Latrobe Valley Express Wednesday 14 May 2025

Farewell Falcons Park

By LIAM DURKIN

AT time of press, the result for the federal seat of Monash is still not official.

While all sign sp oint to a Liberal victory for Mary Aldred, preferencesare still being sorted. Ms Aldred led by more than 9000 votes on Monday morning whencloseto90per cent of votes had been counted.

Dela ying wha ta ppears the inevitabl ei sp reference flows,whichinthe words of Independent candidate, Deb Leonard “are all over the place”. Ms Leonard, while still amathematical possibility, conceded “it’s unlikely I’llget up”, while one Labor insider said the party would needtodoa“Bradbury” in order to win.

The last game at Latrobe City Sports Stadiumbeforeits majorredevelopment was playedlast Saturdaynight. Thevenue wasbroadcast nationallyand welcomed crowds of morethan 80 00 people in itsheyday. STORY-PAGE 52

SEVEN KNIVES

APOLICE blitz in Morwell’s CBD resulted in 12 arrests and the seizure of seven knives,aspolice continue to crack down on weapons and anti-social behaviour.

Local police were deployed across key locations -including shopping precincts, and public transport hubs as part of a recent OMNIoperation,whichprovides offic ers with add itiona lp owers to conduct random weapons searches in designated areas.

Se venp eop le were charged after allegedly beingfound in possession of knives during the two-day safety blitz.

Among those arrested was a48-yearold Morwell man allegedly found with a knifeduring asearch on GeorgeStreet.

He was charged with possess controlled weapon and bailed to appear at Morwell Magistrates’ Court at alater date.

Policealsoissuedmultiple on-the-spot infringement notices for individuals carrying prohibited weapons -a n offence that carries amaximum penalty of $47,421 or up to two years’ imprisonment.

In addition to the weapons offences:

 Four people were arrested on

outstanding warrants, including one who was remanded in custody;

 Three people were processed for drug possession; and,  Four infringement notices were issued for traffic and local law offences.

As part of the operation, officers also visited localbusinesses and engaged with the public to provide reassurance and address safety concerns.

“We’ve listened to the concerns of the localcommunityand we’re actingon them,” Latrobe Local Area Commander Acting Inspector, Dave Fyfe said.

“This is not aone off operation -we’ll continue to maintain astrong presence in the CBD to keeppeople safeand address issues that mean most to the community.

“Seizing seven knives in just two days is concerning, but it reinforces thevalue of operations like this -we’re sending a clearmessage that weaponsand antisocialbehaviour willnot be tolerated in Morwell.

“We’re not just focused on enforcement -we’re here to deter crime, engage with the community, and ensure people

feel safe when they visit or work in the CBD.”

Anyone with information aboutcriminal or anti-social behaviour is urged to contact Crime Stopperson1800333 000, or submit aconfidential report at: crimestoppersvic.com.au

 SHADOW Minister for Police, David Southwick, and his predecessor, Liberal state leader, Brad Battin were in Morwell last week.

The paircametothe area on separate days while the Erin Patterson triple murder trial entered its secondweek at Latrobe Valley Courts.

Mr Southwick added his voice to calls for more Protective Services Officers (PSOs) in regional Victoria, as crime continues to sweep the state.

Mr Battin announced in Morwell the Liberals/Nationals ‘Break Bail, Face Jail’ policy.

The Liberals/Nationals say the policy willre-instate the consequences for repeatand youthoffenders and put the safety of regional Victorians first.

Under the plan, the offence of committing an indictable offence while on bail

as aSchedule 2offence triggering abail uplift will be reinstated, and robbery and burglary will be listed as Schedule 2offences, meaning tougher bail tests apply.

The offenceofbreaching bail conditions as aSchedule2offence -requiring offenderstoshow compelling reasons to be granted bail again, will also be reinstated.

The current exemption for yout h offenders who breach bail will be removed -ending what the opposition calls a“free pass for under 18s”.

Mr Battinmadethe announcement alongside Member for Morwell, Martin Cameron and Shadow Attorney General, Michael O’Brien, as well as Natalie Gordon, who has been avocal advocate for bail reform in the wake of her brother, Dr Ash Gordon’s death last year.

Dr Ash died, aged just 33, following an alleged violent stabbing.His death was reported nation-wideafter chasing two burglars in Melbourne after his home was broken into by suspectedyouths aged 16.

Continued -Page3

Ms Leonard’s decision not to list any preferences on her howto-vote cards has undoubtedly stalledthe process,althoughshe has maintained voters should not be directed who to preference. It could stilltakeanother week before the Australian Electoral Commission declares an outright winner.

IN localpolitics, Latrobe City Council has endorsed the 2025/26 Draft Council Budget, and is now seeking community submissions. Council has made the decision to halvethe allowable increase in municipal rates and charges (ex clu ding was te ser vic es charges) proposing a1.5 per cent increase rather thanthe three per cent maximum increase in ratespermissible underthe stategovernment’s Fair Go Rates System.

Cou nci lw il ls pend $29.3 milliononthe continuationof the Regional Car Parks Fund, including the completion of the Kay Street, Traralgoncar park and the commencement of the Commercial Road, Morwell car park.

Other major projects include floo dr ecove ry proje cts at Traralgon Recreation Reserve totalling $5.3 million, the multiuse pavilion at Gaskin Park ($3.7 million, $2.5millionofwhich will be funde dt hrough new borrowings), and the upgrade of the Glengarry preschool ($1.1 million).

The community is encouraged to review the draft budgetand make submissions by May 27, 2025 before 5pm. For mor ei nf orm at ion or to make as ubmission ,v is it: yoursay.latrobe.vic.gov.au/ council-budget-2025-26 Hard copies are available at council service centres.

Evidenceheardaswitnesses takestand

By TOMHAYES and STEFAN BRADLEY

THE second week of the Erin Patterson Supreme Court trial was heard last week.

Three people died following afatal beef wellington lunch, whichallegedly containeddeath cap mushrooms, at the accused's Leongatha home in July 2023

Don and Gail Patterson, and Heather Wilkinson all died from the fatal meal. Gail's husband, Ian Wilkinson fell ill, however survived the incident. The accusedpleaded not guilty to three counts of murderand one count of attempted murder.

Day 5, May 5

THE accused's estranged husband Simon Patterson denied in front of the jury ever asking the accused thephrase: "is that what you used to poisonthem" whilethe accused attended Monash Hospital.

The court heard the conversation sparked when Simon and the accused talked about amushroom taste test that the accused performed on the children in the past.

Thechildren were out of the room at the time, according to Simon.

 SIMON recalled to the court he had a"message in mind" regarding the accused's "inflammatory" behaviour when he was re-examined by the prosecution.

Simontold the courtthat monthsafterthe December 16, 2022 conversation, his parents, Don and Gail agreed for Gail to not read the accused's messages into the group chat, due to her anxiety.

Simon said in court that he privately messaged the accused regarding his children's sleep, to which the accused replied to him via the group chat, describing it as "inflammatory".

He told the court that he was glad his parents hadthe rule for Gail not to read messages during this time.

Simon also told the courthewas "puzzled"as to why the accused left his name on one of the property's title.

 WHEN Simon was asked by the defence why he had not contacted the accused or his parents regarding the accused's medical diagnosis following the lunch on July 29, 2023, he told the court: "that's Erin's news to tell".

He told the court that he was once again "puzzled" that the medicaldiagnosis conversation had to wait weeks to be told, for what seemed to be aserious issue, and he didn't feel as though there was too much urgency.

 SIMON spoke on the accused's history of discharging herself from hospital, recalling another two times.

He told the court the first instance happened before their marriage, and the second after the birth of their first child.

Simon told the court that the accused struggles to sleep in hospitals.

Day 6, May 6

THE sole survivor of the fatal beef wellington, Ian Wilkinson described his relationship with the accused, prior to the lunch as "friendly", however it "didn't have much depth", landing at "acquaintances", to the court.

When telling the court about Simon Patterson's relationship with the accused, he said he knew of the complicationsthat arose duetothe separation. Ian told the court that he had been to the accused's multiple homes, however had never been inside, always meeting herinthe driveway and at the doorstep.

 AFTER receiving his invitation to the July 29, 2023 lunch, Ian told the court that at the time he was "very happy to be invited" via Heather -who had been told by the accused.

He told the court it seemed to be "good news", as he hoped "maybe the relationship with Erin was going to improve".

Ian told the court the group had general

conversations about the house before the lunch. He said Gailand Heather were particularly interested in the pantry.

Ian told the court that as the two asked to look inside, the accused didn't follow them in straight away, saying she seemed "reluctant".

Ian told the court he recalled the accused mashingpotatoes and the food being plated up, while standing with Don further away fromthe kitchen.

Ian said that Heatherand Gail offered to help plate up, but the accused rejected their offer, plating up all of the food by herself.

Ian said he recognised the plates, stating there was four larger, "middle grey"-coloured plates, and asmaller, orange, tan plate.

Ian told the jury that Gail and Heather each picked up two of the grey plates each, taking them to the table, while the accusedplaced her own orange plate.

After eating, Ian told the court that the accused announced she hadcancer, believingitwas lifethreatening. He couldn't recall what type cancer it was.Ian told the court that the accused referred to tests that showed atumour.

He told the court that the accused asked for advice on if she should tell the truth to her children. Ian said Don spoke, saying it would be best to tell her children.

 IAN told the court that after heading to bed later than usual on the night of July 29, 2023, he and Heather fell ill with vomiting and diarrhoea throughout the night. He told the court he couldn't put anumberonthe amount of times he was sick that night.

"I was vomiting fairly regularly,"hetold the court Ian told the court that neither returned to bed for the entire night, both staying conveniently close to atoilet each. He said Heather stayed on acouch.

 IAN told the court that on the morning of July 30, 2023, Heather called Don and Gail, who were also unwell.

He told the court that Simon visited and urged them to call an ambulance, as Don and Gail had done.

He said Simon eventually convinced them. But due to ambulance delays, Simon took them himself, Ian told the court.

Ian saidtheyfirst arrived at Koru mburra Hospital, but as there was no room left, Simon drove Ian and Heather to Leongatha Hospital.

Ian told the court he recalled Heather asking about the different-coloured plates multiple times during this time.

 UPON arriving at Leongatha Hospital, Ian and Heather were showing food poison symptoms accordingtoDrChris Webster, Ian told thecourt. Ian and Heatherwere admitted into the ward, staying in the same room, in "joining beds", Ian told the court.

Ian told the court, that the followingmorning the pair was abruptly woken up and taken to urgent care. He told thecourt that thedoctorhad communication with Dandenong Hospital, suspecting mushroom poisoning.

Ian agreed when asked if it was atime-critical treatment. He told thecourt he was taken in the firstambulance to DandenongHospital, with Heather'sambulance arriving as he was being loadedin. He saidthey were awareofDon and Gail's admittance into the same hospital.

Ian was transferred to Austin Hospital and discharged on September 11, 2023. He then entered rehabilitation in Heidelberg,discharged completely on September 21, 2023, the prosecution said.

 DURING cross examinations, when Ian asked he thought the accused was proud of her house, he replied: "I don't think so".

The defence pointed out that during his police statement, he stated he did believe that she was proud of her house.

In court, he continued to say:"we didn't have ahousetour" andIan saidthe accuseddid not driveany conversationabout the house,adding:

"onreflection,Ifelt those answers (in the police statement) were not satisfactory".

Day 7, May 7

THE court heard aread-in statement from the state's Department of Health official, Danielle Romane, which read that therewerenoentries found of the accused's cancer diagnosis.

She wrote that any medical professional was to report any kind of cancer diagnosis.

 THE daughter of Don and Gail, Anna Terrington, told the court Don and Gail had afternoon tea and dinner at her house on Thursday, July 27, where she was told they were invited to the accused's for lunch on July 29, along with Ian, Heather, and Simon.

Ms Terrington said it was "unusual" for Ian and Heather to be invited.

Ms Terrington found it difficult to answer questions regarding aphone she had with Gail afterthe lunch, sobbing on the stand. She saidGail toldher aboutthe lunch and that it "went well".

Duringher cross examination, the defenceasked if she had aspecial bond with the accused, which she told the court she did at the time of the birth of theirchildren. Ms Terrington said they had babies three days apart.

She toldthe court that the accused and her husband (at the time) Simon Patterson loaned Ms Terrington and her husband $400,000 to help with the house they had recently purchased. The loan's terms were quite relaxed, with no interest.

 THE final family witness for the day was Don and Gail's son, Matthew Patterson.

Mr Patterson told the court that he rang the accused on Monday, July 31, while his parents were at Dandenong Hospital, in an attempt to find out where the mushrooms were from.

He told the courtthat the accusedsaidthey were from Woolworthsand aChinese grocer in the Oakleigh area. He said he then shared that information with the staff attending to Don.

Following the death of Don and Gail, the accused emailed Mr Pattersonaskingifher children can stay with him if Child Protection got involved

It was also revealed in 2021,the accused organisedalunchwith Mr PattersoninMelbourne to discuss her relationship with his brother, Simon.

 GENERAL Practitioner, Dr Chris Webster spent aprolonged time on the stand, as the first on-call doctor at Leongatha Medical Clinic at the time of the fatal lunch.

Dr Webster reviewed both Ian andHeather, giving them anti-nausea medication and pantoprazole to reduce acid.

He told the court of aphone call from Dr Morgan, who was treating Don and Gail at the time. He said Dr Morgan told him she was concerned about deathcap poisoning.

"She gave very specific details about what treatment to commence," Dr Webster told the court.

Dr Webster told the courthethen gotacall to confirmed the transfer of Ian and Heather to Dandenong Hospital.

The court heard that the accused presented to Leongatha Hospital, saying she had gastro. The court heard she was brought into Urgent Care.

"I recognise dh er nam ea st he chef of the meal, yes," Dr Webster saidwhenasked by the prosecution.

Dr Webster told the court that he told the accused that there was aconcern for death cap mushroom poisoning,asking her where the mushrooms came from, to which the accused replied the single-word response: Woolworths.

Dr Webster left momentarily, and he said to the court when he returned, she was gone. He told the court the nurse said she had discharged herself against advice.

He toldthe court he rang000 (Triple Zero) to reportittothe police. Dr Webster saidhegave the 000operator theaccused's phone number.

Earlier during the trial, it was revealed the

accused had asecond mobile phone with adifferent number that has not been recovered.

Theaccused eventuallyreturned to hospital and spoketoDrWebster, he told the court. He said Mirboo North police rang him to let him know they were at the accused's house. He said he told them she had returned to hospital, askingthe officers to collect the leftover beef wellington, which the accused told him was in the bin.

Day 8, May 8

THE wife of Matthew Patterson, Tanya Patterson, shared her recollection of events.

She told the court she asked the accused to visit her in hospital on Monday, July 31. She told the court the accused said that would be "lovely".

Ms Patterson told the court they engaged in general conversation, before the accused told her she knew of the lunch guests' condition.

Ms Patterson said while she was in attendance, the accused received herbloodresultsfroma toxicologist, stating she was fine, and good to go home

Ms Pattersonwenttosee the accused's children, giving theaccused an update, she told the court. She also to ld the court duri ng her cros s examinationthat when the accused asked for more information on the other guests, she told her that it would be better to ask Simon, however she told the accused that things were "changing quickly".

 THE court heard apiece of Video Audio Recorded Evidence from the accused's daughter, given on August 16, 2023 to conclude proceedings on Thursday, May 8.

The accused appeared visiblyupset when watching her daughter (who shall not be named for legal reasons) give evidence.

She testifiedthat the accused wanted to have the lunch to talk about "adult stuff".

She also recalled thatthe accused neededthe toilet quite often the day after the fatal lunch, hence why they didn't attend church.

Day 9, May 9

THEdaughter of the accusedwas heard by the jury sayingshe doesnot likemushrooms, and answered 'no' when asked if she has cooked them or gone mushroom picking.She didadmit she has seen them in the wild.

During hertestimony, she also stated that the accused and Simon (her father) told her she didn't havetospeaktothe police if she didn'twant to, ending her testimony.

 THE son of the accused said she had only invited Don and Gail over once before, never before inviting Ian and Heather.

He recalled that the day after the fatal lunch, the accused woke up several times duringthe night to usethe toilet. He said she didn't seem her usual self and was "quieter".

He described the leftovers of the beef wellington as "some of the best meat I've ever had".

Like his sister,the court heard him say he doesn't like mushrooms due to the texture, and has never gone mushroom picking, although he has seen them in the wild too.

He recalled that the accused once took apicture of mushrooms while on awalk during the COVID pandemic.

He said he was unaware of the accused's dehydrator. Before the conclusionofthe session, during the son's police account he recalled that he, the accused, and his sister stayed at the accused's Mount Waverly home during the March/April holidays in 2023.

Court was adjourned until yesterday (Tuesday, May 13 at 10.30am), after the Express went to print. Days10-13ofthe trial will be included in next week's issue.

For theentire Week 2wrap, daily updates visit theExpress website.

Scooters need to slow down

By AIDAN KNIGHT

AWOMAN who spent 18 days in Latrobe Regional Hospital after being run down by aperson on a mobility scooter in Traralgoniscalling on users to be morecautious.

Thewoman, in her70s,suffered afracturedleg and pelvis, several abrasions and largehaematomasasaresult of theincident.

“My hospitalstayincluded surgery to my broken leg,” she told the Express, adding the incident has had “an enormous impact on not only my life, but as acarer for my husband” (who is 91-years-old andsuffers from Parkinson’s disease).

The woman had to undergotwo procedures to try and relieve pressure from the haematoma, which her son described as “the size of agrapefruit”.

Her hospital stay saw doctors inform her family she would leavewith areduced mobility she would most likely not regain.

The incident occurred outside Traralgon News and Lotto on Franklin Street,from which the victim emerged, ironically after picking up acopy of the Express.

Newsagent staff were first to respond, and provided CCTV footage which was then reviewed

Bail privilege, no given right

From Page 1

THE state government overhauled its bail laws last March, bringing in the ‘Tough Bail Bill’.

At the time, the government said community safety came first on all bail decisions –becoming the overarching principle for bail decision-making.

It is now no longer necessary to consider remand as alast resort for achild.

Under the ‘Tough Bail Law’,two bail offences of “committing an indictable offence whileonbail” and “breach of bail conditions” have come into effect, delivering consequences for people who do not respect the rules of bail and can be considered by bail decision-makers as areason to refuse bail. Both offences will be punishable by up to three months imprisonmentontop of anyother sentence imposed for any crime committed.

Additionally, if someone on bail has been arrested for breach of bail, police officers can bring that person to court directly, rather than wait for abail justice.

Theopposition however, believes this is not enough, and are after even tougher reform.

“Victorians have had enough of the state government’s soft approach on crime, and this policy prioritises thesafety of communities over the rightsofrepeatoffenders,” Mr Cameron said of the Liberals/Nationals plan.

“I havebeencampaigning for tougher bail laws with Nat and the Gordon family since the death of their beloved Dr Ash, and it’s no stretch to say recent changes wouldn’t have happened without their advocacy.

“But thispolicygoes further–itreclassifiesseveral offences to ensure repeat offenders face tougher bail tests.

“This policy ensures it will be harder for repeat offenders to gain bail, because bail is aprivilege –not agiven right.”

by police, Latrobe City Council,and has been seen by the Express.

The footage shows the lady exiting the newsagent’s premises, simultaneous to the driver of the mobility scooter travelling on the right side of the footpath, against the shopfronts headingtowards the Hotham St end of Franklin St.

Aman whoexited the newsagentbefore the victim had to visibly move to the side to accommodate the scooter-user between asandwich board of the shopnextdoor. The woman made four paces over the threshold before being struck.

The impact was hard enough to knock the woman to the ground before the front end of the scooter mounted her as she laid on the concrete –receiving ahard knock to the head on her way down as well.

Multiple bystanders rushedtoher assistance and the scooter-user, in fairness, did not flee the scene.Theyhavenot beencharged or receivedany sort of authorialwarning,asmobility scooters are technically classed as pedestrians and there was no obvious intent of assault, as such, despite the harsh outcome.

The victim’s son has expressed concern, rather than any sort of retribution, but simply public awareness, and in the best-case scenario,would like to see some sort of policy reform surrounding similar vehicles and their users.

“We’re not looking to shame anyone –not a charge or anything, just someone to say to them ‘you’ve got to slow down’,” he said.

“Other peoplemymother’s age would have come out of thisevenworse, and to thinkofwhatwould have occurred in the samescenario withasmall child is horrific.”

After reporting the incident to police, the family approached Latrobe City Council, who investigated whether the nearby sandwich board and street furniturecontributed to reduced footpathspace at the time of collision, and if this was afactor in the incident.

The family has reaffirmed calls for greater responsibility of mobility scooter users, stating “we just want people to be more cautious”.

New police chiefcommissioner

THE state government has appointed Mike Bush CNZM as the next Chief Commissioner of Victoria Police.

He will step into the top job on June 27, 2025.

His appointment follows an extensive recruitment process that spanned local,interstate and international police organisations.

Mr Bush has more than 40 years of operational and strategic police experience under his belt, including sixyears as Commissioner and Chief Executive of New Zealand Police.

During his time leadingNew Zealand Police, Mr Bush oversaw asignificant transformation whichsaw more public trustand confidence in police, lower crime rates, abiggerfocus on early intervention, and better staff culture.

Mr BushhelpedNew Zealandersthrough disasters and times of immense trauma, including the Christchurch Terror Attack, the Whakaari White Island eruption and COVID-19.

Mr Bushalsorecently supported the Fijigovernment to reform the country’s police organisation, and is aproud ambassador for organisations that

support the welfare and wellbeing of policeand first responders.

Until Mr Bush begins his term in June, Deputy Commissioner Robert Hill (who was in Traralgon lastFriday for apolicededication at Centenary House) will serve as acting Chief Commissioner.

Former actingChief CommissionerRickNugent, who came in afterShane Patton resigned as Chief Commissioner, departed last Thursday (May 8).

The government wished to thank Mr Nugent for acting in the role until apermanent replacement was chosen, and Mr Patton for his long and decorated service and his leadership of Victoria Police though challenging times.

Under the Victori aP olic eA ct, the Chie f Commissioner is appointed by the governor in council for afive year-term.

Premier Jacinta Allan and Minister for Police, Anthony Carbines (who was also in Traralgon last Friday) congratulated Mr Bush on his successful appointment.

Ouch: Thecollision bet ween apedestrian and mobilityscooter on FranklinStreet, Traralgon. Photograph supplied

FedUni announces targets

FEDERATION University Australia welcomes the Australian Labor Party and Anthony Albanese as the newly elected federal government.

Federation says it looks forward to continuing to work with the Commonwealth to help more Australians gain apost-secondary qualification and improve the quality of life in regional and outer metropolitan communities.

Federation University is eager to collaborate with the new governmenttoachieve the national target of 80 per cent of the workforce holding atertiary qualification by 2050 as set out in the Australian Universities Accord. This collaboration is crucial to addressing the educational disparities between major cities and regionalareas, thereby making these regions more liveable and prosperous.

With campuses in Gippsland, Ballarat, Horsham, Berwick and Wimmera, Vice-Chancellor and PresidentofFederationUniversity, Professor

Duncan Bentley emphasised the university's commitment to Victorian communities, which face some of the nation's highest post-secondary educationgaps.Hehighlighted the university's roleasanaccessible higher education provider for critical nationalindustries.

"To reach the government’s 80 per centby2050 target, we need to focus on regional and outer suburban communitieswheretertiaryattainment rates are very low," he said.

"Currently, 63 per cent of working Australians hold atertiary qualification, but the vast majority are in inner cities. In regional areas, only 20 per cent hold abachelor’s degree or above, and 40 per centhold any tertiary qualification. Federation University can help bridge thisgap throughour ‘earn and learn’ co-operativeeducationmodel, which strengthens thepathway to ajob by combining government funding with industrypartnerships."

Federation University highlights the urgent need forinvestmentinregional higher education backed by powerful community partnerships, to ensure skills gaps do not drive-up living costs and stunt the growth of key regional industries like new energy, accessible health services, and advanced manufacturing.

The university will be seeking to work closely with the federal government’s proposednew agency to manage student places and ensure the needs of regionaland outer suburban Victoria are met, and clarity on international student policy settings for 2026 and beyond.

Fed erati on has previ ous ly high li ghte dthe disproportionate impact of international student caps on regional universities,and advocated for fairer policies that support regional universitiesto maintaintheir role in Australia’s global education sector

The universityiscommitted to working with the new government to ensure the strongest education-to-jobs outcomes for localstudents, and to ensure significant strides are made towardsa more educatedand prosperous Australia. Newprofile pic: Vice-Chancellor andPresident of FederationUniversity, Professor Duncan Bentley. Photograph supplied

Active management only way to reduce risk

COMMENT

BY DR TONY BARTLETT

THE claims in my critique of research published by academics David Lindenmayer, Philip Zylstra (Latrobe Valley Express, 23/04/25) and others are not demonstrably false and do not misrepresent scientific evidence. They are based on my own very considerable experience in forest fire management as well as careful consideration of both their research and the much wider body of Australian bushfire science.

Published peer-reviewedresearch referred to by theseacademics does not necessarily correlate with undeniablefacts or logic when it comes to establishing sensible forest fire managementpolicies. There is avery strong body of existing knowledge about forest fire management in Australia, much of which is based on decades of on-groundresearch trials and the analysis of outcomes from major bushfires

Afew new research papers, none of which have been published in recognised fire science journals, should not be sole determinant of radical changes

in forest fire management in Australia. To do so would put both communities and the environment at serious risk of major harm from future intense bushfires that will ravagethrough unmanaged forest landscapes.

Experienced forest firefighters will tell you that ‘lived experience’ is very important in determining how to reduce the risks of bushfires and how to be moresuccessful in putting them outwhenthey occur. For example, aresearch paper might show that aprescribed burn conducted 8.5km away from houses only had limited effect on reducing the risk to those houses being destroyed by abushfire burning under catastrophic fire weather conditions. However, lived experience will tell you that the same prescribed burn could be very effectivein enabling alarge scale backburn to be conducted safely and thereby in reducing the spreadofa bushfire burning under more moderate conditions that could of otherwise impacted on houses when conditions worsen.

Lived experience also deserves to be considered in situations where it contradicts the findings

of published research. For instance, in the 2003 Canberra bushfires, the relatively small lightning caused bushfires burninginalargeNationalPark, where no logging had occurred, could not be controlled at relatively moderate levels of fire danger, becauseofthe excessive fuel loads in those forests as aresult of prescribed burning being excluded for decades. Those bushfires went on to claim four lives and destroy more than 500 houses in and around Canberra.

There are significant flaws in thelogic and analysis of some of the published research that is being used by these academics to lobby for radical changes in forest and fire managementstrategies Many of these flaws have been raised in published critiques of the original research papers.

Nevertheless, these academics justdismiss these criticismsand continue to publish inaccurate findings from their own research. For instance, in their response to my critique of their research, they again state that “logged forests burning under moderate fire weather conditions still burnt at greater severity than intact forests burning under extreme

conditions” quoting their research (Lindenmayer et al. 2022b).

However, that quoted article was ashort response to acritiqueoftheir claims made in an earlier two-page publishedarticle. In neither of these two articles, did these academics publish their own empirical data to justify their often-repeated claim about the impact of logging on bushfire severity.

Strategically implementing more active management of native forests is the only feasible way to reduce the impacts of the increasing occurrence of severe bushfires. Istronglybelieve that it wouldbe unreasonable for governments to make important bushfire policy decisions on the basis of afew new published research articles,without aproper consideration of the alternative evidence.

Aboutthe author: Dr Tony Bartlett AFSMhas worked in Australian and international forestry forcloseto50years, and has worked in various forestry roles for the Commonwealth, ACT and Victorian government.

Nationalparty giant remembered

NATIONALS in the Latrobe Valley and Gippsland are mourning thepassing of former Cabinet Ministerand Member for Gippsland,The Honourable Peter Nixon, AO, who was agiant of federal politics.

Mr Nixon died peacefully in Melbourneon Thursday, May1withhis family by his side, at the age of 97.

Afamily spokesman said: “Right to the end, he did it his way. He lived for The Nationals and he was incredibly proud that there are two generations of family members following in his footsteps in voluntary roles with the party”.

Mr Nixon was born in Orbost on March 22, 1928, and grew up farming in the Orbost region. He entered politics after the retirement of George Bowden in 1961, held the seat of Gippsland for 22 years, and is one of only eight people since Federation to serve in the role.

Mr Nixon went on to serve as aMinister under five different Prime Ministers –Harold Holt, JohnMcEwen,John Gorton, William McMahon and Malcolm Fraser –and was entrusted with responsibility for avariety of portfolios across his career. He heldministerialofficeasMinister for the Interior (1967-1971), Shipping and Transport (1971-1972), Postmaster-General (1975), Transport (1975-1979) and Primary Industry (1979-1983).

Married to Sally Dahlsenin1952, the couple had three children before Sally’s passing in 2013. He was one of the most substantial MPs of his generation and his memoirs (AnActive Journey-The Peter Nixon Story)containmanyinteresting accounts of his political life, both at home and abroad.

In his life after politics, Mr Nixon continued his farming interests and was appointed chair of Southern Cross Broadcasting. He also served on the Victorian Football League Commission from 1985 to 1991, and was Chief Commissioner of East Gippsland Shire Council after the amalgamation process.

Mr Nixonwas made an Officer of the Order of Australia for his servicetothe Australian Parliamentand to the community in 1993. He was also apatronofthe Richmond Football Club for more than 40 years.

"Ifyou want to knowhow famous he is...if you go eastofBairnsdale, the people up there aren’t quite sure if God’sGod, or Peter Nixon is God,” long-servingRichmond President, Ian Wilson (father of well-known journalist Caroline) said. The Nationals’ VictorianPresident, Jo Armstrong, said Mr Nixonwouldbefondly rememberedby his former staff, colleagues and party members.

“Peter was agiant of our party and astatesman for Australiawho served with integrity and distinction duringaturbulent time in federalpolitics,” Ms Armstrong said. “On behalf of The Nationalsfamily acrossVictoria,I extendmysincere condolences to theNixon family.”

Victorian Leader of The Nationals and Member for Gippsland South, Danny O’Brien, said he had been inspired by Mr Nixon throughout his own political journey.

“Peter Nixonset the benchmark for outstanding service to his local community while also working

at the highest levels of government in senior Ministerial roles,” Mr O’Brien said.

“Our party is poorer for his passing, but richer from the contribution he made over several decades as apartyvolunteer, MemberofParliament, Cabinet Minister, and mentor for others.”

The current Member for Gippsland, Darren Chester, said he first met Peterin1995when he was ayoung staff member at the shire,and remembered his formidable intellect, passion for regional communities anddeterminationtoget things done.

"It’s been an honour to follow in the footsteps of Peter Nixon in Gippsland,” Mr Chester said.

“Peter will be remembered as astatesman of Australian politicswho contributed enormously to the prosperity of regional Australia and was a principal architect and chiefstrategist for the then Coalition government."

Aformer Victorian Leader of The Nationals, Peter Ryan, who was the Member for Gippsland South, said his close friend was “a truly great Australian who lived his values to the end”.

“He was anational treasure in every sense of the word and Iconsider myself fortunate to have known him as amateand political confidante over many years,” Mr Ryan said.

“He was aselfless, humble man whose many talents enabled him to risetothe highest ranks of the political hierarchy of Australia. He was a champion of the National Party.

“Hiscare for and respectofthe Members of the Party was renowned andhis reputation for excellence in the dischargeofhis Ministerial responsibilities was unsurpassed. To the end Peter was as astute in his knowledge and judgment of Australian politics as was the case in his heyday. He will be sorely missed.”

While serving under five former Prime Ministers, Mr Nixon followed the fortunes of Tigerland from within the inner sanctum, always having the ear andrespectofpowerbrokers Graeme Richmond, Alan Schwab, and Ian Wilson.

“I’ve said privately and publicly, Peter Nixon is the wisest man Iknow,” Wilson said in 2012.

“Pete’s beenasuper bloke to this football club. He’s been ahell of ahelp and agreat mentor to me when Iwas president.”

Asearchacross the Richmond archive shows his name poppingupeverywhere–inannualreports, minute books,coterie listings, Tommy Hafey Club functions, as aguest at annual meetings, and on the donors’boardshowing significant financial contributors to the Jack Dyer Foundation.Hewas aspecial guestatthe infamous 1987AGM with Alan Bond as president.

Mr Nixon went to Wesley College where he played football on aSaturday morning before heading off to aleague match.

“It was two pence on the bus. We came to Punt Road. And one day Jack Dyer took the three of us, we were standing in the corner of the race, and he took us into the room and the three of us remained Richmond for the rest of our lives,” Mr Nixon said Twenty-six days after the Tigers'drought breaking premiership in 1967, Nixon wasasked during TheHouseofRepresentatives sitting, 'Is the Minister for the Interior aware that recently two honourable members have been attacked by marauding magpies in the vicinity of Parliament House?'

His response: “as asupporter of the Richmond Football Club, which won this year's Melbourne premiership, Ihavefrequently been attacked by acertain Magpiesupporter who sits in acorner of this chamber”, was alovely bit of wordplay, but

also the first time the phrase “Richmond Football Club”was entered into theesteemedHansard transcripts for aquestion without notice. In 1981 he was appointed aPremier Patron of the Richmond Football Club, aposition he held until his death, and from 1995-2004, was aconsultant for the board.

Stalwart: PeterNixon wasagiant of The National party,and servedasMember forGippsland for morethan 20 years.

Vale: Orbost-born, PeterNixon is being rememberedasone of themost substantial MPs of hisgeneration

Tiger time: PeterDixon wasa diehard Richmond supporter, and close confidant of manyclubpowerbrokers.

ONE POINTERS

1. The Footy Show’sSam Newman played 300 VFL/AFL games with which club?

2. Reginald Dwight is better known as?

3. The X-Box is produced by which company?

4. Which species of bird, is the second-largest living bird by height after the ostrich?

TWOPOINTERS

5. How many points does the Star of David have?

6. The 1854 Eureka Rebellion in Australia was in part a protest following what get-rich-quick event of the 1850s?

7. What Australian supermodel of the 1980s was nicknamed “The Body?”

8. If the mainland of Australia is considered acontinent rather than an island, then what is the largest island of Australia?

THREE POINTER

9. What name is singer-actor Stefani Germanotta better known by?

10. Being founded on October 25, 1923, which iconic Australian food brand celebrated their 100th anniversar yin2023?

11. Who was Elton John’s“Candle in the Wind” penned in honor of?

12. Which southern hemisphere countr ydoes Australia play against in the Bledisloe Cup?

FOUR POINTER

13. What year was the first “Batman” comic book published?

14. What occasion corresponds with the longest day of the year?

15. Name 5ofthe 7continents. 1point for each correct answer

Howdid youfare?

37: Topofthe class; 30-36: Outstanding; 22-29: Well done; 15-21: Solid effort; 9-14: Room for improvement; 0-8: Hit the books.

Target Time No. 0265

Howtoplay...

Using the 9letters in the gr id, howmany wordsoffour letters or morecan you list? The centreletter must be included and each lettermay be used onlyonce No colloquial or foreign words. No capitalised nouns, apostrophes or plural wordsending in ‘s’.

page53

with AIDAN KNIGHT

ARCHIVES

Cheap night

TWO “guests” at the Angus McMillan Motel, east of Traralgon, really got their money’s worth when they booked in on Sundaynight. As wellastheir accommodation, the two men got away with a22inPhillips colour television set and blankets and sheets. Snr Det John King of Morwell CIB said the colour television was valued at about $700. Det King said the thieves were believedtobetravelling in alight-coloured Holden station wagon with stolen number plates.

50 years ago

The Express, May 14, 1975

Gippsland laments death of newspaper leader

KEI TH Hopk ins, af or mer mana ging director of the Latrobe Valley Express and Warragul Gazette, has died at the age of 82. Mr Hopkins, who was involved in Gippsland newspapers for more than 50 years, died on Sunday at Cooinda Lodge, Warragul. He was aleading figure in the Australian country press in an era which saw atechnological revolution in newspaper production. When Mr Hopkins beganinjournalism,stories were produced by the hand-setting of individual letters for each word. At the end of his career, he oversaw the introduction of sophisticated computer technology.For his services to country journalism, he was awarded an MBE in 1981. In 1934, Mr Hopkins and his father George launched the Leongatha Echo which had an instant appeal as it was printed on coloured newsprint, anovelty in those days. His work at the Echowas interrupted by WW2, in which he rose to the rank of major in infantry and served in New Guinea and

N B it in second-in-command. In h

New Britain as second-in comm his younger days he played football for Rosedale before aknee injury forced his retirement, while continuing to play cricket for many years- apassionthat remained his whole life. He was on the state council of the RSL during the 1950s, wasa member of the Gippsland Field Days Committee and served on the vestry of St Paul’s Anglican Church in Warragul for many years. Mr Hopkins is survived by his wife Joyce and three sons, Brian, Drew and Phillip.

30 years ago

The Express, May 16, 1995

Breaking the learning bubble

FEDER ATION tr aini ng has launc he d student services centre ‘Bubbles’ at its Gippsland campuses after receiving $2.5 millioninState Government funding earlier this year. The centres include campus libraries, study support, and career and course advice. “The ‘Bubble’startswith astudent who is unsure of their future career, so we talk to them about the sorts of things that they like andthen we try to match the skills with the courses that we offer,” FedTraining chief executive Wendy Wood said. Training and Skills Minister Steve Herbert said the ‘Bubbles’ were the result of part of $20 million fast-tracked fromthe State Government’s TAFErescuefund.“If we don’thavea training system that’s strongly linked with industry’s growth and productivity, then our entire economy is going to be in danger,” Mr Herbert said.

10 years ago

The Express, May 14, 2015

Venice St, Newborough

REL ATIV ELY few res id ents of Moe and Newbrough would have driven down Venice Street, which is located off Narracan Drive in Gunns Gully. It is probably one of the few streets where the NarracanShire asked aresident to name the street rather than leaving the naming to adeveloper or the shire itself.

In 1925, Girolamo D’Odorico came to Australia from Italy, leaving behind his wife Emilia and their three children, trusting that he would be able to bring them out at alater date.

After working in central Victoria and Shepparton, he ended up working for Mr Morgan of Morgan Mills at Moondarra.

By then it was two years since he left Italy. It is understood Mr Morgan took alikingtoGirolamo, and when he discovered he had afamily waiting back in Italy he organised the reunion. They joined Girolamo at Moondarra and soon another son was born. His namewas Angelo, but typical of what happened in those days, he became known as Frank Doderico.

George Morgan then suggested to Girolamo thatheshould secure thefuture for hisfamily by buying land. Possibly with the help of Mr Morgan, Girolamo was able to purchase land in

what is now Newborough. It was approximately theareabordered by Old Sale Road, John Field Drive, Narracan Dr and Southwell Avenue. Each weekend, Girolamo would walk in from Moondarra to clear the bush block he had purchased. On Sunday he would then walk back to Moondarra to be back at work at the mill on the Monday.

Eventually the land was cleared and the family moved onto the newly-cleared land living in arough timber shed at first.

Girolamo then got ajob with the Narracan Shire Council. Moe at that time was part of the Narracan Shire. He created asmall dam for awater supply for cattleand establishedadairy herd. Thefamily milkedcows and sent cream to the MoeDairy Co-op. Years later, Girolamo and his wife sold off sections of the now fully cleared land to be used for recreation, housing, and education.

As part of the changing landuse, astreetwas constructedinthe location previously described and the shire council asked Girolamo to name the street. He decided on Venice Street as he had come from atown north of Venice.

Information and photo supplied by Moe & District Historical Society.

Sign of the times: Emilia and GirolamoD’Odorico in front of their homeinNarracan Drive, Gunns Gully. Photograph supplied

GREY NOMADS

Australiaawaitsthe Grey Nomads

The movement of people travelling into the warmer regions of Australia over our winter period, has become almost an annual pilgrimage for many

Friends aremade and adventures are had but there’sthings that should be done beforethe trek commences to ensure peace of mind whilst travelling.

Here’ssome tips to consider beforeyou go

• Makesureall gear is in working order

There’snothing worse than getting hours from town and realising you’ve lost avital partofyourwinch, your electric brakes fail, or there’sarip in your awning.

Quickly checking everything works, how it should, aweek or two beforeyour trip, can save alot of heartache down the track.

• Does your caravan, RV or camper need an upgrade or repair?

Grey Nomads usually travel for several months at atime so the last thing you want is to take on an Australian adventurewith faulty or uncomfortable living quarters!

You’ve waited along time to have the experience, don’tlet asub-standardmobile home spoil it.

• Checkoveryour vehicle.

Does it need aservice?

Arethe tyres in good condition?

Don’tforget the spare.

• What can’t youdowithout?

Along with staying safe, there’splenty of different products on the market that could

be needed depending on the type of trip.

If it’sanoff-road 4WD adventure, what about snorkels, winches, lift-kits, and the simple things in life like port-a-loos, deck chairs and folding tables?

Plan your trip to take advantage of the climate

Good weather is an important partofany camping experience.

Whether the trip lasts forafew months or even several years.

With Australia’sclimate being so diverse it is possible to enjoy great weather all year round if you travel to the right places in the right season.

However,nothing is guaranteed and it is certainly not unknown to experience acold, rainy weekinAlbany right in the middle of summer or get adeluge in Cape York during thedry season

The wetseason in the North normallylasts from October to May

Flash floods andsometimes even hurricanes occur

The combination of high temperatures and humidity also make it veryuncomfortable to spend time outside.

However,some Grey Nomads brave the conditions for a‘wet season experience’.

This often includes electrical storms as well as the opportunity to see cascading waterfalls and full to flooding rivers.

If you do plan to visit the north of Australia during the wet, get local advice about road conditions and keep informed about any hurricane warnings.

Thedry season in the North normallylasts from June to September

Temperatures areusually around 30c, there is low humidity and verylittle chance of rain

This is also the time to expect asurge of othertravellers escaping the cold winters of the south

Theheatinthe Centreis usuallybetween November andMarch

Thisisnot agood time to visit central Australia as it can be veryunpleasant when temperatures in the outback soar

The mercurymay hit 45c or even higher and thereisarisk of sudden downpours which transformdried up creek beds to raging torrents.

Thecoolinthe Centreis usuallybetween April and October

Daytime temperatures arenormally very pleasant although it can get verycold at night, especially in July and August. Thereisalso much less chance of rain. However the odd downpour in June should not be asurprise.

HOROSCOPES

May12-May 18,2025

c media expectat ons of what beauty is, the hea thier and happier you’l be

The Sun, Mercury and Uranus power through your s gn, and the Full Moon stimu ates your partnership zone So, this week is all about the de icate dance of relationsh ps – how to balance personal desires w th the needs of others; independence with togetherness; solo projects with joint ventures Mars is firing up your fami y zone, so there may some foot stamping and angry words before you get the ba ance right! On the weekend you’re keen to experiment and explore

Watch what you say this week, Gemin Hasty comments, garrulous goss p and spill ng secrets could land you n hot water with family friends colleagues neighbours – everyone! nstead of thoughtless chatter, concentrate on nutr tious food, invigorat ng exercise and regular re axat on Yep a dose of discip ine w ll help make your dreams come true Be inspired by birthday great, actress Katharine Hepburn: “Without discip ine there’s no ife at all ”

The Sun, Mercury and Uranus are vis ting your networking and peer group zones, and the Ful Moon stimulates your friendship zone So, the more you mix and mingle, and the more connect ons you make, the better the week will be Looking for emp oyment? It’s t me to cap tal se on a l your contacts From family and friends to colleagues and casual acquaintances Don’t wait for opportunities to magical y appear Be proactive about fo lowing your dreams!

Cal ing all Lions – sitting on the sidelines be ng a scaredy-cat will get you nowhere fast

This week dynam c Mars is trans ting through your sign, and the Sun, Mercury and Uranus are revving up your career zone So, it’s t me to be a bold, brave, proact ve, creative leader! Be inspired by Hollywood movie star (and birthday great) Katharine Hepburn: “As one goes through life, one learns that f you don’t paddle your own canoe, you don’t move ”

Mercury (your boss planet) makes tr cky connections with Pluto and Mars So, you’ll fee dissatisfied and may try to change things by criticising others and pushing your point-of-view, which could lead to domestic dramas, friendship fallouts or workplace d sputes But is that the best way to go? Wise words come from movie egend Katharine Hepburn (who was born on May 12, 1907): “You learn in life that the only person you can rea ly correct and change is yourself ”

This week the planetary focus s on money and business matters, as Monday night’s Full Moon fires up your finance zone But the Mercury/Pluto and Mercury/ Mars squares could throw a partnersh p challenge in your direction (perhaps invo ving jealous behaviour, arguments over money or power struggles) Your ru ing planet, Venus, is visit ng your relat onship zone (unti June 6), so do your best to play the perceptive, diplomatic Libran peacemaker

Expect an ntense week, as there’s a Full Moon n Scorp o on Monday n ght So, partnersh ps w ll be unpredictable, and family dramas will keep you on your toes Maybe it’s time to simp ify your ife, cull some of your relationship commitments or g ve a fair-weather friend the flick? Look for creative, unconventiona so utions that suit you and please others Some strategic compromise may be necessary, and you may have to eat some humb e pie!

Your career is about to get a welcome shot in the arm as the Sun, Mercury and Uranus barnstorm through your work zone So, show your boss, colleagues and competitors what you are truly capable of With an extra boost from the Ful Moon, it’s definitely time to be creative, nnovative and passionate, as you think outside the box Draw nspiration from Hol ywood movie star (and birthday great) Katharine Hepburn: “ f you obey al the rules, you miss al the fun ”

A relationsh p with a lover, friend, child or teenager looks rather fractious this week Pluto and Mars could stir up resentment, jealousy or anger, so tread carefu ly and act caut ous y W th the Full Moon activating your hopes-and-w shes zone, it’s t me to dream a b g dream and then go after t with intense focus and plenty of pass on Don’t rush though! Heed the wise words of birthday great, actress Cate Blanchett: “Some ideas take time to form ”

You’ll fee rest ess this week, and the danger is you’l go overboard and throw the baby out w th the bathwater Uranus imbues you with a sense of urgency, but se f-discipline and gradua modifications are what’s required at the moment It’s a so mportant to strive to get the balance right between your persona and professional lives Be inspired by birthday great, actress Cate B anchett: “I live my l fe parallel with my work, and they are both equally important ”

Monday n ght’s Ful Moon shines a bright spotlight on trave , communication and education So, it’s a good week to plan a hol day catch up with international friends or complete a study project And your financial future looks rosier, as ucky Venus vis ts your money zone until June 6 So – whether you get a pay r se, take on a second job, cash in some nvestments, organise a garage sale or sell an important asset – it’s time to make hay wh le the Sun sh nes!

COPYRIGHT Joanne Made ine Moore 2025

AFTER celebrating their 25th anniversary last year and being nominated for this year’s Latrobe City Council Australia Day Awards for Community Serviceofthe Year, local theatre group Moartz is back on stage with an Australian dark comedy.

STOP.Rewind, by award-winning playwright Melissa Bubnic, deals with the relatable subject matter of the drudgery of daily office life.

You’ll see how agroup of seven work colleagues in alocal government department struggle to hold onto their dreams as they desperately attempt to prevent being completely paralysed by their workplace... and by themselves, often with great humour.

Trevor regularly locks himself in the toilet, crying over past decisions that have brought him to this sad impasse. Heather appears perfectly fine but privately despairs that shehasn’t been touched for such along time. Tabitha’s affair with her married colleague Grant means little to her but Grant is passionately in love. Having emigrated from Eastern Europe, Nina desperately tries to climbthe ladder as her uselesshusband,Rene seems incapable. Dim dreams of being asuccessful musician and plans to stay temporarily, only it’s already been13months,with no end in sight. And Lachlanmoved from Sydney to become general manager, only to have his team dislike him almost as much as he dislikes them.

Moartz will again hold acharity night where they

dedicate one performance to alocal organisation to promote and support.

Production manager, Julie Strini said: “We have acharacter in the play who calls ahelpline, so getting together with Lifeline Gippsland is aperfect opportunity for us to help highlight their 24/7 crisis line 13 11 14.”

The full-length play with intermission is directed by Mike Pullar and features abig cast of seasoned, familiar and new faces including Brodie Dorling, Karina Byrne, Sharryn Marshall, Erin Jessep, Julie Strini, Martin Flack, Allan Halliwell, Damian Andrews, Gaz Harding (in his stage debut), and local legend Lawrie Fildes.

STOP.Rewind will have atwo-week run at Monash Hall, Yallourn North including this Friday and Saturday, (May 16/17) at 7.30pm, and Sunday (May 18) at 2pm.

The charity night show is Thursday, May 22 at 7.30pm. Shows also play Friday, May 23 (7.30pm), and Saturday, May 24 (2pm).

Money raised from the $5 event ticket sold to the Thursday, May 22 performance will be donated directly to helping the local community.

Donation boxes will be available at all other shows for personaldonations, or youcan show your support at: llg.org.au/ For more details, go to: moartz.com, book tickets via: trybooking.com/DADFI, or email Julie Strini at: moartz.tickets@gmail.com

Special: TheUBUNTUAfrican Choir will perform in Traralgonthis weekend. Photograph supplied

Meet thecast: Damian Andrews, Sharryn Marshall, Allan Halliwell, Brodie Dorling,MartinFlack Karina Bryne,and Gaz Harding (seated) star in the STOP.Rewind,performing locally this month.

Photograph supplied

National Volunteer Week is Australia’s largest annualcelebrationofvolunteers

Established in 1989, National Volunteer Week is the premier celebration of volunteers and volunteerism in Australia

• More than six million people in Australia volunteer through organisations across the nation

• Millions more volunteer informally in their local communities, helping neighbours and strangers, especially in times of crisis and adversity

• Volunteers are an essential workforce, spanning major sectors, including aged care and disability care; community welfare; sports and the arts; crisis preparedness,

response, and recovery; and environmental sustainability and protection

• Volunteering is vital to the nation’s wellbeing but faces ongoing challenges

• Australia’s communities and lifestyle are underpinned by the contributions of volunteers

This special event highlights the important role of volunteers in our community and invites people not currently volunteering to give it a go

Raise your hand and become a volunteers

Jenny lights up LRHChampions Program

You’renever quite surewhatisbrighter –Jenny Poon’ssmile or her hair.Both stand out as she fronts an information desk in the main foyer at Latrobe Regional Health.

Along-time local, Jenny was the coordinator of the Traralgon Neighbourhood Learning House for 28 years beforejoining LRH’s Community Champions Volunteer Program.

Help needed at OldGippstown

Old Gippstown Heritage Park, Moe is looking for volunteers to assist with the upkeep of heritage buildings and collections, grounds, and school education activities. Libby Scott, Chair states, “The importance of our volunteers can never be underestimated as they play acritical role in the preservation, restoration, and presentation of the park”.

Volunteering provides an opportunity to help in your community,meet new people, learnnew things, and explorenew interests. Thereisnosuch thing as atypical volunteer.Everyone has something to offer,and thereare jobs to suit all interests, skills and abilities. Your availability can be

flexible, as we value everyone’scontribution, no matter how small.

With over 40 buildings, 8acres of parkland and an extensive collection of furniture, equipment, vehicles, and artefacts, volunteering at Old Gippstown will be arewarding experience.

As avolunteer at Old Gippstown you will enjoy supporting anot-for-profit organisation, giving back to the local community and helping to preserve our historyfor futuregenerations

Want moreinformation? Contact Kellie Simpson, Park Manager 03 5127 3082 or email info@oldgippstown.com.au

After getting through the application and interview process, Jenny joined new volunteers in aday-long orientation and training session. With her training-wheels on, Jenny was supported by moreexperienced Community Champions to learnhow to navigate the ever-expanding hospital and improve the experience for patients and visitors.

“It’saplace of happiness for me. In my concierge role Iget to interact with people, help them to get to wherethey want to go and they areveryappreciative. The hospital is such abig place now and quite often you find people wandering around lost,” Jenny said.

Jenny has also dropped in to visit and chat with patients and take them something to read from the Champions book trolley

“I just like people, talking to them and interacting with them. It’sreally rewarding.”

Jenny learnt the value of volunteering at the Traralgon Neighbourhood Learning House.

She describes atime when the House was booming with up to 70 classes aweek.

“It was abusy time for learning but you can’tbeeverywhereall the time so if there arevolunteers theretohelp you, that is really fantastic. Avolunteer can sometimes free you up to get on with your job.”

After such abusy career,Jenny,like many others in our community,found it difficult to sit still.

“After you retire,the first few years is sorting out your health and what you want to do with your future. Ididn’twanttobebored and while Ihave alot of really good activities, IfeltI could do abit more.

“The benefit of volunteering is it gives you a buzz. The fact you area volunteer and not in paid work doesn’tmean anything.

“Come on, give it ago. If you arenot sure and you see me around, stop me for achat. Thereare plenty of people in the program

Former Traralgon Neighbourhood Learning House coordinator Jenny Poon hasdiscoveredvolunteering at Latrobe RegionalHealth is adding value to retired life.

at LRH to help you. The team members are fabulous and really friendly.”

The Community Champions program at LRH offers lots of opportunities including driving patients to and from appointments and home from hospital. Youcan also be aconcierge like Jenny and help people find their way around the hospital or if you like meeting and speaking with people, thereare roles in wards, clinics or rehabilitation programs.

Champions areprovidedwith auniform and areable to use LRH’sStaffWellbeing Centre which provides health and wellness programs. They also have access to vaccinations free of charge and aretreated to social events and a weekly newsletter

Email engagement@lrh.com.au formore information or call 5173 8587 foraninformal chat

TheGuide

PICK OF THE WEEK

MASTERCHEF AUSTRALIA

10, Sunday, 7pm

Usually when plating up dishes for the MasterChefjudges a cracked crispbread smouldering s more or bubbling broth would be cause for concern – but in tonight s elimination challenge, it’s the name of the game

Judges Jean-Christophe Novelli

Andy Allen Poh Ling Yeow and Sofia Levin want to see the bottom two teams from the French service challenge showcase their very best tableside theatre tricks Novelli gets things started with a fiery crêpes suzette demonstration Allen reveals his salt-baked mud crab and Yeow presents her intricate and elegant thousand-cut tofu lily With 75 minutes and an open pantry the contestants race to create their own showstoppers – or risk going home

Blazeofglory: Jean-Christophe Novelli.

CALL THEMIDWIFE

ABC TV,Saturday, 7.30pm

This popular period drama followsagroup of midwives and nunsworking in the East End of London –initially set in the late 1950s, the series has now stretched into the1960sand 1970s. Delving into the happeningsofthe neighbourhood of Poplar,itweaveshistorical events intothe narrative while focusing on the personal lives of the sisters andmedical staff.Series 13 is set in 1969.Tonight’sdoubleepisode sees Reggie (DanielLaurie) back home and helping Fred (Cliff Parisi, pictured, right with Laurie) in the garden, while Violet (Annabelle Apsion) runs formayor.Then, everyone is excited about the moon landing and the Nonnatus House televisionset is in highdemand.

Wednesday, May14

ABC TV (2) SBS (3)

SEVEN (7,6)

LIVING BLACK NITV,Monday, 8.30pm

Aussie pop music duo Shakaya stormed the charts with their debut single “StopCalling Me”in2002, ahit which earned an ARIA nomination andtook trailblazingFirst Nations singer-songwriters Simone Stacey (pictured) and Naomi Wenitong aroundthe world–touring with Destiny’sChild, Usher,Kylie Minogue andHuman Nature.Stacey sitsdown with KarlaGrant foranintimate interview about her lifeand career –the highsand lowsofShakaya’s whirlwind rise to fame, the domestic violence that changed her lifeand whyshe has now dedicated her considerabletalents to helping atrisk Indigenous youth in FarNorth Queensland find their voice. It’san inspiring,extraordinarychat.

TRAIN RESCUE DOWN UNDER 7mate,Tuesday, 8pm

Suretopiquethe curiosityoffans of RailroadAustralia OutbackTruckers or RoadTrainAdventures,this new factual seriesfollows themechanics, welders and electricians whokeep the country’strainsrunning.Jumping into action at amoment’s notice, these dedicated teams areoncall 24/7 to repair all mannerofmechanical mishaps. Tonight, TheGhan’s crew (including engineer Patrick, pictured) is under the pump in Adelaide, where Australia’s mosticonic train is in urgent need of new bogies (or wheelsets). Meanwhile, in Brisbane, aroutine job turnsintoatime-consuming challenge. It’safascinating insightinto whathappenswhenthingsgooffthe rails.

NINE (9,8) 6.00 News Breakfast. 9.00 ABC News Mornings. 10.00 Four Corners. (R) 10.45 Q+A. (R) 12.00 ABC News At Noon. 12.30 National Press Club Address 1.35 Media Watch. (PG, R) 2.00 Restoration Australia. (PG,R) 3.00 Claire Hooper’s House Of Games. (R) 3.30 Grand Designs: TheStreets. (PG, R) 4.15 Long Lost Family:What Happened Next. (PG, R) 5.00 ABite To EatWithAlice. 5.30 Antiques Roadshow.(R) 6am Morning Programs. 8.30 France 24 EnglishNews. 9.00 DD India News Hour 10.00 Tough Trains. (PGa, R) 11.00 Jewels Of The Alps: Italy’sGreatLakes. (PGa) 12.00 BBC News At Ten. 12.30 ABC World News Tonight. 1.00 PBS News. 2.00 Dateline. (R) 2.30 Insight.(R) 3.30 Plat Du Tour.(R) 3.35 The Cook Up.(R) 4.05 Jeopardy! (al) 4.30 Letters And Numbers. (R) 5.00 Cycling. UCI World Tour.Girod’Italia. Stage 4. Highlights.

6.30 Claire Hooper’s House Of Games. 7.00 ABCNews.

7.30 7.30 8.00 Gruen. (Return)

8.35 TheWeekly With Charlie Pickering Asatirical news program. 9.05 Planet America. Hosted by Chas Licciardello and John Barron.

9.40 Big Boys. (Mls)

10.05 MayfairWitches. (Mal, R)

10.50 ABC Late News. 11.05 The Business. (R) 11.25 Anh’s Brush WithFame. (PG,R) 12.25 Grand Designs: The Streets.(Ml, R) 1.15 Long Lost Family:What Happened Next. (PG, R)

2.00 Rage.(MA15+adhlnsv) 3.25 Parkinson In Australia. (PG, R) 4.30 GardeningAustralia (R) 5.30 7.30.(R)

Bluey. 5.00 Peppa Pig. 5.10 Pfffirates. 5.20 Thomas And Friends. 5.35 Peter Rabbit. 5.45 Kangaroo Beach. 6.00 Octonauts. 6.10 PJ Masks Power Heroes. 6.20 Bluey. 6.30 Paddington. 6.40 Hey Duggee. 6.50 BenAnd Holly 7.00 Supertato. 7.05 Dino Dex. 7.20 Bluey. 7.30 Shaun TheSheep 7.35 Star Wars:Young Jedi Adventures. 7.50 The Inbestigators. 8.05 Operation Ouch! 8.35 BTN Newsbreak. 8.40 AbbottElementary 9.25 Doctor Who 11.10 Late Programs.

6.00 Mastermind Australia.

6.30 SBS World News.

7.30 Alone Australia. (M) Aswell of rain raises the lake’slevel.

8.40 Mysteries Of Sink Holes: Ticking Time Bombs. (PGa, R) Delves into theoriginsofsinkholes. 9.35 TheHandmaid’sTale. (MA15+) June and Moiraexecutetheir dangerous plan. 10.35 SBS World News Late. 11.05 My Brilliant Friend (Mal) 12.00 The Wall:CoverYour Tracks.(Malsv, R) 3.20 The Story Of Coffee. (R) 4.20 JSchwanke’sLifeInBloom. (R) 4.50 Destination Flavour: Japan Bitesize. (R) 5.00 NHK World EnglishNews Morning. 5.30 ANC PhilippinesThe World Tonight.

6.00 Sunrise. 9.00 TheMorningShow. (PG) 12.00 Seven’sNational News At Noon. 1.00 Farmer Wants AWife (PGal,R) 2.30 Border Security: International. (PG, R) 3.00 TheChase (R) 4.00 SevenNewsAt4 5.00 TheChase Australia.

6.00 SevenNews. 7.00 Home AndAway. (PG)

7.30 The1%Club UK. (PG,R) Hosted by LeeMack.

8.30 TheFront Bar. (Ml)Hosts Sam Pang, Mick Molloyand AndyMaher takea lighter look at all things AFL.

9.30 Unfiltered. (PGa) Hosted by HamishMcLachlan.

10.00 Unbelievable Moments

Caught On Camera. (PGa, R) 11.00 St.Denis Medical. (Ma) 11.30 BornToKill? (MA15+av,R)

12.30 Midnight Texas.(MA15+hv) 1.30 Harry’s Practice. (R) 2.00 Home Shopping. (R) 4.00 NBC Today 5.00 Sunrise Early News. 5.30 Sunrise.

TEN (10, 5)

6.00 Today 9.00 Today Extra. (PG) 11.30 9News Morning. 12.00 TheFloor.(PG,R) 1.15 Innovation Nation. (R) 1.30 Young Sheldon. (PGadlsv, R) 2.00 Pointless.(PG) 3.00 Tipping Point (PG, R) 4.00 9NewsAfternoon 4.30[VIC]TippingPoint Australia.(PG) 5.00 Tipping Point Australia. (PG) 5.30[VIC]WINNews. 6.00 Drew Barrymore.(PGas) 7.00 Neighbours.

6.00 9News.

7.00 ACurrentAffair

7.30 TheHundred With Andy Lee. (PGs) Comedy panel show

8.30 TheGrand Tour (Ml) The boys race from centralNew York to Niagara Falls, whereJeremy Clarkson cruises in a647-horsepowerFord GT

10.00 Wild Cards. (Mv)

11.00 9News Late.

11.30 TheEqualizer (Mv,R)

12.15 Young Sheldon. (PGadlsv, R) 12.40 Tipping Point. (PG, R) 1.30 TV Shop: Home Shopping. (R) 2.30 Global Shop. (R) 3.00 TV Shop: Home Shopping. (R) 4.00 Believer’s Voice Of Victory.(PGa) 4.30 ACurrent Affair (R) 5.00 Today Early News. 5.30 Today

ABC FAMILY (22) 6am MorningPrograms. 10.05 Bewitched. 10.35 Jeannie 11.05 Young Sheldon. 12.05pm MOVIE: Godzilla Vs.Kong. (2021, M) 2.15 Innovation Nation. 2.30 Nanny. 3.30 Seinfeld. 4.30 Addams Family 5.00 Bewitched. 5.30 Jeannie 6.00 Golden Girls.

(1980,PGalv) 5.20 Bright Star (2009,PGa,R) 7.30 Winter’s Tale. (2014,Masv, R) 9.40 La La Land. (2016,Ml, R) 12.05am Juliet, Naked. (2018,Ml) 1.55 Aspromonte: LandOfThe Forgotten.(2019,Malv, Italian) 3.30 The Eagle Has Landed. (1976,Mv)

6.00 Deal Or No Deal. Hosted by Grant Denyer. 6.30 TheProject Alook at theday’snews. 7.30 MasterChef Australia. JeanChristophe leads aFrench service challenge 8.40 Elsbeth. (PGlv)Elsbeth is summoned to juryduty and lands on amurder trial, where she facesoff with an unusually difficult judge. 9.40 NCIS:Origins. (Mv) Vera receives acallfrom aman in prison. 10.40 10’s Late News. 11.05 TheProject (R) 12.05 TheLate ShowWith Stephen Colbert. (PG) 1.00 Home Shopping (R) 4.30 CBS Mornings.

Thursday,May 15

ABC (2) SBS (3)

6am Morning Programs. 10.30 The Weekly.(R) 11.00 Restoration Aust. (Final, PG, R) 12.00 News. 1.00 Sherwood. (Malv,R) 2.00 Restoration Aust. (R) 3.00 House Of Games. (R) 3.30 Grand Designs: Streets. (PG, R) 4.15 Long Lost Family: What Happened Next. (PG, R) 5.00 ABite To Eat. 5.30 Antiques Roadshow.(R)

6.30 ClaireHooper’s House Of Games.

7.00 ABC News.

7.30 7.30. Presented by Sarah Ferguson.

8.00 Grand Designs UK. (Return, Ml) Hosted by Kevin McCloud.

8.50 Martin Clunes: Islands Of The Atlantic. (Premiere, PG) Hosted by Martin Clunes.

9.35 The Kimberley (R) Hosted by Mark Coles Smith.

10.30 ABC Late News.

10.45 The Business. (R)

11.00 Grand Designs: The Streets. (PG, R)

11.50 Long Lost Family: What Happened Next. (PG, R) 12.35 Rage. (MA15+adhlnsv) 3.25 Parkinson In Australia. (PG, R) 4.30 Gardening Australia. (R) 5.30 7.30. (R)

ABC FAMILY (22)

6am Morning Programs. 12.00 BBC News At Ten. 12.30 ABC WorldNews Tonight. 12.55 PBS News. 1.55 Alone Australia. (M, R) 3.00 Living Black. (R) 3.30 Plat Du Tour.(R) 3.35 The Cook Up. (R) 4.05 Jeopardy! (al) 4.30 Letters And Numbers. (R) 5.00 Cycling. UCI World Tour.Girod’Italia. Stage5 Highlights.

6.00 Mastermind Australia. 6.30 SBS World News.

7.35 History’sGreatest Mysteries: The Hindenburg Disaster (Maw,R)Takes alook at the Hindenburgdisaster

8.20 Liberation: D-Day To Berlin: Hitler Strikes Back. (M) In late 1944, Hitler forces the Americans into their biggest and bloodiest battle when he launches asurprise attack into liberated Belgium.

9.15 Sherlock &Daughter (Mv) tasks in their mission to rescue kidnapped Clara Anderson.

10.10 SBS World News Late.

10.40 Carmen Curlers. (Masv,R) 12.50 Pagan Peak. (Mas, R) 2.35 Incredible Homes. (R) 3.35 J Schwanke’sLife In Bloom. (R) 4.35 Bamay.(R) 5.00 Eurovision. (PG)

SBS VICELAND (31) 6am Children’s Programs. 6.20pm Bluey 6.30 Paddington. 6.40 Hey Duggee. 6.50 Ben And Holly 7.00 Supertato. 7.05 Dino Dex. 7.20 Bluey 7.30 Shaun The Sheep. 7.35 Star Wars:Young Jedi Adventures. 7.50 The Inbestigators. 8.05 Operation Ouch! 8.35 BTN Newsbreak. 8.40 Secrets Of The Zoo. 9.25 Saved By The Barn. 10.05 Merlin. 10.50 Late Programs.

NITV (34)

6am Morning Programs. 2.15pm Carpool Koorioke. 2.25 Yarning CultureThrough Film. 2.30 The Cook Up. 3.00 Jarjums. 5.00 Harlem Globetrotters.

5.25 Black As. 5.30 Te Ao With Moana. 6.00 Bamay 6.30 News. 6.40 Tales From Zambia. 7.25 NITV Weather 7.30 Going Places. 8.30 Tribal. 9.25 MOVIE: Jackie Brown. (1997, MA15+) 12.05am Late Programs.

6.00 Sunrise. 9.00 The Morning Show.(PG) 12.00 Seven’sNational News At Noon. 1.00 MOVIE: AZest For Death: AHannah Swensen Mystery (2023, Mav) 3.00 The Chase. (R) 4.00 Seven News At 4. 5.00 The Chase Australia.

6.00 Seven News. 7.00 Football. AFL. Round 10. Gold Coast Suns vHawthorn. From TIO Stadium, Darwin. 10.30 AFL Post-Game Show Post-game discussion and interviews taking alook back at all the action from the game.

11.00 Kick Ons. Kane Cornes, Josh Jenkins and Jason Richardson debate the hottest topics and preview the upcoming AFL matches.

11.30 To Be Advised.

1.00 Raines. (Mahv) Raines

2.00 Home Shopping. (R)

4.00 NBC Today. News and current affairs.

5.00 Sunrise Early News. The latest news, sport and weather 5.30 Sunrise.

7TWO (72, 62)

6am Morning

Programs. Noon Better Homes. 1.00

6.00 Today 9.00 Today Extra. (PG) 11.30 9News Morning. 12.00 The Hundred With Andy Lee. (PGs, R) 1.00 Drive TV:Drive Car Of The Year.(R) 1.30 Young Sheldon. (PGadlsv,R) 2.00 Pointless. (PG) 3.00 Tipping Point. (PG, R) 4.00 9News Afternoon. 4.30 [VIC] Tipping Point Australia.(PG) 5.30 [VIC] WIN News.

6.00 9News. 7.00 ACurrent Affair

6.00 Deal Or No Deal. Hosted by Grant Denyer 6.30 The Project. Alook at the day’snews. 7.30 Taskmaster Australia. (Mls) Hosted by TomGleeson. 8.40 The InspiredUnemployed: The List. (Mal) In Finland, the boys discover fun for the Finns is not fun for them. 9.50 The Cheap Seats. (Mal, R) Presented by Melanie Bracewell and Tim McDonald. 10.50 10’sLate News. Coverage of news, sport andweather 11.15 The Project. (R) Alook at the day’snews. 12.10 The Late Show With Stephen Colbert. (PG) 1.00 Home Shopping. (R) 4.30 CBS Mornings. 6am WorldWatch. 10.00 The Movie Show Noon WorldWatch. 12.30 Super Maximum Retro Show 1.30 Fanatics: The Deep End. 2.25 Insight. 3.25 News. 3.30 WorldWatch. 5.25 Craig Charles: UFO Conspiracies. 6.20 Over The Black Dot. 6.50 Jeopardy! 7.20 Cycling. UCI World Tour.Girod’Italia. Stage 6. 1.35am Late Programs.

SBS WORLD MOVIES (32)

6am Morning Programs. 9.30 Lara. (2019, PGl, German) 11.20 The Eagle Has Landed. (1976, Mv) 1.50pm The Importance Of Being Earnest. (1952) 3.40 The Glassworker.(2024, PGav,Urdu, English) 5.30 The Emperor’s Club. (2002, PGlns) 7.30 Indecent Proposal. (1993, Mals) 9.40 Purple Rain. (1984, Malsv) 11.45 Late Programs.

Escape To The Country 2.00 South Aussie With Cosi. 2.30 My Impossible House. 3.30 Harry’sPractice. 4.00 Better Homes. 5.00 Escape To The Country 6.00 Bargain Hunt. 7.00 Home And Away 7.30 Father Brown. 8.30 Grace. 10.30 Murdoch Mysteries. 11.30 Late Programs.

7.30 Rugby League. Women’s State Of Origin. Game 2. New South Wales vQueensland.

9.35 NRL Women’sState Of Origin Post-Match. Post-match wrap-up of the Women’sState of Origin match between New South Wales and Queensland. 10.00 9News Late.

10.30 Outback Opal Hunters. (PGl)

11.30 AKiller Makes ACall: Lewis. (MA15+av,R)

12.30 Tipping Point. (PG, R)

1.30 TV Shop: Home Shopping. (R)

2.30 Global Shop. (R)

3.00 TV Shop: Home Shopping. (R) 4.00 Believer’sVoice Of Victory.(PGa) 4.30 ACurrent Affair.(R) 5.00 Today Early News. 5.30 Today.

9GEM (92,81)

6am Morning Programs. 11.30 My Favorite Martian. Noon Midsomer Murders. 2.00 Yes, Prime Minister 3.00 Antiques Roadshow 3.30 MOVIE: The Queen Of Spades. (1949, PG) 5.30 The Travelling Auctioneers. 6.30 Antiques Roadshow 7.30 RBT 8.30 Emergency 9.30 A+E Crash Scene Emergency 10.30 Panic 9-1-1. (Premiere) 11.30 Late Programs.

6am Morning Programs. 2.15pm Talking Honey 2.30 Nanny 3.30 Seinfeld. 4.30 Addams Family 5.00 Bewitched. 5.30 Jeannie. 6.00 Golden Girls. 6.30 Nanny 7.30 Survivor 48. 9.00 MOVIE: Horrible Bosses 2. (2014, MA15+) 11.10 Made In Korea: The K-Pop Experience. 12.10am Love Island UK. 1.20 Supernatural. 3.15 Talking Honey 3.30 Late Programs. 6am Morning Programs. 1pm Pawn Stars. 1.30 Highway Patrol. 2.30 The Force: BTL. 3.30 Duck Dynasty 4.00 Aussie Lobster Men. 5.00 American Resto. 5.30 Storage Wars 6.00 American Pickers. 7.00 Pawn Stars. 7.30 Dogs Behaving (Very) Badly 8.30 Britain’s Got Talent. 10.30

Friday,May 16

ABC TV (2)

SBS (3)

6am Morning Programs. 12.00 BBC News At Ten. 12.30 ABC WorldNews Tonight. 1.00 PBS News. 2.00 Military Strongholds. (PG, R) 3.00 Nula. 3.30 Plat Du Tour.(R) 3.35 The Cook Up. (R) 4.05 Jeopardy! (al) 4.30 Letters And Numbers. (R) 5.00 Cycling. UCI World Tour.Girod’Italia. Stage6.Highlights.

SEVEN (7,6)

NINE (9,8) 6am Morning Programs. 10.30 The 11.10 Bergerac. (Mlv, R) 12.00 News. 1.00 Bay Of Fires. (Madl, R) 2.00 Restoration Aust. (PG, R) 3.00 House Of Games. (R) 3.25 Grand Designs: Streets. (Final, PG, R) 4.15 Long Lost Family: What Happened Next. (PG, R) 5.00 ABite To Eat. 5.30 Antiques Roadshow.(R)

Sherwood. (Final, Mlv) The Sparrows areonthe warpath.

Gruen. (R) Presented by Wil Anderson.

The Weekly With Charlie Pickering. (R)

Big Boys. (Mls, R)

Father Brown. (PGa, R)

Mayfair Witches. (Mal, R) 12.50

New Music. (MA15+adhlnsv) 5.00 Rage. (PG)

6.00 Mastermind Australia. Presented by MarcFennell. 6.30 SBS World News. 7.30 Eurovision: Access All Areas. (M) Catch all the behind-the-scenes action. 10.00 Robson Green’sWeekend Escapes: Seahouses –Les Ferdinand. (PGa, R) Robson Green is joined by Les Ferdinand. 11.10 Atlantic Crossing. (PGal, R) Märtha is placed under enormous pressure.

12.15 Rex In Rome. (Mv,R)

2.05 The Head. (Malv,R)

3.40 Incredible Homes. (R)

4.35 Bamay.(R) 5.00 NHK World English News Morning. 5.30 ANC Philippines The World Tonight.

6.00 Sunrise. 9.00 The Morning Show.(PG) 12.00 Seven’sNational News At Noon. 1.00 Better Homes And Gardens. (R) 2.00 House Of Wellness. (PGl, R) 3.00 The Chase. (R) 4.00 Seven News At 4. 5.00 The Chase Australia.

6.00 Seven News.

7.00 AFL: Friday Night Countdown. Alead-up to the Friday night AFL match.

7.30 Football. AFL. Round 10. Sydney vCarlton. From the SCG. 10.30 AFL Post-Game Show Post-game discussion and interviews taking alook back at all the action from the game.

11.15 GetOn Extra. Alook at the weekend’sbestracing.

11.45 To Be Advised.

1.15 The Black Donnellys. (Mdsv) Joey is stabbed while in protective custody

2.30 Home Shopping. (R)

4.00 Million Dollar Minute. (R) Hosted by Simon Reeve. 5.00 NBC Today.

6.00 Today 9.00 Today Extra. (PG) 11.30 9News Morning. 12.00 MOVIE: Kidnapped In Paradise. (2021, Mav) ClaireVan Der Boom, Todd Lasance. 2.00 Pointless. (PG) 3.00 Tipping Point. (PG) 4.00 9News Afternoon. 4.30 [VIC] Tipping

6.00 9News. 7.00 ACurrent Affair

7.30 West Coast Cops. (Mv) Maggie and Michael.

8.30 MOVIE: The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel. (2015, PGls, R) Ayoung Indian hotelier with expansionist dreams tries to juggle afull house as well as his upcoming marriage. Judi Dench, Bill Nighy 11.05 MOVIE: Going In Style. (2017, Ml, R) Michael Caine.

12.50 Drive TV:Launch Pad. (R) 1.20 Explore. (R) 1.30 TV Shop: Home Shopping. (R) 4.00 Skippy The Bush Kangaroo. (R) 4.30 Global Shop. (R) 5.00 TV Shop: Home Shopping. (R) 5.30 Postcards. (PG, R)

TEN (10, 5)

6.00 Deal Or No Deal. (R) 6.30 The Project. Alook at the day’snews. 7.30 House Hunters Australia. (PG) Acouple search for ahouse. 8.30 Have YouBeen Paying Attention? (Malns, R) Celebrity panellists Mel Tracina, Lloyd Langford and EmmaHolland join the panel. 9.30 The Graham Norton Show (Mlv,R)Graham Norton is joined on the couch by celebrities including Cher,Michael Fassbender,Keira Knightley and Josh Brolin. 10.30 10’sLate News. 10.55 The Project. (R) 12.00 The Late Show With Stephen Colbert. (PG) 1.00 Home Shopping. (R) 6am WorldWatch. 10.00 The Movie Show 12.05pm WorldWatch 12.35 PatriotBrains. 1.30 Planet A. 2.20 Cancelled! 2.50 Over The Black Dot. 3.20 News. 3.25 WorldWatch 5.20 CraigCharles:UFO Conspiracies. 6.15 If YouAre The One. 7.15 Jeopardy! 7.40 News. 7.45 8Out Of 10 Cats. 8.40 Giro d’Italia. 1.35am Late Programs. SBS VICELAND (31) 6am Children’s Programs. 6.50pm Ben And Holly 7.00 Supertato. 7.05 Gardening Australia Junior 7.20 Bluey 7.30 Shaun The Sheep. 7.35 Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures. 7.50 Teen Titans Go! 8.00 Be Cool, Scooby-Doo! 8.25 BTN Newsbreak. 8.30 MythBusters “There’s Your Problem!”. 8.55 Robot Wars: Battle Of The Stars. 9.55 Merlin. 10.40 Late Programs.

SBS WORLD MOVIES (32) 6am Morning Programs.

ABC FAMILY (22) 6am The Emperor’sClub. (2002, PGlns) 7.50 Bright Star.(2009, PGa) 10.00 La La Land. (2016, Ml) 12.20pm Winter’sTale. (2014, Masv) 2.30 Selkie. (2000, PG) 4.10 Lara. (2019, PGl, German) 6.00 Paris Can Wait (2016, PG) 7.40 Bring It On. (2000, PGals) 9.30 Fame. (1980, Madlnsv) 11.55 Late Programs.

GIPPSLAND LEAGUE

Maroons with positiveledger

FOOTBALL

GIPPSLAND LEAGUE

BY LIAM DURKIN

MEH.

That’s about all you can say after largely uninspiring results played out in Round 5 of the Gippsland League.

JLeslie LRonchi SLange BHal BAIRNSDALE 4.48.5 9.9 11.9 (75) MAFFR A0.3 0.7 5.8 6.14 (50)

GOALS: Bairnsdale: TRees 2JDore2 KFrith CHar veyB Vicker yLByrne -Jones TBlenheim LCloak JWhite. Maffra:A Watt 2J Butcher CCalwyn NChristyACarr. BEST: Bairnsdale: W Mitchell TRees TClayJ DoreLCloak CHar vey. Maffra: JRead JKilloranH Walker NChristyZ FelsbourgDBedggood MOE 6.313.718.13 28.16 (184)

Amoroso ZMcmillan RWierzbicki

MMalone KMcDonald WMoon DByron

Maffra: SPendergast 3D Tocher 3JKelly 2JBrickley EBerr yJAndrews DO’Brien JKellow. Bairnsdale: CCrofts3SPollard2CCook BEST: Maffra: RPhelan SBedggood S Pendergast DTocher JKelly JLambourn. Bairnsdale: BFroud MStephenson RTaylorJ Waddell CCrofts

GOALS: Leongatha: JCochrane 5A TrottoC Watson BFor tJ Stewar tBDavidson Rbutler NFixter. Morwell: RLopreseT Shankland BEST: Leongatha: MDeKleuver XBolge IFox L Hickey NFixterBFor t. Morwell: LPatterson BWilliamsCBailey MMcInnes CBlewett ZCantrill

Games across the board were nothing to get overly excited about, as even the major league proved it can have an off day.

An off day was applicable for another unfortunate reason,asthe sheer lack of Latrobe Valley-based umpires became an inescapable reality.

Sale umpires were needed to fill spots in Traralgon,legendary AFL umpire Peter Carey (currently with the Gippsland League in umpire operations) had to blow the dust off his whistle, while the thirds match between Moe and Drouin had a‘clubbie’inprominent localfootball figure Evan Sheekey, who graciously gave up his time to help umpire. If numbers are going to continue to be a stretch, the powers-at-be may have to look at tapping into resources closer to Melbourne. There would surely be rookie VFL umpires who could benefit from officiating Gippsland League senior games.

 YEE-HAW.

Traralgon madesureitwas abucking good time at the club’s country nightafter defeating Warragul.

The Maroons led at every change on their way to an easy 58 point win, 17.16 (118) to 8.12 (60).

In what wasanattimes spiteful affair despite the one sided nature of the contest, Traralgon burst out of the blocks with 10 scoring shotstothree in the opening term at Terry Hunter Oval.

The Maroonshad their kicking boots on in the second quarter, slotting 6.2 (38) to lead at the half by 46 points.

Warragulshowedsome fightafter the main break, and kept the Maroons to one goal in the third.

Traralgon however finished strongly, adding five goals to one in the last term, virtually replicating what happened at the start of the game.

Warragul spun the magnets oncethe result

was clear, although such an act was akin to rearranging deckchairsonthat ship that sank back in the day.

Having kicked 17 goals, Maroons coaches would have been happy to see 11 individual goal-scorers.

Playing-assistant Dylan Loprese was one of atrio who nailed three majors, along with Kade Ruyters and skipper Tye Hourigan.

Hourigan may have to face the music this week, after acollision with Warragul small man Vinnie Cai in the last quarter left him prostrate.

While no report was laid, or even free kick awarded for that matter, it is understood Warragul has raisedthe incidentwith the league

Not to evoke the ‘good bloke cause’, but Houriganshould have little trouble escaping any penalty.There would be more chance of someonewinning TattsthanTye Hourigan laying someone out with any malice.

Fellow Maroonsleader Jackson McMahon played well, as did Tristen Waack, Liam Willaton, Luis D’Angeloand JordanCunico.

Riley Senini,SeanMasterson, Tom Stern, Kai MacLean, Alby Phillips and James Harrison tried hard for Warragul.

If you ever visit Bob’s Country Bunker, just remember they have both kinds of music: country and western.

 HERE he is.

Isaac Chugg emerged from presumably working his way into the season, to be beston-ground in Wonthaggi’s win over Sale.

The Power secured agritty 31-point win on the road, 10.12 (72) to 6.5 (41).

Just two points separated the sides at the main break, yet ascoreless third term from the Magpies, combined with a23-point deficit at the last change, meanttimebecame an increasing factor.

Sale now has awin-loss record of 1-4, and is facing avery long road back to get itself into finals contention.

Wonthaggi meanwhile are flying slightly under the radar, asomewhat ridiculous position giventhey are second on the ladder, although by the same tokennone of their winning margins (Drouin aside) have been overly convincing so far.

Fergus O’Connor in game number100, joined Chugg in the best.

Criminally underrated,most if not all teams wouldsurely find aspotfor the nothrills O’Connor in defence.

Jai Williams also played well, as did Kaj Patterson, Jasper Stone and Noah Anderson Tyson Dobsonplayed his best game for the Magpies, while Will Leslie, Jack Leslie, LachieRonchi, Shannen Lange and Ben Hall put in solid stints.

The scoreless third term was perhaps indicative of afew observations people have made watching Sale so far this season: there are some big boys wearing the black and white.

 BAIRNSDALE took its ledger into the positive.

The Redlegsdid what was required in East Gippsland,winning 11.9 (75) to 6.14 (50) over Maffra.

The home side caught the Eagles napping in the first half, kicking eight goals to none. Maffra was made to rue its horrendous start, especially after respondingwith five goalstoone in thethird term.

With the deficit amanageable 25 points at the last change, Bairnsdale withstood the last quarter to see the final margin stay exactly the same as what it was 30 minutes earlier. Brayden McCarrey was anotable out for the home side, but withnine individual goal-scorers, the Redlegs showed they have other avenues to score.

Will Mitchell was best, and received good support from Tyran Rees, Tate Clay, Jamie Dore, Lachlan Cloak and Cooper Harvey. James Read,JettKilloran,Harper Walker, Noah Christy, Zach Felsbourg and Daniel Bedggood collected plaudits for the Eagles.

As they say, you are only as good as your last game, and given Maffra was coming off awin against reigningpremier Traralgon, the result was perhaps acaseof‘two steps forward, one step back’.

The Eagles however still look to be going about their rebuild the right way.

The oret ic all y, the club coul dh ave strengthened its senior side at the weekend by playing players from neighbouring club Boisdale-Briagolong, who had abye in East Gippsland, but chose not to.

Reigning Bombers premiershipcoach, Sam Bedggood (brother of Daniel) however did help out by playing for Maffra’s reserves.

BackstorytoSiddle’shat-trick revealed

CRICKET/FOOTBALL

By LIAM DURKIN

FORMER England spinner, Graeme Swann has declared the roar that greeted him after Morwelllocal and Australian cricketer Peter Siddle claimed ahat-trick as the loudest of his international career.

Siddle famously took ahat-trick on his 26th birthday duringthe first Testofthe 2010/11 Ashes series at the Gabba.

2B Wyhoon JKelly SCar ter. BEST: Sale: Details N/A. Wonthaggi: J Burns OFeather LTon JKelly LLidstone SMcBean

LEONGATHA 3.0 4.6 9.8 14.10 (94) MORWELL

Speakingonarecent episodeofthe Willow Talk podcast with old foe Brad Haddin and journalist Adam Peacock, Swann, who was next man in, said the Gabba crowd was even louder than thehooligans usually associated with English Premier League soccer crowds back home.

"I have never known noise like that, at the GabbawhenIfaced the double hat-trick ball," Swann said.

"I walked out and the noise, all the noise (at the Gabba) is directed straight at the pitch. I've never known noise like that at a cricket ground."

Swann, who holds the record formost internationalwickets by an England slow bowler, also revealed the chaos in the dressing room as Siddle suddenly turned thegame on its head.

"When Stuart Broad was due to go in, he was still naked in the changerooms," Swann said.

"He'd had ashower, we lost awicket and he was just strolling throughand then Matty Prior got out and he hadn't realised.

"Wewere literally helping him get padded up -one person one leg, one person on the other.

"He walked out, andifthere'severbeen adefinite, guaranteed hat-trick ball, it was Broady that day."

In keeping with his jovial nature, Swann

believed he deserved some credit for surviving the Latrobe Valley express.

"I played what should go down as the greatest forward defence in the history of world cricket to keep out that fourth ball that was anice good length ball from Sids," he joked. Siddle's hat-trick hasgonedownasthe most memorable moment of his career that saw him take more than 200 Test wickets. By all accounts, his hat-trick sparked a wild party in Morwell at the house of one of his childhood mates.

Siddle has the main oval at Latrobe Cricket Club named after him.

However, amove to name an oval after another famous Gippsland sportsperson was stopped in its tracks recently, when Wellington Shire Council said it could not support the renaming of Sale Oval to 'Scott PendleburyOval' because rulessurrounding commemorative naming requirepeople to have died.

Perfect weather yet putrid skills

FOOTBALL GIPPSLAND LEAGUE

BY LIAM DURKIN

AT atimewhenattention to detail is being so heavily scrutinised in Morwell for an incident that took placeinLeongatha, what happened when the two met for agame of football ran in total contrast.

Morwell might as wellhave been renamed Turnover Town at the weekend, after an errorridden match between the hosts and Leongatha resulted in a12.11 (83) to 11.8 (74) victory to the visitors.

That 23 goals were kicked was perhapsthe most staggering aspect given how hardboth teams made it look to even get the ball forward on occasions.

The closeness of the contest at least made up for any discernible absence of highlights, as the margin never got beyond double digits at any of the breaks.

Both teams kicked 2.4 (16) in the first term, before Morwell entered the sheds with aslender eight point lead.

At least one highlight was aneat set shot from Tyler Hillier up against the boundary near the scoreboard in the second quarter, and the resultant choice of words to Leongatha’s Tallin Brill.

The Parrots emerged from the main breakminus two key defenders in MitchBentvelzen and games record holder, Sean Westaway, but held sway enough to see things virtually all tied up with a quarter to play.

Morwell coach, Boyd Bailey gave his side an early leadwith asensational checksideinfront of the Tigers’ new deckatthe fourminutemarkofthe last, yet some slickwork from Leongatha saw them get one back via the next centre clearance.

Acouple of free kicks then went against the home side, which came at critical stages given the state of the game.

JensonGarnham was deemed to be heldstraight in front at the 12 minute mark, and his goal gave the Parrots an eight point lead.

Xavier Lamers also benefitted, and was awarded ashot on goal for high contact straight in front. He not only stretched the visitors lead, but registered his first senior goal.

With ahandy 14 point ascendency, the Parrots started chipping the ball around as early as the 17 minute mark -atone stage stringing together nine uncontested possessions in arow.

Morwell however kept coming, and got agoalback after some good work from Burkeley Macfarlane streaming inboard found Brandon McDonald out in front.

McDonald wasawarded a50metre penaltyfor a late shove, taking him to the goal square to make an absolute certainty of it.

Moments later, an advantage wasn’t called that would have seen the Tigers sprint out of defence, while akick inside 50 that went over the head of Tom Gray and landed in the arms of Leongatha’s Jack Hume perhaps summed up their day.

Gray howevertook his chance soon after, nailing aset shot from 45 metres out directly in front, making it athree pointball game.

Timehoweverwas now deepinto the red,and Leongatha was able to chewoff crucialminutes by forcing five consecutive stoppages.

The last play saw the ball land in the arms of Garnham, whokickedaset shot afterthe siren froma tight angle,making the official margin nine points.

Cade Maskell did Cade Maskell things for the

Farewell to local footy great

FOOTBALL

MOE and Thorpdale footballfavourite Graeme Rowlings was farewelled from this life on Monday.

The much-loved figure passed away peacefully on Friday, May 2after abattlewith cancer. He was 71.

Universally known as 'China', Rowlings followed the Lions and Blues (and the Western Bulldogs) with passion, and made significant contributions to the local clubs.

Growing up in Thorpdale, the three Rowlings brothers, China, Barry and Brian (‘Doc’) were recruited to Moe in the late 1960s.

Chinaplayed ahandful of games for the Lions, and later went on to coach Moe’s under 18s to apremiership in 1991.

In between theseyears he returned to Thorpdale, and played in the club's 1976 and 1985 senior flags. He kicked aton in the '85 triumph to win the Mid Gippsland FootballNetball League senior goal kicking.

He served on the committees and as amajor backer of both Moe and Thorpdale footballnetball clubs for many years, and was often instrumental in connecting with Hawthorn and Richmond, where his brother Barry was apremiership player.

His strength in connecting people was profound.

EverySaturday morning for the last 15 years, Chinawouldhost breakfast at hisplace, welcomingMoe past players. Moe players wore black armbands in the

match against Leongatha the day after his passing.

Moe and Thorpdale football-netball club members formed aguard of honour at the conclusion of his service, which saw apacked turnout at Moe Racing Club. He is survivedbyhis wife of more than 40 years and three daughters.

winners, picking off 10 marks, six of which were intercepts.

Tim Sauvarin was also busy, and at this rate, might haveabest-and-fairestmedal to present in parliament.

Tom Marriott, AaronHeppell, NickArgento and Ben Harding rounded out the best players, while usually reserved Parrots coach, Trent McMicking, punched the air in delight at the siren.

GivenLeongatha was coming off arare loss, and played two short in the second half, his response was perhaps understandable.

Best for Morwell was defender Harri McColl, who showed his full support for the club’s breast cancer fundraiser by sporting apink headband, along with Josh Galea, who showed tremendous courage in the last term, going back with the flight to take acrucial grab in defence when the game was on theline

The Tigers' midfield brigade of Bailey,Macfarlane, AnthonyRosatoand ruckman Isaac Abas also stood up.

Having startedthe season with two wins from as many starts, Morwell has since lostits last three -albeitall by less than two goals, and all against teams expected to make finals(Traralgon, Wonthaggi, Leongatha).

However, that the same could be said of the Tigers last year,and the year before that,issurely giving Bailey hisbiggest headaches.

The weather last Saturday wasn’t exactly challenging either. If you were acricketer, you’d look at making at least 200 battingfirst in atwo dayer. There wouldbenoexcuseteeing off on the golf course either.

Summing up Morwell’s day was probably best left to Nick Leechino calling the game for TRFM: “The (number of) errorsthey’ve madeisincredible.”

Moe smashes it record book

FOOTBALL

GIPPSLAND LEAGUE

BY LIAM DURKIN

MOE beat Drouin by lots.

That’sabout the extent of whatthis game deserved as far as awrite-up goes.

Adetailedplay-by-play reportofamatch between first and last would rightly attract criticismfromanyone who doesn't follow the Lions.

One play does however warrant mentioning -KurtHoltlaunching an insane bombfrom well outside the arc that went through post height at the Vale Street end, one of five Moe goals in the third quarter (Peter Yates would have been proud).

Thesegames actually don’t benefit anyone -except fringe players who are givenmore game time or opportunity in another position, and oneofthem certainly made the most of his opportunity for the Lions.

That Moe won by 130 points, 28.16 (184) to 8.6 (54) reflected the simple fact that triple figure margins are going to be commonplace for any premiership hopeful coming up against Drouin this season.

The Hawks are just up against it that much playingaway fromhomeevery week while their home ground is redeveloped.

If the sight of Lions midfielder Myles Poholke shadow practising his set shot routine during thegame wasn’t enough indication, Moe didas they pleased throughout the four quarters at TedSummerton Reserve.

The home side had 13 goals on the board by halftime, and kept going from there.

The Lions broke afew club records along the way: highest score against Drouin, biggest winningmarginagainst Drouin, and highest scoring final term against Drouin.

Ben Crocker’s eight goals also seta newmark, while reserves captain JustinMorrow’s five meanssomeone else will have to be in charge of pre-game tunes at 12pm for the next few weeks.

Many of his teammates will be hoping there is ‘justice for Justice’ this time aroundwhen the Gippsland LeagueTeam of the Week is announced (Morrow was sensationally overlooked after kicking four goals in agame as a small forward in 2022).

Goals also came from MattRoberts, who

kicked hisfirst‘official’ goalfor Moe (long story), and Harri Sim, who was named in the best, along withBrockSmith, NickProwse and speedster Callum Nash.

Aden Quirk, Kye Quirk, Max Williames, Seb Amoroso, Zac McMillian and Riley Wierzbicki continued to fight the good fight for Drouin. The Hawks will be back at Ted Summerton in acouple of months’ time when they ‘host’ Wonthaggi.

Despite the score, Drouin honestly kept trying all game, and should be commended for finishing the game with eight goals -the same number Leongathamanaged against the Lions the previous week.

While the long-termbenefits of Drouin’s newly developedhome ground will hopefully be realised,one can’thelp butfeel sympathy for them here and now.

Clubpresident, LukeGilbert has even hadto play in the reserves just to field ateam. If any club knowswhatDrouinisgoing through it is Moe. The Lions vacated Ted Summerton for the entire 2010 season, making Yallourn Yallourn North their base.

For the sakeofthe GippslandLeague’s credibility, the Hawks cannot suffer the same fate Moe did when they returned to aTed Summerton surface that needed to be dug up again just afew years later.

The Lions werelargely uncompetitiveduring this time (bottom-three finishes everyyear from 2012 to 2016), and at one stage had no AGrade netball or thirds football. Moe has since recovered to win threeAGrade premierships,playinthree seniorpreliminary finals, and boast record numbers at Gippsland Power.

The turnaroundwas commented on by former club great, James Blaser when formally presentedhis life membership last Thursday night. The Lions appear to be future-proofing themselves to avoid arepeat from the last decade, so much so it has filtered all the way down to the junior club.

Observing one passage of play at Ted Summerton last Sunday wasespecially noteworthy,when an under 12splayer executed a genuineswitch kick deep in defence, and the next player then took the ball wider before looking to come back through the corridor -just as most senior teams are taught. Moe, taking care of tomorrow today.

Vale: Thegreat China Rowlings wasa prominent figureatMoe and Thorpdale football-netballclubs. Photograph supplied

MID GIPPSLAND

Roversrue inaccuracy

“Managed to switch on and play areally good last quarter to get the win,” he said.

Hill End are so close to their first win they can almost touchit, their performanceonthe weekend, honest and competitive.

JNotman.

2RMichaelides ITerrick D Day. BEST: Yinnar:NHallCMillsF Schill WRober tson BBurrows JNotman. Morwell East: B Kimberley DField THiggins LDay RMichaelides ITerrick FISH CREEK4.2 7.7

15.11 (101)

NTH 2.0

4.3 6.5 (41) GOALS: Fish Creek:DBerr yman 4JShaw3 LWilliams 2BMitchell2 TVuillermin TCameron T Valenta JLamers.Mirboo Nth: RGillian 2JBlair 2B Watson BPeters BEST: Fish Creek:B Shaw JShawT Vuillermin RDeBiase LWilliamsT Valenta. Mirboo Nth: RKratzat BPeters JBrooks AWoodall JChila TWilkins FOSTER5.1

15.8 (98) BOOLARR A2.0 2.2 3.2 6.4 (40)

GOALS: Foster:J Best 6S Chaseling 3J Rathjen 2J Flavelle JMorrisM Cooke CBanbur y. Boolarra: TSalerno 2BFlanigan BMason JHolmes JMason BEST: Foster:C Wray JRathjen JMorrisL Rathjen JBest ANor ton. Boolarra: SNoy BFlanigan JHolmes TPotter BMason J

new players to the clubaspartofsix changes made to the senior side”.

Hill End: JMorison SDawsonALaw Mvan Tilburg HGlibanovic ORobinson

6.1 (37) GOALS: Meeniyan Dumbalk Utd: BTomada3 LHarris2 ATreaseRCheckley KHelms THarris. Tarwin: CScott 2B-Gibson DCardy JKilsbyZBright. BEST: Meeniyan Dumbalk Utd: ATrease SBright MSmith RCheckley BMar

2T Heislers SJennings TTaylorW Jacka. BEST: Fish Creek:O Schnoor JHarry LBowman CMcphee OStraw BBell. Mirboo Nth: LGer vasi T McAllister WLewis THarris WJacka TKelly

(45)

Yinnar:JGarlick 3NMcCaffer ty 3CLePage 2BDurea

Kratz. Tarwin: LCann 2J Andronaco2LJones BEST: MDU: ACasey AMcinnes BSellingsT Hibberson J Cleator HScrimshaw. Tarwin: JAndronacoLCann HWattICameron JTieman LJones

(44)

Hill End: DPaul5 TBastin 2BStephens RClaridge HPhoenix ASimpson MBalfour Newborough: OHanson2 MLangdon RArchipowA Daley BEST: Hill End: TBastin DPaul D van der Stoep ASimpson KSlade TRiley.Newborough: ADaley CHansonBRead HGallagher RArchipow AKorab

WE are more thanaquarterofthe way through the Mid Gippsland Football-Netball League home and away season and already some sides have some work to do, some are about where they thought they mightbe, and others feel as though they are ahead of their pre-season forecast.

Most clubs will set themselves abasic framework of what they wanted to achieve, this included, but was not limited to, not losing ahome game, winning sufficient games to make the league’s final six (in the last two completed season that means either nine or ten wins), not losing two games in a row, not losing to the same side twice. The list goes on.

 MORWELL EAST VYINNAR

THEREisanold saying that “whether you think you can, or whether you think you can’t, you’re probably right”.

The problem with Morwell East justat the momentisyou wonder whetherthey actually believe they can win games after such adisappointing start to the season.

Thefact they had to face areal forceinthe shapeofYinnar on the weekend, probably didn’t help their cause.

The Magpies added to the Hawks’ woes in acomprehensive win, 25.13 (163) to 7.4 (46)

Yinnar senior coach, Sam McCulloch said: “very happy to come away with apercentageboosting win against an undermanned MorwellEast. Pleased to have such an even spread for four quarters. We played our brand of footy for amajority of the day and finished the game out well”.

As pleasing as the performance was for Yinnar, the Hawks justdon’tseem to be the same side as 12 months ago.

Morwell East senior coach, Paul Henry said: “too fast, too good! Aday to forget and we move on to Fish Creek next week”.

The Hawks have injuries, so maybe deserve some slack, but those getting the opportunities need to do more, much more, as for the coach, and supporters, it appears as though it may be along year.

 HILLEND VNEWBOROUGH

THEHillmen had no doubt set themselves for an almighty clash against avisiting Newborough side, that on paper at least, showed that they might be somewhat fragile and susceptible to ahomeground teamthat desperately wanted their first win of the season.

The pressure was on fromthe first bounce, but it was the visitorswho slowly but surely did what they neededtodoalbeitwith alittle controversy, won by just 13 points, 8.7 (55) to 5.12 (42).

Newborough senior coach, Pat Frendosaid: “a real gameofmomentumswingsfor us up at thehillagainst therovers today. We got out to an early lead despite minimal forward 50 entries. Hill End dominated the second and third quarters around the ground and were able to claw their way back into the lead at three quarter time”.

“Luckily they missed afew easy shots in front of goal so thedifference was only three points going intothe last.They had the first goal of the lastquarter but we responded immediately and eventually kicked another two to gain alittle buffer.

Hill End senior coach, Adrian Burns said: “we were well and truly in the game, even in front in the last quarter, but sometimes things just don’t go your way, and when that happens with such ayoung team, it can be pretty tough”.

Certainly the crowd seemedconfused, with what appeared to be agoal for the Hill End team, awarded apoint and conversely for Newborough,claims that apoint was awarded agoal.

Umpiring is atough gig at times, but we certainly would welcome more umpires to get involved.



MIRBOO NORTH VFISH CREEK

AS good as Mirboo North were just seven days earlier against ladder leaders Yinnar, the test for the Tigers was always going to be whether theywould be able to back up thatsort of performance against the reigning premiers in Fish Creek.

TheKangaroos turned it on, in an impressive 10-goal win, 15.11 (101) to 6.5 (41) victory.

Fish Creek senior coach, Jarrod Walker said: “a tough battle yesterday with Mirboo using the corridor really well in attack and keeping our defenders on there toes. It was good to see our guys dig in for the second half with acouple of rotations down we had to really grind the win out”.

The Tigers showed they were more than capable of matching with the Kangaroos at times, the secret now for Mirboo is to build on those glimpses of brilliance to be better for longer.

Mirboo North seniorcoach, Damian Turner said: “wefaced averysharp Fish Creek. They wereespecially clean in close around the contest and are definitely one of the yard sticks again this season! We showed some really strong patches of play but couldn’t maintain for long enough this week. We will review, and work hard on the track”.

 BOOLARAV FOSTER

BOOLARRA found themselves in the enviable position of having to defend at least twoofthose previously mentionedgoals, one being not losing two matches in succession and the other not losing on their home ground.

The biggest problem they had came in the shape of an in form and classy Fosterfootball team that not only brought, but maintained their unbeaten season at the home of the Demons, winning 15.8 (98) to 6.4 (40).

Fostersenior coach, Sam Davies said: “our first half was really, really good -defensively we were the best we’ve been and really limited their ball movement and capitalised on turnovers. Our backline were our strongest group all gameand our shapebehind the ball has been fantastic”.

“Second half Boolarra reallybrought an energy,wedropped away abit and probably over correctedona fewthingswe’ve been working on.”

Make no mistake, Foster are agood side, better than 2024, and certainly in the very top few of the competition, but Boolarra too are slowly building aquality team and culture.

Boolarra senior coach, Brendan Mason said: “another week where we welcomed two

“Fosterplayeda clinical brandofhigh speed footy using the corridor well and switching the ball at everyopportunity. With astar studded from half the back six toiled manfully all day withBailey Flanagan again to the fire down back and then up front.

“Club president James Holmes wound back the clock and was terrific all day as an under sizedcentre half forward. Simon Noy battled well all day but in the end the superior side walk away with the points and we take on board some lessons from the last two weeks.”

They say you only ever lose if you don’t learn and to thatend the Demonsare improving even in their losses.

STONY CREEK VTOORA



IT seems really early to be calling around five clash a“season defining game”, but you can’t help but feel the result of this one between two teams wanting to be part of the leagues top six, when thereisacasetobe madethat thereispossiblyonlyroom for just one, was amatch that could have more to it than just the premiership points.

With that in mind the opportunity was grabbed by the scruff of the neck by Stony Creekwho defeated Toora, 15.16 (106) to 7.7 (49).

Stony Creek senior coach, Troy Shepardson said: “our boys played the footy Iknow they arecapableof, and withgetting afew key personnel back we’re able to get on the winners list. Looking very forward to abye, to freshen up”.

The Lions are looming as a“smokey” to upset afew teams in the mid and late part of the season, theireffort on theweekend even impressing the Sharks.

 TARWIN VMDU AS happy as Tarwin were with their home groundsuccess over Morwell East just seven days prior, the real test was their weekend match up with the might of aclassy MDU. TheDemons arrivedatShark Park as one of the in-form teams of the competition, and one from whichthe home side could get a real good gauge of just where they are. The answer, not far off, as MDU defeated Tarwin 16.5 (101) to 10.2 (62).

MDU senior coach, Rhett Kelly said: “I knew from the first contest that it was going to be agreat game of footy. Both teams going in hard at the footy with great intensity. It was ahigh-quality game with both teams making the most of their opportunities going forward, which meant for aclose game on the scoreboard”.

The Demons have been super impressive and appear to have no fearofany side in the competition.

Tarwin seniorcoach,Lachie Jones said: “a really tough contest today for both sides. Iwas very proud of our effort. We finished the game with three significant injuries and it was aprettybrutalgame”

“We were competitive for three quarters but ran out of gas but still Igive full credit to Rhettand MDU,they play astrong brand and were the better side on the day.”

There is no doubt the Sharks are starting to run alittle thin due to injuries, and the “next man up” philosophyisnoble, but at some stage the talent is tested and Tarwin would dearly love to have more players available than they currently have.

 BYE- THORPDALE

On Saturday’s we wear pinkand

NETBALL

By LIAM DURKIN

MORWEL Lm oved to outrigh tt hird on the Gippsland League AGrade ladderatthe conclusion of Round 5.

TheTigers recorded acommanding near-20 goal win, defeating Leongatha 61 to 43.

On what was aspecial day for the club’s breast cancer fundraiser, Morwell was rewarded after four quarters of consistent netball saw the home side shoot 15 or more goals in each stanza.

Holly Stephens shot37ofthem,and wasably assisted by Jayde Parsons, Courtney Garthand Chloe Radford further afield.

The work of Stephens and Tiffany Boatman (17 goals) under the ring was noteworthy, given the absence of usualshooter and Gippsland Stars captain, Daisy Hill.

The win means the Tigers have dropped just one gamefromthe first five rounds, andoncurrent form, should hit their first match after the bye against Moe full of confidence (May 31).

The Tigers and Lions are expected to be among the league’s contenders this season, and the first bout could be amini finals preview.

Amy Scott,Audrey McGannon and Gemma Meadley were best for the Parrots.

If Morwellneeds any statistical evidence to boost their confidence -Scott shot 29 goals at the weekend -five less than what she managed against Moe afortnight ago.

By all reports, Leongatha’s shooters had Moe’s defendersbeaten on several occasions, but their midcourters were hesitant to feed them the ball.

The Tigers are under no illusions Moe,asthe reigning back-to-backpremier, will be atough assignment, although the enticement of one more flag for the likes of veterans Garth, Claire Marks and Tanya Budge could prove at least one driving force the Lions (who have an average age around 25) don’t have.

Is there time for last hurrah for Morwell AGrade?

Netball Scoreboard ROUND 5

Gippsland League

AGrade: Morwell 61 def Leongatha 43, Moe 74 def Drouin 57,Traralgon 35 def by Warragul 75, Sale 39 def by Wonthaggi 46, Bairnsdale 59 def Maffra31.

BGrade: Morwell 40 def by Leongatha, Moe 76 def Drouin 38, Traralgon 56 def Warragul 36, Sale 27 def by Wonthaggi 43, Bairnsdale 34 def by Maffra 37

CGrade: Morwell 33 drew with Leongatha 33, Moe 35 def by Drouin 40, Traralgon 41 def Warragul 25, Sale 20 def by Wonthaggi 45, Bairnsdale 40 def Maffra22.

17/U: Morwell 22 def by Leongatha 36, Moe 43 def Drouin 42, Traralgon 62 def Warragul 21, Sale 45 def Wonthaggi 37,Bairnsdale 53 def Maffra35.

15/U: Morwell 13 def by Leongatha 35, Moe 36 def Drouin 31, Traralgon 54 def Warragul 34, Sale 62 def Wonthaggi 5, Bairnsdale 40 def Maffra25.

13/U: Morwell 11 def by Leongatha 57,Moe 26 def Drouin 15,Traralgon 46 def Warragul 4, Sale 50 def Wonthaggi 11,Bairnsdale 31 drew with Maffra31. North Gippsland

AGrade: TTU 47 def Churchill 44, Glengarry47def by YYN 50, Cowwarr 22 def by Gormandale 61, Woodside 56 def Sale City45, Rosedale,Heyfield -BYE.

BGrade: TTU 42 def by Churchill 53, Glengarry38 def by YYN 40, Cowwarr 18 def by Gormandale 59, Rosedale 58 def Yarram 47,Woodside 46 def Sale City44, Heyfield -BYE.

CGrade: TTU 56 def Churchill 18,Glengarry 27 def YYN 23, Cowwarr 20 def by Gormandale 37,Rosedale 42 def Yarram 25, Woodside 26 def Sale City25, Heyfield -BYE. DGrade: TTU 34 defChurchill 24, Glengarry27def

 MOE continued its unbeaten run.

TheLions, minusacouple of key players, beat Drouin 74-57.

Justone goal separated thesides at quarter time, yet 23 goals to 10 in the second term quickly rectified the situation.

That Moe was without Ramayer Keilty and Jordan Pyle and still won by nearly 20 goals perhaps speaks volumes of the Lions’ overall quality, although it is understood those close to the action are on edge to ensure complacency does not creep in.

Fortunately for the Lions, goal-machines Ash Mawer and Georgia Moody were still available, and were both named in the best.

Mawershot58goals andMoody16, whilefellow VNL player Olivia Barnett also did well.

Rachael Blackshaw and Carly Wood came up to play in the ones, both answering the club’s call in its time of need.

The Lions should get through to the bye without aloss, ready to then face two strong tests against Morwell and Warragul.

Keilty versus Emma Ryde has surelyalready been circled on the calendar.

Best for the Hawks was Ella Henderson, Charlie Traumanis and April Bethume.

The game was again played indoors at Ted Summerton Reserve, as issues with the newly resurfaced outdoor court remain.

Would it be too simple to suggest the courtshould have been redone in the offseason

 WARRAGUL smacked Traralgon.

Afew Traralgon players may have needed extra hugs from their mothers the following day on Mother’s Day, after losing 75-35.

Signsofashellacking werenot evident in the first term, with the score 20-10 at Western Park. That completely changed in the second, after the Gulls put up 20 goals to five.

Rydetook the Maroons for aride,shootingall goals bar one.

Shewas helped by Ella Rees, Jade Finn and Renee Cook.

YYN 25, Cowwarr9 def by Gormandale 56, Rosedale 45 def Yarram 12,Woodside 22 def by Sale City 49, Heyfield -BYE. 17/U: TTU 37 def Churchill 15,Glengarry 57 def YYN 11,Cowwarr 17 def by Gormandale 39, Rosedale 76 def Yarram 8, Woodside 13 def by Sale City38, Heyfield -BYE. 15/U: TTU51def Churchill 22, Glengarry29def YYN 18,Cowwarr 25 def by Gormandale 32, Rosedale 94 def Yarram 1, Woodside 38 def Sale City27, Heyfield -BYE. Mid Gippsland

AGrade: Morwell East 28 def by Yinnar 50, Hill End 35 def by Newborough 50, Mirboo Nor th 49 def by Fish Creek 62, Boolarra36def by Foster 76,Stony Creek42def Toora32, Tarwin 43 def by MDU 55, Thorpdale -BYE.

BGrade: Morwell East 22 def by Yinnar 49, Hill End 28 def by Newborough 43, Mirboo Nor th 44 def by Fish Creek 49, Boolarra27def by Foster 88, StonyCreek 43 def by Toora61, Tarwin 34 def by MDU 40, Thorpdale -BYE.

CGrade: Morwell East 15 def by Yinnar 39, Hill End 26 def by Newborough 31, Mirboo Nor th 34 def by Fish Creek 48, Boolarra26def by Foster 39, StonyCreek 42 def

Toora30, Tarwin 37 def by MDU 42, Thorpdale -BYE.

DGrade: Morwell East 13 def by Yinnar 45, Hill End 23 def by Newborough 24, Mirboo Nor th 39 def Fish Creek 26, Boolarra31def Foster 27,Stony Creek32def by Toora 35, Tarwin 30def MDU 21, Thorpdale -BYE. 17/U: Morwell East 13 def by Yinnar 51, Hill End 48 def Newborough 26, Mirboo Nor th 36 def Fish Creek 15, Boolarra62 def Foster 9, StonyCreek 26 def by Toora48, Tarwin 15 def by MDU 68.

15/U: Morwell East 11 def by Yinnar 58, Hill End 30 def by Newborough 33, Mirboo Nor th 42 def Fish Creek 17

Boolarra40 def Foster 22, StonyCreek 13 def by Toora 48, Tarwin 19 def by MDU 21 13/U: Morwell East 4def by Yinnar 44, Hill End 13 def by Newborough 35, Mirboo Nor th 24 def by Fish Creek 25, Boolarra29 def by Foster 33, StonyCreek 30 def Toora 10,Tarwin48def MDU4

As if the scoreboard wasn’t evidence enough, Traralgon’shorrendousshowing couldbesummed up by looking at the list of best players-orcomplete lack of. “No best players have been selected”.

 WONTHAGGI survived ascare on the road.

Taking on Sale, the visiting Powerdid enough in the end to win 46-39.

Wonthaggi had to dig deep, with the margin just five points in their favour at the last change.

While happy to take the four points, the Power will know it will need greater consistency if it is to seriously challenge expected finalists.

Olivia Gilmourwas best,followed by Cassidy Bowman and Macy Peterson.

ChloeJones, JemmaBirss and AshleighKeefe were best for the Magpies.

 BAIRNSDALE cruised to an easy victory over Maffra.

The Redlegsshot 16 goals to five in the first quarter at home, and did practicallythe same across the next allotment.

While both teams traded 10 goals each in the third, by then, the damage had already well and truly been done.

Anna Mooney had aproductive afternoon with 44 goals,and received able supportfromParis Dunkley, Alison Dwyer and Olivia Pearson.

Tilly Pendergast, Chloe Felsbourg and Kirby Boyle collected plaudits for Maffra.

 MID Gippsland returned no great surprises in Round 5.

Premiership hopefuls Yinnar secured an importantwin overcredibleopposition in Morwell East.

The Magpiesgot up 50-28atRonaldReserve.

Patty McInnes shot 30 goals for the winners, more than the entire opposition,and auctioned off plenty of others.

Newborough won against agallantHill End, 50-35.

The Bulldogs werewell-served by shooters Caitlin Demczuk and DemiCaldow, whohalved the visitors total with 25 goals each. Courtney McWhinney outdid them both however, shooting 26 majors.

Mirboo North lost ahigh-scoring match against Fish Creek, 62-49.

Jess Holland and Louie Patten shot 24 goals each at Walter Tuck Reserve, but the resultnow leaves the Tigers fifth and among alogjam of teams. Boolarra was smashed by Foster, 76-36 at Boolarra.

Stony Creek defeated Toora 42-32 at theracecourse and visiting Meeniyan Dumbalk United defeated Tarwin 55-43.

Thorpdale had the bye.

 YALLOURN Yallourn North recorded its best AGrade win in recent memory, downing Glengarry.

The Jets scrapped in by three goals away from home, winning 50-47 in Round 5.

Shelby Zomer and Sophie Taylor put in outstanding efforts the victors.

Stop the press -Sale City aren’t invincible. Woodside showed itspremiership window is still very much open, provided it has ashooter capable of scoring 49 goals, afterrolling the Bulldogs by more than 10 goals at home.

Said shooter is officially unknown,asshe was listed as ‘hidden player’ on Netball Connect.

Traralgon Tyers United edged ahead of Churchill in athrilling contest at Tyers.

The home side saw off aresilient Cougars outfit to win 47-44.

The old Moe-combo of Maleah Travers and Rachel Shaw proved hard to stop, shooting 23 and 24 goals respectively.

Jayde Travers also made acameo appearance in centre.

Gormand ale celebrat ed after anni hilating Cowwarr 61-22.

The Tigerscame to Cowwarr, and left with plenty to be pleased with, especially after Maddy Dark put 43 goals through.

Rosedale and Heyfield had the bye.

Heavy losses for Gippy Stars

NETBALL

VNL BY TOM

HAYES

GIPPSLAND Stars lost heavily twice to Bendigo Strikers last week in Round 8action of the Victorian Netball League.

THE 23 and Under side struggledfromthe get-go, eventually falling 57 to 39.

In one of their more competitive first quarters, the Starsonly trailed by nine goals, but in the second term, the Strikers doubled their tally to go up by 18 goals into halftime.

Just when the Stars started to get moving, the Strikersmatchedtheir tempo,increasing the margin slightly to 19 points heading into thefinal term.

The Stars ended well like they usually do, closing out an 18-goal loss by winning the final quarter of netball.

Charlize Traumanis top scored for the Stars with 16 goalswith 80 per cent accuracy. Also contributing was Grace Van Tilburg (10 goals),Anna Mooney (nine goals), and Chelsea Bowman (four goals).

But defender JaydeParsons was the standout with the Stars copping it in defence, as the Stars’ Player of the Match.

The 23 and Under Stars now sit on the bottom of the ladder, winless from eight matchessofar this season, claiming just two points for adraw.

Theywill stillbeout to top last year’s totaloftwo

wins (eight points), and they would hope to get on the board sooner rather than later.

THE Championship Stars had it much worse. Essentially out of the match as soonasitstarted, the Stars fell to the Strikers 67 to 31. Alarms immediately sounded in the Stars camp, going down by 12 goals in the first quarter.

The Stars were severely undermanned, missing captain Diasy Hill and Stacie Gardiner in attack as well as thelikesofRamayer Gourleyindefence -who played in attack the weekprior. Mooney earnt her Championship debut in the meantime.

The Strikers were double the score of the Stars at halftime, leading 36-18 with ahalftogo. Amonster thirdquarter blew the game out even further, with the Strikers taking a28-goal advantage with aquarter to go.

The Strikers didn’t hold back on the Stars, adding to the pain, to charge out to a36-goal margin by the time the final bell was heard.

Jessica Blacktop scored for the Stars with 16 goals, while Mooney scored eightondebut. Alahna Arnason added seven goals.

Stand-in captain Sally Deller was presented with the Stars’Player of the Match award after the tough performance.

The Stars fell to ninth on the ladder following the loss.

TONIGHT (Wednesday, May 14), the Stars take on Boroondara Express in what is expected to be another tough match-up.

NORTH GIPPSLAND

Winners display dominance

FOOTBALL NORTH GIPPSLAND

BY BLAKE METCALF-HOLT

UNFORTUNATEfixtureswerethe nameof thegameinRound 5ofthe North Gippsland Football-Netball League season.

At the weekend, unevenmatchupswere aplenty which cumulated in every game going over a10-goal margin at least.

It again reinforces the sizeable gap between the very best, the middle of the road, and those stuck near the bottom.

 YOU can finally see their halo.

Cowwarr leapt past Gormandale for their first victory of the season, 17.19 (121) to 6.7 (43), out at Cowwarr Recreational Reserve.

Playing off for the now annual Pride Cup, theSaints were un-wavered from their slow starttothe season which positioned them bottom of the ladder after four rounds, building on from an improvedperformance against Yallourn Yallourn North the week prior.

Overthe lastfew seasons, as Cowwarr has fought to climb back up the food chain, they’ve been open about being prone to one or two quarters that undo theirmoments werethey look likeanear-finals-contending side -thatwasn’tthe case at the weekend.

The Saints smacked five goals to none to open the match, and continuedstrong to halftime with eight of the first nine majors to jump ahead by 42 points.

The Tigers did begin to even the contest out during the secondquarter, but inaccurate kicking (1.6) left them stranded behind.

Returning after the main break, the third term was astalemate on the scoreboard as the margin stayed similar throughout with three goals apiece from bothsides,however, alatemajor from Keenan Hughes pushed it to 60 points.

The Saints charged on through to the end withsix goals in the lastquarter, which will hopefully bode well for the ultimate challenge at home this weekend against flag fancies Heyfield.

Hughe sw ith seven goals took home best-on-groundhonours, followed by Sean Alexander, Haydn Hector, Ash Smith, Ben Coffey, and Braden Paulet for Cowwarr.

Hayden Richards, Liam Deering (three goals),Campbell Peavey, Damien Paul, Jarvis Kirk, and Trent Baldwin were best for Gormandale.

 BOMBING at Tyers Recreational Reserve.

TTU demolished Churchill to the tune of 188 points, 31.22 (208) to 3.2(20) fortheir fourth victory out the gate.

Given plenty of circumstances that have decimated the Cougars for this season, the Bombers laid down one of their biggest defeats over their rival opponents in quite some time -ifnot ever.

trail by 25 points at the first break.

While it appeared as though the contest had evened itself out as the warm weather perpetuated, YYN tagged five goals to two through to halftime despite the Magpies sending an extra into defense.

Glengarry couldn’t buy amajor score was play returned in the third quarter, all while the Jets piled on eight goals to push the lead to near triple digits.

The Magpiessaved face slightly in the final term with an even output against their opponent with three goals each way.

Lachlan Littlebaggedbest-on for YYN followed by Blair Clymo with five goals, Jai Massese, MacDonald (seven), Josh Keyhoe, and Dylan Bath.

Jordan Thomas, Ewan Williams, Declan Massaro, Jesse Lee, Seth Healy, and Jet Hodges were recognised for Glengarry.

 NO premiership hangover.

Not as of yet, at least -SaleCityshowed little danger of upsetting reigning premier Woodside, as the Wildcats won 19.12 (126) to 10.6 (66) at Woodside Recreation Reserve.

While the Bulldogs mounted two opening quarter goals, Woodside still showed dominance in terms of possession and were ahead 16 points at the first break.

Thatquicklypushed out to over afive-goal margin with afive goalstofoursecondterm, despite accurate for Sale City in front of goal.

The Bulldogs didn’tever show signsofa deep drop-off, matching each goal through to three-quarter-time-thatwas until the final term when the Wildcats smacked on six goals to one.

Josh Morgan was best for Woodside followed by Ryan Foat (six goals), Zac Richards, ThomasKing,Jeremy Morgan, andMatt Dyke.

Daine McGuiness, Tom Bowman, Flynn Read, Chad Evans, Cameron Green, and Travis Lindrea showed out for Sale City.

 IT might actually be there, somewhere.

After arelativelydisappointing opening to the season, Rosedalelaid the hammer down on Yarram, 18.6 (114) to 8.5 (53) at Rosedale Recreational Reserve.

Afteramiraculous draw in Round 1against Glengarry,the Blues sustained atoughcard facing grand finalistsWoodside and TTU

in back-to-back weeks- asizeable victory against ahandy opponent was welcomed by the home crowd.

The Blues displayed great accuracyinfront of goal, making the most of all five of their setshots,and continued with four majors to one in the second term.

The young Rosedale defensewas all over it as play returned in the secondhalf, limiting the Demons chancestoeven makeitinto their forward 50, all while the Blues tagged on nine goals through to the end.

Spencer Fox was aclear cut best-on-ground with seven goals followed by Declan and Caleb Barnett, Jackson Bruce, Harper Fox, and Blake Safstrom.

Griffin Underwood was as handy as ever followed by Liam Bentley, CodyHarrison, Kayleb Pearce, Will Brunton, and Thomas Mattern for Yarram.

 HEYFIELD had the bye.

Cleaned up: With sevengoals,Keenan Hughes claimed best-on-ground honours in Cowwarr’s firstwin of theseason over Gormandale in the Pride Cup Photograph: Nor th Gippsland FNL/Facebook

WTowers 2BAuger SRobinson JThomas ANorman. TTU: JWeddell MNoble TColaciello BEST: Churchill: SRobinson DTobinJ WilliamsR

EChan

8JRogers 2C

2JSutton OCliftonJ VardyARigbyRConway LMonument. YYN: PLaidlaw3JKaschke JDevent TDuff BEST: Glengarry:CPoulton RConwayK CrawfordMMcDonagh JLipmanC Whitehead.YYN:J Devent PLaidlawAFrenchALong TDuff HKing

WOODSIDE 5.4 9.7 11.8 15.10 (100)

SALE CIT Y3.0 3.1 3.2 5.2 (32)

GOALS: Woodside:C Earles 4JMattern 3DDobson 3RHinkley 2JScott 2BKerr.SaleCity: DCarstairs 3 BWilson NWilson. BEST: Woodside: JScott AFrancis JApiata TAlbert RHinkley RAnderson.Sale City: DCrowson BWilson DCarstairs BStablesBGrubb DBlackley

Cowwarr:CMitchell 5K Jennings 2ADomaille 2. Gormandale:MCropley2BNicholls 2R Musgrove. BEST: Cowwarr:T Armstrong BBurgess THood RO’Donnell CMitchell CBass. Gormandale MCropley

While the first quarter might have many guessing thatthis might turninto asurprise close game, with the scoreboard only reading a10-point gap the way of TTU after half an hour, that quickly changed.

The Bombers tacked on the next 27 goals through to full time, which included keeping Churchill goal-lessthe rest of the way home.

Besides any match against acertain other strugglingclub in North Gippy, it would be hard to find another time TTU have ever laid the smack down and gone on agoal kicking run like that at any other point in time.

TTU’ sd om inanc ew as per haps best personified by its individual efforts -one particularlybeing first-year seniorplayer Riley Denovan completing abag of 11 goals. Denovanwas followedbyskipper Jye Neilsonand Flynn Shieldswithfive each and an additional threemultiplegoalscorers. Denovan took home the chocolates as best afield followedbyKade Duncan, Shields, Nielson, Sam Curtain, and Trent Hourigan. Churchillco-coach Joe Whykes celebrating 300 club games was recognised as the best for the Cougars followedbyCalen Hill, Tom Sevenson, LiamBleyswyk, Billy Wight,and Rory Peter.

Whykes has displayed ultimate commitment to the club, taking over the coaching duties before the start of season 2025, becomingjustthe fifth Cougar to reach the 300-game mark, winning two senior premierships along the way.

 THE Pies aren’t quite there.

Despite asurprise start to the season, the young Glengarryunitwereserved areality check when facing YYN at Glengarry Recreation Reserve at the weekend.

The Jets flew home 97-pointwinners, 22.12 (144) to 7.5 (47) to collect their third win of the season.

They piled out the gateswith six unanswered goals before the Magpies could nail one themselves -that early runincluded four from YYN playing coach Dean MacDonald. However, Glengarry did stem the blow with the final two goals of the opening quarter to

Ahuge array of fresh mouthwatering salads made

Ultimateclubman: Churchill co-coach JoeWhykescelebrated his 300th club game at the weekend.

Mini’smeltdownincoaches box says it all

FOOTBALL AFL EXPORTS

BY TOM HAYES

THE Latrobe Valley AFL Exports claimedthree wins from three games during Round 9action at the top level.

In one of the tightest rounds of AFL across the board, our locals managed to end it on the winner’s list.

 COLLINGWOOD just keep rolling.

As one of, if not, the most in-form teams in the competition, the Magpies were always going to be tough to beat on Thursday night (May 8) at Optus Stadium, against Fremantle.

Collingwood fought through the early battles to runrampant in the second half, winning 15.7 (97) to 12.11(83).

TheDockers kicked the first three goals of the game,before the Magpies worked themselves back with haste to lead at quarter time.

Again, alatesurge from the visitors extended theirlead at halftime, after Fremantlestole the lead twice throughout the second term.

The scoring hit aroad block after half time. From a16-goal firsthalf, only three goals were kicked between the two sides in the third term, and Collingwood jumped out to a15-point lead.

Fremantle got within 10 points in the final term but were unable to completelyturn things around.

The bravery of Lachie Schultz spurred the Magpies on in the last quarter, after he copped a heavy bump from the Dockers’ Jordan Clark, who possessed the ball.

Collingwood momentarily soared to the top of the ladder, following its 14-point win.

Traralgon’s Tim Membrey failed to hit the scoreboard, but contributed with agoal assist, 12 disposals, and four marks.

 HAWTHORN stole the show after surviving a scare from Melbourne.

The Hawks made it lookeasy in theend, securing atop fourspotintheir 13.13(91)to7.14 (56) win at the MCG on Saturday afternoon (May 10).

Although Melbourne might be struggling thus far throughout 2025, they were well and truly in the fight against one of the premiership contenders.

Hawthorn only led by agoal at quarter time, a lead that was then cut to just one point by halftime as Melbourne eyed down the lead.

The margin remained the sameatthreequarter time. Melbourne were ahead for aboutseven minutes before alategoal to Jack Ginnivan put theHawks back ahead by apoint going into the last quarter.

With the game up in the air, Hawthorn turned up for the occasion, blowing Melbourne out of the water with six goals to one in the final term. In a complete domination, theHawks added 11 scoring shots to two to close out the 35-point win.

Morwell’s Changkuoth Jiath is in some serious form as of late. Across halfbackhecollected25 disposals, nine marks, three tackles, and over 500 metres gained.



GOLD Coast have now won seven on the trot in Darwin.

There must be something in the air (maybe the humidity) that plays into theSuns’ hands at TIO Stadium, winningagain on Saturday night, this

time against Western Bulldogs, 15.16 (106) to 14.12 (96).

The Suns led for majority of the game, but that wouldn’t stop afast-finishing Bulldogs outfit that almost pinched the four points against the generally fast-finishing Suns.

Moe and Fish Creek’s Sam Flanders kicked Gold Coast’s fourth goal of the game late in the first quarter, putting them up by 21 points at the time.

Two even later goals and abehind to the Bulldogs gotthem back within eight points at quarter time.

Athird straight to the Dogs started the second term, before Morwell’s Ben Ainsworth steadied the Suns’ ship.

Gold Coast finished the quarterstrongly to remain ahead, but by at areduced margin, just seven points at halftime.

With two of the first three goals of the third quarter,the Bulldogs drew even then hitthe front

Three straight goals to Gold Coast soon followed, withthe third, asecond to Flanders, had the Suns up by three goals.

Moe’s Bailey Humphrey failed to convert on two opportunities, nonetheless, GoldCoast led by a match-high 22 points at the final change. The Sunskicked two of the firstthree in the final term,and many suspected they wouldput the game to bed. The Bulldogs then kicked the next four goals in seven minutes to get within akick. But the Suns just rallied, as Ben King kicked the sealer in the 34th minutes of the final quarter to confirm the 10-point win.

Humphrey was at his best with 24 disposals, five marks, four tackles, and four clearances.

Ainsworth played his role, collecting 14 disposals, four marks, agoal and agoal assist. Flanders was tried elsewhere, kicking two goals while only picking up just 10 touches.

 SPEAKING of one of the closest rounds, many of the games were hanging in the balance in the final quarter.

Round 9, 2025 had the lowest cumulative margin for afixture of nine AFL games, with acombined total of 93 points,beatingthe previous record of 126 points in Round 4, 2019.

Around the grounds,Carltongot home by 15 pointsover St Kilda after the margin was reduced to three points in the final term, Essendon edged out Sydney by eight points,and Adelaide won Showdown 57 by less than akick.

Sunday held all of themadness. Amatch-saving tackle from Tom Brown helped the Tigers to a two-pointwin over thewinless Eagles,GWS made it five wins in arow on Geelong’s turf -winning by four points, and North Melbourne miraculously drewwith reigning premierBrisbaneinTasmania Traralgon’s AndrewMcQualter willbesearching for answers, although they might be in front of him, after West Coast hadmultiple chances to claim four points against Richmond.

McQualter literally rode the match-defining play, getting up out of his chair as Brown’s run-down tackle unfolded.

With another great chance to win going astray, the question begsonceagain: where does their win come from, and when? Many suggest they will claim one unexpectedly, but the next realistic chance is really in amonth’stime against North Melbourne.

When and where: West Coastmissedout on another great chance to claim itsfirst win of the season, goingdownbyt wo points to Richmond at theweekend. Traralgon’s Andrew McQualter will be wondering whenhis firstwin as the Eagles’ senior coach will arrive. Photograph: Fox Footy

Monday,May 19

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6.00 News. 9.00 News. 10.00 The Gospel According To Marcia. (PG, R) 11.30 Art Works. (PGa, R) 12.00 News. 1.00 Landline. (R) 2.00 Restoration Aust. (PG, R) 3.00 House Of Games. (R) 3.30 Grand Designs: House Of The Year.(R) 4.15 Long Lost Family: What Happened Next. (PG, R) 5.00 ABite To Eat. 5.30 Antiques Roadshow.(R)

6.30 ClaireHooper’s House Of Games.

7.00 ABC News.

7.30 7.30.

8.00 Australian Story Presented by Leigh Sales. 8.30 Four Cor ners. Investigative jour nalism program.

9.15 Media Watch. (PG) Presented by Linton Besser

9.35 Q+A. (Final) Presented by Patricia Karvelas.

10.35 ABC Late News. 10.50 The Business. (R) 11.10 Planet America. (R) 11.40 The Weekly With Charlie Pickering. (R) 12.10 Grand Designs: House Of The Year.(R) 1.00 Long Lost Family: What Happened Next. (PG, R) 1.50 Rage. (MA15+adhlnsv) 3.20 Parkinson In Australia. (PG, R) 4.30 Gardening Australia. (R) 5.30 7.30. (R)

ABC FAMILY (22)

6am Children’s Programs. 6.40pm Hey Duggee. 6.50 Ben And Holly 7.00 Supertato. 7.05 Dino Dex. 7.20 Bluey 7.30 Shaun The Sheep. 7.35 Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures. 7.50 The Inbestigators. 8.05 Operation Ouch! 8.35 BTN Newsbreak. 8.40 The Crystal Maze. 9.25 MythBusters “There’sYour Problem!”. 9.50 Merlin. 10.35 Late Programs.

NITV (34)

6am Morning Programs. 1.30pm Anthem Sessions. 2.30 The Cook Up. 3.00 Jarjums. 5.00 Harlem Globetrotters. 5.25 Black As. 5.30 The 77 Percent. 6.00 Bamay 6.25 News. 6.35 Tales From Zambia. 7.30 Who Do YouThink YouAre? 8.30 Living Black. 9.00 OchreAnd Ink. 9.30 Bill Reid Remembers. 10.00 Late Programs.

6am Mor ning Programs. 12.30 ABC World News Tonight. 1.00 PBS News Weekend. 1.30 Al Jazeera News Hour 2.00 Death In The Tower: King Richard. (Mav,R) 3.00 Travel Shooters. (PG) 3.35 The Cook Up. (R) 4.05 Jeopardy! (al) 4.30 Letters And Numbers. (R) 5.00 Cycling. UCI World Tour.Girod’Italia. Stage 9. Highlights.

6.00 Mastermind Australia. 6.30 SBS World News.

7.35 Stockholm With Michael Portillo: Stockholm 1. (Premiere) Michael Portillo braves the frozen waters of the Baltic Sea.

8.25 Bettany Hughes: Treasures Of Albania And The Adriatic. (PGa, R) Professor Bettany Hughes reveals the secrets of the Adriatic coast of Albania.

9.20 Inside Windsor Castle. (PG, R) Takes alook at Windsor Castle.

10.15 SBS World News Late. (Mlv)

11.35 Don’tLeave Me. (Malv,R) 1.35 Incredible Homes. (R) 3.35 J Schwanke’sLife In Bloom. (R) 4.35 Bamay.(R) 5.00 NHK World English News Mor ning. 5.30 ANC Philippines The World Tonight.

SBS VICELAND (31)

6am

WorldWatch. 6.50 The 77 Percent. 7.20 WorldWatch. 8.40 DW Euromaxx. 9.00 Soccer.Major League. Inter Miami vOrlando City SC. 11.30 Eurovision: Access All Areas. 4pm Cook Up Bitesize. 4.05 WorldWatch 6.00 AloneDenmark. 7.05 Jeopardy! 7.35 8 Out Of 10 Cats. 8.30 The UnBelievable With Dan Aykroyd. (Retur n) 10.10 Late Programs.

SBS WORLD MOVIES (32)

6am Morning Programs. 10.20 Finding Your Feet. (2017, Ml) 12.25pm Hive. (2021, Ma, Albanian) 2.00 The Loss Of ATeardrop Diamond. (2008, ads) 3.55 Dancing At Lughnasa. (1998, PGa) 5.40 Courted. (2015, PGal, French) 7.30 The Last Vermeer. (2019, Malv) 9.40 Prison 77. (2022, MA15+asv Spanish) Midnight Late Programs.

6.00 Sunrise. 9.00 The Mor ning Show.(PG) 12.00 Seven’sNational News At Noon. 1.00 MOVIE: ACriminal Affair (2021, Mav,R) 3.00 The Chase. (R) 4.00 Seven News At 4. 5.00 The Chase Australia.

6.00 Seven News. 7.00 Home And Away (PGav) Eden delivers some distressing news. 7.30 Farmer Wants AWife. (PG) The farmers take the new ladies on asolo date to strengthen connections and form new ones.

9.05 9-1-1: Lone Star. (Mav) Owen makes adecision about his future. Tommy receives devastating news.

10.05 The Agenda Setters. (R) An expert panel tackles the biggest AFL topics.

11.05 Suits L.A. (M)

12.05 Treadstone. (MA15+av)

1.05 Travel Oz. (PG, R) 1.35 Harry’sPractice. (R)

2.00 Home Shopping. (R) 4.00 NBC Today. 5.00 Sunrise Early News. 5.30 Sunrise.

6am Morning

6.00 Today 9.00

6.00 9News. 7.00 ACurrent Affair

7.30 The Floor (PG) Hosted by Rodger Corser (Ml) Ateam of footy experts tackles the AFL’s big issues and controversies.

9.45 Players. (Ml) Three of the AFL’s biggest stars talk about all

10.45 9News Late.

11.15 Aussie Road Train Truckers. (Ml)

12.05 Gypsy Rose: Life After Lockup: Independence Is Scary (Mals) 1.00 Hello SA. (PG) 1.30 TV Shop: Home Shopping. (R) 2.30 Global Shop. (R) 3.00 TV Shop: Home Shopping. (R) 4.00 Believer’sVoice Of Victory (PGa) 4.30 ACurrent Affair.(R) 5.00 Today Early News. 5.30 Today 6.00 Deal Or No Deal. 6.30 The Project. Alook at the day’snews. 7.30 MasterChef Australia. The contestants face off with amystery box. 8.40 Have YouBeen Paying Attention? (Malns) Celebrity panellists compete to see who can remember the most about events of the week. 9.40 Making Mission: Impossible. Looks at Mission: Impossible –The Final Reckoning 10.10 10’sLate News. Coverage of news,

9GEM (92,81)

Programs. 1pm The Great Australian Doorstep. 1.30 Australia’sBest Backyards. 2.00 Weekender 2.30 World’sMost Scenic Railway Jour neys. 3.30 Harry’sPractice. 4.00 Medical Emergency 4.30 Better Homes. 5.30 Escape To The Country 6.30 Bargain Hunt. 7.30 Doc Martin. 8.30 Shetland. 11.10 Late Programs. 6am Morning Programs. 11.30 My Favorite Martian. Noon Midsomer Murders. 2.00 Dad’sArmy. 3.00 Antiques Roadshow 3.30 MOVIE: The Fallen Idol. (1948) 5.30 The Travelling Auctioneers. 6.30 Antiques Roadshow 7.30 Death In Paradise. 8.40 The Madame Blanc Mysteries. 9.40 Harry Wild. 10.50 Late Programs.

7TWO (72, 62) 6am

Operation Fortune: Ruse De Guerre. (2023, M) 10.40 Seinfeld. 11.40 The O.C. 12.40am Love Island UK. 1.40 Supernatural. 3.30 Addams Family 4.00 Late Programs. 6am Morning Programs. 2pm

Tuesday,May 20

ABC TV (2) SBS (3) SEVEN (7,6)

(9,8) 6am Mor ning Programs. 11.00 If You’re Listening. (R) 11.20 Gruen. (PGs, R) 12.00 News. 1.00 Call The Midwife. (Ma, R) 2.00 Restoration Aust. (R) 2.55 House Of Games. (PG, R) 3.25 Grand Designs: House Of The Year.(R) 4.15 Long Lost Family: What Happened Next. (PG, R) 5.00 ABite To Eat. 5.30 Antiques Roadshow.(R)

ClaireHooper’sHouse

(PG)

7.30.

The Kimberley 8.50 David Attenborough’s Galapagos: Adaptation. (R) Hosted by Sir David Attenborough. 9.40 Australia’sWild Odyssey: Following The Rain. (R) 10.40 ABC Late News. 10.55 The Business. (R) 11.15 Four Cor ners. (R) 12.00 Media Watch. (PG, R) 12.15 Q+A. (Final, R) 1.20 Grand Designs: House Of The Year.(R) 2.05 Long Lost Family: What Happened Next. (PG, R) 2.55 Rage. (MA15+adhlnsv) 3.25 Parkinson In Australia. (PG, R) 4.30 Gardening Australia. (R) 5.30 7.30. (R)

ABC FAMILY (22)

6am Mor ning Programs. 12.00 BBC News At Ten. 12.30 ABC WorldNews Tonight. 1.00 PBS News. 2.00 IAmNot ANumber.(PGa) 2.25 Going Places. (R) 2.55 The Weekly Football Wrap. (R) 3.25 Plat Du Tour.(R) 3.30 The Cook Up. (PG, R) 4.00 Scotland’sRiverwoods. (PG, R) 5.05 Jeopardy! (al) 5.30 Letters And Numbers. (R)

6.00 Mastermind Australia. 6.30 SBS World News.

7.30 Who Do YouThink You Are? Patrick Brammall. (Ml)

8.30 Insight. Kumi Taguchi explores chronic illnesses.

9.30 Dateline: Harrods –Delivered To APredator Takes alook at the case of Mohamed Al Fayed. 10.05 SBS World News Late.

10.35 Living Black. (R) 11.05 Snow (Malv)

12.00 The Lesson. (Mals, R) 2.25 Incredible Homes. (R) 4.20 J Schwanke’sLife In Bloom. (R) 4.50 Destination Flavour: Japan Bitesize. (R) 5.00 NHK World English News Mor ning. 5.30 ANC Philippines The World Tonight.

6.00 Sunrise. 9.00 The Mor ning Show.(PG) 12.00 Seven’sNational News At Noon. 1.00 To Be Advised. 2.35 Surveillance Oz: Dashcam. (PGl, R) 3.00 The Chase. (R) 4.00 Seven News At 4. 5.00 The Chase Australia.

6.00 Seven News.

7.00 Home And Away (PGav) Theo is running out of time.

7.30 Farmer Wants AWife. (PGa) Farmer Tommeets families in home town visits.

9.10 Doc. (Ma) Amy and Sonya endeavour to help ateeninneed of abone marrow transplant.

10.10 The Agenda Setters. (R) An expert panel tackles the biggest AFL topics. 11.10 Accused. (M) Atech

12.10 The Act. (MA15+ans, R) 1.30 Harry’sPractice. (R)

2.00 Home Shopping. (R) 4.00 NBC Today. 5.00 Sunrise Early News. 5.30 Sunrise.

6.00

6.00 9News. 7.00 ACurrent Affair

7.30 The Floor (PG) Hosted by Rodger Corser

8.45 Australian Crime Stories: The Investigators: Fatal Relations. (MA15+av) Alook at the hunt for Malcolm Naden. (Ml) Footy experts tackle the AFL’s big issues. 10.45 9News Late. 11.15 The Equalizer (Mav,R) 12.05 Tipping Point. (PG, R) 1.00 Fish Forever.(R) 1.30 TV Shop: Home Shopping. (R) 2.30 The Garden Gurus. (R) 3.00 TV Shop: Home Shopping. (R) 4.00 Believer’sVoice Of Victory.(PGa) 4.30 ACurrent Affair.(R) 5.00 Today Early News. 5.30 Today

(10, 5)

6.00 Deal Or No Deal. Hosted by Grant Denyer 6.30 The Project. Alook at the day’snews. 7.30 MasterChef Australia. Renowned pastry chef Steven He visits. 8.40 The Cheap Seats. (Mal) Presenters Melanie Bracewell and Tim McDonald take alook at the week that was. 9.40 FBI: Most Wanted. (Mv) The team searches for kidnapped victims. 10.40 10’sLate News. 11.05 The Project. (R) 12.05 The Late Show With Stephen Colbert. (PG) 1.00 Home Shopping. (R)

CBS Mor nings. 6am WorldWatch. 10.00 The Movie Show 12.15pm WorldWatch 12.45 Homicide. 2.35 Cryptoland. 3.05 News. 3.10 WorldWatch. 5.10 Forged In Fire: Best Of. 6.00 Alone Denmark. 7.05 Jeopardy! 7.35 8Out Of 10 Cats. 8.30 The UnXplained With William Shatner 9.15 Cycling. UCI World Tour.Giro d’Italia. Stage 10. 1.35am Late Programs. SBS VICELAND (31) 6am Children’s Programs. 7pm Supertato. 7.05 Dino Dex. 7.20 Bluey 7.30 Shaun The Sheep. 7.35 Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures. 7.50 The Inbestigators. 8.05 Operation Ouch! 8.35 BTN Newsbreak. 8.40 Animals Up Close With Bertie Gregory.(Premiere) 9.20 Croc Watch With Steve Backshall. 10.05 Merlin. 10.55 Late Programs.

SBS WORLD MOVIES (32) 6am Morning Programs. 2pm The Casketeers. 2.30 The Cook Up.

6am Morning Programs. 11.55 Johnny Mnemonic. (1995, Mvl) 1.45pm Clockwatchers. (1997, PGl) 3.35 Arthur And The TwoWorlds War. (2010, PGav) 5.30 Viceroy’sHouse. (2017, PGa) 7.30 T-34. (2018, Malv,Russian, German, Belarusian, Ukrainian) 9.35 Pride And Glory.(2008, MA15+alv) Midnight Late Programs.

Generous donation to CentenaryHouse

By KATRINABRANDON

HIDDEN away, the Gippsland Rotary Centenary House (GRCH) shares aspecial spot right behind Latrobe Regional Hospital.

The GRCH is anot-for-profit self-care accommodation facilityfor patients(and/or theirfamilies) of the GippslandCancerCareCentreand specialist medical services at Latrobe Regional Hospital. GRCHhomes30rooms, communal kitchens, dining areas and lounges that visitorscan enjoy while staying.

Earlier this month,the ColesTraralgonbranches visited the facility to hand over $10,000 to GRCH, which was raised through atrivia night and other fundraising events. Branches from Pakenham to Bairnsdale participated in the fundraising campaign.

Alongside warm beverages and mouth-watering treats, the Coles group was welcomed with afacility tour for the handover.

Being anot-for-profit, the facilityisrun on donations and volunteers.

People as far as Bairnsdale occasionally visit the facility, which is around the corner from the hospital,and can stay up to six weeks.

GRCHhas ashort path that leadsstraight to the hospital for those unable to get transported around.

For moreinformation on GRCH, go to:centenaryhouse.org.au/

 THE state government is supporting Victorians affected by cancer by providing greater access to financial counselling.

Minister for Consumer Affairs, Nick Staikos met with Cancer CouncilVictoria financial counsellors and staff lastweek after theLaborgovernment awarded a$935,000grant to allowthe organisation to expand their financial counselling service.

The service gives people affected by cancer practical advice and guidance to help manage the costs associated with accessing treatment.

The Cancer Council’s financial counselling program has helped thousands of Victorians find informationabout healthcare options,out-of-pocket costs, government benefits, superannuation and insurance, during difficult times in their lives.

The latest grant will allowCancerCouncil Victoria to increase itsfinancial counselling services by 20 per cent over the next two years.

The organisation will also pilot the use of artificial intelligence to provide more real-time support to more Victorians.

The state government announced in January that 16 organisations across the state would share $15 milliontoexpand andsupport the servicesoffered to thousands of Victorians who are experiencing financialhardship -mortgage or rental stress.

This is in addition to the more than $16 million the government is already providing this financial year for generalist and specialist family violence and disaster responsefinancial counselling services across the state.

People affected by cancer can accessthe financial counselling program by calling 13 11 20.

Recognise special seniors Eid Festival at Old Gippstown: UMSLV

THE state government is encouraging all Victorians to recognise the valuable contributions of older peopleinthe community by nominating them for the 2025 Victorian Senior of the Year Awards.

Nominations are now open for this year’s awards, whichcelebrateolderVictorians who generously share their time, skills and experience to benefit their communities. For more than three decades,the awards have highlighted the important role older Victorians play in strengthening the state, from supporting local communities to leading organisations that drive statewide change

Lastyear, Professor Manjula Datta O’Connor was named VictorianSenior of theYear for herworksupportingwomen facingfamily violence.Otherrecipients were recognised for fostering inclusion, promoting health and wellbeing, honouring veterans, and empowering fellow older Victorians

There are six categories of awards in 2025:

 The Premier’s Award for Victorian Senior of the Year for outstanding and lasting contribution to their community and Victoria;

 The Council on the Ageing (COTA) Victoria Senior Achiever Award for significant contribution to local communities;

 The Emerging Impact Award recognising new volunteers that are already making an impact in their community;

 The Positive Ageing Award for promoting wellbeing and active ageing;

 The Promotion of Multiculturalism Award for advancing cultural diversity, and;

 The Veteran Community Award for service to the veteran community. The awards will be presented in October at ac eremo ny as part of the annual Victorian Seniors Festival.

All eligible nomineeswill receive acertificate of recognition for their contributions. Nominations are open online until Sunday, June 1. Nominees must be aged 60 years or older, or 50 years or older for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Victorians.

To nominate adeserving older Victorian, visit: seniorsonline.vic.gov.au/awards

By KATRINA BRANDON

KEEPINGupwith multi-cultural practices,the United Muslim Sisters of Latrobe Valley (UMSLV) helped organise an Eid Festival at the Gippsland Heritage Park in Moe earlier this month.

All ages were invited to come out and bathe in the sun while participating in multiple activities organisedbyvariousgroups. Some activities included bouncy castles, amechanical bull, gardening and spin the wheel. Therewas also amarket, historical displays, food and music.

UMSLV president, Arfa Sarfaraz Khan said about 700 people passed through the doors.

“We had areally wonderful day,” she said. Notonly could people indulgeinfun activities, butattendees were also encouraged to chat with vendors and others about culture, and to join in conversation.

“Eid is family bonding and connections, and I think these connections and gatheringsbring lots of understanding to each other in better and inclusive communities,” she said.

Eid (Eid al-Fitr) is aMuslimtraditionalcommemorating the end of Ramadan.

Intending to help the community become closer and create alargersupport network for all within the community, Ms Sarfaraz Khan is also one of many within the Uplift Collective, which puts on free events during the year.

Many of the Uplift Collective members were part of this year’s Eid, and other locals who also wanted to take the chance to create new community connections.

Busy: TheUnitedMuslim SistersofLatrobe Valleywelcomed morethan500 people to this year’s Eid Festival at OldGippstown, Moe.

Familyday: Warragul’sDeakin Day, Mila(sixmonths old), Chloe Titford and Br yson (3) spent aday of celebration at Moe’s Eid Festival.

All welcome: Locals Mar yPericins,TitiamaDavies,Edith Kain,and Priscilla Danelon enjoying theEid Festival.

Culture: Dancing wasone of manyactivities shared at this year’s Eid Festival. Photographs: KatrinaBrandon

Community support: Local Colesbranches raised $10,000for Gippsland Rotary Centenar yHouse,Traralgon. Photograph: Katrina Brandon

Nuclear promise hardly won votes

STANDING,handing out how-to-vote cards for many hours aday for two weeks of pre-polls in Traralgonand Morwell and again on election day, allowed me to get an indication of voting behaviours, as well as enjoyingabit of polite repartee with workers of the other parties.

Ican honestly say that the promiseofnuclear power stations did not win too many votes for The NationalsorOne Nation, the parties proposing them.

"Vote Greens to keep Gippsland nuclear-free” was my most frequent greeting, and out of the several thousand people that Iencountered, only one or two challenged me and said that they supported nuclear power in the Latrobe Valley.

Inever heard Darren Chester or his National partycohort once utter the words“VoteNationalsto bring nuclear powertoGippsland”, whichexposes the lie thatThe Nationals are tryingtopush, that “most Gippslanders support nuclear”.

If this was the case, then why were they so shy aboutadvertising the fact?

This claimwas pure gaslighting and it is amazing to hear that David Littleproud and Bridget McKenzie are still trying to push the pro-nuclear poison, when nearly all of their constituents when asked, would they rather our scarce water reserves be used for farming or for cooling water for nuclear power stations say water for farming is their preference.

The Nationals obtain alot of their election funding from fossil fuel companies and are only pushing nuclear to deter private investmentinrenewables, because they know that nuclear, being entirely baseloadpower, will not integrate with renewables.

Going nuclear will thus keep coal and gas in the energy mix for up to 20 yearslongerthan planned Litteproud and co are just trying to ensure that the fossil fuel funding keeps on coming in. They seemignorantofthe fact that renewables can bring alot of wealth to theirrural constituents and prevent young people from having to migrate to the city to make acareer for themselves. And renewables need no water to passively harness the energy of nature, so that more water is available for food producers.

When country people wake up to the fact that Littleproud and his Nationals teamofclimate change deniers are selling out their constituents to fossil fuel interests, then they will deservedly sufferthe same fate as their Liberal party cousins.

Dan Caffrey Traralgon

Solutions sought

THIS letter is to all who live in this great country of Australia.

When Iread alot of letters written to newspapers, it makes me mad when all Ihear is criticism and winging. Iwish people would wake up and come up with some ideasand solutions instead of complaining so much.

Isit back at nightand think about things we could do for this country to make it better. My aim is to put those thoughts into abig letter to politicians both federal and state. If we, the people,donot get offour backsides and do something, this country will continue to go downhill fast.

We need to sit down and think what action we want from the federaland state governments.If we all come up with some good ideas, we can then present them to federal and state governments to improve the country. If you can put forward some good solutions, we can make changes. There will be people who criticise me for these thoughts. But if we can’t comeupwith better

ideas, we will continue to get what we get from the government and nothing willchangefor the better.

Lyndsay Paech Rosedale

Loud and clear

WHENheunveiled the Coalition’s nuclear energy ambitions last June, Peter Dutton said, “I’m very happy for the election to be areferendum on energy, on nuclear.”

It was,and the result was aresounding rejection of high cost, high risk nuclear power.

The election result is clear, as is the wider lesson: when the Coalition pushes nuclear, Australia pushes back.

In 2007, John Howard took nuclear to an election where he lost government and his own seat.

In 2025, Peter Dutton said nuclear and Australia said no –and goodbye.

Thanks to those in the community who identified andacted on the risk of potential nuclear for making apositive differenceinGippsland and far beyond.

Australians have spoken and it’s now time to draw alineunder this unproductive distraction andget on with real action to meet our nation’s climate and energy challenges.

Dave Sweeney

Australian Conservation Foundation

Something to hide

NO one can foresee the future, so we will go along for the ride with the Labor voters.

Reading Elizabeth Jeffries letter ('Cards marked', Latrobe Valley Express Opinion, 07/05/25) touched amemory of the past- Pig Iron Bob (Prime Minister, Sir Robert Menzies) selling our iron ore to Japan, and they returned it to us in the way of bombs on Darwin. The threat from other powers is comparable to Albanese.

Sadly our defences are obsolete. While we have been selling our mineralstoChina, she has become powerful, while Australia has lost the willtobecome industrious and forge ahead. We areovertaxed and thereisnoincentive to work, but therewill be changes; there is apredicted increase in power bills, changes are set for June at Centrelink.

TheVoice will be back, tariffs that will hurt, and therewill be many hidden agendas over the next three years. We have lost our democratic right to object.

Patricia Correa Traralgon

Lack of alignment

GIVEN that Darren Chester unashamedly perceiveshimself as Gippsland’s chief advocate for obtaining funding in federal parliament, as opposed to focussing on the common good, surprisingly his election plan for Gippsland fails to reflect key requirements identified by aGippslandpeak body advocacy group.

Let me explain.

One Gippsland, which describes itself as the peak advocacy group for stakeholders such as Gippsland councils, TAFEand Federation University and Gunaikurnai Corporations, has developed the One Gippsland 2025 Election Priorities Paper.

Althou gh it was presented to the MP for Gippsland in Canberra recently, Darren Chester’s plan for Victoria does not adequately address key requirements they specify for Gippsland to move forward.

For example, One Gippsland identifies the need to support centres in higher education bodies for teaching those skills required in transitioning to renewables. However, ourMPfor Gippsland in Mr Chester ignoresthis requirement entirely.Instark contrast,asection in his plan called 'Educating the Next Generation' singles out “more flexible childcare”. While flexible childcareisalsoan important issue, developingthe workforceskills base associated with the transition to renewable industries in Gippsland is aprerequisitetosecuring futurejobsand strengthening the localeconomy in Gippsland. Therefore,for aMPwho prides himself on prioritising funding of localprojects frequently over issues impacting the wellbeing of all Commonwealthcitizens, it is revealing that his election plan inadequately aligns with the range of requirements identified by the advocacy group, One Gippsland. Dr Jillian Carroll Heyfield

Election post-mortem

THERE is an episode of the soap opera Home and Away where the character named Tane rescues his fiancéefromaburning car in which she is trapped. The firefighters who attended tell him to stand back and that it is too dangerous to attempta rescue. Consequently,they have to restrain him from

rushing into the flames surrounding the car and almost engulfing it. In arushofpure adrenalin, Tane pushesthe firefightersaside and runs through theflamesand rescues his fianceee from certain death.

However, he is badly burntinthe process but thankfully makes afull recoveryinhospital where he is reunited with his grateful fiancee. Mutatis mutandis, PeterDuttonlostthe election primarily because he did not fight hard enough. He was too timid in his approach and not brave enoughtotakerisksasAlbodid. He was too careful in articulating his policies clearly and firmly.

Picturethis:afather comes home from work to see his house on fire with firefighters trying to extinguish the flames. He hears the frantic screams of his trapped wife and children inside, but is restrained from rescuing them because the flames are so intense. Dutton should have taken arisk and pushed aside his "advisers" who were restraining him on the campaign trail so as not to offend anybody.

The outcome might have been completely different.

If the Coalition is going to remain relevant with voters, it needs to be more than just a"Labor-lite" version of Labor most ostensibly with its bipartisan position on the economy-wrecking net-zero agenda. Digging deeper, at theheart of the Coalition's problem (both state and federal) is adeep identity crisis that has been festering and growing like a cancer cell since John Howard left office. Thus, revisiting and reading the Menzies speeches on the "forgotten people" would be agood start.

Joseph Lis Morwell

Consult the handbook

WIKIPEDIA credits federal treasurer Jim Chalmers with acommerce degree, but Iconcede that the ParliamentaryHandbook,which Ihad not thought to consult, is amore authoritative source ('Sky not the limit', LVE Opinion, 07/05/25).

Brian Kilday Jeeralang

Junction

On the up

THANKFULLY, the federal election is over.

The past few weeks have seen ashocking Liberal campaign, alot of spin from the Labor party, lots of Teals and "Independents" who are "there for us" (but in reality for themselves) and an advertising campaign for the ages. Where wasthe accountability with all the lies and spin?

When you look at the 'Independents', they had the backing of Climate 200 and, of course, Simon HolmesaCourt. The question here is: wouldadonor who contributes $20 or $50 be listenedtobefore SimonHolmes aCourt, who makes in some cases asix figure contribution to the 'Independents'?

We haveseenprograms on TV about the Chineseowned mine in Indonesia that was pouring toxic wasteinto the ocean, turning it orangeand killing thefishing industry, all for the benefit of EV batteries, and more recently, the Lotus Creek wind farminQueensland, where thousands of trees were demolished to make way for 40 wind turbines. Then we had Deputy Greens leader Mehreen Faruqi bulldozing 20 trees on her investment property to make way for three $1.5 million luxury townhouses.Nothing to see here as far as the Greens are concerned.

Iread two good articles in the Express last week (May 7) -one about the Star of the South offshore wind farm that was going to create 2GW by 2032, requiring150 windturbines, and 9GW by 2040, requiring atotal of 675 wind turbines. Ibased that calculation on 150 turbines required for 2GW Wherewillall thesewind turbines go? The other informative article was on Page 8, titled 'Committed question'about nuclear energy. Amust-read for all those anti-nuclear greenies.

We complain about the lack of competition with the supermarkets, whichisdrivingupthe cost-of-living. What happens when we have only one energy source and the government subsidies end? Not only willthe cost of energy skyrocket, but Simon Holmes aCourt's bank balancewill also skyrocket, along with all the other Greeninvestors.

One good thing to come out of the election is the fact that Zoe Daniel will have to wait another three years before she does any more 'dancing on aSaturday night'.

Brian Mawhinney Traralgon

Time for reflection

THE electionisover. So it’s highly likely it will be announced in due course that Yallourn Power Station will stay open longer –asthere is unlikely to be the available electricity to close it.

Yet renewable energy, EV cars and automated robots will likely continue to increase with time. Icould be wrong, but the reality is that implementation of new technology is usually much slower

than forecast. For example, battery-powered tools havebeen around for 30 years.Jump onto any construction site and you will find peopleusing tools with plug-in leads. Email is 30 yearsold, yet the postiesstill travel our streets.Theseare small things. Large things take longer. Change is inevitable, but it is more often than not evolutionary rather than revolutionary.

Previously Idiscussed the implications of any pending Great Depression 2.0. People are still concerned about such areality coming to pass, yet we will likely be better off than we fear. Like technology forecasts, problems, and positives, are usually exaggerated.

My personal belief is we’re more likely in, or entering, aperiod of the 'Great Hangover'. We’ve had agreat party for 30 years in Australia, and now we are feelingthe aftereffects. We’re tired, seedy, maybe regretful, and have spent too much money.

Some refer to this as ‘waking up from the Matrix’ Just likeNeo in the movie,the shroudofillusionhas been ripped away and we are left with aconfronting reality.

Shock and denial are usually first,asgrief appears when something has been taken away. But it’s likely that anything we perceive as lost was always an illusion in the first place. The high of the partywas fun in themoment, but there are flow on effects and unintended consequences. Consider we are becoming aware of this now. With grief, asituationorcircumstance either needs to be acceptedordealtwith. Things we have the power to change we can, things we cannot we must accept. Otherwise we are left with ayearning for the past that will never return, or adream of a future that was never going to be.

So while we sit with our sore heads, feeling sorry for ourselves, we have the opportunity to reflect. We can take amoment to consider that maybe things aren’t as bad as we’ve been led to believe. If we’ve got agood job, aroof over our heads and food in our bellies, congratulations, we’re in the top five per cent of the world’s population, maybe even in thetop one per cent. So why are we feeling so glum?Maybe we are still in the lucky country after all.

Sure, there are horrible things happening in the world, and maybe our team of choice didn’t get elected. Maybe the world or country as it currently sits isn’t going in the direction we personally like. But just like the parable of the Chinese farmer and the horse, maybe it isn’t the stroke of bad luck we think it is. Maybe it will all work out for the best. Maybe it’s less of the horrors of the old world ending, and more likepeeringbehind the curtain in the Wizard of Oz and finding it’s asilly old man playing tricks.

Once we are aware, it’s easier for us to navigate and overcome.

So any announcement or change in direction, or future we would not prefer, can be met with more ease,and amoreaccurate and realistic sense of agency.

Anthony Wasiukiewicz

Yallourn North

your say

THE Latrobe Valley Express welcomesletters to the editor.

Preference will be given to brief, concise letters which address local issues.

The editor Liam Durkin, 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 aphonenumber, email address and the author'shometown for purposes of substantiating authenticity. Readers are entitled to aright of reply to a letter directed at them.

While healthydebate is encouraged, the editor will use his discretion if he believes letters are becoming slagging matches between writers.

The views expressed in letters to the editor are those of the writers, anddonot necessarily reflect the views of Latrobe Valley Express management or staff.

The letters section is designed to allow people to have their say, and not be hijacked for political agendas.

Let ters inv olvi ng rel igi on wi ll not be published.

Emailletters to news@lvexpress.com.au and include 'Lettertothe Editor' in the subjectline. Deadline for letters is Thursday 3pm.

Longstandingprincipalfarewelled

HAZELWOOD NORTH Primary School has had another busy few weeks.

Highlights from Term 2have been multiple, notably:

Remembering Ian Drysdale

HAZELWOOD North Primary School’s longest serving principal, Ian Drysdale died last month (April 4).

Mr Drysdale served as principal from Term4, 1995 to the end of 2012. He was amuch-loved principalwho worked tirelessly for the school.

Ian hadmanyyearsofinvolvement in the HPV (Human PoweredVehicle) competition in Maryborough with the school. He travelled from Mirboo North and Leongatha daily,oftenbeing the first to arrive at school and last to leave. He was dedicated to his work but also awonderful family man, helping raise four children with his wife, Julie. Ian was kind, supportive, approachable and caring towards staff and families. He would turn on everyone’s heaters each morning when he arrived and regularly brought in treats for staff from the bakery on his way to school. Staff loved receiving personalised letters written by Ian at the end of each term, thanking them for their efforts during the term and wishing them anice break.

Ianwas such agood sport during whole school dress-up days and shave/dye hair for acure. Past staff will forever treasure their time at HNPS with Ian at the reign.

Life-long friendships were made, and the annual get-togethers won’t quite be the same withouthim.

The school wished to pass on its condolences to the family.

Bee excursion

AT the end of Term2,students in Grade 3ventured to the Max Biocare Research Park, Yinnar. They dressedupasbeekeepers and got to experience all that beekeeping has to offer.

The students went on anature walk and saw variousplantlife that attractbees. They got to taste testdifferent types of honey. In thescience lab, students got to look throughmagnifying glasses at bee wings and other insects to get acloser look at the minibeasts.

Building curiosity

STAFF at HNPS have been creatively getting students to be curiousand problem solve by coming to school with some interesting fashion.

On amysteriousTuesday, staffmembers wore odd shoes,affectionatelynamed ‘Shoes-Day’.Students were not told of the ‘secret code’ nor the day that it would happen, but the conversations that were sparked from this seeminglysmall act turned into questions of wonder.

Warm welcomes

THE school has welcomed anew performing arts teacher, Ms Kate McCulley.

'Ms Mac' started her performing art classes with abang, and the students have loved learning about freeze framing their actions.

Studentsand staffhave also been very excitedto welcome back from parental leave, Ms Eden Adams.

Ms Adams has stepped into the specialist role of visual artteacher, and students have been excited forthese lessons.

The school loves having past students visit on their days off. Hudson (now in Year 7), joined FS for the last day of Term 1, and had all students captivated while reading during fruit and story.

St Joseph’sspecial visit to Andrew’sHouse

SENIOR students from St Joseph’s Catholic PrimarySchool, Trafalgar brought joy and laughter to residents of Andrew’s House nursing care facility during aspecial visit to mark International Children’s Book Day.

The celebrationbegan with students singing and dancing for the residents.

The young visitors then shared their favourite picture story books, reading aloud and chatting with residents about the stories they love most.

The visit wasa heartwarming experience for everyone involved, blending generations through music, storytelling and meaningful conversation.

“It was awonderful way to celebrate books and bring people together,” St Joseph’s Primary School Principal, Patricia Mulqueen said.

“The students loved it, and so did the residents.”

The event highlightedthe power of books to connectpeople of allagesand madefor atruly memorable International Children’s Book Day.

Community: Grade 5students Matilda, Aleyah, Eleanor, Lilly, Pippa and Zarah with Andrews House residents Kenand Stacy, alongside the house’s lifestyle coordinator,Merita. Photograph supplied

Safety in the spotlight

Stop, look, listen: Pedestrian safety will be heightened this FridayonNational Walk Safely to SchoolDay Photograph supplied

PRIMA RY school aged childr en across Australia will make those important steps towards ahealthier future by participating in National Walk Safely to School Day this Friday (May 16).

This year marks the 26th anniversaryof National Walk Safely to School Day.

Championed by the Pedestrian Council Australia, the initiative aims to raise awareness of the health, road safety, transport, and environmental benefits that regular walking, or alternative activetransport (especially to and from school) can provide for the long term wellbeing of children, not just on May 16, but every day.

Apart from the physical benefits, regular walking (or similar) also has afavourable impact on children's cognitive and academic performance.

Walk Safely to School Day also encourages positive environmental action, better use of public transport with reduced car-dependency, and encourages parents and carers to walk more, reducing dangerous traffic congestion around schools.

Pede stri an Counci lA ustral ia Chief Executive,Harold Scruby reiterated the importance of pedestrian safety for kids.

"Until they are 10, children must always hold the hand of an adult when crossing the road," he said.

The national initi ative also promotes healthy eating and encourages schools and parents and carerstohosta healthybreakfast on the day.

"The extremely disturbing childhood obesity epidemic continues to affect one in four children at critical levels across Australia," Mr Scuby said.

“The bestformofphysical activity for all Australiansiswalkingregularly.Children need at least 60 minutes of physical activity aday. We should encourage them to take awalk before school,during and at end of their day.”

Being active every day, including walking to school, can help make adifferencefor many Australians. Whether you’re aparent, arole to play people lead

HEADING NORTH F FOR WINTER

Fun: Hazelwood Nor th Primar ySchoolGrade 2students duringperforming ar ts class Photographs supplied

Vale: LateHazelwood Nor th Primar ySchool Principal, IanDrysdale.

Memorablemetro moments

YEAR 6studentsatStPaul’s Anglican Grammar School had somememorable metro moments during their four-day Urban Camp, exploring Melbourne’s iconic destinations.

Students witnessed parliament in session at ParliamentHouse, wandered through the dark and eerie corridors of the Old Melbourne Gaol, and reenacted the drama of NedKelly’s courtroomtrial. Atour of the MCG and the Australian Sports Museum celebrated Australia's sporting heritage, whileamagical after-hours zoo tour allowed them to encounter incredible animals in the evening twilight.

The students also made areflective visit to the Shrine of Remembrance, immersing themselves in its historical memorabilia and relics. Theytestedtheir skills at curling at O'Brien’s Icehouse and challenged themselves at Go Climb. Nature in an urban environment was on display at the Royal Botanical Gardens,Fitzroy Gardens and Treasury Gardens, where students were able to connect with Melbourne’s green spaces. The camp was aresounding success, blending

learning, exploration and fun. The Year 6Urban Camp provided students with auniqueopportunity to personalise their learning journey through curiosity, exploration and the supportofdedicated educators.

Morwell Central studentsexplore cultural origins

EVERY Tuesday afternoon at MorwellCentral Primary School,the EAL (EnglishasanAdditional Language) students from Grades 3-6 have been meeting to work on amatrixabout the country they originally came from.

To showcase their work, studentsset up displays abouttheir culture and invited their parents to attend,aswell as all the teachers and students at the school.

Each display showed aflag and map of the student’s country, places to visitand traditional clothing.Therewere many delicious samples of their country’s food available as well. This was awonderful celebration of the different cultures in the school and gave all who attended a better understanding of each of them.

Glassesfor Kids expands

THE state government is helping families with the cost of living and schooling by rolling out free vision screening and glasses to even more students across the state. The program provides free vision screening and,ifneeded, further testingand freeglasses to participating Prep to Year 3students. Families can save between $100 and $600 depending on the type of vision issue.

The government’s $6.8million expansion of the Glasses for Kids program has tripled its capacity. It’s now available to 770 eligible schools and74,000more Prep to Year 3 students through to 2027.

During the 2024 school year, Glasses for Kids visited 110 schools. More than 6700 students had their vision screened and over 1800 families received free glasses.

State Schools’ Relief manages and delivers the program and helps to remove vision impairment as abarrier to learning. More than 8600 students have received freeglasses throughthe program since 2015, following more than 48,000 screenings. By supporting students with undiagnosed vision impairments,Glasses for Kids is helpingstudents achieve their best at school and beyond.

The stategovernment has also provided free school breakfasts, free dental checkups with SmileSquad, free swimming lessons and free pads and tampons in government schools.

Hardhitting:

Remembrance: St Paul’s Anglican Grammar School, Year 6studentsalongside the Eternal Flame.

Up: Harrison testing hisclimbing skills at Go Climb

Culture: Shahida had atraditional, handmade wedding dress as par tofher displayabout Malaysia.

Trans Tasman neighbour: Morwell Central Primar ySchool student, Redan’sdisplaywas about NewZealand.

Geography: Noah shared hisknowledge about Sudan. Photographs supplied

Community Corner with

Farewell concert

THE City of Traralgon Band will hold its European Tour of Remembra nce Farewell Concert at GPAC this Saturday (May 17) from 7pm.

This will be the final fundraising event for the band, and will also feature the West Gippsland Chorale and members of the Morwell Caledonian Pipe Band.

The City of Traralgon Band wil ld epa rt ne xt mont h, performing in the coal mining di strict so fY orks hire, Londonconcerts, Meningate in Bel gium, the Wes te rn Front, Paris and the Royal palace region of Copenhagen in Denmark.

Money raised from the concert will greatly assist playing membersofthe band to achieve their goal in undertaking this remarkable educationalTour of Remembrance for World War 1 and World War 2service men and women.

Tickets from $38 and are available online or in person from GPAC.

Latrobe Valley Quilters

NEXT meeting of the Latrobe Valley Quilters will be Monday, May 19 at the Uniting Church Hall (Old Sale Road, Newborough).

Doors open at 7.15pm and the meeting commences at 7.30pm.

This meeting'sspecial activitiesare the Biggest Morning Tea Cancer Council fundraising evening including atrading table.

Don't forget to bring along your raffle tickets for the gorgeous Bigg est Mornin g Tea quilt. The meeting will also have an introduction to postcard making. It is also a sit and sew night. All welcome.

Model railway

LAT ROBE Valle yM odel Railway Association is having its annual model railway exhibition, showcasing various model railway layouts from exhibitorsaroundGippsland and further afield.

The exhibition is located at the Moe Racing Club on Waterloo Road, Moe this Saturday (May 17) and Sunday (May 18).

Openingtimes are 9.30am to 5pm Saturday, and 9.30am to 4pm Sunday. Entry is $20 for families, $10 adults, $5 kids.

There will be 17 exhibits on display ranging from local rail stationstoMars space stations, along with trade stands to buy new or secondhand model trains.

Latro be Valley Model Railway Association can be reached via its Facebook page or email at: secretary@lvmra. asn.au

Redlight

BRIGHT red bins will soon be seen on the stre ets of Traralgon.

The bins are par to ft he Rotary Club of Tra ralgon Central’sannual Give ADamn, Give ACan appeal to help the needy as winter approaches.

GADGAC, which embraces schools, business and the community, will be held from May 19 to 25.

Last year the huge community effort, run in conjunction withthe St Vincent De Paul Society, collected nearly 15,000 cans, enough to stock food parcels for several months.

Schools and businessesare now being approached to help out and the red bins will appear as easy collection points.

Look out for one near you!

Catalyst

PENTECOST Churchisanew church that has just started meeting in the Uniting church in Traralgon (19 Park Lane), on aSundayfrom4.30pm.

Pentecost Traralgon is a catalyst for people to live their lives to the full. Feel free to email: traralgon@ pentecostchurch.com.au for more information.

Meditation group

SHAREyour time withlikeminded souls to experience breath and movement practices for calming body and mind.

Moe Medic ation Group meets from 8.30am to 9.30am Wednesday mornings in the Narracan Hall at the Gippsland Heritage Park (Old Gippstown) Moe.

Enquiries to clem@asia.com or phone 0427 262 064.

Cost is $5 per session.

Men's

breakfast

COMEmeet with other men for adelicious hot breakfast, and hear local Steve Slachter sharehow he gotfree after 13 years addicted to drugs.

The breakfast will be held this Saturday (May 17) at Level 1, 36 George St Moe (Gippsland Christian Church Community room)from8.30am.

Access from RSL carpark, or the lift in Shaw's Arcade.

Gold coindonationswelcome. EnquiriestoDavid on 0412 780 512.

Historical Society

TRA RAL GON Dist rict

Historical Society has been very busy planning its antiques evaluation day.

The ev ent wil lb eh eld Saturday,May 31 at the society Teychenne

Centr e( 11 Bre ed Str ee t, Traralgon).Open hours are 12.30pm to 4pm.

Conservator and archivist, Anne Rowland and valuers Simon Storeyand and Melanie Sykes will be present.

Cost per item is $5. It might be agood time to go through your valuables and see what they are worth.

The societywas successfulin applying for agrant to have an original 1886 lithograph, which highlightsbusinesses in the area, restoredbyaconservator, Debra Parry. Debra has been workingonthe restoration for some time as the lithograph was in apoor condition, but well worthy of saving.The lithograph will now be framed by Morwell Art &Framing.

Next open day at the rooms will be held Sunday, May 25 from 2pm to 4pm.

Contact details for the society are: telephone 5174 8399 (office -leave amessage), mobile: 0402 911 950,orpostal: 11 Breed Street,Traralgon.

Missing cat

LITTLE cat 'Bear' left his Moe unit on Saturday, April 18 in Hyland St.

The owner has been searching day and night, and is most distressed.

Bear is afour-year-old male Burmese.

If anyone has seen him, call 0437 451 299.

Sip, paint workshop

FOR peopleofall abilities, come alongand enjoya creative and relaxing session where you can paint ahandmade cement item of your choice.

This inclusive workshop is open to people of allabilities and offersafriendly, supportive environment where creativity andconnectioncometogether. Access to arangeofpaints and brushes are available.

Cost is $30 per per son, whi ch co vers all materials and supports the artist support workers.

Workshops will be held at 4 High Street, Moe on Friday, July 11 from 10am to 12 noon.

To find out more, phone PhillipChalker on 0400 603 367 or email:the.blind.creator1@gmail.com

Birdisthe word

CONFERENCE of the Birds is returning to Boolarra for another stunningcommunity arts event on Saturday, May 24.

Last year, Conference of the Birds -Valley of the Quest, basedona12thcentury Sufi tale, waspresented by more than 65 local performersand artists to an audience of up to

400peopleinCentenaryPark, Boolarra

Conference of the BirdsValley of Harmony and Unity promises to be even more impressive.

The art walk and ceremony is aseasonal community pageant where people come together to celebrate the lastdays of autumn around abonfire that heralds winter.

The audienc eisask ed to gather at 3.45pm at Centenary Park, wearing warm clothes, with atorch and something to sit on. There will be food and hot drinks available at the meadows.

Therewill be ashuttlebus available for the elderly and those with mobility needs.

Regi strat ions for the shutt le bu sa re esse ntia l at: douglasandmackay.com/ copy-of-contact-cofb

Classic chess

PRICE Samasiea returned to competition and was the most successfulcontender at Latrobe Valley Chess Club.

Peter Bakker ended the evening with aslight advantage over Ian Hamilton.

Cliff Thornton played a carefuldefensive game style but did not quitec over all the weaknesses in the main battles.

Providing extrachallenges was Trevor Poulton.

The res ults imp rove df or Keegan Just who managed to force Steve Ahern to resign.

Theoretical study proved useful for Brad McClaren who showed awiderange of skills.

Phone Cliff Thorntonon0413 330458,orIan Hamilton (0400 221 649) for more information.

Brilliant bridge

TRARALGON Bridge Club had am os te nj oyable and

successful day playing with the South Gippsland Bridge Club in Leongatha. Traralgon achievied the first four places of N/S, and the second place of E/W.

Results for Thursday, May 8- N/S 1st Greg Nicholson and Kaye Douglas 69.73 per cent; 2nd Rob Graham and Glenis Lohr 61.07. E/W 1st Kevin and Marion Taylor 62.27; 2nd Roxy Lamond and Ken Tierney 51.87.

New players are keen and off to aflying start.

If you would like to play or learn about bridge, it's not too late to phone Helenon0438 164 528. Anyexpression of interest is always welcome.

Healthyyou

HEALTHY You Morwell will be heldatKernot Hall today (Wednesday, May 14) from 10am to 2pm. This is afun,family-friendly, andfreeevent connectingcommunity with health, wellbeing, youth and support services in an engaging and welcoming space.

This event is being delivered in partnershipbetween Morwell Neighbourhood House and Latrobe Health Assembly.

Submit your event

IF you are acommunity group and have any news items you need publicised, feel free to email us at news@lvexpress. com.au

Youcan address correspondence to the editor, Liam Durkin. Pleas ewrite 'Com mun ity Corner' in the subject line and nothing else.

Deadl ine is Fri day 9am to appear in the following Wednesday issue.

Liam Durkin

Precious cans: Youmay notice thesebinspoppingupin Traralgon over coming weeks.Rotar y’sannual GiveA Damn,

Help: Four-year-old Burmese cat ‘Bear’lefthis Moe home and has been missing foranumberofweeks. The owner is appealingfor anyone who has seen him. Photographs supplied

Lionsconvention roaring success

By AIDANKNIGHT

WHAT began as an outlandish idea for Traralgon Lions has ended in roaring success, as Gippsland Performing Arts Centre and Traralgon successfully hosted the 73rd Lions NationalConventionlast week, the largest gathering of the organisation’s calendar year, for the first time in Eastern Victoria.

The eventwas made smoother by its’chairman also being the Latrobe City Mayor, Cr Dale Harriman, who received feedback from numerous Lions that this year’s annual showcase was “the best conference ever”, partly in thanks to the great hosting facilities at both GPAC and the Gippsland Regional Indoor Sports Stadium.

More than 1300 Lions from around the country flooded the streets, drawing in further crowds of families, visitors, and communityleaders from around the regionoverthe three-day event that was estimatedtohave boosted the local economy by $2 million, as many extendedtheir stayinthe area and provided welcome business to accommodation, cafes and restaurants, and retail outlets, all throughout Morwell, Moe and of course, Traralgon.

The event surprised localsunawareofthe international reach of the Lions organisation, with the opening nightdrawing in crowds of curious bystanders and their families to take part in the festivities, which includedlivemusic, stilt walkers and jugglers, dancers and an array of stalls.

However, it simply couldn’t go on without two key elements of the Lionsspirit: food, and community service. The quintessential bacon-and-egg barbeque was presentonthe Friday Night Expo, started when eliterunner Sari-Elle Kraemer completed an 82-kilometre runfromthe Lion’s Licola Wildernessvillage, raising funds for the Centre for Eye Research.

The closing was delivered similarly, with the arrival of theLions Ride for Sight participants covering300km Traralgon to Sale and back again.

Another major focus in the convention was the Lion’sNeed for Feed project, an independently registered charity, delivering record amounts of emergency fodder to farmers at astate and national level, as means of drought, fire, and flood relief.

One of the topics discussed at panels over the

weekend was its own congregation. Over the next six years, theLion’s aimtogrow membership by 30 per cent, as recruitmentremains the most pressing issue to the organisation.

Traralgon Lions president Mark Henning told the Express: “It remains amajor hurdle in every organisation, Probus, Rotary, Apex, even things as popular as Scouts and the CFA.”

Markhighlighted,aswell the lingeringeffects the pandemic have had on clubs and service groups.

Lions Australia Chief Executive, Rob Oerlemans also weighed in on the future of Lions.

“What we want to do is build the diversity of the organisation; so, we want to recruit younger, recruit more women, peoplefrom alldifferent communities.”

Cr Harriman also said in astatement thatLions areputtingaparticular emphasis on your LEOs club, the youth division of the Lions Clubs, several of which flew in from interstate alongside their more senior counterparts to take part in both the event and the LEO of the Year and Youth of the Year presentations scheduled into the program,

which Cr Harrimandescribedas“nothing short of inspiring”.

“The talent and passion of these young leaders reinforces why we mustsupport and nurture them locally.”

The pride of Lions left theirTraralgonchapter with more pride it would seem, with asynonymous sense of satisfaction felt within its members.

“For arelatively small town, small community, small Lions club, it was ahugesuccess”, Mr Henning said on behalf of the group.

“To put on anational event like that, and do it well is atribute to everyone really.”

The Sunday night ‘high country’ themed Gala Ball was declared “sensational” by Lions attending,held at Morwell’s own Kernot Hall, which overjoyedthe Traralgon Lions to hear that peoplewere enjoying Latrobe Valley, so much so that some changed plans to travel Gippsland after the closure of the event.

The Traralgon Lions would like to thank Lions AustraliaExecutiveTeam, District Governors,and all who attended the event for their contribution to what was undeniably aroaring success.

Studentslearn latest in theaviationworld

ON Tuesday, May 6, Latrobe City Council and Baw Baw Latrobe Local Learningand Employment Network(LLEN)hosted an Aviation and Aerospace Careers Expo at Latrobe Regional Airport.

The Expo saw approximately 100 high school students attendintwo sessionswhich included atour of GippsAero and Helimed. The event also showcasedinteractive displays and careerinformationfromeducation institutions and aviation industries.

SwinburneUniversityofTechnology AIR Hub had its latest hydrogen powered drone on display and discussed opportunities in aerospace courses and programs. RMIT University had arocket and drone thatwere designedand builtbystudents Both universities were also available to discuss education and career pathways.

Industry participation included ademonstration of an unmanned Aircraft Traffic Management system by Thales. Dovetail electric aviationwas present, along with local aviation businesses, Jet Aviation and Pilatus.

Latrobe ValleyAeroClub provided informationon flight training and getting apilot’s licence locally. Gippsland Tech School also attendedwith adrone simulator for use by the students.

Latrobe City Council Mayor, Councillor Dale Harrimansaid it was great to see so many students with an interest in acareer that will bring investment and jobs to Latrobe City.

“By showcasing the aviation and aerospace sectors, we're helping to position Latrobe City as adestination for future-focused industries. Events like this help attract investment, drive job creation, and encourage partnerships between education providers and industry.The aviation industry offers high-growth opportunities that will keep our region thriving,” said the Mayor.

“It was inspiring to see students from across our regionengaging directly with industry and education leaders. We want themtoknowthat they don’t have to leave Latrobe City to find exciting careers -they can build their futures right here."

ALions applause: Onlookersapplaud Sari-Elle aftercompleting her run. Photographs: Aidan Knight Come one-and all: Acrowd of all-ages gathered forthe festivities

Awhole event: Jugglersand dancersperfomed forthe public

Aviation: Latrobe CityCouncil andthe Baw BawLatrobe LLEN hosted aCareersExpo withafocus on aviationand aerospace at the Latrobe Aerospace Technology Precinct,Latrobe Regional Air por t.

Sky’sthe limit: Manypeople attended the Aviation Expo at the LatrobeRegional Air por t, wheremanycareer options were shared availabletoschools coming through.

Tech: At theAviation Expo,there were many stimulationstotry,with Latrobe City Mayor, Dale Harriman giving them ago.

On-ground support: Technology and stimulations ranged from variousaviation-type sectors at theExpo on May6

Learn: Around 100high school students attended toursand sawinteractive displaysup close,with the potential to line up acareer in aviation apossibility

Photographs:Katrina Brandon

What can and can’t be claimed

THE Australian Taxation Office (ATO) has revealed some of the wild workrelated expensespeople have tried to put past the ATO.

Spoiler alert: an air fryer generally won’t make the cut.

Someofthe mostoutrageous deduction attempts the ATO saw last year

included:

 Amechanic who tried to claim an air fryer, microwave, two vacuum cleaners, aTV, gaming console and gaming accessories as work-related. The claim was denied as these expenses are personal in nature;

 Atruck driver who tried to claim swimwear because it was hot where they stopped in transit and they wanted to go for aswim. The claim was denied as these expenses are personal in nature, and;

 Amanager in the fashion industry tried to claim well over $10,000 in luxury-branded clothing and accessories to be well presented at work, and to attend events, dinners and functions. The clothing was all conventional in nature and was not allowed.

ATO Ass ista nt Commiss ioner, Rob Thomsonreminded taxpayers that the ATO’s role is to collectthe correctamountoftax that is owed, and exaggerated deduction attempts wouldnot be tolerated.

"While some peopl ehave tried their luckwith unusualwork-related deduction claims, mostpeople realise to be able to claim an expense, it needs to meet strict criteria," he said

"While alunchtimedip might clear your head for work, swimwear for a truck driverisclearly not deductible.

"We know in many instances mistakesrelatingtowork-related expenses could be avoided with a little time and effort."

Thistax time, the ATOwill be focused on areas where it sees frequ ent errors, includingworkrelated expenses, working from home

deductions and in respect to multiple income sources.

"Work-relatedexpenses musthave aclose connectiontoyour income earning activities, and you should be prepared to back it up, with records like areceipt or invoice," Mr Thomson said.

"If yourdeductionsdon’t passthe ‘pubtest’, it’s highlyunlikely your claim would meetthe ATO’s strict criteria.

"Don’t fall into the trap of thinking you can claim expenses like travel to and from work and childca re costs. These expenses are personal in nature and cannotbeclaimed

When in doubt. look for guidance on the ATO website or speak with your registered tax agent.

"Don’t just claimitand hope for the best as penalties and interest may apply.

"If you’re anything like me, apaper receipt will get lost almost immediately. The myDeductions tool on the ATO app allows you to keep records of yourwork and general expenses to makelodging your tax return easier."

When you are ready to lodge your tax return,you caneasily share your saveddeductions with your registered tax agent or upload them to myTax to make tax time simple. One of the most-claimed workrela ted ex pe nse each year is a working from home deduction.

In 2024, more than10million people claimed awork-related deduction, and many of those claimed adeduction related to working from home.

There are two ways you can calculate your deduction for additional expenses you incur by working from home -the fixed rate method or the actual cost method.

In order to claimaworking from home deduction, you must be working from home to fulfil your employment duties (not carrying outminimal tasks) and you have to have records to prove youincurred additional expenses due to working from home.

Using the fixed rate method allows youtoclaim 70 cents for every hour youwork from home and covers your additional running expenses that are often difficult to apportion, like

internet, phone usage, electricity and stationery.

"Remember that you can’tthen claim these items separately elsewhere in your tax return -nodouble dipping!" Mr Thomson warned.

To claim using the actual cost method, you must have records of all the expenses you claim, and the work-related use of your expenses to back up your deduction.

The ATO is al so reminding Australians to declareall sources of income, and make sure they are included on their tax return. This includes side-hustles, for example if you are providing ride sourcing services or selling services via an app.

Each source of income youhavewill have different deductions availableto you, depending on the nature of the income and your occupation.

More information on specificdeductions for different jobs is available in the ATO’soccupation and industry specific guides.

Help deliver Victorian elections

APPLICATIONS are now open to work at the 2026 state election, with the Victorian ElectoralCommission(VEC) recruiting more than 1000 senior election officials across Victoria.

Senior election officials play an invaluable and significant role in coordinating elections for entire districts and local councils.

Acting Electoral Commissioner,Dana Flemingsaidthe role is acritical pillarof delivering democracy at alocal level during elections.

"You don’tneed previous electionexperience. It’s all about theskills andlife experience you can bringtothe role -ifyou’re organised, have agood eye for detail, and most importantly bring apositive attitude, that’s what we’re looking for," Ms Fleming said.

The VEC also plays acriticalrole in the education and inclusion of Victorian communities who are traditionally underrepresented at the ballot box.

For the 2026 state election, VEC senior election officials willbeengagingwiththese communities by delivering outreach services, raising awareness aboutthe democratic processes.

Ms Fleming said elections are arewarding experience, working with community and ensuring the state delivers fair and trusted elections.

"Many of our senior election officials have now been working with us for more than 20 yearsand we are proud to have their experience and depth of knowledge in our organisation," Ms Fleming said.

"If you’re abusiness owner, if you’re retired or semi-retired, if you’re aparent, if you’re an artist, or acoach of the local footy club -we want to hear from you."

Applications are open until May 25. Visit: careers.vic.gov.au/ jobsenior-election-officials-855486

MOE

Preliminary Notice Clearing Sale

Saturday,24th of May,10am. Acc. W. Gilmour and CBourchier Flynn Farm machinery, sundries, antiques and collectables.

Full details Gippsland Times and Latrobe Valley ExpressMay 21

AHeyfield Lions Project Enquiries: Damian 0427 451 286

Moe Self Storage

NEWBOROUGH 15 Hayes Rd. Saturday and Sunday. 8am-4pm. Huge sale! Everything here to suit all people, great bargains and deals

TRARALGON

6Licola Ct. Sat 24 May, 8am-4pm.

TRARALGON 7Chenhall Crescent, Sat 17th May, 8am-1pm. Dec. estate x2 households. Collectables, books, china. General household items.

of your family or atrusted friend know where you will be. We would advise readers and advertisers to exercise caution in giving out personal details. This will be respected by genuine respondents.

Door Installer

DAIRY CATTLE FARM OPERATOR

Employer: CDWYER & T.M DWYER. Job Position: Dairy Cattle Farm Operator. Salary Range: $66K- $70K per annum (plus super). Location: Newry, VIC 3895 For full position description and required skills, and to apply: https:/au.indeed.com/job/ dairy-cattle-farm-operator -4a5962b2b88779f7

St Paul’sAnglican Grammar School is seeking applicationsfor thefollowingpositions:

Warragul Campus

Part-time, ongoing contract

Commencing as soon as possible

See full position descriptions and apply at

ADVERTISERS

DELIVERERS WTD

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 Emplo ym

Deliverers Wanted TRARALGON, andMOE

Would you liketodeliver the Latrobe Valley Express newspaper to individual homes on Tuesday and /or Wednesday afternoons in Traralgon and Moe.

Please apply to: The Circulation Manager0456000 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

ARMATA

Andrzej (Andrew)

Born 10 April 1948.

Passed away 6May, 2025.

Sadly pas sed aw ay suddenly at Maryvale Private Hospital. Bel oved and ador ed husband of Wanda. Loved son of Jan and Katarzyna, (both dec.). Loved brother, brother-inlaw and uncle to his nieces and nephews in Poland. Forever loved and forever missed

BOND (nee Hawkes) Rhonda Born 22/12/1942, passed away peacefully 1/5/2025. Aged 82 years Loved and loving wife of Neville. Cherished mother and mother-in-law to Andrew and Ange, Ashley (dec.) and Julie and Jason and Jacq. Adored grandmother to Brandon, Nicholas, Caelum, Airlie, Anais, Lily and Maddison. "Always in our Hearts."

BOND (Hawkes) Rhonda Much loved sister-in-law to Beverley, Janice,

Cheryl

and

Agentle and caring soul now at rest. We hope you are in ahappier place, flying free. Forever in our hearts Afuneral for Rhonda was held FRIDAY (9 May 2025).

CARSTEIN

Dennis Trevor

Passed away peacefully, Tuesday 29 April at the Austin hospital.

Aged 70 years Loving husband of Cheryl, and much loved and proud father and fatherin-law of Trevor, Tania, Dale and Kate.

Special Grumps/Grandpa of Bayley, Lachlan, Balin and Jasper.

Loved Brother of Rae (Daly), and Brother in-law of Don, John, Sandi and Pete.

"A gentle nature, aheart of gold. These are the memories we will hold."

Afuneral was held FRIDAY (9 May 2025).

EVERETT Jamie

Born on 7July 1975

Passed away 4May, 2025. We are heartbroken to announce that our beautiful Jamie has passed away aged 49 years. Dearly loved son of Robert (dec.) and Heather.

Adored brother and brotherin-law to Shane, Tricia and Cameron.

Loved uncle to all his nephews and nieces. Forever in our hearts and loved by everyone who knew him

Merrilyn,

(dec.)

Noelene.

GAUDION

Reginald Frank Of Bairnsdale, formerly of Meerlieu and Traralgon South. Passed away peacefully 8 May, 2025. Re-united with his lovely wife Margie (dec.). They are now together again. Father of Christine, Alan, Bruce, Joanne and Dean. Father-in-law of Ollie (dec.), Tracey, Jayne, and Heather. Known and loved as Giles by his many grand and great-grandchildren. Uncle Reggie to his nieces and nephews.

Much loved by many

HOOIMEYER (née Hess)

Sophie Hendrika

18/6/1938 -7/5/2025

With sadness we announce our darling Mother has passed away.

Loved and loving wife of Jack (dec.).

Loving and cherished mother of Fred, Ron, Peter, Victor Martin, their spouses, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Loving sister of Corinna and her daughter.

Loving family of Tina Tram (Jan).

Rejoice in the Lord always

HULLEY (nee Arnold)

Yvonne Frances Vivian

Passed away peacefully and LRH Friday 9May 2025 at the age of 70 years. Loving and adored wife of Colin. Only daughter of Vic and Frances Arnold (both dec.) Loved and adored by both her brothers Michael and Matthew Arnold and their families. Heaven has gained a wonderful nursing sister. Her warmth, kindness and unwavering love will be deeply missed by all who knew her. Rest in peace my love, we will meet again one day All my love, your devoted husband, Col. Private Cremation.

MISSEN Phillip Gregory

2April 1954 -5May 2025

Passed away peacefully at Latrobe Regional Health.

Loved and loving husband of Dianne.

Much loved dad to Ricky and Kellie, Kim and Ken, Grant and Teesh, Adrian, Clinton and Kathryn.

Proud and loving Grandpa and Great Grandpa to Courtney, Analiese, Brylie, Mitchell, Kayden, Harry, Ashlyn, Kaitlyn, Cooper, Raymond, Annabelle and Macy.

We were so blessed to share the time with you and will treasure your memory forever

MISSEN Phillip Passed away 5May 2025. Loved brother of Judy and brother-in-law of David. Loved uncle of Troy and Tracy. Rest in peace, Clarry

MURDOCK Steve

Our thoughts and our hearts are with you Ken, Karen, Marjore and all your family. From the Flores family.

POHOLKE Malcolm Passed away 25/4/2025

We weren't in each other's lives but you were always in my heart. RIP. Your sister, Lynette.

ROBINS Roy Francis Passed away peacefully at home surrounded by his loving family on 4May, 2025. Aged 92 years

Loved husband of Anne (dec.). Adored father of Linda, Daryl, Ricky, Craig, Christopher, and their partners.

Cherished grandad and great- grandad and families. Loved brother to Allen and Robert (both dec.), and dear friend to many. One of nature'strue gentlemen.

ROSS Gary John

Passed away in Traralgon Sunday 27 April 2025. Aged 62 years We are saddened to announce Gary's passing. He was aloved son, brother, father and friend. Reunited with Mum, Dad and Martin. Peace Perfect Peace.

ROWLINGS China

Great friend and participant of the Moe Breakfast Club. He was aterrific organiser, with the running of our Tatts syndicate. His joke of the day, which caused more chaos in the telling of it, than the eventual punch line. We also enjoyed his hot off the press football scoops, which were sometimes even correct. He will be sorely missed by all of us and will never be forgotten. Rest in peace, China. No more pain. Moe Breakfast Club.

SPAGNOLO (nee Bean)

Cassie Passed away peacefully at LRH surrounded by her loving family on Thursday 8May 2025. Aged 49 years Loved and loving wife of Anthony. Cherished mother of Emma and Tom and fur baby Murphy boy. Beloved daughter to Dot and Bernie. Loving sister of Shannon and Nathan and stepsister to Bernie and Veronica. Awonderful person, so loving and kind, what beautiful memories you have left behind,Sharing and caring, always content, Loved and respected wherever you went

TAYLOR Paul Francis 6/9/1959 -6/5/2025

Aged 65 years Passed away at home, surrounded by family, friends and so much love. Loved father of Kristy, Patrick and Stuart.

Loving Grandfather to Alyssa, Tiana, Levi, Cale, Harrison, Luka, Bella and Arlie. 'Let usnot dwell upon the past, after all, it was only time we used to reach the present'

TAYLOR Paul

Sincere condolences to the Taylor families. From the O'Kane families.

TAYLOR Paul

Be at peace, with respect. Thank you for your friendship Lisa, Kim and Mark.

Funerals •

ARMATA

Requiem Mass for the repose of the soul of Mr Andr ze j( And rew ) Armata be offered at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Commercial Rd, Morwell TUESDAY (13 May 2025) commencing at 1pm. At the conclusion of mass, the Funeral will leave for the Yallourn Cemetery Haunted Hills Rd Yallourn. The funeral for Andrew will also be livestreamed. To view the livestream, please visit our website.

MOE-MORWELL-TRARALGON

MORWELL 5134 4937 Place your tribute on latrobevalleyfunerals.com.au

EVERETT The Funeral of Mr Jamie Everett will arrive at the Traral gon Ceme tery , Gippsland Memorial Park, Cemetery Drive, Traralgon TUESDAY (20 May 2025) for agraveside service to commence at 1pm.

MOE-MORWELL-TRARALGON

TRARALGON 5174 2258 Place your tribute on latrobevalleyfunerals.com.au

GAUDION

The funeral service of Mr Reginald Frank Gaudion of Bairnsdale, formerly of Meerlieu and Traralgon South, will be held at the Gippsland Memorial Park Chapel, Cemetery Drive, Traralgon on MONDAY (May 19 2025) at 11am, followed by burial in the cemetery grounds. Please see Reginald's funeral notice at: stephenbaggs.com.au for alink to the livestream.

STEPHEN BAGGS FUNERAL DIRECTORS BAIRNSDALE 51532150

HOOIMEYER

AService of Thanksgiving for the life of Mrs Sophia Hendrika Hooimeyer will be held at Traralgon and District Baptist Church, 60 Kay Street Traralgon Monday (19 May 2025) commencing at 1.30pm. Private Burial

MOE-MORWELL-TRARALGON

TRARALGON 5174 2258 Place your tribute on latrobevalleyfunerals.com.au

Funerals

MISSEN The Funeral Service to celebrate the life of Phillip Gregory Missen will take place in the Rose Chapel at Gippsland Memorial Park, Cemetery Drive, Traralgon THURSDAY (15 May 2025) commencing at 11am.

Immediately afterwards, Phil will be laid to rest within the Gormandale Cemetery. The chapel ceremony will be live-streamed. Please see: harwoodfunerals.com.au for digital link.

ROBINS

AService to celebrate the life of Mr Roy Robins, late of Yarragon, will be held at the Nielsen Funeral Chapel, Korumburra Rd, Warragul on MONDAY IN TWO WEEKS (26 May 2025 )at11am. The Service will also be live-streamed. To view Roy's Service please visit: www.nielsenfunerals.com.au

APrivate Cremation will follow.

In lieu of flowers, a donation in memory of Roy may be made to the Yarragon Lions Club. Envelopes will be available at the Chapel.

ROSS The Funeral Service and Committal for Cremation for Mr. Gary John Ross will be held at Latrobe Valley Funeral Services Chapel, 260 Princes Hwy Traralgon on THURSDAY (22 May 2025) commencing at 11am.

MOE-MORWELL-TRARALGON

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SPAGNOLO

AService to Celebrate the life of Mrs Cassie Spagnolo will be held at Latrobe Valley Funeral Services Chapel, 260 Princes Hwy Traralgon FRIDAY (16 May 2025) commencing at 1.30pm. At the conclusion of the Service the Funeral will leave for the Traralgon Cem eter yG ipps land Memorial Park. Cassie's service will also be livestreamed. To view the livestream, please visit our website.

MOE-MORWELL-TRARALGON

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TAYLOR

Funeral Prayers for Mr Paul Francis Taylor will be offered at St Mary's Catholic Cathedral, Pearson St Sale, FRIDAY (16 May 2025) commencing at 1pm. APrivate Cremation will follow

Please visit our website for the livestream of Paul's service

AUSTEN Terry Passed away 10/5/2021. Terry our hearts broke the day God called you away. Our memories of you are always with us, your laugh and your hugs we miss so much. Sleep well Until we meet again Your loving family.

DYSON (NORTH)

Grace. 10/8/1923-18/5/2006

Mum, you are lovingly remembered by your family ,not just today but every day. Love David, Michael, Peter and Families.

O'BRIEN

Amanda Mary 10/6/1977 -15/5/1985

Simon James 24/10/1978 -15/5/1985

Much loved children of Justin (dec.) and Bev. Loved and adoring sister and brother to Denis, and now Tracy also. So grateful for the love, happiness, fun, worry, love, smiles, tantrums, jokes, love and all you both brought to us. So glad we shared your earthly lives for ashort while. Loved and missed every day.

WITHAM Adele

27/8/1964 -19/5/2017

Your presence we miss, your memories we treasure. Loving you always, forgetting you never.

Your loving husband,

SALVATORE Nicola SALVATORE Ida Mum and Dad, you shared your birthday's together in May! We miss you dearly and cherish your memories. Forever in our hearts! Your children, Silvio, Rosanna, Tony and our beautiful families!

Whenyou lose someone close to you, it can be hardto put your thoughts and feelings into words

Apersonal message in the

Valley Express can say so much

Family owned and locally based Funeral Directors We bring 35 yearsexperience to familiesin Traralgon,Morwell, Churchill,Moe,Trafalgar, Korumburraand surrounding areas.

THE CHOICE IS YOURS Practical, sensible andaffordable. We offer both at-need and pre-paid funerals All female funerals are available. Dignityand respect ,always

CREMATION PACKAGES FROM $3300 www.harwoodfunerals.com.a u For24/7 support 0405 669 532

Forfriendly advice on howto place yourmessage contact The Classified Department 5135 4455

When you losesomeone close to you it can be hardto put yourthoughtsand feelingsinto words

Ashley and sons Aaron, Luke, Keith and Bryce.

Goals galore in local leagues

HOCKEY

IN acommanding performance that showcased teamwork, skill, and determination, the Women’sVic Leagueteam stormedto a5-nil victory over Melbourne Razorbacks at the weekend, catapulting them to the top of the ladder.

From theopening whistle, the team set the tone withrelentless pressure and precise ball movement, leaving no doubt abouttheir intentions.

It was acomplete team effort, with players supporting each other across every line and playing withintensity until the final whistle. The goals were shared across the squad, highlighting the depth and balance of the team.Birthday girl Ella Trevorrow celebrated in stylewithawell-earned goal, while Kim Tanti, Claire Cake and Jo Maxwell (two goals) also contributed to the score.

Latrobe ValleyMen’s Vic League

IN atightly contested battle against the Melbourne Razorbacks, our men showed gritand determination to earn a1-all draw

Daniel Lineen deliveredwith acrucialgoal, but it was the collective effort -especially the outstanding penaltycorner defence from Hamish McCracken and Mathew Wellsthat kept the score locked. Astrong effort from theteam.

Local Women’s League

TRARALGON Rovers claimed ahard-fought 1-nil win over Moe.

Aria Ranui scored the decisive goal, with Jasmine Langstaff creating constant pressure up front.

Moe’s defence, ledbyLeah Tylee and Claire Cake, was resolute throughout, but the Rovers’ persistence paid off.

Corrinne Metcalfand Allegra Boxwere named among the best for Rovers, while Jeanie Porter was outstanding for Moe and earned best-on for the round.

Agrittycontest thatshowcased determination and team spirit on both sides, Churchill HockeyClubsecured a4-2 victoryovera determined Traralgon side, with goals from Taryn Littlejohn, Leandra McLauchlan, Claire Goodwin, and Sandy Young.

Midfielders Alice Stewart, Nicole Ypelean, and Jasmine Thompson were key contributors, while debut goals from Taryn and Sandy highlighted Churchill’s depth. Traralgon battled through injuries to score twice late, with Bec Cheater earning best-on honours and WyattCobbledickalso impressing in astrongfinish.

Local Men’s League

CHURCHILL’S men triumphed 12-11 over Traralgon in athrilling, back-and-forth contest.

Gael Greenwayled with six goals,supported by Blake Billing (threegoals), Edward Meredith (two goals), and Matt Wells.

Traralgon fought back withhat-tricks from Nathan Forester and Mikayla McDonald, plus goals from Jamie Cobbledick, Hamish McCracken, Jeremy Jones, and Rod Hoggith, but Churchill held on for the win.

Moe’s men claimed a31-3victory over the Traralgon Rovers, with Daniel Lineen netting14goals and Daniel Godfrey adding 11. Timothy Hooper (three goals), Daniel Brereton, Rob Douglas-Green, and Max Mott also contributed to the win. However, it was the Rovers’ teamwork and resilience that stood out.

Despite the score line, the team showed impressive cohesionand apositive attitude throughout the match.

Gael Greenwood scored twice, and Sam Pollard addedagoal, with the Rovers continuing to fightasaunitand display strong collective effort until the final whistle

Braves best Redsox outfit

SUNDAY was athrilling day for local baseball as Churchill Braves and Moe Newborough Dodgers bothsecured dramatic victoriesinhard-fought battles.

The Braves clinched an 8-6 walk-off win against the Traralgon Redsox, while the Dodgers edgedout the Sale Rangers 9-7 in another nail-biting finish.

 THE Churchill Braves’ matchup with the Redsox was aback-and-forth contest full of momentum shifts.

Traralgon started strong, taking an early lead in the first inning with an RBI single from Andrew Matthews.

Churchillresponded immediately, with Mat Prior’s groundoutand akey hit from Dan Cannizzaro putting them ahead 3-1.

Jay Ziersch kept Traralgon in the game with a solo homer in the seventh, and Michael Adams’ clutch double in the eighth helped tie the score.

Churchill’s Tim Bellerby launched asolo home run in the bottom of the eighth to reclaim the lead, but Luke Hornstra answered for Traralgon, blasting ahomer to left field in the ninth, leveling the score once again.

With the game hanging in the balance, Kyler Rinehart stepped up and delivered the decisive hit-atwo-run single that secured the walk-off victory for Churchill.

Pitching was acrucial factor throughout the game.

Alex Smith providedsolid relief for Traralgon, striking outseven in five and two-thirds innings,while starter Jordan Gilmore struggledearly,conceding three runs in just one-third of an inning.

Jarrod Thomas led Churchill’s pitching effort, allowing two earned runs over six innings while striking out four.

On offense, Hornstra went2-for-5with twoRBIs for Traralgon, while Rinehart, Harris, Cannizzaro, and Prior each recorded two hits for Churchill.

The Braves also showcased aggressive base running, tallying six stolen bases -three of them from Daniel Harris.

 MEANWHILE, Moe Newborough Dodgers battled past Sale Rangers in another thrilling finish, securing their victory with atwo-run double from Benn Zomer in the bottom of the seventh.

SaleRangers started strong, with Joel Hector doubling in the first inning to score arun. They continued to add to their lead, with Rohan Hector and Michael Coulthard contributing RBI singles in the third to make it 4-1.

However, the Dodgers chipped away at the deficit,

eventually tying the game with afielder’s choice by Nathan Simpson. Their patience at the plate proved valuable, drawing eight walks while also turning twokey double plays.

Simpsonwas instrumental in Moe Newborough’s win, both on offense and as the starting pitcher. He collected three hits, including adouble,and pitched seven innings, surrendering 13 hits and seven runs (only two earned), striking out five batters.

Sale Rangersamassed13hits, withMarco Palazzout leading the charge, going 3-for-3with two RBIs. Kevin Arbuthnot, Hector, and Coulthard also collected multiple hits.

Despitetheir offensive firepower, Sale couldn’t hold offthe Dodgers’ late-game surge.

Both Churchill Bravesand Moe Newborough Dodgers demonstrated resilience and clutch performances in their respective victories, highlighting theirabilitytocompete under pressure.Asthe season progresses, these thrilling games suggest more exciting matchups ahead for local baseball fans

BGrade

MITCH McGrath pitchedacomplete game striking out13batters on the day, while Sales Rohan Hector started for the Rangers striking out five over the three inningsbefore Palazzout, cominginto to relief, in walk off fashion baseball game, finishing 5-4 in Moe’s favour.

Traralgon Redsox John Kus had aday out on the field, pitching afull six innings, and an excellent day at the bat including adouble and home run.

Churchill Braves kept on the defence pushing

hard with two home runs for the braves from Dan Harris and Rhys McKenzie.

But, unfortunately it wasn’t enough as the Redsox came flying home with runs to win the game 13-5.

CGrade

MOE NewboroughDodgers and Churchill Braves Gold both secured commanding victories on Sunday, showcasingtheir offensive power and clutch performances.

Moe Newborough Dodgers defeated Sale Rangers 14-6, flipping the game early with asix-run first inning, highlighted by Tim Wilson’s three-run homer.

They piled on anothersix runs in the second and two more in the third, with Nick Luke, Steve Somerville, and Daniel Cole driving in runs.

Wilson also led the Dodgers on the mound, allowing two runs over three innings.

Sale Rangers started strong with RBI hits from Kaden Hicksand AdamJackson but struggled against Moe Newborough’s relentless offense.

Jackson finished with two RBIs, and Hicks, Alexander Llewellyn,and Angus Smith contributed hits.

Despitecollecting nine walks, Sale couldn’t contain the Dodgers’ aggressive base running, as they stole five bases.

Meanwhile, Churchill Braves Gold overwhelmed Morwell Cougars 21-7.

Mat Howden was the star, driving in four runs, including athree-run homer in the third inning. Churchill exploded early, scoring seven runs in the first, addingseven more in thethird,and finishingwith seven in the fourth.

Pitching efforts from Samuel Gillett helped keep Churchill in control,while Morwell struggled against their offensive surge.

DeklanWhite led Morwell with fourRBIs,while Dron and Andrew Dalton each tallied multiple hits. Morwell managed five stolen bases but couldn’t slow Churchill’s relentless attack.

Churchills second team -Churchill Braves Green took on Traralgon Redsox.

Churchill took the lead 4-3 after two home runs from James Armstrong and Riley Duncan at the bottom of the fourth.

With aback-to-back innings it was anyone’s game, until Traralgon’s Mikey Bentley singled to left field scoring in the walk off run they needed to win 6-5.

Split results in return: Talent League

FOOTBALL

TALENT LEAGUE BY BLAKE METCALF-HOLT

GIPPSLAND Powerreturned at the weekend after two weeks, with the very best of what the region’s junior football has to offer ready to increase their intensity.

During theweeks break, many returned to their local clubs whetherinjuniorcompetition or lacing the boots up for seniors.

On return, Power Boys suffered afour-point loss to juggernaut Geelong Falcons at Chirnside Park (Avalon Airport Oval), 10.12 (72) to 10.8 (68).

After it was all tied up after the first quarter at 14 points apiece, Falcons stretched out to atwo-goal leadthrough to halftime with four goals to two during the second term.

While Power increased their workload and snapped into focusasthe game returned after the main break, Geelong were not to be deterred, as they still led by three-plus goals heading into thefinal term.

Foster’s WillemDuursma kicked off the final quarter splurge for Power with simple set shot off afree kick earlier on.

Sam Grummisch would bring the Power deficit to 13 points shortly there after, before Geelong responded quickly.

Clancy Snell and Cody Templeton added as well for Gippsland, to cut the margin to under agoal.

Time began to wane as Geelong locked the ball in their forward 50, although Power offered one final chance as they quickly stormed the ball into the forward line only for the nearby umpire to pay afree kick against for holding, which shut down the game.

Finn O’Brien was best for Gippsland followed by Snell(Mirboo North), Hamish Gill, Grummisch, Jesse Bills, and Duursma -the last three all had two goals for the game.

 TWO straight in the other grade.

Gippsland Power Girls defeated Geelong Falcons prior to the Boys, 8.3 (51) to 4.10 (34).

After abattling first quarter for both teams had only one major score(the way of Power),Gippsland held afive-point lead at halftime. Power stretched out with four goals to open the third quarter up, which wasenough to stave off their opponent.

GraceDillow, AbbyHobson, Baia Pugh (two goals), Chelsea Sutton, Brooke Kelly, and Rebecca Fitzpatrick were standouts for Power.

Power Girls picked up their first win of the season the week prior in a59-point thrashing of Western Jets at DSV Stadium on Sunday, May 4.

Undefeatedtop-two clash awaits

BASKETBALL

BIG V BY BLAKE METCALF-HOLT

CLEANING up for seven straight wins on the trot,

Gippsland United are once again mounting the case to head towards the top level of Big Vbasketball.

United Men’sdefeatedWarrandyte in theirreturn to Gippsland Regional Indoor Sports Stadium (GRISS), 96 to 93, appearing as theclearcut favourite in Division One.

Savedbyadominant first quarter, the Gippsland side held on despite anear-comeback.

United were without one of their key contributors deep into the second half,asguard Rohan Demczuk was charged with aflop warning before abench technical foul was handed down to the team, meaning that Demczuk was forced to exit.

Demczuk could still be seen watching on from the viewing area above the show court, likethe good teammate he is.

Captain Ben Barlow was the hero of the game with 33 points including fourthree-pointers, six rebounds and six steals.

Jalin Wimberly followed suit with 21 points and six steals also, along with 15 points from big man Joel Winderlich.

Prior to the weekend, United Men’spicked up crucial away wins against Altona (94-73) and Chelsea (91-79)beforeplayinga home matcha Warragul Leisure Centre, pickingupanother victory against Bulleen (94-66).

Sitting atop of the ladder,Coburg closely trail by percentage, whom United play this weekend away.

 GIPPSLAND United Women’s went one-fortwo in Round 7ofDivision Two.

Picking up aSundayafternoon win againstRMIT, 85-52, at Bundoora made up for their significant defeat at the hands of Wallan (74-54) at home the night before.

Holding RMIT Redbackstojust nine points in the opening quarter set the tone for United’sresponse, as captain Lauren Tuplin led the way with 26 points and eight rebounds.

Alahna Arnason (14 points, 12 rebounds and five assists)and Ellie Coutts(13 points, nine rebounds and seven assists) each stuffed the stat sheet.

Prior to that, UnitedWomen’s had won two of their last three matches against Blackburn (76-59) and Surfcoast (79-70).

Theycurrently sit third on the ladder behind Wallanand Keysborough, and prepare for an away matchup against Coburg on Saturday.

End of an era for famous stadium

Make that 300 games

What aman: JoeAuciello will play his 300th senior game forFalconsthis weekend File photograph

BY LIAM DURKIN

AS he said three years ago before his 250th: “don’t stop doing something you love”. Falcons 2000 Soccer Club senior games record holder, Joe Auciello is preparing for another milestone -the magical mark of 300 senior games. All going well, the defender will bring up three figures this Saturday night when Falcons travel to Sale.

Auciellowillenter esteemedcompany, as it is believedless than adozen players haveplayed 300 senior games in the Latrobe Valley Soccer League.

His coach, Adrian Salvatore paid tribute to aman whohas been loyal to the core.

“He’s beenanabsoluteclubstalwart, true leader, true club person,” he said.

“It’s notaneasy featatany sport, for Joey to achieve that, to have his bodyatthe level to keep doing it at the age he is is complete credit to himself.”

For Auciello,Falcons and family has gone hand-in-hand.

His father Serge wasinstrumental in reforming the club in 2000 following their disbandment from the National Soccer League, the same year Joe made his senior debut as a15-year-old.

Auciello has enjoyed championship success on five occasions (2015, 2017, 2018, 2022, 2024) although it should be noted he had to wait along time before experiencing any on-field success.

“You need to have the down times to appreciate the ups,” he said before his 250th.

Auciello has put his skills as an accountant to good use off the field, serving as club treasurer for more than 10 years.

“Trophies are important but they aren’t the only thing,” he said.

“Win, lose or draw we should always feel welcome to come to the club.

“Irrespective of what is happening on the field from aresults viewpoint we should all feel that we are welcome.”

Auciello needs to play only 500 more games to break the LVSL senior games record.

SOCCER LVSL BY BLAKE METCALF-HOLT

FOR the times they are a-changin’.

In abittersweetday forFalcons 2000 Soccer Club, that was mostly sweet, the club sent off its legendary facilities at the Latrobe City Sports Stadiuminstyle forits finalhome game before its redevelopment last Saturday night.

Not only was the Morwell club paying tribute to all that was builtacross its six-decade existence andsince the opening of the clubrooms in 1982, then the Don Di Fabrizio Grandstand in 1992, named after the club’s greatest patron, but also celebrated three very special anniversary years.

The 1975 VictorianProvisional League (state league) Champions were honoured with three past players returning in Kevin Flanagan and Pino and Frank Di Giulio.

The back-to-back title-winners (won in their first year at the level in 1974 also) went the entire 1975 season on top of the table, and clinched the trophy in a4-3 victory over Frankston in their second last game.

Despite theirsuccess and dominanceinVictoria, duetoprovisions and setbacks, the club still had to wait over adecade to gain entry into the national league.

Speaking of, Falcons’ unforgettable run in 1995 in the National SoccerLeague was also remembered

Making the finals in just their third season at the country’s top level, Latrobe City Sports Stadium hostedthe first round.Falcons ultimatelylost a hard foughtmatch against South Melbourne,1-nil in front of 6500 locals.

Lastly, the 2015Men’s and Reserve’s Latrobe Valley Soccer League titles were celebrated,the club’s firstsince returning and fighting through some uncertain periods of near folding.

That title set up adecade of success for the club which led to multiple trophies across all grades.

Member of that 2015 team, Conor Clark (father Gerry played in the state league for Falcons in the 1980s)helped bringback some of those who graced the pitch in the past.

He did, however, jokingly recogniseaslight generational gap when handed the list of players, noticing alack of emails and instead straight mail addresses -leading to quitea number of handwritten letters.

“All Ican say is stamps are pretty expensive these days,” Clark said.

The clubrooms were also graced with the return of legendary figure, Jim McLean.

McLean played three seasons for Falcons from

1983to1986,taking home the Rothmans Medalin 1983-84 as the best player in the Victorian State League, by far the highest individual accomplishment by aplayer in the club’s history.

McLean gracedthe crowdtosay afew words, clearly displaying the affection he has for the club and its people.

“This football club, from an outsider’s (perspective), they embraced me from the minute Icame,” he said.

“The important part was that, god rest his soul, Don (Di Fabrizio) said to me, ‘I’m going to pay you that much …but you’re going to live here’.

“He did thatwithtwo or threeofthat’84 side that (we’re) going to live in the Valley, and it was the bestthingheeverdid because Iunderstood the people, the work ethic, who they were, who built this place.

“My heart has always been in thisplace.Ilove it, Ilovethis footballclub and Iwish it all the success in the future.”

One sentiment that flowed through the night’s proceedingswas the importanceofmaintaining the legacy that was built by an army of people and Mr Di Fabrizio OAM dating back to 1961.

“We’re assured that on the bright side, (the stadium) is past its used-bydate,it’sgoingtoincrease to abeautiful new stadium,” Falcons 2000 President Tony Salvatore said.

“As long as they do the right thing and they preserve that legacy… built by volunteers.

It was evident on the night just what the club and its facilities mean to the regionand its residence,which is duetothe heartbeat created by its members andplayers.

“It’s acombination, we work very hard on the cultural fit but then we’ve got to perform too,” he said.

Theupgrades are said to attract larger events to Morwell as well as investing in participation,community pride, and long-term regional opportunity. That stems fromthe club’sfocus on junior development, which was showcased in Falcons’ 2024 LVSL title which featured 11 of its16listed players which rose through the junior ranks.

“This willbecomeamodern,accessible and inclusive venue,” councillor Steph Morgan said.

Anew grandstand and pavilion are focal to the redevelopment, including astandalone change pod as well as lighting and playing surface upgrades (that includes anew synthetic pitch and five new pitches).

Song sung one last time in old rooms

SOCCER

LVSL BY LIAM DURKIN

FAREWELL to FalconsPark hadsomething of ahappy ending, afterthe home side defeated Newborough-Yallourn United 2-nil.

While the result added another win to the long list of victories achieved by Falcons on its main pitch, the match itself might not be remembered whenpeoplethink back to the last night of the old stadium.

Astalemate ensued in the firsthalf of theRound 8match, before Falcons were able to score twice inside a10-minute window just after the resumption of play.

Lachie Frendogot on the score sheet at 56 minutes, while Josh Gangi can forever claim the distinction of scoring the last-ever goal at Falcons Park before the demolition.

The venue was set to host Rugby 7s at the now cancelled 2026 Commonwealth Games, yet will still receive the upgrade promised.

The upgrade willsee the clubroomsshiftedtothe grandstand side, while the new main pitch will be on the opposite side to where it currently is.

Falcons coach,AdrianSalvatore said he was happy to takethe three points for the win on what an emotion-charged evening.

“Three points is three points, unfortunately we weren’t at our best tonight. It’s very rare you can get awaywithnot being at your best andstill get awaywith awin.We’ll take the threepoints but we’ve got alot to work on goingforward,” he said.

“Tough night for the club, it’sbeen ourhome since 1962, that was something we spoke about pre-game. It’s abittersweet time at this club, but there’s always anew chapter.”

Falcons will now be on the road for the rest of the season while the redevelopment takes place. The

club has the option of using the synthetic Australian Rulesoval at Morwell Football-Netball Club for training.

Ahealthycrowd gathered at Latrobe City Sports Stadium last Saturday nighttosee off avenue that has played asignificant part in not only local and state soccer, but even national soccer history.

Past players from Falcons’ halcyon days in the National SoccerLeague cametogether for one last hurrah, as did those who helped build the mighty Don Di Fabrizio grandstand.

As current club president Tony Salvatore mentioned in his address, acrowd of 8400filled the grandstand and stadium when Falcons played in the NSL finals 30 years ago.

“More than half the population of Morwell.” Falcons opened the gates for the last rites, and while certainly an emotional time, all present were consigned to the fact an upgrade was both needed and long overdue.

Legends: One of thever ybesttoplayfor the club,Jim McLean, alongside former Falcons stateand national leagueplayer, Manny Gelagotis

Ball: JordiVacca streams along the sideline during Falcons’final home game at Latrobe City Spor ts Stadium. Photographs: BlakeMetcalf-Holt

Still champs: MembersofFalcons’drought-breaking 2015 LVSL men’s title.

Backfromthe past: Jim McLean alongsidemembersofFalcons’VPL league-winningside Kevin Flanagan, Pino and Frank Di Giulio

Side-by-side: Thetrophies representing Falcons’decade of dominance in theLatrobe ValleySoccer League.The clubhas wonfive senior mens championshipsinthe last 10 years.

Threepoints across theboard for Moe

SOCCER

LVSL BY JOHN CARDONA

MOE United overcameadetermined Monash in a hotly contested Latrobe Valley SoccerLeague derby at Olympic Park on Saturday night.

The Red Devils came back from an early goal down to run out 4-2 victors in Round 8.

The home side took three points for the win, but werelucky to onlybeagoal down earlyinthe contest, as Monash were the morepositive side up forward.

Some impressive attacksled by Marcus Krznaric, Jake Dickason and Adam Semple all looked dangerous.

It cameasnosurprise then when after 10 minutes, along ball clearance from Monash was misjudged by Moe central defender Lachie McKenzie, which led to Krznaric seizing upon the loose ball to race clear and place the ball into the bottom corner.

The goal stung Moe into action. Sam Lietzau won amidfieldchallenge to run through the left side of centre, but good defensive keeping from Monash’s Justin Allman smothered his left foot shot.

The resultantcorner by Noah Kane to the back

LVSL tables

Seniors

Moe -20points (6-2-0 record, +32 GD)

Olympians -17(5-2-0, +25)

Sale United-16(5-1-1, +16)

Falcons -13(4-1-2, +13)

Monash -9(2-3-2, +7)

Newborough-Yallourn -6(1-3-3, -7)

East Gippsland -3(1-0-6, -23)

Traralgon City -1(0-1-6, -29)

Churchill - -2 (1-1-5, -16) Reserves

Moe -21(7-0-1)

Sale -18(6-0-1)

Olympians -13(4-1-1)

Monash -12(4-0-3)

Falcons -10(3-1-2)

Churchill -6(2-0-5)

East Gippsland -6(2-0-4)

Traralgon City -3(1-0-6)

Newb/Yall -0(0-0-6)

Women’s

Churchill -16points (5-1-0)

Sale -15(5-0-0)

Moe -14(4-2-0)

Newb/Yall -7(2-1-3)

Olympians -7(2-1-4)

Traralgon City -7(2-1-4)

Tyers -6 (1-3-3)

Falcons -5(1-2-3)

Monash -1(0-1-5) 3rdDivision

Olympians -17points (5-2-0)

Fortuna -13(4-1-1)

Churchill -12(4-0-1)

Moe -10(3-1-2)

Tyers -6 (2-0-3)

Sale United -3(1-0-4)

Falcons -3(1-0-4)

Monash -3(1-0-6)

postsaw alunging dive by McKenzie failtoconnect with his header attempt.

By now, United’s midfieldinOscar Sceney, Lietzau, Kane, and Matt Shearing were creating more scoring opportunities.

Moe’s persistence paid off when apenetrating run by skipper Shearingsaw Allman misjudgehis diving attempt at Shearing’s feet, and referee Ian King award the Red Devils apenalty spot kick.

ConnorO’Hanlon stepped up to take the kick, but his low drive to the right was brilliantly saved by Allman.

Moe Unitedcontinued their attack on theMonash goal, and apass by full back Brendan Ruddell sent Lietzau clear up the left wing, where his cross found O’Hanlon, who’s shot from 20 metres out was well-saved by Allman.

It was Ruddell again who created United’s next opportunity, when his perfectly placed corner was met by O’Hanlon, only to placehis header over the crossbar, much to his frustration.

Moe Unitedfinally got the equaliser when a superb free kick by Kane from 30m out cannoned the underside of the crossbar, which looked to cross the goal line,but an ever-alertShearing made a certainty of it by headingthe ball into thenet.

Shortly after, the Red Devil’s wrestled the lead from Monash when Lietzau took off on asolo run up the left wingbefore switching to the right side. He raced through and sent across to the back post where O’Hanlon was waiting to rifle aright foot driveinto goal.

Moe United had to settle downhowever, after Monash quickly pegged one back when asweetly-hit drive by Semple beat adiving Pete Albanese and hit the post,but aquick-reaction fromDickason drove the ball past ahelpless Albanesestill laying on the ground.

Adding to Moe’s frustration, the goal came right on the eve of halftime.

The second half saw amore determined display from the home side, as they set about securing three points.

Moe hit the lead afte rthe ever- dange rous O’Hanlon provided another assist, after arun up the left wing sent his cross to the back post, where youngster Tully Anderson gotintoget theball over the line.

The Red Devils were now full steam ahead, and across field pass fromO’Hanlon to the leftsent Shearing through, and he made no mistake with his shot getting past Allman.

O’Hanlon attempted his hat-trick with acheeky shot from longrange, but it went narrowly over the crossbar.

Late in the match, Semple hit ablistering shot from 30m out to the top corner, and was ready to celebrate, only to see Albanese pull off afinger-tip save.

Best for the winners was Anderson, Brendan Ruddell, Lietzau, O’Hanlon, and Albanese.

Best for Monash was Krznaric, Semple, Allman, andRyan McCluskey.

 RESERVES

CURRENT league-leadersMoe United ran out comfortable winners against third place Monash 5-1.

After acouple of lean weeks from the goal scoring form, current reserves league top goal scorer, Harley Robinsonwas back in the scoring mode with awell-deserved hat-trick.

Robinson opened the scoring with aclinical finish from inside the box, which was then followed by a superb strike from Tom Portelli from 25m out to put Moe United 2-nil up.

Monash, not to be denied, fought back strongly, and were eventually rewarded for their persistence, with agoal from Rivers Borg.

WingerCampbell Dastey got the Red Devils back their two goal lead before the halftime break, with ashotfrom 25m out.

Moe United continued to apply pressure on Monash,a nd at hrough ball by Portelli put Robinson through and he cooly placed his shot past the advancing Monash keeper, Jamie Kent.

Robinson finished a5-1 rout with awell-struck shot from 20m out.

Bestfor Moe was Portelli, Robinson, Max Lietzau and Chris Pap.

Best for Monash was Broden Grover, Marc McHallam and Mark Kasprowicz.

In the 3rd Division, Moe United won on forfeit.

 SENIOR WOMEN

UNBEATEN Moe United was made to work hard to record a5-2 win over bottomplaced Monash, who belied their place on the ladder with aspirited performance.

Monash stunned the home side after less than a minute, when athrough ball gave Kate Wheildon an opportunity and she gave Moe keeper Bridget Green no chance to save the shot.

Moe United slowly got on top, and ashot by Hannah Meyer was completely misjudged by the Monash keeper and into the net to level the scores.

Late in the firsthalf, across by MileyCooper was again fumbled by the keeper, and Georgia Wyntjes seized on the opportunity to give Moe Uniteda2-1 lead at the break.

Moe United lifted the pressure in the second half and showed why they are goingtobeinthe running for the coveted league champions title.

Meyer soon increased United’s lead to 3-1 with her second goal from awell-hit strike from afair way out.

Summer Cooper then scored Moe United’s fourth goal, which was then followed by afifthgoal and a brace on thenight to Georgia Wyntjes.

Monash scored aconsolation goal from Kelly-Lee Soles.

Best for the home side was Jess Ruddell, Meyer and wonder twins Summer and Miley Cooper. Best for Monash was Wheildon, Soles and Kiara Hiriart.

Moe has the bye in all grades except 3rd Division this weekend.

Rams’ season turned upside down

SOCCER

LVSL

CHURCHILL United’s season has been thrown into disarray, after the club was docked points for fielding an ineligible player.

The Rams are currently on bottom on -2 points on the LatrobeValley Soccer Leaguesenior ladder, despite having one win and adraw to their credit.

Churchillwas notified last month of aconcern from Football Victoria via email.

The concernindicated thatone of its senior players may have had dual club registration, and that an investigation wasrequiredontheir behalf.

“The executi ve commi tte e, with no prio r knowledge of this concern or allegation, made the immediate decisiontowithdraw the player from play, in respect for Football Victoria’s investigation and due process,” Churchill Soccer ClubC“Concurrently, the executive committee conducted an internal investigation. Our internal investigation revealed that one player may have registered with another club prior to commencing with Churchill United Soccer Club this year.

“The player’s registration with another club was under adifferent name,and therefore not detected during our registration process where we scan the database for existing registrations, as per process.

“Our registration personnel also sighted formal identification documentation, which matched the

name under which the player is registered with our club.

“Throughout the process we havecooperated fully with Football Victoria. We haveclarified that we have followed all due processes, undertaken relevant checks, and as such, could not have been aware of this situation.

“The player has indicatedtousthattheiralternative registrationwas inadvertent, they did not play for the alternative club at any time this year, and werenot aware aprevious,unutilisedregistration could cause an issue.

“While we made the internal decision to sit the player out on Friday,April 25,onThursday, May 1 Football Victoria informed our club that the player could continue to play.

“We are extremelydisappointedtohave been informed by Football Victoria on Wednesday, May 7that they have now concluded the investigation and made adetermination to deductsix-pointsfrom the Men’s Senior League competition.

“We reiterate that we were not aware of the dual registration of this player, and took all reasonable steps to ensure adherence to the rules.

Churchill lost at the weekend 3-2 against Sale.

In the other Round 8result, Olympians defeated East Gippsland 5-nil. Traralgon City had the bye.

Games this week are: Monash vs City, Newb/ Yall vs Olympians, East Gippsland vs Churchill, Sale vs Falcons. Moe -bye

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LEADER AD BOARD BOAR