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8000 strong crowd join in New Year’s Eve celebration
Family fun in the sun at race day
Crime rate up, but it’s not all bad
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WDCA dismay as vandals torch Wareena pitch
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SPORT
Festive despair Police disappointed with a 50 per cent rise in offences g Operation p during Roadwise
KRISTIE HAS A SPECIAL WISH IN 2024 CURRENTLY undergoing treatment for breast cancer, 35 year old local mum Kristie Ivone is hoping to enact change tohelp others this year. She has added her voice to a growing chorus calling on the Federal Government to legislate a total ban on genetic discrimination by insurance companies, removing any disincentive for those wanting to take a genetic test to understand their cancer risk. ■ Read her story on page 7.
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POLICE say a dramatic d ti rise i in driving offences throughout the Wangaratta region during the statewide Operation Roadwise was a major disappointment in the festive season. A total of 509 offences were detected for Wangaratta, Alpine and Moira shires during the 18 day operation which ended on Monday evening. Acting Senior Sergeant Bill Dockrey said while this year’s operation was 18 instead of 12 days the previous year, the 50 per cent increase in total road offences remained of concern, particularly in such a horror year where the road toll of 296 lives lost was the highest since 2008. “Between December 15 and January 1 there was a recorded 509 offences and 11,640 breath tests conducted, resulting in 23 impaired driving offences,” he said. “In between December 25 and January 1 there were three collisions resulting in injury, and another five without injury. “The types of offences we’re seeing are consistent with the previous year, mostly relating to speed, driving behaviour, failing to give way, failing to adhere to road signs and using a mobile device while driving. “It’s the three pillars of traffic safety; speed, impairment and distraction. “We’ve also been noticing a fair bit of E-Scooter offending as
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use is becoming more common. “Compliant E-Scooters can reach speeds no greater than 25km/h and aren’t allowed to ride on the footpath or in a speed zone greater than 60km/h...users also have to be under the 0.05 alcohol limit. “We are testing people more frequently and have found many who are intoxicated while driving so it’s important to remind the public that temporary and permanent users need to keep under the limit. “If you’re convicted of an E-Scooter offence it can affect your driver’s licence.” Sen Sgt Dockrey urged road users to stop risk-taking behaviour, which he said police have been noting with trauma collisions. “Over this busy period people, especially those perhaps using vehicles they’re not familiar with, need to take a little extra care and remember the traffic volumes are up during this time of year,” he said. “It’s also important to have plenty of patience so they’re not involved or the cause of a collision; we want people to get home safely and want our local people to stay safe. ■ Continued page 2