Bendigo Bank pulls pin on town
BENDIGO Bank will close its St Arnaud agency from October.
The announcement yesterday afternoon followed weeks of speculation that the bank would ditch its agency model and comes after a further 10 branch closures were confirmed earlier this month.
The bank said the St Arnaud agency would serve its last customers on October 17.
Avoca District Co-operative Limited, a
By CHRIS EARL
franchisee of Bendigo Bank, operates the locally-owned Community Bank Avoca, Maryborough and St Arnaud with St Arnaud believed to be one of 26 agencies left after a swathe of closures two years ago.
“Following a review of evolving customer preferences, a reduction in busi-
ness activity and an increase in costs and compliance obligations, Bendigo Bank’s agency model will be retired,” a spokesman told NCN and Loddon Herald yesterday afternoon.
“As a result, several Bendigo Bank agencies will be closing permanently.
The bank is in the process of communicating this change to customers and apologises for any inconvenience,” the spokesman said.
LATE NEWS
Established more than 30 years ago, Bendigo Bank said its agency network had enabled the Bank to offer limited banking services through “third party businesses in areas where there was not enough demand to sustain a branch”.
The decision to close agencies was made by bank head office. Wedderburn and Boort agencies will also close. FULL REPORT - NEXT WEEK
SPLIT VOTE HAS COUNCIL OPPOSING RENEWABLE ENERGY PLAN
SHIRE ZONES OUT
NORTHERN Grampians
Shire will oppose the inclusion of local communities in the State Government’s proposed renewable energy zone.
Councillors split 3:2 at a special meeting on Monday to fight back against the draft plan.
The majority vote will also advocate against the introduction of a Renewable Energy Zone in its current form “which encompasses intensive areas of prime farming land and advocates for the rights of occupants to be in charge of their own destiny.”
Cr Murray Emerson was backed by fellow Kara Kara ward councillor Karen Probst and Cr Jack Blake (Grampians Ward).
Mayor Karen Hyslop said she had a conflict of interest as she is in discussion with a wind farm operator and did not vote when it came time for a decision.
The first part of the motion opposes the introduction of a Renewable Energy Zone in its current form where it encompasses extensive areas of prime farming land. Cr Emerson stated he has
been approached by many owners generationally held farming properties and was concerned that the mental health of farmers is deteriorating.
Cr Emerson said that Government rules and regulations without respectable consultation seem to be increasing.
The motion was opposed by Cr Jenny Greenberger and Cr Justine Hide.
All councilors made comment at the meeting with comments from those opposing the motion, Cr Hide and Cr Greenberger declaring that they have listened to all arguments including those from the farming community, but that they represent all constituents, particularly those that believed that global warming was real.
Victoria should be doing its part in renewable energy and dropping out of the zones would mean that other zones would need to take up the slack that Northern Grampians had created, even though their arguments about the food bowl were just as justified as those in this region, they argued.
Jack Blake, Karen Probst and Murray Emerson after Monday’s council meeting
NCN HERALD
Regional representatives make their presentations to judges
ST ARNAUD’s DustyRaiyn McIn-
tyre was the Junior St Arnaud Agricultural Show Ambassador.
As well she was the Wimmera Agricultural Show winner.
Then off to the State Finals she went, where she competed and although she did not win the State Final conducted herself beautifully.
The VAS (Victorian Agricul-
tural Shows) Ltd State Final is the culmination of various competitions held across local and regional shows in Victoria.
Winners from Group Finals advance to compete at the State Final, held at the Melbourne Royal Show, for a chance to showcase their talents on a larger stage.
DustyRaiyn was the winner of the Junior Competition at the
group level, representing the St Arnaud Agricultural Society.
Special thanks were made to the panel of three Judges Geoff Halliwell, Rachel Mason and Caitlin Grieve.
The winner of the State Final was Charlotte Wigney from Bendigo Show and the Runner Up was Hannah Greevey from Maldon Show.
IN BRIEF
Package exclusion
NORTHERN Grampians Shire and Horsham Rural City councils are calling on the State Government to review its eligibility criteria for its latest round of drought funding, which excludes the municipalities’ farmers despite some of the most challenging conditions in recent memory. Earlier this month, the government announced an additional $75 million in drought support for farmers in Victoria’s south-west, including $35.8 million for Primary Producer Support Payments to provide eligible farmers with the equivalent of a 40 per cent reduction on their property rates. The payments will provide muchneeded cash-flow relief for farmers in 12 council areas but not Northern Grampians or Horsham Rural City.
Clarification
THE opinion piece included in last week’s NCN by Cr Bruce Stafford from Buloke Shire should have included the following disclaimer: “the views expressed are my own and not those of the Buloke Shire Council”.
Better equipped
DONALD locals have received a vital boost with the addition of a new automated external defibrillator, which is publicly accessible 24/7. The new AED will be located at Donald Nutrien Ag Solutions (46 Racecourse Rd).
Jordan Boddy Yarram Show, Elizabeth McNamara Yarrawonga Show, DustyRaiyn McIntyre St Arnaud show, Charlotte Wigney Winner Bendigo Show, Hannah Greevey Runner Up Maldon Show, Felicity Winnington Berwick Show, Isabella Gilbert Lilydale Show.
Band hall gets makeover
HISTORY is heaped within the walls of the St Arnaud Brass Band Hall with upgrades finished in recent weeks building ensuring the well-used community building stays in good condiion.
The floors have been revitalised so that the original floors are kept but maintained.
Band committee official Joanne Wiseman was also on hand to show NCN Herald around the historic building and explain how funds were obtained for works.
A grant from the Northern Grampians Shire Council for $5000 covered most of the cost of the revitalisation of the floor, with some of the band’s funds making up the difference.
Since 2013, there have made at least a dozen grants that have kept this magnificent building up to scratch starting with a Government grant for $4599 for fridges and a pie warmer.
Finally this year, three grants have been received with Bendigo Bank adding $1680 for lighting in the toilets, library and kitchen cupboard and the Ararat Wind
Farm for $4180 for painting of the toilets.
The Band Hall committee makes a special mention to the following tradies that assisted – Mick Martin for painting, Sam
Medlyn for electrical, Merv Evans for plastering, Luke Tuder and Nathan Witherow for pluming, Nick Wiseman for Air conditioning, Tony Tillig for building bits, Ross Kirk for kitchen cupboards
A BUTTERFLY corridor is being created by the Bible Museum which will bring more of these beautiful creatures to the Butterfly Centre in Napier Street.
The corridor which will be created by the Leisure and Lifestyle staff at Kara Court is the second stage of the extension from the St Arnaud Community Garden.
Kara Court has been given
and tiling, Tru Blue Floors and Helen Rigby for picture framing.
Currently the Band Hall is used fine days a week, with band practice, ukelule, line dancing, Tai Chi. - SUE HYNES
small cuttings from Buddleia shrubs at the Butterfly Centre which the residents will nurtured into seedlings big enough to be put into the garden.
Gardening and growing of plants are a wonderful way of keeping residents active and there were plenty of residents on hand recently to show their enthusiasm for the project.
Hall stays closed
CHARLTON Shire Hall will remain closed after wall cavities in decorative brickwork prompted safety concerns.
Buloke Shire said the testing followed a routine Hazardous Materials Audit in May 2025 by Safety Systems Bendigo Pty Ltd, which identified materials within the wall cavities as potentially containing friable asbestos-containing materials.
In a statement on Friday, council said it was advised of the laboratory analysis by a NATA-accredited facility on June 11, 2025 confirming the presence of Amosite asbestos within the cavity of the decorative brick work sections on the north, east and west walls of the hall.
Visual inspection indicated deterioration of the poorly bonded ACM surfaces within the cavity increasing the risk of airborne fibre release or transfer to other areas. As a precaution, Buloke Shire Council temporarily closed the hall and commissioned further air and surface sample analysis testing by Safety Systems Bendigo on June 12.
“Laboratory results confirmed no asbestos was detected in the dust, nor any trace of respirable asbestos fibres,” council said. “These findings indicate that hall users were unlikely to have been exposed.”
Joanne Wiseman admires the ongoing renovations at St Arnaud Brass Band Hall. NCN PHOTO
70 Woods Street, Donald — 5497 1211
Coonooer move a step towards business
THERE is a new business in town – Wimmera Real Estate is going great and Brad Judd is the man doing it.
Brad moved to St Arnaud via Coonooer Bridge via Melbourne about seven years ago.
And do you know that Brad’s surname is a familiar name in this district but he only assumes that they must be related ‘somehow’.
With currently six children, all home schooled (women are truly incredible), Brad works from home. “She is superwoman” Brad says of his wife.
He has been working with Horsham Real Estate for about four months, but as he had
always wanted to be in real estate and saw the ad for staff and gave them a ring.
The next day he was doing his real estate course. He did it in five to six weeks although you get a year to do it.
He is now the face and the worker for Wimmera Real Estate.
“We may have an office here in the future, but not now as everything is done online now-a-days.
“We have a good database and we have 18,000 people, so we get a quite a good coverage. “We are having quite a good time currently.
“Have sold a property in Horsham and now one in Murtoa and Donald,” Brad says.
Brad Judd
Musos have a blast at school
YOU are never too old to take on something new and Helen Burns and Jennifer Leishman were mature-age students at the 53rd Wimmera Bands Music School held in Ararat this month and run by Peter and Jane Battersby.
The music school has been under the administration of Peter and Jane for 23 years.
This year there were 70 students with 15 instructors.
Brass, woodwind, string and percussion are covered and the school ran from Monday to Sunday for one week from 9am to 8.30pm each day.
Students covered theory and practical sessions where they “do 12 month’s work in one week.
They sat an exam at the end of the week and were awarded medals (gold, silver and bronze) depending on their result.
The Grand Finale was a concert on the Sunday night, this year in the Ararat Town Hall, where all students, allocated during the week to perform in a band at their standard, perform pieces.
Three students from St Arnaud, Ella Wait, granddaughter of Peter and Jane and the two mature aged students, Helen and Jennifer had a week to remember
Helen, Ella and Jenny at music school
Rotary inducts new members
Question: When is a changeover not a changeover, Answer: when there is nothing to change.
That is what happened last week at the Rotary Club of St Arnaud’s ‘Changeover’ Dinner which if you followed the order of the meeting, you would have noticed that no elections were held as all the office bearers were continuing on.
Rotary has a rotating Chairperson, so that all members have that responsibility.
Secretary will once again be Tony Marland with Luke Hanley, Treasurer.
The meeting became more when it was realised by the visitors to the meeting that it was Russell Steel’s 80th birthday.
With a birthday cake made by Leanne Fithall and of sufficient size to feed all, Russell was serenaded with a ‘Happy Birthday’.
In attendance was Norther Grampians Shire Cr Karen Probst, former Northern Grampians Shire councillor Eddy Ostarce-
vic and his wife Diane, with guest speaker David Drage, from Warracknabeal, who has recently been appointed as the president of Rotary in Victoria.
They were joined by Des and Lyn Moulday from the Kara Kara Probus Club.
There were two new inductees into Rotary St Arnaud at this year’s Changeover meeting – John Caddy and Kim Lambert, who were welcomed warmly and congratulated on joining the service club.
Anywhere, Anytime, Anyone
St Arnaud Police intercepted a Subaru sedan being driven on the Wimmera Highway, St Arnaud by a 24-year-old female from Flora Hill on July 15, at 2.23am. She had a learners permit however she not only neglected to put up her L-plates, but she also neglected to have a licensed driver in the front passenger seat. The male who was in the passenger seat did not hold a licence, and as such, she was a learner driver without a supervising driver. Further to this, she provided a positive preliminary oral fluid result for methylamphetamine and was taken to St Arnaud Police Station where Police allege that she failed an oral fluid test. Her vehicle was impounded for 30 days at a cost of $2700 for being a learner driver without a supervising driver, and she will have to appear before the Magistrate regarding the matter.
Driver to face Court
A vehicle was intercepted on Kings Avenue, St Arnaud last Saturday being driven by a 32-yearold St Arnaud man. He gave police a false name, however unluckily for him, despite recently moving to town, police knew who he was. Police allege that he was driving whilst unlicensed. The driver also returned a positive preliminary oral fluid result for methylamphetamine.The male will have to face the Magistrate. The vehicle that he was driving was impounded for 30 days at a cost of $2700.
John Caddy, Russell Steel, Kim Lambert and guest speaker David Drage at the Rotary dinner. NCN PHOTOS
Northern Grampians Shire Council
COMMUNITY UPDATES
GIVE PICKLEBALL A TRY ON JULY 30
Following the successful introduction of Pickleball in Stawell, we are bringing it to St Arnaud. Pickleball is a mix of tennis, table tennis and badminton played on a badminton-size court with a paddle and a small, perforated plastic ball. It can be played in singles or doubles format, but the big draw is the ease at which a new player can pick up the game. Why not give it a go? Come along to St Arnaud Sports Stadium on Wednesday, June 30 at 10am for a free come-and-try session. It’s a great opportunity to move your body while enjoying a social outing. All welcome.
BUSINESSES READY TO GET CREATIVE
Representatives of the six businesses chosen for the St Arnaud Shopfront Improvement Program will start on the design phase during meetings with Pop Creative Collective this week. The applicants selected to pa rticipate are: Ramjac, St Arnaud Books, St Arnaud Community Resource Centre, Top of the Town Beauty Salon, Country Kitchen and The Bible Museum and Butterfly Centre. The selection process was a competitive one, with 17 applicants for this round of the program, designed to improve the overall vibrancy of main streets in the shire.
NOMINATE FOR WALKERS LAKE GROUP COUNCILS CALL FOR DROUGHT FUNDING
Nominations for Walkers Lake Advisory Group close this Friday, July 25. The group assists council in the management of the Walkers Lake reserve. For more information or to nominate for a community position, you can visit our website, https://ngsc.elementorg.com/ walkers-lake-advisory-group-application/
Northern Grampians Shire and Horsham Rural City councils are calling on the State Government to thoroughly review its eligibility criteria for its latest round of drought funding, which excludes our municipalities’ farmers despite some of the most challenging conditions in recent memor y.
Tender opportunities: We have several tender opportunities available for electrical and plumbing contractors, along with external plant and equipment hire for civil works. For more information, including how to apply by Wednesday, August 6, you can visit, https://www.ngshire.vic.gov.au/Council/Council-tenders
Next council meeting: Monday, August 4 in the Perry Room, St Arnaud Town Hall, St Arnaud at 12.30pm. The meeting is open to the public and will be livestreamed via our YouTube channel. The agenda will be available on our website.
Local studs share in big show success
DISTRICT stud Banavie was one of the big off-auction buyers at the Australian Sheep and Wool Show in Bendigo at the weekend.
The stud purchased Laraben Poll tag 240059 $40,000, one of two private sales at the nation’s biggest wool show.
Studs from across Australia had their best ewes
and rams on display and there was success for local studs entering prestige competitions. Longdale Park achieved the perfect hat-trick in Fine/Medium Merino Lambs. Reserve ChampionFine Medium Merino. 1st - Fine/ Medium Merino with > 4 Teeth. Ewes - (March Shorn). 1st - Medium Wool Merino Lambs teeth. Reserve Champion - Medium Wool Merino. 1st - Fine/Medium Wool Merino Lambs teeth. Reserve Champion - Fine/ Medium Wool Merino. 2nd - Fine/ Medium Wool Poll Lambs teeth. 2nd - Medium Wool Merino 2 permanent teeth.
Kerrilyn stud (Dunluce) was the most successful fine-medium wool exhibitor at the show, including Reserve Champion strong wool Merino ram and 2nd in the all purpose medium wool lamb, and took 1st and 2nd in the medium wool ram fleece class of the national competition,. Gre Gre’s Oakbank stud won the 19.6 - 20.5 Micron - Merino Stud Ram section. Oakbank also sold two rams in the show’s sale when 92 animals went under the hammer where the top price was $16,000.
Ben picks up senior quality shearing award
LOCALS were among the prizes at the Northern Shears and Sports Shears
Victoria Shearing and Woolhandling Championships at the Australian Sheep and Wool Show.
William Deason competed in the Novice division and Ben Lloyd competing in both the seniors and the open divisions.
William was one of four novice shearers to compete – with the criteria to encourage quality over speed for this division. The results being that Mac
Hooppell the eventually winner with a score of 36.50 points with Will coming in second with 44.00 points. In the senior division Ben shore well, but unfortunately missed out on the finals by half a point, placing 6 th . The open division had some of the best of Victorian shearers with Josh Bone, Sam Mackrill and Paul Robertson all having represented Victoria at some stage, competing for the $3800 1st prize. Ben placed back in the middle of the field
ofthe 24 competitors finishing in 12th place. With the eventual winner of the Open division being Paul Robertson. In each of the three divisions there were additional awards for the Overall best quality score where after shearing each sheep competitors are scored on the number of cuts and wool left on the freshly shorn sheep.
Ben Lloyd in the senior division and Josh Bone in the open division won the overall quality awards.
IT WAS another increase in the AWEX Eastern Market Indicator, continuing its unbeaten start to the 2025/26 wool selling season; all three sale weeks since July 1 have closed higher.
The AWEX-EMI rose 10 cents to finish at 1221 cents, breaking above its previous trading range of 1190–1210 cents and reaching its highest level in three months. In US dollar terms the AWEX-EMI also rose (reaching an 18-month high) supported by a strengthening Australian dollar. The week’s offering was relatively modest at 23,623 bales due to a Sydney/Melbourne-only rostering (there are limited volumes in Fremantle at this time of the year).
The strongest gains came on the first day, with the Merino Fleece sector rising 5 to 10 cents. Wednesday displayed more irregular activity, particularly in Sydney, where a few small pockets of weakness were recorded in the finer microns. In contrast, Melbourne continued to firm through to the close. Stylish superfine types with in-demandspecifications attracted strong
buyer support in both centres during the sale.
Merino Skirtings remained firm. Beststyle, good-length lots with low vegetable matter continued to attract good support and are trading at solid premiums over other types.
Crossbreds also continued to find favour, adding 20 cents in Sydney this week to the 28-Micron Price Guide and pushing it close to the 500-cent level. Now at a four-year high, the MPG has risen 39% over the past nine months. Merino Cardings firmed a few cents for the sale.
Volumes rise to 38,044 bales next week with Fremantle returning to the national roster as a one-day sale. The auctions will be final week of wool sales before the annual three-week August recess
Forbes Kirk on the mat with a winner from Longdale Park stud. NCN PHOTOS
Stuart Mill’s Brad Medlyn (centre) with Dale and Stacey McCoy enjoy the show
Banavie’s Roger, Matilda and Emily Polkinghorne
NCN CROSSWORD No 8567
2Make off secretly 8In excited eagerness
1Talking bird 2Morse elements 3Departure 4Birds enclosure 5Gain 6Vital impulse 7Held principles 10Obliterations 11Metal 16Encountered 18Speaking 20Sharp blow 22Decay 23Flew aloft 24Way of approach 25Feline 26Period of time 27District 28Way of viewing 29Oozed 32Cricket score 34Not working should
9Repeat from memory
12Treacherous person 13Container 14Trick 15Extreme food shortage 17Conjectured 19Reliable 21Guardians
23Gaps
27Responds
30Without heed
31Extremely cold
33Tree
35Regret
36Observed
37Flag
38Aid to detection
39Give to charity
SUDOKU
100 Years Ago July 17-23, 1925
A Queen Competition has been organised by Sutherland residents to raise funds to purchase a school piano. The young ladies and their supporters who are fundraising are Misses Hoye [Queen of Faith], K Walsh [Queen of Hope] Etta O’Donnell [Queen of Charity] and O Gleeson [Queen of Peace].
Football – Donald 16-24 defeated St Arnaud 4-3, Birchip 13-19 defeated Litchfield 8-12 and Cope Cope 5-4 defeated Watchem 5-0.
In the Kara Kara Junior Assoc the Swanwater v’s St Arnaud Rovers game ended in a draw. Best players for Swanwater were Michael, Hayes, and Cadzow and for Rovers Wyatt, Sheales and Kennedy.
Sale – Mrs E Scilini sold a 5-room W B home and buggy shed on 3 acres at Beazleys Bridge.
Engagement – former St Arnaud solicitor and barrister Mr Allan Gil-
100 Years Ago
Melbourne.
Mr Gilfillan purchased the late Mr W J Mogg business m 1897 and in 1909 he went into partnership with Mr W Mitchell before retiring from the firm several years later.
He is also well known as the author of the amusing novel ‘Cooeeville’.
Accident - an old and respected resident, Mrs C Hunt was discovered by neighbours laying in her yard with a broken leg.
Death - Mrs Grace Worsdell died age 81, leaving five children, her husband Joseph, having died in 1907. Grace came to St Arnaud in 1871 and resided at ‘Falmouth’ in Silvermines Road until her death 54 years later.
Skating at Lang Bros Imperial
Roller Skating Rink concluded for the season with a grand fancy dress competition - best dressed lady Miss Irene O’Shea [ranch girl], gents [Mr P Anderson [carnival] men’s comic character Mr A Witney [Waltzing Matilda] boys comic character Keith Bastin [matches] and poster Mr W McDermott [Pelaco shirts].
New Business – Mawson & Co [Tailors] open a shop in Napier St opposite the State Savings Bank. Traynors Lagoon Rifle Club - 7 shots at 300 and 500 yards Cpt Barratt 66, J Raynes 63, W Reither & J Jesse 61 each.
A New Residence has been completed by A E H Preece at Carapooee for Mr H O Perry, with 5 large rooms plus washhouse and bathroom.
The 12 ft high walls and ceilings of “Perryville’ are lined with Fibrolite and Durabestos and an 8 ft wide bull nose veranda surrounds the building.
July 81 to 22, 1925
Friendly Rivalry - The Presbyterian Hall was the scene of an interesting miniature rifle contest between teams representing the Charlton Branch A.N.A. & Tent Austral I.O.R. The shooters numbered 13 a side, the best 8 in each team to count. Mr A. C. Dabron returned the best individual score. The total for A.N.A. was 326 and for I.O.R. 322.
Dainty Dresses at the Band BallNever in the history of the Band has the town got behind the organisation as it has done this year.
The Victoria Hall was decorated with wedding bells and vari-colored streamers. From start to finish the floor was thronged. The Ball should clear over £40.
ACROSS 2Decamp 8Agog 9Recite 12Traitor 13Bin 14Ruse 15Famine 17Surmised 19Trusty 21Tutors 23Spaces 27Reacts 30Careless 31Arctic 33Pine 35Rue 36Noticed 37Ensign 38Clue 39Donate
The preparation of the floor included the use of candle grease and “elbow grease”.
1Parrot 2Dots 3Egress 4Aviary 5Profit 6Libido 7Tenets 10Erasures 11Tin 16Met 18Uttering 20Rap 22Rot 23Soared 24Access 25Cat 26Second 27Region 28Aspect 29Seeped 32Run 34Idle
The music fitted into the scheme of things perfectly. The supper was on an elaborate scale and included fruit salads, trifles, jellies, sausage rolls, ham and tongue sandwiches, cream lilies and puffs and devilled almonds.
A feature of the Ball was the
number of beautiful dresses worn eg. Miss M. Bennett – flame charmeuse, with handmade flowers, and cabochon at waist.
Jeffcott - A meeting of the local Football Club took place at the North School. Mr R. Clements being in the chair. The chief topic concerned the medal donated to the Club by Mr R. N. Wadsworth.
After lengthy discussion it was resolved to award it to the best player for the season, the honor to be decided at the end of the campaign by a vote of the members of the Club. Wooroonook - The Secretary of the Wycheproof Hospital notified that Mr M. Mulquiny, of Wooroonook had forwarded him a cheque for £13 13/6, being money collected for the upkeep of the institution.
Willing Workers - When the members of the Presbyterian Church Board of Management met recently, This was held and the working bee numbered about 16 – one of the largest and best in connection with the Church for many years.
The list of subscribers is as fol-
lows: £1 1/ each: Messrs Jas Nolan, Wm Wright, M. Mulquiny, Arthur Lynas, E. P. Tormey. £1 each: Messrs F. McLoughlan, Gretgrix Bros, Geo Wright, W. O’Brien Sen. 11/-: Mr W. Thomas. 10/-: Messrs Jas Lane, P. McKenna, Jas McKenna, W. J. O’Brien, Jas O’Brien and John Bourke.
Some who were not able to be present sent donations. The first coat of paint was applied; and the good work will go on.
Buckrabanyule - At a final meeting of the Buckrabanyule Sports Committee the balance sheet was read. This revealed a nett profit of £179 11/-.
Traffic Signals - The necessity of drivers of all classes of vehicles giving correct traffic signals is becoming more urgent every day. A device invented by an Irishman consists of a white hand carried some 12 inches from the off side of the body of the car by a strong steel arm. By means of a cable, the hand can be pointed in any required direction either forward, to the right, to the left, vertically upwards, or even straight backwards. For night use the hand is illuminated by a small, conveniently located electric bulb, which is lighted from the car batteries.
Solution No. 8568
Youthful human energy
BEARING the wounds of battle the ‘Saints Go Marching’ ‘vehicle’ had last year’s Energy Breakthrough scars on show when the NCN Herald called recently.
Three students at St Arnaud Primary School who gave up some of their School holidays for a photo shoot, Ella Wait, Georgie MacTaggart and Maria Taylor were full of the energy of youth when it came to show off their HPV their Human Powered Vehicle that will once again take part in the Energy Breakthrough event that will be held in Maryborough from November 19 to 23.
The students were joined by HPV Team Coordinators Melissa Weir and Riley Burke who were almost as enthusiastic and the school has been involved for three years specifically in the HPV primary category.
Last year the St Arnaud Primary School had huge success at the Energy Breakthrough where it was nothing short of extraordinary, marking another milestone of innovation, resilience and collaboration.
Saints Go Marching came in 2nd in their category and overall were first.
With an increase in participation for this incredible event schools embraced cutting-edge technology such as carbon fibre, 3D printing and kevlar, showcasing their creativity in aerodynamic design.
St. Arnaud Primary School’s was last year named as having an ‘exceptional achievement’ with their victory [in the HVP category] coming as a surprise, but were named for their displayed teamwork and perseverance.
The Saints Go Marching team completed 297 laps completed, their fastest time was 1:58.
They also completed the fastest lap recorded in their class, with an average of 2:49 over a distance of 469.26.
The team’s total time of 26minutes 59seconds
The 2025 Energy Breakthrough event will be held from Wednesday November 19 to Sunday No-
vember 23, 2025 in Maryborough. The Energy Breakthrough is a premier science, technology, engineering and maths active learning program that has four classifications – Robotics, pushcarts, energy efficient vehicles and human powered vehicles.
Since 1991, the Energy Breakthrough has provided opportunities for students, teachers, parents and local industry to work together to design and construct a vehicle, a machine or an innovation in technology that represents an ‘energy breakthrough’.
In 2025, over 250 teams from all over Victoria and beyond are expected to compete across five distinct categories, catering for different levels of technology application and understanding.
Entries for 2025 include those within our area such as St Patricks Primary School (St Arnaud) and the Secondary College as well, with Avoca PS, Maryborough Education Centre, Highview College, Wedderburn College, and Donald High School also competing, Entrants in this category design, build and compete with a vehicle powered solely by human power.
Event specifications direct the construction of the vehicle – including safety, dimensions, steering regulations, lighting and warning device requirements.
Leading teams can cycle almost 900kms in 24 hours, with advanced materials such as carbon fibre, kevlar and titanium infiltrating vehicle designs.
But it’s not just about the cutting edge, it is just the opportunity to participate keeps teams coming back year after year to pedal around the famous circuit!
For more than 30 years, schools and education centres across Victoria and Australia have converged annually to compete in the Human Powered Vehicle category and celebrate the achievements in this program. The main event is a 24-hour trial where teams race their vehicles around the streets of Maryborough.
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Staggered by Budget response
AT THE Buloke Shire Council meeting of the July 16, 2025, I asked the following question:
“Council adopted its 2025/2026 Council Budget on 18 June 2025.
“Can you please indicate all amounts that were allocated to cover legal and professional costs in the Budget for the next 12 months?”
I was gob smacked when the Mayor provided the response that the Council had allocated $785,000.00 in the 25/26 Budget to cover these costs.
It seems our Council values “advice” from outside the organisation more than support for local projects when it has only Budgeted $463,000.00 for recreation, leisure and community facilities.
Recently Council put out a call for locals to join a Community Reference Group for the following:
Buloke Shire Council is calling for Expressions of Interest from community members who
want to help shape the future of our roads, facilities, and financial planning.
I will be an apology for that group, but here is a bit of “free advice”
Why not go and employ a Graduate Law student to provide the legal and professional advice internally, according to the Financial Review they only cost
$100,000.00 per annum.
It’s a “win win” for everyone, a graduate gets a job and moves to Buloke, Council can save about $685,000.00 per annum which they could invest in recreation, leisure and community facilities.
DarylWarren Donald
ONLINE WORDS
NAPIER STREET PEDESTRIAN CROSSING
Leanne Shinners wrote: Need speed humps coming from Navarre road , at botanical cor-
ner intersection a lot more than here. Several accidents have occurred here already. People don’t see stop sign and drive straight across napier street.
Colleen Bond wrote: Not needed crossing works well.
Amanda Taylor wrote: I’ve seen plenty of cars not stopping for pedestrians walking across the road. Even had it happen while I was walking across the zebra crossing.
Fred Kell wrote: About bloody time, can’t tell when approaching it weather they are going to cross or not. Plus it’s a dam bank not needed.
Lorraine Kell wrote: It needs to be moved up further near where the used car yard used to be only traffic that would be driving would be on the straight road at the moment you don’t know what the users are doing they stand talking then rush out same as they rush straight out of the chemist on to the crossing also if large cars park in the front of the so called rose garden you don’t see if any one is coming on to the crossing it’s dangerous where it is ( just my opinion).
There’s scope to grow agricultural tourism
FIRST of all readers let me introduce myself - Stephen Barratt, Councillor for the Buloke Shire in the Lower Avoca Ward.
I live in Wycheproof and have been a new resident, being here five years from the little island. Have a partner whom works locally and as I have retired put one’s hand up for council.
Have small business skills in the Horticultural field and longtime Small Business Owner Operator along with many past community engagements. Anyway that’s enough about me.
By CR STEPHEN BARRATT
Now the burning questions what do I hope to achieve whilst in this role,
My hopes are to streamline council over the longer term along with my fellow councillors. Make efficiency where we can subject to finances which in a small council with limited resources is a challenge in itself I might add.
I would like to see small business come to our shire and setup
in the tourism sector as I think there is scope for agricultural tourism,
This maybe in the way of on farm educational tourism where city folk can experience machinery knowledge, operation of said equipment as we know the agriculture is going hi-tech at a fast rate of knots I see opportunities in teaching and we need skills in those areas.
May keep some of our younger people interested in a career in at and give diversity to those enterprises.
Further to that our local towns need housing be great if those in the building and construction community would start to consider housing requirements outside of Melbourne and looked further afield for growth in their businesses . This would be welcomed by the community in general as lack of quality housing hinders growth and expansion.
I am a councillor happy to chat regarding positive areas of opportunity that community may want for future improvement in the shire.
The St Arnaud crew getting ready for Breakthrough action
Mineral Resources (Sustainable Development) Act 1990 – Section 15(5)
Mineral Resources (Sustainable Development) (Mineral Industries) Regulations 2019 – Regulation 22(1) and Schedule 1
1. Name and address of applicant(s):
Wolf Gold P/L
c/- PO Box 240, Essendon North VIC 3041, Mobile: 0419 912 844
2. Contact details of applicant (for map and other information requests): Andrew Radonjic, Mobile: 0419 912 844, Email: andrew.radonjic@wolfgold.com.au
3. Applicant’s Website (see notes) Further information about this application is available at the following website: https://wolfgold. wixsite.com/wolfgold/community, or https:// resources.vic.gov.au/licensing-approvals/ have-your-say
4. Details of the application:
Application number: EL008673
Locality of the land to which the application relates: 18km east of St Arnaud and 4km south of Wedderburn
Approximate area of the application (Graticular Sections): 452
Date of the application: 3 July 2025
Term the licence is applied for: 5 years
Outline of the proposed program of work: Desktop study, mapping, sampling, geophysics, drilling, resource assessment.
5. Objections and Comments:
Any person may object or comment to a
licence being granted. (Sections 24 and 24A, Mineral Resources (Sustainable Development) Act 1990).
A person who objects or comments must: a. put the objection or comment in writing; and b. include the grounds on which it is made. All objections or comments must be lodged within 21 days after the latest date on which the application was advertised and can be lodged online or posted to:
The Minister for Energy and Resources c/- Manager Licensing, Earth Resources Regulator, PO Box 500, East Melbourne Victoria 8002
It is recommended that objections or comments are lodged online at https://rram-vic-gov.my.site.com/ ObjectionSubmission to ensure timely consideration. Enquiries can be made by writing to the Manager Licensing at the above address or by phoning the Earth Resources Information Centre on 136 186.
6. Other Statutory Requirements:
a. Subject to other statutory requirements being satisfied, an exploration licence, if granted, entitles the holder of the licence to explore and search for minerals in the relevant land, but does not entitle the holder to undertake mining.
b. Further information regarding the statutory requirements that must be complied with prior to work being undertaken on a licence, including landowner and occupier consent requirements, is available on the department’s Community and land use page: https:// resources.vic.gov.au/community-and-landuse.
SHOW ROOM CLOSURE
From Friday 27th June until Friday 1st August.
Planning and Environment Act 1987 BULOKE PLANNING SCHEME
Notice of the preparation of an amendment to a planning scheme Amendment C44blok Overview
The amendment is required to implement the recommendations of the Buloke Planning Scheme Review (2023). The amendment also corrects obvious and technical errors, including mapping anomalies in the planning scheme.
For further details, refer to the explanatory report about the amendment.
Details of the amendment
The Buloke Shire Council as planning authority has prepared Amendment C44blok to the Buloke Planning Scheme.
The land affected by the amendment is all land in the Buloke Shire.
The amendment implements the recommendations of the Buloke Planning Scheme Review (2023). The amendment also corrects obvious and technical errors, including mapping anomalies.
You may inspect the amendment, any documents that support the amendment and the explanatory report about the amendment, free of charge, at:
z the Department of Transport and Planning website www.planning.vic.gov.au/publicinspection or by contacting 1300 520 520 to arrange a time to view the amendment documentation.
z during office hours, at the office of the planning authority, Buloke Shire Council, 367 Broadway, Wycheproof.
Any person may make a submission to the planning authority about the amendment. Submissions must be made in writing giving the submitter’s name and contact address, clearly stating the grounds on which the amendment is supported or opposed and indicating what changes (if any) the submitter wishes to make.
Name and contact details of submitters are required for the planning authority to consider submissions and to notify such persons of the opportunity to attend planning authority meetings and any public hearing held to consider submissions.
The closing date for submissions is 1st September 2025. A submission must be sent to the Planning Department, Buloke Shire Council, PO Box 1, Wycheproof VIC 3527 or via email planning@buloke.vic.gov.au.
The planning authority must make a copy of every submission available at its office and/or on its website for any person to inspect free of charge until the end of the two months after the amendment comes into operation or lapses.
WAYNE O’TOOLE Chief Executive Officer Buloke Shire Council
BIRTHDAYS
JOB VACANCIES
Donald Campus Negotiable
Allied Health Team Leader Enrolled Nurse Trainee
Birchip
Endorsed Enrolled Nurse
Charlton
Resident Lifestyle Coordinator St Arnaud
Resident Lifestyle Coordinator Acting Campus Manager
Endorsed Enrolled Nurse
Associate Nurse Unit Manager Registered Nurse
Food and Domestic Service Assistant Wycheproof
Food and Domestic Service Assistant Junior Food and Domestic Service Assistant
Further information available at: https://ewhs.org.au/careers
EWHS is an Equal Opportunity Employer, we welcome applications to all positions from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People, LGBTQI+ People, and People of All Abilities.
Maintenance Employee / Plant Operator - St Arnaud
Employment type: Permanent full-time
Are you a practical, hands-on person who enjoys working outdoors and operating machinery?
Northern Grampians Shire Council is seeking a reliable and motivated Maintenance Employee/Plant Operator to help maintain and improve our region’s essential infrastructure and public spaces.
Applications close Monday 28 July 2025. Please visit www.ngshire.vic.gov.au/ Careers/Current-vacancies for more information and to apply.
BRENT McALISTER CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
VFF MEETING
Members and Community Welcome GUESTS:
- VFF President Brett Hosking
- VFF C.E.O. Charlie Thomas
- Dr Jane Foster - Stress & Resilience
- Andrew Weideman - Updates & Events
St. Arnaud Sporting Club
Thursday 24th July 6.00pm Start
R.S.V.P.: Saturday 19th July for meal
Text to: Colin Coates 0427 693 329 Barry Batters 0418 567 674
Enquiries
Sue Walsh 0407 140
NCN ADVERTISING
Classified deadline 4pm Mondays
Email your advertisement to ncn@iinet.net.au
DISPLAY ADVERTISEMENTS
Bookings close 4pm Friday prior
Solicitor
116 Napier St., St. Arnaud
Practical, experienced advice in plain English
Appointments also available in Charlton, Donald & Wycheproof Ph: 5495 2595 Karen@klp.net.au
Top of the Town Beauty Salon
For all your hair and beauty needs Ph: 5495 1306
~ Open ~ Monday to Friday
Colours, Perms, Unisex Cuts, Waxing, Teeth Whitening, Brow Wax & Tinting, Tanning etc..
110 Napier St., St. Arnaud
SELF STORAGE
• 7 DAYS ACCESS
• BUSINESS STOCK
• LONG OR SHORT TERM STORAGE AVAILABLE
Hayley: 0409 337 276, Luke: 0458 885 266
Nicola Kirk Physiotherapist
Over 17 years experience
Open Mon to Fri
63 Napier Street, St. Arnaud 0400 451 432 or 5495 1108
LIVESTOCK FOR SALE
CHOOK RUN
BALLARAT CHOOKS
Hyline Browns
Delivery date: Tuesday, 5th August. Stopping at Avoca, St. Arnaud, Donald, Wycheproof
Sexed and Vaccinated
Contact Kelvin to pre-order Ring Or message on 0400 559 559
DEATH NOTICES
WILLIAMS (Bock)
- Dorothy Minnie of Coonooer Bridge passed away peacefully in St Arnaud on the 19th July 2025, aged 102 yrs. Loved wife of Lew (dec) and loved mother of John, David and Kerry, mother-in-law of Su and June. Loving Nanna of Dion, Zara, Eliza; Jason and Justyne. Farm Nana and Nana of their children.
A long life well lived. Rest Peacefully Mum. A private funeral will be held. KELL FUNERALS ST. ARNAUD
NFDA EST: 1860 5495 1043
WILLIAMS (Bock)
- Dorothy Minnie
Dearly loved Mother of David and Mother-in-law of June.
The time had come to say goodbye, Those we love don’t go away, They walk beside us every day, Loved, missed and very dear.
Forever in our hearts. David and June.
WILLIAMS (Bock)
- Dorothy Minnie
Dearly loved Nanna of Justyne and husband Rod, Great Grandmother of Lavinia and Briley. Lovingly known as “Farm Nana”.
A life well lived. Sadly missed, forever in our hearts ♥
CHURCH NOTICES
ST. ARNAUD CHURCH OF CHRIST
Cnr Queens Ave & Alma St.
Celebrating faith in our Lord
Thu 24th July
10.30 a.m.: Faith Group
Sun 27th July
10.30 a.m.: Worship & Communion
Speaker: Andrew George All welcome.
Enquiries: Church 0494 391 466
All Welcome
Sunday
Rev. Peter Downes
Enquiries phone: 0412 957 383
UNITING CHURCH
ST. ARNAUD / STUART MILL
Sunday 27th July
Stuart Mill 10.00am
Geoff Postlethwaite. All Welcome.
PARISH OFFICE
Chris & Rob Batters
Pastorial Co-ordinators
Enquiries: 5495 6223
DISTRICT CATHOLIC CHURCHES East Wimmera Parish
BIRCHIP - Sunday July 27th
10.30am - Live Stream in BOORT - Sunday July 27th
10.30am - Live Stream in BANYENA - No Mass
CHARLTON - Sunday July 27th 10.30am
Live Stream out to churches without Mass
DONALD - Sunday July 27th
10.30am - Live Stream in ST.ARNAUD - Sunday July 27th 8.30am - Mass
WYCHEPROOF - Saturday July 26th
7.00pm - Mass
Parish Coordinator: Noeline Hogan 0476 617 976
July 23rd Kell Bibby
Mace Bibby
July 24th
Sue Chipperfield
Sophie O’Donnell
July 25th
Taylor Amos
Daph Donaldson
Marcus Baldwin
July 26th
Corrie Bussem
Madi Grech-Gale
Barb Hogan
Kim Nevill
July 27th
Bella Mason
July 29th
Samuel Dyke
Jake Postlethwaite
Archer Reyne
Paige Gifford
William George Cole late of 271 Rinaldi Road, Logan, VIC, 3475, Farmer, deceased.
CREDITORS, next of kin, and others having claims in respect of the will of the above named deceased, who died on 15 October 2024 are required by the executors, Brett Travis Cole and Darren William Cole, c/- the undermentioned solicitor, to send particulars of their claims to them by the 2 October 2025 after which date the executors may convey or distribute the assets, having regard only to the claims of which they then have notice.
MCL LEGAL 78 Napier Street St Arnaud VIC 3478
Lanyon claims monthly medal
LADIES competed for the monthly medal last Wednesday at St. Arnaud Country Club Golf.
Jenny Lanyon was the winner with a nett 76 , runner- up was Brenda Proctor.
Nearest the pins: 6th and 8th Marilyn Knights and 18th Jenny.
Glenda O’Neill and Lyn Freeman represented St. Arnaud at the Boort Tournament. This week is Wedderburn’s turn.
This Saturday evening the club will be hosting a casserole night for the footy club.
It is hoped that members will take the opportunity for a mid-winter social gathering as well as raising funds for the club.
The day dawned with a bitterly cold wind, but the punters came for the annual wood auction for the St Arnaud Country Club.
Brett Douglas, auctioneer extraordinaire, cajoled, caressed and teased potential buyers, keeping the entertainment
and sales rolling along. It was a successful auction, with all buyers pleased with the quality of the firewood on offer. Many thanks to Brett and Cam Morrison from Driscoll Douglas East Rural Real Estate for running the auction.
With the wood delivered to buyers, it was time for the annual President versus Co-captains’ challenge.
The Co-captains’ somewhat dodgy selection tactics worked in their favour, with the co-captains winning the challenge by 4½ matches to 3½.
The highlight for the Presidents’ team was Trevor Stewart scorching the grass with an 83/17/66, giving him the St Arnaud Physiotherapy Award for the day. \ David Lanyon performed admirably for the co-captains, making mincemeat of Mark McGrath in his match.
The Kevin Nevill singles event continued, with two gun heavyweights in Scott Wright and Trevor Baldock having a tight tussle all the way.
The result went to Scott on the 19th hole. David Lanyon overcame Mark McGrath, and the nuggetty Leigh Hines had a tight match with the in-form Ernie Scilini, with Leigh firing up at the end to win by one shot.
The talented Tubby Drendel finally played to his potential, winning the AGrade comp with a score of 79/8/71, while evergreen veteran, John Nevill, secured second place with an 86/14/72.
The St Arnaud Caravan Park Nearest to Pin on the 8th hole went to Alison Fahey, who also won the Weir’s IGA NTP on the 18th hole.
Lindsay Baldock won NTP on the 6th. Co-captains’ team leader, Bill Rodger, played the shot of the day on the 10th hole, falling about 100mm short of a holein-one.
Despite this, President Chris Campbell was able to maintain his composure under pressure and hold Bill off to win their match.
Elisa Fitzpatrick sends Charlton into attack during the Navies’ big win over Donald on Saturday in North Central Hockey. NCN PHOTO
NORTH CENTRAL FOOTBALL
SENIORS
Charlton 6.5 10.6 13.11 14.13 (97)
Donald 0.0 1.1 3.2 5.5 (35)
GOALS - Charlton: A. Patterson 4, S. Zagame, T. Finlay, K. Clifford 2, L. Collins, M. Heenan, B. Kemp, M. Collins. Donald: J. Talty, B. Arho, K. Green, R. Bath, L. Rice. BEST - Charlton: L. Collins, B. Xiriha, M. Heenan, M. Collins, A. Patterson, J. Zagame. Donald Seniors: K. Green, R. Young, J. Adams, B. Griffiths, J. Talty, D. Bell-Warren.
St Arnaud 0.0 2.0 2.0 3.0 (18)
Sea Lake Nandaly 9.8 10.12 18.17 21.23 (149)
GOALS - St Arnaud: C. Zander, D. Schilder, Z. Phillips. Sea Lake Nandaly: M. Cahoon 6, T. Donnan 3, A. Collins, J. Summerhayes, A. Pattison 2, J. Jenkins, O. Brownless, K. Donnan, R. O’Sullivan, C. Tait, W. Donnan.
BEST - St Arnaud: T. Bertalli, D. Schilder, H. Saunders, H. Durward, K. Torney, M. Goode. Sea Lake Nandaly: M. Cahoon, T. Donnan, W. Donnan, B. Adcock, A. Mertz, J. Poulton.
Boort 3.2 6.3 7.9 9.10 (64) Calder United 3.1 8.6 10.9 18.12 (120)
GOALS - Boort: E. Coleman 3, J. Keeble 2, T. Potter, T. Rutley, J. Baddeley-Kelly, C. Egan. Calder United: J. Humphreys 6, D. Munro, Z. Caccaviello, S. Kennedy 2, R. Smith, Z. Keighran, G. Turner, K. Hommelhoff.
BEST - Boort: J. Baddeley-Kelly, C. Egan, M. Austin, J. Keeble, K. Rutley, K. Jaksic. Calder United: Not supplied. Wedderburn 1.0 5.4 8.5 12.9 (81)
Birchip Watchem 6.5 10.7 15.12 15.14 (104)
GOALS - Wedderburn: M. Jensen 4, J. Miller, M. McEwen 2, J. McEwen, O. Holt, D. Benaim, I. Holt. Birchip Watchem: B. Edwards 7, R. Conboy 4, N. Rippon 2, J. Christie, H. Hosking.
BEST - Wedderburn: I. Holt, M. Jensen, J. McEwen, M. Robinson, Z. Pallpratt, J. Mortlock. Birchip Watchem: B. Lakin, B. Edwards, R. Conboy, L. Ryan, A. Dean, W. Lee.
Birchip Watchem 12 12 0 0 0 272.07 48
Calder United 12 9 3 0 0 232.18 36
Sea Lake Nandaly12 8 4 0 0 223.08 32
Boort 12 8 4 0 0 160.71 32
Wedderburn 12 5 7
RESERVES
Charlton 1.0 2.2 5.4 9.7 (61)
Donald 1.2 2.3 2.3
(15)
GOALS - Charlton: L. Holmes-Brown 3, L. Dunne, E. Needs 2, J. Boyles, B. Rogers. Donald: J. Pearce, G. Morgan.
BEST - Charlton: L. Dunne, D. McCallum, P. Sait, L. Holmes-Brown, D. Whykes, J. Boyles. Donald: D. Tatarskyj, G. Pearse, S. Pearse, B. Harrison, J. Tellefson, J. Pearce. St Arnaud 3.3 3.5 4.8 6.8 (44)
Sea Lake Nandaly 1.0 3.4 6.4 11.7 (73)
GOALS - St Arnaud: J. Kell 2, J. Hicks, H. Torney, T. Ward, S. Elliott. Sea Lake Nandaly: W. Landry 3, N. Wight, Z. Wemyss, B. Weir, J. Clohesy.
BEST - St Arnaud: J. Kell, Z. Notting, B. Knight, S. Elliott, T. Ward, R. Burke. Sea Lake Nandaly: J. Clohesy, L. Martin, B. Weir, C. Elliott, I. Durie, T. Griffiths.
Wedderburn
1.0 1.0 2.0 2.1 (13) Birchip Watchem 3.0 6.7 11.9 18.14 (122)
GOALS - Wedderburn: L. Maher, C. Hargreaves. Birchip Watchem: A. Hay 7, T. Colbert, S. Pye, C. Goode, C. Lee 2, R. Hogan Jr, M. Rickard, A. Noonan.
BEST - Wedderburn: R. Tonkin, R. Holt, J. Hall, C. Hargreaves, A. Smith, L. Sims. Birchip Watchem: A. Hay, S. Pye, C. Lee, R. Hogan Jr, T. Colbert, G. Addis.
Boort 0.0 2.2 2.2 3.2 (20) Calder United 2.2 3.2 7.6 9.8 (62)
GOALS - Boort: J. Baker 2, C. Hatcher. Calder United: C. Fawcett 3, R. Allan 2, J. Turner, G. Forrester, T. Trewin, B. Barker.
BEST - Boort: A. Trethowan, J. Baker, J. Dowling, J. Hall, J. Sheahan, P. O’Rourke. Calder United: C. Fawcett, H. Connolly, J. Ison, A. Forrester, R. Botheras, J. Morrison.
Calder United 12 11 1 0 0 451.16 44
Boort 12 10 2 0 0 374.16 40
Birchip Watchem 12 10 2 0 0 288.26 40
Sea Lake Nandaly 12 6 6 0 0 136.82 24
St Ar naud 12 5 7 0 0 125.85 20
UNDER 17
Charlton
Donald 0.1
UNDER 14.5
(50)
(14)
BEST - Charlton: S. Zagame, L. Van Boven, J. Monaghan, M. Fitzpatrick, J. Wright, E. Soulsby. Donald: L. Rice, O. Brennan, J. Geddes, B. Cumming. Boort
Calder United
(85)
(28)
BEST - Boort: C. Gooding, L. Boyd, D. Perryman, C. Hird, C. Gould, B. McPherson. Calder United: T. Perry, T. Vearing, A. Cowell, J. Cavalier, Z. Cavalier, B. Chapman. Wedderburn
Birchip Watchem
(44)
(32)
BEST - Wedderburn: A. Smith, B. Cunningham, J. Dingfelder, T. Lowe, M. Dean. Birchip Watchem: C. Daniel, N. Dean, K. Hamilton, T. Atkinson. St Arnaud
Lake Nandaly
(37)
(49)
BEST - St Arnaud: F. Wilson, F. Donald, S. Bridgeman, A. Wickham, T. Berryman, W. Thomas. Sea Lake Nandaly: B. Kelly, B. Allan, H. Warne, O. Conlan, B. Barbary, C. Mott
Arnaud
UNDER 14
BEST - Wedderburn: J. Benaim, Z. Polkinghorne, B. Cramp, W. Collins, B. Noordennen. Birchip Watchem:
United
BEST - Boort: N. Howe, T. Trinchi, B. Gilmore, C. Gleeson, W. Brooks. Calder United: Z. Cavalier, H. Humphreys, M. Beattie, L. Hall, B. Hogan, T. Harrison. St Arnaud
Sea Lake Nandaly
(37)
(9)
BEST - St Arnaud: C. Hendy, F. Wilson, L. Lowe, I. Johns, S. Kay, X. Taylor,. Sea Lake Nandaly: Not supplied. Charlton
Donald
(14)
(18)
BEST - Charlton: C. Zagame, L. Monaghan, D. Olive, F. Zagame, J. Bartlett, M. Elso. Donald: J. Italia, S. Mortlock, J. Joseph, R. Clark, I. Stirling, D. Burke.
MARYBOROUGH CASTLEMAINE
SENIORS
Navarre
GOALS – Navarre: A. Slorach 7, R. Bibby, W Clough, S Rickard, B Slorach. Newstead: H. Hall, M Runciman 3, E. Hein, N. Lord. J. Smith
BEST – Navarre: Oliver Notting, Sam Walker, Aaron Slorach, Private player, Luke Hendy, Jayden Fowkes Newstead: Jovian Goulton, Joel Smith, Ethan Maltby, Harrison McGuire, Hayden Hall, Michael Runciman.
Nattte Bealiba 7.8 (50) lost to Trentham 20.14 (134), Lexton 5.4 (34) lost to Harcourt 20.7 (127), Carisbrook 10.9 (69) d Dunolly 6.6, Talbot 15.19 (109) d Maldon 7.2 (44). Maryborough Giants 10.10 (70) lost to Avoca 11.13 (79).
RESERVES
Natte Bealiba 3.3 (21) lost to Trentham 9.12 (66), Lexton7.4 (46) lost to Harcourt 916 (70), Carisbrook 5.5 (35) lost to Dunolly 7.10 (52), Talbot 32.12 (204) d Maldon 0.0 (0), Navarre 14.14 (98) d Newstead 6.4 (40), Maryborough Giants 6.8 (44) d Avoca 4.10 (34).
UNDER 17.5
Natte Bealiba 8.4 (40) d Trentham 6.5 (41), Carisbrook 25.17 (167) d Dunolly 0.0 (0), Talbot 3.2 (20) lost to Maldon 13.9 (80), Navarre won on forfeit from Newstead.
UNDER 11.5
Natte Bealiba 3.2 (20) d Trentham 1.5 (11), Carisbrook 0.1 (1) lost to Dunolly 2.5 (17), Talbot 10.13 (73) d Maldon 0.0 (0), Navarre 8.7 (55) d Newstead 0.1 (1), Maryborough Giants 0.1 (1) lost to Avoca 5.2 (32), Lexton 0.0 (0) lost to Harcourt 9.6 (60).
NORTH CENTRAL NETBALL
A Grade
St Arnaud 4, 5, 9, 12, (12) lost to Sea Lake Nandaly 11, 27, 43, 58, (58). Charlton 10, 18, 26, 35, (35) lost to Donald 8, 21, 36, 52, (52). Boort 14, 28, 39, 51, (51) d Calder United 14, 21, 32, 40, (40). Wedderburn 13, 31, 46, 58, (58) d Birchip Watchem 11, 20, 35, 50, (50). Ladder; Wedderburn 48, Sea Lake Nandaly 36, Boort 36, Birchip Watchem 24, Calder United 24, Donald 16, Charlton 6, St Arnaud 2.
B Grade
Charlton 11, 17, 24, 27, (27) lost to Donald 13, 24, 27, 36, (36). St Arnaud 10, 20, 33, 41, (41) lost to Sea Lake Nandaly 11, 18, 29, 42, (42). Boort 12, 18, 21, 28, (28) lost to Calder United 9, 20, 32, 45, (45). Wedderburn 13, 30, 43, 57, (57) d Birchip Watchem 12, 19, 21, 33, (33).
Ladder: Wedderburn 48, Boort 40, Calder United 36, Birchip Watchem 28, St Arnaud 20, Donald 10, Sea Lake Nandaly 10, Charlton 0.
C Grade
Charlton 8, 15, 23, 37, (37) d Donald 8, 13, 23, 35, (35). St Arnaud 10, 18, 29, 37, (37) lost to Sea Lake Nandaly 8, 20, 28, 42, (42). Boort 7, 13, 22, 25, (25) lost to alder United 14, 24, 34, 45, (45). Wedderburn 12, 28, 32, 43, (43) d Birchip Watchem 10, 18, 31, 39, (39).
Ladder: Calder United 44, Wedderburn 36, Sea Lake Nandaly 32, Birchip Watchem 28, Boort 28, St Arnaud 16, Charlton 4, Donald 0. C Reserve
Boort 9, 19, 30, 38, (38) d Calder United 9, 17, 26, 32, (32). St Arnaud 1, 2, 2, 5, (5) lost to Sea Lake Nandaly 18, 36, 56, 71, (71). Wedderburn 12, 23, 30, 38, (38) lost to Birchip Watchem 16, 29, 46, 62, (62).
Ladder: Sea Lake Nandaly 36, Boort 28, Calder United 20, Birchip Watchem 12, Wedderburn 8, St Arnaud 6.
17 & Under
St Arnaud 13, 23, 38, 53, (53) d Sea Lake Nandaly 9, 23, 34, 47, (47). Boort 5, 12, 22, 29, (29) lost to Calder United 18, 32, 47, 57, (57). Wedderburn 4, 14, 25, 29, (29) lost to Birchip Watchem 11, 26, 34, 51, (51). Charlton 15, 29, 39, 43, (43) d Donald 9, 15, 20, 39, (39).
Ladder: Calder United 44, Birchip Watchem 40, St Arnaud 34, Boort 34, Sea Lake Nandaly 20, Charlton 12, Wedderburn 4, Donald 0.
14 & Under A
Charlton 1, 4, 7, 11, (11) lost to Donald 8, 21, 31, 38, (38). St Arnaud d Sea Lake Nandaly 31-4. Boort 10, 18, 23, 29, (29) d Calder United 1, 5, 9, 12, (12). Wedderburn lost to Birchip Watchem 5-35. Ladder: Boort 48, Birchip Watchem 44, Donald 32, St Arnaud 24, Calder United 24, Charlton 8, Wedderburn 8, Sea Lake Nandaly 4 14 & Under B
Boort 4, 11, 14, 23, (23) d Calder United 2, 2, 3, 3, (3). St Arnaud d Sea Lake Nandaly 31-1. Wedderburn lost Birchip Wacthem 12-27. Ladder: St Arnaud 36, Boort 36, Birchip Watchem 32, Calder United 16, Wedderburn 14, Donald 6, Sea Lake Nandaly 4.
NORTH CENTRAL HOCKEY
MEN
St Arnaud d Sea Lake Nandaly 3-1. Charlton lost to Donald 1-6. Boort lost to Calder United 1-2..
Ladder: St Arnaud 26, Calder United 22, Donald 22, Boort 17, Wedderburn 14, Sea Lake Nandaly 3, Charlton 0. WOMEN
St Arnaud d Sea Lake Nandaly 10-0, Charlton d Donald 16-1. Boort lost to Calder United 0-3.
Ladder: St Arnaud 30, Charlton 24, Calder United 24, Boort 15, Wedderburn 10, Donald 4, Sea Lake Nandaly 0. UNDERAGE
St Arnaud drew with Sea Lake Nandaly 3-3, Charlton d Donald 9-1, Boort drew with Calder United 1-1.
Ladder: Charlton 30, St Arnaud 22, Donald 15, Boort 13, Calder United 11, Birchip Watchem 7, Sea Lake Nandaly 7. UNDER 12
St Arnaud d Sea Lake Nandaly 2-0, Charlton d Donald 4-1, Wedderburn lost to Birchip Watchem 2-3, Boort lost to Calder United 1-3.
Ladder: Calder United 31, Charlton 31, Birchip Watchem 30, St Arnaud 22, Wedderburn 10, Boort 7, Donald 6, Sea Lake Nandaly 4.
Natte Bealiba 20.20 (240) d Trentham 0.0 (0). Lexton 6.1 (37) lost to Harcourt 7.8 (50), Carisbrook 24.21 (165) d Dunolly 0.0 (0), Talbot 17.17 (119) d Maldon 4.1 (25), Maryborough Giants 18.12 (120) d Avoca 1.5 (11).
Smith, Jeffrey give Navies early leads
A
GREAT first quarter had Charlton’s attackers going goal for goal with Donald in Saturday’s North Central A Grade clash, Strong leads from Lacey Smith and Remi Jeffrey help deliver the ball into the Navies’ shooters.
Some strong defence from Donald however saw some turnovers.
Down the other end A Grade saw another debutant in U17s player Anika HolmesBrown combine well with Claire Smith and Issy Soulsby who worked tirelessly all game.
Anika starring in her first game with many rebounds and intercepts going her way.
Unfortunately, the second half saw Charlton fall away from Donald who took out the win.
Walsh Motors Best: Claire Smith, Walsh Motors Coaches: Anika Holmes-Brown Caffeinated Chaos Captains Coffee: Lacey SmithConnect Coffee and Stacy’s Dental Lucky Volunteer of the Day: Abby Mulquiny
In 14 and under A, it was a tough game against a strong side in Donald, however Charlton kept fighting all game and had some great leads down the court into our attacking end.
Steels Butcher Best: Anna Fitzpatrick, FHN Ladies Auxiliary Coaches: LilyMae McPhee, NWAG & Roberts Windrowing
“Have a Crack” – Rosie Fitzpatrick Charlton’s 17 and Under attackers worked well with a few different combinations. They moved the ball well down the court and goalers did their best in windy conditions.
Down the court defenders worked hard against a tall opposition and applied pressure which created many turnovers for us.
Overall, the girls played well as a team.
It was great to see Anna Fitzpatrick and Lila Schofield step up and play majority of the game.
It was also wonderful to see the girls encourage them and provide direction to make them feel comfortable on the court.
Bendigo Bank and Ergo & Mane Best: Lacey Smith, FNH Ladies Auxiliary Coaches: Stella Nicolson, Caffeinated Chaos Captains Coffee: Anika Holmes-Brown
In C Grade, with goal for goal in the first quarter Charlton shooters, Jac Leslie and Emmy Nelson showed some great accuracy that continued throughout the whole game.
Up the other end defenders, Annie Olive and Tahlia Holmes-Brown capitalised on rebounds and plenty of intercepts as well giv-
ing our attackers some great opportunities to score. Last quarter saw a tight contest with Charlton girls four goals down with just four minutes left on the clock.
Charlton worked hard to hold possessions and chased every loose ball down to end up getting the first win of the season by two goals,.
Vale of Avoca and Ergo & Mane Best: Jac Leslie, JS Plumbing Coaches: Brooke Prior, Caffeinated Chaos Captains Coffee: Talia Holmes-Brown
In B Grade, Charlton’s new look attack end for B grade last week with Tahli Roberts sidelined with injury (hopefully not for too long!) welcoming in Loretta Thompson to the side who combined well with Sarah Blair in the goal ring with good accuracy coming from both shooters.
As usual Kate Stuchbery and Holly Thompson played a strong game together in the defence ring.
Overall, Charlton girls showed some great passages of play and hands over pressure to keep the score line minimal at the final whistle.
Teys Charlton Feedlot Best: Rebecca Sexton, Teys Charlton Feedlot Coaches: Loretta Thompson, Caffeinated Chaos Captains Coffee: Sarah Blair
Charlton’s Leah Smith
Stunning goals keep game alive
THE Saints were unable to clinch a win in their latest North Central football under 17’s clash, going down to Sea Lake by 12 points in their first loss of the 2025 season.
Missing a couple of key Saints for the weekend, the team showed early promise with Archer Reyne kicking their first goal after Sea Lake opened the scoring.
Frankie Donald added excitement with a stunning boundary-line goal, keeping the Saints within five points at quarter time.
The Tigers came out strong in the second term, quickly extending their lead.
The Saints made some tactical changes, moving Talan Berryman into the ruck and Chase Zander into centre half-back, but trailed 14 to 32 at halftime.
The third quarter saw renewed energy from the Saints, with another classy goal from Frankie Donald and a major from Nathan Saludes after sustained forward pressure. Finn Wilson, Sean Bridgeman and Aidan Wickham also contributed heavily to assist the Saints to a narrow five-point lead at the final break.
A tight and physical final quarter was marred by an unfortunate injury.
Despite the Saints’ best efforts, Sea Lake managed to seal the win, with a final score of 5.7 (37) to 7.7 (49).
In the under 14s, what began as a cold morning turned into a hard-fought, teamdriven victory for the St Arnaud Under 14s, who delivered a commanding 37 to 9 win over Sea Lake in Round 12.
The match kicked off with a brilliant pass-off from Isaac Johns, setting up the first goal of the game by Chase Hendy. Jack Wait followed with a determined effort, chasing down a scrappy ground ball to score a point. First-year player Lewis Ezard impressed with sheer determination and selfless teamwork throughout the match.
Defensive efforts were just as impressive, with Xavier Taylor and Ned Ezard putting on a wall of resistance that kept Sea Lake from scoring for much of the game. Their defensive pressure was relentless, turning back repeated attacks and showing just how solid and well-organised the St Arnaud backline has become.
The midfield was outstanding all game, controlling the tempo, linking up play seamlessly, and providing crucial support both in attack and defence. With just a few rounds remaining, St Arnaud’s U14s are well-positioned at the top of the ladder.
Coaches Tyson Johns and Dan Greenaway praised the team’s teamwork, hard work, and focus.
Bookies on the money despite individual sensations
MATCHES all went the way of the bookies’ favourites in the Inter-Hotels’ Pool Competition last week but there were to be individual sensations in each of the encounters and the shortestpricer contest was to go down to the final ball.
This was to take place when the Farmers’ Arms team, without their Taffy Top Gun Leigh Watkins, faced off at home against the Country Club One side and they burst out of the blocks in spectacular fashion as Ned Gorrie, Hayden Perry and Geoff Watts ran their cues through Neil Robinson, Paul Mullins and Troy Shields who barely had time to un-holster their cues nor take a swig of any becalming elixir.
It was left to Des Moulday to get his team on the board at the end of the first round in his match against Ben Medlyn and this enticed his caterpillar contemporaries Neil and Paul to emerge from their cocoons in the second
round and square their respective matches, thereby levelling the contest at three games apiece.
The tide, however, swung back in favour of the Farmers’ boys as Geoff benched Troy and Ben awoke from his siesta to draw level with Des but, at the top of the third round, disbelief permeated the atmosphere when Neil transformed into the Mouse That Roared to inflict upon Ned only his second defeat for the season (the first having been way back in Round One).
One would have expected his teammate Hayden to have been demoralized by this but if he was shaken he was definitely not stirred as he eliminated Paul to put his team in a winning position, now leading by six games to four.
It was now up to Desperate Des to keep the Mean Machine alive and this he did by retiring Ben to the bar then when Paul and Troy completed a horror night for Ned
and Ben by defeating them in the first of the doubles the match was now in the hands of Neil and Des but the dreaded Colliwobble spectre was to haunt them in the final doubles against Hayden and Geoff to give the relieved Farmers One team the points by seven games to six.
The Rollers and Floggers loss keeps the Pub in the Scrub team in sight of the top four and they visited the bastion on the hill to tackle the Sporting Club side.
The two teams could not be separated at the end of the second round with the Club’s Dayle Pitt having grounded Shaun McNaulty while the Logan’s Peter Anderson had deep-fried Joel Nevill with the other two matches squared but the Clubbers had run their race as Ben Pell and Stephen Rodger closed out their matches against Cheyenne Vogler, who had scored her first singles victory for the season in the first round, and Jesse Cook.
The Loganites then won both doubles for an eight to four success
It was on this day eighty years ago that Trinity, the first atomic bomb, was exploded at Alamogordo, New Mexico, and the overseer of its creation, J. Robert Oppenheimer is famously credited with having said “Now I Am Become Death, the Destroyer of Worlds.”
It was possibly with this attitude in mind that the undefeated RSL team lay in wait at their home table for the winless Farmers’ Arms Two combination to arrive and it wasn’t long before radioactive fission was taking place on the pool table as Mitch Phillips, Dave Russ and Sam and Kyle Postlethwaite nuked Ruby Smith, Alayne Cunningham, Jack Hodges and Luke Pole.
But, as the Russians had done in 1949, Ruby exploded their own nuclear weapon at the top of the second round to surprise Mitch
but it was only to be a temporary setback as Mitch was to recover to close out this game while his compatriots had already escorted their opponents to the fallout shelter however there was a moment of rejoicing for the fissile Farmers when, in the first of the doubles amazing atomic Alayne executed the shot of the night that irradiated and incapacitated their opponents Mitch and Thomas Watts thus allowing Luke to pot the black for his first victory for the season.
A win in the final doubles saw the radiant RSL team glowing lustrously with a nine to two win. Ladder
RSL 44
Farmers’ Arms One 32 Country Club Two 28 Country Club One 20 Logan 20
Sporting Club 4
Farmers’ Arms Two 0
St Arnaud C Reserve’s Emily Hilton. NCN PHOTOS
Young spirits shine through
YOUNGSTERS Austin Lowe and Chase Zander have lifted spirits for St Arnaud with the performances against reigning North Central premiers Sea Lake Nandaly at Lord Nelson Park on Saturday.
Lowe, a second year under 17 player, made his senior debut as a key defender while Zander in just his second game with the ones kicked his first goal, and despite being near 20 goals down at the time, the entire side got around him.
Josh Jenkins held extremely well in front of goal. while Darby Schilder was the best of the Saints midfielders with 14 contested possessions, 10 clearances and three inside 50’s
A 9.8 to 0.0 first quarter put the Tigers on their way to a massive victory after the league-wide bye a week earlier.
However, St Arnaud fought back well in the second quarter, kicking 2.0 to 1.4, before being blown away in the second half.
The two-time reigning premiers have struggled at times this season but 11 goals to one after half-time illustrated their dominance.Sea Lake finished with 44 scoring shots to the Saints’ three, so the result could have been much worse for St Arnaud.
Sea Lake’s best players were Max Cahoon, who kicked six goals, and brothers Trent and Wade Donnan. Former Bridgewater star Andrew Collins played his first match for the Tigers, kicking two goals.
The fixture doesn’t get any easier for St Arnaud, which plays second-placed Calder United at Wycheproof this Saturday.
The Lions will be keen for a big win as they battle with Sea Lake for second spot and the double chance in the finals.
The Saints then face unbeaten Birchip Watchem, fourth-placed Boort and Wedderburn (fifth).
Navies score big with Bunter bounty
CHARLTON has a brutal run home in the North Central football season, facing the top four sides, but 2025 can already be declared a success.
Last season, the Navies could manage only a single draw but Saturday’s big win over Donald made it four victories for the year.
Charlton took out the Bunters Cup by 62 points, the team’s biggest win since pre-COVID days.
The result means the Navies are almost certain to finish sixth, making them the “best of the rest” on the senior ladder.
Five teams are vying for the top four and a place in the finals, with Wedderburn likely to be the side to miss out.
In the meantime, Charlton, St Arnaud and Donald have been fighting out their own competition at the bottom of the ladder, and Navies are now well clear of their rivals.
A brilliant first term against Donald settled any nerves, with the Navies going to the first break with a 41-point lead after kicking 6.5 to 0.0.
Four more goals to just one for the Royal Blues in the second quarter pushed out the margin to 59 points at half-time, and a rout looked on the cards. However, Donald was much more competitive in the second half, and outscored Charlton in the last quarter.
Liam Collins was named best for the Navies along with the consistent Ben Xiriha and Mason Heenan.
Coach Mitch Collins was also among the best afield again, and he will go close to winning the Navies’ best-and-fairest award for a second year running, while Archer Patterson kicked four goals.
Kalon Green, veteran Ross Young in just his fourth match for the season, Jett Adams and Brady Griffiths were the best for the Royal Blues.
Charlton’s Mason Heenan beats the tackle. NCN PHOTO
Chad Hendy is tackled during the tight encounter between St Arnaud under 17s and Sea Lake Nandaly on Saturday. NCN PHOTO
Talan Berryman
SAINTS GET A FINAL
WEDDERBURN will host the 2025 North Central grand finals in football and netball; the first time Donaldson Park has been the venue for the decider since 2015.
A lot has changed since then, when St Arnaud beat Charlton by eight points in a thriller to claim the football premiership.
This year, the Saints and Navies are struggling in sixth and seventh spot on the ladder, with bragging rights going to Charlton in the teams’ two head-to-head meetings.
The preliminary final will be played at St Arnaud, with the first semi-final at Birchip and the second semi at Boort.
St Arnaud under 17s are guaranteed of being part of the finals action with a top-of-table battle cointinuing with Sea Lake Nandaly.
The Tigers edged ahead on Saturday’s cliffhanger at Lord Nelson Park.
League officials and club presidents met last Wednesday to sign off on the finals venues.
Wedderburn was meant to host the 2024 grand final but the Redbacks’ run to the preliminary final saw the game switched to Donald.
By GARY WALSH
Construction of Donaldson Park’s new clubrooms meant the venue was unable to host any finals in 2023 as well, so the decision to play the decider there this season is overdue.
Unbeaten Birchip Watchem is certain to play in the second semi-final, with Calder United, Sea Lake Nandaly and Boort battling out second spot on the ladder and the right to face the Bulls.
Fifth-placed Wedderburn, three games and percentage behind Boort in the race for the finals, is unlikely to grab fourth.
The Redbacks and Magpies meet at Donaldson Park in round 14.
A Boort win would end Wedderburn’s finals hopes.
This week Wedderburn is set for a percentage booster against winless Donald, while Boort faces the unenviable challenge of Birchip Watchem at the Bulls’ home ground.
North Central Rules and Events Manager, Lance Standfield, was confident Donaldson Park would be in prime condition for the grand final.
He said soil testing would be done this week as the Wedderburn ground staff began preparations for the big day.
wins the tap in Saturday’s North Central Football League clash with Donald. For the Navies, it was to be their fourth victory of the season.
RESULTS, STORIES - INSIDE
Ben Lanyon (Charlton)