eligible for the time in lieu entitlements provided for in the state government Schools Agreement 2022.

The AEU successfully settled the dispute with the Department and has won funding for an on call overnight payment, funded by the government, for public school teachers and education support staff for each night on camp, which will apply from January y 1this y year.

Sagittarius

Early in the week, Jupiter (yourgpower planet) makes a rare positive link with karmic taskmaster Saturn You’ll find enthusiasm and luck combined with hard work and persistence will lead to success So, roll up your sleeves, put your shoulder to the wheel, and get to it! Your motto for the moment is from prolific inventor and businessman Thomas Edison: “Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work ”

On Monday Saturn (your powe p r planet) makes a rare positive link with prosperity planet Jupiter So, you ll find enthusiasm and luck combined with hard work and perseverance will take you far But you need to be your own cheer squad as you keep on keeping on with passion and persistence Your mantra is from inventor and businessman Thomas Edison: Many of life s failures are people who did not realise how close they were to success when they gave up ”

Capricorn

Boost to kinder funding

Aquarius

There’s a Sun/Neptune square on Mq onday, so steer clear of a smooth operator who could lead you up the primrose path to trouble Check all news and information carefully If something sounds too good to be true, then turn around and start walking in the opposite direction! Plus, with peacemaker Venus and fiery Mars activating your partnership zone, do your best to turn up the charm as you smooth over problems with an impatient friend or a cranky colleague

PiscesVenus and Mars both stimulate your job zone, so socialising with clients or colleagues will help improve workplace relations If you re looking for employment then put the word out amongst close friends and within your wider peer group But your carefully planned week could be turned upside down when the Sun/Neptune square throws some confusing factors into the mix Especially involving a personal project, a family member or a domestic matter

CopyrightJoanne Madeline Moore 2023

GP1656858

CHILDRENwith adisability, developmentaldelay and additional or special needs will get evenmore assistance to learn and thrive at kinder through the state government’s investment in early education programs which promoteinclusion.

Minister for Early Childhood and Pre Prep, Ingrid Stittrecentlyannounced $18.1 million over four years as part of theVictorian Budget 2023/24 to moderniseand tailor support for the littlest learners in the state to get the best start in life.

This funding will help make early learning more accessible, easier and more fun with anew approach to inclusion in kindergartens, through strength-based learning plans, new needs assessments and educationapproacheswhich more closelyalign with the Disability Inclusionreforms for schools.

“Kindergarten is for all children- that’swhy we’re modernisingand tailoringsupport for children with additional needs, so they can fully engage in, and benefit from, two years of funded kindergarten,” Ms Stitt said.

“Our Best Start, Best Life reforms are transforming early childhood education, saving hard-working families money and supporting parents to return to the workforce if they choose.”

Children with additionalneeds will be further supported to learnalongside theirpeers with specialised equipment, including standing framesand hoists continuing to be available at no cost to kindergartens, under an extensionof the Kindergarten Inclusion SupportSpecialised Equipment program.

The $18.1 million package will also streamline applications and assessments under the Kindergarten InclusionSupport program, making it easier for kinders to hire additional staff and train existing educators in line with demand.

The investment also boosts the number of Pre-School Field Officers (PSFO), who are highly experiencedprofessionals thatwork with early childhood teaching teams.

The PSFOs will be placed in high-growth areas of the state to provide inclusive programs for children with additionalneeds to learn, contribute and grow at kinder.

The Victorian Budget2023/24provides $1.8 billion over five years to continue the transformation of early childhood education in Victoria, making all kinder free and building $1.2 billion in infrastructure projects.

It means that when ateacher or education support staff member is required to attend a camp overnightortomeet student supervision ratios,theycannot be deemed to be‘off duty’.

Victorian Branch president, Meredith Peace

Winter is upon us Detox your body

With winter upon us, our health and wellbeing can takeahit.Our bodies are subjected to the cold, increasing aches and pains; muscles takelongertowarm m up, putting us at risk of injury;cold and flu seems to be all around us; and our mental health can be impacted by the lack of sunlight hours.

If youare suffering from sinusitis, colds, flu or otherrespiratory conditions, consider acourse of salt therapy.

Salt therapyisa natural waytoboost your immune system and help combat colds, flu and sinusitis.

Salt’s anti-bacterial, antiviral and anti-inflammatory properties help reduce the symptoms of colds and sinusitis by reducing inflammation within the respiratory tract,loosening mucous and allowing the body to expelit. It can aide in reducing the pain associated with sinusitis and shortenthe episode. The salt room is warm and relaxing, so notonly soothes the respiratory system, but relaxes the mind and body also.

If youare looking forways to relax, warm up and detoxthe body,consider the infrared sauna or floattank,

If you are playing sport, consider the hyperbaric chamber or NormaTec compression systems to help with anyniggling injuries to keep you playing all season.

NormaTec compressions systems provide external compression to the legs (or arms) and mimic the muscles in the limbs and valves in the veins to help improve blood flowand circulation to the designated area. They can help warm up the muscles prior to workouts or help flush out lactic acid and amp; toxins post work out. They can also be used to relief swelling and inflammation in the limbs and prevent fluid build up from everyday activities/

The hyperbaric chamber can aide in recoveryofsoft tissue injuries

Fit for Life

The infrared sauna is a great way to warm up! By emitting infrared waves which directly heat up the body the temperature in an infrared sauna is cooler than atraditional one which heats up the air around you(45-55 degrees compared to 70-80 degrees) this allows those people who may struggle with the heatof atraditional sauna to enjoyasession. This direct heating of thebodyallows youtosweat faster and tolerate alongersauna. Benefits of saunasinclude increased circulation, detoxification, pain relief, stress relief, improved sleep and agreat waytoget warm!

Floattherapy is awonderfulway to escape from the busyness of theworld. Taking time out to remove yourself from all distractions and immerse yourself into the dark, quietworld of afloattank.

Studies haveshown thatfloattherapy can assist in lessening the symptoms of anxiety,depression, insomnia, stress relateddisorders and chronic pain. Many people reportafeeling of inner peace and well- being aftera floatwhich can last fordays after.

by increasing the amount of available oxygen within the body. During ahyperbaricsession, the chamber inflates to 1.3ATA which results in oxygen dissolving into the blood plasma, joint fluid and cerebrospinal fluid as well as being attached to the red blood cells. This enables oxygenated products to reach areas trauma and inflammation, reducing swelling and stimulating tissue regrowth and repair

Regardless of howwinter is impacting you, Wendyand the team at Traralgon Relaxation and RecoveryCentre are here to help you through the colder months. Come in achat with us about how we can best help you, or call on 5174 5178

Band development back on

THE City of Traralgon Band, aleading provider of musicaleducation, is pleased to announceits highly anticipated Training andDevelopment Program has restarted.

Following aprolonged hiatus due to the global pandemic, the City of Traralgon Band is thrilled to resume its program and continue nurturing the musical talents of children in the community.

Band secretary,VictoriaWilson welcomedthe news.

“We recently had seven of our training band graduate’s, now acentral part of the senior band, perform at therecent City of Sale Eisteddfod, and theband will also perform at the state championships in Ballarat in August,” she said.

"We are delighted to introduce Graeme Cruikshank as the new musical director.

"Graeme, an accomplishedmusician, has recently relocated to our area. He brings with him awealth of experience and enthusiasm, havingalsoassumed aleadership role in the City of Traralgon Band.

"We are confident that Graeme's expertise will

greatly benefit our training program and inspire our students to reach new heights in their musical journeys.

"Recognising that manystudents may have been unable to play their instruments during the pandemic, we understand the need to rebuild good musical habits.

"We anticipate that some playersmay have forgotten certain aspects, and we want to assure you that our team of highly experienced instructors will be readily available to support and guide your children throughout their musical endeavours.

"We extend awarm invitation to allstudents who are interested in learning brass instruments or percussion to join our new training program.

"We encourage you to contactusvia email to express your interest in participating.

"Together, let us embrace the power of music and embark on an exciting journey of artistic growth and achievement."

For further information, email cityoftraralgonband@gmail.com

GlengarryHeritage Hall entertainment

LIVE in the Glen is alive and humming, with Golden Guitar winners and blues on the horizon. Coming up later this month, tribute band Leaps and Bounds will bring Paul Kelly’s greatest hits to the stage.

In July, three-time ARIA award winner Shane Nicholson will perform in Glengarry’s heritage hall

Live in the Glen is anot-for-profit group, designed to offer high quality entertainment to Glengarry locals and music lovers from far and wide.

The first show of the year was agreat success, withPete Denahy and Slim Dusty’soriginal travelling band attracting people from Maffra, Leongatha and even Melbourne.

Stories that warmedthe committee’s heart most werefromolder localsthat usedtoenjoy many weekends and social events at the Glengarry Hall in times gone by.

Many locals were very impressed by the hall’s extensive refurbishment, which included ahighquality acoustic upgrade led by Live at the Bundy’s Paul Versteden.

The Live in the Glen team are passionate about

giving the community the opportunity to see the highest quality music in their hometown.

It is equally about offering atrue country-style experience, for patrons and musicians alike.

Thanks to ateam of volunteers, there is a barbecue available before each show and araffle drawn during the intermission.

Awaiting in the green room for artists is apostsoundcheck platterwith an array of local produce and an ice bucketfilled with local beers and wine.

This is aperfect opportunity to showcase what Glengarry and the wider Gippsland area has to offer.

Live in the Glen is looking forward to abusy second half of the year.

Paul Kelly tribute band Leaps and Bounds will perform on Saturday, June 24.

On Friday, July 21, Golden Guitar winner Shane Nicholson is set to play.

Lloyd Spiegel, 14-time Australian Blues Award winner, is booked in for Saturday, August 5.

Andtowind up acracker year, Andrew Swift, who recently won the Male Artist of the Year at

Jeff Duff’s Bowie unzipped in Traralgon

BOWIE UNZIPPED is the show that has been packing venues all overtown and just keeps rolling on as Jeff Duffpresents hisuniqueinterpretation of the songs of David Bowie

So much more than just atribute show, Jeff's unique and powerfultakeonthe David Bowie songbook has fans returning night after night.

Jeff’s all-star bandfeaturesguitaristJak Housden from the Whitlams along with keyboard player Glenn Rhodesand drummer-percussionist Jess Ciampa.

"Flamboyant, eccentric, charming and with a stunning voice! Jeff Duff is one of the greatest entertainers Australia has produced," Australian music icon Molly Meldrum said.

Rock historian Glenn ABaker’s much heralded Duffo quote says it all.

“I don’t think it’s overstating the case to saythat, hadJeffDuffhailed from acountryinthe top half of the world, he could now be as acknowledged and

acclaimedasDavid Bowie or Lou ReedorIggy Pop”. Of course it doesn’t carry quite the impact of the famous Andy Warhol utterance: “Sinatra, Presley, Jagger, and now Duffo”.

Duffo has long been acknowledged as the closest thing to the real Bowie that Australian audiences will ever get to experience.

Jeff’s personal connection to Bowie is well documented.Bowie frequented Duffo’s own shows when he was performing in London in the late 70’s and early 80’s.

Ironically, when Jeff returned to Australia in the late 80s, Bowie tracked him downwhen he discovered they were living next door to one another in Elizabeth Bay in Sydney…aperfect example of serendipity!

Bowie’s officialwebsite ‘BowieNet’ has supported Duffo’scareerwith glow the promotion of his Australian In Bowie’s absence

theGolden Guitarawards, will play at Live in the Glen on Saturday,November 18. Fortickets, visit liveintheglen.org.au.

MORWELL, get ready to experience the best of local dance Eisteddfods!

Dancers are entering from all over Victoria, to compete in arange of genres as the iconic Morwell Festival of Dance is again upon us. MorwellFestival of Dance willbeheld this year at the Gippsland Performing Arts Centre.

The event is traditionally run at Kernot Hallbut hasbeen moved due to renovations.

Dance events will takeplace fromFriday, June23toSunday, July 2.

Sessionscommence daily at 9am,1pm and 6pm

Ticketprices are $5 asession

The Morwell Festival of Dancewill bring dancers fromacross Victoria to competein different genres of dance. Being solo, duo/ trios &troupe dances.

Genres covered will be classical, tap, jazz, lyrical,contemporary, hiphop, song and dance, and character.

More than 500 performers of all ages from over Victoria will come to dance at the eisteddfod.

There will be 1886 individual entries across ten days.

Adjudicators come fromasfar as Melbourne and Hobart to critique dancers on form and technique.

All Abilities sections are open to anyone who is enrolled or registeredineither a supported community or supported educationprogramorregistered with National Disability Insurance Agency.

All Abilities sections will runonFriday, June 23 from around 11.30am to 12pm. Morwell Festival of Dance is completely run by volunteers and relies on sponsorship from the local community and grants from Latrobe City and Creative Victoria to run each year. The committee works tirelessly all year to pull the event together.

For moreinformation,please visitthe Morwell Festival of Dance facebook page in the following link: https://www.facebook.com/ MorwellFestivalofDanceInc/

experience the next best thing to the 'thin white duke’, don’t miss Jeff’s upcoming shows with his all-star band.

“Jeff doesn’ttry to impersonate Bowie, he simply does his own spectacular thing with the thin white dukes songs,” Faster Louder Magazine said.

“If you closed your eyes, you could believe it was Bowie on stage."

Bowie Unzippedwill perform at Gippsland Regional Arts Centre (Traralgon) on July 23.

Newborough local Erin Tatlow once won an episode of the ABC quiz show Hard Quiz,with David Bowie as her special subject.

Morwell Festival of Dance HEADING NORTH

The band playedon: Oliver Becker, Gwenevieve Winnell, Nic Krafft-Murat, and Maybell Tratford(front)Hannah Mack, Ameli Krafft-Murat, and SahannaHarikrishaof Traralgon City Band. Photograph supplied

TheGuide

CLASSIC 100 IN CONCERT WITH THEMELBOURNE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA

ABC TV,Saturday, 7.30pm

DOCUMENTARYNOW!

ABC TV Plus, Friday, 10.05pm

Cate Blanchett isn’t known for laughs: she has carvedanillustrious career out of hard-hittingroles. But the award-winning Aussieimport clearlyhas asharp eyefor the absurd because this is her second role in this off-the-wall mockumentaryseries. Created by SaturdayNightLive’s Bill Hader,SethMeyers, Fred Armisen and Rhys Thomas, with Helen Mirren acting as host, it’sthe fourth season of zany human intereststories. In “Two Hairdressers in Bagglyport”, Blanchett and Succession’s Harriet Walter (both pictured) playsalon assistants in atiny seaside town. Aparody of Philippa Lowthorpe’s sorrowful ThreeSalonsatthe Seaside,it’swarm-hearted, detailed and very comical.

Wednesday, June21

Which instrument makes Australians’ hearts skip abeat? In thisgrand special from Hamer Hall, at the Arts CentreMelbourne, the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra spectacularly showcases thiscountry’s most popular instruments with this concert. HostedbyZan Rowe, Jeremy Fernandez andABC Classic radio hostGenevieveLang,it’s an annual treat formusic lovers. Featuring Rachmaninoff’s Rhapsody onaThemeofPaganini(piano), Tchaikovsky’s VariationsonaRococo Theme(cello) and John Williams’ ThemefromSchindler’sList(violin), it promisestobeaunique, educational spectacle the whole family can appreciate.

MASTERCHEF AUSTRALIA

10, Sunday, 7.30pm

Forafoodie, cooking is an intoxicating adventure –they’retakingnotes while watching MasterChefeach night.For others, watching the series luxurious, high-concept creations is akin to afantasy–those viewers might also consider scallops with wattle seeds abit fancy as we diginto ameat-and-three-vegdinner.But tonight,extravaganceand artistry rule; aspiring chefs and casual viewers alikewill be inspired to visit their local gourmetdeli. There’sacaviar taste testinstore forthe contestants, as wellasa challenge to whip up adish that highlights aparticular colour Tune in to see the reactions from judges Andy Allen, Melissa Leong and Jock Zonfrillo(pictured, from left).

Game on: SASAustralias Ant Middleton hosts MillionDollarIsland

PICK OF THE WEEK

MILLION DOLLAR ISLAND

Seven, Monday, 7.30pm

Amid inflation and rising interestrates, this latestreality TV format has an undeniably fetching title. Melding thebrutaltactics of Survivorwith the intriguing socialaspectof BigBrother,this fast-paced competition –filmed in picturesque Malaysia –boasts one of the biggestcashprizes in Aussie TV.HostedbyBritish special forces veteran Ant Middleton, thehighly ambitious serieskicked off with an eye-opening 100 contestants. Thankfully the numbers have since dwindled,but the fervent hunger forthe coveted $10,000 wristbands has only grown. As the contestants battle it out in challenges, youcan almostsee the dollar signs in their determined eyes.

In Limbo (Mal) Charlie pursuesthe money trail.

9.35 Queen Of Oz. (Premiere, Ml) Princess Georgiana arrives in Australia.

10.05 Take 5With Zan Rowe (PG, R)

10.40 ABC LateNews. 10.55 The Business.

(R) 11.10 Ragdoll. (Final, MA15+av,R) 11.55

FatherBrown.(Final, Mv,R) 12.45 Parliament

Question Time 1.45 Rage. (MA15+adhlnsv)

3.30 Antiques Roadshow.(R) 4.30 The Drum.

(R) 5.30 7.30.(R)

6.00 Mastermind Australia. (PG, R)

6.30 SBS World News.

7.35 HistoryOfThe Sitcom: Sex And TheSitcom (M)Explores the revolution of sex in sitcoms.

8.30 TheMayfair Hotel Megabuild.

(M) Part 3of3.With the mega-build shell nearing completion, the final touchesare put in place.

9.35 BlueLights. (Malv) Mo’s side deal goesahead.

10.35 SBS World News Late.

11.05 TheCongregation. (MA15+s)

11.55 The Promise.(Mal, R) 2.05 La Fortuna.

(Ml, R) 4.00 Mastermind Australia. (R) 5.00

NHK World EnglishNews Morning. 5.30 ANC PhilippinesThe World Tonight.

6.00 SevenNews.

7.00 Home AndAway. (PGa)

7.30 DogsBehaving (Very) Badly (PG) Follows dogtrainer Graeme Hall.

8.30 TheFront Bar (M) HostsMick Molloy, Sam

and events. 11.30 TheLate ShowWith Stephen Colbert. (PG) Late-night talk show

Home Shopping (R)

CBS Mornings.

Thursday, June 22

News. 9.00 News. 10.00 Australian Story.(R) 10.30 That Pacific Sports Show. (R) 11.00 ADog’s World WithTony Armstrong. (R)

12.00 ABC News At Noon. 1.00 Julia Zemiro’s Home Delivery.(PG,R) 1.30 Shaun Micallef’s MAD AS HELL.(Ml, R) 2.00 Parliament QuestionTime. 3.00 GardeningAustralia. (R) 4.00 AntiquesRoadshow.(R) 5.00 Back Roads. (R) 5.30 HardQuiz. (PG, R)

6.00 TheDrum.

7.00 ABCNews.

7.30 7.30 PresentedbySarah Ferguson.

8.00 Miriam&Alan: Lost In Scotland

And Beyond… (Mal) Part 4of4

8.50 Grand DesignsNew Zealand. (R) Chris Moller meets acouple who jointly created ahome in Waipu Cove,a small town in BreamBay

9.35 One PlusOne: TheElders. Dan Bourchier speaks with Ian Hamm.

10.05 ArtWorks. (R) Hosted by Namila Benson

10.35 ABCLateNews.

10.50 TheBusiness. (R)

11.10 Flyways: TheStoryOf MigratoryShorebirds. (R)

12.05 Q+A. (R)

6.00 WorldWatch. 9.00 Cook Up Bitesize. (R) 9.05 21 Kids And Counting. (PGal, R) 10.00 Paul O’Grady:For TheLoveOfDogs. (PGa, R) 11.00 Dream Of Italy. (PG) 12.00 WorldWatch.

2.00 Great EscapesWith Morgan Freeman.

6.00 Mastermind Australia (R) Presented by Marc Fennell.

6.30 SBSWorldNews.

7.30 Inside SydneyAirport:Rain. (M)

An incoming flight relays adistress call.

8.30 Devil’sConfession: Lost Eichmann Tapes: TheHunt. Part 1 of 3. Alook at recorded conversations between Adolf Eichmann and Dutch Nazi journalist Willem Sassen.

9.30 Normal People. (MA15+)

When Connell loseshis joband Marianne has an upsetting triphome, they withdraw from each other

10.20 SBS WorldNewsLate

10.50Catch And Release. (Final, MA15+a)

11.40 Miniseries:The Long Call. (Mals, R)

6.00 SevenNews.

7.00 Football. AFL.Round 15 Geelongv Melbourne.

10.30 AFL Post-Game Show. Awrap-upofthe game, including panel discussion and interviews, with access to players, coaches and staff

11.00 TheLatest: SevenNews.

11.30 FantasyIsland. (Ma, R) Awoman dreams of being aprincess.

12.30 TheGoldbergs. (PGl,R) Adam questions his careerpath. [VIC]HomeShopping.

1.00 TheGoldbergs. (PGa, R) Erica andBarryreceive the same grade.

1.30 Travel Oz. (PG, R) Takesa look at Australian festivals

2.00 Home Shopping. (R)

6.00 Nine News.

7.00 ACurrent Affair

7.30 RBT. (PGal, R) Followsthe activities of police units.

8.30 Paramedics (Mm, R) Paramedics treat amotorbikecrash victim who does not seem to want anypainkillers.

9.30 Casualty 24/7 (Mm) Paramedics arrive with Steve,a63-year-old lorry driver,who has aserious leg injury after being run over by aforklift truck.

10.30 A+EAfter Dark (Mam, R)

11.25 Nine News Late.

11.50 TheFirst48: Sudden Death/ Devil At TheDoor. (Mav,R)

12.40

2.30

6.30 TheProject. Alook at the day’snews and events

7.30 MasterChef Australia. (PGal) Thecontestant whocreates the best sweet coffeedish movesontomakeatea fortwo

8.40 TheFirstInventors: The Science Of Story. (PG)Part 2of4.A bold expedition sets out to prove that the First Nations science of storytelling recorded iceage events 10,000 years ago

9.40 TheCheapSeats. (Mal,R)

Presenters Melanie Bracewell and Tim McDonald takealook at the week that was.

10.40 Law& Order:SVU (Mav,R) Benson’s loyalty to Garland is tested.

11.30 TheProject. (R) Alook at the day’snews and events

1.10 Parliament Question Time.

2.10 Rage (MA15+adhlnsv)

3.30 AntiquesRoadshow.(R)

4.30 The Drum. (R) 5.30 7.30.(R)

3.25 Mastermind Australia. (R) 4.30 Bamay. (R) 5.00 NHK World English News Morning

5.30 ANC PhilippinesThe WorldTonight.

4.00 NBCToday News and current affairs.

5.00 SevenEarly News.

5.30 Sunrise

6.00 TheDrum. Analysis of the day’snews.

7.00 ABC News Alook at the top stories of the day

7.30 Gardening Australia.

Hannah visits adreamy design.

8.30 Utopia. (PG, R) The government stalls on an election promise of the NBA movingtoindependent status.

9.00 Smother. (Mlv) Gabriel confesses to Elaine that he wasdriving her car the night of the accident

9.50 Mayfair Witches. (Final, Malsv) Rowandiscovers her role in theprophecy

10.35 ABC LateNews. Coverage of theday’sevents.

10.50 TheSplit. (Mals, R) Hannah and Nathan negotiate their divorce.

11.55 Harrow. (Mav,R)

1.40 Rage. (MA15+adhlnsv)

6.00 Mastermind Australia. (PG,R)

6.30 SBS WorldNews.

7.35 New Zealand From A Train. (PG) Part 2of2

8.30 Greenland: Survival At TheEdge. (PG)Part 2of2.Stewart McPherson takes to the ice on dog sled to see how the Inuit hunt

9.25 LegendsOfThe Pharaohs: Secrets Of TheSphinx. (Masv, R) Takes alookatEgypt’smost enduring mystery the riddle of the Great Sphinx of Giza

10.20 SBS WorldNewsLate.

10.50 Vienna Blood. (Mav)

12.40 TheInvestigation. (Ma, R)

2.25 TheHunt ForA Killer.(Malv,R) 4.10

Mastermind Australia. (R) 4.40 Bamay. (R)

5.00 NHK World EnglishNewsMorning. 5.30

ANC PhilippinesThe WorldTonight

6.00 SevenNews.

7.00 Better Homes And Gardens. Johanna Griggs checks out some funky new accommodation in Bathurst.

7.30 Football. AFL.Round 15 St Kilda vBrisbane Lions. From Marvel Stadium, Melbourne

10.30 AFL Post-Game Show Awrap-upofthe game, including panel discussion and interviews, with access to players, coachesand staff

11.00 Armchair Experts. (M) Apanel discussesall things AFL

12.00 To Be Advised

1.30 Travel Oz. (PG,R)Presented by Greg Grainger

2.00 Home Shopping. (R)

4.00 Million Dollar Minute. (R)

5.00 NBCToday

6.00 Nine News.

7.00 ACurrent Affair

7.30 Country HouseHunters Australia. (PG) Hosted by Catriona Rowntree.

8.30 MOVIE: Fracture. (2007, Mlv,R)

After murdering hiswife, aself-confessed killer wreaks havoc with the prosecution when hiscase comestotrial. Anthony Hopkins,RyanGosling, David Strathairn.

10.50 Emergency Call. (Ma, R) Afrightened mother faces an intruder.

11.40 TheFirst48: Snapshot. (Mav)

12.30 Tipping Point. (PG, R)

1.30 TV Shop: Home Shopping. (R)

4.00 Postcards. (PG,R)

4.30 Global Shop. (R)

5.00 TV Shop:Home Shopping. (R) 5.30

SkippyThe Bush Kangaroo.(R)

12.30 TheLate ShowWith Stephen Colbert. (PG) Late-night talk show

1.30 Home Shopping. (R) 4.30 CBS Mornings.

6.30 TheProject Alook at the day’snews and events

7.30 Bondi Rescue. (Final, PGan) Bondi hosts 15,000 World Pride Beach Partyrevellers.

8.30 Have YouBeen Paying

Attention? (Malns,R)Celebrity panellistsinclude Anne Edmonds, Tim McDonald and Lizzy Hoo.

9.30 TheGraham Norton Show. (Mls, R) Guests include Paul Rudd, Michael Douglas, Hugh Jackman,Michael B. Jordan, Dame JudiDench, Eugene Levyand P!nk

TheProject. (R)

TheLateShowWith Stephen Colbert. (PG)

Moe veteran Ben Morrow played his 200th senior match at the weekend. The Lions celebrated the milestone with a win on the road against Bairnsdale, to remain equal first on the Gippsland League ladder.

Photographs Julie Sim/Karen Morrow

GIPPSLAND LEAGUE

TRARALGON

DROUIN

GOALS: Traralgon: BEddy 4MJacobsen 4B Schilling 4T Hamilton 3DLoprese 2JCunico M

Collison JHamiltonBKimberley.Drouin: HBirks 2T Evans 2SPratt SAmoroso KQuirk MStein

CKingi THancock BEST: Traralgon: MJacobsen LD’Angelo JCunico BSchilling JMcMahon H

Neocleous.Drouin: SAmoroso CBethune SHarveyT Evans BStephens JCollins

LEONGATHA

SALE3.1

GOALS: Leongatha: AHeppell 3JHume 3L Wright 2T McRae2 TBrill JGarnham TMarriott L

Bowman. Sale: KMartin 3BDessent 2JMcGuiness 2JLeslie RDiamond BEST: Leongatha: G

Dickson JHumeJ Burns CMaskell TMarriott BWillis. Sale: JLeslieW Leslie JMclaren SLange

DMcGuiness KMartin

MOE 6.111.314.615.9(99)

BAIRNSDALE 3.24.3 6.5 11.8 (74)

GOALS: Moe: BGowers7B Daniher2L Mulqueen BSmith HSim JWood CProwseLRees

Bairnsdale: LByrne-Jones 4XRichards2 TRees NDennisonBMcCarrey LMckenna JGooch.

BEST: Moe: BSmith RBaldi BGowersS van DykT Pratt JCeppi. Bairnsdale: LByrne-Jones N

Dennison HCook LAustin ANelson LMckenna

MORWELL 4.2

GOALS: Morwell: BMcDonald 4T Gray2 Rtha THillier AQuigley CCampbell ROddy JSuter

Warragul: CSutherland 2BPaulAPhillips LSerong BEST: Morwell: BMcauliffeBMacfarlane

AQuigley ZAndersonB Bailey BCouling.Warragul: LWardSMasterson RSeniniCAlger P

NStevenson

GOALS: Wonthaggi: CMcInnes 6NAnderson4 THarley 3T Davey2 THuther 2JHutchinson

2RSparkes JBlair BMabilia.Maffra:LAllmanJ Read BEST: Wonthaggi: RSparkes ALindsay

SBrayKReid JStaley CMcInnes.Maffra: BMonk NPollardACarr JReadECarr SRobbins

GOALS: Sale: LPlace3 TWrigglesworth CLavertyHPotts. Leongatha: NFixter2JLamers

THall. BEST: Sale:LPlaceCLavertyHPottsJ Sweeney OWaugh EHanrahan.

KBrown ELamers LHickey NFixterT Hall NClark

GOALS: Traralgon: JVan Iwaarden 5FKennedy 2T McMahon 2BLocandroCPeaveyLHahn.

Drouin: KHermansen 2KGregg LLenders BBrasier BEST: Traralgon: LTripodi JVan Iwaarden

TMcMahon LMcDonald CPeaveyDBuis. Drouin: BBrasier JClerks DClebney KBowie B

KHermansen WONTHAGGI 5.2

MAFFRA0.0

2.4 3.4 (22)

GOALS: Wonthaggi: NJones2 BCornelis 2LJonesABusanaKMcCarthyJ Thomas RMorescoO

Dawson. Maffra: AMckenzieC Johnson JOldham. BEST:Wonthaggi:TKrause ODawson RCornell

JThomas JGilmour KBrown.Maffra: MRodaughanW PlemingJ Stubbe JOldham WBrunt

MOE 0.2 2.5 2.9 6.10 (46)

BAIRNSDALE 1.2 3.5 4.6 6.9 (45)

GOALS: Moe: WClaridge2JMorrow2 LDurkin Tblackshaw. Bairnsdale: OClarke 4Jfraser R

Peters BEST: Moe: AWilson TblackshawT Morrow JMorrow KWeir LFry.Bairnsdale: CMann

PBills RCarstairs RBlandfordLDunkley LLakay MORWELL 2.6 7.6 10.11 15.15 (105)

WARRAGUL 0.0

GOALS: Morwell: Gtha 5HMaximiw 3Z Carlson 2R Adams 2MLovison MPorykali BBriggs

Warragul: RDunne DSaker BEST: Morwell: ZCarlson MPorykali ZCantrill BWilliamsL Tactor

MLovison. Warragul: JOrlickiT Davine JNeville KBaker JDeLaHaye

THIRDS

LEONGATHA 3.5 8.6 10.9 13.12 (90)

SALE0.1 4.3 6.8 7.10 (52)

GOALS: Leongatha: BFort3 TGannon 3J Garnham 2MDonohue 2W BrownCQuaifeB

Grabham Andrews. Sale:T Wrigglesworth 2KCutler CNew BPearce ZWaixel CWilson. BEST:

Leongatha: MDonohue TGannon NSkewes BFortCQuaifeBGrabham Andrews. Sale:J

Cantwell CJohnson TDobson TWrigglesworth BPearce ZWaixel

18.14 24.18 (162)

TRARALGON 7.7

GOALS: Traralgon: CBooth 4OHaberl 4R Guiney 3F Watts 2W Brent 2MMaaka 2B

Kennedy 2JHamiltonHLittleABlackfordERoscoe GRuach. Drouin: ZMcmillan 2J Evans A

WanigavitharanaB Walsh. BEST: Traralgon: SCogan NAddison OHaberl WBrent BKennedy

FWatts.Drouin: BWalsh ZMcmillan JWalsh CCaddy ECroucher SHood

GOALS: Warragul: CMcintosh 4FSheehan 3JDeLaHaye 3L Ward HJinks MCahillKBaker

Morwell: LCassidy. BEST: Warragul: LFrenchJDeLaHaye HJinks KBaker CMcintosh MCahill.

Morwell: GJiath ALovison DCarstein TShankland LCassidy NPage BAIRNSDALE

NKaka

nals Member for Morwell meron@parliament.vic.gov.au

Ge Street, MorwellVIC 3840 614Morwell VIC3840 :0351339088

Gippsland League

C Conttriibutions fromall

FOOTBALL GIPPSLAND LEAGUE

BY LIAM DURKIN

TRARALGON played in another high-scoring match against Drouin.

There was asense of deja vu, as the Maroons’ finalscoreatthe weekend was only two points off their gameagainst the Hawks from earlier in the year.

Traralgon was ahead at every break, but Drouin, as they have done for most of the year, kept the goal umpires busy, in afinal tallythatread 21.8(134) to 10.13 (73) at Terry Hunter Oval.

Morethan 30 goals were kicked, afaireffort considering 10 of them came from ateam on the bottom of the ladder.

The Maroons broke the game open in the second, kicking seven goals to two, taking a 34-point lead into the main break.

Traralgon was able to manage the game fromthere, and finished full of running, scoring six goals in adominant final term.

The home side had an excellent spread of goal-kickers, which would have no doubt pleased coach Jake Best, who has maintained all season Brett Eddy can’t be the one to do it all.

Eddy kicked four, and was joined by Max Jacobsen and Billy Schilling who returned the same amount. Young gun Tom Hamilton contributed three,while skipperDylan Loprese was back in his natural habitat up forward, and finished with two.

Jacobsen and Schilling were listed in the best, as was Luis D’Angelo, Jordan Cunico, Jackson McMahon and Harvey Neocleous. SebastianAmoroso, Charlie Bethune, Shay Harvey, Tom Evans, Bailey Stephens and Joe Collins were best for Drouin. Aleague-wide byeonJuly 1means next round is the last time GippslandLeague followers will see names they are familiar with on team sheets.

With clearances open until June 30, clubs still have afew days to try and bolster their stocks.

While it is hard to see any current club pulling in aplayer from outside, pundits will watch on withinterest to see if thereare any sneaky selections or funny-bugger business that takes place.

Pulse stillbeating at Tigerland

FOOTBALL GIPPSLAND LEAGUE

BY LIAM DURKIN

THE Fword is still alive at Morwell.

No, not that one -finals.

Morwell can genuinely still make finals.

The Tigers went to equal-fifth at the weekend after defeating Warragul.

Travelling to Western Park, the visitors led from start to finish,with the final scoreboard reading 12.11 (83) to 5.7 (37).

Morwelldid most of their good work either side of halftime. The Tigers only conceded 1.2 (8) across the second and third terms, with Warragul not even troubling the scorers in the second.Morwell added 4.6 (30) in the same time.

The Tiger’sfinished the game as they started, kicking four goals.

BrandonMcauliffeplayed well for the winners, as did Burkely Macfarlane, Aidan Quigley, Zac Anderson, Blake Couling and coach Boyd Bailey.

Macfarlane has been in good form, named in the bestfourtimesout of the last six games.

Having dropped the corresponding game earlier in the season, Bailey said it was pleasing to flip the result.

“I was happy with the way we were able to move the ball and set up behind the ball, (it) wasareal positive for us,” he said.

“The backs set-up really well behind the ball and we were able to get pressure at the source, which made them have to hack kick it out.

“I was reallyhappy with the way we defended, and from good defence comes good offence.”

Continuing the positivity from Tigerland was senior debutant Ricky Mentha.

RileyOddy was also rewarded with senior selection after kicking nine goals in two weeksinthe reserves. Bailey said the Mirboo North product “gave us areason why we had to bring him into the side.” Morwell’s ladderposition looks eerily similar to this time 12 months ago.

Althoughthe Tigers have only won four games and sit sixth,there is still avery high chance they can take the last available spot in finals.

The Tigers followed asimilarscript last season,and came home with awet sail to secure afinals berth in the last round.

Without forecasting too much,Morwell hosts Sale in Round 16, amatch that could have ahugebearing on the makeup of the final five.

Ironically, it was the Magpies who the Tigers beat in the final round last year to make finals.

Such aresult raised afew eyebrows, as Maffra’s qualification for finals relied on the Eagles winning their lastgame and Sale doing likewise. Maffra won, but in what is now part of Gippsland Leaguefolklore, Sale, with the double-chance sewn up and the opportunity to deny their rival aplace in finals, rested afew key players for the Morwell match. Call it what you will, the Magpies’ decision may have been justified as they ended up making the Grand Final.

Given Wonthaggi,currently in third, lost to Sale in thepreliminary final last year, could the Powerbeentertaining thoughts of getting one back at the Magpies by single-handedly deciding their finals fateifitcomes to the crunch in Round 18?

The Power travels to Morwell in the last round this season.

If Wonthaggi has adouble-chancesewn up, and Morwell is agame clearofSale. would they do it?

While that line of thinking is there just to addsomespice, the Tigerswill surely be out to make finals on their own merit.

Bailey simply said the lure of finals meant therewas still games to be won.

“As long as you’re amathematical chance to play finals Ithink you do everything you possibly can to make sureyou are part of late August/early September,” he said.

“We want to play as much footy as we can this year, the goal always is to play finals, that is what you aim for, to be a part of that time of year.

“You don’t like looking back, but dropping the game to Warragul earlier in the year, losing to Sale by four points, you win those two, you’re 6-4 and two games clear, that’s how tight the Gippy League is this year.” Morwell has abusy few days ahead on and off the field.

Not only are the Tigers playing traditional

rival Traralgon in astandalone Sunday match,but Morwell is also gathering for a number of premiership reunions.

Incredibly, the Tigers have premierships to celebrate from each decade starting 1953 and ending 2013.

Bailey is the sole survivor from the 2013 seniorflag, coming full circle from a19-yearold kid to now be senior coach of the club.

“It’s beenafast 10 years,people alwayssay how quick your footy career goes,” he said.

“You look back and can’t believe it’s already been 10 years, but there is five premiership reunions over the weekend, so it should be aspecial weekend down at Morwell.

“Hopefully we can get afew of the expremiership players involved duringthe week to spur on the boys come Sunday.”

In asomewhat confusing piece of organisation, the reunions have been scheduled the day before the match against Traralgon.

One has to feel sorry for Bailey, who, with agametoplay the next day, won’t really be able to celebrate his 10 year reunion long into the night.

Given the likely festivities at the reunion, there could be somesoreheadswatching the current day Tigers when they take the field the next day.

Fromanextremepositive to an extreme negative, the unfortunate Gulls are staring down the barrel of avery long end to the season.

The new West Gippsland Hospital can’t come quick enough for Warragul footballers, who look like they will be spending some time in similar places over the next few months.

Ruckman Sam Whibley broke hisleg in the last quarter at the weekend, joining playing-coach Jed Lamb, who suffered the same fate in horrific scenes afew weeksago.

New recruitand ex-Carlton midfielder Liam Sumnerwas alsoalatewithdrawal after injuring his ankle in the warmup.

So, the Gulls now have to get through the last eight games of the season without their best ruckman, best forward and minus a key midfielder.

For ateamthat is currentlysecond-last on the ladder, one can only imagine just what the next few weeks will look like.

$150 WILLS & POWERS OF ATTORNEY

Lions do it for Morrow over in East Gippy

FOOTBALL GIPPSLAND LEAGUE

BY LIAM DURKIN

MOE was never really troubled by Bairnsdale.

The Lions made the trip east, and had the game sewn up at halftime, before easing off to win 15.9 (99) to 11.8 (74).

Perfect conditions made for free-flowing and high-scoring football. The visitor’s opened their accountwithsix goals in the opening quarter, and added another five in the second.

The Redlegs only managed one goal in the second term, as it quickly became clear they needed two Logan Austins -one at either end.

The key position Bairnsdale playing-coach was busy in defence, trying in vain to stop thedominance of Billy Gowers, who ended up kicking seven goals.

Moe continued on their wayinthe third, and led by 49 points at three quarter time.

With ahugegame against Wonthaggi to come, the Lions put afew players on ice in the secondhalf.

Playing-coach Declan Keilty watched on, while speedy half-forward Harri Sim played limited minutes.

The Redlegs went all-out attack in the last, and got some respectability on the scoreboard by kicking five goals to one.

Austin was in the best, as was Lachlan Byrne-Jones (four goals), Nathan Dennison, Harrison Cook, Andrew Nelson and Link McKenna.

Gowers received good support from Brock Smith, Scott van Dyk, Tyler Pratt,Jordan Ceppi and Riley Baldi.

Baldi was available due to abreak in his VFL schedule with Casey. Moe will be pleased to now have Baldi qualified for finals, with Saturday being his fourth match for his home club.

The day carriedsignificance forMoe veteran Ben Morrow,who ran out for his 200th senior game.

Showinghow highlyheisrespected around the club, anumberofsupporters made the trip to Bairnsdale to congratulate him.

The formersenior captain led the team out, bursting through abannerofwell wishes.

There is set to be another milestone for Morrow, as he is on the cusp of also playing 250 club games later in the year.

Moe players fromthe reservesgame forming aguard of honour for Morrow as he ran out walked off victorious afteranentertaining game decided by apoint.

The Lions found themselves 15 points down early in the last, before slamming on four goals to get some breathing space.

Moetook the ultimate risk by playing Josh Dwyerinthe ruck, but the gamble paid off, as he proved swimmers can jump up and not just forward

Therewas another twist in the tale however, as aBairnsdale goal with aminuteleft cut the margin back to one point. Fortunately, with no time-on, all players were aware of how long was left, and Moe players did whatever it took to kill off the remaining seconds. How handy is it knowing exactly how long is left in twos footy.

Who canstopthe Power?

FOOTBALL GIPPSLAND LEAGUE

BY LIAM DURKIN

MOST tipsters would have gone five from five in Round 10 of the Gippsland League.

No major surprises came to hand as results were madeofficialon Saturday night.

With Round 10 ordinarily the time the fixture mirrors what is seenat the start of the year, this season, the Gippsland League has mixed up its second half of the season.

Matches last Saturday replayed those from Round 4earlier in the year.

Teams have one more game before aleague-wide bye, which will run into the last seven rounds of the season spread across eight weeks.

There is still asplit round to come in August, by which time the equation for clubs aiming to play finals or secure adouble chance will be set in stone.

Until then, teams still in the hunt will be doing all they can to ensure they won’t have to rely on results falling their way. THERE is still atrain line operating in Wonthaggi.

It isn’t taking passengers though -because it’s afreight train.

The freight train that is Wonthaggi seniors was running express at the weekend, after the Power electrocuted Maffra by 133 points.

The home side dominated proceedingsfrom the get-go, adding goals of five, five, six and six across each quarter, to see the scoreboard blow out to read 22.14 (146) to 2.1 (13).

Conversely, Maffra started the match as they finished it -without scoring. The Eagles scored no goals, no behinds, no nothing in thefirst and last term.

BraydenMonk, Nathan Pollard, Alex Carr, James Read, Ed Carr and Sam Robbins battled hardin the losing cause.

Maffra added another two youngsterstothe growinglist of senior debutants this season in Ashton Wright and Jonathan Boyd.

If theday held any positives for the Eagles, their next generation saw first-hand just how the best in the business go about it.

While they are third on the ladder, there is no doubting Wonthaggi are currently the best team in the Gippsland League.

The Power has the highest percentage, and has won seven games in a row.

Their form line is scary good.

In the last five weeks they have won games by 74 points, 138, 79, 85 and 133 -and that 79-point win was against finals-bound Traralgon.

Wonthaggi midfielder RyanSparkes is walking on water at the moment.

He was best on again at the weekend, and was leading the league MVP by astaggering ninevotes before last round.

SkipperAidan Lindsay also played

well in the win, as did Shannon Bray, Kyle Reid, JordanStaley and Cooper McInnes.

McInnes’ returns in front of goal have been four, seven, five and six in the last four weeks.

The Power’s lastloss came at the hands of Moe in Round 3.

Wonthaggi travels to Moe this weekend for the rematch,inwhat is absolutely match-of-the-round between second and third.

Match of the round on Saturday, rolling into Morwell versusTraralgon on Sunday.

Valley football followers sure will be spoilt this weekend.

SALE found itself engaged in agood contest against Leongatha.

The Magpies were aheadat halftime, before the ladder-leading Parrots took ascendency and went on to win 14.14 (98) to 9.6 (60).

Sale started the matchwitha positive first quarter at home, making better use of their inside 50s. The Magpies scored three goals, while a wasteful Leongatha went into the first break with five behinds to their name.

Honours were relatively even in the second, as the Parrots added four goals and Sale kicked two.

Withthe sniffofvictorypermeatinginthe home rooms, the class of Leongatha came to fruition in the third quarter. The Parrots kicked fivegoals to one to takea23-point lead into three quarter time.

The game opened up in the last, witheightgoals kickedcollectively between the two sides.

Guy Dickson, Jack Hume, Jesse Burns, Cade Maskell, Tom Marriott and Ben Willis won plaudits for the winners.

The Leslie brothersofJackand Will werebest for Sale,while Jack McLaren was named in the best once again. Midfield gun Shannen Lange also featured, as did Daine McGuiness and KaneMartin, who kicked three goals.

The rise of McGuiness in the last few years has made for one of the great stories in local footy.

The ruckman was battling away in the reservesonly five years ago, and hasnow been namedamong Sale’s best in the seniors for the last six weeks.

Speaking of reserves, the Sale reserves recorded one of the better home-and-awaywins you are likely to see in that grade,whenthey rolled Leongatha by apoint.

Along with Maffra, the Parrots have been apowerhouse of the early game for many years. Leongatha went undefeated last season, getting past Sale in the decider.

For Sale to defeat Leongatha this time around was aremarkable result considering not only that history, but the fact that the last time they met earlier in the year,the Parrots inflicted the Magpies with amargin well over 100 points.

Under coach Peter Morrison, Sale has recorded some memorable wins in the last12months. The Magpies sent

Wonthaggi out in straightsets during last year’s finals series, and backed it up by winning athriller against Maffra in the preliminary final.

Morrison, the ex-South Melbourne player, justhas aknack of getting players to reach great heights.

He coached Stratford to multiple premierships in the East Gippsland league, both times taking on teams coming off alow base.

When coaching Stratford in 2019, andwith the Swans needing to win the last game of the home-and-away season to make finals, Morrison got his players to write the names of every person they could think of that been involved with the club on the wall.

The roomswere gettingknocked downafterthe game, so partofthe messaging was to dedicate the last game in the old rooms to all who had used them previously. By all reports, it was one of the most motivation things people had ever seen. There will be cause for massive

celebration in acouple of weeks, when Sale legend Shane Fyfe plays his 300th game.

In what would surely be ararity, there could be three 300 gamers all in the one reserves game, with Fyfe joining fellow Sale stalwarts Chris Laverty and Chris Hudson.

Laverty is the senior games record holder, now helping the club in the early game, while Fyfe is doing likewise,following adecorated career thathas seen him win five senior bestand-fairest’s, leading to the nickname ‘Five Time Fyfe’.

Hudson too has been loyal to the bone at the Magpies, and enjoyed multiple finals series.

AnumberofSaleplayers toasted their Leongatha victory at the Gippsland Hotel on Saturday night, joined by Moe players coming back from Bairnsdale.

GIPPSLAND LEAGUE

ROUND 10

GOALS Boolarra:ASheers 3SMazou 3SFalla 3BMason2 JSegond2 LMarriott KHearn.Hill End: L Wilson 5J Somers 4HMooreT ClarkeAFawcett BEST: Boolarra: SNoy BMasonLMarriott JSegond

ADevonshireNGiardina. Hill End: SCalway AFawcett HMooreD Coates AUliando LAnswer

GOALS: Mirboo Nth: BCampbell 2M Woodall 2H Kerr JChila. Yinnar:JBugeja2K GrinsteadJones MMoseley JGarlick BEST: Mirboo Nth: EWoodall HKerr JLambourn JChila JBlackford

BPeters.Yinnar:M Williams BCheffers LCheffers BChapman JBugeja DJohnson

GOALS: Newborough: PAinsworth 3JMitchell3 JHecker2CNickels JBishopJ Pearce

Thorpdale: DdeHommel 2MGorman 2T Patten 2J Winderlich HSinclair-Stanley M

Chopping BEST: Newborough: JMonacella TMander JBowden HPrestidge JMitchellL

Flahavin. Thorpdale: SPickering JMongerT Patten MGraeme DdeHommel JHolland-Burch

FOSTER8.7

TOORA3.0

GOALS Foster:W Duursma 6MCooke 5JRathjen 3T Bartholomew 2JSegat 2MGreen 2BNeville

Tarwin: KCooper

Dumbalk Utd: BTomada 4DSheen 3MHarrisS Walsh JBromleyT Harris J Deas.Stony Creek: CVerboon 4JByrnes 3HFunnell BEST: MeeniyanDumbalkUtd:S Walsh JBromley BEvers AAllen BSchroen MHarris. StonyCreek:C Verboon HFunnell JStone M

Bright DZuidemal

GOALS: Hill End: JSchiavello 4HLacunes2JDoolan 2AMatwijkiw2S Murphy. Boolarra: E Stanton 4KAlexander 2J WrightBMazou BEST: Hill End: JSchiavello JHammond HLacunes

SMurphyJ Doolan NHeley.Boolarra: THolley EStanton KTowtMMurden JMaggs NKreun

GOALS: Tarwin: TLomax5DLawton3 DHales 2BChalmers HBrowne GBrennan JCarmodyW Blundy.Morwell East: ITerrick LLittle JQuinn. BEST: Tarwin: TLomax RHouston SBurns DLeggo

East: DTatterson JQuinn JBirchall NHarrison ADodd DPappas

FOSTER1.0

Mid Gippsland Football League League

Mirbboo d does it again

FOOTBALL

MID GIPPSLAND BY ROB

POPPLESTONE

ROUND 9markedthe halfway mark of the Mid Gippsland Football-NetballLeague season.

Although not all teams have faced every opposition, you could start to predict which teams might finish in what position.

 THORPDALE VNEWBOROUGH

THESEtwo in-form teams had each other pencilled in their diary for anumberofweeks, both with the utmost respect for each other but both wanting to end the others remarkable winningstreak leadinginto, what in some ways, felt like amidseasonfinals clash.

Thorpdale, at home with five wins in succession, welcomed avisiting Newborough who sat atop the league ladder with seven victories from seven games.

The Bulldogs won as expected, but the margin took some by surprise, with only 14 points the difference. Newborough winning 11.16 (82) to 9.14 (68).

“Saturday lived up to expectations with a great open game of footy against aside that broughtthe contestedfootball,”Newborough coach Craig Skinner said.

clash against the Hawks is absolutely spot on. However, the fact is there is still life in their season, while the same can hardly be said for Hill End. From here, it’s all about pride in performance, and to their credit they are still showing that.

“A 10 minuteburst in the first quarter allowed the Demons to jump us,” coach Mike Santo said.

“Althoughweplayed well and outscored them for the rest of the match the damage was done.”

 MIRBOO NORTH VYINNAR

HOPING to be inspired by the presence of their2013 premiership team,Mirboo North welcomed reigning premier Yinnar to their home ground in search of an unlikely victory.

Ironically,the coachofthe Magpies, Daniel Taylor, wasalsoaplayer in the Mirboo North premiership team of 2013. Although happy to catch up with former teammates, he had no plans to give up the win on the weekend. Unfortunately for Taylor though, things don’t always go to plan.

The Tigers claimed one of the upsets of the season, beating Yinnar 6.13 (49) to 5.5 (35).

have secure them as well.

“It was adevastating loss for us. Areally bad third quarter cost us. We came home strong but just couldn’t snatch it,” Morwell East coach Paul Henry said.

It is quite amazing that every week seems to be crucial for anumberofteams,but guess what, Morwell East’s clash with Boolarra this week is amust win for both teams.

 FOSTER VTOORA

IT is amazing how many times that two teams, despitetheir respective positions on the ladder, (Foster sixth and Toora 12th beforeRound 9) can manage to fight out a closer than expected clash built on the back of along-standing rivalry. However, one of those times was not on the weekend just gone.

Foster flexed their muscle, and at the same time sent amessage to the league, that the Tigers are ready for bigger and better challenges after winning 27.21 (183) to 3.4 (22).

Foster coach Sam Davies labelled it a near-perfect performance.

(14)

GOALS: Toora: JMaurilli-Pullin 9JGuganovic 6J Nicholls MGlowrey LdeBoer LAneddaL

Jenkins LDyson. Foster:JLewisOCox BEST: Toora: JMaurilli-Pullin JGuganovic LAneddaL

Dyson TVeningLdeBoer. Foster:MHouse RLewis JCripps ZHouse JSmith OCox

MDU 2.4 4.9 6.12 9.17 (71)

STONYCREEK1.3 2.3 2.3 3.3 (21)

GOALS: Meeniyan Dumbalk Utd: RWeaver3BPerry2MBeacham 2AMcinnes NMathieson.

StonyCreek:RMcKnight CMichael JByrnes BEST: Meeniyan Dumbalk Utd: BMoscript B

Maxwell TRuedin RWeaverMBeacham RLivingstone.Stony Creek:LByrnes AWrightR

McKnight RBaudinetteSCope JMonaghan

YINNAR 1.3 3.6

GOALS: Yinnar:MMcCafferty 3MNelson2C Le Page RWebb.Mirboo Nth: JFelmingham T

Little RDevineW Lewis BEST: Yinnar:XGeddes JFindlayL Alexander GOlver WRowleyCLe

Page.Mirboo Nth: JHysen TLittle TStevens JFelmingham LGervasi THart

GOALS: Newborough: JEdebohls 3LGilroy 3BBurgess 2JMcMahon 2D Smith 2JBland

2W Collings DMcColl PFrendoRRichards. Thorpdale: JBainbridge 2DMartin BEST: Newborough: LGilroy SLodge TPeters WTroyJ Grubb JEdebohls.Thorpdale: JPecotich S

DMartin ZDangerW AllanS Doll

“Josh Monacella owned his wing and Tyler Mander owned the league leadinggoal kicker (Thorpdale’sMattPowell) with Joel Mitchell and Peter Ainsworth kicking three goals each.

“Pressure in front of goal resulted in inaccurate scoring from both sides.

“A four quarter game where both teams had their chances to win, with our boyslearning to win the close one’s even if it’s ugly.

“Jason’sThorpdale are going to keep improving leading into finals.”

Skinnerrespect for Thorpdale wasmatched by Blues coach Jason Winderlich.

“Itwas agood opportunity for our developing group to test ourselvesagainstthe undefeated Dogs,” he said.

“It was agreat game of football all day. Unfortunatelywedidn’t take our chances in the second half, kicking 2.9 (21) to Newborough 4.4 (28).

“Both teams playedwell around the contest but there was also some goodpassages of free-flowing play from half-back that resulted in goals.

“We are trying to earn respect back in the competition and Ithink we took another step in that direction.

“The bye has come at aperfect time for us to refresh and get ready to attack the back half of the season.”

 HILLEND VBOOLARRA

HILL END have found themselves in the undesirable position of being at the bottom of the ladder, waiting for awin.

Round 9however was seen as areal possibility for the Rovers, welcoming and then hoping to jump aBoolarra team that hadn’t quite found their mojo just yet.

The Rovers were good, but the Demon’s a touch better, winning15.8(98) to 12.10(82).

Winning coach Tony Giardina said it was pleasing to secure back-to-back wins.

“We had avery good start to the game with astrongwind, Hill End came back in the second quarter and it became atough game right to the end,” he said.

The Demons season is no doubt right on a knife’s edge, and Giardina’sacknowledgement of theimportance of their upcoming

Aweek is certainly along time in football, as Mirboo North coach Peter Mongta rightly pointed out.

“A week is along time in football, the playing group bounced back after agreat week on the training track and to get the reward against atop two side,” he said.

“It was alow scoring affair in perfectconditions, it was the battle of defences and our midfield worked hard all day.”

The performance was one that does justice to those that still believe that the Tigersare capableofstarting arun at thetop half of theladder, something that looked unlikely just afortnight ago.

The match was also an awakening for the Magpies, who now know first-hand that every opponent can be adanger if your head is notinthe game.

Taylor acknowledged this to be the case.

“We got outplayed and outworked for the majority of the day whichwas disappointing,” he said.

“We lifted in the third quarter and got our game going to some extent,but one good quarter of football is never enough.”

 MORWELL EAST VTARWIN ALTHOUGH outside the top six, both Morwell East and Tarwin, who sat seventh and eighth respectively, were both just one win away from third position such is the evenness of the competition.

Both teams were also aware of the importance of victory,and thatwas reflected in the desperation that both sides showed throughout the afternoon.

However,inthe end it was the Sharks, but only just, Tarwin winning7.9 (51) to Morwell East 7.7 (49).

Tarwin coach TroyHemming was ecstatic with the result.

“The game was agreat game to watch!

Great game to coach! Great game to win!” he said.

“We wanted to stay in the winners list, but most importantly, keep playing Shark footy and we seem good snippets today!

“Morwell East put up ahugefight and nearly got us at the line but we held on”

Those four premiership points are like gold, and Tarwin snatched them from aHawks side that for all bar one poor quarter, could

“Really pleased with our performance after the first 10 minutes -wehad some post-bye rust, but to have 11 different goal kickers and being ruthless was something we haven’t been as agroup in along time,” he said.

That ruthlessness signals that the Foster team is the real deal, and no oneknows that more than their weekend opponent in Toora.

“Extremely tough day against aFoster side stacked with talent and ayoung player that’ll have every AFL recruiter salivating over the next three years,” Toora coach Jack Weston said.

That youngplayer is WillDuursma, brother of Port Adelaide’s Xavier. The youngerDuursma kickedsix goalsinthe Tigers’ win over Toora.

 MDUV STONYCREEK

AS much as the focus was on the clash between Thorpdale and Newborough, the match between Meeniyan Dumbalk United and StonyCreek wasevery bit as intriguing.

The Demons had started to gather some real momentum in recent weeks, and although the visiting Stony Creek were still desperately searching for another muchneeded win, the Lions past fortnight (even in defeat) had proven they were very close to being aforce to be reckoned with.

That still remains the case, after the Demons got thebetteroftheir visitors, winning 12.9 (81) to 8.12 (60).

MDU coach Nathan Allen saiditwas a hard-fought victory.

“It was another good result for us today, making it four in arow,” he said.

“Stony came at us all day, but we were able to kick away in the last quarter.

“We head to Newborough next week, so reallylooking forwardtoseeing how we stack up against them.”

As satisfying as the win wasfor the Demons, it’sdeath by athousand cuts for the Lions, whocontinue to courageously fight out matches only to fall agonisingly short.

“It was adisappointingstart to the gamefor our boys,” Stony Creek coach Chris Verboon said.

“Meeniyan’s run and spread was hard to defend early. We showed some fight in the last half by playing our brand of footy but it was too late. It shows how important it is to play four quarters of footy.”

FISH CREEK had the bye.

Zoe’snetball scoreboard

GIPPSLAND

AGRADE - Moe 82 dBairnsdale 33, Drouin 47 d

Traralgon 40, Morwell 48 dWarragul 32, Wonthaggi 49

dMaffra35, Leongatha 48 dSale 21

BGRADE - Traralgon 54 dDrouin 50, Morwell 55 d

Warragul 33, Wonthaggi 41 dMaffra32, Leongatha 60

dSale 41, Moe bye,Bairnsdale bye

CGRADE - Drouin 48 dTraralgon 30,Morwell 37 d

Warragul 26, Maffra26d Wonthaggi 13,Bairnsdale 32

dMoe 27,Leongatha 48 dSale 23.

17 AND UNDER - Traralgon 52 dDrouin 22,

Morwell 37 dWarragul 15,Wonthaggi 37 dMaffra23,

Bairnsdale 48 dMoe 8, Sale 37 dLeongatha 34.

15 AND UNDER - Trarlgon 58 dDrouin 15,Warragul

27 dMorwell 25, Maffra46d Wonthaggi 32, Bairnsdale

53 dMoe 29, Sale 44 dLeongatha 29.

13 AND UNDER - Traralgon 62 dDrouin 15,Warragul

23 dMorwell 19,Maffra43d Wonthaggi 3, Bairnsdale

35 dMoe 30, Sale 57 dLeongatha 22.

Light work forMoe Lions

NETBALL REVIEW

BY ZAIDA GLIBANOVIC

GIPPSLAND League's Round10netball outcomes could not have been more predictable.

Moe roared their way home from Bairnsdale.

The Lions showcased their class from the start of the game, outscoring the Redlegs 19 to nine in the first quarter alone, building upon scoreboard pressure to lead by 26 at the major break.

RamayerGourley's Moe side continued to put the foot down until the final siren, winning 82 to 33.

Moe's playing-coach Gourley shot 49 goals, with Abby Gregorovich netting 33.

The Lions'best would've been hard to pick as the win came off ateam effort, but Gregorovich, Macy Gardiner and Olivia Barnett were notable in the win. Emily Hall, Ruby Dunkley and Olivia Betts were best for the Redlegs.

Drouin got the job done over Traralgon by seven goals.The game remained atight contest, butthe Hawks took flight and outscored the Maroons in every quarter after the first. Drouin'sKym Diston, Lucy McKellar and Karina Proctor were goodin the win, while Traralgon's Bronwyn Tebb, Amy Harrison and MillyMurphywere recognisedas best-on-court for the Maroons.

to match the Tigers in the following three terms, but could never reel the score back in their favour.

The final score was Morwell 48 to Warragul 32. In the loss,Warragul'sEllaRees, Alexandra Cole and Selene Chadrawy were noted as best-on, while the three C's starred for Morwell: Chloe Radford, Claire Marks and Courtney Garth.

Maffra travelled to Wonthaggi, but lostby14 goals. The Eagles got off to ahigh-flying start, leadingatthe first interchange, but the Power turned the tables after quarter-time to dominate the rest of the match. Among the Power's best were Olivia Gilmour, Courtney Brann and Cassidy Bowman,while,Maffra'swereAshleigh Keefe, Chloe Proud and Matilda Pendergast.

Leongatha made light work of Sale, defeating the Magpies by 27 goals.

The Parrots shut down Sale's system and were able to capitalise, turning turnovers into scores.

Leongatha'sLara Stefani, Laura Higgins and Taylah Brown were impressive, and so was Sale's Kasey Dessent, Isla McCarthy and Lara Van der Voort, even in defeat.

NORTH GIPPSLAND netball was definitely entertaining.

Top spot on the ladder is avery hot seat to be in after 10 rounds.

the fourth quarter and too late. The win sees Sale City surge to third spot. The top three teams in Heyfield, Churchill andSaleCity are all sitting on 28 points, with only apercentage to split them; first place on the ladder is anyone's for the taking. Heyfield got the percentage requiredtohold onto the top spot for now, beating Yarram 19 to 49. Glengarry proved their strength, narrowly taking care of Woodside in atwo-point victory. Cowwarr should not be underestimated, having given it to Yallourn Yallourn NorthonSaturday, winning 62 to 38.

Last week Idid say that anything could happen at theBoneyard when Gormandale hosted TTU, andthat it did; the Tigers trampled the bombers 55 to 39. So far, Gormandale has managed three wins for the season, which in their case, is avery successful bout. Rosedale had the bye.

MID GIPPSLAND completed Round 9.

In the biggestmarginofthe round, Toora put away Foster 60 to 26 in adominant display by the reigning premier.

Yinnar also had abig win over Mirboo North, who have fallen from grace like no other.

The Magpies were able to score 63 goals to the Tigers' 34.

AGRADE - Heyfield 49 dYarram 19,Glengarry45d

Woodside 43, Sale City 54 dChurchill 42, Cowwarr62

dYYN 38,Gormandale 55 dTTU 39, Rosedale bye

BGRADE - Heyfield 66 dYarram 46, Woodside 52

dGlengarry 46, Sale City 55 dChurchill 38, YYN 46 d

Cowwarr 40, Gormandale 49 dTTU 39, Rosedale bye

CGRADE - Heyfield 22 dYarram 8, Woodside 36 d

Glengarry24, Sale City 49 dChurchill 24, YYN 40 d

Cowwarr 22, Gormandale 40 dTTU 30, Rosedale bye

DGRADE - Heyfield 35 dYarram 20, Woodside 39

dGlengarry 28, Sale City 39 dChurchill 19,YYN 30 d

Cowwarr 27,TTU 45 dGormandale 19,Rosedale bye

17 AND UNDER - Heyfield 34 dYarram 11, Woodside 33 dGlengarry 21, Sale City 89 dChurchill

4, Cowwarr 21 drew YYN 21, TTU 35 dGormandale

18,Rosedale bye

15 AND UNDER - Heyfield 55 dYarram 3, Woodside

30 dGlengarry22, Sale City 70 dChurchill 7, Cowwarr

43 dYYN 2, TTU 61 dGormandale 3, Rosedale bye

Morwell showed their might against aresurgent Warragul side playingontheir Western Park court.

The Tiger's put down 19 in the first term, and kept the Gulls to only five goals.

Having had such aslowstart,the Gulls did well

Churchill was knockedoff the thronelast Saturday after suffering asignificant 54 to 42 loss to Sale City.

The Bulldogs were dominant from the get-go, and the Cougars found it hard to return to the game.

By the time the Cougars found their feet, it was

Tight race at top

NETBALL

PREVIEW

BY ZAIDA GLIBANOVIC

IN Round 11 of the GippslandLeague, the Maffra Eagles and the Sale Magpies will go head-to-head in the ‘Battle of the Birds’.

started slow. No doubt this match will be anail-bitter.

In another close game for the round, Churchill will want to pounce on a weakened Woodside, who have now lost three in arow.

Morwell East continued to show its dominance, bullying Tarwin 66 to 37.

In the other games, Boolarra defeated Hill End by 18 goals, atamescore given that the Demons havebeen annihilating teams,while MDU beat Stony Creek 43 to 29.

Fish Creek and Newborough had the bye.

MID GIPPSLAND

AGRADE - MDU 43 dStony Creek 29, Yinnar 63 d

Mirboo North 34, Boolarra58dHillEnd 40, Toora60

dFoster 26, Morwell East 66 dTarwin 37,Newborough bye,Fish Creek bye

BGRADE - Newborough 51 dThorpdale 19,Mirboo North 51 dYinnar 45, MDU 57 dStony Creek 46, Boolarra67dHill End 35, Toora57dFoster 13

Morwell East 58 dTarwin 36, Fish Creek bye.

CGRADE - Newborough 57 dThorpdale 8, MDU

60 dStony Creek 19,Yinnar 38 dMirbooNorth 21, Boolarra44dHill End 31, Toora60dFoster 14 Morwell East 28 dTarwin 22, Fish Creek bye DGRADE - Yinnar 30 dMirboo North 28, Hill End 26 dBoolarra19, Newborough 63 dThorpdale 4, Toora

The Magpies beatthe Eaglesconvincingly the last time they met and will do well to follow that proven game plan. Drouin will face off against Bairnsdale with goals to improvetheir percentage.

The poor Redlegs havetohike it all the waytoDrouintoface ahigh-flying side that has no intentionofletting up Moehas stormed throughthe competition recentlyand will be confident to overpower Wonthaggi.

Warragul and Leongatha will go at it this Saturday in what will be atight contest.The Parrots should be able to take care of the Gulls.

Old rivals in Traralgon and Morwell will play on Sunday, while everyone else relaxes.Despite Traralgon’s mediocre season,best believethey will bring everything they have to give it to the Tigers.

Cometh the moment and comeththe women, and in big games, everyone steps up, so expect defenders BronwynTebb (Traralgon) and Courtney Garth (Morwell) to have abig say in who wins this match.

NORTH Gippsland will enter Round 11 of the season with avery tightcompetition at the top-end of the ladder.

First place Heyfield will play Rosedale in sixth. Don’t let the ladder ranking fool you, the Blues are agoodsidewho simply

Cowwarr and TTU's match will also be aclose one to call, while Glengarry will be fine running through Yarram. The Demon side has struggled all year, while the Pies have come off agigantic win againstlastyear’s premier. In another potential blowout, Sale Cityhas achance to reallyboost their percentage against aYallourn Yallourn North side that has managed just one win.

Gormandale has the bye.

MID GIPPSLAND'S Round 10 will see all 12 teams playfor the first time this year.

In the match of the round, Boolarra and Morwell East will face off. However, reports have come in that three players fromthe Demon’s sidehave quit the team following some internal issues.

It will be interesting to see what the Boolarrateamwill looklikethis Saturday. Fish Creek takesonMirboo North, and given the Tiger’s poor form recently, the Kangaroosshould be able to get the job done.

Newboroughand MDU play in what might be abreezy win for the Bulldogs. On their home deck, netball powerhouse Yinnar will steamroll Hill End.

Foster will be chasingtheir first win of the year against Stony Creek, while Toora should make light work of Tarwin.

NORTH GIPPSLAND LEAGUE

North Gippsland Football &Netball League NorthGippsland

HHeyffielld on t thecharge

FOOTBALL NORTH GIPPSLAND

BY TOM HAYES

THE finals picture has taken aturn in the NorthGippsland Football-Netball League, as one side made abig statement at the weekend, proving why they shouldn’t be counted out of the race.

In other results, the big top-four sides got the job doneand will already be looking ahead to Round 11. HEYFIELD are nowaserious finals contender.

The Kangaroos made astatement at the weekend by defeating Yarram on its home deck, moving agame clear of their opponents and into the top-five.

It was amonsteropening term that set thetoneand gaveHeyfield enough to get over the line.

They kicked 9.4 (58) to 1.0 (6) in the first quarter, stunning the hosts to set up their day positively.

Playing-coach Leigh Brown kicked five goals in his return to the field, as Heyfield boasted nine goal scorers on the day.

The final three quarters were much more contested, as Yarram dragged things back, but only slightly, kicking 3.3 (21) to 3.0 (18), yet the hosts still trailed by 49 points at the main break.

Acomeback wasneeded, but the result was written on the wall for the Demons after the first term, which will be their point of focus for sure.

the game, beginning with a32-point lead at the first break, whichwas translated to a 64-point lead at halftime.

In the third term, Woodside hadplenty more chancesbut were justunabletoget more goals over the line,kicking 6.7 (43) to the behinds, taking the margin past 100 points with aquarter to play.

It wasn’t getting any easier for the Magpies, who only managed asinglegoal in the final quarter, allowing Woodside to pile on another 42 points and win by 141, 24.16 (160) to 2.7 (19).

MichaelO’Sullivan displayed his class with another seven-goal haul, claiming best-onground honours, while his strike partner Daniel Farmer kicked four.

O’Sullivan was highlighted alongside Jeremy Morgan, Thomas Mann, Josh Kennedy, Ben Johnson and Zac Richards.

As for Glengarry,Jesse Lee, Callum Mitchell, Tom Poulton,Tom Harris, Hunter Carmanand Ben Truin were prominent in defeat.

Woodside made sure that they held on to second, setting up an all-important second versus third fixture this weekend against Churchill at Gaskin Park.

As for the Magpies, they will want to have ared hot crack at anervy Yarram side, who havelosttoRosedaleand Heyfieldafter their bye in Round 8. CHURCHILL gave Sale City atuneup.

The Cougars maintainedtheir perfect away record this season, with aseven-goal win over Sale City, putting adent in their finals hopes.

Afterfacing the bottom side last week, the Jetswere blessed with Cowwarr-another fixture they would’ve licked their lips over. On the road,the Jetsmadenomistake in the final three quarters, crunching the Saints on their own turf. Oddlyenough, neither side registeredamajor in the first quarter, as Yallourn North ledbyapoint: 0.2 (2) to 0.1 (1).

They turned things around for the better in the second, kicking seven goals and leaving the Saints in the dust to take a48-point lead at the main break.

The Jets kept Cowwarr goalless for athird straight term,while adding another5.6 (36) to four behinds, creating an 80-point buffer with aquarter to play.

Despitethe Saints kickingtwo goals in the final quarter, the Jets continued strongly, scoring another six goals to send the margin past 100, winning by 103 points;18.16 (124) to 2.9(21).

Dean Macdonald was back to his best for the Jets, kickingeight goals and claiming the best-on-ground.

He was complimented by Darcy Shellcot, Jai Massese -inhis 50thsenior game, Cambell Staff, Matt Twaddleand Campbell MacInnes

GOALS: Woodside: JSchultz 2M Duncan 2KHanning 2SLambertCHanning TLoveJ

Johannessen. Glengarry: ZBezzina 3DHolt CSchmidt. BEST: Woodside: GStevenson BReed

LLeBlanc RBenis CWitchell BKuch. Glengarry: LHethertonSBurgess BLudbey ZBezzina WCoad OBradford

Heyfield: RBean 7BKing3CBellion 2MCasella 2M Johnston 2L MahonyB

JBurton. Yarram: JMcDonald. BEST: Heyfield: RBeanB DonahoeJ BurtonBDarby

BRonan. Yarram: RSykes JCarrison LButler JBabb SHarveyW Brunton

THIRDS

HARRIET SHING MP

WORKING HARD FOR YOUR COMMUNITY

The Demons continuedtofight, but the Kangaroos weren’t going to let this margin slip, proving their validity as apotential finals side -and adangerous one at that. Heyfieldtook aseven-goal lead into the final change, before running away as 43-point winners, 17.10 (112) to 10.9 (69).

The visitors were powered through Mitch Bennett -who kicked threegoals. Robert McMillan,Brayden Woodland,KyleGraham, Bailey Escreet and Max Van Der Zwart also did agood job.

Yarram’s best were JakeMcFarland,Tyler Chisholm, Boadie Motton, Tanner Chisholm, Shem Rendell and Josh Swift -who ledtheir goal scoring with three majors.

Now that Heyfield has boosted itself into the top five, it’s only fair to say they are the real deal when it comes to afinals run. As they say, you want momentum at the right point of the season, and there is no better time than the second half.

Yarram showedpromise at the start of the season, knocking off reigning premier Yallourn Yallourn North on GoodFriday, but that was only one of four wins this year, and they now have anegative win/loss ratio.

The Demons are in jeopardy of slipping even further too, with the potential of Sale City -who arestill equal on points with the Demons.

Heyfield’s next threeweeks consist of Rosedale, abye and Glengarry, before they will be tested by Churchill -their next monthly block could determine their year.

WOODSIDE are rampant.

The Wildcats showed no mercy to Glengarry, humiliating their visitors in a triple-digit demolition.

As consistent as ever, Woodside kept the scoreboard ticking at most times, kicking sixgoals in each term, while keeping the Magpies to agoal per half.

The Wildcats had asteadyrise throughout

The home sidestarted strong, flexing their muscles early by taking aquarter time lead of apoint, before tempers flared at the first break.The Cougars regained stability in the second term, taking the lead by 10 points at halftime, setting up their second half well.

Half of the Churchill side kicked goals on the day, six of those were multiple goal scorers.

That shows how good their second half was.

The Cougars kicked six goals to two, stretching the lead past 40 momentarily, but settling for a37-point buffer with the quarter to play.

Goals came a-flowing in the final quarter, but not enough to scare Churchill away from the four points they had earned.

Despite five goals from the home side, Churchilldid one better, kicking six, reestablishing their 40-point buffer to win by seven goals, 19.17 (131) to 12.17 (89).

Andy Phelan was best-on-ground for Churchill, he was helped out by Ben Skinner -who kicked three goals, Blake Slater, Billy Wight, Tyson Leys and Jack Hasell down back.

Sale City’s best were CameronGreen, Billy Quirk, Matt Walker, Lachlan Carman, and Joel and Blake Safstrom.

The visitor’s got the job done,but not convincingly by any means, and will need to step up their gamefor when they face one of the most dangerous teams in the senior competition, in Woodside.

There is more on the line in this one,as Woodside put the final nail in Churchill’s coffin last season, sending them out in straight sets in the semi-final.

Sale City hasa tough run ahead,with Yallourn Yallourn North and Traralgon Tyers United before ahit-out against Gormandale.

YALLOURNYALLOURN NORTH recorded back-to-back triple digits wins.

For Cowwarr, Ben Coffey, Siaosi Lay Blake, RhysLuxford, BraydenRioli, Sean Alexander and Wayne Swan were stand-outs in defeat. YYN are nowontop of the minor finals battle they have on their hands from fourth to seventh, but remain three wins away from third. They will want to keep their momentum going with awin against Sale City this weekend, before they will be tested against Woodside.

As for Cowwarr, they haveone of the toughest fixtures to play this season on the weekend, TTU at TTU.

TRARALGON TYERS UNITED made no mistake in Gormandale.

TTU dismantledaspiritedGormandale outfit, flexing their muscles,still undefeated Despitea strong first term by the Bombers, their 38-point buffer wasthe tamest quarter of the lot, as things went from bad to worse for the Tigers.Itwas always going to be tough in afirst versus last contest, but this certainly highlighted that gap.

TTU went large in the second term, kicking nine goals to one,totakean87-point lead at halftime.

Afterthe break no momentum was lost, as the Bombers piled on another nine goals to sail past both the 100 and 150-point marks, as well as blowing the margin out to 138 points. You guessedit, TTU kicked nine goals in the last quarter, boasting amassive 46 scoring shots for the outing, winning by 191 points; 33.13 (211) to 2.8 (20).

Liam Willaton was best-on-ground for the Bombers,and was helped by mostteammates,thosehighlighted were Michael Jacobsen, Brad Kelleher -who kicked 10 goals, Ricky Cochrane, Trent Hourigan and Frazar Brouns.

For the Tigers, Liam Deering, Isaac Copland, Flynn Roscoe, Tristan Salerno, Jai Foulkes and Mathew O’Toolewerein the best. TTU’s percentage gets ever closer to 300, but it’s still only the second-best in the league,asWoodside has apercentage of 326.20.The Bombers should keep their winning run going, when they host Sale City this weekend, while Gormandale will be waiting for Round 12,whenthey have their bestchance of awin against Cowwarr. ROSEDALE hadthe bye

Life among the media

SPORT

By LIAM SMITH*

MY timeatthe Express has beenenjoyable, introducing me to new people and allowing me to visit locations Ihad never heard of before. Workingthere has also helped me develop new abilities, such as the ability to write on the daily and keep up with local events.

On my first day at theExpress, Ihad the impression that Iwould have to sit at adesk allday,which was true on some days but not on others when Iwent out into the world in search of stories.

The Express was awise choice for my work placement,since Idon’t believe Iwould have acquired the abilities Idid elsewhere.

Iwould recommend the Express as asuitable place to do workplacementfor anyone interested in media.

*Liam Smith is aYear11student who completed work placement with the Express over the last eight weeks.

Editor’s note: Liam hasbeen agreat addition to editorial in the last two months, mainlyassisting with sport news gathering and production.The footballteams youhear read out on Saturday mornings on Gippsland FM have been collated by young Liam. Ihope he is interested in pursuinghis media career further. Thanks for your efforts Junior!

Win for McQualter

FOOTBALL AFL EXPORTS BY

TOM HAYES

THE bye rounds in the AFL can be quite dry, but luckilysome locals were in action at the weekend.

The Suns’ boys found it difficult against the Blues on the MCG, while Traralgon’s Andrew McQualter led Richmond to their third-straight win.

RICHMOND did it for ex-skipper Trent Cotchin in his 300th game, defeating the Saints by 20 points on Saturday night.

The Tigers lookedshakyearly, allowing the Saints to kick the first four goals of the game, but it didn’t take long for the momentum to shift.

Richmond were back in the game in no time. Cotchin put their third goal on the board, bringing the house down in the meantime.

Richmond went ballistic late into the final quarter, overrunning the Saints to lead by 10 points at quarter time.

Rain began to pour as the game progressed, which had an effect on scoringasyou mightexpect Richmond took a17-point lead into the main break.

Plenty of soccer goals were seen from both sides, but the Tigers did enoughtokeep St Kilda at bay, walkingawaywinners, 13.12 (90) to 11.4(70).

quarter -firsthalf in particular -some huge moments againlate, it showsyou the leader he has been for our football club for such along time.”

GOLD COAST weren’t able to take advantage of the struggling Bluesonasunny Sunday afternoon

To give them credit, they dominated the home side in the first quarter, with repeat entries and anumberofclearances, it was one-way traffic.

Morwell’s Ben Ainsworth set the tone in the openingterm with asnap from the boundary, getting his day off to abelter.

After quarter time, it was all Carlton, as the Blues kicked nine goals to none in the second term, bursting out to a44-point halftime lead. Both sides showed poise in the third term, kicking three goals each, but it would’ve been difficult for the Suns to drag back a45-point margin in one quarter.

Carlton continued to kick awayinthe last term, blowing the lead out to 59 points by the time the final siren rang, 18.12 (120) to 8.13 (61).

Ainsworth played his best game of the year by far, collecting 22 disposals and kicking 2.1.

Moe’sBailey Humphrey was quieter than usual as of late, with 11 disposals and agoal, but also collecting six tackles and three clearances.

Junior: Liam Smith (left) has been doing his work placement with the Express.Footballers in theregion might have come across Liam in his role withLatrobe ValleyUmpires.Last year,heumpired theMid Gippsland senior Grand Final with dad Mark. File photograph.

Cotchin had anighttoremember playing at the peakofhis powers, collecting 29 disposals, five tackles and five clearances and kicking two goals

“Itwas agreat win,wewere challenged at times and obviously the second half just became aslog, the fundamentals of the game really cameinto play,” McQualter said on the performance.

“I thought Trent (Cotchin) was huge, that first

Week in footy,with Liam Durkin

Travels

THE life of aplaying-journalist certainly means you are constantly on the go.

Last weekend, Ihad agame in Bairnsdale, and astory in Woodside to cover all on the same day.

Staying in BairnsdaleonFriday night, Ileft straight after my reserves game and raced over to Woodside to catch the end of the senior match.

The Wildcats were doing it easy against Glengarry,but Iwas there to talk to attendees gathered for the Allies 2003 premiership reunion.

For thoseunaware, the Allieswas the nameofthe combinedclub,actually four clubs -Devon, Welshpool, Won-Wron and Woodside (DWWWW).

I’m looking forward to putting that story together, as it is afascinating tale of changing demographics and ownership in the Yarram region.

Thereisnoother club Ican think of that shares the same unique history that Woodside does.

Fourclubs, technicallyfive, that havecome and gone, but been an equally important part of the story.

Done it again

YOU honestly can never write Mirboo North off.

Whether it’s footy or cricket, every year they give you areason to put ared line

throughthem, and then pull offawin outof nowhere that gets them back in calculations

It happened again on the weekend.

The Tigers had lost three games in arow heading into the last round by margins of 123 points, 50 and 24 points.

Surely they were no chance of beating reigning premier Yinnar

This is Mirboo North though,and they did.

The Tigers are now 4-5, the same record they had duringtheir last premiership year of 2017

You honestly could write abook about this sort of stuff regarding Mirboo North teams.

When they gettoGrand Finals -they usually win them.

Gippsland great

THE people you bump into playing footy.

Wellknown local cricketer Rohan Blandford suited up for Bairnsdale reserves at the weekend.

Blandford has made aname for himself in the Bairnsdale Cricket Association,playing for Meerlieu as an openingbatsman, and in representativecircles in GCL action.

He would just about be one of the best cricketers in Gippsland.

BeforemovingbacktoMeerlieulast season,hecaptained Sale and was abig part of the reason the Swans broke a30-year premiership drought in 2019/20.

Speakingtoopponents, they often quipped that Sale didn’thave great bowlers, but they were hard to score against simply because the fields Blandford set were so good.

His cricket brain also often caught opponents off guard.

In the last home-and-away matchof 2019/20, with Sale assured top spot on the ladder, he elected to bowl firstona flat wicket, reasoningthat the team would need to be ready to bowl first if they lost thetossin the semi final the next week -which they did.

Likemany country footballers or cricketers across Gippsland, Blandford certainly could have gone further.

Although he did have astint at Premier Cricket, likemanycountry players before him, he was content simply being at home working on the farm.

Big effort

SATURDAY was certainly abusy day for Moe footballer Liam Masters.

The youngster played for the Lion’s in the fourths, before waiting around to play in the reserves later in the day.

While that would be along day in normal circumstances, the fact the game wasin Bairnsdale only added to it.

Wanting to get ataste of adult football,and after getting the okay from his mother first, Liamplayed apart in the Lions’ thrillingone point win over the Redlegs.

You can’t doubt the eagernessofsome kids.

Carlton’s Sam Docherty racked up the footy, collecting 32 touches, nine marks, four tackles and three clearances, all while being the highestranked player on the field.

Docherty played his TAC Cup football for Gippsland Power in 2011, after playing for Phillip Island in his younger days.

NORTH GIPPSLAND LEAGUE

FEMALE FOOTBALL GIPPSLAND

SENIORS

TRARALGON DISTRICT JUNIOR FOOTBALL LEAGUE ROUND 8

GOALS: CS Kangaroos: OWilkins 4S Wight 2R Langenhoff. West End Bombers: BStevenson 3C Poulton2JCullen BEST:CSKangaroos:SWightFGoreAStanistreetJRoscoeLHicksCWhitehead.

EndBombers:B StevensonLNicholls TSartori TMoloney JCullen

TEDAS: KCaldwell 4L Macumber 3BAdams TDavidson LPass MFox HAnderson.

CENTRAL GIPPSLAND JUNIOR FOOTBALL LEAGUE

ROUND 7

BUNYIP0.0

GOALS: Boisdale-Briagolong: MAllen 2S Coleman. Bunyip: BRowe BEST: BoisdaleBriagolong: SSkeen MAllen ALeighton SHarbour ZDalySMackenzie.Bunyip: HCassidy T

Schroen OTynan BRoweBCarkeek HCarlsen

VS BAIRNSDALE

When it’s time to downsize and getuplate

June24

6.30 TheABC Of (PG, R) David Wenham talks to Greig Pickhaver,who is best known for hisalter egoHGNelson.

7.00 ABCNews. Takesalookatthe top stories of theday,including coverage of developing stories and events

7.30 Classic 100 In ConcertWith

TheMelbourneSymphony

Orchestra TheClassic 100 in concert with theMelbourne Symphony Orchestra from Hamer Hall,Melbourne.

9.15 Vera (Mv,R)After awoman is murdered, her sonescapesthe attack only to fall through the ice of afrozen pond. Against all odds, Vera saves the boy’slife and comes to realise the keyto theinvestigation lies in his memory

10.45 TheMessenger (Mal, R) Ed questions hissanity

11.35 Rage. (MA15+adhlnsv) Music video clips.

6.30 SBS World News.

7.30 TheReal Crown: Inside TheHouse Of Windsor: Heirs And Spares. (PG) Part 5of5

8.25 Westminster Abbey: Behind Closed Doors. (Final, PG) Christmas is theAbbey’smost intensetime of year and the seasonkicks off with Advent.

9.20 World’s MostScenic River

Journeys: Italy (R)A journey downthe Po river, travellingacross northern Italy from the snow-capped Alpstothe spellbinding delta.

10.15 Then AndNow: Heathrow Airport. (PG,R)

11.10 MOVIE: Marley. (2012, Mad,R)

1.40 Miniseries: Hungry Ghosts. (Mahlv,R)

3.40 Mastermind Australia.(R) 4.40 Bamay (R) 5.00 NHK World EnglishNewsMorning

5.15 France 24Feature. 5.30 ANC Philippines

The World Tonight.

6.00 SevenNews

7.00 Football. AFL.Round 15.Fremantle vEssendon. From Optus Stadium, Perth.

10.30 AFL Post-Game Show. Awrap-up of the game, including panel discussion and interviews, with access to players, coaches and staff

11.00 To Be Advised.

12.30 MOVIE: Running Home. (1999,Mv, R) Astreet kid is caught up in the dangerous world of jewelsmuggling after he witnesses the murder of acop.Claudia Christian,Kristian Ayre,AndreasApergis. [VIC]HomeShopping.

4.00 GetArty. (R) Artistscomplete art projects to encourage kids of all ages to get creative.

5.00 House Of Wellness (PG, R) Luke Darcy,JoStanley and LukeHines takea look at locations that highlight living well.

6.00 Nine News Saturday.

7.00 ACurrentAffair

7.30 MOVIE: HarryPotter And TheDeathly Hallows: Part 1. (2010,Mhv,R)Harry,Ron and Hermione set out on aquest to track down and destroy the secrettoVoldemort’simmortality

Daniel Radcliffe, EmmaWatson

10.20 MOVIE: 300:Rise Of An Empire (2014,MA15+lsv, R) AGreek general battles invading Persian forces. Sullivan Stapleton, EvaGreen.

12.15 MOVIE: TheDustwalker (2019,MA15+hv,R)A parasite turnspeople into killing machines. Jolene Anderson.

2.00 TheIncredible Journey Presents (PGa)

2.30 TV Shop: Home Shopping. (R)

4.30 Global Shop (R)

5.00 TV Shop: Home Shopping. (R)

5.30 Helping Hands. (PG, R)

6.00 Bondi Rescue. (PGan, R) Bondi hosts 15,000 WorldPride Beach Party revellers.

6.30 TheDog House. (Final, PGa) Dogs are matched with companions.

7.30 TheDog HouseAustralia. (PGa, R) NarratedbyDrChris Brown.

8.30 Blue Bloods. (Mv) Jamie searches for the arsonist responsible for afire that destroys all Danny’s evidence againstacartel leader

9.30 CSI: Vegas. (Mav)A wronglyaccused former suspectenters the lab covered in blood,wielding a cleaver and looking for Allie Rajan. 10.30 TheCheap Seats. (Mal, R) Presented by Melanie Bracewell and Tim McDonald. 11.30 So Help Me Todd. (PG, R)

Home Shopping. (R)

Hour Of Power.

6.00 Better Homes And Gardens. (R) [VIC] HomeShopping.7.00 WeekendSunrise.

10.00 The MorningShow: Weekend.(PG)

12.00 House

6.30 Compass: Sacred Space –The Franciscan Of Parramatta. (PG)

7.00 ABCNews. Alook at the top stories of the day

7.30 GrandDesignsRevisited. (PG)Part2 of 4.

8.20 Silent Witness (Mal)The death of an investigative journalist throws thespotlight onto SamRyan.

9.20 TheMessenger (Malv) When Ed puts his best mates on the ace of hearts he’s shocked to learn how little he really knows about those he lovesmost

10.10 In Limbo (Mal,R)Charlie pursuesthe moneytrail.

10.40 Mayfair Witches. (Final, Malsv, R)

11.20 Small Axe. (MA15+l)

1.30 Rage. (MA15+adhlnsv)

3.05 The Heights. (PG, R) 5.00 Insiders. (R)

6.30 SBS World News.

7.30 Queens Of AncientEgypt. Part 1of3.Takes alook at the Egyptian Queen Tiyewho,morethan 3000 years ago,became agoddess on Earth.

10.30 Patagonia:AYear In The Wild (Final) NarratedbyPedro Pascal

11.20 Secrets Of Playboy: The ShadowMansions. (MA15+a, R) Alookat“shadow” mansions.

2.40 Exit. (MA15+ads, R) Four men search for an escape.

3.35 Mastermind Australia. (R)

4.35 Bamay: Murrumbidgee River –Wiradjuri Country. (R)

5.00 NHK World English News Morning.

5.15 France 24 Feature.

5.30 Al JazeeraNews

6.00 SevenNews.

7.00 Dancing With TheStars. Celebritiesshow off their dance skills.

8.45 7NEWS Spotlight An exclusive, specialinvestigation

9.45 TheLatest: SevenNews.

10.15 Born To Kill? Sean VincentGillis –The Other BatonRouge Killer (MA15+av) Takesalook at Sean Gillis.

11.15 AutopsyUSA: Gregg Allman (MA15+ad)

12.15 All Together Now –The 100 (PG, R)

12.30[VIC]HomeShopping.

1.30 Harry’s Practice (R)

2.00 Home Shopping. (R)

3.30 Million Dollar Minute. (R)

4.00 NBCToday

5.00 SevenEarly News. 5.30 Sunrise

6.00 Nine News Sunday.

7.00 Warnie. (PGal)Part 1of2

8.30 60 Minutes. Current affairs program, investigating, analysingand uncovering theissuesaffectingall Australians.

9.30 Nine NewsLate. Takesa look at the latest news andevents from Australia andaroundthe world.

10.00 Australian Crime Stories: Mr Cruel. (Mav,R)A look at the serial predator Mr Cruel.

11.00 TheFirst48: Predator. (MA15+a)

11.50 Law&Order: Organized Crime. (MA15+v,R)

12.40 Family Law. (Mas, R)

1.30 TV Shop: Home Shopping. (R)

4.00 Believer’sVoice Of Victory.(PGa)

6.30 TheSunday Project. Alook at theday’snews.

7.30 MasterChef Australia. (PGal) Thecontestantsmustcook adish that highlights aparticular colour to impress the judgesand avoid elimination.

9.00 FBI. (Mv) As theFBI investigates adeadly robberythat garnered a cache of automatic weapons for the killers, the team discovers one of the perpetrators is aclassmate of Jubal’s son, who is reluctant to cooperate

10.00 NCIS: Hawai’i. (Mv,R)Jane investigates Maggie’s kidnapping.

11.00 TheSundayProject (R) Alookatthe day’snews.

12.00 Home Shopping. (R)

News Early Edition. 5.30 Today.

Take Two. (R)

4.30 CBS Mornings.

6.00 News Breakfast. 9.00 ABC News

Mornings. 10.00 Landline.(R) 11.00 Fake Or Fortune? (R) 12.00 ABC News At Noon.

1.00 Queen Of Oz. (Ml, R)

1.30 Vera (Mav,R)

3.00 Gardening Australia. (R)

4.00 Antiques Roadshow. (R)

5.00 Back Roads (R)

5.30 Hard Quiz. (PG, R)

7.30 7.30 PresentedbySarah Ferguson.

8.00 Australian Story.

PresentedbyLeigh Sales

8.30 Four Corners. Investigative journalism program exposing scandals, triggering inquiries, firing debate and confronting taboos.

9.15 Media Watch (PG)

Hosted by Paul Barry.

9.35 Jonestown:TerrorIn

TheJungle: Making Of A Madman. (Ma, R) Part 1of4

10.15 China Tonight. (R)

10.50 ABC Late News.

11.05 TheBusiness. (R)

11.20 TheSplit. (Mals, R)

12.20 Father Brown.(Final, Mv,R) 1.05 Rage. (MA15+adhlnsv) 3.30 AntiquesRoadshow.(R)

4.30 TheDrum. (R) 5.30 7.30.(R)

ABC TV PLUS (22)

Exotic. 11.50 DocumentaryNow!

1am TheMaking Of The PenguinKing WithDavid Attenborough. 1.50 Ghosts 2.25 Last Woman On The Planet. 3.25 Close. 5.00 Late Programs.

Tuesday, June 27

TV (2)

6.00 News Breakfast. 9.00 ABC News Mornings. 10.00 Dream Gardens. (R) 10.30 Outback Ringer.(PG,R) 11.00 Kumi’s Japan. (R) 12.00 ABC News At Noon. 1.00 Grantchester.(Mv,R) 2.00 Nigella’s Cook, Eat, Repeat.(R) 2.30 Julia Zemiro’s Home Delivery. (PG, R) 3.00 Gardening Australia. (R) 4.00 AntiquesRoadshow.(R) 5.00 Back Roads. (R) 5.30 HardQuiz. (PG, R)

6.00 TheDrum

7.00 ABC News

7.30 7.30 Presented by SarahFerguson.

8.00 TheABC Of (Final, Ml)

HostedbyDavid Wenham

8.30 TheBlack Hand (MA15+v)

Part 1of3.Anthony LaPaglia explores the reign of the Black Hand, an Italian criminalgang in Australia’s deep north

9.30 Louis Theroux Interviews...

Stormzy (Ml,R)Louis Theroux

chats with Stormzy

10.15 ABCLateNews.

10.30 TheBusiness (R)

10.50 Four Corners (R)

11.35 Media Watch. (PG, R) 11.55 Jonestown:

TerrorInThe Jungle. (Ma,R) 12.35 Rage (MA15+adhlnsv) 3.30 AntiquesRoadshow.(R)

4.30 The Drum. (R) 5.30 7.30.(R)

6.00 WorldWatch. 9.10 Cook Up Bitesize.

6.00 Mastermind Australia. (R)

6.30 SBS WorldNews

7.30 Legends End: TheLoch Ness Monster Story. Alook at a searchfor the Loch Ness monster

8.30 TheGreat HouseRevival: Passage West,CoCork. (Return)

Hugh Wallace meets RobHennessey who has asmall budgettofixthe floors and rotten joists of his Victorian house.

9.30 24 HoursInEmergency: Husbands And Wives (M) A74-year-old has suspected sepsis.

10.25 SBS WorldNewsLate

10.55 Miniseries:Bonnie AndClyde. (MA15+lsv)

11.25 Antidisturbios. (MA15+av,R)

1.35 Cargo. (MA15+alv,R) 3.25 Mastermind Australia. (R) 4.25 Bamay.(R) 5.00 NHK World EnglishNews Morning. 5.30 ANC PhilippinesThe WorldTonight

6.00 SevenNews.

7.00 Home And Away (PGa)

7.30 Million Dollar Island. (PG) One hundred Australians, each with abracelet worth $10,000, land on aremote island.

9.00 9-1-1 (Final, Ma)Aseries of freeway car accidents leads to a catastrophicoverpass collapse

10.00 9-1-1: Lone Star (Mav) Marjan is targeted by akiller

11.00 TheLatest: SevenNews.

11.30 TheBlacklist. (Mav) The task force races against the clock.

12.30 Kochie’s Business Builders. (R) [VIC]HomeShopping.

1.00 Travel Oz. (PG, R)

2.00 Home Shopping. (R)

6.00 Nine News.

7.00 ACurrentAffair

7.30 Warnie. (Mals) Part 2of2

9.00 Police Rescue Australia. (Ma)

Police Rescueofficers risk their lives attempting to savea man who’strapped under atrain at an inner-city

6.30 TheProject. Alook at the day’snews and events

7.30 MasterChef Australia. (PGal) The contestantsmust include every ingredient in the dreaded everything mystery box.

8.40 Have YouBeen Paying Attention? (Malns) Celebrity panellists include KittyFlanagan, Ray O’Learyand Bron Lewis.

9.40 JustFor Laughs Australia. (MA15+ls) Stand-up comedy performances from Stephen KAmos, Al Del Bene and Alice Fraser

10.10 FBI:MostWanted (Mav)The team searches foramissing migrantteenager

12.00 TheProject. (R)

1.00 TheLate ShowWith Stephen Colbert. (PG)

2.00 Home Shopping. (R)

CBSMornings.

6am Children’s Programs.

Noon How To Build AMotor Car 1.00 Life Unexpected. (Premiere) 2.00 Full House. 2.30 MacGyver 3.30 Raymond. 4.00 TheNanny. 5.00 Bewitched. 5.30 IDream Of Jeannie. 6.00 That ’70s

6.00 WorldWatch. 9.05 22 Kids And Counting. (PGa, R) 10.00 Paul O’Grady:For The LoveOfDogs. (PGa, R) 11.00 The Lost World Of Joseph Banks. (PG) 11.30 The Story Of Coffee. (Premiere) 12.00 WorldWatch. 2.10 Great EscapesWith Morgan Freeman. (Mad, R) 3.00 Living Black. (R) 3.40 The Cook Up.(PG, R) 4.10 The Supervet.(PG) 5.05 Jeopardy! (R) 5.30 Letters And Numbers. (R)

6.00 Mastermind Australia. (R)

6.30 SBS WorldNews.

7.30 GreatCoastal Railway

Journeys: Douglas To Port Erin. (Return) Hosted by Michael Portillo

8.30 Insight. Kumi Taguchi takes alook at what drives us to takeorignore advice, and what the consequencesare.

9.30Dateline: TheBestPlaceToHave ABaby? Presented by Janice Petersen.

10.00 SBSWorld News Late.

10.30 ThePoint: Referendum Road Trip (R)

11.30 Pandore. (Mls)

6.00

6.00 SevenNews.

7.00 Home And Away (PGa)

7.30 Million Dollar Island. (PGl) HostedbyAnt Middleton.

9.00 TheRookie (Mv) Nolan and Celina witness ashooting and realise the victim wasalready dead

10.00 TheRookie: Feds. (Mv) Simone and Carter uncovera terrorist’splan.

11.00 TheLatest: SevenNews.

11.30 TheBlacklist. (Mav)

12.30 S.W.A.T. (Mv,R) [VIC]HomeShopping.

1.30 Harry’s Practice (R)

6.00 Nine News.

7.00 ACurrentAffair

7.30 TheLongestFeud: Chappell v Botham. (Ml) Cricket legends Ian Chappell and Ian Botham are brought together

8.30 To Be Advised.

10.00 Nine News Late. Alook at the latest news andevents.

10.30 Chicago Med (MA15+am) Crockett worries he made asurgical error.

11.20 See No Evil: Seeing Red. (Ma) Police are called to the scene of atraffic accident 12.10 Court Cam. (Mv)

6.30 TheProject Alook at the day’snews and events.

7.30 MasterChef Australia. (PGa) Internationally renowned chef Clare Smyth of Sydney’s Oncore Restaurant puts the contestants through their paces.

8.40 TheCheapSeats. (Mal) Presenters Melanie Bracewell and Tim McDonald takealook at the week that was.

9.40 NCIS (Mv,R)A civilian research vessel rescues asmall boat containing agroup of men claiming to be US Navy SEALs.

11.30 TheProject. (R) Alook at the day’snews and events

Home Shopping. (R)

3.15 Miniseries: The Walk-In. (Mal, R) 4.10

12.25 Hope. (MA15+av) 1.25 Partisan. (Malv, R)

Mastermind Australia. (R) 4.40 Bamay.(R)

5.00 NHK World EnglishNewsMorning 5.30

ANC Philippines The WorldTonight.

12.30 TheLate ShowWith Stephen Colbert. (PG)

1.30 Home Shopping. (R)

4.30 CBS Mornings.

Celestial Celene reaching for the stars

AFEDERATION University Australia student is one step closer to realising her dream of becoming an astronaut, as she prepares to attend an immersiveoverseas training program with the International Institute of Astronautical Sciences.

Celene Meraz Benavente will head to Florida in September for the Scientist Astronaut Program that will prepare her to take part in future sub-orbital missions with Project PoSSUM (Polar Suborbital Science in the Upper Mesosphere).

In aweek of intensive training, Celene will learn

Blast off: Federation UniversitystudentCelene Meraz Benaventeis training to become an astronaut. Photograph supplied

More music maestro

ST Paul’sAnglican GrammarSchool’sAcademy of Music students captivated the audience with their musical abilities at this year’s Kammer Konzert, leaving all attendees wanting more.

The Kammer Konzertisayearlyshowcase of chamber music performed by small ensembles of academy students from both the school's Warragul and Traralgon Campuses. Students ranging from Years 4toYear 12 performed musical works by

Handel, Warlock, Mozart, Glazunov, Saint-Saëns, Keen, Britten, Vaughan Williams, Schubert and Sorensen throughout theevening.

The academy of music facilitates students to engage with professional musicians, and this year they were joined on stagebyJohn Noble (Orchestra Victoria and Itet) who hasbeen workingwith academy musicians in professionalworkshops this term.

practical skills through exercises likeparabolic flights, where passengers experience low gravity, and hypoxic training, where participants experience low oxygen levels.

Asecond-year physiotherapy student at Federation’sGippslandcampus, the training program will also support Celene to be involved in research that enables tomorrow’s future space missions.

Celene moved to Australia from the US in 2015 and was recruited by the Melbourne Space Program in 2019.

Celene has been supported to undertake the September training through the Federation University Australia Foundation’s Meredith Doig scholarship, as well as by other sponsors.

Theconcertwas presented in conjunction with sculptures created by Year 10 fine art students inspired by their studies of elongated figures produced by the 20th century Swiss artist, Giacometti.

Open to students by audition, the academy of musicisa high-level class-timetabled opportunity that builds professional musical experience, providing students with the confidence to pursue further performance opportunities, gain live concert exposure and collaborate with professional conductors, educators and performers.

To find out more,ortoapplyfor the academy, phone Ben Sim on 5622 6358 or email bsim@ stpaulsags.vic.edu.au

“It’s really exciting to be taking part in this immersive astronaut training program. In terms of my dreamofgetting to space, thisisgettingquite close,” Ms Meraz Benavente.

“I’m really looking forward to thehypoxia training and going on an aircraft where we will experience different gravity environments.

“This program is actually quite relatable to physiotherapyincluding learningabout space physiologyand how the body is affected under microgravityenvironments, so I’m excited to explore that crossover.

“I’m grateful for all the opportunities and support I’ve received in this adventure, enabling me to learn and make adifference.”

Support to upskill

FEDERATION University Australia will hold awebinar on upskilling tomorrow (Thursday June 22), providing advice on how people can make the leap to higherlevel roles within their organisation, or make acareer change.

Along with discussing the range of programs on offer, the lunchtime webinar will include information about flexible study options, academic support, scholarships and fees.

The webinar will be held from 12.30pm to 1pm. To register, visit events.federation. edu.au and click on ‘Upskilling Webinar’.

Rubbing shoulders: Guest musicianJohn Noble (OrchestraVictoria and Itet)performs in theMixed Sextet with St Paul’sstaff and students Angela, Jetson, Mr BenSim, Zeke, Ms Rebecca Parfitt, Alexandra, Georgia and Xavier

Iamthe very model of amodernmajor general: Fraser playing thexylophone and Sahanna thecornet as part of aMixed Quintet.

The mighty trumpet brings the freaks out to the floor: Nicholas playing the piccolo trumpet. Photographs supplied

Lavalla’sdebutantes shine at ball

'TIME to shine' was the theme of this years three Lavalla Debutante Balls, held over May25, 26 and 27.

Eighty-three students and their guests made a red carpet entry into an elegantly decorated room, filled withtall black and gold centrepieces, fairy lights, candles and chair covers to match the theme.

There was agiant balloon garland on the stage, which was loved and photographed by all, and glossy booklets for alovely keepsake for the participants.

There were still some old traditions at the ball, and it was beautiful to see white dresses and suits fill the dance floor, but this ball was for making new traditions too.

Each participant could choose if they wanted to be introduced individually, with apartner or with their friends,this allowed any student who wanted to do their deb to be welcomed and included.

Students and committee were very proud to be moving forward with the times and enabling the future of deb balls.

The debutantes practiced for five weeks to learn

andperform several group dances, choreographed by Bonnie Callander.

The groupdances includeda mash-upoffive different songs and styles of dance.

The students were evenabletoadd their own personal touches into these dances and the crowd enjoyed clapping along.

The IAC was at max capacitybyhosting up to 200 people per night in their function room.

Adelicioustwo-coursemeal was enjoyed, and there wasn't adry eye in the house when the special person dance was underway, as the students and their special person spun around the dancefloor.

After that,the disco lightswentonand DJ Brenno pumpedout thetunes, packing the danceflooruntil the evening concluded.

Peter and Pam Boyes from Hot Fx Photography in Moe, captured some well overdue family photos, and the three deb balls were filmed by Sure Shot Productions.

Michelle at Little GrandéDesign kindly donated the amazing graphic design work on the booklets, posters and printed material.

Mavros Deli kindly provided afood platter during the afternoon, while the students used their energy making TikTok's, having their photo shoots, socialising and completing afull rehearsal with their school friends.

Abig thank-you goes out to the other generous local businesses who sponsored, donated and supported the Deb Ball.

The deb ball committee would like to thank all the participants for their exceptional behaviour and manners. We certainly have wonderful young adults in our community, and we are so proud of them.

The deb balls were organised by 13 mothers who volunteered theirtime and are passionate about students and families coming together in celebration for this milestone moment for Year 11 students from Lavalla.

Holding the deb ball has allowed students, their families and friends to come together in celebration and make lifelong memories.

The committee looks forward to doing it all again next year.

Shine time to

The Range Retirement Village is aretirement living community in Moe, boasting alive-in Manager and high-quality residential villas set inside agated community.

The Range offers elegant new and refurbished two and three-bedroom independent living villas, set in attractive and well-manicured surrounds. Each villa features an open-plan living area, wellappointed kitchen, private courtyardgarden and single or double garage

Plan your social life with your new community.

Youwill have the flexibility and freedom to embrace life with asocialcalendar that includes, billiards, indoor bowls, craft, movie nights, trivia, bingo, cards and many moresocial activities and make use of our community bus to get around our local area.

Now is your time to down size and embrace life at The Range

Memories: Debutantes on the Fridaynight show.

Finale: Debutantes on the thirdand finalshowonthe Saturday.

Gang: Debutantes on the Thursdaynight. Photographs supplied

Reconciliation week at Kurnai

KURNAI College acknowledged National Reconciliation Week (May 27 to June 3) on Friday, June 2toreflect upon the history, culture,and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples, and to explore how each of us can contribute to achieving reconciliation in Australia.

Students, local politicians, those from the Indigenouscommunity, and Aboriginal elders gathered at the Morwell campus to attendthe event highlighting this year’stheme 'Be aVoice for Generations'.

Members of the school’sKoorie supportteam played asignificant role in the proceedings.

Gunaikurnai man Tre Moffatt conducted asmoking ceremony to welcome guests as they arrived, while Hollie Johnson, aproud Gunaikurnai and Monaro Ngarigo woman, commenced the official proceedingsbygivinga Welcome to Countryon behalf of the Brayakaulung clan of the Gunaikurnai Nation in the native language.

The Dedlee Kultya dancers then tooktothe yard and performed Wooriylthe Lyre Bird. Gunaikurnai manHayden Edwards, introducedthe dance explaining “this dance shows us Worriyl the Lyre Bird who is looking for food”. This was followed by Naanaa Nukindhere which “is asong reminding us to stay on the dreaming track, and not to veer off in the wrong direction to trouble or crime”.

Campus principal Dan Swallow addressed the crowd.

“This flag-raising event and smoking ceremony is asymbol of Kurnai College’s dedication towards reconciliationand our desiretoensure that our school,which carries the symbols and name of these first nation peoples is appropriately representing,supporting, educating and creating asafe and inclusiveenvironment for future generations and elders," he said.

“Traditionally the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander flags have flown alongside the Australian flag at the front of the school. For along period of time,wecouldn’t raise the flags whilst demolition and building works were being completed on the administrative building.

“As asymbol, the first flags to be raised in front of ournew schoolwill be the Aboriginal and Torres strait islander flags, which we will fly proudly today.”

Other speakers on the day included acting college principal, Matt Jobling, and guests, Member for Eastern Victoria, HarrietShing, and LatrobeCity Council Mayor Kellie O’Callaghan. They spoke of the history and significance of Reconciliation Week, the opportunity we all have to learn together about our shared histories and cultures, and how we can contributeasindividuals and acommunity to achieve reconciliation.

At the conclusion of the formal proceedings, guests, families,and staffjoined together with students for ayarn and lunch.

is proudlyraised.

Students learn ceremony

STUDENTS from TrafalgarHigh School joined the widercommunity at recent Latrobe City Councilreconciliation events, including a ceremony for raising the Aboriginal flag.

While Trafalgar High School is based in Baw Baw Shire, many who attend the school live in LatrobeCity.

After watching the Latrobe City flag rising service, representatives of the school explored the reconciliation themedart exhibitionsatthe Latrobe Regional Gallery.

Welcome: Gunaikurnai man TreMoffatt conducts asmokingceremony.

Tradition: Dedlee Kultya dancersperform at Kurnai’s ReconciliationWeek ceremony.

Photographs supplied

Students travelled to and from the service by train and represented their peers with many participating having an Aboriginal or Torres strait islander background.

HQ: Trafalgar High School Students Dillon Moorhouse, James Wilmink-Arthur, Zac PlunkettMackand Jack Osborne outsideLatrobe CityCouncil Headquarters

Photograph supplied

Hoist: TheTorres Strait Islander flag

Linda thelinedancer

BY KATRINA BRANDON

LINDA Pink is alinedancinginstructor in Newsborough, who involvesherself in line dancing competitions and festivalsaroundAustralia, as well as running fundraising programs for multiple charities.

On May 6, Linda won Australian Line Dancer of theYearinMayworth, Tamworth.

Linda explained that she was voted in by the Tamworth Country Line Dance Association, where anyone in line dancing can voteonwho they would like to win. Along with the single win, Linda’s team also won via the VDAA committee for group of the year. Linda runs classes down in Newborough three days aweek and in Heyfield for one.

Behind running the classes here in the Latrobe Valley, Linda has lived locally all her life and wants to keep running the classes as long as possible.

“You probablywouldn't get that in another sport, so age group, ability, health wise you know everybody can dance, even if they do have two left feet," she said.

"Hopefully I'll still getmyclasses going ‘cause that's what Iplan on doing in the next five to 10 years."

“It's good in the sense that you don't need a partner, it's asafeenvironment and it's great music. We don't always use country music these days. We use anything and everything.”

Linda explained that all her classesare based on the skill level of the individuals in the group and are accommodating to all needs.

Shealso mentioned that line dancing isn’t like you see in movies or like the old days.

Waltzes and Cha-chasare now involvedinthe routines.

“It's really right across-the-board. We do some beautiful, beautiful stuff and dances. So that’s how Iinitially got into it," she said.

Linda’s group also likes to run fundraisers within the community. Some names involve the Days of Hope, Lifeline and Knitted Knockers. Even while locked down in COVID, the group got going with a ‘get fit’ fundraiser where they would have to change

National blood donor week

THE Lifeblood of Traralgon celebrated National Blood Donor Week last week.

It takes an extraordinary person to save lives, and last week in Traralgon, 3375 localswere celebrated for being the lifeblood of the community.

These are the blood and plasma donors, who are among Australia’s half amillion donors recognised in National Blood Donor Week for their lifesaving efforts.

National BloodDonorWeek (June 12-18) is celebrated by Australian Red Cross Lifeblood each year around World Blood Donor Day on June 14. It providesanopportunity to thank the nation’s blood and plasma donors for their1.6 million life-saving donations and highlights the ongoing need for more people to become donors.

As part of National Blood Donor Week, Lifeblood teamed up with Australian-based illustration brand, Min Pin, to create alimited-edition bandage, which will be rolled on to the arms of donors who donate at Lifeblood donor centres throughout June.

Traralgon Donor Centre Manager, Alyce Flannery

saidthis month’s bandageisacolourful flockof birdsflying high together, which is symbolic of the community of blood and plasma donors.

“Birds of afeather save lives together, and we’re callingoneveryone to join our flock of lifesavers thisNational Blood DonorWeek and receive anew limitededition Min Pin bandage,” Ms Flannery said.

“With one in three of us needing blood or blood products in our lifetime. Traralgon Donor Centre needs even more donors to jointheir ranks over the next year.

“We want to say ahugethank you to all of our donors who made adifference and to ask others to make achange for lifebybecoming ablood donor."

Join the flock of lifesavers.

Download theDonate Blood app, call 13 14 95 or visitwww.lifeblood.com.au to book your donation.

something in their lives.

“Everybodyhad to do something to get fit so either walk, give up chocolate, give up alcohol, give up cigarettes(not that many of us smoke), so we had to do something to get fit and Ithink we raised up to $20,000 while we're not even together,” Linda said. Next up for Linda and her group is the LDA ball in Melbourne in June and ablack-and-white masquerade ball. Her team doesmanyevents like this throughout many years.

“There is always something coming up that you can travel to because it's line dancing throughout all of Australia," she said.

"There's afew of us going up to the ball in Canberra in August and we're just done the Sydney ball. We've taken them for afew trips. We have takenthem to Darwin, taken threegroupsto Norfolk Island.Soweget to travelabit as well safely together.”

Classes at Newborough are Tuesday and Wednesday 9.30am to 1pm, Friday 9am-10.30 or 10.30am to midday. Cost is $10 aclass. Heyfield classes are 10.30am-11.45am and 12pm-1.30pm. For more information, visit http://www.lvbootscooters.com/l-v-country-line-dancers-classes.html

Nominations now open

ROTARY Districts of Victoria Emergency ServicesCommunity Awards (RESCA-VIC) are asking the Victorian community to help recognise outstanding community service performed by paid and volunteer members of Victoria’s Emergency Service Agencies.

In keeping with Rotary’s motto of 'Service AboveSelf', the awards acknowledge and celebrate the selflesscommunity service of Emergency Services Personnel (i.e. the community servicethe individual performs is above and beyond their normal role within the Emergency Service Agency). RESCA will also support aresearch scholarship Investing Mental HealthinEmergency Services Personnel withfurther research looking at in-depthways to alleviate the mental health burden on emergency service workers.

The RESCA-VICawards consist of two levels:  Finalists -upto20finalists from Victoria

Emergency Services (Ambulance Victoria, St. John Ambulance, Fire Rescue Victoria, Forest Fire Management, Life Saving Victoria, Victorian Council of Churches, ESTA 000, ES support agencies [ERV, EMV and IGEM], CFA, State Emergency Service, Victoria Police, Red Cross, Marine Search and Rescue).

 Two Major Winners: RESCA Vic Officer of the Year serving in avolunteer capacity and RESCA Vic Officer of the Year serving in a paid capacity. The two major winners will be invited to the national awards event in Canberra where two nationalwinners will be announced. Nominatons are now open via: https://resca. awardsplatform.com/ and close on June 30. RESCA-VIC was established in 2023 to recognise Emergency Services Personnel who best exemplify Rotary’s motto.

Dance: TheNewboroughBootscooters.

Photograph supplied

Ensuringsafetyfor childworkers

NEW laws to strengthen protections for children working in cafes, shops and other businesses, and make it easier for responsible businesses to comply with their legal obligations come into effect on July 1.

Achild employment licensing system willreplacethe existingpermit system and enable abusiness to employ multiple children under one licence, rather than having to apply for apermit for each child they employ.

The new licensing system includes a “fitand proper person” testwhich considers, among other things, an employer’s compliance with child employmentand other relevant workplace laws.

Victoria’s child employment watchdog, Wage Inspectorate Victoria, will be givennew powers, including the ability to issue compliance and infringement notices to businesses that have done the wrong thing but may not meet the criteria for prosecution.

The maximum penalty for employing

achild without apermit or licence will increase from $18,500 to more than $200,000.

In Victoria, employers require a permit to employanyoneunder15, but childrencan do delivery work from 11 and work in other roles from 13, including in retail and hospitality.

Minister forIndustrial Relations

Tim Pallas said the new system was designed to ensure transparency.

“The new system will make it easier for responsible businesses to understand theirobligations when it comes to child employment," he said.

“The safety and wellbeing of children in the workplace is the number one priority -strengthening the law will help keep our kids protected.”

Research commissioned by the Wage Inspectorate shows that one in three Victorians mistakenlybelieve 14 and ninemonths is the age children can start working without restriction in Victoria -this used to be the age when

children could leave school and enter the workforce, whichiswhere the misapprehension has come from.

The misconception is more common in regional areas, with 40 per cent of people nominating the incorrect threshold for children to be able to work.

Wage InspectorateVictoria

Commissioner Robert Hortle said it was critical employers were across regulations.

“One in 10 kids in Victoria are working which can provide valuable experience and spending money, but we need to make sure they’re taken care of in the workplace,” he said.

“All workplaceshave risks,and those risks are magnified for young workers. If you want to employ someone under 15, it’s important to do so safely.”

More information about child employment and the upcoming changescan be found at wageinspectorate.vic.gov.au.

MorwellFireBrigade elections

MORWELL Fire Brigade has elected Wayne Draper as its newcaptain.

The brigadewishes to thank outgoing captain Peter Keenanfor his service and commitment to the Morwell Brigade and wider community during his tenure.

Mr Draperjoined the MorwellBrigade in 1986 and wasmadeactiveinApril 1987. His associationwith the brigade hasseenhim in many positions and awardedfor his many acts of service: 20 year medal in 2006,25yearclasp

Medalin2005and the National EmergencyMedal for hisroleinthe 2009 Victorian Fires.

Wayne's involvementwas also invaluable as FEM Officer forsix years

Morwell Brigade looks forward to working with Wayne and the BMT.

Rodney Lucas has retired as treasurer and will continue as avolunteer.

Rod (Mr Lucas) joined the Brigade in 1967 and took on the secretary job in 1988 and the treasurer's job in 2004.

MorwellFire Brigade, proudly servicesthe

OTHER ELECTION RESULTS:

1stLieutenant: Cam Bowman

2nd Lieutenant: Peter Keenan

3rd Lieutenant: Bayley Charalambous

4th Lieutenant: Aaron Robert Yates

Secretary: Don Lovison

Treasurer: Steve Darling

Chairperson: Peter Quinn

Peo le prefer t ork close to h me, to save on transport costs, the frustration of travel and to be close to family

Both our printed and digital n spapers have a highly engaged local audience looking for ne s, sport, local information nd jobs every week!

The Latr b alle Express has brought together local employers and employees for generations and it is no different today

Long wait for Kingsford Street plan

IT was interesting, to say the least, to read the article on the possiblerejuvenation of the Kingsford Street Reserve in Moe (LV Express, Wednesday, June 14) and that the "council officers" had recommended "thatcouncil endorse the DraftKingsford Street Reserve Master Plan".

The map accompanying the story was evenmore surprising, as Ihave been trying for some years to seekapproval to plan acommunity vegetable garden on this site and Ihad completed detailed due diligence on three sites around Moe.

Ieven accessed from the Latrobe City website two years ago, the Draft Master Plan which had been drawn up by consultants and submitted to council in October 2019.

When Itried to seek advice about this plan's progress, "officers" seemed to not be aware of it.

Yes, that is the plan that appears now in June, 2023, almost four years later.

The costing of that plan in 2019 was $502, 260.

Funnily enough, that is what is quoted fouryears later to the council, with no updateand no idea about inflation in the last four years. But, there is anote that "no allocation of money from council has yet to be put to the project".

So, will we be waiting for another four years?

Len Cairns

Moe South

Voice 'myths'

WE are very concerned thatconservativepoliticians in this region are misrepresenting the purpose and scope of the Voice.

For example, conservative politicians have recentlystatedthat their constituents “feelthe government does not trust them with information about the Voice”.

However, access to information regarding the Voice is readily available.

For example, the Indigenous Voice Co-design Process Final Report outlines what the legislation couldlook like following amajority voting YES in the Referendum. This can easily be Googled by their staffifthey lack the skillstoGoogle it for themselves.

There are also many myths about the history of the Voice which need dispelling.

These include the myth that the Voice is an Australian Labor Party initiative.

In fact, it was Tony Abbott in 2014 who began consultationswith our Indigenous peopleinan attempt to improve their lives. This initiative supported by successive LNP Prime Ministers as wellasopposition leaders ultimately led to the Uluru Statement from the Heartand the upcoming referendum.

Anothermyth is that the Voice will amount to athirdchamber of Parliament as well as give Indigenous people special rights.

In fact, firstly, the Voice will be arepresentative body advising Parliament as opposed to being in the Parliament.Secondly, the governmenthas been advised by the Constitutional Expert group comprising nine experts includingformer High Court judgeKenneth Hayneand chaired by the Commonwealth Attorney-General that aFirst nationsVoicewill not giveFirst nations Peoples special rights.

Our Solicitor-General has also said the Voicewill only serve to enhance our Constitution.

Thirdly, all Australians have the right to make representations to Parliament due to constitutional implied Freedom of Political Communication.

Although it is widely touted by conservative politicians that the Voice will be alawyer’spicnic leading to lots of High Court challenges, the facts

are that the separation of powers principle underpinning the Westminster system of government means Parliament and the judiciary are separate institutions.

Finally, regarding questions about the need to enshrine the Voice in the Constitution, the electorate needs to know that if it is not included in the Constitution, it can abolish or rescind/remove at the whim of another government.For example, other Indigenous advisory bodies like ATSIC were abolishedbyothergovernments. In contrast, if the Voice is included in the Constitution, it can only be changed by another referendum, which gives it security and longevity.

While it is true that afew very high profile Indigenous elites (suchasJacinta Nampijinpa Price, Warren Mundine and Lidia Thorpe) do not support the Voice, the truth is that an IPSOS poll conducted in January 2023 found that 80 per cent of First Nations peoples support the Voice.

Therefore, conservative politicians should not continue to misrepresent the truth about what the majority of Indigenous Australians think.

There are also those who believe the Voice will not help to close the gap or have apositive impact on the lives of Indigenous people.

However,asthe Voice will provideadvice to the Parliament only on those laws affecting First Nations peoples, Parliament will be better-informed about the impact of the proposed lawsonFirst Nations peoples, logically leading to bettercontrol over their lives and outcomes.

Hopefully the Australian nation will see the Voice for what it really is amechanism to enable our First Nations people to finally be included in governmentdecisionswhich impact directly on them.

This initiative canonly lead to improved policy making for our first Nations Peoples.

Susan Casey (Carrajung Lower)

Jillian Carroll (Heyfield)

Rosemary Dunworth (Heyfield)

Labor's insulting game of dodgeball

REGIONAL Victorians are still reeling from a brutal State Budget, with agriculture, roads and

health funding all slashed.

Labor is making life tougher and deserves to face the blowtorch.

Yet with so many unanswered questions, Labor remains largely silent, even as the Public Accounts and Estimates Hearing unfolds.

PAEC(PublicAccountsandEstimatesCommittee) should be the ideal platform for Victorians to get straight answers to hard questions.

The process is designed to flush out the devil in the detail. Victorians need to hear the reasoning behind budget cuts as they continue to pay for Labor’s incompetence.

It comesless than afortnight after the Budget is delivered. Thetiming is ideal to get to the bottom of what is happening to taxpayer’s money.

Instead, aprocessionofgovernment Ministers havedodged questionsand wasted timebypurposely drifting away from the issues at hand.

Time after time, the responses have lacked detail and substance.The clockrunsdowninLabor’s game of dodgeball.

It comes as Labor hascut $1 billion from the healthsystem after slashing $2 billion in last year’s budget despite the system being in crisis.

Our roads system is crumbling, yet Labor has cut maintenance funding by 45 per cent since 2020, with $260 million slashed this year alone.

And regional developmentfunding has been halved to $106.6 million in the brutal Budget, with funding cut an alarming 80 per cent since 2020.

Labor, sadly, is sticking to type when all we need is answers.

The Nationals have led the fight for transparency via the Member for GippslandSouth and PAEC committee member, Danny O’Brien, who has become increasingly frustrated by the process.

Mr O’Brien branded the process “a joke” last week as the government continuallyshut down questions about the State Budget.

No one is laughing.

There has to be abetter way.

It is time Labor faced the heat and provided honest answers.

Peter Walsh Leader of The Nationals

No alternativetoextinct species

IN 2007, aproposal by Gunns to build awoodchip plant in northern Tasmania collapsed after objections from environmentalists that included the effect of noisefrompile-drivers on passingwhales.

Ascientific study published in the journal Endangered Species Research in 2021 examined the potential disturbance of low-frequency noise from turbines on the clicks, whistles and pulsed calls made by podsofmigrating whales to help navigate obstacles in their path.

It concluded that further studies were urgently needed to informappropriate strategiesfor future wind energy development.

"The area of the potentialeffect of acousticexposure canextendfar beyondthe immediate vicinity of the proposed development", the report said.

It warned alteration to the physical and oceanographichabitat couldhave, "cascadingimpacts on thefood chain."

The risk to the natural environment and the despoilment of the pristine coastalskylinehave turned Bob Brown, thefounder of theGreens party, into an opponent.

He said at the time that the wind turbine development is in the wrong place, will ruin the view and killendangered birdlifelike theTasmanian wedgetailed eagle and the white-breasted sea eagle that live on the island, and potentially migratory birds like the swift parrot and the orange-bellied parrot that travel between Tasmania and the mainland.

"We have alternatives for renewable energy [coal, gas,and nuclear], we don'thave alternatives for extinctspecies of birds", Browntold the ABC in 2014.

Joseph Lis Morwell

Have your say

THE Latrobe Valley Express welcomes letters to the editor.

Preference will be given to brief, concise letters which address local issues.

The editor LiamDurkin, reserves the right to edit letters for reasons of space and clarity, and may refuse to publish any letter without explanation.

The Express does not publish letters from anonymous contributors.

Letters mustinclude aphone number, email address and the author's hometown for purposes of substantiating authenticity

Readers are entitled to one right of reply to aletter directed at them.

The views expressed in letters to the editor are those of the writers, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Latrobe Valley Express management or staff.

The letters sectionisdesigned to allow people to have their say,and not be hijacked for political agendas.

Email letters to news@lvexpress.com. au and include 'letter to the editor' in the subject line.

Deadline for letters is Thursday 3pm.

Police charge Rosedale man

DETECTIVES have charged a24-year-old Rosedale man following afatal collision in Flynn on Friday, June 17 2022.

Officers were told aman stopped his car on the Princes Highway, near the intersection of Rights Lane, to assist amotorist with aflattyre. An approachingHolden Rodeo allegedly struck the man, while he was standing on the roadway. The 55-year-old Rosedale man died at the scene. The driver of the Holden has been charged with dangerous drivingcausing death, driveinamanner dangerous and careless driving.

He has been bailed to appear at Latrobe Valley Magistrates’ Court on June 21.

Stolen vehicle

WELLINGTONCriminal Investigation Unit is investigating the theft of amotor vehicle from an area in Sale.

Theincidentoccurred on Thursday,June15, 2023 at around 2am.

The vehicle stolen was a2023 Merlot Red GXL ToyotaLandcruiser dual cab -noplates were affixed at the time of the incident.

Detectives are appealing for anyone that sights this vehicle or has information in relation to this incident not to approachthe vehicle or the occupants, and to call 000 immediately

PoliceBeat with Zaida Glibanovic

Stolen: Policeare calling on the public for information on this stolenToyotaLandcruiser from theSale area. Photograph supplied

Diversity recruitment program

EARLIERthis month, around40participants fromthe Victoria PoliceDiversityRecruitment Programgot abehind-the-sceneslookatthe Road Policing Drugand Alcohol Section’s Brunswick headquarters.

Amidst the booze buses, highwaypatrol cars and police motorbikes on show, the group also got the opportunity to meet and speak withcurrent members about their journey becominga police officer, like Constable Mella Opiew. Mella,who moved to Australia from Sudan with his family in 2004,was one of the first to be recruited through the diversityrecruitment program,which helps people from culturally

VictoriaPolicecrime statistics released

By ZAIDAGLIBANOVIC

THERE was 496,589 criminal offences recorded in Victoria in the 12 months to March 2023, representing an increase of 26,424 offences or 5.6 per cent from the previous year.

When populationgrowth is considered,overall crime increases by 3.5 per cent. Overall crime stillremained 9.1 per cent belowpre-COVID levels.

Overall, crimes against people climbedby3.2 per cent yearly, with assaults and dangerous driving offences leading to an increase.Stalking and harassment, rape, and sex crimes against children were among the crimes to be reduced.

Key trends included:

 Arise in assaults was the primary driver in an increase against the person. With overall assaults increasing 5.1 per cent year-on-year;

 Non-family violence common assaults saw the sharpest rise (an increase of 14.9 per cent), while family violence common assaults and non-family violence serious assaults saw slight increases from the previous year;

 Location of assaults was found to be most frequent in licensed venues;

 Overall property and deception offences increased by 9.8 per cent, but remained significantly below pre-pandemic levels (-16.5 per cent from 12 months to the end of March 2020);

 More cars were stolen over the 12 months to the end of March 2023 (+17.9 per cent);

 There was an 11.2 per cent decrease in overall carjacking's (246, down from 277), the lowest number of carjackings since 2018;

 Youth offenders aged between 10-14 crime increased by 44.6 per cent, while offences from those aged 10-24 increased by 8.4 per cent compared to the previous year, and;

 Overall drug-related offending is gradually trending upwards, increasing by 4.6 per cent.

Deputy Commissioner Regional Operations, Rick Nugent said, “Overall crime in Victoria is graduallyincreasing fromthe low levels of 2020/21, however still remains more than nine per cent below pre-COVID levels."

diverse backgrounds pursue their policing dream. The Diversity Recruitment Program -delivered by Jesuit SocialServices, Victoria Police and Victoria University, Melbourne, Australia -isa free15-weekcourse whichmirrors Victoria Police’s recruitment process,includingnumeracy, literacy skills-building and swimming lessons.

More than 200 participants have been enrolled since the initiative began in 2018.

Applications for residents in the Latrobe Valley are now open until June 30.

For details on the program and how to check your eligibility, go to: https://jss.org.au/.../ victoria-police-diversity.../

 Victoria Police Media stated it was encouraging to see decreases in family violence serious assaults (down by 3.6 per cent from last year) and assaults against police and other emergency service workers (down by 3.5 per cent);

 Family Violence related offending slightly increased year-on-year (+3.1 per cent), and breaches of family violence orders also rose by 5.5 per cent from the year before;

 Robberies increased by 8.7 per cent year-on-year;

 Dangerous driving offences rose by 17 per cent. The rise could be attributed to significant proactive enforcement undertaken by Police over the year;

“Serious offences including family violence, serious assaults, rape, sex offencesagainst children, and stalking and harassment all recorded reductions,” he added.

“While this is positive, there are clearly anumber of areas of concern that police are investing significant energy and resources towards."

Mr Nuget said the horror 2023 on Victorian roadssofar this yearwas anothersignificant concern, with 145 lives lost this year, up 39 from the previous year.

“Reckless drivers are firmly in the sights of local and stateHighway Patrol units who continue to run targeted and intelligence-led operations to reduce the likelihoodoffurther trauma on our roads,” he said.

Local Gippsland councils taking the timber fight national

By STEFAN BRADLEY AND TOMPARRY

COUNCILS affected by the shutdown of native timberharvesting took their fight to Canberra

RepresentativesfromLatrobe City, Wellington Shire,and EastGippsland Shire Councilswere in Parliament House last week to meet with federal politicians and advocate for the local timber industry.

Discussions began on Tuesday, June 13 with meetings facilitatedbyFederal Member for Gippsland, Darren Chester and mayors from each of the three councils -Kellie O'Callaghan (Latrobe) Ian Bye (Wellington)and Mark Reeves (East Gippsland)

The meetings primarily focused on the state government's decision to bring forward the end of native hardwood timber harvestingbysix years to January 1, 2024.

Among the figures to engage in discussions was Federal Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry,Murray Watt.

Mr Chester said the meetingswere "respectful and courteous" but expressed his disappointment at the government's unwillingness to overturnthe state government'sdecision "We metwith Minister for Agriculture Murray Watt and arepresentative of the PrimeMinister's

office, who made it clear that the federal government supports the native hardwood timber industry,"MrChester said.

"While Iwelcomed theirsupport, the factis theyhavenoplans to get involved in thedebate in Victoriaand no intention of standing up for blue-collar workers in our community."

Speaking to ABC Gippsland,CrBye described his conversationwith Mr Wattas"positive".

"He definitely (came) out and said the Prime Minister, Anthony Albanesewants the native timber (industry) to keep going in Australia," Cr Bye said.

He also revealed that council had "pressured" the government to provide an answer on whether or notthey support the industry.

"Theywouldn't give us adefinitive answer (on) whatthey're going to do; they said theywillnot get involvedinstate decisions," Cr Byesaid

"But this is afederal decision now -everyone's timber prices are going to go up, because we will be anet importer of timber in the not-too-distant future."

Thoseremarks were echoed by Mr Chester.

"This is now an issueofnational importance because the demand fortimber products isn't decreasing and Victoria will simply raid other statesfor timber or importfromothercountries

Big wigs: Latrobe City Council MayorKellie

O’Callaghan, East Gippsland MayorMark Reeves,Wellington ShireMayor IanBye and Federal Memberfor Gippsland Darren Chester MP met withFederal Opposition LeaderPeter Dutton (centre) in Canberra last week

Photograph: WellingtonShireCouncil

withpoorerenvironmental standards," he said.

"There will be price impacts on Australians wanting to buildorrenovate ahome,supplychain

ACV/GARDS

Vicki HamiltonACV/GARDS

insecurities, and poorer global environmental outcomes if Australiakeepslocking up its native timber industry."

A meeting was also held on the Tuesday with Opposition Leader Peter Dutton and Shadow Minister for the Environment, Fisheries and Forestry, Senator Jonathon Duniam, who expressed their support for the native timber industry.

Discussions between the threecouncils and federal representatives took place concurrently during the National General Assembly of Local Government (NGA),anevent which saw representatives fromAustralia's 537 councils converge on Canberra to discuss issues of importance.

Cr Bye said he welcomed the invitation to attend theevent and valued the opportunity to meet with representatives from all sides of federal Parliament.

"Counciliscommitted to ongoing advocacyon behalfoflocalcommunities, whetherthatbe transitionofkey industries, renewable energy investment, or encouraging funding for significant infrastructure projects," Cr Byesaid.

"We are pleased to be part of these important conversations,ensuring Gippsland's transitionis being considered at anational level."

Advertising in the Express

have been clients of the Latrobe Valley Express fordecades and we have always enjoyedagood working relationship with Paula and the team in the advertising department Theyare always professional and friendly Theygoout of their waytomake sure youget the right ad forthe right message –wehighly recommend them when you arelooking to send amessage to the community. Topquality, professional and work with youall the waytoachieve the outcome with groups you aretargeting.

gets you you results! i But don’t just take our word for it...

Community Corner with Liam Durkin

Old time dance

AT Newborough Senior Citizens Hall, Boolarra Avenue, East Newborough. Everysecond and fourth Wednesday of the month from 7.30pm to 10.30pm.

Nextdance is Wednesday, June 28.

Please bring aplate to share during the supper break.

If youare over55years of age you are invited to join in the fun.

For further information, phone John on 0488 047 777

School records

MID Gippsland Family History Society Inc. is keen to welcome members and the public to the third guest speaker on our calendar for this year. The topicis'School Records’ by Anne Pawley.

This talk will be held at the Family History Centre, 44 Albert Street, Moe (next door to Tanjil Place MedicalCentre) on Thursday, June 22 at 2pm.

Shirazz jazz

BOOKED by the Moe Latrobe Valley Jazz Club, the Shirazz Jazz Band will be back at the Moe RSL on Sunday, June 25. Shirazz is asix-piece high energy Melbourne trad jazz and Dixieland band specialising in hot jazz of the 20s and 30s.

It has fast been gainingareputation as one of Melbourne’s premier bandsplayingtrad jazz as it was meanttobe played in New Orleans.

The band really is astepback in time playing the classical New Orleans dance hall hot tunes and swinging standards.

The band musicians are Steve Temple on trumpet, Matt Dixon on trombone, Adrian De Fanti on reeds, Michael Hanley on banjo, Stephanie Bellon double bass and Mike Di Cecco on drums.

Club president Bruce Lawn said membersand visitors are in for agreat afternoon of good traditionaljazzmusic.

Doors open at 12.30pm for a 1pm start.

For further information, phone Bruce Lawn on 5174 3516.

Prostatesupport

MEETING of the Latrobe Valley Prostate Support group will be held at Morwell Club tonight (Wednesday) at 7pm.

All members welcome, New members and interested people are also welcome to attend. Come at 6pm to enjoy acounter tea.

Reports fromBassCoast Prostate Support Group reforming. Guestspeaker will be Continence Nurse

Ebony Jones from Latrobe Community Health.

For more information, phone AllanCunningham on 0458 111 688.

Klaverjassen

IF you enjoy playingcards and loveachallenge,come to MorwellEast Senior Citizens (VaryStreetMorwell) every third Thursday of themonth for agame calledKlaverjassen.

Noon start and bring your own lunch.

For more information, call 0428 220 310.

Garden walk

THE Rose Garden Walkers, partofHeartFoundation

Walking, meet at the Morwell Rose Garden Rotunda Monday and Wednesday mornings at 9am. Our walks last between 30 and 50 minutes.

All are welcome. Come and join us for abit of exercise and lots of fun.

Further enquiries on 0409 846 509.

Bridgeresults

TRARALGON Bridge Club

Results for June 13 and 15.

Tuesday- 1st Greg Nicholson and Kaye Douglas 64.06per cent, 2nd Helen McAdam and Moira Hecker (59.38).

Thursday-1st Greg Nicholson and Kaye Douglas (65.74), 2nd Geoff Dixon and John Marsiglio (56.94).

If you are interestedin learning more aboutorplaying bridge, please giveour president, GregNicholson,a ring on 0419 365 739.

All are welcome and of course there is no cost involved.

Just areminder, our Family History Centre is open to the public every Wednesday afternoon between 1pm and 4pm.

We welcomeanyone interestedinlearning more about their ancestors and family history -whether araw beginner or an experienced family historian/genealogist -tocome alongand have achatwith one of our experienced researchers who are keen to help you navigate the resources we have.

You’ll be amazed at what you can discover aboutyour ancestors by using such resources as Trove, Ancestry.com and our large holdings of cemetery records and transcriptions.

For any inquiries,please call 0407 485 032.

MidYear social ballroom dance

LATROBE Valley Dance

PromotionsInc are holding their Mid-Year Social Ballroom Dance on Thursday, June 22.

Come and join us at the Girl Guides Hall, Margaret St, Morwell, from7pm to 10pm for an eveningofsocial dancing(no lessons), friendship, fun and laughter.

Entry is $5 per person.

Please bring aplate of supper to share. All welcome.

Phone Norm on 0428 543 737 or Lynda (0428 489 041) for more information.

Carersget together

NEXT date for get together is Friday, June 23 at Morwell RSL from 12noon.

Hoping to see afew but familiar facesjoin us for lunch.

Details from Pat on 0421 922 731 or Sandra on 0411 475 666.

Afternoon tea concert

YALLOURN Madrigal Singers are looking forward to welcoming the public to its afternoon tea concert at St James’ Anglican Church, Grey St Traralgon on Sunday, July 2.

The choir will present a lovely selectionofmadrigals, romanticfolk songs, sacred music, and some very wellknown songs.

Ticketsare only $20 and include adelicious afternoon teafollowing theconcert.All welcome!

Tickets are available at the door or buy them online at https://www.trybooking.com/ CIBSW

Chess results

PETER Bakker now holds sway after completing an undefeated round on Tuesday, June 13.

Deana Russo eventually succumbed against Micael Russo in alengthy tussle. Following alatestart,Cliff Thorton was on thewinners list with awin over Steve Ahern.

Costly errors were too frequent for Ian Hamilton following the win againstVince Russo.

Phone Cliff Thorntonon0413 330458 or Ian Hamilton, (5134

1971) for more details on local chess.

Moe book launch

MOE Library will host abook launch on Saturday,June24 from 10.30am.The book is titled Among the Wildflowers Gippsland Writers Network is delighted to presentthis book launchofanew poetry book by co-authors Sally-Anne Watson Kane(wholives in Moe), Seamus Foley (East Gippsland) and Delia Tobin (Mornington Peninsula).

Among the Wildflowers is about families and the bush in Gippsland,Mornington and regional Victoria, as well as ruralIreland

There willbepoetry readings, refreshmentsand alucky door prize.

You can register to attend at Eventbrite, or phone SallyAnne on 0419 337 824.

Traralgon

croquet results

TRARALGONCroquet Club hosted acroquet golf doubles tournament on May 10 and 11. Competitors came from Terang, Mornington, Kew, Leongatha, Drouin, Sale, Warragul,Wonthaggi and Morwell.

The weekend comprised of

twosections with nine pairs in each section.

The winners of Section 1were Julie Beasley and HeatherLees from Warragul and runnersup Joan and Malcolm from Monash.

Section 2winners were Darryl Edwards and Ron Bird from Traralgonand runnersup were Joanneand Michael Butterfield from Leongatha.

Men's group

ROYAL Freemason’s ‘Men’s Group’ started last year, and now has around five to 15 attendees who meet each weektohelp maintain their independence and keep socially connected and active.

Lifestyle coordinator, Tammy Bawden, says the group undertake simple and stimulating activities each week.

“They have meetings and choose whatthey would like to do -itmay just be having abeer and chat, discussing hobbies or interests, playing poker/cards, crafts-like paintingplanter boxes -orbowling,” she said.

“The bus outings have included differentbikeand car museums, Walhalla railway train ride, fishing at alocal lake, lunch outings at local pubs, and visiting the Moe model railway club.

“We oftenbring the ladies and men'sgroupstogether and they do baking together.”

Tammysaidthe Men’sGroup has arange of bothphysical and mental health benefits.

“It is avaluable source of personal development for menbuilding friendships, emotional support, supporting each other with any challenges they may have,and navigating their own challenges in healthy ways,” she said.

“We provide support and show them that they can still do anything they puttheir mind to.”

Next week, the Men’s Group will be attending the Moe model railway club.

Youcan be apartof Community Corner

IF you are acommunity group and have any news items you need publicised, feel free to email us at news@lvexpress. com.au.

You can address the correspondence to Editor, Liam Durkin.

Pleasewrite 'Community Corner' in the subject line and nothing else.

Deadline is Friday 9am to appear in the following Wednesday issue.

Jazzman: Shirazz Jazz will perform at MoeRSL this Sunday.

Photographs supplied

Local success: DarrylEdwards and RonBirdfromTraralgon Croquet Club wonSection 2ofthe recent golf croquet tournament held at theclub. Photo supplied

Youth comedy

GIPPSLAND Youth Drama Workshop’s new production BushTaleBunyip hitsthe stagethis weekend, and promisestobea memorableevent for thewhole family.

It’s an Aussie twist on fairytales, set the bush, with fairies, brownies, elves, witches and an unpopular bunyip, who all tip the happily-ever-after story on its head.

The comicaltaleisthe latest original show produced by the group, and assistant director, KrissiCreightonsays“Thesekids are amazing. They work so hard to develop fun characters and an interesting story. It’s not like anormal kid’s show where everything is set. These young stars have more scope to develop something original and important to them, so it’s their story."

“This year marks our 13th birthday, and we’re very proud that we’ve produced over 100 original shows in that time, involving over 200 Gippsland youth, which have been seen by well over 20,000 local audiences.

"It’s quite alandmark for aregional theatre company. We’ve worked in many schools and youth groups as well as the out-of-schoolprogram, building skills and enjoyment of theatre. These young stars are the futureoflocalliveperformance.

“Like most fairytales, this story has abattleof good and evil, it has afairy prince and princess andacharacterthat sort of doesn’t fit in Barry the Bunyip.

"It’s allaboutaccepting differences, embracing them, and realising that being unique is agood thing which can strengthen acommunity.

"The charactersface many challenges on the way to accepting and embracing someone who is different from the norm. It’s agreat lesson but it’s also great fun and supplies alot of comedy.

“The young stars have really enjoyed creating their own vision, story and characters. They pick themes that are important to them, and it’s all about making the world abetter place for everyone”.

Young performers travel from across the region to be involved in the Youth Drama Workshop’s unique program.

“Every new group comes up withtheirown ideas, so each play we produce is original," Ms Creighton said.

"We do two shows ayear, starting in February for the first one,withashow in June,and starting in July forashow in November for the second.

"We incorporate improvisations, theatre sports games, writer’s workshop sessions, the rehearsal process, voice projection and afinal production open to family, friends and the general public”.

Participants areinvolved for various reasons from wanting to be an actor to simply building their confidence, enjoying acreativeactivity, meeting new friendsand learning about the performingarts.

The excitement of performing in front of alarge

live audience is an experience they remember forever.

“The kids work hard to produce apolished show, enthusiastic performancesand something different that they have achancetoput their own creative thumbprints on," Ms Creighton added.

Bush Tale Bunyip is guaranteed to be an entertainingevening for the whole family, andisshowing for onenightonly,Saturday, June 24 at 7.30pm

Call out for nappy donations

Istoria: Artexhbition showwing in Yinnar

GOLDFIELDS Printmakers presents ‘Istoria’ an art exhibition at the Arc Yinnar Art Gallery.

‘Istoria’the exhibition will be opened by Jenny Peterson this Saturday, June 24at 2pm.

Ms Peterson is aprofessional local contemporary artist specialising in printmaking who has exhibited nationally and has artworks in public and private collections Australia-wide.

Goldfields Printmakers are acollective of artists living in the Goldfields central region of Victoria, who predominantly work in the art of printmaking.

Jimmy Pasakos, avisual arts-printmaking lecturer at the Arts Academy-Federation University-Ballarat, was the co-founder of the group in 2012.

The exhibition theme of Istoria is broadly based on the concept of the term history, which hasevolved from an ancient Greek verb istoria which means "to know".

Originally meaning inquiry, the act of seeking knowledge, as well as the knowledge that results from inquiry or what we now call histories, stories or tales.

The Oxford Dictionary gives adefinition of the tale as afictitious or true narrative or story, especially one that is imaginatively recounted. The words story and history share much of their lineage, however today we mostly think

of the dividing lineasthe one between fact and fiction.

Stories maybefancifultales wovenat bedtime, melodramatic plots, or the relating of asimple tale.

Histories, on the other hand, are records of events, although the veracity of those events usually depends on who has written the history/ herstory.

The word historyrefers to all-time preceding this very moment and everything that 'really' happened up to now.

The distinctions may be much messier than that of course and as printmakers -people who use visual imagery to imaginatively convey meaning -wemakefull use of the freedom afforded by mark-making, to play withthe way apicturetellsathousand stories,histories or tales.

The printmakers, within the collective, are exhibitors themselves displaying their works across the state, nationally andinternationally.

It is agreat opportunity for the public to view these talented artists' works and support the Arc Yinnar Art Gallery-Gippsland.

The Goldfields Printmakers is supported by the Arts Academy at Federation University Australia.

COST of living pressures are hitting families hard, with one in 10 families now struggling to afford nappies for their babies and toddlers according to new research data.

To help localfamiliesexperiencing nappy stress, Member for EasternVictoria Region, Melina Bath is supporting the collectionofdonatedspare nappies.

Ms Bath's electoral office is aNappy Collective collection point and all nappies collected through her office will be passed onto charities in eastern Victoria to assist local families in need.

The NappyCollective is anot-for-profit initiative that supports babies and toddlers experiencing disadvantage by collecting donations of new and leftover nappies, for the redistribution to families in crisis.

The NappyCollective recentlystatedthat nappy stress is worsening as cost of living pressures continue to rise in Victoria, reportingnappy stress has worsened by at least 12 per cent.

Ms Bath said any donations of unused, leftover disposable nappies will be gratefully accepted and will help to address nappy stress locally.

“Often familieshave leftoversizesthat their babyortoddler has grown out of layingaround the house, donating them is awonderful way to help out local familiesinneed and clean out the cupboard," she said.

“New boxes of new nappies are also accepted if a donor’s budget can accommodate this.

“The cost of nappies to ahousehold budget adds in the vicinity of $50 aweek, with newborns needing on average 12 changes aday, and toddlers six to eight changes aday.

“This programhelps families struggling financially and experiencing bill stress, so they don’t havetodecide whether to put food on thetable, heat their home or change their child’s nappy.

“The NappyCollective is aworthwhile cause that provides practical support to families in our community, and Isincerely thank any individual

at theLittle Theatre,Gippsland Performing Arts Centre Traralgon.

Tickets are $27/$20 and are available from latrobe.vic.gov.au/gpac/events or call the boxoffice on 51 76 3333.

For further informationabout theworkshop, call the director on 0409 878 688.

Cause: Member forEasternVictoria Region, Melina Bath is lending her supporttothe Nappy Collectiveproject to help support local families experiencing nappystress.

Photograph supplied

or community group who can assist me with donations.”

Nappy donations can be dropped into Ms Bath’s electorateoffice located at 181 FranklinStreet, Traralgon during business hours, Mondayto Friday.

Alternatively, phone Ms Bath’s office on 5174 7066 or email melina.bath@parliament.vic.gov.au forfurtherassistance if making alarge donation of nappies.

Drama changes lives: Theyoung starsofBushTale Bunyip,showing this weekend at GPAC. Photograph supplied

Business Guide

DROP &LEAVE is atreeservices companythatprovides qualified arboricultureservices forthe pruning and removaloftrees in Gippsland.

Established in 2008, the team have built agreat reputation forhighly skilled work,excellent customer service and acompleteadherence to health and safetystandards

Offering tree services across the Gippsland region, our tree climbers arequalified arborists with the expertise to maintain healthytrees throughproperpruning and care.

Our services include tree removals, tree pruning (crownand weight reductions,dead wooding etc.), tree trimming,stump grinding,hedging services,mulch sales,firewood sales, wind and stormdamage recovery,and vegetation reduction.

With full insurance and acomprehensiveOHS system, youcan be reassured that your tree work will be completed with reduced risk to your property

Leon and the team pride themselves on their excellent customer service and will always arrivefor your quote and completeyour work efficiently.

The crew’s qualifications and experience arecomplemented by their polite and friendlymanner on the job

Phone:

All classifications before 3pm Monday

In person:

Latrobe Valley Express

21George St,Morwell

NextraLotto Moe

1-3 MooreSt, Moe Seymour St Newsagency 83 Seymour St, Traralgon

PLEASE NOTE:| thatadpaymentis required prior to publication unless afullaccount is held with the Latrobe Valley Express.

Email: classifieds@ lvexpress.com.au

PLEASE NOTE:

Confirm your email if youhave not received a confirmation email from us, emails ARE NOTALWAYS RELIABLE and we don’t alway receive them

Mail: Latrobe Valley Express, “Attention Classifieds’’ 21 George Street, Morwell 3840

Newsagents:

Most Newsagents act as our agents and will accept your advertisements up until the same deadlines as above

Credit Card:

to place yourGarage Sales • Old Port Poultry Farm Delivering 18 week old Isa Brown laying hens to your area, Sat. 24th June $29 ea. Ph 0438 832 535. ORNATE

gates for garden or

For Sale

•

BOOLARRA, 1Fairmont St, Sat. 8am-12. Electrical, kitchenware, camping gear, tools, household items, bric-a-brac and much more. All must go!

BLINDS Lenny 0418 514 132 MOE 19 Harold St, Saturday, 8am-3pm. Freezer, books, toys, furniture, kitchenware, clothing, tools, lots more! FIREWOOD Dry, split mixed hardwood. Delivery all areas. Phone 0439 206 925.

NEWSPRINT

Price: $11 GST incl.

E X P R E S S C L A S S I F I E D S

Moe RSL SUB-BRANCH Inc.

ABN: 51965 667 895. Inc: A0039367F

Notice of General Meeting 2023

The Moe RSL Sub-Branch Inc. would like to advise service members and affiliates that June's General Meeting will be held in the Moe RSL Function Room at 5.30pm on 28th June 2023

Following the meeting alight supper will be provided

MOBILE PHONE BASE STATION LOCATED AT MORWELL

Telstra plans to upgrade an existing telecommunications facility located at 100-102 Vincent Road, Morwell, VIC 3840 (2\LP66938) www.rfnsa.com.au/3840003

Moe Self Storage

various sizes from $85 p.c.m. Contact Strzelecki Realty on 5127 1333.

Adult Services •

100% first time in town. Sexy and beautiful. So hot. Ph 0421 367 038.

DISNEY ON ICE

LOCALSBUY LOCALLY! Let us do the work for you!! Public Notices • Public Notices • MOE SOUTH 193 Service Rd, Saturday, 8.30am start. Lego, baby clothes, ladies clothes, electronics, camping gear.

Friday 30 June

Jaybee Tours / Hazelwood Coaches 0428 223 361

2. The proposed works at the above site include the removalofseven(7) panel antennas andthe installation of six (6) panel antennas (each no more than 2.8m long). Theremoval ofsix (6)remoteradio units (RRUs) with the installation of six (6) RRUs and the installation of associated ancillary equipment.All internal equipment will be housed within the existing equipment shelterlocated at thebase of thefacility

3. Telstra regards the proposed installation as a Low-Impact Facility under the Telecommunications (Low-impact Facilities)Determination 2018 based on the above description.

4. In accordance with Section 7ofC564:2020 Mobile Phone Base Station Deployment Code, we invite you to provide feedbackabout the proposal. Further information and/or written submissions should be directedtoMatildeTobon, Aurecon Australasia Pty Ltd (A.B.N 54 005 139 873) via email to: Matilde.TobonMaya@aurecongroup.comorvia post to: Matilde Tobon, AureconAustralasiaPOBox 23061 Docklands, VIC, 8012 by 5pm on 5/07/2023.

GP1658828

being all of the land situated at 137 Hammersmith Circuit, Traralgon, Victoria, 3844.

CLH LAWYERS Level 2, 577 Little Bourke Street, Melbourne, Victoria 3000 Phone +61 39628 2801; mcc@clhlawyers.com.au; Ref 801104

right to revise or restrict any ad we deem objectionable and to change the classification when necessary to conform to the policyof this newspaper In the event an ad is omitted from publication, we assume no liabilityfor such omission.

For Sale • Garage Sales • Livestock • Public Notices • Meetings • Meetings • classif ieds@lvexpress.com.au MONDAY TO FRIDAY 9AM-5PM Classifieds 51354455 Page 46 —The Latrobe Valley Express, Wednesday, 21 June, 2023

Boxshall Painting

Door

PLUMBING

ELECTRICIAN

Specialising in all domestic work. REC.4188. Phone Peter 0438 177 153 or Carol 5126 2110.

FENCING

General plumbing, repairs/ maintenance, drainage and sewerage, roofing and guttering. Blocked drain, sewer and storm water and 4000 PSI drain hydro cleaning. Small jobs welcome. Glenn 0437 327 879. Lic. No. 45333.

Painting

Business Opportunities

Apprentice Mechanical Fitter

Areyou fascinated abouthow thingsare put together or everwonderedhow different machines work? Do you find yourself spendingtime in the shed, pulling thingsapart to seehow they work? If you have anatural eye for detail and aregood with your hands, becominga Mechanical Fitter Apprentice could be for you. Undertaking this four-year apprenticeship will give you the opportunity to become aqualified Mechanical Fitter with a Certificate III in Engineering (Mechanical Trade) (MEM30219).

Youwill be trained to operate heavy Machining equipment including metal lathes and milling machines to manufacture mechanicalcomponents to exact specifications as determined by technical drawings. Youwill learn to assemble, rebuild and fault find for defects on mechanical plant including gearboxes, pumps, conveyors, valves,pipework, and turbines.

Based at LoyYangB Power Station, Victoria’s newest and most efficient coal-fired power station, you will work with an experienced and passionate team of people committed to helping you learn.

THE BESTBITS No

HECS-HELPdebt –infact, most apprenticeships arefully funded by the Government.So, you will leave your 4years with aqualification, no debt,and ready to earnthe bigbucks in an industry that is eager for morequalified tradespeople to join theirranks

We will actually payyou to learn! How many of your uni mates get paid to study?

Placements with other employers to broaden your experience, enhance your trade skills and develop valuable networks

Transferable skills applicable to arange of industries

Potential to be selected for a scholarship offering financial support to complete apost-trade qualification in new energy technologies upon completion of your apprenticeship

LoyYangBare aculturally diverse employer and welcome applications from people with different backgrounds, experiences and perspectives who aspire to make adifference with aleading energy employer

Host specific -four-day week, additional training (e.g. forklift,EWP,welding, and hydraulics) perks

WHO SHOULD APPLY?

We’relookingfor motivated applicants who have agenuine interest in starting a trade career within the mechanical engineering industry

Requirements:

Good communication skills

Reliability and Punctuality

Excellent mechanical aptitude

Good safety awareness

If you think this couldbeyou –apply online nowbysubmitting your resume and cover letter explaining why youthink youwould be the idealMechanical Fitter Apprentice!

TO FIND OUTMORE ABOUT THE ROLE AND TO APPLY, GO TO JOBS.PROGRAMMED.COM.AU AND SEARCH FORTHE VACANCY

Applications close Monday, 10 July 2023.

ICU/PICU NURSES

SPRAY PAINTER

Alan's Panels is looking for aThird Year or Qualified Spray Painter. Our work is insurance crash repairs. We have amodern work shop, new baking oven Axalta paint. Come join our team!

DELIVERERS WTD

St Michael’s School Traralgon

LEARNING INITIATIVE

TUTOR

.4 FTE

CLASSROOM TEACHER

.4 FTE

Positions maybecombined to a.8FTE for asuitable applicant

St Michael’s School Traralgon is seeking passionate teachers inspired to work in the Catholic school system who arededicated to improving student learning

Pre-service teachers areencouraged to apply for the tutor position.

Role description and application form can be accessed from the CEVN website www.cecv.catholic.edu.au/Positions-Vacant

Contact Details: Mrs Jodie Ware,Principal

Enquiries welcome, please call (03) 5174 3295

Email: principal@stmtraralgon.catholic.edu.au

Applications close 4pm Wednesday, 5th July 2023 St Michael’s school community is committedtothe safety,wellbeing and protection of allchildren

Land Use Planning Support Officer

Position No. 444

Maternity Leave Cover -Part-time (based on 0.8EFT) 31 July 2023 to 11 November 2024

Band 4-$65,874 pro rata, per annum plus 10.5% statutory superannuation

Wellington Shire Council is currently seeking a dynamic, process driven administrator to join our Development team in atemporary part-time capacity as the Land Use Planning Support Officer.

The successful candidate will need to demonstrate how they meet the criteria below:

● Proven relevant experience in an administrative role with high attention to detail.

● Highly developed communication skills (written and verbal) with an ability to interact with people at all levels.

● Strong organisational skills with an emphasis on working efficiently within critical timelines.

● Proven ability to work cooperatively in ateam environment.

● Strong familiarity with Microsoft Office suite of products and the ability to learn new systems quickly.

How to Apply:

Applications are to be via our organisation's careers webpage and must address the Key Selection Criteria. The closing date for applications will be 11:59pm Sunday 2July2023.

Would you like to deliver the Latrobe Valley Express newspaper to individual homes on Tuesday and/or Wednesday afternoons in Morwell, Traralgon, Moe, Newborou gh and Churchill? Please apply to the Circulation Manager 0456 000 541. Please note: Children must be 11 years or over as we will need to apply for agovernment Child Employment Permit Children younger than 11 cannot or will not be accepted. Adult deliverers also welcome.

ADVERTISERS

PLEASE NOTE:

Much hardship and difficulty is caused to job seekers by misleading advertising placed in the employment columns. Our Situations Vacant columns are reserved for advertisements which carry aspecific and genuine offer of employment. Ads for `Business Opportunities' and `Training Courses' and `Employment Services' should be submitted under those headings. Placing misleading ads is an offence against the Trades Practices Act and state/territory fair trading acts and all advertisements are subject to the publisher's approval. For further advice, contact the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission on 1300 302 502 or your state consumer affairs agency.

TRAFALGAR HIGH SCHOOL HOSPITALITY TRAINEESHIP

Our Trafalgar branch of TTMI has an exciting opportunity available for amotivated, hands on individual to join the team as aService Technician Mechanic either workshop based or in Field service. This is afull-time role with immediate start. If you are enthusiastic, hardworking, and have the drive to get the job done right, we want to hear from you. Please send your resume to: careers@ttmi.com.au

WANTED TAXI DRIVERS TRARALGON AREA

Try

Manager Children, Youth and Families

Full-time ongoing

Salelocation

Leadingcommunity services

organisation

Salary packaging, and competitive sector remuneration

A

URGENT Deliverers Wanted TRARALGON, MORWELL and NEWBOROUGH

Would you like to deliver the Latrobe Valley Express newspaper to individual homes on Tuesday and/orWednesdayafternoons in Traralgon, Morwell and Newborough. Please apply to: TheCirculationManager0456 000 541

Please note: Children must be 11 years or over as we will need to apply for agovernment Child Employment Permit. Children younger than 11 cannot or will not be accepted. Adult deliverers also welcome

CAPABLE

On current model motor vehicles required for work in Traralgon Panel Shop

Classifieds 5135

Position available in long standing Panel Works in Traralgon.

Metal Fabrication Apprentice

Do you have an interest in welding and working with metals in structural engineering?

GLaWAC is growing

The GunaikurnaiLand andWaters Aboriginal Corporation (GLaWAC)represents the Traditional OwnersofGippsland,the Gunaikurnai people GLaWAC has anumber of exciting new opportunities to join our economic development team in the following areas:

Major Projects Senior Manager –Economic Development

We’relooking for aMajor Projects Senior Manager to provide strategic leadership and planning to deliver amajor projects developmentprogram, with afocus on the renewable energy transition on Gunaikurnai Country

Major Projects Project Manager –Economic Development

This role will provide strategic planning, reporting and administrative support to the cconomic development team to manage the deliveryofRenewable Energy industry transition projectswithinGippsland, delivering innovative and quality outcomes with ahigh level of communityfocus.

Commonwealth Games Program Lead

The Program Lead (Commonwealth Games) will provide leadership, support and advice to ensure Gunaikurnaicultureand aspirations areembedded into the planning and delivery of the Commonwealth Games 2026 (Gippsland).

GLaWAC considersthat being of Aboriginal or TorresStrait Islander heritage is agenuine occupational requirement for this position.

Commonwealth Games Program Manager

We’relooking for aProgram Manager (Commonwealth Games) to provide program development,and lead community and stakeholder engagement,toachieve cultural, economic and social outcomes for the Gunaikurnaicommunityaspart of the 2026 Commonwealth Games (Gippsland).

Applications close:

Wednesday, 19th July,2023

Formoreinformation, visit: www.gunaikurnai.orgorcontact Mardi Edwards on 0421818 748.

If you enjoy working with your hands,haveaneye fordetail, and can visualisehow an object should look from adrawing, an apprenticeship in metal fabrication may be for you.

This four-year apprenticeship will give you the opportunity to become aqualified Metal Fabricator/Boilermaker with a Certificate III in Engineering -Fabrication Trade (MEM30319).

Metal Fabricators make and repair all types of fabricated metal products. Youwill gain the knowledge and skills to carryout tasks including gas cutting and welding, electric arcwelding,interpreting technical drawings,fault identification,and carrying out repairs. You’ll learn to use hand tools such as angle grinders, drills, hammers chisels andmeasuring equipment.

Based at LoyYangB Power Station, Victoria’s newest and most efficient coal-fired power station, you will work with an experienced and passionate team of people committed to helping you learn.

THE BESTBITS No

HECS-HELP debt –infact, most apprenticeships arefully funded by the Government.So, you will leave your 4years with aqualification, no debt,and ready to earn the big bucks in an industrythatiseagerfor morequalified tradespeople to join their ranks

We will actually payyou to learn! How many of your uni mates get paid to study? Placements with other employers to broaden your experience, enhance your trade skills and develop valuable networks

Transferable skills applicable to arange of industries

Potential to be selected for a scholarship offering financial support to complete apost-trade qualification in new energy technologies upon completion of your apprenticeship

LoyYangB areaculturally diverse employer and welcome applications from people with different backgrounds, experiences and perspectives who aspire to make adifference with aleading energy employer

Host specific -four-day week, additional training (e.g. forklift,EWP,welding, and hydraulics) perks WHO SHOULD APPLY?

We’relooking formotivated applicants who have agenuine interest in starting atrade career within the mechanicalengineeringindustryasametal fabricator.

Requirements:

Good communication skills

Reliability and Punctuality

Excellent mechanical aptitude

Good safety awareness

If you thinkthiscouldbeyou –apply online now by submitting your resume and cover letter explainingwhy you think you would be the ideal Metal Fabrication Apprentice!

The successful applicantwill commence in early 2024.

TO FIND OUTMORE ABOUT THE ROLE AND TO APPLY, GO TO JOBS.PROGRAMMED.COM.AU AND SEARCH FORTHE VACANCY

Applications close Monday, 10 July 2023.

TheManager of Children, Youth and Familieswillworkaspart of ateamof managers and is responsible forefficient coordination and managementof family services,family preservation and reunificationresponse,childrenwith complex disabilitysupport needsand specialistdisability family services and others.

Reportingtothe Senior Manager, the Manager will overseethe delivery of and provideexpertise in aportfolioof Governmentfundedprograms.

Learn more

For moreinformation visit: https://careers.unitingvictas.org.au/en/li sting/

Interested?

Formoreinformationora confidential

discussionabout therolepleasecontact: Linde Coggan, Senior ManagerChildren Youth& Families on (03) 5144 777

Position closes: Friday30June 2023

CareersatLatrobe

LatrobeCityCouncilhasexcitingopportunitiesforenthusiasticand forward-thinkingindividualswithapassionforprovidingexcellent servicestoourcommunity

• AdministrationOfficer EngineeringServices - ministra nOfficer

TemporaryuptoFullTime

• Local Laws Officer Traffic&Compliance- al Traffic& CompliancePermanent&Temporary

• Performance andReporting Analyst - ormance

PermanentFull Time

• SeniorRoadsEngineeroads Engineer -Permanent Full Time

• Customer FocusAgent-Casual

• SeniorTheatre Technician- PermanentFull Time

• Customer ServiceOfficer /Lifeguard - Cu -Casual

• LearntoSwimInstructorLearntoSwimInstructor-Casual

• Preschooland Childcare–MultiplePositions - Childcare –MultiplePositions

Casual

• Expressions of Interest –Communications, ons, Marketing, Mediaand Design Professionals Media andDesign

• ExpressionofInterest-PlanningOpportunities ExpressionofInterest -PlanningOpportunities

Forfurtherinformationincludinghow toapply,positiondescriptionsand applicationclosingdates,pleasevisitour websitewww.latrobe.vic.gov.au/careers

Pleasenotesuccessfulapplicantswillbe requiredtoapplyforandsatisfactorilyobtain aNationalPoliceCheckandWorkingwith ChildrenCheck.

www.latrobe.vic.gov.au/careers

Motor Mart

Cars •

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Selling avan?

Don't waste time waiting for buyers, or on endless consignment plans, sell it today we'll pay cash now.

Affordable Caravans 0418 336 238, 5623 4782.

MOTORING SPECIAL

Minimum 6lines$56 without aphoto or $70withacolour photo

Total of 4consecutive editions in the Latrobe Valley Express and 8editions of the Gippsland Times paper THEY DO SELL!

DRIVE YOUR DOLLAR FURTHER

Cars and Caravans areindemand

5135 4455

Responsibility

PLEASE CHECK YOUR AD

Please check yourad onthe first day andbring any errors to the attention of the Classifieds Department immediately

TheLatrobe ValleyExpress makes everyefforttoavoid errors

We regret that we cannot be responsible forany errors beyond the first day if you fail to bring it to our attention

No allowances can be made for errors notmaterially affecting the effectiveness of the ad.

Positioncannot will notbe guaranteed.

All claims foradjustment of credit must be made within seven days afterbillingdate

We reservethe right to revise or restrict any ad we deem objectionable and to change the classification when necessary to conform to the policy of this newspaper

In the event an ad is omitted from publication, we assume no liability forsuch omission.

Motorcycles •

STREET GLIDE

2012, exc. con., Screamin Eagle air and cam, been on Dyno, 22,000km, $21,000. 0428 619 971.

Caravans •

OLYMPIC

Model 640SS, 6.4m/21'6'', 2007 manufacture, exc. cond., twin axle, ensuite $37,000. 0428 273 339.

PARAMOUNT Studio

2011 24' incl. all standard features plus many extras $43,000. Can sell as package $88,000 with 2007 GXL Toyota Landcruiser, WAC-095. Both in exc. cond. 0403 430 382.

GRASKE, William (Bill). The Officers and members of the Yallourn North Urban Fire Brigade are saddened to announce the passing of Brigade Life Member Bill Graske. Our sincere condolences to Bill's family and friends.

HADDOCK, Paul. Passed away peacefully at Mildura Base Hospital on 14 June 2023 with his loving family.

Aged 64 years

Beloved partner of Marg.

Loved father and fatherin-law of Benjie, Shilo and Dean, Zack and Kate, Joel and Pam, Joshua and Bec.

Friend and mate to Joel, Ben, Shannon, and Rhiannon.

Personals

BENNETT, William George (Bill). 23/6/1937 -15/6/2023.

Beloved husband of Pat for 63 years.

Loved father and fatherin-law of Shayne and Tania, Dianne and Pauline. Cherished pop and poppy of 7grand and 7great grandchildren

Forever in our hearts

BENNETT, Bill. The Committee of Management, Staff and Members of the Italian Australian Club are deeply saddened by the passing of our treasured Life Member Bill Bennett. Bill was ahighly regarded and well-respected Member of our Club and adeserving Life Member. Our sincerest condolences go out to all of Bill's family, he will be sadly missed.

BOOTHMAN (nee White), Pauline Margaret. Passed away peacefully, surrounded by family, at Latrobe Regional Hospital, Wednesday 14 June 2023.

Aged 88 years Loving wife of Don (dec.). Mother of Robert and Margaret. Nana of Matthew and Hannah, and Liam and Shawnee. Mother of Andrew and family.

Reunited with Don Private Service

GRASKE, William John (Bill).

Passed away peacefully at Latrobe Regional Hospital, Traralgon, 13 June 2023 surrounded by his loving family. In his 75th year.

Dearly loved and loving husband of Evelyn for 54 years.

Much loved father and father-in-law of Karen and Richard, Tracey and John, Deanna and Dwayne. Adored Pop of Matthew and Clare, Darcy and Tyler, Grace, Maycee, Nicholas, and Sophie.

Loved son of the late Bill and Marie Graske. Loved brother of Annette (dec.), Davina, Kevin and Wayne.

MASON, Geoff. Loving husband of Paula (Hamm ond ). Lo ved brother-in-law of Dennis and Robyn. Fun uncle of Kirrilee and Mick, Ryan and Fiona and great uncle of William, Mia, Wynter and Nixon. We will miss you mate, especially at Christmas

MASON, Geoff.

Dearly loved brother-inlaw, uncle and friend of Des and Heather (dec.) Hammond, Sharyn, Phil, Mitch, Nick and Liam and Kerry, Glenn, Alana and Jake. Our fun loving outlaw whose beautiful smile could brighten the darkest of days. Love to Paula, Shannon, Dario, Daniel and Stacey. Family get togethers will not be the same without you!

MURPHY, Maureen Margaret Therese. Time to say goodbye to a special aunty and sister. Thank you for your kindness and giving over the years andfun that we all had in Spud's shed

To Spud, Brendan and Tracey, and grandchildren, sad are the hearts that loved her.

Love Colin, David and Leonie, and sister Kerry and partner Peter XX.

NIELSEN (Sibly), Brenda. 27/4/1940 -17/6/2023.

Passed away suddenly but peacefully at Andrews House, Trafalgar.

Aged 83 years

Much loved wife of Oscar Robert (Bob) (dec.). Dearly loved mother of Narelle and Gina.

RIDDLE (Mitchell), Edith Christine. Passed away peacefully at Andrews House Trafalgar 18 June 2023 surrounded by her loving family.

Aged 93 years

Dearly loved wife of Trevor (dec.).

Much loved and loving mother and mother-in-law of Stephen and Julie, Sandra and Stan, Geoffrey and Julie, Judy and Tony, Mark and Donna. Special Nan to Debbie and Garry. Adored Nan Rid to all her grand and great grandchildren.

WEARNE, Gwendolyn

Clarice. Late of Allora, QLD and formerly of Moe South. Passed away peacefully on 12 June 2023.

Aged 87 years

Loving wife to Ray. Loving mother and mother-in-law to Ian, Peter and Trish, Gayle and Russell and Glenn and Melanie. Loving and adored grandmother and great grandmother to their families.

The Funeral Service will take place at Warwick Funerals Chapel, 48 Willi Street, Warwick (Qld) on 30 June 2023, commencing at 11am.

HEKMAN. AService to celebrate the life of and Committal for Cremation for Mr Harm "Harry" Hekman will be held at the Rose Chapel, Gippsland Memorial Park, Traralgon on THURSDAY (22 June 2023) commencing at 2pm.

MOE-MORWELL-TRARALGON TRARALGON 5174 2258

Place your tribute on latrobevalleyfunerals.com.au

Paul, My Partner. My Companion. My Love.

You may be gone, but I can still see your face and hear your laughter. You left this world but not my heart.

When we meet again, I shall hold you in my arms and never let you go.

Love you more Miss you more Marg.

Paul, Thank you for the love and joy you brought to our mum, and to our family.

We loved your jokes, your advice and listening to you and mum heckling each other like an old married couple.

You will be terribly missed Joel, Ben, Shannon and Rhiannon.

HAWKER, Lorraine. Passed away on 8June, 2023. Best friend of Dot and Theresa. Rest In Peace Lorraine

HEKMAN, Harm "Harry".

Passed away peacefully surrounded by family at Heritage Manor, Saturday 17 June 2023.

Aged 78 years

Loved son of Sapkina 'Kim' (dec.). Loved brother of Hendrika (dec.), Mariane, Rob and Caroline. Also a much loved brother-inlaw, uncle and friend.

Forever Remembered

HILLIER, Allan James. Passed away peacefully surrounded by family at Latrobe Valley Village on Wednesday 14 June 2023.

Aged 80 years

Loved and loving husband of Ruth (dec.). Loved stepfather to Darren (dec.), Kimberly and Kelly. Loved father of Darren (dec.), Grant and Tory. Much loved grandfather and great grandfather to many. God saw that you were weary, The hill too steep to climb, He gently closed your eyes, and whispered "Peace be thine."

The family wish to thank the staff at Latrobe Valley Village for all their love and support over the years.

JELLEFF (Beare) Leonie Joy

Passed away peacefully at her home in Churchill, on 18 June 2023. Aged 64 years Dearly loved wife of Robert. Adaughter, wife, mother, grandmother, and sister. Sadly missed

MAGNUSON (nee McLeod), Edna Nellie. 20/9/1920 -7/6/2023. 102 years old Devoted and loving wife of Jack (dec.).

Loved mother of John, Peter, Ian, David (dec.), Robyn (dec.), Ross and Donald.

Missing her already

MASON, Geoffery Ian.

We are deeply saddened by the passing of our much loved Uncle Geoff Mason. Taken from Aunty Paula (Hammond), Shannon and Daniel, their partners and the extended Mason and Hammond families too soon.

Always such afriendly and consistent member of our family who will be missed immensely. Much loved brother-inlaw to Leon and Marg Hammond, uncle to Sarah and Daniel, Matthew and Darcie and great uncle 'Gep' to Lauren and Zachary.

Forever in our hearts

AMemorial Service will take place at Shorten Reserve Football Ground, West Footscray at 1.30pm on FRIDAY (23 June 2023).

MITCHELL (Olver), Ivy "Beryl".

8/11/1923 -15/6/2023.

Passed away at the West Gippsland Hospital, Warragul surrounded by family.

Dearly loved wife of Les (dec.).

Much loved mother of John and Alan, loved mother-in-law of Deb and friend of Donna. Adored gran of Kim, Scott, Brad, Jessica and James; Kate, Paul and Kevin. Loving great-gran of 12. Mum/Gran, your love and kindness will be in our memories always

MORRISON, Thomas Edward. Or as half the country knew him as, "Tom". Aloving father, brother, friend and the best brickie going around, suddenly passed away at home on the 11 June 2023.

Aged 66 years You will be forever missed, love you, Tom. From your son Chris, your best mate and buddy Maria, your new daughterin-law to be Christie, Gabby and Anna.

MURPHY (nee McKay), Maureen Margaret. Passed away peacefully with family by her side at Latrobe Regional Hospital on Friday, 16 June 2023. Aged 77 years

Loved and loving wife of David 'Spud'. Loving mother of Tracey, David (dec.)and Brenden Mother-in-law of Gary and Lisa. Cherished nan of Jessica, Lauren, Dylan, Emily, Nicholas, Georgia and Sarah. Great nan of Ella, Billy, Nancy and Lana.

In our hearts you will stay Loved andremembered every day

Adored Nanna of Sebastian. No more pain Mum Asparkling new star in the sky Mum and Dad reunited Peacefully resting Forever in our hearts For Funeral details visit: www.nielsenfunerals.com.au

You can't see me or touch me, But Iamstandingnext to you, Your tears can only hurt me, Your sadness makes me blue. Be brave andshow a smiling face, Let not your grief show through, Ilove you from adifferent place, Yet Iamstanding next to you.

For funeral details please visit: latrobevalley funerals.com.au

MOE-MORWELL-TRARALGON MOE 5126 1111 Place your tribute on latrobevalleyfunerals.com.au

QUIGG, Leslie.

To Dad, you were the best dad. Love Mike and Larrissa XX. See you soon Dad. Love Lavina XX. Burnt your food and said "clean up". Married 59 years, you're missed already. Your wife, Elizabeth XX.

QUIGG, Leslie. Dad and Grandpa, God Bless you, we'll see you soon. Love Alan, Sybil, Jael (from Hong Kong) XXX. Our Daddy, our eyes cry, we miss you. Our hearts smile, we will see you again. Loved much. Steven, Judy, Hans, Joan, Ming, Joey, Liang family (Guangzhou, China) XXX.

QUIGG, Leslie. You were the best grandpa ever and always had the door open for me on bad days. I'll miss your beautiful soul, one of a kind. Love Sam XXX.

QUIGG, Leslie. Aheart of gold, asmile of joy, akindness that extended to all he knew. That was our Grandpa, a man who loved and was loved in kind. We miss you Grandpa. Love Max and Elle XXX.

QUIGG, Leslie. In memory of our loved brother and brother-inlaw. Garry, Lillian, Lyn and deceased brothers Ken, Jeff and David. Robyn,Milton, Fred, William, James, Di, Janet, Narelle, Nolene Adrit.

TEBB, Valerie. 7/1/1924 -14/6/2023. The family of Valerie wish to advise that Val passed away at Latrobe Regional Hospital. Aged 99 years, and 5months As per her wishes, Val will be privately cremated.

MOE-MORWELL-TRARALGON

TRARALGON 5174 2258 Place your tribute on latrobevalleyfunerals.com.au

VENTURONI (nee Paulet), Eileen Margaret. Passed away peacefully, after along illness, at Maryvale Private Hospital on Friday 16 June 2023.

Aged 72 years

Loved and loving wife of John (dec.). Mother of Mark and Kellie and Dean and Bree. Adored and cherished nan of Jake and Nina, and Rhys, Hugh and Kane

In our hearts you will always be remembered

VENTURONI, Eileen Margaret. 10/4/1951 -16/6/2023

You were there when we took our first steps and went unsteadily across the floor, You pushed and prodded, encouraged and guided, until our steps took us out the door.

You worry now "Are they OK?" Is there more you could have done?

As we walk the paths of our unknown, you wonder "Where have my children gone?"

Where we are is where you have led us, with your special love you showed us away To believe in ourselves and the decisions we make, Taking on the challenge of life day to day.

And where we go you can be sure in spirit you shall never be alone, For where you are is what matters most to us, Because to us that will always be home.

Love you to the moon and back Mark and Kellie, Dean and Bree, Jake, Rhys, Hugh, Nina and Kane.

VENTURONI, Eileen. Dearly loved sister-in-law of Diane and Laurie. Much loved aunty of Jason, Lisa, Belinda and families. We shared 58 years of love and laughter, sadness and tears, no more suffering. Never forgotten. Back in John's arms once again XXX

Alternatively, the service will be available via livestream, please go to: www.burstows.com.au/ tribute-centre

WEARNE (nee McDougall), Gwen. 11/4/1936 -11/6/2023.

Devoted wife of Ray (rec. deceased). Loved mother to Ian, Peter, Gayle, Glen and families. Loved and respected only sister of Frank and Alex.

You have earned your rest Vale Gwen

WHELAN (nee Stratton), Jean. Passed away peacefully with family by her side at Latrobe Regional Hospital on Thursday, 15 June 2023.

Aged 99 years Loved and loving wife of Donald (dec.). Cherished mother of Dennis and Keith (dec.). Loving granny. Reunited with Donald Private Cremation

Funerals •

BENNETT, William George (Bill).

The Celebration for the Life of Bill Bennett will be held at Reality Church, 35 Lanarch Rd, Traralgon on FRIDAY (23 June 2023) at 1pm.

Private Cremation will follow

HILLIER. AService of Thanksgiving to celebrate the life of Mr Allan James Hillier will be held at New Life Christian Centre, 71 Fowler Street, Moe on FRIDAY (23 June 2023) commencing at 11am. At the conclusion of the Service the Funeral will leave for the Moe Cemetery.

MOE-MORWELL-TRARALGON MOE 5126 1111 Place your tribute on latrobevalleyfunerals.com.au

JELLEFF. The Graveside Funeral Service for Mrs Leonie Jelleff will be held at the Hazelwood Cemetery on FRIDAY (30 June 2023) at 11am.

MOE-MORWELL-TRARALGON MORWELL 5134 4937

Place your tribute on latrobevalleyfunerals.com.au

MITCHELL (Olver).

AService of Thanksgiving to celebrate the life of Mrs Beryl Mitchell, late of Trafalgar, will be held at the Warragul Church of Christ, 155 Bowen St, Warragul on MONDAY (26 June 2023) at 1.30pm. The Service will also be livestreamed. To view Beryl's Service please visit: www.nielsenfunerals.com.au At the conclusion of the Service the cortege will leave for the Warragul Cemetery, Victoria Street, Warragul.

GRASKE.

The Funeral Service for Mr Bill Graske will be held at Latrobe Valley Funeral Services Chapel, 6Ollerton Avenue Moe on FRIDAY (23 June 2023) at 1.30pm. The Funeral will leave at the conclusion of the Service for the Moe Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers donations to the Gippsland Cancer Care Centre would be appreciated. Envelopes available at the Service. Bill's Service will be livestreamed. To view the livestream please visit: latrobevalley funerals.com.au and click on live streaming.

MOE-MORWELL-TRARALGON MOE 5126 1111

Place your tribute on latrobevalleyfunerals.com.au

HADDOCK.

The Funeral Service for Mr Paul Haddock will be held at Latrobe Valley Funeral Services Chapel, 6Ollerton Avenue, Moe on TUESDAY (27 June 2023) commencing at 1pm.

At the conclusion of the Service the Funeral will leave for the Gippsland Memorial Park Crematorium Traralgon.

Paul's service will be livestreamed. Please visit our web site for details: www.latrobevalley funerals.com.au

MOE-MORWELL-TRARALGON MOE 5126 1111

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MORRISON. Requiem Mass for the repose of the soul of Mr Thomas Edward (Tom) Morrison will be celebrated at St Joseph's Catholic Church, Witton St, Warragul on THURSDAY (22 June 2023) at 11am.

The Mass will also be livestreamed. To view, please visit: www.nielsenfunerals.com.au

The Funeral will leave at the conclusion of Mass for the Warragul Cemetery, Victoria St, Warragul. Rosary will be recited prior to Mass at 10.30am. In lieu of flowers, a donation in memory of Tom may be made to the Oncology Unit of the West Gippsland Hospital. Envelopes will be available at the Church.

ROMA Eclipse 15', elec. brakes, elec. roof lifter, 2 berth, microwave, good tyres, reg. till Sept., top condition and extras

Funerals

MURPHY. APrayer Service and Committal for Cremation for Mrs Maureen Margaret Murphy will be held at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Commercial Rd, Morwell on THURSDAY (22 June 2023) commencing at 11am. Family and friends are welcome to attend. Maureen's service will also be livestreamed. To view the livestream visit our website.

MOE-MORWELL-TRARALGON MORWELL 5134 4937

Place your tribute on latrobevalleyfunerals.com.au

POTTS, Hedley Thomas. 1936 -2023.

AMemorial Service to celebrate the life of Hedley

Potts will be held at Ormond Anglican Church, 436 North Road, Ormond on THURSDAY (22 June 2023) at 11am and via livestream at https://youtube.com/live/ rFmJQ7Oj_EU

Funeral Directors

More than local Funeral Directors

Latrobe Valley Funeral Services has been helping the local community for more than 70 years

Our Chapels are

Local winners at Moe

HORSE RACING

By TOM HAYES

MOE Racing Club was lucky enough to hold two meets in the space of 11 days, first with the Sunday Racing on June 4. Sunday Racing began off the eight-race meet on aSoft7track, with the Race 1 S&SEquipmentHire3YO Maiden Plate, ran over 1217 metres.

Power Cable for Cranbourne’s Luke Oliver ranprimarily at the rear of the field, and was still alength-or-more behind when they opened up onto the straight.

As the field spread out, Power Cable shot up the inside of the two leaders, stealing the win in the final hundred metres, winning by ahead to Firestorm Boy.

It was another close finish in the Race2 Brandt Leongatha MaidenPlate (1117m), with the two pace-setters going at it until the end.

VENTURONI.

AMemorial Service to Celebrate the life of Mrs Eileen Margaret Venturoni will be held at Latrobe Valley Service Chapel 260 Princes H'wy, Traralgon FRIDAY (23 June 2023) commencing at 3pm.

Family and friends are warmly invited to attend.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Eileen's name to Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre are appreciated. Envelopes available at the service or donate online: petermac.org

MOE-MORWELL-TRARALGON TRARALGON 5174 2258

Place your tribute on latrobevalleyfunerals.com.au

CROSBY, Gra.

My Angel Husband and Soulmate, Another long and lonely year without you, my heart and soul are still empty and full of devastating pain. Imiss your smiling face, loud laugh, holding my hand, everything is gone, all Ihave are my memories to hold deep in my heart until you can hold me in your arms and we are together again. There will never be another, you were one of akind my rebel man. Miss and love you forever your Judiann.

McCULLOCH, Betty (Elizabeth Lorraine).

4June 2021.

Dear Mum, Lots of love to you, always, always and forever. Julie XXXXX.

MURPHY, Barbara. 22/6/2002.

Sadly missed

In our hearts forever Tony and family.

PRESLEY (nee Lawrey), Karen Joy. Loved and Remembered every day Lloyd and families.

SPEHR, Peter. 29/1/1949 -23/6/2010. Loved and remembered every day Love Manuela and family. XX

STELLINE, Joyce. 18/6/1983. Mum, Memories last forever Always in our hearts Years have passed, remembered always. Love Tony and family. XXX

Contact

In lieu of flowers, Hedley would have appreciated donations to Scripture Union Victoria or Go Foundation. MOE 5126 1111 MORWELL 5134 4937 TRARALGON 5174 2258 www

When you want aseamless and dignified Funeral Service done by Professionals but don't want to pay afortune for it Call John Galbraith 0413 332 647

Craig Galbraith-Evans 0407 043 182

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Family owned and locally based Funeral Directors

We bring35years experience to families in Traralgon, Morwell, Churchill, Moe, Trafalgar, Korumburraand surroundingareas

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Practical, sensible andaffordable. We offer both at-need and pre-paid funerals. All female funerals areavailable Dignityand respect,always

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Classifieds 5135 4455

Straightout of the gatesitwas Bold Response who tackled the lead, close behind was Bangholme for Cranbourne’s Adrian McGregor.

They went stride for stride down the main straight before Bangholme nabbed the leadinthe final100m, to win by a length.

There was six horses withina length at the line in the Race 3Smick Health & Fitness 0-58 Handicap (1017m).

Forjustabout the whole kilometre of racing, Scoria Star led the fieldaround the racecourse, but things got really tight in the final 200m of racing.

Diamatti for Pakenham’s Allison Sheehan got aclean run out of the bend and onto thestraight,goingfour abreast. He continued to kick on, finding the lead at the latest possible point to win by anose to Scoria Star.

Once again, there was alot on the mix for the Race 4Cool Group Companies 0-58 Handicap (2088m).

With acouple of local runners in the field, there was achancethat someone would come home with awin, and they did.

Bishop Rock for Sale’sSusie Wells was one of the more persistent runners, climbing from the middle of the pack to snatch the lead and hit the line first by just under alength.

It was just the fourth win in Bishop Rock’s 61-race career, and his first since July 2022 on Pakenham’s synthetictrack

Two horses went stride for stride in Race 5’s YoungSigns0-58Handicap (2447m), as they blitzedthe rest of the field.

The field was very spread out as they crossedthe 1400m-mark, but began to bunch back up around the 600m-mark.

Surprisingly, thetwo pace-setters heldfirmatthe front of the pack for the entire race, especially Star Stock for Pakenham’s ToriMadigan, who led from the jump.

Alocal found the line first in another close finish in Race 6’s Law Somerville Industries 0-58 Handicap (1217m).

Afew localswere there at the pointy end of the race too, so it could’ve gone to anyone.

Lochend Umosa -who usedtome trained by Sale’s Paul Worthingtonsprinted to an early five-length lead at the 700m-mark, while the rest of thefield gatheredthemselves getting readyfor the bend.

Lochend Umosa toned down at the 300m-mark, leaving it all to play for, for those who waited patiently.

QuindiPensi made an early charge for the line but was quickly challenged by Changing Tracks for Moe’s Paul and Tracey Templeton.

Also in the hunt was Pride Of Galway for Moe’s Lenny Xuereb.

Changing Tracks hit the front in the

final 100m and just about hung on.

Finally, there was arace that was well and truly over before they hit the line, in the Race 7Hip Pocket Latrobe Valley 0-58 Handicap (1628m).

Headsmart for Cranbourne’s Mark Webb sat off-pace while two horses went at it up the front.

They soon died down, allowing Headsmart to make his moveonthe outside, and he snatched the lead while turning the corner.

He burst out into the lead and ran away with it by nearly three lengths.

Just when you thought there couldn’t be another winner by anose, there was one in the final race of the meet -the Race 8Ladbrokes Racing Club 0-58 Handicap (1628m).

Thetwo to hitthe line first came from amilebacktohit the front, in Reparter and Toorak Playboy for Pakenham’s Josh Allen.

As they hit the straight they both continued to separate themselves from the field, but it was Toorak Playboy that managed to get to the linefirst, by anose, again!

Both finished over two lengths clear of the rest of the pack.

Action from Thursday meeting

HORSE RACING

By TOM HAYES

BACK for the second time in less than two weeks,Moe Racing Club hosting anine-raceThursday Racing meeting on June 15, including astack of locally trainedtalent.

The track was originally graded as a Soft 7, but constant drizzle saw the track downgraded even further to aHeavy 8 ahead of Race 3.

We’d have to wait until Race 2tosee some locals in action, but the Race 1 Ladbrokes Communities 2YO Fillies Maiden Plate was over 1100 metres. Setosaand Sakowin held thepace at the front early while others ordered themselves in the field.

As they hit the straight Elderberry for Anthony Freedman burst from the midfield and had aclear run downthe middle of the straight. Sheheld strong pace and turned on the afterburners in the final 150m to win by alength and ahalf.

The favourite, Pop Rock for Cranbourne’s Greg Eurell was no match for the field in the Race 2S&S Equipment Hire 3YO Maiden Plate (1000m).

The three-year-old gelding jumped best and held the pace with acouple of other runners. As they turned the bend, Pop Rock ran clear and put nearlyfourlengths between himself and the field, claiming acomfortable victory.

It was atwo-horse race in Race 3’s Bottlemart Moe Maiden Plate (1600m) going down to the wire.

The track shifted to aHeavy 8, so it

would only make things more difficult.

Fine Rebel for Cranbourne’s John Moloney led from the jump and just about had no issues until the very end.

Moe’s Ian Jones hadtwo horses in the field, Grand Maxim finished eighth -climbing fromthe rear, whileRed Rocky almost climbed -but only as far as 11th.

Once again, two horses took it down to thewire in the Race 4Ladbroke It! Maiden Plate (2050m).

Both made strong cases for themselves, as Upwoods shotupfrom themidfield, and Rathmacarthystormed home from abackmarker position.

Thefirstlocal runnertoprovidesome fireworkswas Bucksfor Sale’s Damien Walkleywhenhestormed hometowin by over two lengths.

The grey led for the whole two-kilometre race, fending off challenging horses with ease.

Tylden forTylden’s John Salanitri came home strong to win the Race6 Moe OpticalBM58 Handicap (2050m).

Priced at $12, there were six horses rated better than her, but after shooting up from amidfieldposition, she put herself in the best position to win clearly.

There was ahot finish in the Race 7Ian Grants Caravans 0-64 Handicap (1100m), with nine horses scrambling to the line within five lengths of each other.

Dancelittlesister for Cranbourne’s Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young was up and about for most of the race, but was known to drop off at the death.

As they rounded the bend, she was challengedbyBurton Street, who was closing in quickand lookedlike they might pinch the lead.

But the favourite proved why she should be backed, hanging on to win by ahead.

If you thought Race 7was ahot finish, waituntilyou hear about the Race8 Ladbrokes Hub F&M BM64 Handicap (1200m).

This time, the top eight runners were separated by no more than three lengths, and the winner was locally trained. It seemed to be astacked field, with the favourite’sodds as highas$4.40, leading into the race.

Melanie led the field around the bend, before they all sprinted for home, with saw the leader swallowed by five horses, falling into the pack.

Prominent was Elvaric, who leaptothe front, but didn’t look confident to finish the race ahead.

Nonetheless, it managed to just hold on, fending off two incoming horses, beating second-placedShalily by ahead and Juice Box by 0.3 lengths.

The final race of the meet sawthree locally-trained horses in the mix, one of which wasn’t too far away from victory. Satin Image for Sale’s Heather Stephens was the early leader, holding onto afront position until around the 400m-mark. She eventually dropped off and crossed the lineinseventh, nearly four lengths off the pace.

All eyes were up the front on Jakk’s Fortune,who moved from amidfield position, becoming one of the contenders. All horses were eventually outdone by Headsmart, who completed back-to-back wins, winning by nearly two lengths after staying close to the inside rail after taking the lead at the bend.

Winner: Changing Tracks forMoe’s Paul and TraceyTempleton wins at Moe earlier thismonth. Photographs supplied

Turfside carpark upgrade completed

HORSERACING

By LIAM DURKIN

MOERacingClubInc last week announced the completion of the upgrade of Moe Racing Turfside Carpark.

This latest developmentisamajor move for Moe Racing Clubonits mission to offer greater access for members, guests, and race day industry.

“Previously, the club had only 35 parking bays and was not able to cater for increased vehicle traffic whenhosting raceday and club events,” Moe RacingClubchief executive Shane Berry said.

“The newlyredeveloped carpark has 110 parking spots, offers more disabled parking spaces whilst providing secure off-street parking at the entrance to the racing complex.

“A new digital pylon sign hasbeeninstalled for advertising local cluband town events, club offerings and race days.

“We have also greatly improved the lighting and the securityCCTVsystems acrossadozen cameras

“We still havesomenew fencing to complete around the perimeter to finishitoff. This will match newperimeter fencing that has been installed along Savages Road.”

The upgrade work started in late February this year. The club plans to celebrate the carpark opening

From the editor

CRICKET

By LIAM DURKIN

THE Express is aware of aletter co-signed by the Latrobe Valley District Cricket League andTraralgonDistrict Cricket Association that was circulated to clubs last week. The letter records the intent of both bodies to combine the two organisations into asingle incorporated entity, subject to confirmation by member clubs.

Understandingthe emotioninvolved and my own involvement in Gippslandcricket, as editor Ihave been conscious not to publish anythinguntil absolutely every detail is covered and either confirmed or denied.

Iwillendeavourtospeak withevery club and stakeholder involved, and hope to dedicate astrongdouble-page spread detailing an accurate timeline of events that has taken place over the last six years since the first lot of clubs left the TDCAtoform the LVDCL.

In my experience covering local sport, whenever the words‘leaguechange’, ‘merger’, ‘fold’ or ‘amalgamation’ are mentioned it, understandably, sets off passionateresponses.

However, if Ihave one strength, Ibelieve it is local cricket administration.

Iamthe longest servingsecretary in my home club’s more than 130-year history,and haveworked alongsidethe Gippsland Cricket League administration for nearly 10 years. While there is still alot to play out, Ican subtlety confirm the movement of one club out of the LVDCL.

To borrow from the opening line of the U.S Navy song: “Anchors aweigh my boys”.

with aspecial member’s afternoon later this month. Elsewhere, Moe Racing Club has anumberof other projects in the works.

Speaking at its meeting on Sunday,June 4, chairman Mike Vanderfeen laid out what patrons can expect to see at Moe Racing Club over coming months.

“We’ve got the main double-storey race day building,totally refurbishing the double-storeybuilding, improved space for jockey’s, willtakeusabout eight months to do that job,” he said.

Racing has continuedatMoe, with two meetings in June.

The June 4meeting was well attended, with the downstairs member’s longue fully booked.

Perfect conditions greeted race goers at the meeting, the likes of which will be hoped for when the Moe Cup rolls around in October.

While still four months away, planning an event of that scale takes considerable time.

Premiership photo hunt

BASEBALL LVBA

MORWEL Baseball Club is on the hunt for any old premiership photos that may be out there.

Vanderfeen moved to reassure the race-going public that racing would continue as normal despite the capital works.

“A lot of planning has to be done because of the construction activities, the cup will run, whether we get access the top storey of this (the committee room)buildingisa littleunknown, but certainly racing won’t be affected,” he said.

As last year proved, the Moe Racing Club’s StrathAyr sand-based track can withstandsall elements.

With heavyrain leading to the cancelationof meetings at every other grasstrack in the state, little old Moe got throughanentire nine-race program unscathed.

“It’sjust proventhis track,itdoesn’t matter what weather we get, it’s acredittothe team that look after it, it takes alot of nourishment to keep the track in top condition,” Vanderfeen said.

Pride Roundasuccess

HOCKEY By JENNY SUTTON

THE Latrobe Valley Hockey Associationcelebrated Pride Round with all teams playing at home under blue skies at the Churchill Hockey Centre.

Junior matchesstarted the day withplayers dressed in colourful attire.

Many juniors stayed to encourage the seniors to join in the spirit of the day, supplying and applying temporary colourful tattoos for all players.

The LV Women’s Vic League 2team scored their second win of the season against Bayside.

The LV teamfocused on team structure and communication at training, and this paid off with astrong first half.

While the intensity fell off in the second half, the women managed to finish the game 2-1 up.

Player of the match was Charlie Murrell, who was awarded the Pride Medal.

The LV Men’s Vic League 3teamalsoplayed Bayside and went down 3-0.

Their best players were Brayden Swallow, Paul Cake and Daniel Godfrey.

Traralgon and Churchill were up next.

Churchill had afew players out and whilst they never gave up, eventually went down 8-1. Bestplayersfor Churchillwere Kelly McLauchlan, Kim Tanti and Jo Maxwell.

Sky McDonald was Traralgon’s best. Goals were scored by Megan Rumble and Alicia Woolgar who joined the Traralgon team this year.

BGrade: NBickerton (19) 35pts

GOLF

CHURCHILL &MONASH

2Person Ambrose Saturday10th June

2023

Winners: P. Kearns &J.Hassell 64.5

RunnersUp: C. Warring &D.Byers 65.25

D.T.L: 1. S. Allison&D.Vesty66, 2. D.

Ellwood &I.Fortune 66.75, 3. A. Auld P.

Jordan 67.75, 4. G. Harvey& R. Harvey

69.5, 5. M. Hutchinson &G.Beyer70.25

N.T.P: 3rdG.Harvey, 14th N. Duncan

Tuesday13th June 2023 4BBB

Winners: S. Caldwell &L.Anderson 46pts

D.T.L: S. Turner &M.McQuillen 41pts,C Stevens &A.West 40pts

C/B

N.T.P: 3rdR.Sands,5th L. Brent, 12th M.

McQuillan, 14th C. Carder

MIRBOONORTH

Thursday, 15th June,Stableford.

Daywinner: SMcKenzie (28) 36pts

DTL: JMcFarlane,D Taylor 34, TWhitelaw

33.

NTP: 4th DTaylor,6th, SMcKenzie, Birdies: 4th GRenwick, 13th JMcFarlane, MPayne,T Bradshaw,

Saturday17th June,Stableford,

AGrade: JRobbins (13) 36pts c/b

DTL: PDraper 36, TWhitelaw35, G

Renwick, NBracecamp,A Liebe 34.

NTP: 4th TBaker,6th ALiebe,13th T Bradshaw, 16th TWhitelaw, Birdies: 6th ALiebe,PCummaudo,G

Dawson, 16th JRobbins

MOE

Sunday, 11 June 2023 OPEN Sunday9

hole Stableford

Grade AWinners: Mitchell, Evelyn (29) 17

Sunday, 11 June 2023 Stableford

Grade AWinners: Perrin, Duart(14)36

Monday, 12 June 2023 OPEN Medley

Stableford

Grade AWinners: Gaul, Joshua (6) 39

Grade BWinners: Kerr,Graham (18) 39

Place Getters: Hibbs, Steven 37

Buckman, Peter36C/B

Donaldson, Murray 36

Great Score: Wayne Yeomans (Birdie) @8

Wednesday, 14 June 2023 WOMEN’S SPLIT SIX

Overall Winners: Hay, Alison &Blandford, Jane 81.75

RunnersUp: Birrell, Chris &Boulton, Joan

83.25

Place Getters: Elliot, Christine &Stewart, Leahann 83.375

Nearest to Pin: 4th Marj Lang

Best on: Churchill’sKellyMcLauchlan and Traralgon’sSkyeMcDonaldplayedwell in recent localhockey action. Photographs supplied

The final game of the day was aclose match between Moe and Rovers.

Moe came out on top 5-4. This was Rovers’ first defeat of the season. Bec Cheater for Moe worked tirelessly through the centre, setting up many plays which resulted in goals.

Aiden Mair was able to run the ball forward on the wing and was awarded the Pride Medal for Moe along with Corinne Metcalf of Rovers. Monies donated on the day will be given to the Gippsland Pride Initiative.

The Vic League teams have away games this week.

The local competition will resume after the school holidays on July 8.

GOLF SCOREBOARD

8th Chris Birrell

Wednesday, 14 June 2023 WOMEN’S

WEDNESDAY 9HOLEStableford

Overall Winners: Lee,Judy (49) 18

Thursday, 15 June 2023 OPEN Medley Stableford

Grade AWinners: PEEL, Michael (5) 42

Grade BWinners: Backman, Bradley(15)

39

Grade CWinners: Young,Peter (30) 34 C/B

Place Getters: Dent, Russell 39 C/B Harber,John 38 C/B Fife,Mark38 Coffin,Phillip 36 Nyko, Steve35C/B Peatey,Rodney35C/B Yeomans,Wayne 35

Backman, Phil 35 C/B Poole,Joel 35 C/B

Dyke,Ramon 35 C/B Martin, Rhys 35 C/B Langmaid, Brett35C/B

GreatScore: AnthonyDeVirgilio (Birdie) @14 Michael PEEL (Birdie) @4

SteveNyko(Birdie) @14

David Cook (Birdie) @14

MickReynolds (Birdie) @8

John Harber (Birdie) @14

Chad Shelley(Birdie) @4

Nearest to Pin: 4th Michael PEEL

The Cougars are celebrating their 60th anniversary this year.

Morwell haswon 33 baseball premierships (onrecord),but only has 11 photostogowith them

The club is looking for photographs to display on its clubroom wall.

Anyone withphotos or more information in encouraged to email morwellcougarsbc@ outlook.com

Rangers beat the Cougars

BASEBALL LVBA

ON asunny Sunday in Round 9ofthe Latrobe ValleyBaseballAssociation, Morwell Cougars were at home to Sale Rangers in BGrade. Morwell watchedthe gameslipaway despiteout-hittingSale 7-2, with the final score being a4-3 victory for Sale.

Rohan Hector pitched for the Rangerswith eight strikeouts, seven hits and threeruns over five innings.

DeklanWhite, Kenny Dronand Rob Amott racked up multiple hits for Morwell. In the other BGrade match,Traralgon Redsox took victory fromChurchillBraves 11-2.

TheRedsox collected11hitsand 11 runs for the day, with Matt Robinson having a massive five RBI day.

Sam Gillett was on the hill for Braves, surrendering 11 runs on 11 hits. Churchill went error-free in the field however.

Will Brooker had agood day on the hill for Traralgon with seven strikeouts.

In CGrade,Morwell maintained their early lead and takethe win against Sale 8-5 despite the Rangers scoring four runs in the fifth innings in alast minute charge. Traralgon smashed Churchill in the other match, winning 17-nil.

Andrew McConville pitched for the Redsox, allowing no runs, with 10 strikeouts and zero walks.

8th Darren Morrow

14th Darren Morrow

Saturday, 17 June 2023 WOMEN’S

SATURDAY Stableford

Grade AWinners: Shaw, Karen(21) 25

Saturday, 17 June 2023 MENS Stableford

Grade AWinners: Poole,Joel (7) 36

Grade BWinners: Donaldson, Murray

(15) 39

Grade CWinners: Allen, Ray(28) 37

Place Getters: Wilkinson, Wally36

Panozzo, Gavan35c/b

Donnison, Terry35c/b

Pisa, John 35 c/b

Harber,John 35

Harland, Bob 34

Gauci, Anthony34 Mead, Barry33c/b

Stanlake,Peter 33 c/b

Bassman, Aaron 33 c/b

Great Score: AnthonyGauci (Birdie) @8

John Boyce(Birdie) @8

Nearest to Pin: 4th Bruce Savige

8thJohn Boyce

14th Shannon Borg

TRAFALGAR

Today’sCompetition:Wednesday14/6/23:

Monthly Medal/Stroke

Winner: Di Moody (19) with 76 nett

Runner Up: BevKeily(20) with 77 nett

ScratchWinner: SamCaldow(7) with 89

Down The Line: Jo Bakerand Sue Klemke with 82 nett

Putting: Cheryl Deppeler with 33 putts

NTP –5th: Sue Klemke

Gobblers: SamCaldowon the13th

Nine-Hole Winner: Sue Balfour (43) with 39 nett

9-Hole Runner-Up: LynPowell (32) with 41 nett

Friday,June 16th 2023, Open Men’s& Ladies Stableford

AGrade Winner: Noel Cornish 39 pts C/B

Bgrade Winner: RodneyWhite35pts

DTL’s: Scott Hall 39, Todd Malone 35, Glen Roberts 35, Toby Fruend 35, Leslie Stothard34, Guy Webb 34, Daniel Lyons 34, Roger Matheson 33 C/B

Birdies: 2nd: Tony Gray 5th: Todd Malone, Russell Cook 11th:Noel Cornish, Kai McDonald, HoppyIng,MarkScammell

13th:Brian Vella

Saturday, June 17th 2023, 2Ball

Multiplication Stableford

Winner’s: RichardGould &Roy

Whatmough 77 pts

DTL’s: RexDaly& John Tabuteau 74,Steve Clark& GeoffCoulter 73, ScottMcKinnon &Peter McKinnon 67,MarkHiriart&Peter

Griffin64

NTP’s: 2nd: Reno Borg5th:Richie

Parsonage 11th:Phil James 13th:Roy

Whatmough 15th:Ian Charge

Upgrade: Thenew carparkatMoe Racing Club is nowoperational. Photograph supplied

Succesful showdownsunder lights

SOCCER

LVSL

BY LAURIE WILLIAMS

TWO night games at the same location proved to be abig hitasfar as soccer fans were concerned in Round 12 of Latrobe Valley Soccer League.

Falcons and Tyers played on themainpitch, while Fortuna contested against Sale on the synthetic pitch.

On Sunday, Monash proved again they are the giant killers with ahard fought 2-1 win over the

THIS WEEKENDS PREDICTIONS

SOCCER LVSL

BY LAURIE WILLIAMS

ROUND 13 PREVIEW

ALL games will be played half an hour earlier during winter.

Games will commence Sunday at 2.30pm.

 OLYMPIANS VMOE

MOE, back after the bye, will be keen to put pressure on the top-two teams.

Moe just scraped through in their first meeting this season with a1-0 victory, and can expect Olympianstopush hard to collect their third win for the season.

The Red Devils should be too experienced and should collect the points.

It will be the 75th match between these two teams.

Played:74, Moe34. Olympians25.

Drawn 15.

 MONASH VFALCONS

WITH somewhat of agiant killer status, Monash will go into this match with a determined bid to upset Falcons.

Monash’s two bigwins over Moe and Pegasus this season will label this game as areal danger to Falcons.

Monash’s last win againstFalcons was their onlygame played in 2020 duringCOVID when they won 2-0.

Played: 64, Monash 20. Falcons 34.

Drawn 10

 PEGASUS VCHURCHILL

PEGASUS would have been disappointed after going down to Monash last weekend. They had ample opportunities to grab awin but fell at the last hurdle.

Churchill have to be optimistic if they think they have achanceagainst Pegasus, butanythingispossible and the Rams could makeittheir firstscalp for the season.

Played: 62. Pegasus 36. Churchill 14.

Drawn 12

 TYERS VSALE

TWO teams that went down last weekend, but it was Tyers who were the more impressive. Tyers put up agood effortagainstFalcons, but still need to work hardertoachieve desired results.

At the last meeting, Sale won 5-1, but results this time round could be alot closer.

Played: 41. Sale 27.Tyers 9. Drawn 5

Gathering of Red Devils

SOCCER LVSL

MOE UNITED Soccer Club'sannual past players day is coming up.

This year's event has been set down for Saturday, July 15.

The past players day will feature amatch between old Red Devils in the afternoon, before Moe players of today take on Falcons at Olympic Park under lights.

The match against Falcons should be keenly contested as the race to the LVSLleague title heats up.

It is hoped the match against Falcons will also mean some ex-NSL players with ties to Moe can join in the festivities.

With Moe Football-Netball Club also playing on the same day, abig crowd is tipped to be making the journey down from Ted Summerton Reserve.

previously undefeated Pegasus, and Newborough/ Yallourn equalled their highest ever win (1999) over Olympians in an 8-1 rout.

Monash def Pegasus 2-1 MONASH, for the second time this season, pulled off the improbable with a2-1 win over the previously undefeated Pegasus.

The Wolves, playinga tough brand with solid playmakerChrisOulton, openedthe account at 13 minutes with aflying shot to beat Santo Simon.

Pegasus tried to getback into the matchbut Logan Troughton in the nets was equal to anything Pegasus could throw at him, and the Wolves went into the break with a1-0 lead.

Pegasus came out determined and within seven minutes hadequalled thescore afterGermaine Otiernoincreasedhis yearly tally to 14 with a solid drive.

It was back-and-forth with neither team getting breaks. Good defending by both teams kept the game at astalemate.

The big moment came for Monash at the 79th minute, when an incident in the box saw Monash given apenalty which Adam Semple was able to convert to give Monash a2-1 lead

Pegasus tried to get an equaliser but the talls in defence kept the Horsemen goalless.

Two late free kicks by Monash almost increased their lead, but solid work by the Pegasus defenders kept Monash out as they held onto a2-1 winner.

Falcons def Tyers4-1

THE Falcons vs Tyers match was asetup between atop side and the minnows.

Tyers, who despite their lowly position, put up a great fight against the Birds.

Falcons were pumped up early and gave the Tyers’s keeper no rest, with five shots on goal in the first six minutes.

Falcons were playing hardball and retained possession for most of the time, not allowing the Lightning to strike.

Falconshowever hit the scoreboard at 18 minutes, when along ball from defence saw Michael Fava connect and volley the ball into the net amid appeals for off-side.

Tyers picked up the tempo and forced Falcons into errors, with the result that they were able to level the match at the 40 minute mark with a superb drive.

Both teams tried over the next eight minutes to break the deadlock, but at the break the scores stood at aremarkable 1-all.

It was adesperate Tyers who tried to gain advantage in the second half, with aBud Tanner drive forcing Charles Simon to dive sideways to block the ball.

Amix-upinthe box saw Tom D’alia downedand the referee pointing to the spot giving Jamie Pistrin achanceofapenalty kick, which he mastered to give Falcons a2-1 lead.

After alengthy spell where both teams failed to add to the score line, it was Falcons who broke the spell.

Fava came in for his second to give his team a3-1 lead. For his first game this season, journeyman David O’Dowd was subbed on for Falcons at 71 minutes,and hisinfluence allowed Jim Mills to break the Tyers wall and score Falcons' fourth goal.

Tyers were tiring after the pressure applied by Falcons, but alast-gaspeffort almostbrought rewards as Tyers players made Charles Simon stretch to hold ahot drive.

Fortuna def Sale 7-1

FORTUNA had their ninthsuccessive win over Sale.

The Lions gave the Swans no chance with abig 7-1 victory.

New Fortuna inclusion Jamie Maxwell from the UK made adecent impression, and will fit in well with the squad.

Fortuna were all over Sale on the synthetic pitch, but acouple of 'carpet burn' incidents required treatment.

The Lions notched their first goal at 11 minutes fromDaniel Cooper,then DJ Matarchipped in for another at 36 minutes. Then in apurple patch, the Lions were able to add more goals through Hayden Tanti with two in two minutes at 42 and 43.

Agoal square fumble saw Fortuna rack up their fifth right on the button with an own goal by Sale.

Afterthe break, Fortuna added further goals at 51 minutes from Ollie Spiteri and 70 minutes to Jordan Campbelltogotoanimpressive lead. Sale fought back to claim aconsolation goal at 81 minutes.

Newborough/Yallourndef Olympians

8-1

NEWBOROUGH/YALLOURNhad the biggest win of the round with an 8-1 demolition of Olympians. They equalled a23-year-old record high against Olympians.

Goals to Mark Fairbrother(hat-trick), Adam Batt, Sanchez (two), Shane Pavichand Ash Birrell rounded out the eight goal tally.

Moe and Churchill had the bye.

Gippy United’sgreat weekend

SOCCER GIPPSLAND UNITED

BY JASON LEE, ALAN ROBERTS, KIRSTY HANNAN AND JARED GOODWIN

THE Gippsland Under 12’s made it three on the spin with ahard fought 2-1 victory over aquality Dandenong City outfit at Latrobe City Sports and Entertainment Complex on Sunday.

After ashaky start, the Gippsland boys quickly kicked into gear when Dino Grbic coolly finished after aneat build up and assist from Blake Breheny to lead after just five minutes.

The Gippsland defence got to work, with Lewis Manzo, Oliver Lee and Liam Arbon combining their efforts with keeper Romeo Vitale to hold City at bay, conceding just the one goal to go into the break 1-all.

Breheny, Ryan Ogg, LucasO’Dowd and Isaac Sharp worked overtimethrough the middle to provide forward chances, and Gippsland almost scored from acorner late from aHarry Lee header just going over the cross bar.

Beckham Bremner was tireless in defence all match and Quinn Asmussen guarded the goal well in the second half.

The winning goal was an end-to-end special with five minutes left on the clock.

Ollie Lee sent the ball intothe midfieldwhere Brehenycontrolled and narrowly snuck the ball forward into the path of Hudson Riess.

Riess played aone-two with Grbic before hitting the by-line and cutting back to Grbic again who claimed abrace with astunning strike into the top corner of the net.

Goals: Dino Grbic 2

Player of the Match: Blake Breheny

PRE-NPL U13’s

THERE is no placelike home …withthe under 13 pre-NPLboys taking the field on Latrobe City Stadium's synthetic pitch under clear skies and with lots of support from their families and also a contingent of under 12s who stayed back to support the boys after their game.

The United lads were keen to make amends for a15minuteperiod of poor football the last time the two teams faced off, eager to prove they are a team that can steal points off any opponent when the are up and going.

Fromthe firstwhistle it wason, as United settled quickly and started to dominate possessionand play.

Berwick became increasingly frustrated from United’s strong work and attacking play. The boys remained strong down back and through the middle of the park as they created several opportunities in front of goal.

Fifteen minutes into the first half and McCannDistin was injectedinto the game and despite some close attention,heremained composed and calm to score afirst of his brace for the day, seeing the team one-up at the break

The second half was an arm-wrestle, with Berwick coming out after the breakwith plentyofintent and purpose.

But to the Gippsland boys' credit, they held firm across the park and repelled the advances of an increasingly frustrated Berwick.

McCann-Diston again made abullish run forward to net his second for the day six minutes into the half.

Then midway through the half, Hermans earned afree kick outside the box that he calmly slotted through the defensive wall into the back of the goal.

The last 10 minutes saw Berwick push hard, which saw them score aconsolation goal in the last minute of the game after adefensive error.

In another strong performance against ahigher placed team in the league, United came out on top 3-1winners at the final whistle, afurther result thatwill make the teams around them takenotice moving forward

With the opportunity to pick up six points in next weekends double-header against the lower placed Endeavour United, we could see the boys make a big push up the ladder in coming weeks.

JBNPL U14’s

GIPPSLAND had aconvincing 3-1 win over home team South Melbourne FC in Caulfield on Sunday morning.

The boys were strongout of the gate, eager to win everyballand kepttheir intensityhighthroughout the game to secure the match points.

Striker Jett Koppen and Patrick Frayne played an attacking game during the first half, with

Jett slotting home Gippsland’s first goal at the 10-minute mark.

Declan Paku continues to shine in defence, providing encouragement to the boys as they looked to protect the 1-0 lead.

Wingers Bill Prior andCiaranToomey worked solidly, creating several chances for Gippsland to increase their score.

Their hard work paid off as Bill weaved his way through SouthMelbourne’s defence, playeda low cross to Ciaran, who poked it home. It was a brilliantlyworked team goal, taking the score to 2-0athalftime.

South Melbourne began to dictate more of the play in the secondhalf, applying pressuretothe Gippsland side and scoring their first goal. However,Gippslandcontinued to manage the match with maturity and composure and due to their defence efficiency, held the home teamatbay.

GoalkeeperHarrison Ritchie absorbed South Melbourne’s counterattacks, culminating in an impressivedive to make an important save mid-way through the half.

Adelightful ball from MitchDasteylateinthe second half found its way to Bill, who ran it down the pitch and scored the third goal of the match. This impressive win will boost the boys'confidence, as focus shiftstothe double-headerthis weekend at home.

JBNPL U18’S

THE Under 18 Gippsland boys travelled out to RingwoodCityFCtoface asidethat stood with seven wins and one loss so far this season, meaning they were top of the table.

There was some big changes to the team in the build-up to the game, in the hopes to frustrate the home side.

Early on, this was evident, with Gippsland applying great pressure.

With Ringwoodholding at least 80 per cent of possession in the first half an hour, it was the home side that ended up capitalising after agreat turn and finish, slotting into the side netting from the Ringwood striker.

Early on in the second half, Gippsland failed to pounce on two clear-cut chances inside the six-yard box,which proved costlyasRingwood gottheir second soon after.

Abeautiful cross from Bayden Heussmann forced agoalkeeping error out of the Ringwood keeper, bringing the away side back into the game. However, 13 seconds after kick-off,Ringwood would score athird.

Ringwood kept on dominating, with precise passing and quality forward runs. They found a fourth and fifth, to send the Gippsland boys back out to the countryside without the three points.

Gippsland play Berwick City and Nunawading City in adouble-header weekend of soccer at Latrobe City Stadium in Morwell this weekend.

On Saturday, they face midtable sideBerwick City, with bottom of the leagueNunawading on Sunday.

Both games kick-off at 1pm.

Finals scored were Ringwood 5-Gippsland 1.

Ringwood also won the under 15s 5-0

Young gun: Hunter Robertsinaction for GippslandUnitedunder13s

Photograph: Peta Roberts

We now have an NBAchampion

BASKETBALL NBA EXPORTS

BY TOM HAYES

JACK White is now in some serious company.

TheTraralgon exportiscoming off the backof Denver Nuggets’NBA title breakthrough, and now stacks up withsome of the best basketballers that Australia has produced DenverNuggets securedtheir first-ever NBA title last week, defeating Miami Heat in a4-1 series win on their way to NBA glory.

White became just the seventh Australian to win an NBA chip, now alongsideLuc Longley, Andrew Gaze, Patty Mills, Aron Baynes, Andrew Bogut and Matthew Dellavedova.

Not only this, but White becomes the third player in history to win an NBL title (MelbourneUnitedin 2021) and an NBAtitle, joining Gaze and American Ian Clark.

While that is the now, there is one woman who has been there from the start -Sharon Royal, one of White’s previous coaches and current coach at the Traralgon Amateur Basketball Association.

Royal’s kids were and still are very good friends with White, so Royal is definitely no strangerto himwhatsoever.

“My boys and the White boys hung out,” Royal said.

“The kids, they weren’t playing squad (basketball), so Ijust got asecond side together.”

At the time, Whitewas only 10-years-old, but Royal would soon see in the coming years just what he was capable of.

“As abottom-aged under16s state player, he made the first cut, but didn’t make the next cut,” Royal said.

“My husband wasthe coach, and he (White) went up to him and asked what he had to do to make the team to get better.

“They workedtogether to get to the nextlevel, he wanted to do his own homework, like he wanted to work on his game.”

Whitespent 2016-2020 at Duke, where he would become aleaderinhis senior year, as he was appointed as captain of the squad, despite not gettingmajor playing time.

After Duke,White returned to Australia,playing for Melbourne United for two years, winning the title in 2021.

Whitethen joined the Denver Nuggets for the NBA Summer League,and following the Summer League,hesigneda two-way contract with the Nuggets.

His two-way contract allows him to play G-League basketballfor GrandRapids Gold, as well as NBA minutes for Denver,all while no other teams can approach him foracontract.

“His basketball IQ is absolutely amazing, his work ethic is amazing,” Royal said.

And that brings us to the 2022/23 season, where

his life would change for the better.

White would play 17 games for Denver in NBA, but only received minimal minutes, averaging 3.9 minutes per game.

White flourished in the G-League, averaging 32.5 minutes per game, 17.2 points per game and nine rebounds per game from 12 matches.

Now, Jack White is an NBA champion, there is no changing that fact.

“Myphonehas been blowing up non-stop -I’m trying to get back to everyone but it’s alogistical nightmare,” White told TheSydney Morning Herald.

“I’m grateful to not only the people here during

Melbourne stuns in Seattle wins

BASKETBALL WNBA

BY TOM HAYES

JADE Melbourne and the Seattle Storm have finally got their first few wins on the board for the 2023 WNBA season.

Sinceher debut against the Las Vegas Aces, the Traralgon local has played in all but one game, playing in all three wins throughout the Storm’s season.

Her debut match against the Las VegasAces resulted in a41-point loss, then she faced the New York Liberty -going down by eightpoints

They got close against the Sparks the first time round -losing by seven points.

In those three losses, Melbourne averaged 14 minutes on the court, with 5.3 points per game, 2.3rebounds per game and two assists per game.

Returning back to Seattle, the Storm knew they

could getclose to the Sparksafter adecent showing in Los Angeles.

Melbourne was in the mix again, following the best game of her career, stat-wise, so far. Against the Sparks in LA, Melbourne played 21 minutes off the bench, scoring double-digit points for the first time in the WNBA, with five boards and two assists.

Back in Seattle, the Storm started terribly, only managing six points in the openingquarter,allowing the Sparks to quadruple their score, going up by 18 points at the end of the first quarter.

The second term was much more in theirfavour, as the Storm piled on 29 points to 14, cutting the deficit back to three points at the half.

The Storm hit the front in the third quarter, outscoring the Sparks by seven points to take a four-point lead with aquarter to play.

Weirdlyenough, the Storm only had six scorers throughoutthe game, leaving four playerswith no points.

Melbourne was unfortunately one of those four with no points, but contributed off the glass with three rebounds.

The finalquarter was the closest one yet, Sparks scoring 15 points to 14, not enough to regain the lead, leaving the Storm as winners, 66-63.

Melbourneand the Storm have claimed two more wins since their first; a14-point win over the Phoenix Mercury and asix-point win over the Dallas Wings.

Against the Mercury, Melbourne played 14 minutes, scoringfour points and providing two assists off the bench, as afree-flowingfirst half gave Seattle abuffer.

While against the Wings, Melbourne managed eight minutes and recorded arebound in the tight win.

From her nine WNBA games so far, Melbourne has averaged 13.7 minutesper game, 2.9 points per game, 1.9 rebounds per game and 1.6 assists per game, decent for aplayer coming from the bench.

Womens team undefeated

BASKETBALL GIPPSLAND UNITED

BY TOM HAYES

GIPPSLAND United went two from two at the weekend in Round 12 of the Big Vcompetition, returning from abye.

The women remain undefeated in Division 2, edging ever-closer to promotion to Division1,while the men sit in the top four, all while playing less games than those around them.

IN Division 1, the men collected their ninth win of the seasonafter defeating Collingwood at Collingwood College by 22 points.

Collingwood outscored Gippsland in the opening term, taking aone-point lead into the first break, but after that it was all Gippsland.

Gippslandthen took afour-point lead at the main break, extending that out to 17 points with aquarter to play after a22-9third term.

The Gippsland boysfinished strongwith their equal-highestscoring quarter to close out the game, to win by 22 points; 88 to 66.

Billy Hughes led the scoring for Gippsland with 17 points, while Ben Barlow scored 13 and Jayden McMillin 11 off the bench, shooting at 66.67 per cent accuracy.

JordanCanovan dominated off theglass with 10 rebounds, while Barlow also popped up with six boards.

Canovan was aprominent provider with four assists, while Stephen O’Brien also claimed three for himself.

Withtheirgames in hand, the men couldcreate a large buffer to fifth if they are capable of winning, and that would simultaneously help their case in their hunt for the top three, which is only one win away.

This weekend, the boys will welcome top-of-thetable side Shepparton to the Gippsland Regional Indoor Sports Stadium.

Shepparton has only lost twice all year, so atest will be on thebillfor Gippsland.

DESPITE being undefeated, the women were challenged by Collingwood in their close victory.

Just like the men, the women trailed by apoint at the first break, then responded in the second period, outscoring Collingwood by 15 points, creating a14-point gap of their own.

Thethird term wasall Collingwood however, as they draggedthe margin back down to five points with aquarter to play.

And they used that momentum in the final

quarter to have things all-square when the game clock had expired.

Thanks to arampant half of basketball by Collingwood, over-time was granted.

Thankfully for the Gippsland girls, the tide changed, and Gippsland was able to get back on top and stay there, winning by six points; 103 to 97.

MaKenzie Miller and Emily Scholtes were huge, scoring 25 and 24 points respectively.

Joanna Watson was another prominent scorer with 19 points,aswas Lauren Tuplin who managed 14.

Miller was strong off the board with 16 rebounds, while Scholtes also claimed 10 as they completed their double-double games.

Krystal Arnasonwas so close to another doubledouble too, claiming 10 points and eight rebounds.

Tuplin led assists with five, while Mish Clarke claimed four.

Thegirls are now five wins clear on top of the ladder, 13 winsfrom 13 games, comfortably on top of the pile.

This weekend, the girls will travel to Bundoora to take on the RMIT Redbacks, ateam they beat easily last time out.

The Redbacks will have to be at theirbest, as they play the day before also.

this time, but those who were there for me in the darkest of times, during injuries or not playing.

“My family, close friends and my agent Sammy (Wloszczowski)have been with me every step of the way.

“I haven’t been home in over 12 months, so I’m looking forward to that and reflecting on everything

White told The Sydney Morning Herald that he “can’t wait to get hometoTraralgon” and spend time with his family.

“We were all, as afamily, super stoked for him Icouldn’t be more overjoyed,” Royal said.

White’s story is one that has plenty of ups and downs.

It’s one that saw him side lined and out of action only two to three years ago with abroken thumb, which was then followed up by asnapped Achilles in one of his returning games back.

His perseverance got him through that tough time, and allowed him to grow and develop into the NBA champion that he is today.

You can’t imagine what he was thinking at the stage of his life, moments before signing for an NBA team and being struck with injury.

“He takes advantage of the time given to him,” Royal said.

“You don’t have to score to be agood player, it’s what he does away from the ball as well, the way he helps his team.”

The entireTraralgonAmateurBasketball Association stillgetsaroundtheir export, and follows his career with intent.

“The youngkids justlookuptohim,” Royalsaid. WhenaskedifTraralgon has ever produced someone this successfulonthe basketball court, Royal responded, “No, not this successful…but Jackisdefinitely the player,one of our juniorsthat have gone the furthest”.

It’s no doubt that White’s career is on the up, especially after abreakout year that was topped off with an NBA chip.

His G-Leaguestats are exceptional, producing close-to-top numberswith lessgames under his belt.

As for right now, White is most likely still soaking up the glory of Denver’s triumph, but he soon has to return to Australian shores, for an Australian camp in Cairns.

Champs: Traralgon’s Jack Whiteposes with Denver’s startingpoint guard, Jamal Murray, during the Nugget’sNBA championship celebrations

Photograph supplied