June 25 - July 1, 2025
A guest conductor for Dvorak’s 9th Symphony
DID you know that astronaut Neil Armstrong took a taped recording of Dvorak’s 9th Symphony with him during the Apollo 11 mission in 1969 (the first moon landing)?
The Wangaratta Symphony Orchestra (WSO) will play the whole of this well-known symphony at its next concert.
Each section gets to play some of the main themes and it is fascinating to hear how melodies move across from one group to another.
Dvorak’ s 9th Symphony, subtitled by ‘The New World’, was a new challenge for the composer.
Although well-known and respected in his home country of Czechoslovakia, he was interested in exploring new ideas in music, and so travelled to the ‘new world’ - the United States of America (USA) - in in 1892 to become the director of the National Conservatory of Music.
His 9th Symphony incorporates various folk tunes from the Black American community and traditional Indigenous American musical themes.
He made a huge contribution to the development of new music in the USA and beyond.
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◆ ON THE STAGE: Craig Fullerton will accompany the Wangaratta Symphony Orchestra as guest conductor at its upcoming concert inspired by Dvorak’s 9th Symphony.
with WARBY ST VET
With a little exra care, older pets can manage winter chill
By WARBY STREET VETERINARY CLINIC
AFTER an unusually warm autumn, winter is finally upon us in Wangaratta and it’s not just humans that are feeling the cool change; our pets do too.
Like people, as animals age they are often more sensitive to cold weather and can experience joint stiffness during the cooler months, so it’s especially important that we look out for our golden oldies during these times.
One of the most common concerns in winter is arthritis.
Cold weather can worsen joint discomfort in older dogs and cats.
If your pet is limping, struggling to get up, or hesitating on stairs, it might be more than just old age and it could be a sign of pain.
Soft bedding, warm indoor spaces, and gentle, regular exercise can help keep them comfortable.
Your vet can also create a plan to support your pet as they age, with joint support medications and pain relief if required.
KEEPING WARM: The health of your ageing pets is particularly important in the cooler months. PHOTO: Gladskikh Tatiana/Shutterstock.com
If you are using a coat to keep your pet warm throughout winter, make sure that you are taking it off at least once a day and having a good look at the skin and fur underneath.
Heating can dry out the air inside, and older pets may need more grooming to help with shedding or dry skin.
Coats can also hide signs of weight loss or weight gain.
Colder weather often means less activity, which can lead to weight gain, and unexplained weight loss can be an indicator of other issues
like kidney disease or dental problems.
Regular vet check-ups become even more important as pets age.
Early detection of age-related issues can make a big difference in their comfort and quality of life.
With a little extra care, our beloved senior pets can stay happy, warm, and healthy all winter long.
If you have questions about your pet’s winter care, speak to your vet; they’re here to help.
This day in history, 1942
ESCAPED PRISONER, 1942
ON this day in 1942, with an alert out for an escaped prisoner from the Murchison Prisoner of War (POW) Camp, Mrs Oates of Wangaratta had a mysterious night caller at her Mackay Street residence.
A man appeared at the door, asking for a hot meal.
His appearance was rough, and he wore a bandage on his arm.
Mrs Oats called the police.
They arrived and showed her a photo of Lieutenant Edgardo Simoni, the escapee.
Given some hope by the householder that her caller could not have been Simoni, the police conducted a manhunt, and finally arrested, not the POW escapee, but an ordinary tramp.
He was charged with vagrancy.
UP THE SLOPES
was making the most of the superb early
More lifts and terrain opened at alpine resorts
MT HOTHAM and Falls Creek alpine resorts have continued to build on the best start to a snow season in decades, making heaps more snow and opening up more lifts and terrain on the weekend.
Falls Creek opened both the Ruined Castle and Scott Chairlifts on Saturday, expanding access to a wide variety of intermediate and advanced terrain such as Scott Race Course, Shadow Ridge, and the scenic Ruined Castle area.
It also opened its Toboggan Slope Magic Carpet at Windy Corner, with $20 per 50 minute session.
Meanwhile, at the same time at Hotham, its legendary Blue Ribbon lift spun for the first time, unlocking advanced terrain beloved by seasoned riders.
The opening marked a significant milestone in the season, offering access to some of the resort’s steepest and most exhilarating runs.
“This is a chairlift that typically opens later in the season, so we’re all excited to be opening it early and giving our guests the time of their lives as we head towards our busy school holiday period,” said Tina Burford, Hotham’s vice president and general manager.
Also at Hotham, the brand new dedicated Big D Terrain Park opened for the season too - offering jumps, rails, boxes and jib features all serviced by the Big D Quad Chair for fast, fun park laps.
So far this season, snowfall totals have exceed-
ed expectations, with consistent snowmaking and natural falls combining to deliver excellent early-season conditions.
On Monday Falls Creek had an average now depth of 47cms, while Mt Hotham’s average base was 50cms - with both resorts having fair to very good cross country skiing on groomed trails.
Skiers and boarders are encouraged to book lift tickets, lessons, rentals and accommodation early, with high demand expected across both resorts, especially in the school holiday periods.
Dinner Plain visitors have been enjoying skiing and boarding on the Cobungra Platter ski slope which is perfect for beginners, as well as tobogganing on Australia’s longest run, and cross country skiing on local trails.
And as of Monday Mt Buffalo still had good tobogganing at Dingo Dell and Cresta Valley, with good cross country skiing on groomed trails.
• For the latest resort information, including snow reports and activities during season 2025, visit mthotham.com.au, fallscreek.com.au, visitdinnerplain.com.au and FOR Mt Buffalo go to www.facebook.com/VisitMountBuffalomndk/
JUST MAGICAL: Mt Hotham’s Drew Jolowicz
season conditions, carving it up on 22 June. PHOTO: Chris Hocking, Vail Resorts
By JEFF ZEUSCHNER
A new chance for early detection: Australia’s lung cancer screening program
THIS July, Australia has taken an important step in the fight against lung cancer with the launch of the National Lung Cancer Screening Program.
This program is here to give hope; by helping people find lung cancer early - when it’s most treatable - lives can truly be changed.
If you are between 50 and 70 and have a history of smoking, this program offers you a free, low-dose CT scan.
It’s a simple, gentle scan that can spot lung cancer before you even notice any symptoms.
Early detection can mean more treatment options and a much better chance of recovery.
Sometimes, we put off thinking about our health, especially when we feel fine.
But lung cancer often develops quietly without warning signs.
That’s why this screening is so important.
It’s a way to take care of yourself and to be
By TERESA McMAHON, SOUTH WANGARATTA MEDICAL CENTRE
there for the people who care about you.
If you think you might be eligible, please talk to your GP.
They can guide you through the process, answer your questions, and support you every step of the way.
Taking this small step could make a world of difference˗not just for you, but for your loved ones as well.
For more information, or if you’re unsure about your eligibility, reach out to your GP.
Your health matters.
Early action can save lives – maybe even yours.
Support at Home: End-of-life pathways and the role of doulas
UNDER the new Support at Home program, end-of-life care is recognised as a deeply personal and essential component of aged care.
This stage of life requires not only clinical support but also compassionate guidance, tailored to the individual’s preferences, values and cultural beliefs.
A key element gaining recognition in this area is the involvement of end-of-life doulas.
End-of-life doulas are non-clinical companions who provide emotional, spiritual, and practical support to individuals and their families as they approach the final stages of life.
Within the Support at Home framework, doulas complement the care provided by medical professionals and personal care workers by ensuring the person’s wishes are honoured, reducing anxiety and helping families prepare for and cope with loss.
Support at Home funds end-of-life pathways with up to $25,000 over 16 weeks, enabling access to a range of services including palliative care, personal support, respite for carers, grief counselling, and doula services.
This targeted funding ensures that people nearing the end of life receive coordinated, timely, and person-centred care in their home.
By TIMELESS SUPPORT
The end-of-life pathway also includes early discussions about advance care planning, tailored symptom management, and emotional support.
Doulas play a valuable role in this process by facilitating conversations around choices, creating legacy projects, and simply being a calm presence during a profoundly vulnerable time. Integrating doulas into the Support at Home model aligns with the strengthened Aged Care Quality Standards, particularly in upholding dignity, choice, and emotional wellbeing.
Their involvement helps ensure that end-oflife care is not only clinically appropriate, but also deeply human and meaningful.
As aged care evolves, Timeless Support is leading the way in delivering compassionate, whole-of-life care through the Support at Home program.
Please contact Timeless Support on 1300 292 747 to learn more.
Timeless Support has been approved to provide subsidised home care services through the Australian Government.
Depending on your circumstances you may be able to receive care and services, funded either fully or partly by the Government.
GUIDANCE AND CARE: End-of-life doulas address the emotional, spiritual and practical journey of their clients as they approach the end of their lives. PHOTO: Dominik Lange/Unsplash.com
BE PROACTIVE: Individuals aged 50 to 70 with a history of smoking are eligible for a free lung cancer scan. PHOTO: sebra/Shutterstock.com
A guest conductor for Dvorak’s 9th Symphony
■ Continued from page 1
Other music from the ‘new world’ will also be included in this concert, with pieces written by Gershwin, Cohen and Stravinski.
When Aaron Wardle, resident conductor of the Wangaratta Symphony Orchestra, expressed a desire to play his French horn rather than conduct Dvorak’s 9th Symphony, the WSO set about finding a guest conductor for its concert.
Craig Fullerton, head of music at the Catholic College Wodonga, was told about this opportunity by a member of both the WSO as well as the Albury City Band, where Craig is the conductor. He was appointed as guest conductor with WSO in April 2025 to lead the orchestra through this next concert.
Craig comes with a broad range of experiences in conduct-
ing, particularly in Europe, the Philippines and China.
At 10 years old, Craig picked guitar as his first instrument - but soon, he wanted more opportunity to play melodies.
At high school in Seymour, he had the opportunity to learn a brass instrument - first the cornet followed by the trumpet - and became part of the Seymour Brass band.
In year eight, he decided he wanted music to be part of his professional life.
He won a music scholarship for year 11 and 12, sparking his interest in conducting.
At Melbourne University, he majored in trumpet with conducting as a second major.
He was conducting choirs, bands, and various groups at this time, and the more he conducted, the more he enjoyed it.
FEATURE STORY
and be head of music in a high school in Norway where he did more studies in conducting.
-nila and mainland China, with Craig teaching in schools and leading community orchestras
He was more and more involved in creating symphony orchestras in the schools where there was only brass bands, by finding teachers and students of strings and broadening the range of music played.
He brought the community into the schools and then took the school into the community.
“Passion and a desire to play with others and to play well is what drives most community orchestra members,” Craig said.
“There is a hunger to be the best they can, to be challenged; and with that comes a willingness to be committed to practice and to rehearsals.
“It is voluntary – they just want to be there with other musicians.”
Therefore, a key role of the conductor is to ensure that the music and arrangements chosen are challenging enough but pos-
sible for the group to play.
“For the Wangaratta Symphony, to decide to play the whole of Dvorak’s 9th symphony in its original form is quite a challenge,” Craig said.
It is a favourite of his to listen to as well as conduct, and his experience of living in Europe gave him an added insight into the history and context of Dvorak and his music.
Wangaratta Symphony Orchestra will perform this concert at Mansfield Performing Arts Centre on Sunday, 24 August at 2.30pm and at Wangaratta Performing Arts and Convention Centre on Sunday, 7 September at 2.30pm.
Soloists are Emma Lang (Rayner) on cello and Timothy Wong on piano.
Tickets available from the venues.
WELL-TRAVELLED: Craig has continued the sound of the symphony across Europe and parts of Asia.
IMPROVED FASTENING: Kincrome’s nut riveter sets offer a cost-effective fastening system. PHOTO: Aleksei Kochev/Shutterstock.com
Kincrome’s nut riveter kit provides the whole package
NUT rivets are useful in an array of unique applications, such as automotive, metal fabrication, appliances, food equipment, industrial machinery, farm equipment, electronics, transportation, 4WD/off-road applications, marine equipment and many more.
Nut rivets allow you to create a solid captive nut in thin material that cannot be tapped or threaded.
For those looking for cost-effective nut rivets, the hand-operated 85 Piece KINCROME Nut Riveter Set (Part No K4700) might be the perfect option.
Manufactured from a lightweight cast aluminium construction, with moulded grips for single or two handed operation, this kit has it all.
It comes with easy to change one-piece mandrels including M3, M4, M5 & M6 and 80 Zinc Coated Steel Rivet Nut Inserts, 20 of each size,
By RUSSELL FERGUSON, NORTH EAST FASTENERS
all housed within a blow mould case with carry handle.
Rivet nut inserts are also sold separately in sizes M3, M4, M5 & M6 to couple with the 85 Piece KINCROME Nut Riveter Set (Part No K4700), available in both lightweight aluminium and zinc coated steel types.
Inserts are available in packs of 10 or 20 pieces (depending on the size selected) housed in double blister hang packs which are colour coded for easy size and material selection.
Spend less at North East Homemakers’ huge sale
snug lounge suites to dreamy mattresses, this is more than a sale – it’s an invitation to
Highlights include up to $4000 off lounge suites, $2500 off beds and mattress, and $2700 off La-Zboy recliners, famous for their unbeatable comfort. Need a new dining suite before the next family gathering?
Save up to $2000 on dining tables and dining suites. Or, transform your living room with up to $500 off TV units, hall tables, coffee tables and buffets. Whether you’re looking to upgrade your space or find that one statement piece, North East Homemakers centre has something for every home – and every budget. Winter may be cold, but these deals are red hot. Don’t miss out – head to the North East Homemakers Centre this June and discover how warm, stylish, and
By CHELSEA IBROM, NORTH EAST HOMEMAKERS