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CENTRE STAGE

A group of 12 Beechworth Secondary College students attended and participated in the live broadcast of ABC’s Q&A program on Monday night.

 Story page 7

THE Australian Greens tabled a bill in the Senate last Tuesday to introduce divestiture powers into Australian competition law to with the view of ending the supermarket duopoly between Woolworths and Coles.

Greens Economic Justice spokesperson Senator Nick McKim said the giant supermarket corporations have had it their way for far too long.

“It’s time that the interests of

BY STEVE KELLY skelly@ nemedia.com.au

people took precedence over the profits of corporations,” he said.

“We need to stop supermarket corporations ruthlessly using their market power to gouge prices while raking in billions of dollars in profits.

“Giving our courts and

competition regulators the power to smash the supermarket duopoly will help rein them in.”

“This isn’t a controversial or radical proposition.

“The UK has this power, and the US has been using it for well over a century.”

It comes after the supermarket duopoly was in Indi MP Helen Haines’ crosshairs in parliament recently as she urged the government to act on

cost-of-living pressures.

In her ‘Reining in the supermarket duopoly’ speech Dr Haines again highlighted the cost-of-living and the impacts it is having on people in Indi.

“We know that Australia is going through a period of inflation; in fact, we learnt that prices rose 3.4 per cent in the year to January,” she said.

“But many people will tell you the price increases we have seen

at Coles and Woolies have been well above that, and the data backs that up too.”

Dr Haines said Woolworths and Coles have a combined market share of 65 per cent compared to Britain where the top two supermarkets have a combined market share of 43 per cent; and the United States, where the four largest supermarkets have a combined market share of 34 per cent.

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A new voice to be heard in Indigo Shire community

By BAILEY ZIMMERMANN

A SELF-APPOINTED community group has formed in the Indigo Shire with the goals of improving transparency with council and the local community.

Indigo Community Voice (ICV) made up of six local volunteer members has emerged out of being “disillusioned” by Indigo Shire council performance in recent years.

The group has formed on the back of results from the annual Victorian Community Satisfaction performance surveys, which the group said has shown a downward trend in the past five years.

President Herb Ellerbock said the lack of transparency between council and the community in decision making along with council spending have become major concerns for the members of the group.

“Council simply have their own priorities and we need to start realigning what council does with what the community expectations are,” he said.

“We don’t want to be antagonistic towards council, ideally we would like to rebuild what we think is lost confidence in council.

“We hope that Indigo Community Voice can help to rebuild the relationship and trust between Indigo community members and the councillors elected to represent them to provide the necessary support and services.”

Mr Ellerbock said the group believe council spending does not match the community’s desires.

“They use a rating method here in Indigo Shire and it produces very unfair outcomes for a significant section of the community,” he said.

“Two years ago when the rate cap was 1.75 per cent, the residential rates went up nearly four times that, in my case it went up more than eight times that.

“Council has been aware of a much better way of doing that, but they simply haven’t acted on it.

“The first time we as ratepayers or community members get to see a council agenda for a council meeting is typically four days before the meeting, and that’s just not acceptable.

“If there’s any big issues like rates, which will be coming up very shortly, the budget, those sorts of issues we have four days to respond to.”

Mr Ellerbock said no one in the group had any intention of going up for a councillor position in this year’s council elections.

“Some people have suggested to me that I should stand but the way the Local Government Act is structured now, I’d be more effective outside the council than in it,” he said.

“We’ll be acting as middle men and we will try and hope to find good representation for council.”

In response to the group’s formation, Indigo Shire Council chief executive officer, Trevor Ierino said council invited feedback and input from all community members.

“At present we are asking the

community to participate in a review of the Community Vision and for it to share its hopes, dreams and aspirations for the shire’s future,” he said.

“The drop in overall council performance in the 2023 Community Satisfaction Survey was consistant with a state-wide trend where scores were lower than previous years.

“This trend was attributed to a decline in satisfaction with roads, cost of living and general trust in government.”

To find out more information about the Indigo Community Voice, you can visit their website via: https://IndigoCommunityVoice.org.

Call to improve BeechworthWangaratta Road safety

VICTORIAN Minister for Roads and Roads Safety, Melissa Horne, has been asked to intervene to help address residents’ safety concerns on the Beechworth-Wangaratta Road.

Wangaratta-based state MP for Ovens Valley, Tim McCurdy, highlighted local fears in Parliament last week, seeking Minister Horne’s assistance to have Regional Roads Victoria meet with local residents on-site to discuss improving safety of the road at Airey Lane.

“There have been many near misses at 1782 Beechworth-Wangaratta Road,” he said, having recently met with concerned residents on-site.

“I really think we should be taking this section of the road seriously, and we need to do some work on it.

“There needs to be turning lane as the road is too narrow, and the corner needs widening, or barriers put in place.

“It is a stretch of road on which locals tell me they have actually had to tow out vehicles; they have had to do lots of things that are just near misses that never get on the record.

“I really encourage the minister to invite RRV to meet with us at that location.”

Man in critical condition after Indigo Valley fall

By BAILEY ZIMMERMANN

A 76-YEAR-OLD man was airlifted to hospital in a critical condition on Monday night following a quadbike crash in Indigo Valley.

Police, CFA, SES and paramedic crews were called to the incident at around 8pm on Monday to the Indigo Creek Road property, after reports a man had crashed and fallen 25 feet down an embankment into a creek, according to police and CFA Victoria.

CFA units were called from Mount Beauty, Wangaratta, Rutherglen, Barnawartha and Indigo Valley.

The incident was under control at 8.41pm and deemed safe at 9.20pm, according to CFA Victoria.

Ambulance Victoria said the man was airlifted to Royal Melbourne Hospital in a critical condition with upper and lower body injuries.

Police said WorkSafe will investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident.

End open slather on supermarket duopoly: Haines

■ From page 1

“This concentration leads to a lack of competition, without which, we do not have the market forces needed to keep prices low and fair,” she said. Dr Haines said farmers are also getting a raw deal when it comes to payment for goods.

“Like the customers,

the farmers are also being pushed to the brink by this supermarket duopoly,” she said.

“While the prices we pay at the check-out have gone up, the prices paid to farmers absolutely have not.

“And they can’t just find someone else to sell to either.

“My message now to the government and to all of us here on opposition benches and on the crossbench is: stand up to them.

“Let’s have the courage to get behind some absolute change in this terrible system and do something for the people we represent.”

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A NEW VOICE: Herb Ellerbock (left), Carol Gillman, Peter Twigg, Christine Stewart and Charlie Mitchell of Indigo Community Voice will be hoping to improve consultation between Indigo Shire Council and its community.

first step for mental health

By SAGE DAVIDSON

THE 2024 Beechworth to Bridge (B2B) walk has been labelled a resounding success, with more registrations than ever before and perfect weekend weather.

Beechworth to Bridge is run by a group of 12 to 15 volunteers and involves a 73km walk from Beechworth to Bright, which occurred this year from March 22 to March 24.

Walkers can opt into one, two or all three days, or join in on walking the last 5km.

Organiser and president of the B2B Lisa Cartledge said Dyson and Wangaratta coachlines donated buses, to give walkers a break if needed.

Since the first Beechworth to Bridge walk in 2019, the event has been steadily growing as mental health has become increasingly destigmatized, with more than 250 registrations across the three days this year.

B2B’s mission focuses around removing the stigma of suicide in particular, with the aim of “promoting the concept that depression is treatable and suicide is preventable”.

Through the walk, Beechworth to Bridge offers people a chance to just simply “walk and talk”, understanding that sometimes seeking profes-

sional mental health help or treatment can be daunting and offering people a simpler first step.

“It allows people to come together in a sort of casual way where the focus is a walk or an event and the focus isn’t necessarily to sit in a room and share your darkest thoughts,” Liz Frazer, who has been a part of B2B since its beginnings, said.

“Walking alongside people and not even necessarily just talking but knowing there is some level of support there for you.

“People have been able to make connections with other people that have experienced similar sorts of loss or trauma or mental health issues themselves.”

Tony Stockdale is a Beechworth local who has been involved in the event for several years.

He said although he hasn’t been directly influenced by suicide, he feels participating is just a very little thing he can give to help raise suicide prevention awareness.

People can get involved in the Beechworth to Bridge participating, donating or volunteering with more information that can be found at https://www. b2b.org.au/.

Look out for planned burns in the region

FOREST Fire Management Victoria

(FFMVic) will take advantage of favourable weather and forest conditions across the state to reduce the risk of bushfires on the community and environment.

FFMVic deputy chief fire officer, Aaron Kennedy, said planned burning is one of the key tools firefighters use to reduce the size, intensity, and impact of bushfires.

“As we have seen already this year, out of control bushfires can have a significant impact on people, property and the environment if started under the wrong conditions,” he said.

“Reducing fuels such as grass, leaves, bark, shrubs and fallen branches means fires are less intense, slower to spread, and safer for firefighters to control.

“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 111 planned burns covering an area of 56,486 hectares are prepared and ready for ignition in the North East.

Priority burns are planned in state forest, parks and reserves around Bright, Tawonga, Beechworth, Mitta Mitta, Koetong, Lucyvale, Corryong, Upper Gundowring, Marysville, Kinglake, Toolangi, Tatong, Tolmie, Gaffneys Creek and Jamieson.

“While planned burning is our most effective tool to reduce bushfire risk, in locations where planned burning isn’t suitable, we mulch, mow, slash and spray, build fuel breaks and maintain the public land road network to keep Victorians safer,” Mr Kennedy said.

FFMVic is made up of skilled and experienced staff from Victorian fire and land management agencies.

Partners under the FFMVic banner include the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DEECA), Parks Victoria, Melbourne Water and VicForests.

A JOINT initiative aimed at cutting down the prevalence of illegal firearms in the community is urging locals to protect themselves by reporting incidents to Crime Stoppers.

The ‘say something before it’s too late’ campaign, a collaboration between Crime Stoppers Victoria and state police, aims to raise awareness around the dangers of illegal firearms and promote Victoria’s reporting processes.

Crime Stoppers Victoria chief executive Stella Smith said some 5126 firearm-related incidents were recorded across the state in 2023, with Crime Stoppers passing

on more than 1800 firearm reports for police to further investigate.

She said Crime Stoppers played a “crucial” role in the investigation process by providing a safe and anonymous way for people to report crime.

“Illegal firearms mean dangerous shootings, thefts, and other violent acts that can put you and your family at risk,” she said.

“With over 200,000 illegal firearms still in the community, now is the time to say something before it’s too late.”

Detective Superintendent for Victoria Police’s anti-gangs taskforce, Jason Kelly, said police

were taking strong action to target those perpetrating gun-related violence, with the introduction of the Illicit Firearms Squad in 2020 and VIPER Taskforce in 2022 bolstering the state capacity.

“Last year, Victoria Police removed more than 1500 illicit firearms from the streets,” he said.

“There is absolutely no doubt that some of those seizures have prevented people being seriously injured or even killed.

“Every report you share with Crime Stoppers can make a difference – if you know or suspect someone in possession of an illegal firearm, please report to

Crime Stoppers Victoria today.”

Ms Smith said Crime Stoppers Victoria had processed more than 107,000 reports in the last 12 months, averaging one new report every five minutes.

“We need the community to continue this amazing work and come forward with any information they may have on someone with an illegal firearm,” she said.

To make a report, call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or visit https:// www.crimestoppersvic.com.au.

To find out more about the amnesty, visit https://www.police. vic.gov.au/disposal-firearmsand-ammunition.

FFMVic works with emergency sector partners including the Country Fire Authority, Fire Rescue Victoria and Emergency Management Victoria to manage bushfire risk, prepare communities and respond to bushfires and other emergencies.

Firefighters work with the Bureau of Meteorology to assess weather conditions, such as humidity, temperature and wind speed, and will only carry out burns when the conditions are suitable, and it is safe to do so.

Register for the latest updates about where and when FFMVic deliver planned burning at https://plannedburns.ffm.vic.gov.au/.

GOOD

B2B volunteers ready to begin the three day walk.

PHOTO: Sage Davidson

Light horse horse troop set set for Golden Horseshoe Grand Parade Parade

By SAGE DAVIDSON

THE 8th Indi Light Horse troop is set and ready for the Golden Horseshoe Grand Parade on Easter Saturday.

The 8th Indi Light Horse troop is made up of around 14 riders and 20 others that don’t ride but still participate.

The troop have participated in the Golden Horseshoe parade for around six years.

Group secretary Shane Walch said the parade, as one of the biggest parades in the North East, was a great opportunity to remind people of the history of the light horse.

“It keeps alive the memory of the Australian light horse,

especially Beechworth being in the catchment when all the men went to war,” he said.

“It also helps to recognise a lot of the horses that were taken from farms in and around Beechworth, even though a lot of them never came home.”

Light horses symbolise a legendary part of Australian history, reminding new generations of Australians of the cavalry and troops who fought hard to serve their country in Gallipoli, Egypt and the Middle East.

With seven Light horse regiments, Victoria contained the most Light horse regiments out of all of the states.

Horseback parades were something that began after the war, and continued on for many years afterwards.

The 8th Indi Light Horse troop continues this tradition, helping to both remember those who fought and those who gave their lives, as well as the horses that played an important

role in Australian history.

The group have been working hard to fit out a trade trailer to house their gear tack and display their equipment.

This will be used in various events but beginning with the parade on Saturday, where they will also include a “static display with light

horse gear, along with the horses” according to Shane. In addition to the Golden Horseshoe parade, the festival includes a Rotary market that will run from 9am to 3pm on Easter Saturday.

Volunteers are still needed for the Golden Horseshoe Festival to either help out with the parade or other vol-

unteering jobs on the day.

If interested contact Jennie Gilliver on 0435378983.

The Golden Horseshoe parade is set to begin at 3pm on Easter Saturday.

Other events across the weekend can be found at: https://www.beechworthgoldenhorseshoes.com. au/2024-program.

ALL DONE: Ewen Mclean (left), Russell Walsh, Nigel Morris and Shane Walch are ready for the parade with their newly painted trailer.

PHOTO: Shane Walch

BSC students star on Q&A

STUDENTS from Beechworth Secondary College took centre stage on Monday night on ABC’s Q&A program.

After contacting the ABC to participate in the current affairs program, a group of twelve senior students from Beechworth Secondary College traveled to Melbourne on Monday, March 25, to join the live studio audience.

The episode centered on ‘home ownership, homelessness and housing supply’.

After receiving the topic on Thursday, all

audience members were encouraged to submit questions for the panel.

School vice captain Isabelle Noble was selected to open the show with her insightful question about the equity of Australia’s housing situation.

Isabelle’s question led to a brief interview on the ABC Goulburn Murray radio morning show.

Apart from witnessing the filming of a national television program, the students also enjoyed a tour of Parliament House in Melbourne the following day.

Local foundation reaches $1.5m milestone

INTO Our Hands Community Foundation (IOH) has surpassed the significant milestone of awarding more than $1.5 million in grants to support 246 community organisations across North East Victoria.

Executive officer Peter McCabe said the achievement underscores IOH’s unwavering commitment to fostering community recovery, strength, and resilience in the region.

“Reaching this milestone is a testament to the enduring spirit and dedication of our community,” he said.

“We are immensely proud to have played a role in empowering local initiatives and supporting the vital work of organisations working tirelessly to improve the lives of North East Victorians.”

Established in response to the ongoing needs of fire-affected communities, IOH was allocated $1 million from the Victorian Bushfire Appeal Funds.

Since its inception in 2012, IOH has been dedicated to supporting community and non-profit organisations through its annual grant program.

It has provided 246 grants, to

the average value of $6232.76, with 48 grants valued at more than $10,000, and the largest grant provided being $48,922. Mr McCabe said these grants have been instrumental in revitalising communities and empowering local initiatives.

“Through our annual grant program, we have witnessed the transformative impact of community-led initiatives firsthand,” Mr McCabe said.

“Our commitment to North East Victoria remains steadfast as we continue to work alongside volunteers, donors, and commu-

nity leaders to establish locally led, community funds which work towards building a brighter future for North East Victoria.”

Operating across the local government areas of Alpine, Indigo, Mansfield, and Wangaratta, IOH remains steadfast in its mission to empower communities and build a brighter future for all residents of North East Victoria.

To find out more about IOH or for information about establishing a Community Fund to support local initiatives contact Mr McCabe 0466 252 866 or go to intoourhandsfoundation.com.au

ASKING THE RIGHT QUESTIONS: Beechworth Secondary College students Aya Mcinerney (back) , Lachlan Wilson, Felix Woodford, Poppy Voight, Maddi Sandow, Tahjo Browne, Isobelle Noble, Eli Ryder (front), Ella Pund, Sam Pearce, Ty Hoogenraad and Sophie Cowan were in the midle of ABC’s Q&A program’s conversations around home ownership, homelessness and housing supply.

THE LITERALLY BREATHTAKING BIT

Hit the open road and into the loving embrace of Mother Nature. Hike, climb, crawl (or drive, we won’t judge) your way to the top. The view will take your breath away in more ways than one.

Get lost in breathtaking places like Grampians (Gariwerd) National Park.

VISITVICTORIA.COM

REGION’S FINEST: A group of 40 SES female volunteers in the Hume region gathered at Cobram last Saturday for the Women in Rescue event.

PHOTO: Chris Manning

Hume SES volunteers gather for largest Women in Rescue event

LOCAL female Victoria SES volunteers from the Hume region recently gathered in Cobram, as part of the organisations’ ever-growing VICSES

Women in Rescue (WIR) event.

A total of 40 members attended the region’s gathering, with around 250 women participating in WIR events statewide.

Established in 2018 for female volunteers, by female volunteers, WIR is a targeted training event designed to celebrate women in emergency operations, to get hands on with the tools and equipment, share rescue skills and have fun in a safe and supportive environment. Volunteers tackled various skills-based demon-

strations, including a live road crash rescue simulation as well as hand tools and domestic rescue techniques.

Currently, 1652 of all 4869 VICSES’ volunteers are female, almost 34 per cent.

To volunteer with VICSES, or for further information on what it means to be a VICSES volunteer, visit: ses.vic.gov.au/join-us.

Susie Goodyear snags People’s Choice prize

By ANITA MCPHERSON

A POPULAR painting by local artist Susie Goodyear called ‘Speak Rodgey, Speak!’ has taken out the $500 People’s Choice award at this year’s Rutherglen Tastes of Art Prize.

Every visitor to the show, which ran from March 8 to 17 was able to vote for their favourite artwork, and the painting of the characterful kelpie drew the greatest number.

It’s a remarkable achievement given there were more than 530 artworks on display in a wide variety of styles.

From England to the countryside

GEMMA King was born in Worcester, England. After meeting her husband in the UK, the couple migrated to Australia 15 years ago.

They lived in Sydney, Melbourne, and Wodonga before settling in Yackandandah in March, 2016.

What do you do workwise?

I work for Beechworth Health Service in the Primary Health Department administration team.

I am also a qualified pilates instructor and run my own business, Yack Pilates Tribe, teaching pilates once a week at the Uniting Church Hall in Yackandandah.

What brought you to your role/career?

With the administration role, my very first job was in a GP practice where my mum worked as a nurse.

I used to do all the filing after school.

I really enjoyed working in the health sector and continued to do so throughout my career.

In relation to pilates, I was born with hip dysplasia and as a baby lived in a harness for most of my first year of life.

I became a gymnast at a young age as I think my parents thought it would be good to work on my strength and to aid my development.

I grew up loving gymnastics, yoga and circus and enjoyed keeping fit, flexible and strong.

However, I have always had problems with my hips and was diagnosed with labral tears in both.

I discovered pilates, which I found helped relieve my pain and led me to want to help others do the same or just get the benefits from a low impact workout.

What do you do in the community?

My contribution to the community at this stage is to be a caring and thoughtful citizen.

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

I think the road closures within the local community need to be addressed.

Roads seem to get closed for long periods of time with no work in progress for months on end. This is very inconvenient for commuters.

I particularly feel for the people who live on these roads and have to travel on them daily.

I wouldn’t mind if progress was being made, but barriers just seem to be put up and then forgotten.

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

Preservation of our very existence and the future of our loved ones.

I find it extremely depressing that there are wars raging throughout the world and that people are unable to get along.

I feel we could achieve great things if we collectively projected all our energy towards positive outcomes in life.

Unfortunately, I also believe that we will ultimately be our own downfall.

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?

My closest childhood friend, Candice.

Ms Webster thanked vol-

Rutherglen Tastes of Art Prize committee member Irena Webster said close to 2000 people attended the event over 10 days and the feedback was all positive, with many visitors and artists saying they plan to return in 2025. She said by end of the event on Sunday afternoon, a total of 65 artworks had sold.

unteers, sponsors, participating artists and the public for their support, with the team now looking forward to the next instalment in 2025.

I am also a singer and guitarist as part of a four-piece band, so when we can, we love to entertain the local community as well.

Unfortunately I don’t have the time to volunteer as I work two or three days a week, run my own business and I’m also very busy bringing up my two-year-old daughter.

It is something that I would love to do in the future.

I would show her the wineries, Woolshed Falls, the towns of Yackandandah, Beechworth and Bright, and just generally the beautiful scenery that we have all around the area as I think this part of the world is paradise.

What book are you reading?

‘Skinside Out’ by Robyn McAlpine – a factual book all about the intricacies of our largest organ, skin.

PARADISE: Gemma and husband David with their two-year-old daughter Ruby love living in Victoria’s North East and in Yackandandah.

Gemma King

CROWD FAVOURITE: A painting called ‘Speak Rodgey, Speak!’ by local artist Susie Goodyear won the People’s Choice award at the 2024 Rutherglen Tastes of Art Prize

PUBLIC NOTICE

TEMPORARY

PUBLIC NOTICE

BY BAILEY ZIMMERMANN bzimmermann@ nemedia.com.au

BEECHWORTH’S C grade side have fallen just short of premiership glory, going down by 15 runs to Greta in a back-andforth grand final.

Heading out to North Wangaratta Recreation Reserve on Saturday as slight underdogs against the third-placed Blues, the Wanderers were sent out to field under picture perfect Saturday conditions.

Greta made a strong start with the bat as the team passed 100 with only one wicket down as top three batsmen Thomas Grounds (44), Simon O’Brien (35) and Trent Porker (23) set Greta up for an ominous final 10 overs.

But Beechworth were able to stem the flow of momentum and ended the innings with a string of wickets to restrict Greta to 7/162.

Harry Guthrie found the stumps of three batsmen for his figures of 3/33, which included two in two balls.

Opening batsmen Josh Grundy (19) and Chris Nuck (38) made a solid start at the top of the order to keep Beechworth in the hunt at the halfway mark of their chase.

But in similar fashion to Greta’s innings, Beechworth’s middle order had trouble finding runs as Greta bowler John Salafia (4/21) led the tight bowling of the Blues’ attack.

As a last stand, Isaac Enslow’s quick 24 runs off 26 balls gave Beechworth a glimmer of hope, but his wicket at 7/144 had Beechworth reeling.

The Wanderers were bowled out for 147 with one ball left in the innings.

Captain Jed Enslow said he was

proud of his team’s efforts in the season and the dramatic growth they had shown since starting in October.

“We got a little bit loose in our bowling for a period at the start but we reeled them back,” he said.

“We probably didn’t push the runs hard enough early enough in the chase.

“Considering our first game against them where they beat us by about 200 runs, to play them in the final and lose by 15 runs, it

was a good effort to get there.”

The team was a late inclusion to the competition with a flurry of players from Stanley showing interest in putting the team together under the Beechworth name. In an up-and-down season,

the C grade side had their trademark victory against top team Yarrawonga-Mulwala in the semi-final to go on to be the sole representatives of the Wanderers side in the four senior grades on the weekend.