Leo Sigmund-Norling and Elora Long, both grade two students at Appin Park Primary School, are ready for fun this week, as they and fellow students across the Rural City of Wangaratta celebrate the annual Children’s Book Week. Story page 4. PHOTO: Simone Kerwin
Police have renewed their call for public assistance to help solve a Wangaratta cold case.
It is 23 years to the day since Kath Bergamin disappeared from her Brien Crescent home.
Detective Acting Inspector Steve Trewavas of the Missing Persons Squad, said police believe 37-year-old Kath met with foul play, however her body has never been found.
“Police have not given up
BY JEFF ZEUSCHNER jzeuschner@ nemedia.com.au
hope of finding Kath and determining who is responsible for her death,” he told the Wangaratta Chronicle.
“We remain committed to solving this case and providing some comfort and closure to Kath’s loved ones and the local community.
“Investigators understand
how difficult this time of year is for Kath’s loved ones and we acknowledge the grief and sadness they continue to feel, even after over two decades.
“It remains our hope that one day we are able to provide them with the answers they so deeply deserve.”
A $1 million reward remains on offer for information leading to the apprehension and subsequent conviction of the person or persons respon -
sible for Kath’s murder.
Kath’s brother Roger Russell, who has vigorously pursued justice for his sister, said his family has not lost hope the case will be resolved.
“We appreciate the effort police have put in and we still believe those responsible for Kath’s disappearance and murder will face justice,” he told the Chronicle.
“Our mum died last year, aged 97, without seeing resolution in this case.
“This is a cold case, but it’s ongoing...and there is a long history of these sorts of cases eventually being resolved.”
Kath was last seen on the night of Sunday, 18 August 2002 at the Wangaratta home she shared with a friend.
She had separated from her husband, with whom she had previously resided in the Cheshunt area with their three children, only months before her disappearance.
■ Continued page 2
The Wangaratta Chronicle will be in attendance at the midwifery ward on Wednesdays and Fridays at 9.30am to take photos of newborns with their parents, grandparents and/or siblings. Consent forms are available from Northeast Health Wangaratta and from Wangaratta Chronicle staff on the day. If you would like a photo but are not at the ward at the time of visiting, you can come into the Wangaratta Chronicle office at 37 Rowan Street during office hours to organise it. Photographs are available to purchase from the Wangaratta Chronicle office.
BY BAILEY ZIMMERMANN bzimmermann@ nemedia.com.au
Local fatal overdoses are on a downward trend despite Victoria reaching a decade-high in deaths from overdose, according to a new report.
The Coroners Court of Victoria released a report looking into Victorian overdose deaths from 2015-2024.
Statewide, fatal overdoses reached a 10-year high with 584 Victorians dying from overdose last year, compared to 547 in 2023 and 552 in 2022.
Despite the Victorian increase, Wangaratta overdose related deaths have dropped in recent years.
From 2015-2020, 22 people died of overdose within the rural city compared to six deaths over the last four years, including two in 2024.
Across the North East, 13 fatal overdoses were observed, with more than half (seven) occurring in the Wodonga area.
Wodonga recorded the most overdose deaths in total for the region over the past 10 years with 32, followed by Wangaratta (28) and Moira (24).
Alpine saw the least overdose deaths with three, with the most recent occurring in 2022.
As with previous years, most Victorian overdose deaths in 2024 (73.5 per
cent) involved multiple drugs.
Regional Victoria accounted for around a quarter of overdose deaths last year, with the most seen in Greater Geelong (35 deaths) and Greater Bendigo (11 deaths).
A significant finding in the 2024 data was the continuing rise of illegal drug involvement in Victorian overdose deaths.
Nearly two-thirds of Victorian overdose deaths involved drugs including heroin, methamphetamine, MDMA, cocaine and GHB in 2024, up from 58.9pc in 2023 and 54.9pc in 2022.
There was a 30 per cent jump in methamphetamine-involved overdose deaths between 2023 (164 deaths) and 2024 (215 deaths).
Ten years ago, illegal drugs contributed to just under half of Victorian overdose deaths.
Most Victorian overdose deaths across the decade were accidental or unintentional (74.5pc) rather than suicides (19.3pc) or deaths where the deceased’s intent
could not be determined (6.2pc).
The proportion of Victorian overdose deaths involving pharmaceutical drugs continued to gradually decline, accounting for 69.3pc of overdose deaths in 2024, down from 78pc in 2015.
The proportion of overdose deaths involving alcohol was reasonably consistent with pre-
vious years, at 24.1pc in 2024.
Men were on average twice as likely as women to die from overdose, and people aged between 35 and 54 are most at risk.
State Coroner Judge John Cain said no community in Victoria escapes the impact of overdose deaths.
“We have seen some
genuine progress in harm reduction initiatives recently, including the commencement of Victoria’s drug checking trial,” he said.
“However, the concerning rise in overdose deaths and especially those involving illegal drugs is a stark reminder that we need to keep building on our harm reduction efforts.”
Police renew public plea, committed to solving Kath Bergamin’s disappearance 23 years ago
■ From page 1 A coronial inquiry in Wangaratta in 2008 concluded Kath was taken from or forced to leave her Brien Crescent residence in Wangaratta sometime between 7.26pm and
11.15pm on August 18, 2002 and at an unknown time and place she was unlawfully killed and her remains were secretly deposited in a still unknown location.
Coroner Peter White found there was “insuf-
ficient evidence before the inquest to establish which person or persons were responsible for the unlawful killing of Kath Bergamin”.
In September 2020, police investigators interviewed five people in connection with Kath’s disappearance, however all were released pending further enquiries.
Det Act Insp Trewavas said the Missing Person Squad continues to appeal for information, no matter how small that piece of information may seem. Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential report at www.crimestoppers.com.au.
By BAILEY ZIMMERMANN
Wangaratta police have assisted in a major North East drug bust, after officers seized more than 40kg of cocaine following an intercept on the Hume Freeway on Wednesday afternoon.
A Victoria Police spokesperson said Wangaratta and Wodonga Highway Patrol officers pulled over a B-Double truck just outside Barnawartha around 3:45pm.
A search of the truck by highway patrol members, assisted by specialist VIPER Taskforce members who were in the area at the time, revealed a number of hid-
den packages alleged to be cocaine, as well as a small amount of meth.
The driver, a 40-year-old Windsor NSW man, was also alleged to have tested positive to drugs prior to the search.
The man was interviewed by police and subsequently charged with trafficking a large commercial quantity of cocaine and possessing methylamphetamine.
Police said it’s believed the truck was travelling between Sydney and Melbourne.
Eastern Region Inspector Tracy Johnston said Wednesday’s seizure was a great result for the
force as it removed a driver putting other road users at risk and also seized a significant amount of drugs that could have caused immense harm in the community.
“We see a significant amount of road trauma attributed to the use of illicit drugs and we will never know what might have been avoided simply as a result of this intercept,” she said.
“Victoria Police has zero tolerance for those involved in the trafficking of drugs and I urge anyone with information about this activity to contact police or Crime Stoppers.”
The 40-year-old appeared at Wodonga Magistrates’ Court on Thursday and was remanded to appear again on 20 November.
The investigation remains ongoing.
Anyone with information about illicit drug activity is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or make a confidential report at www.crimestoppersvic.com.au
A local face with one of the city’s most distinctive hair styles is set to lose his extraordinarily long locks in a show of support for patients and their families with blood cancer.
Wangaratta Performing Arts and Convention Centre (WPACC) technical team leader Ben Fletcher is going to shave off his dreadlocks for the Leukemia Foundation World’s Greatest Shave this week.
Ben has been a member of the team since the new centre opened in 2009 and he’s been living with long hair for quarter of a century, the last 15 years with his signature dreadlocks.
But while he’s become recognisable due to his public role, he said his hair in no way defines who he is.
“I’m doing this because I had the opportunity - a number of my family’s friends have had to deal with blood cancer throughout their lives so personally, it has always been very important,” he said.
“When it came time for me to consider losing my own hair it was an absolutely natural progression to take that opportunity and make as much of an impact as I could.
“When I was a kid, my cousin’s best friend became bald pretty much overnight as far as we were concerned, and he was ostracised at primary school, and it had a massive effect on him and his family and that
BY ANITA McPHERSON amcpherson@ nemedia.com.au
has stuck with me my whole life, so after having long hair for 25 years and experiencing the other extreme by choice, I know it’s a luxury they didn’t get.”
Ben said while he’s not exactly nervous about losing his hair, he’s tentativewondering what he’s going to look like - but he certainly won’t miss the maintenance which comes with having clean and tailored dreadlocks, or the three or four kilograms they weigh when they are wet.
Once cut, they are unable to be donated, and while some people think he should keep them for sentimental reasons, he’s ready to let go and excited to embrace what his next look might be.
“Going from such a recognisable hairstyle to one which blends into a crowd will be a transition for me,” he said.
“Part of doing this is coming to terms with the fact that it is just hair, and it doesn’t hold any spiritual or meaningful significance to me as I walk around this earth, and I’m quite happy to just get rid of them and move on.”
It will be Rachael from Bully’s Barbershop who will have clippers in hand on Wednesday, having kindly donated her time, and Ben is expecting to be left with a
number one or two cut.
Two stolen vehicles dumped in Wangaratta, set alight on train tracks
By STEVE KELLY
Emergency services responded to an early morning incident in Wangaratta on Friday where a heavy vehicle was set alight next to another car over the train tracks - both vehicles had been reported stolen.
At 1.24am, Fire Rescue Victoria (FRV) was called to the incident near the intersection of Tone and Vincent roads after a caller to Triple Zero (000) reported a truck fire.
CFA firefighters also attended the incident.
Firefighters arrived on scene to find the two vehicles, with a flatbed truck alight and on a trainline.
No vehicle occupants were found at the scene and the incident was deemed under control at 1.41am.
Wangaratta police said they are investigating the thefts and the criminal damage of the the flatbed truck which was was stolen from a Wodonga business and an SUV that was stolen from an Eldorado residence.
By SIMONE KERWIN
Council officers have commenced work on improvements to the Wangaratta Showgrounds’ WB Richardson Stand.
Marcus Goonan, Rural City of Wangaratta director community and infrastructure, said the initial work involved assessing the specific requirements of the project, which was expected to be delivered in stages.
He has so far raised over $3000 through his fundraising page on World’s Greatest Shave but he is hopeful of reaching $5000 by the time the dreadlocks hit the ground.
“It’s pretty heartwarm-
ing to see numbers like that already - we can actually make a difference to someone - it is really going to follow through to a measurable outcome,” he said.
The big chop will take place this Wednesday, 20 August at 3.30pm and weather
permitting, it will be held out the front of WPACC’s Ford Street entrance, with all welcome to come along and show their support.
Donations can be made now to worldsgreatestshave.com/fundraisers/ benfletcher.
Detective Senior Constable Tim Doyle said they are asking for anyone with information about the thefts or the incident to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or Wangaratta police on 5723 0888.
GRANDSTAND TLC:
“This year’s focus is on replacing sections of the balustrades and cladding,” Mr Goonan said.
“We’ll continue to keep the community informed as the project progresses.”
A section of seating area in the late 1950s-built grandstand has been fenced off from use as these works are undertaken.
A section of seating in the Wangaratta Showgrounds’ WB Richardson Stand has been fenced off as council officers undertake work on the grandstand, which has been a feature of the venue since 1959.
By SIMONE KERWIN
This week is a chance to delve into dress-up boxes, re-purpose some household items, and transform into beloved book characters, as locals join in the celebration of Children’s Book Week.
Held annually by the Children’s Book Council of Australia to highlight the importance of reading and celebrate Australian children’s books, authors and illustrators through the prestigious CBCA awards, the week is an opportunity for schools and libraries to encourage and inspire young readers.
Schools across the Rural City of Wangaratta will be conducting costume parades this week, as youngsters spend a day dressed as their favourite literary heroes, as well as enjoying book-related activities in the classroom.
Among those getting involved is Appin Park Primary School, where principal Fiona Carson said Book Week was a wonderful chance for the school community to gather together and celebrate a love of books and reading.
The Cancer Council Victoria Wangaratta Volunteer Group will hold its annual Daffodil Day selling day on Thursday, 21 August from 8.30am until sold out, at the Reid Street kiosk and the Post Office arcade.
On sale will be beautiful bunches of daffodils, the symbol of hope, at a cost of $10 per bunch along with Daffodil Day pens and lapel pins, with all proceeds going to the Cancer Council Victoria.
The Wangaratta Kennel & Obedience Dog Club has invited all dog owners and their dogs to join their monthly ‘Happy Dogs Walk’ to promote and encourage social and group interaction between their beloved furry friends.
The walk consists of a leisurely 3-4km on gentle pathways and footpaths for no more than an hour.
The next ‘Happy Dogs Walk’ will be held on Sunday, 24 August, commencing at 9.30am from the Lions Club Park.
Social coffee to follow as available.
For further information, contact Ron on 0417 644 877 or Kevin on 0418 221 260
and
are
the children - and adults
across the Rural City of Wangaratta set to immerse themselves in literature this week, as part of the Children’s Book Council of Australia’s annual Children’s Book Week. As it celebrates its 80th anniversary, the theme of the week in 2025 is ‘Book an Adventure’.
Mrs Carson said students had been spending their library lessons looking at the CBCA awardnominated books, ranging from picture books to those catering for early childhood, younger readers and older readers.
“I really don’t know how they choose the winners - they are all so beautiful,” she said.
The theme of this year’s 80th CBCA Book Week is ‘Book an Adventure’, encouraging readers to use books as a launching pad for adventures through
time, lands and imagination.
In addition to all the action at local schools, the Wangaratta Library will take up the theme, with its regular Story Time moving to the Wangaratta Performing Arts and Convention Centre this week for Story Time on Stage, to be held
Simone Kerwin
on Tuesday from 10.30am. Those attending are encouraged to dress as their favourite book characters.
The Wangaratta Chronicle would love to see photos of locals enjoying Book Week - send your costume photos to skerwin@
Allegro Theatre Company will present Girl Talk at the Uniting Church Hall in Yarrawonga in September. From the brilliant mind of Patrick Edgeworth comes a wonderfully crafted play introducing audiences to an English woman living in Melbourne and her outspoken, worldly Australian neighbour. Expect sharp wit, heartfelt moments and plenty of laughs as the two women navigate conversations about husbands, teenagers, parenting - and men in general.
There will be cabaret style seating (BYO nibbles and drinks) with shows on 12, 13, 19 and 20 September and tickets at trybooking.com/DCTMV.
‘Fortunate’ soldier in Vietnam conflict
Monday, 17 August, 2015
By KYLIE WILSON
Bob Hayward had his fair share of close calls with mines, and was very close to a number of skirmishes and conflicts during his time serving in the Vietnam conflict.
But while he certainly faced danger, the Wangaratta resident counts himself as one of the fortunate veterans of the war in Vietnam.
“There were several times I was close enough to see Phantom bombers, helicopter gunships, and ‘Snoopy’ the DC3 flying gun platform in operational action, and also to witness the use of artillery and tanks who were supporting our infantry’s ground operations,” he said.
Primarily carrying out driving
admiration” for the bravery and sacrifice of those he served with.
“I had an experience most fortunate, as no matter how close I came to danger, I returned home unscathed to my family,” he said.
duties with the 1 Field Squadron as part of the First Australian Task Force at Nui Dat, Bob worked ferrying supplies to and from Vung Tau.
He was part of the support team at “The Horseshoe”, a renowned army support base, helping build roads and bridges, ferry supplies, and occasionally driving a bulldozer for mine removal teams.
“Driving these machines was hair-raising and dangerous, and I had a mate performing the task who was seriously injured,” he said.
But Bob, who like the famous song “was only 19” when he was deployed to South Vietnam in August 1969, said he feels “absolute
And tomorrow Bob, like he does every year, will mark the Long Tan anniversary by remembering friends who did not come home, including good friends lost to mines.
He said his army service was the continuation of a family tradition, which began when his grandfather, Robert Hayward Snr, enlisted with his brother to fight in the Boer War (his diaries are held at the Canberra War Museum).
Bob’s father and two uncles served in the AIF in World War Two, while Bob himself enlisted in the army the year before his deployment.
Town ‘N’ Country Tavern and West Side Tavern Shayne Gannon. Pictured is Izzy Wathen serving up a succulent steak.
By STEVE KELLY
As part of its plan to enshrine the right to work from home in law, the Victorian government is encouraging Victorians to have their say at engage.vic.gov.au/ wfh.
Premier Jacinta Allan and Minister for Industrial Relations Jaclyn Symes opened consultation to all Victorians ahead of legislation being introduced to the parliament next year.
The government said the consultation brings together workers and employers alike to ensure the proposed laws reflect the real-world experience of working from home: what’s fair, what’s practical, and what’s already working.
Under the proposed laws, if you can reasonably do your job from home, you will have the right to do so for at least two days a week, whether you work in the public sector or
private sector.
“Consultation won’t determine whether working from home should be a right – we already know it should be - this is about making sure the rules are appropriate,” a government spokesperson said.
As part of the consultation, the government will consider the types of businesses and the size of businesses that will be covered by the proposed law, as well as the definition of remote work, and who is able to do it.
The government is launching two consultation streams:
• An online survey through Engage Victoria. Any employee or employer can participate in this survey. To have your say, visit engage.vic.gov.au/wfh.
• Roundtable discussions with industry will also be held from September 2025. Stakeholders, peak bodies and unions can register their interest for the roundtable consultations at engage.vic.gov.au/wfh.
Survey data will reveal what
A four-day working week for the price of five would not work according to the owner of two Wangaratta pubs.
At this week’s Economic Reform Roundtable the Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) will propose a four-day week for workers who would maintain a full week’s pay.
But while the notion might seem fanciful at best, it definitely doesn’t pass the pub test when it comes to hospitality.
Town ‘N’ Country Tavern and West Side Tavern owner Shayne Gannon said industries like hospitality and retail aren’t always considered when these sort of discussions take place as they have significant trading hours compared to operational office hours.
“I don’t know how they think they could apply this to hospitality and retail,” Ms Gannon said.
“Our trade is not in consistent patterns so if you are working over an eight-hour day there are periods of lunch and dinner trade and there is a very large gap in the middle.
“There are only so many jobs like polishing cutlery and doing the dishes you can do in between.
“In the past I have offered full-time management roles where I’ve allowed them to split their management hours across four days and have a three day weekend.
“But this doesn’t suit every position and it certainly doesn’t suit every venue.”
It comes as the Victorian government is looking to en-
BY STEVE KELLY skelly@ nemedia.com.au
grain working from home at least two days a week into law next year and it is currently seeking community feedback.
Rural City of Wangaratta
Mayor Irene Grant said while local council is supportive of flexible working arrangements and it endeavours to give all staff this opportunity, council must also maintain a strong productivity focus in order to serve ratepayers in the best possible way.
“While I am not aware of the exact detail of what the ACTU proposes, it would seem that working less, but for the same pay, would have a negative impact on organisational output, and ultimately the budget,” Cr Grant said.
“This for the rural city would present some challenges across the services and infrastructure it delivers to the community.”
The ACTU will argue this week that workers deserve to benefit from productivity gains and technological advances, and that reducing working hours is key to lifting living standards.
They say the idea is that Australia move towards a four-day work week where appropriate, and use sector-specific alternatives where it is not.
ACTU propose that pay and conditions - including penalty rates, overtime and minimum staffing levelswould be protected to ensure a reduced work week doesn’t
result in a loss of pay.
There would be sectorspecific models for reducing working hours include adding more rostered days off, increasing annual leave, and redesigning rosters to provide increased predictability, security and work-life balance.
The ACTU highlighted that according to the Productivity Commission’s research paper ‘Productivity before and after COVID-19’, Australians have been working record-long hours, which has contributed to the productivity slowdown.
ACTU president Michele O’Neil said the report notes that those additional hours have not been matched by business investment that would allow people to work more efficiently.
Mr O’Neil said shorter working hours are good for both workers and employers, as they deliver improved productivity and allow working people to live happier, healthier and more balanced lives.
“Unions want all Australians to benefit from higher productivity – not just those with money and power,” he said.
The Australian Restaurant and Cafe Association (ARCA) warned that the ACTU’s push for a four-day week will slash productivity and hit hospitality businesses hard.
“Hospitality isn’t an office job. We can’t cram service into fewer days,” ARCA CEO Wes Lambert said.
“In hospitality, fewer trading days means fewer sales, or higher prices to cover costs - neither makes the economy more productive.”
Victorians think about working from home – including whether employees have ever been denied a request to work from home, and whether they still feel unable to ask for it in their workforce.
Nationals’ Member for Ovens Valley, Tim McCurdy, said any proposed work-from-home legislation must take into account the unique challenges faced by border communities.
“For those living and working along the Murray, different state rules can cause real headaches for businesses and employees alike, especially when workplaces operate across both Victoria and New South Wales,” Mr McCurdy said.
“We support flexible work arrangements, particularly the opportunities they can provide for women, but the rules must be consistent, practical, and avoid unintentionally disadvantaging small and medium businesses or the people they employ.”
The Australian Council of Trade Unions’ push for a four-day work week with full pay is a bold vision for the future, and will certainly be a hot topic of discussion this week.
Supporters believe it promises better work-life balance, improved mental health, and a fairer share of productivity gains, but as the debate heats up, it’s clear that not every industry can, or should, be painted with the same brush.
Hospitality, retail and other service driven sectors operate on very different rhythms than office jobs.
Lunch and dinner rushes don’t fit neatly with a four-day schedule, and downtime between shifts isn’t easily filled with tasks.
While flexibility is valued, reducing hours without reducing pay could strain budgets and compromise essential services.
As the cost of living continues to rise, many workers are understandably drawn to the idea of maintaining full pay while working fewer hours.
However, for employers, especially in small businesses and public services, this could mean higher wage costs without a proportional increase in output.
If not carefully managed, such changes could contribute to inflationary pressures, driving up prices and putting further strain on household budgets.
Any shift toward a four-day work week must be balanced with economic realities to avoid unintended consequences for both workers and the broader economy.
The Australian Council of Trade Unions’ proposal does include sector-specific models, which is a step in the right direction.
But the success of such reforms hinges on nuance, not blanket policies.
Australia’s future of work should be flexible, fair and realistic.
That means listening to all industries, not just those with boardrooms and zoom calls.
1. What do you call an animal that only eats plants?
2. Mount Etna is on the east coast of which island?
3. Who wrote the lyrics to Jesus Christ Superstar?
4. In what year was Medicare introduced in Australia?
5. Sophie Monk is the main star of which 2017 reality TV series?
6. Which two colours are on the flag of Honduras?
7. By what name is Laurence Tureaud better known?
8. Which alcoholic beverage is used to make Advocaat?
9. Paddy Ryder played for which WAFL team before joining the AFL?
10. Which company released the PlayStation series of consoles?
11. What nationality is Ernó Rubik, the inventor of the Rubik’s Cube?
12. Kasey Chambers was the singer for which band from 1987-1998?
13. Yosemite National Park is in which US state?
14. The cornea is in which part of the human body?
15. María Eva Duarte de Perón was the First Lady of which country?
16. In which decade of the 20th century was The Guinness Book of Records first printed?
17. Grant Balfour has represented Australia in which sport?
18. In SMS language, what does srsly mean?
19. The Azores is an autonomous region of which country?
20. Which 2002 movie starred Renée Zellweger and Catherine Zeta-Jones?
I believe our Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Foreign Minister Penny Wong in deciding that Australia will move to recognise a state of Palestine at the next United Nations meeting in September have made one of the biggest political mistakes in Australian history.
They have made this decision, ignoring the 7 October Hamas led massacre where 1200 women, children and men were killed in the most horrible ways and 250 women, children and men were taken hostage.
The decision was made at a time when Hamas still has some control in Gaza and is holding 24 live and 35 dead Israeli hostages in underground tunnels.
There are no boundaries for the Palestinian state, Jerusalem might be the capital and there is no government and certainly no acceptance that the state of Israel and its people will be able to live in peace.
In making this decision, I believe that Mr Albanese and Ms Wong have turned their backs on Australia’s ally in the Middle East, Israel, the only democracy and I also believe it will make our relationship with our key defence ally, the USA, more difficult as the US is a strong supporter of Israel.
Of even greater concern is that the decision is being seen by Hamas as a reward for carrying out the 7 October massacre, and the constant Free Palestine marchers will see their efforts as being vindicated, which will only encourage them to continue, even more robustly.
What is my biggest concern Is that Australians have fought in wars and given the lives for 126 years to keep Australia a free and democratic country.
I believe Australians who have gone before and current ones have been betrayed by our leaders who have buckled to propaganda and unruly protests, rewarded terrorism and portrayed Australia as an unworthy ally.
John Moore, Wangaratta
The Allan Labor Government’s new Emergency Services Tax will hit households and businesses in our region with hefty increases when council rates notices arrive this month.
Replacing the previous Fire Services Property Levy, this tax brings a 100 percent rise for residential and commercial properties, a 64 percent jump for industrial sites, and a staggering 150 percent increase for farmers.
This tax is a heavy blow to families and small businesses already struggling with rising living costs.
The so called exemption for farmers is misleading, applying only to their primary residence and not their entire farm.
This will increase costs for food and fibre production and inevitably drive prices higher at the supermarket.
Concerns also remain over transparency as the government uses local councils to collect this tax without clear information on how the funds will be used.
Most of the money won’t support frontline emergency services or volunteers but will fill gaps in government budgets.
The Nationals’ have committed to scrapping the Emergency Services Tax and reinstating the Fire Services Property Levy to ensure emergency services funding is fair, accountable, and does not punish regional communities.
Tim McCurdy, Nationals’ MP for Ovens Valley
Criminals who share their disturbing crimes on social media will face extra jail time under new laws passed by the Allan Labor Government.
The Crimes Amendment (Performance Crime) Act 2025 outlaws the cowardly behaviour of ‘posting and boasting’ about certain crimes on social media and messaging apps.
The new offence targets those who publish content bragging about their involvement in serious crimes such as affray, burglary and robbery, car theft, carjacking, home invasions and violent disorder.
This includes anyone encouraging or facilitating these crimes – so there is no room to hide behind the ringleader.
These laws respond to the dangerous trend among young people chasing clout on Tik Tok and Snapchat about their heinous crimes which encourages copycat offending, retraumatises victims and deeply disturbs the community.
Anyone found guilty of a specified serious offence who has also posted and boasted about it will face up to two years’ jail time on top of any other penalty imposed for the substantive offence.
Currently, posting and boasting can be considered as an aggravating factor in sentencing – but this new standalone offence will see offenders face tougher penalties, and sends a clear message that there’s no reward for crime.
Third parties who are not involved in the offending such as witnesses, bystanders and journalists will not be captured by the new offence.
The laws will be in effect upon Royal Assent later this month.
Attorney-General Sonya Kilkenny, Minister for Police Anthony Carbines
I believe that there are two genders, male and female, and any curriculum being delivered in Victorian schools that contradicts this fact, such as the Respectful Relationships program, is completely unacceptable.
I am not alone in sharing this view of course, with every one of my constituents who has spoken to me on this issue, and dare I say the majority of Victorians think the same. Respect should be shown by everyone to everyone, regardless of gender, race, social status or sexual orientation.
But there is no place in our schools for children as young as five being taught that their body parts may not match their gender.
Curriculum that could lead educators to persuade a child that they were born in the wrong body could cause irreversible harm and is abhorrent.
School is not the appropriate place for such conversations but should be introduced to children by their parents in the privacy of their own home, if they wish to do so.
To indoctrinate gender fluidity and nonbinary ideology onto our children is both irresponsible and wrong.
Rikkie-Lee Tyrrell, MP for Northern Victoria Region
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One wouldn’t immediately make a connection between maps and album sleeve art.
However, former Wangaratta resident Damien Saunder’s merging of the two has led to the creation of a unique atlas catering to a range of different interest groups, which will also offer financial support to Australian musicians.
The result of the cartographer’s four-year labour of love, ‘Maps on Vinyl’ presents 415 album covers featuring maps, and highlights the way maps have been used to share political views, express concern for the state of the world, and identify the origins of the music and the people who make it.
“The response has been really great; people can’t believe the intersection between these two things,” he said.
“It’s captured the imagination of a lot of people, even though it’s a very unique and niche topic.”
Damien has conducted book launches in Victoria, in Melbourne and Bendigo, and also during a recent family vacation in the United States, where he previously worked for National Geographic as director of cartography, and as head of cartography with Apple.
He is still working with Apple in a role he can’t speak much about, except to say it involves “doing mappy stuff”.
Creation of his book was a sideline passion project which Damien jokes “got spectacularly out of control” after he made the connection between two of his greatest loves.
The idea emerged while he was studying typography at the ArtCenter College of Design in Pasadena, and it was suggested he check out album covers as a source of inspiration for font use.
In doing so, Damien noticed the number of covers that featured maps, and knew he was onto something.
“Music was always on in our house when I was a kid; it was a way of dreaming and escaping,” he said.
“I could never play music, but I was obsessed with listening to it.”
BY SIMONE KERWIN skerwin@ nemedia.com.au
Likewise, he said maps had always allowed him to dream, and that the joy he drew from a beautiful map was similar to what he found in great songs, hence his eagerness to bring them together.
Interested in geography and graphic communication while attending Wangaratta High School, Damien knew he wanted to find a career, and initially planned on being an architect.
“Then I found a surveying and cartography degree (at RMIT), and at the end of the second year of the course, I chose to pursue cartography and fell in love with it,” he said.
His entry to the industry was at the peak of the paper map industry; not long after, MapQuest and Google emerged, making information available online and opening up a whole new cartography world.
“If I go back and talk at RMIT, I say, ‘Imagine finding something you love doing, and getting paid for it’; that was mapping for me, I love it, I genuinely love it,” he said.
“Other things out of my control have influenced it and made it even better than I could imagine.
“When you leave uni, you apply your learnings in conventional ways, then start to look at different ways you can apply what you’ve learnt.
“One of those ways is through mapping tennis matches (Damien has also previously worked with Roger Federer in this area), and once I finished that, I always wanted to tell a story around music.”
‘Maps on Vinyl’ involved significant work, from obtaining the permission of artists and singers or bands to use their work, to the repetitive task of taking photos of each album cover in the book.
“Cartography can be quite repetitive, so I was well-practised,” Damien said.
“I did 95 per cent of the work for the book by myself, and when you’re on your own and
“Then you get to a point where you’ve been through those 32,000 words so many times and have checked all the boxes, and it comes together really quickly.
“Once it did all come together, I was told I had a unique book that was informative and interesting, and in publishing, that’s hard to achieve.”
Artists featured in the book include Madonna, Oasis, Coldplay, Grateful Dead, Bob Marley, XTC, MC5, Queen, New Order, James Brown, Brian Eno and Weezer, with cover art by designers like Peter Saville, Curtis McNair, Richard Gray, Alton Kelly, Stanley Mouse, Neville Garrick, Roger Dean and Pedro Bell.
“The question I wanted to put to them was ‘You have a 30cm square blank canvas, and could do anything with it - why did you choose a map, either as a small part or as the whole cover?’,” Damien said.
“In doing that, the conversation would turn to mentioning that this might become a book, and there were only two German punk bands and one artist who said no.
something? Have other peo ple thought of geography and maps in their album covers?’, and the next was, ‘Are there really enough?’ There were lots of questions on their side.”
Album covers in the book have been divided into eight chapters - ‘C(art)ography’, ‘We Built This City’, ‘On the Road’, ‘African Beats’, ‘Astroworlds’, ‘Ocean Whispers’, ‘Maps with Attitude’ and ‘Music from Here’ - as Damien said he found during his research that covers fell into natural groupings.
“This started with a simple question, then it just grew and took me in directions I couldn’t have imagined,” he said.
He said he hoped the project would encourage others to see what’s possible, and to return their attention to projects they would love to complete.
‘Maps on Vinyl’ is available in all good book shops and online, and proceeds from the publication will go back into the music scene through the Australian not-for-profit Support Act, a music industry charity which delivers crisis relief services to musicians, managers, crew and music workers.
The sensitive print artworks of Kerryn Amery are currently featured in the Benalla Art Gallery shop, in an exhibition titled Mostly Black and White.
A resident artist at Wangaratta’s Art Gallery on Ovens, Kerryn is a printmaker and drawer who studied drawing and painting at Riverina TAFE and has completed a number of printmaking and art workshops in Victoria and Greece.
She is also a member of the Creators Artspace in Wodonga, and a valued volunteer at the Benalla Art Gallery.
Mostly Black and White explores
elements of Kerryn’s world, particularly focusing on the flowers and wildlife in her garden and the local bushland.
About 13 years ago, Kerryn enrolled in an introductory printmaking course at the Australian Print Workshop in Fitzroy.
It was a revelation, and she still remembers the thrill of her first print.
Kerryn believes that at the heart of every print is drawing and that it is key to her practice. She fills pocket-sized sketchbooks with drawings of everyday things and her travels and many of these are then translated
into ideas for possible prints.
Kerryn creates her prints using wood, lino, acetate or copper and utilises a range of media for her drawings including pen, pencil, charcoal and watercolours.
Benalla Art Gallery director Eric Nash said the exhibition is a beautiful capture of our local flora and fauna.
“Kerryn has an exquisite talent for drawing, which is clearly evident in these works, particularly the fine line work of flower petal textures and bird plumage,” he said.
Kerryn Amery: Mostly Black and White can be seen at the Benalla gallery until 31 August.
BY PHOEBE MORGAN pmorgan@ nemedia.com.au
Bright’s Bill Scott was one of 50, 1980 Moscow Olympic athletes recently formally recognised for their efforts at the controversial Games, boycotted by dozen of countries in protest to the Soviet Union’s invasion of Afghanistan the previous year.
At a dinner in Canberra on Wednesday, 30 July, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese formally acknowledged 121 athletes who defied the then government’s opposition to Australian athletes participating in the Games, with team members competing under a neutral flag at the 1980 Moscow Olympics.
Bill, who competed in the 10km and placed ninth in the final in a time of 28:15.08, said he caught up with fellow athletes he hadn’t seen in years and appreciated the kind words from the Prime Minister at the dinner.
“He spoke warmly to us,” he said.
“Some 45 years later Mr Albanese’s words of support for the team were greatly appreciated by the athletes.
“It was a great recognition, but not an apology: the dinner wasn’t meant to be an apology.
“For Mr Albanese to officially recognise the Australian Olympic Team was rectifying.
“The Minister of Sport also said a few good words.”
Bill, who is a former teacher at both Bright P12 College and Wandiligong Primary School and has lived in Bright for 35 years, said his choice to participate in the Moscow Games was not a political statement, only a reflection of his commitment to sport and to uphold the key message of the Games.
“If I thought for a second boycotting would save one life, I wouldn’t have gone,” he said.
“The idea of the Olympic Games, as the founder of the modern Olympics, Baron Pierre de Coubertin said: ‘... [it’s] not winning but taking part, just as in life, what counts is not the victory but the struggle’.
“I still feel it was very impor tant Australia participated in the Moscow Olympic Games.
“If I thought for a second boycotting would save one life, I wouldn’t have gone.”
- Olympian Bill
Scott
Some 121 Australian athletes defied government opposition to compete under a neutral flag at the 1980 Moscow Olympics. The athletes were among more than 5000 competitors from 80 countries who participated in the Games.
According to the International Olympic Committee between 45 and 50 nations boycotted the Games in protest of the Soviet Union's invasion of Afghanistan in 1979.
The Australians who chose to go faced a financial and public backlash amid then-prime minister Malcolm Fraser's call to join the boycott. They returned with nine medals - two gold, two silver and five bronze - but there were no parades, no fanfare and no official recognition.
“Australia is only one of two countries who has competed in all modern Olympics since they were reinstated in 1896.
“We should be proud of that.
“It would’ve been wrong if we had missed the Moscow Olympics for the wrong reasons.”
When the Olympic team left Australia in 1980, there was much division within the country as to whether or not the team should go.
The athletes were subject to verbal abuse from within the general population and in the media.
Although Bill, 28 years old at the time of Moscow Olympics, was not adversely affected by criticism levelled at the team for going, he said some of the swimmers, who were only in their teens, were wounded by the negative criticism.
Bill found the Olympic experience in Moscow lived up to the Olympic ideals.
“As the host city, Moscow hosted a wonderful Olympics,” he said.
“I fulfilled a dream I’d had from 14-years-old.
“I found out early on I was good at running and aspired to run in the Olympic Games one day.
“I had an injury which kept
A North East tennis coach who abused seven girls aged as young as 11 remains in custody ahead of sentencing at the end of this month.
Geoffrey Douglas Hollow, 70, abused the girls over more than a decade while a coach of the Bright and Mount Beauty tennis clubs. He appeared in Wodonga County Court last week and pleaded guilty to 12 child abuse related charges.
The court heard the offending involved the girls being touched inappropriately, undergoing sexual massages on a modified chair behind locked doors, and being asked to wear revealing shorts without underwear.
The offending came to an end in late 2022 when one girl reported her abuse to her mother, with police alerted.
Hollow was arrested by Wangaratta sex offence detectives at his Wandiligong home in 2022, with hundreds of photographs and videos, including of the victims, found on his phone. He was aged in his 50s and 60s during the offending.
Several victims were in court last week to see Hollow admit to his offending, with many having provided victim impact statements.
Hollow moved from the region when the offending was discovered and wrote a letter of apology to the victims, which was aired in court.
Prosecutor David O’Doherty said there was no explanation for why Hollow had offended, and said he had lived a “Jekyll and Hyde” life.
Hollow remains in custody and is to be sentenced at the end of the month.
He will be a registered sex offender for the rest of his life.
The Rural City of Wangaratta is rolling out new glass recycling bins and they will arrive in Whorouly today, Monday, 18 August.
The aim of the new glass recycling bin is to enable more household recycling to be processed.
It also stops broken glass from contaminating the yellow mixed recycling bin, which means more papers, cardboard and plastics can be recovered and turned into new products.
Residents will receive glass bins and collection services at no charge during the 2025-26 financial year.
The purple lidded bin will be collected every 12 weeks.
the world in the marathon and 10th in the world in the 10,000 metres in 1979.
“When I was lucky enough to make the Olympic team for 1980, we were looking forward to it, then news of the boycott came through,” he recalled.
“I was 28 and I thought there was no guarantee in the next four years I’ll be able to make the team again.
We didn’t participate under our Australian flag: that was our way of acknowledging the boycott.
“We used an Olympic flag as our flag.”
Bill said that Prime Minister Malcolm Fraser at the time was a wool producer in the Western district of Victoria, whose farm was selling his wool to the Soviet Union while the Australian athletes were told not to go to Moscow.
“Mr Fraser, in his memoirs, later said the boycott was a mistake,” he said.
North East Water (NEW) says recent rainfall has provided relief for many water storages across the region, however Bright remains a key area of concern.
The town’s off-river storage is currently sitting at just 53 per cent capacity, a sharp decline from 84 per cent at this time last year.
Compounding the issue, weekly water usage in Bright is around three million litres higher than the five-year average.
NEW general manager environment, systems and operations, John Day, said the water corporation is working hard to refill Bright’s storage.
“It’s a complex process as we can only extract water from the Ovens River during high-flow periods, typically in winter and we’re limited by a fixed annual allocation,” Mr Day said.
“The biggest challenge right now is the significantly higher than usual community water use, which means the team is working to refill the storage while also meeting daily demand.
“This makes is it much harder to build reserves ahead of summer.”
This situation follows two dry summers, a dry autumn and a dry start to winter.
If conditions don’t improve, NEW said formal water restrictions may be introduced in Bright by December.
ACROSS
3 To be afraid of nothing, is to be what (8)
7 To make known, is to do what (6)
8 To support underneath, is to do what (8)
9 Name an inert gaseous element, symbol He (6)
10 To handle roughly, is to do what (8)
11 What is a reproduction, as if in a mirror (6)
14 What is hydrated calcium sulphate (6)
17 To conclude, is to do what (8)
18 What is known as wattle in Australia (6)
19 To be the most abundant in foliage, is to be what (8)
20 What are units of geological time (6)
21 To be more smartly clothed, is to be what (8)
DOWN
1 What is the central bank known as (7)
2 What is equal to one tenth of a bel (7)
3 To confuse, is to do what (7)
4 What, perhaps, is a second access (7)
Letters
5 Name a rapid train that has few stops (7)
Some
6 What is a sacred or holy place (7)
11 To have organised a small lottery, is to have done what (7)
12 What is a loud flourish of trumpets (7)
13 What are light chocolate iced cakes (7)
14 To be more meaningful, is to be what (7)
Letters A to Z have a number value. Some are shown in the right-hand cells. Create remaining values using clues in centre cells.
15 What is a self-contradictory statement (7)
16 To be erect in posture, is to be what (7)
Find the following words in the grid. They may be read in any direction, even diagonally. Some letters are used more than once.
1 NEPENTHE
(a) Pain in the kidneys
(b) A mineral varying in colour from whitish to dark green
(c) Anything inducing easeful forgetfulness
2 PERTINACIOUS
(a) Extremely persistent
(b) Impudent
(c) Able to persuade
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:
Cat (coll) (5)
Companion animal (3)
Derange (7)
Extrasensory Perception (3)
Field Camera Unit (3)
Gorse (5)
Illegally seize office (5)
Intense delight (7)
Russian emperors (5)
Years (abb) (3)
37 Rowan Street, Wangaratta 3677
Glenrowan Our Town
Notice of the Annual General Meeting of The Glenrowan Improvers Inc on Monday, August 25, 2025 at the 1880 Café at 6.30pm
An invitation to attend is extended to all residents. RSVP please glenrowanourtown@gmail.com
Dear Readers,
The deadline for all Classifieds notices in Friday, August 22, 2025 edition has been changed to 11.30am Thursday, August 21, 2025.
Please contact our friendly Classifieds team either by phone (03) 5723 0100 or email classifieds@nemedia.com.au
CONCRETING , all types. Big or small jobs, concrete demolition and removal, Bobcat and Excavator work. 20 years’ experience. For a free quote phone Trev Anderson on 0422 200 761.
CONNECT PROPERTY
MAINTENANCEYour local handyman. Wooden door and window repair, pickett fence repair and paint, dry wall repair, gutter cleaning, servicing Wangaratta. Phone Vijay 0426 939 455.
DJ and CL Collison Concrete and Kurb, all concrete works, residential and commerical, free quotes. Call Dave 0457 155 564.
KITCHENS JUST FOR YOU, new kitchens, face lifts, wall units, prompt service. Phone Roland 0414 950 647.
PAINTER, old school, for all your painting needs, commercial, industrial renovations. Phone Juliano 0412 597 482.
WHEELER
Earthworks, available for all your earthworks needs - yard clean ups, stump removals, driveways, material supply and spreading, rural work and more. Call Marcus on 0491 094 545.
YARD CLEANUPS AND RUBBISH REMOVAL Household Rubbish - Green Waste - Furniture - Garage Cleanouts - Mowing. Fast, reliable service for all your clean-up needs! No job too big or small. Call 0474 107 631.
The College seeks applications from suitably experienced persons for the following positions:
Director of Communications and Community Engagement (Full-time/ongoing)
Secondary Teaching Positions (Full-time/ongoing) Any or a combination of: VCE Physical Education VET Sport and Recreation Outdoor Education English Humanities Science
Materials Technology and Design Technician (Full-time/ongoing)
Please refer to our website, www.cathedralcollege.vic.edu.au for position descriptions and application closing dates.
Lauriston Girls’ School: Director of Operations –Howqua Campus
Lauriston Girls’ School seeks to appoint a highly organised and collaborative educational leader to the position of Director of Operations at our Howqua campus (near Mansfield) in an ongoing capacity. This is a residential campus for Lauriston’s Year 9 students.
The Director of Operations – Howqua campus is accountable for the coordination of the daily operations including scheduling and coordination of casual staff, as well as supporting daily operations in alignment with the Lauriston Girls’ School Howqua campus philosophy.
This is a full-time, ongoing position, commencing in Term 1, 2026. Housing on Campus will be provided. Please visit our employment page via www.lauriston.vic.edu.au for further information regarding the position and to apply online.
Applications close: 9am Monday, September 1, 2025. Lauriston is a Child Safe School. We promote the safety, wellbeing and inclusion of all children.
Full or Part Time Opportunity
North East Media the publisher of Wangaratta Chronicle has an opportunity for a Print Assistant to join our established team based at our Wangaratta print site. No experience in the print industry is required.
Duties Include
• Supporting our technical print team in producing over 25 newspapers every week.
• Assisting the lead Printer in the operations of the press, including set up and production
• Job preparations using raw materials such as plates, paper and ink.
• Helping operate the newspaper collating machine
• General housekeeping of working environment such as cleaning and keeping area safe.
• Newspaper and magazine deliveries. Please send applications to: Edward Higgins CEO
An opportunity has arisen for a graphic designer to join one of Victoria’s and NSW leading independent news and media groups, based at our Wangaratta office working on newspapers, magazines and digital properties.
North East Media and its related group companies are seeking a graphic designer. You must be able to multitask, have strong organisational skills and be able to work under pressure and to tight deadlines. You must also be a team player who shows initiative and be able to work with minimal supervision.
Your experience will include sound skills developing artwork using Adobe InDesign. Experience designing artwork for multiple digital channels, including websites, social media, email marketing would be an advantage.
If you are looking for a new challenge in an energetic and stimulating environment, we would encourage you to apply.
Applications should be forwarded to:
Kelly Lovell
Creative Services Manager North East Media klovell@nemedia.com.au www.nemedia.com.au
2015 BMW Ex 5 X Drive 30 D Wagon, 138,792km, white, excellent condition, no scratches, no dents, no accidents, sun roof, heated seats, black interior, RWC, reg (AGE324) $35,000. Phone Bob 0411 464 374 or 0413 868 461.
2023 Toyota GX Landcruiser, excellent vehicle low kilometres (20,400), upgrades include; Runva 13,000lb winch, GME XRS-330C UHF with bluetooth phone connectivity, Victron DC-DC charger (auxiliary battery set up), EFS 2” Lift Kit with remote reservoir shocks (front and back), Stedi LED light bar, bull bar with side steps, charcoal interior, always serviced at Toyota, balance of Toyota 5yr unlimited km warranty, roadworthy and rego included (CIS286), $107,000 ONO. Ph 0429 950 835.
OLD cars wanted, cars removed. Ph 0435 083 115.
2022 Suzuki Address UK 110NMM2 scooter rego (2U3UX), registered until December 2025, $4100 O.N.O. Ph 0438 219 213.
WINNEBEGO Leisure
FIREWOOD, quality boxwood and gum, available now, $170 per metre, dry, split, ready to burn, fast delivery available. Call G & J Tree Services on 0474 107 631.
QUEEN size wooden bed frame and mattress, good condition, must go, $100. Ph 0407 908 203.
Advertisers please note!
JAYCO Penguin 2010 off-road camper, in good condition, extras, $13,400. Ph 0429 845 814.
CARABANA for sale, will tow just needs a light bar and permits, gas works on fridge and stove, will make a great spare room, $2000 ono, only
Seeker 2004, manual 5 speed, turbo diesel, 110,585km, length 21ft (6.4m), bull bar, 4 birth and 2 extra seat belts, rear camera, CB radio, solar panels, awning, 2 deep cycle batteries, fresh water and grey water tanks and hot water tank, reverse cycle aircon, digital flat screen TV with remote and USB, stereo radio (incl Bluetooth and CD player), toilet/ shower/hand basin and shaving cabinet, 3 burner gas stove, oven and grill, 9kg gas bottle, 3-way fridge/ freezer (medium size), blackout curtains fitted, $70,000. Ph 0448 155 965.
Much hardship and difficulty is caused to job seekers by misleading advertising placed in the employment columns. Our Employment column is reserved for advertisements which carry a specific and genuine offer of employment. Ads for 'Business Opportunities', 'Commission Only' training courses and employment services should be submitted under those headings. Placing misleading ads is an offence against the Trade Practices Act and state/territory fair trading acts and all advertisements are subject to the publisher's approval. For further advice, contact: The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission on 1300 302 502 or your state consumer affairs agency.
WANG ROVERS 2.1 7.2 9.6 10.10.70 MYRTLEFORD 1.1 2.2 3.3 7.6.48
GOALS: WANGARATTA ROVERS: N. Cooper 3, T. Boyd 2, E. Dayman 1, A. McCarthy 1, S.
Murray 1, W. Christie 1, C. Thompson 1. MYRTLEFORD: R. Sharp 2, J. East 1, M. Munro 1, L. Murphy-Dale 1, L. Miotto 1, D. Bren 1. BEST: WANGARATTA ROVERS: J. Mcquade, A. McCarthy, X. Allison, L. O’Brien, C. Thompson, C. Ledger. MYRTLEFORD: B. Sharp, T. Cappellari, S. Curtis, M. Munro, J. East, L. Miotto.
GOALS: NORTH ALBURY: J. Murphy 3, J. Minogue 3, N. Dennis 3, T. Broomhead 2, C. Winter 1, J. Weidemann 1, J. Penny 1. COROWA RUTHERGLEN: K. Bradtke 3, J. Longmire 2, B. Kantilla 1, N. Richards 1. BEST: NORTH ALBURY: I. Campbell, J. Pope, J. Weidemann, C. Winter, Z. Lambert, F. Gardiner. COROWA RUTHERGLEN: N. Richards, R. Irvin, N. Amery, C. Schutt, D. Melksham, H. Canning. NTH ALBURY 5.3 6.3 9.7 14.10.94
A GRADE
Wodonga vs Albury; Wang Rovers vs Myrtleford; Wodonga Raiders 57 def Wangaratta 38; Lavington 36 def by Yarrawonga 49 North Albury 40 def Corowa Rutherglen 38.
B GRADE
Wodonga 56 def Albury 49; Wang Rovers 49 def Myrtleford 41; Wod. Raiders 37 def by Wangaratta 45; Lavington 16 def by Yarrawonga 27 North Albury 46 def Corowa Rutherglen 37.
C GRADE
Wodonga vs Albury; Wang Rovers vs Myrtleford; Wodonga Raiders 27 def by Wangaratta 32; Lavington vs Yarrawonga North Albury vs Corowa Rutherglen. 17 & UNDER
Wodonga 34 def Albury 30; Wang Rovers vs Myrtleford; Wodonga Raiders 39 def Wangaratta 28; Lavington 58 def Yarrawonga 24 North Albury 28 def by Corowa Rutherglen 44. 15 & UNDER
Wodonga 51 def Albury 20; Wang Rovers 22 def by Myrtleford 64; Wodonga Raiders 77 def Wangaratta 27; Lavington 31 def Yarrawonga 15 North Albury 60 def Corowa Rutherglen 28.
Wodonga Raiders 1.6 (12) def by Wangaratta 10.6 (66)
GOALS: WODONGA RAIDERS: B. Capper 1. WANGARATTA: C. Petersen 4, L. Sims 3, C. Kerwin 2, O. Boyle 1. BEST: WODONGA RAIDERS: J. McCarty, A. Bollinghaus, A. Alatalo, R. Finnimore, B. Capper, A. May. WANGARATTA: N. Kjar, L. Sims, O. Boyle, C. Newton, C. Petersen.
Wangaratta Rovers 17.17 (119) def Myrtleford 0.1 (1)
GOALS: WANGARATTA ROVERS: T. Ford 4, Z. O’Shannessy 3, E. Saunders 2, K. Wohlers 2, H. Mullane 2, J. Correll 1, C. Johnson 1, H. Dodgshun 1, E. White 1. BEST: WANGARATTA ROVERS: T. Ford, H. Mullane, M. Semmens, Z. O’Shannessy, J. Wohlers, E. White. MYRTLEFORD: L. Masin, J. Notarianni, T. Miller, C. Howden, O. Benson, Z. Carroll.
Wodonga 8.4 (52) def by Albury: 11.4 (70)
North Albury 8.6 (54) def Corowa Rutherglen 6.6 (42)
Lavington 11.18 (84) def Yarrawonga 3.5 (23)
GOALS: LAVINGTON: S. Driscoll 3, D. Smith 3, J. Costello 2, J. Glanvill 2, N. Newton 1, T. Hargreave 1, E. Perryman 1, T. Oosterhoff 1, H. Barber 1. YARRAWONGA: B. Kennedy 2, N. Fothergill 2, C. Wilson 1, J. Adkins 1. BEST: LAVINGTON: E. Perryman, A. Cook, J. Spina, W. Glanvill, T. Hargreave, R. Corrigan. YARRAWONGA: N. Irvine, Z. Fraser, N. Fothergill, J. Payne, C. Wilson, H. Wheeler. LAVINGTON 2.1 4.4
WOD. RAIDERS
GOALS: WODONGA RAIDERS: M. Way 2, B. Sheridan 1, B. Wilson 1, B. Jones 1. WANGARATTA: B. Newton 4, J. Clarke 3, X. Laverty 2, J. Craven 1, C. Knowles 1, J. Tweedale 1, H. Gottschling 1, D. Sharrock 1. BEST: WODONGA RAIDERS: H. Cribbes, B. St John, M. Way, N. Bracher, A. Scammell, W. Fordham. WANGARATTA: A. Federico, W. Tua, B. Newton, D. Sharrock, X. Laverty, T. Norton.
WODONGA 4.4 5.10 10.13 14.14.98 ALBURY 3.0 6.0
GOALS: WODONGA: J. Cassidy 4, N. Spiteri 3, M. Wilson 2, T. Miller 2, A. Jorgensen 2, T. O’Sullivan 1. ALBURY: J. Pitt 6, E. Ziebarth 2, J. Conlan 2, W. Blomeley 1, R. Garthwaite 1, D. Pattinson 1, K. Heiner-Hennessy 1. BEST: WODONGA: M. Wilson, A. Jorgensen, J. Cassidy, K. Mimmo, J. O’sullivan, O. Greenhill. ALBURY: J. Pitt, M. Byrne, J. Kelly, J. Conlan, J. Shanahan, K. Heiner-Hennessy.
*Ladder correct at time of print from Ovens and King website.
A GRADE: Milawa 62 def Bonnie Doon 51; Moyhu 27 def by Whorouly 44; Goorambat 75 def Nth Wangaratta 26; Greta 38 def Benalla 19; King Valley 27 def by Bright 54.
B GRADE: Milawa 44 def Bonnie Doon 35; Goorambat 51 def Nth Wangaratta 39; Greta 63 def Benalla 25; King Valley 20 def by Bright 39.
B RESERVE: Milawa 33 def by Bonnie Doon 47; Moyhu 37 def Whorouly 34; Goorambat 17 def by Nth Wangaratta 35; King Valley 21 def by Bright 40; Greta 49 def by Benalla 50
C GRADE: Milawa 21 def by Bonnie Doon 47; Moyhu 46 def Whorouly 26; Goorambat 45 def Nth Wangaratta 26; Greta 48 def Benalla 18; King Valley 32 def Bright 29 15 & UNDER: Milawa 19 def by Bonnie Doon 67; Moyhu 23 def by Whorouly 31; King Valley 22 def by Bright 37; Greta 38 def by Benalla 45; Goorambat 13 def by Nth Wangaratta 51.
No
at time of print
SAT, 23 AUGUST
Seniors: MILAWA vs BONNIE DOON
Reserves: MILAWA vs NTH WANGARATTA
@ North Wangaratta Sports Reserve
SUN, 24 AUGUST
Seniors: GOORAMBAT vs WHOROULY
Reserves: BONNIE DOON vs WHOROULY
@ Whorouly Recreation Reserve
GOALS: GRETA: H. Moran 9, F. Judd 8, L. Kennett 5, J. McClounan 4, C. Crawford 3, J. Bell 2, O. Ramage 1, B. Pearson 1, B. Newbold 1, B. Whinray 1. BENALLA ALL BLACKS: M. Ryan 2, D. Sinclair 1, D. Button 1.
BEST: GRETA: H. Moran, F. Judd, C. Crawford, J. McClounan, L. Kennett, J. Kelly. BENALLA ALL BLACKS: D. Button, T. Levy, L. Norman, J. Walker, A. Hillaire, D. Sinclair.
MOYHU 2.3 3.5 5.9 8.11.59
WHOROULY 4.1 9.4 16.5 20.6.126
GOALS: MOYHU: N. Stewart 3, B. Zimmermann 2, J. Coonan 1, A. Thrum 1, H. Verdon 1. WHOROULY: M. Newton 13, J. Smith 2, M. Harris 1, S. Ferguson 1, L. Moore 1, R. Eden 1, E. Bramich 1.
BEST: MOYHU: H. Verdon, P. McNamara, N. Stewart, D. Carmody, M. Thrum, B. Zimmermann. WHOROULY: M. Scott, E. Bramich, D. Boyle, M. Vescio, M. Newton, J. Bihun. GOORAMBAT 1.2 4.6 11.7 13.13.91 NTH WANGARATTA 3.4 5.6 8.6 10.9.69
GOALS: GOORAMBAT: D. Haebich 3, D. Beavis 2, Z. Amarant 2, A. Blackburn 2, S. Emmett 1, A. Ellis 1, J. Dunne 1, J. Webb 1. NORTH WANGARATTA: C. Smith 4, t. obrien 2, J. Kemp 2, J. Devine 1, J. Nanson 1.
BEST: GOORAMBAT: J. Dunne, B. Reaburn, C. Anker, T. Nolan, v. butler, Z. Amarant. NORTH WANGARATTA: J. Nanson, K. McQuade, t. obrien, M. Curtis, D. Killen, B. Raggett.
GOALS: KING VALLEY: B. Collihole 2, T. Stewart 1. BRIGHT: C. Thomason 10, W. Wales 6, T. Thomason 5, H. Jamieson 1, J. Hudghton 1, P. Bren 1, L. Quirk 1, R. Bacon 1, S. Dalbosco 1, D. Chellew 1.
BEST: KING VALLEY: D. Young, D. Browne, C. Davies, D. Lang, O. Day, V. Star. BRIGHT: W. Wales, C. Thomason, R. Arguello, T. Thomason, J. Hudghton, J. Gray.
T. Dowling, M. Grinter, W. Lutula, S. Lawrence, D. Flanagan, A. Kealy. Wodonga
VS
(109)
(45)
WANGARATTA: B. Kusen, C. Matheson, A. Knights, B. Schulz-Dahlenburg, Milawa..........................6.3 (39) Bonnie Doon ...............3.10 (28)
■ From back page
“We started the game really well – Brady Bartlett ended up kicking the first three goals of the game and ended up on 99 – and all 18 players on the field ended up anxious,” he said.
“It took a little while to get the monkey off the back, and once that happened, I think the switch flicked and the boys started playing a lot more team-first football.
“We started to see the results of that team-first mentality when we were able to put together two really good quarters of football.”
Elsewhere, Greta cinched the minor premiership with a brutal hammering of the struggling Benalla All Blacks.
An eight goal to one opening term spelled disaster for the Panthers, as the Blues ran away winners 35.17 (227) to 4.8 (32).
Greta’s defensive structure was too well set up to allow many of the probing Panthers plays to find their way to goal, but it was the Blues’ forwards who would do the damage.
It was a goal-fest, with Harry Moran taking top honours with his nine goals, with multiple majors coming from Frazer Judd (eight), Lachie Kennett (five), James McClounan (four), Cody Crawford
(three), and Josh Bell (two). For the Panthers, David Button and Tom Levy were in the best.
In other matches, Whorouly full forward Michael Newton continued to rain down goals on opposition defenders, helping the Lions to a 20.6 (126) to 8.11 (59) win over Moyhu.
Newton would finish with 13 majors, the equal most haul of his season, finishing on 129 goals from the home and away season.
The Lions would start slowly, chipping away at the Moyhu defence, but as time wore on, Whorouly was able to spread the Hoppers and advance with speed.
A 10-point margin at quarter time was extended to just shy of six goals by the half, and although the Hoppers fought hard, they weren’t able to stem the tide.
Moyhu ruck Harry Verdon was named best on ground for the Hoppers, his craft and persistence at stoppage helping his midfielders burst and take the game on, while for the Lions, defenders Max Scott and Daniel Boyle were impressive.
Whorouly will have to be content with fifth on the ladder behind Goorambat, whose 13.13 (91) to 10.9 (69) win over North Wangaratta
sees them take fourth place ahead of the Lions by 0.11 per cent.
The Bats had to fight back from a lacklustre opening term to be within a goal at the major break.
It would be the third quarter when Goorambat were able to stretch their legs, using their speed from the contest to carve through the Hawk’s defensive structure and pile on seven goals to three.
Jamie Dunn was at his scintillating best for the Bats, while Josh Nanson and Kyle McQuade did the work for North Wangaratta to round out their season.
It was a procession at Whitfield where Bright thumped King Valley 29.19 (193) to 3.6 (24).
Cooper Thomason (10 goals), Wayland Wales (six) and Tyler Thomason (five) did the damage for the Mountain Men, while Daniel Young, Dylan Browne and Charlie Davies fought hard all day.
With the regular season done and dusted, the finals series is primed to begin.
In the senior grade, an elimination final between Milawa and Bonnie Doon at North Wangaratta Recreation Reserve will kick off proceedings, before a knockout match between Goorambat and Whorouly at Whorouly on Sunday.
By NATHAN DE VRIES
The gauntlet was thrown down, and the challenge was met – the Rovers are still the ones to beat.
It was a highly-anticipated match between ladder-leading Rovers and third-placed Myrtleford Saints, who had put together some stunning matches and looked to show the league their premiership credentials.
Ultimately it would be the Hawks standing tall, avenging their earlier season loss to the Saints with a 10.10 (70) to 7.6 (48) triumph.
Periodic showers in the lead-up and early stages of the game made for a slick contest early, but the Rovers were the cleaner of the two outfits through the first term.
A run of goals from the Rovers saw them take a 30-point lead into half-time, and their strangling pressure and run off half back made it hard for the Saints to generate many meaningful looks inside their forward 50.
The Rovers were ahead by 39 points at the final change of end, and may have taken the foot off the throat, because the Saints produced a stunning final term, booting four goals to one to bring the final margin to 22 points.
Rovers football operations manager Barry Sullivan said there was a concerted plan to stifle the Saints’ in the opening term, where the tricolours usually thrive.
“It was always going to be an interesting contest, given Myrtleford have had such a great run over the last couple of months,” he said.
ing marks,” Sullivan said.
“With us playing the three talls down forward – Nathan Cooper and Tom Boyd there with Will Christie –having Keiren Parnell back there across half back with Charles and Jace McQuade back from his GWS experience, it really helped us set up well.
“Will Nolan was good, everyone across the back six was good.”
The Rovers are virtually assured of the minor premiership and ticket to the second week of finals, leading nearest competitor Lavington Panthers by a game and 9.52 per cent, a tough gap to bridge with one match left to play.
While they’re in a very strong position, Sullivan said no one would be popping the champagne just yet.
“A new season begins from here on in,” he said.
“You want to be going into finals with good form, and we’re looking to have a win next weekend and continue that form and get through unscathed
“We knew they were really good at the start, so we put a bit of emphasis on how we can make sure they don’t get away on us too quickly.
“I thought we put in a really good effort in the first quarter, and continued that on for the next two quarters.
“They handle wet conditions very well – when we played them up at Myrtleford, it was probably some of the roughest conditions we’ve had this season, and they were still able to convert and really exert their influence in the first quarter.
“When it rained, I thought it would help them more than us, but we were fortunate it didn’t, and I thought our pressure all over the ground was really good.”
It was a day for the defenders, with Xavier Allison and many of the back six in the team’s best, while Charlie Thompson and Sam Murray were finding the ball at will.
“I thought our whole back six were really good in that first half, Charles Ledger started off really well in the first quarter, took some tell -
“I’m sure Lavington will do the best they can to maintain their form going into finals.”
Elsewhere, after a month in the wilderness, Wangaratta returned with four points after knocking off Wodonga Raiders at Birallee Park.
Winless for a month and with finals rapidly approaching, Wangaratta took the game on and emerged victorious, 14.14 (98) to 5.87 (38).
Eager to put themselves in a strong position early, the ‘Pies tore into the opening quarter at both ends of the ground, producing 10 scoring shots to two to open a 33-point lead at quarter time.
While the second term was more tempered, momentum was still going the way of the ‘Pies, who had stretched the margin to 47 points by the half off the back of some truly iron-clad defence.
Raiders would find some form in the third, narrowly winning the term, but a domination in the fourth would put the final nail in the coffin.
Young gun Blake Newton would be a crushing force up forward for the ‘Pies, finishing with four goals, while Jackson Clarke and Xavier Laverty chipped in multiple majors.
Midfielder Alex Federico continued his run of form, named best on ground, while Waitai Tua, Tyler Norton and Daniel Sharrock impressed.
The victory all but qualifies the Magpies for the finals, sitting in fifth on the ladder with a game and some 15 percentage points ahead of Wodonga with one game left.
The home and away season ended with a bang in Ovens and King, as ladder positions and match-ups for the first week of finals were figured out once and for all.
Milawa will enter their elimination final against Bonnie Doon next week brimming with confidence, after belting the Bombers
BY NATHAN DE VRIES ndevries@ nemedia.com.au
in the second half of their round 20 fixture.
The Demons found their feet in the second half, kicking away to a 19.11 (125) to 4.8 (32) win.
The Ovens and King Football Netball League’s presentation night on Sunday celebrated the best and brightest footballers and netballers in the league, with the top players honoured.
Held at Quality Hotel Wangaratta Gateway, players, volunteers and administrators came together to recognise those who have been at their best all season long in the two grades of football and five divisions of netball.
In the senior football tally, Greta midfield titan James McClounan (pictured) was awarded his second Clyde Baker Medal in a thrilling count, edging out Moyhu’s Paddy McNamara.
The 2023 medallist has been dominant this season, both at the stoppage and on the scoreboard, booting 65 goals as a midfielder, the fifth-most of any player this year.
Wangaratta Rovers’ Brodie Filo snaps a kick to keep the ball in play in the Rovers’ 22-point win over Mitch Dalbosco’s Myrtleford Saints on Saturday. The win makes it all but certain Rovers will take the minor premiership, sitting a game and almost 10 per cent on top of the league. Match report page 15
PHOTO: Marc Bongers
In the A grade netball, Milawa defender Tahlia Matthews-Vincent (pictured) claimed her maiden Fay Morgan Medal after polling third last year.
The multiple team of the year member has had a sterling year in the defensive end, being a major component in Milawa’s minor premiership win, as well as conceding the third-fewest goals across 20 rounds. It was a count dominated by the defenders, with Matthews-Vincent finishing ahead of Tarrawingee goal keeper, and 2022-2023 medallist Tegan White.
Both McClounan’s Greta and Matthews-Vincent’s Milawa finished on top of the ladder in their grades, and will take this weekend off as finals commence across Saturday and Sunday. ■ Stories, full list of award winners and photos in Wednesday’s Chronicle.
It was highly contested early, with the margin within two goals at quarter time and half-time.
Bonnie Doon was able to not only weather the storm, but counterattack, and could’ve led at the major break if they’d made the most of their chances.
Sensing their opportunity,
the Demons pounced.
A 7.4 third term for the home side, coupled with a miserly single behind conceded, saw Milawa shoot out in front of the Bombers, holding all the momentum and a 55-point lead heading into the last term.
Bonnie Doon seemed out on their feet as the Demons
continued to carve up the turf, running out winners by 93 points.
The match would see Milawa’s Brady Bartlett bring up his 100th goal for the season, while Demons Corey Dunn, Aaron Law and Dane Fountain were all in stellar form.
For the Bombers, Camp-
bell Smedley would lead from the front with two goals, while Joel Sanford, Patrick Smith and James Fox put the work in all match.
Milawa coach Matt Graham said once Barlett found his 100th, the entire team seemed to lift.
■ Continued page 14