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April 9 - 15, 2025

The woman behind the lens

◆ ALL THE ACTION: Motorsport fanatic

Kat Wadley who has been taking photos trackside for the past 10 years encourages other women to give automotive

MOTORSPORT fanatic Kat Wadley is the woman behind the awe-inspiring Auto Chick Photography.

Kat described her business as her “little escape”, taking to the action about 10 years ago.

“There’s nothing quite like being behind the lens, taking up all your senses,” she said.

“It’s almost like being a passenger in a drag car, you just ﬂoat and you’re completely calm.”

In the earlier days, she said she mostly focused on general motorsport photog-

By GRACE FREDSBERG

raphy before getting accustomed with ‘burn-out’ photography.

Although Kat began her automotive photography career in 2014/15, her interest in cars began much earlier.

‘I actually had an automotive apprentice-

ship way back in 1999 so I’ve always had a love for cars,” she said.

“My Dad was a mechanic, so I spent years in the pits underneath machinery.

“I went to trade school but in the 90s girls didn’t really get apprenticeships.”

This didn’t prevent her from pursuing a career in motorsport, as her passion for the ﬁeld was only fuelled by her unwavering love of cars.

“I’m there for what I love; I love the cars and

the people that you meet,” Kat said.

“You always meet someone di erent or another photographer and all those connections you keep and it’s a great thing to be part of motorsport.”

Kat said her dedication to the career was driven by the responses from the public, which gave her a sense of accomplishment.

“I really love people sharing my photos and enjoying my photos,” she said.

■ Continued page 6

The Easter long weekend wouldn’t be complete without a trip to the King Valley. Brown Brothers annual Easter Family Festival returns over two full days this April, celebrating all things food, wine and family fun. From delicious food stalls and pop-up bars to live music, entertainment and interactive kids activities –there’s something for the whole family. Tickets on sale now for a relaxed, family-friendly weekend in the King Valley. For more information visit our website www.brownbrothers.com.au/events/easter-festival-2025

photography a go. PHOTO: Auto Chick Photography

VET CORNER

Looking at cloudy eyes in aging dog

IT is not uncommon for us to notice changes in our dogs eyes as they’re getting older.

A cloudy blue appearance in the eye can often lead us to believe our dog is developing cataracts.

While this sometimes may be true, it is important to note that as dogs age, their eyes age with them, and often this cloudiness is part of the normal aging process of the lens known as nuclear sclerosis.

Nuclear sclerosis tends to start around eight years of age and fortunately it does not a ect vision.

It is important to distinguish this process from cataracts.

By WANGARATTA VETERINARY CLINIC

Unlike nuclear sclerosis, cataracts can occur at any age and some breeds are more predisposed to development including: Maltese, Poodles, Cocker Spaniels, Schnauzers, cattle dogs and Golden Retrievers. Cataracts can also occur secondary to other diseases in the eye such as inﬂammatory or traumatic causes or other underlying diseases such as diabetes.

Cataracts appear as a blue to white opacity and as they progress from early to mature cataracts, vision will be a ected.

Distinction between nuclear sclerosis and cataracts is important, as surgical or medical management may be indicated if cataracts are diagnosed.

Your vet can perform a thorough eye exam to distinguish between the two processes and assess vision.

If you have any concerns regarding your dogs eyes, don’t hesitate to contact your local vet today.

This day in history, 1855

WANGARATTA’S Anglicans met at the court house to see about building a proper church on the hill, the present site of Holy Trinity Cathedral.

Unlocking your health potential with iridology

By CHRISTOS MILIANKOS, NORTH EAST NATUROPATHIC GROUP

HAVE you ever wished you had a roadmap to your health – something that could give you insights into your body’s strengths and weaknesses before symptoms even appear?

Iridology o ers exactly that.

By analysing the patterns, colours, and structures of the iris (the coloured part of the eye), an iridology assessment can help uncover inherited strengths and vulnerabilities, empowering you to make informed choices for lifelong wellness.

What is Iridology?

Iridology is a non-invasive assessment technique that examines the iris to gain insights into an individual’s genetic predispositions and overall health tendencies.

The iris is a unique map, reﬂecting the intricate connections between di erent body systems. By studying its signs, an iridologist can detect potential imbalances before they manifest as illness.

I have just ﬁnished teaching a 6-Day comprehensive Iridology Course in Athens, Greece where the students were amazed at the amount of information we can see in their irises.

Understanding your predispositions

Many of us carry genetic traits that may inﬂuence how our bodies respond to stress, toxins, and dietary choices. An iridology assessment helps to identify:

• Digestive tendencies – Are you prone to bloating, sluggish digestion, or food sensitivities? Your iris can reveal how well your body processes nutrients.

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pressure issues? Your iris may hold clues to your vascular efﬁciency.

• Nervous system strength

– Do you experience anxiety, di culty sleeping, or nervous tension? Certain iris patterns can indicate nervous system resilience.

• Toxin accumulation – Your body’s ability to detoxify naturally varies from person to person. Iridology can highlight whether your liver, kidneys, or lymphatic system need extra support.

• Inﬂammation and acidity levels – Chronic inﬂammation is at the root of many diseases. Identifying and addressing underlying causes can prevent future health issues.

Taking proactive steps for optimal health

Once you understand your predispositions, you can take proactive measures to enhance your well-being. An iridology assessment provides a tailored approach to health by guiding you toward lifestyle changes that work best for your body type.

Some key areas where iridology can help include:

• Dietary choices – Based on your iris signs, you may beneﬁt from speciﬁc foods, supplements, or detox strategies.

movement, your iris can provide insights.

• Stress management – Supporting your nervous system with the right herbs, therapies, and relaxation techniques can prevent burnout and fatigue.

• Preventative care – Addressing weaknesses before they become major health issues is the key to longevity and vitality.

The Power of Awareness Knowledge is power, and understanding your body’s unique constitution through iridology allows you to be proactive rather than reactive with your health. Instead of waiting for symptoms to appear, you can nurture your body’s strengths, fortify its weaknesses, and maintain a state of balance.

If you’re ready to unlock your health potential and gain deeper insights into what your body truly needs, consider scheduling an iridology assessment. With this natural and holistic approach, you can take control of your well-being and live your best, healthiest life.

For an iridology assessment and/or a comprehensive iridology report call the NE Naturopathic Group at (03) 5798 3344.

Pictures help tell a story

By SIMONE KERWIN

THERE are so many ways to enjoy a story that extend beyond reading only text on a page.

Audio books are becoming increasingly popular among all ages, from older people who ﬁnd text size an issue, to those travelling for work or school who want to devour books even while they can’t physically read them, and young people who ﬁnd them a wonderful way to relax.

Another growing format is the graphic novel, and readers who gravitate towards this option are catered for in a variety of genres at the moment, to suit varying stages of their reading lives.

Far from being ‘not real reading’, graphic novels promote literacy by engaging readers of all levels in sophisticated storylines paired with images.

This week, thanks to Allen & Unwin, we have a pack of ﬁve graphic novels to give away to one lucky reader.

Among them is a title released just this month, Renee Treml’s ‘The Thylacine and the Time Machine’, which tells the story of 12-year-old Violet as she researches the Tasmanian Tiger for a school project.

She is visited by the ghost of the last thylacine, Thyla, who takes her on an amazing trip in a time machine, exploring the past and future of the most enigmatic extinct Australian native animal.

The book is packed full of fascinating facts about the terrible past, and potentially exciting future, of the Tassie Tiger.

‘Chickenpox’, by Remy Lai, is a contagiously funny graphic novel which follows Abby and her four younger siblings as they itch to escape their house.

is among the books in this week’s

book pack are for teen readers: Maria van Lieshout’s ‘Song of a Blackbird’ and Sarah Winifred Searle’s ‘The Sweetness Be-

chickenpox leaves the ﬁve Lai kids stuck at home for two weeks of non-stop mayhem, Abby thinks it might be the end of her sanity - though she feels responsible, as her best friend brought chickenpox into their home.

Will the itch to escape her siblings overwhelm Abby, or will she realise being a big sister isn’t all bad?

The proliﬁc Anh Do has also ventured into graphic novels, producing ‘Kung Fu Roo: Enter the Roo’, illustrated by Jeremy Ley and centred on Kai, Harry and Charley as they discover they can utilise their kung fu skills as they transform into animals at will.

But can they ﬁght crime and keep their new identities a secret?

The ﬁnal two elements of the

The former is based on true events, intertwining two timelines - one a modern-day family drama, the other a thrilling-buttrue story of a World War II-era bank heist carried out by Dutch Resistance ﬁghters. In this stranger-than-ﬁction graphic novel, van Leishout weaves a tale about family, courage and the power of art which sends a powerful message about compassion and resistance.

Meanwhile, ‘The Sweetness Between Us’ is a sweet romantic comedy with a paranormal twist which follows diabetic Perley and vampire Amandine as they navigate high school and a budding romance.

* To be in the running to win this graphic novel book pack, email skerwin@nemedia.com. au and explain why you would like to own the books.

Murray cod are still on the bite

THIS cooler weather is really making me want to switch to my more traditional winter ﬁshing techniques such as drowning worms at Lake Moodemere on sunrise.

This is something that I will be doing very soon and is one of my favourite winter ﬁshing destinations.

But for now, the Murray cod ﬁshing is really hanging on and as long as that stays pretty good, I will continue to walk the banks casting lures while I can.

Last Thursday evening my friend Sonny and I caught four Murray cod on lures in the Ovens River at Wangaratta.

Two of the cod were caught on diving lures and two were caught on surface lures.

The action wasn’t red hot, but it was hot enough to keep us casting.

Last Tuesday night I headed down to Lake Mulwala to ﬁsh with my Dad for a few hours.

We trolled hard body lures from his boat and managed to catch two Murray cod.

It should have been three, but a very sloppy net-

ting job by me saw my Dad’s lovely 60cm Murray cod lost, right beside the boat. It was a nice ﬁsh, and it was in the net, but it kicked, my gripped slipped and the ﬁsh swam o with a smile on its face.

My Dad and three of his friends spent last week at Lake Mulwala on their annual ﬁshing trip.

Between them they caught quite a few Murray cod, including a few legal sized ﬁsh.

They rated the ﬁshing as being “pretty good” on the nights that it wasn’t too windy to put the boat in.

All of their ﬁsh were caught on hard body lures being trolled behind the boat in amongst the standing timber, where the water is only eight to nine feet deep.

BASED ON A TRUE STORY: ‘Song of a Blackbird’ by Maria van Lieshout

graphic novel book pack prize.

NICE COD: Terry Alexander with a small Murray cod caught in Lake Mulwala last week.

with ROBBIE ALEXANDER WANGARATTA

The woman behind the lens

“I get to capture people going full speed down a drag strip which is such a unique opportunity.

“For me, it’s a sense of accomplishment.

“I’m a mum and a carer; but this is just for me.”

Kat said the name “Auto Chick Photography” came about when she was enrolled in trade school in Wangaratta for an automotive and spray painting preapprenticeship.

“When I was at trade school I was the only female and when the blokes couldn’t remember my name they used to say “hey auto chick” so I thought it was an appropriate name,” she said.

For Kat, being right at the

forefront of oncoming vehicles is incredibly exciting.

“That adrenaline rush of a car coming at you full force, straight down the lens,” Kat said.

“You’re metres away from a skidding car and you get complete white-out with the smoke.

“Being on the track is such an adrenaline rush.”

Kat drives a Morpheus purple 1963 Chrysler that she takes to events, Kat loves to fully immerse herself in the environment and excitement of the track.

Kat captures a mix of motorsports, from drag and drift events to burn-out photography, if there’s a big photo opportunity, she’ll be there.

When Kat is asked why she does it, her go to answer is “to have really cool screensavers and lock screens”.

The 42-year-old said she doesn’t have a formal creative process she follows.

“I’m self-taught,” she said.

“I like to get out there with the action, point and shoot.”

“I think if you are a young girl that’s out there and you wanna do it, grab a camera and go out there.

“I got my camera on my 30th birthday and it went from there.”

To view more of Kat’s work or to follow along her creative journey, follow her on social media @Auto Chick Photography.

FEATURE STORY

TRACKSIDE: Kat Wadley specialises in capturing burn-outs through her lens.

CATHEDRAL COLLEGE WANGARATTA

THE ROLE OF PUBLISHERS

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CATHEDRAL COLLEGE WANGARATTA

The College seeks applications from suitably experienced persons for the following position:

Legal

Legal Studies Teacher

Studies Teacher

(.6 time fraction contract with the possibility of ongoing in 2026)

Please refer to our website, www.cathedralcollege.vic.edu.au for the position description and application closing date.

Fine amounts and demerit points for traffic offences

IF you are caught committing a tra c o ence you may be issued with a penalty in the form of an infringement notice (a ﬁne).

Depending on the type of tra c o ence, demerit points or a licence suspension may also be applied to your driver licence or learner permit.

A demerit point is a penalty point issued to you if you commit a driving related o ence that has associated demerit points.

These points are recorded against your driving record.

Demerit points range from one to four depending on the seriousness of the offence.

They accumulate and remain valid for three years.

Your demerit point limit depends on what type of licence or leaner permit you have.

For more information about demerit points, visit https://transport.vic.gov.au/ road-rules-and-safety/demerit-points.

To check how many demerit points are recorded on your licence, visit https:// www.vicroads.vic.gov.au/ licences/demerit-points/ check-driver-history.

Penalties for speeding o ences (except heavy vehicles), as of 1 July 2024

Exceeding the speed limit by less than 10 km/h, penalty of $247, one demerit point.

LEGAL MATTERS

Exceeding the speed limit by 10 km/h–24 km/h, penalty of $395, three demerit points.

Exceeding the speed limit by 25 km/h–29 km/h, penalty of $543, automatic licence suspension for three months.

Exceeding the speed limit by 30 km/h–34 km/h, penalty of $642, automatic licence suspension for three months.

Exceeding the speed limit by 40 km/h–44 km/h, penalty of $840, automatic licence suspension for six months.

Exceeding the speed limit by 45 km/h or more, penalty of $988, automatic licence suspension for 12 months.

Exceeding the speed limit by 20 km/h - 24 km/h (110 km/h zone), penalty of $395, automatic licence suspension for three months.

Red light camera o ences

Failing to obey traffic lights, both red-light and red-light arrow, incurs a penalty of $494 and three demerit points.

Portable device and seatbelt detection camera offences

Drivers caught by these cameras incur the following penalties:

$593 fine if caught using a portable device such as a mobile phone while driving, and four demerit points

$395 fine for not wearing a seatbelt correctly, and three demerit points.

Unregistered vehicle offences

Driving an unregistered two axle vehicle incurs a penalty of $988.

Driving an unregistered three, four, five or more axle vehicle incurs a penalty of $1,778.

natural pest control.

The future of our food starts with the soil

AT Wangaratta Wholefoods, we believe that true nourishment begins beneath our feet.

The health of our soil directly impacts the quality of our food, our environment, and the wellbeing of future generations.

Understanding the di erences between conventional, organic, and biodynamic farming is key to making informed choices that support a sustainable food system.

Conventional Agriculture: Short-Term Gains, Long-Term Consequences

Conventional farming prioritises high yields through synthetic fertilisers, pesticides, and herbicides.

While this method maximises short-term productivity, it depletes soil biodiversity, reduces organic matter, and leads to erosion.

Over time, soil becomes reliant on chemical inputs, losing its ability to retain water and naturally cycle nutrients.

The result?

Diminished soil health and food that lacks the nutrient density our bodies need and crave.

Organic Farming: Working with Nature, Not Against It

Organic agriculture avoids synthetic chemicals and instead nurtures the soil through composting, crop rotation, and natural pest control.

This method supports microbial life, improves soil structure, and enhances nutrient availability.

By KACEY O’CALLAGHAN, WANGARATTA WHOLEFOODS

Organic farms often have richer soil and greater resilience to drought, producing food that is free from harmful residues.

Choosing organic is a commitment to soil regeneration and healthier ecosystems.

Biodynamic Farming: A Holistic Approach to Soil Health

Biodynamic farming takes organic principles a step further, treating the farm as a selfsustaining organism.

It incorporates lunar and cosmic rhythms, specialised compost preparations, and closed-loop nutrient cycling to create thriving soil ecosystems.

Biodynamic soils are teeming with life, resulting in highly nutritious, vibrant produce. This method not only maintains but actively enriches the land for future generations.

At Wholefoods, we advocate for organic and biodynamic practices because we believe in food that nourishes both people and the planet.

By supporting these methods, we ensure that our soil – and our future – remains healthy and abundant.

Taste the di erence, feel the di erence.

FARMING FOR THE FUTURE: Organic agriculture avoids synthetic chemicals and instead nurtures the soil through composting, crop rotation, and

PHOTO: Thx4Stock team/Shutterstock

TRAFFIC OFFENCE: If you are caught committing a tra c o ence you may be issued with a penalty in the form of an infringement notice.

With FINES VICTORIA