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Potter’s top honour

Local ceramicist John Dermer bestowed with Order of Australia Medal

YACKANDANDAH’S

John Dermer has been recognised with an Order of Australia Medal (OAM) for significant service to the creative arts, particularly as a ceramicist, in the 2023 King’s Birthday Honours announced on Monday.

A proud and humble Mr

BY CORAL COOKSLEY ccooksley@ nemedia.com.au

Dermer said that it had been a wonderful surprise.

The world-renowned Australian potter has been living by his hands for 57 years.

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“My passion started with a desire to create functional pots that people could use and enjoy,” he said.

Beyond his tableware items, Mr Dermer has concentrated his exhibition work developing groundbreaking and unique works using two very difficult processes, those

being Salt Glazing and Terra Sigillata.

His 1988 major commission for the Cabinet Entry and Prime Minister’s Suite in the New Parliament House Canberra are magnificent examples of his innovative Terra Sigillata pots.

In 2006 Mr Dermer won the prestigious Saltzbrand

Keramik International Award in Koblenz (Germany).

“This was the birthplace of Salt Glazing in the world in the 13th and 14th century,” he said.

“I was the first nonEuropean to take out the award.”

■ Continued page 2

FARM GATE FEATURE: Young social enterprise students (from left) Ollie Innes (year 6), Brok Warner (year 5), Cooper Innes (year 5), Cameron Loveday (year 5) and Judah McIntosh (year 6) started up ‘Farm Gate Fertilisers’ last year., an initiative which was recently featured in Scotland’s ‘The Big Issue’ magazine. Story page 3.

PHOTO: Coral Cooksley.

Crime author launches latest book in Beechworth

By CORAL COOKSLEY

LOCAL award-winning author and playwright Margaret Hickey launched her third crime novel ‘Broken Bay’ at the Beechworth Library on Tuesday evening.

The event drew an audience of close to 50 book lovers. Beechworth Books teamed up with Beechworth Library to host the launch, which was planned by the author in her hometown of Beechworth.

Beeechworth Books coowner Charles Dean engaged with Marg with a number of questions about her captivating novel and writing.

Marg said the writing process had been largely the same for her two previous books ‘Cutters End’ and ‘Stone Town.’

“I sit down, read the last paragraph that I write, and then I write the next one and don’t plan it,” she said.

“I always choose the landscape first and then the story comes from there, and I have a character, and then I write it.

“I start panicking at

around 60,000 words when I don’t know who the killer is, but then it comes to me.

“That process may change

in the future, but it certainly worked for this trilogy.”

Marg said although the book is part of a trilogy,

Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water

Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 PROPOSED NATIONAL HERITAGE LISTING: BEECHWORTH ADMINISTRATIVE PRECINCT CALL FOR PUBLIC COMMENT

The Australian Heritage Council is assessing Beechworth Administrative Precinct for possible heritage values that may be included in the National Heritage List. The National Heritage List recognises places that are of outstanding significance to the nation for their natural, Indigenous and/or historic heritage values.

The Australian Heritage Council’s initial assessment has determined that Beechworth Administrative Precinct may meet the National Heritage criteria for historic heritage values.

Comments are invited on whether the assessed areas meet the National Heritage criteria, and whether they should be included in the National Heritage List. Further information is available by contacting the Australian Heritage Council at heritage@dcceew.gov.au

Information on the National Heritage criteria is available at www.dcceew.gov.au/parks-heritage/heritage/about/national

Contact us

Please provide any written comments by 5:00 PM AEST on 14 July 2023

Australian Heritage Council GPO Box 3090

CANBERRA ACT 2601

Or by email to: heritage@dcceew.gov.au

All comments will be provided to the Minister for the Environment for consideration when making her decision on the inclusion of heritage values and areas in the National Heritage List.

it could be read as a standalone but does feature the same characters. A five-book contract with

Penguin Books means the author is underway writing her fourth book, due in December with publication

expected around June next year.

Beechworth local Vivienne Harvey attending the launch and said she enjoyed finding out about the author’s writing process and relationship with her publisher.

“It’s lovely to hear how much Marg enjoys writing this crime series but most of all I enjoy her humour and frankness,” she said.

Another Beechworth local Pam Turnbull said Marg was an author whose joy in writing is palpable, is grounded in Beechworth where she planned to launch her third crime novel, and is very much part of her community.

“I like Marg’s novels because she writes the way she talks, with enthusiasm and empathy,” she said.

“Marg is connected to her characters, who take her on their journey where they dictate what is going to happen in the story.”

Now on tour around the state and Australia, the author visited Wangaratta library on Wednesday night to talk about her latest novel.

Potter’s top honour

■ From front page He is one of only three potters ever to be honoured with a retrospective exhibition at the National Gallery in Melbourne in 2019.

A major retrospective of his work has just finished at the Hyphen Gallery in Wodonga.

Mr Dermer said the

OAM award is personally very satisfying in that it acknowledged his hard work, dedication and stubborn determination to push the boundaries of these processes over the years.

“But more importantly it highlights and validates the place of ceramics within the mainstream arts,” he said.

Although ceramics has a long history and higher status internationally, in Australia this tradition is relatively recent.

Mr Dermer said many people still viewed pottery as a hobby.

“I’m still occasionally asked by some people what I used to do,” he said.

PROUD: Yackandandah potter John Dermer was thrilled to receive an Order of Australia Medal in this

year’s King’s Birthday Honours announced on Monday.

PHOTO: Coral Cooksley

CAPTIVATING: Glenrowan’s Werner Vogels (left), Beechworth Books’ Charles Dean, locals Bernie Dowsley, author Margaret Hickey, Kristie Howard and Simon Maughan at Tuesday’s night’s book launch.

PHOTO: Coral Cooksley

Festival remains on North East’s grid

By RYAN MALCOLM

THE North East’s popular Off-Grid Living Festival is set to remain local going forward, shifting from its traditional home at Eldorado’s Centennial Park to new grounds at Chiltern Equine Park from next year.

Having regularly attracted thousands of guests from across the state and further afield, organisers Kate and Ralph Nottingham sought proposals earlier this year in order to expand the annual festival, which they said had outgrown its Eldorado facilities.

Despite fielding sugges-

tions for locations in Gippsland, Seymour and Bendigo, a collective voice from within the North East sought to keep the event local, with Chiltern’s old racecourse ultimately settled upon.

Ms Nottingham said the festival hoped to revitalise a venue which has not hosted a horse race in more than 40 years.

“We’re thrilled to be able to stay local and to have an opportunity to revitalise an underused community resource and be part of the future growth of the part into a new direction,” she said.

“It has so much potential

and is perfect for a festival like ours.

“In recent years we’ve seen that participants are turning their festival into longer holidays and stay to explore the region for up to two weeks.

“This is something the whole of the North East should see the flow-on effects from over the Easter holidays when the festival is held.”

Chiltern Equine Park committee of management president Neil Ward said the park’s proximity to the Hume Freeway would ensure easy access to the festival, and said he hoped the move would see the facilities at the park improved over time through

collaboration with Indigo Shire and event organisers.

Indigo Shire Council Mayor Sophie Price said the shire was “thrilled” to host the event, and noted it closely aligned with council’s climate focus.

“Not only is hosting the festival great for our local economy, with more than 10,00 people expected to attend, it aligns so well with our commitment to climate action and sustainability,” she said.

“Let’s all get behind this fantastic event and ensure that 2024 will be the first of many years that this event is staged in our backyard.”

Ms Nottingham said organisers had been delighted with the Chiltern community’s involvement throughout the festival’s search for a new home, having previously enjoyed widespread support within the Eldorado township.

“We wanted to pick another location where the enthusiasm for the festival was high and where the people understood the importance of the topics presented,” she said.

“We were delighted to find this in abundance within Chiltern, with excited emails, phone calls and offers to help coming in from all over.”

According to Chiltern

Tourism and Development Inc. president Matt Williams, the change of venue supported the long-term growth of the event.

“The new location at the Chiltern Equine Park allows for both the festival to grow and Chiltern to continue to prove itself as a pivotal part of Indigo Shire,” he said.

“The economic importance of an event of this magnitude cannot be underestimated and Chiltern stands ready to help ensure the success of the Off-Grid Living Festival in its new home.”

For more information on the April 6-7 event, visit www. offgridevent.com.au.

Wooragee Primary School showcased overseas

By CORAL COOKSLEY

A LOCAL primary school social enterprise project undertaken by five students has been showcased in a UK magazine with a huge readership in the country.

Local Social Enterprise Schools learning coordinator

Tom Colcott said Wooragee Primary School and Cathedral College Wangaratta had been selected by the Social Enterprise Academy of Australia jointly with Scotlandbased Social Enterprise Academy Global to be featured in the magazine ‘The Big Issue’.

“The magazine ran a social enterprise in schools special with student-led projects showcasing a number of schools selected from all over the world,” he said.

Mr Colcott said the magazine’s special issue had been launched at the House of Lords - the upper house of UK’s Parliament.

“It’s a global magazine as well as being available in

Australia, but the UK issue is much bigger,” he said.

“Wooragee Primary School featured with ‘Farm Gate Fertiliser’ as it is unique and a fantastic idea using chooks at the school.

“The boys created the liquid fertiliser product and packaged it in recycled milk containers and it has sold really well.”

Mr Colcott said the students ran a stall at the annual social enterprise market day last year, which was held for participating schools in the social enterprise programs at the Old Beechworth Gaol.

“The students are further developing their project this year too,” he said.

“With the Social Enterprise Schools program, we run workshops for students, introduce them to social enterprise and then work with the students along the journey to develop a product to sell for a student-selected cause.

“It’s such a great program because it gets students think-

ing about causes that they care about and gives them a chance to contribute to the cause through designing and developing products where profits from sales are donated.”

Mr Colcott said the boys cared about sea turtles and selected Netherlands-based non-profit #TeamSeas as their cause to help clean up the ocean.

Wooragee Primary School

principal Angela Gray said the feature had been a big bonus for the school.

“With the boys’ innovation having such an original idea, it’s great we can showcase successful country kids with

their social enterprise,” she said.

“It’s also great for our junior students to see their senior students in the school doing wonderful things for the community and the environment too.

“Social enterprise gives students an opportunity to shine in different ways where they’re also given a sense of self and sense of pride with their achievements.”

Teacher Jess Marshall said social enterprise is real-life learning.

“They apply classroom learning such as in maths and English to a real-life context while gaining a broader idea about the world around them along with causes they’re interested in”.

Social Enterprise Academy is the enterprise and learning development partner of the Australian Centre for Rural Entrepreneurship (ACRE), based at the Old Beechworth Gaol.

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CHUFFED: Wooragee Primary School students and staff (with teacher Jess Marshall back left are thrilled to have been showcased in the ‘Big Issues’ magazine with their students’ social enterprise project. Social Enterprise Schools learning coordinator Tom Colcott (back right) is in the photo too.

PHOTO: Coral Cooksley.

Alpine fire risk rises in winter

SPECIALIST alpine fire brigades are urging visitors to the region to practice the same fire protocols they would at home while enjoying upcoming trips to the snowfields.

CFA alpine commander Mark Owens said the community should be reminded that fire safety is year-round, with fire risk often increasing as the colder months prevail.

“We want people to enjoy themselves, but to remember to be safe and exercise common sense around fire and heating,” he said.

“Make simple decisions to stay safe – don’t dry your ski gear or clothes in front of an open fire, make sure you and your family know what to do in the event of a fire and never leave cooking unattended.”

On average there are 3000 house fires in Victoria each year, with most able to be prevented by taking simple precautions, such as using a fire screen in front of an open fire, or leaving drying clothes at least one metre away from all heating.

Other ways to mitigate risk include never leaving portable heaters or fireplaces unattended, never leaving cooking unattended, or never using damaged electrical equipment or appliances.

Pedestrian hospitalised after CBD crash

A PEDESTRIAN who was allegedly struck by a vehicle in the Beechworth CBD on Tuesday evening was later hospitalised in a stable condition.

The woman, who an Ambulance Victoria spokesperson said was believed to be in her 70s, was allegedly struck by a vehicle shortly before 6pm, near the intersection of Camp and High streets.

Paramedics and police responded to the scene, and the woman was subsequently transported by ambulance to Northeast Health Wangaratta, having sustained upper body injuries.

Local students talk it up

By CORAL COOKSLEY

BEECHWORTH Primary School students had a chance to showcase their public speaking skills last Friday at the school.

Some 31 of the school’s students from years three to six chose to take part in this year’s Lions Multiple District Junior Public Speaking competition, with Beechworth Lions Club organising the local event.

Beechworth Lions Club members also visited two other participating primary schools – Montessori and St Joseph’s – throughout the week where students presented their speeches.

Years three to four addressed the topic ‘oh no – you’ve turned into a giant’ while years five to six presented speeches on the topic of ‘atrange qorld eecords set in history’.

Delighted Beechworth Primary School principal Sue McDonald said the competition gave students an opportunity to hone and develop their public speaking skills with a real purpose.

“The students were highly engaged with the topics and enjoyed writing their speeches,” she said.

“It is terrific to see the Lions supporting and encouraging our young people, particularly in an area which over time is becoming a bit of a lost art.”

Ms McDonald said it was the second year the school had entered the contest.

“We were very impressed with how the competition was run and the standard of the en-

trants last year,” she said.

“As a school leader, I was privileged to watch last year’s events both at the Beechworth level and then at the district level supporting a student from our school.”

Ms McDonald said it had been wonderful to see the high standard of speakers at all levels.

“This inspired our school to fully commit this year and ensure that all students have the opportunity to build their skills in public speaking and listening,” she said.

Beechworth Lions Club president John Eldrid said children

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learned how to research information from various resources with the help of teachers.

“Resources are then drawn upon for a speech presented at a number of forums with advancement through levels,” he said.

“It’s something different to their curriculum, expands knowledge, encourages creativity and students learn how to speak in public.

“It’s a challenge where any student can have a go.”

Four competition levels form the overall program with the final one held as a compet-

ing district competition.

District 201V6 stretches along the Murray River from Quambatook and Kerang in the west to Corryong in the East, and from Lockhart in the north to Bright in the south.

“Students have platforms to practice skills and the chance to meet with students from different regions in the Lions district,” Mr Eldrid said.

“Over time, local competitions will become part of a national one as other Lions districts across Australia begin using the program.”

CREATIVE: Beechworth Primary School students Isla Novasad (left), Lily Jobson, Heidi Ellis, and Olivia Hetherington were among students with speeches .

Knit one, purl one popular for worldwide event

By CORAL COOKSLEY

KNIT one, purl one was yarn of the day at Beechworth Provender as locals joined the annual ‘World Wide Knit in Public Day’ last Saturday.

Mary Kromar said Beechworthians had had been part of the special day for two years prior to the COVID pandemic.

“Some of us are from local spinners and knitters’ groups,” she said.

Mary said the event was a great way for knitterswhich can be a solitary activity - to join in and socialise

Some duck hunters, protesters breach laws

Ahidffi g

DURING the 2023 duck season, Game Management Authority’s (GMA) Authorised Officers undertook 469 patrols at 216 individual wetlands across Victoria.

Authorised officers checked more than 1212 game licences and 981 hunter bags.

Most hunters GMA spoke to were complying with the law and enjoying their time on the wetlands.

However, some hunters and protesters were in breach of game hunting and public safety laws.

Breaches to hunting laws detected throughout the season included failure to comply with the season arrangements, hunting without a valid game licence, possession of toxic shot, two hunters were found to have exceeded the daily bag limit and one hunter failed to immediately dispatch a retrieved duck.

Breaches to public safety laws detected included entering a wetland without authorisation, hindering and harassing hunters and people littering and leaving campfires unattended,

As a result, the GMA will issue 19 infringement notices and is currently conducting 17 investigations.

A total of 45 breaches were detected throughout the 2023 duck season.

GMA director of compliance and intelligence Paul Stevens said the GMA works in partnership with multiple government agencies to monitor and regulate the 2023 duck hunting season.

“While some people breached game hunting and public safety laws, most people authorised officers spoke to were compliant,” Mr Stevens said.

“Thank you to everyone who acted safely and responsibly during the 2023 duck season.”

The GMA works in partnership with Victoria Police, the Department of Energy, Environment, and Climate Action (DEECA), the Department of Jobs, Skills, Industry and Regions (DJSIR), Victorian Fisheries Authority and Parks Victoria to regulate the duck season.

Report illegal hunting and breaches to public safety laws to the GMA, visit Report Illegal Hunting or call 136 186.

with those who came along with friends.

“It’s a great way to connect and make friends (by) seeing who’s a knitter or does crochet and what they’re creating,” she said.

Mary said it helped promote knitting too.

Beth Davidson said the day brought community members together with shared creative interests where people could help each other.

Worldwide Knit in Public Day has been running for 18 years, taking place annually on the second Saturday of June.

It’s about whether we should change the Constitution to recognise the First Peoples of Australia by setting up an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice. A referendum is the only way to change the Australian Constitution.

How

How it’s set up would be determined after the referendum with input from First Nations people, the broader public and the Government. The Parliament would then make a law to set up the Voice.

The intention is that its members will be chosen by and representative of, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people from across Australia. Be ready for the conversation, get informed at

GOOD COMPANY: Locals Mary Kromar (left), Lynn Smith, Heather Davidson, Beth Davidson, Cath Brennan, Pam Rule, Barb Gray and Michele Sinclair (back left) and Chris Hamilton joined up for ‘World Wide Knit in Public Day’ on Saturday.

PHOTO: Coral Cooksley

Historian Richard Patterson to talk at Winterwords

By CORAL COOKSLEY

AN Historian returning to Beechworth for the first time in eight years will deliver a fascinating talk at the Burke Museum as part of next week’s Winterwords Festival – a celebration of words.

Among his works, Richard Patterson who lived in Beechworth for some years, wrote ‘Nobblers and Lushingtons: A History of the Hotels of Beechworth and the Ovens District’ as well as ‘Beechworth at War: A Country Town Through Three Conflicts’.

Mr Patterson said he wrote his first book on local history – Nobblers and Lushingtons - in response to a need in the town.

“It seemed as if every day someone came into the Burke Museum seeking details of the hotel where a relation had been the licensee,” he said.

With a vagueness about dates and hotels with names not remembered, Mr Patterson said he knew information was in the Ovens and Murray Advertiser ’s back copies which had never been collated.

“From compiling a list came a mass of additional information about long-forgotten hotels, sly-grog sellers, price cartels, gold-rush mad-

ness, entertainments, murder and debauchery,” he said.

“It was crying out to be put into a book.”

Mr Patterson said local history can be enlightening, tragic, humorous and unexpected, although not necessarily all four at the same time.

“Much of the attraction is in the research and making

connections and deductions that you know have not been made before, or uncovering things that people have attempted to hide from view,” he said.

“What is continually evident is that people have really not changed in their behaviour or outlook.

“The idea that they ‘did not think like us’ in the past

or that their brains were ‘wired differently’ is a fallacy.”

With his presentation, Mr Patterson said he hopes the audience will enjoy a good laugh.

“I’d also like to think they have a better appreciation of what local history should be and can distinguish it from genealogy, the ‘a hundred years ago today’ columns, the collection of historical data without drawing any conclusions and other social evils,” he said.

Friends of the Burke Museum is hosting the event.

Member John Baines said Mr Patterson has passion for understanding local history.

“With his writing abilities Richard spent time compiling components of Beechworth’s European history,” he said.

“It’s valuable and essential we acknowledge and showcase local historians where the Friends of the Beechworth Museum can play a pivotal role in facilitating presentations of their work.”

Mr Patterson will explore the art of local history writing at the Burke Museum at 3pm on Sunday, June 25.

For more information about the Winterwords schedule visit www.winterwords.com.au.

PASSIONATE: Richard Patterson will deliver an intriguing talk on local history at the Burke Museum at next week’s Winterwords.

Local trout rivers close for winter

TROUT fishing in North East rivers and streams came to an end on the long weekend for the winter to allow trout to spawn over the colder months.

The 2023 trout and salmon closed season from Tuesday, June 13 until Friday, September 1 inclusive.

The first open day is on Saturday, September 2.

Local lakes such as Buffalo, William Hovell, Dartmouth, and Hume remain open to fishing throughout the winter.

For those looking ahead to the school holidays later this month, The Victorian Fisheries Authority (VFA) will stock yearling rainbow trout into many small ponds as a part of their school holiday stocking.

These include Wangaratta’s Merriwa Park, Lake Sambell, Allan’s Flat Waterhole, Glenrowan Recreation Reserve and Stanley Dam.

There are many others and a full list can be found on the VFA website.

These waterways provide great fishing for the kids during the school holidays, and even outside of the school holidays.

The Victorian Government has also confirmed it intends to make 60,000 Little Angler kits available to grade five primary students in more than 1900 Victorian schools later this year.

The kits will set families up with everything they need to wet a line including a fishing rod and reel, line, tackle box, some tackle and a Kids’ Guide to Fishing that includes information and links to educational resources to learn the basics such as fishing safety, knots and rigs.

The VFA is leading the roll out and has released a tender this week for the supply of kits, with schools encouraged to register early interest.

For more details go to vfa.vic.gov.au.

Rutherglen festivities a fabulous success

By CORAL COOKSLEY

MORE than 9,000 wine lovers flocked to the Rutherglen region for Australia’s longestrunning wine festival last weekend.

Celebrating its 50th year, the event had undergone a full strategic review with key changes including a name change to Roam Rutherglen Winery Walkabout.

Wine Makers of Rutherglen (WOA) executive officer Annalee Nolan said WOA organisers had been delighted with the results.

“Our main focus was to ensure that we could deliver a safe and sustainable event that would see us around for another 50 years,” she said.

“We are confident we have achieved the right balance to do this.”

Fifteen of the region’s cellar doors hosted Walkabout patrons with a program featuring premium tastings, live entertainment and unique sensory cellar door experiences.

With the new format in place including one continuous hopon, hop-off bus loop taking in all participating wineries, and more than 20 buses operating and driving in both directions, the new system reduced the need to change bus routes ensuring a more even dispersion

of guests around to each winery.

“Data showed a great take-up of people using our bus system for both days instead of just one day and with only one bus loop, they were doing half the loop one day and half the other which was great to see.”

Introduction of the new wristbands worked well too, with Ms Nolan foreseeing the use of cashless currency increasing for next year.

“This system is a great assis-

Winterwords

tance with connectivity issues experienced in the region over peak periods when we lose reception as it allows transactions to still occur without the need for the internet,” she said.

Sunday’s Rotary Country Fair run to coincide with the wine festival weekend also drew thousands of visitors to the region.

Rutherglen’s Apex Club hosted the annual Grape Tread where members of the public stomped away followed by ce-

lebrities to win prizes for the most juice produced.

Indigo mayor Sophie Price and Apex Club treasurer Mark Chandler, Senator Bridget McKenzie with Apex’s Jamie Cooper and Rotary’s Chris Grimes with Bill Slattery teamed up to have some fun.

Ms Nolan said Indigo Shire Council advised a combination of the weekend events had generated an economic impact of around $7million.

CRUSHED: Visitors to the Rutherglen Rotary Country Fair last Sunday had the chance to have fun stomping at the Apex grape tread.

PHOTO: Mark Donaldson.

Beechworth golfers battle for gold

By DYLAN POOL

LAST Sunday a Stableford event was played at Beechworth Golf Club.

By the looks of the scores it was heavy going after the deluge a couple of days earlier.

The winner of the day was Daryl Rowe (23) with 31 points, Jacob Howard (11) 30

was the runner up, followed by Andy Croome (17) 29. Jacob Howard claimed the only nearest the pin on the 10th hole.

This coming Sunday we are going to hold the 2022 Medal of Medals, as well as our June Monthly Medal.

The qualifiers are Andy Croome, Dave Lang, Peter Smith, Jamie Dolny and

Vaughan Saunders.

The qualifier for the handicap matchplay championships will also be played, with the top eight to qualify.

Sunday is 11:30am for a 12 noon hit off

There are a couple of people playing at 8:30am if you want to play earlier this week, so it would be good to see a few more coming out.

Two on the bounce

■ From back page

A week after slotting four goals to lead all comers in the Bushrangers’ 101-point mauling of Dederang-Mount Beauty, Lachlan Armstrong slotted nine majors in a dominant display, ably supported by Jai Middleton and Kayde Surrey, who each piled on five goals of their own.

Midfielder Degan Dolny, co-coach Tom Cartledge and Armstrong were named among the Bushrangers’ best, as were Finn Jakobsson and Connor Stone.

Currently ranked second in the TDFL’s goalkicking stakes, Armstrong now sits 15 goals behind Mitta United star Ethan Redcliffe.

Saturday’s win marks the third time this year Beechworth has won by

more than 100 points, while a 98-point win over top-six rival Barnawartha and a 76-point win over Thurgoona have also demonstrated the Bushrangers’ unwillingness to show mercy on their opponents this season.

The Bushrangers will this week host 11th-placed Rutherglen at Baarmutha Park, as the side celebrates TDFL community round by attempting to raise $2500 in the fight against Motor Neurone Disease (MND).

Senior action commences at 2.15pm, with the Bushies’ Big Freeze, which will see players, volunteers and community members dunked in ice water, set to begin at 4.30pm.

To donate, visit https://

STRONG HANDS: Degan Dolny (pictured last week) was among Beechworth’s best as the Bushrangers smashed Wodonga Saints by 132 points.

hub.fightmnd.org.au/ fundraise-for-fightmnd/ beechworth-football-netball-club.

Striving towards total renewable energy Clare BeechworthBishop,

CLARE Bishop was born in Sale and moved to Yackandandah with her family when she was nine years old. She left the area to attend university after finishing high school, returned two years ago with her partner and the pair have just moved to Beechworth.

What do you do workwise?

I’m a horticulturalist with a gardening business mainly based around Yackandandah and Beechworth. I also work around Mount Buffalo in a natural resource management capacity.

What brought you to your role/career?

I really struggled to choose a career after school and university as I loved lots of different things. I decided that gardening and horticulture would suit my lifestyle and meant I could run my own business and structure my employment as it suited me, leaving me free to take on other roles I was interested in.

What do you love about your work?

I love that it has introduced me to so many people in the community I hadn’t met before. I can help people love their home and garden more, and hopefully prevent it from becoming a burden. In this area most gardens become so large because we are blessed with so much space.

What do you do in the community?

I am the current chair of Totally Renewable Yackandandah, a renewable energy community group trying to get Yack to 100 per cent renewable energy, to save homes, businesses, and community groups money, reduce fossil fuel emissions and build vital resilience during this time of uncertain climate conditions. I do it because I love spending time and solving problems with people in my community, and I learn so much from the more practiced committee members who have a lifetime of valuable professional experience.

Is there an important community issue that you think needs addressing?

Housing affordability and lack of rental properties. We were lucky enough to have parents who had room for us to stay while we found somewhere to live in the area, but not everyone has access to this. It is absolutely a barrier for young people wanting to move to popular small towns.

What do you see as one of the most important current world issues?

I’m sure I’m re-treading old ground, but climate change, the weather events it causes and our response to it.

If the person you would most like to meet came to Indigo Shire (past or present), or was already here, who would that be, what would you show them, and why?

I would most like to meet Sarah Marshall – a self-described writer, podcaster and media critic, and one of my favourite writers. I know she loves beautiful outdoor places so I would take her to one of the swimming spots along the rail trail on the way to Allan’s Flat Hall in Yackandandah, and hopefully pick her brain at the same time.

What book are you reading?

‘The Near Daphne Experience’ by Melbourne-based author Alison Reynolds. It’s very funny and available at the Beechworth Library (or will be when I return it). My partner Nick stole it from me so he could read it first and I’ve just got it back.

DIGGING IN: Beechworth horticulturist Clare Bishop loves helping people with their gardens.

READY TO GO: Jamie Dolny (pictured) will compete in this weekend’s 2022 Medal of Medals.

Two on the bounce

BEECHWORTH’S

senior men’s football side continued to solidify its finals pedigree over the weekend, peeling off its second consecutive win by more than 100 points in a comprehensive display against Wodonga Saints.

Consecutive defeats to the Tallangatta and

BY RYAN MALCOLM rmalcolm@ nemedia.com.au

District Football League’s top two sides at the tail end of last month lit a fire under the Bushrangers, as they romped home to a 28.12 (180) to 7.6 (48)

Bushrangers romp to 132-point win over Wodonga Saints. gppg

victory away at Martin Park, leading comfortably at each change.

Having jumped to a three-goal lead at quartertime, the Bushrangers slammed on eight goals to three in the second

quarter to take a 54-point lead into the half, effectively killing the game.

Any doubt about the result was quickly put to bed immediately following the main break,

as the away side piled on a further nine goals to two in the third quarter, with the Saints unable to provide an answer to Beechworth’s dominance in front of goal.

A seven-goal to one

final stanza saw the thirdplaced Bushrangers run away 132-point winners, and resigned their 10thplaced opponents to their seventh loss in their first nine games.

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EYES UP: Allesandro Belci looks to drive the ball inside 50 during the Bushrangers’ 101-point over Dederang-Mount Beauty a fortnight ago.