Latrobe Valley Express Wednesday 2 July 2025

Absolutely disgraceful

ndals have broken intonot-for-profit, Latrobe ValleyEnterprises forthe second time in five weeks, targeting the Container Deposit Scheme ATM.

MORE -PAGE 6

Devastating end for Assembly

AFTER eight years supporting the health and wellbeing of the Latrobe Valley, the Latrobe Health Assembly has formallycommenced the process of closing its operations.

This comes after strong community advocacy failed to overturn the state government’s decision to cease funding the initiative.

Project partners were notified on Monday, June 23 that27activeprogramswill conclude by June 30 (last Monday), with astructured wind-downprocessto follow.

Over this final week, the Assembly was working with all partners to ensure the most responsible and respectful transitionpossiblefor the community-led initiatives that have flourished under its care.

Across nearly adecade, the Assembly has delivered more than 200 locally-driven projects, touching the lives of over 50,000 residents across the region.

Withmore than$4million investedinthe local community each year and more than 1200 volunteers mobilised, the Assembly hasbuilt alastingimpact across mental health, foodsecurity, chronic disease prevention, youth engagement, early childhood development and social connection.

Programs such as the Community Health Nurses in Primary Schools,whichdelivered$2.3million in healthbenefits; the ABC Youth Program,returning $4 for every $1 invested; and the WES, which provided

over 1000 visits in apeer-led, stigma-free environment, have changed lives.

In amedia release, the Assembly said the closure marked the loss of an innovative, community-first, place-basedmodel that enabledcommunity voice in decision making, improved health and wellbeing outcomes and demonstrated community leadership in one of Victoria’s most challenged regions.

LatrobeHealth Assembly Chair, Tanya Rong said the news was indeed shattering.

“This is amoment of deep sadness and gratitude to the Latrobe Valley community for their support and advocacy," she said.

"The Latrobe Health Assembly has been more than an organisation –it’sbeena movement powered by local community voices, strong commitment to ahealthier community and place, and awhole lotofheart.

"While our formal role may be ending, the legacy of ourpartnerships and the passion of our community will continue.”

In the coming weeks, the Assembly willworkclosely with project partnerstoidentify opportunities for sustainability, seeking to transition or hand over initiatives where possible. Where continuation is not feasible, programs will close with care and community acknowledgment.

The Assembly wished to extend its heartfelt thanks to the thousands of individuals,organisationsand

community groupswho shaped and contributed to its work. The Assembly said their dedication laid the groundwork for lasting change, and the Assembly’s legacy will live on through them.

 MEANWHILE,the Gippsland Trades and Labour Council has called on the state government to urgently reconsider its decision to cut funding a number of its transition and community education programs. Under the cuts,the GTLCstands to losethe following programs:Domestic Building &Construction, ACup of Hospitality, Community Turf Force, Let’s Get Driving and Labouring Fundamentals.

The GTLC says it has provided support to 365 people in the community, and has 128 continuing to receive assistance.

"Sincethe inception of our suiteofcommunity education projects we have provided ongoing support to participants of our programs through case management, supporting them to be aspirational," GTLCsaid in amedia release.

"There is no greater driver for change than acommunitydeciding what it cares about. At GTLC, and in partnership with our sector, industry and community partners, we are dedicated to helpingcommunity members discover and pursue pathways to education, training, and employment and enable meaningful change so that they live alife they value."

Jurytobegindeliberations

By STEFAN BRADLEY and LIAM DURKIN

THE trial of Erin Patterson has entered its 10th week, with Justice Christopher Beale completing his charge to the jury, who are now deliberating.

Ajudge’s charge are the final directions given to the jury during acriminal trial.

The judge communicates to the jury what they must consider when deliberations begin, and also summarises key evidence from the trial and outlines the main argumentsofthe prosecution and defence.

Last week (Week 9) was the start of the judge’s charge, as the closingarguments for the prosecution and defence hadalready finished.The court did not sit on Monday last week.

From Tuesday June 24, Justice Beale delivered the charge, and ended it last Monday (June 30).

The jury has now retired for deliberation.

"(I) can understand both parties wanting to squeeze every bit of juice out of the lemon," his Honour said upon the need to "consider the whole evidence".

Three people diedfollowing aBeef Wellington lunch at the accused's Leongathahome in July, 2023.

Don and Gail Patterson and Heather Wilkinson all died fromthe fatal meal which contained death cap mushrooms. Ian Wilkinson fell ill, but survived the incident. The accused has pleaded not guilty to three charges of murder and one of attempted murder. At the start of his charge, Justice Beale revealed an 86-page document that included key dates to help the jury with deliberations.

“Very old fashioned hard copy,” he joked.

The first section of the chronology begins in 2007, whenErin and Simon Patterson got married, to the year before the fatal lunch.Sections afterwards are 2023 key dates, which includes the lunch and following days.

The judge said it was up to the jury alone if Erin is guilty of the charges she has pleaded not guilty to. He noted the media attention this case has received, which he described as "unprecedented", but reminded the jurors they were the only ones who sat in the jury box.

"Don'tlet anybody getinyourear over the weekend,"hetold jurors in anoticeably sparser courtroom last Friday.

"Have amedia blackout," Justice Beale urged.

Justice Beale had noted that Erin had admitted to telling lies, but said “this is acourt of law, not a court of morals”, and that the jury should not find her guilty just because she had told lies.

He said that Erin had “goodcharacter evidence”, andalsooutlined what the prosecution has argued is Erin’s alleged incriminating conduct. The court was reminded that the accused did not need to testify during her trial, and that it was not up to her to “prove her innocence”.

The court heard that the jury must come to a verdict on the evidence alone and resist any bias they may hold, which includes sympathy for the families of the victims. For aguiltyverdict, the jury must assess the evidence and conclude that she committed the offences beyond reasonable doubt.

JudgeBeale spoke about the many witnesses who were calledup, including the accused,aswell as the various experts called upon by the prosecution. He addressed alleged inconsistencies with witnesses, saying that credibleand truthfulwitnesses can sometimes make honest mistakes.

“It is for you to determine which accounts, if any, to believe,” he said.

It's possible that the jury will reach averdict by the time next week's issue is out. But it's also apossibility that the jury is unable to reach a unanimous verdict.

Smallplant, hugetrial: An image of adeathcap mushroom located in Loch, postedbyChristine McKenzie,one of the prosecution’s witnesses Photograph: iNaturalist

Centralfigure: Erin Patterson has pleaded not guilty to allcharges File photograph

Round theclock: Erin Patterson’s defence team at Latrobe ValleyLaw Courts in Morwell. Photograph: Stefan Bradley

Ex-footballer pleadsguilty

By BLAKE METCALF-HOLT

FORMER Morwell and Geelong footballer Ray Cardhas pleadedguiltyover the death of his partner, Mandy McDonald, followingafatalcar crash in Lara last November.

Cardadmitted responsibilityfor her death and fronted the Geelong Magistrates Court for a committal mention hearing on Tuesday, May 20. He was charged on numerous accountsincluding culpable driving causing death, which carriers a maximum penalty of 20 years’ jail. He also pledguiltytoanadditional charge of

negligently causing serious injury, with afurther six chargers withdrawn by the prosecution

The couple were travelling on GeelongRingRoad, Lara in aFord Ranger when they collided with a BMW, which had a23-year-old Lara man and a 19-year-old Lovely Banks woman onboard.

Card was severely injured and taken to hospital, and later charged. Followinghis plea, Card was granted fresh bail, withthe matter listedinthe County Court at Geelong and in the circuit starting July 7.

Card was born in Yallourn with his father, former Cats player,George playing and coachingthe then

Newborough mancharged

LATROBE Crime Investigation Unit detectives have charged a25-year-old Newborough man following astringofalleged motor vehicle thefts across June.

It’s alleged the man stole aWhite Mitsubishi Wagon from al ocal primary school in Newborough on Thursday, June 5.

Two weeks later, the man allegedly stole a White Ford Territory from aresidence in Moe on Thursday, June 19.

The vehicle was allegedly seen driving erratically in the Moe CBD before it attended the YallournPowerStation where the occupant allegedly stole asecond vehicle, aBlueFord Ranger.

The Newborough man was spoken to by police later that day, where he allegedly assaulted apolice member during the arrest. He was sedatedand takentoLatrobe Regional Hospital.

The man was then released into police custody on Friday, June 20 and taken to Morwell Police Station, wherehewas chargedwith two counts of theft of motorvehicle, theft from motor vehicle, assault police, resist arrest and handle stolen goods.

All three of the vehicles have now been located.

He will appear at the Latrobe Valley MagistratesCourt for aremand hearing at alater date.

Dangerous pursuit

IMMOBILISATIONdevices successfully broughta stoptoastolen car containingthree boys near Darnum on Wednesday, June 18. Investigatorsbelieve the Kia was stolen fromaPakenham business premisesbetween 9.15am and 10am that morning, before being sighted operatingdangerously through various suburbs before it entered the Eastern Freeway close to 12.30pm.

Police deployed efforts to bring the vehicle to ahalt on the freeway near Warragul, but the Kia exited the freeway towards Darnum where the successful immobilisation devices were deployed near Stuart Street, before all three youth fled the vehicle on foot.

Police arrested the accused, aged 13, 15 and 16, all of whom hail from the Latrobe Valley, at 2.30pm.

The 13-year-old was charged with theft of motor vehicle, drug possession and weapon offences and was bailed to appear at achildren’s court at alater date.

The 15-year-old was charged with theft of

Police Beat with Aidan Knight and Katrina Brandon

motorvehicle, conduct endangering life and driving offences and was remanded in custody.

The 16-year-old was charged with aggravated burglary and theft of motorvehicle offences and was directedtopresent to achildren’s court and later bailed to appear at achildren’s court at alater date.

Morwell assault

LATROBE Crime Investigation Unit detectives are investigatinga serious assault in Morwell on Friday, June 6.

A27-year-oldman attendedWarragul Hospital withlife-threateninghead injuries shortlybefore 11.30am.

Investigations revealthe man was assaulted with ahammer by aman knowntohim at an Alamein St address earlier that morning. The victim remains in hospital in acritical condition.

Detectives are continuingtheir search for the offender and urge anyone with information, vision or who witnessed the incident to contact CrimeStoppers on 1800333 000 or anonymously at: www.crimestoppers.com.au

Operation Combine

JUST like it’s namesake suggests, Operation Combine, aprogram targeting unsafe driving across the Latrobe Valley, saw the Highway Patrol units of Latrobe, Bass Coast and Baw Baw combine forces to tackle speed, erratic vehicleoperation, and distracted drivers from June 19.

The operationwas just one component of efforts to reduce road trauma in the region. Units found the meanofmotorists were complying with regulations, after conducting more than 600 preliminary breath tests in the area.

Out of this,police detected two drug affected drivers, one drunk driver, and an overall 50 infringement notices were issued for avariety of violations.

Policedescribed these numbers as “disappoi ntin g” and inf ormed the publ ic tha t similar operations will continue to be executed throughoutGippsland in the months to come.

Yallourn Blues in between his VFL career. George Card was also aMid Gippsland Football League best-and-fairest winner in 1950 as playing-coach of Yallourn North.

The son played seasons for Morwell in the Latrobe Valley Football League (now Gippsland League) where he won clubbest-and-fairest honours in 1976 before being recruited to Geelong.

Cardplayed 110games for the Cats between 1977 and 1987, winning theCarjiGreeves Medal as Geelong’s best-and-fairest in the 1983 VFL season.

Card was president of the Geelong Past Players and Official Club up until the incident last year.

FIRE Rescue Victoria attended abus crash on the nightofSunday, June 2ataroundabout near Traralgon East McDonald's that resulted in aminor injury.

After the incident was deemed under control, passengers were placed onto areplacement bus.

"At 6.48pmonSunday night, FireRescue Victoria (FRV) responded to an incident on Princes Highway, Traralgon East after callers to Triple Zero (000) reported amotor vehicle crash with a possible person trapped. CFA crews also attended," an FRV spokesperson told the Express "Firefightersarrived on scene within four minutes (to)find abus that had driven through aroundabout and signage. Twenty-two passengers wereonboard the bus, with no individuals trapped."

Firefighters assisted AmbulanceVictoriatotreat an individual on scene with minor injuries. The incident was deemed under control at 6.57pm. All passengers were relocated to areplacement bus at 7.16pm. FRV remained on scene to ensure the safety of the area. Victoria Police were also on the scene.

An eyewitness told the Express abus drove through the roundabout and emergency services were in attendance, with bothlanes of the Princes Highway open.

Firearms and explosives located Bus crash in Traralgon East

ARMED Crime Squad detectives havecharged aman after locating firearms and explosives in Churchill.

Asearch warrant was executed at aresidential property in Churchill on Monday, June 23.

As part of the search, police located what appeared to be an improvised explosive device in anearby area.

The area was cordoned off as aprecaution, and the Bomb Response Unit attended and rendered the device inert.

A41-year-old Churchill man was charged with prohibited person use firearm, prohibited person possess two or more firearms, possess explosive substance, possess ammunition and commit indictable offence while on bail.

He was remanded to appear at Latrobe Valley Magistrates Court last Wednesday (June 25).

Detectives also seized six assorted firearms, two crossbows, two signal jammers and ammunition.

Anyone with information on illicit firearm activity is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000orsubmita confidentialreport online at www crimestoppersvic.com.au

Council hears communityonrates

By AIDANKNIGHT

BETWEEN lastweek’s(25/06) press deadlineand the printing of the Express, the article regarding the FarmDifferentialRatecontained on Page 9 became quickly out of date.

Thiscame as Latrobe City Councilannounced via Gippsland FM on Tuesday morning, that the proposed new rate be included within the 2025/26 draft budget.

Council stated ahead of last Monday's(June 30) monthly council meeting at Kernot Hall, that the proposed changes to the existing Farm Rate Differential recommend by officers “that council not implement the proposed changes to the criteria, instead revert back to the existing criteria”. This comes afterextensive community feedback, whichtrendedthatmanyresidents and farmholders were upset with the external metrics of what substantiated afarm, or one of “substantial commercial purpose”.

However, it remains up to councillors to discuss and decide amotion to decide the outcome of this formally proposed change, takinginto account this new recommendation from council officers.

This was the second type of differential rate to put LatrobeCity Council underfireatthe June 30 meeting, as there was registered speakers attending from the Dalkeith Heights Residents Association, making their secondpublic submission for the differential rate for retirement villages (the meeting was held after the Express went to press).

The residents association, much like the Farm Ratepayers Association, feel as if they have been viewed as ademographic more profitable than valuable by council, and “would prefer to work with them than against them to figure out what’s fair”, as said by repetitive Ben Guzzardi in aprevious chat with the Express.

Leeanne Duncan, secretary of the Latrobe City Farm Ratepayers Association, seescouncil as overlooking the more importantissueswithin their rates agenda,saying“that rates team and attitude has to go”.

Ms Duncan also went on to say she was pleased that council does acknowledge the submissions made, which can lead to positive progress.

Further coverage and fallout from the meeting will be included in next week’s issue.

What’sinlatest GippyFarmer

BULN BULN farmer Doug Benson could hardly believe his eyes when three health calves were born from one mother, the Gippsland Farmer reports in its July issue, now available from outlets and online.

In other stories:

 This year is one of the driest, and one of the toughest yet. Gippsland Farmer speaks with local farmers;

 The Lakes Entrance Fishing Co-op, now a private business, has embarked on anew growth path, but faces several challenges, including potentially losing fishing grounds from the offshore wind farms planned on the Gippsland coast;

 Popularity is growing of regenerative farming, where Gippsland farmers, such as Boorool's Libby and Dave Jenkin, are enhancing their soils and farming practices in amannerthat reduces negative environmental impacts;

 Advocacy groups are generally disappointed with new seasons farmgate milk prices, but lamb prices have edged higher, according to areport by Bendigo Bank Agribusiness;

 Beef producers are confident in the sector's outlook, according to the latest survey by Meat & Livestock Australia;

 A19-year-old Indian is cycling around the world promoting the importance of top soil for plant and animal life on the planet;

 The state budget cuts to Parks Victoria have hit the nature protection sectors, specifically those concerning fishery enforcement;

 Southern Rural Water is seeking expressions of interest from Latrobe Valley farmers about

Triple treat: Amiracle at aBulnBulnfarmafter triplet calveswereborn. File photograph

additional water allocations from Blue Rock Dam;

 An unfair manipulation of property and farm valuations will be the result of the federal government's plans to to raise the tax on superannuation accounts above $3 million and tax unrealised gains, says The Nationals Leader, David Littleproud;

 Farmers on Phillip Island are battling the damage done to agriculture due to the expanding number of Cape Barren geese, and;

 Anew saleyard at Longwarry is potentially coming to help stop disruptions in Gippsland caused by the closure of the large Pakenham yards ayear ago.

Gippsland Farmer is available from local outlets or at the Latrobe Valley Express office (21 George Street, Morwell). To view online, visit: https://gippslandfarmer.com.au

Up forthe fight: DalkeithHeights Residents Association Secretary Alan Burtonand Ben Guzzardi will again seekwhat theybelieveisafairer rate Photo: File

Heartless vandals strike yet again

By AIDANKNIGHT

FOR the second time in five weeks, local not-forprofit and equal opportunity employer, Latrobe Valley Enterprises has been made the victim of extensive vandalism.

Latrobe Valley Enterprises(LVE)isa diverse business focusing on hiringand providing meaningful employment to people with disabilities.

This vision has taken aharsh blow, with LVE left shocked to learn they have been the victim of senseless ramraids, not once, but twice, in just over amonth.

In the early hours of May 17,CCTV footage captured two vehicles ramming arollerdoor to gain access to the industrial site of the LVE site at Princes Drive Morwell, before driving directly into the ATM machine utilisedfor the Container Deposit Scheme.

The ATMsare left open everynight, withno cash kept on premises, so there is no need for any breaking if the intention is to take cash from the machines.

The trespassers never exited their vehicles or even attempted to locate any cash from the machine

throughout the entirety of the event, making it nothing more than an act of senseless vandalism.

The cost of the roller door, ruinedATM and various equipment damaged in the incident cost the companycloseto$100,000, and the destruction didn’t stop there.

Two vehicles once again penetrated the roller door and destroyed the new ATM on June21, only three weeks after the business had reopened.

The damage was more extensive the second time, exceeding $100,000, and once againforcing the business to close for recovery.

“The repercussions of these incidents extend far beyondfinancialloss,althoughthat can't be underestimated; $200,000 plusdamage in five weeks and two of those weeks we were closed, resulting in loss of revenue," LVE chief executive, Suzzanne Lewis said.

“Our team works incredibly hard for everything they have, and it's disheartening to see that some members of the community do not respect their working environment.

"Our people living with disabilities find this very hard to understand and fathom. The total

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disrespecttotheir workplace," Ms Lewis lamented.

While it is obviously disheartening and astrain on anybusiness to be subject to such unwarranted attacks, it also has abroader impact on the community. People who rely on LVE are now unable to access it’s services for aperiod of time.

"Eventually, when businesses keep getting hit like that you can't keep bouncing back," Ms Lewis said.

"Particularly when we're talking aboutthis, that sort of money, and they've got nothing.

"It (the deposit scheme) cleans up our streets It saves landfill, becauseabout 75 per centof the containers are coming through the container deposit scheme. So it's awin-win for the community, and these people have gone and made it harder to access for the community, twice now.”

LVE has adepot locatedat40Bell St Moe for anyonewishing to access the Container Deposit Scheme during the Morwell depot's closure.

Ms Lewis is aware that not everyone accessing the scheme hasthe means to do so, which adds other disappointment to the whole event.

It is unclearifthese incidents are linked, or were

perpetrated by repeat offenders, as stolen vehicles were used in the vandalism on both occasions. Both occurred between 2.30am and 4am.

Whilethe companywasn’t slacking in security by anymeans previously, having been fitted with multiple cameras and alarms, these measures seem to havehad no effectdeterring the modern criminal.

As aresult, LVE has had to progress prevention further, organising fortheir ATM to be shielded by concrete, and the installation of several bollards in front of the roller doors to hopefully prevent athird visit from the empty-handed bandits.

Initially, LVE didn’t publicise the vandalism,but after the second incident, Lewis said “we felt people needed to fully understand the reason behind the closures”, and the frequency of them.

An official updatewas madetothe LVE Facebook page on June 24, whichhas sincereceivedmore than 300shares.

Thepost was made to raise awareness about the situation and extent of the damage caused, stating “It’s important to note that theseindividualshave notand willnot gain anythingfrom their actions, atotalwaste of timebut alot of damage caused.”

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Traralgon’sLocks andLength finalistatindustry awards

EXCITING news hascome in for Traralgon’s Locksand Length as thebusinesswas afinalistinRising Star and Reel of theYear at the Hair ExtensionAwards.

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What’s left: The roller dooratLatrobe Valley Enter prises, Morwell aftera vehicle ploughed through. Photograph supplied

Smashed: TheContainer Deposit machineatLatrobe Valley Enter prises completelytotalled. Photograph supplied

Latrobe ValleyEnter prises,Morwell has been the target of repeatedvandalism. Photograph: Aidan Knight

O’Brien meets locals on the road

MEMBER for Gippsland South, Danny O'Brien is taking up multiple issues with the state government on behalf of local residents after aseries of face-to-facemeetingswithresidents in more than 15 communities across the electorate.

ThroughoutJune, Mr O'Brien took his mobile office to Toongabbie, Cowwarr, Loch, Poowong, Nyora, Loch Sport, Golden Beach,Seaspray, Stradbroke, Yarram, Woodside,PortAlbert, Alberton, Meeniyan, Dumbalk and Koonwarra.

"These visits are all about takingthe time to sit down with locals in their own communities to listen to their concerns and offer support where I can," Mr O'Brien said.

"It was great to be able to meetwith awide range of localstodiscusseverything from local roads and healthcare access to planning matters, public transport, and the future of small towns."

Anumberofkey issues were raised repeatedly

-chief amongthem, the new Emergency Services VolunteerFund,which many localsfear will unfairly impact their household budget.

Mr O'Brien said poor road maintenance wasalso acommon complaint.

"The condition of our roads came up in almost every town. Potholes, crumbling surfaces and general neglect are frustrating and, more importantly, dangerous," he said.

"I will be followingupwithVicRoads on the specific roads that were raised with me, but more generally, Iwill also be continuing to push for more investment to ensureour roadsare built better from the start."

In coastal communities such as Loch Sport and GoldenBeach, residents voiced concerns about the impact of proposed offshore wind developmentsas well as proposed changes to flood overlay planning legislation.

This month, Mr O'Brien will be visiting Boolarra,

Consul-general tours region

THE Consul-General of Japan,TokuroFuruya, visited the Latrobe Valley’s major industries last week, hosted by Member for Morwell, Martin Cameron.

Starting at Maryvale, Mr Furuya was shown the inside workings of Opal Australian Paper’s brown papermillwhere morethan500 people are employed.

“Mr Furuya hadaparticular interest in the paper mill given it’s asubsidiary of the Nippon Paper Group which is aJapanese company,” Mr Cameronsaid.

“While at Maryvale we also received abriefing about the Energy from Wasteproject which, if commercialised, would be transformative for our region and amuch-needed stimulus as we rapidly near the closure of our coal-fired power stations.”

Mr Furuya and Mr Cameron were also hostedon atour of the Loy Yang power station and mine, a briefing from proponents of the Hydrogen Energy Supply Chain (HESC) project, and tour of the Gippsland Performing Arts Centre.

“To see thesheer size of theminewas aweinspiringfor Mr Furuya, and Loy Yangowners AGL provided insights about its day-to-day operations andthe roleitplays as the heart of industry in the Latrobe Valley,” Mr Cameron said.

“The HESC pilot project was very successful and commercialisation of this supply chain would mean hundreds if not thousands of jobs for the region.

“In operation, HE SC wo uld se nd liq uefied hydrogen to Japan via the Port of Hastings using local brown coal resources.

“We have aonce-in-a-generation opportunity to achieve the significant economic and emission reduction benefitsthat acommercialscale clean hydrogen project can deliver.

“Once youfactor carbon captureand storage into the project, there is no reason to oppose what would

International visit: Member forMorwell, Mar tin Cameron with the Consul-General of Japan, TokuroFuruyaduring atour of LoyYang Photograph supplied

effectively be an environmentally friendly project that willhelp us createjobs, boost exports, and help us set up ahydrogen economy in Gippsland.”

Residents in these areas can phone Mr

office on 5144 1987oremail: danny.obrien@parliament.vic.gov.automake an appointmentorseek assistance with any specific state government matters.

Yinnar, Yinnar South, Rosedale, Gormandale and Kilmany, and encouraged anyone who'd like to meet with him to get in touch.

O'Brien's

Jeffrey’s

Gippsland

Doctor with ready smile leaves Valley

By JOHN JENNINGS

DR Zeiyad Al-Mayahe –the GP who loves people, has retired after 25 years service in Gippsland.

Iasked Dr Zeiyad (the name by which he is best known) which came first –people or medicine.

He was quick to reply, “I always wanted to be a doctor since Iwas very young.”

Hi, I’m Jeff from TM&H Mitre 10, Moe. After 50 years in hardware, gardening has become apassion of mine! This month let’s talk about preparing your roses for winter to ensure strong, healthy growth in spring.

Ad di ng Colour to th eCold:

Don’t let the grey skies fool you, winter gardens can be full of colour! Here are a few hardy favourites that’ll brighten up your beds and pots during the cooler months: Pansies, Violas and Polyanthas: These cheerful little flowers thrive in cold temperatures and come in arainbow of colours. Perfect for pots, borders or hanging baskets.

Berries: Sw eetWinter Preparatio n

•Planning on planting berries this year? Winter is agreat time to prep your patch for success.

•Full Sun is Best: Berries love sunlight, make sure they’repositioned in asunny spot.

•Prepthe Soil: Dig in lots of compost and cow manure to give the roots astrong start.

•Support the Canes: Most berry varieties grow long canes that need tying to a trellis, fence or asupport system.

HowtoPla nt Potatoes

There’s nothing more satisfying than digging up your own fresh spuds and it’s easier than you think!

1. Choose the Right Time

•The ideal time to plant in the Latrobe Valley is late winter to early spring (July to September).

2. Pick Your Seed Potatoes

•Always use certified seed potatoes from a garden centre to avoid disease.

•Cut large potatoes into chunks with 1–2 eyes each, then let them dry out for afew days to prevent rot.

3. Planting

•Dig holes about 15cm deep.

•Add half ahandful of complete garden fertiliser to the bottom.

•Cover with 3cm of soil, place your seed potatoes (eyes up), then cover completely.

•Asshoots grow, mound up soil around the base to protect from frost and encourage more tubers.

Pr unin gRoses:

•Winter is prime time to prune most roses, but timing is everything.

•When to Prune: Wait until July or August to prune repeat-floweringroses & standard roses. Pruning too early will encourage new growth that can be burnt by frost.

•Where to Start:

•Remove old, woody stems at the base.

•Prune out the crowded centre to improve airflow.

•Keep 3–4 strong lateral stems.

•Cut laterals back to 25–30cm, just above outward facing buds.

My Hot Tip: Always clean your secateurs between each plant prune with methylated spirits. This helps stop the spread of disease and keeps your cuts sharp and clean. Ilike to lightly brush the baseofmain stem the roses with asteel brushtokeep away debris.

Final Thoughts: While the winter air might be crisp and cool, yourgarden is full of potential. Think of this time as nature’s reset, the more prep you do now, the better your spring garden will be. Until next time Happy Gardening!

Born in 1963 in Iraq where his father wasa judge, the young man attended medical school with aspecial interest in surgery, and in 2000 migrated to Australia with his wife Mary.They have adaughterwho is apharmacist.

His first posting, in Gippsland, was at Latrobe Regional Hospital in 2000 and he later joined the HollieDrive Medical Centre at Morwell (from 2006 to 2018) with his trademark method of greeting patients by bounding out of his chair with ahuge smileand hand extended.

Instead of asking, “How are you?” his greeting was often, “Good to seeyou” and he was always ready to respond to staff.

Dr Zeiyad tended to keep an eye on his patient instead of his computer while he swiftly carried outablood pressure test if required.

Although his command of English (should that be Australian?) could leave some patients abit unsure, there was nothing unsure about the GP's reputation for quickly diagnosinganailment with the confidence of his 37 years in practical medicine.

After Dr Zeiyad finished at Morwell, he took leave including time at his Point Cook home before joining the Hillcrest Family Clinic at Traralgon in 2021 until his retirement at the end of June–after many of his devoted Morwell patients had followed him along the highway.

Taxstats lay all the data out

THE Australian Taxation Office (ATO) has released its annual Taxation Statistics report for the 2022-23 year.

The reportcontainsdata extracted from tax returns and related schedules, as well as other information provided to the ATO.

Taxation statistics provide detailed and valuable insights into the income tax positionofindividuals, companies, trusts, super funds and partnerships in Australia for the 2022-23 income year.

Thedata generally follows trends from previous years, withthe average taxable income andaverage superannuation account balancerising, reflecting areturn to conditions from before COVID.

This report also includes information relating to the 2023–24 financial or fringe benefits tax year, including for goods and services tax (GST), excise and fuel schemes and fringe benefits tax (FBT).

This year there are three new data sets:

 Anew table splitting company data by entity size and taxable income or loss range.

 Additional data for GST, including monthly GST, wine equalisation tax (WET), and luxury car tax (LCT) data.

 Additional data for excise, showing detailed historical excise collection figures from the Department of Home Affairs.

Points of interest from

 The total tax revenue 2022–23 was $577.4 billion: from individual income per cent came from companies 14.2 per cent came from

per cent came from excise ($25.4 billion), 4.2

in

Net tax from companies for the 2022/23 income year increasedby9.2 per cent to $140 billion (compared to $128 billion in 2021/22). The biggest company tax liability came from the mining industry (39 per cent of company net tax)

The GP who enjoys medicine, people and soccer intends to have aspell and then some travel overseas.

Locallegend: Last days at Hillcrest Family Clinicfor Dr Zeiyad Al-Mayahe

Photograph: John Jennings

First steps taken in switch from gas

By LIAM DURKIN

SURELY the state governmentblastedDoItAgain by TheChemical Brothersafter this announcement.

"Let's turn this thing electric".

The state governmenthas released its Gas SecurityStatement, outlining the stepsitistaking to avoid gas shortfalls forecast by the Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO)for south-eastern states by 2029.

At the crux of the statement is amove for new homes to be all-electric.

The state government says this move will save gas forindustry and reduce householddemand, meaning more of Victoria’s gas –the cheapest in the nation –will be used by Victorian manufacturers, supporting jobs and keeping local industry strong.

Under the reforms, it is estimated just under 12 petajoules (PJ) of gas will be unlocked every year by 2029.

By 2035, atotalof44PJannually is expected to be delivered-enough to meet 85 per cent of Victoria’s forecast industrial demand.

From January 1, 2027, all new homes will be built all-electric.

The state government says this will put around $880 per year back in the pockets of new homeowners, or $1820 if they have solar.

From January 1, 2027,all newcommercial buildings (other than industrial, manufacturing andagricultural buildings) will also be required to be built all-electric.

There are no changes to rules regarding end-oflife replacement for gas appliances in all existing commercial buildings.

The useofLPG forhouseholds or business is also unchanged.

Under new regulations fromMarch 1, 2027, when agas hot water system reaches the end of its life, it must also be replaced with an efficient electric alternative such as aheat pump.

Electric hot water systems will save households around $330 ayear, or $520 with solar, the state government says.

Electric hot water systems are also often cheaper up front than gas systems, with rebates available from the state government’s Victorian Energy Upgrades and Solar Victoria programs of up to $1400.

Gas hot water systems can still be repaired if they break down. Gas systems can also be temporarily

So long: Household gashot watersystems will need to be replacedwith an electric alternative, under newstate government regulations,set to come in 2027 Photograph: iStock

removed and reinstalled during renovations.

There are no changes to heating for owner occupiers. There are also no changes to gas cooking in existing homes.

“The new building regulations and the housing and building standards will provide certainty for households and businesses, improveenergy efficiency, and help to keep bills low," Morwell MP and Minister forHousing and Building, Harriet Shing said.

Additionally, from March 1, 2027 at the start of anew lease, main living areas must also have an efficient electric cooling system.

Installing areverse-cycle air conditioner will acquit both the heatingand cooling requirements.

Every single upgrade aproperty may need under the new minimum efficiency standards is eligible for adiscount under the government's Victorian Energy Upgrades program.

Exemptions also apply, including if installation costs are too high or if there is not enough space.

The state government says rental standards have been set following extensive consultation to make sure they are achievable and keep costsaffordable for rental providers.

Premier Jacinta Allan said the moves were all

about securing the state's gas supply into the future.

"Families will pay less on their energybills, industry will get the gas it needs –and Victorian jobs are protected," she said.

“It’s good for industry, workers, renters and families –we’re on their side.

“We are not justmaking sure Victoria has the gas it needs –weare reserving it for industry.”

"We’re taking action now to secure Victoria’s gas supply –not justfor today, but for the decades ahead,” Ministerfor Energy and Resources, Lily D’Ambrosio added.

TheOppositionhowever believe the changes are nothing more than apolitical stunt ayear out from the next state election.

Nationals Member for Eastern Victoria Region, Ms Bath said while Victorians had been granted aslightreprieve, with household gas heaters not needing to be switched to electricity until2027, old gas hot water systems must still be replaced with electric appliances from 2026.

The reprieve does not apply to rental properties. New builds remain banned from connecting to gas and commercial buildings must be all electric.

“Once again Victorians are being sold another stay of execution by an unpopular Premier,” Ms Bath said.

“The Nationals and Liberals have been telling Labor its war on gas is bad for Victorians. These changes are all about managing perception rather than listeningtocommunity.

“Labor has bungled the state’s energy transition and gas should remain an importantpart of the state’s energy mix. Labor’s flawed energy roadmap risks the security and supply of energy to households.

“The Premierneedstoadmit she is wrong on gas and work with the industry to ensure we have enoughsupplytohelp drive costs downover winter

“Labor has developed cold feet with astate election on the horizon –these changes are acon.” Ms Bath said in acost of living crisis, it was unjust to force struggling households to switch to electricity while their bills keep rising.

“The Nationals back energy choice for Victorian households –not ideological government imposed mandates," she said.

“Labor’s claim it is ‘slashing energy bills’ is disingenuouswhenVictorians know the reality is the opposite.”

of

1 What Sport Do The Harlem Globetrotters Play?

2 What is the ‘per fect score’ in a game of Ten

3. What do snakes use

4 Which countr y popularised the ‘Tim Tam Slam’?

TWO POINTERS

5 What does come down but never goes up?

6 What flavor is Cointreau?

7 What is the main ingredient of a mince pie?

8 What Office Did Winston Churchill hold for the longest continuous period?

THREE POINTER

9 What is Sauerkraut made out of?

10 Which programming language shares its name with an island in Indonesia?

11 Who was the last of the apache warrior chiefs?

12 Who was assassinated on Dec 8, 1980, in New York City? FOUR POINTER

13 In a game of netball how many players on a team are allowed To score?

14 In 1979 who led 900 followers in a mass suicide in Guyana?

FIVE POINTER

15 Name the five sense organs One point for each correct answer

How did you fare?

37: Top of the 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. 0272

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’.

Local news in

Hands-on: St Paul’sAnglican Grammar School, student Amelia learning about

photographs

Community Corner with

Garden club

TRARALGONGarden Club's next meeting is this Tuesday(July8) at Glenview Park (Trar algon Racecourse,110 McNairn Road, Traralgon) from 2pm.

The topicwill be 'winterpruning'.

The club is afriendly group of people with an interest in all aspect sofgar dening. Visitor s welcome.

Forfurtherinformation, phone BryanCorkran on 0408 598 016.

Ride on

TRAMPSrode on Sunday,June 22 for ashort ride from Kernot Hall. It was cold but fine and no wind.

There wasaheavy fog which limited vision to about 200 metres.

On the way, riders took in the view at ANZAC Lookout; 200m of it. Arriving at Yinnar, the group enjoyed am orning tea in the Bicentennial Park.

Alongthe HazelwoodEstate road,ridersrode out of the fog and into the warm sun. Although riders intended to have lunch in the MorwellNationalPark, they continued onto Churchill due to facility works underway.

The cruise downhill to Morwell was arefreshing way to finish the ride.

TRAM PS (Traralg on and Morwell Pedallers Inc.) next ride will be from Yarragon this Sunday (July 6) and will include lunch at Burke Park, Warragul.

TRAMPS welcomes new riders. For more information visit: www. tramps.org.au.

Club contacts are: Paul on 0459 823 422 or Vance (0403 662 288).

Spiritual centre

LATROBEValley Spiritual Centre (2 Avondale Rd, Morwell).

JoineverySundayfor service from 2pm. Doors open at 1.30pm. Guest speaker every week with demonstrations from an invited medium, followed by acuppa and afternoon tea.

For enquiries, phone Amanda Webb on 0411 051 044.

Classic chess

LATROBE Valley Chess Club

matchups saw Ian Hamilton keep allchallengers at bay, including a win in the rematch against Price Samasiea following adraw in the first battle.

Peter Bakker erred to lose his firstgame and improved as the round progressed including two agreed draws.

Cliff Thornton posedasolid fight before losing in the firstgame that was followed by one draw as well as awin

Several mistakescaused trouble for Steve Ahern who claimed victory in one game.

Phone Cliff Thornton on 0413 330 458 or Ian Hamilton (0400 221 649) for more information.

Music meeting

GIPPSL AND Countr yM us ic Club will hold its annual meeting Sunday, July 20.

The meeting will take take place at the Senior Citizens Rooms (Rose Garden)onMaryvale Crescent, Morwell from 11am.

Royal visit

Outstanding: Morwell’sUmanda Fernandowas honoured at the Chisolm Education Awards,namedHigher Education Studentofthe Year.Umandais studying aBachelor of CommunityMental Health, Alcoholand Other Drugs to begin acareer in counselling

EXPRESS reader Tilo Junge was inspired to hark back to Princess Margaret's Royal Visit to the region in 1975, upon seeing a photograph in the June 4issue of the Express featuring the lone railway platform constructed for her voyage to Moe.

Attached are two photos of a VictorianRailwaysRoyal Visit Pass, issued in the name of Mr R Ritchie that Mr Junge owns and acquired from an old time collector in Trafalgar.

"Having grown up in Moe, Irecall dad pointing out this platform from time to time when driving past, saying that it was usedduring the Royal Visit for astoptovisit Old Gippstown," Mr Junge said.

Brilliant bridge

TRARALGON Bridge Clubresults.

Tuesday, June 24 -N/S 1st Rob Graham and GlenisLohr (63.79 per cent); 2nd Christine Zarb and Fred Kaminski (60.66). E/W 1st Kaye Douglas and Roshni Chand (62.10); 2nd Peter Lonie and Carol Cheyne (57.94).

Thursday, June26-N/S 1st Rob Graham and Glenis Lohr (64.58); 2nd Fred Kaminski and Heather Henley (53.65). E/W 1st Moira and Robin Hecker (60.31); 2nd Ken Tierney and Roxy Lamond(58.44).

If you would like to play or learn more about bridge,call Helen McAdam on 0438 164 528.

Sip, paint workshop

AWORKSHOP for people of all

abilities will be held Friday, July 11.

Come along and enjoy acreative and relaxing session where you can paint ahandmade cement item of your choice.

The workshop will be at 4High Street, Moe from 10am. For more information, phone Phillip Chalker on 0400 603 367 or email: The.blind.creator1@ gmail.com

Countrymusic

GOODold countrymusicfeaturingRonn Munn, TonyWirth and friends. Walk upswelcome.

First Sunday of every month, 11 am to 4p ma tM ono mea th Se nior Citi zens Hall, Vict ory Park cornerofPrinces Highway and Whittakers Road, Traralgon. For all enquiries, phone 0409 149 309. Fun day of country music.

Youcan be apart of Community Corner

IF you are acommunity group and have any news itemsyou need publicised, feel free to email us at news@lvexpress.com.au

You can address correspondence to the editor, Liam Durkin. Please write 'Community Corner' in the subject line and nothing else. DeadlineisFriday 9amtoappear in the following Wednesday issue.

Liam Durkin

Surrounded: TRAMPS riders bravethe foggyelements Photographs supplied

Relic: Express reader Tilo Junge still hasitems from the RoyalVisit to Gippsland 50 yearsago

the coastal environment.

aralgon Harrier CourtneyEllishas been in great form at Athletics Victoria events. Photograph supplied

Easier medic connection Don’tscootaroundthe issue

AMBULANCE Victoria is urging the community to take simple steps to make their homes easierfor paramedics to find and access in an emergency.

Shorter days, poor weather and limited visibility during evening call-outs can delay crews when minutes matter most.

Aclearly marked home with easy access can make acriticaldifference when someone’s life is on the line.

Here’s how you can help:

 Clearly display your street number. Ensure it is large, easy to read, and visible from the road day and night;

 Turn on your outdoor lights;

 Keep access clear, move any obstructions from driveways and paths, and unlock gates where possible;

 Secure pets;

 Provide access details. Let the call taker know of any key lock boxes and any gate codes or access information that crews might need, and;

 Let call takers know if your property is hard to find. This information can be passed to paramedics on route.

Ambulance Victoria, Acting Executive Director Regional Operations,Narelle Capp, said these small steps can help save precious time.

“In winter, it’s often dark and wet when paramedics are called out, and some homes are really difficult to spot or access,” she said.

“Having lights on, visible house numbers, pets safely secured,and key or gateinformation available can help us reach patients faster and deliver care without delay.”

While GPS and digital maps are useful, they don’t replace clear visual cues or physical access to the property.

Taking afew moments nowtoprepare your home could make all the difference during an emergency.

By BLAKE METCALF-HOLT

NO matter how kids are arriving to school, it’s of utter importance they are getting there safely.

VictoriaPolice’s Morwell ProactivePolicing Unit, and in partnership with Latrobe Regional Health,have begun undertaking educational seminars at local schools surrounding the risks and responsibilities of electronic scooters and electronic bikes (e-scooters and e-bikes), due to the growing popularity of its use among young people.

The first of such took place at Lavalla Catholic College’s junior campus, delivered to students Years 7through 9, on Thursday, June 19.

Inspector Sonali Deshpande, Tasking and Coordinating Eastern Region Division 5(which covers Latrobe, Bass Coast and Baw Baw) said that with the introduction of new legislation means furthereducation needstobepresented at this age.

“What we want to know is they (students) should be aware about their obligationsand the legislations,” she said.

“Road safety is avery important issue and it’s very unpredictable and uncertain. If you do not follow the road rules, if you are not careful, or if you are not asaferoad user,you can put your life at risk or somebodyelse’s at risk.”

After state-wide publiccomplaints regarding the irresponsible behaviours of those riding these electronically poweredvehicles,the state government responded by introducingpermanent rules for e-scooters late last year.

Tough penalties have been instilled, including an increase in the fine for failing to wear ahelmet to $395whilstriding,$296for riding on afootpath,and $247 for carrying apassenger. E-scooter passengers are also liable for anew fine of at least $247, which increases to $642 if they are also failing to wear a helmet.

For those ridinganon-compliant e-scooter, which is capable of travelling faster than 25km/h and is considered an unregistered motor vehicle, the fine is upwards of $988.

“In terms of policing what issues we are seeing, how we are approaching these issues as Victoria Police, are first via education …engaging with the school students as well as the local stakeholders,” Inspector Deshpande added.

“Second one we also look at from the enforcement perspective (is) issuing on-the-spot fines for the reckless or unsafe behaviours, not using helmets,

riding on the footpath, or riding around pedestrians or other road users in areckless manner.”

Although, InspectorDeshpande firmly statedthat:

“It’s more about education than issuing fines”.

Theimportance of this lecture for Lavalla and its students regardskeeping both themselves and the surroundingcommunity safe whenthese electronically powered vehicle are being used.

Making sure students are wearing the appropriate safety equipment, including adapting to conditions like at night time to remain visible just as acyclist would, and avoiding footpaths and displayingreckless behaviour, especially aroundfellow roadusers.

Lavalla Catholic College Principal, Ryan Greer has noticed an increase in students using thesee-bikes ande-scootersontheir morning trips to school.

“It’s really important that our young people are both prioritising their safety and the community’s safety as well, so opportunities like today give us the chance to speak to them about regulation, what’s in place for them in the community, and education,”

Mr Greer said.

“I think that it’s important as acommunity that we are all working together, and schools are microcosms of society, and having areally strong relationship with our local authorities and Victoria Police can only assist in assuring that everyone is on the same page.”

Mr Greer believed these seminars are helpful for his students, with alot of misinformation on the

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matter spread online, and with how high-powered some of thedevices are out there.

He added that students still arrive to schoolin various ways, including traditional methods via bus, parent drop-offs, riding pushbikes and walking, as well as e-scooters and e-bikes. Lavalla junior school student, Gemma thought the police visit was very eye-opening to see the dangers of these devices, despite only riding them close to home with her friends.

“It showed how dangerous ourroads can be if you’renot following the road safety rules, especially on transportation vehicles likee-bikes and e-scooters that you wouldn’t usually use,” she said.

Clinical Nurse Educator at Latrobe Regional Health, Emma Marino detailed the injuries that come from riding e-bikes and e-scooters unsafely, both pedestrians and the riders themselves.

“In emergency (wards), we usually see the consequencesofpeople’s poor choices, and people sometimes wish they hadn’t done something,” she said.

“(The students) could be the person who decides that they make surethat they do make good choices that they minimise the risk, and they think about what the consequences could be, not only for themselves but for their family, and also for the wider community.”

For more information on the e-scooter road rules, visit:https://transport.vic.gov.au/ road-rules-and-safety/e-scooter-road-rules

Duty: Policehavebeen visiting local schools to educatestudents on e-scooter and e-bike safety.

Photograph: iStock

Ce le brat in gNAI DOC Week

AS we enter 2025, NAIDOC Week marksa powerful milestone: 50 years of honoring and elevating Indigenous voices, culture, and resilience.

The 2025 theme, “The Next Generation: Strength, Vision and Legacy,” celebrates not only the achievements of the past but the bright future ahead, empowered by the strength of our young leaders, the vision of our communities, and the legacy of our ancestors.

The NAIDOC journey began as amovement for

recognition and rights, sparked by Indigenous communities who saw afuturebuilt on justice and equality

Over the decades, it has grown into apowerful national celebration, atestament to the enduring strength of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

To commemorate this 50-year legacy,itis important to look forward, honouring the next generation who will carrythe torch, shaping the futurewith courage, insight, and deep respect for their roots.

Guided by the wisdom of the Elders and the groundwork laid by the forebears, each NAIDOC Week reinforces the vision of an Australia where Indigenous voices arenot only heardbut lead the way

This year,the National NAIDOC Committee takes an important step towardindependence, embracing self-determination as amodel for the next generation.

With everystoryshared, everyact of resilience remembered, and everycultural practice celebrated, they honour alegacythatreaches far into the past and extends into the future.

National NAIDOC Poster Competition

The National NAIDOC Poster competition has become an iconic featureofNational NAIDOC Week andhas arich and significant history beginning in 1967 when the National Aboriginal and Islander Day Observance Committee (NAIDOC) first began producing posters.

NAIDOC posters have been exhibited by various Australian cultural institutions such as the National Museum of Australia and reflect not only the many significant social changes that have occurred since 1967 but also the evolution of artover the years.

Each year the National NAIDOC Poster Competition encourages Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists aged 16 years andover

to submit their artwork which reflects that year’s National NAIDOC Week Theme.

In recent years, the National NAIDOC Poster competition winning artists have been afforded numerous opportunities to work with organisations such as the Australian Open, Microsoft, The Project television show and various state travel authorities that have wrapped public transport vehicles in the winning artwork.

Ku rna iCol le ge is excited to ce le brat e NA IDOC Week 2025

–The Next Ge ne rati on :Stren gt h, Vi si on an dLegacy

KURNAI College is committed to honouring and acknowledging the rich cultural heritage of the First Nations people and is eagerly preparing to commemorate the significance of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures.

NAIDOC Week is apivotal moment for Kurnai’slearning community to come together and pay respect to the histories, achievements and contributions of Indigenous Australians.

Due to the official NAIDOC dates falling during the school holidays, Kurnai College will hold its annual NAIDOC celebrations early in Term 3.

The week will include celebrations at each campus, including an increased curriculum on Australian culture, culminating with the main event at the Latrobe Valley Flexible Option Campus in Morwell, showcasing the Dedlee Kultya Dancers, music and storytelling by Scott Darlow and guest speakers including local Elders.

These experiences aim to foster adeep sense of pride and empowerment among staff and students, encouraging them to embrace their role in shaping The Next Generation: Strength, Vision and Legacy through reconciliation and shared understanding.

The College will also proudly open their LVFLO Campus Indigenous Garden, which has been filled with indigenous plants and artworks created by students and members of the community

This area will be used for cultural learning, including traditional activities such as bush tucker tasting, weaving and campfire conversations.

Staffand members of the Indigenous community have been working hardonKurnai’s deliverables which arelisted in their formal Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) -Ngalu Waru Dardee (pronounced Narloo Wa-roo Dar-dee) meaning “Together weare stronger”, adocumentthatcements the college’s reconciliation commitment, highlighting their annual NAIDOC celebrations.

This document isbeing used as aresource to strengthen relationships, build respect and create opportunities in the classroom, around the school and within the community

The college is proud of their nameand its heritage and is committed to continuing working towards aculturally inclusive learning community whereall people, cultures and histories arewelcomed, acknowledged and understood.

The celebration of NAIDOC Week at Kurnai College serves as atestament to their commitment to promoting inclusivity,respect and reconciliation.

By fostering adeeper understanding and appreciation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, the college hopes to assist in empowering its students to become advocates for social justice and cultural preservation, creating abrighter and more harmonious futurefor all Australians.

Walhalla heyday,stories from the rich goldfields

BELOW is an excerpt from the Walhalla Heyday

by G.F James and C.G

Lee.

First published in 1970,this bookhas been in production for more than 50 years. Copies are available for purchase at the Walhalla Old Post and Telegraph Museum andWalhalla Corner Store.

 BARELY afortnight after Stringer registered his alluvial claim, John Hinchcliffe and James Myers had found the outcrop of aline of reef above asmall gully on the western side of the creek.

Time goneby: HistoricWalhalla.The outline of this streetscapeisstill noticeable today. Photograph supplied

Perhaps as acourtesy, or perhaps from asense of obligation,they named it after JohnCohen of theBald Hills post office and store.

Another rush saw Cohen’s Reef traced and occupied for adistanceofalmost two miles.

About two hundred miners werereputed to have attended ameeting on March 4toelect acommittee to settle claim "jumpings" andother mining disputes; and by the end of the month reports by aStringer's Creek correspondent were appearing in the Gippsland Times.

"Thereisnodoubtwhatsoevernow," he wrote on June 6, "ofthe permanence of the reefs -the deeper the work is proceeded with, the richer the stone taken out."

Specimens of the quartz had been sent to Sale and exhibitedbythe banks; and by September, such was the amount and quality of the stone from No. 7North that it was being referred to in the Times as the "Jewellers' Shop".

But, until aquartz crusher could be dragged in across the hills, the stone would have to lie stacked on each claim.

Another wet winter, with floods,had disillusioned most of the alluvial miners working the bed of the creek; lack of capital, and delay in access for machinerybyroadand bridge, embarrassed the reefers.

"For Sale —aBargain and aFortune when the Machinery arrives", ran an advertisement in the Gippsland Times on July 3.

"A Share in No. 2North QuartzClaim, Stringer's Creek. The claim is second to the prospectors’ and richstone has beentaken out fromthe commencement ...ofthe shaft, which is sunk to adepth of over 30 feett. About 40 tons of stone ...isawaiting crushing. The only reason of the holder selling out is want of means to carry on the claim until machinery can be brought to the ground."

Six weeks later afifth share in No. 7North had changed hands for £450.

Have your say on water charter

GIPPSLAND Waterisinvitingcustomers to have their say on proposed updates to its Customer Charter and Trade Waste Customer Charter.

The chartersoutline Gippsland Water’s service levels for the supply of water, wastewater and trade waste services to customers, as well as customers’ rights and responsibilities.

Bothcharters have anew design to make them easier to navigate. Financial support and familyviolencesupport optionswill also be more accessible and easier to find.

Otherchanges include guidance on what GippslandWaterwillrepair after completing works, specifying the two situations for water restriction and clarifying the way the organisation takes payment.

GippslandWater Managing Director,Sarah Cumming said customerfeedbackwouldbecarefully reviewed and considered before finalising the charters.

“We're asking our customersfor feedbackto understand if they support the proposedupdates to the charters,” Ms Cumming said.

“The changes we’re proposing will further ensureour customers’ rights andobligations are clear, as well as our own.

“In our 2023-2028Price Submission we said we’d review and update both documents. We’re on track to complete the process this year.”

Gip ps lan dWater’s Cus to mer Cha rter is informedbythe Essential ServicesCommission’s Water IndustryStandards Urban Customer Service.

The Trade Waste Customer Charter should be read in conjunctionwiththe CustomerCharter Custome rs can read the full listo fp roposed updates and provide their feedback to Gippsland Water at: www.gippswater.com.au/ customercharterreview.

It was but one of many suchtransactions,for Gippsland and Melbourne capitalists were already eager to invest, both in the claims and in the provision of essential equipment.

 CURIOUS to learn more? Step into the legacy of Australia’s gold rush and experience the town where history still echoes through the hills.

Visit: www.walhallaboard.org.au to findout more.

&Telegraph

10am

4pm

and school holidays; Learn about all Walhalla has to offer at: www. visitwalhalla.com

Howitt Ct, Newborough

HOWITT Court, Newborough is named after Alfred William Howitt.

Mr Howitt (pictured) has been described as an explorer, scientist and public servant.

He was born in 1830 in Nottingham and educated in England and Germany. He completed his education at London University College.

In 1852, he travelled to Victoria with his father and younger brother, joining the rush to the gold fields.

His father and brother remainedfor two years and then returned to England,but Alfred decided to stay on and gained employment in aMelbourne Museum sponsored expedition to the Mornington Peninsula, and then clearing his uncle’s property at Caulfield.

He then setout to explore the Baw Baw Ranges, allthe while developing his bush skills

On hisreturn he was offeredajob as astation manager and then to lead agroup to check out the future use of aproperty in South Australia north of Adelaide.

His success in these tasks resulted in an offer to lead agovernment sponsoredprospecting party into Gippsland, seeking new goldfields. The party discovered payable gold at Crooked River in 1860.

Howitt’s success resulted in another offer to lead an expedition to discover what had happened to the Burke and Willsexpedition whose return was overdue. Again he was successful in this task.

He was then offered an appointment as the Warden of the Goldfields and Police Magistrate in north and East Gippsland. He took up the job in 1863, first living at Omeo, then Bairnsdale andfinally Sale. The role meant agreat deal of travel and one author has him travelling 7000 miles by horse or buggyinasingle yeartofulfil the demands of the job.

In his travels he developed an interest in the Gippsland Indigenous community and in the botanyand geology of Gippsland. His extensive notes and published articles became avalued source of knowledge of Gippsland.

In 1889hewas appointed Secretary of Mines forVictoria and moved to Melbourne. He retired in 1901 and moved to Metung. In retirement he published books on the Indigenous tribes of South East Australia and on the geology of Gippsland and Gippsland Eucalypts. He also participated in an inquiry int oc oa lm in in gi nV ic tori aa nd on the Commission to select asitefor the Australian capital city. He was granted anumber of awards includinghonorary degrees from Cambridge and Melbourne Universities. He died in 1908 and was buried in Bairnsdale. Arecent publication, Line of Blood, The Truth of Alfred Howitt by Craig Horne reassesses the contribution Alfred Howitt made to society. Text and photograph provided by Moe &District Historical Society.

50 years ago

The Express, July 4, 1975

Paperboys face court

PAPERBOYS who ride bicycles thathave no lightsorreflectorsare being blitzed by Traralgon police.This follows manywarnings and lectures at schools.Police have even gone out and talkedtooffending paperboys. Senior SgtRon Tanion said yesterday that it was a wonder no paper boy has been struck by a motoristatnightorearly in the morning.“One woman came to me in ahighly nervous state she said she narrowly missed –two boys on bike on one journey,” Sgt Tanion said. Police were spending afortune on tryingtoeducate boys and parentsabout the dangers of riding without the lights and reflectors. “All our warnings have been ignored, so now we are taking action”, he said.Several paper boys havebeencharged on summons to appear at Children’s court. Sgt Tanion said he was astounded that parents were not concerned about the safety of their children.

30 years ago

The Express, July 4, 1995 School sitepassed in auction THE property of former Morwell Heights campus of Kurnai College was passed in at $260,000 when it was auctioned on Friday.

Auctioneer, Jeff Bennett, of BJ Bennett and Co, said therewereabout60peopleatthe auction which was held on site. Mr Bennett said he had been “surprised the property was passed in because of the strong community interest shown”. However, he added negotiations were currently continuing with two interestparties.Unable to disclose what future use the parties had for the site, Mr Bennett said the sale shouldbecompleted within two weeks.

10 years ago

The Express, July 2, 2015

Maryvale mill spill under investigation

AN industrial spill at the Maryvale Mill is under investigation by the Environment Protection Authority, to determine whether waste has been released into the Latrobe River. The investigation comes after asmall section of pipe carrying trade wastewater to the Gippsland Water Factory failed late on Sunday night. The liquid was released into abillabong system at Maryvale, which proce sses wastewate ra nd stormw ater before final release into the Latrobe River. Australian Paper spokesman Craig Dunn said the situation was brought under control in “just over two hours”. “The Latrobe River has been tested both upstream and downstream of Maryvale and therehas beennodetectable change to the water quality in the river as a result of this situation,” Mr. Dunn said. “We expect to contact the EPA for permission to return our treatmentsystems back to normal operations later this week.”

BINGO

Fittingtribute in honour of Neil

By LIAM DURKIN

THE legacy of late Trafalgar Holden Museum legend, Neil Joiner has been enshrined.

Mr Joiner was honoured at aspecial dedication last Thursday, with the unveiling of the Neil Joiner Holden Heritage Centre.

The centre is the latestaddition in the museum’s impressivecollection detailing the full history of Holden.

Full history is no understatement, with the two-story extension taking in everything and anything manufactured, influenced or even remotely connected with Holden.

At ground level lies alitany of Holden Special Vehicles (HSVs),all immaculately presented, whileupstairs, visitors can see first-hand just how many products Holden once created. Holden saddlery, Holden kitchen appliances, and even Holden golf clubs are just some of the items on display.

Standoutexhibits include asigned tribute to racinglegend PeterBrock, and awall with the portraits of every General Motors Holden head honcho. Trafalgar HoldenMuseumvolunteers gathered to pay tribute to Mr Joiner, who wasvirtually the face of the museum until his death age 75 last year.

Mr Joiner established the museum in 2014, transforming what was adisused tractor dealership on Waterloo Road.

Whatstarted as arelatively small exhibit grew year-on-year, andTrafalgar is now home to the biggest Holden collection in the state.

Holden royaltyturned outfor the occasion, including the company’s general manager marketing after sale and motor sport, Chris Payne.

Mr Paynerelayed afunny story involving Mr Joiner, who was told he could “take whatever he wanted” from the company’s Dandenong depot for display in the museum.

Mr Joiner took Holden at their word, and duly arrived with atruck and some eight museum volunteers to help load.

State Ministerfor tourism, Steve Dimopoulos was on hand to cut the ribbon in Trafalgar, alongside Mr Joiner’s daughter, Anne Schembri, Trafalgar Holden Museum President Jenny Middleton, and museum volunteer, Bill

Maroney, who oversaw the extension as project manager.

The project was more than four years in the making,following astringent tourism grant application through the state government, masterminded by Trafalgar localand fellow museum volunteer, Mick BourkeOAM.

The project also received significant backing from Community Bank Trafalgar and District.

Mr Dimopoulos sported aHolden jacket for the occasion, notingthe 10,000-strong annual visitation the museum enjoys.

Ms Middleton explained the origins of the project,afterGMH phoned Mr Joiner asking if Trafalgar could house some of their cars.

“That’s the moment we realised we were going to need abiggershed,” she said.

“Anyone whoknewNeilwould understand just how fitting this space is.

“If it had aHolden motor, or even just aGMH label, Neil hadtohave it. From classic cars, to concretemixers, if it was aHolden, it belonged to him.

“His enthusiasm was infectious; today we celebrate not just abuilding, but the legacy and vision of aman whobrought people andpassion together.”

Speaking on behalf of the family, Ms Schembri took the opportunity to thank all who had made the project possible.

“From the bottom of our hearts, thank you to each and every one of you,” she said.

“We are so excited for everyone to come and see this new display. Walking through it, Ican imagine the huge smile on dad’s face if he were here.

“I know he’d be incrediblyproudof what we all accomplished together.

Mr Joiner was posthumously named Trafalgar’s Citizen of the Yearfor 2024.

Fittingly, the Neil Joiner Holden Heritage Centre was completedin time for the one-year anniversary of his death.

His daughterisset to continue his Holden legacy, currently serving as the museum’s secretary.

Trafalgar Holden

The

Museum is located at 74 Waterloo Road, Trafalgar, and is open every day from 10am.

Legend: ThelateNeilJoiner, theman behindthe Trafalgar Holden Museum File photograph

Leaders: Trafalgar Holden Museum Secretary, Anne Schembriand president, JennyMiddleton. Photographs: Liam Durkin unless stated

Ceremony: Trafalgar HoldenMuseum’s Bill Maroney, AnneSchembri(NeilJoiner’sdaughter) and JennyMiddleton, cutthe ribbon to officiallyopen the museum’snew extension alongside state tourism Minister,Steve Dimopoulos

Impressive: The Neil Joiner HoldenHeritage Centre is nowopen at the Trafalgar HoldenMuseum.

Rightthisway: Victorian Tourism Minister,Steve Dimopoulos is shown the newaddition to the Trafalgar HoldenMuseum by Bill Maroney.

Collection: Trafalgar is home to the biggest Holden museum in the state.

Photograph supplied

New road rule now in place

Be aware: Motorists must nowslowdownto40kmh when passingroadside assistance vehicles,such as EastLink Response Photograph supplied

RACV is reminding Victorianmotorists of the new road rule requiring drivers to slow down to 40 kilometres per hour when passing incident response vehicles that display flashinglights of any colour.

The change, announced in April this year, has been welcomed by RACV and its roadside assistance team, following atwo-year campaign to review Road Rule 79A.

RACV General Manager AutomotiveServices, Makarla Cole urged motorists to be aware of the rule change so they could create the safest environment possible for roadside and incident response workers.

“We’re grateful that the Victorian state government has madethischange to improve the safety outcomes andworkingconditionsofroadside and incident response workers,” Ms Cole said.

Since2017,Victorianmotorists have been required to slow down to 40kmh when passing stationary emergency services vehicles displaying red or blue flashing lights.

This rule has now been expanded to include:

 Accident towing vehicles;

 Breakdown towing services;  Roadside assistance operators;

Busing theissueall theway to stateParliament chamber

THE Nationals are calling for additional security measurestobeimplemented for Latrobe Valley busestoaddress anti-social incidentsplacing passengers and drivers at risk.

Speakinginstate Parliament,Member for EasternVictoria Region,MelinaBath citedalleged incidents involving weapons, physical and verbal assaults, drug and alcohol use and threats to drivers andpassengers, whichhad been outlined to her “Locals are justifiablydistressed by what they are witnessing and have expressed to me the need for positive change," she said.

“The bus company is doing all it can to protect driversand passengers, but theunruly behaviour is concerning.

“I am informed that bus drivers have been subjected to allegedthreats and abuse –itis highly challenging to drivesafelyand manage these frightening situations.”

Member for Morwell, Martin Cameron said the escalation in serious criminal incidents occurring on public transport and at bus interchanges must be addressed.

“Our police officers are under-resourced and often unabletorespond in atimely mannertoincidents occurring on our buses," he said.

“SaferTransport Victoria has aresponsibility to manage and improvesafety, and it should be prioritising the physical and mental wellbeing of our bus drivers.

“I have repeatedly raised this critical issue with the Allan Labor government, having also written to the Police Commissioner urgently calling for additional resources to no avail.”

Ms Bath said it is untenable that the situation has deteriorated to apointwhere senior residents feel too frightened to catch abus and driver safety is compromised.

“The Allan government states it willprovide safe transportfor all Victorians, but regional areas like Latrobe Valley are clearly not its priority given the lack of police and PSO resources."

The response from the Minister for Public and Active Transport, Gabrielle Williams, is due tomorrow (July 3).

 Peninsula Link Incident Response vehicles, and;

 EastLink and Transurban Incident Response vehicles

“Nowthat we have had an important and muchneeded update to 79A, it’s up to Victorians to do their part and ensure these vital workers can do their jobs without fear of harm and get home to their families safely,” Ms Cole said.

Non-compliance with the updated 79A rule may result in amaximum fine of $961.

For more information on road rule 79A and RACV’s campaign, visit the RACV website.

Sun glare can still hit in cold

By AIDAN KNIGHT

AFTER such aprolific period of drought in Gippsland, many farmers and residents will be relievedtosee the great of rain over the past week.

Morwell saw arefreshing but chilly 6.4mm last Wednesday (June 25), and while thankfully for soil, this rainy periodispredicted to continue, increased rain does pose adanger to roads. Datacollected by the state government CrashStats organisation showed that from 2012 to now,there was 18,023recorded road incidents that occurred under raining conditions across Victoria.

Often, these incidents are not limited simply to wet roads, but also heavier rain inhibiting the vision of drivers, with quite alot of factors adding to the incidents, suchasoutdated eyeglass prescriptions, not replacing windscreen wipers, fog, and poor light in low visibility conditions. Drivers are warned to remain careful, and despite summer being far off, to prepare for the sun.

“Having quality sunglasses on hand is also important wheneveryou drive. With rain sitting on the surface of the road, the sun glare can be intensified, which is something many people don’t think about during the colder months,” Optical Optometrist for Bupa, Karen Makin said. When these factors come into play, Victoria Police also encourageadjusting driving habits to meet conditions. These include:-Leaving a four-second gap between your vehicle and the one in front;

-Accelerating smoothly and braking gently;

-Using foglights where necessary over high beam, and;

-It is generally a good idea to drive a bit slower when travelling in aheavy downpour. Not only does significant rainfall obstruct distance vision when driving, it also reduces sharpness, which is essential for reading signs and detecting hazards ahead of you, and gives lossofvisualfield, adding to blind spotsand affecting peripheral vision for an optimal safe driving experience.

HOROSCOPES

Joanne

MadelineMoore

June 30 -July6,2025

a rea ity!

This week Venus (your ruling planet) makes pos t ve aspects to Saturn and Neptune, so put aside reguar time for art and beauty, work hard on a creative pro ect or study a sp r tual discipl ne P us with Venus and Uranus (the disruptor) inking up n your s gn (on Friday), try to v ew personal transformat on as terrific rather than terrifying Be nsp red by birthday great, His Hol ness the Da ai Lama (who turns 90 on Sunday): “True change is w thin ”

An unexpected romant c attraction, sudden friendsh p secret or shocking fever dream could ratt e you (espec al y on Fr day) So, try to settle down with a long meditation sess on or some other form of relaxation Then Venus shimmies nto your sign (from Saturday until July 31) when you’ l be at your charm ng, persuasive, loveab e Gemin best So make the most of it and ca l in a few old favours! Sunday favours se f-pamper ng and social networking

Th s week the Sun and Jup ter are both transit ng through your sign, so it’s time to present a sunny, positive face to the wor d as you express your generous, oving nature Be insp red by His Holiness the Da a Lama (who celebrates his 90th birthday on Sunday): “Forgive others be kind, honest and have pos tive thoughts ” Sunday is a l about comb ning profess onal pro ects w th help ng others, as you mix business with plenty of compass on

Are people aware of the substantial amount of work you’re do ng behind the scenes? Don’t be disappo nted if others aren’t show ng the r apprec ation at the moment Your efforts wi l be app auded (and rewarded) further down the track In the meantime focus your attention on helping those around you (fam ly, friends, col eagues and strangers) in creat ve ways As b rthday great Pr ncess Diana sa d: “Everyone has the potential to g ve something back ”

Courtesy of lucky Venus professional projects are favoured as you rub shoulders with influent a people Don t be a Virgo wa lflower though Speak up and promote your ta ents! If you hesitate then promising opportun t es w ll pass you by With bold Mars barnstorming through your sign (unt l August 6) confidence and an adventurous att tude w ll take you p aces The weekend is wonderful for catching up with friends and soc a ising with colleagues

Librans are natura matchmakers and ove to counsel others This week, Venus (your power planet) transits into the dual sign of Gemin , so there l be two d stinct sides to every re ationship story When g ving advice make sure you commun cate clearly and are scrupu ously fa r to a l parties nvo ved Travell ng and exploring appeal, as the p anets stimu ate your latent adventurous side It’s also a good time to reconnect with your internationa fr ends

Pluto (your boss p anet) s trans t ng through your domestic zone, and love planet Venus is v siting your re ationship zone So the focus s firm y on fam ly and close friends anyone who is a part of your cher shed inner circ e It’s t me for good food, relaxed entertaining and cosy compan onsh p As b rthday great the Dalai Lama observes: “A lov ng atmosphere n your home s the foundation of your l fe Sunday favours working on a creative project

Sag ttar ans can easi y become preoccupied with the busy d stractions of da ly life ful of no sy not ficat ons and garrulous gossip Th s week the Sun and Jup ter (your ruler) ight up your ntuition-and-secrets zone ( n the perceptive s gn of Cancer), so aim to spend some qua ity t me on your own S ow down, meditate, contemp ate and isten to the qu et vo ce with n Your motto is from b rthday great Pr ncess D ana: “I work on nst nct It’s my best advisor ”

Have you been less than 100% honest w th a fami y member? Neptune is meandering through your home zone, which cou d ead to confusion nvo ving your true mot ves Someone cou d quest on your version of events, or you could d sappo nt a loved one by blurr ng the lines between real ty and fantasy Saturn (your patron p anet) is now transiting through your domestic zone too, so t’s time to get rea , face facts, and set the record stra ght

Expect the unexpected this week – especial y nvo ving fam ly fr ends housemates and domestic shenan gans Venus hooks up w th Uranus (your patron planet) on Fr day, when you re ncl ned to unpred ctable behaviour l ke starting a rad cal new project or fal ing n love very fast Don’t throw the baby out with the bathwater though! Your mantra s from birthday great Pr ncess D ana: I don t go by the rule book I ead from the heart, not the head ”

You could encounter some unexpected phone ca ls, emai s, texts, tweets or snail ma l If you are dea ing with important money or bus ness matters, then a conservat ve approach reaps rewards Protect ng and stabi is ng current resources s preferab e to look ng at your financial s tuation through rose-coloured g asses Mercury (planet of communication) is moving through your work zone, wh ch enhances your already mpressive Piscean powers of persuas on

AFEDERATION University Australia delegation has toured one of the most modern offshore wind areas in the world to glean valuable insights into their operations and training needs as Victoria gears up to develop its own offshore wind industry.

Federation University Pro Vice Chancellor of Innovation, Professor Iven Mareels and Federation TAFEelectrotechnologygraduate,Mia Danko, who aspires to be an electrician in the renewable energy sector, visited offshorewindfarms in Taiwanduring the four day tour last month.

The tourwas hosted by the Royal Danish EmbassyinCanberra, with sponsorship from Danish company Ørsted, Federation University and the National Sun Yat-sen University in Taiwan.

Thedelegation toured Ørsted’s Taichung operations and maintenance hub and port facilities that are supporting the operation of a900 MW offshore wind farm in the Taiwan Strait, along with other Danish facilities in Taiwan.

Professor Mareels said the visit showcased Taiwan’s success built on strong government leadership, long-term planning, and acommitment to collaboration between government, industry, and community.

“We’re looking at along horizon of planning for thenext50-60 years to ensure industry has the talented workforce they need,” Professor Mareels said.

“We want to train the next generation of renewable energy workerstoofferthem ameaningful career and give them the opportunity to grow in that career and we should start that now.”

The trip builds on the work of Federation University’s Asia Pacific Renewable Energy TrainingCentre(APRETC), launched in 2021, which is being established as acentral hub for the delivery of renewable energy training and research.

APRETC is certified by the Global Wind Organisation and is the first facility in Australia to provide specialist training from a20-metrehigh replica wind tower at Federation’s Mt Helen campus,while in Gippsland, APRETC willprovide training, education and research to support renewable technologies including hydrogen, geothermal, wind, and solar, along with the transmission, storage and social licence for renewable projects.

“The visit to Taiwan has certainly given me encouragement that we’re doing important work and there’s still alot of work to be done in Australia,” Professor Mareels concluded.

We want to train the next generation of renewable energy workers to offer them ameaningful career and give them the opportunity to grow in that career and we should start that now

Professor Iven Mareels Federation UniversityPro Vice Chancellor of Innovation

Ørsted’s Project Development Director,Albert Quan said he was thrilled to show the facilities to the delegates, providing ataste of what an offshore wind farm base may look like for Gippsland and the types of jobs needed for offshore wind.

“The Taichung operations and maintenance base employs more than 80 local people in roles that vary from administration, marine traffic control, grid control and monitoring, engineering, QHSE, IT, facility, and logistics,” Mr Quan said.

“We've found that taking alocal approach works for us, and it's something we'd like to replicate in Gippsland.”

Ms Danko said she wanted to be apart of the transition towards renewable energy.

“It was incredible to get to see the technology they’re using in Taiwan,” Mia said.

“My adventurous side wants to be awindtechnician because Ithink it would be exciting, but in a bigger picture way, Iwant to be part of the change in the world and push towards renewables.”

For moreinformation about APRETC, visit: https://federation.edu.au/apretc

COPYRIGHT Joanne Madel ne Moore 2025

TheGuide

PATIENCE

ABCTV, Friday, 8.35pm

ABC TV (2)

Based on the excellent Fren series AstridetRaphaëlle,th British drama movesthe act York, and starsElla Maisy Pu (pictured) as Patience Evans young womanwith autism wg in the criminalrecords office finds herselfroped into help solvetricky casesafter herp solving super-skills catchthe of DI BeaMetcalf(LauraFra this premiere, aman sets him fireafter withdrawing alarge of money.Itlooksdeliberate glance,but Patiencespotsa another case. Theneurodive anglemakes foraquirky tak average British crime drama Purvis herself is autistic,lend authenticity to her performa

nch his tion to urvis s,a working e,who ping puzzlee eye ser). In mself on e sum e at first a link with ersity keonthe a and ding ance

Wednesday, July2

SBS (3)

(PG)

(PG,R)

11.10 TheBusiness. (R) 11.30 YouCan’t Ask That. (MA15+adl, R) 12.30 Love Your Garden. (R) 1.15 Long Lost Family (PG, R) 2.05 Rage. (MA15+adhlnsv) 3.25 Parkinson In Australia. (PG, R) 4.30 Gardening Australia. (R) 5.30 7.30.(R)

6.00 MastermindAustralia.

6.30 SBS World News.

7.35 HowDisneyBuilt America: TheBirth Of Mickey. (Premiere, PG) Chronicles the creation of Mickey Mouse

8.25 TheKing& ThePrince’s Secret Millions. Alook at how the British royalfamily has kept their wealth asecret from the public.

9.20 TheVeil. (MA15+v) Imogen smuggles Adilah to England to see Michael.

10.35 SBS World News Late. 11.05 My Brilliant Friend (Mals) 12.20 L’Opera. (Mls, R) 4.05 Growing A Greener World. (R) 4.35 Bamay.(R) 5.00 NHK World EnglishNews Morning. 5.30 ANC PhilippinesThe World Tonight.

PICK OF THE

EWEEK

DO NOTWATCH THI ABC Family,Monday

IS SHOW y, 7.30pm

Andy Leebrings his pop small screen in (voiced by L and impe love to do develop ase and follow him matestobring W

Dave Hughesvo Bickmore, Tony A

pular children’s tome DoNotOpenThisBookto the nthis animated caper.This time,blue monster Wizz Lee) is the star of atelevisionshowhedoesn’t want els audiencestoswitch off the TV –but we all knowkids othe opposite of what they’retold.Little viewerswill ense of braveryasthey defy pompous protagonist Wizz on his adventures. Leehas called on some well-known Wizz’s worldtolife, with DeniseScott,Joel Creaseyand oicing regular characters, while Hamish Blake, Carrie Armstrongand Chrissie Swan makeguestappearances.

CYCLING:TOUR DE FRANCE

SBS Saturday 9 35pm

It s that time of year again, when bleary-eyed Australian sports fans go without sleep as they take in a range of events from the other side of the world And top of these is the grandest of cycling’s Grand Tours, a two-wheel test of grit and stamina – the Tour de France – in which the world s best cyclists vie for the coveted maillot jaune (yellow jersey) amid stunning scenery and spectator shenanigans Saturday s first stage is a lazy 1849km round trip, starting and finishing in Lille

SEVEN (7,6)

NINE (9,8) 6.00 News Breakfast. 9.00 ABC News Mornings. 10.00 Four Corners.(R) 11.00 To Be Advised. 12.00 ABC News At Noon. 12.30 National Press Club Address. 1.35 Media Watch.(PG,R) 2.00 Anh’s Brush WithFame. (PGa, R) 2.25 Back Roads. (R) 2.55 Love Your Garden. (R) 3.40 Fake Or Fortune? (R) 4.40 Long Lost Family (PG, R) 5.30 Antiques Roadshow. (R) 6am Morning Programs. 8.00 DD India News Hour 9.00 Destination Flavour.(R) 9.05 Great Lighthouses Of Ireland. (PGa, R) 10.05 Station: Trouble On The Tracks. (PGal, R) 11.00 Outside: Beyond The Lens. (PG, R) 12.00 BBC News At Ten. 12.30 France 24 1.00 PBS News. 2.00 Dateline. (R) 2.30 Insight.(R) 3.30 The Cook Up.(R) 4.00 Great Coastal Railway Journeys. (R) 4.35 Jeopardy! 5.00 Letters And Numbers. (PGls, R) 6.00 Sunrise. 9.00 TheMorning Show. (PG) 12.00 Seven’sNational News At Noon. 1.00 MOVIE: ForLove And Honor. (2016,PGa)James Denton. 3.00 TheChase. (R) 4.00 SevenNews At 4. 5.00 TheChaseAustralia. Hosted by LarryEmdur

6.00 SevenNews.

7.00 Home AndAway. (PG)

7.30 Border Security:Australia’s Front Line. (PG) Apassenger says he’s visiting Australiafor aholiday.

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

9.30 Unfiltered. (PGa) Hosted by HamishMcLachlan.

10.00 AshleyCain: Into The Danger Zone. (Premiere, MA15+a)

11.20 Stags. (MA15+adlv)

12.20 Touching Evil. (MA15+av) 1.20 Travel Oz. (PG, R) 2.00 Home Shopping. (R) 4.00 NBC Today 5.00 Sunrise Early News. 5.30 Sunrise.

GREATCONTINENTAL

RAILWAYJOURNEYS

Tuesday, 7.30pm

Thealways colourful Michael Portillo (pictured) and his trusty 1936 Bradshaw’sContinental Handbook areback foraneighthseason of riding the railsthrough cultureand history. This season sees Michael journey into Europe, the Balkans,Central Asiaand India, seeing how things havechanged since Bradshaw’sdays andimmersing himselfintraditions and practices. Thejourney begins with atrip through Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, whereMichael faces some modern-day gladiators, assumes the duties of stationmaster and explores an organic olive farm, beforediscovering some beautiful15th-centuryfrescoes in atinychurch.

TEN (10, 5)

6.00 Today 9.00 Today Extra. (PG) 11.30 9News Morning. 12.00 MOVIE: ARoyal Recipe ForLove. (2023, G) LauraMiyata, David Lafontaine, Annie Clark 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. (PGa, R) 7.30 Everyday Gourmet (R) 8.00

6.00 9News

7.00 ACurrentAffair

7.30 RBT. (Mdl) Follows police units that operate random breath test patrols around Australia, as well as major drink-driving operations to high-speed pursuits and drivers under the influence of drugs.

8.30 Tennis. Wimbledon. Day 3. From the All England LawnTennis and Croquet Club, London,England.

12.00 Tennis. Wimbledon.Day 3Late. From the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, London,England.

5.00 TodayEarly News. Alook at the latest news, sport and weather 5.30 Today. The latest in news and currentaffairs.

Ariel. 4.50 Bluey 5.00 Peppa Pig. 5.15 Big Lizard. 5.20 Thomas And Friends. 5.35 Peter Rabbit. 5.45 Kangaroo Beach 6.00 Octonauts. 6.10 Super Monsters. 6.20 Bluey. 6.30 Paddington. 6.40 Hey Duggee. 6.50 Isadora Moon. 7.00 Supertato. 7.05 Dino Dex. 7.20 Bluey. 7.30 Shaun TheSheep 7.35 Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures. 7.50 LittleLunch. 8.05 Junior Vets. 8.35 BTN Newsbreak. 8.40 Abbott Elementary. 9.25 Doctor Who. 10.55 Late Programs. ABC FAMILY (22) 6am MorningPrograms. 8.00 Nanny. 9.00 Jeopardy! UK. 10.00

Western Front. (1979,PGav) 5.55 All At Sea. (2010,PGans, R) 7.30 Risky Business (1983,Malns, R) 9.20 Interview With TheVampire. (1994,MA15+av,R) 11.35 L.A.Story. (1991, Ml) 1.20am The SnowFoxes. (2023) 2.55 Thunderbirds Are GO.(1966, PG) 4.35 Malcolm. (1986,PGlsv)

6.00 10 News+. HostedbyDenham Hitchcock andAmelia Brace. 7.00 Deal Or No Deal HostedbyGrant Denyer

7.30 MasterChef Australia. Contestants compete for achance at immunity 8.40 Elsbeth. (Mv) Elsbeth takesatour of famous New York crime scenes and is leftwith nagging questions. 9.40 FBI: International. (Mav) Atelevangelist on the FBI’smost wanted listsurfaces. 10.30 10’s Late News. 10.55 10 News+. (R) 12.00 TheLateShowWith StephenColbert. (PG) 1.00 Home Shopping. (R) 4.30 CBS Mornings.

Thursday,July3

ABC (2) SBS (3)

6.00 News. 9.00 News. 10.00 StuffThe British Stole. (PG, R) 10.30 Back Roads. (PG, R) 11.00 Guy Mont Spelling Bee. (PG, R) 12.00 News. 1.00 The One That Got Away.(Final, Mal, R) 2.00 Brush With Fame. (Ml, R) 2.30 Back Roads. (R) 2.55 Love Your Garden. (R) 3.45 Fake Or Fortune? (R) 4.45 Long Lost Family (PG, R) 5.30 Antiques Roadshow.(R)

6.30 HardQuiz. (PG, R)

7.00 ABC News.

7.30 7.30. Presented by Sarah Ferguson.

8.00 Joanna Lumley’sDanube. Joanna Lumley explores the Danube by boat.

8.45 Grand Designs Australia: Buderim. (PG, R) Anthony Burke meets acouple who have promised

9.45 Griff’sGreat Australian Rail Trip: Brisbane To Cairns –Try Not Die. (R) GriffRhys Jones explores Australia by train.

10.35 ABC Late News.

10.50 The Business. (R)

11.05 Love Your Garden. (R)

11.55 Long Lost Family. (PG, R)

12.40 Rage. (MA15+adhlnsv)

3.20 Parkinson In Australia. (PG, R) 4.30 Gardening Australia. (R) 5.30 7.30. (R)

ABC FAMILY (22)

6am Morning Programs. 10.05 Station: Trouble On The Tracks. (PGa, R) 11.00 Outside: Beyond The Lens. (R) 12.00

BBC News At Ten. 12.30 France 24. 1.00 PBS News. 2.00 Supertunnels. (PG, R) 3.00 Living Black. (R) 3.30 The Cook Up. (R) 4.00 Great Coastal Railway Journeys. (R) 4.35 Jeopardy! 5.00 Letters And Numbers. (PGa, R) 6.00 Sunrise. 9.00 The Morning Show.(PG) 12.00 Seven’sNational News At Noon. 1.00 MOVIE: Cupids On Beacon Street. (2021, PGa) 3.00 The Chase. (R) 4.00 Seven News At 4. 5.00 The Chase Australia.

6.00 Mastermind Australia. Presented by MarcFennell.

6.30 SBS World News.

7.30 TreasuresWith Bettany

Hughes: Turkey Bettany

Hughes explores Turkey

8.25 7/7: The London Bombings: Bombers Strike Again. (Mal) Twoweeks after the July 7 attacks, the police areonthe trail of the bombers.

10.45 SBS World News Late. 11.15 The Silence. (MA15+av) Olga and Stribor’sinvestigation deepens.

1.15 Pagan Peak. (MA15+av,R)

3.00 The Best Of The HAVASI Symphonic. (R) 4.40 Bamay (R) 5.00 NHK World English News Morning. 5.30 ANC Philippines The World Tonight.

SBS VICELAND (31) 6am Children’s Programs. 6.40pm Hey Duggee. 6.50 Isadora Moon. 7.00 Supertato. 7.05 Dino Dex. 7.20 Bluey 7.30 Shaun The Sheep. 7.35 Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures. 7.50 Little Lunch. 8.05 Junior Vets. 8.35 BTN Newsbreak. 8.40 Secrets Of The Zoo. 9.25 Saved By The Barn. 10.05 Secret Life Of The Tasmanian Devils. 10.55 Late Programs.

NITV (34)

6am Morning Programs. 1.30pm Nganampa Anwernekenhe. 2.00 The Last Land: Gespe’gewa’gi. 2.30 The Cook Up. 3.00 Jarjums. 5.00 Harlem Globetrotters. 5.25 Road Open. 5.30 Te Ao With Moana. 6.00 Bamay 6.30 News. 6.40 The Big Dry 7.29 NITV Weather 7.30 Going Places. 8.30 Moni. (Premiere) 9.45 MOVIE: Kill Bill: Vol. 2. (2004, MA15+) 12.05am Late Programs.

6am WorldWatch. 10.00 Mastermind Aust. Noon WorldWatch. 12.30 White Coat Rebels. 2.00 Stuck. 2.15 Insight. 3.15 News. 3.20 WorldWatch. 5.20 Time With Peyton Manning. 6.05 Over The Black Dot. 6.35 Travel Man. 7.05 Jeopardy! 7.35 8Out Of 10 Cats. 8.30 The Curse Of Oak Island. (Return) 10.10 Late Programs.

SBS WORLD MOVIES (32)

6am The Movie Show 6.40 The Snow Foxes. (2023) 8.20 Thunderbirds AreGO. (1966, PG) 10.00 Risky Business. (1983, Malns) 11.50 L.A. Story.(1991, Ml) 1.35pm Hum Do HamareDo. (2021, PGl, Hindi) 3.55 Goal! (2005, PGals) 6.05 Oink. (2022, Dutch) 7.30 Mars Attacks! (1996, Masv) 9.30 Kill Bill: Vol. 1. (2003, MA15+lv) 11.35 Late Programs.

Friday,July4

ABC TV (2) SBS (3)

6.00 Seven News. 7.00 Football. AFL. Round 17. North Melbourne vWesternBulldogs. 10.30 AFL Post-Game Show

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 Evil By Design: Roots Of Evil. (Malv,R)Looks at the crimes of Peter Nygård.

12.30 Life. (Madv,R)Anew bride is murdered.

2.00 Home Shopping. (R)

4.00 NBC Today. News and current affairs.

5.00 Sunrise Early News. 5.30 Sunrise.

7TWO (72, 62)

6am Morning

Programs. 9.00 Medical Emergency 9.30

6.00 Today 9.00 Today Extra. (PG) 11.30 9News Morning. 12.00 MOVIE: You, Me, And That Mountain Retreat. (2023, PGa, R) Gladys Bautista, Michael Patrick Lane. 2.00 Pointless. (PG) 3.00

6.00 9News. 7.00 ACurrent Affair

7.30 Wimbledon 2025 Pre-Show tennis tournament, featuring reviews, previews, interviews, highlights, opinions and topical stories, from the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club.

8.00 Tennis. Wimbledon. Day 4. From the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, London, England. 12.00 Tennis. Wimbledon. Day 4Late. From the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, London, England. 5.00 Today Early News. Alook at all the news from Australia and around the world, as well as the latest sport and weather 5.30 Today The latest in news and current affairs.

9GEM (92,81)

NBC Today Noon Better Homes. 1.00 Escape To The Country 2.00 South Aussie With Cosi. 2.30 The YorkshireVet. 3.30 Harry’sPractice. 4.00 Better Homes. 5.00 Escape To The Country 6.00 Bargain Hunt. 7.00 Home And Away 8.30 Father Brown. 9.30 Line Of Duty 10.50 Late Programs. 6am Morning Programs. 1pm YorkshireAuction House. 2.00 Iconic Australia. 3.00 Antiques Roadshow 3.30 MOVIE: All Creatures Great And Small. (1975) 5.30 YorkshireAuction House. 6.30 Antiques Roadshow 7.30 Rugby League. NRL Women’sPremiership. Round 1. Cronulla Sharks vParramatta Eels. 10.00 Poirot. 11.00 Late Programs.

6am Morning Programs. 1pm Pawn Stars. 1.30 Highway Patrol. 2.30 The Force: BTL. 3.30 Billy The Exterminator 4.00 Full Custom Garage. 5.00 American Resto. 5.30 Storage Wars 6.00 American Pickers. 7.00 Pawn Stars. 7.30 Towies. 8.30 Clarkson’sWho Wants To Be AMillionaireUK. (Return) 9.30 Air Crash Inv (Return) 10.30 Late Programs.

6.00 10 News+. 7.00 Deal Or No Deal. Hosted by Grant Denyer 7.30 Airport 24/7. (PGd) The team deals with nightworks on anew taxiway 8.30 The Kim Kardashian Diamond Heist. (Mal) Takes alook at the robbery of Kim Kardashian during Paris Fashion Week 2016 9.30 Law &Order: SVU. (Mav) Velasco teams up with

10

9GO! (93, 82) 6am Shopping. 8.00 Pooches At Play 8.30 So Help

6am Morning Programs. 2pm Golden Girls. 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 Seinfeld. 8.30 MOVIE: Under Siege 2. (1995, MA15+) 10.30 Seinfeld. 11.30 Veronica Mars. 12.30am Below Deck. 1.30 Supernatural. 3.30 Addams Family 4.00 Barbie: ATouch Of Magic. 4.30 Late Programs.

SEVEN (7,6)

NINE (9,8) 6.00 News. 9.00 News. 10.00 Poh’s Kitchen. (R) 10.30 Take 5With Zan Rowe. (Ml, R) 11.10 Little Disasters. (Mals, R) 12.00 ABC News At Noon. 1.00 Bay Of Fires. (Malv,R) 2.00 Muster Dogs: Collies And Kelpies. (PG, R) 3.00 Love Your Garden. (R) 3.45 Fake Or Fortune? (R) 4.40 Long Lost Family (PG, R) 5.30 Antiques Roadshow.(R)

6.30 HardQuiz. (PG, R)

7.00 ABC News.

7.35 Gardening Australia. Costa Georgiadis joins acommunity of composters.

8.35 Patience. (Premiere, Ma) Awoman who works in the Criminal of detection due to being autistic.

9.25 Gruen. (R) Presented by Wil Anderson.

10.00 Guy Montgomery’sGuy Mont Spelling Bee. (PG, R) Presented by Guy Montgomery

10.45 Spicks And Specks. (PG, R)

11.15 ABC Late News.

11.35 Silent Witness. (PGa, R)

12.40 Rage New Music.

(MA15+adhlnsv) 5.00 Rage. (PG)

6am Morning Programs. 10.05 Station: Trouble On The Tracks. (PGa, R) 11.00 Outside: Beyond The Lens. (PGa, R) 12.00 BBC News At Ten. 12.30 France 24. 1.00 PBS News. 2.00 Megadams. (PG, R) 3.00 Nula. 3.30 The Cook Up. (R) 4.00 Great Coastal Railway Journeys. (R) 4.35 Jeopardy! 5.00 Letters And Numbers. (PGals, R)

6.00 Mastermind Australia. 6.30 SBS World News.

7.35 Shetland: Scotland’s Wondrous Isles. 8.25 Ross Kemp: Shipwreck TreasureHunter: TradeWars. (PGv,R)Ross Kemp learns about his great grandfather 9.20 Robson Green’sWeekend Escapes: Holy Island –LJRoss. (R) Robson Green is joined by LJ Ross. 10.30 SBS World News Late. 11.00 Atlantic Crossing. (Ma, R) 12.05 True Colours. (Mlv,R) 3.50 Growing AGreener World. (R) 4.20 Bamay.(R) 4.50 Destination Flavour Down Under Bitesize. (R) 5.00 NHK World English News Morning. 5.30 ANC Philippines The World Tonight.

SBS VICELAND (31) 6am Children’s Programs. 6.20pm Bluey 6.30 Paddington. 6.40 Hey Duggee. 6.50 Isadora Moon. 7.00 Supertato. 7.05 Gardening Australia Junior 7.20 Bluey 7.30 Good Game Spawn Point. (Return) 7.50 MOVIE: Teen Titans Go! To The Movies. (2018, PG) 9.15 BTN Newsbreak. 9.20 Robot Wars 10.20 Walking With Dinosaurs. 11.10 Late Programs. ABC FAMILY (22)

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. (PGals, R) 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 17. Carlton vCollingwood. From the MCG. 10.30 AFL Post-Game Show

interviews taking alook back at all the action from the game. 11.00 GetOn Extra. Lizzie Jelfs, Matt Hill, Simon Marshall and Brent Zerafa dive headlong into the weekend’sbest racing.

11.30 To Be Advised.

1.15 Nurses. (Ma, R) Alook at the experiences of nurses.

2.30 Home Shopping. (R)

4.00 Million Dollar Minute. (R) Hosted by Simon Reeve. 5.00 NBC Today. News and current affairs.

TEN (10, 5)

6.00 Today 9.00 Today Extra. (PG) 11.30 9News Morning. 12.00 MOVIE: Luckless In Love. (2022, PGa) Paniz Zade, Brett Donahue. 2.00 Pointless. (PG) 3.00 Tipping Point. (PG, R) 4.00 9News Afternoon. 4.30 [VIC] Tipping Point Australia.(PG,R) 5.00 Tipping Point Australia. (PG, R) 5.30 [VIC] WIN

6.00 9News. 7.00 ACurrent Affair 7.30 Wimbledon 2025 Pre-Show tennis tournament, featuring reviews, previews, interviews, highlights, opinions and topical stories, from the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club.

8.00 Tennis. Wimbledon. Day 5. From the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, London, England. 12.00 Tennis. Wimbledon. Day 5Late. From the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, London, England.

5.00 Fishing Australia. (R) The team visits South Australia’sPort Lincoln.

5.30 Postcards. (PG, R) Shane checks out alaneway full of restaurants.

6.00 10 News+. 7.00 Deal Or No Deal. (R) 7.30 House Hunters Australia. (PGl) Acouple look for ahome near Lake Macquarie, NSW 8.30 Have YouBeen Paying Attention? (Malns, R) Celebrity panellists compete to see who can remember the most about events of the week.

9.30 The Graham Norton Show (Malv,R)Guests include Kevin Hart.

10.30 10’sLate News. 10.55 10 News+. (R) 11.55 The Late Show With Stephen Colbert. (PG) 1.00 Home Shopping. (R) 6am WorldWatch. 10.00 Mastermind Aust. Noon WorldWatch. 12.30 Patriot Brains. 1.25 WhereAre YouReally From? 2.35 Over The Black Dot. 3.05 News. 3.10 WorldWatch 5.05 If YouAre The One. 7.05 Jeopardy! 7.35 8Out Of 10 Cats. 8.30 Vegas: The Story Of Sin City 9.20 F*ck Berlin. 9.55 Bound: Japanese Bondage. 11.10 Late Programs.

6am Morning Programs. 8.25 Francis: Pray For Me. (2015, PGals, Spanish) 10.25 Mars Attacks! (1996, Masv) 12.25pm Kompromat. (2022, Malsv,French, Russian) 2.45 All At Sea. (2010, PGans) 4.20 Oink. (2022, Dutch) 5.45 The Big Steal. (1990, PGls) 7.35 Shaft. (1971, Mlnv) 9.30 Kill Bill: Vol. 2. (2004, MA15+dlv) Midnight Late Programs. SBS WORLD MOVIES (32) 6am Morning Programs. 2pm The Last Land: Gespe’gewa’gi.

9GEM (92,81) 7TWO (72, 62) 6am Morning Programs. 2.30pm Nanny 3.30 Seinfeld. 4.30 Addams Family 5.00 Bewitched. 5.30 Jeannie. 6.00 Golden Girls. 6.30 Nanny 7.30 MOVIE: Superman Returns. (2006, M) 10.45 MOVIE: IAmLegend. (2007, M) 12.45am Seinfeld. 1.45 Supernatural.

Bulldogs vBrisbane Broncos. 9.55 Golden Point. 10.45 Late Programs.

valleysport

Sporting results from around the Latrobe Valley

Boyd, Moe kick wellbeing goals

FOOTBALL

By BLAKE METCALF-HOLTAND LIAM DURKIN

WESTERN BULLDOGS premiership player

Tom Boyd, alongside nationalnot-for-profit Wellways Australia, paid avisit to Moe FootballNetball Club last week.

Hosted by Moe Racing Club, the mental health advocate and retired AFL player delivered a powerful message surrounding the stigma of mental health and promoting suicide prevention through community engagement, storytelling and lived experience.

The event came about fromlocal voices, including in partnership with Andrew and Kerry Pearce and their broader family, who've been personally impacted by suicide.

The primary objectives for the initiative included fostering community connection and belonging, promoting open conversation about

mentalhealthand suicide, sharing stories of livedexperience to reduce stigma, highlighting local supports (including those delivered by Wellways),and strengthening Wellways’ partnerships with regional communities.

Wellways worked closely withAndrew, Kerry, andMoe FNCtoensurethe event reflectedlocal needs and sensitives.

More than 175 people turned out for the event.

Wellways Australia Regional Manager, Gippsland and Housing Services, Lee Brien said the attendance demonstrated strongcommunity interest and support.

“The event was planned together with the people it aimed to support, making it more meaningful and impactful,” Brien said.

“TomBoydopenly shared his journey with mental health, and his presence brought authenticity and visibility to the topicofmental health, resonating strongly with attendees.”

Boyd spoke candidly about his journey from

suburbanMelbourne to No 1draft pick, and his decision to walk away from the game aged just23due to poormentalhealth -not long after helping the Bulldogs to abreakthrough premiership in 2016.

His decision shocked the footballfraternity at the time, given he seemingly had the world at his feet.

However, part of Boyd's address also divedinto what the highly-stressful AFL system is really like -far removed from the glitz and glamour portrayed on television screens.

In the yearspost-retirement,the key forward has played suburbanfootball, and embarked on the public speaking circuit. Locally, he has also spoken at Morwell FNC and Gormandale FNC in the last few years.

As Boyd himself pointed out, he didn't retire from football, he retired from the AFL.

Following his speech, questions were taken from the floor, before autograph and photo hunters arrived to talk personally to the guest speaker, who of course made mentionofhow he causedBrian Taylor to deliver arguably his most quoted piece of commentary.

Mad Bulldogs fan Liam Pearce (Andrew's son) delighted in being presented asignedfooty by the entire Western Bulldogs squad.

When asked about current Bulldogs captain Marcus Bontempelli (who incidentally played his 250th matchlastround), Boyd described him as "the second coming of Jesus".

There was little surprise when Boyd also revealed who was 'best on' afterthe 2016 premiership: Tom Liberatore.

Boyd has acoupleofconnections to Moe FNC, with current Lion Tim Golds and former player Kristian Jaksch (who won the Gippsland League goal kicking in 2021) teammates of Boyd's at GWS.

More broader connections include Warragul

lad Bob Murphy, the injured skipper famously called upon to acceptthe premiershipcup in 2016.

Froma pure football sense, Moe of this season willbehoping to emulate the Western Bulldogs and deliver adrought-breaking premiership.

The whole club-sense however carries much greater meaning.

“Those in attendancereported feeling more connected and aware of local supports such as Wellways and The WES,” Brien added.

“The feedback reinforcesW ellways is a trusted, community-led mental health provider in Gippsland.”

BothWellways Australia and Moe FNC wish to continuethis partnership into the future for furthercommunity education and suicide prevention.

Great company: The Pearce family, Matt, Andrew,Kerr yand Liam with TomBoyd. Up close: Moe player and WesternBulldogs fan, JarydRiddle speakingwithTom Boyd

Story: WesternBulldogs premiership hero, TomBoydspeaking in Moelast week

Partnership: Moe Football-Netball ClubPresident, MattHowlett,Wellways Australia Regional Manager,Gippsland and HousingSer vices,Lee Brien and former AFL player, TomBoyd. Photographs: Liam Durkin

GIPPSLAND LEAGUE

Maroons sendsecond consecutive reminder

FOOTBALL

GIPPSLAND LEAGUE

JStewart THobbs SWhibley WHayesR Nettle.Mor well:MMcInnes SMillsZ Anderson DMusil JGalea

2.4 10.8 16.10 19.13 (127) SALE1.3 2.3

C Whitehill TWriggleswor th HRonchi BWalker RJames CRand

JShone.Maffra:DBedggood AMcKenzie ACarr JBoydDButcher JKilloran

CCroftsT Selleck MFalls SO’Kelly AFleming B Froud.Drouin: JCooke WVir tue JBennett RStapleton HWatson CCaddy

Warragul: THillard2 JMurphySKelly VKuol JDavidson DRidgway. Morwell: BBriggs CWhite. BEST: Warragul: JDavidson JHughes THillardJCasson SKelly LMiller.Mor well:Z Cheffers BWilliams ZCantrill LDalziel EPorigneaux CSeymour

(101)

(36)

Leongatha: CWatson 5FMateria 3Rbutler 3T Gannon 2KMcGrath ATrottoL Marshman. Sale: RHead2 ZWaixel RCottrell SFyfe. BEST: Leongatha: LMarshman IFox TGannon FMateria JClark.Sale: CLavertySFyfeMMcMaster JHalligan JCantwell CLett

Maffra: ZFelsbourg4Astobie 4JAndrews 2JBrickley WRuthbergJ Kellow JHenry Wonthaggi: CKrause 2JBrouwers CDawson. BEST: Maffra: BDowsett SPendergast WRoss JKelly Astobie JHenry.Wonthaggi: JBrouwers CDawson LLegione ZMacDermid CKrause JWaters

BY LIAM DURKIN

THEY’VE beaten both of them now.

Both of them referring to the teams Traralgon has defeated-Moe and Leongatha, generally consideredthe only ones left in the Gippsland League premiership race along with the Maroons.

The Maroons put the Lions away aweek afterdoing the same to the Parrots, 11.15 (81) to 8.12 (60).

The result reaffirmed the reigning premiers credentials,which hadcomeunder some scrutiny following an indifferent form line during the first four rounds of the season when Traralgon had awin-loss record of two-two.

Two of those wins had been by single-figure margins, while one of the losses was to Maffra coming off awooden spoon.

Not for the first timehowever, aside coachedbyTroyHamiltonappears to be hittingits straps the further ayear goes along.

While premiershipsaren’t won in June, there can be little doubt the Maroons aren’t on track to hit their peak come the business end of the season.

If the manner in whichTraralgondefeated Moe at the weekend is any indication -a long-awaited Lions premiership certainly isn’t the foregone conclusion many pundits have been saying it is in recent weeks.

Moe, who went into the match on top of the ladder, found themselves three goals down at quarter time on Terry Hunter Oval.

Lionscoach Leigh Poholke described it “as bad aquarter as we’ve played all year”.

“Your ability and your talent isn’t going to bail you out today,” he told his charges.

Moe wrestled backsome momentum in the second, yet for all their efforts, Traralgon matched them on the scoreboard with four goals.

Goals to Lionlivewires Justin Morrow and Lachlan Rock provided aspark,asdid atelling set shot from long range after the siren from Ben Crocker, making it a16-point ballgame at the main break.

At the other end however, Traralgon was enjoying life in front of its home supporters gathered around the Pud Northe Bar.

MMcQualter

Traralgon: JZappulla 3JMurdoch 2HPirie TSar tori. BEST: Moe: BBlandfordJ Pace EBush MMoroney EWildblood LEarl.Traralgon: CAnderson MPodmoreT Sartori SWight JTaylorHHenr y

Drouin: RBaker 6B Alie JWelfordT Mapleson. Bairnsdale: OBaylis3OEmmett 3B Fenner JFarley DAshby. BEST: Drouin:T Mapleson RBaker DBritt JWelfordBAlieCKleeven. Bairnsdale: RHargreavesOBaylisBFenner SBuckley OMolinaroT Scott

WARR AGUL 5.3 7.4 8.7 11.9 (75)

MORWELL 0.1 3.3 6.4 6.6 (42)

GOALS: Warragul: CThompson5HDennis IKittelty WMacLean FSheehan JSimpson T

O’Lear y. Morwell: HGaunt 2DRosatoT James RO’Neill JStevens BEST: Warragul: XOlsson FSheehan CThompsonJBooteJ Simpson CJenkins.Mor well:OKalan GJiath JMooney H Fenton SDawson JBeath

LEONGATHA 3.4 4.5 8.8 10.9 (69)

SALE0.2 4.5 4.5 7.8 (50)

GOALS: Leongatha: EBerr yman 3ALogan 3HBowlerAFixterJDeering MCroatto. Sale JHalligan 2CEarles MMayman TRonchi JGreenwood MMcMaster BEST: Leongatha: A Logan FMcLennan FDonohue EBerr yman CReid JDeeringSale: BHarrisonMMcMaster J Greenwood JHalligan JRoads JPowe MAFFR A3.4

WONTHAGGI 1.1

GOALS: Maffra: Astobie 7H Walker 2g MCar AJobe BEST: Maffra: Astobi

MOri LDavis OFeather L

Perhapsfittingly, Matt Northewas one player to score at this end, after umpire Chris Malone awarded a50metre penalty for late contact, walking Northe to the goal square

Jack son McM ahon wa sb usy arou nd forward50for the home side, and ended the day with four majors.

The Maroons playing-assistant has been arevelation sincemoving from defenceto attack, kicking14goals in his last three games.

Moe started brightly in thethird,yet some inexplicable moments perhaps summed up how scrambled things were in the heat of battle.

AmarktoCrocker within the first minute

from no more than 20 metres out on atight angle was undone when he decided to pass off, despite fellow forward Poholke signalling for him to have ashot.

Crocker made up for this ashort time later after winning aground ball and sending a perfectly weighted pass to Myles Poholke, who played on after taking amark(surely causing amomentary heart-attack for many Moe supporters) before snapping truly.

Miscommunication wasn’t just confined to Moe however. The Lions scored afollow-up goal when three Traralgon players flew for the same ball in the Lions goal square, leading Leigh Poholke to accept the crumbs at ground level.

His goal cutthe margin backtothreepoints just five minutes in.

Game on.

Moe playing-assistant Aaron Paxton left the ground holding his shoulder after a marking contest with Northe, but returned later in the term to have some good moments.

The Lions were given another let off when Harvey Neocleous hit the post, Cooper Brown missed finishing acoast-to-coastplay, and Liam Willaton kicked what could have been dubbed ‘point of the year’, following arunning effort from the arc.

The ever-nimble Willaton was so quick, he verynearlycaught up with his own kickafter it trickled through for abehind.

These moments virtually summed up the game. There was hardly any room to move, with the ball acting almost like apinball machine at times. An opposition hand in the contestwas literally often enough to disrupt any chains developing.

This was evident when Moe’s Harry Pepper got in to stop Tate Marsh taking acertain markoncentre wing.The ever-alert Pepper used his basketball background to not only spoil the ball, but palm it in suchaway that it bouncedperfectly forteammate Nathan Scagliarini to collect.

If youwant an idea of justhow much pressure was out there -even Tye Houigan dropped an intercept mark (proving he is human).

With the margin five points in favour of the Maroons at three quarter time, the stage was set for agrandstandfinish.

Poholke opted for hushed tones in the huddle, with only the players close enough to hear.

What was audible however were his final words, simply: “winner takes all.”

McMahon kicked the first goal of the last after beingpaida holdagainst Moe ruckman Chris Prowse, who believed he tookthe mark

The Lions got one back however through Leigh Poholke, with acalculated set shotthat drifted right to left at the five minute mark.

Bodies flew over the next few passages, personified by Moe co-captain Brock Smith showing incredible courage to fly in from some distance in front of Traralgon key forward Dylan Loprese.

Loprese, the hero of last week’s win over Leongatha, rose to the occasion again at the

weekend, continually doing what he could to lock the ball inside 50.

Needing another hero this week however, the Maroons found one in Neocleous at the 13 minute mark.

The mercurialyoungsternailedaninsane goal from tight up against the boundary from athrow in, giving Traralgona12-point lead

From astanding start on the wrong side for arightfooter, the balltravelledagood 40 metres.Neocleous celebrated accordingly, surely made all the more satisfying given the number of Moe supporterscamped near the fence.

Lopreseadded ahandy point two minutes later, and with time becoming afactor, Moe had to risk losing trying to win the game by kicking thethree goals needed for victory

This consequently created scoring opportunities forTraralgon,and the Maroons kicked three consecutive behinds from Moe kick-ins.

The deadlock wasbroken by McMahon, whose goal in front of Pud’sBar at the 18 minute mark extended the lead to the eventual full time margin of 21 points.

Traralgon completely shutdown the Lions’ scoring in the last, allowing the visitors to only register 1.1 (7).

The final quarter was soured somewhat after Moe big man Tom Blackshaw hit the turf upside down after flying for amark. Trainersfrom both clubs were immediately on the sceneinfrontofthe interchange boxes, while thankfully, Blackshaw got to his feet. His efforttoplay the game right to the end even when the result was obvious could provide at least one positive for Moe. Blackshaw was among thebest in alosing cause, along with Pepper,AlexDijkstra, Crocker (threegoals), Smith and Tajh Eden. Willaton was best for Traralgon,and received good support from Tristen Waack, Neocleous, Northe, Hourigan and Loprese.

The Maroons enjoyed asuccessful day on the field, withits reserves maintainingtheir unbeaten season, and fourths continuing on their barnstorming run.

Incredibly, Traralgon’sfourths have a percentage nearly in four digits. Granted Traralgon hasthe biggest pool of players to draw from, it is equally understood players luckyenough to be selected are reminded of the prestige in pulling on a Maroons jumper.

That accountability from ayoung age has arguably been adecidingfactorinTraralgon’s success, and conversely, created an inferiority complex for other clubs.

Whether or not that is applicable to Moe is up for debate, but as they say 'you are what your recordsays youare': Traralgon 117 wins, Moe 47.

The Lions will look to pick themselves up and prepare for Maffra, who they can ill-afford to take lightly given the Eagles have defeated Traralgon this season.

Trouble at Tigerland,Parrots go to top

FOOTBALL GIPPSLAND LEAGUE

BY LIAM DURKIN

MATCHES played in the Latrobe Valley had the biggest consequence for the rest of the Gippsland League at the weekend.

With Traralgon the only one of the Valley’s trio to emerge victorious, the ladder was given adecent shake as Round 11 wrapped up.

 WHERE to now for Morwell?

The Tigers slipped out of the top five after losing to Warragul, 13.13 (91) to 7.15 (57).

The Gulls were rewarded in more ways than one, with their victory propelling them to outright fifth. Warragul, for so long causing nuisance value to the competition, might now be on track to feature in finals for the first time in close to adecade. For the Tigers meanwhile, there must surely now be acircuit breaker.

Just why does the same thing keep happening?

Why has Morwell been stuckmid-table every season for the last four years?

If losing to the Gulls wasn’t problematic enough, the 34-point margin was perhaps the most concerning element.

Warragul led at every change on the Tigers’ home deck, breaking the gameopen in the second quarter with six goals to two.

Morwell only managed another solidary goal in the third, while the Gulls broke further away.

Warragul defender, Sean Mastersonensured scoring was kept to aminimum.Masterson, who has been bullish about the Gulls’ list profile, may now be feeling vindicated as it looks as though Warragul are playing near their potential.

New recruit Jordan Stewart kicked four goals for the second successive week, showing the type of football he displayed after coming across from Pakenham.

Midfield bull Tom Hobbs was also productive, as was man-mountain Sam Whibley, VFL-player and prominent horse trainer Will Hayes, and thirds kid Rory Nettle.

Maclan McInnes played his best game in senior coloursfor Morwell, although his performance was about the only positive to come out of the game for the home side.

Such was the outcome, the Tigers only named four other players in the best: Stephen Mills, Zac Anderson, Dan Musil and Josh Galea. Morwell still has time on its side to make up lost ground, however, alosstoanoppositionaroundits mark on the laddermight havedeeper implications. Players are only human, and the greatest challenge could now be fighting asenseofdisillusionment as finals are left somewhat to chance. All teams go through it at some stage, and once you knowyou are no longer in aposition to contend, it is certainly not agood place to be.  FOR something different -Leongatha is on top of the ladder.

What was predicted to finally be ‘the year’ the Parrots finally dropped off, the South Gippsland powerhouse are so far proving just how well-oiled amachine they really are.

Leongathawent to No. 1after inflicting Sale with an 81-point drubbing, 19.13 (127) to 7.4 (46). What adifferencethree years makes: Sale played Leongatha in the 2022 Grand Final. What an even scarier proposition this is: the Parrots are still without Tom Marriott, Cade Maskell, SeanWestaway, JensonGarnham and Tallin Brill, while key position Justin Pelicano also missed after being red carded against Traralgon the week before.

So,athird of the starting 18 didn’t play and Leongatha still won by more than 13 goals.

Cue Dr Foster: “May God have mercy on us all”.

The Parrots were merciless after quarter time at Sale Oval, blasting the home side off the park

by kicking eight goals to one in the second term.

Leongatha led by 53 points at the main break, and got it out to nearly three figures with one to spare.

Sale at least matched the Parrots for goals in the final quarter, kicking three.

Key forward Patrick Ireland was best for the winners, and had plenty of supply inside 50.

Parrots veteran Luke Bowman used his experience to good effect, while Nick Argento, Jay Walker, Zavier Lamers and younggun AydanWilliams also racked up touches.

Cooper Whitehill, Tom Wrigglesworth,Harry Ronchi, Bohdi Walker, Ronan James and Cooper Rand tried hard for the Magpies.

Sale’s plight might have been best summed up by the inclusion of James in the line-up.

AmateofWrigglesworth’s, who is currently aligned with the pair’s old school, Caulfield Grammariansinthe VAFA, James threw on a blackand white jumperatthe weekend purely because there was just about no one else available.

Saleisanchored intosecond-last position on the ladder with just three wins -something that would havebeen unimaginable when preseason predictions were made.

Readingthe Magpies club notes in the weekly Gippsland League Record at the weekend certainly painted aclear picture.

Whileordinarily, clubnotes merely acknowledge players and sponsors, Sale’s scribeoffered some refreshing honesty in the latest dispatch.

“Our results at Maffra were disappointing, and as aclub, we knowwe’ve got more to give,” an extract read.

“Credit to Maffra, they played astrong brand of football and netball but we also need to be honest about where we’re at.

“Across the board, we fell short of the standard we set for ourselves. We’ve got atalented group, astrong support network, and aclub that’s determined to improve.

"The focus now is on effort, preparation, and taking prideinthe way we represent the black and white.”

Preparation fromsome might be called intoquestion, after wordreturnedvia the bush telegraph that Sale players wereallegedly out in Melbourne last Friday night

If thatisthe case, it is clear some have already checkedout on the season.

That Carlton players were also said to be at the same venue might not come as asurprise when looking at the respective ladder positions.

 MAFFRA was made to rue another poor few minutes.

The Eagles were only two goals down at quarter time in Wonthaggi, before walking into the sheds facing a31-point deficit.

That the final margin was 26 points, 10.8(68) to 5.12 (42) perhaps summed up where the game was decided.

Maffra remained in with ashow at three quarter time,down by only 16 points, yet three goals to one in favour of the home side made sure of the result.

The win was much-needed for the Power, and snapped athree-game losing streak.

Despite fielding what is believed to be one of the youngest teams in the club’s history in recent weeks,Wonthaggi is still safe and secure in fourth position on the ladder with seven wins.

Ethan Dickison, Josh Bates, KyleReid,Ryan Sparkes, Andrew McNeel and Jasper Stone collected votes for the winners.

Maffra senior games recor dh older Daniel Bedggoodwas best for the visitors, followed by Andrew McKenzie, Alex Carr, Jonathan Boyd, Danny Butcher and Jett Killoran.

 BAIRNSDALE broke afive-game losing streak.

The Redlegs won ashootout against Drouin, in agame that saw nearly 40 goals kicked on the

wide open expanses of the Bairnsdale City Oval.

Goal umpires were kept busy, and waved the flags 57 times in afinal scoreboard reading 21.15 (141) to 15.6 (96).

The scenewas set early,after Bairnsdale kicked 7.5 (47) and Drouin 4.0 (24) in the opening term.

TheRedlegs decided offence was the best form of defencefrom there,and maintaineda lead right to the end.

Our great game brings peace

FOOTBALL

By LIAM DURKIN

NOT to put football and global conflict in the samecontext, but given the situation currently plaguingthe Middle East,the unifying powerof Australian football should perhaps be revisited.

Morwell premiership player and noted filmmaker,the late Rob Dickson exploredthis in his 2008 documentary The Essence of the Game.

Part of the documentary details the ‘Peace Team ’, at ea mm ad eu po fI sr ae lis and Palestinians playing AFL together.

Foragamemostofusonly associate through the teams we support, to think an oddly shaped ball can help bring people together regardless of beliefs shows the true virtue of football.

“I’d never met aPalestinian before,” one of the Israeli players says in the documentary.

“Meeting these guys up front and personal, once you muck around with them and play with them, you realise these guys are for real.”

The Peace Team compe ted in the International Cup, and was coached by Robert DiPierdomenico.

Dipperhas frequented Morwell in recentyears through his role as Bocce Australiaambassador and filming for his travel show.

The Essenceofthe Game can be viewed in full on YouTube, and comes highly recommended as one of the bestAFL documentaries ever produced.

(Skip to the 25-minute mark to see the start of the Peace Team story).

Finals fortunes change overnight

FOOTBALL

GIPPSLAND LEAGUE

BY LIAM DURKIN

PROOF that no one ever reads the terms and conditions.

Somehow, an AFL Victoria Country by-law has slipped through the cracks, and automatically disqualified Gippsland League players currently aligned withVFL clubs the chance of returning home for finals.

As revealed in the Weekly Times last week, VFL playershad only needed to play four matches for their aligned club to qualify for finals under Gippsland League by-laws.

However, the fine print in AFLVictoria Country’s by-laws states if aplayer has played more than 12 VFL games, they are not eligible for local finals.

This law has been in place since at least 2019

“AFLGippslandhaveadvisedusthat their AFL Victoria Countryrule regarding VFL players finals eligibility supersedeany local competition by-laws,” Gippsland League General Manager, Daniel Heathcote told the Weekly Times.

“Gippslandleague has made no change to our rules regarding finals eligibility.”

The situation is set to affect premiership contenders Moe and Leongatha.

The Lions have Riley Baldi and Tom Murphy aligned with VFL clubs Casey and Frankston, while the Parrots have Dyson Heppell playing for Port Melbourne.

The trio all brokethe 12-gamethreshold at the weekend.

Baldi and Murphy have both played for Moe this season, including in the reserves to get a game under their belt.

Bizarrely for Baldi, who is aMoe local and won the Gippsland League best-and-fairest last season, his last game for his home club could be in the twos this season.

Leongatha coach,TrentMcMicking felt Baldi and Heppell should be eligible.

“Riley Baldi, who is aone-pointer, deserves to be playingfinals for Moe,” McMickingtold the Weekly Times' David Johnston (himself a East Gippsland boy).

“Dyson Heppell is devastated, he was so keen to playwith his brother (Aaron) for us.

“Clubs are trying to promote the league to become one of the best leagues in Victoria and this doesn’t allow us to do that."

The situation has left clubs feeling blindsided, and in aworst case scenario, could also call into question the validity of recent seasons.

Tristen Waackplayed for Traralgon in last year’s premiership after playing 15 games for the Northern Bullants. Noah Gowndid likewise for Leongatha after playing virtually the whole season forSandringham in 2023.

Whileleague pundits will be left disappointed thebestplayers won’t be on show duringfinals, there can be little doubt some will be secretly glad the rule was uncovered.

With spots now suddenlyopen, the opportunity is there for other players to grab hold of the opportunity.

Drawing adrastic parallel here, but Drouin’s own Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti may never have got astart at Essendon if it wasn’t for the suspension of the 34.

Australian cricket great Allan Border has always saidhewas grateful World Series Cricket came along when it did.

Border made his Testdebutin1978when most of the Australian team was away playing World Series.

Twenty players kicked agoal on the day across both teams.

Tyran Rees, Cooper Harvey, Will Mitchell, Josh Wykes, Tom Blenheim and Lachlan Byrne Jones won plaudits for Bairnsdale. Kyron Smith was bestfor the Hawks, kicking three, and washelped by Jacob Obernhumer, Kaden Gregg, Ben Tranfield, Seb Amoroso and Kye Quirk.

MID GIPPSLAND

Magpies hitting stride

"Four points is four points for us. We will take the win and move onto next week where we play Mirboo on their home deck.”

KJennings WAndersonADaley J Brincat. StonyCreek:KNewtonJ Riley HFunnell CStone TBernaldo FOSTER1.3 3.6 5.7 10.10 (70) MIRBOO NTH 0.1 0.3

BCripps JLewis SChaseling.Mirboo Nth: JChila AWoodall EWoodall HBarnes MRichardson BPeters FISH CREEK5.6 11.9 20.11 25.17 (167)

HILLEND 0.0 2.0

JGill MWindsor T Holley EStanton DCooper RJohnstone-McCloud

WSpeed JStuartAGeyer SLiddle.Newborough: DSmith WCollings DLupton A Styles

ALacanaria KDavyT Daldy.Mirboo Nth: MAveling ASoplakowJ Hutton JPeters CYoung

(117)

THE weekend just gone was one in which a'line in the sand' needed to be drawn by a number of Mid Gippslandclubstodetermine their team's destination.

Some lived to fight another day after Round 11, while others are now facingatesting two months of home-and-away football.

 YINNAR VBOOLARRA

AS important as awin was for Yinnar, also apriority was the way in which they went about their business.

The Magpies had done what they needed to do against HillEnd aweek earlier, but the standard produced on that day was well below that expected by coach Sam McCulloch.

Avisiting Demons side, whose season was very muchalive,was expected to be amuch tougherproposition,and it was, at least for a little while, until Yinnar broke away to win 11.12 (78) to Boolarra 5.7 (37).

McCulloch said it was great to win on an important day for the club.

“Inwhat was abig day for the club with many of ourpastplayers and supporters on hand to watch, (it) was great to come away with the four points," he said.

"We were expectingatough game and that’s exactly what we got. The game was quite a battle and took us until the last quarter to break away and record agood win.”

Boolarra assistant coach, Scott Berechree paid credit to the Magpies consistency.

“After an arm wrestle in the first half injuries again took their toll on our line-up with only one rotation available after quarter time," he said.

"Our back six worked hard with Mason Porykali doing an outstanding job to keep Kane Grinstead Jones out of the action.

"ToYinnar'screditthey found agearafter halftimewith their midfield particularly damaging in both their clearance work and in hitting the scoreboard.

"Inaccuracy cost us early however all credit goes to the home side who played the full four quartersatmuchcloserto100 per cent than we were able to."

Yinnarare fully awarefurther improved performances will be needed in theweeks ahead, whilst for the Demons, who sit just agame shy of acoveted top-six spot, there remains some work to be done in the run home to finals.

Aloss to Fish Creek this Saturday may well mean Boolarrafalls two games behind sixth with just seven rounds remaining.

 NEWBOROUGH VSTONY CREEK

IT was always going to be hardtojustify the loserofthis clash as acontinued contender for afinalsberth.

The pressure is now squarely on Stony Creek aftergoing downbyjust akick on the road against Newborough, 12.15 (87) to 12.10 (82).

Bulldogscoach, Pat Frendobreathed a huge sigh of relief on the siren.

“Massive win for us at the Kennel," he said.

"First four quarter performance we’ve played in some time. Started the game well kicking 6.1 in the first, then hurt ourselves in the second quarter going 1.8 in front of goals.

"Managed to steady the shipabit in the second half and gave ourselves asix goal lead late in the last before we switchedoff and allowed five goals in the last eight minutes.

thelastquarter were costly, but I’m sure we will learn from them and move on."

When the Bulldogs were hot they were hot, withhundredgamer Liam Cordner well supported by teammates Harrison Gallagher, Kyle Jennings and Wade Anderson, which made the day even more special.

Newborough,battling withinjuries for most of the season, hung in and eventually foundthe line, despite the Lions attempting to pounce late Stony Creek Coach, Troy Sheperdson felt his side was atad unlucky.

“Travelled to Newborough and took on asidewho were desperate to get back on the winners list and for three quarters they outworked us," he said.

"Boys dug deep in the last to try to steal a win, but fell short by five points. Hopefully we can roll the momentum of the last quarter into next week.”

The Lions have shown at times that they can play some incredibly good football, but grouping quarters together and then matches still seems alittle allusive.

 TOORAV THORPDALE

GETTING ahandle on just what type of

Toora is going to turn up has proved to be a tough task in recent weeks.

Two wins out of three ain't half bad, and that's exactly what the Magpies had produced in the past month leading into another tough challenge against Thorpdale.

On their home deck, Toora knewvictory would have themselves within awhisker of the top half of the ladder.

The problem however was afierce visitor in the shape of Thorpdale, who won 15.10 (100) to 13.8 (86).

Blues coach Daniel Taylor describedthe win as hard-fought.

“Great game of footy which could have gone either way," he said.

"I felt at halftime Toora had the momentum and when they kicked the first goal after halftimetotakea14pointleaditlooked like we were on the ropes abit.

"To the boys' credit we really got to work, our midfield got on top, intensity and pressurelifted aroundthe ball andwemanagedto get some forward half territory which got the game back on our terms at the last change.

"Cracker of alastquarter with afew lead changes beforewesettled and kicked the last two goals to get an important win for our season moving forward.

"Really proud of the effort from the whole group but IthoughtGav Low in the ruck was fantastic all day, Lachie Wallace was brilliantlateand our full forward Cougar 'The Weapon' Millsom had aday out and was the difference on the day kicking eight goals straight.”

The Magpiesstruggled to keep the key forward down, and thatcoupled with some poor decisionsprovedtobecostly to aMagpies side that, in recent weeks, looked as though they were ready to make asignificant move up the ladder.

Toora Coach, Jay Acardi lamentedalost opportunity.

“Really tough encounter against Thorpy," he said.

"The game was played at ahigh level and aphysical one. It was aclose match all day and to theircreditthey were able to take their chances when it mattered to grab the win.

"Really proud of theeffort our lads showed but some silly errors at crucial moments in

Toora sit third to bottom on the MGFNL ladder, but are just two games out from the top six.



MDUV MORWELL EAST

FOR Morwell East, there remained just a glimmer of hope that asteady climb up the ladder was still possible, if only they could regain some of their football from12months ago.

The problem however was astrong and steady Demon's team that had the opportunity to kill off the Hawks' season in one afternoon, and that'sexactly what they appear to have done after winning 12.7 (79) to 7.7 (49).

Meeniyan Dumbalk United Coach, Rhett Kelly praised his team's performance.

“It was great to come away with the four points, especially after MorwellEastput up suchastrongfightinthe second half," he said.

"We started the game really well and absorbed Morwell East's pressure to have asmall lead at quarter time.

"Our pressure in thesecondquarter was excellent, allowing us to play alot of forwardhalffootball with repeat entries.While we probably didn't capitalise enough on those entries, Iwas still extremely happy with our first-half efforts.

"Credit to Morwell East for coming out strong after halftime and puttingthe pressure back on us. We were abit lost structurally after aplayer was sent off at the start of the third quarter and they (Morwell East) wereabletotake advantage of that. Morwell East also scoredafew goalslate in the game, which was abit disappointing from our end, but as Isaid, it was great to come away with the four points.

"We have the bye this week, so we'll use this time to freshen up. It will also be great to see some returning players over the next couple of weeks."

As important as winning is, for Morwell East it's been about competing,being honest and aggressive, playing Hawk's footy, and it seems they are getting closer and closer to doing that.

“We competed all dayagainstMDU. We hadalot of forward 50 entries in the first quarter, just didn't capitalise. MDU did," a frank Morwell East Coach, Paul Henry said.

"We got outworked in the second quarter. Second half we outscored them by agoal. Got within fourgoals in the last but MDU was too goodinthe end.Weare playing better footy.” Finalsmight notbeonthe agenda,but there is little question thatMorwellEast are capable of playing apart in how the shape of the top six finishes up.

 FISH CREEK VHILL END BOTTOMofthe ladderHill End strolled into the home of top team FishCreek, not with extraordinary confidence, but at least with some belief they could keep in touch, such was their performance just seven days earlier against Yinnar.

It soon became obvious however that the Kangaroos were going to be avery different proposition.

So it proved in the finish, with Fish Creek winning 25.17 (167) to 2.2 (14).

Kangaroos coach, Jarrod Walker said there was strong signs.

Continued page 27

From page 27

“A pleasing performance by us. We started moving the ball alot better in the second half which helped to create more space in the forward line and get some better looks at goal,” he said.

“It was good to see our forwards continue to work together and share the footy around to have amore even contribution.

“Darcy Berryman is in ahot run of form and was great to see Jai Stefani get on the end of acouple after working really hard on the track.

“Hats off to Hill End who made us earn it all day, especially the Hill End ruckman who went all day and made us make afew changes in our ruck stocks.

“They’ve got some handy juniors coming through so good luck to them for the rest of the year.”

Hill End Coach, Adrian Burns said there was only so much his side could do.

“They are avery good side, they are awesome, they had some players out and we had eight players out ourselves, the boys that were in did agood job, we had a15-year-oldthat did agood job, young HamishPhoenix is aripper, so it wasn’t all bad, butIwould’ve like abit more of afight from us.”

Sometimes aloss can hurt asidefor more than the week in which it happened. The challenge for Hill End now is to respond against Toora.

 FOSTER VMIRBOO NORTH

THE battle of the two Tiger teams was not so much about the battle of emblems, it was more about the 2025 survival of Mirboo North.

The visiting Tiger team entered the round eighth on the league ladder but just percentage from sixth position.

The end result however was concerning for Mirboo North, who were kept to just one goal in a10.10 (70) to 1.5(11)display.

Foster Coach, Sam Davies happytotakethe points and move on.

“Ticked the box on the weekend. Damo (Mirboo NorthCoach, Damien Turner) definitely had his boys well drilled,playing plus two essentially behind the footy all day which made it avery ugly game,” he said.

“We willstarttosee some players come back from injury over the next few weeks which will be helpful for numbers everywhere.”

It’s ascary thought that asidebetter than good can get even better, but that’s the proposition that opposition sides willface in the coming weeks against Foster.

The TigersofMirboo Northmay have been on the receiving end of apretty solid beating, but there remained alot to likeaboutthe way the visitors went about their business.

“This was alwaysgoing to be atough trip with so many first choice players out,” Turner said, “but I couldn’t have been prouder of the fight and scrap of my boys.”

“I felt we really did make it hard for Foster, and they stuck to aplan and never went away.

“Sam has agood strong list, and in the end their class and finishing was too much. We will take some learnings and even asmall amount of confidence.”

Any amount of confidence is worth nurturing for Mirboo North, as they grow their young talent into aforce that will be much tougher to play against in the months and seasons ahead.

For now they remain in the fight for afinalsspot, but it will take finding some short term improvements to get there.

 TARWIN had the bye.

Stars close strongly

NETBALL

VICTORIAN

NETBALL

LEAGUE BY BLAKE METCALF-HOLT

GIPPSLAND Stars displayed positive signs, and aconcerted fightagainst WesternWarriors in Round 15 of the Victorian Netball League.

The Championshipside made inroads during their June 25 affair, but still succumbed to the Warriors58to52atthe State Netball Centre.

After an 18-10 first quarter deficit then turned into a15-goal edge at halftime, it would have been assumed the Stars would simply just see out the game to the end.

The Stars outscored Western Warriors 18-9 in the final stretch, but time worked against their favour.

The local side split scoringbetween Ramayer Keilty (28 goals), Sophie Lecchino(15) and Alahna Arnason (9).

IN the earlier match, the 23-and-Under side was easilydefeated by Western Warriors, 63-38.

Asolid start from the Stars saw them trail by just four goals at quarter time, however, that quickly ballooned throughout therestofthe matchup during the following three quarters. CharlizeTraumanisscored 16 goals, while Myah Healey added 15.

The Gippsland Starsplay tonight (Wednesday, July2)against Boroondara Expressatthe State Netball Centre.

Three-way race out North

NETBALL

By BLAKE METCALF-HOLT

ROUND 11 across local leagues held greatsignificance in netball, not just for the resultsthemselves on the court, but what it could produce off it also.

Gippsland League held its annual Orange Round at the weekend, an initiative that gained traction for sports leagues across the country as ameans of tackling the issue of family and gender-based violence.

 THE Valley showdown between Moe and Traralgon didn’t necessarily live up to the occasion, with each side on different ends of their journeys. The Lions winning 79 to 53 at Traralgon Showgrounds.

The more experienced Lions jumped out of the gate42to21after the firsthalf, and despite a much more even contest in the latter stages of the match, Moe were clear victors.

AshleaMawer produced 51 goals, while Elsie Demczuk was called up from the lower grades and added 17, alongside Georgia Moody’s 11.

Playing coach AlexMoody was best-on-court, followed by Mawer and Ramayer Keilty.

Grace Van Tilburg (24 goals), Montanna Styles and Sophie Lecchino all stood strong for Traralgon

It wouldhave been an earthshattering result if it went the way for Morwell, but the Tigers were undone by Warragul, 65-54 at Morwell Recreation Reserve.

Morwell were let down by slow start, facing a seven-goal hole at halftime, and while they needed to regroupwith asolidthird quarter, the Gulls only gainedfurther advantage.

The Tigersdid finish off with asolid fourth quarter, but the damage had already been done.

Emma Ryde poured in amonster 61 goals,while Sienna Green, Ella Rees and Jade Finn all played well for the winners.

GIPPSLAND LEAGUE

ROUND

11

Milestone: Anna Soloman playedher 50th A Grade game forMorwellatthe weekend. File photograph

Holly Stephens added 39 goals for Morwell, alon gside stron gp erforma nces from Jayde Parsons, Hayley Stringer and Chloe Radford. Others resultssaw Wonthaggi defeat Maffra, 63-41 at Wonth aggi Rec reation Reserv e, Leongatha easily shook Sale, 80-26 at Sale Oval, and Drouin got by Bairnsdale, 51-43 at Bairnsdale City Oval.

 YINNAR continuetheir stretch towards Mid Gippsland finals with a67-36 demolition of Boolarra at Yinnar Recreation Reserve.

The Magpies moved by thanks to adominant final three quarters, with Patty McInnes contributing 62 goals in the win.

Newborough succumbed in aclose 55-51 loss to StonyCreek at Northern Reserve.

The Bulldogs faced an uphill battle, being down at each turn, but held close enough to still be in with achance.

Livinia Mandemaker’s 43 goals overcame Demi Caldow’s 34.

Combined with Morwell East’slosstoMDU, 73-48 at Meeniyan Recreation Reserve, both Latrobe Valleyclubs move agamebackofthe top six with seven rounds remaining.

Foster also beat Mirboo North, 59-56 at Foster Showgrounds, Fish Creek passed Hill End easily,67-27 at Terrill Park, and Toora defeated Thorpdale, 58-20, at Toora Recreation Reserve.

Tarwin had the bye.

 ATHREE-WAY race is at play in North Gippsland, with Churchill, Sale City and Woodside all delivering.

The Cougars passedGormandale,55-40 at Gaskin Park, while the Bulldogs made light work of YYN, 54-28 at Stephenson Park.

Due to Heyfield having the week off, both the Tigers and TTU, who defeated Glengarry, 58-52 at Glengarry RecreationReserve, hold onto their positionswithin thetop five for now.

Rosedalealsosurpassed Cowwarr, 56-25 at Rosedale Recreation Reserve. Woodside and Heyfield had the bye.

NETBALL SCOREBOARD

Foster 59 def Mirboo Nor th 56, Yinnar 67 def Boolarra36, Tarwin -BYE.

NORTH GIPPSLAND

ROUND 11

AGRADE: Wonthaggi 63 def Maffra41, Leongatha 80 def Sale 26, Warragul 65 def Morwell 54, Drouin 51 def Bairnsdale 43, Moe 79 def Traralgon 53.

BGRADE: Wonthaggi 60 def Maffra23, Leongatha 74 def Sale 32, Warragul 65 def Morwell 42, Drouin 47 def Bairnsdale 41, Traralgon 55 def Moe 54.

CGRADE: Wonthaggi 51 def Maffra25, Leongatha 33 def Sale 27,Morwell 49 def Warragul 23, Drouin 45 def Bairnsdale 42, Moe 39 def Traralgon 38.

17 AND UNDER: Maffra48def Wonthaggi 39, Sale 45 def Leongatha 27,Warragul 46 def Morwell 28, Bairnsdale 56 def Drouin 40, Traralgon 64 def Moe 22.

15 AND UNDER: Maffra50def Wonthaggi 7, Sale 44 def Leongatha 37,Warragul 45 def Morwell 16,Drouin40def Bairnsdale 37, Traralgon 51 def Moe 37

13 AND UNDER: Maffra37def Wonthaggi 23, Leongatha 30 def Sale 21, Morwell 38 def Warragul 15,Bairnsdale 33 def Drouin 15,Moe 27 def Traralgon 20.

MID GIPPSLAND

ROUND 11

AGRADE: MDU 73 def Morwell East 48, Toora58def Thorpdale 20, StonyCreek 55 def Newborough 51, Fish Creek 67 def Hill End 27,

BGRADE: Toora83def Thorpdale 25, Fish Creek 63 def Hill End 25, Morwell East 51 def MDU 44, Newborough 57 def StonyCreek 46, Yinnar 63 def Boolarra18, Foster 80 def Mirboo Nor th 43, Tarwin -BYE.

CGRADE: Toora58def Thorpdale 12,Fish Creek 36 def Hill End 22, MDU 48 def Morwell East 28, Yinnar 46 def Boolarra32, Foster 31 drew Mirboo Nor th 31, Newborough 55 def StonyCreek 30, Tarwin -BYE.

DGRADE: Toora57def Thorpdale 1, Mirboo Nor th 52 def Foster 13,Fish Creek 32 def Hill End 23, Yinnar 55 def Boolarra14, MDU 30 def Morwell East 26, Newborough 38 def Stony Creek 31, Tarwin -BYE.

17 AND UNDER: Hill End 44 def Fish Creek 43, Mirboo Nor th 46 def Foster 8, MDU 57 def Morwell East 15,Boolarra55def Yinnar 35, StonyCreek 47 def Newborough 24, Toora, Tarwin -BYE.

15 AND UNDER: Yinnar 35 def Boolarra31, Mirboo Nor th 30 def Foster 29, MDU 27 def Morwell East 15,Hill End 56 def Fish Creek 15,Newborough 46 def StonyCreek 27,Toora, Tarwin -BYE.

13 AND UNDER: Mirboo Nor th 32 def Foster 22, Newborough 26 def StonyCreek 12,Fish Creek 29 def Hill End 13,MDU 23 def Morwell East 19,Yinnar 33 def Boolarra17, Toora, Tarwin -BYE.

Power increases ladder lead

FOOTBALL COATES TALENT LEAGYE/AFL EXPORTS BY BLAKE

METCALF-HOLT

NINE wins from 10 games isn’t abad effort. GippslandPower continuedontheir merry way with a53-point thrashing of Murray Bushrangers, 12.15 (87) to 5.4 (34), at Highgate Recreation Reserve, Craigieburn.

Power limited theiropponent’s output dramatically, which included holding a66-9lead at the end of the third quarter of the Round 13 clash last Saturday.

Keenan Boi wasbest afield with afour-goal masterpiece, followed by Moe trio Liam Masters, MaxWoodall andLuke Cheffers, as well as Finn O’Brien and Sam Grummisch.

While Gippsland Power Boys have the bye this weekend, Power Girlsplay this Sunday (July 6) against Eastern Ranges at Tony Sheehan Oval, Bundoora, following abye at the weekend.

ROUND 16 of the AFLsaw Gold Coast jump backonthe winner’slist with victory over

Melbourne, 15.14 (104) to 12.13 (85), at People First Stadium, Gold Coast.

The Suns Latrobe Valley contingent of Moe’s Bailey Humphrey(two goals,12disposals), Morwell’s Ben Ainsworth (two goals, 10 touches), andMoe and Fish Creek footballer Sam Flanders (28 disposals and five marks) all stood out.

Gold Coast now jump back into the top eight after falling out for the first time all season the previous round.

Hawthorn unloaded on North Melbourne, 23.12 (150)to9.11 (65) at UniversityofTasmania Stadium.

Morwell’s Changkuoth Jiath had 15 disposals andfourmarks in the sizeable win.

In the battlebetween bottom and top, premiership favourites Collingwood were made to work against West Coast at Marvel Stadium.

The Magpies pulled through, winning13.10 (88) to 8.11 (59).

Traralgon’sTim Membrey add two goals in Collingwood’s 13th victory for the year.

AGRADE: Rosedale 56 def Cowwarr 25, Sale City54def YYN 28, Churchill 55 def Gormandale 40, TTU 58 def Glengarry52, Woodside,Heyfield -BYE.

BGRADE: Rosedale 75 def Cowwarr 31, Sale City57def YYN 39, Churchill 43 def Gormandale 26, Glengarry51def TTU45, Heyfield 57 def Yarram 43, Woodside -BYE. CGRADE: Heyfield 41 def Yarram 29, Rosedale 51 def Cowwarr 23, Sale City34 drew YYN34, Gormandale 31 def Churchill 23, TTU 59 def Glengarry25, Woodside -BYE.

DGRADE: Heyfield 34 def Yarram 20, Rosedale 60 def Cowwarr 23, Sale City 48 def YYN 22, TTU 60 def Glengarry26, Gormandale 27 def Churchill 26, Woodside -BYE.

17 AND UNDER: Heyfield 62 def Yarram 22, Sale City56def YYN 8, TTU 36 def Glengary 32, Rosedale 53 def Cowwarr 14,Churchill 33 def Gormandale 31, Woodside -BYE. 15 AND UNDER: TTU 37 def Glengarry36, Sale City40def YYN 18,Heyfield 70 def Yarram 2, Rosedale 46 def Cowwarr 18, Churchill 44 def Gormandale 25, Woodside

Ahuge array of fresh mouthwatering salads made daily

Aselection of hot vege’s, combination packs, chicken schnitzels, burgers androlls PLUS or

NORTH GIPPSLAND

Battle towardsthe centre

FOOTBALL

NORTH GIPPSLAND

BY BLAKE METCALF-HOLT

UPON results in Round 11 of the North Gippsland Football-NetballLeague, the ladder has begun to shape into afar more competitive race with just over amonth to go in the home-and-away season.

While Traralgon Tyers United, Woodside and Heyfield sit healthy at the top, the last seven rounds remain crucial for the mid-tier sides desperately trying to secure the last two slots for finals contention.

 FIGHTING through the noise.

Last quarter heroics saved Rosedale from what would have been adisappointing defeat at the hands of Cowwarr.

The Blues securedtheir fifth win for the year, 12.6 (78) to 8.5 (53) at Rosedale Recreation Reserve.

Something must have gotten into the water, because the Saints jumped out away from home with a3.1 (19) to 1.1 (7) opening quarter.

Despite Cowwarr nailing the first goal of the second term, the Blues responded with four of the last five of the first half to see the game all tied up heading into the main break. Neither side waspreparingtogive in, knowing what was at stake.

After agreat monthfor Rosedale, they were still at riskofdroppingout of finals, while Cowwarr was still alive to jumpwithintwo games of thetop fivewith victory

Adding the lasttwo goals of thethird quarter, the Blues finished with six of the last seven of the game to see out acriticalwin.

Jake Pawl ey stood out for Rosed ale, followed by Harper Fox,Jay and Rohan Diamond, Declan Barnett (three goals) and Blake Safstrom.

Shane Morgan gave his all with four goals for Cowwarr,while BenCoffey, Lachlan Sykes,BradenPaulet, Jake Brown and Patrick Tainsh also played well.

 AN utter teardown by the Bombers.

TTU showed no remorse for the neighbouring club down the road, as they battered Glengarry to the tune of 152points,24.15 (159) to 1.1 (7), at Tyers.

While the Magpiesmay have laid the first punch for the day for playing-coach Alex Bermingham, that would be their only tangible reward -and it happened in the first five minutes.

The Bombersthen proceeded to shutout the visitingside every way they were capable of, not even allowingapoint to sail through their defending goal line until the final quarter.

Alittlebit after Bermingham’smajor, TTU’s James Jacobsen replied, which then led to 23 unanswered goals.

The Bombers featured five multiple goal scorers, includingRiley Denovan and Flynn Shieldseach with abag of five.

Shieldswas names bestafield, followed by MichaelJacobsen, William Curtain, James Jacobsen, Hayden Willaton and Denovan.

Masaro, Austin Blackford, Henry Bishop andJai Moloney were named in the best for Glengarry.

After securing premiership points in three of their firstsix games, the Magpies have floundered, with theironly respectable outing recently coming in a26-pointloss to Heyfield.  HEYFIELD didall they had to in the final quarter to keep themselves ahead of the pack.

After swinging by Rosedale narrowly the weekbefore,the Kangaroos were again presentedatoughtasktravelling to Yarram. Heyfield still got it done,11.9(75)to7.8 (50), but not without afight.

It opened well enough each way, but the Demons had the extra edge at home to be ahead marginallybytwo points at halftime.

The Kangaroos switched into focus as play returned however, mounting plenty of forward pressure to add four goals to two, going ahead by nine points entering the final turn.

Heyfield practically stopped Yarram when it matteredmost, who added onemajorlate, but other than that, it was all the Kangaroos.

Max Van Der Zwart was focal for the winners,followed by Tyson Graham, Thomas Marchesi, Robert McMillan, Billy Linaker and Finn Stephenson.

Yarram moved agame back off fifth spot after the result, but with games against Cowwarrand Glengarry in thenextfortnight, momentum can switch quickly.

Gormandale: SBurgess 4JGreen 2DPollardZGuttridge BEST Churchill: CWilliams RHarding BMogfordP Khamphawa LBreretonRCroft.Gormandale: SSullivan DBurgess BRustJGreen CSykes SBurgess

(6)

GOALS: Heyfield: MMillar 10 BKing 6D Morris 2BDarby2B WilloughbyJHanrattyMCasella

JBur ton. Yarram: DThompson. BEST: Heyfield: BDarbyBBowker MMillar SDonahoe TBoyle J Bur ton. Yarram: MMcmahon TChisholm DThompson JCollins MClear yCMatser

(31)

GOALS: Cowwarr: SFerguson3 MDeering2R Ferguson SMoon JGoodwin ABarrett. Rosedale: HBerry 2MBradley AMitchell SCallahan. BEST: Cowwarr: DWebsdaleW Swan bHood AMasutJ Goodwin MMcNulty. Rosedale:LLossbergW Murray HBerry CBuysNO’Connor DRowley

Thatintensitywas brought to the third term, with each side virtually goinggoalfor-goal, before Rosedale etched perhaps the most important one, as they moved ahead entering the final term up by just four points.

3H Wynd 2KPritchett CJohnson BWilson. YYN: P Laidlaw3C Boxshall HKing JAnceschi. BEST: Sale City: RWells BWilson TJerome RDonohue C Johnson KPritchett. YYN: PLaidlawAFrench SBodak JBoyes HKing JMellon

ROSEDALE 3.4 7.6 9.12 11.16 (82)

COWWARR 1.0 2.1 3.3 4.4 (28)

GOALS: Rosedale: HLeech 2J Reid 2ELogan 2N Ross 2T Ouslinis JMurrayJ Plunkett.Cowwarr:K Jennings 2T Hood DMar tin. BEST: Rosedale:ASellingsJPlunkett JMurrayNRoss HPettie HLeech. Cowwarr:CMitchell BCooper TArmstrong ADomaille DMar tin WRowley

HEYFIELD 4.9 11.14 15.19 23.23 (161)

YARR AM 0.0 0.1 0.1 0.1 (1)

GOALS: Heyfield: PCox

TTU has now completed the fixture circuit with an undefeated10-winstand, withno one coming within 40 points of them since the opening round against Woodside -whom they play this weekend.

Callum Mitchell, Michael Ryan, Declan

Liam Bentley, Kiefer Sutherland, Daniel Vardy, Thomas Mattern, Shem Rendell and Ben Mattern made up the Demons' best players.

 WOODSIDE had the bye.

Gippy coaches announcedfor V/Line Cup

FOOTBALL

AFL GIPPSLAND and Gippsland Power has announced the official coaching appointments for the 2025 V/Line Cup campaign.

Following ahighlycompetitive selection process, which attracted more than25 high-quality nominations from across the region, the following head coaches have been confirmed:

 Division 1Boys -Tim McGibney (U14 Drouin Junior Football Club and Frankston Dolphins VFL);

 Division 2Boys -Shaun Sparks (Senior Coach, Cora Lynn Football-Netball Club), and;

 Girls Team -Michaela Williams, (U18 Youth Girls Coach, Warragul Industrials FNC).

Eachofthese coaches brings impressive credentials and deep ties to the Gippsland footballcommunity. From VFL experience to grassrootsleadership and female talent development, their diverse backgrounds and proven ability to nurtureyoung athletes make them ideal leaders for this admired representative program.

Backing this talented trio is ahigh-calibre group of assistant and development coaches:

 Luke Short (2025 Southern All Stars Coach and 2024 V/Line Cup Assistant);

 Lee Hawke (Drouin Juniors, Western All Stars and 2024 V/Line Cup Assistant);

 Alan Campbell (Assistant Coach, Gippsland Power);

 Ashton Wright (Sale FNC senior player and Gippsland Power alumni);

 Nikki Schroeter (Traralgon Youth Girls Coach and former Gippsland Power Girls Coach), and;

 Britt Tancred (Sale City Youth Girls Head Coach, 2024 V/Line Cup Girls Head Coach and former Murray Bushrangers U18 Talent Academy Coach).

These appointments reflec tas tr on g alignment with AFL Gippsland's focus on high-performance coaching andplayer development.

Working alongside the current Gippsland Power staff, the coaching panel will provide an elite-level experience for selectedathletes, while also mentoring and supporting fellow coaches across the region.

The V/Line Cup is Victoria's premier Under 15s representative carnival,showcasing the best emerging male and female footballers from across regional and rural Victoria.

Held in Ballarat from September 22 to 24, the carnival plays avital role in the AFL's talent pathways.

Formanyparticipants, it is the first major step towards the Coates Talent League, NAB League Girls, or even afuture AFL/AFLW career.

More than just atalentidentification event, the V/LineCup is acelebration of community

football excellence, where young athletes, coaches, families and clubs come together from every corner of the state.

For Gippsland, it's an opportunity to pro udly showcase the regio n's foot ball strength, values and future.

AFL Gippsland is currently seeking players born in 2010 who meet the selection criteria, including representative standard athletes, tall and developing players, and those from Indigenous or Multicultural backgrounds (Next Generation Academy prospects).

Players already involved in theGippsland All Stars Program will be automatically invited to attend satellite training and do not need to be nominated again.

For playersoutside thatprogram, clubs can nominate up to two players per gender. Following the review of nominations, selected players, including those apart of the All Stars program, will be reached directly and invited to participate in aseries of three regional satellite training sessions, followed by acentral squad training and selection phase in Morwell.

Final team announcements will be made closertothe event, which willtakeplace from September 22 to 24 in Ballarat.

For more inform ation, phon eA FL Gippsland Club Development Lead, Nicole Bertuna on 0499 321 423 or at: nicole. Bertuna@afl.com.au

Jets fight back, but fail to undo Bulldogs mauling

FOOTBALL

NORTH GIPPSLAND

BY BLAKE METCALF-HOLT

HUNTING theiropportunities,the Doggies are still alive.

After aslowstart to the year, Sale City are right back in the mix for back-to-back finals appearances after victory over Yallourn Yallourn North, 15.14 (104) to 14.5 (89) at Stephenson Park. Bulldogsplaying-coach JacobSchuback connected withKaden Mcculloch for the firststrike of the day, but the Jetsworked against apressing Sale City to respond quickly off the hands of YYN playing-coach Dean MacDonald in his 150th game for the club. Play continued to be hot between the two sides throughout the opening quarter,withthe Jets leading by apoint (20-19),only for the Bulldogs to pounce.

Sale Cityended the firstterm with the final three goals, including two from Flynn Read, to see the home side ahead by 19 points at quarter time.

As play returned, it picked up exactly where it left off, with Kane Martin findingMcculloch for his third goal early in the piece, extending the Bulldogs lead to 25 points.

Just before Sale City added yet another, YYN was forced to flip the magnets around after losing key defender Darcy Shellcot with alower leg injury.

The Bulldogs made the most of it, catching the Jets on their toes, with three of the four goals to halftime, including aridiculous fling from Joel Gray that was marked perfectly through the big sticks. Sale City moved intothe main breakholding a58-27 lead.

With resultstoplay out on the day,Sale City knew they were in prime position to sit in the best spot on the ladder all season, and returned to the ground in full force.

The Jets had barely anytime to touch the ball in the first five minutes of the second half, with the Bulldogs quickly shooting outthree goals to extend the margin beyond 50 points in aflash.

The desire fromSaleCity wasperhaps most evident when Jaxsyn Whitehill was found in a centre ground contest, striding into their forward line with one bounce in between, connecting with Cameron Johnson before receiving the ball back and sending it through for aclear goal of the day.

YYN finally answered with back-to-back majors from MacDonald and Dylan Bath to bringthe margin back to asix goals.

While the latter stages of the third quarter evened and mellowed out, Sale City still ceased when the tidelooked to be turning back, with two of the final three goals of the term to see the Jets facing a47-point deficit into the last turn.

What supported Sale City’s success throughout

the first three quarters was limiting YYN’s chances going forward, setting up smartly behind the ball with free men taking up space.

The Jets took their time and precariously worked the ball closer to home on their first drive, and Dylan Keyhoe shot YYN some hope with acrazy goal thatgracedhis boot despite his onlyintention being to mark the ball on the goal line.

Nevertheless, that was all that was needed to light the spark, as the Jets began to show signs of life for the first time all day with the following four goals, including abomb from Lachlan Rees to cut the margin back to 19 points.

Despite the added pressure that Sale Cityhadn’t reallyseen at allduring the day,the Bulldogs connected nicelyfor afew shortchips,before Schuback sent through the sealer.

While the Jetsadded the finaltwo goals,time wasn't on their side, as YYN worsenedtheir opportunities at adoublechance in thefinalsby catching up with Heyfield.

Sale City climbed to sixth on the ladder,only out of the top five on percentage, with all the belief in their corner.

Ruckman Daine McGuiness was awarded beston-ground for the Bulldogs,followed by Schuback, Mcculloch, Whitehill, Martin and Declan Carstairs. Jai Massese, LachlanLittle, Rees, Campbell MacInnes,TylerBrownand Rohan Reidmade out YYN’s best.

Junior footy webinar is on tonight Churchill run away, avoiding historic loss

FOOTBALL

AFL GIPPSLAND willhost itsGippsland JuniorRetention Project webinartonight (Wednesday, July 2), from 6pm to 8pm.

The session will give club officials, coaches, volunteers,parents and supporters the opportunity to voice their opinions and ideas on the future of junior football in Gippsland. It will feature breakout discussions, collaborative idea-sharing,and practical solutions focussed on keeping kids playing the game throughout their younger years, and ensuring footy is fun for them.

The interactive webinarwillidentify the key challenges and opportunities in junior football, workshop ideas, and help shape strategies that drive retention and enjoyment.

Registertojoin the session at: https:// tinyurl.com/yzxtvd9a

Learn more about the Gippsland Junior Retention Projectat: aflgippsland.com.au/ retention or read about it in next week's Express

FOOTBALL NORTH GIPPSLAND

BY BLAKE METCALF-HOLT

ALMOST. Nearly. Churchill still finds away

If therewas anygamefor Gormandale to capture their first win in morethanthreeyears,their weekend’s match against the Cougars would have been adream scenario -but still ever possible.

In their club history, the Tigers have never sang the song at Gaskin Park, and enteringthe weekend, belief had to have been there from both sides who sit close to or at the bottom of the ladder.

Once the final siren sounded however, it was still Churchill’s day, taking it 13.13 (91) to 5.12 (42).

The Cougars controlled the first quarter, presenting more poiseand mounting plenty of pressure in their front half to see out a13-point lead at the first break.

Gormandale answered the bellhowever, returning with added exuberance and confidence.

While Churchill could only manage two scoring shots in the second term, the Tigers mounted seven in their own right.

Unfortunately for the Gormandale faithful, despite the fight thatthe sidebegan to display during the quarter, frustration was till mounted as halftime arrived and the scoreboard read Churchill 4.4 (28) to Gormandale 2.8 (20).

The Tigers were well within their right to feel like the game was there for the taking.

The Cougars had other things in mind, and ran out afterhalftimewithfour majorstojump the margin to 21 points entering the last break.

That was all Churchill needed to shut down any mounting pressure of an historic defeat, with the Cougars adding afurther five goalstofinish at their best by the time the game was done.

Despite the well-documented exits at Churchill this season, it was still the veteran leaders that stood out in aneeded win, with Jordan Fenench and playing coach Joe Whykes at the top of the Cougars’ best players.

Blake Whykes, Brad Brereton, Sam Robinson and Jye Williams alsoperformed greatly for Churchill.

If only Gormandale could have straightened up when it was needed most, perhaps they could have given themselves more of achanceinthe latter stages.

Nevertheless, improvement is in many ways more important thanbeing giftedsomething too soon, andthe Tigers showed that in bunches.

Flyn Roscoewas their best-on-ground,followed by Jet Krimhand, Tom Said, Cooper Jeffries, Jarred Canning and Liam Deering.

Gormandale will now look ahead to matches againstCowwarr and Glengarry as chances to break the duck.

valleysport

Short passes with

Liam Durkin

Up against it?

DO the one-club towns holdadistinct advantage?

Looking at the success rate of Gippsland League clubs, it would be hard to argue against.

Traditionally,the league’sstrongest clubs are Traralgon, Leongatha and Maffra. With the possible exception of Traralgon and TraralgonTyersUnited, thereare no other clubs ‘in town’ for Leongatha or Maffra to force split support. The same is not applicable to others, who will arguably always be affected.

Moe has Newborough, Morwell/Morwell East, Warragul/Warragul Industrials,Sale/ Sale City and Bairnsdale/Wy Yung.

Wonthaggi was previously two clubs (Wonthaggi Blues and Wonthaggi Rovers), while Drouin has three clubs all within a 10 minute drive (Longwarry, Bunyipand Buln Buln).

Testing times

THE first matches of Julywill be played this weekend.

This is usually the hardest part of the season. The nights are longer, colder, and it gets dark earlier.

With the start of the season longgone and finals still some time away, July could be seen as ‘no man’s land’ on the football calendar.

Warragul boy and former Western Bulldogs captain, Bob Murphy once referred to this time of year as the ‘July Test’.

“AutumninMarch is nothing compared with winter in July when your joints begin to ache andyour dutytothe game and your jumper drags you out of your cosy bed before you’d like it to,” he said.

“Julyisnotoriously hard on young teams, young players.Often, it’sthe older, more experienced teams and players who find a way to liftand excelthe harderitgets.Their resolve having calloused over time.

“Passing the ‘July test’ is amoral test. Are you tough enough? Can you endure?” Looking at last year’s premiers across the leagues, it is interesting to note results in Julyand how they might prove to be thejolt needed in the long run.

Traralgon lost to Sale and Wonthaggi over consecutive weeks last July, while FishCreek went down to Newborough, and Woodside to Sale City.

Same same

HOW much and how little has changed in football.

Partway through reading Ben Collins’ biography of Norm Smith (The Red Fox). In the book, Smith’s general game plan is revealed, and makes for fascinating reading given the similarities to the modern game.

Essentially,Smith wanted his teams to take the ball wide from defence, before working up the ground andthengoing long toward goal.

Thiscould easilytranslate in modern terms to ‘make the ground big’ and ‘get good looks inside 50’.

TRARALGON DISTRICT JUNIOR FOOTBALL LEAGUE

ROUND 8

TEDAS: HStone 2T Adams 2Q Davidson SCampbell BGrimes HKurrle LJennings Churchill Cougars: BMcGee JDoupNStockdale BHarrington.

TEDAS: TAdamsH Kurrle OMorgan QDavidson JScott CSiemens.Churchill Cougars: BMcGee TMcinnes J Towers LGina OConnell BHarrington SSJFC 8.6 13.2

0.0 (76) GLENGARRY0.1 0.0 0.0 0.0 (1)

GOALS: SSJFC: AHurley 6SReid 4OMendez3 MShaw2LGeary2NDawson 2HHarle 2H Smith 2RFarnham 2WWalker 2JHodson 2CPollardS Dodman FGraham MWilson JSmith. Glengarry: AAgustin. BEST: SSJFC: AHurley HHarle MShawOMendezM Wilson JHodson. Glengarry: MWolthuizen BWeller CArbuthnot ZDanziger ESchutte-White

PBJFC 6.3 7.10 8.12 12.13 (85)

CS KANGAROOS 0.30.3 1.4 3.6(24)

GOALS: PBJFC: ATangi3LBalcombe Matters 2APrinceT GiovinazzoRJolly HJones JSutton EJones TChurchill.CSKangaroos: HSmith 2C Vander Meer BEST: PBJFC: LBalcombe Matters ATangi TGiovinazzoAFue JPierceLField.CSKangaroos: HGiblett CVan derMeerC Milliner HSmith JElmsH Wight

Umpire abuse fartoo common

FOOTBALL UMPIRING

NEW researchbythe University of South Australia hasshown almost half of all Australian Rules Football(AFL) umpires have experienced verbal abuse such as ridiculing, humiliation or aggressive remarks, threats or gestures, at least every couple of games.

The survey of more than 350 umpires from 2021 to 2022 has identifiedthatone in five umpires (21 per cent) reported having also experienced some form of physical abuse, whether it be invasionofpersonalspace, pushing,orpunching by players, coaches, parents or general spectators. 12 per cent of those surveyed umpired in community junior football,80per cent umpired in community senior footballand eight per cent umpired in state league and talent pathway.

The study was conducted by UniSA’s Dr Jamie Cleland and Dr Alyson Crozier, experts in sports management and sports psychology respectively, in abid to examine the extent of abuse towards match officials, particularly at youth and grassroots levels, and the reasons for poor retention of umpires in the sport.

Dr Crozier said poor behaviour by clubs, parents or spectators can filter downtoyouth and grassrootslevels, where umpiresaren’t protected by security like elite AFL umpires, and can face verbal and physical hostility when their decisions are disputed.

“Spectators, playersand coaches tend to strongly identifywith their team, whereas umpires are viewed as an external authority figure –and thiscreates an ‘us versus them’mindset,” Dr Crozier said.

“This then can leadtodehumanisationand justification of aggressive behaviour towardsumpires, as they’re seen as athreat to the team’s success.

"ProfessionalAFL umpires are conditioned to expect abuse on the field and understand it as being part of the game.

“But while umpires may expectthe abuse, it doesn’t makethe experience‘right’. Workplaces outside of umpiring wouldn’t tolerate the levels of abuse experiencedbysomeumpires in Aussie Rules; in no other workplace would it be considered acceptable, and it shouldn’t be acceptable for footy umpires either.”

Of the research participants, 91 per cent identified as male and 80 per cent of them umpired in community senior football. Atotal of 21 per cent said they received verbal abuse every game, 28 per cent said every couple of games, and 38 per cent said acouple of times aseason.

One umpire in community senior football commented how it “had been the worstyear for myself personally as far as coach and supporter abuse –I was threatened with my life this year and the league did nothing about it”.

Another community senior football umpire shared their account of being physically attacked.

“I was assaulted two years ago by aspectator.Lucky Iwas bigger than him. Iwas disappointed he only got aone-year suspension from attending games,” they said.

More than half of participants (53 per cent) had reported at least one incident of abuse to the relevant authority and of those who had reported abuse, 73 per cent felt supported through the process, with 62 per cent satisfied with the eventual disciplinary outcome.

Dr Crozier says anumberofthe umpires in the study commented positively on the AFL’s 50 metre penalty for players who show dissent towards an umpire, such as challenging an umpire verbally or physically after adecision has been made on the field.

“However, although some umpires recognised howtheir experiences had improved afterthe introduction of the dissent rule,for the majority,the top-down approach still wasn’t influencing bottom-up behaviour change at the youth and grass rooms levels," she said.

"It’s at these levels where mass participation occurs that umpires are significantly outnumbered and not sufficiently protectedfrom harm.

“Umpires told us they need to be communicated with before and after cases of misconduct against clubs, players and spectators, not only for their own health and wellbeing, but because they’re more likely to keep umpiring if they feel supported and valued.”

The researchers suggested technology could enhancethe reporting process for badbehaviour, usingreal time mobile apps to log incidents immediatelyafteramatch.Various sporting leagues globallyare trialling body cameras for game officials to reduce the level of abuse they face.

BEST: TEDAS: DWood DLeitner NBeveridge JRankinL Pass JHeily Churchill Cougars: CCorrea RSamblebe THuxley ZGina DPrice JLagos

CS Kangaroos: HMcMahon 4FGreer 3CClarke 2. PBJFC: Details N/A.. BEST: CS Kangaroos: CDaveyNKrausz AColesBMoloney LMilliner OSutherland.PBJFC:MPrinceE Pavlic BSzkwarek LWarne MSpenceBPotalej

AndronacoW

BTipping CPaul JMellon SBodak CBoxshall CDavey

GOALS: Moe: JBowie 10 CMifsud2 BSavige 2KHansch2BMilne2M HayesJ Shelton B Neame CAddison JAtkinson. Newborough:. BEST: Moe: KHansch JBowie MHayesBSavige BNeame RWhit.Newborough: TYoungFPeresso CPurcell NMay NHenryLMcGrath

GOALS: Hill End: NSallee 3JSterrick 2MBoothman

Saturday, July 5

ABC (2) SBS (3)

6.00 Rage Charts. (PG) 7.00 Weekend

Breakfast. 9.00 Rage. (PG) 12.00 ABC News At Noon. 12.30 Grantchester.(Mv)

2.05 Patience. (Ma, R)

3.05 Jane Austen: Rise Of A Genius. (Final, PGl, R)

4.00 ALife In TenPictures. (PG, R)

4.55 Spicks And Specks. (PG, R)

5.25 QI. (PG, R)

6.00 Landline. (R) Hosted by Pip Courtney

6.30 Australian Story: The River Pt 1. (R) Takesalook at aLithuanian rafter

7.00 ABC News. Alook at the top stories of the day

7.30 That Blackfella Show Hosted by Ernie Dingo, Bridget Brennan and Isaac Compton.

8.30 Midsomer Murders. (Mv,R) Ayoung man is found murdered during the grand reopening of the village of Little Auburn.

10.00 Bay Of Fires. (Malv,R)Stella forms an unlikely alliance.

10.55 Little Disasters. (Mals, R) The investigation continues.

11.40 David Attenborough’sGreat Barrier Reef: Survival. (Final, R) 12.40 Rage. (MA15+adhlnsv)

ABC FAMILY (22)

6am Children’s

Programs. 5.10pm Isadora Moon. 5.35 Peter Rabbit. 6.00 Octonauts. 6.10 Super Monsters. 6.20 Bluey 6.30 Paddington. 6.40 Hey Duggee. 6.50 Isadora Moon. 7.00 Andy And The Band. 7.20 Bluey 7.30 Kids Baking C’ship. 8.10 Chopped Junior 8.50 Dance Life. 9.40 Fresh OffThe Boat. 10.20 Dragon Ball Super 10.45 Late Programs.

NITV (34)

6am Morning Programs. 11.40 Ella. 1.10pm The Big Dry 2.00 Nula. 2.30 Living Black. 3.00 First Australians. 4.00 Big BackyardQuiz. 5.05 Revolution. 6.00 Moko. 6.30 News. 6.40 The Other Side. 7.30 The American Buffalo. 8.30 MOVIE: Let Me In. (2010, MA15+) 10.30 Eurovision: Access All Areas. 2.30am Late Programs.

6am Morning Programs. 8.00 DD India News Hour 9.00 Great Lighthouses Of Ireland. (R) 10.00 Hugh’sWild West. (R) 11.05 Boswell And Johnson’sScottish Road Trip. (PGal, R) 12.00 BBC News At Ten. 12.30 France 24. 1.00 PBS News. 2.00 Going Places. (PGa, R) 4.30 First

5.30 From The Ashes Of World WarII. 6.00 NBC Today 7.00 Weekend Sunrise. 10.00 The Morning Show: Weekend. (PG) 12.00 Horse Racing. Members Appreciation Day,Flemington Finals Race Day and Caloundra Cup Day 5.00 Seven News At 5. 5.30 Border Security: Australia’s Front Line. (PG, R)

6.30 SBS World News. 7.30 Travels With Agatha Christie And Sir David Suchet: Hawaii. (PG) Sir David Suchet travels to Hawaii. 8.25 Hitler’sJewish Soldier? Australia Uncovered. (Mav,R)

Takes alook at the story of Alex Kurzem, aJewish boy who became Hitler’syoungest soldier

9.35 Cycling. Tour de France. Stage 1. Lille Métropole to Lille Métropole. 184.9km

2.15 Homicide: Life On The Street. (Mv,R)

3.05 Blue Water Safari. (PGaw,R)

4.55 Destination Flavour Down Under Bitesize. (R)

5.00 NHK World English News Morning. 5.15 France 24 Feature. 5.30 ANC Philippines The World Tonight.

SBS VICELAND (31)

6am Morning

Programs. Noon Handbag:The Untold Story Of TheFag Hag. 1.30 Dark Side Of Comedy 2.20 Stuck. 2.35 Kars& Stars 3.00 News. 3.05 WorldWatch. 5.05 Over The BlackDot. 5.35 Mastermind Aust. 6.35 TheSecret GeniusOf ModernLife. 7.35 Impossible Engineering. 8.35 TheIcons That BuiltThe World 9.25 The SearchFor El Dorado. 10.15 LatePrograms.

SBS WORLD MOVIES (32)

6am The Big Steal. (1990, PGls) 7.35 The Movie Show 8.05 Murder Party.(2022, PGad, French) 10.00 Suffragette. (2015, Malv) Noon The Lawnmower Man. (1992, Mlsv) 2.40 RBG. (2018, PG) 4.30 Francis: Pray For Me. (2015, PGals, Spanish) 6.30 Music &Lyrics. (2007) 8.30 May December (2023) 10.40 Late Programs.

Sunday,July6

6.00 Seven News. 7.00 Border Security: Australia’s Front Line. (PG, R) Border Force executes awarrant.

7.30 MOVIE: Evan Almighty (2007, G, R) Aman is ordered to build an ark. Steve Carell, Morgan Freeman.

9.30 MOVIE: No Hard Feelings. (2023, MA15+lns)

An aimless 30-something woman is paid by the parents of an awkwardteentodate their son and bring him out of his shell. Jennifer Lawrence, Andrew Barth Feldman.

11.40 To Be Advised.

1.05 Nurses. (Ma, R)

2.00 Home Shopping. (R)

4.00 It’sAcademic. (R) 5.00 House Of Wellness. (PGals, R)

7TWO (72, 62)

6am Shopping. 8.30 Better Homes. 11.00 Harry’sPractice. 11.30

GetOn Extra. Noon Medical Emergency 12.30 My Greek Odyssey 1.30 Better Homes. 4.00 Harry’sPractice. 4.30 Medical Emergency 5.00 Slow Train Through Africa. 6.00 Every Bite Takes YouHome. 6.30 The YorkshireVet. 8.30 Escape To The Country 11.30 Late Programs.

6.00 Getaway.(PG, R) 6.30 ACA. (R) 7.00 Weekend Today 10.00 Today Extra: Saturday.(PG) 12.00 Destination WA.(PG, R) 12.30 YoungSheldon. (PGal, R) 1.00 Great Australian Detour 1.30 Space Invaders. (PG, R) 2.30 Find My Country House Australia. (R) 3.30 Parental Guidance.

6.00 9News Saturday

7.00 ACurrent Affair

7.30 Wimbledon 2025 Pre-Show Pre-game coverage of the Wimbledon tennis tournament, featuring reviews, previews, interviews, highlights, opinions and topical stories, from the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club.

8.00 Tennis. Wimbledon. Day 6. From the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, London, England.

12.00 Tennis. Wimbledon. Day 6Late. From theAll England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, London, England.

5.00 TV Shop: Home Shopping. (R)

5.30 Helping Hands. (PG, R) Acelebration of people and organisations across Australia which make the world abetter place.

9GEM (92,81)

6am Morning Programs. 2.30pm NRLWWrap. (Return) 3.15 Rugby League. NRL Women’s Premiership. Canberra Raiders vDragons. 5.00 Rugby League. NRL Women’s Premiership. North Qld Cowboys vTitans. 7.00 Keeping Up Appearances. 7.30 MOVIE: AStar Is Born. (2018, M) 10.15 Late Programs.

6.30 The Dog House Australia. (PGa, R) Narrated by Dr Chris Brown. 7.30 Love It Or List It Australia. Professionals Tomand Erin know it’stimetomakeadecision on their current Queenslander 8.40 Sort Your Life Out. (PGa, R) Stacey Solomon andher team help families declutter and transform their lives. 9.50 House Hunters Australia. (R) Acouple need alarger home in westernSydney.She wants amodernhouse with open plan living while he prefers an older home. 10.50 Elsbeth. (Mv,R)Elsbeth tours famous New York crime scenes. 11.50 Ambulance UK. (Mm, R) 1.00 Home Shopping. (R) 5.00 Hour Of Power

10 COMEDY (11, 52)

6am Morning Programs. 1pm Blokesworld. 1.30 Teeing Off. (Premiere) 2.00 Rides Down Under: Workshop Wars. 3.00 Motor Racing. NDRC TopDoorslammer.NitroChamps. 4.00 Motor MythBusters. 5.00 Counting Cars. 6.00 Pawn Stars. 7.00 Football. VFL. Round 15. Collingwood vCarlton. 10.00 AFL Saturday Rewind. 10.30 Late Programs.

9GO! (93, 82)

6am Morning Programs.

10 DRAMA (12, 53) 6am

7MATE (73,64) 6am Shopping. 9.00 What’sUpDownUnder

2.30pm Jeopardy! Australia. 3.30 MOVIE: The Black Stallion Returns. (1983) 5.30 MOVIE: The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part. (2019, PG) 7.30 MOVIE: Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows: Part 1. (2010, M) 10.25 MOVIE: American Reunion. (2012, MA15+) 12.40am The Originals. 2.30 Jeopardy! Australia. 3.30 Late Programs.

Don't be Puzzled

ABC TV (2) SBS (3)

6am Morning Programs. 11.30 PBS Washington Week 11.55 SBS50. (R) 12.00 Cycling. Tour de France. Stage 1. Highlights. 1.00 Motor Racing. ProMX Championships. Round 6. 4.00 Going Places. (R) 4.30 Cycling. Tour de France. Stage 1. Highlights. 5.30 From The Ashes Of World WarII. (PG)

SEVEN (7,6)

NINE (9,8) 6am Morning Programs. 10.30 World This Week.(R) 11.00 Compass. (PG, R) 11.30 Praise. (R) 12.00 News. 12.30 Landline. 1.30 Gardening Aust. (R) 2.30 Joanna Lumley’sDanube. (R) 3.15 Nigella Bites. (R) 3.40 Martin Clunes: Islands Of America. (PG, R) 4.40 Walking With Dinosaurs. (PG, R) 5.30 Antiques Roadshow

6.30 Compass: DOBBY Finding My

Services splitting up the Carrisfords closes in, impacting the whole group.

9.40 Namatjira Project: The Quest For Justice. (Ml, R) Charts the story of the Namatjira family 11.05 Take 5With Zan Rowe. (Ml, R)

11.35 Rage. (MA15+adhlnsv)

1.40 Under The Vines.(PG,R)

4.00 Gardening Australia. (R) 5.00 Insiders. (R)

ABC FAMILY (22)

6.30 SBS World News. 7.30 Mont-Saint-Michel: RisingAgain. LooksatMont-Saint-Michel, atriumph of technical prowess, spiritual ambition and architectural audacity

8.30 Cycling. Tour de France. Stage 2. Lauwin-Planque to Boulogne-sur-Mer.209.1km hilly stage. From France.

2.10 24 Hours In Emergency: A Love Like No Other (Ma, R)

3.05 Blue Water Safari: Bait Ball. (PGalw,R)

4.55 Destination Flavour Down Under Bitesize. (R)

5.00 NHK World English News Morning.

5.15 France 24 Feature.

5.30 APAC Weekly

SBS VICELAND (31) 6am Children’s Programs. 6pm Octonauts. 6.10 Super Monsters. 6.20 Bluey 6.30 Paddington. 6.40 Hey Duggee. 6.50 Isadora Moon. 7.00 Andy And The Band. 7.20 Bluey 7.30 Shaun The Sheep. 7.35 Moominvalley 8.00 Walking With Dinosaurs. 8.50 Fresh OffThe Boat. 9.30 Abbott Elementary 10.15 Speechless. 10.35 Late Programs.

6.00 Better Homes And Gardens. (R) 7.00 Weekend Sunrise. 10.00 The Morning Show: Weekend. (PG) 12.00 Sunday Footy Feast. 2.30 AFL Pre-Game Show Pre-game coverage of the match. 3.00 Football. AFL. Round 17. Adelaide vMelbourne.

6.00 Seven News. 7.00 Dancing With The Stars. (PGl) The second group hits the 8.30 7NEWS Spotlight. 9.30 The Philpotts: AVery British Horror (Mlsv) Examines the

of Mick and Mairead Philpott. 11.00 Crime Investigation Australia: Kerry Whelan –Wife For Ransom. (Mav,R) 12.20 Shades Of Blue. (MA15+adsv,R) 1.20 Harry’sPractice. (R)

2.00 Home Shopping. (R)

3.30 Million Dollar Minute. (R) 4.00 NBC Today 5.00 Sunrise Early News. 5.30 Sunrise.

7TWO (72, 62)

TEN (10, 5)

6am Morning Programs. 10.00 AFL Sunday Footy Show.(PG) 12.00 Wide World Of Sports. (PG) 1.00 Rugby Union. International Test Series. Game 1. Australia vFiji.

6.00 9News Sunday.

7.00 Travel Guides. (PGl) Ordinary Australians become travel critics, continuing with atriptoSan Francisco, wheretheyexplores its steep hills, see some new technology and take in Yosemite National Park.

8.10 60 Minutes. Current affairs program, investigating, analysing and uncovering the issues affecting all Australians.

9.10 Tennis. Wimbledon. Day 7. From the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, London, England. 12.00 Tennis. Wimbledon. Day 7Late.

5.00 Today Early News. Alook at the latest news, sport and weather 5.30 Today The latest in news and current affairs.

9GEM (92,81)

NITV (34) 6am Morning Programs. 11.00 Harry’sPractice. 11.30 Escape To The Country 1.30pm Discover 2.00 South Aussie With Cosi. 2.30 The Great Australian Doorstep. 3.00 Business Builders. 3.40 The YorkshireVet. 4.40 Escape To The Country 7.40 The Vicar Of Dibley 8.30 Vera. 10.30 The YorkshireSteam Railway: All Aboard. 11.30 Late Programs. 6am Morning Programs. 1.30pm MOVIE: Support Your 3.30 Rugby League. NRL. Round 18. Manly Sea Eagles v South Sydney Rabbitohs. 6.00 Dad’sArmy. 6.30 M*A*S*H. 7.30 Wimbledon 2025 PreShow 8.00 Tennis. Wimbledon. Day 7. 9.10 To Be Advised. 11.30 Late Programs.

6.00 10 News+. Hosted by Denham Hitchcock andAmelia Brace. 7.00 MasterChef Australia. (PGl) Abatch of 23 former contestants returns. 8.15 Fake. (Ml) Birdie arrives at the wedding alone and receives amessage from Joe. Fighting withMargeaux, Birdie is full of self-loathing. 9.15 FBI. (Mv,R)After astring of armed robberies, the team investigates asuspect who leads them to something much bigger 11.05 10 News+. (R) Hosted by Denham Hitchcock and Amelia Brace. 12.00 Home Shopping. (R) 4.30 CBS Mornings. 6am Morning Programs. 12.20pm Jeopardy! 1.10 Our Law. 1.45 Jeopardy! 3.00 Cycling.Tour de France. H’lights 4.00 WorldWatch 4.25 PBS WashingtonWeek. 4.50 Blondie:GlassHeart. 5.45 SBS50. 5.50 LostGold Of TheAztecs. 6.40 EngineeringReborn. 7.35 Abandoned Engineering. 8.30 Bermuda Triangle: Into Cursed Waters. 10.10 Late Programs.

SBS WORLD MOVIES (32) 6am Morning Programs. 11.00 Unleash The Beast. Noon Who We AreInSport 1.00 BigName, No Blanket. 2.05 The Point. 3.05 Turn Up Respect. 3.25 Soh Presents: Generations And Dynasties. 6.25 News. 6.35 Elder In Residence Oration 2025. 7.35 The First Inventors. 8.30 Ablaze. 10.00 MOVIE: Jedda. (1955, PG) 11.35 Late Programs.

6am Morning Programs. 9.05 Music &Lyrics. (2007, PG) 11.05 History Of The Occult. (2020, Madhlsvw,Spanish) 12.40pm Shaft. (1971, Mlnv) 2.35 The Big Steal. (1990, PGls) 4.30 Murder Party.(2022, PGad, French) 6.25 WhereAngels Fear To Tread. (1991) 8.30 This Boy’sLife. (1993) 10.50 Late Programs.

6am Morning Programs. 3pm Cards And Collectables Australia. 3.30 MOVIE: Undercover Blues. (1993, PG) 5.25 MOVIE: Three Men And ALittleLady.(1990, PG) 7.30 MOVIE: The Batman. (2022, M) 11.00 Gotham. 1am Arrow 2.00 Jeopardy! Australia. 3.00 Reunited. 4.00 Barbie: A Touch Of Magic. 4.30 TomAnd Jerry 4.50 Late Programs. 6am Morning Programs. 1pm Fishing Addiction. 2.00 Fishy Business. 2.30 Fish’n Mates. 3.00 Mighty Planes. 4.00 Close Encounters Down Under 5.00 Counting Cars. 6.00 The Wash Up. 7.00 Border Security 8.30 MOVIE: The Transporter.(2002, M)

Monday,July7

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

6.00 News Breakfast. 9.00 ABC News Mor nings. 10.00 Midsomer Murders. (PGv,R) 11.30 The Art Of... (PG, R) 12.00 ABC News At Noon. 1.00 Landline. (R) 2.00 Anh’sBrush With Fame. (Ml, R) 2.30 Back Roads. (R) 2.55 Love Your Garden. (R) 3.45 Fake Or Fortune? (R) 4.45 Long Lost Family (PG, R) 5.30 Antiques Roadshow.(R)

6.30

7.00 ABC News.

(PG, R)

7.30 7.30.

8.00 Australian Story: The River Pt 2. The conclusion to the perilous 24-hour mission.

8.30 Four Cor ners. Investigative jour nalism program.

9.15 Media Watch. (PG) Presented by Linton Besser

9.35 Lucy Worsley Investigates: Jack The Ripper (PG, R) Presented by Lucy Worsley

10.25 ABC Late News.

10.40 The Business. (R)

11.00 Julia Zemiro’sHome Delivery (PG, R) 11.45 Love Your Garden. (R)

12.35 Long Lost Family.(PG, R) 1.20 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. 6.20pm Bluey 6.30 Paddington. 6.40 Hey Duggee. 6.50 Isadora Moon. 7.00 Supertato. 7.05 Dino Dex. 7.20 Bluey 7.30 Do Not Watch This Show.(Premiere) 7.40 The Inbestigators. 8.00 Junior Vets. 8.25 BTN Newsbreak. 8.35 HardQuiz Kids. 9.05 The Crystal Maze. 9.50 Merlin. 10.35 Late Programs.

NITV (34)

6am Morning Programs. 1.55pm Black As. 2.00 The Last Land: Gespe’gewa’gi. 2.30 The Cook Up. 3.00 Jarjums. 5.00 Harlem Globetrotters. 5.25 Road Open. 5.30 The 77 Percent. 6.00 Bamay 6.30 News. 6.40 Inside The Pack. 7.30 Who Do YouThink YouAre? 8.35 Living Black. 9.05 MOVIE: The Drover’sWife. (2021, MA15+) 11.00 Late Programs.

6am Mor ning Programs. 12.00 Cycling. Tour de France. Stage 2. Highlights. 1.00 PBS News Weekend. 1.30 Al Jazeera News Hour 2.00 Going Places. (R) 2.55 Yiyili. (PGa, R) 3.05 The Cook Up. (PG, R) 3.35 Jeopardy! 4.00 Letters And Numbers. (PGals, R) 5.00 Cycling. Tour de France. Stage 2. Highlights.

6.00 Mastermind Australia. Presented by MarcFennell.

6.30 SBS World News.

7.30 Portillo’sAndalucia: Cadiz And Jerez. (Ml, R) Michael Portillo ventures to Cadiz.

8.20 Sue Perkins: Lost In Thailand. (PG, R) Sue Perkins heads south to the turquoise waters of Phuket, Thailand’slargest island.

9.15 Cycling. Tour de France. Stage 3. Valenciennes to Dunkerque. 178km

2.00 Great Coastal Railway Jour neys. (PGa, R) 3.10 Eva Longoria: Searching For Mexico. (R) 3.55 Growing AGreener World. (R) 4.25 Bamay.(R) 5.00 NHK World English News Mor ning. 5.30 ANC Philippines The World Tonight.

SBS VICELAND (31)

6am Morning Programs. 12.10pm WorldWatch. 12.40 Small Business Secrets. 1.10 Our Law 1.45 Stuck. 2.00 Cycling. Tour de France. H’lights. 3.00 Cycling. Tour de France. H’lights. 4.00 WorldWatch. 6.00 Fashionista. 6.10 The Food That Built The World. 7.05 Jeopardy! 7.30 News. 7.35 8Out Of 10 Cats. 8.30 The UnBelievable. 10.10 Late Programs.

SBS WORLD MOVIES (32)

6am Morning Programs. 10.55 AMost Wanted Man. (2014, Malsv) 1.10pm The Movie Show 1.45 Music &Lyrics. (2007, PG) 3.45 Like Father,LikeSon. (2013, PGa, Japanese) 6.00 Another Country.(2015, PGaw) 7.25 The Monk And The Gun. (2023, PGa, Dzongkha, English) 9.30 Sweet As. (2022, Mals) 11.10 Late Programs.

6.00 Sunrise. 9.00 The Mor ning Show.(PG) 12.00 Seven’sNational News At Noon. 1.00 To Be Advised. 2.30 Border Security: Inter national. (PG, 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 (PGad) Cohen’sletter gets aresponse. 7.30 The 1% Club. (PGls, R) Hosted by Jim Jefferies.

8.30 9-1-1. (Mav) Things get messy for the 118 following apipe explosion. Athena investigates the brutal beating of aman found behind agrocery store.

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

11.30 Police Custody USA: A Murder In The Family (Malv,R)

12.30 You, Me And The Apocalypse. (Malv)

1.30 Travel Oz. (PG, R)

2.00 Home Shopping. (R)

4.00 NBC Today. 5.00 Sunrise Early News. 5.30 Sunrise.

(9, 8)

6.00 Today 9.00 Today

6.00 9News. 7.00 ACurrent Affair

7.30 Parental Guidance. (PGas) Eight sets of parents with very different parenting styles put their methods to the test. (Ml) Ateam of footy experts tackles the AFL’s big issues and controversies. Hosted by Sam McClure, Matthew Lloyd, Jimmy Bartel and Damian Barrett. 10.00 Tennis. Wimbledon. Day 8. From the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, London, England. 12.00 Tennis. Wimbledon. Day 8Late. 5.00 Today Early News. 5.30 Today

9GEM (92,81)

6.00 10 News+. Hosted by Denham Hitchcock andAmelia Brace. 7.00 Deal Or No Deal. Hosted by Grant Denyer 7.30 MasterChef Australia. (PGl) Abatch of 23 former contestants retur ns. 8.40 Have YouBeen Paying Attention? (Malns) Celebrity panellists compete to see who can remember the most about events of the week. 9.40 Inspired Unemployed (Impractical) Jokers. (Ma) The Jokers become hairstylists. 10.10 10’sLate News. Coverage of news, sport andweather 10.35 10 News+. (R) 11.35 The Late Show With Stephen Colbert. (PG) 12.30 Home Shopping. (R) 4.30 CBS Mor nings.

6am Morning Programs. 1pm Business Builders. 1.30 The Great Australian Doorstep. 2.00 Weekender 2.30 The YorkshireVet. 3.30 Harry’s Practice. 4.00 Medical Emergency 4.30 Better Homes. 5.30 Escape To TheCountry 6.30 Bargain Hunt. 7.30 Doc Martin. 8.30 Endeavour 10.30 What The Killer Did Next. 11.30 Late Programs. 6am Morning Programs. 11.30 My Favorite Martian. Noon Avengers. 1.00 Dad’sArmy. 2.00 Iconic Australia. 3.00 MOVIE: Lady Caroline Lamb. (1972, PG) 5.30 YorkshireAuction House. 6.30 Antiques Roadshow 7.30 Wimbledon 2025 Pre-Show 8.00 Tennis. Wimbledon. Day 8. 10.00 The Closer 11.00 Late Programs.

7TWO (72, 62) 6am Morning Programs. 3pm Nanny 3.30 Seinfeld. 4.30 Addams Family 5.00 Bewitched. 5.30 Jeannie. 6.00 Golden Girls. 6.30 Nanny 7.30 Seinfeld. 8.30 MOVIE: Olympus Has Fallen. (2013, MA15+) 11.00 Seinfeld. Midnight Below Deck. 1.00 Supernatural. 3.00 3.30 Addams Family 4.00 Barbie: ATouch Of Magic. 4.30 Late Programs. 6am Morning Programs. 1.30pm

Tuesday,July8

ABC TV (2) SBS (3)

SEVEN (7,6)

NINE (9,8) 6.00 News. 9.00 News. 10.00 Aust Story.(R) 10.30 Compass. (PG, R) 11.00 If You’reListening. (R) 11.20 Gruen. (R) 12.00 News. 1.00 Call The Midwife. (Ma, R) 2.00 Brush With Fame. (PG, R) 2.30 Back Roads. (R) 2.55 Love Your Garden.(R) 3.45 Fake Or Fortune? (R) 4.45 Long Lost Family.(PG, R) 5.30 Antiques Roadshow.(R)

HardQuiz. (PGa, R) 7.00 ABC News.

7.30 7.30. 8.00 Walking With Dinosaurs: Island Of Giants. (Final, PG) 8.50 Whale Wisdom. (R) Takesalook at the profound mystery of whales. 9.40

(PG, R) 12.40 Anh’sBrush With Fame. (PG, R) 1.10 EXPOSED: The Case Of Keli Lane. (Mal, R) 2.10 Rage. (MA15+adhlnsv) 3.40 Parkinson In Australia. (PGa, R) 4.30 Gardening Australia. (R) 5.30 7.30. (R)

ABC FAMILY (22)

6am Mor ning Programs. 11.00 Cycling. Tour de France. Stage 2. Highlights. 12.00 Cycling. Tour de France. Stage 3. Highlights. 1.00 PBS News. 2.00 Going Places. (PG, R) 3.25 Where The Dreamings Come From. (R) 3.35 The Cook Up. (R) 4.05 Jeopardy! 4.30 Letters And Numbers. (R) 5.00 Cycling. Tour de France. Stage 3. Highlights.

6.00 Mastermind Australia. 6.30 SBS World News.

7.30 Great Continental Railway Jour neys: Pula To Pazin/Buzet To Pag. (Retur n, PGav) Michael Portillo duels gladiators in Pula. 8.30 Insight. Looks into what drives people to cut ties and asks if it’salwaysagood idea.

9.30 Cycling. Tour de France. Stage 4. 2.00 Great Coastal Railway Jour neys. (PG, R) 3.00 Eva Longoria: Searching For Mexico. (R) 3.50 Growing AGreener World. (R) 4.20 Bamay.(PG, R) 4.50 Destination Flavour Down Under Bitesize. (R) 5.00 NHK World English News Mor ning. 5.30 ANC Philippines The World Tonight.

SBS VICELAND (31) 6am Children’s Programs. 6.20pm Bluey 6.30 Paddington. 6.40 Hey Duggee. 6.50 Isadora Moon. 7.00 Supertato. 7.05 Dino Dex. 7.20 Bluey 7.30 Do Not Watch This Show 7.40 The Inbestigators. 8.00 Junior Vets. 8.25 BTN Newsbreak. 8.30 Deadly 60. 9.00 Expedition With Steve Backshall. 9.50 Merlin. 10.35 Late Programs.

Morning Programs. Noon WorldWatch. 12.30 Homicide. 1.25 Our Law 2.00 Cycling. Tour de France. H’lights. 3.00 Cycling. Tour de France. H’lights. 4.00 Fashionista. 4.10 News. 4.15 WorldWatch 6.15 TheFood That Built The World. 7.05 Jeopardy! 7.30 News. 7.35 8Out Of 10 Cats. 8.25 Alone. 9.40 Hoarders. (Retur n) 10.35 Late Programs.

SBS WORLD MOVIES (32) 6am Morning Programs. 1.55pm Black As. 2.00 The Last Land: Gespe’gewa’gi. 2.30 The Cook Up. 3.00 Jarjums. 5.00 Harlem Globetrotters. 5.25 Road Open. 5.30 Indian Country Today News. 6.00 Bamay 6.30 News. 6.40 Tales From Zambia. 7.30 The Point. 8.30 ProBull Riding Australia. 9.30 Over The Black Dot. 10.00 Late Programs. NITV (34)

6am Morning Programs. 10.25 The Broken Land. (2021, Madv,Italian, Spanish) 12.05pm Sweet As. (2022, Mals) 1.40 Sissi. (1955, German) 3.40 Sissi: The Young Empress. (1956, PG, German, Hungarian) 5.40 Finding Graceland. (1998, PGs) 7.30 ABronx Tale. (1993, Malsv) 9.45 The Drover’sWife. (2021, MA15+av) 11.45 Late Programs.

6.00 Sunrise. 9.00 The Mor ning Show.(PG) 12.00 Seven’sNational News At Noon. 1.00 MOVIE: Just Add Romance. (2019, PGa) 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 (PGas) Dana’sworried for Irene.

7.30 Stranded On Honeymoon Island. (Mlns) The couples receive another surprise crate and face offatthe next Couples Cove.

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

11.30 Police Custody USA: Meth Wars (Madl, R) Cops try to bring down adrug kingpin.

12.30 Fairly Legal. (Ma, R) Kate takes on acaseofidentity theft.

2.30 Home Shopping. (R)

4.00 NBC Today.

5.00 Sunrise Early News.

5.30 Sunrise.

6am Morning Programs. 9.00 Our Town. 9.30 NBC Today Noon Better Homes. 1.00 Escape To The Country 2.00 Creek To Coast. 2.30 The YorkshireVet. 3.30 Harry’sPractice. 4.00 Our Town. 4.30 Better Homes. 5.30 Escape To The Country 6.30 Bargain Hunt. 7.30 Call The Midwife. 8.45 Foyle’sWar 10.55

TEN (10, 5)

6.00 Today 9.00 Today Extra.

6.00 9News.

7.00 ACurrent Affair

7.30 Paramedics. (Retur n, Mlm) Paramedics rush to afallenrider (Ml) Ateam of footy experts tackles the AFL’s big issues and controversies. 9.30 Wimbledon 2025 Pre-Show Reviews, previews, interviews, highlights and opinions from the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club.

10.00 Tennis. Wimbledon.

12.00 Tennis. Wimbledon.

4.00 Getaway.(PG,R) 4.30 ACurrent Affair.(R) 5.00 Today Early News. 5.30 Today

10 News+. 7.00 Deal Or No Deal. Hosted by GrantDenyer. 7.30 MasterChef Australia. (PGl) Abatch of 23 former contestants retur ns. 8.40 The Cheap Seats. (Mal) Presenters Melanie Bracewell and Tim McDonald take alook at the week that was. 9.40 FBI: Most Wanted. (Mdv) Twoteens areabducted during adrug deal. 10.40 10’sLate News. 11.05 10 News+ (R) 12.05

Night to remember for debutants

IN adazzling celebration of elegance, tradition, and community spirit, this year’s Lavalla Debutante Balls delivered an unforgettable night for the 120 debutantes who took to the dance floor.

With atheme inspired by the hit series Bridgerton,the eveningwas abreathtaking spectacle of glamour and grace, complete with stunningdécor,elegantstyling and heartfelt moments that brought the entire room to its feet.

At the heart of this magical night was apowerhouseteam: the deb committee. Working behind the scenesfor months, 10 incredible volunteers transformed avision into reality, pouring in countless hours of preparation and dedication. Their ability to bring together so many moving parts, from decorations to logistics, ensured the evening unfolded without ahitch.

What makes this committee even more remarkable is that half of its members are dedicated mothers who no longer have children at the school.

These women originally joined the group when their own children were students four years ago, and havecontinued to volunteer their time and energy year after year.

Even thoughtheir children have since graduated,these passionatewomen are driven purely by adesire to create a magical night for the next generation of students. Their selflessness and unwavering commitment to the community are truly inspiring.

This year also broughtachangeinvenue.

Due to the unfortunat ef ire at the MorwellBowling Club, the debutante ball was relocated to Kernot Hall, which proved to be awonderful venue.

In abeautiful show of community spirit, Morwell Bowling Club, despitetheirrecent hardship, still generously contributed by providing tables and chair covers for the evening. Their support did not go unnoticed and was deeply appreciated by all involved.

Guests were treatedtoadelicious dining experience, thankstoDuartsCatering, who impressively served more than980 meals across the three magical nights Their outstanding service and attention to detail added yet another layer of excellence to the event.

Behind the scenes, the hardworking debutantesand volunteers were kept energisedthanks to Mavros Deli,who generously supplied fresh, delicious platters throughout the day. Their thoughtful contribution helped fuel the team during rehearsals and preparations and was very much appreciated by all.

The night’s festivities were elevated even further by the presence of the Churchill Football-Netball Club, who provided and operated the bar across all three nights. Their team was absolutelyamazing, friendly, professional, anda joytowork with. The deb committee said they cannot thank them enough for the hard workand contribution to the success of the event.

This year’s deb ball also marked a progressivestepforward, with thoughtful changes made to the traditional format. While classic elements were preserved, new additions were introduced to make the night more inclusive and reflective of the diverse group of debutantes taking part. These updates were proudly shaped by the current group of participants, laying the groundwork for more inclusive deb balls in years to come.

The night wouldn’t have been complete withoutalong list of loccals and businesses who played vital roles in makingthe event shine:

 Jaz Flowers, the talented dance instructor who guided the debutantes with patience and flair;

 Tammy Lee Photography, capturing the evening’s most cherished memories;

 Sure Shot Productions, filming the event to preserve it for generations to come;

 Hot Katz Music, whose music kept the energy high and the dance floor packed;

 Panthers Menswear, ensuring the gentlemen looked their absolute best, and;

 Little Grande Design, for designing and printing the stunning event booklets.

With love, laughter, and awhole lot of dancing, thisBridgerton-themeddeb ball proved that tradition and innovation can beautifully coexist.

Sparkle: Debutantsweredressed to impressed.

Photographs supplied

Glitzand glamour: Debutantes enjoyedtheir evening.

Suave: Debutants assembled at Kernot Hall, Morwell.

GTLC celebrates latest graduates

Action: CommunityTurf Forcehas nowcompleted it’sthird round, which involved Travis Blanch, SeniorConstable Brigid Howard (Vic Pol), SteveDodd(GippslandTradesLabour Council), Hollie Edwards,KellieBer trand (GTLC), BrandonCastle, Senior ConstableJohannes de Bruin (Victoria Police ProactivePolicing Unit), Jordan Seegers, Kaiden Morganand WunyaAli (Joesph Hayes absent). Photograph: Katrina Brandon

By KATRINA BRANDON

GROWING not just gardens but local skills, the Gippsland Tradesand Labour Council (GTLC) completed its third round of the Community Turf Force program.

Duringthe thirdroundofthe six-week program, seven individualsparticipated in skill development and built social connections alongside GTLC and the Proactive Policing Unit.

The collaborative approachofthe Community TurfForce Program reflects the proactiveengagement of law enforcement and the value placed on partnerships in localised community building initiatives aimed at fostering social connections, skill development, and positiveyouth engagement

GTLC Project Officer, KellieBertrand, said, “We recognise the immense value of our ongoing partnership with the Victoria Police Proactive Policing Unit."

“Their involvement has been instrumentalin the success of several of our community education and engagement programs, which provide vital pathways to education, training, and employment for people across the region.

“Through their involvement, the program has successfully engaged participants from diverse and often hard-to-reach backgrounds, encouraging ongoing personal development and opening doors to futureemploymentand training opportunities.

Preparing for life in the senior school

VCE is just around the corner at St Paul’s.

To celebrate the inaugural VCE cohort at St Paul’s AnglicanGrammar School’s TraralgonCampus, the 2026 VCEFoundation students and theirfamilies were invitedtoaspecial breakfast event. Guests were warmly welcomed by the school’s Chaplain,GlenTreble, deputyprincipal Gordon Oldham and current Year 10 Traralgon Secondary School captains, Chloe Ellen and Layla Graham. Ahighlight of the morning was the return of class of 2020 alumnus, Jesse Buhagiar, who attended St Paul’s Traralgon Campus from three-year-old kinder to Year 10, completing VCE at the Warragul Campus, and is now studying aBachelor of at Biomedical Engineering at Monash University.

Despite having afinal university exam that afternoon, Jesse returned to share heartfelt advice

with the upcoming VCE students, emphasising the importance of good study habits, avoidingdistractions, and, above all, supportingeach other through the final years of schooling.

Reflecting on his own VCE experienceatthe Warragul campus, he encouraged the cohort to embrace the opportunity of completing their senior years locally in Traralgon.

“I loved my time at Warragul,” he said.

“However, if you asked every single student from my Traralgon Year 10 class,Ican almost guarantee that every single person would say you’re living the dream to have VCE here.”

He noted the value of time saved from commuting –timethat could now be invested in study, work, sport or volunteering.

Afew weeks prior to the event, students attended

adedicatedVCE assembly ledbythe Traralgon Secondary School’s Academic Leadership Team.

The session outlined what to expect from the two-year journey ahead, including acomprehensive array of VCE subject offeringsthat meet university entrance requirements (subject to student interest and selections) and theexcitingnew facilities in the pipeline: the transformation of the old library building into anew Year 7centre by 2026, and the building of anew purpose-built VCE centre and specialist hub ready by 2027.

St Paul’s willbehosting its VCE information evening for students currentlyinYear 9and above at 46 Cross’sRoad, Traralgon on Wednesday, July 23. Visit: stpaulsags.vic.edu.au for more information.

Importantly, this initiative fosters positive behavioural change and arenewed senseofpurpose among its participants.”

Within the program, individuals developed skills in lawn and garden maintenance, learnt aboutsafety when using equipment, increased their awareness of localorganisations, and worked together as ateam.

Ms Bertrand told the Express she hasseen a lotofgrowth in this groupcomingthrough the program, whether it be in the garden, as part of ateam, or even learning groovy dance moves from Senior Constable Johannes de Bruin (Jonty), while completing each task.

“Over the past five weeks, we’ve seen growth not justingardens and lawns, but in skills,teamwork, and confidence. What they have accomplished by turning up each and every week is no small feat,” Ms Bertrand said.

“We are proud to recognise theiraccomplishments, notonlyfor the physical work they’ve done, but for the leadership, respect, and pride they havebrought to this program. They’vemade a visible difference across the spaces we visited and strengthened their community connections.

“These are more than just lessons in how to use gardening equipment; they’re lessons in perseverance, in showing up for others, and in seeing ajob through. Connections open doors, but skills keep them open -keep building both.”

Mark Reeves appointed to TAFE board

PASSI ONATE East Gippslan der and respected educator, Mark Reeves, has been appointed to the board of TAFEGippsland.

Alife-longlearner, Mr Reeves brings valuable place-based experienceasanEast Gippsland community leader, experienced board director and leader in education and training.

TAFE Gippsland Board Chair, Paul Buckley PSM, said Mr Reeves'expertise was highly sought-after.

“The appointment of Mark Reeves to the board is astrategic decision to build strengthand diversity as we pursueour vision of askilled and thrivingGippsland,” he said.

“Mark is currently ab oard member of Warrigunya Aboriginal Corporation, OrbostRegional Health and amember of theNational Parks Advisory Committee.

“He brings35years of experiencein Catholic, independent and government schools,local government, andprivate industry. As well as academic studies at Melbourne University and Phillip Institute of Technology, his technical trainingand qualific ations are from the Nationa l Mountaineering School, North Wales,UK.”

Mr Buckley acknowledged the service of outgoing TAFE Gippsland Director, Angela Hutson, who has served in both the board and professional capacities for TAFEfor many years.

“Angela has been on the boardsince 2016 and has served as deputy chair since 2018,” he said.

“Ange la is to be congr atulated and thankedfor herdistinguished, valuable and passionate advocacy for the TAFE sector over many years.”

Incoming: NewTAFEGippsland Board member,MarkReeves.

Photograph supplied

One eyetothe future: St Paul’sYear 10 students at thebreakfast event, learning about whattoexpect in their VCEyears.

Knowledge: St Paul’s Traralgon Campus educators Nathan Byrne, Stefan Jegorow 2020 alumnus Jesse Buhagiar and head of Traralgon Secondar ySchool, Leonie Clark. Photographs supplied

Dynamics flipped: St Paul’s2020 alumnusJess Buhagiar (right), withhis thenheadofYear 12 educator from 2020, BenZanella.

Traralgon residentsbulk up Vinniesfood bank

Prize: ‘Tin

ROTARYClubofTraralgon Central has concluded its annual 'Give aDamn. Give Can' campaign.

The campaign collected 14,000 cans of food.

The club gathers from schools, kerbside bins, businesses, sporting clubs and aged care facilities.

Agrant of $5200from the Latrobe City Trust, along with cash donations, made up an extra $6050 to purchase cans of food for the needy in Traralgon and District.

The collection lasts the Vinnies Food Bank six months.

Traralgon Conference Vice President, Lyn Burns, said, “It is heart warming to see the Rotary Club of Traralgon Central and St Vincent de Paul Assistance Centre Traralgon work together on Givea DamnGive aCan. The programallowsfood parcels to be given as a‘hand up’ to the needy in our community".

“Traralgon residents are so generous,” Rotary Club president, Bob Johnson said.

Amazing: Theinitiativeisexpected to see more than 10,000 cans of food distributed to those in need Photographs supplied

Waratah bay beach camp

SACREDHeart Primary School, Morwell

Grade 5and 6students participated in abeach camp program at Waratah Bay.

First day activities included flying fish, nitro crossing, caterpillar crawl, spider’s web, bouldering wall, possum’s rope and ringtail ramble.

Thefollowing day, students enjoyed Treasure Island, dolphin dodge, aero ball, initiative course, jail break and finished off with rock climbing.

Nights were full of indoorgames, abeach walk and amovie night.

One of the highlights of thecamp was the grand sand sculpting competition, which took placeonthe morning of the last day. Students enjoyedthe beachand worked in teams to create asandsculpture.

Camp enabledstudentstobuild on their teamwork and encouraged each student to have agoand step outside their comfort zone.

All students did awonderful job embracing their new challenges, and most importantly, everyone had fun.

“We placed 20 red bins on nature strips, collecting over 500 cans. We acknowledge Latrobe City for permission to do this.”

Sixteen schools collected for Give aDamn. Give aCan

Traralgon’s, Stockdale RoadPrimary School conducted apyjama day, as students donated canned food for the privilege of casting aside their school uniform for the day. Their collectionof2130 cans filled two trailers.

Co-ordinator Tracy Cane said,“We are really happy that everyonewas able to donate to such agreat cause. Thank you from the junior school council to the Stocky school community for your overwhelming support”

Trailer filling donationsfrom St Paul'sAnglican Grammar School, Liddiard RoadPSand Grey Street PS totalled more than 4000 cans.

Annually, St Gabriel's PS present their collection to Rotary at aspecial assembly. Thisyear,

agenerous collection of 497 cans was tallied. St Michaels PS recentlyconducted their annual Poor Mans’ Mass, adding an extra 1006 cans to the collection.

Small communities and generous hearts can be attributedtothe communities of Glengarry,Tyers, Traralgon South and Yallourn North, who between them collected more than 1600 cans.

Rounding off the schools collection were generous contributions fromChairo Christian School, Traralgon College, Traralgon Special Development School,NarracanPSand Kosciuszko Street PS. Once the collection from Lavalla Catholic College is completed, the schools will have collected in excess of 10,000 cans

The Rotary ClubofTraralgon Central thank Traralgon andnearby communitiesfor their generosity. Behind each donation is alocal resident contributing to the greater good.

FRIDAY4JULY

United: Students from LiddiardRoad, Grey Street, Stockdale Road and KosciuszkoStprimary schools at St Vincent’swith cans collected forthe GiveaDamn. GiveaCan appeal

Man’atStPaul’sAnglican Grammar School goestothe class collecting the most cans

Break: Inayatand Harrison enjoying a stopoverata local parkonthe waytocamp

Flying high: Jindarah par ticipating in the kitemaking activity Photographs supplied

Tangled up: Sacred Heart Primar ySchool, Morwell’sSunday on the ringtail ramble course

Ruralbranch closures avoidable

THE announcement that Bendigo Bank branches in Yarram and Korumburra are closing is the latest fail by every MP in the federal parliament, both sides, allparties

With abit of will and bipartisanship,the 'Big Banks'(which includes Bendigo) should have been forced to strike an agreement to keep one branch open in every regional town with apopulation of, say 2000, in Australia.

They could have carved up the map and negotiated an equitable share of profitable and less profitable (or loss making) branches. They make billions of dollars in profits. The least they could do is carry amarginalorloss making essential service. Someone in the parliament should have taken the initiative to bring this on.

The Coalition wasingovernment when these closures started and were in power long enough to do something, but as usual everything was left to the free market.

What happened?

Did no one have the gumption to think of it? Too busy plotting leadership challenges (both sides) to focusonthe needs of constituents?

Labordid nothing too.Classicexample of political fail by the people elected to represent us.

Tony Willman Traralgon

Worldclass fantasy

THE only thing world-class in Anton Gosselin's construction hopes('Nuclear construction times and other obstacles', Latrobe Valley Express Opinion, 25/06) is his cherry-picking of data and ignorance of the fulllifecycle efforts in getting anuclear plant going.

He must have beenasleep duringthe last six months of intense local debate about these issues but, once again, just for him, here it is.

CSIRO's GenCost 2024-25 Consultation Draft says "Given the direction of construction data available after the report’s release, the IAEA range of 10-15 years should likely be reinterpreted as 12 to 17 years to allow for the extra two years median construction time which now prevails. The lower part of thisnew range, 12 years, would be consistent with the UAE experience. Australiaisnot likely to be able to repeat the UAE experience because our levelofconsultation will be consistent with our higher level of democracy and the experience of other Western democracies. As such, at least 15 years remains the most plausible lead time."

It also says “Note that most of the historical construction time data is dominated by countries withestablished nuclear industriesand so may be optimistic for afirst-timecountry.”

So, from Australia's pre-eminent scienceorganisation, it is 15-plus years.

The earliest start could only be after aCoalition win in the 2031election and CSIROtells us it that would most likely be 2046 for first nuclear output. We willhave completed the energy sector transition well before then or have died trying. Likewisefor the Nationals pushing for lifting the moratorium so we can get AI going (LVE Page 6, 25/06). Nuclear simply cannot solve massive AI expansion over the next 5-10 years.

Mr Gosselin's ignorance extends to water availability and use.

AGL advises (LVE Page 6, 25/6) it will extend its water use until 2065 to fill the mine and may still need additional water. The same would apply for the Yallourn mine.

The water required for nuclear power is simply not available in the Valley, full stop.

All attemptstoconstructanuclear solution to our energy needs before 2050fall over with the tiniest application of facts,science, economics,and logic. And no-one, literally no-one, has been able to explain how nuclear power, at two to four times the average cost of renewables and storage, can provide lower cost electricity than those sources.

John Gwyther Coongulla

Transparencya must

IN ademocracy, the rights of the public to scrutinise their elected city councillors should not be infringed upon.

Federally licensed broadcastersshould make this principle acornerstone of their operations.

In the Expressletters on June 18, Idiscussed what Idescribedasa campaign by Taylah Ling on Gippsland FM, enabledbythe radio station bosses, against transparency in local government ('Up to code').

Prior to this, on June 4, in asecond letter ('Please explain party'), Icomplained viathis paper of being named and shamed on Gippsland FM by another political voice in Greg Hansford.

My crime was to have aquestion aired at the Latrobe City Council meeting seeking to know the cost to city council of the failed legalaction promoted on Mr Hansford’s radio program to force arecount by the Victorian Electoral Commission of the elction in the Yallourn Ward.

The Gippsland FM bosses, and Mr Hansford, must pay theshare of the costs incurred by council over this fool’s errand with more than adozen plaintiffs convinced and recruited via Gippsland FM radio broadcasts.

In my secondletter, Ipointed out the superior Transparency of the Councillor Code of conduct process opposed by Ms Ling, versus the alternative of complaints of misconduct against councillors being done by the office of the Local Government Inspector who works in secret.

Who knows what this process costs?

There is evidence of a'Councillor X', with an adverse finding by the Local Government Inspector and the public not knowing if thecase hasbeen finalised, apenalty imposed or not which is bad newsfor voters but good news for Ms Ling and her enabling bosses

Cr Xand Taylah Lingare members of the Gippsland Peoples Council, who have passed money non transparently from an anonymous person to Ms Ling confirmed in aletter to the Express on August 14 last year.

The media in ademocracy has aduty to be vigilant for cover ups of misconduct in public office, however trivialthey seem. It is interesting that the campaign against atransparent Councillor Code of Conduct process in LatrobeCityisactually emanating from amedia entity.

Why are Gippsland FM’s bosses enabling Ms Ling’scampaign to normalise secrecy in cases like Councillor X’s?

Maybe time will tell Phillip Edwards HazelwoodSouth

Turbines mean income

DESPITE numerous and very prescient reasons for quickly transitioning to areliable electricity grid powered by renewable energy and backed up

by battery and hydro storage, various groups are still intent on delaying the roll out of renewable energy and in the process adversely affecting the rest of society.

One fact stands out starkly in this discussion. Global warming is already having severe effects on the climate, which is directly impacting hundreds of thousands of Australians in increasingly frequent and severe weather events, the latest of which are the worst ever drought in southern Australiaand the Taree floods in northern NSW.

Of course, these event sa ffect everyo ne in Australia less directly, but the pain is shared. Think your risinghome insurance cost for one and rising food prices.

Another stark reality is that the power stations in the Latrobe Valley are presently being nursed throughpalliative care and won’t be producing electricity past the middle of the next decade.

The need for an urgenttransition is obvious. Yet, the people who are presentlythe mostresponsible for the delay in the much-needed roll-outof renewables infrastructure are the very ones who will benefit the most.

These are the landholders who are opposing wind and solar farms and HV transmission lines crossing their properties or who object to the visualamenity of having to see them in the distance every day.

Surely they would realise that if they use grid electricity to run their homes and farms then it is only because some other farmers have allowed the transmission lines to cross their land over the last 90 plus years.

Are these people prepared to take responsibility for apossible shortfall of electricity when the coal fired powered stations are unable to keep up with demand?And be ready to answer criticism from thewider community when it comes?

But the strange thing is that in refusing to cooperate with the authorities who are trying to progress this infrastructure, they are denying themselves a secure financial future.

As an example, the recently approved Theodore Windfarm in QLD willsupply 1000 MW from 170 turbines and inject $500 million into the area during constructionand the Community Benefit Fund will inject $17.5 million into local sports clubs, choirs, scholarships and whatever else the community suggestsoverthe life of the project.Not to mention the benefit to the host landholders of about $40,000 p.a. per turbine on their property.

Ibet the farmers withwind turbines on their land in the western districts are quietly thankfulfor having asteady income despite the worst drought in living memory at present. It could be the difference of them staying on their placeand theneighbours without them having to sell up.

Atimely debate about this is much needed, lest blackouts become acommon occurrence in afew years from now.

Dan Caffrey

Traralgon

Not so great wall of Australia

ONE day afew weeks ago when we had aspell of gloomyweather, all the solarfarmsinAustralia combined produced only enoughelectricity to power the country for five minutes, meaning of course we had to fall back on coal generation. Because of shortdaysand bad weather,solar power is virtually uselessduring winter months

(even with back-up batteries which rarelylast more than an hour).

The sametruism also applies to wind turbines on windless or near-windless days.

In fact, solar and wind power are so intermittent (part time) that they are only viablewith subsidies (more than $16 billion each year) which added about $1500 to electricity bills last year.

Instead of tripling solar and wind power, as Energy Minister Chris 'Blackout Bowen' is doing, we could simply build two or three HELE (High Efficiency Low Emissions) new coal-fired power stationsinstead, and havecheap and reliable power when we need it, instead of industrialising the countryside, killing tens of thousands of birds and wildlife and destroying habitat, including endangered species and koalas, and wasting prime Agricultural farmland and threatening the future food supply

To be sure, Labor's all-eggs-in-one-basket-renewables-only approach is an unmitigateddisaster that is pushing struggling Australian households and small business to the wall. Awall that has a deep crack in it that will only get deeper and wider.

Joseph

Lis

Morwell

THE Latrobe Valley Express welcomes letters to the editor.

Preference will be given to brief, concise letters which address local issues.

The editor Liam Durkin, reserves the right to editletters for reasons of space and clarity, and may refuse to publishany letter without explanation.

The Express does not publish letters from anonymous contributors.

Letters must include aphone number, email address and the author's hometown for purposes of substantiatingauthenticity. Readers are entitled to aright of reply to aletter directed at them.

While healthy debate is encouraged, the editor will stamp out any that cross the line to defamation.

The views expressed in letters to the editor are those of the writers, and do not necessarily reflect the viewsofLatrobe Valley Express management or staff.

Readers shouldbeequallyaware thatfacts presented in letters are selected to support aperson's point of view.

As such, statisticscan quiteoften be fabricated depending on the poolofdata used or people involved in surveys.

The letters section is designed to allow people to have their say, and not be hijacked for political agendas.

Lettersregarding religion will not be published.

Email letters to news@lvexpress.com. au and include 'Letter to the Editor' in the subject line.

Deadline for letters is Thursday 3pm.

Estimated travel times onboard the SRL

By STEFAN BRADLEY

GIPPSLAND locals will be amongthe first regional passengers to benefitfromthe Suburban Rail Loop(SRL), with atrain journey from Traralgon Station to the new Box Hill Station to be about 31 minutes faster by changingtrains at Clayton insteadofgoing in and out of the city. Thestate government has released SRL East travel time estimates connectingsuburbs,slashing travel times, easier journeys,that outlines how SRL East will integrate with Victoria’s existing public transport network and “provide quick, convenient and reliable connections for people to travel across Melbourne’s suburbs”.

The researchlists the slashed travel times with SRLEast and compares it to the current public transport arrangements. To determine these times,the research referred to real-time travel conditionsat8am on weekdays through the Public Transport Victoria (PTV) app for public transport and Google Maps for acar journey. The times do not include driving to the stations, parking or waiting for the bus or train to arrive.

The example used for the Traralgon to Box Hill trip begins with the 7.47am weekday train at Traralgon Station.Itsaysthe current journey takes 155 minutes by travelling to Richmond Station, and then changing trains to get to Box Hill. With the SRL East, the passenger travels from Traralgon Station and stops at the new SRL Clayton station, changingtrains to SRL Box Hill, taking 124 minutes,asavingof31minutes.A car journey is five minutes faster than that, at 119 minutes.

Thestop beforeBox Hill is BurwoodStation, about an 8-16 minute tram ride away from Deakin University, so the new SRL Eastroutewill be helpful for students who attend that university.

Other examples of faster journeys included in the report is Bayswater to Monash University, with the current 52 minute journeybeing slashed to 37 minutes with SRLEast. Burwood to Box Hill is athree-and-a-half minute stop on the SRL East train line, with the journey currently taking 17 minutes by bus, or 10 minutes by car. SRL East from Cheltenham to Box Hill is under

construction, with six new underground stations to be connected by 26 kilometres of twin tunnels.

The government said that in addition to delivering new transport connectivity and slashing travel times, SRL East will support the delivery of 70,000 additional homesinthe neighbourhoods aroundthe new stations. Tunnelling on SRL East will start in 2026 and trains will be taking passengers in 2035.

Minister for the SuburbanRailLoop and Morwell MP, Harriet Shing said SRL will connect the suburbs, making it easier to get around.

“It willdeliver thousands more homes so young Victorians can live in the areas closer to where they grew up,” Ms Shing said.

Victorian opposition leader Brad Battin has dismissed the report as governmentspin, and said the stategovernment can’t say how much the project will costinthe nextfew years.

Calculation: ThejourneyfromTraralgon to BoxHill is predicted to shave morethan 30 minutes offthe trip once the SRL is complete.

Photopgraph: File

Time to welcome clean energy

COMMENT

BY ADRIAN COSGRIFF

IN 2021, Australia officially decided to move away from coal fired power by agreeing to a2050net zero emissions target.

While that's great for emissions and the environment, it'snot that greatfor the Latrobe Valley, which has been supplying coal fired electricity to the grid since 1925.

While we may lamentthe past, the reality is that the decision has been made. It's over for coal fired power whether we like it or not.

We have achoice. We can feel sorry for ourselves anddonothing or, we can pick ourselves up and embrace the future. I'm sure all the people in the horse businessinthe late 19thcentury had a similar experience.

Atechnology that had served humans for thousands of years was largely replaced in acouple of decades by the automobile. The rest, as they say, is history.

That said, history is also afantastic teacher. One door closes, another opens.

One of the greatlegacies of our coal powered historyisour multiple high voltage connection points from the Valley to the east coast grid. We are connected to the entire east side of Australia To Hobart in the south, to Cooktown in the north and to Port Augusta in the west.

Agolden asset in the eye of developers.

Whilethe daysofcoal are ending, fortunately for us there is ahugeenergyresourcelocally available to replace that coal. That resource is offshore wind.

Atechnology that is already mature in Europe.

As it happens,BassStraithas ahigh-quality wind resource, relatively shallow water, ahigh voltage grid connection nearby, plenty of existing highly competentand experienced tradespeople in the local coal and oil industries, existing marine and air crews experienced in Bass Strait operations and lots of interested international investors.

The resource is much larger than that of the existing power stations and the timingcouldn't be better. If we get stuck into it, we could have an offshore wind industry established well before the Loy Yang power station ceases operations.

So, while the generation is not in the Valley, how does that benefit us?

As we all know, wind power is intermittent. While

offshorewindhas thehighest generation capacity of renewables, it's not there 100 per cent of the time.

That's where energy storage comes into the picture.

We are already building large grid batteries here. There is arapidly growing grid battery industry around Australia. From thefirst one in 2017 to 33 under construction of already operating today with many more in planning. Largeelectricity storage is acrucialcomponent of agrid powered by renewable energy.

Justasthe Valley hasbeen agrid supplier in the past,itcan do that in the future via offshore wind and local energy storage.

Having that combination marshalled in the Latrobe Valleymeansthat we will have large amounts of green electricity available that doesn't incur larger transmission costs.

There's anew trend that is emerging though industry.

Inst ead of tra nsmit ting electri city to the manufacturing site, the move is to relocatethe manufacturing much closer to the electricity source. One examplefor the Valley couldbethings like urea (fertiliser) production from green hydrogen. Australia imports 90 per cent of its urea which requires gas as afeedstock. Even though Australia has vast quantities of gas, it can't produce urea for itsown farmers as cheap as overseas competitors. Right now, those farmers are being squeezed by rising cost due to international conflicts.

Large local surpluses of green electricity means thatwecould easily becomeagreen urea producer here.Green hydrogen can also be converted into a feedstock for things like plastics. There are many other uses for surplus electricity as well.

Large amountsofexcess green electricity can be used for more flexible demand such as cheap desalination, metal smelting and data centres.

Having large amounts of low-cost electricity available locally opens up all kinds of opportunity for businesses.

The world is moving to green energy. With that is an evolutioninmanufacturing. Miners are increasing installing renewables to reduce diesel use. Manufacturersthat use large amounts of electricity are migratingtowardrenewable energy hubs.South Australia is experiencing that right now.

The large local electricity generation companies areinthe process of transitioning out of coal.They are all showing plenty of interest in remaining in the area for the future and making use of their transmission assets. Acouple arebuilding, or have built, large battery storages already. Establishing offshore wind and other renewable energy projects will clearly influence their plans for the future.

The Latrobe Valley has this opportunity right in front of it. State and federal governments are dead keen to develop Gippsland's offshore wind. It's about time the Latrobe Valley communitygot involved and had asay in their long-term future rather than have it dictated by outside forces.

Adisclaimer: this isn't an article to promote the offshorewindindustryper se andthereare no direct personal benefits for me. It's simply about letting people of the Valley know about what's going on andhow they could have ahugesay in the future of the region if they choose to. Rather than dwell on the imminent closure of coal fired power and the offshore oil and gas industry,wecould look forward to the futureand the growth of awhole new chapter of electricity generation out of Gippsland. Instead of repeating the mistakes of the past where decisions were made elsewhere resulting in permanent damage to the community, e.g. power station privatisation, we have the chance to embracethe future today and benefit greatly from it.

The Gippsland offshore wind resource is the largest in Australia. It's just sitting there waiting to be utilised.

Nuclear vital for Australia

COMMENT

BY WILL SHACKELL

LAST week,Sussan Ley gave her first speech as leader of the Liberal Partyatthe National Press Club, announcing the establishment of aworking group focused on energy and emission reduction policy.

This group of seven parliamentarians has the all-important job of developing the Coalition's energy strategy going forward.

Nuclear is necessary for Australia -no energy source can rival it for affordable, reliable, emissions-free power.

But will the Opposition’s new working group considerserious nuclear powerpolicies, or will they rulethem outfollowingtheir comprehensive defeat at the election?

Prior to the election, the Coalition had planstodevelop large plants at sites around the country.

This is the closest any major party has come in recent memory to implementing nuclear power in Australia.

We cannot go backwards.

We will not stand idly by and allow them to renege on their ambition for nuclear.

Nuclear power is vital for Australia.

About the author: Will Shackel is the founder of Nuclear for Australia

Modernise: LetterwriterAdrian Cosgriff says Gippslandshould embrace its newenergy future. File photograph

Traralgon hosts majortable tennis

TABLE TENNIS

By KATRINA BRANDON

BOOMING streets, squeaky courts and roars of strength bellowed throughout the Gippsland Regional Indoor Sports Stadium (GRISS) over the King’sBirthdaylong weekend, as hundreds of table tennis country players from all over the state took partinthe 73rd Table Tennis Victoria Country Week Championships.

Players raced to the courts brightand early on the Saturday morning to be greeted by Table Tennis Victoria (TTV) chief executive,Gen Dohrmann, and Latrobe City Council Mayor,DaleHarriman, who wishedall playersthe bestofluck

“Weare thrilled to be backinthe frontstadium hereatthe GRISS,”Dohrmann said.

“It is our centenary, Table Tennis Victoria this year. We are excited to be undertaking significant work around the 100-year mark. This (Country Championships) is partofour eight-year partnership with the City of Latrobe and Destination Gippsland, with this year being the third year.”

Eachyear,during the tournamentintroductions, TTV awards the AndrewWilson Memorial Award to outstanding people in the table tennis community.

The award, named in honour of the late Andrew Wilson, who was acountryplayer who exemplified teamspiritand gentlemanly conduct, is awarded to someone who displaysthose samecharacteristics.

This year's winner was Leongatha Table Tennis ClubPresident, Dirk Holwerda

“I first aimed at Country Week in 1970 when Ihad been playing table tennis for about two months,” Holwerda said.

“I fell in love with table tennis at that time, and CountryWeek has always beenthe thing thatI look forward to most. Iactually had some role in coaching young Andrew Wilson as he was coming up, and agreater person you could not have met.”

STARTING with A1, Traralgon’s Heath Sposato, Mick Warr,and StephenWarrwere unfortunately unable to bring home awin in each of their rounds due to intense competition.

Winning top spotswas Albury Table Tennis Association with four wins and no losses, followed by Bairnsdale with three wins and one loss.

There was no Traralgon teams in B1 and B2.

B3

BETTER luck came to those in the lower sections, with Traralgon’s B3 teamofPeter Gomez,Jeff Pollard and Ian Strong coming third.

Round 1was asteady win for Traralgon as they beat Echuca six matches to five.

From the start, it was aTraralgon win, followed by Echuca, until the last two games. The last games were left to Gomez and Pollard to win, as they were neck-and-neck against Echuca.

Vicious Sunbury Settlers came out in Round 2, cleaning outthe Traralgonteam 11-0. TheSunbury teamsailedthrough the tournament, only to be beaten in their last round by Wonthaggi.

Awin against Bairnsdale was successive for the Traralgon team in Round 3, as they came out on top seven matches to four. As tough as it gets, the seven wins didn’t come easily, as the team had to fight through four to five sets. If the sets were in three, players pushed through to double digits to try to secure the set.

Winning over the Sunbury Settlers, Wonthaggi was next to play Traralgon in Round 4. Winning nine-two against Traralgon, Pollardand Strong managed to take awin against Wonthaggi’s Nick Bartone, both in three sets. The two Donohues, Mark and Andrew, overpoweredthe Traralgon trio,withMark, who also plays for Leongatha, winning top player in the grade.

Finishing the way they started, the Traralgonduo playedGeelong in Round 5, winning six matches to five.Asthe matches progressed, the two teams took turns winning matches, with Traralgon stepping forwardimmediately after the second doubles, doubling down on the pressure. Powerhouses Gomez and Strong won amajority of their games, excluding the first doubles, which helped break through past Geelong.

C1

THREE for C, as Traralgon’s Jason Comrie, Geoff WLawn, and Guri Soni placed third in C1.

Round 1was ablast forTraralgonasthey pulled nine matches off from Ballarat Gold, leavingthem with two games on the table. Comrie started off the round with awarm-up, dropping off the first game. It wasn’t until the first lot of doubles that the Ballarat team won their second and final game, where Traralgon continuously pulled through. Yarrawonga was the one to worry about in C1, and Traralgon played them in Round 2, beaten as the matchesgot tighter. Unfortunately for Traralgon, Yarrawongawon six games to five. This helped Yarrawonga take the win for the whole section.

Traralgon played Sunbury in Round 3, with the results mirroring those of the previous round. Takingtheir final lossfor the weekend, Traralgon tookfivematchesfrom Sunbury, giving it their all with alot of back and forth.

Comingbackinto the game, Traralgon played Bairnsdale in Round 4. Traralgon took the other team six matches to five, with not much room allowedfor errors. Coming down to the decider match, the last game of the round, Comrie came through, beatingBairnsdale’s Alan Griffin (who also plays for Traralgon) in four tough sets.

It really wasn’t the weekend for Melton, as in Round 5, Traralgon came through seven matches to four. While the first match appeared optimistic for the Melton side, Traralgon pulled through with the next three singles and took the second doubles, bringing them to the win.

C3

UNFO RTU NATELY for Trar algon’s Leonie Degnan, Mark Strini and Riley Winkelman, the team was unable to break through the line-up for C3.

During Round 1, Traralgon had abye, leaving their first game to the afternoon, which wasagainst Melton. Melton came out victorious in this section, winning eight matches to three. While each point was fought hard, Traralgoncouldn’t quite keep up against the other team.

The same fate was met in rounds 3and 4, with Bairnsdaleand Shepparton winning eight matches to three.

Finally, abreakthrough was achieved in Round 5against Sunbury, which saw Traralgon turn the tables, winning eightmatches to three.The win against Sunbury landed the local team in fourth place.

D1

THIS wasn’t the weekend for Traralgon’sPaul Ryan, Norman Cottrell and Leng Xi Wu, as the team landed in fifth place over the long weekend. Saving thetrio from the bottom, Traralgon played aTable Tennis Victoria composite team in the first round, winning nine matches to two. Round 2againstYarrawonga and Round 5 againstMelton followed similar fates for Traralgon, as both teams ended up losing eightmatches to

Youth talent: Traralgon’s Dylan Wu,Francis Kariuki, Zachariah Dennison, Maya Gomez,Dhiraand MananSladetook out the twotop team spots at the Victorian Countr yChampionships.Onhand to congratulatethem is TableTennis Victoria Chief Executive, GenDohrmann (centre).

Strength: Yarrawonga/Mulwala TableTennis Association’s John Wright took out thetop spots in C1 with strength and power(as shown).

Congratulations: Latrobe CityCouncil Mayor, Dale Harriman andTable Tennis Victoria Chief Executive, GenDohrmann alongside this year’s Andrew Wilson Memorial Shield recipient, Dirk Holwerda.

three. Throughout the weekend, both teams fought hard for second place.

Round 3was a“moo-ving” (TTV’s chosen name for the Leongatha team was Moo Crew) round as Leongathatopped Traralgon in seven matches. From the start, Leongatha’s Aiden Holwerda and Sarun Dowling cracked into action, takingall singles and doubles. Fortunately forTraralgon, Leongatha’sDomenico (Dom) Murdica wasn’t quite playing his best, sparing the team four matches. At the top of the board, Albury Paddle Rats played Traralgon in Round 4, beating the local trio seven matches to four.

D3

ARELAXING end came to Traralgon’s Saxon Long, Tynen Long and Patrik Wu’s weekend as the trio came second overall, with abye taking place in the final round and one loss to their platter.

Traralgon playedMelton in Round 1, winning 10 matches to one. The surprising loss came from Melton’s Ross Lappin against Traralgon’s Saxon Longinthreesets. Withalittle bit more of awarmup, Long pulled through the rest of the rounds, with the team winning almost with ease. Atough round comes around once in awhile for this duo. In Round 2, the Traralgon team faced Yarrawonga, losing six games to five. Tossing and turning over who would win the section, the number one team in the section scraped through, takingthe deciding gameagainst Longinfour back-and-forth sets, ending 18-16 to Yarrawonga’s James Loughnan.

Eight matches to three was the final results for both Round 3against Bairnsdale and Round 4 againstAlbury for Traralgon, with the team flying through the second half of the long weekend.

E1

DOUBLE-UPS started to occur in the Egrades as Traralgon submitted two teams -E1and E2 For E1, Gavin Carrigg, BrianJConsidine and Sheila Whitehead formed the Ohms, and Noel Burns, Henry Franssen andRon Winkelman formed the Wattz. Ohms had abye in Round 1, whereas the Wattz played Sunbury.

Unfortunately for Wattz, Sunbury wonsix matches over five. Coming down to the last game, the Traralgon team sadly couldn’t quitematch the strength Sunbury had.

It was Traralgon against TraralgoninRound 2, withresults mirroring the firstround for the Wattz. Ohms came out on top with six matches. It was asteady start for the Wattz before Ohms’ Carriggswooped in against Wattz’Franssenin four rough sets, with one set even topping 19-17, which went to Franssen.

WhileBurns came through winning all of his singles against Ohms,itwasn’t quite enough to take the win for the team.

Wattz had abreak in Round 3, where the Ohms played against Yarrawonga, winning 10 matches to one. Yarrawonga’sSiennaBajadacame through three sets to one against Carrigg, but fortunately for Traralgon, it was the only win for the other team in the round.

In Round 4, Ohms played against Melton, winning seven matches to four. Coming through with two wins against Traralgon, Melton’s Oscar FFarmer came through, beating both Carrigg and Considine, and Keedan Evans beating Carrigg. At the same time, Frank Minutoli took awin from Whitehead.

Unfortunately for the Wattz, Yarrawonga proved too strong in Round4,winning six sets to five.

The round wasn’t looking great from the start as Yarrawonga took the firsttwo matches, onlyfor Burnstocome through with the first Traralgon win. Towards the end of the round, Franssen was left with the deciding game against Yarrawonga’s Wil Anderson, who was too strong for Franssen. Easy peasy for Ohms in the final round as they won 10 matches to one against Sunbury.While Sunbury’s Jenna Manning beat Whitehead in four sets,the rest of the team wasnomatchfor the Ohms. Even the Wattz had around of good fortune in the final round as they played against Melton, winning eight matches to three.

E2

TRARALGON'S juniorsare all top-notch, with Maya Gomez,DhiiraSlade and Manan Slade forming the Amps, and Zachariah Dennison, Francis Kariuki and Dylan Wu forming the Chargers,

placing in the top two spots for E2. Traralgon’s Chargershad the byeinRound 1, leaving the Amps to play Melton. The Amps beat Melton 10 matches to one, with Traralgon’s Manan losing afive-set match to Melton’s Seven RBatten.

Ease came to the Amps in Round 2against Yarrawonga and in Round 4againstBairnsdale, as they were in full swing,winning11matches to zero. Rounds two and four didn’t come as easily to the Chargers as they did for the Amps,asthey scraped through six games to five against Bairnsdale and Melton. While the Chargers had already claimed the win by match nine, the fight for the win was tough.

It was Traralgon versus Traralgon in Round 3, with the victors being the slightly more experienced Amps. The Amps wereall chargedupand readyto go against their charging namesakes, with Manan onlydropping agame to the opposing Traralgon team. Aclear10matches to one had the Chargers startled from the start, with most games decided either in three or four sets.

For amuch-deserved break, in Round 5the Amps had abye, while the Chargers faced Yarrawonga, which saw another 10 matches to one for Traralgon as they took on their final challenger for the weekend. The one match was taken by Yarrawonga’s/ Albury’s Michelle Bowd in four sets against Wu.

Both Dhiira Slade and Maya Gomez won the top player award in E2 for winning 100 per cent of their matches.

E3

LEONGATHA felt the ultimate betrayalinRound 1astheir former player, Katrina Brandon, who had been with themfor 10 years, played for the competing Traralgon team.

First up was Brandon and Leongatha’s Sam Holt. This year, achangeofbatsand rubbers has changed Brandon’s game, which confused both Holt and his following team member, Ghun Phokaphel. Holt took agame from Brandon, but couldn’t quite change the direction of thematch,which Brandonlater tookinfoursets. Brandonlater took Phokaphel in three sets.

The round also marked areunion between Brandon and Leongatha’s thirdTrevor Wilson, the pairhavingplayed together for many years.

Brandon showed no mercy, beating Wilson in three, which was then followedbybeatings fromthe other Traralgon players.While crying out for apetition to get Brandon moved out of the section (sorry Trevor), uproar could be heard from across the courts. On the other hand, Traralgon’s Stan Lazaris threw aspanner in the works for the other team, being aleft-hander, which has confused many players on their bestdays. While challenging, Holt took the match off Lazaris in four sets, and Phokaphel challenged Lazaris to afive-set match but couldn’t quite bring home the win. With neither pimpled bat nor left-handed, Nicki Marchesi pulled through against Leongatha’s team, only losing one match, which was to Phokaphel. Round 2proved that one, Traralgon was in the wrong section, and two, they were apowerhouse team, as they swept up Melton’s trio, leaving them with 11 matches to none. With abit of luck, Bairnsdale’s Susan Fratczak, Leigh Thompson and Felix Virtue managed to take two matches from Traralgon. Fratczak and Thompson managed to take awin off of Lazaris and Marchesi, but unfortunately for them, it didn’t make adifference against the power duo.

In Round 4, Yarrawonga’s CameronBrew, Niklas Meredithand TristanMeredith tried their best against Traralgon, but were once again overpowered, losing 10 matches to one. Despite the defeat, Brew showed some promise against the team, beating Marchesiinfoursets and losing to Lazarisinfive.

Brandon found life more difficult against Table Tennis Victoria’scomposite player Kam Wong, who defeated her in three sets in the final round. It wasn’t an easy battle, but Kam overcame Brandon’s short pimples with longer pimples.

Fortunately for Brandon, Lazaris and Marchesi came out stronger against the composite team’s JedAnderson and Alessio Rigoli, which secured their final win, bringing the match score to seven matches to four.

Kam Wong and Brandon tied for best player in the section.

This year, 74 teams (about 240 players) competed in the Country Championships.

Gippsland saw 25 of those teams (a third of the field) enter, with 11 fromTraralgon, seven from Bairnsdale, four from Leongatha and three from Wonthaggi.

Risingstar: Traralgon’s Manan Slade wasone of theyoung players who dominated in his section.

Success: Traralgon’s Sheila Whitehead in action, whose team also took topspotintheirsection. Photographs: Katrina Brandon

Great times: TheTable Tennis Victoria Countr yWeek Championships were an overall success for Traralgon, who hostedthe eventand took out twosections.Pictured is club president MarkStrini andjuniorplayerPatrik Wu

Business Guide

THE qualityofthe work at High Tree Tree Services is as high at the trees theyfell.

High Tree Tree Services is not onlycapable of leaving customerssatisfied with how their garden has been pruned, butbeing reliable is amain priority.

“We’re averyfriendly, reliable service.Customersare very happywith the end result,” owner RickKruyt said.

The business star tedin1990, and todayRickremains at the helm with about 40 years’ experience in the industry.

As afamily-oriented enterprise,Rick’sson Daniel will eventuallytakeoverthe operations

High Tree Tree Services is based in both Trafalgar and Pakenham and cuts trees MondaytoFriday, butthe staff aremorethanhappytooffer quotes on the weekend if need be Services include pruning and removing of trees and shrubs, stump removal, hedge maintenance,mulching of gardens and supplying mulch.

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Offering that exper tise at a reasonable rate andefficiently is whereHigh Tree Service stands out.

“Wealwaysliketoshow customersthrough the work we have done to make surethey arehappy.Ifthere’s something we’veoverlooked we’remore than happytocome and correct it.”

FIREWOOD

Dry, split mixed hardwood. Delivery all areas. Phone 0439 206 925.

Notice to ADVERTISERS and RESPONDENTS

Voicemail introductions advertisements and voice messages may only be submitted by persons 18 years and older. When making contact with people for the first time, it is advisable to meet in apublic place and let amember of your family or atrusted friend know where you will be.

Responsibility PLEASE CHECK YOUR AD

We would advise readers and advertisers to exercise caution in giving out personal details. This will be respected by genuine respondents.

Please check your ad on the firstday and bring any errors to theattention of the Classifieds Department immediately. TheLatrobe Valley Express makes everyefforttoavoid errors. We regret thatwecannot be responsible forany errors beyond the first day if you fail to bring it to our attention. No allowances can be made for errors notmaterially affectingthe effectiveness of the ad. Position cannot will not be guaranteed. All claims foradjustmentofcredit must be made within seven days afterbilling date. We reservethe right to revise or restrict any ad we deem objectionable and to change the classification when necessaryto conform to the policy of this newspaper In the event an ad is omitted from publication, we assume no liabilityfor such omission.

BATHROOM

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Repaint Revolutions

Qualified painter, 7years exp. Small jobs to full house paints. FREE quotes. Covering central Gippsland. 0434 082 190.

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 ent Pe rmit Children younger than 11 cannot or will not be accepted. Adult deliverers also welcome.

Would you like to deliver the Latrobe Valley Express newspaper to individual homes on Tuesdayand /or Wednesdayafternoons in Traralgon and Moe.

Please apply to: The Circulation Manager 0456 000541

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

SouthGippsland Team Leader

Gippsland Portsisaprovider of waterway management ,dredging, marine infrastructureand assetmanagement services along the Gippsland coast from Anderson InlettoMallacoota.

We arecurrently seekinga suitably qualified and experienced person to assist the Managerto accomplish allaspects of day-to-dayoperationsof the Port Welshpool Depot ,including administration and programming of works,on-the-job supervision of staff,adherence to OHS policiesand procedures and to take aleadrole in the construction, repair and maintenance of marinebased assets.

The ideal candidate should have strong construction experience andknowledge, good interpersonal andsupervisoryskills, and be able to work independently and in ateamenvironment

Enquiriesabout this position should be directedto the South Gippsland Manager, Jake Griffinon0400 932 576.

To be considered forthisposition, candidates must addressthe keyselection criteriafound within the position description

Forafull position description and application details,please visit ourwebsite www gippslandports.vic.gov.au/employment .php or phone Jaine Watt ,Human Resources Coordinator on 0417 489 936.

Applications close: Thursday, 17 July 2025

0423 966 343 Cars

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...you DON’T haveto make aspecial trip to Morwell to place classified ads?

Just popinto Moe Nextra Lotto, 1-3MooreStMoe and thefriendly staff can assistyou The only EXCEPTIONS are classified ads which containaphoto. These will needtobe placedatthe Morwell Office, 21 George Street Morwell 5135 4455

BALCOMBE

Brendan Craig 02/05/73 -25/6/2025

Formerly of Toongabbie, passed

in

With heavy hearts we ann oun ce the tra gi c passing of our beloved son Brendon to Frank and Marg (dec.), brother of Ken and Amand a, brother-in-law to Madeleine and uncle to Lachlan, Grace and Phoebe. Our hearts are truly broken With lots of Fond memories Memorial to be confirmed.

BALCOMBE Brendan 2/5/73 -25/6/2025

Formerly of Toongabbie, passed away in Perth. Tragic passing of our beloved Nephew of Bev and Max, cousin to Fiona and Stuart.

Many Fond Memories

BALCOMBE Brendan 2/5/73 -25/6/2025 Loved Nephew of Aunty Pat.

So many beautiful memories that will never be taken away.

Dearly loved and will be sadly missed Iwill miss you forever Patto x

BALCOMBE Brendan 02/05/73 -25/6/2025

Loved friend of the Jefferyes Family. Will be sadly missed Meg and Wendy.

BEALE David Charles (Davo)

David has reunited with his beloved Darlsy, Chook. Born18/6/49 passed away at home on the 27/6/2025. Dearly loved husband to Joyce (dec.), Dearest dad to Justine, stepfather to Sharon and Mark. Avery loved Poppy Davo to Benjamin, Cassandra, Charmaine and Rhiannon. Great-Poppy Davo to Tahna, Myah, Ava and Jace. You will live on forever in our hearts, rest peacefully Dad x GO THE HAWKS!

BRAND Geoffrey Wilson 19/3/1930 -22/6/2025. Passed away peacefully at Margery Cole nursing home. Devoted son to the late Francis (Frank) and Alice Brand. Loved brother of Sis (Alice) and Alan Brooks (dec.), Jim (dec.) and Olwyn, Joy, Ken and Gladys (dec.), Ray, Ian (dec.), Graham and Lorraine, Robert (dec.) and Kay, Trevor (dec.) and Val, Kevin and Mary and families.

Dearly loved and loving husband of Eunice (dec.) and Patricia (dec.).

Much loved father and father-in-law to Barry, Louise and family, Karen and David.

Loved poppy to Megan and Luke, Brett and Raven.

Adored great-poppy Geoff to Willoug hby and Clementine.

In our hearts you will stay, loved and remembered every day

In loving memory of a wonderful husband, stepfather and poppy. Husband of Pat (dec.).

Step-father to Ron and Pauline, Colin and Karen, Roslyn and Peter, Kevin (dec.), Barry and Helen, Phillip and Tania. Much loved poppy and great-poppy to all. Forever in our hearts

To us you were someone special, someone loving and true. You will always be remembered, because we thought the world of you. Always in our heart Roslyn, Peter and family.

BRAND Geoffrey Much loved brother and brother-in-law of Trevor (dec.) and Val. Loved uncle of Michael and Michelle, Wayne and Kelly, Dale and Jodie, Tony and Faye. He will be sadly missed Sleeping peacefully

BRAND Geoffrey Deepest Sympathy to Karen, David and family on the passing of Geoff. Our thoughts are with you all at this sad time. Rest in peace, Geoff. Peter and Linda North and family.

CRANE Catherine (Cathy) 4/11/1932 -16/6/2025 Aged 92 years

Passed away at Maddock Garden sB airn sdal e.

Loving wife of Neville (dec.). Loving mother of Neville and Carol and daughter-in-law Elaine. Loving grandma of Tyrone (dec.) Bridget and Justin and grand daughter-in-law Hannah. Adoring great grandma of Jack. Reunited with Neville

DOWNIE James (Jimmy)

Born November 12, 1934 in Glasgow, Scotland. Passed away peacefully surrounded by his loving family at Heritage Manor Morwell, 25 June 2025. Aged 90 Years

Dearly loved and loving husband of Joan for 66 years.

Devoted son of James and Margaret Downie (both dec.). Lo ved brothe ra nd brother-in-law of Charlie (dec.) and Helen, Margaret (dec.) and Joe, Audrey and Don (dec.), Alexandrina and Paul, Caroline and Annie.

Much loved father and father-in-law of Annette and Mario, Jim and Tania, Karen, Elizabeth and Dean.

Adored grandad to Jarrod, Alisha, Anthony, Josh, Brodie, Elise, James, Chloe, Mahalia, Maddison and Ashtyn, as well as their partners and his many great-grandchildren.

The world has become a little less bright, his cheeky smile and love of agood joke brought joy to everyone around him.

Though his smiles are gone forever and his hand we cannot touch, we shall never lose the memories, of one we loved so much

DOWNIE James (Jim) Dearly loved brother, brother-in-law and uncle of Charlie (dec.), Helen, Denise, Heather, Cheryl and families. Many Happy Memories

DOWNIE James Passed away 25/6/2025

If Icould write astory, it would be the greatest ever told, of akind and loving brother who had a heart of gold. Till we meet again. Your loving sister, Alexandrina (Ena), brother-in-law Paul, uncle to Joanne, David (dec.) and Andrew and extended families.

GEE John Passed away peacefully at Moorabbin Hospital 26 June 2025 aged 86 years. It is with great sadness that we announce the loss of John Gee. Loving husband to Elizabeth. Father to Darryle, Wayne, Lee, Bradley, Joanne and partners, as well as Pop to many Grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

HARLE Donald Claude

Born November 18, 1938.

Passed away at LRH surrounded by his loving family June 27, 2025. Aged 86 years

Dev oted and Dearl y Loved Husband and Best Friend of 62 years to Dianne.

Brother of Alice (dec.), Brian and Gary.

Loved and Adored Father of Tracey, Robyn (dec.), Brett and Tara and their partners.

Loving Grand Pa of Noelene, Jordon, Alisha and Daniel.

Loved Great Grandpa of his Great Grandchildren, Niko, Georgie, Tommy, Ellady, H arvey and Summer.

KERR (nee Robertson/Duncan) Phyllis Joy

27/9/1934 -26/6/2025

Adored wife of Ivan. Loved sister of Beth. Loving Mum of Peter (dec.), Fiona, Wayne, John (dec.), and Kerry. Amazing Nanna to Nicole; Jess, Jason, Darcy, Lach lan, Joh n- H en ry , Coby, Kellie, Bonnie, Scot t, Me lanie and Shaughn. Adored by all her greatgrandchildren and great great-grandchildren. Forever Loved For funeral details, please go to: www.handleyand andersonfunerals.com.au

OWEN Geoffrey John 18/9/68 -23/6/25 Passed away at LRH after ashort illness

Loved son of Edgar and Edith, youngest brother of Maree, Cheryl and Gary, father of Penny. Loved and adored partner of Paige

PILDRE Rosemary Passed away peacefully at Maryvale Private Hospital Morwell 28 June 2025, surrounded by her loving family.

Dearly loved and loving wife of Peter. Much loved mother of Helga and partner Anthony. Adored grandma of Oskar.

ROSS Alan William (Mick)

Passed away peacefully surrounded by his loving family at LRH 29 June 2025, aged 91 years. Loved and loving husband of Hester (dec.). Much loved father to Frances, Mark and Trish, Daryl, and their families. Forever in our hearts Reunited with his beloved Hester.

AWonderful man who was loved and respected for his commitment to his family, his friends, support of Latrobe Valley Community groups, his business and former employees.

The hole that is left in our hearts can only be surpassed by the magnitude of wonderful memories of your Love, Smile, stories of your exploits and those delightful jokes! Forever aMagpie

HARLE Don The Members of the Probus Club of Maryvale pass one their deepest symathy to Diane and family on the loss of Don. He was a long standing, respected Member of our club.

BEALE The Funeral Service to celebrate the lives of Joyce (Chooky) and David Beale will take place in the Rose Chapel at Gippsland Memorial Park, Cemetery Drive, Traralgon FRIDAY (4 July 2025) commencing at 2pm. Afterwards, Joyce and David will

DOWNIE

The funeral of the Mr James (Jimmy) Downie will be held at Latrobe Valley Funeral Services Chapel, 260 Princes Hwy Traralgon FRIDAY (4 July 2025) commencing at 1.30pm.

MOE-MORWELL-TRARALGON

MORWELL 5134 4937

Place your tribute on latrobevalleyfunerals.com.au

GEE The funeral service for John Gee will be held at the Rose Cha pel , Gippsland Memorial Park Crematorium, Cemetery Rd Traralgon, THURSDAY (3 July 2025) commencing at 11am.

HARLE

The funeral of Mr Donald Harle will be held at Latrobe Valley Funeral Services, 260 Princes Highway Traralgo n THURSDAY (3 July 2025) commencing at 10.30am. At the conclusion of the service aprivate committal will be held at Gippsland Memorial Park, Traralgon. In honour of Don the family have requested black and white be worn. GO THE PIES

MOE-MORWELL-TRARALGON

TRARALGON 5174 2258

Place your tribute on latrobevalleyfunerals.com.au

HUNT Jamie

28/11/1958 -17/6/2025

The funeral service for the late Jamie Hunt will be held on the 5th of July 2025 commencing at 11am.

Location Ranelagh Club 3 Rosser dale Cres cent Mount Eliza. Aprivate cremation with follow. The family would like to thank you all for your love and support during this difficult time. For those who wish to join by livestream please see link below: streaming.naoca.com.au/e /9b35f758-bb6 9-4a819635-b08245e8c57a

KELLY

The Funeral Service to Celebrate the Life of Elaine Mavis Kelly will be held in the Cirrus Chapel, Bunurong Memorial Park Crematoriu m, 790 Frankston Dandenong Rd, Dandenong South, MONDAY (7 July 2025) commencing at 10.30am.

OWEN

The funeral service for Geoffrey Owen will be held at the Rose Chapel, Gippsland Memorial Park, Cemetery Rd Traralgon, WEDNESDAY (2 July 2025) commencing at 11am. Following this service the funeral will proceed to the Hazelwood Cemetery. This service will also be livestreamed, please go to Gippsland Memorial Park website or John Galbraith Funerals Facebook page and click on link provided.

PILDRE

The funeral service for Mrs Rosemary Pildre will be held at Latrobe Valley Funeral Services Chapel, 6Ollerton Avenue Moe on TUESDAY (8 July 2025) commencing at 11am. The funeral will leave at the conclusion of the service for the Moe Memorial Park Cemetery, Cemetery Road Moe. In lieu of flowers donation to Monash Medical Centre Cancer Research would be appreciated.

MOE-MORWELL-TRARALGON MOE 5126 1111 Place your tribute on latrobevalleyfunerals.com.au

ROSS

The Funeral Service and Committal for Cremation for Mr. Alan William (Mick) Ross will be held at Latrobe Valley Funeral Services Chapel, 437a Princes Drive Morwell on WEDNESDAY (9 July 2025) commencing at 11am.

In lieu of flowers, on line donations to Heritage Manor, Morwell would be appreciated, please visit www.baptcare.org.au for details.

The Service for Mick will also be livestreamed, to vie wt he liv estr eam please visit our website.

MOE-MORWELL-TRARALGON MORWELL 5134 4937 Place your tribute on latrobevalleyfunerals.com.au

SCOTT AMemorial Service to Celebrate the Life of Mr, Paul Scott will be held at the Latrobe Valley Funeral Services Chapel, 260 Princess Hwy Traralgon MONDAY (7 July 2025) commencing at 10:30am This service will be livestreamed, to view please visit our website at: www.latrobevalleyfunerals. com.au

MOE-MORWELL-TRARALGON TRARALGON 5174 2258 Place your tribute on latrobevalley funerals.com.au

FARLEY Debbie 3/7/2004

Though your smile is gone forever And your hand we cannot touch Still, we have so many memories Of the ones we loved so much Your memory is our keepsake With which we'll never part God has you in His keeping And we have you in our hearts. All our love Lee, Eden and Paxton

FOLEY, Faye Elizabeth. 3/7/2023. Remembering you is easy, Idoitevery day. Missingyou is the hardest part, As it never goes away. See you in the soup mum Love Bernadette.

PRESLEY (nee Lawrey) Karen Joy 1/7/1932 -14/6/2013

Ithink of you in silence and often speak your name. All Ihave are memories and your picture in aframe. Aloved wife, mother and grandmother.

SEEAR Lyle John 12/5/1928 -4/7/2021

Time flies they say but sometimes it goes by so slowly, especially without you. It has been four years since you left us. We think of you every day, we love and miss you. Your loving family, Vaifoa, John, Rodney, Rachel, Greg, Ethan, Aidan (dec.) and Rhys.

TOMLJANOVIC Jane 4/7/2022 Forever and ever loved. From Scott and the girls.

Memories are echoes of love that gently touch my heart. You will live forever in my heart, Joan.♥

Birthday Memoriam •

BURGE Georgina Mary (Joey) 2/7/1968 -6/2/2025 Happy heavenly birthday. Time slips by and life goes on. From my heart you are never gone. Ithink about you always, I talk about you too. Ihave so many memories, but I wish Istill had you. Fly free.

Love from Julie, Wendy, Rachal, Ricky and Riley.

Respectful, simple, affordable funerals. Youdon’tneedtopay exorbitant Corporate fees for adecent funeralservice.

Service at the Rose Chapel $7,000 Includes: celebrant, coffin ,floral (natives) photo

Cremations starting from $3150 John 0413 332 647 Craig 0407 043 182

Family owned and locally based Funeral Directors

We bring35years experience to families in Traralgon, Morwell, Churchill, Moe, Trafalgar, Korumburra and surrounding areas.

THE CHOICE IS YOURS Practical, sensible and affordable. We offer both at-need and pre-paid funerals. All female funerals are available. Dignityand respect ,always CREMATION PACKAGES FROM $3300

www.harwood fun erals.c om.au For24/7 support 0405 669 532

HONOUR YOUR LOVED ONES and SHARE THEIR STORY

When you losesomeone close to you, it can be hardtoput your thoughts and feelings into words Placeyour personal messageinthe Latrobe Valley Express and share your memories

To place your message today, contact Classifieds

LVSL shows out at CountryChamps

SOCCER

MORE than 1200 junior soccer players and close to 70 teams rained down on the Albury Wodonga region over the King’s Birthday long weekend for Football Victoria’s Country Championships last month.

The annual tournament featured amultitude of local Latrobe Valley Soccer League representative sides,all doing battle against the state’s best, seeing themselves develop, and most importantly, having aboatload of fun.

Atotal of eight LVSL teams competed across the state event, with the highest achievers being the under 16 girls making the Grand Final.

Withtwo wins againstGeelong(3-2) and Bendigo (3-1) across the first two days, the rep girls advanced to the semi-final where they won 3-1 before giving their all in the finalstanza, but falling justfell short, 2-1 against Albury Wodonga.

Competing against older competition (playing in the under 11 division), the under 10 boys gained great experience and teamwork for anewly formed side.

The boys fought hard in every game played, which greatly showed in their match against third-placed AlburyWondoga,where they held on to draw 2-all, coming from behind to equalise and cost their opponent ashot at the finals.

The under 11 boys had aphenomenal finish

Soccer game abandoned

SOCCER

LVSL BY JOHN CARDONA

THE senior women's match between Moe United and Traralgon City ended in bizarre circumstances last Saturday night.

The Round14game wasabandoned after 30 minutes play after the floodlights lost power. Moe was leading 1-nil at the time.

Tiana Reddlex scored for the home side before darkness fell across the OlympicPark main pitch. Best for Moe in the abbreviated LatrobeValley Soccer League gamewas Reddlex, Bridget Green and Olivia Ware.

Best for Traralgon City was:Nikita Buhagiar and Molly Cargill.

This Saturday (July5), the Moe Unitedwoman's side will play the first of two catch-up matches when they travel to Sale to play the undefeated league leaders.

The last time these two teams met, Moe United took it right up to Sale United side, jumping them to lead 2-nil, before going on to lose 4-2.

Sale defeated Monash 7-1 at the weekend, while Tyers inflicted Falcons with a6-1 defeat and Churchill beat Newborough Yallourn United 5-1. Olympians had the bye.

 MOE UNITED reserves recorded another resounding win in their run for the reserve league title with a9-nil win over Traralgon City. In the process, the Red Devils went six points clear at the top after their closest rivals Sale United were upset 1-nil by aMonash goal in the final minutes of the game.

Moe United struck early after Zoran Winkelman took off on asolo run where he dribbled through abunch of players, then went from right to left across the 18-yard box and slotted the major from theedgeofthe box in the bottom right corner with aleftfoot drive.

Tom Portelli doubled the home side's lead with what Portelli himself says was goal of the year when he chipped the keeper from outside the box after receiving apassfrom Brendan Ruddell. Traralgon City was finding it tough against the league leaders, although their centrebacks in Angus Fraser and Dennis Ijsermans were defending bravely against the odds.

Despite all the strong defending, Moe United went 3-nil up after Ruddell whipped in acorner deep to the back post, where Winkelman was unmarked to head the ball home.

Moe Unitedcontinuedtoapplypressure and got rewarded with their fourth goal after Jay Hall

won aballthen raced past three defenders, and from inside the box, smacked his shot home past the keeper.

For Traralgon, in the midfield BrodieNeavewas the team's workhorse, chasing admirably from end to end, trying to lift his side.

League and club top scorer Harley Robinson eventually got on the scoreboard when he latched onto aRuddell cross, and from about 15 metres out, hammered his shot into the back of the goal to put Moe United 5-nil up at the break.

Moe United continued to dominate and, were soon 6-nil up upon the resumption.

Robinson scored again with asweet low free kick from 25m out which gave the keeper no chance.

The danger man for Traralgon City was winger Bellamy Muherendi, who created afew chances, but with very little supportthe Traralgon side could not penetrate the Moe United defence.

Moe's Seth Grixti made an overlapping run, then withaone-two with Hall, sprinted passed adefender then hit aleft foot drive to the bottom left to make the score 7-nil.

Ruddell took it to 8-nil after he collected aloose ball and from 25m out on aslightangle, pigeonholed his shot into the top corner.

As the match drew to aclose, across from Bodie Wendt into the box saw Robinson convertasimple tap in to give the home side a9-nil final margin.

Ruddell, Winkelman, Robinson and Hall collected the votes for the Red Devils.

The match cappedoff agreat few days for Robinson,who welcomed ason intothe worldwith partner Jade Armistead.

Best for Traralgon was Fraser, Ijserman, Neave and Muherendi.

Churchill had asimilar nine-goal result against NYU at Burrgae, while East Gippsland defeated Falcons 2-1 in West Bairnsdale. Olympianshad the bye.

 FINALLY,a big thanks to those who messaged me on what was atough week where while Iwas ready to go in for surgery on my second knee replacement, got the shock news of the passing of my beautiful niece Dianna after aseven year battle fighting the dreaded cancer disease.

On different news, don't forget Saturday, July 12 is the annual past players day and Moe United's four peatcelebration and 50 yearsplaying celebration for Peter Albanese.

Centurions club tickets are available on the day, which providesyou with freedrinksand food from 3pm to 7pm.Tickets are $100 each for what is always agreat day.

considering the inexperience in the team, collecting three wins and adraw to gain asemi-final spot.

After beating Geelong (1-0), South West Victoria (6-0), Ballarat (6-2), and a3-all draw with Bendigo, the young LVSL sidefought hard, but fell to Shepparton,3-1.

With many again making their debut, the under 12 girls played with great confidence across the weekend, with four wins and adraw.

After beating both Bendigo sides (2-1 and 2-nil) and drawing to Gippsland Soccer League 1-all, the under12Girls produced thebiggest win for any LVSL side during competition, with an 11-nil smashing of Ballarat.However, their campaign met an end in the semi-final,defeated by Geelong, 3-nil

Playing six games over the course of three days, the under 12 boys produced great results.

Finishing with back-to-backwins on the first day playing against the Gippsland Soccer League (2-nil) and South West Victoria (2-1), and another

the next day against Ballarat (3-1) to advance to the semi-finals, they unfortunately succumb to Albury Wondonga, 4-nil.

The under 13 boys showed improvement as the weekend went on, picking up their first win, 2-1, on thesecondday aftertwo losses,and wonagain, 3-1, on the final day.

While the under 14 girls didn’t come away with awin during the tournament, they showcased great energy, with many makingtheir first run at representative soccer -cumulating with atwogoal performance against Bendigo and drawing with Albury, with goalkeeper Brooklyn Valasek (Monash) saving alastsecond concede.

The under 14 boys provided great heart all weekend,determinedtoimprove on their performances from the year prior, finishing withawin and a draw from five matches played -only missing out on afinalsposition by one point.

Winter baseball tournament

BASEBALL

MORWELLand Moe/Newborough baseball clubs will become ahive of activity this weekend, with the State Winter Under 15 Baseball Championships coming to the Valley.

The best 13 and 14-year-old baseballers from across the state will be in action, with eight teams representing Ringwood, Dandenong, Diam ond Val ley and Geelon gB as eball Associations in Division 1, while in Division 2 there will be the local Latrobe Valley team, competing with North East, City West and Bendigo Baseball Associations for theirrespective titles.

Each team will competeinthree games on the Saturday (July 5), with the Division 1 games taking place at Morwell's Toners Lane BaseballComplex, and Division 2gamesatMoe/ Newborough's Burrage Reserve on John Field Drive starting at 9am. Games are scheduled to last 90 minutes each.

On the Sunday (July 6), there will be semifinals starting at 10am, and then the Grand

Final in Division 2startingat12.30pm at Burrage and Division 1atMorwell at 1.30pm. Latrobe City Council Mayor, Dale Harriman will proudly be presenttocongratulate the award winners and premiership teams at the conclusion of the carnival.

The State Winter Championships provide atremendous boast to the Latrobe Valley economy,and are ahighlight on the Gippsland Baseball calendar, with hundreds of people from all over the state coming to Latrobe City for the event.

 IN local results at the weekend, Churchill defeated Traralgon 19 to 11 in AGrade,while Sale was too strong for Moe/Newborough 13-3. Scores in lower grades from Round 10 were: BGrade: Churchill def Morwell7-2, Sale def Moe/Newborough 6-0, CGrade: Churchill def Traralgon 9-5, Moe/Newborough def Sale 14-9. Under 16 (Round9): Churchill def Traralgon 9-3. Under 13: Traralgon Reds def Traralgon Sox 9-4,Churchill defMorwell 12-0, Moe/ Newborough def Sale 9-0.

Batterup: The best young baseballersfromacross the statewill descendonthe Latrobe Valleythisweekend. File photograph

Harriers call game, set, match on run

ATHLETICS

TRARALGON HARRIERS

BY GARYFOX

LAST Thursday's (June 26) Harriers night run started at Traralgon Tennis Courts.

The five kilometre run consisted of two laps taking in Franklin Street, Kassandra Drive, FirminSt and Paul St.

It was relatively flat with atotal ascent of only 26 metres.Agreat turnout saw more than50runners take part in wintery conditions.

Great running by PeterCutler had him first home in an impressive time of 18:13, with Dempsey Podmore and Daniel Furmston following at 19:35. Greatrunning by Karen Graham saw her first lady home in 22:17, followed by Rose Croft (25:14) and Liz Kenney (26:05).

The Harriers Athletics Victoria team competed in Round 5ofthe AV XCR’25 Series at Sandown Racecourse last Saturday (June 28).

Theevent had teams of four or five runners each completing two laps of the Sandown Car racecourse for atotal of 6.2km per runner.

In men’s Division 3, Dempsey Podmore started

Traralgon

SWIMMING

in pole position, with Sandown being his fourth weekend of Athletics Victoria racing in arow.

Podmore showed he can seriously go withthe big boys, clocking an incredible 20:01, the fastest Harrier for the day at amere 14-years-of-age.

Next up was the smartly quick Richard Ogilvie (20:06), before Daniel Furmston (23:12) backed up from aduathlon at Sandown earlier that day.

Miles Verschuur (21:17) then put in agreat effort before his fellow captain Corey Milner (20:09) put the team into fifth place.

The Athletics Victoria team captains were presented with agood selection headache, with four people easilyfillingtwo spots. RyanHon (21:25) andSav Mavrofridis (21:46) slotted perfectly into Division 5, combining with Ian Cornthwaite(23:08) and Andrew Greenhill (24:25) to record an impressive third place.

Traralgon was able to enter two Division 7teams.

The first was ably led out by Marty Lynch (26:06) before co-drivers Glenn Crawford (24:48), Clinton Jolly(25:30) and Belkey Podmore(27:35) drove the team into fourth.

The second team consisted of the Fox and the Hound, Gary Fox (28:07) and Ron Verschuur (28:49) who provided themselves with some entertaining competition.

Thewomen’s Division 2finished fourth for the third round in arow.

Sarah Lewis (23:39) was one second faster than lead-out Molly Fitzgerald.

Courtney Ellis (24:05)was alsosuccessfully backingupfrom the duathlon, with Kate Jones (27:13) proving an excellent anchor.

Division 3saw Alysha Duncan (35:59), Ree Graham (32:31), debutant Bec Anderson (28:18) and AnnaCardillo (28:50) race around into eighth place.

The golden Big T’s were awarded to duo Sav Mavrofridis and Bec Anderson for their impressive season debuts.

Next up for the AV Team is Victoria Park in Ballarat for the AV State Cross Country Championships across 10 kilometresinafortnight. Tomorrow night's local run (July3)startson Meadow Park Drive, Traralgon.

For more informationortojoin the Harriers, visit: www.traralgonharriers.org.au

Full results (Traralgon Tennis Courts 5km run)

PeterCutler 18:13, DempseyPodmore19:35, Daniel Furmston 19:35, Johnn Skordakis 20:04, Andrew Greenhill 20:13, MatthewDeppeler 20:51, Trent Kooyman 21:10,

swimming’swin for ages

TRARALGON swimmers aged 18 to 71 descended on MSAC to compete in the annual Victorian Masters Short Course Championships.

Competing in 274 events and19relays, 40 Traralgonswimmers saw the club become the first country club in Masters swimming history to defeat all the Metropolitan clubs.

In what was certainly adominant performance, Traralgon finished with 2210 points, with its nearest rival more than 700 points in arrears.

Every swimmer was successful in adding to the points score, and many had podium finishes with 67 gold, 45 silver and 37 bronze medals.

Traralgon's relays were on fire, with nine gold, eight silver and one bronze.

The team also broke three Australian and four Victorian records.

There were some brilliant individual performances, including 18-year-old Ash Nicholes, who won 12 golds and broke two Australian and nine Victorian records.

Courtney Fordwas (39) was also in hot form

withsix gold,three silver, two Australian and two Victorian records.

Shane Asbury(35)won seven gold and broke one Australian and six Victorian records.

Club Masters coaches Shannon Lorimer and Brian Ford who were also part of the winning team in thewater, and were full of praise of the team’s performance.

“Many of theswimmers Ihave been coaching have stepped out of their comfort zone in the past few months, training harder, betterand swimming longer distances," Lorimer said.

"To see this hard work translate intooutstanding racing and times is apleasure particularly at a high level meet.

"I could not be prouder of the team.”

“Finishing fifth in 2024 with 17 swimmers, the club set its sights on winning the title in 2025 and achieved its goal -asuper effortfroma superteam," Ford added.

If any swimmers 18 years-of-age and abovewish to be part of the Traralgon Masters team, phone Lorimeron0400 808 936 or Ford on 0419 584 145.

ScratchWinner: P. Smar t83

D.T.L: 1. M. Hutchinson 72, 2. G. Spowart 73, 3. A. Sharrock73, 4. D. Taylor 73, 5. M. Soppe 74,6.S.Turner 74,7.S.Caldwell 74, 8. R. Davidson 75, 9. R. Davidson75, 10. R. King 75

N.T.P: 3rdD.Byers,5th D. Byers, 12th P. Chapple (Propin), 14th D. Burridge Birdies: 3rdC.Wilson,J.Banfield, R. Harvey, 12th G. Spowart Target Hole: R. Madigan

StablefordTuesday24th June 2025.

AGrade Winner: S. Caldwell 39 pts

BGrade Winner: K. Del Piccolo 35 pts

D.T.L: 1. M. Pearce 33 pts,2.R.Dent 30 pts N.T.P: 3rdM.Dear,5th C. Carder,12th J. Clegg,14th S. Caldwell

Birdies: 3rdR.Dent Eagles: 9th R. Dent

MIRBOO NORTH

Tuesday24th June,Stableford

AGrade: GRenwick(11)35pts

BGrade: SMcKenzie,(22) 33pts

DTL: MPayne 34, PWoodall 32, J Smeriglio 31

NTP: 4th PWoodall6th PWoodall 13th S Beitz, 16th NWhichello Birdies,6th PWoodall, 13th SBeitz. Saturday28th June,Stableford

AGrade: TBradshaw,(9) 36pts c/b

BGrade: DTaylor, (22) 36pts

DTL: Sduff, JRobbins 36, JHughes 35, TimTraill, PDraper 34 c/b

NTP: 4th J> Robbins, 6th TomTraill, 13th J, Robbins, 16th SHill-Smith.'

Birdies: 6th JRobbins,S Woodall, Tom Traill, 16th TBradshaw, SDuff

MOE

Saturday, 14 June 2025 MENS 2Person

StablefordFour-ball

Overall Winners: Skicko,Nick&Borg, Shannon 77

R/U: Harland, Bob &Yanez, Emilio 75 3RD: Kerr,Dale &Powell, Vincent 70 C/B

Place Getters: Cabion, Scott&Jamieson, Justin 70 Enzinger,Michael &Bechaz, Paul 69 Ruddell, Brendan &Nilo,Andres 68 C/B Goodwin, Barry& Johnson, Tony 68 Boorer

Greg &Saddington, Les 67 Babet, Alain & Stirzaker,Jason 66

Stellar: Traralgon swimmers Olivia Baillie, Maasa Hummel, Caitie Mitchell and Cour tney Ford set anew nationalrecordinthe female 120-159 years4x50medley relayatthe Victorian Masters Shor tCourse Championships Photograph supplied.

Saturday, 14 June 2025 MENS 4B

Aggregate-Individual Stableford

Great Score: Paul Richmond Birdie @4

Paul GridleyBirdie @8

Dale Collings Birdie @8

Dale Collings Birdie @14

David Wright Birdie @4

Nearest to Pin: 4th Paul Richmond 8th Ted Wolski 14th Dale Collings

Saturday, 14 June 2025 WOMEN'S SATURDAY OPEN STABLEFORD

Grade AWinners: Lee,Judy (37) 34 C/B

Place Getters: Shaw, Karen34C/B

Great Score: Sandy Tate (Birdie) @8 KathyBorg(Birdie)@14

Sunday, 15 June 2025 OPEN Sunday Mixed Stableford

Grade AWinners: Johnson, Charles (7) 38

Grade BWinners: Burridge,Dean (18) 35 C/B

Grade CWinners: Mead, Anne (21) 37

Place Getters: Geisler,Graham 37 Stirzaker,Jason 36 Heller,Evan35 Veenman, Laurie 34 C/B

Thursday, 26 June 2025 OPEN Mixed

Stableford

Grade AWinners:Veenman, Laurie (9) 41

Grade BWinners: Ray, Michael (11) 34

Grade CWinners:VanDer Meulen, Luke (17) 36

Place Getters:Fife,Mark37Veneman, Jason 35 C/B Ford,Tim 35 Sleswick, Paddy

34 C/B Wilkinson, Wally34C/B Beath, Ken

34 Stirzaker,Jason 34 Devent, Anton 33 C/B Beveridge,Eric33C/B Harland, Bob 33 C/B

Young,Peter 33 C/B De Dios,Al33Brien, Graeme 32 C/B

Great Score: KenBeath (Birdie) @14

MarkFife(Birdie)@8

Stuar tMarriott(Birdie) @8

Kevin Brien (Birdie) @4

Maurice Papettas(Birdie)@8

Nearest to Pin

4th John Pisa

8th MarkFife

14th Phil Backman

Saturday, 28 June 2025 MENS RED TEE

Stableford

Grade AWinners: Donnison, Terry(5) 37

Grade BWinners: Backman, Bradley(9) 39

Seth Bomers21:50, Darrel Cross 21:52, KarenGraham 22:17, GlennGraham 22:17, Clinton Jolly22:39, Adrian Sutcliffe 23:03, RonVerschuur23:29, Geoffrey Francis 23:40, Stephen Mcleod 24:49, Rose Croft25:14, Belkey Podmore25:47,Liz Kenney26:05, David Barr 26:23, Andrew Broberg26:25, ReeGraham 26:27,Sep Marino 27:36, Chris VanUnen 27:40, MarkLansdown 28:24, MollyIrvine 28:30, JyeKaestner 28:43, Phillip Mayer 30:00, MariekaReilly30:15, DesleyGray30:15, Paul Smith 31:08, Kaye Livingstone 31:33, Mandy Ellis 33:38, Daniel Symons36:26, Danelle Wright 37:08, Lynda Jones 44:03, BaileyRollandin 45:49, Paul Rollandin 45:49, KathyQuinn 48:44, Michelle Colwell48:44, Des Dalton 49:17, Kristina Creighton 50:18, BarryHiggins 50:59, Anja Norwood 50:59, NickHodson 52:27,Kylee Earl52:27, Ian Heafield 58:00, Belinda Heafield 58:00, Helen Whitby 58:00, Matilda Lappin 59:06, WallyLappin 59:07,Anthony Pulbrook NTR, Alfie Warner NTR, KatKent NTR.

United split at home

RETURNING home to the Gippsland Regional Indoor Sports Stadium, Gippsland United went onefor two last Saturday(June 28).

Gippsland United men made easy work of Chelsea, 105 to 67, collecting their11thwin for the year and remaining within striking distance of Coburg, who sit top of the Big V Division 1ladder.

Ben Barlow top scored with 19 points, five rebounds and three steals, while Jalin Wimberly added 17 points, eight rebounds, seven assists and four steals.

Earlier in the day, Gippsland United women were downed by Surfcoast, 74-63. After aback-and-forth affair through the first threequarters, the Chargers pulled away in thefinalterm by eight points to see out awin.

Gippsland United captain Lauren Tuplin had agame-high 24 points, 12 rebounds and five assists, while Alahna Arnason had 19 points and 11 rebounds.

United womenstill hold second position on the Big VDivision 2ladder.

Grade CWinners: Mead, Barry(14)38C/B

PlaceGetters: Powell, Vincent 38 Pickard, Andrew 36 C/B Stansbury, Les 36 Borg, Shannon 35 C/B Wilson, Rober t35C/B

Heafield, Aaron 35 Thompson, Peter34C/B Shippen, Tom34C/B Yeomans,Wayne 34 C/B Gauci, Anthony34 C/B

Great Score: PeterRodaughan (Birdie) @8

NickDuncan (Birdie) @4

Shaun Doak (Birdie) @14

Brandon Purves (Birdie) @14

Justin Jamieson (Birdie) @8

BernardHoward (Birdie) @14

Justin Jamieson (Birdie) @14

Paul Richmond (Birdie) @4

TerryDonnison (Birdie) @4

Justin Jamieson (Birdie) @4

PeterThompson (Birdie) @14

BarryMead (Birdie) @8

Rober tWilson (Birdie) @8

Nearest to Pin: 4th Paul Richmond

8th Justin Jamieson 14th Rober tWilson

Saturday, 28 June 2025 WOMEN'S SATURDAY OPEN STABLEFORD

Grade AWinners: Borg, Kathy(18)32

TRAFALGAR

Friday, June 27th, Open Men’s&Ladies

Stableford

AGrade Winner: Alber tHayes 39 pts

BGrade Winner: Billyjoe Hegar ty 34 pts

CGrade Winner: ScottCharlton 33 pts C/B

DTL's: NickRowe38, MarkLafferty36, Chad McKie 35, Craig Hams 34, Peter Heathcote34, Chris Brydon 33, Jordan Chapman 33, TimFord33, Russell Williams 33, Greg Beyer33, MarkJackson 33

Birdies: 2nd: NickRowe, TomCouling, Chad McKie 5th: Jordan Chapman, Alex Slaughter,RyanFelmingham 11th:Chad McKie,Craig Hams 15th:Chris Brydon, Tony McGrath, Simon Caygill Saturday, June 28th, Stableford

AGrade Winner: Tony O’Reilly41pts

BGrade Winner: James Ogden 40 pts

DTL’s: Sue Klemke39, Symon Lee 38, Phil Town 37,Peter Moss 36, Glen McCulloch 36, LukeBrain 34, Jordan Chapman 34, KenStreet 34, TimCross 34

Hole in One: 5th: Jeff Hasthorpe

NTP’s: 2nd: PeterMoss 5th: Jeff Hasthorpe

(Hole in One) 11th:Glen McCulloch 13th: Brad Griffin15th: Nathan Dart

Tuesday24/06/2025 -Stableford| Bingo! Bango! Bongo!

Players: 17,Women 3, Men 14

Winner: Hank Fiddelaers(19)

Runner Up: RodPollock(18 c/b)

Bingo Bango Bongo: SteveGould (13)

DTL: Graeme Harris (18), John Turpin (18), June Tickell (17), SteveLawrence (17)

NTP: SteveLawrence (5th)

Thursday: 26/06/2025 -Stableford

Players: 39, Women 11,Men 28

Women’s Winner: Cheryl Toyne (22)

Runner Up: Chris Payne (20 c/b)

DTL: KarenMacGregor (20), Cheryl Deppeler (19)

NTP: June Tickell (15th)\ Men's Winner: Tony Shearer (24 c/b)

Runner Up: RodPollock(24)

DTL: Vic Hill (22), Hank Fiddelaers(21), Dave Rose (21), Ivan Grant (19), Rob Cusworth-Warner (19)

NTP: RodPollock(15th) PISTOLS

TRARALGON

Air pistol mon 16/6/25

BGrade: BKelly533-59-592. CGrade: LKlein 471-79-550. LDePetro 455-94-549.

DGrade: PDePetro466-122-588. PSheils 401-125-526 LMorris 394-136-530. KBeaufor t319-186-505. Ladies air pistol CGrade GAdkins 416-141-557

Wed18/6/25 centrefire

CGrade: CBenelli 497-90-587

DGrade: BChapman 444-154-598. DBest 427.L Morris332-332-664. DO'Rourke 313-204-617. 25 mt pistol BGrade: BKelly521-65-586. Sat 21/6/25 Centefire

DGrade: LMorris 172-310-482. 25 mt pistol CGrade: CBenelli 500-56-556.

DGrade: BChapman

Classic pistol DGrade: MTrent 207-91-298

Works begin at Falcons Park

Modern: Thenew facilitywill face the existing ‘second’pitch.

SPORT

CONSTRUCTION is now underway on upgrades

at one of Latrobe Valley’s largest sports venues, bringing araft of new amenities and spaces that willgive the communitygreater access to sport, recreation and events.

Memberfor Eastern Victoria Region, Harriet Shing, representing Minister for Community Sport, Ros Spence, visited Morwell last Friday to officially mark the start of works at the Gippsland Sports and Entertainment Park.

The works have been made possible by the state government’s Regional Sports Infrastructure Program.

Thestadium was set to receive an upgrade for thesince cancelled 2026 Commonwealth Games.

While the Gameswon't be going ahead, the upgrade will.

“We look forward to the commencement of these

Red Devils live chance

SOCCER

LVSL BY JOHN CARDONA

MOEUnited seniors continued on their winningform after beatingTraralgon City 7-nil on Saturday night.

The result temporarily puts the Red Devils on top of the Latrobe Valley Soccer League ladder after 14 rounds.

However, there is still four rounds to go. Moe has the bye in the last round, which means Traralgon Olympians will likely go back to the top of the table if they win their remaining four games.

For the Red Devils to win the league title, they would have to win all three remaining games against Falcons, Churchill United and Monash, and hope that Olympians drop points against Monash, Churchill, East Gippsland United and Newborough/Yallourn United.

 IN the encounter at Olympic Park, Moe on Saturday night, the home side got off to agreat start when they created afew early pressure attacking moves on the City defence, which saw apenalty awarded to Moe for ahandball infringement after five minutes play.

Noah Kane stepped up and made no mistake, sending keeperMason Lopresethe wrong way. Moe Uniteddoubled their lead within 10 minutes when Connor O'Hanlon went on asearchingrun andfound space to hit alow hard drive shot which was initially saved by Loprese, only for the deflectiontofall to the ever-alert Matty Shearing, who tapped home the simplest of chances.

Moe United won acorner kickatthe 34-minute mark, and it was aperfectlyhit corner that saw LachieMcKenzietime his runtoheadhomeand give Moe United their third goal.

Traralgon Citywas struggling up front to breakopen thewellorganised Moe United, defence which forced the TraralgonCity's forwards to take shots from adistance. Before the halftime break,Moe United gotout to a4-nil lead when another strong aggressive run by O'Hanlon saw him skip around the TraralgonCitydefender, then send aperfect cross to the waiting Luke Bathgate, who placed his header past the Traralgon City keeper.

Minutes later, the referee blew the halftime whistle to give the battling Traralgon City side awell-needed rest.

The first 20 minutes of the secondhalf panned out to be adull affair, with play flowing from one end to the other. D

Eventually, the Red Devils sparked into life after across from Kane washeaded on by

works, which will deliver afirst-class facility –a majoroutdoor events venue that will not only support local community clubs but also attract visitors to the region, creatingbroadertourism and economic benefits,” Latrobe City Mayor, Dale Harriman said.

Head contractor Building Engineering is leading construction at the site, whichwill include a new grandstand pavilionwith change rooms and amenities,redeveloped and upgraded pitcheswith new lighting and player facilities, anew change facility and new car parking.

As well as being one of the region’smajor outdoor eventsvenues, the park will continue to be the home of some belovedlocal sportingteams, including Falcons 2000 Soccer Club and Gippsland United Football Club.

The old grandstand at the site will be demolished to makeway for anew grandstand pavilion, which will continue to bear the name of Don Di Fabrizio,

recognising the significance of his contribution to the community and the park.

Theupgrades will help increase sports participationand improvethe region’scapacity to host events, supporting local businesses and creating employmentopportunities during the project’s delivery.

The Gippsland Sports and Entertainment Park upgrades areexpected to be completed late next year

The Gippsland Sports and Entertainment Park is oneoffourprojectsinthe Latrobe Valley region and one of 16 projects across regional Victoria that are part of the RegionalSportsInfrastructure Program.

Falcons 2000 are playing the rest of the Latrobe Valley Soccer League season away while works take place.

Fortuna wins on the

road

Bathgate to Michael Melnyczenko,who put home his first time shot past astranded Loprese.

MoeUnited wentinto afull outattack, making theTraralgon defenders work extra hard to keep the home side at bay, but all that hard work wasbrokenwhen O'Hanlon made another of his near unstoppable runs as he beat acouple of defenders, then hit alow drive which saw the keeper parry the ball away, but straight to an unmarked Melynczenko,who laid theball back to O'Hanlon, and he cooly placed the ball into the unguarded goal

Moe United needed to go for more vital goals in the chase for the league championship.

With only minutes remaining, Moe United won alatecorner kick, which Connor Dasteyduly took, and found an unmarked Oscar Sceney, who's header found the back of net to make it 7-nil.

Best for Moe was O'Hanlon, Dastey, McKenzie and Melynczenko.

Best for Traralgon City was Sean Sayle,Luke Waters, Harper Isherwood and Isaac Burgoine.

Amention must go to Loprese, who's goalkeeping stopped Moe United scoring ahigh double figure result.

 IN other games across the weekend, Churchill United had anil-all draw at home against NYU.

Neither side was willing to give an inch, and both created chances,especiallythe Combine who had three good late chances, with the best going to Ash Birrell who's shot looked destined forthe winning goal, only for Santo Simon in goalspulled off aremarkable save.

Sale United's recent drop off in formcontinued, with the Swans going down to the inconsistent Monash, who on acertain day can test any side.

Agoal in each half by Ethan Lawrence gave Monash the win.

Falcons 2000 made the long journey to Bairnsdale and managed to come home in a seven goal thriller, 4-3 winners.

Afterascoreless first half, Falconstookthe lead within two minutes of the restart, but East Gippsland was soon back on level terms.

Eventually, Falconsgot their game going and soon racedtoacomfortable 4-1 lead.

AFalcons terrible backpassmix-upgave East Gippsland aglimmer of hope at 4-2, but that soon lifted even further and with five minutes to go, East Gippsland scored again to make it 4-3. It was then atense last five minutes, but the visitors held onto their nerves to grab three vital away points. Moh Taleb scored twice and Tommy D'alia one for Falcons, while there was also an own goal.

MoreLVSL -Page46

SOCCER STATELEAGUE BY ALLAN

ROBERTS

ROUND 13 of the Veto Men's State League saw Fortuna '60 play their first away game of what is athree weeksswing of matches on the road for the Morwell-based club.

Coming off the back of adominate win at home, the Lions were in good spirits and full of confidence as they travelleddown the highwaytofaceoff against the Cleeland United Bulls.

The conclusion of the game saw Fortuna come away with astrong 4-2 win.

In what is abit of ararity for the Lions, they scored first in the second minute of the game, with new recruit Mitch Jones knocking aballover the top of the Bulls'linetoJakeBudija,who volleyed it into the back of thenet -inwhathas been described as acontender for goal of the season to date.

In the ninth minute, it was Damon Scottwho got on the receiving end of agreat crossfrom Nonda Lazaris, with Scott placing perfectly, finishing the ball into the bottom corner of goal.

Cleeland United pulled one backinthe 15th minute via asolidstrikethat dipped as it reached Fortuna's gloveman, Logan Troughton. The young keeper got his hands to the ball for the save, but unfortunately he could not get aclean take with the ball falling into the path of aCleeland player to dispatch into the back of the net.

Scott was in the thick of the action again in the 34th minute, with aCleeland defender taking him out in the box and giving away apenalty.

Daniel Cooper stepped up to take the spot kick and duly dispatched it into the back of the goal to give Fortuna a3-1 lead.

The final 10 minutes of the first half saw some attacking play from both teams, but the score remained 3-1 in favour of the visiting Fortuna at the halftime whistle.

With the commencement of the second half, the Lions, with the run of play and adesire to closeout atricky away fixture, had to wait until the 61st minute to givethemselves abit of extra breathing space, when Scott scored his secondfor the day via aloose ball from akeeper error.

With the Lions looking to close up shop and see out the game, Cleeland rattled the visiting team with agoal in the 71st minute to close the deficit, but Fortuna's class across the park saw them close out and ensure the score remained 4-2 at the conclusion of the match.

The win seesFortunamaintaintheir three-point advantage at the top of the table, with second placedMtEliza snapping at theirheels after they securedawin last round as well.

The two clubs are due to face off in acouple of

rounds time, in what may be the match that decides the champions for the South Division.  EARLIER in theday, Fortuna's reserves took to the pitch against ateam they were expecting to match up well against. Unfortunately expectations did not meet reality, with the home team givingFortuna abitter pill to swallow on the bus ride home aftera5-nil drubbing.

Stars: DamonScott hadasolid game for Fortuna at the weekened.

Photograph: Peta Roberts

History: Thefamous Falcons grandstand will be demolished,but its replacement willstill rightly carrythe name DonDiFabrizio.The Falcons patronwas instrumental in getting thecluball theway to thenational league. File photograph

Future: Artists impression of the newgrandstand at the GippslandSportsand Entertainment Park Photographs supplied

TheValley’s own King of the court

TENNIS

By BLAKE METCALF-HOLT

LOCAL tennis legend Murray French is being remembered.

French died suddenly at the end of May, age 83.

Regarded as one Gippsland’s greatest to ever grace the court, French began his tennis journey in Yallourn, where he was adominant force in Latrobe Valley ranks, but shot to even further success as aveteran-age player.

Initially, and beginning in the 1950s, French won Latrobe Valley Singles Championships 25 times, split between Yallourn and Morwell, all the way through to 1988, arecord that still stands among the region, before moving into the veterans age group where he represented Australia ninetimes, including at the World Team Championships and World Doubles Championships

From the period of 1999 to 2003, French

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consistently ranked among the top five seniorranked tennisplayers in theworld, and was Australian captain at these world championships in 1999, 2002 and 2004.

He won Australian Veterans Tennis Championships in 2004 (additional runner-up/ final appearances in 1999, 2003and 2006) and Australian VeteransDoubles Championships in 1998 (as well as winning the 130 combined in the sameyear),2002, 2003, 2004, and 2005 -competing primarily alongside Sale’s Tom Downie.

French also won the Victorian and Queensland Singles Championships four times each, and was atorch carrier for the 2000 Sydney Olympics. He was inducted into the LatrobeSportingHallof Fame in 2015.

French began hisjourney withball and racket in hand at the Yallourn Tennis Club when he was 12-years-old, invited downbyhis friends’ father Arthur Tibballs, which along with French’s father taking him to the Yallourn Open around the same time, prompted the beginning of a60-year obsession.

In 2015, French reflected on his time at the Yallourn Tennis Club in apiece contributed to the Virtual Yallourn website.

“Every evening in the summer, it would be arace to get home and down to the courts,” he wrote.

“There would be 40 kids with the same idea and if you weren’t quick enough, you would miss out on acourt -uskids would only have the courts until 4.45pm, then we would have to vacate the courts for the seniors.

“We all knew our place and everythingwas wonderfully organised and everyone enjoyed themselves.

“I remember just being there and enjoying an atmosphere that taught me so much.”

French quickly became regarded as the best among his peers, with former Latrobe City Mayor, Darrell Whiteregularly facingoff against him from the other side of the net.

Speaking to the Express after his passing, White weighed similar comparisons to tennis stars like Rafael Nadal, due to French's considerable height and length, to accompany his natural ability.

“He had the ideal build for atennis player, he was bout six-foot-one, but he had agood reach as well,” he said.

“You’d think you’d be getting aballdown past him on the side-line, but he just put his long arm out with the racket and just volley it over.

“He was also lithe …skinny as arake, he didn’t carry extra weight(and)hedid alot of extra fitness training as apartofhis regime to achieve his potential.

“Hehad the stamina for those long,drawn out matches, he had the energy levels to see it through …(as well as) the temperament the game, he was tenacious and great competitor."

As French got older, stronger, and even more confident in his game, he rose through local and region competitions to arriveatthe heralded VictoriaCountry Week, alongside White.

The duo, along with fellow Morwell gun Dick Wilson, began at the event 1963/64, and won AGrade pennants every year until 1969/70.

“Dick arrived at the right time for to be able to have acomplete team, we had this teamthathad the potential to do pretty well at Country Week, none of us realised that we were going to have that sequence from ’64 to ’70… (it was) very memorable,” White said New bo roug h’s Mik eA ndri jczak featured in five of those victories 1966 to 1970, and the four teammates recentlygot back together prior French’s passing, with the Morwell Historical Society holding an exhibition for the Morwell Tennis Club.

To add to an exceptionally brilliant life in tennis, French was also aprolific ruckman for Yallourn Football Clubinfiveseasons from1961to 1965, playing 77 senior games. In his final year of football, French took home club best-and-fairest honours (off the back of three previous runner-up acknowledgments). He was runner-up for the Trood Award and Rodda Medal for the best player in the Latrobe Valley FootballLeague (the highest standard locally) in the same year He also played representative levelfor LVFL in 1965, playing alongside Sale’s ll Stephenson (88 games for St Kilda), hformer Carlton and Richmondplayer Frank Munro as coach.

French was selected to Yallourn Football Club’s pennant side in 2019 as one of their players from 1954 to the club’s merger Yallourn North in 1976. ecorated sporting careerwas only ed by the character he presented in community as awell-respected teacher, he also returned to his rootsand coached juniors locally deep into his twilight

Other trade: Frenchwas alsoa prolific ruckman forYallournFootball Club forashort period of time, taking out seniorbest-and-fairest

Good times: The 1965 Countr yWeek AGrade winnersRobert Goldie,Darrell White, DickWilson and Murray French, alongside Australian tennis legend Harr yHopman (four th from left).

Vale: Tributes have flown for Murray French, regarded as one of Gippsland’s greatest ever tennis players Photographs supplied

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