Ella Crathern joins teacher Briony Davenport and fellow Year 12 students Oscar Johnston and Molly Diepeveen at Fords Creek, where the group recently tested the water’s chemistry and surveyed insect life as part of a handson environmental science project. Armed with new field equipment funded by a Junior Landcare Grant, the Mansfield Steiner School students were surprised to find highly sensitive aquatic insects thriving in a degraded stretch of the creek - proof that even struggling waterways can still support life.
■ Full story page 3.
Mansfield misses the money
By EMMA OLIVER and STEVE KELLY
ANSFIELD has been overlooked in the 2025-26 Federal Budget, with Mayor Cr Steve Rabie expressing disappointment at the discontinuation of numerous programs stating regional communities deserve their fair share of Commonwealth dollars.
on Sunday, April 6 at 3am (EST) you need to put your clocks BACK by one hour.
projects like a new netball court at Bonnie Doon, and a network of cycling trails in and around Jamieson and Gough’s Bay in line with the Lake Eildon Master Plan.
“Every community member pays taxes to the federal government and we want to make sure that our shire also gets what it needs from the federal budget,” Cr Rabie said.
“The budget provides no new funding to continue the Growing Regions Program and the Regional Precincts and Partnerships Program.”
Previously, these programs provided crucial funding for the development of the Mans eld Station Precinct and for a suite of upgrades to Lords Reserve, which when complete will include a
“If this kind of funding doesn’t continue, it means we can’t keep delivering new and upgraded facilities like these for our growing community,” Cr Rabie said.
Council also recently made a formal submission into the Federal Inquiry into Local Government Sustainability that highlighted the need for the Local Roads and Community Infrastructure program.
“This was untied funding that enabled council to determine the greatest needs of the community based on feedback,” Cr Rabie said.
■ Continued page 2
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Mansfield misses the money
■ From front page
“Flexibility funding is important and it is disappointing to see the Local Roads and Community Infrastructure program discontinued.”
Cr Rabie did welcome news of increases to Financial Assistance Grants.
“While an increase is great, this is the area that needs the most attention,” he said.
“Any way you look at it, federal funding to local communities needs to be improved.
“Councils now receive much less from the Commonwealth Government than they have in the past but are expected to do more.”
As a positive, Road safety programs have been considered in the budget, with an increase in Roads to Recovery Funding as well as the Black Spot Program and the Safer Local Roads and Infrastructure Program.
“Council will continue to strongly advocate for the funds we need from these programs to improve our road network,” Cr Rabie said.
“In a cost-of-living crisis, we are pleased that tax cuts and cheaper medicines will provide relief for people in our community struggling.
“We also welcome the additional funding to train more general practitioners in regional and rural Australia.
“We know there are o en long wait times for medical appointments in our shire, and this funding will help address the underlying
critical shortage of healthcare workers.”
To address the doctors shortage, 200 rural GPs will be trained every year by 2028, as part of a $606.3 million commitment the budget.
Independent member for Indi Dr Helen Haines said in her budget submission, she requested the government provide additional funding, including via Commonwealth Supported Places, for regionally-based medicine university courses.
The budget revealed that universities wanting to access the $35.7 million for 100 new Commonwealth Supported Places (CSP) a year in medicine must demonstrate evidence-based strategies that encourage medical students to pursue a career in general practice, particularly in regional, rural and remote areas of Australia.
“This is a critical announcement and a win for regional areas facing critical shortages of healthcare workers, with a commitment to 50 per cent of additional General Practitioner trainee places being in regional and rural Australia,” Dr Haines said.
Dr Haines also welcomed other healthcare inclusions, such as cheaper medicines by lowering the Pharmaceutical Medicines Scheme general patient co-payment from $31.60 to $25 from 1 January 2026, and $7.9 billion to expand eligibility for bulk billing incentives to all Australians.
This has been matched by the Coalition if elected.
Reiterating council’s sentiment, Dr Haines said she was angry that regional infrastructure programs like the Growing Regions and the regional Precincts and Partnerships Program, along with regional roads and housing infrastructure funding had no further funding committed in the budget.
“Regional councils and organisations rely on competitive grant programs like these for key projects and community infrastructure,” she said.
“The appalling state of our local roads is
evidence that much more support is needed for our local government road programs.
“In the absence of well-planned and wellfunded programs, we know in election season the major parties’ fallback can be porkbarrelling based on where they need votes, rather than where funding is needed the most.”
Tax cuts in the budget have been welcomed by Dr Haines, labelling the announcement an ‘election sweetener’ as it will ease the cost of living.
A key item in the budget has workers earning an average $79,000 a year paying $268 less in tax in 2026, rising to $536 in 2027 – equating to around $5 per week and then increasing in 2027 to $10.
From 1 July 2026, the tax rate on income earned between $18,201 and $45,000 will be cut from 16 per cent to 15 per cent and will reduce even further to 14 per cent from July 2027.
But while tax cuts are a start, Dr Haines said almost 5000 people in Indi are on JobSeeker and there are no provisions in this budget for Commonwealth Rent Assistance, JobSeeker allowance or other Commonwealth support payments.
The government will extend rebates on electricity bills by six months, providing another $150 cut to power bills for households and small businesses.
But Dr Haines was not happy with the omission of funding for businesses to convert from gas to electric appliances.
“What is also still missing for households and businesses is support to electrify,” she said.
“With the cost of domestic gas, Australians know that the best energy cost saver is rooftop solar and electri cation.”
Liberal candidate for Indi James Trenery has slammed the budget.
He said the budget was for the next ve weeks, not the next ve years.
“This is a budget for an election, not one for our country’s future prosperity,” he said.
“At a time when living standards have su ered the biggest collapse on record and when the security environment is the most dangerous since the World War II, Labor’s budget has failed to deal with the economic and national security challenges our communities and country faces.
Mr Trenery also took aim at Dr Haines’ capacity to harness funding for Indi.
“None of the local funding sought in Helen Haines’ 47-page Budget Submission was delivered,” he said
“Year a er year, we are not getting our fair share.”
With the federal election now called for May 3 – the announcement made just days a er the budget was handed down – the local community will now have the opportunity to vote not just on the budget but what works best for the region.
Steiner students awarded $5000 Landcare grant for Fords Creek water analysis project
By BRIONY DAVENPORT
YEAR 12 students from The Mans eld Steiner School were recently spotted along the banks of Fords Creek undertaking an analysis of the waterway.
This eld project was made possible through a Junior Landcare Grant, which provided $5000 in funding to purchase chemical and biological analysis equipment.
The students were joined by Kim Magnay from Up2Us Landcare and Sue Kosch from the Catchment Water Authority, as well as science teachers, Dion Hall and Briony Davenport.
Together, they explored the complexities of water management, identi ed the invertebrates, and analysed the biochemistry of the waterway, deepening their understanding of the local ecosystem and the challenges of nding solutions.
The study revealed that the section of Fords Creek owing through Mans eld Botanic Gardens ranked poorly in overall health, re ecting high levels of degradation, erosion, and invasive weeds - particularly a er a dry and hot summer.
However, students were surprised to discover a significant number of highly sensitive aquatic insects, such as cad-
disfly larvae and dragonfly nymphs, which are typically found in healthier waterways.
This suggests that despite the creek’s challenges, it remains a refuge for various organisms during the summer months, highlighting the importance of ongoing conservation e orts.
To help restore the creek, students have developed an action plan that includes rubbish collection, weeding, and mulching of previous tree-planting sites, with plans to carry out these activities annually during the cooler months.
To raise awareness and inspire younger students to get involved, the students presented their ndings to the school commu-
nity in a creative and engaging way - through a rap song.
“Thank goodness it is not another unread science report,” said teacher Briony Davenport, highlighting the students’ creative approach to sharing their research.
As part of their International Baccalaureate Diploma Program (IBDP) studies, students must complete a collaborative science project each year, focusing on a global issue at a local level.
This waterway analysis will now become an annual initiative, contributing valuable data on the health of the creek over time.
The collected data will be made available to the community via the school website.
SCHOOL HOLIDAY FUN
Here we go – time to make the most of the school hols with fun and games at Mansfield Mini Golf (with ice-cream, donuts AND coffee), and our Mansfield Scavenger hunt. Give us a call to book your table because we all know it’s busy. 5775 2004
The news is in - we're finalists in FOUR categories for the 2025 AHA Vic State Awards for Excellence.
Best Casual Dining – Regional Best Live Entertainment Venue
Best Outdoor Experience – Regional
Heart of the Community
Many thanks to everyone who has visited, had a drink in our bar, enjoyed our live music, used one of our meeting spaces or had a bite to eat in our Bistro and / or Courtyard.
Our staff team are doing a stellar jobfrom our kitchens to our housekeeping, our bar crew to our Front of House, our Drive thru bottleshop and everyone in a "behind the scenes" role too. These accolades can only happen because of them.
Congratulations to the other local finalists - Mansfield Hotel and the Woods Point Hotel. What a cracking night it's going to be at the Crown Palladium in May! thedelatitehotel.com.au 5775 2004
SCIENCE STUDY: Willow Matthews collecting aquatic insects and fish species in Fords Creek.
FORDS CREEK: Molly Diepeveen and Ella Crathen measure the dissolved oxygen in the water.
FRIDAY: Sunny
SATURDAY: Shower Or Two
SUNDAY: Possible Showers
MONDAY: Partly Sunny
8-15
TUESDAY: Sunny
LAKE EILDON LEVELS
Greens sow seeds of change with Indi candidate
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By SHAUN MCMAHON
COMMUNITY advocate Alysia
Regan has been announced as the Greens candidate for the seat of Indi in the upcoming federal election, pledging to push for climate action, a ordable housing and a stronger regional voice in Canberra.
Ms Regan, who has previously stood as a Greens candidate for the District of Sandringham in the 2022 Victorian state election and for Ivison Ward in the 2024 Bayside council election, brings a background in not-for-pro t work, community advocacy and early childhood education.
She currently divides her time between metropolitan Melbourne and her family’s farm in Taggerty, in the Murrindindi Shire.
“My family have been proud Murrindindi Shire small business owners in the town of Taggerty for 45 years,” she said.
“I work on my primary producing farm on weekends and during school holidays, with my three daughters who enjoy riding their motorbikes around the 125acre property.”
Ms Regan has served on campaign and branch committees for the Bayside Glen Eira Greens and has been nominated for several civic awards, including the Victorian Disability Awards, as well as council’s Woman of the
Year and Citizen of the Year.
“I have a strong history in advocacy across the not-for-pro t, community and early childhood education sectors,” she said.
“I’ve been recognised for promoting rights for people with disability.”
In announcing her candidacy for Indi, Ms Regan said she would be a voice for regional communities.
“We’re in a housing crisis and regional Victoria is being le behind,” she said.
“In Indi, more than 40 per cent of renters are experiencing rental stress.”
Ms Regan criticised the major
parties for continuing to support fossil fuel projects, arguing the electorate is already bearing the brunt of climate change.
“Labor and the Coalition are both backing new coal and gas and worsening the climate crisis,” she said.
“Meanwhile, regional Victoria is experiencing more climaterelated disasters, including bushres and oods.”
She said the Greens’ platform o ers voters a real alternative.
“I’m proud to be part of a party that is ghting for no new coal and gas, publicly owned renewable energy, cheaper groceries, and a rent freeze,” she said.
“We want to make big corporations pay their fair share of tax and fund things we all need, like dental and mental health into Medicare and government-built homes to rent and buy.
“In a wealthy country like ours, everyone should be able to afford the basics and governments should actually solve the problems we face.”
Ms Regan said the people of Indi are ready for a stronger, progressive voice in parliament.
“The electorate of Indi knows they deserve more, and I am ready to demand it,” she said.
“If you want change, it’s time to vote for it.”
McMahon (SENIOR JOURNALIST)
ON THE TRAIL: Alysia Regan will contest the federal seat of Indi for the Greens. PHOTO: Supplied
Rewrite the childcare story
Local provider urges council to acknowledge existing capacity and rebuild trust
By EMMA OLIVER
FOUNDER of The Farmhouse Kim Stoney has raised concerns that a perpetuating narrative surrounding a lack of childcare within the shire is at best ill-informed and at worst misleading.
Ms Stoney asserts there are vacancies available across all age groups and on every day of the week, and ongoing messaging that there is a shortage is detrimental to the shire.
“We all know that attaining childcare is a real barrier to entering the workforce which means it’s a real barrier to becoming part of our town,” Ms Stoney said.
Her primary grievance is with council who she believes openly promotes this narrative, and she remains confused as to why misinformation persists when we should be promoting that “Mans eld is open for business”.
In November 2024, council stated that with more families moving into the area, the shire is experiencing shortages in childcare services that are resulting in waiting lists to get into existing providers.
And in December, a former councillor described childcare “as a weakness in this town – there’s a shortage, there’s no doubt”.
Ms Stoney said The Farmhouse currently has 78 places a day available.
“We don’t have a waitlist and what’s more we can handle current and future growth for many years yet to come without the need for any more assets,” she said.
Looking to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, as of June 30, 2023 Mans eld’s population had grown by 2.01 per cent, a high gure for regional Victoria which sits at half that average.
“Let’s assume that a similar proportion of the population will continue to use childcare as does now, then add 2.01 per cent growth,” said Kim.
“The Farmhouse won’t reach capacity until 2050.”
Even when Kim crunches the numbers to re ect higher rates of population growth The Farmhouse continues to meet local needs for decades to come.
At the highest end of the scale, Kim has taken into account a population growth of ve per cent consistently yearon-year.
“The Farmhouse is still able to adequately service the local community until 2037 – that’s 12 years away,” she said.
It was in 2011 that The Farmhouse opened its doors.
Acreage just o the Maroondah Highway was chosen not only for the opportunities it a orded in delivering a leading-edge childcare model, but also for the capacity to grow and accommodate an increasing population.
“Most of our children are enjoying nearly seven square metres per child indoors –well above the legislative requirements,” she said.
“And when it comes to outdoors, children at The Farmhouse have close to 70 square metres per child – ten times higher than the regulations.
“In addition, The Farmhouse has never been full to our licensed capacity,” Kim said.
“When we developed The Farmhouse it was with a commitment to providing Manseld’s families with su cient childcare facilities and because we correctly projected the growth of the township the service will continue to meet the needs and expectations of our local community.
“It has for the last 13 years with circa 2000 young people participating in our programs, and it will continue for a lot longer yet.”
This is the message that Kim would like to convey, this assurance to the community that despite the pervasive messaging childcare is readily available within the region.
“Until very recently when the mayor did visit, council has not taken very much interest in The Farmhouse,” Kim said.
“It was terri c to show our mayor around The Farmhouse so he could see for himself the massive childcare supply available right now to Mans eld’s families on a daily basis.”
Kim is now calling on more consultation between council and key local services to ensure a full understanding of the town and its needs.
Despite being the shire’s largest childcare provider with on-the-ground understanding and know-how, neither Kim nor her sta at The Farmhouse were consulted when it came to dra ing the Municipal Early Years Plan 2024 to 2028.
As stated in the plan the key aim of the service provider con-
sultation was to validate council’s three priority areas for the Early Years Plan and gain input to the identi ed actions.
“All the consulted service providers agreed that the council priority areas were also key priorities from their perspective,” the plan reads.
Kim queries aspects of these priority areas.
The failure to include The Farmhouse in the consultation process represents a signi cant oversight.
“Approaching consultation in this manner is to push one’s own barrow of intention, not to serve the community and seek what services local citizens need or want,” she said.
“In this case, it seems council had already made up its mind as to what they wanted to put in the plan and then narrowed their focus of consultation discussion to ensure the dialogue reinforced their pre-determined intentions.”
Council however perceives that under the state government’s ‘Best Start Best Life’ reforms which began rolling out in 2024, there will be signi cant change in the way early learning services are provided and the number of providers needed to service
that demand.
“The consultation highlighted to council a projected unmet demand for early learning spaces in the future, based on growth,” said Mayor Cr Steve Rabie.
“Council received funding to complete the Mans eld Kindergarten Infrastructure and Service Plan (KISP) 20212029 for this reason.
“The Service Plan assessed the estimate of the demand into the future based on the rollout of the reforms and the forecast was for a shortage in places.”
Reforms include 15 hours of funded three-year-old kindergarten and four year old kindergarten transitioning to pre-prep and increasing to a universal 30-hour a week program of play-based learning.
“The forecast is that the requirements for both long daycare and kindergarten will increase,” Cr Rabie said.
However, this forecast is based on childcare services incorporating kindergarten into their o ering, otherwise under new reforms childcare centres will in fact lose a signi cant proportion of their market.
“Council notes that the
trend seems to be the provision of three-year-old kindergarten services to maximise childcare provider business models,” Cr Rabie said.
Kim notes that The Farmhouse already has a dedicated kindergarten program, and with the Mans eld Kindergarten recently refurbished and able to accommodate additional students with a erclass care on-site, there are currently no shortages in this sector either.
Cr Rabie said council has a responsibility to steward local conditions to support market demand, from a strategic planning perspective.
“For example, if market forces create a gap in the market, council needs to ensure land is appropriately zoned to encourage businesses who can meet that market demand in the future,” he said.
Cr Rabie believes it is important for the community to have a range of options for childcare.
Having visited The Farmhouse in the last month, he commended Kim on the wellrun facility.
“Kim and I had a good discussion and she told me that it was the largest childcare centre in the North East, with more than 12 acres of space for our youngest community members to explore,” he said.
Kim is hoping council will use this visit to further understand the sector and allow insights gained to help guide policy.
To start this o and restore community con dence, Kim is requesting council o cially address previous “misleading and erroneous” statements and con rm there is ample childcare capacity available now and into the next 20 years.
CROSSWORD PUZZLE
CFA volunteer information session a success
LOCAL CFA brigades have been very stretched this summer due a number of res burning in the area.
In an e ort to recruit new volunteers, the Mans eld Group of Fire Brigades held a Volunteer Information Session on Thursday 25 March at the Mans eld Fire Station.
Over 20 people attended the session including interested community members, brigade captains, District 23 sta , training and community education personnel and brigade support volunteers.
A er a short presentation by Community Safety Coor-
dinator Matthew Anderson, those attending were given the opportunity to ask questions, tour the station and view the equipment as well as chat to the volunteers about their experiences.
It has highlighted that CFA is diverse organisation and volunteers undertake a range of tasks such as ghting res, road rescues, emergency medical response, fundraising, marketing and community education and engagement. Some volunteers may end up ghting res interstate or even overseas while some never get onto a truck.
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Tax ripoff
THERE’S only so much people can pay out before becoming overwhelmed and frustrated. All ratepayers will incur the Emergency Services and Volunteer Fund Tax which could be three times more than the existing levy. This is not a good outcome for anyone, especially Mans eld
There was a strong message of personal reward from volunteering with CFA as well as feeling part of a large, dedicated team.
“It’s de nitely a case of the more you put in, the more you get out of volunteering with the CFA,” said Mans eld Captain, Andrew Peachey.
“You make lifelong friends while constantly learning new skills through the huge range of training o ered.”
Anyone wanting to know more about volunteering with the CFA should contact their local CFA brigade or visit the CFA website.
Shire Council which has to collect the money and send it straight to Melbourne. Mary Parker, Mans eld
Bring back horse signs
I WRITE as a strong supporter of the Tallarook to Mansfield Rail Trail. It is of poor design but still provides many hours of pleasure to cyclists, walkers and horse riders.
for use by horse riders, walkers and cyclists. Is this an underhand act to deter horse riders from using the trail?
I am concerned by the subtle and devious way the horse image is disappearing from the trail signs. I point out to the Murrindindi and Mans eld shires the funds allocated by Julia Gillard were
If not, can the shire councillors from both councils explain why this is happening? I call upon councillors from both sides to cease this practice and replace the horse images. Raymond Donkin, Buxton
LETTERS to the editor must be signed with the full name, address and contact telephone number of the author provided. Letters under 250 words are preferred and we reserve the right to edit letters to fit in with space requirements. Nom de plumes will only be published at the editor’s discretion. Opinions expressed are not necessarily shared by the Courier.
Post: Letters to the Editor Mansfield Courier, 98 High St, Mansfield 3722.
HELP WANTED: Having been stretched in 2024/2025 fire danger period, local CFA brigades are looking for volunteers.
Breakfast Club jumpstarts day of learning at MPS
By EMMA OLIVER
THURSDAY morning’s
Breakfast Club at Mans eld
Primary School welcomed a steady stream of students having their rst, second or even perhaps third breakfast of the day, the free meal initiative setting them in good stead for a day of learning.
With year six students on wash-up duty and overseeing hand sanitising, school sta catered to the line-up o ering freshly sliced fruit, an assortment of nutritious cereals, sugar-free juice boxes and wholemeal toast.
Alongside a selection of cereals ranging from muesli and instant oats to Cheerios and Maple Crunch, students also had a choice of canned fruit in natural juice and condiments like Vegemite and honey for their toast available at the pop-up canteen.
The selection has proved to be a crowd-pleaser with tables in front of St John’s hall full of students munching happily before rst class begins.
Each Thursday the school goes through seven to ten loaves of bread and between four and ve boxes of cereal.
Breakfast kicks o at 8.30am, providing an additional incentive to get to school well before the bell.
Maggie Scott, Mental Health and Wellbeing Support at the school, con rmed this was the third week the program had run with the
A weekly occurrence the event is funded by the state government in partnership with Foodbank Victoria.
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initiative set to continue throughout the year.
Run my sta and volunteers with assistance from students in the older year levels, Maggie said the school was very thankful for all the help they had received,
“We would like to expand to more than one morning in the future, reliant on the help of more volunteers and
donations from the community,” she added.
“If you are able to volunteer or donate, please call the o ce.”
The school is looking for donations of cheese, spreadable butter and more reusable plastic cups, bowls and plates to meet demand.
“As we head into the cooler months, we will be o ering
warm porridge, baked beans and spaghetti, and on special occasions toasted sandwiches and pancakes,” Maggie said.
Maggie said the initiative so far had been a huge success.
“The students are loving it and the program is a great way for students and sta to connect in the morning,” she said.
“Providing healthy and nu-
tritious meals to students at school also helps them get the most out of their education. Maggie also mentioned the school has home food packs available, which can be accessed by calling the o ce and asking to speak to wellbeing.
“These conversations will be con dential and treated respectfully.”
We’re dedicated to ensuring you and your family stay protected against the FLU and COVID in 2025. Vaccine protection wanes in time, so then needs boosting.
Advice on staying up to date has often changed, and been a bit confusing, so we’ve summarised some general advice to try and help everyone out a little.
Flu Vaccination
Recommended for: Everyone aged 6 months and older.
Ideal Time frame: Yearly, ideally mid April - May.
Why: Protects against getting the flu, reduces spreading of the flu (adults are often contagious starting 1 day before symptoms through to 3 days afterward, kids are often contagious for a week), helps lower the risk of heart problems, and helps us all to help protect our most vulnerable.
COVID-19 Booster Vaccination
Eligibility: Adults 75+ and those 18-75 with weak immune systems: Booster every 6 months.
All other adults: Yearly booster.
Children 5-17 with weak immune systems: Single dose this year. Healthy children and teens: No booster needed in 2025.
Why: Reduces the risk of getting very sick, including heart problems, and long-term health issues like long COVID.
Visit Us at Mansfield Pharmacy for Your Vaccinations
Schedule your appointment today-online at www.mansfieldpharmacy.com.au
Location: Mansfield Pharmacy. 37 High St (near IGA)
Phone: 5775 1311
Final Message: Take the opportunity to get vaccinated and protect yourself and those around you soon. Cathy. Nicole, Sophie, Adam, and the entire Mansfield Pharmacy team are looking forward to helping you stay healthy and protected in 2025.
Aiming for a community with immunity :) Warm regards.
Cathy Henry, Adam Hardi, Nicole Ross and the team at Mansfield Pharmacy
educational support Sophie Baker were on-duty at Thursday’s Breakfast Club at Mansfield Primary School.
SOCIAL: Annabelle Briggs, Clara Creighton, Ila Macintosh and Ivy Davis enjoyed some of the food and drinks on o er.
Time for Sanae to say goodbye
WALKING down the north side of Mans eld High Street, it’s hard to miss Sanae’s Collections.
The ladies fashion retailer is a vibrant treat for the eyes, colourful and textured.
But from 2025, people will miss Sanae’s Collections as Sanae Polkinghorne has announced the time has come for her to retire from the business.
Unless an interested party steps up to take over the High Street store, Mans eld will be down another iconic local retailer.
As for Sanae, having spent the last seven years providing the ladies of Mans eld something to wear as well as a friendly face and a welcoming ear for a chat, it’s time to do some adventuring.
“I’ve had this shop for seven years, I took it on when it had already been going 18 years, it was around the corner back then,” she said.
“I stayed there for 12 months and then I moved onto the High Street and I’ve been here for six years.
“I’ve loved every minute of it.
“It has been my social outlet and I’ve met some great people.
“Mans eld’s just a great community, everyone’s got your back and it is I would not live anywhere else.
“Thank you to all of the customers who have come to Sanae’s Collections and supported me.
“If anyone local is thinking about opening a shop on the High Street, they should go for it.
“I took on the business when I was 60, I’d had six kids and had no experience and I’ve loved it.”
Your Council - Your News mansfieldmatters
What would you like Council to achieve in the next 4 years?
After each local government election, the elected Councillors develop and commit to a strategic direction for Council over their 4-year term This direction is documented as the Council Plan Council is now in the process of building its Council Plan and is asking community members to consider what the focus should be
More information can be found at plannedburns ffm vic gov au
Fire restrictions currently remain in place Further information on fire restrictions can be found at cfa vic gov au
2024 Find out what you can and can't do during the declared Fire Danger Period or on days of Total Fire Ban at cfa.vic.gov.au/can
A BOLD AND VIBRANT FIXTURE OF MANSFIELD HIGH STREET: Sanae Polkinghorne of Sanae’s Collections has announced she will soon retire.
Jamieson prepares for autumn festival
THE Jamieson Autumn Festival will commence on Friday evening, with a fabulous Jazz Concert starring Lloyd Speigel and accompanying artists.
The show will be held in the Jamieson Memorial Hall.
On Saturday Perkins Street will be closed to traffic, from Grey Street to the Jamieson River.
With over 30 stalls providing delicious food and items for sale.
There will be a bar at the junction of Perkins Street and the Jamieson River Reserve.
The Delatite Car Club will be showing their beautiful cars at the curb-side along Perkins Street.
Local photographic artist Freddie Leong will have a photographic exhibition of his beautiful artistry in the Memorial Hall.
He will be sharing the area with local artist Gayle
JAMIESON ON THE LINE with Carmel Dixon
Goldsmith, who will be raising funds for children in need in Melbourne.
The museum will be open with volunteers in attendance.
Local resident Wendy Blackledge will be demonstrating the art of gold panning in front of the museum.
The Jamieson Pottery ladies will have a stall with their beautiful items on sale.
At Gerrans Reserve, Craig Eury and his team will be demonstrating blacksmithing, how to use a smoker, and jewellery creations.
At the corner of Perkins Street and Brown Street, wood carving demonstrations will be conducted.
The Jamieson CFA shed will be open with a tanker on display.
The SES will have a rescue boat on display.
A treat for the younger children, the miniature firefighters’ uniforms have been kindly loaned to the Jamieson CFA for the event.
The uniforms have been produced for younger children to wear and learn about firefighting in an appropriate site.
The traditional and popular Cow Poo Lotto will be held at a farm property in Brown Street where the cattle can co-operate.
The grounds of St John the Apostle Church will hold a number of stalls, with local winemakers displaying their fine wines.
Musicians will perform throughout the day.
The much-looked-forwardto Gold Nugget Toss will be held during the afternoon’s festivities.
Inside St John the Apostle
Church there will be poetry recitals, with popular local poet Val Kirley.
A recital by musicians playing wind instruments will also be presented during the day.
On Sunday, the creative workshops will be presented in the Memorial Hall.
Knowledge will be shared by artists, ceramic potters, and felt makers - a creative finale to a wonderful Jamieson Autumn Festival.
The creation and preparations for the Jamieson Autumn Festival have been in progress for a year.
All participants, volunteers, stallholders, artisans, car enthusiasts, and performers will be at their best over the weekend.
All welcome.
Saint Peter’s Anglican Church in Jamieson will not have a service on Sunday.
The next service will be announced.
Mansfield hit by croquet fever
By IRENE O’MEARA
MANSFIELD’S croquet players gathered for an exhilarating match that kept everyone on the edge of their seats.
The game was ercely contested, with the winners
eventually triumphing by scoring 7 hoops, while their opponents trailed closely behind with 6.
This close nish made for an exciting and memorable game, just the kind of contest that saw us all fall in love with the sport.
MANSFIELD CROQUET CLUB: The club o ers a welcoming environment for players of all levels of skill and experience.
Mansfield's ULTIMATE School Holiday Program
is for children in Grade
Monday 7 April
TINKER BOXES
This is so popularnew Tinker Boxes have arrived ready to make !
Monday 14 April
CHOOSE YOUR OWN ADVENTURE around Mansfield
On the whim of the groupthis is going to be fun !
Tuesday 8 April
BUILDING OUR MARKET STALLS
Preparation for Fridaywe'll be building our market stalls today
Tuesday 15 April
MANSFIELD MAZE + BRACKS BRIDGE
Let's see what's new at the maze & cool off afterwards
Wed 9 April
MOVIES @ The Mac + DELICIOUS BAKING Movies + bake and decorate !
Wed 16 April
COLOUR RUN MEETS COMMANDO COURSE It's Colour Commando ! Wear white & be coloured !
Thursday 10 April
POOL PARTY ! SWIMMING in Shepparton Get another swim in before Winter comes !
The Mans eld Croquet Club warmly invites everyone to come and experience the joy of playing croquet. Whether you’re a seasoned player or a complete beginner, the club o ers a welcoming environment for all.
Activities are on-site and include Lego Masters challenges, making crafts, cooking up a storm in our Kitchen-Garden program, going on nature walks, building cubbies and caring for our Farmhouse animals.
Friday 11 April
MARKET STALL
After making some treats we'll "sell" them and have a big picnic
Spaces are limited so please book ASAP to avoid disappointment
LOCAL ARTIST: Jamieson photographic artist Freddie Leong with his art in Jamieson. He will be showing at the Jamieson Autumn Festival.
The future of wood heating
WHEN Euro Fireplaces was established in 2009, Christian Bergmoser’s aim was to provide a stylish alternative to the then line-up of bulky, black-box wood heaters.
In 2009, the Australian standard enabled wood heaters to create emissions of up to 4 grams per kilogram of wood burned. Over the years, that figure has been reduced to 1.5 grams, soon to be lowered to 1 gram.
The first Euro Fireplace tested to comply with the Australian standard, was Andorra; its emissions were 0.8 grams which was a sensation in 2009, and today, Andorra is still in the top lowest emission wood heaters available in Australia. Some Euro Fireplaces models are below 0.4 grams per kg of wood burned.
Not only do Euro Fireplaces wood heaters provide very low emissions, they heat your house with a minimum
amount of firewood.
Olbia and Uppsala for example, only use 1.3 kgs of firewood per hour to heat a 280sqm house.
Correct operation is vital; no longer is it acceptable to stack a wood heater to its maximum capacity with firewood and smoulder in a high emissions ‘lots of smoke burn’ for hours on end.
Modern wood heaters, like Euro Fireplaces’, keep warm for hours, even after the fire has gone out.
This is achieved by a unique heat bank system allowing heat to be stored and released slowly; similar to under-floor heating.
Correct wood heating is carbon neutral; wood decaying in the forest will emit similar emissions than if burned correctly in a modern wood heater.
With the everincreasing price of firewood, we need to burn less wood for longer and cleaner.
Euro Fireplaces are not only wood heaters, but a system to heat your house in the cleanest and most efficient way possible. In addition to modern Wood heaters, Euro Fireplaces specialises in Pellet heaters.
Pellets are made from compressed sawdust, a leftover byproduct of the wood building industry.
Burning pellets is thermostatically controlled, has near no emissions (0.2g/kg), and an efficiency in the mid 90 per cent.
With gas being frowned upon, pellet heating, at the press of a button, not only provides a real alternative to gas, but also the ambience and sense of well-being that wood heating creates.
There is a future in wood heating; yes, we need to burn correctly, and if we do, not only will we save money, we will also save the environment.
STYLISH SENSATION
The first Euro Fireplace to be tested to comply with the Australian standard was Andorra. It came in at 0.8grams which was a sensation in 2009, and even now Andorra is one of the lowest emission wood heaters available in Australia.
A traditional open fireplace has an efficiency of less than 10%. Historically, upgrading to a fan-forced heater was the primary option. However, these heaters have high kilowatt outputs, resulting in significant wood consumption and heat loss through the flue system. The intense radiant heat from the flue is often wasted within a brick chimney, making fan-forced heaters suboptimal for open fireplace inserts. Reach
Rotary youth programs life changing experience
By LYNN ELDER
YOUTH was the focus at last week’s Mans eld Rotary Club meeting where two program participants shared the “life changing” experiences that the organisation o ers young people whether it be as an overseas exchange student or the leadership awards.
Former Goughs Bay resident, Josh Chestney 24, who now lives in Euroa, attended Rotary Youth Leadership Award (RYLA) at Doxa Camp in Malmesbury and gave an overview of his involvement.
“It was nothing like I expected, I thought it would be boring,” Josh confessed.
He spoke about being pushed out of his comfort zone and gaining useful con ict management skills.
“The thing with con dence everything in life becomes easier for you if you are con dent,” he said.
“You learn how to tell people when they are right or wrong in a nice way.”
The seven-day program has many di erent activities that include trust exercises and re ection time.
According to Josh all the activities are student led.
“Students bring out the best in other students,” he said.
Guest Rotarian Linda Gidlund from Diamond Creek and a passionate advocate for the RYLA program which is open to 18 to 30 year olds urged those present to encourage young people they know to apply.
The leadership awards are presented to young leaders following the completion of the week-long conference which focuses on leadership fundamentals, communication skills, problem solving and con ict management, and community and global citizenship.
Benalla Rotarians Bruce McIntyre and Dianne Murphy extolled the virtues of the Rotary Youth Exchange (RYE) program both here and overseas.
Dianne shared how her three children all had positive experiences enjoying exchanges in Switzerland, Germany and Finland and the importance of host families to make it happen.
Several current, previous and potential host families were among the audience while others had come to hear more about what was involved.
but frank account of her experience in Europe.
“My time in the two countries for a year was a life changing exchange thanks to the support of the Manseld Rotary Club,” said Freya.
“It really shows what a positive impact you can have by going on exchange, not an easy choice but the best choice.
“It is about immersing yourself in a new way of life, new country, new school.
“I had nerves, only ever away from home for a weekend.”
There were “many steps” to prepare for such a long time away from home including what to pack.
other exchange students.
“The most important part of the trip was the girls I met and to nd a true sense of belonging and fun,” Freya said.
Staying with di erent host families she was exposed to di erent cultures and activities which included horses and skiing.
She described her German Christmas as incredible and “like no other” and topped off with the sound of sleigh bells outside on the street.
“Leaving was hard, but it shows just how meaningful the experience was,” Freya said.
Local season membership pass available to Mansfield Shire
BULLER Ski Lifts has announced Mansfield Shire residents will receive a special saving on their Season Memberships this snow season. The discount rate is available exclusively to residents of Mansfield Shire for 2025 Season Memberships purchased at Mansfield Buller Sports on two sale days – Sat 12 April and Easter Sat 19 April.
“This locals-only offer is one of the ways we are working to make the mountain more accessible to people in our area and to encourage locals to make the most of their mountain this season,” Buller Ski Lifts General Manager Noel Landry explained.
“I hope we’ll see more folk spending quality time on Mt Buller this winter.
“The Mansfield Shire passes are exclusively available from the Mansfield Buller Sports store on the two sale days only.
“I encourage anyone planning to get up to the snow to come to the sale, browse the bargains and pick up a local membership so you’re ready to get sliding as soon as the snow lands and the season kicks off.”
Mt Buller Season Members enjoy unlimited days lift access for the 2025 season as well as a range of membership benefits, discounts and VIP privileges including invitations to members only events.
Membership benefits extend beyond the snow season into summer offers including offers on RockWire climbs, free days at international resorts and other discounts.
The Mansfield Shire 2025 Membership is priced at $999 for adults (25-64 years old) and just $599 for children (5-18 years old).
Mt Buller offers tiered pricing for Young Adults (19-24 years old) at $899 and over 65s at $759.
The Mansfield Shire
The second guest speaker was Freya Mount a FCJ student in Benalla from Upper Lurg who had just turned 16 when she went to Italy and Germany as a Rotary Youth Exchange student.
Now 17, Freya gave a con dent
Most hosting periods for inbound students is four months with three di erent host families but it can be exible.
“But the hardest part was saying goodbye for seems like an eternity,” she said.
Freya spoke about attending school six days per week and volunteering at an autistic centre.
As well as trips to other parts of Europe covering 17 countries there were opportunities to catch up with
She expressed her deepest gratitude to everyone including her sponsor, the Mansfield Rotary Club and especially the host families.
Anyone interested in either of these youth programs or becoming a host family can contact Mans eld Rotary Club or visit the Rotary International website.
Membership is a strictly limited sale available only to shire residents in person at the Buller Sports sale event on presentation of a driver’s licence, rates notice or lease agreement.
The sale is on Saturday 12 April and Saturday 19 April from 10am – 3pm at the Mansfield Buller Sports at the corner of Elvins Street and the Maroondah Hwy.
INTERNATIONAL TIES: French Rotary Youth Exchange student Justine Demoor who is being hosted in Mansfield with recently returned Freya Mount who was on exchange in Italy and Germany.
YOUNG LEADER: Josh Chestney gained new confidence and skills through the Rotary Youth Leadership Awards.
Locals excel on the Tarmac Rally National Stage
XAVIER Franklin from Mans eld has excelled on the National stage in the Australian Tarmac Rally, nishing third outright, at Marysville, while local business Event Solutions
Safety Team’s Martin Doxey helped run and coordinate the emergency response services for the event supplying the safety o cer, and the incident response team covering medical, re and rescue for the event.
The opening round of the Australian Tarmac Rally (ATR) Championship took place on February 22 to 23 at the picturesque Lake Mountain, starting from Marysville, Victoria. A total of 40 competitors across eight classes gathered to navigate the challenging course, which extended from Marysville to Lake Mountain and down to Cumberland Junction.
The action was tightly contested with driver, Xavier Franklin and navigator, Jaidyn Gluskie (Porsche GT4) in Modern Two Wheel Drive class taking it to the Modern Super Rally class team of Jason and Fiona Wright (Nissan R35) and Mark Gri ths and Neil Wooley (Mercedes AMG GTR) exchanging leads in the early stages until Franklin hit his stride.
Franklin emerged victorious in the Modern Two Wheel Drive class, nishing 4:30 ahead of Rogers, with Whitmore trailing by another six minutes.
From the beginning, the ATR organisers encountered signi cant challenges.
Strong winds and extreme re risks led to the withdrawal of the racing permit, as concerns about dry conditions and high temperatures made it too hazardous.
Fortunately, a practical solution was found and the ATR organisers together with local business Event Solutions Safety Team help secure permission to run the rst day’s events in the morning, nishing by noon to avoid the anticipated heat wave later in the day.
This adjustment posed logistical hurdles for both the safety team, numerous volunteers and the competing crews.
With no lunch break and quick turnaround times, there was a palpable sense of urgency as the day commenced.
Nevertheless, competitors successfully completed seven of the planned eight stages, including a shake-down, with many praising
EVENT SOLUTIONS:
along with Pam Gurney, Martin Doxey, Sharee Gri iths, Brad Norden and Je Brusamarello made up the the incident response team covering medical, fire and rescue for the event.
the swi pace of the day.
The short intervals allowed their cars and tyres to remain warm, keeping them in competitive form throughout.
The permit for Sunday was also uncertain, but heavy rain in the morning led to the approval of the planned stages, resulting in only one stage being missed over the entire event.
In the overall results, son of local resident Mick Lillie, Dean Lillie along with Chris Exner (Mazda RX7) made their intentions for overall victory clear from the outset, taking an early lead and establishing themselves rmly at the top of the leaderboard.
Jason and Fiona Wright (Nissan R35) and Mans eld’s very own, Xavier Franklin and Jaidyn Gluskie
AMAZING
ACHIEVEMENT:
Driver, Xavier Franklin from Mansfield along with navigator, Jaidyn Gluskie in a Porsche GT4 took out third overall in the Australian Tarmac Rally at Marysville.
(Porsche GT4) engaged in a erce battle for second place throughout the event, with both teams trading stage wins and times.
Lillie concluded day one with a 30-second lead over Franklin, who was just three seconds ahead of Wright.
The wet conditions on Sunday favoured Wright, who overtook Franklin to ascend the leaderboard.
However, as the weather improved and the roads dried, and the competition intensi ed.
Heading into the nal stage, Lillie held an eight-second advantage over Wright, while Franklin was nearly a minute behind.
In a nail-biting nish, despite Wright’s faster time on the last stage, Lillie managed to secure the victory by just 3.7 seconds.
Super Rally which is the highest
modi ed cars are the fastest in Australia and are normally the outright winning cars.
For Franklin to nish third outright in a 2wd standard modern car was an amazing result.
The crews now have eight weeks to regroup before heading to the iconic Mt Baw Baw Sprint, where they will face stages featuring winding forest roads and sharp straights, designed to test the limits of both drivers and their vehicles.
Looking to the future the Australian Tarmac Rally, Event Solutions Safety Team, the Delatite Drivers Car Club & local o cials are looking to run more local events in the area for motorsport enthusiasts.
“We’re excited to be actively exploring the opportunity to add to our calendar a signature event in this part of the High Country region,” said Brittany Wilson, Australian Tarmac Rally Event Director.
“The area’s stunning landscapes, unforgettable roads, friendly atmosphere from locals and businesses, and accessibility make it a perfect t for what we’re trying to achieve.
“We can’t wait to see what eventuates in the coming months.”
For more details on these events, head to www.tarmacrally.com.
PLANNED BURNS TO BEGIN:
A er an extended fire danger period, FFMV are finally ready to begin their planned burn program.
FFMV autumn burns to commence
FOREST Fire Management Victoria (FFMV) will commence its autumn planned burning program in the coming days if weather and forest conditions are deemed appropriate.
Planned burning, they say, is one of the key tools their firefighters use to reduce the size, intensity, and impact of bushfires.
Reducing fuels such as grass, leaves, bark, shrubs and small fallen branches means fires are less intense, slower to spread and safer for firefighters to control.
This comes after the arrival of cooler autumnal weather, just weeks after more than 10,000 hectares of bushland burned in fires near Licola, Dargo and Boho.
Over the coming days burns will be ignited at Bonegilla, Buckland, Marysville, Woods Point and Flowerdale.
Autumn is generally the best time of the year to undertake planned burns as the weather is more stable and fire behaviour is manageable and predictable. This year more than 100 planned burns across an area of 46,300 hectares are prepared and ready for ignition in north east Victoria.
Priority burns are planned in state forest, parks and reserves around Marysville, Toolangi, Kinglake, Glenburn, Woods Point, Tatong, Howqua, Bright, Beechworth, Yackandandah, Mitta Mitta, Koetong and Tallangatta Valley.
FFMV will work with a range of agencies to assess weather and forest conditions, such as humidity, temperature, wind speed and fuel moistures, and will only carry out burns when the conditions are suitable, and it is safe to do so.
To find out when and where planned burns are happening near you visit www.vic.gov.au/ plannedburns.
Kylie Coghlan (who has recently moved to Mansfield to work at the hospital)
Walkers raise over $30k for autism services
ONE hundred and twenty six registered walkers took part in the second Lake High – Great Victorian Walk for Autism on Saturday March 22, with $30,800 raised to support Mans eld Autism Statewide Services’ expansion out at the new farm.
In teams of two to 10, the majority of walkers took on the 30 kilometre challenge from Wood eld to Mans eld, while the 15 kilometre teams walked from Maindample.
According to event manager Judy Dixon over half the walkers came from all over Victoria and made a weekend of it.
“Some came because they had a family connection to autism and to our service, others because it’s a great social cause that touches so many.
“Plenty of walkers came simply because it’s a fabulous excuse to make a weekend of it in Mans eld’s High Country, while being active and social.
“Not only did they walk; they stayed in accommodation, ate and drank out and explored.
“We also had so many locals supporting us; from Mans eld, Tolmie, Merrijig, Jamieson, Goughs Bay, Bonnie Doon, Howqua and they didn’t just show up, they rocked the costumes, the fundraising and the photogenic smiles.”
The jury is still out on the best dressed team with some tight contenders to win a half day kayaking rental from Jamieson Caravan Park, but the results are in for the high-
▶ ALL FOR A GOOD CAUSE: The team from Bree’s Hiking Buddies at the Bonnie Doon recharge stop with volunteers from the Bonnie Doon Football Netball Club, pictured are Bree Mackey, Michelle Tanner, Tina Martuccio, Cass Turner, Anvita Bansal with Aaron Brown (behind).
HOO: Spirits were high as
est fundraising team going to Happy Feet, a big team from Melbourne who took on the 30 kilometre challenge with gusto, raising $3.5k.
The team was committed to the goal of helping to get autistic children and their families o wait lists.
Each of the members of the team receive a $400 voucher for a High Country Hiking Tour.
The highest individual fundraiser is Glenn Ryan from Delatite Drivers Car Club who raised a whopping $2.5k and he wins a Yeti esky donated by Mans eld Hunting & Fishing.
A er our cut o -for fundraising tallies, the Delatite Drivers Car Club continued to increase their tally and
IN PINK (AND PURPLE): All dressed up and ready to go the Howqua
made it look e ortless, from le
ended up topping the team fundraising as well with $3,783.
The weather gods were supporting from the sidelines and the Great Victorian Rail Trail had its best foot forward for the day.
The marshalls were dressed brightly, armed with bundles of enthusiasm and the rest stops were well stocked.
Lou and Adrienne from LouFit sent everyone o at Wood eld and Maindample with a warm up and provided lots of encouragement on trail, while the Celebration Hub at the Visitor Information Centre was humming with cocktails from Anvil Brewing Co., tunes from Big Al, massages at our pamper
zone from Michelle Richter and Linda Davies and a BBQ from our catering crew of Jenny Brennan together with Lou and Lyn.
“Based on the glowing feedback, about the fantastic trail, the event organisation, the cause, the vibe and the fun, I’m con dent it will become a signature event for Mans eld Shire and for Mans eld Autism Statewide Services,” said Judy.
“We’re grateful to so many and notably to Mans eld Shire Council for signi cant in-kind support and event management assistance, without which we could not hold the event.
“Our thanks also to major partners Mans eld Mt Buller Bus Lines, Anvil Brewing Co,
LouFit, and Friends Great Victorian Rail Trail,” she said.
So many others also made a generous contribution including prize sponsors High Country Hiking, Manseld Fishing & Hunting and Jamieson Caravan Park.
Mans eld Co ee Merchant kick started the day with coffee, while photographers Clive Dickerson, Andrew Bottomley and Sue Arndt Hare captured the joy.
“Our volunteer marshall crew were sensational and thanks go to Bonnie Doon Football Netball Club, Friends Great Victorian Rail Trail, Delatite Drivers Car Club, Rotary, members of the community and sta from Mans eld Autism Statewide
Services,” she added. Mans eld Autism Statewide Services has been providing support for autistic children and their families for over 50 years. Services include skill building stays, family camps, respite, specialist school, holiday programs, outreach and in home behaviour practitioner support. They employ over 140 people, the vast majority in Mans eld.
The service’s expansion on a 100 acre farm in Mans eld, is increasing service capacity in response to demand, so more families can access the support they need.
For more information on Lake High go to https://lakehigh.org.au.
HAPPY HIKERS: Helen Edelenbos and Sally Hanratty respesenting Team LouFit 15k.
PRETTY
Hikers
are Cathy Kennedy, Danielle Willett, Vanessa Stephens, Patricia Storie, Sarah Gower, Dallas Hart, Gina Bram and Sarah Gower.
celebrated walking across the finish line with from le Marney Junge, Rachel Challis, Elspeth Plunkett and Tracie Julian.
ON THE TRAIL: Teams took part in the 15km or the 30km challenge.
WOO
walkers approached the finish line.
NUCLEAR FOCUSED: Liberal candidate for Indi James Trenery has backed his party’s policy to build nuclear power stations.
Trenery doubles down on nuclear
By STEVE KELLY
THE Liberal candidate for
Trenery has stood firm in fully supporting his party’s policy to build nuclear power stations if the Coalition wins government.
It comes after Liberals Against Nuclear launched an advertising campaign against the party’s plan to build nuclear power plants.
The group asserted that the party had gone silent on nuclear energy in its advertising, which the group said confirms the policy does not have internal party support.
Liberals Against Nuclear spokesperson Andrew Gregson said they avoid mentioning nuclear in their advertising because they know voters don’t want it.
“If the party leadership knows this policy is unpopular enough to hide from voters, they should abandon it so they can win the election and put Peter Dutton in the Lodge,” Mr Gregson said.
Mr Trenery defended the policy and highlighted the high cost of energy and Labor’s promise that Australians power bills would be $275 lower.
He said families and businesses are paying up to $1300 more than Labor promised.
“Australians now pay among the highest electricity prices in the world, far higher than nations which have nuclear in the mix,” Mr Trenery said.
“Australia sits idle who other nations pledge to triple global nuclear capacity by 2050 and companies like Microsoft, Google, Amazon, and Oracle pour billions into nuclear energy to power AI and data centers.”
He said under Anthony Albanese, Australia is now the only G20 nation not using nuclear energy or moving in that direction – “a global embarrassment caused by Labor’s ideological obsession”.
“Labor’s failure to even consider nuclear energy puts Australia at odds with its AUKUS allies, who are making nuclear a cornerstone of their energy, defence and climate strategies,” Mr Trenery said.
“While countries like the US, UK, and Canada are leveraging nuclear to meet their net-zero targets and ensure energy security, Labor’s ideological obstruction leaves Australia isolated, cut off from key global trends.”
Rollers living the life on the road in style and solidarity
By LYNN ELDER
MEMBERS of Rolling Solo, an Australian group designed to encourage women to discover the freedom of the open road with a community of like-minded individuals rolled into the Mans eld Showgrounds for a return visit with more than 60 solo travellers congregating recently for four nights.
Mans eld as a camping destination came about through a local woman, Alison Neely, who hosted the initial gathering at her Barwite property four years ago.
Following the success of that stay, it was decided to move to the more central location of the showgrounds which also made the planning easier to manage for the yearly event, said Alison.
Judging by the numerous smiling faces and good humour among the visitors, this is truly their “tribe” when they choose to hit the road and catch up at various places throughout Victoria and interstate.
Alison travels with her slide-on camper while others have motor homes, camper vans and even tents.
The Mans eld event has attracted women from across Victoria including Melbourne while others have travelled from NSW and Queensland.
There are members who are permanently on the road with their rigs.
Sharon Hayes has converted an
old Ansett airline bus into a home away from home which she fondly calls Dorothy.
To help nance her travels, Sharon rescues old fabric from land ll and repurpose it into useful items.
“I have a sign that says, ‘my broom is broken so I drive a bus’,” she laughs.
The beauty of the group is that it is open to any women who want to embark on new journeys, create life-long friendships and revel in the joy of road trips, camping and social outdoor events suitable for older age groups.
Age is no barrier according to Alison.
Some are in their late 40s through to their 80s but all share the same attitude of adventure and enjoying the outdoors with other women when they come together.
The gatherings tend to be out-
side national parks and in camping grounds so campers can bring their “fur babies” along for the ride.
“Some women come for one night and others for four nights,” Alison said.
Alison explains that the gatherings are “fairly unstructured” but she provided the group with some options for local activities during their Friday night “happy hour” ranging from four-wheeldrive trips in the mountains, excursions to the maze at Goughs Bay, music at the local hotel, and for the bargain hunters a Saturday garage sale in town.
When the Courier caught up with the group, they were enjoying what members described as “a perpetual happy hour” and keen to pose for a photograph.
“My motivation for getting involved with Rolling Solo four years ago was to get out and travel
on my own, and see more of the country,” Alison said.
“We share experiences, recommendations, tips, and hacks.
“I encourage women who want to travel on their own to join the group and be welcomed into a non-judgmental environment,” said Alison.
Alison reported post-event that all the women had a great time at the camp and loved the proximity to town.
“The girls all love a good op shop and many bargains were found,” she said.
“They also visited the Emporium and loved the garage sale as well.
“Great variety of dining options, which all provide excellent meals.
“Steve Marshall from High Country Tours took some of the women on a tour to Mt Buller and Craigs Hut on the Saturday and another group on Sunday.
“The ladies loved this as it was somewhere they would not have got to on their own.
“Many have expressed interest in doing the camp again so we will be back next year.”
The strong bonds formed are never forgotten with the Rolling Solo group hosting a yearly memorial camp which will happen at Jugiong in NSW during April.
Anyone who wants to know more about becoming a member of Rolling Solo can visit their website for details.
Indi James
HAPPY ROLLERS: Some of the campers at the Mansfield showgrounds, Merrill Gronow (le ), Liz Murphy, Michelle Wallace, Alison Neely, Sharon Hayes with Mae Mae , and Jeanette Thompson. PHOTO: Lynn Elder
HAPPY HOUR: More than 60 members of Rolling Solo women’s only group descended on Mansfield at the showgrounds during March.
PHOTO: Lynn Elder
Q&A with Manager Phil Camilleri of Bendigo Bank Community Bank Mansfield & District
Why is community banking important to you?
Where we live is such a beautiful and vibrant area.
The community bank plays such a big role in this.
Providing banking services through a lens of community sets an entirely di erent tone.
A bank where every customer is important, and the time is taken to build real relationships contributes to the prosperity of the town.
How long have you been working in banking?
I have worked in the nance industry with various roles in risk management and credit for 25 years.
Eleven of those have been speci cally in banking.
What have you enjoyed most about joining the team at Community Bank Mans eld & District?
Two things mainly, the team – they have been super welcoming and supportive towards me.
Their banking expertise and dedication to supporting customers has blown me away. And the customers, who have been just as welcoming to me.
I have enjoyed meeting them all.
I am very grateful to have this opportunity.
What gets you most excited about working in community banking?
The most exciting thing is being a part of the community banking model where pro ts are invested back into the community. It’s such a unique situation where a banking institution has a positive impact on the community.
What di erence can you o er local customers looking for better banking opportunities?
We have the team that has the time and expertise to sit down with you and make sure your banking is set up so it works for you.
With our range of products and online banking options, we can help you achieve your goals.
What would be your advice for anyone considering changing their banking to community banking?
Have a look around town and see all the great things the community bank has supported in town through our grants and sponsorships. You will see our logo everywhere.
You will be a part of that when you bank with us. Come in and talk to us.
We can review your current banking and lending and look at ways to make it easier for you and maybe save you some money too.
Friday 6pm-10pm Jamieson's Night of Blues
Lloyd Spiegel with Lisa Baird & Tim Burnham
Kin (Paul and Ashlyn Riley)
Food trucks and bar
Saturday 10am-4pm Festival Day
4 stages of live music
Kids activities
Artisan market
Food & drink stalls
Old world trades
Car show n shine
+ heaps more!
Workshops & Activities
Significant Tree guided walk
Ceramics, painting, felting
We're seeking your help to ensure Mansfield District Hospital’s services align with community needs. Please complete and share this short survey with your network to gather valuable feedback on healthcare priorities.
Your support helps us listen to diverse perspectives and shape our services for a healthier future. Thank you!
LOCAL BANKING CHAMPION: With 25 years in finance and a passion for community, Phil Camilleri brings experience, heart, and a fresh perspective to Community Bank Mansfield & District.
Let the games begin
Battle lines for Indi electorate have been drawn with federal election called for 3 May
BY BAILEY ZIMMERMANN bzimmermann@ nemedia.com.au
THE battle for the federal seat of Indi has begun in earnest, with candidates quickly pivoting into full campaign mode following Prime Minister Anthony Albanese o cially dissolving parliament on Friday morning and calling a federal election on 3 May.
The announcement, just days after Labor handed down its 2025/26 federal budget, kickstarts a veweek election campaign for candidates.
Incumbent Independent Helen Haines, Liberal James Trenery, Labor’s Mitch Bridges, The Greens’ Alysia Regan, Family First Party’s Michael White, One Nation’s Athol Thomas and Libertarian Party’s Tim Quilty have already declared their candidacy.
While the Nationals, who polled 3.7 per cent of the primary vote in the 2022 Indi election, are a non starter, other candidates are likely to emerge before nominations close on April 10.
Incumbent Independent MP Helen Haines will be seeking her third term this election and said she would be ghting for what matters to Indi, not party politics.
“We set our own priorities right here in Indi and I’ll keep ghting for a fair deal for us and for regional Australia,” she said.
Dr Haines outlined key election pledges going into her campaign would include the Border community’s ght for a new Albury-Wodonga hospital, further local infrastructure to unlock new housing, improve health services, access to childcare and telecommunications and government accountability.
“I’ve got a strong track record and worked across party lines and with governments of both stripes,” she said.
“Whether that’s been ghting for stranded communities during the pandemic, relief for communities impacted by bush res, shaping the national agenda with housing solutions, and securing a National Anti-Corruption Commission, I’ve had local impact and national in uence.
“We share a vision of what Indi is and could be.”
Liberal candidate James Trenery is looking to win the Indi seat for his party for the rst time in 12 years.
For the Liberals to overcome the orange wave, Mr Trenery would need to pull o a near nine per cent swing from the 2022 election.
He said he is looking to deliver on the community’s call for change.
“Here in the North East, the past three years have been tough… we have not got our fair share,” the former Indigo Shire councillor said.
Mr Trenery has pledged to follow through with his party’s plan to halve the fuel excise and drop the price of fuel by around 24 cents per litre, as well as delivering on cheaper energy with a mix of renewables, and “getting tough” on violent crime.
“Our Liberal plan will lower the cost of living immediately,” he said.
“We can’t a ord another three years of Labor and Helen Haines.”
Wodonga social worker Mitch Bridges will be vying for the seat as Indi’s Labor candidate, and said this election “is a clear choice between Labor building Australia’s future and strengthening Medicare with an $8.5b boost, or Peter Dutton, who will cut services and make you pay”.
“I’m committed to supporting our community with real solutions... under the Albanese Government, we’ve eased cost-of-living pressures through energy bill relief, tax cuts, and investments in a ordable housing and childcare,” he said.
“We’re also improving the Pharmaceutical Bene ts Scheme (PBS)
to make medicines more a ordable, and our industrial relations reforms have improved working conditions and provided better security for workers.”
Taggerty-based Alysia Regan, who is The Greens’ candidate, said the Indi electorate was being le behind in terms of housing.
“This election, we can’t keep voting for the same two parties and expect a di erent result,” she said.
“Labor and the Coalition are both backing new coal and gas and worsening the climate crisis… meanwhile, regional Victoria is experiencing more climate-related disasters, including bush res and oods.
“I’m proud to be part of a party that is ghting for no new coal and gas, publicly owned renewable energy, cheaper groceries, and a rent freeze.”
Family First Party of Australia have announced Michael White as their candidate for the Indi seat while Wodonga accountant and former councillor and state upper house MP Tim Quilty is running for the Libertarian Party.
Athol Thomas of Wodonga and the Kiewa Valley will stand for One Nation, hoping a background in cattle farming and focus on the agricultural sector will bring him votes.
“I want to provide an alternate for a lot of people who have become disenfranchised with Lib-
OSTEOPATH Bernadette GIFFORD
BAppSci (Clin Sci) B.Osteo.Sci
Lily WALKER
BHlthSci BAppSc (Osteo) Private
Mansfield
MANSFIELD
eral in particular,” he said.
“One Nation policies are fantastic policies that are clearly geared towards the reduction of cost-of living, reduction of energy costs and future growth for Australians.
“They’re all policies that impact Indi quite signi cantly and I don’t know if Helen Haines has presented anything forward in her six years of being in parliament that have assisted the electorate in any of those ways.
“People really need to delve deeper into what political parties o er... it’s not just what’s at face value that comes across a lot of mainstream media.”
One Nation tallied the fourth most primary votes in the 2022 election under candidate Beth Stevens, with 5.28pc.
Other parties to have candidates run in the last election including the Animal Justice Party and United Australia Party (Trumpet of Patriots Party) have yet to announce if they’ll contest Indi.
Indi has been held by an Independent since Cathy McGowan beat then Liberal incumbent Sophie Mirabella at the 2013 election.
ENROL TO VOTE:
The Australian Electoral Commission has advised that you must be correctly enrolled by 8pm Monday, 7 April, to vote in the federal election.
For more details go to the AEC website.
PHYSIOTHERAPY
Mansfield Integrated Health Service
MANSFIELD MEDICAL CLINIC 49 Highett Street.
Appointments: 5775 2166
COVIDSafe
hazardous trees and other roadside vegetation on Old Tonga Road, Godwills Road and Gonzaga Lane.
Council and CFA partner to secure emergency road access
IN the coming weeks
Council will be working to manage hazardous trees and other roadside vegetation on Old Tonga Road, Godwills Road and Gonzaga Lane. The works are essential in ensuring these narrow, critical access roads remain clear and safe, particularly in emergency situations.
By removing dead or dangerous branches and reducing the risk that branches will fall and obstruct passage, these improvements help provide reliable access for residents and emergency services when it is most needed.
Because these roads provide the only route for residents and emergency services to access certain areas, a single blockage could mean a total loss of access to the area.
Council successfully applied for the CFA Vegetation Management Grant to partly fund the treatment.
Mayor Cr Steve Rabie said the works were important for public safety.
“We know access is critical for our more remote communities,” he said.
“Maintaining that access helps our emergency response and makes our communities more resilient.
“We’re grateful to the CFA for helping to fund these important works. The Vegetation Management Grant has meant we can deliver them while minimising the cost to our ratepayers.”
Road users are asked to take care and drive cautiously when passing any roadside works.
ELECTION DATE: Indi voters, and the rest of Australia, will head to the polls for the federal election on May 3.
New billycart event blasts off at Mt Buller
AN exciting new event blasts onto the Mt Buller calendar Saturday 12 April with the inaugural Buller Billycart Bash along the Avenue in the Mt Buller village.
“It’s going to be a lot of fun,” said event mastermind Neil Geddes.
“This is classic, old-school family fun at its best.
“Building a billycart and racing with nothing but wheels and gravity to get you to the nish line.”
“I’ve raced in billycart events with my daughters, and we had the best time building a cart and racing it, so I thought ‘why not bring this to Mt Buller?”
The Buller Billycart Bash will have various categories for racers as young as 7 years old, parent/ child teams, mums and an open division with all racers getting a practice run and a heat before a thrilling nal as drivers go all-out to take home the rst Buller Billycart Bash perpetual trophy.
There are awards for the best novelty billycart, best lodge and best school entry with prizes from
BusFleet and Buller Ski Li s up for grabs.
“If you thought the Melbourne Grand Prix was exciting, just wait until the carts are at the start line for the Buller Billycart Bash,” said Alan Arthur, general manager for Mt Buller Mt Stirling Resort.
“As soon as Neil proposed the idea everyone was supportive, and we are delighted to get this test event o the ground.
“I think we are going to see strong rivalry between local clubs and lodges for the trophy and I hope local schools and Mans eld teams embrace the spirit of the race.
“So many of us grew up enjoying the creativity, thrills and scrapes that went with building and riding billycarts, I love that Mt Buller is bringing this back for current generations to experience.
“I hope this becomes an annual tradition with billycarts being built, materials upcycled into carts and billycarts handed down
through families and groups for years to come.”
The Buller Billycart Bash event team is building a billycart available for a 2-person team to drive in the inaugural race.
“Not everyone will have the time or materials to build a cart in time for the April race,” explains Neil Geddes.
“So we’re making one and putting the call out for applications.
“Tell us why you should get to race in the billycart and you could earn yourself a place in the starting lineup.”
A big part of the experience is building the billycart which must have adequate steering, xed seating and working brakes to be entered.
Full details on racing speci cations for billycarts is on the Mt Buller website and scrutineers will check and clear all carts for racing.
More details are on Mt Buller’s website including how to apply to drive the BusFleet billycart.
Fourth Mansfield Marathon set for Mothers Day
THE fourth annual Mans eld Marathon is set for 11 May, Mothers Day, and the event looks to be bigger than ever.
“Each year we have grown the event and now it’s established in the Mans eld and Running calendar we are aiming to grow it even bigger,” said event director Liam Delany. Currently registrations are ahead of schedule and some events may even sell out.
The annual running event is important for all communities, it brings everyone together to run or walk or volunteer.
With 2km, 5km, 10km, 21.1km and 42.2km options it allows all ages and abilities to participate.
It’s an important event to inspire the next generation and it’s also great for people to set a goal event to improve their health and tness.
This year the 5km entry fees will go
directly to the Mothers Day classic fundraising for women’s cancer research.
The other events will help fund the event and fundraise for the Friends of the Great Victorian Rail Trail and Mans eld Athletics.
The event is supported by the Mans eld Shire, in particular valuable help with the tra c management requirements.
The event takes place at the entrance to town beside the Rail Trail
to avoid road crossings, we are very lucky to have such a great trail that has recently been resurfaced and is in great condition.
Mansfield Constructions, Proactive Tax, The Delatite Hotel and Sportspower are all sponsoring the event again, with the Mansfield Courier also jumping onboard with advertising support this year.
If any business would like to
get involved please reach out to Mansfield Athletics. Anyone wanting assistance with training remember we have regular training Tuesday and Thursday mornings and a ernoons, as well as the Saturday Mans eld Botanic Park run and Sunday run on the Rail trail.
For anyone wanting more information or ready to enter just head to the website; www.northeastsports.com.au
An exciting NEW event blasts onto the Mt Buller calendar on
SATURDAY
12 APRIL
Categories for racers as young as seven, parent/child teams, mums and an Open division. Awards for best Novelty billycart, best Lodge and best School entry with prizes from BusFleet and Buller Ski Lifts. Racing from 10:00am. Details at mtbuller.com.au/summer
INAUGURAL BILLYCART BASH: Event creator Neil Geddes and his daughter Isla with the billycart they made with recycled materials.
property of the week
DISCOVER the perfect blend of comfort, space, and future opportunity at 116 Malcolm Street, Mansfield. This well-presented 4-bedroom, 2-bathroom home offers a rare combination of family-friendly living, privacy, and long-term potential, all in a prime location just a short walk from the heart of town.
Set on a generous block, this versatile property is ideal for families, investors, or those seeking room to grow. The thoughtfully designed floorplan includes four spacious bedrooms, and a light-filled open-plan kitchen, dining, and living area - a perfect hub for everyday living or entertaining.
Outdoors, you’ll be captivated by the private, expansive yard with established veggie gardens, a chicken coop, and generous
decking at both the front and rear of the home, ideal for entertaining or simply soaking in the serenity. Enjoy breathtaking mountain views and the peace of a quiet setting while knowing there’s subdivision potential (STCA) for future development. With scope to renovate and add your own personal touch, this property presents an exciting opportunity to secure your dream home in one of Mansfield’s most desirable pockets.
Key Features:
- Comfortable, well-proportioned bedrooms perfect for growing families.
- Open-Plan Living: Light-filled kitchen, dining, and living area ideal for everyday family living or entertaining.
- Outdoor Entertaining: Decking at both front and rear of the home, perfect for
alfresco dining and relaxing.
- Established veggie patch, chicken coop, and lush green space for kids, pets, or keen gardeners.
- Large Shed: Ample storage or workshop space.
- Subdivision Potential: Generous block with possibility to subdivide (STCA).
- Prime Location: Quiet, private position within walking distance to Mansfield’s shops, cafes, schools, and parks.
- Renovation Potential: Flexible floor plan offering the opportunity to update and make it your own.
Don’t miss this unique opportunity to secure a spacious, versatile property with incredible potential in one of Mansfield’s most soughtafter areas. Contact us today to arrange your private inspection!
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Phone 5775 2792
Location 116 Malcolm St, Mansfield
Land 1004 sqm
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Exorbitant levy passes lower house
By STEVE KELLY
PRIMARY producers will be hit hardest under proposed emergency service levy hikes that stand to triple if legislation passes through the Victorian parliament.
Comparison gures from the existing to the proposed variable rates have primary producers facing cost rises from 28.7 cents per $1000 capital improved value (CIV) to 83 cents.
It’s a cost that Whit eld cattle farmer and wine grape grower Brett Hennessy believes could force older farmers to call it quits.
Under the Emergency Services and Volunteers Fund, volunteer service men and women will be exempt from paying the tax, however, it ies in the face of older residents who are physically unable to become active volunteers for services such as the CFA and SES.
“We all assumed there would be a rise in the variable levy rate, but a massive hike like this will leave many farmers shaking their heads and seriously questioning their future,” Mr Hennessy said.
“When you’re on the wrong side of 60 do you really feel like jumping on a re truck and hanging onto a hose.
“To be honest an exemption for re services is probably something that’s long overdue but the state government’s levy increases are unsustainable.”
Farmers with multiple properties that operate as a single enterprise may be eligible to pay a single xed charge under the single farming enterprise exemption.
However, as it currently stands, the single farm enterprise exemption can only be claimed in respect of one principal place of residence.
Both the xed and variable components would be levied on any other principal place of residence that is contiguous to farmland forming part of the single farm enterprise.
Emergency service volunteers will also only be exempt from paying the levy on their primary place of residence.
Under the ESVF, the state government will continue the use of councils as the debt collectors for the property tax, something councils across Victoria are up in arms about not having the resources to deal with the extra work it will trigger.
“The cynic in me says well this is just an easy money grab and no one’s going to question the thoroughfare it’s taking by using councils to col-
lect from ratepayers,” Mr Hennessy said.
He said the high rates that rural landholders already pay in rates nowhere near match the services they received from council in return, and now this levy will be an extra cost from the state.
“You are getting diminished services from the Rural City of Wangaratta itself, and trying to get a road graded, or sheeting on a road done is di cult,” he said.
“People out at Carboor had access lanes to their property that were just quagmires last year and we had the same issue in Whit eld.
“You need to drive a tractor up to the laneway to get to another property because you can’t get four-wheel drives through in wintertime.”
Ovens Valley MP Tim McCurdy labeled it as a slap in the face to regional Victorians.
“People in country communities are already doing it tough, and now
Labor is piling on even more nancial pressure,” Mr McCurdy said.
“We need to ensure that every cent raised goes directly to supporting our SES, CFA, and other crucial emergency services - not wasted on bureaucracy.”
Commercial and industrial property owners also stand to face he y increases to the levy.
Increases for commercial are proposed to rise from 66.4 cent/$1000 CIV to 133 cents/$1000 CIV and industrial would rise from 81.1 cents/$1000 CIV to 133 cents/$1000 CIV.
The ESVF will fund up to 87.5 per cent of FRV’s budget, and up to 95 per cent of CFA’s budget.
The Fires Services Property Amendment Bill passed the Legislative Assembly on 20 March and also had its second reading in the Legislative Council.
Mokoan Solar Farm operational by June
A 58-MEGAWATT solar facility has been officially opened at Mokoan, a first for European Energy in Australia.
The facility is located on Lee Road and Nelson Road at Winton.
European Energy CEO Erik Andersen joined Benalla Rural City Council Mayor Bernie Hearn on Yorta Yorta Country to inspect the operational testing of the facility.
Construction at Mokoan was completed in late 2024, ahead of schedule and under budget, less than a year after European Energy’s financial investment decision.
Mr Andersen said Australia is a promising market for renewables and Mokoan Solar Farm is a milestone for European Energy’s ambitions in Australia.
“Our Australian team has a strong 9GW pipeline of projects under development, and seeing the first solar farm becoming operational is a proud moment,” he said.
“The project will help deliver energy security for Victoria and reduce carbon emissions in the electricity sector by more than 85,000 tonnes a year.
“Mokoan Solar Farm will give back to local organisations, Yorta Yorta people and regional business with an investment of more $400,000 to support community projects.
“We’re focused on local, regional and Australian suppliers during the project, and we’re proud that 150 local jobs were created during construction, with eight roles continuing into operations,” Erik Andersen said.
Mokoan Solar Farm was selected for the Australian Government’s Capacity Investment scheme.
The scheme encourages investment in renewables by providing a long-term revenue safety net.
The state government plans to implement the levy from 1 July this year.
Founded in Denmark in 2004, European Energy is a leading player globally in renewable energy, across solar, wind, green hydrogen, e-methanol and other emerging technologies.
PHOTO: Anita McPherson
REGULAR EVENTS:
CWA Monthly Meetings:
2nd Tuesday 6.00pm or 3rd Sunday 2.00pm (alternating each month: Feb-Tues).
CWA Craft Days: CWA Craft: 1st & 3rd Wednesday 10:00am, and 4th Wednesday 6:00pm of each month.
CWA Op shop open: CWA Op shop open: most days from 10:00am to 2:00pm.
Family History Group at Mansfield Library. 3pm every 4th Thursday of the month.
High Country Poets meet at the Mansfield Library on the 3rd Friday of the month at 1:30 pm. Members of the public all welcome to come and listen / or share their poetic ramblings.
Justice of the Peace Services
– Every Thursday, Mansfield Police Station. 10am to 1pm for witnessing and signing of documents.
Lima South Old Time Dance: At Lima South Hall the second Sunday of each month between 1pm and 5pm. Entry $10. Music provided by The Ramblers. Please bring a plate of afternoon tea to share. All welcome. Contact: 0425868277.
Mansfield Croquet Club –Monday and Wednesday mornings from 9am till 12 noon, Lord‘s Reserve, Cnr Victoria and Apollo Streets. Playing equipment available, $2 per session.
Mansfield Farmers’ Marketsfourth Saturday of the month (February to December), 8.30am to 1pm at the median strip between the Post Office and the Delatite Hotel.
Monday Mingle – Every Monday – organised by the Bonnie Doon Community Centre – chat and make new friends – new theme each week. BYO ideas for activities
– all ages and abilities
Mansfield support group for carers and people with special needs – morning coffee, third Tuesday of the month, 9.30am at Bob’s Shed, Rosehaven, 82a Malcolm Street Mansfield. Ph 0409 751 593.
COMMUNITY MEETING: The Delatite Valley Association invites anyone with an interest to attend on Saturday, April 5 at the
Delatite Valley Association meeting welcomes all
THE Delatite Valley Association (DVA) is holding a community meeting in Merrijig this Saturday morning and anyone interested in the work of the association is most welcome to attend.
The meeting to be held on April 5 at 10am at the Merrijig Community Hall is intended to give a progress report on committee activity since commencement in late 2023 and formal establishment in May 2024.
The update will include details
CALENDAR
APRIL 4-6: Jamieson’s Autumn Festival is back. Start the weekend on Friday with Jamieson’s Night of Blues at the Jamieson Memorial Hall, then enjoy a vibrant festival day on Saturday filled with live music, arts and crafts, delicious food, and fun community games. Wrap up your weekend with a guided Significant Tree Walk and new workshops on Sunday.
APRIL 5: Discover the fascinating world of native bees & pollinators, 10:30AM -12:00pm, Jamieson. Contact Up2us to book FREE ticket on 57791593 or landcare@up2us.org.au
on the recent $10,000 grant received from the Mansfield Shire for planning works in and around Merrijig.
It will also be an opportunity for association members to provide their own feedback to the committee, as it is always keen to receive the views of members on what the DVA is doing or maybe should be doing.
So come along, hopefully learn and contribute as you wish, enjoy catching
up with fellow Delatite Valley folk and a have a cup of tea or co ee.
The committee sees this as an opportunity particularly for those who might nd it perhaps not so easy to attend late a ernoon or early evening meetings.
Maybe it could even be a stop on the way to an a ernoon event.
Depending on the level of discussion, meeting duration is likely to be 45 minutes to an hour.
All are welcome.
APRIL 7: U3A Meeting at Mansfield Library (enter by back door). 10:00am for morning tea followed by a General Meeting at 10:30am. Movie: ‘Amadeus’ (Part 2). New members always welcomecall Trish 0427 357 829
APRIL 12: Mt Buller Billy Cart Bash. The Buller Billycart Bash is a new event this year. Get ready for an actionpacked day of thrill’s, spills and gravityfuelled racing at the Mt Buller Billy Cart Bash! Whether you’re a seasoned racer or a first-time builder, this is a chance to put your creative and driving skills to the test!
APRIL 21: No U3A meeting - Easter Monday.
APRIL 25: Anzac Day Services around the shire - for details visit https://www. mansfield.vic.gov.au/Community/EventsFestivals/Upcoming-Events/Anzac-DayServices
APRIL 25: Opera On High - Mansfield Winemakers. Savour a glass of your favourite beverage from local vineyards and brewers.
MAY 11: Mansfield Marathon, 08:00 AM to 12:30 PM. This is a great marathon course, not too hilly, not too hard on the body, simple yet scenic and fast.
REGULAR EVENTS
Mansfield Let’s TalkCoffee & Chat every third Wednesday of the month from 10am to 12pm at the Delatite Hotel. All welcome, No bookings required. For further info/enquiries email: mansfieldletstalk@ gmail.com
Mansfield Uniting Church - Highett Street Sunday services, 9.30am. All welcome. Ph 0417 103 813
Men‘s Probus meetings are held every 2nd Wednesday for monthly meetings, and then activities/outings are held on the last Wednesday of each month – or as organised.
Outdoor Provedore, producers market, 8.30am to 12.30pm on the High Street median strip, opposite the CWA (third Saturday of every month).
Out’n’About social group meets for lunch on the second Monday of the month at The Delatite Hotel at 11:30am.
Preschool story time at Mansfield Library. Stories, songs and craft. Every 1st and 3rd Friday of the month 10.30am. Ph 5775 8621
Rotary meet the 2nd and 4th Wednesday of the month at the Delatite Hotel.
6.30 for a 7pm start.
Rural Australians for Refugees (RAR) meet every fourth Monday of the month at 6pm at the Uniting Church Hall.
Scrabble Club for all levels meets at 10am every Wednesday at Mansfield Library. Ph 5775 8621
St John’s Anglican Church - meditation every Friday at 12 noon for a quiet half hour to restore your peace. Ph Christine 0412 825 324
St Vincent de Paul assistance center, Highett Street - Tuesday 10am12pm, Wednesday 2pm4pm, Friday 10am-12pm and 2pm-5pm. Phone 5775 3156.
Tolmie Uniting Church - Tolmie Sportsground, 3rd Sunday of the month. Service at 2pm. All welcome.
U3A meetings are held on 1st and 3rd Mondays of each month at 10am at the Library.
Merrijig Hall.
SHEDS & BARNS
Notice of Intent to Enter into a Licence Agreement with the Mansfield Kindergarten
In accordance with its community engagement policy and section 115 of the Local Government Act 2020, Mansfield Shire Council informs the community of its intention to enter into a Licence Agreement with the Mansfield Kindergarten. A Licence for Mansfield Kindergarten for the usage of Mechanics Institute Meeting Room 1. The proposed agreement is set for a duration of 15 years.
This will be open for consultation for the period of 2 April 2025 to 15 April 2025. For further information, please contact Kym Killeen, Property Management O icer via email property@mansfield.vic.gov.au or phone at (03) 5775 8555.
Kirsten Alexander Chief Executive O icer
Get your names in the RADIO MANSFIELD and MANSFIELD COURIER birthday book.
Win Bertalli’s birthday goodies on Radio Mansfield 99.7 FM’s “Anything Goes” Birthday Wheel Thursdays from 2-4pm
This week’s winner is: MARIA WALSH
To enter call Radio Mansfield on 5775 2333
HAY FOR SALE 4 round Rye/ Clover December ‘24
Cut and baled Prices are $140+ (low stock) Can load Text/call 0418 329 444
SOLD
17FT 1976 York Caravan, $6000. Call 0493 221 685 and leave a message, I will get back to you when I can.
MAZDA 2023 CX3 auto hatch, reg CHC333, one owner, immaculate condition, service books,11,875kms,RWC, $27,750 REDUCED PRICE $26,950. Phone Maxwell.K.Batey on 0419 547 308.
BRAND NEW BOAT PACKAGE, Stacer 379 Proline boat, Bimini Boat Cover, Honda 15 HP outboard, 7 Year warranty Stacer trailer, 12 months rego, Safety Gear, $11,000. Ph 0429 082 292.
FOR sale steel checker plate trailer, 1500 x 2100, reg (N69098) until July 4, 2025, $300. Ph 0437 454 118.
SOLD
2014 Ford Ranger Wildtrack, Wangaratta, 262,000km, RWC, reg till July (1VR2GV), 2 keys, light bar, electric seats, blue tooth, R cam, service history, local, $20,900 ONO. Call Steve 0402 222 634.
MITSUBISHI Tray
Top Ute, 410,00km, motor rebuilt, 6 month rego (CU57VL), $2800. Ph 0439 766 211.
2017 Ford Transit CamperVan,54,000km, (1KG6TW),$62,000, for more information ring Phil 0418 994 147.
GERMAN Shepherd pups purebred male/ female, $800 each, fully vaccinated and vet checked, born 1/2/2025 at Myrtleford, both parents available source ID: MB138819, Microchip numbers: 956000017027384, 956000016168238, 956000016195105, 956000016196708. Contact Betty 0408 573 241.
BIRTHDAY
A golf-packed week
By MARION MITCHELL
BUCHANAN
, Laura “Lau Lau”.
To our loved Lau Lau, wishing you a happy 60th birthday. Thinking of you always. ~ Sister Kate, Bruce, Sarah, Riley, Will, Jacinta, Hudson, Fletcher, and partners Jason and Dan. Lots of love forever
ANDERSON, Brian Philip. 31/1/1947 - 24/3/2025
Beloved partner of “darling” Kylie for 30 years.
Thank you for your unwavering love, you will always be in my heart.
THE ladies are certainly clocking up the miles to play the various North-East Bowls and Pennant as well as our own competitions.
It started on Tuesday at Jubilee.
It was very hard to win anything against a eld full of home course players but Gayle Wells did well to be runner up in A Grade.
Gayle was the only non Jubilee player to have a major win. Kylie Egan, Patsy Smiles and Lyn Poulson won line balls with Kylie also having a nearest the pin.
At home on Tuesday a eld of 12 ladies played Stableford.
Sandra Lording won with a fantastic 22 points from Sharon Gysberts 19 and Marion Foster 16. Jenny Koraus and Lyn Holland had nearest the pins.
On Wednesday a large eld of 29 ladies included friends from the north Alison Munt and Nicola Moult.
It was great to see them back on our course.
Linda Terry is in amazing form winning A Grade with a fabulous 40 points from Nicola Moult 38 (she certainly hasn’t forgotten how to play Mans eld!) and Linda Brook third with 37.
Mansfield
victorious at Junior Country
By MICHELLE PIGDON
WHEN the Mansfield U18 boys competed in the Junior Country Championships tournament in Melton, they played 6 six games of basketball in two days.
The U18s gold team consisted of Hayden Desmond, Noah Pigdon, Ethan Pigdon, Jake Timmers, Astin Browning Charlie Dobson, Oscar Guppy and Josh How.
ANDERSON
The funeral service to celebrate Brian’s life will be held at Mans eld Uniting Church Hall, 66 Highett Street, Mans eld on Thursday, April 3, 2025 commencing at 1pm.
Followed by a private cremation.
Michelle Pigdon won B Grade on a countback from Glenis Skinner 37 and Louise CalvertJones 36.
Great to see new golfer Michelle have a win.
Due to a computer glitch I can’t report line balls nor nearest the pins.
Well done to those anonymous players.
On Thursday there was no competition as 20 ladies headed to Marysville to play in their Bowl.
Linda Terry had another stunning score winning A Grade with 40 points and Lesley Anderson had a terri c score to win B Grade with 37 points.
Great play on a bit of a challenging course.
may be placed before 12 noon Monday
Michelle Pigdon is in charge of coaching, she is ably assisted by Sam Guppy while the team is managed by Wayne Desmond.
The majority of the boys have played for Mansfield Eagles since the U12 level, so to get the win at championships in Division 5 is an absolutely brilliant way to finish off their junior rep career.
Their first match was against Leongatha and they managed to scrape through a close contest to come away with a one point victory.
Victory in the first match left the boys feeling confident to take on Poowong in the second game.
Apparently Shelly Comerford, Lorraine Wilson and Lyn Poulson scooped the ra e pool. Friday was pennant play.
Division 1 had a convincing win against Benalla, winning all 5 matches.
Division 3 beat Wangaratta 3/2 and Division 4 had a Bye.
With only one week to go, it can be anyone’s to play in the nals.
Good luck ladies.
It was either too much golf or the wet weather, but only 9 ladies played the Stableford competition on Saturday.
Tracey Gravenall topped the scoring this week with a fabulous 43 points.
Handicap Tracey!
Lesley Anderson was on a roll from Marysville scoring a great 40 points and Kylie Egan 33 was third.
Nearest the pins were Kylie Egan and Shelley Larkin.
Special mention must go to Cooksey and his team.
The course is in beautiful condition.
The scores are certainly proving that.
Finally a couple of foot notes.
Shelly Comerford performed the trick of the week hitting a second shot out of the bunker whilst the ball was still high in the air and about to land back in the bunker.
For anyone interested it is a penalty.
The ball did not come to rest for the second shot.
Gayle Wells is having her long awaited operation on her knee this week.
We all wish her the best and look forward to seeing and hearing her back at the Club.
Lastly, a big thank you to Linda Terry for writing these reports in my absence.
Good hitting to all.
Season reaches conclusion at Mansfield Bowls Club
By MARK BETTANY
THE last two events for the 2024-2025 season were held over the last couple of weeks at Manseld Bowls Club.
The Ladies 21 Up event started in hot weather, with only one round being played.
Lyn Foots had a win to Belinda Snider and Anne Tilbrook defeated Christina Smith.
Michelle Mios (and mascot Tilly) defeated Vicki Klein and Yvonne Robinson defeated Jenny Walsh.
The second round was played the following week with Enid Smith defeating Elaine Peterson, Lyn Foots winning to Anne Tilbrook and Michelle and Tilly defeating Glenda Hempenstall.
Yvonne Robinson defeated Lyn Holland.
In the semi- nal Lyn Foots defeated Enid and Yvonne had a win to Michelle.
The nal was won by Lyn Foots against Yvonne Robinson 21 to 8.
Well done to everyone who
played and congratulations to Lyn.
The mixed Pike Pairs event had a good eld.
In the rst round Michelle/ Tilly and Kevin ‘Nikko’ Nikkelson were defeated by Elaine and George Peterson.
Anne Wileman and Noel Jackson had a win to Greg Hogarth and Glenda Revell.
Jenny and Mick Walsh defeated Yvonne and Ray Robinson.
Carolyn and Ray Close won to Anne Tilbrook and Alan Dobson.
In round two, Vicki and Nick defeated John Lobbe and Belinda Snider.
Carolyn and Ray had another win to team Walsh.
Anne and Noel were beaten by Elaine and George.
Enid and Graham Smith defeated Kris Humphrey and Sid Revell.
The semi nal saw team Klein and team Close battle it out with Vicki and Nick being the victors.
The Petersons had a win over the Smiths.
The Kleins and Petersons took
the rink for the nals with Elaine and George taking the win. Congratulations.
Social bowls continues on Tuesdays and Fridays with 35 players last Friday.
Social bowls will go to a 1.00 p.m. start from Tuesday 8th April. Names in and attendance by 12.30 is requested. Thanks to the social bowls team of Alan Dobson, Anne Tilbrook and Denis Sharpe who put an enormous e ort in twice a week to get everyone on the rinks for start time.
The Rose Bowl tournament is being held next Sunday the 6th April. Teams will be drawn on Thursday 3rd.
Names need to be on the list in the clubrooms by 5.00 pm on Thursday. All club bowlers are encouraged to be involved in our last event of the year, aside from social bowls which will continue through the winter.
See you on the green.
The team kept applying pressure for the whole 40 minute match and managed a ten point win.
Kyneton lay in wait for the boys but it was a test the team came through at a canter, Mansfield came away with a 28 point win.
Myrtleford was always going to be a tougher matchup.
The last time the two teams met, they drew.
It was going to be a tough, competitive game.
All 8 players turned up ready to give it their all.
From pulling in strong rebounds, finishing their shots off and fast breaks they pushed the team to a three point win.
That put them into the semi final.
The team had to play Leongatha again for a spot in the grand final.
The boys learnt a lot about their opposition in the one point victory the day before, the Eagles shut their 3 pointers shooters down to nullify Leontatha’s threat and kept control to win by six points.
Benalla were all that stood between the boys and the Championship win.
The U18s have played Benalla twice this rep season and Benalla have come out on top both times.
We went in with a nothingto-lose attitude and gave it everything but by half time we were down by 12 points with two played injured.
Jake Timmers was on the bench with ice on his ankle and Astin Browning in the first aid room for a knock to the head.
It looked impossible.
But impossible is nothing.
The boys fought like warriors and simply would not surrender.
They kept pegging the margin back and with one minute left they found themselves taking the most unlikely of leads.
The lead was brief and Benalla answered back with four points of their own that put the Eagles down by one with just 7 seconds left on the clock.
When Benalla fouled Charlie Dobson and sent him the foul line for two free thows, everyone held their breath.
Charlie’s dropped both in and put Mansfield one point up as the game ended and get the win.
Well done, boys.
Finals fever hits tennis club
TENNIS
By CAL BONO, GUY TAYLOR, RHONDA CARPENTER and JO O’BRIEN
IT was semi- nal night under the bright lights, and the tension was as thick as a fresh jar of Vegemite.
Second-placed Yencken were ready to ex their muscle, but third-placed McDonagh weren’t there just to make up the numbers.
Club champ Daniel “Son” Robertson came out ring, teaming up with the ever-reliable Mark Poole to bag a convincing 6–2 win, peppering forehand winners like snags on a barbie.
But over on Show Court 4, McDonagh’s dynamic duo Keira and Glenn served up a awless 6–0 demolition, barely letting Yencken breathe.
The middle sets were evenly split at 6–4 apiece, proving these two sides were tighter than a tradie’s shorts in summer.
With only two games in it, the nal rounds had the spectators on edge and the stakes sky-high.
Dan and Anna clawed back the lead for Yencken with a dominant 6–2, but it all came down to the last set.
Cue Keira, cooler than a cucumber, wrapped up the night with her second 6–0 masterclass, sealing victory for McDonagh by just four games.
On this humid night O’Loughlan played Murray in the other seminal as Katherine Murray was missing from her team, captain Michelle needed to call in two eligible replacement players, David Aldous and Tony Canterbury.
All were set to take on the top of the table side led by father and son duo, Mark and Max O’Loughlan.
Murray’s number one Jason Blake delivered some of the strongest tennis seen yet and is certainly one of the comps great players.
James Fox was strong too and fought hard winning two of the three tiebreakers played out against his opponent Tony Canterbury.
In the second last set of the long night Mark O’Loughlan and Guy Taylor were able to put the nail in the co n holding back Michelle Pigdon and Jason Blake.
In the hard-hitting contest only six games separated the two teams with top tennis all round! Good sportsmanship prevailed and well done to all involved.
McDonagh will meet O’Loughlan for the chance of GRAND nal glory.
Red Roses’ Emma Kay, Alice Kil-
MCDONAGHS: Cal Bono, Glen Fox, Greg McDermott and Keira McDonagh surprised and delighted to make the big dance.
PHOTO: Karyn Fraser
MTA JUNIOR AGGREGATE COMPETITION WINNERS: (from le ) James Baklis, Patrick Delany, Henry Dunlop, Archie Delany, Angus Speirs, Eadie Hostetter, Henry Yencken and Abbie Kayssar.
PHOTO: Jo O’Brien
JUNIOR ACKNOWLEDGEMENT AWARDS: (from le ) Tahnee Miller, Noah Kayssar, Georgie Stevenson, Jack Stevenson, Willem Morphett, Spencer Yencken, Wilfred Hostetter, and Peter Gardiner (Tristan Fox and Ben Gough were
Jo O’Brien
MIXED DOUBLES CLUB CHAMPIONS: Michelle Pigdon and Guy Taylor shake on it across the PHOTO: Karyn Fraser
patrick, Robert Williams and Sean Pitchford took it up to their more fancied opponents Out of the Blue in the semi nal.
Emma and Alice jumped out of the blocks to win their opener 6-4.
Out of the Blue’s Matt Lowe, Will McAllister, Sarah Ragg and Steph Herridge sure had their work cut out, but were unfazed and simply played the big points better.
Matt’s strong serving was impressive. Robert and Alice dug deep from 1-5 down to claim a tiebreaker set and winning it 7-5 but Blue’s consistency and determination delivered their team victory and an exciting debut grand nal appearance.
They clinched it 4/33 to 2/23.
True Colours showed exactly why they will be a force defeating Brown Sugar in a lopsided encounter.
Peter Scales, Robert and Kate Les and Amy Les didn’t let their opponent in, winning every set.
Nick Ferguson and Julie Aldous mounted a real challenge against the top pair taking them to a tiebreaker but ultimately falling short 5-7.
Kimberley Marsden and Leonie McLaughlin battled hard against their formidable opponent.
True Colours won 6/36 to 0/10.
Out of the Blue meet True Colours in the Grand Final on Tuesday night.
Smooth Operators Arthur Gerrans and Bec Studds welcomed the return of their captain Ilena Meek and inclusion of ll in Suzie Wellborne for their semi nal against Let it Be.
Let it Be’s Natalie Bergsma, Tim Vardy and Agnes Kay were strengthened with the inclusion of ll in Laura Gosney.
Ilena and Suzie were determined but lost their set 4-6. Let it Be were convincing in all the other sets, securing the match 6/36 to 0/11.
Come Together’s Muss Richards, Kas Thomas and Rhonda and Bob Carpenter were pushed all the way in their contest against Changes’
Liza Karras, Jas and Jo O’Brien, and Les Kerr.
Relieved to be on court at last, joking and laughing, players relaxed into a ding-dong battle of skilful tennis.
Shane and Kas made short work of Liza and Jo in their opener 6-2, while the Carpenters were made to work much harder against Jas and Les.
Marathon service games saw Changes Jas and Les hold rm and take the set to a tie breaker when the Carpenters couldn’t close it out. Eventually they steadied to take the tie 7-3 as teammates watched on yelling encouragement.
Jas and Jo put on a marital harmony masterclass winning their set 6-2 and the ladder leader was worried.
Jo and Liza hit baseline winners, Jas aces, and Les endured on his serve.
With his new racquet Muss found rhythm, Rhonda discovered the mid-court smash, Bob found the tramlines, and Kas retrieved unplayable balls from the adjacent court.
Everyone was exhausted, reluctant to check the card, and keen for refreshment.
A er a recording discrepancy emerged Come Together had won 5/32 to 1/21.
Come Together will meet Let it Be in Tuesday night’s Grand Final. Final week for Junior Aggregate Competition by Jo O’Brien It was unfortunate that our last week was a washout with the rain but wonderful to be able to recognise the e orts of our Junior Competition Players for the 2024-2025 season.
The MTA Junior Encouragement Trophies were awarded to James Baklis and Abbie Kayssar for their sportsmanship, attitude, willingness to listen and learn, and general demeanour both on and o the court.
Congratulations to our Junior Aggregate Medal Winners James Baklis, Henry Yencken, Archie Delany, Angus Speirs, Henry Dunlop, Patrick Delany, Abbie Kayssar and Eadie Hostettler.
Thanks also to our sponsors at Mans eld Pizza for allowing us to also recognise the kids who have put in great e ort during the season.
As always MTA would like to express its sincere thanks to the parents who help out each week to make for a terri c playing environment for our Junior Players.
(Top Scorers: M. How 10, J. Key 8, L. Harcus 8)
(Top Scorers: N. Thomas 7, L. Dunlop 6, G. Crowe 5)
Boys 1 65
(Top Scorers: B. Buckland 13, P. Whitehead 11, S. Wright 11)
Boys 2 54 def
(Top Scorers: C. Potter 12, R. Grant 12, C. Keatch 9)
1
Agony for A Reserve in grand final
By MARK O’LOUGHLAN
SOME wet and wild weather on Friday night threatened to destroy any chance of an unlikely Delatite victory in the A Reserve Grand Final on Saturday at the Rose Garden in Benalla.
The ground sta at the Gardens had prepared a very good wicket for the game, only for the rain to get under the covers and ruin one end, making it unplayable.
The wicket adjacent was then rolled all morning to try to make sure the game could proceed.
With Delatite nishing the season in third place, a washout handed Rovers, who nished rst, the premiership.
In a true sense of the spirit of cricket, Rovers captain Blake Nixon agreed with
Delatite captain Joe Kelleher and the umpires that we should play, knowing that the wicket would be a bit tricky.
Nixon won the toss and didn’t have to think hard about the decision to send Delatite in to bat.
The innings started positively with Nick Ferguson and Mark O’Loughlan moving the score along to 28 without loss, with both batsman wearing a few balls on the body.
As the ball got older and so er, batting became harder and harder with the pitch making things very interesting.
Delatite managed to scrape up 93 runs thanks to some late hitting by Lochie Pymer and Ritchie Philip.
While not as big a target as Delatitie would have liked,
the bowlers were champing at the bit to get out there and stuck into them.
In a very similar fashion to the rst innings, Rovers managed 27 before Pymer got things rolling with two wickets and an amazing run out from Kelleher and all of a sudden the score was 3/27.
Philip chimed in with one shortly a er, and Delatite were up and about.
Nathan Goodes saved his best bowling e ort for the nal, taking 3/7 o six overs, making sure that the Rovers players and supporters had no ngernails le , but unfortunately for Delatite, Rovers did just enough, passing the score seven wickets down.
Congratulations to Rovers on the win, and well done to Delatite on an incredible season.
Merinda Way Loop to end the road cycling season
By TIM HALL
THE last road race of the season was held on the Merinda Way loop, Thursday 27 March.
Two and a half laps anticlockwise (that’s around to the le for all you millennials with digital watches), rolling climbs, and a quick section coming down Monkey Gully Road past the tip before getting on the brakes and around the very rough corner at the Highton Lane intersection.
We enjoyed the starting list, thanks Dave.
Dave ‘Lone Wolf’ Jagger led us o , followed by Dave ‘Mr Consistent’ Bock.
Ian ‘The Wickerman’ Conrick and Bill ‘Just Visiting, Honest’ Bainger paired up to chase them down with just a 1 minute gap.
Craig ‘Psyched Out’ Wil-
son, Tim ‘I’ve got Principals’ Hall and Adam ‘Leaving Mansvegas’ Baker followed at the 4 minute mark, rounding out the slower groups.
Steve ‘ El Camelino’ Curnow and Adrian ‘Oh so rowdy’ Dowd at 7 minutes.
Then a bigger group at 10 minutes with Steve ‘531 watts’ Duke, Mick ‘the legend’ Pearce, Simon ‘where am I going’ Mulvihil, Jason
‘Mr Niceguy’ Parker and Tim ‘M town diesel’ Ross.
At the 11 minute mark, Darren ‘Mario’ Bakker, Heath ‘can I please have a single digit number’ Hammond and Simon ‘B town diesel’ Hall.
Block group was Dave ‘the handicapper’ Moore and Chris ‘wolf pack’ Miller.
Chris had his personal cheer squad running around his ankles at the start, just to
show we’re a family friendly mob.
Scratch group at 14 minutes was Andy ‘straight to the pool room’ Garrett and Damian ‘The Champ’ Grundy, Damian fresh from national mountain biking success – well done on that one Damian.
It was a messy kind of ride – all the hills and the changing wind directions made
consistent and steady bunch riding di cult.
At the front, Bock, Jagger, Conrick and Bainger were all caught in the second lap; Jagger grateful to be able to sit behind the Wilson/Baker/ Hall trio having done most of the ride solo.
The hills made a mess of the bunch with Hall and Baker riding away.
Baker then dropped Hall
on the Stoneleigh Road straight and rode away to take the win.
The slower groups were all pleased to be able to hold o the back-markers to the end.
At the back end of the race, Moore and Miller caught the Bakker/Hammond/Hall trio early on, before Miller rode away from them and weaving through the big group in front, ghting it out with Bakker for 8th and 9th place. Garrett and Grundy worked hard but didn’t manage to catch the groups in front. Thanks to all the committee, volunteers and o cials for their e orts every week, to keep us all safe and racing. And thanks to the club for being welcoming of all comers, regardless of skill/ tness.
We really appreciate being ‘The Social Club with a Cycling Problem.’
AUTUMN FOR ANGLERS UNFOLDS OVER LAKE EILDON
AUTUMN: Lake Eildon autumn is characterised by a gradual transition from the warmth of summer to the cooler temperatures of winter. The season brings about significant changes in weather patterns and fish behaviour, o ering unique opportunities for both seasoned and novice fishermen.
AS AUTUMN unfolds over Lake Eildon in Victoria, Australia, anglers are presented with a dynamic and rewarding fishing environment.
The season brings about significant changes in weather patterns and fish behaviour, offering unique opportunities for both seasoned and novice fishermen.
Autumn at Lake Eildon is characterised by a gradual transition from the warmth of summer to the cooler temperatures of winter.
Historically, average maximum temperatures decrease from around 25.8°C in March to 16.1°C by May, while minimum temperatures drop from 10.7°C to 5.9°C over the same period.
Rainfall tends to increase as the season progresses, with average precipitation rising from 51.9 mm in March to 78.1 mm in May.
Anglers should be prepared for these changing conditions, dressing in layers to accommodate temperature fluctuations and being equipped for potential rain showers.
Fishing Conditions and Target
Species:
Murray Cod: As water temperatures begin too cool, Murray cod become more active, often moving into shallower areas to feed.
Anglers have reported success using large soft swim baits and surface lures, especially during the early morning and late afternoon periods.
Yellow belly: These fish are known to be more responsive during the autumn months. Targeting submerged structures and rocky areas with lipless crank baits spinnerbaits, or soft plastics can yield positive results.
Trout (Brown and Rainbow): Autumn marks the lead-up to the spawning season for trout, prompting increased feeding activity. Trolling with winged lures such as Tasmanian Devils or using bait like worms and mud eyes near river inlets and deeper channels can be effective strategies.
Redfin: These schooling fish remain active during autumn and
can be found around submerged timber and weed beds.
Tips for Autumn Fishing at Lake Eildon:
1. Monitor Weather Conditions: Stay informed about current weather forecasts, as sudden changes can affect fish behaviour and safety on the water.
2. Adapt Techniques: Be prepared to adjust fishing methods based on the target species and prevailing conditions. This may include varying lure selection, retrieval speeds, and fishing depths.
3. Focus on Structure: Many fish species congregate around submerged structures, such as timber, rock formations, and drop-offs.
4. Time Your Trips: Early morning and late afternoon are typically the most productive times, as fish are more active during these cooler parts of the day.
5. Stay Informed: Engage with local bait and tackle shops, as they often have the most up-todate information on fish activity and effective techniques.
ON THEIR WAY: (from le ) Tim Ross, Mick Pearce, Simon Mulvihill, Jason Parker, Darren Bakker, Steve Duke, Simon Hall and Heath Hammond tackling the Merinda Way Loop.
GRAND FINALISTS: Well done to Delatite A Reserve who have enjoyed a fantastic season and played some outstanding cricket on their way to a narrow Grand Final loss. PHOTO: Claire Junger
PRESENTED BY
with BEN DEEBLE
Final Dirt Crits of the season at Rifle Butts
By DAVE EMPEY
THE nal Dirt Crits for 24/25 was held on Tuesday night on a dry and dusty track.
There were lots of new faces for the last race.
Ant Bateup showed everyone a clean pair of heels and took the win by two seconds over Archie Smith; Archie blaming the colour of his bike for the time de cit.
Apparently purple is much slower than dark blue.
Spencer Carmen rounded out the top three; Spencer has been improving consistently over the season and was rewarded with a 3rd place.
Newcomer Scarlett D’Arcy rode well for a second place behind Carly Bingham with the ever-speedy midget Sienna Vivash taking third and
ROUND 1
rounding out the women’s podium.
The night wasn’t without incident - recently crowned National Masters 7 XC
Champ Damian Grundy took a dirt nap and dislocated his pinky!
Steve Curnow had a mechanical, or so he says, and failed to produce the result he was looking for in the last race.
Zac Empey turned up for his third bike ride in 12 months and seemed to have a good time, stating he wasn’t that t and hates riding on ats in work boots. Thank you everyone for making dirt crits so enjoyable.
It’s awesome racing and hopefully we will see bigger numbers again next season.
CARLY BINGHAM: On her way to the top step of the women’s podium. PHOTO: Kate Stonnill
NETBALL REPORTS
Netball season underway for Bomberettes
BONNIE DOON NETBALL REPORTS VS WHOROULY
A GRADE By
STELLA BRAKELS
Bonnie Doon 40 def by Whorouly 52
Best on Court: Amy Starzer sponsored by Bonnie Doon Hotel Coaches Award: Cass McCormack sponsored by Foodworks
A NEW look A Grade netball team, brimming with young and eager new players, burst onto the court with energy and precision in their rst quarter of senior netball. Our movement seamless, and our connections undeniable as they owed e ortlessly from defence to attack.
Despite our inexperience at this level, we played with con dence, reading each other’s movements instinctively and executing plays with impressive speed.
Every pass found its mark, and our defensive pressure was relentless, causing turnovers that quickly turned into scoring opportunities.
By the end of the quarter the score was 17-9 Bombers way, we had set the tone for an exciting match, proving that our fresh talent and determination could rival even the most seasoned teams.
As the game wore on, our energy and concentration began to fade, but our determination never wavered, pushing through fatigue with relentless e ort until thenal whistle.
With a new look defence for A Grade this season, we had some young and old heads in the defence end this week.
With a few unavailable players, Cass Mack stepped
up to team up with Cass Turner in the defensive circle.
Their netball smarts combined made hard work for the tall Whorouly goalers in the rst half. And with the pressure out front from Erin Brond and Jess Harris, the girls come up with many turnovers.
Also with their combined smarts and speed brought the ball out of defence all day with ease.
Second half saw a drop o in pressure, those rst game tired legs come into play. But a solid e ort from everyone. Cobie McCormack, Chloe Cash and Stella Brakels proved they are capable of playing A Grade netball and will be vital members in the years to come with more experience under their belts.
Harry ran all day & Amy Starzer put in her usual consistent solid e ort and was deserving of her best on court.
B GRADE By JESS ARMSTRONG
Bonnie Doon 43 def by Whorouly 44
Best on Court: Shannon Cameron sponsored by Bonnie Doon Hotel
Coaches Award: Jess Armstrong sponsored by Foodworks
B GRADE hit the court for their rst game of the 2025 season, starting with a fantastic rst quarter.
With a new team lineup, the girls worked well together, moving the ball e ectively into Cobie McCormack and Jess Armstrong, building an early lead.
Whorouly responded with increased intensity in the second quarter, managing to take the lead. Co-captain
Shan Cameron worked tirelessly in the center, while defenders Casey Thompson, Emmeline Evans, and Alicia Foster secured crucial intercepts.
Heading into the third quarter, the team fought hard to close the margin, with Demi Murray positioning well on the ring and delivering strong passes to the goalers.
The nal quarter was a battle, with both teams pushing for turnovers to break the tie.
B Grade showed resilience and teamwork, but despite their e orts, they narrowly went down by just one goal.
A fantastic rst game - well done, girls!
B RESERVE
By AMY CLAPHAM
Bonnie Doon 38 def by Whorouly 44
Best on court: Narelle
Seymour sponsored by Bonnie Doon Hotel
Coaches Award: Madi Hearmon sponsored by McCormack Mountain Valley Trail Rides
DING ding, round 1.
Whorouly certainly turned on the weather with some drizzly, humid conditions.
We welcomed some exciting new legends to the B Reserve team this year with Meagan Doeven and Olivia O’Brien added to our defensive line up and young gun Grace Revell is also back with us.
Bonnie Doon started slowly in the rst quarter with the girls trying to nd their groove, work on game plays and the systems they’ve been practising during preseason. Mostly, the team were just pushing through to work around the constant physicality of the Whorouly team.
Maddi Hearmon (WA) and Michelle Tanner (GA) worked tirelessly o the line to gain the centre passes with Grace Revell holding well under the ring.
Every goal was hard fought and well earned.
The defensive pressure from Meagan Doeven, Narelle Seymour & Hannah Sheahan around and inside the ring won a lot of intercepts and tips to keep Bonnie Doon in the game.
Ash Greaves and Olivia O’Brien transitioned well onto the court applying a lot of the one on one pressure needed to get some much needed turnovers.
The forth and nal quarter was the last chance for Bonnie Doon to really push through the heat, exhaustion and constant contact to chip away at the 8 goal de cit.
But it wasn’t meant to be.
At the nal siren, the scoreline was 44-38 Whorouly’s way.
It wasn’t the result we were hoping for in our rst hit out but every single player has stepped up to take responsibility for what we need to work on to improve as a team.
UNDER 17s
By SADIE BRAKELS
Bonnie Doon 43 defeated Whorouly 7
Best on court: Bella Neale sponsored by Bonnie Doon Football Players Coaches Award: Tilly Thornton sponsored by Bonnie Doon Football Players
THE Bonnie Doon under 17‘s started the season o strong, by defeating Whorouly 43 - 7.
The game kicked o well with both ends of the court
working hard navigating the ball into the ring.
Bonnie Doon nished the rst quarter ahead, with a score of 11 - 2. Keira and Charli were working around the ring together smoothly, and their shooting was really accurate.
As the second quarter unfolded, Bonnie Doons defense tightened, with Bella, Tilly and Chloe working really well, keeping their oppositions busy and getting lots of intercepts and turnovers.
Bonnie Doon’s teamwork and communication down the court was strong, and by hal ime the scores stood at 19 - 5.
In the third quarter, despite having a few position changes, Bonnie Doon kept their momentum and made Whorouly work really hard.
The midcourters, Amy and Sadie brought the ball down the court swi ly into the ring with con dence the shooters wouldn’t miss, nishing the quarter 33 - 7.
Coming on for the nal quarter, the girls stuck to their players and had good defensive pressure keeping Whorouly to zero goals.
They stayed consistent, although they were hot and tired, they kept pushing through and nished the game o strong with a nal score of 43 - 7.
The girls had a great rst game back to the season and they are ready to play against North Wang next week.
UNDER 15s
By WILLOW BRAKELS
Bonnie Doon 50 defeated Whorouly 15
Best on court: Lara Klingsporn sponsored by Bonnie Doon Football Players Coaches Award: Annie
Armsden sponsored by Bonnie Doon Football Players
THE under 15 Girls were super excited (and a little nervous!) for their rst game of the season together, with majority of the girls playing their rst ever O&K match. The “OGs” helped run the game seamlessly like they’ve been playing together for years.
The rst quarter was quite slippery thanks to the rain but the girls started strong with a 13 to 5 goal lead at quarter time.
Lara Klingsporn and Annie Armsden worked beautifully in goals together, with special mention to Lara who shot 26 of the 50 goals of the game and earned Best on Court and Annie who deservingly got Coaches Award playing an amazing game in the attack end.
Second quarter started o similar to the rst, but a quick tactical change had Holly Klingsporn come on in WD, with fresh legs which boosted the team again.
Sophie Doeven came into the goals at half time and absolutely smashed the GS position with 14 goals in two quarters.
Bridie Thornton and Carly Desmond worked so well together in the mid court with some beautiful intercepts and passes.
Erin Mahoney, Franzi Stumpf and Willow Brakels were amazing in defence throughout the game, with Coach Jess Harris wanting to highlight the defensive pressure all the way down the court as very, very good.” The team goal was to try and reach 50 goals… and we did it.
Well done everyone, keep having fun and remember to work hard and aim high!
WINNERS AND LOSERS
OVENS AND KING SENIORS LADDER
*Ladder correct at time of print from Ovens and King website.
NETBALL SCORES
A GRADE:
Tarrawingee 54 def Benalla All Blacks 39 Greta 23 def by Bright 30 Milawa 61 def North Wangaratta 16 Whorouly 52 def Bonnie Doon 40 Goorambat 40 def King Valley 20
B GRADE: Tarrawingee 59 def Benalla All Blacks 22 Greta 42 def by Bright 43; Whorouly 44 def Bonnie Doon 43 Milawa 48 def Nth Wang 25; Goorambat 39 def King Valley 17
B RESERVE: Tarrawingee 33 def Benall All Blacks 26 Whorouly 44 def Bonnie Doon 38; Greta 30 def by Bright 43 Milawa 55 def Nth Wang 24; Goorambat 42 def King Valley 19
C GRADE: Tarrawingee 22 def by Benalla All Blacks 26 Greta 38 def Bright 35; Whorouly 7 def by Bonnie Doon 43 Milawa 47 def Nth Wang 14; Goorambat 11 def by King Valley 76
�� & UNDER: Tarrawingee 15 def by Benalla All Blacks 35 Whorouly 15 def by Bonnie Doon 50; Greta 13 def by Bright 28 Milawa 54 def Nth Wang 8; Goorambat 5 def by King Valley 53
ROUND
�
SATURDAY, APRIL �
MILAWA vs GRETA
BRIGHT vs WHOROULY
NTH WANGARATTA vs BONNIE DOON
KING VALLEY vs TARRAWINGEE
MOYHU vs GOORAMBAT
BENALLA ALL BLACKS � Bye
GOALS: TARRAWINGEE: N. Gorman 3, A. Cook 3, W. Creed 3, W. Phillips 2, S. Piper 2, S. Peters 1, O. Sharp 1, C. Chamberlain 1, Z. Howard 1. Benalla All Blacks FNC Seniors: M. Ryan 4, D. Broughton 1, C. Drury 1, D. Sinclair 1. BEST: TARRAWINGEE: Z. Howard, S. Piper, A. Cook, W. Creed, H. Amery, A. Amery. BENALLA ALL BLACKS: D. Button, B. Linke, M. Ryan, J. Walker, C. O Donnell, F. Weeks.
GRETA 4.5 4.8 9.9 11.11.77
BRIGHT 2.1 4.6 8.8 12.14.86
GOALS: GRETA: C. Crawford 2, B. Newbold 1, T. Arrowsmith 1, B. Pearson 1, L. Kennett 1, J. Kelly 1, F. Judd 1, J. McClounan 1, J. Bell 1, T. Baker 1. BRIGHT: C. Thomason 5, L. Quirk 2, W. Shem 1, R. Bacon 1, M. Kinthari 1, A. Dalbosco 1, J. Crawley 1. BEST: GRETA: M. Wettern, B. Hooper, L. Kennett, J. Bell, J. Kelly, P. Fruzynski. BRIGHT: W. Shem, J. Crawley, R. Arguello, A. Dalbosco, C. Thomason.
MILAWA 3.1 8.1 114.4 15.10.100
NTH WANGARATTA 3.3 4.5 5.6 8.7.55
GOALS: GOALS: Milawa: B. Kearns 4, J. Radovanovic 3, J. Baker-Swain 2, A. Bihun 2, H. Allan 2, A. Law 2. NORTH WANGARATTA: T. Nanson 3, J. Brown 1, M. Curtis 1, L. McDonell 1, B. Lane-Gee 1, C. Smith 1. BEST: MILAWA: B. Kearns, J. Radovanovic, A. Law, H. Kebede, A. Bihun, K. Collisson NORTH WANGARATTA: M. Curtis, B. Kingston, J. Nanson, B. Raggett, D. Killen, C. Arbuckle.
GOORAMBAT
KING VALLEY
GOALS: GOORAMBAT: KING VALLEY: S. Bettio 1, T. Curren 1, O. Day 1, D. Young 1, L. Toohey 1, H. Sims 1. BEST: GOORAMBAT: KING VALLEY: T. Curren, R. Wood, D. Browne, B. Collihole, J. Toy, S. Evans.
GOALS: WHOROULY: M. Newton 6, A. Ankers 4, J. Smith 2. BONNIE DOON: C. Azzopardi 1, C. Turner 1, Z. Tanner 1. BEST: WHOROULY: M. Scott, A. Ankers, E. Woolford, M. Newton, J. Smith, C. Wood. BONNIE DOON: l. Berriman, G. Murray, P. Cairns, J. Curtin, P. Smith, K. Curran.
SENIORS OUTCLASSED BY WHOROULY,
Injuries disrupt Bombers’ season opener
By MIKE SMITH & SHAUN McMAHON
BONNIE Doon’s 2025 Ovens & King Football League campaign got o to a rocky start on Saturday, with the Bombers going down to a polished Whorouly out t by 56 points at Whorouly Recreation Reserve.
Losing ruckman Luke James to a broken collarbone in the opening minutes proved to be disastrous for the Bombers.
Forced to moved a tall from the forward line into the hit-out, it proved to disrupt them in both areas on the eld and Whorouly were ready to take advantage.
The Lions were sharp and took from the opening bounce and gave their home crowd plenty to cheer about, kicking four straight goals in the rst term to take early control of the match.
The Bombers, in contrast, struggled to nd their footing, managing just two behinds to trail 4.2 (26) to 0.2 (2) at quarter time. Things didn’t get much easier in the second quarter.
Whorouly’s mid eld continued
TRYING TIMES: DESPITE THE RESULT, THERE WERE SOME POSITIVES FOR THE BOMBERS TO TAKE FROM THE GAME.
to dictate terms, pumping the ball forward with precision.
The Bombers were able to snag their rst major but remained on the back foot, heading into the sheds 42 points adri at the half, 8.4 (52) to 1.4 (10).
To their credit, Bonnie Doon dug deep a er the break.
The third term was their most competitive, with the Bombers showing ashes of their best footy.
They added two goals to Whorouly’s two, including majors from Cody Azzopardi and Zac Tanner.
But the damage had largely been done, and Whorouly still held a commanding 65 to 22
lead at the final change.
In the last, the Lions kept their foot on the gas.
Jessie Smith and Russell Eden proved a handful up forward, combining for nine of Whorouly’s 12 goals, and the home side ran out comfortable winners, 12.7 (79) to 3.5 (23).
Despite the result, there were some positives for the Bombers to take from the game.
Luke Berriman put in a solid shi across half-back, while Guy Murray and Peter Cairns battled hard around the contest.
Jayjay Curtin and Kalim Curran also featured among the better performers, showing grit in trying conditions.
WHOROULY ON TOP: WHOROULY MADE THE MOST OF HOME-FIELD ADVANTAGE IN COMING AWAY WITH A 56-POINT VICTORY OVER BONNIE DOON. THE BOMBERS WERE DEALT A BLOW IN THE LEAD-UP AND OPENING MINUTES, WITH SEVERAL PLAYERS SIDELINED BY INJURY, IMPACTING THEIR ROTATIONS AND MOMENTUM EARLY. PHOTOS: PAUL MARTIN
Bombers coach Campbell Smedley was disappointed to see injuries disrupt much of the work done in training to prepare for the game.
“Whorouly looked like a very strong out t,” he said.
“It wasn’t the start we were hoping for.
“Three injuries in the run-up to the game put us on the back foot.
“With 10 new signings added in the summer, the team could take a few weeks to really gel but everyone showed a willingness to ght and they refused to give up.
“There’s plenty to improve on for next week.”
There was better news earlier in
the day for the Bombers, with the Reserves kicking o their season in style.
A er trailing at quarter time, Bonnie Doon came home with a wet sail to record a gutsy 16-point win over Whorouly, 7.13 (55) to 5.9 (39).
Toby Leiman, Charlie Houghton, Luke Jenkins, Anton Brkljacic, James Octigan and Fraser Cameron were among the standouts in the win, giving the Bombers a strong start to 2025 in the twos.
Bonnie Doon will now look to bounce back in round two when they take on the North Wangaratta Hawks at the North Wangaratta Sports Reserve next Saturday.
• All tanks are 2.26m (7’6”) in height
• All tanks walls are 130mm (5.2”) thick
• All foundations (tank floors) are 250mm (9.8”) thick
