AS a storm wreaked havoc in and around their Oxley home on January 15 this year, Rebecca Hernandez and her son Max were left to wait for help as trees toppled and their power was cut.
That day SES Wangaratta crews responded to a number of callouts for help over five long hours of removing trees from stretches of roads along Oxley, Milawa, Markwood and Tarrawingee which included a pair of serious road accidents.
Ms Hernandez said as crews in their bright orange jumpsuits arrived and she and Max watched on from a distance, they felt inspired by the volunteers’ e orts.
“A lot of trees were down, we had a power outage, and we saw people in the SES out helping,” she said.
“The fact people were willing to give up their time to go and help others dawned on me. ■ Continued Page 6
mother duo Max and Rebecca Hernandez will be two of the SES’ newest recruits as they signed up with the Wangaratta unit last week.
PHOTOS: Kurt Hickling
ZIMMERMANN
VET CORNER
GONE FISHING
What do I need to know before I get a new pet?
FOR many Australians, a companion animal is an important part of the family.
While having an animal as part of your family can be extremely rewarding, it’s important to remember that caring for a pet is also a huge responsibility.
You will be committed to providing for all the requirements of your animal – food, exercise, housing, grooming, veterinary care and more.
Before acquiring any new pet, it’s essential to thoroughly research and consider the care the animal will need to ensure you have the capacity to meet their physical and mental needs, in order to safeguard their welfare and help them live a good life with you.
Before you make the decision to become to bring an animal into your family, ask yourself the following questions:
Am I prepared to care for
By RSPCA KNOWLEDGEBASE
the animal for their whole life?
Pets like cats and dogs can live 12–20 years or even more.
Be ready to care for them as they grow, including managing larger breeds’ exercise needs or providing for senior animals.
Can I a ord a pet?
Budget for upfront costs like vaccinations and desexing, as well as ongoing expenses such as food, vet care, grooming, training, and emergency treatments.
Do I understand how to care for a pet?
Understand your chosen pet’s needs before bringing them home.
Do I have time to care for a pet?
All pets need daily attention, including feeding, exercise, play, training, and
companionship.
Do I live in suitable accommodation with adequate space and facilities for a pet?
Ensure your home is suitable for a pet and that you are allowed to keep the specific kind of animal you are considering.
PROTECTED SPECIES: A healthy Macquarie perch from the Ovens River, these fish were locally extinct from the Ovens River system for decades and are now making a great comeback. They are totally protected and must be released if caught.
If you rent your property, has your property owner given you written permission to have a dog or other animal? What will happen if you have to move?
Will a pet fit into my lifestyle and priorities?
Think about your work hours, travel, social life, and plans for the future.
The RSPCA’s Smart Puppy and Dog and Kitten and Cat Buyer’s Guides and the RSPCA Safe and Happy Cats website also have lots of information to help you if you are considering getting a dog or cat.
For more information, visit the RSPCA Knowledgebase.
This day in history, 1902
ELDORADO BECOMES A TOWN, 1902
DECLARED a township on this day in 1902.
Great things were expected of this town.
In a survey, provision was made for a main street two miles long.
Gold discoveries fulfilled the optimism of the pioneers in a way they scarcely expected. The area had been named El Dorado many years before the first gold rush.
Fishing slows as water levels drop
AS the dry weather continues, water levels in the streams are getting lower and lower.
I went trout fishing last week in a tributary of the Ovens River.
Although the fishing was slow I did manage to pick up a couple of trout.
If you are thinking of going trout fishing at the moment, selecting the right waterway is very important as the dry conditions have left some of the smaller streams very low.
When the streams get very low like this the trout will often go o the bite.
They usually sit down deep at the bottoms of the deep pools where they seek refuge until conditions improve.
At the moment, larger rivers such as the Ovens River and Kiewa River are good choices as they are flowing quite well.
I went bait fishing in the Ovens River in Wangaratta over the weekend.
Using worms and shrimp for bait I managed to catch a number of small fish.
I caught a small Murray cod, a small trout cod, a small Macquarie perch and a turtle.
I did hook onto a larger fish while fishing with two live shrimp at once, but unfortunately that fish broke my line before I got a chance to see what it was.
It is great to see so many young fish in the river, particularly Macquarie perch and trout cod.
Both of those species are totally protected as they were once abundant in the Ovens River before becoming locally extinct several decades ago.
In recent decades there has been a lot of work undertaken to “bring them back” and seeing them here at such a small size is testimony to all of the hard work that has been done.
with ROBBIE ALEXANDER WANGARATTA
A riveting tale of courage, love and survival
EDGARS Books & News and the High Country Library Corporation are hosting Australian author Darry Fraser at Myrtleford and Wangaratta Libraries on Wednesday, February 5.
Discussing not only her latest book –“The Night on the Darling River” – Darry will also discuss her backlist which includes several set around the area.
Set against the turbulent backdrop of 1894 Echuca, Victoria, “The Night on the Darling River” immerses readers in a time of rising fl oodwaters and escalating violence during the shearers’ strike - a period of upheaval that mirrors the turmoil within its central characters.
Main character Tess Hawthorn’s story is both gripping and deeply personal.
Fleeing an abusive marriage, her journey to freedom is anything but straightforward.
Mistaken identity and the chaos of a violent brawl thrust her aboard the wrong riverboat, placing her directly in harm’s way - and on a collision course with her past.
Darry excels in weaving a richly detailed historical setting, where the river and its surroundings feel as alive as the characters.
The volatile tension between unionist and non-union men is portrayed with grit-
By BELINDA HARRISON EDGARS BOOKS & NEWS
ty realism, providing a compelling backdrop that amplifi es the stakes for Tess.
“The Night on the Darling River” explores themes such as redemption, selfdiscovery, and the enduring human spirit.
Tess’s transformation from a woman defi ned by her past into someone reclaiming her future is both inspiring and relatable.
Fans of historical fi ction and romance will fi nd much to love in this evocative novel with its engaging characters, atmospheric setting, and pulse-pounding moments of danger.
“The Night on the Darling River” is available now from Edgars Books & News in store at 55 Murphy Street, via their online store at https://edgarsbooksandnews. com.au/ or at the events.
Selected backlist titles will also be available at the events.
To book your place at either the Wangaratta or Myrtleford event with Darry, drop into the store, phone 5721 3758 or book via the Events page online: https:// edgarsbooksandnews.com.au/events/.
COURAGE, LOVE AND SURVIVAL: Fans of historical fiction and romance will find much to love in this evocative novel.
Mother-son pair eager to be SES Wangaratta’s newest recruits
“We thought we could do that and it would be an opportunity to give back to the community so that’s why we signed up.”
The youngest of five, Bec said 15-year-old Max was driven to the role from an interest in developing new skills and an ability to help out those in the community.
“He’s very handy with the chainsaw so we thought we would let him loose in a more confined manner,” she said.
“I think it’ll give him an opportunity to work with other people and learn skills that will enable him to help his community.”
The SES Wangaratta Unit held a recruitment information night last Tuesday, January 21 in their
e orts to bolster an increasingly in demand force.
The local unit observed its busiest year in more than a decade last year, responding to 395 requests for assistance within the Wangaratta community, surpassing 2022’s figure of 391.
An increase in large storm events was the main driver behind the surge in incidents, according to Wangaratta SES Unit controller Jess Zuber.
Ms Zuber said the recruitment night was well received by those who showed interest, with the call for more volunteers answered by the likes of Bec, Max and some five others.
“We had a really great night and we’re really hoping we can
get a few more people to help us next storm,” she said.
“I’m hoping they learned a bit more information on the role we play in our local community and it was a really good chance to meet our team.”
Ms Zuber said the new volunteers like Bec and Max could expect to start responding to emergencies within the next two months after undertaking key basic training and add to the unit’s 50 strong volunteer workforce.
“After about six to 12 months they will be able to forge their own pathway with us,” she said.
Bec said this would be her biggest commitment within the local volunteer scene, with some ex-
perience in volunteering in junior sporting roles, and she would be eager to take on any task in order to help her community.
“I think the training will be sufficient enough to be able to reduce any of those fears around serious accidents,” she said.
You can find out more about volunteering with the SES via the link: https://www.ses.vic. gov.au/join-us/volunteer
The emergency service has units based in Wangaratta, Mansfield, Myrtleford, Yarrawonga, Bright, Rutherglen, Benalla, Beechworth, and Chiltern.
FEATURE STORY
The SES will be celebrating 50 years since its foundation in Victoria later this year.
MAN OF THE MOMENT: Max Hernandez (15) will don the orange jumpsuit with his mum as a new volunteer.
Juggling January
EVERYONE has something to juggle in January: kids vs work, new years resolutions vs reality, budget vs reality, health goals vs reality of implementing them long term.
It is a struggle, but you don’t have to go it alone!
As a university qualifi ed Naturopath, I help people every day identify their goals, either health mental or physical related goals, step them through the why this is important to them, identify anything that may hinder their success, and help them step through how to achieve this.
Sometimes, this includes supplements to help them to sleep better or reduce the overwhelmed feeing they experience, identify food intolerances or improve digestion etc to give you the best chance to succeed.
And sometimes we talk and chat and really get to know the inner you, generally over a cup of tea.
What are your patterns?
Why do you behave a certain way?
What or who has stopped you succeeding in the past?
And then turn that into an achievable plan to implement over time in a way that is comfortable for you and your family. You see, you are in control of your health
By BELINDA MCPHERSON, NORTH EAST
to our website/social media and make an appointment to get you the healthiest you can be.. on your terms and in your way! See you in clinic soon.
GETTING TO KNOW YOU: Belinda McPherson from North East Natural Health Centre is open to chat and really get to know the inner you over a cup of tea.
