Wangaratta Chronicle 040923

FINALS FESTIVAL NOT SO GOOD FOR LOCAL TEAMS

THE Ovens and Murray FNL ‘festival of football’ in Wangaratta on Saturday and Sunday was a big success off field, but not so much on field or on the courts for the home town teams.

While the final series drew large crowds basking in the spring sunshine, Wangaratta Magpies’s senior fooballers were beaten by 24 points in the qualifying final against the Albury Tigers at the WJ Findlay Oval on Saturday.

Magpies’ A grade, C grade and U17 netballers and Rovers’ U15 neballers also lost their qualifying finals.

And in yesterday’s elimination finals at Norm Minns Oval, Wodonga beat Wangaratta Rovers’ senior footballers by 40 points to end their season, and the Rovers’ U15 netallers were also eliminated, but Wangaratta Magpies’ B grade netballers kept their season alive with a 27 goals win over Myrtleford.

■ Full results in SPORT

GOTCHA: Wangaratta’s Cam Barrett had a firm grip on Albury’s Kolby HeinerHennessy, watched on by Geroge HorlinSmith (Albury) and Magpie Harrison Smart during their qualifying final on Saturday.

Shots fired Shots over duck over hunting ban ban recommendation

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War mer, drier Warmer, drier outlook for spring

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SPORT

SPORT

Five year plan

With $12.2m already pledged, Wangaratta High School prepares for future development

WANGARATTA High School will have a new master plan in place by the end of 2023, to guide development of the Edwards Street/Phillipson Street campus over the next five years.

WHS executive principal Dave Armstrong said the

BY SIMONE KERWIN skerwin@ nemedia.com.au

school was one of more than 50 across Victoria which had been funded to undertake the consultative

and preparative work required to plan for future upgrades.

Mr Armstrong said the high school’s master plan would be informed by an asset management plan which had been developed in consultation with staff, students and parents/carers.

“It is a very deep process, covering anything that needs to be upgraded, improved or significantly maintained,” he said.

Works proposed through the master plan are expected to be completed over a number of stages, with the $11.7 million pledged to the

high school pre-election by the State Government expected to be directed towards the first stage.

“We will have the $11.7 million some time; we don’t know if it will be next year or after that, but we do have that commitment in the future,” Mr Armstrong said.

A $500,000 State Government funding allocation towards redevelopment of the school’s wellbeing centre, located on the Phillipson Street side of the campus, will be added to the promised funds.

■ Continued page 3

Bonnie

Bright ends ends Demons’ season

Police warning on lives lost

VICTORIA Police has issued an urgent road safety warning to all motorists as the state enters a high-risk period for death and serious injury. There were 28 lives lost on Victoria’s roads in September last year - the highest number of fatalities recorded for the month in 16 years.

Police are determined to avoid a repeat of last September’s concerning road trauma trend and will prioritise road policing enforcement across the month.

Assistant Commissioner

Road Policing, Glenn Weir, said with the increase of 40 on this year’s lives lost on roads compared to last year, it is not the time to be complacent.

“The number of lives being lost on our roads this year should absolutely be cause for concern for everyone,” he said.

“We want everyone to think about not only their own safety but how their decisions and behaviour behind the wheel can impact the safety of others.”

Motorcyclists made up almost 40 per cent of all road

Est. 1884, Incorporating Wangaratta Despatch, Est. 1861

WEATHER

*NB: Rainfall totals up until 3pm, Sunday

LUCKY NUMBERS

Tattslotto - Draw 4395

37, 32, 41, 40, 16 (26, 30) Winning numbers

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users killed during September last year.

Police suspect excessive and inappropriate speed, unauthorised riding, not wearing appropriate protective riding gear and driver behaviour around sharing the road with motorcyclists were key factors in fatal collisions involving motorcyclists.

The warning was issued after a fatal collision on the Hume Freeway near Chiltern last Thursday morning, claiming the lives of four people.

Speaking to media follow-

ing the incident on Friday morning, Assistant Commissioner Weir said he was nervous going into a busy September and the impact of trauma on people using the roads.

“Like everyone I’m sick of it, and you wonder about what else you have to do or say, how many times I have to stand here and appeal to people to consider what they’re doing to limit the risk taking behaviour,” he said.

“We can talk about numbers and metrics but they’re all people, every

person who was seriously injured or killed has so many people behind them, the ripple effect of trauma is terrible.

“We [police] can’t be a sole responsibility for the outcomes on the road, we really need people using the road to self-govern, self-manage; if they don’t we’ll be there to hold them to account and if they need a ticket, they’ll get one.

“September is a fantastic time of year – it’s the start of spring, footy finals, spring racing… there’s lots to look forward to; let’s en-

sure it stays that way – we don’t want September to be renowned for road trauma.”

Police will come together for a landmark road safety forum on September 14 aimed at finding new ways to tackle the growing number of lives lost this year.

A statewide road policing operation will come into effect at month’s end coinciding with the AFL Grand Final long weekend.

For more information and tips for staying safe on the roads visit the Road Safety page on the Victoria Police website.

AFFORDABLE MENTAL HEALTH:

New psychology clinic up and running

A PSYCHOLOGY clinic at Wangaratta’s Gateway Health campus was launched last month to provide affordable mental health services to the community while drawing on the skills of provisional psychologists.

Serviced by qualified provisional psychologists

from Victorian universities and supervised by licensed and experienced psychologists, the clinic will operate through a referral system and patients can even self-refer.

The clinic will form part of the ‘Mental Health and Wellbeing for Remote and

Aboriginal Victorians’ project, which seeks to provide support to rural, isolated and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities where the mental health workforce is limited.

The project is led by University of Melbourne Department of Rural Health

alongside Monash University, La Trobe University, Deakin University and Budja Budja Aboriginal Cooperative. It is also supported by the Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care through the Rural Health Multidisciplinary Training program.

AMELIA May O’Neill was born on Thursday, August 31 at 12:52pm and weighted 2.35kg (5lb 3oz).

She is the sister of Hunter, Chance and Riley and is the daughter of Kincem Nemeth and Benjamin O’Neill of Yarrawonga.

FINLAY Lewis Rogash was born on Tuesday, August 29 at 8:53pm and weighed 3.85kg (8lb 7oz). He is the son of Catriona Rogash and Timothy Rogash of Benalla.

TESSA Ellen Ivone was born on Thursday,

New arrivals at Northeast Health Wangaratta midwifery ward

MIDWIVES and nurses at Northeast Health Wangaratta were once again kept busy last week with new mums and bubs arriving.

The Wangaratta Chronicle will be in attendance at the midwifery ward on Wednesdays and Fridays at 9.30am to take photos of new-

borns 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.

Pictured at the launch of the new psychology clinic at Wangaratta’s Gateway Health campus were (back row) Lisa Bourke, Leigh Rhode, Siobhan Hicks, Alana Pund, Andrea Pavaroni, Melissa Harris, (front row) Connie Cudini, Helen Haines (Indi MP), Tegan Podubinski, Kim Haebich, Prue Cauley, and Rose Cusick.

PHOTO: Paul Smith, SUPERGOAT media

August 31 at 9:58am and weighed 3.6kg (7lb 14oz). She is the sister of Sam and Lucy Ivone and daughter of Michaela and Anthony Ivone of Whorouly.

19 people die from unintentional overdose in Wangaratta-Benalla

Benzodiazepines, pharmaceuticals main drugs causing unintentional overdose deaths in p,pgggregions

By STEVE KELLY

THE latest national overdose report shows that 19 people in Wangaratta-Benalla died from unintentional overdose between 2017-2021. Australia’s Annual Overdose Report 2023, released by the Penington Institute, shows ongoing concern for regional Victoria, with the rate of deaths per capita or 100,000 population, again higher at 6.6 or 99 residents compared to Greater Melbourne 6.2 or 315 residents, a trend since 2005.

With $12.2m already pledged, Wangaratta High School prepares for future development

■ From page 1

“We put that $500,000 (granted in early 2022) on hold, so (the amount) will become $12.2 million, and it will honour the spirit of the original purpose of the grant (development of a kitchen for Victorian Certificate of Applied Learning students, and improvements to student welfare facilities),” Mr Armstrong said.

“We have been funded this year for the detailed asset management plan, and by the end of this year we will have a master plan for the entire campus, which will include a number of stages to be carried out over five years.”

Mr Armstrong said he expected stage one would be divided into projects amounting to the $12.2 million promised to the school.

In Wangaratta-Benalla from 2017-2021, the same number of deaths (19) were recorded in the previous 2012-2016 period, and four more (15) compared to 20072011.

Wangaratta-Benalla’s 20172021 number of fatalities from unintentional overdose was one fewer than Wodonga-Alpine with 20 deaths and eight less than Shepparton with 27.

The highest number of unintentional overdoses deaths from 2017-2021 were in Gee-

long (100), Dandenong (86) and Frankston (84).

In regional and rural Victoria, benzodiazepines (depressants) use contributed to the highest rate of unintentional death in 2021 (three deaths per capita), followed by other pharmaceuticals (2.2 deaths per capita).

However, across regional Victoria in 2021 the rate per capita was 6.6 deaths, the lowest since 2013 (5.5).

It follows a run of high rates for unintentional druginduced deaths between 2014

and 2020, with figures reaching a high 11 deaths per capita in 2017.

The largest increases in these fatal overdoses over time are seen among older Australians, with people aged over 60 accounting for more than one-third (39.5 per cent) of all such deaths in 2021.

Residents of rural and regional parts of the country, and those from low socioeconomic areas, are also over-represented in such deaths, as are men.

In 2021, 70 per cent of

unintentional drug induced deaths were male.

Drug overdose is a leading cause of death for Australians of all ages.

Penington Institute’s CEO John Ryan said the report findings are cause for concern for all Australians and called for immediate action to address the nation’s overdose crisis.

“Overdose deaths in Australia have exceeded the road toll since 2014, and we see little to no action to demonstrably change this,” Mr Ryan said.

With one in four people dying from overdose every four hours in Australia, Mr Ryan said this is one of the world’s worst public health crises, with a devastating toll on individuals, communities, and economies the world over.

“This is why we need drug policy reform and greater overdose awareness in our communities,” he said.

“In 2021, there were 2231 drug-induced deaths reported, with a staggering 75 per cent of these deaths being unintentional.”

Community vigil lifts awareness

COMMUNITY members gathered at the illuminated Wangaratta water tower in Docker Street for a special vigil to mark International Overdose Awareness Day last Thursday evening.

The event, organised by Gateway Health and the Rural City of Wangaratta council, allowed people to remember those lost or affected by overdose, and show support to advocate for change.

Gateway Health general manager alcohol and drugs, Maryanne Donnellan, said the region has seen an increase of overdoses in the past year. She said if someone knows a person at risk of opioid overdose, Naloxone (medication to reverse the overdose) can now be accessed for free from Gateway Health, and staff will advise how to use it.

Anyone wanting more information or support can contact Gateway Health on 5732 2000 or visit gatewayhealth.org.au

“Some deep work will go in to the process, and that begins with choosing an architect consultant, who will work with the school council and school community to account for every square metre of the campus,” he said.

Mr Armstrong said the school’s pedagogy - “the

way we want to work, the way we teach, who we are” - will also inform the development of the master plan.

Meanwhile, he said installation of a 2.1m high fence surrounding the campus had been completed, and was operating well.

“We have had a lot of

feedback about the improved aesthetic, and operationally it is really good,” he said.

“Our pedestrian entrance on Edwards Street stays open for the entire school day, and ensures that visitors to the campus are directed to the office.

“It keeps our site safe.

“I recognise it’s a change for the community, but it is entirely motivated by ensuring we have a consistent process for visitors.

“We are still very, very keen to keep our campus, including our oval and stadium, available for community groups who often utilise them.”

Orchid show on this weekend

ORCHID admirers will need to put September 9 and 10 in their calendars, to attend the annual Wangaratta Orchid Show.

The event will be held at St Patrick’s Hall in Ford Street, and will be open to the public from 11am to 4.30pm on the Saturday, and 10am to 4pm on the Sunday.

LOOKING TO THE FUTURE: Wangaratta High School year 11 students Zoe Baguley (left) and Amy Griffiths are looking forward to seeing what the master plan will deliver.

PHOTO: Kurt Hickling

Never too late to utilise The Centre for learning

By SHANE DOUTHIE

TO coincide with Adult Learners Week (September 1 - 8) The Centre will hold an Open Day this Wednesday from 10am to 1pm.

This year’s theme ‘It’s Never Too Late’ is a reminder that returning to learning at any age and stage can make a profound difference to one’s life.

The Centre is a community focused organisation providing education and support services including ACFE (Adult Community Further Education) courses which help learners to obtain skills in finding work, building self-confidence, customer service, job readiness, pathways into TAFE, Adult literacy and numeracy.

They are also a registered training organisation delivering Certificate III in Individual Support (PCA), Disability and Education Support, and Certificate IV in Disability, these courses are of greatest need in the area, with 90 per cent of learners gaining employment in those fields.

“We have a range of short courses for learners who are wanting to enter the hospitality industry with Food Handling, Barista, Non-Alcoholic Drinks, RSA, and Prepare Sandwiches,” Sue Geals, The Centre CEO said.

“We offer Skillset courses which are entry level into

home care or aged care taster courses, with the option of completing a Cert 3, at a later point.

“There is also a Chemical Users Skillset targeted towards those who require their ACUP to purchase restricted chemicals.

“Our Ability Me program is a program for those that have a cognitive or intellectual disability, helping learners to gain basic life skills, in work or education.”

ACVVS (Aged Care Volunteer Visitors Scheme) is a program that recruits volunteers and matches them with isolated and lonely older people.

The Carers program works with carers who are seeking further edu-

cation or employment.

This program provides support into tailored education programs to build confidence, access to support programs, post placement support in education or employment, for people who are un-paid carers.

“Our Employment, Education and Support team works with all of our learners, to ensure that they are successful in reaching their goals, building relationships with industries, and supporting learners far beyond just the classroom,” Ms Geals said.

“Reconnect is a program to assist disadvantaged people who are not currently engaged in education and are long term unemployed

by providing one on one support to overcome barriers.

“Our Reconnect program helps to achieve personal, education and employment goals with access to funding for course fees/ tuition, transport and work related training/ licenses.

“We support participants through education and training and back into the workplace by creating suitable employment pathways.”

Sports North East is a Regional Sports Assembly for North East Victoria, who work with sporting clubs to build capacity and capability, create awareness around funding opportunities, volunteer recruitment and training.

“As an organisation, we

Pomp, and pom pom, make ACS celebration a world event

Monday, September 2, 2013

WANGARATTA has long been known as a textile town - perhaps Australia’s greatest - and now it has a new Guinness World Record to back it up.

Australian Country Spinners (ACS) strung out a 178.6 metre long line of pom poms on Saturday to lay claim to the world title, much to the delight of some 300 current and past employees who were helping celebrate the company’s 90th anniversary of manufacturing in Australia.

“It’s definitely one of the more colorful and family friendly records I’ve seen,” said Chris Steedy, who

Browns wins three trophies and gold medal

MILAWA-based Brown Family Wine Group were awarded three trophies and a gold medal for the Pirie NV at the 2023 Australian Sparkling Wine Show.

Pirie is one of Tasmania’s original producers of premium sparkling wine which was founded by viticulturist Andrew Pirie.

encourage our clients and our staff to be lifelong learners – this includes being curious and taking responsibility for our own learning, whether it is formal learning for the job, or learning about what each of us do here at The Centre, or learning how to productively connect with each other to achieve our vision,” Ms Geals said.

“We achieve wonderful outcomes with our clients that are often life changing and transformational.

“We welcome everyone to come and take a walk through our organisation this Wednesday, have a conversation with key staff in their area of expertise, we may have a program that interests you.”

Northern Tasmania is now widely recognised for the quality of sparkling wine produced in the true cool climate of 41-42 degrees south and today Pirie makes some of the most acclaimed sparkling wines in the world.

Brown Family Wine Group’s senior winemaker, Tom Wallace, said producing Pirie is an art in itself.

“There’s meticulous planning and patience required, and even then it takes crossed fingers in the hope of the ideal conditions,” he said.

Pirie NV starred at the 2023 Australian Sparkling Wine Show being awarded three trophies, namely: Winequip/Lallemond Trophy for Best Wine of Show; IOC Trophy for Best Mature Sparkling Wine; and Grapeworks Trophy for Best Sparkling 24 to 60 months Tirage.

It was also awarded a gold medal.

officiated the record attempt and presented the certificate from Guinness.

“It only took me two hours to count every one of the 6977 pom poms... far exceeding the previous record of 4000.”

ACS employee, and pom pom co-ordinator Penny Walker-Keefe,

said every staff member had made pom poms, together with around 100 people on Facebook, and six primary schools.

“It’s been a fantastic effort and a great way to mark our 90th celebrations.

“We will chop up bits of the pom pom and give some to the schools, and also sell some with proceeds to go to charity.”

Saturday’s 90th anniversary celebrations served as a tremendous reunion, with many reflecting on a company (Wangaratta Woollen Mills) that helped build the city.

SPARKLING CHAMPION: Tom Wallace samples the awardwinning Pirie NV.

JOIN US: The Centre will have an Open Day this Wednesday from 10am to 1pm where you will be welcomed by staff including (from left) Sharon Currie, Jan Meloury. Victoria Mangubat, Lora Watson, Stephen Shanley, Nanette Collins, Amanda Long, Vicki Grant, Naomi Reid, Katie Graham, Stephen Lane and Nicole Turnball.

PHOTO: Kurt Hickling

WORLD MARK: Penny Walker-Keefe accepts the certificate from Chris Steedy confirming Australian Country Spinners’ pom pom (at rear) is now holds the Guinness World Record.

PHOTO: Marc Bongers

What appears moment’s inattention has had such tragic outcome: police

By BAILEY ZIMMERMANN

POLICE have confirmed four people killed in a collision at Chiltern Valley early Thursday morning were two couples in their 70s travelling from central New South Wales to Melbourne.

The four people are believed to have left in the early hours of Thursday morning on their way to see family and friends, stopping at Chiltern for a coffee break before heading back out onto the Hume

Freeway at Wenkes Road.

Speaking to media on Friday, Victorian Assistant Commissioner for Road Policing, Glenn Weir, said for “whatever reason”, the vehicle re-joining the freeway from Wenkes Road failed to give way and it was struck by a B-double.

“It’s another tragic reminder of how what appears to be a moment’s inattention has such tragic outcomes,” he said.

“You can travel 300km and do the right thing for 299.9km, but one mistake is unforgiving.

“The impact of trauma for all of those poor families that were involved; it’s devastating.”

The truck driver, a 30-yearold man, was taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

The truck belonged to Ron Finemore Transport, based in Wodonga.

“You can imagine the shock he is in, a guy going to work, was just driving his truck and has been confronted with something that is beyond his

control, which has resulted in being involved in such a tragic incident,” Assistant Commissioner Weir said.

He said the Wodonga based company was cooperative with police, providing dash-cam footage and will be assisting the Major Collision Investigation Unit.

The truck driver was cleared of alcohol or drug use at the time of the incident and was believed to have been travelling to Sydney, having just returned to work

after a period of time off

Assistant Commissioner Weir said Victoria Police are aware of the high volume intersection at Wenkes Road where there have been 10 reported accidents over 10 years, and will consider recommendations at the conclusion of their investigation.

“It’s not ideal to have people joining a 110km/h road from 0-110km/h, but the cost to put an over pass or long slip lanes is very expensive and it’s that balance for government

and road authorities on how they go about it,” he said.

The tragic collision preludes a statewide police warning on road safety for all motorists in September, which was the deadliest month on Victoria’s roads last year.

Assistant Commissioner Weir said Victoria Police are trying to understand the causes of an increase in road trauma across the North East, particularly in the number of multi-fatality incidents.

COMMUNITY members are being invited to Apex Park today to add their voices to the ‘Yes’ vote in support of an Indigenous Voice to Parliament.

From 4pm, members of the public can meet at the Marmugun Rock and meet former AFL footballer, Michael Long, and former Liberal MP and ultra marathon runner Pat Farmer.

Mr Long is currently walking from Melbourne to Canberra on a “Long Walk the Talk” to build understanding from the grass roots.

Mr Farmer is currently on an epic 14,400 km run – finishing at Uluru - to demonstrate his passionate support for an Indigenous Voice to Parliament, which goes to a national referendum on October 14.

Pat and Michael will arrive at Apex Park accompanied by local runners to a welcome by the local community, Bpangerang Elder Uncle Dozer Atkinson, Mayor of Wangaratta Dean Rees, members of local First Nations People, Yes23 Wangaratta, and surrounds, 100 volunteers, and the wider community.

Community members are invited to welcome the pair at Apex Park and learn more about the proposed Voice to Parliament and inclusion in the Constitution.

Boosting the spirits of our local heroes

By BAILEY ZIMMERMANN

WANGARATTA SES unit’s headquarters has been lit up with a fresh zest of local art.

After being tasked with the SES themed paintings six months ago, local artist Brenda Smith recently delivered a mural of four SES themed art pieces to the headquarters, which include a sample of the local wildlife and the bright orange SES workers and trucks.

Wangaratta SES unit commander, Jess Zuber, said the mural represented the natural environments local crews often find themselves

in when on a job and aim to bring smiles to their faces as they return from what can be confronting environments.

“We have this purpose built shed and it’s absolutely fantastic equipment wise but we wanted to support the wellbeing of our members by being able to bring colour, a smile to their face because they’re so cheery and bright,” she said.

“To be able to come back at 3am from a tree job or road accident and have something there that lifts our spirits and helps us that little bit more.”

The mural is on display around

the exterior of the building and can be seen as members or visitors drive up to the headquarters.

Ms Zuber said she couldn’t have been happier with how they have turned out.

“We wanted them to have a bit of a SES theme and to also represent the natural community so our hills, wildlife, the nature we seem to find ourselves in quite often,” she said.

“The members have loved them, it’s just something different and it’s definitely improving well-being at the moment and I’m sure it will continue to do so for a long time to come.”

By STEVE KELLY

MEMBERS of the public have around four weeks to comment on a ‘whistleblowing’ policy which effectively allows people to make confidential reports about corrupt or improper conduct against council officers or councillors of the Rural City of Wangaratta.

The Public Interest Disclosure Policy was endorsed by councillors last week to be released for community engagement until September 29.

Council director of corporate and leisure, Sarah Brindley, addressed the August council meeting explaining that council undertook a review of the policy to satisfy an action arising from the Audit and Risk Committee to ensure the policy was reviewed by legal practitioners so it was legally compliant.

She said the proposed policy has also been slightly changed to provide greater clarity on the process for making a formal disclosure and the roles and responsibilities of councillors, senior managers and council’s appointed public interest disclosure coordinator.

Councillor Jack Herry talked about the importance of the policy and how members of the community should know it’s available.

“It’s important to acknowledge that we need to be looking to improve on these critical documents which are to ensure we are held to account and that our community understands the mechanisms and processes which they can utilise to hold us, their governance body and council, to account,” Cr Herry told the meeting.

FRESH LOOK: The Wangaratta SES team were happy to see the arrival of a new SES themed mural, painted by local artist Brenda Smith, to be hung out around the exterior of their headquarters.

‘Whistleblowing’ policy for council seeking input from community

Join Michael, Pat in park and add your voice to ‘Yes’ vote

A sporting way to spend Father’s Day

BRILLIANT spring sunshine certainly only added to reasons to come out and celebrate the very best of local sport in Wangaratta and district on the weekend.

Big, and what police described as “well behaved” crowds enjoyed the ‘festival of finals fever’ O&M football and netball on both days in the city, with a similar result at O&K fixtures on Saturday and Sunday.

Saturday’s WJFL matches drew big crowds, as did Sunday’s preliminary final soccer extravaganza at South Wangaratta, and baseball grand finals at Barooga Park.

The weekend only sought to consolidate the rural city’s proud reputation of a rich sporting culture, which celebrates the very best of human endeavour.

Of course, yesterday being Father’s Day only further enhanced the strong maternal bonds forged in a shared love of sport - on and off the field or court.

Seeing the pride and admiration shared among families; generations finding common ground and often awkward communication channels bridged only reasserted that our sport is not just a barometer for effort and achievement, but an insight into a healthy community.

WE welcome your letters to the Editor. Priority is given to typed/emailed letters under 250 words. Every letter must have your full name, address and a daytime phone contact number supplied for verification purposes. Any letter may be edited for reasons of space, content or legibility. Email edit.chronicle@nemedia.com.au

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The Quiz No. 51

1. Who won Australia’s only cycling gold medal at the 2012 Summer Olympics?

2. Which H.G. Wells novel features the characters, Dr. Kemp and Griffin?

3. What is the traditional mascot of the US Republican party?

4. Which New Zealand city has the highest population?

5. How many times did Chris Judd win the Leigh Matthews Trophy?

6. Which two members of Led Zeppelin were also members of the band, The Honeydrippers?

7. What are the three main colours used on a roulette wheel?

8. Who was the Roman god of wine?

9. What is Australia’s largest desert?

10. In a game of chess, the rook is also known by what other name?

11. What type of food is mascarpone?

12. In November 2015, it was announced that former heavyweight boxing champion, David Haye, would fight which Western Australian in January 2016?

13. Which car manufacturer makes the Altima mid-size car?

14. The 2005 movie, Rumor Has It..., was loosely based around which 1963 movie?

15. Which Australian prime minister was once the manager of a band called The Ramrods?

16. What is the capital of Tibet?

17. Indigobirds are native to which continent?

18. What is the name of Google’s web browser?

19. Which W-League team play their home games at McKellar Park?

20. Who played Charlie Crawford in the TV series, Spin City?

FACEBOOK users this week commented on the devastating car accident on the Hume Freeway near Chiltern, which claimed the lives of four people.

• Travis Barnes: Went past today on way back from Albury in my B Double. Truly horrendous sight.

• Brendon Jarred: Travis Barnes same mate, passed it coming home from Moruya. Horrible for all involved

• Jayson Ambrose: That’s one thing that you don’t want

to see on the hwy mate.

• Cheryl Osborn: Such a devastating time for all involved. My heartfelt sympathy to the families of the victims involved and to the first responders.

• Kylie Dowell: So incredibly devastating. Sincerest heartfelt condolences to all the family and strength to the first responders.

• Khyara Ross: Jessica Bear this is what all the ambulances would’ve been for

• Christine Bryant:

Very few Indigenous races in constitution

THERE are only six countries that recognise Indigenous people in their constitutions.

Norway, Sweden and Finland recognise the Sami, through the “Sami Voice” which advise those governments on matters relating only to the Sami.

Hunting rights, in particular for reindeer, were granted to the Sami.

Canada has existing treaty rights recognised and affirmed with Indigenous people.

The constitution of the USA gives their government power to trade with native Indian tribes, so they are recognised as separate to other Americans.

Japan has given certain territorial interests to the Ainu.

No other countries mention their Indigenous populations in their constitutions.

Treaties with Indigenous peoples have been made in the USA, New Zealand, Norway, Finland, Sweden and Canada.

No other countries have treaties with their Indigenous populations.

My research is that countries which do not recognise their Indigenous or minority groups in their constitution or with treaties include China, India, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Russia, Spain, Vietnam, Cambodia, Philippines, Brazil, Argentina, Mexico, Kenya and Polynesia.

Many other countries have no Indigenous groups, but plenty of minorities.

Rhetoric and platitudes no matter the origin can only obscure the real facts.

Statements such as “the rest of the colonised world” and ”self-serving agenda” from a letter writer in the Wangaratta Chronicle (August 19) should be recognised as rhetoric.

I believe that all Australians should be treated equally and therefore find it difficult to accept that the proposed Voice can “advise” our government on all laws.

If it was to be purely on laws applying only to Indigenous, as with the Sami, then there could be no possible complaint.

Doug Cooper, Wangaratta

Stop destruction of prime agricultural land

IN response to Barry McArthur’s poem, Wangaratta Chronicle, August 28.

Bravo, someone has spoken out in prose to highlight the destruction of prime agricultural land for solar panels.

Use wasteland, not desecrate prime agricultural pastures for renewable energy.

The grid supports Melbourne not Regional Victoria.

Heartbreaking Love and prayers to all the families

• Lyn Mckinley: My condolences to all families and friends

• Paula McGavin: OMG four lives lost!

• Davina Bermingham: Sad Facebook users also commented on Rachel York being announced as a finalist in Australian Women’s Small Business Champion Awards next month.

• Gabby Simmonds:

Congratulations Rach, such a joy to do something you love. Good luck x

• Teaghan Savage: Well done! Amazing work and also an amazing cook at school with the kids too

• Anne Cameron: Congratulations your a super star

• Sharon Thomas Stone: Congratulation Rach, you are such an inspiration, well done.

• Sue DowClareb: Very lovely lady, well deserving of this award!

Like the Wangaratta Chronicle Facebook page to have your say.

Our follower total is

14,322

BLOOMING MARVELLOUS:

Cancer Council

Victoria Wangaratta Volunteer Group members including Robyn Dunstan and Margaret Sartori (pictured) were all smiles with the results from their daffodil day sales. Thanks to generous support from the community, the group sold 120 bunches and raised $1200 for the Cancer Council, with the final tally is expected to climb once additional donations are counted.

More panels are earmarked for Ashmead Road.

When is this erosion of local farmland going to stop?

I fully sympathise with farmers who are being offered ludicrous amounts of money to release their properties.

Glenrowan/Winton area is being surrounded by non recyclable glass panels which is destroying our rural lifestyle.

Enough.

Watch around water for your children’s sake

ROYAL Life Saving Society – Australia research shows 549 children under five have drowned in the past 20 years in Australia, predominantly in backyard swimming pools. Drowning is silent and quick.

By the time you count 20 seconds, a young child can drown.

Urve Fulton, Glenrowan

It’s time we capitalised on region’s attractions

THE Bush Summit in Wodonga needs to be valued and built on all around the region.

Wangaratta sits in the centre of fine wine regions and amazing gourmet scene, whiskey and gin trails, charming historic towns and nature to explore.

This needs to be featured where possible and through events that can suit.

The Wangaratta Turf Club is well placed to have a wine and gourmet race day and include a Vignerons Cup and even a Rutherglen Cup day .

This would attract many tourists and sponsors to the race day .

It also lifts the image of the region.

Stuart Davie, Corowa

The children who are most at risk are aged just one year old.

While pool fencing legislation has significantly reduced the number of young children drowning, there is still more we can do.

Kids can’t help themselves around water, you need to keep watch.

There are four key things everyone can do to help prevent young children drowning: supervise, restrict, teach, and respond.

Supervise: Always keep young children within arm’s reach when you are in, on, or near water is critical.

Restrict: That is where pool fencing comes in.

Teach: It is important to discuss water safety with your child and set some rules .

Respond: If you haven’t done CPR training, or you completed it a long time ago, make that a priority this month.

Justin Scarr, CEO, Royal Life Saving Society - Australia

PHOTO: Kurt Hickling

Shots fired: parliamentary inquiry recommends duck hunting ends

BY STEVE KELLY skelly@ nemedia.com.au

A PARLIAMENTARY inquiry released last week is calling for a complete ban on recreational duck and quail shooting in Victoria from next year.

The Select Committee inquiry into Victoria’s native bird hunting arrangements handed down its final report in the Victorian Parliament on Thursday, with the first recommendation calling for the ban on shooting on private and public land from 2024.

It comes after a sixmonth inquiry process with more than 10,000 submissions received – the largest ever in Victorian parliament history.

The committee also conducted public hearings across Melbourne and regional Victoria, as well as attending the opening morning of this year’s recreational duck shooting season.

The Select Committee has backed in its support for greater access to outdoor recreation, recommending that State Game Reserves be transformed into Outdoor Recreation Reserves, with updated infrastructure to support activities like boating and camping.

Other recommendations also include a ban on lead ammunition for all forms of hunting in Victoria, and greater protections for Aboriginal cultural heritage sites.

Have your say

What do you think?

Should the Victorian Government adopt the inquiry recommendation to ban duck and quail hunting?

Email your opinion/ letter to the editor to edit. chronicle@nemedia.com. au, including your name, address and contact number.

Duck hunting report ‘sham’, says local MP

WANGARATTA-based Nationals’ MP for Ovens Valley, Tim McCurdy, has slammed the findings of the Inquiry into Victoria’s Recreational Native Bird Hunting Arrangements.

He accused Labor, the Greens and Animal Justice Party MPs on the inquiry of voting “based on their hard-left environmental ideology and not on the facts” in recommending the end of duck hunting.

“Labor has abandoned regional Victorians in favour of the hard-left environmentalist factions that make up their inner-city voter base,” Mr McCurdy said.

Recreational duck and quail shooting was outlawed in Western Australia in 1990, New South Wales in 1995 and Queensland in 2005.

The campaign in Victoria has been running for almost 40 years, and these recommendations bring the state closer than ever before to doing the same.

Northern Victoria Region upper house Animal Justice Party MP and Select Committee member, Georgie Purcell, wants the Victorian Government to immediately act on all of the recommendations before any arrangements are made for a 2024 season.

“When I was elected as an Animal Justice Party MP in Victoria, I made a commitment that I would do all I can to end duck shooting,” she said.

“It has been my priority and today, we are now closer than ever before.

“Victorians love our wildlife - they don’t want to see native animals shot for a thrill kill.

“The recommendations by the Select Committee are commonsense and in line with long-held community sentiment.”

Ms Purcell said it has been made abundantly clear through a parliamentary inquiry that no matter

how well resourced the Game Management Authority is, monitoring duck shooter compliance is near impossible due to the enormous number of places that shooting can take place.

She said evidence from hunters, rescuers, animal welfare groups and shooting organisations all acknowledged that duck shooting without wounding was simply not possible, and the committee has determined this an unacceptable animal welfare outcome that can only be addressed with a ban.

But Eastern Victoria Region MP Jeff Bourman

described the main recommendation to ban the sport as “farcical”.

The Shooters, Fishers and Farmers Party MP said a ban is “in complete contradiction to the credible evidence presented to the committee”.

“In fact, the report should really start, ‘once upon a time’, it’s so far removed from what we heard.

“It’s proof that the whole process was a sham, that the outcome was predetermined and that a lot of people have wasted time and resources for nothing.”

“They have sold themselves out to the radical anti-farmer policies of the Greens and the Animal Justice Party, all because they are terrified of losing votes in the inner-city to the Greens.

“We know the duck hunting is an activity which is undertaken by trained and licenced hunters, who conduct themselves in a responsible manner.

“We also know that it has economic and land conservation benefits, which is why we need to ensure we are sustaining our wetlands.

“Our (Opposition) minority report recommends the continuation of bird harvesting in Victoria in a safe, responsible, and sustainable way.

“It is clear that the only purpose of this committee was to tell the Labor Government want it wanted to hear, not engage in building genuine outcomes for the regions.”

END OF DAYS: Hunters from across Victoria may have already shot their last duck hunting season with a parliamentary inquiry recommending that the practice end in 2024.

PHOTO: Game Management Authority

GENERAL KNOWLEDGE CROSSWORD

ACROSS

4 Name an item used in weightlifting (7)

8 Which social worker is attached to a hospital (7)

9 To postpone to a future meeting, is to do what (7)

10 Which disease is known as the bends (7)

11 Name another term for a garbage can (7)

12 What is a token, or an indication (6)

14 Name a piece of photographic apparatus (6)

18 Which number is one thousand times one thousand (7)

21 What is used for preventive inoculation (7)

22 What is the official proving of a will as authentic (7)

23 To be staggering, is to be doing what (7)

24 Name the final course of a meal (7)

DOWN

1 What is the dead body of an animal (7)

2 Which term describes the boundary of something (5)

3 Name the loss of the sense of smell (7)

4 Which spirit is distilled from the fermented juice of grapes (6)

5 What, in India, are kings or princes called (5)

6 To be free from variations, is to be what (7)

7 Which fabric is woven from flax yarns (5)

13 Name an alternative term for a scaffold (7)

15 What are Parisian gangsters called (7)

16 Which term relates to a large allotment of rural land (7)

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.

SUDOKU

17 To turn upside down, is to do what (6)

18 What is a light, lowpowered motorcycle, equipped with pedals (5)

19 To be angry, is to be what (5)

20 Name some flightless birds of New Zealand (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 FECUND

(a) Feverish

(b) Shapely

(c) Fruitful

2 GENAL

(a) Of the cheek

(b) Sympathetic

(c) Creative

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:

Before (poet.) (3)

Corundum mix for grinding (5)

Equals (5)

Made a mistake (5)

Propose: ... the question (3)

Small printers’ measures (3)

State of great suffering (7)

Time period (3)

Top quality

Mid-19th

QUICK THINK

Solve the crossword. Each answer has four letters.

SOLUTIONS

WHAT’S UP WITH THE WEATHER?

By Peter Nelson, Peter Retired CSIRO climatologist

Our warmer winter, with less rainfall and fewer frosts

THE winter season in North East Victoria saw fewer frosts than usual.

Wangaratta had 35 frost days, Rutherglen 40 frosts days and Benalla had 30 frost days.

Winter rainfall was a mixed bag across the region, with Wangaratta’s 162.6mm down on its 186mm average, and Benalla’s 215mm also down on its 217mm average.

However, Rutherglen with 224mm (average 177mm) and Albury with 213mm (average of 194mm) were both wetter tan normal.

Drier, warmer spring forecast for our city

WANGARATTA has a more than 50 per cent chance of an unusually dry spring, according to the latest outlook from the Bureau of Meteorology.

It is forecasting a 52 per cent chance Wangaratta’s rainfall from September to the end of November will be 95.9mm or less.

It only rates an 18 per cent chance of it being above the city’s median of 137.8mm, and a two per cent chance of an unusually wet spring with rainfall exceeding 200mm.

And it’s even more dire for the temperature outlook, with the bureau rating a 96 per cent chance Wangaratta’s spring temperatures will be above average.

The city’s maximum historical medium for spring is 21.7 degrees, with the bureau saying

Water storages healthy going into spring

BY JEFF ZEUSCHNER jzeuschner@

there’s a 74 per cent chance of unusually warm temperatures taking the maximum median to 23.1 degrees or above.

The bureau’s long-range forecast for spring shows below average rainfall is likely for most of Australia, along with warmer than usual temperatures.

The warmer spring forecast comes as winter 2023 looks to be Australia’s warmest winter on record.

Locally, our August temperatures were well above average, with the monthly mean minimum being 3.6 degrees and mean maximum 15.8 degrees -

compared to the average of three degrees and 14.5 degrees.

August 15 to 17 were our only sub zero mornings for the month, with our hottest being 10.4 degrees on August 30.

Our coldest day last month was Saturday, August 12 with a maximum of 10.7 degrees, while our warmest of three consecutive days (August 27-29) was 19.7 degrees last Monday.

Wangaratta’s total rainfall of 42.2mm was down on our 57.8mm mean August average for the past 36 years, and it our

31st lowest August total in the past 100 years - a stark contrast to the 101.3mm recorded in the same month last year.

Rainfall was recorded on 14 of the 31 days in August, with the heaviest fall of 15.6mm on Saturday, August 3.

While August’s 42.2mm and July’s 42.4mm was well down on average, June’s exceedingly wet 98mm brought Wangaratta winter’s rainfall total to 182.6mm, which was just below the 186mm average for the past 36 years.

Mean maximum temperatures for the winter season were half to one degree above the long term average.

At Wangaratta the mean maximum temperature for winter was 14.3 degrees, which was half a degree above normal.

At Benalla the mean maximum temperature of 14.1 degrees was also half a degree above normal.

At Rutherglen the mean maximum temperature of 14.7 degrees was 1.4 degrees above normal.

It was clearly the warmest winter since 2013.

The mean minimum temperature for all three towns for the winter was 3.9 degrees at Wangaratta, 3.4 degrees at Rutherglen and 4.3 degrees at Benalla.

All three were a degree above the long term normal and the warmest since 2016.

Winter rainfall was well down on average generally over most of Australia including all of Victoria.

The winter rainfall just exceeded the average at Whitfield with 450mms and at Strathbogie with 353mms, which was partly due to a big summer like deluge on June 8.

Recent heat records at Eucla on the far south east coast of WA have historically set up very dry and much warmer than normal conditions from September to well into December in Victoria, with fire danger extremely high from next November.

Relief rains with thunderstorms are anticipated near the end of December or early January.

RARE SIGHT: Rainfall and rainbows weren’t plentiful in August, but they were captured together near Wangaratta last week. PHOTO: Kurt Hickling

nemedia.com.au

WATER storages across the region remain high as we head into spring. Lake Buffalo, which supplies Wangaratta’s domestic water, is at 79.66 per cent, with Lake William Hovell and Lake Nillahcootie at 100 per cent. Lake Dartmouth is at 96.85 per cent, Hume Dam 98.56 per cent and Lake Eildon 97.14 per cent.

Wangaratta Voice Forum

Join a respectful discussion about The Voice with two Australian legends

6pm, Monday 4 September 2023

Ovens Riverside Square, Faithfull Street, Wangaratta

Michael Long is one of the most recognisable Aboriginal figures in AFL football. He played for the Essendon Football Club between 1989 and 2001, was a member of two premiership sides and the winner of the 1993 Norm Smith Medal.

In the 1990’s Michael inspired a national conversation on racism faced by Aboriginal a nd Torres Strait Islander people. In 2004 he walked to Canberra for respect and unity. This year, he's walking again for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to be heard.

Pat Farmer is a professional ultra-marathon runner who has broken world records and created some of his own. He also served eight years as a Member of Australia’s Parliament, including three years as Parliamentary Secretary for Edu cation, Science and Training. Pat is undertaking a six-month ultra-marathon around Australia, campaigning to raise awareness and engagement to support a Yes vote in the Voice to Parliament referendum.

Michael Long OAM AFL great and First Nations rights advocate

Pat Farmer AM Ultra-marathon runner and former Liberal MP

Sigrid’s artworks are helping shed light on violence

THE Warriors Unmasked art project currently on display at Gallery 2 at Wangaratta Art Gallery is a bold endeavour bringing together courageous artists who are determined to use their craft to expose the issues of family violence and sexual assault.

Led by the Centre Against Violence, along with the generous support from the Kyamba Foundation, GOTAFE, the Rural City of Wangaratta and the Wangaratta Art Gallery, it is designed to inspire visitors and encourage difficult conversations as it delves into the personal experiences of each artist.

In a passionate display of artistic bravery, artist Sigrid E A van Krieken fearlessly took up her brush to participate in

Warriors Unmasked.

Known for her profound artistic expression and unwavering commitment to confronting difficult subjects, Sigrid has embarked on a remarkable journey to uncover an issue that is often hidden.

“I wanted to shine a light on a difficult subject that is not often talked about, and no, the painting is not comfortable or easy to look at,” she said.

“I want to remind people many children witness violence in the home or can be targets themselves and this experience can lead to childhood trauma.

“What is not often talked about is the number of children who grow into their teen years having experienced the

confusion of seeing one parent being abused by the other.”

As an example, a child who tries to protect this parent risks being targeted by the abusive parent.

In this family dynamic they can experience psychological abuse where there is also differing treatments toward the siblings and the abuser treats one as the golden child, while another is the scapegoat.

Sigrid said all children need unconditional love and acceptance from their parental figures and for some this does not happen.

“Sometimes the pain is too great, the mental health system may fail them or fail to address the cause and some fall through the cracks,” she said.

“Not enough is done to stop

‘Ripper’ reason reason to visit for mer to former stamping ground

BY SIMONE KERWIN skerwin@ nemedia.com.au

Author Shelley Burr was heavily influenced by her connection to the Glenrowan area as she wrote her two novels, the award-winning ‘Wake’, and new release ‘Ripper’.

Shelley, who regularly visited her father and paternal family in the Glenrowan area while growing up, returns to the district this week for the local launch of ‘Ripper’ at the Wangaratta Library, to be held in collaboration with Edgars Books and News on Thursday from 6.30pm.

“My parents split up when my brother and I were very young, and our parents lived far apart - our mother/maternal family in Newcastle, and my father/paternal family in the Glenrowan area,” she said.

“(Spending) time in Glenrowan had a huge influence on me.

“The setting of ‘Wake’ was very much inspired by roaming the paddocks as a kid, those times when I looked around and realised I might be the only person for miles. “’Ripper’ is more inspired by the main street.”

‘Ripper’ centres on Gemma Guillory, who has lived her entire life in Rainier, a small town which remains in the shadow of three innocent people’s deaths 17 years previously at the hands of the Rainier Ripper.

Gemma’s own teashop was the last stop on the Ripper’s trail of death, and the tragedies still haunt her police officer husband and their marriage.

Some of her neighbours are desperate enough to welcome

a dark tourism company keen to cash in on Rainier’s reputation as a murder town, but when the tour operator is killed by a Ripper copycat on Gemma’s doorstep, she’s drawn into the investigation.

Shelley remembers the Kelly-centric tourism of Glenrowan as a feature of the town.

“I think your home and your family always feels normal to you if you grow up in it,” she said.

“We’d pop into town for groceries, and the site of the siege would be right over there.

“You use the giant Ned Kelly statue as a starting point to give directions.

“It became more interesting to me as I grew up.

“I didn’t consciously realise that I was drawing inspiration from those experiences when I planned ‘Ripper’, but it became really obvious while writing.”

Shelley said her favourite part of the extensive research she carried out for ‘Ripper’ was making sure the descriptions of the town and Gemma’s teashop were perfect.

“It was a great excuse to stop at any nice town (including Glenrowan and Wang) for

this abuse...the number of women and children that are killed is horrific, however, we also fail to see the number of young people who choose to end their own lives after witnessing abuse or from the effects of abuse towards themselves”.

Sigrid hopes that her powerful portrayal will act as a call to the community, urging all to acknowledge the trauma experienced by children.

Her work, together with the collective efforts of the Warriors Unmasked art project, serves as a reminder that much work lies ahead in safeguarding the most vulnerable among us.

• For crisis support or suicide intervention services call Lifeline on 13 11 14).

Local artists exhibition

A NEW exhibition by resident artists Linda D’Agostino and Melissa Johns has opened at the Art Gallery on Ovens in the laneway off Murphy Street.

An artist and illustrator, Melissa is known for using upcycled materials in her artworks which have a vintage, whimsical feel, while Linda enjoys experimenting with a variety of mediums and techniques to create her paintings and illustrative style landscapes. The exhibition is open Monday, Thursday and Friday from 10am until 4pm and on Saturday and Sunday from 10am until 2pm until September 18 and entry is free.

Looking Glass at art gallery

A SIGNIFICANT exhibition of works by two of Australia’s most acclaimed Aboriginal artists, Judy Watson and Yhonnie Scarce, is open at the Wangaratta Art Gallery.

WIN A COPY OF SHELLEY

BURR’S ‘RIPPER’

The Wangaratta Chronicle has a copy of Shelley Burr’s ‘Ripper’ to give away to one lucky reader.

If you would like to be in the running to win, email skerwin@nemedia. com.au and tell us why you’d like to own it.

a slice of cake and a cup of coffee…for research,” she said.

Shelley, whose release of ‘Ripper’ further solidifies her place in the crime-writing genre, is also studying agriculture and developing a small permaculture farm.

“I’ve always loved to write.

I never expected to do it for a living, though,” she said.

“For many years, it was a hobby; I studied commerce at university, and had a happy career in the public service before I released ‘Wake’.

“Getting such a wonderful reception for my work, and finding a readership, has re-

ally taken me by surprise.

“It’s always important to have something other than writing to work on, and the farm work is perfect because it involves a lot of work with my hands, digging and hammering and walking up and down hills.

“That gives me time and space to let things percolate in my brain, and exercise has always been a great way to get myself unstuck when I’m finding the writing tricky.”

While ‘Wake’ took four years to write, ‘Ripper’ was a much faster process, revealing itself in a little over a year.

“I had the luxury of working on it full-time, not

squeezing it in around another job like I did with my first book,” Shelley said.

She said while the small town murder mystery was a popular sub-genre at the moment, thanks significantly to the work of Jane Harper, it had always been a mainstay of crime fiction.

“Small towns are fertile grounds for storytelling because everything feels so personal,” she said.

“In Rainier, everyone knows everyone else, and every character is connected to every other character in at least two ways.

“That makes everything messier when everyone’s schemes start to come crashing down around them.”

Shelley said those attending Thursday’s event at the library could expect a great time.

“We’ll have a chat about the book, and about writing and publishing, and there will be a chance for questions from the audience. Edgars will have books available for sale if anyone would like to get one signed,” she said.

Bookings are essential for Thursday’s author talk, and can be made by visiting https://bit.ly/3qopRb5

The exhibition called Looking Glass features paintings, video and sculptural works exploring the elements of earth, water, fire and air. Kokatha and Nukunu artist, Yhonnie’s Scarce’s heated and blown glass sculptures are shown alongside Waanyi artist, Judy Watson’s washed canvases, stained with earthen pigments, with the exhibition showing in Gallery One until October 22.

Young Writers Award back on

THE Wangaratta Young Writers Award is back on.

Entries are now open for young people aged between 10 and 19, encouraging them to develop their capacity and imagination through writing.

Entrants can submit an original piece of writing in their age group in one of two categories - story (no more than 2000 words), or poetry/song lyrics (no more than 50 lines).

Entries close September 30. For entry forms or more information, contact the Wangaratta Library on 5721 2366 or library@wangaratta. vic.gov.au

LOCAL INSPIRATION: Author Shelley Burr drew on time spent in Glenrowan for her new novel, ‘Ripper’. She will speak about it at the Wangaratta Library on Thursday evening.

PHOTO: Yen Eriksen Media

CONFRONTING TOPIC: Artworks by Sigrid E A van Krieken (pictured) are among those featured in the Warriors Unmasked art project, in Gallery 2 at the Wangaratta Art Gallery.

PHOTO: Kelly Timms

Book Week dress-up fun at St Pat’s

BOOK Week celebrations brought literary characters to life across the Rural City of Wangaratta in August, and St Patrick’s Primary School, as always, jumped at the

chance to mark the event.

Staff and students enjoyed dressing up as their favourite book characters, with a costume parade held at the school on Friday, August 25.

ALL-STAR GATHERING: (Back) Ryan McCornish, Tom Overberg, Lyla Bevan, Mia Thompson, Xavier Overberg, Charlie Ackerly, (front) Fynn Max, Jimmy Jarman and Regan Wilson.

NOT ONE OF THEM IS LIKE ANOTHER: Staff members (from left) Karen Bray, Nora Nicoll, Simone Gladigau, Grace Patterson, Isabella Carnivale, Gabby Downie, Lyn Walker, Tayla Russo, Cat Kittelty, Tom McDonald, Annette Beitzel, Eleonore Sirianni and Kate Lang took their inspiration from the Dr Seuss classic ‘One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish’.

High school students, staff joined in Book Week festivities

CHILDREN’S Book Council of Australia Book Week is not solely the domain of primary schools, with Wangaratta High School staff and students enjoying the chance to dress up for the event also.

The school’s main office was transformed for the week in Harry Potter style, with the sliding door entrance resembling Kings Cross Station’s Platform 9 3/4, and many administration and teaching staff members donning Hogwarts robes.

Elsewhere, students took inspiration from books as diverse as William Golding’s ‘Lord of the Flies’, Dr Seuss’ ‘How The Grinch Stole Christmas’, and Lewis Carroll’s ‘Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland’.

STRAIGHT OUTTA

HOGWARTS: Assistant principal John Paola and executive principal Dave Armstrong dressed as Professors Snape and Dumbledore from the Harry Potter series.

BOOK WEEK FUN: Cameron Sgarioto, Gracie York, Abby James, Bailey Tanner and Abbey Waide in costume for Book Week.

CELEBRATING FAVOURITE

STORIES: Layla Early embodied The Grinch from the Dr Seuss classic, while Clara Rocchocciolo drew her costume from Christelle Dabos’ ‘A Winter’s Promise’.

CLASSIC: Amelia Harding, Lillian Wilson and Jessica Shaw brought to life characters from William Golding’s 1954 novel ‘Lord of the Flies’.

MAGICAL: Wangaratta High School office staff Kylie Fountain, Marg Bennet, Laura De Lacy, Leah Anderson, Amy Waide and Nicole Gatt dressed as characters from the Harry Potter series.

GREAT MIX OF CHARACTERS: (From left) Elsa Winter, Georgie Fletcher, Stella Jarman and Zara Hamilton enjoyed the festivities.

FROM SUPER HEROES TO MR MEN: Flynn Chandler, Lincoln Hawkins, Alex Tekesic and Will Hernan in costume at the Book Week parade.

Golden hue carpets region

Canola season running ahead of schedule g

By KURT HICKLING

LOCAL paddocks have transformed into a patchwork of bright yellow expanses as canola fields flower and promise a better than expected harvest this year.

Average rainfall this growing season, on the back of a wet season in spring/ summer of 2022, has created some headaches for crop growers, but many have high hopes this harvest.

Andrew Russell, managing director of Liliput Ag, which is a sister company of Baker Seeds, is very pleased with the progression of his crops so far.

Mr Russell, who is the southern panel chair for the Grains and Research Development Corporation (GRDC), said he has around 1000 hectares of the family’s 2500 hectares south of Rutherglen planted with canola.

“We had plenty of rain in the spring and summer periods last year which has carried into this year that has not allowed soil conditions to dry out,” he said.

“A cold winter with not a lot of sunlight is another contributing factor for soils to remain wet.

“However, in comparison to 2022, we are in a much healthier position this year in relation to soil moisture and crop health.

“We still have water sitting in areas of our paddocks which has affected the canola with losses ranging from 5-25 per cent in some cases.

“Canola started flowering a little earlier this year and with the milder conditions this should help the flowering process.

“We have had more than enough rain and we are hoping that as conditions warm up along with less rain, it

will allow plants to absorb the moisture and grow in a warmer climate as spring progresses.

“When water sits on the ground, it creates a problem for the canola plants as they cannot breathe and can severely stunt plant growth.

“It would be an absolute blessing if we had no rain for a few weeks for crop conditions to settle.

“Commodity prices remain stable for canola at this point and we are hoping this forecast remains that way for a strong return in December.

“The only problem we are facing at this point is the supply of urea as farmers across Victoria and New South Wales.

“Urea is critical for canola as this product supplies nitrogen to the canola as the plants need nitrogen to grow and yield.

“Last season our team was harvesting in January 2023 but we are remaining optimistic that we can complete our harvest by December 2023 so we can enjoy a well-deserved break.”

SEA OF GOLD: Canola fields are in full bloom across the region.

PHOTO: Kurt Hickling

• Andrew Russell

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Exciting opportunity for high performing, multi-skilled candidate to join Benalla’s Tomorrow Today Foundation.

This innovative community foundation is working to help build strength and resilience in our community, with a focus on improving future outcomes for local children and young people.

2012 Kuhn rotary mower GMD 600 Gii, used 4 seasons from 2015, shed stored, excellent condition $7000 ono, ph 0411 954 489.

FIREWOOD, mixed wood, bulk loads only. Telephone Northeast Firewood 0448 933 999.

REDGUM rural fence posts, 6ft, $10, located Whitfield. Ph 0408 338 187.

TOP quality pasture hay, small squares, located Whitfield. Ph 0408 338 187.

EMPLOYMENT

Building on current success, the Executive Officer will provide strategic leadership and support to the Board and staff to achieve the Foundation’s purpose.

Permanent part-time position (0.6 EFT).

Position Description at www.tomorrowtoday.com.au

For confidential discussion regarding this position, please contact Louise Pearce, Chair, 0459 810 057. Applications close October 2, 2023.

Employment opportunity!

We are currently looking for an enthusiastic person to join our team.

While we are looking for a person with some experience in the pump or outdoor power equipment industry. Even If you have provided.

Key Responsibilities: of pumps equipment

To be successful in this role, you will need to: your feet

General Classifieds: wangarattachronicle.com.au

Employment: northeastjobs.com.au

Real Estate: northeastproperty.com.au

This an immediate start Full Time position.

If you think this is for you, phone or drop a resume into Wangaratta Pump Shop, 71 Greta Road Wangaratta Phone: 57221955, ask for Brendan Email: wangpump@bigpond.net.au

EMPLOYMENT

Senior Payroll Coordinator

Permanent Part Time Role (25 hours per week) Hybrid Working environment. Friendly and fun team culture.

About Us: Brown Family Wine Group, an innovative, family-owned, multi brand wine business, is one of Australia’s most trusted and successful wine companies. We are in an exciting period of growth having recently expanded to five brands - Brown Brothers, Devil’s Corner, Pirie, Tamar Ridge and Innocent Bystander.

We are a proud and passionate business who are strong on values and culture. Most recently we have been certified as “A Great Place to Work” and are committed to honouring this recognition throughout all aspects of the business.

The Opportunity: Reporting to the Head of HR, Risk & Safety, the Senior Payroll Coordinator will be responsible for administering, coordinating, and maintaining all payroll related functions for 250+ employees. This exciting opportunity will see you manage and coordinate our payroll process including but not limited to:

What’s Required:

What’s on Offer:

discounts on all products

More Information: Further information and a position description may be obtained by emailing Allyce Henwood at careers@brownfwg.com.au. Applications close September 22, 2023.

EMPLOYMENT Exciting Opportunities Await: Join VACCA’s Team and Transform Lives!

Permanent - Salary: Salary between SCHADS Level- 2.4 to 3.1 (($35.14ph - $36ph PLUS penalties) PLUS super - based on skills and Qualifications (Relocation Support will be considered) Casual - Salary between SCHADS Level- 2.4 to 3.1 ($35.14ph$36ph + casual loading PLUS penalties) PLUS super based on skills and Qualifications

VICTORIAN

Why VACCA?

As an organization managed by the Aboriginal Community, VACCA is deeply committed to advocating for and serving the interests of the Aboriginal Community. We believe that every team member contributes to our collective mission of creating brighter futures for Aboriginal young people and their families.

Options for Every Lifestyle:

Whether you’re seeking full-time, part-time, or casual positions, we have a spot for you. Your work-life balance is essential to us, and we provide the flexibility you need to thrive.

The Perks You Deserve:

• An attractive salary with salary packaging options to maximise your take-home pay

• Up to 5 weeks annual leave

• A rich array of learning and development opportunities, including formal qualifications

• Whole program days

• Opportunities to participate in cultural events and other activities as they arise

• Employee Assistance Program to help you de-stress

• A warm and supportive environment in which you can grow and flourish

• REAL career development opportunities- You can GROW with us!

Education is Key: Never stop learning with VACCA! We’re invested in your educational journey. From study leave to financial support for higher education, we’re here to fuel your quest for knowledge.

Ready to Ignite Change? Visit our website at www.vacca.org and navigate to the employment tab to uncover the remarkable careers we offer. Your journey toward a fulfilling and impactful career starts here! Got questions or want to learn more? Reach out to us at 0438 529 010 or drop a line at recruitment@vacca.org. Let’s embark on this transformative adventure together!

Instead of flowers, a Memorial Gift

An alternative to flowers at a funeral of a loved one is a memorial donation. Family and friends can make a donation in lieu of flowers in recognition of the care and attention provided by Northeast Health Wangaratta.

For more information please contact ourCommunity Engagement Team (03) 5722 5069 or PO Box 386, Wangaratta, Vic 3676.

CONSTANTINO, Antonio. September 5, 2005. Not just today but every day, lovingly remembering a cherished Father and Grandfather. Resting in Gods Heavenly care.

- Alba and Ian, and Grandchildren.

may be placed before 2pm the business day prior to publication

classi eds@nemedia.com.au

Phone: 03 5723 0101

Mason Park Funerals P. 03 5721 5060 W. masonpark.com.au A funeral experience... not just a funeral service The only family owned funeral home in Wangaratta Proud Member of Australian Funeral Directors Association All Hours 5722 2525 northeastfunerals.com.au John & Christine Haddrick McGAURAN, Darcy John. 20/7/2011–28/8/2023 R.I.P ~ From John Francis Michael McGauran “Irish Jack” and Brenda McGauran. DEAN, Leo. September 3, 1984. Family memories are forever. Anytime, Anywhere, Anyhow. Local News. (03) Hay & Silage Think Think FREE BBQ & Drinks grass-mans Field day allday &demos deals! $1.80 Monday, August 28, 2023 20 Community Raffle has New kinder for Whitfield Rovers strong ahead 5G mobile base station will be installed near Tarrawingee a planning application is approved by the Rural City of a planning permit application to council in the coming days facility comprising 40m Telstra regional general manager Jenny Gray said they’re making good progress the Federal Government’s Regional Connectivity Program (RCP). RCP, we’ll be building new time to the region,” she said. “We recently completed community consultation with nearby residents and coming days. “This an important step in the process to deliver improved mobile coverage the region and we look Part of the consultation included a summary of levels of radiofrequency (RF) electromagnetic energy Round of the Regional Connectivity Program (RCP2) which designed to improve telecommunications capital, as part of costate governments to the program. the town has been in desperate need of improved as it drops out en and it’s very slow to re-engage. you on hold and cuts out, same with the internet,” he Connectivity woes in Tarrawingee closer to being solved with planning application imminent Tarra tower closer KELLY BRIGHT PREVAILS converge. It wasn’t to be for the Hoppers as the Mountain Men ran away with 27-point (91-64) victory in the 1st elimination final. Friday, For more information visit CORONAVIRUS.vic.gov.au Authorised Melbourne Victorian South Wales border residents will be able to travel into Victoria by showing their driver licence or other formal photo ID, to access the services they need. Travel delays are expected, so please plan ahead. NOW IN PLACE A BORDER BUBBLE IS FOCUS from his president hismachin gathered always welcome information CARS: Charge up your engines wangarattachronicle.com.au 2021- 5 Community Health Service Home Care Packages or the surrounding longer. Live at home for longer Home Care Packages for Wangaratta CALLNOW visit Gardening nursing services medical appointments Wang Repair Café returns Park cash appreciated, ensure hand Musicians to orchestra meeting Wangaratta committee, involvinglocal along, Sunday. graduates Kayla and received development, has been Australian National University do been tough Kayla know tothe Amy, one, I’m pretty happy with school help really happy year and likely Kayla havealways Teens look to the future with uni offers Wangaratta students compare admirably after a year like no other Country stacks up in VCE schooling part dealing with adversity performed reasonabl well Authority(VCCA). Wangaratta’s region and several College Cathedral College slightlybetter age whiledralwith Goul- ValleyGrammar in best in median study of 29, but Benalla Benalla had median College’s Mans eld P-12 College of 28, 2.7pc scores 1.1pc scores 40+, 3.2pc 40+. Yarrawonga three schools 39.9pc 40+, Mount College third with Subscribe now at wangarattachronicle.com.au/subscriptions

FINALS SCOREBOARD

NETBALL RESULTS THIRDS RESULTS

QUALIFYING

FINAL

Wodonga Raiders 4.7.31 def by Lavington 4.12.36

GOALS: WODONGA RAIDERS: Andrej Clark 1, Lincoln Reed 1, Jack Stewart 1, Zac Whitsed 1. LAVINGTON: Harryson Barber 2, Corby Robertson 1, Declan Thiele 1.

BEST: WODONGA RAIDERS: Bailey Smith, Andrej Clark, Angus Quinn, Baxter Jones, Archer Scammell, Harry Sweetman. LAVINGTON: Nick Paton, Xavier Russell, Harry Plunkett, Patrick Lavis, Jack Costello, Corby Robertson.

ELIMINATION FINAL Albury 8.8.56 def by Wangaratta 10.11.71

GOALS: ALBURY: Tom Ferguson 4, Dominic Gibbons 2, Jack Hodgson 1, Joseph Muller 1. WANGARATTA: Max Bihun 5, Charley Holland-Dean 2, Blake Newton 2, Hunter Graham 1. BEST: ALBURY: No best players have been selected.

SENIORS RESULTS RESERVES RESULTS

QUALIFYING FINAL Saturday, Sept 2 Albury ...................14.10.94 Yarrawonga ...............4.8.32

GOALS: ALBURY: Jacob Conlan 5, Riley Bice 4, Jake Gaynor 3, Jim Grills 1, George HorlinSmith 1, Anthony Miles 1, Elliott Powell 1. WANGARATTA: Michael Newton 5, Joe Berry 3, Callum Moore 3, Daniel Sharrock 1. BEST: ALBURY: Jake Gaynor, Anthony Miles, Hamish Gilmore, Riley Bice, Isaac Muller, Rhys King. WANGARATTA: Daniel Sharrock, Braeden Marjanovic, Joe Berry, Michael Newton, Daine Porter, Luke Saunders.

GOALS: WANGARATTA ROVERS: Alexander Marklew 3,Will Christie 1,Toby Murray 1,Dylan Wilson 1. WODONGA: Noah Spiteri 4,Adam Jorgensen 3,Angus Baker 1,Noah Bradshaw 1,Samuel Jewell 1,Kade Mimmo 1,Oscar Willding 1,Matthew Wilson 1. BEST: WANGARATTA

ROVERS: Cody Schutt, Jace McQuade, Brodie Filo, Jack Gerrish, Thomas Boyd, Will Nolan. WODONGA: Noah Spiteri, Adam Jorgensen, Joshua Mathey, Bailey Griffiths, Harry Kitching, Angus Baker.

OVENS &

MURRAY FINALS:

2nd SEMI FINAL - SAT, SEPT 9 @MARTIN PARK, WODONGA

Yarrawonga vs Albury

A GRADE: SAT, SEPT 9 @MARTIN PARK, WODONGA Yarrawonga vs Lavington

A GRADE: SUN, SEPT 10 @BUNTON PARK, NTH ALBURY Wangaratta vs Wodonga Raiders

SAT, SEPT 9 @MARTIN PARK, WODONGA Wangaratta Rovers vs Lavington

SUN, SEPT 10 @BUNTON PARK, NTH ALBURY Wodonga Raiders vs Wangaratta

1st SEMI FINAL - SUN, SEPT 10 @BUNTON PARK, NTH ALBURY

Wangaratta

vs Wodonga

PRELIM. FINAL - SUN, SEPT 17 @BIRALEE PARK, WODONGA

GRAND FINAL - SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 24 @LAVINGTON SPORTS GROUND

FINALS SCOREBOARD

BEST: ALBURY: William Blomeley, Jay Hillary, Will Unthank, Zachary Gigliotti, Charlie Lappin, Jacob Brunner. YARRAWONGA: Reid Clarke, Beau Seymour, Hunter Frauenfelder, Cory Pearn, Tom McKimmie, Max Hemphill. ELIMINATION FINAL Sunday, Sept 3 Wangaratta Rovers ....5.5.35 Wangaratta ..............8.13.61

BEST: WANGARATTA ROVERS: Noah Amery, Shane Gaston, Luke Arcuri, Mitch Booth, Nicholas Redley, Luke Peters. WANGARATTA: Will O’keefe, Josh Tweedale, Darcy Melksham, Jesse Bianco, Tom Montgomery, Patrick Wright.

SAT, SEPT 9 @MARTIN PARK, WODONGA Lavington vs Abury

SUN, SEPT 10 @BUNTON PARK, NTH ALBURY Yarrawonga vs Wangaratta

NETBALL SCORESSCOREBOARD RESERVES RESULTS

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 2

A GRADE:

Greta 48 def Milawa 42

B GRADE:

Milawa 54 def Benalla All Blacks 51

B RESERVE:

Bonnie Doon 55 def Milawa 33

C GRADE:

Bonnie Doon 44 def Bright 30

UNDER 15s:

Bonnie Doon 29 def Greta 28

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 3

A GRADE:

Tarrawingeee 61 def Bonnie Doon 54

B GRADE:

Bonnie Doon 51 def King Valley 38

B RESERVE:

Benalla All Blacks def Bruight 36

C GRADE:

Greta 44 def Benalla All Blacks 42

UNDER 15s:

Whorouly 24 def Benalla All Blacks 23

FINALS

PRELIMINARY FINAL

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 9

GRAND FINAL

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 16

SEMI FINAL 1

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 2

@ TARRAWINGEE RECREATION RESERVE

BONNIE DOON

GRETA

Bright 12.9.81 def Greta 8.6.54

BEST: BRIGHT: Paul Harrison, Nick Howell, Myles Jamieson, Thomas Mullane-Grant, Thomas Gray, Brodie Brain. GRETA: Joshua Cleeland, Osbert Ramage, Corie Hooper, Damiun Cassidy, Campbell McClounan, Luke Arrowsmith. Bonnie Doon

SEMI FINAL SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 3

@ NORTH WANGARATTA SPORTS RESERVE

GOALS: BONNIE DOON: Al Bennett 2, Will Foster 2, Luke Murray 2, Campbell Smedley 2, Matthew Hedin 1, James Law 1. GRETA: Frazer Judd 4, Daniel Cassidy 2, Tyler Arrowsmith 1, Joshua Bell 1, James McClounan 1, Ned Rohrt 1. BEST: BONNIE DOON: Connor Heaslip, Jayjay Curtin, Campbell Smedley, Joel Sanford, Earl Ree-Goodings, Matthew Hedin. GRETA: Mark Wettern, James McClounan, Lachie Kennett, Paul Fruzynski, Bryce Ralph, Bradley Whinray. BRIGHT -

Goals and best players unavailable at time of print.

5.3.33 def by Benalla All Blacks

9.15.69

BEST: BONNIE DOON: Jackson Sole, Trent Smith, Julian Mahon, Ben Hedin, Andrew hill, Luke Jenkins. BENALLA ALL BLACKS: Michael Kelly, Ian Holohan, Thomas Grimes, John Hughes, Eoin Fitzgerald, Thomas Whitty.

Bonnie Doon down Greta Blues to book place in O&K grand final

By NATHAN DE VRIES

SATURDAY’S O&K senior football qualifying final at the Tarrawingee Recreation Reserve between Bonnie Doon and Greta went down to the wire on Saturday.

The two sides were fairly well balanced, but the Bombers managed to get their noses in front in the dying minutes of the match, 10.11 (71) to the Blues’ 10.6 (66).

The margin rarely blew out in either direction, and while Bonnie Doon led at all breaks, Greta kept within a goal or two throughout.

Despite a few injuries limiting the benches of both outfits, it wasn’t until the final quarter where Greta’s class and determination started to give them the edge.

A few unanswered goals gave Greta the lead, but a defensive error allowed Bonnie Doon’s Luke Murray to snag the winning goal from the pocket.

Greta’s Frazer Judd booted four majors in a valiant effort, while six Bombers hit the scoreboard to book a ticket in the grand final on September 16.

Bonnie Doon coach Ken Murray said it was a hard, contested game of footy

which his squad rose to meet.

“The type of game it was, it wasn’t really open, not a lot of width in the game, it just made it a really contested, slog game all day,” he said.

“We felt like we had the better side of it for most for the day, but a little 10 minute period nearly cost us dearly.

“It wasn’t a comfortable lead, but we felt like we still had the game under control, but a few things don’t go your way and you’re playing a good opposition who lifted and got a couple of quick goals in a row and gave them a real sniff

“When they hit the front, we had it all to do.

“It was just good we were able to regain some composure and control the ball a bit better, get some good forward entries.

“We were able to have a few shots in the last five minutes to sneak back in front.”

After an unbothered run into the finals series and taking last week off, Murray said he was impressed with how his side performed against a tough foe they may very well face again.

“That’s probably the first real solid hit-out we’ve had

against a quality side for some time, so we were probably a little bit underdone as far as match hardness goes,” he said.

“The boys were certainly up for the fight, there’s no doubt they brought the pressure all day, as Greta did.

“I thought their ruckman (Mark Wettern) was good all day, (James) McClounan was good, (Lachie) Kennett was good, but (Campbell) Smedley and (Matt) Hedin for us were just as good, and (Joel) Sanford was pretty handy as well.”

Greta coach Greg Newbold said his team was eager to take another crack at the Bombers if they meet in the decider.

“I’ve got no problems with us rebounding back,” he said.

“We’ll be strong next week, we’ll just go about playing another game of footy, do what we’ve got to do.

“Our guys are terrifically brave, they fought hard all day – we’d lost our entire bench by half-time, two ankles and a hamstring.

“It was really disappointing to lose, but it was an incredibly brave and resilient performance by our blokes, they did really well.”

Bright grind out Milawa Demons in match of the year

By NATHAN DE VRIES

IN one of the greatest matches seen in the Ovens and King this year, Bright’s senior football squad managed to take beat Milawa 10.13 (73) to 8.10 (58) in yesterday’s semi-final.

Both teams fought hard all day, but struggled to keep their feet on the deck at North Wangaratta, with Bright holding a narrow lead at half-time.

The highly-contested match was played largely between the arcs, with ruckmen Brent Newton and Joe Gray going to-to-toe and shin-toshin in contest after contest.

Jamie Allan was explosive around the contest for the Demons, and produced some clever mid-air footwork up forward to slot a goal and put the Demons within two points heading into the final term.

Not to be outdone, Bright’s forward Guy Campbell pulled off some stunning marks through the final term and kicked true, while Cooper Thomason presented well all day.

Milawa’s Ben Clarke tried to spark a fightback, but by the time the final siren sounded, the Mountain Men were ahead, locking in a match with Greta this

coming weekend.

Bright coach Paul Harrison said his side really stepped up in the second half.

“I thought we had the momentum in the first 10-15 minutes,” he said.

“I thought they were a bit quicker than us, but there was nothing in it in the first half.

“At half-time we spoke about what we wanted to iron out, I thought we had just swung the momentum our way, we had to continue that when we came out.

“They’re a very outsiderunning, clean, skilful team, and if we could bring it back to just a man-on-man game, with repeat stoppages and grind it out, we’d be able to get over the top of them.”

Harrison said his entire list fought it out to the last siren.

“I really thought they were going to rely on too few for them to be able to get them over the line, whereas I knew if we could have 21 players play a role in that second half, when that opportunity came to just take it, and we’d be able to run over the top of them,” he said.

“Guy (Campbell) has been a very good footballer in his day, he’s a handy, smart man

and can take a good mark.

“Riley O’Shea took some good grabs in that last quarter, Chad Martin, Joe Gray, across the board we were just terrific all day.

“I thought Jonah McIntosh was good on the wing, and Nick Lebish and Rod Arguello, their grunt work through the middle was terrific as well.”

Milawa co-coach Matt Graham said a few minor errors added up to the unfortunate result for the Demons.

“We knew we had to bring the pressure and we did that early, but unfortunately when we had momentum we gave away the ball, and it ended up in a Bright goal,” he said.

“Bright were just able to wrest the momentum back, every time we had a bit of length on our chain, they were able to wheel it back in.

“It’s a combination of skill errors - trying to move the ball too fast when we needed to be slow, not moving the ball to the right position, a couple of turn overs that ended up with forward entries to them.”

In the earlier reserves match, Benalla All Blacks powered through Bonnie Doon to take the win 9.15 (69) to 5.3 (33).

TAP OUT: Milawa’s Brent Newton and Joe Gray fought a fantastic battle in the ruck.

PACE: Jamie Allan explodes through the contest

CAUGHT: Daniel Sgambelloni snags some of Sebastian De Napoli’s jumper.

FIRED UP: Guy Campbell celebrates a late game goal in the Mountain Men’s 14 point win over Milawa. PHOTOS: Nathan de Vries

FAST HANDS: Cam Newbold dishes out a handball

MATCH WINNER: The Bombers converge on Luke Murray after he scored the winning goal. PHOTOS: Bailey Zimmermann

ON YOUR TAIL: Ned Rohrt puts the ball on his boot before Earl Ree-Goodings can bring him down.

FINALS REVIEWS

‘Pies wings clipped in 24-point loss

WANGARATTA’S doublechance has come in priceless after falling to Albury by 24-points at WJ Findlay Oval on Saturday.

The Magpies were struck down before the game even started when Matt Grossman pulled out with a tight calf, while Callum Moore battled illness in the 16.8 (104) to 12.8 (80) loss.

Gun midfielder Hunter Gottschling was also absent after not recovering from a concussion sustained two weeks ago.

Wangaratta led by twopoints at the first break but

BY WILLSON MACK wmack@ nemedia.com.au

unfortunately let themselves down with turnovers through the rest of the game which Albury pounced on.

A seven-goal run by the Tigers in only 17 minutes from midway through the second quarter to early in the third effectively sealed the finals win.

“We felt like we were in the game for the majority of the day,” Wangaratta

coach Ben Reid said.

“There were probably two 10 minute patches where we let our guard down and in finals against a team like Albury you can’t be doing that.

“We will review it heavily and I think a lot of the problems was our own undoing which I guess can be a positive because it’s an easy fix.”

Reid said Albury’s ball movement caught his side out.

“We turned it over in positions that made it easy for them to rebound the footy and we also had a number of shallow forward 50 entries

throughout the day,” he said.

“When you’re turning it over and Albury have players like Jacob Gaynor and Riley Bice running through the middle they’re going to cut you up.”

Wangaratta teenagers Braeden Marjanovic and Joe Berry showed they were up to finals footy with the latter kicking three majors.

“The most pleasing part was our young fellas stood up to finals footy,” Reid said.

“Braeden Marjanovic played his best game of senior footy and to do that in finals is huge for us.

“Joe Berry kicked three (goals) and looked really electric in the front half, he’s really quick on his feet and reads the play so well.

“I also through Ryan Battin was good down back, Jacob Conlan kicked five on him but we didn’t help him at all with where we were turning the ball over.”

Michael Newton made a successful return from injury snagging a bag of five goals.

“’Juice’ (Newton) was really good, to come back from injury and kick five was great for him,” Reid said.

“’Cal’ (Moore) was in bed sick for the four days leading up to the game so ‘Juice’ probably needed to stand up a bit and he did.

“’Cal’ still kicked three in the second half though and got us going a bit but he’ll be better next week when he’s back to full health.”

Wangaratta will now play …

“I couldn’t fault the effort of the boys but we’ll recover and go again,” Reid said.

“We’ll review it, have a lighter week on the track and get ready for next weekend’s game.”

Hot Dogs run rampant to end Rovers’ season

■ From back page Big men Toby Murray and Will Christie willed their team on through the air while Jace McQuade showed resilience down back for Rovers.

“Jace McQuade and Cody Schutt both tried their heart out, I think there wouldn’t have been too many who were super proud of their efforts but those two can certainly hold their heads high,” Sullivan said.

In other football results yesterday, the Magpies defied the odds in both the thirds and reserves against Albury and the Rovers respectively to meet their seniors side for the semi-finals at Bunton Park this Sunday.

The Rovers thirds will play off for a spot in the grand final against Lavington on Saturday.

GOOD RETURN: Michael Newton booted five goals in his return from injury. HIGH FLYER: Joe Berry flies for mark.

QUICK: Fraser Ellis dashes away from Albury’s Tom O’Brien.

TOUGH CONTEST: Michael Bordignon gets a handball away in Wangaratta’s loss to Albury. PHOTOS: Melissa Beattie

ON THE BOOT: Liam Mcveigh sends a kick forward

SEARCHING FOR OPTIONS: Sam Murray looks downfield as he rebounds off halfback.

HANDS ON: Will Christie prepares to launch a handball at Norm Minns Oval yesterday.

FIERCE PRESSURE: Brodie Paul appeals for a free kick during a tackle, one of many applied by the Bulldogs in their dominant win yesterday. PHOTOS: Melissa Beattie

POWERFUL KICK

Hot Dogs run rampant to end Rovers’ season

WANGARATTA Rovers’ senior footballers’ season came to a crushing halt yesterday, with a 40 point loss to Wodonga.

Heading across the road to Norm Minns Oval for the elimination final to conclude Wangaratta’s festival of footy, the Dogs were all over the Hawks from the first bounce, kicking five of the first six goals and never looked back.

Wodonga’s win snapped the league’s longest current drought between

BY BAILEY ZIMMERMANN bzimmermann@ nemedia.com.au

finals wins, with their last coming in their last finals appearance 14 years ago.

Rovers’ football operations manager Barry Sullivan said it was a harsh reality check for the side.

“Today was especially disappointing; they outplayed us,” he said.

“Their pressure all day around the ground stood out and their execution of skills, we had opportunities with our guys running forward and then we’d turn it over and they’re ready to go, slingshotting back the other way.

“You always go in with optimism and hope but sometimes you also get a reality check, we got one today.”

After a slow start the Hawks grinded their way back into the game in the

second quarter in terms of forward territory, but were unable to make the most of their chances with a goal apiece going into halftime.

The game was running away from the Rovers in the third quarter before Dylan Wilson in his 100th game kept his team in it with a classy snap.

Noah Bradshaw quickly countered for Wodonga with a goal from 50 and as Noah Spiteri kicked a stirring fourth goal on the

run late in the third quarter, the lead ballooned to a match high nine goals.

In an otherwise quiet day, Alex Marklew kicked three goals in as many minutes in the last quarter to provide a fleeting chance for Rovers before Adam Jorgenson crumbed a goal from the square to seal the deal for good, finishing with a 6.11 (47) to 13.9 (87) win.

The Bulldogs’ midfield were relentless, led by Morris Medalist fancy

Angus Baker, Josh Mathey, and Jorgenson who put on a best on ground show kicking three goals while finding plenty of the ball.

Sullivan said Wodonga’s firepower in the middle overwhelmed the Hawks.

“Two of our better midfielders being out wasn’t helpful in Lockey McCartney and Dylan Stone, but at the end of the day Wodonga were far too good in most positions today,” he said.

■ Continued page 19

CLYDE Baker medallist James McClounan from Greta breaks away from Bonnie Doon’s Guy Murray and sends a long kick forward during a thrilling O&K semi-final on Saturday afternoon, which saw the Bombers win their way to the grand final by five points. See full O&K football finals coverage on page 18.

PHOTO: Bailey Zimmermann