MARK OF RESPECT
Marc Bongers STORY PAGE 5
Surrender plea
Wife of Dezi Freeman makes plea for her husband’s surrender as police expand their investigation
Police have expanded their investigation into the deaths of two officers and the search for their alleged killer Dezi Freeman, whose wife has urged him to sur render.
On Sunday, Amalia Freeman provided a statement via her lawyer to media, including this masthead, expressing her deep sorrow for the loss of Detective Leading Senior Constable Neal Thompson and Senior
BY BAILEY ZIMMERMANN bzimmermann@
nemedia.com.au
Constable Vadim De Waart, who were killed on Tuesday.
“We are truly sorry for your loss, and the suffering and grief that the families, friends and colleagues of Detective Leading Senior Constable Thompson and Senior Constable De Waart are now experiencing,” she said.
“We echo the requests of the Victoria Police for the swift and safe conclusion of this tragedy.
“I lend my full support to Victoria Police in their search for my husband and will cooperate with Victoria Police in any way that I can.”
Ms Freeman said she and her children “respect the important work of Victoria Police and do not hold antiauthority views”.
The 42-year-old made a
plea to her husband to give himself up.
“Please Dezi, if you see or hear this, call 000 and arrange a surrender plan with police,” she said.
“If anyone is harbouring, helping or supporting Dezi, please call 000 immediately and speak with the police.”
The statement came after Ms Freeman and her 15-year-old son were arrested and released following a search of a Porepunkah
property on Thursday relating to firearms.
Dezi Freeman, who is wellversed in bushcraft, was last seen heavily armed fleeing into the bush at the rear of his Rayner Track property on the outskirts of Porepunkah after allegedly killing Det Led Sen Const Thompson and Sen Const De Waart.
The pair were part of 10-member team conducting a search warrant of Freeman’s property, and a third
officer who was shot continues to recover.
The search for Freeman dragged into its sixth day and there has been no confirmed sightings of him. Conditions have been challenging with the nearby hills now blanketed in snow.
On Friday around 4:45pm a Victoria Police spokesperson said officers charged a 61-year-old Bright man after a search of his property.
■ Continued page 3
CFA District 23 Assistant Chief Fire Officer Stewart Kreltszheim and Wangaratta CFA captain Jason Allisey led a tribute to Victoria Police from local emergency service personnel on Thursday night.
PHOTO:
Appin Park Primary School is to receive $188,252 from the Victorian government as part of a statewide initiative.
Member for Northern Victoria, Jaclyn Symes, announced the school is among 24 schools sharing in more than $13 million from the Planned Maintenance Program (PMP) to prioritise and complete maintenance works on classrooms and facilities.
“We are making sure every school in Northern Victoria offers students a modern, safe and inspiring place to learn,” Ms Symes said.
“Our Planned Maintenance Program invests in our schools and the future of our kids – by helping them thrive in state-of-theart facilities.”
Schools will use the funding to carry out essential works such as fixing roofs, replacing windows, maintaining ramps, painting, resurfacing floors, or improving pathways.
Confusion over water reports for proposed bore in Whitlands
BY ANITA McPHERSON amcpherson@ nemedia.com.au
Locals say their questions remained unanswered following a recent meeting between representatives of Domaine Chandon Australia (DCA) and concerned landholders over the company’s application to Goulburn Murray Water (GMW) to drill a bore at its Whitlands vineyard and potentially extract up to 90 million litres of groundwater to irrigate each year.
About 20 locals attended the meeting on 21 August - with more wanting but unable to attend - hav ing provided questions to Domaine Chandon Australia in advance (as had been requested by them) in the hope of achieving clarity over the company’s plans.
Questions were asked about DCA’s initial commitment to conduct a hydrogeological study, its current vineyard practices (and why such a significant volume of water was required), whether it was willing to engage in an Environment Effects Statement (EES) community engagement process, and whether it would be willing to pause its application to GMW until the hydrogeological report and a definitive assessment of its own estimated water requirements, were complete.
Whitlands resident and viticulturalist Rachael Croucher said attendees was advised DCA was now in the process of completing a feasibility study to assess the cost of completing a full hydrogeological report, indicating that if it was going to be too expensive, they would look at alternatives.
She said they were told DCA was expecting some information back from its consultants by midSeptember.
DCA explains company position
DCA estate director Susan Caudry said the company had engaged a hydrogeologist to complete a report - as they had promised - which would draw on information currently available from various sources including GMW, and that it was now underway.
She described it as “a fact-gathering exercise” rather than a feasibility study, which will allow them (and the region) to better understand water availability and the dynamics of the geology of the region.
“Initial indications are that very little information is available about the Whitlands Plateau aquifers through GMW or any other source, and what we want to know is that if so little information is available, how is GMW justified in granting such large extraction licences?” Ms Croucher said.
“GMW are now in the ‘assessment’ phase of looking at the licence application and the community is concerned that GMW may rubber stamp the approval any day.
“We asked Domaine Chandon if they would contact GMW and ask that the application be paused until the study was completed, but their response was that they didn’t see it as being necessary.”
9261 1930.
Ms Croucher said while DCA estate director Susan Caudry said she was open to having the community involved in the ‘scope’ of a hydrogeological study if they do progress, they will only commit to sharing “what they deemed suitable” with the landholders once any report was complete.
“When I asked if they would request only the volume of water required to meet best practice relevant to that environment (within the sustainable limits of
“We are trying to assemble a baseline of information to see what we need to know if we decide to go further, or it might tell us enough information that it’s not interesting for us to go further, which is how we explained it to our neighbours at the meeting,” she said.
“Since then, the hydrogeologist has compiled some questions for us which we are in the process of distributing to various community members, so they can share their knowledge of the region as well.”
Ms Caudry said she would not comment on why DCA had applied for a licence to bore water before completing the report - or on the landholders’ request for them to the pause the application to GMW pending its outcome - saying their firm commitment to the community was that their next steps would be
the aquifer, assuming the study is carried out), they skirted the question and are leaving the application as is,” she said.
“While they said even if they got the licence approval they would still do the study, they then contradicted themselves by saying if the study was too expensive, they would look at other options.
“The key question - if the necessary hydrogeological study costs more than they intend to spend and the bore licence is granted by GMW, what will they do?”
Ms Croucher said while Domaine Chandon said they were ‘looking at other options’ for water, they provided no details.
She said they were reluctant to discuss the vineyards operating practices or their water use, de-
informed by the fact-gathering exercise and a conversation with the community.
“We have committed that we will come back when that report is available and we will not only share the relevant findings, but it’s our approach as a business to manage the way we work on the (Whitlands) property in an environmentally and economically sustainable manner,” she said.
“We made a commitment to the neighbours - we are not confirmed, in any shape or form, that we will drill the bore.
“Our steps will be proposed and discussed with neighbours after we get the hydrogeologist’s report.”
Ms Caudry said DCA “were farmers” and would make decisions in the most responsible way they could, adding that every person in the business, at every step of the winemaking process, had been tasked with the goal of using less water.
She said they fully appreciated the concerns of the community, and when the report came back, they would share “key information that was relevant to the community.”
“We’re hoping this report we have commissioned will actually provide new insight and information for the local community as well,” Ms Caudry said.
spite having an irrigation control system with software that records water usage.
“They say they just planted another 20 hectares of young vines (which is news to us), hence their push to secure more water,” said Ms Croucher.
“The community raised concerns going back to Chandon’s operational practices and excess water usage relative to neighbouring vineyards on the plateau.
“The community clearly wants to see this corporation put the rigor into understanding bestpractice water management and understanding the limits in how fast they are able to expand their vineyard, and we even offered to assist, given the extensive expertise we have.”
“We stressed to them that living here is our way of life and livelihood, and the construction of the bore threatens this.”
Ms Croucher said she had asked DCA verbally and in writing “what their Plan B was” for the 20 hectares of young vines if they were unable to secure the extra water, but they would not elaborate further.
Following the meeting with DCA, community members got together to discuss their next steps, deciding that with not a single person on the plateau appearing to be in support of its application, they would continue to press DCA to carry out all reasonable due diligence to ensure the aquifer would be protected for the future of the entire region.
Major cleanup ahead as storm rips through city
By BAILEY ZIMMERMANN
A brief but wild weather system left widespread damage across Wangaratta on Friday with cleanups expected to be ongoing for the next two weeks.
Wind gusts of up to 80km/h hit the rural city according to the Bureau of Meteorology as rain fell sideways, despite the Wangaratta Airport gauge only recording 0.6mm.
The gust recorded at 3:25pm was the highest for August in Wangaratta since 2008.
VICSES Wangaratta Unit controller Jess Zuber said the service was called out to around 60 requests for assistance over the weekend, including more than 40 between 3:20pm and 9:30pm on Friday.
“It was very bizarre… it just seemed to bypass every other unit like Benalla and Yarrawonga and hit us,” she said.
“Large trees coming down caused the most damage, we had a lot of power lines down.
“Trees were falling on houses, cars, roads; we did around 20 building damage jobs and all for really similar damage… the wind just lifted tiles predominantly from the ridge cap.”
A fallen tree over a power line which created sparks on Tone Road between Vincent Road and Newman Street caused mass power outages
THROUGH:
for some 1600 homes and properties.
Part of Tone Road was closed throughout the incident as well as Newman Street to Provis Street while emergency services cleared the area.
Nearby businesses including Bunnings Warehouse and Wangaratta Motor Group reported to be still without power on Saturday morning, with around 338 homes left without power until overnight Saturday according to AusNet’s power outage tracker.
Sydney Beach was one of
the most heavily affected areas within the city with multiple trees down in the area behind Wangaratta RSL.
The footpath on the eastern side of the swing bridge completely blocked the pathway to the bridge as it and the car park area remained closed to the public on Sunday.
Rural City of Wangaratta council crews were active throughout the weekend in Carboor, Boorhaman, Byawatha and Cheshunt.
Trees toppled along Lindner Road and Warby Range Road in South Wangaratta
while trees remained down at the Mitchell Avenue Splash Park.
Ms Zuber said SES crews were also dispatched to parts of Laceby, Tarrawingee, Oxley Flats Road and Beechworth-Wangaratta Road.
A council spokesperson reassured the community to remain patient given cleanup efforts would take some time due to the widespread debris and damage across the rural city.
With the SES set to assist council’s efforts, Ms Zuber echoed the same sentiment.
“We understand there is
multiple trees on nature strips and those sorts of things that need cleaning up but we’ve got a large area to clean,” she said.
Ms Zuber said five crews and 40 volunteers have been working around town over the past three days and urged the community to remain vigilant as tress were still susceptible to falling.
She reminded the community that volunteer safety was paramount when attending to callouts and appreciated community compliance to rules, such as slowing to 40km/h when
SES crews were working on roads.
“We’d like to keep our volunteers safe,” she said.
“We were really grateful for all the positive messages and assistance the community provided.”
A further 5mm of rain fell in Wangaratta on Saturday, with possible showers and light winds expected for the rest of the week.
A minor flood warning was issued on the King River at Docker Road Bridge, peaking at 2.99m at 1am Sunday, before dropping by Sunday afternoon.
Plea for surrender, police expand their investigation
ALL HANDS ON DECK: More than 450 police resources are being deployed at Porepunkah, with Chief Commissioner Mike Bush saying the force will not leave until Dezi Freeman is caught.
■ From front page
Police located and seized weapons and a quantity of cannabis, charging the 61-yearold with prohibited person to posses weapons and drug possession after his arrest.
He was bailed to appear before Myrtleford Magistrates’ Court on 3 October.
It was not confirmed whether the man was a known associate of Freeman.
Following the property search in Bright on Friday, police also carried out a search in Myrtleford on Saturday as part of their investigation.
Police did not say what came of the search.
Police have relocated their search command post from Feathertop Winery in Porepunkah to the DECCA site in Ovens.
A Victoria Police spokesperson said the new site was a fit for purpose facility and will best support the force’s operational activity moving forward.
“We would like to reassure the community that police are not leaving the area,” they said.
“Locals and visitors to the area will still see police activity in and around the Porepun-
kah and Alpine communities.”
Victoria Police thanked the Feathertop Winery staff for their hospitality and generosity throughout the unprecedented circumstances.
Funeral arrangements for Det Led Sen Const Thompson, 59, and Sen Const De Waart, 35, have been confirmed, with both men to receive full police honours.
Det Led Sen Const Thompson will be farewelled on Monday, 8 September at 11am and Sen Const De Waart’s funeral is scheduled for Friday, 5 September.
Both funerals will be held at the Victoria Police Academy in Melbourne and the services will not be open to the public.
On Friday, Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Mike Bush was joined by Premier Jacinta Allan and Minister for Police Anthony Carbines at Wangaratta Police Station to address media crammed into the station’s foyer.
Chief Commissioner Bush said police were exploring alleged sightings of the suspected gunman and officers continued to examine all lines of enquiries.
“The number one priority of Victoria Police is the hunt
for this murderer and we’re pouring over 450 police resources for that, and it’s every other resource we have,” he said.
“The locals are being fantastic; there are certain lines of enquiry that are coming in from the public fed up being assessed.
“We are not leaving here until this person is in custody.”
Police continued to be discreet in sharing details of the mass search due to the possibility of Freeman having access to media and the force still offered a surrender plan.
“If that person is listening, it really is time to lay down your firearms and give yourself up, so that we can all bring this to a safe conclusion and this community can get back to what they love to do,” Chief Commissioner Bush said.
Premier Allan along with Minister Carbines laid a floral tribute at the station on behalf of the Victorian government to show their support to the local force in Wangaratta and the North East.
“You live in this beautiful regional city and in the wider district, and we pay our respects because they’ve lost friends, colleagues, loved
ones on Tuesday,” she said.
“There is a lot grief across the community right now and there’s men and women in blue who are going about their job continuing to keep the community safe and for that, I give my great thanks as Premier for Victoria.”
VicEmergency alerts continued to advise Freeman (Desmond Filby) remained armed and dangerous, and multiple police units remain in the general area of Porepunkah.
Victoria Police are recommending that people travelling to Bright, Falls Creek or Mount Hotham avoid travelling through Porepunkah and instead, travel Happy Valley Road at C534 and the Kiewa Valley Highway to the snowfields.
Police advise that if you see Freeman, call 000 immediately but do not approach him.
The force has been adamant anyone who assists Freeman in his efforts to avoid apprehension will be prosecuted.
Anyone with other information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential report online at www.crimestoppersvic.com.au
HERE TO HELP: Local SES were responding to callouts all weekend after a brief but wild storm went through Wangaratta on Friday afternoon.
NO WAY
The swing bridge at Sydney Beach remained closed on Wednesday as trees and extensive debris laid on the eastern side blocking access.
OFFERING SUPPORT: Premier Jacinta Allan speaks to media at Wangaratta Police Station on Friday. PHOTOS: Bailey Zimmermann
‘Us’ examines our affinity for collecting
ARTIST GILLIAN BENCKE EXPLAINS
HOW COLLECTION IS EMBEDDED THROUGHOUT HISTORY - AND US
BY GRACE FREDSBERG gfredsberg@ nemedia.com.au
Why do humans assign value and meaning to certain miscellanea?
This is the question that Newcastlebased artist, Gillian Bencke, sought to unpack in her latest art exhibition, ‘Us’, which is on exhibiton in Gallery 2 of the Wangaratta Art Gallery until 14 September.
Fascinated by humankind’s instinct to collect, preserve and exhibit artefacts, Gillian has presented a variety of installations examining this phenomenon.
“This collection started out of wanting to make lots of small works,” Gillian said.
“Generally my work is quite small, and I love the repetition in work... it’s a little bit like a study really, you just kind of sketch around and play around with one idea.
In ‘Us’, her curiosity toward col lecting is portrayed through Gillian’s textile-based practice, creating a display of works that weave in her own art style of smaller works to paint a bigger picture.
“Particularly with ‘Array’, I wanted to make little wearable things that just said something that was maybe a bit funny or a bit political or a thought that I wanted to express urgently,” she said.
“As I made these works, I started to think about why we collect, what we collect, the stuff we have in our homes, the things we have in our museums and also the responsibility around those collections and what they mean, what they meant, and how we feel about those now.
“Some of those collections are quite difficult now; and where they are in the world - they’re not always in the place they should be.”
At it’s core, her display of works examines the ways in which we assign value to certain objects.
“When you collect something, you’re giving value to it,” she said.
“We can decide as a collective whether we should apportion value in a different way
WHAT’S UP WITH THE WEATHER?
By Peter Nelson, retired CSIRO climatologist
INSPIRED WORK: Gillian Bencke with ‘Charmed’ which reimagines the common charm bracelet in a larger, burdening form using various textiles; and with ‘Array’, which was crafted using found textiles moulded into the artist’s distinctive semicircle shapes, somewhat reminiscent of a butterfly.
PHOTOS: Grace Fredsberg
“A vessel that’s come out of the ground that’s thousands of years old gets put back together - it’s fascinating.
“It tells you about people and we’re all really the same still.
“Is that more valuable than something else that is from a culture that hasn’t been given the same care of interest as maybe a Greek urn?”
This concept is underscored through her use of repurposed, upcycled textiles, which are shaped into various sizes of semicircles inspired by a liturgical garment.
This particular shape is prominent across her other works as well, and inspired the name ‘Array’.
“I really liked the idea that this shape had served the same kind of purpose for hundreds of years,” she said.
“Then I just started making little
brooches... now they’re just a collection.
“I liked the idea that it’s a very simplistic shape of a butterfly.
As well as collecting, Gillian said she wanted to incorporate in ideologies such as patriarchalism and colonialism, pillars of the social system we live in, tying in the concept of deaccession - which refers to the removal of an item from a library, museum, or art gallery.
“It works in capitalism and things like that and those things that maybe we want to un-collect... deaccession,” she said.
“I think that is a really fascinating concept for me as a white woman as well, thinking about that and my place in 2025 I suppose, but all of us.”
In particular, she used all sorts of materials from the op shop, some of which were adorned with embroidery.
“It’s honouring (those materials) as well,” she said.
“There’s some little pieces in there that are so flower-y and feminine which is really beautiful.
“But I also sort of look at some of them and just think that these women had such skill.
“I know they were given this ‘women’s’ work so they don’t worry about the power that is happening around them that they couldn’t enter into because they were forbidden it.”
In her other installation, ‘Charmed’, Gillian said she drew on the collecting nature of a charm bracelet, little mementos of your life.
“You fill it with things like your achievements or your travels or someone might give one to you for your 16th birthday - you add to it,” she said.
She once again weaved in that idea of a woman’s expectation, with the charms telling a story of a woman who finds love, enters marriage, lives in a house.
“It’s not that any of those things are bad, it’s just that there’s this expectation,” she said.
“That’s why it’s called ‘Charm’, the idea of a charmed life - what is that, really?
“Sometimes behind that, it’s quite sad or quite heavy.
“It’s oversized, it’s unwearable... you can’t wear that.”
Late rainfall, heavy snow to end August
Last week’s deepened southern low pressure brought unsettled showery periods to the North East, with strong winds up to 120kph at Mt Hotham and an absence of cold morning frosts which had punctuated much of August.
Wangaratta’s monthly rainfall total of 21.8mm up until 9am Saturday, 30 August remains well below the average, as were rainfall totals (up until last Wednesday) of 12.2mms at Yarrawonga, 18mms at Rutherglen and 24.8mms at Albury. Alpine resorts up until Tuesday night saw rainfall of 98mms at Mt Hotham, 125mms at Mt Buller and 95mms at Falls Creek - with rain giving way to the heaviest snowfall for the season bringing more than 70cms in the later part of the week.
Mean maximum temperatures at major towns in the North East were around 16 degrees, being nearly two degrees above normal.
The warmest day was around 20 degrees on Monday, 25 August but maximum temperatures fell the next two days with the passage of two cold fronts.
Exceptionally high maximum temperatures have been recorded in the northern half of the Northern Territory with fire danger very high as all this region has had not a drop of rainfall since 27 May.
Daly Waters recorded 37.7 degrees, Victoria Downs Cattle Station recorded 39.1 degrees and Tennant Creek recorded 36 degrees on 26 August. All were the hottest in August since 1970 after which Victoria had a wetter than average spring and a wetter and warmer summer season.
Perth’s August rainfall total reached 203mms last Wednesday, making it the wettest August since 284mms in 1955.
All three winter months in Perth were wetter than average for the third time in the last 140 years - the other two were in 1996 and 1898.
Sydney completed its wettest August since 1998.
Bolshevik Bad Guys win ‘Battle of the Bands’
Monday, 31 August, 2015
By ANITA McPHERSON
Members of Wangaratta High School band “Bolshevik Bad Guys” are celebrating their success, having won the state final of “Battle of the Bands” in Melbourne last week.
The “progrock” band took out the senior section of the competition held at Hampton Park Secondary College, after progressing through heats in June where they competed against bands from across the Hume region for a place in the state final.
The seven students in year 11 and 12, who have been practising for the event since April, had 15 minutes to play their program which included a cover of “Balrog Boogie” by the Diablo Swing Orchestra, and two original songs written by Matt Hood and Stella Webster.
Stella Webster also won best vocalist, while Nick Lorenz won best drummer at the competition.
TOP OF THE POPS: Wangaratta High School band “Bolshevik Bad Guys” including (back, from left) Brad O’Meara, Tara Condron, Stella Webster, Matt Hood, Lara O’Brien and (front) Nick Lorenz and Jennifer Elcock, have taken out this year’s Battle of the Bands. PHOTO: Luke Plummer
Tributes to police continue across North East region
By BAILEY ZIMMERMANN
Wangaratta emergency service members took part in a powerful tribute on Thursday night to honour Detective Leading Senior Constable Neal Thompson and Senior Constable Vadim De Waart who were killed in Porepunkah on Tuesday.
Around 60 local FRV, CFA and Ambulance Victoria members stood with Victoria Police and shared a chilling two-minute silence under the flashing lights of 11 firefighting and ambulance appliances at the Wangaratta CFA headquarters on Handley Street, adjacent to the police station.
Police members along with members of the public observed the service as emotions ran high and tears flowed for some.
Wangaratta CFA captain Jason Allisey said it had been a sombre week for the local sister emergency services, and they shared their sympathy to the families and loved ones of the two fallen officers and the third officer recovering from serious injuries sustained in the shooting.
“It’s good to see the turn out to acknowledge the sacrifices they’ve given for not only us but the community of Wangaratta and North East Victoria,” he said.
“It’s an absolute tragedy and we’re here to support our Victoria Police colleagues.”
At the end of the silence, two long horns, one for each fallen officer, sounded
and the line disbanded.
Mr Allisey himself had a close connection with Det Led Sen Const Thompson, having known him and worked with him for the best part of two decades.
“He was a total community man,” he said.
Blue lights will illuminate at the Wangaratta CFA station until police capture the alleged gunman on the run, Dezi Freeman.
Community tributes continue to flow for the Wangaratta stationed policemen who were at opposite ends of their careers.
Det Led Sen Const Thompson was on the verge of retirement as Sen Const De Waart was beginning a promising career as part of the Public Order Response Team.
Wangaratta City FC teams wore arm bands and ob-
Freemasons Wangaratta makes $2000 donation to Kokoda scholarship
The Wangaratta Lodge of St John, in partnership with the Freemasons Foundation, intends to increase its support for the Wangaratta RSL Bob Iskov Kokoda Track Scholarship.
At an RSL function last week celebrating the most recent scholarship recipients’ completion of the Kokoda Track, lodge master Matt DeNatris congratulated the students and presented the fourth annual $2000 donation the Wangaratta Lodge of St John and Freemasons Foundation have committed to the scholarship.
Mr DeNatris also confirmed the lodge and foundation will continue supporting the scholarship and plan to double their donation next year.
The donation assists three students - one each from Wangaratta High School, Cathedral College and Galen College - trek and experience the 96 kilometre Kokoda Track in Paupa New Guinea’s mountainous terrain and reflect upon its enormous
significance in the battle to save Port Moresby and subsequently Australia during World War Two.
The scholarship - which honours the late Bob Iskov, who fought and survived on the Kokoda Track in World War Two - aims to improve the knowledge of young people from this area about the difficulties and sacrifice made by
Australian soldiers defending Australia and the vital importance of the Kokoda Track in our history.
This year’s scholarship recipients - Charli Wright, Makiah McCallum and Oskar English - each provided moving testimony of their experience walking the track during last week’s function at the RSL.
served a minute of silence prior to Saturday’s semi-finals at Savoy Park in Myrtleford to honour both officers.
Det Led Sen Const Thompson was a long-time member of the club’s over 35s team and a member of North East Red Devils seniors team who played in the Masters circuit on a regular basis.
In a club statement, his
teammates say his favourite position was striker, and despite his size, he was remarkably quick on his feet.
“He is fondly remembered by some of our current senior players as a leader and role model and he will be terribly missed,” it read.
The Tallangatta Football Netball League had teams wearing armbands and observing a minute silence
before all football matches at Sandy Creek over the weekend.
Det Led Sen Const Thompson was a regular on the Beechworth junior football scene as step-father to Jobe and Eden, who played for the local under 12s and under 14s sides this season. A club spokesperson said the club were overwhelmed by the gesture from the league.
UNDER LIGHTS: A two-minute silence and two long horns sounded in honour of the two fallen policemen who were stationed at Wangaratta.
Stay patient and be kind to our volunteers
As we mop up the mess of Friday afternoon’s storm it’s timely to be reminded of appropriate behaviours and measures when our volunteer emergency service crews are out helping in emergency events.
There were mass callouts of assistance during a six-hour period on Friday which stretched the local SES and 40 volunteers for the service.
Driving any number of streets over the weekend within Wangaratta and it’s almost certain you would’ve found debris scattered along footpaths and roads, even after the efforts of our crews.
Emergency service crews are there to ensure the safety of the wider community and achieve the best possible result for the local area, and sometimes that means they are unable to respond immediately to every individual request for assistance.
For our crews, their safety is paramount and the least we can do for the volunteers who are working any hour of the day as needed is to not impede on their jobs.
Like police, when SES or any other emergency service vehicles are flashing lights on the side of the road, slow down to 40km/h when driving past.
Stay alert and be mindful of your surroundings to avoid putting yourself in harms way.
With spring right around the corner, our typical storm season will see more storm events and inevitably our SES out and about.
While we all want any inconvenience out of the way as quickly and as smoothly as possible, it’s important, particularly in non-urgent situations, to spare a thought for our hard working volunteers.
The Quiz No.150
1. Which space station crash landed into Western Australia in 1979?
2. What is the main colour of Igglepiggle in the TV series, In the Night Garden?
3. The GST was introduced into Australia in July of which year?
4. Ted Whitten played his entire VFL career with which club?
5. The Virunga Mountains are located on which continent?
6. In relation to the organisation known as the CIA, what does CIA stand for?
7. Which 18th/19th century English landscape artist painted Rain, Steam and Speed?
8. What type of creature is a wobbegong?
9. Which famous actress married Jesse James in 2005?
10. In Trivial Pursuit (classic version), which subject is represented by the colour brown?
11. Which Canadian rapper released the 2016 album, Views?
12. On what part of your body would you wear a cravat?
13. Yitzhak Rabin was the fifth Prime Minister of which country?
14. Jim Henson is best remembered for creating which group of puppets?
15. Timothy McVeigh was convicted for which 1995 bombing?
16. Which African country only shares land borders with Senegal?
17. The laryngeal prominence is better known by what name?
18. On which Tasmanian river was the proposed Franklin Dam going to be built?
19. Who played the role of Tony Montana in the 1983 movie, Scarface?
20. In which two games would you most likely bunt?
Facebook users this week commented on local emergency services standing in solidarity with Victoria Police under flashing lights at a tribute in Wangaratta on Thursday evening in response to the loss of two officers earlier this week.
Kevin Delaney: What a wonderfull moment these emergency personnel paying respects to these Police officers who were murdered
during a warrant issue.
Selina Steve: My condolences to the family and friends of the 2 officers killed. My best wishes for the recovery of the officer injured. My thoughts are also with the other officers involved, know your community is all thinking of you all. Finally, to all the emergency services involved in this horrific incident I hope you all feel the community support.
Cassandra Bennett:
No defence for our unreliable train service
I wonder what ivory tower our pollies live in where the Albury-Melbourne train service is concerned (Wangaratta Chronicle, 27 August) where they defend overcrowded trains and the fact that people who need to be in Melbourne at certain times cannot guarantee a time.
I recently had to be in Melbourne at Channel 9 at 9.30am and I had to tell them I would be lucky if I got there on time around 10.15am so they put me up the night before.
The Allan government only looks at the train services as long as they do not go north of Seymour.
They spend millions in Ballarat and Bendigo and I know from using these two services over the years that they are AOK and do not need anymore money poured into them.
Respect and community is what we live for. Thoughts are with everyone Kylie Dowell: Such a beautiful show of respect and honour. May they rest in peace and never forgotten.
Ruth Turner: Well done Wangaratta. What a beautiful tribute Craig Musselwhite: Great show of support, well done all, thoughts are with you all.
Dianne Prout: So respectful but so sad May all
the people out there trying to catch this man That has caused so much heart ache Stay safe We are all thinking of you And praying this is over soon Linda O’Donohue: Wow! Now that’s emotional. United together, for a fallen brother!May justice give you all peace.
Jill Hunn: What a beautiful way of honouring their loss Deborah Allan: Beautiful tribute, may they rest in peace
Have your say Like the
DOGS,
You would have thought that when Dan Andrews was running the place we might just have got a better service but no, he did not seem to even know where Wangaratta was.
In one interview a reporter did ask him about Wangaratta and his reply was it was “a place far, far away”, I thought he must have watched “Star Wars” the night before.
One lovely thing about the train I was on was the conductors, who were wonderful fun and very helpful.
Philomena Trevor-Hunt, Wangaratta
Cancer Council praises Daffodil Day support
I’m writing to share my appreciation and thanks to every Victorian who supported Cancer Council’s Daffodil Day.
Nearly all of us have been impacted by cancer – whether directly or through the experiences of a loved one – and it’s incredibly sad that about one in two of us will be diagnosed with cancer by the age of 85.
But, each year, the Daffodil Day message is one of hope.
Not just for today, but for the future too.
When we urged Victorians to get behind our campaign and its goal of raising $4 million nationally for life-saving cancer research, we also asked them to share hope across the community.
The response was humbling, and it was heartwarming to see the immense level of generosity shown, far and wide.
Whether it was fundraising, volunteering, raising awareness, participating in the Daffodil Day Dip, or supporting the efforts of others – including buying a daffodil – every
On Sunday, 24 August, 13 owners and their beloved furry friends enjoyed the lovely sunshine at the Happy Dogs Walk, which commenced at the Lions Club park in the morning. During their walk the dogs and their owners passed One Mile Creek, Wareena Park and the hospital and railway station precincts. A coffee and chat was enjoyed afterwards, and dogs were given some well-earned treats. All are welcome to join the next Happy Dogs Walk, which will be held on Sunday, 21 September, commencing at the Wangaratta Kennel and Obedience Dog Club grounds at 9.30am. Following the walk, the club will provide a sausage sizzle and some activity opportunities for the dogs.
single person who contributed can feel proud they have helped drive positive change.
Thanks to this kindness, I’m pleased to share we were able to reach – and exceed –our fundraising target.
Last year, Cancer Council Victoria invested approximately $27 million in research to discover the next cancer breakthroughs.
And now, thanks to community support for Daffodil Day, we can do even more to grow world-class research, helping increase survival rates and give hope for a cancer-free future.
To everyone who got involved – thank you.
Todd Harper AM, CEO of Cancer Council Victoria
Controversial VicGrid Bill passes parliament
The National Electricity (Victoria) Amendment (VicGrid Stage 2 Reform) Bill passed parliament last week with the support of Labor, the Greens, the Animal Justice Party and the Cannabis Party.
The legislation grants VicGrid and authorised officers the power to use “reasonable force” to enter private land, including cutting locks, breaking gates and removing obstructions, without the landholder’s consent.
Farmers and landholders now face fines of up to $12,210 for resisting entry.
This is an extraordinary overreach by the Allan Labor Government and a direct attack on property rights.
Farmers in our region feel ignored, dismissed, and disrespected by a government more interested in rushing its ideological agenda than protecting the people who grow our food and fibre.
This legislation gives energy companies the right to break into private farmland while punishing landholders for standing their ground.
That is a complete betrayal of trust.
The Allan Labor Government has ignored repeated warnings about biosecurity, liability and animal safety if gates are broken or fences compromised, with no real protections in place.
The Nationals have committed to repealing these laws if returned to government, restoring the rights of farmers and regional communities.
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HAPPY
HAPPY HUMANS:
Annabelle Cleeland, Nationals’ MP for Euroa
Wangaratta Chronicle Facebook page.
Farmer survey a ‘wake up call for government: VFF
Huge increases to the Emergency Services and Volunteers Fund, crumbling regional roads, maintaining our biosecurity and forcing renewable energy infrastructure developments on communities top the list of concerns in the Victorian Farmers Federation’s (VFF) inaugural State of the State: Victorian Farmer Priorities Survey.
More than 700 Victorian farmers also outlined their lack of trust in the Victorian government, with nine in 10 saying they don’t believe the state government understands their issues or has a positive plan to grow the $20 billion dollar industry.
VFF president Brett Hosking said the frank results should ring alarm bells for the Victorian government and be a ‘wake up’ call for genuine engagement and discussion with farmers and rural communities.
“Farmers and our regional communities have sent a blunt message that they aren’t being listened to and have lost faith that our Victorian government has their back.”
“From massive increases to the Emergency Services and Volunteers Fund, roads literally falling apart and commu-
nities being steamrolled in the face of renewable energy infrastructure, farmers have a lot to worry about.
“More than 92 per cent of farmers don’t believe the Victorian government understands or is even listening to the concerns of farming communities,” Mr Hosking said.
“That’s a massive indictment and it must change, because they’ve lost the trust of these farming communities.”
Despite the blunt results of the survey, Mr Hosking said there remains considerable opportunity and a bright outlook for Victorian agriculture.
“Victorian farmers are the best in the nation at what they do,” he said.
“We produce 25 per cent of Australia’s food and fibre value using just three per cent of Australia’s farmland.
“We employ more than 150,000 people and contribute more than $20 billion to Victoria’s and Australia’s economy.
“We’re just over 12 months from the next state election.
“We want to support all sides of politics to get solutions to these issues and grow Victoria’s farming future.”
By SIMONE KERWIN
Wangaratta’s two neighbourhood houses are offering their assistance to locals seeking to access the new $100 Power Saving Bonus. The bonus is available to eligible Victorian concession card households via the Victorian Energy Compare website, and aims to help ease costof-living pressures, make everyday expenses more manageable, and support financial security for vulnerable families and individuals.
A Victorian government spokesperson said the government was focused on what matters most to rural and regional Victorians because it is on their side.
projects that make regional Victoria a great place to live, work and raise a family,” the spokesperson said.
“We’ve invested more than $47 billion in rural and regional Victoria and we’ll continue to invest in
“Our Drought Response Taskforce heard directly from farmers and regional communities across Victoria to make sure their voices shape
Only a few tickets left for Jelena Dokic talk at WPACC
If you want to hear Jelena Dokic talk in Wangaratta in November, you better act quickly.
Only a few seats remain for her visit to talk about her journey and best selling books, Unbreakable and Fearless, at the Wangaratta Performing Arts and Convention Centre on 26 November.
Her appearances at Benalla (25 November) and Wodonga (27 November) have already sold out.
Centre Against Violence’s CEO Jaime Chubb, said the community response shows just how
much people want to engage with the former world number four tennis player, who speaks openly and honestly about issues of lived family violence and mental health battles.
Edgars Books & News will be on site at each event with Jelena’s books available for purchase and signing.
Tickets for Wangaratta are available at: https:// www.wpacc.com.au/Whats-On/An-Evening-withJelena-Dokic-Strength-Resilience-Hope
the support they need to get through tough times, we are backing farmers with a $144 million drought package to support communities.”
Check the VFF website for the full State of the State: Victorian Farmer Priorities Survey report.
Both Pangerang Community Hub in Ovens Street, and Open Door Neighbourhood House in Burke Street are on hand to assist those who need help accessing the bonus. Pangerang is supporting eligible concession card holders to access the bonus from its Ovens Street base. To find out more or to make an appointment, contact Pangerang Community Hub staff on 5721 3813. Open Door will offer face-to-face processing of applications on Mondays and Fridays (except school holidays) until the end of March, 2026. Staff can also process applications remotely if community members would like to leave the necessary information to be held securely until processed.
For more information or to book, contact Open Door on 5721 9175. For more information or to apply for the Power Saving Bonus, visit compare.energy.vic.gov.au or call 1800 000 832.
Telling Pearl’s fascinating story
By SIMONE KERWIN
After Melbourne-based GP
Stephen Whiteside interviewed Pearl Bradshaw in 1987 as part of research for his first book about early pioneers at Mt Hotham, he began to think that her story was a book all its own.
Stephen’s first release, ‘Snow, Fire and Gold: The Story of Bill Spargo and Evelyn Piper’s Life in the Australian Mountains’, was published last year.
Since then, he has indeed
followed his ear for a story to write ‘Pearl Bradshaw: Princess of Hotham’, and he will be at the Wangaratta Library this Wednesday, 3 September from 2.30pm to discuss the new book.
“This was part of the same project as ‘Snow, Fire and Gold’; it has always been in the back of my mind, but it wasn’t until I cleared the air with the first book that I began work on this one,” Stephen said.
With her husband, Jim (who passed away in 1981), Pearl
AUTHOR ON THE ROAD
Author Michael Brissenden will be in Wangaratta this Thursday, 4 September to discuss his latest novel, ‘Dust’.
The former ABC foreign correspondent has followedup last year’s successful release, ‘Smoke’, with a story centred on a once-thriving lake town which now lies in the shadow of an almost-dry lake.
A fresh corpse is discovered near the cracked lakebed, along with evidence that a missing man is alive and linked to a web of organised crime.
Michael Brissenden will be in conversation with Belinda from Edgars Books & News at the Wangaratta Library on 4 September from 6.30pm.
To book your place, visit https://events.humanitix. com/in-conversation-with-michael-brissenden PHOTO: Mike Bowers
managed the Hotham Heights Chalet at Mount Hotham for nine consecutive winters from 1937 to ‘45 - a period that included the 1939 bushfires and World War 2.
After realising how fascinating her story was, Stephen returned to interview Pearl a second time later in the year of their first meeting, when she was aged in her late 70s, and ‘Pearl Bradshaw: Princess of Hotham’ is the result.
“There was virtually nothing written down about Jim
and Pearl Bradshaw, and so much of it is forgotten; I think the book helps paint a picture of what life was like back then,” he said.
Stephen said he also aimed to capture Pearl’s “hardworking, no-nonsense, down-toearth” demeanour through the book.
His own connection to the alpine area comes from years of walking and skiing around Mount Hotham.
“I’ve always loved Australian history and the Austral
ian mountains, so putting the two together, I’m in my happy place,” he said.
Stephen will conduct the local launch of his Pearl Bradshaw book at the Wangaratta Library on 3 September, in an event presented in collaboration with Edgars Books & News, and will be available to sign copies of the book after his talk.
For more information, visit https://edgarsbooksandnews. com.au/stephen-whitesidebook-launch/
Exhibition is celebrating 50th birthday of Benalla Art Gallery
Take a walk down memory lane, as the iconic building which is home to the Benalla Art Gallery celebrates its 50th birthday this year with a milestone exhibition.
Looking back: celebrating 50 years through the Benalla Art Gallery Collection, brings together key events of the gallery’s history with artworks from the same era, showcasing the breadth and diversity of the gallery’s collection.
The organisation itself was established in 1968 with considerable community backing and significant donors such as Laurie and Erma Ledger.
With this support, noted architects Philip Sargeant and Colin Munro were appointed to design the purpose-built Benalla Art Gallery, perched between the banks of Lake Benalla and the Benalla Botanical Gardens.
The new gallery opened in its picturesque setting in 1975
and has since provided the foundation of Benalla’s artistic and creative culture.
Honouring the past the gallery acknowledges and pays tribute to its supporters, looking forward to its upcoming redevelopment bringing many more years of enjoyment to residents and visitors.
Among the artist featured in the exhibition are Adnate, Peter Booth, John Brack, Angela Brennan, Arthur Boyd, Alison Burton, Michael Cook, Fred Cress, Sir William Dargie, Ken Done, Petrina Hicks, George Johnson, Tim Johnson, Emily Kame Kngwarreye, Emma Langridge, Gloria Petyarre, Llyod Rees, William Robinson, Gareth Sansom, Charlie Tong, Peter Wegner, Kim Westcott, Caroline Marsh Williams and Philip Wolfhagen.
Looking back: celebrating 50 years through the Benalla Art Gallery Collection, runs until the end of September.
Collection exhibition of photographic art opens at MAMA
A new MAMA collection exhibition called Inhabit Our Everything/ Nothing, curated by artist Hayley Millar Baker, has opened at Murray Art Museum Albury. The exhibition is informed by Millar Baker’s understanding of photography as an art form that is not only documentary in nature, but also possesses transformative qualities.
Featuring artists Brook Andrew, Tiyan Baker, Cherine Fahd, Phuong Ngho and Val Wens, the artworks presented “go beyond mere rep-
resentation to offer deep reinterpretations of personal and cultural identities.”
Hayley Millar Baker explains Inhabit Our Everything/Nothing brings together artists whose works critically engage with the colonial archive, reclaim histories, and challenge the mechanisms of visibility and erasure.
“The selected artists employ photography as a medium of resistance and reclamation, subverting dominant narratives by inserting
Indigenous, diasporic and marginalised perspectives into the frame,” Millar Baker said.
“These works interrogate the power structures inherent in visual culture, questioning who is granted agency in representation and the role of images in shaping collective memory.
“The exhibition elaborates on the history of possession, encompassing land, culture, and bodies, thereby revealing the tensions between individual and collective identity, displacement and belonging, as
well as visibility and invisibility.”
Inhabit Our Everything/Noth ing is presented as part of ‘nginha: gathered here’, a season of pro gramming offering new perspec tives on the MAMA collection.
It is open daily through until 30 November and entry is free.
TRANSFORMATIVE WORKS: The exhibition includes the artwork of Tiyan Baker, National Photography Prize, 2022, Installation View,
PHOTO: Jeremy Weihrauch
ACROSS
GENERAL KNOWLEDGE CROSSWORD
4 What are night clothes consisting of loose trousers and jacket (7)
8 Name a renowned Australian bushranger (3,4)
9 To captivate, is to do what (7)
10 What is a short cord for securing something (7)
11 Who were the Secret State Police of Nazi Germany (7)
12 Which British countryman cultivates his own land (6)
14 Name recently married women (6)
18 Which colour is deep purplish red (7)
21 To lift up, is to do what (7)
22 To make lively, is to do what (7)
23 To abrogate, is to do what (7)
24 When one infuriates, one does what (7)
DOWN
1 What is power or capacity to do or act in any relation (7)
2 To be silly, is to be what (5)
3 Kingston is the capital of which parliamentary State in the West Indies (7)
4 What is a solemn promise (6)
5 Which strong fibres are used for making fabrics, cordage, etc (5)
7 What is a discharge of artillery (5)
13 Name an English actor, producer and director, Laurence … (7)
15 To drive backwards, is to do what (7)
16 What are pieces of defensive handheld armour (7)
18 To desire eagerly, is to do what (5)
19 What is vulgar or abusive language (5)
20 Name the patron saint of Wales (5)
Find the following words in the grid. They may be read in any direction, even diagonally. Some letters are used more than once.
WHICH WORDS
1 KITSCH
(a) Pretentious or worthless art
(b) A colourless brandy distilled from wild black cherries
(c) A savoury custard tart
2 LEXIS
(a) A means of connection
6 Name an imaginary female marine creature (7)
Letters have a number value
17 When one curls the lip, one does what (6)
Some values are in the right hand cells. Create remaining values using clues in centre cells.
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.
(b) The vocabulary of a language
(c) The law of retaliation
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:
Bath ’N’ Kitchen (abb) (3)
Fertiliser: ... & Bone (5)
Italian potato dumplings (7)
Odd (coll) (5)
Pair (3)
Sack (3)
Sadness (coll) (5)
Small nocturnal lizard (5)
Strident (7)
Timid (3)
QUICK THINK
Solve the crossword. Each answer has four letters.
* Interest paid on full account balance once balance hurdle is reached. To view other deposit rates not affected by this change, please visit www.bankwaw.com.au or any BankWAW Service Centre. For more information, please contact BankWAW on 1300 368 555.
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WANGARATTA Chronicle photographer Melissa Beattie made her way to the Ovens and Murray thirds football qualifying final between Wangaratta and Lavington on Saturday to capture some action. Photographs can be purchased at the Chronicle.
DECLAN O’SULLIVAN
HAMISH LAVERTY
COREY PETERSEN
KADE HADLEY WILL PREEBLE WILL PREBBLE
RAMA SCHULTZ
LENNY SIMS
CHARLIE HARING
OWAIN BOYLE OWAIN
WINNERS AND LOSERS
NETBALL SCORES THIRDS RESULTS
QUALIFYING FINALS - SATURDAY, AUGUST 30
A GRADE Corowa-R’glen 42 def by Wod. Raiders 44
B GRADE: Yarrawonga 37 def North Albury 36
C GRADE: Wangaratta 41 def Wangaratta Rovers 34
17 & UNDER: Wangaratta Rovers 53 def Myrtleford 36
15 & UNDER: Myrtleford 43 def by Wodonga 49
ELIMINATION FINALS - SUNDAY, AUGUST 31
A GRADE North Albury 40 def by Lavington 58
B GRADE: Corowa-R’glen 49 def Wodonga Raiders 41
C GRADE: Wodonga Raiders 39 def Yarrawonga 37
17 & UNDER: Wangaratta 44 def Lavington 41
15 & UNDER: Lavington 47 def North Albury 42
Wangaratta 9.7 (61) def
Lavington 8.6 (54)
GOALS: WANGARATTA: K. Hadley 4, C. Kerwin 2, H. Laverty 1, O. Boyle 1, H. Barry 1. LAVINGTON C. Hall 3, I. Robertson 2, C. Way 1, A. Russell 1, J. McGrath 1. BEST: WANGARATTA: O. Boyle, W. Petersen, K. Hadley, A. Jayet, C. Kerwin, E. Clayton. LAVINGTON: C. Webb, C. Baxter, R. Costello, I. Robertson, C. Hall, M. Plunkett. Albury 10.10.70 def Wodonga 8.6.54
GOALS: ALBURY: R O’Sullivan 4, N Conway 1, L Reid 1, I Schirmer 1, E Wallgate 1, L Wheatley 1, J Whiting 1. WODONGA: J Hodgkin 3, J Hymus 2, C Brookes 1, J O’Neill 1, G Prideaux 1. BEST: ALBURY: L Wheatley, N Morrison, R O’Sullivan, S O’Connell, J Quade, N Welch. WODONGA: G Prideaux, W McCoy, A Andrews, J Hymus, JStone, S Wapling.
SCOREBOARD RESERVES
GOALS: LAVINGTON: S. Driscoll 3, A. Swinnerton 2, N. Sedgwick 2, T. Oosterhoff 1, A. Cook 1, D. Smith 1, J. Glanvill 1, J. O’Brien 1. MYRTLEFORD: L. Murphy-Dale 3, R. Sharp 2, S. Curtis 1, M. Munro 1, B. Calogero 1, J. East 1, B. Ricardi 1, L. Miotto 1, J. Sharp 1, D. Bren 1.
BEST: LAVINGTON: J. Glanvill, S. Driscoll, J. Driscoll, J. Spina, E. Perryman, J. Costello.
MYRTLEFORD: D. Batey, L. Murphy-Dale, T. Cappellari, J. East, R. Smith, B. Sharp.
NORTH ALBURY 1.4 1.6 4.8 10.9.69
WANGARATTA 3.1 8.4 12.6 14.7.91
GOALS: NORTH ALBURY: J Murphy 5, A Gardiner 2, J Weidemann 2, A Crelley 1. WANGARATTA: Xavier Laverty 4, Max Bihun 3, Jasper Craven 3, Fraser Ellis 1, Matthew Hedin 1, Tyler Norton 1, Waitai Tua 1. BEST: NORTH ALBURY: J Weidemann, J Murphy, K Flack, J King, F Gardiner, J Reynolds. WANGARATTA: T Norton, J Roberts, C Knowles, H Gottschling, M Bihun, X Laverty.
WINNERS AND LOSERS
NETBALL SCORES
SATURDAY, AUGUST 30
A GRADE: Whorouly 48 def Milawa 39
B GRADE: Bonnie Doon 42 def Milawa 32
B RESERVE: Bonnie Doon 48 def Bright 25
C GRADE: Bonnie Doon 37 def Greta 32
15 & UNDER: Bonnie Doon 48 def Benalla 38
SUNDAY, AUGUST 31
A GRADE: Bonnie Doon 53 def Tarrawingee 35
B GRADE: Whorouly 37 def Tarrawingee 33
B RESERVE: Benalla 39 def Whorouly 32
C GRADE: Moyhu 39 def Bright 29
15 & UNDER: Bright 36 def Greta 17
Myrtleford 6.4 (40) def by Wang Rovers 10.8 (68) BEST: MYRTLEFORD: N. Ferguson, H. McKerral, J. Gribbin, K. Michelini, A. Wickes, C. Crisp. WANGARATTA ROVERS: C. McNamara, H. McMonigle, L. Peters, T. Vincent, C. Crimmins, M. Cullen. Albury 11.14.80 def Wodonga Raiders 5.10.40
BEST: ALBURY H Quinn, J Muller, G Flanagan, D Pattinson, W Bowden, L Dattoli. WODONGA RAIDERS: B Hernan, B Sheridan, B Knights, H Sweetman, H O’Neill, J Perry.
Magpies keep the dream alive over plucky Hoppers
By NATHAN DE VRIES
It was a little closer than they might’ve liked, but the end result is the same – the Magpies advance in finals.
Needing a victory to keep their flag hopes alive, Wangaratta’s senior footballers survived a late scare in their elimination final against North Albury.
The Magpies led by 46 points at the final change, but the Hoppers surged late in the final term, the scoreboard reading a much closer 14.7 (91) to 10.9 (69).
While Wangaratta held an early nine-point advantage at quarter time, the Magpies would put the foot down through the second, with the black and white booting five majors while keeping the Hoppers goalless to lead by 40 at the half.
The two sides would trade blows through the third, with a torpedo from 50 out on the siren by Max Bihun putting the margin to 46 points by three quarter time. With their season on the line, North Albury ripped into the last term, booting six unanswered goals to come
within 10 points after just over 20 minutes of play.
With their substantial lead evaporating and time running out, it would take a goal from Fraser Ellis to break the run of goals at the other end, while Xavier Laverty secured the win with his fourth major of the game.
Coach Jason Heatley said the late quarter fightback from the Hoppers shouldn’t overshadow the incredible work his players put in all game.
“We always knew they were going to come at some stage –you throw caution to the wind like they did, they were hitting the scoreboard, and we probably could’ve been better in some circumstances, but we did a whole lot right for three quarters and about 10 minutes,” he said.
“I think we were really good around the footy, just giving our forward line plenty of looks.
“When you do that, you’re going to hit the scoreboard more often than not, and we were able to.
“We were able to control part of the game from there, but full credit to them, they’re a good side and they
kept on coming.”
Heatley praised his entire squad for sticking to the game plan and executing for the duration of the match.
“There’s lots of good talking points for us,” he said.
“I thought [Michael] Bordignon was okay on [Josh] Murphy, he’s just a good player.
“We expected he would hit the scoreboard, the Gardiner boys had some moments no doubt, but I just want to laud
our guys around the footy, [Hunter] Gottschling, [Dan] Sharrock, [Alex] Federico... I thought they were outstanding,
“I thought Waitai Tua and Fraser Ellis in our backline were really solid.”
The Magpies head to the Albury Sports Ground this Sunday, set to take on Lavington.
“We’re just enjoying the ride, we haven’t put any stop marks or any targets on our season all the way
along,” Heatley said.
“What we do know is we’ll give a good account of ourselves again next Sunday, I’m absolutely confident about that.”
Wangaratta Rovers enjoyed the week off, their ladder-topping finish to the home and away season gifting them a ticket to the second week of finals.
In other matches from the weekend, the Magpies thirds
advanced after a stunning 9.7 (61) to 8.6 (54) win over Lavington, while the Rovers reserves downed Myrtleford by 28 points, 10.8 (68) to 6.4 (40). Wangaratta’s 17 and under netballers also came out ahead, defeating Lavington 44-41 in their elimination final, while Magpies C grade defeated Rovers 41-34, and the 17 and under Rovers knocked off Myrtleford 5336.
SURGE BALL: Braeden Marjanovic slams it on the boot and launches it forward.
FEND OFF: Alex Federico tries to strongarm his opponent.
PHOTOS: Melissa Beattie
STRONG HANDS: Josh Tweedale takes a brilliant mark over his head.
COMPOSURE: Jett Roberts keeps his cool and boots down the line near a raucous home crowd.
Mountain Men knock off Greta in thrilling seven-point showdown, Lions reach prelim and ends Milawa’s year
■ From back page
“We always knew it was going to be a very tough challenge, we were up for a four-quarter performance going against the reigning premiers, they were top of the ladder at the end of the year, and we know how good they’ve been throughout the year.
“We just had to make sure we put our plans into action – you can talk about it as much as you want, but we stressed every player had to play their role, and we thought we did that quite well throughout the game.”
For Greta, Cam Green was named best on for his almostseamless shutdown role on Bright centurion goalkicker Cooper Thomason, keeping the gun forward to just the three goals.
James McClounan still had an impact on the game through the midfield, while Lachie Kennett and Bryce Hooper worked hard all day.
Bright ruckman Joe Gray took out best on honours for his side, while Josh Hudghton’s influence on the game at stoppage was immense.
“We know who their best players are, and you’ve just got to put time and energy into them, and nullify them as best you can,” Quirk said.
“They can have their moments in the game, but hopefully our moments are longer than theirs.
“I think we got our match-ups pretty right, with [Sam] Buckley on [Frazer] Judd, Reuben Jamieson on [Harry] Moran, and Kieren [Jamieson] on [Cody] Crawford –Crawford went on the football and Luke [Quirk] played on him.”
Bright also progressed in the earlier reserves qualifying final after hammering Greta by 47 points, 11.12 (78) to 3.13 (31).
Greta’s season is not over, with the Blues to take on Whorouly in a preliminary final on Saturday.
The Lions eliminated Milawa in their Sunday clash at Whorouly Recreation Reserve with a comprehensive four-quarter effort, 16.6 (102) to 10.9 (69).
Whorouly’s Michael Newton was the superstar in the forward line, booting nine of his side’s 10 goals by half-time, and finishing with 11 for the match.
Newton’s haul sees him overtake fellow Lion Richard Leahy’s record of 147 goals in a single season (including finals) from 2012 – the new record sits at 149, with at least one more week to further distance himself from the pack.
The supply up the field came thick and fast early, with Whorouly turning a two-goal lead at quarter time into a 24-point margin by the half.
Milawa was not making it easy –their pressure on the ball carrier and stifling structure saw them win multiple holding the ball free kicks, running down players as they struggled to clear the ball.
Despite the unyielding pressure, Whorouly kept scoring, kicking 6.2 to 4.5 in the second half to secure their place in the prelim by 33 points.
In the reserves, Bonnie Don progressed after a dominant first half saw them defeat Milawa 9.9 (63) to 5.6 (39).
Blues’ defensive 50.
PHOTO: Melissa Beattie
WHAT A FEELING: Cooper Thomason celebrates one of his three goals in Bright’s qualifying final win over Greta.
PHOTO: Melissa Beattie
THE BIG STAGE
Jasper Craven booted three goals in the Magpies’ 22-point elimination final win, ending North Albury’s season on Sunday. Wangaratta will now face Lavington on Sunday at Albury Sports Ground.
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Mountain Men knock off Greta in thrilling seven-point showdown, Lions reach preliminary final
Who’s who at Wangaratta Bearings and Industrial Supplies: (left to right)
Bright are through to their third consecutive senior grand final after a thrilling win in Saturday’s qualifying final.
BY NATHAN DE VRIES ndevries@ nemedia.com.au
ping a goal from a stoppage deep in the Greta defensive 50.
Danni Barber, Greg Oates, Brendon French, Dylan Fishcher, Greg Baker, Tony Gigliotti, Chris McInnes – Manager, Craig Fruend, Donna McInnes, Richard Nunn, Jodie Edwards.
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ble as the umpire raised the ball to start the match.
Cy Banks added to the pain with a long bomb from outside the arc, favoured by the bounce.
Men, who kept Greta to their lowest first quarter score since round eight, with Bright up 4.2 (26) to 1.3 (9) at quarter time.
Bright was able to boot true to lead by 17 points heading into the final term.
We guarantee:
Up against minor pre miers and reigning cham pions Greta, the Mountain Men held firm against a late surge to run out winners by seven points, 11.10 (76) to 10.9 (69).
A rematch of the 2024 grand final, the pressure and intensity were palpa-
Pressure on the ball carrier was immense early, as the match started off scrappy and a touch sloppy before both outfits settled into it.
FULL RANGE
Bright drew first blood, with Josh Hudghton snap -
While Clyde Baker medallist James McClounan put the Blues on the board seven minutes in, Bright answered back shortly after through Wayland Wales.
Momentum was flowing the way of the Mountain
However, as the good teams tend to do, Greta found a way back into the contest.
Both teams traded goals throughout the fourth, with Bright kicking their last of the day with over 10 minutes to go.
Quirk said it was a tremendous achievement to make their third consecutive grand final, and it came down to every single player on the park playing their role.
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They kicked four goals to two through the second term to sit just four points behind at the major break.
The third quarter was immensely contested, but
CAPTAIN TANKS IN STOCK
Greta rose to the challenge, surging the ball forward to manufacture the vital goals, booting three on the trot, but it was too little, too late.
Bright coach Michael
“You can talk about all of your structures and set-ups and all of that sort of stuff, but it comes back to beating your man and winning those moments that count the most,” he said.
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PHOTO: Melissa Beattie