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WEDNESDAY min 11° max 16°
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FRIDAY min 5° max 16°
St. Arnaud, Charlton, Wedderburn & Surrounding Districts
Est. 1864
18 Napier Street, St. Arnaud. 3478. - Advertising & Editorial Material - Ph.: (03) 5495 1055; Fax.: (03) 5495 1937. Email: ncn@iinet.net.au Published weekly. Registered by Australia Post, Publication No. VAC 4217.
$2.00
WEDNESDAY AUGUST 21st 2024.
Circulating in:- St. Arnaud, Charlton, Donald, Rupanyup, Bealiba, Stawell, Marnoo, Navarre, Dunolly, Wycheproof, Wedderburn, Birchip, Korong Vale, Stuart Mill, Redbank, Avoca & Moonambel.
(Incl. GST)
The ‘Express’ Vinelander passes through St. Arnaud BLINK and you would have missed it. But these faithful residents were on hand at the St. Arnaud Railway Station to ‘wave through’ the Vinelander on one of its tours of regional Victoria. As reported last week, the best efforts of the volunteers at the Raillery Hub were insufficient to have the Vinelander stop in St. Arnaud and savour some of the delights of this district. Seven-O-Seven Operations, the volunteer group operating the rail tours, described the tourist train as a ‘moving museum celebrating our rail heritage’. Full agreement with the Raillery Hub’s proposal was gained by Seven-O-Seven, but unfortunately VLine, the operators of the railway network, had made a previous decision that only grain trains would be stopping in St. Arnaud and therefore there was a need to manually reconfigure the signals at the four crossings in St. Arnaud if a train was to stop
more than 4 minutes. Manual reconfiguration is something that would need to be organized with a greater lead time if at all. So the Vinelander became an Express train and many people of St. Arnaud waved the tourist train through the station.
Above: The Vinelander approaching St. Arnaud last Friday 16th August with residents recording the historic moment (brief as it was). Left: The returning Vinelander this Monday afternoon at 2.31pm.
Starry success as St. Arnaud Secondary College hosts ‘Into the Stars Night’ ST. ARNAUD Secondary College recently played host to an awe-inspiring event that left attendees with a newfound appreciation for the cosmos.
Above: Acacia Huggins experiencing the ‘stars’
The "Into the Stars Night," which took place on 14th August as part of National Science Week, was a resounding success, drawing in participants from the school, local community, and surrounding towns. The evening's highlight was the partnership with the Astronomical Society of Victoria Bendigo Branch, who set up telescopes on the school's oval, providing a captivating view of celestial objects. As the night unfolded, 80 students, staff, families, and community members were treated to an unforgettable journey through the solar system, gaining a fresh perspective of the universe. Physics teacher, Miss Emily Goode said the clear night sky couldn't have been more perfect for stargazing. “Participants had the opportunity to learn how to use telescopes, some even bringing their own to enhance their stargazing experience. “Excitement filled the crisp winter air as attendees marvelled at the wonders of the cosmos, igniting a newfound passion for astronomy for some and
rekindling the flame for others.” To complement the celestial marvels, a sausage sizzle kept everyone warm and well-fed while themed tunes set the mood for an evening of community engagement and interactive learning. The event provided a unique platform for socializing and sharing the wonders of the universe, fostering a sense of togetherness and curiosity among all who attended.
- Contributed As the night came to a close, it was evident that the "Into the Stars Night" had left a lasting impact, sparking a deeper interest in astronomy and serving as a testament to the power of community engagement and educational outreach. St. Arnaud Secondary College would like to thank the Astronomical Society of Victoria
Above: Sami Weir has her experience of "Into the Stars Night". Right: (left to right) Alexi Szucs, India Griffin, Graeme Gilmour.
PHOTO: Amelia Watts. Bendigo for volunteering their time and knowledge as well the student and staff volunteers for making the night run smoothly.