vigneron Adrian Rodda with two out of his chardonnay wines – a 2024 Smith Vineyard vintage as well as his 2023 A. Rodda Baxendale Chardonnay vintage wine, which won the prized Premier’s Trophy this year. ■ Story page 6
By CORAL COOKSLEY
The Quercus Beechworth Neighbourhood House is calling on the community for ideas about filling a serious gap when a financial assistance program delivered to people in need stops at the end of next month.
The Department of Social Services (DSS) will cease funding the decade long annual grant with around $25,000 for each of the last four years given to the
community organisation.
Quercus Beechworth general manager Paivi Watson said the program ‘Emergency Relief –Financial Crisis and Material Aid’ is a core part of community support operations.
Ms Watson said the program helps people with items, among them food and petrol vouchers, paying utility bills such as electricity, water and gas, medical bills and with essential items needed to live a normal life.
“We would have continued the same service delivery with the program had we received funding,” she said.
An application made for the next five year-round in December last year has been unsuccessful with DSS recently notifying Quercus Beechworth about its decision to no longer fund the program.
With the high cost of living, the Neighbourhood House statistics show a significant increase in,
as well as a growing one, for the local need of emergency financial assistance with a spike in demand in 2021 due to the COVID-19 impact.
Over the last decade the Neighbourhood House has provided over 4000 client support sessions to more than 500 individuals.
Close to 90 per cent of clients are from Beechworth while the remaining 10 per cent are from surrounding towns.
Ms Watson said a move forward will include liaising with other
support organisations to explore if clients’ needs for financial support can be covered.
“Every organisation is stretched in supporting those in need and we’ve had funding stopped without any reason given,” she said.
The general manager said it is important for the community to note the change affects only the Emergency Financial Assistance program with all other Quercus Beechworth programs not impacted.
■ Continued page 2
Beechworth
PHOTO: Coral Cooksley
Funding stops for vital emergency financial relief program
■ From front page
She also said the self-funded free community meals program runs in partnership with Corrections Victoria is thriving.
A DSS spokesperson said from 1 October this year, the Australian government is providing approximately $55 million per year in base funding for Emergency Relief nationally, shared among 188 providers.
The number of organisations delivering services in the Hume region in Victoria will increase by 20 per cent with no cuts to services in the region.
Services in the region to receive emergency relief funding included Gateway Health, Mount Beauty Neighbourhood House, Mansfield and District Welfare Group, Open Door Neighbourhood House (Wangaratta), St Vincent De Paul Society and The Salvation Army.
“We are committed to working with all ceasing, new, and continuing providers to ensure a smooth transition to the new grant arrangements,” the spokesperson said.
Quercus Beechworth as a Neighbourhood House is funded by the Victorian Government’s Department of Families, Fairness and Housing (DFFH).
The community organisation’s core purpose is community development - building local capacity and resilience, facilitating connection, fostering inclusion, and delivering programs and learning pathways that sustainably strengthen the community.
Ms Watson said as the program is stopping, thinking outside the box with innovative ideas is needed on how the gap can be filled.
As a community organisation, she said people are invited to an Open Community Consultation on Wednesday, 3 September at 6:30pm in the Quercus Beechworth Oregon Hall, 30 Ford Street.
RSVP to manager@quercusbeechworth. org.au but drop-ins are welcome.
Region commemorates Vietnam Veterans’ Day
By CORAL COOKSLEY
As servicemen and women around Indigo Shire commemorated Vietnam Veterans Day on Monday, members from Myrtleford, Bright and Mount Beauty RSL sub branches joined an RSL hosted event in Beechworth.
In a moving service held at the Cenotaph in the Beechworth Town Hall Gardens, Beechworth RSL sub branch president John Eldrid said in his address to the small crowd the annual event commemorated the Battle of Long Tan in 1966.
REMEMBERED: Beechworth RSL members Russell Ellet and Sally Hayden laid a wreath to remember those who made sacrifices and to say thank you to Australians who served in the Vietnam War.
and 25 were wounded, one of whom died a few days later.
On Vietnam Veterans’ Day battles fought by Australians in Vietnam from large scale operations to platoon and section-level encounters were commemorated.
Mr Eldrid said Royal Australian Navy sailors who supported land operations, and Royal Australia Airforce members who served in combat and transport roles are also remembered.
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YOUR OVENS AND MURRAY TEAM
“We remember the sacrifices of those who died and say thank you to almost 60,000 Australians who served during the 10 years of our involvement in the Vietnam War,” he said.
Among those Australians serving in the war from 1962 to 1973, were 15,381 young men conscripted by the National Service
Scheme taken from regular careers, trained and sent to fight.
Mr Eldrid said the Battle of Long Tan was a significant moment in Australia’s service in the Vietnam War.
On August 18, 1966, in a rubber plantation near the village of Long Tan, Australian soldiers fought one of their fiercest battles of the war.
The men of Delta Company, 6th Battalion Royal Australian Regiment, faced a force of some 2000 North Vietnamese and Viet Cong troops.
“The battle was fought in wet and muddy conditions during a heavy tropical downpour,” Mr Eldrid said.
By the end of the day 17 Australians had been killed in action
The president said the four RSL sub branches, Beechworth, Myrtleford, Bright and Mount Beauty take turns to host Vietnam Veterans’ Day.
Refreshments and fellowship followed the service at the Beechworth RSL premises.
Beechworth RSL Sub Branch vice-president Alison Williams said local member Russell Ellet delivered an interesting talk on his time served in Vietnam in the RSL rooms.
By CORAL COOKSLEY
Beechworth RSL Sub Branch members laid a wreath by last Friday at the Cenotaph in the Town Hall Gardens as a mark of respect for the 80th anniversary of Victory in the Pacific Day and the official end of World War II.
The important day for the nation commemorates Japan’s unconditional surrender to the Allies on 15 August, 1945.
RSL national president Greg Melick said the day’s 80th anniversary was an important time for Australia to recognise the sacrifices so many people made for freedoms enjoyed today.
Australia played a significant role in the Pacific during World War II, fighting against Japan from 1941 to 1945.
Mr Melick said nearly one million Australians (around one in seven of the then population)
served in uniform during World War II.
More than 39,000 lost their lives, 66,000 were wounded while many thousands became prisoners of war with 8000 dying in captivity.
“We should never forget the sacrifice of our WW II veterans and those at home who also sacrificed and suffered loss,” Mr Melick said.
He said the 80th anniversary provided an opportunity for Australia to pause, reflect and honour those who served.
REMEMBERED: Beechworth RSL Sub Branch members John Hennessy (left), Marj Dixon, John Eldrid and Colin Trinnick laid a wreath on behalf of the RSL branch to mark the 80th anniversary of Victory in the Pacific Day and the official end of World War II.
PHOTO: Gary Coombe
COMMEMORATED: Vietnam veterans Colin Trinnik (left) from Beechworth, Gary Waddell (Bright), Jim Dewar (Maryborough), Russell Ellet (Beechworth), Trevor Isherwood (Myrtleford) with Richard Sharp and Les Jordan from Mount Beauty at Monday’s commemoration in Beechworth. PHOTOS: Alison Williams
State government defend safety of Albury V/Line service
By BAILEY ZIMMERMANN
A local MP has called for urgent government action after it was revealed overflow buses on the Albury Line were required on more than half of days to June this year.
Member for Benambra Bill Tilley said cheap fares had driven unprecedented demand since its introduction in 2023, and even overflow buses haven’t prevented passengers from being forced to stand.
Last week in the Victorian Parliament Mr Tilley called on the Minister for Public Transport, Gabrielle Williams, to guarantee the safety of passengers left to stand or sit on “inappropriate” fold down seating.
Mr Tilley provided an image from a carriage in the 7am service to Melbourne on 1 August, showing people standing and the emergency side seating fully occupied.
Between January and the end of May, it was revealed overflow buses were needed on 78 of the 150 days.
Mr Tilley said overcrowded V/ Line trains were a catastrophe waiting to happen.
“These are trains that can reach speeds of 130kmh, if the train hit something or was derailed, the people inside are travelling at 36m a second,” he said.
“They would become a projectile until something stops them – a wall, a seat, a window, more than likely another person.
“It would be like getting hit by a small truck – the chances of surviving are slim; of walking away uninjured close to zero.”
In recent years, there has been state government investment in improving the Albury Line, with more modern, reliable and accessible VLocity trains introduced onto the line.
Mr Tilley said the VLocity was a suburban train and suburban train policy can’t be applied to a fourhour trip.
“They have and never will be longhaul passenger trains,” he said.
“The cheap fares have seen the service in unprecedented demand and that’s great, but I fear that it is simply not safe.
“The government has a choice to make – dump the ticketing policy or invest in the right type of train.
“Just making this train into a full
TAKING A STAND: Benambra MP Bill Tilley showed this photo of a 1 August 7am V/Line service to Melbourne from Albury, with people being forced to stand. The state government defended its service, saying there was more options than ever for passengers.
set of six carriages, not the current two sets of three cobbled together, would add 57 seats – that’s a busload of people.”
Mr Tiley put a question on notice to Ms Williams asking how many services to Albury had been reduced from six to three car sets.
Ms Williams said 43 of 617 planned six car services were reduced to three car sets, around seven per cent of scheduled services.
“The most common reason for reducing the number of train carriage on the Albury Line was train faults,” she said.
“Train faults can range from traction engine and brake faults to operations issues such as door, HVAC, wiper faults.”
To give passengers more certainty around seat availability, reservation-only seating was introduced in 2023 on the Albury Line.
All seats are available for passengers to reserve prior to travelling.
If all seats are booked, passengers have the option of purchasing an unreserved ticket, which may require them to stand for all or part of their journey.
Alternatively, passengers may also have the option of travelling on a coach, if one is available.
In April this year, V/Line also added an early morning coach service from Benalla, which services Wangaratta, Wodonga and Albury, giving people in the region another option to travel for work and study.
A state government spokesperson said the government had given Albury Line passengers more options to get where they need to go in recent years, with the addition of two weekend train services and more coach options to the timetable following the increase in demand from cheaper fares.
“The safety of passengers is V/ Line’s top priority and they have introduced reservation-only seating on the Albury Line to give passengers more certainty around seat availability,” they said.
“We won’t take lectures from the Victorian Liberals and Nationals who cut regional rail lines and are inept in delivering major projects.”
V/Line and the Department of Transport and Planning continue to explore options to make improvements across the network.
PACKAGED AWAY: Police seized more than 40kg of cocaine during an intercept on the Hume Freeway near Barnawartha last Wednesday afternoon.
Police seize major haul of drugs near Barnawartha
By BAILEY ZIMMERMANN
Police deemed a major drug bust near Barnawartha a great result after officers seized more than 40kg of cocaine following an intercept on the Hume Freeway last Wednesday afternoon.
A Victoria Police spokesperson said Wangaratta and Wodonga Highway Patrol officers pulled over a B-Double truck just outside Barnawartha around 3:45pm.
A search of the truck by highway patrol members, assisted by specialist VIPER Taskforce members who were in the area at the time, revealed a number of hidden packages alleged to be cocaine, as well as a small amount of meth.
The driver, a 40-year-old Windsor NSW man, was also alleged to have tested positive to drugs prior to the search. The man was interviewed by police and subsequently charged with trafficking a large commercial quantity of cocaine and possessing methylamphetamine.
Police said it’s believed the truck was travelling between Sydney and Melbourne.
Eastern Region Inspector Tracy Johnston said it was a great result for the force as it removed a driver putting other road users at risk and also seized a significant amount of drugs that could have caused immense harm in the community.
Second community battery charged up in Yack
The Yackandandah and Indigo Shire community celebrated the completion of Yackandandah’s second community battery, Yack ’02 at the local sports park last weekend.
The 65kW of solar and 100kW/200kWh battery is a testament to two years of focused work and collaboration.
This project received substantial grant funding from the Victorian government via the 100 Neighbourhood Batteries Program and the Australian Ethical Foundation, with additional funds from Yackandandah Community Centre.
The recent installation has already reduced the Sports Park facility power bills to near zero with the battery charging from solar generation on the sports park roof.
Power is used by sporting clubs each evening and the battery will export to the grid helping to reduce evening dependence on fossil fuels.
President of the Yackandandah Sports Park committee, Michael Walsh said the committee was thrilled to have this dynamic contribution from so many supporters.
‘This install gives us a huge nudge forward in our efforts to build an even better facility to support sport, recreator and community benefit,” he said. With the increasing likelihood of extreme weather events, the battery also provides backup power to the main building.
During electricity outages, this provides a functional community facility with shelter, lighting, device charging, air conditioning, catering facilities, showers and toilets.
TRY president Matthew CharlesJones, said TRY continues to hunt
for, and implement pathways to save people money, reduce carbon emissions and build a fairer and more resilient power supply.
“With the looming closure of Australia’s fossil fuel-based energy system, we are so excited that renewable energy systems are now so available, accessible and successful,” he said.
“Exciting times are unfolding for communities in relation to energy.”
This project has been possible with the guidance, support and cooperation of the Yackandandah Sports Park Committee and Indigo Shire Council.
“We see a significant amount of road trauma attributed to the use of illicit drugs and we will never know what might have been avoided simply as a result of this intercept,” she said.
“Victoria Police has zero tolerance for those involved in the trafficking of drugs and I urge anyone with information about this activity to contact police or Crime Stoppers.”
The 40-year-old appeared at Wodonga Magistrates’ Court last Thursday and was remanded to appear again on 20 November.
The investigation remains ongoing.
Anyone with information about illicit drug activity is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or make a confidential report at www.crimestoppersvic.com.au
FULLY CHARGED: TRY committee members Blake Edwards (left) and Mark Parnell (far right), Victorian Parliamentary secretary for Climate Action, Sheena Watt (centre left) and Di Shepheard, Indigo Shire Council (centre right) in front of Yackandandah’s fully charged second battery.
A passion for history and photography
Gary Coombe
Gary Coombe was born in the Melbourne suburb of Carlton. A friend asked him to help restore the Bank of Australasia building in Beechworth’s Ford Street around the early 1970s –now home to the Provenance Restaurant – and Gary has been in the town ever since.
What do you do workwise?
I worked for Australian figurative sculptor Peter Corlett, also renowned internationally for his work, when I lived in Melbourne and before moving to Beechworth.
He is best known for his bronze sculptors among many of them Simpson and his Donkey at the War Memorial in Canberra, and Phar Lap that became Australia’s greatest race horse.
Peter’s work is found in galleries around the world besides local ones as well as in private collections.
I also worked on the extensions of the Robert O’Hara Burke Museum, where part of my job was to collect the large granite blocks for the foundations and cut them to the required size.
What brought you to your role/career?
Being influenced by artists such as sculptors like Peter, working in historic building restoration as well as my early photography interest led me to continue an active role in photography, and research historic and pioneering photographers such as works of Charles Bayless and Beaufoy Merlin who captured Australian life in cities, country towns and on goldfields in the 1860s and 70s.
What do you love about your work?
Producing images that give such creative fulfilment, the challenge of constantly
learning as well as seeing the beauty and amazing light here in Beechworth and surrounds. Also capturing the beautiful architecture, birds, trees, streetscapes, and people. What do you do in the community?
Over the years I have volunteered for many festivals and schools and have donated my photography to groups of all sorts to be used as promotion and for their records. I have given talks on historic photographers for the National Trust of Australia in Beechworth. I’m still clicking away now and again for the Ovens and Murray Advertiser – wow that has been 35 years taking photos for the historic masthead owned by North East Media in Wangaratta.
Is there an important community issue that you think needs addressing?
The transport situation for some older people in the community to get to various places here in town.
What would you do to solve change or improve that situation?
I understand there have been meetings concerning this issue, and I am quite prepared to be a volunteer driver if a community vehicle becomes available.
What do you see as one of the most important current world issues?
There are so many to mention, however global warming is right up there.
If the person you would most like to meet or knew, came to Indigo Shire or was already
here, who would that be, what would you show them, and why?
I had the pleasure of meeting and photographing Peter Garrett from Midnight Oil in Beechworth recently along with his wife. They came to Beechworth as they are both interested in historic towns of Australia. The couple love the beautiful architecture of this town. I’m really chuffed that they bought my book on Beechworth’s history with colour photographs and asked me to sign it for them. The book is also in the State Library of Victoria and will soon be in the National Library too.
What book are you reading?
‘A Nineteenth Century Village of Yackandandah’ – Volume 1 and 2 – by Colin Barnard.
From now until December
YACKANDANDAH MUSEUM
Twenty-five fabulous years Yackandandah Theatre Company is being showcased with trips down memory lane. The museum opens Wednesday to Sunday each week from 10.30am to 3.30pm at 21 High Street.
Friday, 22 August
CHILTERN ANTIQUE
FAIR OPENING NIGHT
6.30pm and 8.30pm with a $10 entry fee and includes wine and savouries. Memorial Hall in Conness Street.
WINTERWORDS OPENING NIGHT
5pm. Drinks, nibbles, chats and some speeches. Beechworth Servicemen’s Memorial Hall.
Friday, 22 to Sunday 24 August
WINTERWORDS
An exciting and fun program of celebrating words in every shape and form. A chance to see and hear experienced writers, entertainers, poets and performers and participate in a writing workshop by headline performer Geraldine Quinn. Art exhibitions as well. Visit https://winterwords.com.au/ for more information, the program and to book tickets with some free sessions.
CHILTERN ANTIQUE FAIR
An impressive range of vintage treasures, antiques, and quirky finds are on offer. Memorial Hall in Conness Street.
Thursday, 28 August
BEECHWORTH
SENIOR CITIZENS CLUB
A celebration at the Beechworth Senior Citizens Club is set to take place to mark a 50year milestone for the Senior Citizens Centre building. Everyone welcome. Event starts at 2pm at the Centre located at 3 Harper Street. For more information or if people need help with assisted transport email beechworthscc@ gmail.com
*The 50-year milestone of the Senior Citizens Centre is scheduled for Thursday, 28 August, no Friday, 29 August as reported in last week’s Ovens and Murray Advertiser.
Saturday, 30 August
CHILTERN LIONS CLUB – FLICS
(Film Lions International Chiltern Society. Star Chiltern’s Star Theatre at 6.45pm. Classic Australian film night. The comedy “SPIT” 2025 M rated. Stars David Fields, Gary Sweet, David Roberts, Helen Thomson, Bob Franklin. Enjoy a BBQ meal. Cost is $35 p/p - includes BBQ tea, film showing, discussion and supper.
Bookings and pre-payment essential by Wednesday 27 August for catering.
Bookings can be made to Lois Hotson via email at hotson@westnet.com. au or ph 0457 262358; Lions by email at chilternlionstreasurer@gmail.com; in person at the Chiltern Post Office or by direct debit: BSB 803070 Acct No 100033677 Lions Club of Chiltern Inc. Activities Acct. Please include your surname in the reference line.
CREATIVE: Beechworth’s Gary Coombe with an early interest in photography led him being a professional photographer as well as researching historic and pioneering photographers too. PHOTO: Coral Cooksley
Book launch of WWII RAAF pilot story set for take off in Beechworth
By CORAL COOKSLEY
A journey of family reconnection has marked an incredible story about a Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) pilot in World War II with connections to Beechworth.
The book ‘Fly Boy, Ace pilot – a life cut short’ is being launched at the Beechworth RSL sub branch premises by its Melbourne-based author Peter Hodge next Saturday, 30 August at 1pm.
Flight lieutenant Parker ‘Joe’ Hodge tragically lost his life in the Netherlands East Indies during World War II with the book giving insights into Australia’s campaign there, as well as early vulnerabilities of the British Empire in the Pacific War.
Joe had also been injured in the conflict between Australia and Japan in World War II.
The story is a portrayal of Australian aviation history on the formative years of the RAAF with a confident Joe grabbing every opportunity to travel while advancing his flying training at Point Cook.
“His uncle’s father John Henry Hodge had been a stonemason and a longstanding councillor of around 12
years in Beechworth as well as a mayor at the time WWI ended in 1918,” Mr Hodge said.
“John Henry’s work is all around town with memorial plaques particularly in the cemetery.”
Mr Hodge said John Henry was married to a Cornelius family member – pioneers of Beechworth and stonemasons from Cornwall in England who had built cottages at the former Mayday Hills Mental Asylum.
John Henry’s older brothers, Jack and Will, both served in the Great War, and the family had lived in Beechworth.
Mr Hodge said a fascinating part of the story is everything has swung full circle from writing the book, as he reconnected with families through ancestory.com –bringing family together after decades.
“Beechworth is close to the heart of family members and around four or five fam-
ily members are travelling to the book launch,” he said.
Mr Hodge said when he and his family head north they always drop into Beechworth with its echoes of the past.
The author researched information for his book on Trove discovering the Ovens and Murray Advertiser
The Advertiser connected him to former Beechworthian Richard Patterson and author of ‘Beechworth at War’.
“Richard wrote about all
the Hodge boys in the book,”
Mr Hodge said.
“My great uncle’s story is important for the family and it’s natural to bring the story back to where it all began.”
Mr Hodge said the book took three and a half years in the making with one year of research, another 12 months for writing, a further year for editing and finding a publisher with then sixth months to market the publication.
Beechworth sub branch president John Eldrid said
the RSL is a great place to launch the book as the RAAF pilot was born in Beechworth.
In reading the book – one of courage, ambition and sacrifice – Mr Eldrid said Joe spent his early years growing up in the town before a move with his family to the Melbourne suburb of Essendon.
Mr Eldrid said he was enjoying reading the book and following Joe’s story.
Beechworth RSL premises are located at 99 Ford Street.
FLYING HIGH: WWII RAAF flight lieutenant Parker ‘Joe’ Hodge (left) in the cockpit.
SPECIAL CHAT: Australian Prime Minister Sir Rober Menzies talks to WWII RAAF flight lieutenant Parker ‘Joe’ Hodge. Sir Menzies was the prime minister from 1939 to 1941 and then from 1949 to 1966. PHOTO: Louise Donaldson
AMBITIOUS: Beechworth-born RAAF flight lieutenant Parker ‘Joe’ Hodge had an incredible journey in his flying career.
From science to awardwinning winemaking
By CORAL COOKSLEY
While we all enjoy sipping a glass of our favourite wine or trying out a new one or two, there are fascinating stories of passionate vignerons who make them – striving to give wine lovers the best experience they can.
For Beechworth winemaker Adrian Rodda, it was the ‘best of the best’ when judges for this year’s Premier’s awards selected his 2023 A. Rodda Baxendale Chardonnay for the prized Premier’s Trophy.
An initiative of the Victorian Wine Show and supported by the Department of Premier and Cabinet, the award was decided by a panel of experts following a taste-off between the winning wines from each of last year’s twelve regional wine shows across the state.
Premier of Victoria Jacinta Allan, with her own tasting under wine show conditions, had agreed with the experts selecting the 2023 A. Rodda Chardonnay as her top wine choice.
It’s been an interesting winemaking journey for Adrian, as he recalls time working at a wine store where he homed in on a valuable wine education while studying a science degree at university.
“I probably enjoyed the wine education sometimes more than my degree I was undertaking,” he said.
Thinking there was more to life than being a highly trained person working in a laboratory, Adrian decided to travel overseas before embarking on a career.
“I returned and worked at the wine store when I came back, and a winemaker who came in suggested I do a vintage to see if I liked it,”
the award-winner said. Adrian’s first vintage in 1998 was in a little winery in Victoria’s Macedon region and he signed up to study wine science at Charles Sturt University by correspondence.
A move to the Yarra Valley followed soon after where he spent a decade working at Oak Ridge Winery, before heading to Beechworth with his wife Christie 15 years ago.
An opportunity led to working with another award-win-
ning and well-known vigneron Mark Walpole, who had taken out a lease of Smith’s Vineyard – one of the oldest in the region planted with chardonnay, cabernet sauvignon, and merlot in 1978.
Adrian, with a love of working with chardonnay grapes and besides Smiths Vineyards, he also sources them both from the Yarra and King Valleys with the latter an upper wetland area known for its cool cli -
mate and elevation.
“I’ve been making two chardonnays from different regions alongside each other in the Smiths winery,” he said.
The winemaker has seven chardonnay vintages notched up since 2017 from the Baxendale Vineyard in the King Valley, except for 2020 when bushfires hit, winning the Premier’s award with the 2023 vintage.
“Chardonnay is a great va-
riety that’s really malleable and responds well with what you do to it,” Adrian said.
“It can grow in lots of different places, and where it grows with the climate and soil impacts on how it tastes as well.
“It means you can have your own thumbprint on the style of wine that you like to make that’s different to other winemakers.”
Although viticulturist Jimmy Baxendale sold his
vineyard, Adrian still sources grapes from there.
“I’m up there regularly, take samples, test, taste, and work out when we want to hand pick, and once done we drive back to Beechworth with the pressed grapes and start the wine making process,” he said.
“Once fermentation has taken place the wine stays in barrels for 12 months and then we start the next vintage.
“It’s about a 15-month process from picking grapes to the bottle for the three chardonnays I make and release about three months later.
“Beechworth and surrounds are special for growing chardonnay, but we are quite different with an elevation ranging from 300 to 800 metres above sea level having a big impact compared to the King Valley’s wetlands area of up to 1000 metres.
“The soils are quite different and significant as well in the growing of grapes.
“As small producers, we’re connected to the soil, the map and site elevation spending a lot of time out there and we talk about growing wine not grapes, as what we do is all done for the purpose of when it gets into the bottle.
“Wine should be delicious and not a challenge for people to drink.”
Adrian said placing wines in regional shows benchmarks them against each other benefiting the industry.
“It was really gratifying to know the wine appealed to both technical people and wine lovers in general,” he said.
“Winning also brings more exposure to Victoria’s North East and it’s nice to lead the charge a little bit to make people aware.”
Audience revels in hearing opera scholars
By CORAL COOKSLEY
The Anglican Christ Church in Beechworth was jam-packed on Saturday with the audience treated to hearing exceptional voices of young opera singers for a concert ‘Mostly Mozart’.
Seven performing singers from a cohort of 22 in the Melbourne-based Opera Scholars Australia (OSA) graduate program enthralled around 130 classical music lovers at the special concert.
The rising stars sang operatic works by Austrian-born Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Italians Gaetano Donizetti and Guiseppe Verdi, and others.
OSA artistic director Alexander Lewis said it had been
the first time in Beechworth for the singers.
“It’s also been the first time since the pandemic we’ve held a concert in Beechworth and was an absolute delight with not a spare seat in the house and a perfect audience,” he said.
OSA founders Graham Wall OAM and Margot CoryWall OAM attended as well.
Mr Lewis said the couple have fond memories of starting concerts in Beechworth with Opera in the Alps.
“It’s a perfect opportunity for young singers to bring music to communities, they have a good time good time performing and couldn’t have been more well received,” he said.
It’s really important for us to get back to our heartland
in Beechworth with our opera scholars and we’re planning to have a concert once a year in the future with good voices unleashed.
We want to maintain our connection to the community.
Mr Lewis said OSA is working on visiting schools with OSA’s wonderful programs.
“We had a workshop with students at Beechworth Secondary College while here,” he said.
“It’s about having with classical music with the next generation.”
Coordinator for the concert in Beechworth, Margot Baker, said the concert had been an exquisite afternoon as well as sitting in a beautiful space.
Ms Baker said the opera singers’ skill and connection to the audience had been incredible.
“They are young, professional and were very generous with their performance,” she said.
“Patrons and supporters came up from Melbourne, too.”
Ms Baker said people travelled to be in the audience with some tripping from rural southern NSW.
One of the Beechworth Secondary College students who had taken part in a workshop presented the scholars with a gift.
Opera Scholars Australia founded in 1998 is a leading professional development program for young classical singers.
sing
ENGAGING: Opera Scholars Australia’s young classical singers Hartley Truser (left), Chloe Taylor, James Billson, Ashley Chua, Sofia Imperatore, Genevieve Droppert and Tessa McKenna at the concert held at the Anglican Christ Church in Beechworth on Saturday.
OVER-THE-MOON: Beechworth vigneron Adrian Rodda’s passion for working with chardonnay grapes scored this year’s prized Premier’s Trophy for his 2023 A. Rodda Baxendale Chardonnay vintage wine. TO: Coral Cooksley
ACROSS
GENERAL KNOWLEDGE CROSSWORD
3 Which fabric is made of rough, spun, wild silk (8)
7 What is a group of seven persons (6)
8 What might we call one who brings things back to their original state (8)
9 Australian English is affectionately known as what (6)
10 Which Old World plant has aromatic leaves, used for flavouring (8)
11 Name an alternative term for a fireplace (6)
14 What are sluggish arboreal edentates of tropical America (6)
17 When one is tired, one does what (4,4)
18 What are cutting instruments (6)
19 Which is the latest time for finishing something (8)
20 To be wry, is to be what (6)
21 What might we call those who surrender (8)
DOWN
1 What is a false tooth (7)
2 Which term describes one who stops work (7)
3 To draw tight, is to do what (7)
4 To be normal, is to be what (7)
5 Name a particular type of piano (7)
6 What are derived noun forms of verbs (7)
11 Name an alternative term for a vacation (7)
12 What is an arithmetical mean (7)
13 To have walked with short unsteady steps, is to have done what (7)
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.
14 Name the lead weights used by fishermen (7)
15 Who holds a commission in the armed services (7)
16 To be odious, is to be what (7)
Find the following words in the grid. They may be read in any direction, even diagonally. Some letters are used more than once.
1 TREPANG (a) A decoy (b) The fourth movement of a quadrille (c) A sea slug eaten by the Chinese 2 VOLITION
(a) Exercise of the will (b) Flight (c) Fluent speech
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:
African language group (5)
Daydream (7)
Expression of distaste (3)
Lettuce (3)
Outline (7)
Sharply evident (5)
Sheep’s cry (3)
Sweet (5)
Utilise (3)
Worship as divine (5)
Creative learning fun in Indigo Shire
By CORAL COOKSLEY
A dinosaur puppet in a theatrical performance held two weeks ago at Beechworth’s Memorial Hall hooked local primary school youngsters.
Actors Jack Wilde and Felicia Lannan from Highwire – a circus, cabaret and family friendly entertainment organisationbrought science in a creative way to students from Prep to Year 4 in the session ‘The Dinosaur Time Machine’.
Students joined in from Beechworth Primary School, St Joseph’s and Montessori.
Organised by Regional Arts Victoria’s as part of its creative learning program the actors gave students a fun and visual learning experience with lots of imagination to kids about the prehistoric creatures.
Felicia said kids loved dinosaurs with the educational program being engaging and fun.
“Instead of kids from smaller towns or small schools going to Melbourne or somewhere else to see Hirewire programs, we come to them,” she said.
Jack said the programs offered the chance for young people to be introduced to live theatre giving them options for later in life within the arts industry.
“I didn’t start performing until I saw other people do it,” he said.
The performer also said stu-
The duo said the show has been performed in every state around Australia except Tasmania, as well as both territories.
Indigo Shire Council’s Penelope McGufficke said council had driven and coordinated the learning program for schools.
Three different performances took place with the one in Beechworth, Rutherglen (Dr Hubble’s Bubbles by a circus performer and a workshop) and Yackandandah (a drama performance with storytelling through movement).
Chiltern youngsters will be entertained in early September with a puppetry performance ‘Trash with a Porpoise’ wrapped around sustainability.
“The performances have been supported with a Regional Arts Victoria grant,” Penelope said.
Different programs are brought to students by various production companies through the RAV learning program.
Penelope said it is important for children growing up in regional areas to have access to professionally produced performances.
dents offer suggestions at the end of shows then the pair implement them into future performances.
“Kids are just so curious, and we want to talk about ourselves as actors, but also sometimes they have more questions about dinosaurs that they’ve thought of during the show,” he said.
“We’re not paleontologists but we do know a lot and we can answer those questions as well as we can tell them about our own experiences as actors.
“We notice there’s a lot of kids with their hands up throughout the show.”
“It gives them an understanding of arts and culture and what it can bring to you as a person, but also just to see what they might like to do in the future,” she said.
“It was exciting to hear the children be delighted and laugh and see them be so engaged with the popular subject of dinosaurs.”
Book Week celebrated at local schools
By CORAL COOKSLEY
While Book Week was celebrated by schools around Indigo Shire this week, Beechworth Secondary College (BSC) had fun taking part.
BSC teachers joined in with students dressed up for a Children’s Book Council of Australia’s Book Week event held between 16 -23 August.
Among book characters in Tuesday’s event were those from the world of Harry Potter - Dobby, Mad-Eye Moody, Professor Trelawney, Harry Potter and Hermione Granger.
Others included Luna Lovegood, the Weasley twins and various Hogwarts students.
Colourful characters also included Lucy Gray, Katniss Everdeen and Effie Trinket from The Hunger Games, Tigger and Eeyore from The Adventures of Winnie the Pooh, The Teletubbies and Legolas from Lord of the Rings
Key Learning Area Leader – English and Psychology teacher Sarah McKay said celebrating events such as Book Week help to open the world of reading for young people.
“These events bring joy and magic to something that can be viewed as an everyday activity,” she said.
“We want BSC students to be the best readers and writers and communicators they can be, and to see literacy for its integral role in their lives and future careers.
“Good writers are good readers.
“We want BSC students to see that
reading is something that will benefit them now and forever and our Book Week is about celebrating how reading [and literacy] is for everyone, in all its forms.”
Ms McKay said BSC staff pride themselves on their enthusiastic involvement in all school activities, and Book Week is one of the highlights.
Certificates were awarded to best dressed in senior school (Years 1012), junior (Year 7-9) and staff with all students taking part receiving a participation certificate.
“Book Week activities are open to all students, and we were delighted to see avid participation across all year levels,” Ms McKay said.
BEST DRESSED WINNERS: Grace White (Year 7) as Professor Trelawney (left), English teacher Channelle Horobin as Dobby and Eva Doyle (Year 10) as Lucy Gray. PHOTO: Patricia Broom
COLOURFUL CHARACTERS: Beechworth Secondary College staff joined in with students to celebrate Book Week. PHOTO: Beechworth Secondary College
FUN: Beechworth Primary School’s (BPS) Year 4 student Cooper (left), Montessori Year 4 student Poppy (Yr 4), BPS student Amity Rae, St Joseph’s students Dot (Foundation) and Leo (Year 3) had an engaging time with ‘The Dinosaur Time Machine’ performance by actors Jack Wilde and Felicia Lannan (back).
PRITCHARD, Margaret Anne. 12/10/1929 – 16/8/2025
Passed away peacefully surrounded by her family.
Loving wife of Keith (dec). Adored mother of Christine, Helen, Judith (dec), Neville, Maureen, Alison, Michael (dec) and their partners.
Dearly loved Nan to 21 grandchildren. Great Nan to 28 great-grandchildren and Great-Great Nan to 6. Resting peacefully.
PRITCHARD
A celebration of a life well lived for Margaret will be held on Monday, August 25, 2025 at the Beechworth Football Netball Club, Baarmutha Park, Balaclava Road, Beechworth.
Commencing at 11am. Burial will follow Margaret’s service at the Beechworth Public Cemetery.
Lauriston Girls’ School: Director of Operations –Howqua Campus
Lauriston Girls’ School seeks to appoint a highly organised and collaborative educational leader to the position of Director of Operations at our Howqua campus (near Mansfield) in an ongoing capacity. This is a residential campus for Lauriston’s Year 9 students.
The Director of Operations – Howqua campus is accountable for the coordination of the daily operations including scheduling and coordination of casual staff, as well as supporting daily operations in alignment with the Lauriston Girls’ School Howqua campus philosophy.
This is a full-time, ongoing position, commencing in Term 1, 2026. Housing on Campus will be provided. Please visit our employment page via www.lauriston.vic.edu.au for further information regarding the position and to apply online.
Applications close: 9am Monday, September 1, 2025.
Lauriston is a Child Safe School. We promote the safety, wellbeing and inclusion of all children.
CATHEDRAL COLLEGE WANGARATTA
The College seeks applications from suitably experienced persons for the following positions:
Director of Communications and Community Engagement (Full-time/ongoing)
Secondary Teaching Positions (Full-time/ongoing)
Any or a combination of: VCE Physical Education VET Sport and Recreation Outdoor Education English Humanities Science
Materials Technology and Design Technician (Full-time/ongoing)
SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING
JOIN OUR TEAM!
• Monday 18 December 2017, 5.00pm
• School Crossing Supervisor • Development Officer L2P • Project Manager
• Council Chambers, 2 Churchill Ave, Bright The following business will be transacted: 1. Childsafe Policy
Arboriculture Crew
Mount Beauty and Myrtleford Transfer
Please refer to our website, www.cathedralcollege.vic.edu.au for position descriptions and application closing dates.
Wanderers celebrate start of new cricket nets works
The Beechworth Wanderers Cricket Club were thrilled to see works have started on the new multipurpose cricket nets at the club’s home ground, Baarmutha Park.
This exciting development marks a significant milestone for the club and the broader Beechworth community.
Brenton Surrey of the Beechworth Wanderers Cricket Club committee said the impact of the funding from the Bendigo Bank - Community Bank Beechworth and District on creating a space that can be used year round by a range of sporting and community groups was invaluable.
“The $150,000 grant from the Beechworth Community Bank has allowed us to roof the new cricket nets, which will support yearround cricket training,” he said.
“This weather-proof space will also be available for use by other community sporting and recreational groups throughout the year.”
Mr Surrey also extended his thanks to both past and present committee and club members for their efforts in having the initial vision for this project and securing the initial grants that made the project feasible.
“After five years of planning and fundraising, to get to the point where we will start to see building, is very exciting for everyone who has been involved in this project,” he said.
Ben Merritt, Chair of the Beechworth and District Community Bank congratulated the club.
“Community banking is a ‘profit-with-purpose’ model, which means 80 per cent of our profits are reinvested back into the community that has generated them,” he said.
The Beechworth Wanderers
Chair of the Beechworth and District Community Bank and Brenton Surrey, of the Beechworth Wanderers Cricket Club committee inspecting initial works at the site of the new Baarmutha Park nets.
Cricket Club looked forward to the completion of the new cricket nets and the positive impact they will have on the community. The project, valued at $602,000 is funded by Sports and Recreation Victoria with contributions from Indigo Shire Council, Beech -
Liana to head to the National Interschool Ski Championships
By CORAL COOKSLEY
An excited young Beechworthian Liana France is set to compete in the National Interschools Ski Championships at Mount Buller in two weeks’ time.
The Beechworth Secondary College year 10 student qualified for the championships after winning the Multiclass Event at the Snow Australia Victorian Interschools competition (state championships) held at Mount Buller on Wednesday.
The Multiclass Event is one for all competitor age groups both male and female with either physical or intellectual disabilities.
The event took place over a Giant Slalom ski course with the aggregated times of two runs deciding the winner.
Liana won both runs, with an aggregated time of 1:16.72 beating the second-place competitor by more than four seconds.
her schoo state championship event at Mount Buller on Wednesday, qualifying her for the nationals in two weeks’ time.
“It was really amazing to race with such a talented group of athletes,” Liana said.
Her father Rohan France said the events are a good lead up to competition training for the upcoming 2026 Winter Paralympics being held in Milano-Cortina, Italy
in March where she is a longlisted athlete.
Among other wins notched up, Liana representing her school won the division two Girls Alpine Multiclass Giant Slalom in the Snow Australia National Schools Championships held in Perisher last year.
State sandgreen champs set for this weekend
Only a small crew out last weekend for a stableford round in what was rather cold conditions, but the rain did stay away.
Obviously a warm up 12 holes down at Chiltern in the morning did wonders for the winner and runner up.
As Dylan Pool (3) returned 38 points to win the day five shots clear of Jacob Howard (11) 33.
Jamie Dolny (13) was the next to follow with 32 points.
Dave Clark claimed the only nearest the pin on the 10th. Dylan Pool also holed out on the 2nd hole from the 4th fairway to record an Eagle on the par 4. This weekend there are five members heading to Charlton for the Victorian Sandgreen Championships. For those still around at home there will be a stableford round.
Arrive at 11:30am for a 12pm hit off.
LAYING THE FOUNDATIONS: Ben Merritt,
TOP STEP: Liana France won at
WITHIN REACH: TOM CARTLEDGE AND BEECHWORTH WILL TAKE ON THURGOONA IN THEIR ELIMINATION FINAL AT SANDY CREEK ON SUNDAY.
Sandy Creek season
Bushrangers take on Thurgoona in seniors while under 17s face
Beechworth’s senior foot ballers are heading back to the MCG of the bush for a fourth straight season, looking to make a finals run starting with their elimina tion game against Thurgoona on Sunday.
The Bushrangers scraped into the postseason despite a narrow 13-point loss to Barnawartha last week, who sealed a spot in the top three.
In a heavyweight pre-finals bout, nothing could separate the sides at halftime at Baarmutha Park in what was a physical first half.
BY BAILEY ZIMMERMANN bzimmermann@ nemedia.com.au
The Tigers would flex their muscles with the game on the line in the premiership quarter and kick out to a game-high 19-point lead at the last change of ends.
With their season potentially on the line, the Bushrangers refused to lay down in a spirited last quarter coming to within a point to set up a thrilling finish, but the Tigers held their nerve to
win 13.9 (87) to 11.8 (74).
With prolific goal kicker Brad Fendyk out, the Bushrangers turned to Brayden Carey to fill the role and the former Barton medalist turned back the clock to finish with five goals in a best on ground performance.
Regular contributors Cam Fendyk, Tom Cartledge and Kayde Surrey starred while Jobe Brock and Clancy Ellett impressed.
Fendyk, Cartledge and Degan Dolny were rewarded for their form this season with invitations to the league
presentation night on Monday, along with under 13s netballer Lily Neil.
Following the game Beechworth sweated on the result of Rutherglen against Chiltern, with a Cats win set to knock the ‘Bushies out of the top five.
But Rutherglen kicked themselves out of the game and ultimately finals, finishing with 3.17 to go down by 38 points, despite having two more scoring shots.
This year marks the Bushrangers’ fourth straight appearance at Sandy Creek after coming from finals
‘Yack in sudden death matches
purgatory in 2022.
Only Chiltern and KiewaSandy Creek have appeared with Beechworth in every finals series since.
The ‘Bushies will be hoping for a similar result against the Dogs as last year’s elimination final, with Beechworth ending Thurgoona’s season on that occasion.
The teams split their regular season games this year, playing an opening round thriller at Thurgoona before the Dogs got the better of Beechworth at Baarmutha Park.
Also looking to make an
impact in finals from finishing fifth will be the under 17s, who will take on Yackanadandah on Sunday.
The teams split the ledger in their regular season match ups this year, with the Roos beating the Bushrangers by 31 points a fortnight ago.
The under 17s will kick off at Sandy Creek from 10:20am before the seniors take the field at 2:15pm. On Saturday Chiltern will take on Barnawartha in the seniors for a shot at facing minor premiers Kiewa Sandy Creek.
