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A celebration of words

THIS year’s Winterwords five-day celebration spiced up a wintry week, having wrapped up with an engaging story slam at a packed Empire Hotel on Sunday evening.

Winterwords president and creative director Janet

BY CORAL COOKSLEY ccooksley@ nemedia.com.au

Tweedie said many varied sessions over the vibrant and exciting event drew around 500 people across 26

or more separate events.

“There were so many different ways to celebrate words and what they mean to us as humans,” she said.

“Poetry, rap, music, drama, storytelling, and games had been among them.

“We also had discussions about some really interesting and important topics such as dying well, the Voice to Parliament, change messaging, environmental influencing, leadership, nudity in art, and truth-telling.

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“We had authors talking about their works and kids having fun in the library where they made spiders as well.”

Janet said Winterwords’ celebration of words was a distinguishing event feature.

■ Continued page 2

ENGAGING: Beechworth’s Doug Wallen (left) with Winterwords’ special guest Declan Furber Gillick at last Friday night’s official opening.

PHOTO: Coral Cooksley

A celebration of words

■ From front page Impressed by the level of interaction in the event’s third iteration, Janet said the community really came together to share in sessions, immersed themselves in discussions and presented ideas.

“I felt there were some key opportunities for community members to share their views, learn from each other, and experience new ideas and ways of thinking this year,” Janet said.

A play reading by the local theatre group drew

around 50 people while Dr Trudi Ryan’s ‘Changewords’ seminar attracted around 30 people.

“This year’s Winterwords provided audiences with challenging ideas, ways to interact and meet up, opportunities to come together and have fun while thinking and talking about a wide range of really interesting topics,” Janet said.

With challenging weather over most days and competition with the school holiday start, Janet said the great turn out had been similar to last year.

Warm and cosy chat

By CORAL COOKSLEY

MULLED wine and a tasty soup by local chef extraordinaire Sally Wright added to the warmth of a cosy evening at Beechworth Books for a Winterwords event last Thursday.

ence where people could explore and chat with each other.

“You have the love and passion for books with like-minded people while having the chance to buy someone’s book and have the author sign,” she said.

about relationships and Australian seasonal festivals such as solstices and equinoxes in the southern hemisphere.

“Poetry is my preferred form of writing,” he said.

BOOK LOVERS: Winterwords committee member Kath Buckingham, president and creative director Janet Tweedie, secretary Lesley Milne, local authors Margaret Hickey and Frank Prem with Beechworth Books’ Nadia David and Charles Dean at the bookshop open night.

The session drew around 30 book lovers to chat to Winterwords presenters local crime author Margaret Hicke, who published her latest novel ‘Broken Bay’ two weeks ago, and poet Frank Prem. Eldorado author and poet Roxanne Bodsworth revelled in the open night with a feeling of an old-fashioned bookshop experi-

Special guest officially opens

“The book becomes a treasured possession.

“The evening was warm and welcoming.”

Beechworth poet Frank Prem said his poetry reflected many different stories.

“The last collection of poems I found in the stories of the survivors of the earthquake in Turkey and Syria,” he said. Among many others have been

Beechworth Books’ Charles Dean said the evening provided a chance to talk about books and writing as well as socialise.

“It’s a casual, friendly and relaxed atmosphere and people get a chance to talk to authors,” he said.

“We have amazing talented authors in Beechworth with bestselling books.

“I really enjoy seeing people’s love of books and writing.”

Changing hearts, minds and actions

By CORAL COOKSLEY

CHANGING hearts, minds and actions through frameworks had been a key message in a language-based approach for positive social change in a Winterwords session held at the Beechworth Town Hall on Saturday.

Local behavioural linguist Trudi Ryan delivered an engaging presentation to the audience where people could be inspired, take away practical techniques and ideas.

“I think having some different frameworks to think about will help in how people might create messages that engage people, and ultimately change hearts minds and actions,” she said.

“It’s about how to plan a message starting with shared values.

“Framing is a choice,

and the way information is framed has an impact on how people will feel, think and act, and that they will say what they are for rather than what they are against in their messaging.”

Indigo Valley’s Denis Ginnivan said the presentation had been a reminder of how people as humans are wired and how they can be shaped either positively or negatively by the way words are used, where a sense of fear, optimism or ignorance can be created.

“It’s about bringing people together to work things out and it also a good reminder of how to be aware of what’s going on when you’re in a group such as a public meeting,” he said.

Indigo Shire’s Sue Berwick said the presentation provided a new way of understand-

ing the impact of words.

Ms Berwick said Trudy brought to the session how to frame things around values in a positive and more constructive way where she talked about how to cut the ‘not’ in conversations.

“The simple message at the end of her presentation about planning, using the heart and the mind first and then doing things in a way that lead people through shared values to get to solutions and actions was really powerful,” she said.

Dr Ryan works locally and throughout Australia with communities, organisations and agencies applying language-based strategies to create positive change across nature conservation, climate change, community leadership, disaster recovery, and increasingly, public policy shifts and transformations.

PHOTO: Coral Cooksley.

CAPTIVATED: Special Winterwords’ guest Declan Furber Gillick engaged his audience at last Friday night’s official opening.

PHOTO: Coral Cooksley

ENGAGING SESSION: Indigo Valley’s Denis Ginnivan (left), Wollongong (NSW) visitor to Beechworth David Crawford with presenter Dr Trudi Ryan at the Wiinterwords session ‘changewords’ on Saturday.

PHOTO: Coral Cooksley

STORY TELLING: This year’s Winterwords celebration wrapped up at the Empire Hotel with a story slam.

PHOTO: Janet Tweedie.

Indi aged care program rollout

By CORAL COOKSLEY

AN innovative project with practical ways for older people to live longer in better health will be rolled out by Beechworth Health Service (BHS) across North East Victoria following an award of $1.3 million by the Federal Government.

Consultant, researcher and international expert on building age-friendly communities, Dr Kathleen Brasher, has provided expert advice and support to local agencies on the topic of age-friendly communities since 2018.

BHS has been working with Dr Brasher over this time and had taken a lead role with consortium partners Indigo North Health, Indigo Shire, Upper Hume Primary Care Partnership and Yackandandah Health in the initial establishment of a framework for informing care planning for older people across the shire.

This framework became the Indigo 4Ms model, incorporating what Matters,

Medication, Mental Health and Mobility.

The work in this project was informed by earlier work undertaken in the US by the John A. Hartford Foundation, in partnership with the Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI).

Collaboration for the development and analysis of the model included the John Richards Centre for Rural Ageing Research at La Trobe University with development of a guide outlining an integrated approach to the care of rural older adults.

Indi Federal MP Helen Haines launched the pilot program in March 2020.

“This funding has been an incredible milestone, has recognised past work and a significant step forward,” a delighted Dr Brasher said.

“There’s been an extraordinary contribution from older people, community groups, health services, clinicians, university staff, the Department of Health, and Department of Families, Fairness, and Housing.”

Dr Brasher said the fund-

ing recognised future work as well as health and social care teams working together to create an innovative, practical and tangible way for older people to improve their health.

The Indigo 4Ms model provides care for older people to ensure health care professionals understand and act on a person’s values, priorities, goals and care preferences as well as screen for high-risk medications and prescribe medicines effectively.

Supporting patients to stay mobile and take part in physical activity that suits their ability, assess and ensure adequate hydration, nutrition and sleep and screen, assess and manage vision, hearing, incontinence, cognitive decline and depression are all part of the model.

“We now have this fantastic, extraordinary opportunity to test the tool in six health services with our academic partners at Latrobe University,” Dr Brasher said.

“It’s a comprehensive care plan where every health care

practitioner has the same plan for the older people.”

BHS chief executive officer Dr Mark Ashcroft said the aim of the next phase of development was to implement the Indigo 4M model which will contribute to an understanding of how the Indigo 4M model could be replicable and transferable to other localities across Victoria and nationwide.

Dr Ashcroft also added that BHS’s next strategic plan reaffirms the service’s commitment to working with people as customers and owners of the local health service.

“We know that people’s preference is to stay at home, and live well, for as long as they can,” he said.

With BHS under the national spotlight, Dr Ashcroft

The Resilience Project is coming to Wangaratta

By ANITA McPHERSON

THE Resilience Project has announced its biggest kids show tour tackling depression and anxiety in primary school-aged children, and it will visit the Wangaratta Performing Arts and Convention Centre on Thursday, September 21.

Through music, storytelling and plenty of laughs, The Resilience Project’s most engaging and entertaining presenter, Martin Heppell, will teach children aged five to 10 and their parents “3 Happy Tricks”, and it couldn’t come at a more crucial time.

New research has revealed one in four primary students are experiencing symptoms of depression

and almost one in three are experiencing symptoms of anxiety.

“Kids have so many different challenges to navigate in today’s world and combine this with the difficulties of the last couple of years, it’s no wonder we are seeing such confronting statistics about our children’s mental health,” said Hugh van Cuylenburg, The Resilience Project’s founder and bestselling author.

“Martin is unbelievable, there is no-one like him, and I couldn’t think of anyone better to help kids and their parents understand how much fun they can have looking after their mental health.”

Hugh van Cuylenburg ap-

peared on ABC television’s Australian Story this week, where he shared his personal story and explained how The Resilience Project came to life.

More than one million Australians have heard Hugh’s message of practicing gratitude, empathy and mindfulness (affectionately known as GEM) through his two books, chart-topping podcast The Imperfects, and thousands of talks across Australia - including schools, workplaces and sporting clubs.

These shows are a great opportunity for families across the state to learn how to incorporate GEM into their daily routine and help children improve their wellbeing.

A father of three, Martin Heppell is a former assistant principal and AFL player who has delivered more than 1000 presentations for The Resilience Project.

Having grown up in a tribe in Borneo in South East Asia, Martin’s boundless energy, incredible sense of humour, and compassion for people of all walks of life make him the perfect person to help kids work through difficult feelings and take steps towards better mental health.

Tickets for The Resilience Project with Martin Heppell - 3 Happy Tricks, are on sale now at www. livenation.com.au or visit www.wpacc.com.au for more information.

said the health service was excited to be leading this project along with partner agencies across the North East providing great benefits around the region.

“The Indigo 4M model gives individuals and clinicians a way to have conversations together so nothing’s left behind as part of their care and well-being,” he said.

Ovens and Murray Advertiser cover charge to increase

FROM next week the Ovens and Murray Advertiser cover price will increase to $2 including GST.

In the last few years there has been a significant increase in the costs associated with producing the Ovens and Murray Advertiser, especially steep increases in newsprint and freight.

The $2 cover charge brings the Ovens and Murray Advertiser cover charge in line or below other local newspapers in the region.

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We take this opportunity to thank our readers, contributors and advertisers for their ongoing support.

IMPROVING HEALTH: Beechworth Health chief executive officer Mark Ashcroft has welcomed the Indigo 4M model.

GOOD FUN: The Resilience Project presenter Martin Heppell (pictured) is tackling children’s mental health with a high-energy kids show, coming to Wangaratta in September.

Budget aims to maintain

By RYAN MALCOLM

AN $11.4m allocation for new capital works projects throughout Indigo Shire will headline a 2023/24 budget which is set to prioritise efforts to maintain the shire’s core assets.

Tabled before council’s regular meeting on Tuesday evening, the 2023/24 budget was adopted by a six to one majority, with only Cr Roberta Horne electing to oppose a budget which she said did not reflect “the

will of the people”.

Some $2.7m is set to be allocated to road, footpath, bridge and drain maintenance throughout the shire, while $700,000 will be available for improved urban and rural drains, $636,000 for re-sheeting of priority gravel roads and $601,000 to re-seal priority sealed roads.

More than $500,000 will be dedicated to bridge renewal, and $200,000 will help to seal a number of urban roads.

A further $6.3m in already-funded projects from

the previous budget will be carried over into the new financial year.

The council’s adopted rate cap of 3.5 per cent will see rates represent an estimated 46 per cent of the shire’s total revenue for 2023/24, well below the state average of 55 per cent.

Cr Horne said despite receiving 315 pre-budget survey responses and a further 32 official budget submissions, the adopted budget had not actively encapsulated the concerns of ratepayers.

“We’ve actually come a long way since that day in my previous term on council when I was genuinely shocked to hear that community involvement was second from bottom on the shire’s list of values,” she said.

“We cannot dismiss the fact that the number of people actively involving themselves in our governance has skyrocketed.

“In my opinion we should not support this budget because it does not reflect the

will of the people – we have the tools, we need to break away from this ‘you’ll get what you are given’ response to community needs because it is no longer acceptable.”

However, the budget was widely praised by the remaining councillors, with Mayor Sophie Price noting public submissions would be considered throughout the financial year for inclusion in the 2024/25 budget outlay.

“We all live in these com-

munities, we all appreciate the need to go back to basics – we’re all driving on these roads and understanding the issues with drainage, as do our staff who predominantly have interest in this community as well,” she said.

“To the community that still feels dissatisfied with some of the budget decisions that we’ve made, that weighs heavily on us – we continue to consider items that you’re raising and suggestions that you make outside of this process.”

NAIDOC Week to be celebrated around Indigo Shire

By CORAL COOKSLEY

TRAIL blazing soul sisters The Merindas are set to kick off National NAIDOC Week celebrations around Indigo Shire with a free event in Rutherglen on Sunday.

Melbourne-based electronic pop artist duo Darwin-born Candice Lorrae of Jawoyn and Thursday Islander heritage and Nyonnga Ballardong Whajuk woman Kristel Kickette from Western Australia’s Tammin will bring an innovative style of Indigenous music to their audience.

Wemba Wemba man and award winning rapper/hip hop performer Philly Murray along with the James Fallon Wiradjuri Dance Troupe will feature at the performance while a flag raising ceremony will be held in Yackandandah on Monday.

Other family friendly events around the shire include a three-day immersive sound and projection

exhibition, the LORE installation at the Yackandandah Public Hall from Monday too while Indigo Shire libraries will hold special activities throughout July.

An immersive projection and sound work created by Nomad Films which celebrates Aboriginal Culture specific to the region, LORE is a collaborative project by Indigo Shire Council, Arts Yackandandah, and Murray Arts.

Unity, respect and a deeper appreciation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture are the driving forces for Indigo Shire Council’s NAIDOC Week events.

Mayor Sophie Price said NAIDOC Week was an opportunity for everyone to learn more about First Nations culture and history.

“These events mean together with our community, we can honour and appreciate the vibrant First Nations culture that surrounds us,” she said.

“I hope that as many peo-

Let's talk about funerals

ple as possible will join me and my fellow councillors in Yackandandah on Monday as we raise the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander flags to symbolise unity and pride, and the continuation of one of the oldest living cultures on earth.

“The LORE installation is truly captivating and throughout the entire month of July, we’ll be raising community awareness about First Nations culture at our libraries by showcasing our Indigenous digital and book collection, promoting a colouring in competition and celebrating with some wonderful displays.”

Cr Price said events will serve as a NAIDOC Week commemoration as well as an opportunity to highlight council’s commitment to reconciliation and the values outlined in its Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) adopted in 2022.

Cr Price said council was committed to the work, with some 43% of RAP ac-

tions having been completed in the last 12 months, while another 42% have commenced, are ongoing or in progress.

“I urge everyone to check

out the full list of events and to get involved, as there’s something for everyone,” she said,

“Something new will be learned, foster a deeper un-

derstanding and respect for Indigenous culture, and you will also have a great time.” For more information and venues visit www.indigoshire.vic.gov.au.

John & Christine Haddrick

POP ARTISTS: The Merindas will start NAIDOC Week celebrations around the shire on Sunday with a free youth-event in Rutherglen.

Media ethics under spotlight at this year’s Kerferd Oration

By CORAL COOKSLEY

“LIVING through the news media revolution” is the title of this year’s George Kerferd Oration to be delivered on Sunday, July 30 by Senior Research Fellow Dr Denis Muller from the University of Melbourne’s Centre for Advancing Journalism.

Dr Muller said a revolution has made the world familiar with terms like “fake news” and “alternative facts” where a world has been created awash with conspiracy theories, disinformation and misinformation.

“Mature democracies have been destabilised across the western world, most notably in the United States, and undermined trust in institutions,” he said.

“Yet it has also brought great benefits with a voice to countless millions who never previously had access to a public platform.

“The world has been an eyewitness to events of great social and political significance, such as the murder of an African-American man, George Floyd, by a white

police officer in a relatively obscure American city, Minneapolis.

“Instead of vanishing into oblivion as it would have in the past, this set off worldwide protests, especially in countries with a history of police brutality against people of colour.

“Coping with the revolution’s curses while enjoying its benefits is part of what it means to be living in the present day.”

Dr Muller will in his oration outline the state of the news media in western democracies in the decades before the revolution, then analyse the state of the news media as they struggle for survival against the forces unleashed by it.

He will pay particular attention to the impact on regional media, where its effects have been severe.

“Here, independent scrutiny of local centres of power such as local government, courts, police and politicians has been dramatically weakened as local newspapers have closed, newsrooms have shrunk and television news has become consolidated in offic-

es hundreds of kilometres from the communities they serve,” Dr Muller said.

The senior research fellow said he will offer some suggestions for how the news media might respond to the revolution’s forces in a way that better serves their audiences and contributes to a revitalisation of democracy.

Kerferd Oration committee member Virginia Mansel Lees said this year’s oration theme is also timely with Indigenous journalist Stan Grant’s withdrawal from the ABC due to his experiences of racism on social media.

“Ben Roberts-Smith’s defamation case against Nine newspapers also highlights the role of the media in Australia as well,” she said.

“As community members and consumers of the news, we’re seeing a lot of these issues unfold right now, highlighting to what degree the contemporary media serves the public interest.”

Ms Mansell Lees said Dr Muller can offer a unique lens on the media, having been a journalist as well as an academic with a keen interest in media ethics.

She said the community will have a chance to engage in conversation too around how the media might better serve the public good.

Dr Muller worked as journalist for 27 years with assistant editor roles at the Sydney Morning Herald and as associate editor at The Age.

During the past three decades, he has undertaken independent policy research in education, health, the environment and the media.

Dr Muller teaches media ethics at Melbourne University and has written several books exploring journalism ethics in the digital age and

in times of disaster. The free event will be held at The Grand Oaks Resort, 22 Oak Avenue, Mayday Hills from 11am.

A light lunch for a gold coin donation will follow Dr Muller’s presentation. For more information visit www.kerferdoration.org.

ETHICAL: Melbourne’s University’s Dr Denis Muller will deliver this year’s George Kerferd Oration titled “living through the news media revolution.”

North East stroke care expansion

By RYAN MALCOLM

A TELEMEDICINE service aimed at improving time-critical care for stroke patients has been expanded to include Albury Wodonga Health’s (AWH) Wodonga campus.

Run by Ambulance Victoria (AV) and operating at 20 regional hospitals throughout Victoria, the Victorian Stroke Telemedicine (VST) service allows an on-call specialist to speak directly with a suspected stroke patient via a secure video link.

Treating clinicians are also involved in the video call, and patients requiring specialised stroke treatment are then transferred to hospitals in Melbourne by ambulance.

The VST service had previously been implemented at hospitals across the North East, including at North East Health Wangaratta (NHW), AWH’s Albury campus and at Goulburn Valley Health in Shepparton.

An AWH spokesperson said the further expansion of the program was exciting for the border health service.

“Albury Wodonga Health is delighted to see the Victorian Stroke Telemedicine service expanded to our Wodonga campus,” the spokesperson said.

“It means when suspected stroke patients present to the Wodonga emergency department, expert diagnosis and treatment is fasttracked, at a time when every minute matters.

“This lifesaving service has been made possible thanks to funds raised by our community as part of the 2023 Hume Bank City2City event.”

According to AV Hume regional director Narelle Capp, the new site had conducted two stroke consultations since its official opening last month, while the three established sites had processed more than 700 consultations between July

1, 2022 and March 31, 2023.

“Many rural and regional hospitals do not have a stroke specialist on site or lack around-the-clock access to this type of expertise,” she said.

“People in these areas are 19 per cent more likely to have a stroke and a poorer outcome, making VST a game-changer in the emergency care of patients.”

AV director of stroke services, Professor Chris Bladin, said every minute mattered when suffering a stroke, which is why the VST service was crucial.

“The world-class service connects patients with expert doctors who provide diagnosis and treatment, enabling them to receive the right care at the right time regardless of their location,” he said.

“With stroke telemedicine, patients are receiving clot-busting drugs an average of 40 minutes earlier and often within an hour of arriving at hospital.”

Disaster funding supports flood damage repair to Hodgson and Burgoigee creeks

CHANNEL control structures damaged by flooding in December 2018 in Hodgson Creek and adjoining catchments on the Beechworth Plateau will be replaced and repaired with funding received from the Australian Government.

The North East Catchment Management Authority (CMA) has received $210,325 from the inaugural round of the Australian Government’s Disaster Ready Fund to address damage from isolated thunderstorms that delivered more than 200mm in rainfall in less than 24 hours.

The funding is matching co-contributions by the Victorian Government and North East CMA.

Manager of program Implementation with North East CMA, Kelly Behrens, said the project aimed to halt and reverse active streambed incision processes to protect natural, public and private assets.

“This will be achieved through the repair and/or replacement of priority existing grade control structures damaged by the December 2018 flood event,” Ms Behrens said.

“A program of stock exclusion and revegetation will also be implemented for long-term protection of the system.”

Ms Behrens said up to six key grade control structures would be identified by qualified consultants who undertook a review of the ‘Hodgson Creek Post 2018 flood event assessment’ report (2019) and the ‘Burgoigee Creek stream stability assessment’ report (2019).

She said structures will be prioritised taking into consideration works recently completed by the Mid Ovens Landcare Network funded by the Murray Darling Healthy Rivers small grants program, and upcoming works funded under the Murray Darling Healthy Riv-

ers Large Grants program.

“The project will also include landholder engagement, with management agreements to be entered into with adjoining landholders for maintenance of fencing and revegetation,” she said.

Ms Behrens said completion of the project would result in increased stability of Hodgson and Burgoigee Creek ensuring enhanced system resilience to future high intensity and more frequent flood events associated with climate change.

“It will ensure long term protection of adjacent public infrastructure (including bridges) and farmland will be provided through flood risk mitigation,” she said.

“This is a great opportunity to further work with landholders and community groups to support and enhance their efforts in riparian restoration and health through their involvement with the project.”

Infringements sent to 2022 State election non-voters

INFRINGEMENT notices have been sent to more than 220,000 Victorians who either didn’t respond to the Victorian Electoral Commission’s (VEC’s) request for an explanation or didn’t have a valid reason for failing to vote in the 2022 State election.

Close to 300,000 Victorians were sent an ‘Apparent failure to vote notice’ by the VEC in April.

Of those, almost 70,000 have been excused for valid reasons.

People who did not respond to the ‘Apparent failure to vote notice’, or who did not provide a valid and sufficient excuse, will be issued an infringement of $92.

Almost 95 per cent of the infringement notice recipients had not responded to the ‘Apparent failure to vote notice’, which gave them an opportunity to explain why they appeared not to have voted.

MISSING VOTES: More than 220,000 Victorians have been sent infringement notices for not providing an explanation for not voting in November’s 2022 State election, which comes with a $92 fine.

People who receive an infringement notice must respond within 35 days – by either paying the fine, requesting an internal review, or electing to go to court.

Acting electoral commissioner Dana Fleming urged people who receive an infringement notice to take it seriously.

“The most important thing is that you respond to the notice before the dead-

line – otherwise you could be issued a penalty reminder notice, which carries the original penalty plus an additional administration fee,” she said.

The VEC encourages nonvoters who are unsure what to do, or require assistance throughout any stage of the infringements process, to call 1300 551 575 or visit vec. vic.gov.au/voting/fines-andreviews.

LIVE CROSS: The expansion of the Victorian Stroke Telemedicine system to Albury Wodonga Health’s Wodonga campus allows on-call stroke specialists to speak on video link with treating doctors and patients.

PHOTO: Albury Wodonga Health

FLOOD REPAIR: Channel control structures like this damaged during the 2018 floods will be repaired thanks to the federal and state government, as well as NECMA funding.

Labour shortages hit North East farmers

By BRODIE EVERIST

LOCAL farmers have raised concerns over ongoing labour shortages in agriculture, following the release of the Federal Government’s latest labour market update and peak food supply bodies calling for an end to labour shortages.

Kiewa Valley dairy farmer Stuart Crosthwaite said farmers in the North East are leaving the industry or adjusting their business because they can’t find skilled staff.

He said demand for workers is high, increasing wages for farm labour, but they are still struggling to employ people in the long or medium term.

“There’s plenty of people out there that want a job, but just aren’t up to it,” he said.

“They can’t handle it, and so they end up resigning and moving on to something else.”

According to Mr Crosthwaite, strong dairy prices are offsetting the increase in wages, but he was concerned if prices drop.

“Farmers are scrambling over the top of each other to get good staff and they’re paying unbelievable amounts to attract people,” he said.

“When the milk prices

drop, then we’re paying people so much for their labour - how’s that going to be sustainable?”

He said he has had success employing a Filipino man with an animal science degree who has worked on dairy farms in the US, and hopes to find another employee like him.

“If we are going to grow and our farms are going to get bigger, and we’re going to have more cows, we need more people,” he said.

“If we can’t find them in the Australian we have to look outside.”

The Federal Government’s latest Labour Market Update backs up Mr Crosthwaite’s concerns, with an employee survey showing a vacancy rate of over 15 percent in regional Australia for skilled workers in animal, agricultural and horticultural industries between March 2022-23.

Meanwhile, the ‘National Food Supply Chain Alliance’, a group of peak food industry bodies including the National Farmers Federation, has recently said labour shortages are contributing to increasing food prices.

According to the peak bodies, the food supply chain urgently requires a

suite of solutions, including reducing barriers to work and providing suitable visa pathways to welcome overseas workers.

Myrtleford cattle, berry and persimmon farmer Frank Primerano said while finding seasonal workers

had eased somewhat since the COVID-19 pandemic, he found them to be unreliable.

“We had two workers when we were harvesting this year,” he said.

“When we finished picking they told us at nine o’clock at night they are leaving at

four o’clock in the morning.”

“We were left with no workers for the next day.”

And while numbers of contract workers have increased since the pandemic, he said, they are charging high prices for their labour.

“Contractors are now charging between $30 to $35 an hour plus GST,” Mr Primerano said.

“When you when you’re paying so much for wages and you getting little reward in your fruit, it’s very difficult to get ahead.”

WORKER WORRIES: Myrtleford cattle, berry and persimmon farmer Frank Primerano and his brother-in-law Joe La Spina, who owns a farm in Whorouly, are concerned about costs for farm labour.

PHOTO: Brodie Everist

GENERAL KNOWLEDGE CROSSWORD

ACROSS

4 What is soundness of mind (6)

7 Which roadside indicator gives guidance to travellers (8)

8 What is a long, loose, heavy overcoat (6)

9 Name the British Prime Minister 1979-1990, Lady Margaret ... (8)

11 What are public roads called (7)

13 What serves as a bulwark or defence (7)

15 Who introduced a bill simplifying the laws relating to land ownership (7)

17 What is a place of burning heat (7)

20 Which fibrous amphibole is used for making fireproof articles (8)

23 To be more repulsive in appearance, is to be what (6)

24 Name a brittle, lustrous, white metallic element, symbol Sb (8)

25 Which pupil stays away from school without permission (6)

DOWN

1 Name the soft, spongy lining of the rind of oranges and other citrus fruits (4)

2 What is the arched upper surface of the human foot (6)

3 Name a lepidopterous insect (4)

4 Who was one of Australia’s most outstanding explorers, Charles ... (5)

5 Name the President of Egypt 1956-70, Gamal ... (6)

6 What is another term for larceny (5)

9 Which official list shows the duties imposed on imports (6)

10 Name large pieces of landed property (7)

12 What are sudden, abnormal, involuntary muscular contractions (6)

14 What is an inflammatory affection of the throat (6)

E-QUATIONS

Letters A to Z have a number value. Some are shown in the right-hand cells. Create remaining values using clues in centre cells.

SUDOKU

16 Which term describes a summary of one’s work (6)

18 What, colloquially, is a racecourse tipster (5)

19 What is a unit of weight in gemstones (5)

21 Name a unit of information, usually eight bits, stored by a computer (4)

22 Which sound is made by a pig (4)

QUICK THINK

Solve the crossword. Each answer has four letters.

Find the following words in the grid. They may be read in any direction, even diagonally. Some letters are used more than once.

WHICH WORDS

1 RUNKLE

(a) A little brook

(b) The smallest pig of a litter

(c) A wrinkle or crease

2 SOLANDER

(a) A hot south-east wind in Spain (b) A box in the form of a book

(c) The gannet

BIYWORD

Build it yourself using the clues and each of the twenty-four letters once only to form ten words: five across and five down. A key word (bold clue) builds on the letter set in the grid.

CLUES:

Antonym: waxed (5)

Digital rectal exam (3)

Married (3)

One hundred (7)

Peeled (5)

Singular: dice (3)

Sure (7)

Tranquility (5)

Two card (5)

Vigour (3)

SOLUTIONS

Volunteer projects showcased

By CORAL COOKSLEY

BEECHWORTH is in the running to be crowned as the next Tidy Town in this year’s Keep Australia Beautiful Victoria’s (KABV) awards, with announcements to be made in October following judging next month.

Eleven submissions organised by longstanding local town committee members Iris Mannik and Anne Wilson have been entered across 10 categories.

KABV program and partnerships manager Emma White said KABV has rewarded and recognised councils, communities, organisations, and individuals working towards a more sustainable future.

“These initiatives empower people, change behaviour, protect the environment, reduce waste, engage youth and indigenous communities, and promote community spirit and resiliency,” she said.

A spotlight in this year’s award program has shone a light on innovators and changemakers with entries across 10 categories – education, community, energy, environmental, litter, waste, young legend, heritage and culture, Indigenous culture and social wellbeing.

Various projects are included in nine different categories, with Beechworth Montessori School, Beechworth Honey Bee School, Beechworth Lions Club, Totally Renewable Beechworth and Wooragee Landcare each placing their hat in the ring.

Others are Beechworth Boomerang Bags, Quercus Beechworth, the Burke Museum, Wooragee’s Dr Pieter Mourik and Drag’d Out Beechworth 2022.

Ms Mannik said the awards showcased wonderful volunteer work.

“We’re looking forward to judges seeing fantastic projects happening in and

around Beechworth,” she said.

“It’s a big pat on the back for the volunteers and their hard work to be acknowledged as an entrant even if no one wins.

“Volunteers take pride in what they have achieved.

“The diversity of projects is amazingeach year we always seem to gain more new projects.”

A big change to this year’s format is continued judging via ‘Zoom’, which started when COVID hit, while a combined Tidy Towns and Cities event will be held as part of a joint awards night in Melbourne.

Two awards within each of the ten categories will be presented with a Tidy Towns Award for projects in regional and rural Victoria and Tidy Cities Award for projects in metro and urban areas.

Winners will be announced at the Melbourne awards ceremony in October.

Iris Mannik began the town’s entries three decades ago with Indigo Shire Council support.

Giving back to community

MICKEY Clark was born in the Black Hills of South Dakota in the United States, lived in Dallas, Boston, and Tokyo, prior to moving to Sydney with his wife, Elena, three kids and pets in 1992, and has lived in Yackandandah for nine years.

What do you do workwise?

I am an advisor for small business owners — my company is called OutsiderMD. I help owners grow their businesses and solve the thorny business problems that keep them up at night.

What brought you to your role/career?

I founded and ran an e-learning business in Sydney for 17 years, The Learning Group, and discovered that I loved working with a great team of dedicated (and fun) employees. When I sold the company in 2009, this love quickly converted into helping business owners make better workplaces for their employees. I still get to work with great teams, but I don’t have to pay them!

What do you love about your work?

I truly love helping people solve difficult problems. I get a tremendous amount of joy in helping people reduce the noise in their heads, isolate the most important issues and find a solution that works for them.

What do you do in the community?

For me, Yackandandah is an interesting model of an “involved” town – high participation, high volunteerism. I’ve recently joined the board of Yackandandah Community Development Company (YCDCo), a very innovative community owned business. YCDCo runs our local petrol/ hardware/farm supplies business, puts out our wonderful local newspaper (The Yackity Yak), and provides grants to local community projects. I help the Yackandandah Bowling Club with their financial systems, and I spend my spare time keeping certain local riders in line for the local mountain biking club, Yack Tracks. I believe strongly in supporting local business. This may be a cliché, but I love giving something back to this amazing community, which has been so

good to us.

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

Health services. As a community, we are currently trying to transition Yackandandah Health — GP services, residential aged care, and childcare — to a more sustainable financial footing, and a considerable amount of work has gone into finding a solution that will work for us long term.

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

It may not be the most important issue, but I’m very concerned about how easy it is to spread disinformation and fake news on today’s media platforms. I have friends, who I care about deeply, but who have fallen into rabbit holes of disinformation, and I don’t know how to get them out.

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 like to bring my father, Bill, who is 95 years old and lives in Dallas, back to Yackandandah. He’s been here several times many years ago, and, having grown up on a farm in South Dakota, he loves the town and the friendliness of the residents. I’m actively trying to make this happen now.

What book are you reading?

I’m (re-)reading my favourite author, Cormac McCarthy’s “All the Pretty Horses.” Sadly, he passed away this past week.

NOWOUT Local people, local places

ACKNOWLEDGED: Dr Pieter Mourik

COMMUNITY PASSION: Yackandandah’s Mickey Clark (photographed with his wife Elena) has a strong belief in supporting local business.

Mickey YackandandahClark,

SHOWCASED: Dr Pieter Mourik’s research to help protect ring trees and their significant links to First Nations history has been entered into the Indigenous Culture Award.

Autumn golf comes down to the wire

By DYLAN POOL

LAST Sunday saw the completion of the autumn nine hole weekly competition which has had 21 players involved.

Eleven players played their nine holes on Sunday with others having completed the Week 10 round earlier in the week.

After play everyone enjoyed a delicious hot lunch in the clubrooms.

The men’s weekly winner for week ten was Stuart McIntosh with 14 pts on a countback from Andy Croome 14 pts.

The women’s winner for Week 10 was Marije van Epinhuisjen with 17 pts, while Doyna Collins was runner up with 16 pts.

Overall 10 week winner for the Men was Graeme Cordy, with Andy Croome finishing as the runner up.

Women’s winner for the 10 weeks was Marije Van Epenhuijsen with runner up Zoe Gephart.

These results were all very close over the ten week competition.

The team event which was fiercely contested also went down to the last round.

Team Green (Graeme Cordy, Trish Croome and Gail Smith) won the com-

petition with 281 points, closely followed by Team Day (Kylli Vasey, Andy Croome and Doyna Collins) 279 points.

Only two points separated the two teams over ten weeks.

Thanks to everyone who took part and managed to get their rounds in despite some poor weather

at times.

Everyone had a lot of fun and are now signing up for the winter wonderland competition which will commence as of Monday, July 3.

New players are welcome to sign up, contact the club or Gail Smith directly for more details.

You can play this weekly

round at any time of the week, even in conjunction with Sunday and Wednesday competitions.

So get involved in supporting the club and keeping your golf game going during the winter months.

Ten beginners and 17 of the nine hole players enjoyed lessons at Big Swing (Indoor Golf) at Drum-

Bushies’ climb the mountains

■ From back page

“The depth is certainly there and bringing a few young blokes in and them stepping up and doing a job is really exciting as well.

“It’s going to be tough come the end of the year when we’ve got 30 blokes all putting their hand up for a spot but it’s a good problem to have.”

Fendyk said the depth throughout the squad has taken some pressure off of his own football with others stepping up when rotating through the midfield.

“Compared to last year I’ve been pretty injury free at the moment… the last few weeks have been good fun,” he said

mond Golf in Albury last week.

Thanks to Steve, Tom and Belinda for all the support from Drummonds.

It was also great to see quite a few out on Tuesday as the sun was going down, making use of the best practice nets going around and out playing the course.

“Connor Stone has been playing through the middle and the past six weeks has just been dominating so he’s taking a fair bit of pressure from the opposition which is making my life a little bit easier.”

Beechworth sit third going into a league-wide bye this weekend, with just one game separating second, third and fourth for a crucial second chance finals spot.

Fendyk said he expected a near full strength side to be back after the bye in what could be a season-defining match against Chiltern.

Fresh falls at winter wonderlands

By JEFF ZEUSCHNER

FRESH snowfalls are expected to continue at Mt Hotham and Falls Creek alpine resorts for the remainder of this week and into next week, further enhancing the snow experience for visitors during

the school holidays.

More than 40cms of natural snow since the weekend, combined with conditions allowing nonstop snowmaking, saw Falls Creek’s average snow depth in the village bowl break the one metre mark earlier this week, with a

majority of the resort’s lifts operating, and most of the skiable terrain and cross country trails open to the public.

At Hotham the average snow depth on Tuesday morning was 82cms and building, with a majority of the lifts running, and ski

runs and trails open.

The Bureau of Meteorology is forecasting further snow at both resorts, with maximum temperatures struggling to rise above freezing for the remainder of the week.

Visitors to Falls Creek and Mt Hotham alpine re-

sorts are reminded that all vehicles must carry chains.

Guests planning a trip are encouraged to plan early and buy lift tickets, lessons and rentals online.

Check the Falls Creek (www.fallscreek.com.au)

and Mt Hotham (www. mthotham.com.au) web-

sites for the latest updates.

Mt Buffalo is also blanketed in snow, with people able to enjoy tobogganing, snow play and cross country skiing.

For the latest Mt Buffalo updates go to https://www. facebook.com/VisitMountBuffalomndk.

PHOTO: Mt Hotham Ski Lifts MAGICAL: Heavenly Valley opened to the public at Mt Hotham on Saturday.

PHOTO: Mt Hotham Ski Lifts

VIRTUAL PRACTICE: Players from Beechworth Golf Club made use of simulators at Drummond Golf Albury over the weekend.

UP

Bushies’ climb the mountains

A FOURTH consecutive win by more than 90 points has Beechworth’s senior footballers going into the bye full of momentum, after a 133 point drubbing of Mitta United at Magorra Park last weekend.

It was an explosive four quarter performance from the Bushrangers who couldn’t miss in the first half, kicking an impressive

BY BAILEY ZIMMERMANN bzimmermann@ nemedia.com.au

14.3 to set the team up for its ninth win of the year.

Captain Cam Fendyk said it was the most complete performance the side has put together so far this season.

“Mitta at Mitta you can never write them off but all 21 players really stood up this week, the way we moved the footy, we couldn’t have done much better than that,” he said.

“We had a few slow starts the weeks previous coming into these last four games so we’ve made a real emphasis on making sure we start well and kick the

first couple of goals of the game which we have done.”

Young stars Connor Stone, Clancy Ellett and Kane Scott impressed throughout the day as the Bushrangers’ welcomed back key players from injury in the likes of Tristan Stead and Alessandro Belci.

League leading goal kicker Ethan Redcliffe

could only register one goal on limited chances against the Bushrangers’ defence while Beehworth’s spearhead Lachie Armstrong had a day out at the other end with nine goals to sneak six goals behind Redcliffe’s season tally of 53.

Fendyk said the team has done “incredibly well” to manage a lengthy list

of injuries throughout the past month.

“Bayden Mom has come up from the two and has done really well, we’ve brought a couple of boys up from the thirds, Clancy Ellett would’ve had 30 touches and kicked three goals on the weekend and Kane Scott would’ve done the same as well,” he said.

■ Continued page 11

FOR GRABS: The Bushrangers put in one of their best four quarter peformances of the season at Mitta Mitta last weekend, prevailing by 133 points as they head into the bye winners of their last four.

PHOTO: Jo Turner Photography