Wangaratta Chronicle 060923

Discontent flows in valley

King Valley landholders are calling for urgent action amid concerns of ongoing erosion and flooding of private land

LANDHOLDERS whose properties have been damaged by flooding in the King River, exacerbated by a build-up of debris, have called on the North East Catchment Management Authority (NECMA) to take urgent action.

A dozen land owners whose properties front the King River between Fosangs Lane and Gentle Annie Lane in Whitfield have incurred repeated damage to paddocks, fencing and infrastructure from flooding

BY ANITA McPHERSON amcpherson@ nemedia.com.au

as debris remains uncleared from previous flood events and tonnes of gravel piles up, pushing the river deeper into their properties.

Property owner Brett Hennessy, whose great grandparents were among the first settlers in the area, said while flooding is a normal and accepted

occurrence on the river, it has become worse in the last few years since debris had been left to accumulate.

He said now sharp bends and whirlpools have been created which are gouging into the river bank, tearing the natural vegetation from the banks and destroying the habitat.

“The floods seem to happen more often and they last longer (before receding), and now they are even undermining mature trees,” he said.

“If nothing is done about it there is a chance trees will be lost and some properties may be flooded or cut off.”

Fellow landholder Allan Evans said one particular pile of rock sediment has created an island and choked the river, blocking its natural flow and forcing high energy water into the banks.

He said debris has created an impenetrable snag, and up to 70 metres across the river is affected.

“The river has only got to

be up half a metre now and the water is covering our paddocks (in the way it would during a major flood),” he said.

“Everything changed after the last flood event in 2020.”

A total of 13 local landholders wrote to NECMA and signed a petition asking the authority to address the problem back in 2020, and an inspection was subsequently organised with NECMA representatives.

■ Continued page 5

LET THE RIVER RUN: Landholders on the King River including (from left) Allan Evans, Brett Hennessy and Lidia Sartori, say a massive build-up of debris in the river is disrupting its flow and causing damage to private property and natural habitat. They are calling on the North East Catchment Management Authority to do something about it.

PHOTO: Anita McPherson

Wangaratta Women in Leadership spring breakfast

THE Wangaratta Women in Leadership committee is looking forward to welcoming guests to their Spring Breakfast this Friday at the Quality Hotel Wangaratta Gateway.

This event aims to facilitate connections and empower women from diverse backgrounds as they embark on leadership roles within their communities.

Guest speaker is Tracey McGeehan, a disability support officer at North-

east Health Wangaratta.

Tracey’s role is focused on supporting, educating and advocating for NHW workforce (with Disability).

Attendees can look forward to an insightful session as Tracey shares her passion for diversity and inclusion along with her first-hand experiences of having a hearing condition.

The condition, profound nerve deafness bilateral, has given Tracey skills and strengths in adapting and

Est. 1884, Incorporating Wangaratta Despatch, Est. 1861

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managing societal expectations of ‘disability’.

Her greatest gift is being able to lipread and speak and sharing this with others empowers her, providing a sense of self-advocacy.

Tracey will speak about how ‘labelling and disability’ can be inhibiting and how creating a strong sense of self has enabled her to evolve and grow.

Tracey will share her ‘Light Bulb’ moment and her self-help therapy.

By showcasing Tracey’s achievements, the Women in Leadership breakfast endeavours to inspire and empower women to take on leadership roles and make a positive impact within their own communities.

The event will kick off with networking opportunities and a light breakfast at 7am, followed by Tracey’s keynote address.

The morning promises to be an empowering experience for all attendees, with

the event scheduled to conclude at 8:30am.

Tickets for the Wangaratta Women in Leadership breakfast are priced at $25.

Interested individuals can secure their spot by visiting the event page on Eventbrite.

The Wangaratta Women in Leadership committee strives to foster connections, mentorship, and empowerment among women from various backgrounds and walks of life.

Helping to empower future female councillors, mayors

BY CHLOE JAENICKE cjaenicke@ nemedia.com.au

TWO Wangaratta women who aspire to become local councillors are among dozens across the state who have graduated from the State Government’s Women Leading Locally program.

Last week Minister for Local Government Melissa Horne congratulated 60 graduates, including local residents Lucille Milne and Kaye O’Kane, from the first round of the program which was created to improve gender equality in local government by supporting women to break down barriers to nominating for council.

Ms Milne said the program was a transformative experience that made her feel empowered.

“I am so proud of my ability to juggle being a solo mum, studying psychotherapy, launching Venus Moves my women’s wellness platform and show up and commit to my own growth,” she said.

These women are drawn from local government areas with low female representation.

that all women and girls are empowered and motivated to live their best lives,” she said.

Email: edit.chronicle@nemedia.com.au

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“Regional communities thrive when women and girls feel seen, supported and empowered.

“The more women who are involved in decision making, representation and politics the stronger our community is.”

builds on this momentum by equipping women with training, skills, mentoring and resources to campaign in the October 2024 elections.

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Published by Hartley Higgins for North East Media Pty Ltd, 37 Rowan Street, Wangaratta 3677.

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Jeff Zeuschner.

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Victoria set a national record for female representation in the 2020 local government elections, with women making up 43.8 per cent of elected councillors.

Women Leading Locally

“Our Gender Equality Strategy highlights more than 100 actions to bring us closer to gender equality, including achieving 50 per cent women mayors and councillors by 2025,” Minister for Women Natalie Hutchins said.

“This program is part of that mission.”

Last month, 65 participants from across Victoria started the second round of the program.

They also represent historically underrepresented groups including Aboriginal women, culturally and linguistically diverse women, young women, women living with disability and women who identify as LGBTQI+.

Ms Milne said she would like to thank her support system, including her children and her mum.

“I’d like to thank myself for showing up, doing the work and taking each moment as a chance to dig deep and work harder so

“I’d also like to thank my children for understanding why I had so many evening zoom sessions and lastly my mum Paddy Milne for showing me community involvement and leadership has rich rewards and that giving back is the ultimate gift.”

Women Leading Locally is delivered by the Institute of Community Directors Australia in partnership with Women for Election.

Find out more at localgovernment.vic.gov.au/our-programs.

Court told “controlling” messages caused emotional drain to victim, breached order

A LOCAL man who breached an intervention order by sending a former partner some 369 messages in a single day is set to undergo a psychological assessment before returning to court next month.

On Monday, Wangaratta Magistrates Court heard the accused man, who pleaded guilty to the breach, had previously been ordered not to contact the victim, and had been on bail at the time of the April 21 offending.

According to police prosecutor Senior Constable Victoria Lennon, the accused had also used Snapchat to communicate with the victim during his own court hearing at Myrtleford on August 11.

Many of the messages were said to have been abusive.

He also sent 210 snapchats to the victim between August 11 and August 17 of an “emotional and controlling” nature, according to Snr Const Lennon, and later entered the victim’s home and stood at the end of

her bed at 4.15am on the latter date.

He told her he had attended to retrieve boxers and jeans.

The victim told police the accused’s conduct had resulted in significant emotional drain, and she had suffered anxiety in the wake of his intrusion on her home.

“He drains my life, he is a soul sucker,” the court heard.

Defence counsel Geoff Clancy said only copies of his client’s messages had been made available, and contended

there had been times when he was replying to messages from the complainant.

“These (intervention) orders have the best chance of working when all persons have no contact,” he told the court.

Magistrate Ian Watkins said the accused would need to be assessed by a psychologist while on remand, a process which could take a number of weeks.

He ordered the matter return for sentence on October 11.

EMPOWERING WOMEN: Tracey McGeehan will be the guest speaker this Friday.

EMPOWERING WOMEN: Lucille Milne was one of 60 women to graduate from the Women Leading Locally program last week.

By RYAN MALCOLM

AN Essendon football legend and an ultra-marathon runner turned Liberal politician have united to promote the “Yes” vote in Wangaratta ahead of next month’s Voice to Parliament referendum.

Michael Long and Pat Farmer on Monday strode into Wangaratta’s Apex Park, the former as part of his “Long Walk” to Canberra for the first time since 2004, and the latter as a stopover as he runs more than 14,000km around the country before arriving at Uluru ahead of the October 14 referendum vote on an Indigenous Voice to Parliament.

Mr Long was accompanied by more than 50 followers across the Wangaratta Stockbridge into the park, including former Australian hockey Olympic gold medalist Nova Peris, while Mr Farmer was joined by a small group as he ran in along the Parfitt Road levee bank.

Speaking to a crowd of around 150 people in front of Wangaratta’s Marmungun Rock on Monday afternoon, Mr Long said his journey, which began in Melbourne late last month, aimed to “close the gap” between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians.

“There comes a time in our life, and that time is now – we’ve got to close the gap, it can’t happen anymore,” he said.

“In this great country of ours, we are all accountable – this is about humanity.

“My voice is no stronger than the people that are here today.

“First Nations people are not bad people, yet they are the most disadvantaged and incarcerated

group in Australia – they want to be recognised and valued for what they offer to all Australians.”

Ms Peris said the High Court of Australia’s ruling in favour of a group of Torres Strait Islanders, led by Eddie Mabo, to hold ownership of Murray Island in 1992, had been met by similar opposition.

“The naysayers had predicted

that people would lose their backyards, and the sky would fall in due to the Mabo decision, which recognises that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders were here before Captain Cook and the first settlers arrived,” she said.

“The sky did not fall in, the sun set and rose again – nothing changed to affect most people’s lives.

“By saying Yes, Australia can

acknowledge the first-born in our nation’s birth certificate, and expand to include 65,000 years of the world’s oldest living culture.”

Mr Farmer said throughout his marathon run, which began in Hobart in April and has seen him conquer Western Australia, the northern reaches of the NT and down along the eastern coast of Australia, he has struggled to engage in conversation with those opposed to the ‘Yes’ vote.

“When I’ve had the opportunity to pose the question to people, I’ve said, ‘do you think the system at the moment is working?” he said.

“Has the system that we’ve had in place for more than 100 years cut down incarceration rates for people in this country?

“Has that helped with the medical needs and the medical support of Indigenous people in this country?

“Has it helped with the progression of education for people in this country?

“Not one person can agree that the system at the moment works.”

More than 100 people followed the group to the Ovens Riverside Square from 6pm, at which time Mr Farmer and Mr Long answered questions from community members.

Some Merriwa Park gum trees may still be saved

Less than 10 trees likely to be cut down but ecological report will determine the final fate

By STEVE KELLY

IT’S likely not all 10 “high to extreme risk” trees in Wangaratta’s Merriwa Park will be cut down, with an ecological report expected to offer alternative solutions for recuperation and management of the natural assets.

An ecological report detailing the type, age, and statutory requirements for the removal of red gum trees in the park will be the trigger for a planning permit to remove unsalvageable, high to extreme trees.

There were 10 problem-

atic trees in a report in July marked for potential removal, but council director community and infrastructure, Marcus Goonan, yesterday said he expects the works that are finally completed will not include the removal of all 10 trees.

“We certainly need to wait for the ecological report and then we’ll need to consult with experts in the field about exactly what the works are and what the final proposal and outcome will be,” he said.

“Council has already looked at the trees and is

proposing to look at them further - there are some trees which have been slated to be pruned, which alleviates some of the risk.

“Unfortunately just pruning is not going to alleviate all of the risk and nor would we be able to alleviate all of the risk, regardless of what we did.

“It is really about minimising the risk and making sure we can get the park back open in a safe manner for everyone.”

Wangaratta Lawn Tennis Club’s season is also scheduled to commence in mid-

October and Mr Goonan said once the ecological report is received they’ll be able to carry out more assessment of the area.

“I can’t see any reason why the tennis club won’t be up and running again by the start of the season,” he said.

“We’ve had very little feedback from the community around the process, but more of the frustration has been around the time that it takes, which I can completely understand.

“We are just following the same process that’s required for any public or private en-

tity that is looking to remove any native vegetation.

“I’m more than happy to have a conversation with anyone in the community who has some ideas or concerns.”

The planning permit will not involve future recommendation for other species of trees to replace the types that are slated for removal and this will be addressed in the future.

Mr Goonan said future plans can be made around new plantings once council has established what’s going to happen with the risky trees.

He said council will have a

conversation with the community about the future plantings and what they would like to see done with the wood from the four trees that have already been removed.

Four trees in the park have either fallen by their own accord or have been removed due to unacceptable risk in the last 12 months.

The gum trees have been extra cause for concern with the water table in the park adding to the instability of the trees with several of them marked for removal on a vertical lean.

UNITED STANCE: Essendon legend Michael Long, former Liberal MP Pat Farmer, and Olympic gold medalist Nova Peris gathered in Wangaratta to discuss the “Yes” vote for the upcoming Voice to Parliament referendum.

PHOTO: Chloe Jaenicke

Proposed bail bail changes draw draw legal suppor t support

NEW legislation aimed at making the state’s bail laws “fairer for vulnerable and disadvantaged people” have drawn the support of the Law Institute of Victoria (LIV).

Attorney-General Jaclyn Symes recently announced amendments to the Bail Act 1977 would reduce “unnecessary” remand for people accused of low-level offending, abolishing the “double uplift” provision which had posed a more onerous test for those who had offended while on bail.

The amendments would also see the charges of ‘breaching bail conditions’ and ‘committing further offences while on bail’ repealed, after they were shown to disproportionately impact women, children and Aboriginal people with no clear deterrent benefit.

Remand-prohibited offences would also be introduced, which would result in people who are unlikely to receive a prison sentence for a

crime unable to be remanded on the same offending.

Children would be given the presumption they be granted bail, except for certain crimes such as terrorism and homicide offending, with custody considered a last resort measure for young people.

LIV president Tania Wolff said the amendments addressed a number of key issues in the state’s bail framework, but noted she would like to see the government take further steps.

“We are pleased to see substantial changes announced in relation to children, which we hope will result in fewer vulnerable children having their lives destroyed by custodial incarceration,” she said.

“We also welcome the proposed repeal of bail offences that have shunted often lowlevel offenders into situations where they, rather than the prosecution, are burdened with the onus of proving why

Coalition seeks “right balance”

THE Victorian Liberals and Nationals have proposed amendments to the Bail Amendment Bill 2023 which they believe “get the balance right”.

Shadow Attorney-General, Michael O’Brien, said the Coaltiion’s amendments - tabled last week and to be debated next month - will better ensure that the right test for bail is applied in particular circumstances.

The Liberal Nationals Coalition hs proposed:

1. Retain the offence of “committing an indicatable offence whilst on bail”. This will ensure that those who breach their bail by committing a serious offence face a stronger bail test if they seek to be released again.

2. Add eight serious offences to the “show compelling reason” bail test applicable to those aged under 18. Offences including rape, armed robbery and aggravated home invasion should trigger a higher test for bail.

“We would like to see the repeal of the reverse onus provisions and a general presumption in favour of bail - it is the prosecution that needs to prove why a person shouldn’t be granted bail.

Bowls day to boost local team’s relay effort for cancer cause

Wednesday, September 4, 2013

By STEVEN BURKE

A RELAY for Life team is hoping to bowl cancer over this Sunday.

The True Blue team will hold its bowls fundraiser at Wareena Bowls Club, on Swan Street from 12 noon.

Bowlers of any ability are invited to attend the day, will include after-

noon tea, a trading table and raffles.

It is the fourth year True Blue has participated in Relay for Life and they are hoping to push past the

“This is a fundamental reform which would allow the bail decision maker to make a decision regarding the granting of bail on the basis of risk.”

Announcing the amendments, Ms Symes labelled the move “sensible, propor-

$7500 total raised last time.

The fundraiser is particularly important to team member Nicole Maurey, who has lost both of her parents to cancer. She said participating in the relay made her feel good.

“I don’t want any family to have to go through what we went through,” she said.

tionate and necessary”.

“We also have a responsibility to Victorians to protect the community from serious offending,” she said.

“Our reforms maintain the tough approach to those who pose a serious risk to people’s safety that

Victorians expect.”

3. Require a review of the bail changes after two years of operation, to be publicly released within six months. This will give the community the opportunity to assess these changes and identify any unintended or undesirable consequences. they should be granted bail at very high thresholds.”

LIV also threw its support behind the Victorian Aboriginal Legal Service’s call for a statutory review of the Bill 12 months after it is enacted, in order to determine whether the measures were having a positive impact.

BOWLED OVER: True Blue team members (from left) Faye Rowe, Nicole Maurey and Mandy Lyons get in some practice ahead of this weekend’s Relay for Life fundraiser at Wareena Bowls Club.

PHOTO: Luke Plummer

BAIL CHANGE: Attorney-General Jaclyn Symes believes proposed changes to the Bail Act 1977 will make laws fairer for disadvantaged Victorians.

Children are are under threat amid family amid violence rises

By RYAN MALCOLM

POLICE are urging the community to understand the seriousness of family violence and its impact on children as part of National Child Protection Week.

Recent figures from the Crime Statistics Agency show the number of family violence incidents with a child recorded as present had increased by 33 per cent across the state in the last five years.

In Wangaratta, family incidents decreased by 1.1 per cent in the year to March 2023, however, the rural city’s incident rate remained well above the state average.

Per 100,000 people, Wangaratta’s incident rate of 2054 dwarfed the state’s 1377 rate, with some 61 children between the ages of zero and 17 impacted in family matters locally.

The rural city’s incident rate has exceeded the state

average in each of the last five years.

Victoria Police family violence command Assistant Commissioner Lauren Callaway said National Child Protection Week was an important reminder for the community to understand the impact of family violence.

“Family violence is a crime that doesn’t discriminate – it continues to be a significant source of harm to the Victorian community, and it’s important to recognise it’s not just confined to couples, it affects children,” she said.

“Children who witness violence in the home, or see one parent being completely controlled by another, suffer stress and anxiety from the experience.

“We cannot assume that the trauma of family violence is something children just get over eventually, when the facts show the opposite.”

A Crime Statistics Agency

report found three out of four children exposed to family violence had a future interaction with the justice system within five years, as either victims or perpetrators.

Normally associated with physical violence, family violence can also involve coercive and controlling behaviour, including threats, intimidation, isolation, financial control and psychological and sexual abuse.

Centre Against Violence family violence and accommodation services manager Rebecca Jones said family violence could severely

hamper childrens’ development.

“When children are exposed to family violence, they experience negative impacts on their physical, psychological, emotional and social development,” she said.

“They are forced to deal with fear, stress, confusion, and a sense of insecurity –this trauma can shape their future, affecting their mental and emotional wellbeing, their ability to form healthy relationships and their capacity to reach their full potential in adulthood.

“The statistics mentioned

Myrtleford retiree wins life-changing lotto prize

By BRODIE EVERIST

A MYRTLEFORD man’s heart swelled with joy on Father’s Day when his wife delivered the incredible news that they had won a life-changing $2.5 million TattsLotto prize.

The Victorian held one of the eight division one winning entries nationally in TattsLotto draw 4395, drawn Saturday, September 2 2023 and took home a total prize of $2,500,000.

The retiree said he had been playing TattsLotto since he was 18 years old and couldn’t believe his winning day had finally come.

here are not just numbers –they represent children in our community.

“We must collectively work to break this cycle of violence and provide a safe environment for these children to thrive.

“With the right support and an increased sense of safety, children and young people can recover from the impacts of family violence.”

For family violence support 24 hours a day, contact Safe Steps by calling 1800 015 188 or email safesteps@ safesteps.org.au.

In an emergency, contact Triple Zero on 000.

“My wife came home yesterday afternoon in tears - I didn’t know what had happened,” he said.

“She told me that we had won $25,000 on TattsLotto, and she couldn’t believe it.

“We looked at the ticket together and that’s when we realised it was $2.5 million.

“We just sat there, completely numb.”

When asked how he and his wife planned to enjoy being newly made millionaires, the winning dad shared their plans to buy a new family home.

“We would love to move into a new home and be closer to our children,” he said.

“It’s life changing.”

Landholders calling for urgent action on river blockage, erosion

■ From page 1

The authority then wrote back to the landholders, advising them that while they acknowledged there was a problem and the solution was to remove the gravel which had built up in the river bed, the authority “was not in a position to contribute financially to these works.”

NECMA said it would “help facilitate consent” for the works and waive permit fees, but the landholders would have to hire their own contractor and pay for it themselves.

Mr Hennessy said land-

holders believe it’s not their responsibility to manage the catchment and it’s unreasonable to expect them to pay for mitigation works, which have been done by NECMA for decades in other parts of the river.

“We’re not allowed to do anything ourselves without their permission, but then we’re expected to pay for it,” he said.

“Other places along the river have been cleaned up and the banks have been stabilised, but they won’t do it here.”

Another landholder, Lidia

Sartori, whose family property abuts one of the most worrying sites, said precious land is being lost, fences damaged and topsoil eroded.

She said to have to pay for rectification works in the river on top of it, is too much to ask.

“You are facing significant labour costs already for something that is not really your responsibility,” she said.

“An excavator is needed to the do the work - and they are the ones with the equipment to do it.”

Adding insult to injury,

NECMA won’t permit the landholders to engage a contractor who wants to take the gravel away (thereby reducing the cost of the works), instead saying it must be stockpiled on private property.

The affected residents have raised the matter with Tim McCurdy (MLA, Ovens Valley) who met with them on site, and has since raised the issue with a NECMA representative last week.

Mr McCurdy said the authority accepted the work needed to be done; the representative stating they

did not have the funds to do it, but intended to apply for more in future.

He said he would raise the matter in parliament and would be writing to the Environment Minister, saying the river needed to be cleaned up.

“Between the gravel and the trees that are blocking the river, no wonder it is breaking its course,” he said.

“It not like it’s happening in a one in a 100 year flood or during a major weather event - it seems to be happening now after normal, heavy rain.”

Mr McCurdy said he had also written to the minister on behalf of the Gentle Annie Caravan Park which had experienced similar issues with a build-up of debris causing repeated damage and disrupting its ability to provide accommodation to the hundreds of tourists who visit the popular wine region.

He said it was disappointing and lacked “common sense”, that while the gravel was allowed to be removed it was not allowed to be sold to someone, which would have helped cover the costs of the clean-up.

Linga a While is having a FINAL POP UP SPRING SALE for all those customers who missed out on the closing down sale.

Beautiful pots, indoor plants, citrus, perennials and annuals, potting mix, sugarcane mulch and compost. Trading

HELPING VICTIMS: Centre Against Violence family violence and accommodation services manager Rebecca Jones said family violence could hamper childrens’ development.

NECMA inactivity a sign of crisis

NORTH East Catchment Management Authority’s (NECMA) inability to do its most fundamental work, managing the water catchment, further highlights the Victorian Government’s financial crisis.

It’s either that or another example of the same government ignoring priorities in country regions.

While NECMA acknowledged that regular flooding of the King River in recent years was creating major erosion issues and damaging local private property and even had the solution, it “was not in a position to contribute financially to these works”.

On what planet are governments allowed to absolve themselves of their responsibilities in such a manner?

Water catchments are far too valuable and essential to communities to be at the bottom of the spending priority list.

Landholders were told they would have to organise removal of the gravel build-up in the affected areas themselves but were forbidden to use the said gravel to offset their costs - talk about having your cake and eating it too.

Nationals MP Tim McCurdy has said he will take it up with the Environment Minister and raise the issue in parliament and so he should in the most urgent and public manner.

Most people accept, including this government, that global warming is leading to more extreme weather events including floods which should mean that funding of water catchment management authorities should be increasing not decreasing.

If landholders are being told to manage the catchment themselves why bother having such an authority in the first place.

If a State Government is also shirking its responsibility, perhaps they should go too.

CROSSWORD PUZZLE

The Australian QuizNo.40

1 The six alkali metals are lithium, potassium, rubidium, caesium, sodium and which other chemical element?

(a) Beryllium

(b) Francium

(c) Aluminium

(d) Scandium

2 Which 2022 movie features a mysterious billionaire named Javi Gutierrez?

(a) The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent

(b) The Lost City

(c) The Northman

(d) The Bad Guys

3 In which sport would you be most likely to wear a lame

jacket?

(a) Archery

(b) Fencing

(c) Polo

(d) Shooting

4 The 2021 album, Stand for Myself, is the second studio album by which artist?

(a) Gregory Porter

(b) Rhys Lewis

(c) Yola

(d) Charli XCX

5 Which country shares the longest border with Gabon?

(a) Republic of the Congo

(b) Equatorial Guinea

(c) Cameroon

Home battery storage can help energy grid

INVESTING in home battery storage is the immediate solution to Australia’s at-risk energy grid.

Governments need to stop prolonging the pain of the clean energy transition by hanging onto hope billion-dollar infrastructure projects such as Snowy 2.0 and the Marinus link would eventually provide a solution.

The solution is an absolute no-brainer.

The best way to prevent successive summers of blackout pain is to leverage the investments so many of us have already made in the clean energy transition by encouraging home energy storage.

This would be a game changer that is well within our immediate reach.

Investing in home energy storage takes away the need to build more transmission lines but governments need to be working together to drive this in the right directionnot catching up when it’s all too late.

One of the major obstacles to effective use of solar and energy storage is that current tariff structures do not reward homeowners for the amount of major infrastructure they offset from their solar panels into the grid.

Excess energy produced during the day from these solar panels is wasted, rather being stored at the source of its generation and load shifted to times of peak demand in the evening.

It’s far more logical to invest in battery storage for homes and businesses who are, in many cases, producing more energy than they consume and distributing that to a grid that often can’t cope with the excess load.

The latest report by Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) of an impending summer of blackouts as the grid struggled to cope with El Nino weather forecasts showed the urgency of the situation.

Measures that would support the grid as coal-fired power stations continue to be decommissioned include:

 Introducing metering reforms that speed up the rollout of smart meters into every Australian home and business.

 Providing rebates to incentivise home battery storage to soak up the feed-in from large-scale home solar systems across the country during the middle of the day and returning it to the grid.

 Legislating a preference for bi-

(d) Angola

(a) Cairns Taipans

(b) Brisbane Bullets

6

There are a total of how many senators in the Australian Senate?

(a) 151

(b) 76

(c) 33

(d) 12

7 What is the official language of Lebanon?

(a) Persian

(b) English

(c) Turkish

(d) Arabic

(c) New Zealand Breakers

(d) Adelaide 36ers

9 The Green Hornet had a car known as the ‘Black’ what?

(a) Star

(b) Beauty

(c) Prince

(d) Knight

10What is the title of the final novel in the Discworld series?

(a) Raising Steam

(b) The Colour of Magic

8

Which team won the wooden spoon for the 2021-22 NBL season?

(c) The Shepherd’s Crown

(d) I Shall Wear Midnight

directional-enabled EVs to further support load shifting, turning EVs from a potential drain on the grid to being part of the solution.

 Urgently reforming consumer electricity tariffs to take advantage of home batteries and bi-directional EVs.

Malcolm Richards, CEO Master Electricians Australia

ACCC seeks views on stamp price increase

AUSTRALIA Post is proposing to increase its stamp prices by 25 per cent from January 2024. This change would increase the price of delivering reserved ordinary small letters from $1.20 to $1.50, ordinary large letters up to 125 grams from $2.40 to $3 and ordinary large letters between 125 grams and 250 grams from $3.60 to $4.50.

Australia Post is not proposing to increase the price of concession stamps (60 cents each) or stamps for seasonal greeting cards (65 cents).

When assessing the proposed price increase, the ACCC will consider Australia Post’s recovery of efficient costs, including a reasonable rate of return, and how the company’s common costs are allocated to the relevant letter segments.

In forming its view, the ACCC will consider the responses received during this consultation period.

Australia Post has set out the reasons for its proposed price increase in its draft price notification and supporting materials.

The ACCC is required to assess the proposed price increase in accordance with the Competition and Consumer Act and then notify Australia Post on whether it objects to the proposal.

To have your say go to https:// consultation.accc.gov.au/accc/proposedstamp-price-increase-stakeholder-survey/ . Anna

Brakey, ACCC Commissioner

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

Post Letters to the Editor, 37 Rowan St, Wangaratta 3677

LIGHTING UP THE NIGHT SKY: Thunderstorms rolled through Wangaratta on Monday night at 10.30pm, lighting up the sky and dropping 6mm of rainfall. PHOTO: Kurt Hickling

Council driving in the smart direction with electric cars

WANGARATTA council is moving into the future with its vehicle fleet, and although the cars won’t be powered by banana peels, new vehicles will be electrified to reduce their emissions and running costs.

The rural city has signed a new contract with Smartfleet to lease 64 vehicles, as the leasing option will save council money and allow it to transition to electric vehicles.

BY STEVE KELLY skelly@ nemedia.com.au

It is for the supply and operating costs (excluding fuel) of 64 vehicles on three-year 120,000km and five-year 100,000km lease contracts.

Based on today’s prices, the leasing agreement for

Learning the ins and outs of EVs

By BAILEY ZIMMERMANN

MORNING sunshine

provided an extra burst of electricity in the air for the recent Electric Vehicle Show and Tell free event at the Wangaratta Library.

Co-hosted by the Rural City of Wangaratta and Wangaratta Landcare and Sustainability, the event on August 26 helped inform about the transition to electric vehicles (EVs).

A display of nine different EVs from a variety of brands welcomed attendees at the front of the library, before drawing a crowd inside for a panel discussion with local EV stakeholders.

Rural city sustainability officer and event organiser, Zaylee Saint-James Turner, said the displayed EVs drew plenty of interest from onlookers.

“I hope people walked away with the confidence to consider EVs in their futures,” she said.

“As the cost of electric vehicles slowly comes down, and we continue to build up the infrastructure for charging them, I hope people remember the conversations they had with EV owners at the event, and the discussion topics covered to ease any anxiety they may have about EV ownership.”

The morning gathering around the display of EVs was followed by a panel discussion, led by Indigo Power Foundation chair Rob Carolane.

Ms Saint-James Turner said the talk was based around the basics of EVs, from battery range, range anxiety, charging EVs at home and on the road, general costs and comparisons with internal combustion engines.

“They also went into detail about infrastructure both publicly-accessible and personal infrastructure in our own homes,” she said.

the required vehicles would cost $816,000.

The new contract will incorporate the remaining 24 vehicles that council currently own as these vehicles are due for replacement.

Currently council leases 40 vehicles on an existing fully maintained operating lease contract.

The existing contract for 13 of these high use vehicles has expired and they are cur-

rently operating on a month by month arrangement.

The remaining 27 vehicles leased will expire in 2025.

“An analysis of the original lease costs versus purchase was undertaken in the last 12 months and it found that the costs are marginally in favour of leasing,” council director of community and infrastructure Marcus Goonan said.

“The additional benefits

of leasing over purchasing are the transition to electric vehicles, no up-front purchase costs, and a safety compliant fleet.”

In a response to a question by Cr Jack Herry at the August council meeting, Mr Goonan reported on the number of the electric vehicles to be received and timing.

“As vehicles are available we will take them on through the lease and it is

expected Smartfleet will be able to deliver eight electric vehicles within the 27 which will expire in 2025,” he said.

“That will depend on how quickly they can get them into the country and the timing of when we want to change them over.

“Part of the reason in going with Smartfleet was they could offer us more electric vehicles than the other fleet companies.”

“We had John Warnock from MyEnergi and Brad Foletta from Solargain Wangaratta to help answer questions relating to at-home solutions.

“Clare Grogan, as a local community EV user, had

great insight into what it’s like to own and drive one in town.”

The show and tell day preceded the announcement that the rural city had signed a new contract with Smartfleet to lease 64 ve-

hicles, with the purpose of easing a transition to electric vehicles.

The future is electric

IF you’re after more on EV, the carsales Melbourne EV Show will feature a spectacular showcase of electric

vehicles, e-bikes, e-scooters, charging and accessories this month.

It is being held from Friday to Sunday, September 22 to 24, at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre.

KEEN DISSCUSSIONS: A large crowd gathered outside of the Wangaratta Library recently to see the display of electric vehicles, including this electric Nissan Leaf (inset) and learn the basics from some of their owners.

PHOTOS: Rob Humphrey

Emergency crews down tools to pool blood

VICTORIAN firefighters united to place third overall in this year’s annual Emergency Services Blood Challenge, which took place between June 1 and August 31.

The initiative, which encourages emergency services workers to donate blood and plasma on behalf of their organisation, saw CFA, Victoria Police and NSW Police combine to save more than 10,000 lives, while other emergency organisations across Australia combined to save upwards of 20,000 lives.

CFA members contributed upwards of 1000 donations, with 600 offering plasma, 390 providing whole blood and 15 platelet donations.

Victoria Police saved a total of 4770 lives through 1590 total donations, while NSW Police saved some 3750 lives.

CFA chief officer Jason Heffernan, who personally made a donation this year, said members should be proud of the contribution they had made and the positive impact on those in need of blood.

Learn how to slow stitch tomorrow

“Our members really get behind initiatives that benefit the community and this is no exception,” he said.

“While the blood drive has concluded this year, I hope many of our members can keep up these good habits and continue donating blood, if they can.”

For information on how to make a blood donation, visit the Lifeblood website at www. lifeblood.com.au.

By CHLOE JAENICKE

CHERYL McCormack

is running a slow stitch workshop tomorrow at the Wangaratta Library community room.

The workshop will run from 10am to 1pm and participants will need to bring along their own materials including fabric, threads, needles,

scissors and buttons

Ms McCormack said people should come along to start some slow stich projects as it is great for both mental health and socialization.

“Slow stitch is really great, it slows down your heart rate, it slows down your mind,” she said.

There are many things that can be made or that

slow stitch designs can be added to according to Ms McCormack including adding it to clothing, quilts, pillow cases and wall hangings.

“It’s also like what our parents did with embroidery, but the thing is what I promote with the slow stitching it doesn’t just have to be the wall hangings,” she said.

There are many examples currently on display at the ‘Spring Into Life’ exhibition’ in the Bainz Art Gallery which will be running for the month of September.

All are welcome to join and for information on the slow stitch workshop, contact Ms McCormack on 0413 425 506.

COMING SOON

The ultimate guide for tourists and locals

SLOW SITCH; Cheryl McCormack is inviting people to come along to her slow stitch workshop tomorrow.

PHOTO: Chloe Jaenicke

GIVING BLOOD: CFA assistant chief fire officer Glenn Pröbstl donated blood to kickstart the 2023 Emergency Services Blood Drive.

A rivalry without borders

BY BAILEY ZIMMERMANN bzimmermann@ nemedia.com.au

The La Fiera soccer rivalry reached new limits in East Timor recently, with locals battling it out on the pitch with donated playing kits from Myrtleford and Wangaratta City clubs.

Dilor locals were greeted by Wangaratta Friends of Lacluta members who surprised the soccer hungry community with the Myrtleford blue and Wangaratta red and black kits and several brand new footballs.

Teams were quickly formed as locals gathered at the Dilor pitch with boots optional, not nets and a goat track situated traditionally where the edge of the penalty area would be on a pitch.

Wangaratta Friends of Lacluta member liaising in East Timor, Heather Graham, said the jerseys brought great excitement to the community.

“The teams were diverse in age and size so some jerseys were a bit large on the players, but that just added to the fun,” she said.

“There was a very amicable division into teams; as Karen is from Myrtleford and I’m Wangaratta, our loyalties were easily decided.

“The Timorese are soccer mad, and the jerseys enhance that, ensuring they know who is on each team.

“The match brought the neighbours out onto the

street, sitting in the late afternoon to watch and chat as the match went on into dusk.”

According to scorekeepers the match ended in a 7-5

‘Myrtleford’ win, as Ms Graham said the locals are planning on making the friendly rivalry match a regular occurrence on Friday nights.

“For the Lacluta people, the generosity of the two Australian clubs reinforces a sense that Australians and Timorese are friends who share,” she said.

While the Dilor girls don’t take part in the local competition, they also enjoyed the perks of the new footballs on pitch.

FOL often receive donations from the Myrtleford club on their visits to the Timor Leste villages since its inception in 2008, but due to a demand of different coloured kits and aware of the rivalry between the two clubs, Wangaratta City have been donating kits in recent years as well.

Acting president of the Myrtleford Savoy Soccer Club, Danielle Caponecchia, said she was thrilled when she came across the photos of the Dilor locals donning the kits last week.

“Honestly it’s the best thing, when you see the pictures some kids have got

boots, some kids are in bare feet, and it’s just awesome to get some stuff over there,” she said “We’ve always been donating kits to them but I think it got to the point where they were looking for different colours and smaller kits.

“Those photos were awesome, I love the fact there was a goat trail in the middle of the pitch.

“I think seeing those sorts of things makes you appreciate what you actually have back home and also the fact that these kids are so resilient and they just want to play, and they don’t

care what they play in.”

Wangaratta City FC president Kristy Mellor was met with a similar excitement when she saw the positive impact the club’s donations were having on the community.

“The pictures were amazing, we haven’t got the best pitches at the minute ourselves but they certainly don’t have a goat track down the middle of them,” she said.

“We’re very keen on promoting football in disadvantaged areas, they want to be able to play and if we can help out in some way then that’s fantastic.”

Ms Capponechia said she endorsed other clubs to donate and help make a difference for those in need as the Myrtleford club explored other ways to donate more resources with the FOL group.

“It’s ok to donate everything, but you also need people to send them over with all of those precautions in place as well,” she said.

“You have to be really careful if you’re sending boots and they’ve got mud and dirt on them.

“We’ve got a boot bin and we’d love to send some over but it’s a matter of who’s going to wash them so it’s all within the legalities.”

NATURAL HAZARD: Players in the Wangaratta City and Myrtleford kits navigate their way around the goat track situate at one end of their pitch.

QUICK FEET: While the local girls don’t take part in the main Dilor football competition, they still found a way to work on their skills at one of the local pitches.

SLICK VOLLOEY: One of the rare players in boots for Wangaratta City about to score on the Dilor pitch.

UNITED AS ONE: Dilor players kitted out in their newly donated Myrtleford and Wangaratta City playing kits in their local Timor Leste competition.

Becoming Mr Beaver

By CHLOE JAENICKE

SUSPEND belief, unleash your imagination and step through the gateway into the magical, enchanted world of ‘The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe’.

The Wangaratta Players Youth Group (Youthies) is performing this beloved classic tale by C.S Lewis later this month.

This wonderful, uplifting coming-of-age story is filled with mystery, magic and adventure for all ages to enjoy.

The story unfolds with four children who escape a war-torn London to reside with a kindly professor in the country.

There they discover a mysterious wardrobe, a magical portal that leads them to the enchanted land of Narnia where their adventure begins and they befriend fantastical, wisdom-filled talking animals, cross paths with the wicked White Witch and meet the King of Beasts, Aslan the lion.

With the magical land under the spell of the White Witch, the children’s sibling bonds strengthen as together they face many difficult challenges in their quest to triumph over evil and restore the rightful King of Narnia.

The Youthies has become a wonderful creative outlet for local young people seek-

ing an alternative to sports and everyday activities.

Through fun (but wellstructured) classes for ages eight to 18, they are given the opportunity to learn all areas of theatre whilst also nurturing their abilities, personalities and thus truly grow as individuals.

This is the first fullyfledged production staged and cast by the Youthies group, and enables both the young and more seasoned student actors to collaborate as an ensemble, developing creative interpretations of strongly written characters, as well as being involved in the artistic vision of sets, costumes and all aspects of the show.

Dael Johnston is fully immersing himself in his role as ‘Mr Beaver’ in the production.

He has been part of Youthies since it started up again in mid-2022 and said he has loved how engaging all the lessons have been, as well as getting the opportunity to perform.

“We held an end of year performance last year so our family and friends could see what we’d been learning, but it is very exciting to be presenting a full length production for the general public this year,” Dael said.

“The best part of being in this production is the connections that I’ve made with

my fellow actors and how the environment has been very accommodating.”

Playing Mr Beaver has provided a great challenge for Dael as his character’s life is quite disconnected from his own.

“Well for a start, he’s a talking beaver, which I am not,” Dael laughed.

“No, but Mr Beaver and his wife, Mrs Beaver, live in a dam in a lower-middle class lifestyle in Narnia and are waiting for their prophesised saviours to help them out of the clutches of the evil White Witch who rules Narnia.

“I think the audience will like the new take on this well-known story due to the whole cast being children (rather than a mix of children and adults,” Dael added.

The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe will be held during the school holidays on Saturday, September 23 at 7pm and matinee performances on Sunday, September 24, Tuesday, September 26, Wednesday, September 27, Friday, September 29 and Saturday, September 30 at 2pm at the Stage Door at 4D Evans Street Wangaratta.

Tickets are $15 for adults and $10 for children 15 years and under.

To book, visit https://www. trybooking.com/CLCTY.

Stay aware of asthma risk

AMBULANCE Victoria (AV) paramedics are calling on people with asthma to make sure their asthma action plans are up to date this National Asthma Week.

The awareness week began on September 1 and runs through to September 7.

One in nine Victorians live with the serious airway condition each day, which is often managed through medication and a daily plan.

AV metropolitan regional director Michael Georgiou said people with asthma needed to remain vigilant about their condition and how it is managed.

“As paramedics we see how quickly asthma can become lifethreatening, which is why we’re reminding everyone to update

their action plan yearly, and every six months for children,” he said.

“Your asthma will change over time, so your plan needs to as well – if you haven’t updated yours in a while, make an appointment to review it with your doctor.

“We see many people who experience asthma for the first time as an adult.

“Symptoms usually include wheezing, breathlessness, shortness of breath, coughing and chest tightness.”

Common triggers for asthma include outdoor allergens such as pollen, dust, air pollution, and in rare cases, thunderstorms.

According to Asthma Australia chief executive officer Michele Goldman, Australia had

the highest rates of asthma in the developed world.

She said the home environment could often house risks residents may not be aware of.

Mr Georgiou said identifying and reducing exposure to allergen triggers could make asthma easier to manage.

“Now that spring is here, if you’re experiencing allergy symptoms, such as a runny nose and itchy eyes, it’s a good opportunity to visit your doctor to find out the cause and treatment options,” he said.

“Follow your asthma action plan, and most importantly, if a person is having difficulty breathing and their reliever medicine is not working, don’t delay in calling Triple Zero (000).”

MR BEAVER: Dael Johnston will be playing Mr Beaver in the Wangaratta Players Youth Group’s production of The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe.

PHOTO: Elevated Media

Author to visit Wangaratta Library

JOIN award-winning author, Shelley Burr, as she discusses her new book, Ripper at the Wangaratta Library tomorrow from 6.30pm to 7.30pm.

It is Burr’s second crime novel, following the internationally acclaimed and award-winning success of Wake.

Bookings are essential and can be made by visiting the Wangaratta Library on Facebook or call 5721 2366.

King River Sounds at the brewery

A LIVE music event called King Valley Sounds will be held at King River Brewing in the King Valley this Saturday from 12pm to 10pm.

See a huge lineup of acts including Dallas Frasca, Sal Kimber, Dean Haitani Band, Marisa Quigley, Iva Mahoni, Texas Crude & Lucey and more and enjoy family entertainment including lawn games, kids’ crafts, face-painting and a free drumming workshop until 4pm.

Tickets are available at https://events. humanitix.com/king-river-sounds with discount youth tickets and free entry for kids.

yourstars

ARIES (March 21 to April 19) This could be the time to try soothing whatever bad feelings might be lingering between or among colleagues, friends and family members. But be sure you do so without favoring any side.

TAURUS (April 20 to May 20) An idea is only an idea until you put that clever Bovine mind to work to develop it from concept to substance. This could lead to something rewarding, both emotionally and monetarily.

GEMINI (May 21 to June 20) The early part of the week could have disconcerting moments, but approaching them with a calm, unruffled attitude goes a long way toward helping things settle down nicely.

CANCER (June 21 to July 22) Getting used to change continues to mark much of the week. But accepting what you have to do makes adapting that much easier. A welcome visitor could turn up sooner than expected.

LEO (July 23 to August 22) Learning how to live with a decision is a challenge, but one you Leos and Leonas could really enjoy. You’ll also be pleased to see your social life take the upsurge you’ve been hoping for.

VIRGO (August 23 to September 22) Use your perceptive Virgo instinct to help you see the positive aspects of what, at first, appears to be a disappointment. You could find that it proves to be quite the contrary.

LIBRA (September 23 to October 22) Your ability to maintain a balance between sense and sentiment once again helps you sort through apparently conflicting choices and ultimately arrive at the right decision.

SCORPIO (October 23 to November 21)

Before you seek the advice of colleagues about a potential career move, you might be better off getting counsel from someone who won’t be affected by the choices you make.

SAGITTARIUS (November 22 to December 21) It can be a challenging week for some relationships if the normal give-and-take flow changes, with one side doing most of the giving and the other the taking.

CAPRICORN (December 22 to January 19) A new opportunity could bring with it much anticipation, along with some anxiety. Take time to sort out your options as well as your emotional considerations.

AQUARIUS (January 20 to February 18)

Are you sure you have all the facts you need to let that matter move to another level? Don’t be rushed into a decision unless, and until, you feel like it’s the right thing to do.

PISCES (February 19 to March 20) Pace yourself as you prepare to take on a more demanding project. Be careful not to let your energy reserves drain away. Take time to relax with people close to you.

Three Choirs Festival returns this weekend

AFTER a four year hiatus due to COVID, the three ‘classical’ choirs of the North East combine this weekend for performances of the 2023 Three Choirs Festival.

Wangaratta audiences will have the opportunity to hear the massed choirs in full flight at the Holy Trinity Cathedral this Sunday afternoon at 2.30pm, when Wangaratta-based choir Vocal Dimension joins with The Beechworth Singers and AlburyWodonga’s Murray Concert Choir to present a concert of exhilarating works with the title of ‘Gloria!’, once again under the baton of well-known local conductor, Paul Tasker.

First-up on the program is

Antonio Vivaldi’s wonderful Gloria (RV 589) dating from around 1715.

It’s a charming work displaying Vivaldi’s mastery of the contrapuntal form, full of enduring melodies, and spine-tingling harmonies.

A much-loved choral classic, it’s to be accompanied by the string ensemble of the Three Choirs Festival Orchestra, comprised of accomplished local instrumentalists.

This is followed by English composer John Rutter’s beautiful new work, A Ukrainian Prayer.

Composed in March 2022, just weeks after the outbreak of fresh hostilities in Eastern Eu-

Cathedral College musical production

CATHEDRAL College Wangaratta junior school will present Mystery at Magpie Manor - a Downton-meets - Poirot musical production - at the Wangaratta Performing Arts and Convention Centre on Tuesday, September 12.

Set in the 1920s and steeped in legend and intrigue, Magpie Manor is in a great state of disrepair and Lord and Lady Pica must take drastic action to save their crumbling manor house.

The show brings comedy, song, mystery and 1920s dance routines together in one entertaining performance on Tuesday, September 12 at7pm with tickets available at wpacc.com.au.

rope, it provides a poignant contrast to the unreserved joy of the preceding work.

After interval, the choirs team up with the brass ensemble of the orchestra to present John Rutter’s 1974 composition Gloria.

A work of significant complexity and challenge, it announced the arrival of a brilliant young new composer, who went on to create a vast legacy of beautiful music over his lifetime.

The lively brass accompaniment will have audiences on the edge of their seats.

After all that excitement comes a period of repose, with a suite of choral movements from Welsh composer Karl Jenkins’

Head spinning performance from 360 ALLSTARS

SEE BMX, basketball, breakdancing, acrobatics, drumming and more when the international smash hit 360 ALLSTARS comes to the Wangaratta Performing Arts and Convention Centre on September 18 and 19.

A phenomenal physical performance exploring all forms of rotation, 360 ALLSTARS connects the street with the elite to deliver a supercharged urban circus featuring a cast of world champion and world record holding artists and athletes.

Delivered with a live soundtrack by award winning musicians and coupled with spectacular video projections, book tickets now for this visual feast at wpacc.com.au.

acclaimed contemporary work, The Armed Man (subtitled “A Mass For Peace”).

To round off the concert, audiences are invited to join the choirs in a rousing rendition of Hubert Parry’s famous anthem, Jerusalem.

If you can’t make Sunday’s performance, you can attend a performance the preceding afternoon (Saturday, September 9) at Scots School, Albury at 2.30 pm.

Admission is just $25, or $20 concession, with under-18s free. Tickets can be purchased in advance (highly recommended) via Trybooking.com, or admission at the door is via cash or EFTPOS.

Friends of Lacluta Open Gardens

BE inspired this spring by visiting beautiful gardens in the local area when Friends of Lacluta holds its annual Open Gardens day on Sunday, October 22 from 10am until 4pm.

Gardens will be open in Lyons Road, Tarrawingee, Boorhaman Road in North Wangaratta and Boorhaman Road in Boorhaman, with plants and produce stalls, refreshments and live music in Tarrawingee.

Entry is $10 for one garden (or $20 for all three) with children’s entry free, and funds raised support projects underway in communities in Timor Leste.

MUSICAL SPECTACULAR: Don’t miss the 2023 Three Choirs Festival being held at Wangaratta’s Holy Trinity Cathedral this Sunday, September 10 at 2.30 pm.

BRAINSTORMING: Year six students Harriet Day and Charlotte Smith worked together on a Vex Go activity.

Pyjama Day

Wangaratta Primary School

STUDENTS enjoyed the opportunity to stay in their pyjamas for a day in August.

Together with a hot lunch of party pies and sausage rolls, it was a comfy day to strut their fancy attire of PJs, slippers, oodies and dressing gowns.

Vex Go Athletic fun

Oxley Primary School

YEAR six students Harriet Day and Charlotte Smith collaborated together to work on a Vex Go activity. This equipment has been generously borrowed from the Wangaratta Digital Hub and provides many great learning opportunities for students.

It also ignites future interests, passions and pathways for students as they head off to high school.

ON

Evie

Wangaratta West Primary School

STUDENTS in grades three to six recently took part in their annual Athletics Day at Appin Park Oval.

They participated in a range of athletics events, giving it their best shot while also cheering on friends and classmates.

SLEEP TIGHT: Students Emily Henschke, Tobi Wheeler, Paisley Farrugia, Clara Silveira and Emmy Smith were among those to embrace Pyjama Day at school.

Celebrating learning

Cathedral College Wangaratta

YOUNGER students celebrated all they have achieved in their first years at school. Prep students Sophie Brown, Eli Taylor and Chelsea Bowie presented what they are learning about in each subject, at the recent Prep to Year Two Celebration of Learning.

WELL DONE: Prep students Sophie Brown, Eli Taylor and Chelsea Bowie made a presentation on what they are learning during the recent Prep to Year Two Celebration of Learning.

Creative play

Carraragarmungee Primary School

STUDENTS did an amazing job creating spring blossom cakes and opening a bakery just in time for lunch.

It was lovely to see the kids outside again on first day of spring.

DECORATIVE WORK: Amarlie Kane, Giorgio Panozzo, George Newman, Milly Richardson, Adrian WilliamsSeymour and Sade Pye made some spring blossom cakes.

1

What is the most abundant element in the universe? Is it a) helium, b) magnesium, c) nitrogen, or d) hydrogen?

Heliocentrism is an astronomical model attributed to Copernicus. Does it mean, a) the Moon revolves around Earth, b) the Sun revolves around Earth, c) Earth and the planets of the solar system revolve around the Sun, or d) the Sun, Moon, planets and stars all revolve around Earth?

3The Square Kilometre Array (SKA) will be primarily hosted by two countries, of which Australia is one. Which other country has been chosen to host the SKA?

Is it a) Chile, b) India, c) South Africa, or d) the United States of America?

4

Prior to sending humans into space, animals were sent into space. Which of these animals was the first to visit space? Was it a) fruit flies, b) a monkey, c) a dog, or d) a nest of mice?

by other organisms and the energy travels up the food chain.

the Sun by plants (and a few other organisms) in a process called photosynthesis. Photosynthetic organisms are then eaten

and mid frequency antennas of the SKA, while Australia will host the low frequency antennas. 4. a). Fruit flies were the first animals to visit space. They ventured into space on 20 February 1947, travelling 109 kilometres above sea level and they were successfully recovered alive. 5. b). The Sun is the main source of energy for all living things on Earth. Energy is harvested romf

and the other planets of the solar system revolve around the Sun. 3. c). South Africa will be the primary host of the high

QUIZ ANSWERS: 1. d). Hydrogen is the most abundant element in the universe. 2. c). Helio– refers to the Sun, while –centrism implies the centre. Hence, heliocentrism is the model in which the Sun is at the centre of the solar system. Earth

5

What is the main source of energy for all life on Earth? Is it a) gravity, b) the Sun, c) electromagnetism, or d) dark matter?

For more CSIRO

Double Helix science visit www.csiro.au/ helix or call 02 6276 6643.

THEIR MARKS: Students

Fisher, Bridie Kay, Olive Meggs and Hazel Wyllie get set to take off in the Athletics Day competition.

SAVING LIVES: The X-Ray Group is encouraging women to priotise their health this week.

Radiology saves women’s lives

By CHLOE JAENICKE

WOMEN’S Health Week is an opportunity to remind all women to take a proactive approach to their health or the health of a loved one.

Whether it be attending a screening appointment, visiting a GP or adopting a healthier lifestyle, The X-Ray Group is encouraging all women to make time for themselves this week and prioritise their health.

Group marketing director, Donna Carroll, said radiology plays a pivotal role in diagnosing women’s health conditions.

“The X-Ray Group is dedicated to supporting our community and offers

a comprehensive range of expert medical imaging services for all women,” she said.

“They work closely with medical practitioners to share expertise and information, with a common goal of achieving the best possible health outcomes by providing specialised imaging and accurate medical diagnosis.”

Ms Carroll said The X-Ray Group has invested in high-quality medical imaging equipment for ultrasound, MRI, nuclear medicine, mammography and CT (including one of Australia’s few stand-up CT machines).

“We have a highly trained team of radiologists and technologists, who

WOMEN’S

specialise in obstetric, gynaecologic, breast, cardiac, bone density, MSK/ pain management and dental imaging,” she said.

“The message is clear, radiology saves lives.

“Don’t wait until it’s too late.

“To all the grandmothers, mothers, daughters, sisters, aunties and nieces, don’t put off your medical health concerns – speak to your GP about screening options or medical imaging tests available to you.”

For further information about how The X-Ray Group can assist you, visit www.thexraygroup.com.au or phone (03) 5720 0700 to enquire about an appointment.

WEEK 2023

Get your checks, no regrets

By TERESA MCMAHON, SOUTH WANGARATTA MEDICAL CENTRE

TO quote Maya Angelou, “being a woman is hard work”. It is also often said that you cannot look after others if you are not looking after yourself.

This week, during Jean Hailes Women’s Health Week, we urge women in the Wangaratta community to pause and take a moment to look after yourselves first.

This year we are paying particular attention to women’s cancer screening.

There are three main cancer screening programs which are often the focus of cancer screening for women.

They include Breast Screen Australia, which offers free mammograms for women aged 50 to 74, with optional screening available for those over 40.

The National Bowel Cancer Screening Program targets individuals aged 50 to 74.

The National Cervical Screening Program which covers women and people with cervixes aged 25 to 74,

emphasising early detection for cervical cancer.

Along with many other medical clinics, general health screening and cancer screening is a focus at South Wangaratta Medical Centre.

This year we have placed extra focus on cervical screening (previously known as Pap tests) by educating the community on the option of self-collection, rather than collection being done by a clinician as before.

During this time we were able to significantly increase the number of screenings carried out at our practice.

We believe this shows that some people are more comfortable with selfcollection.

We are committed to continue to try and highlight the importance of screening and the option of self-collection amongst the community and ask that you also share this information with other women in your lives- your family, friends and co-workers to make sure that they too are taking steps to pause and put their health first.

This week, South Wangaratta Medical Centre is supporting Jean Hailes Women’s Health Week. We are calling out to all women and want you to also pass the message on to your family, friends and coworkers- Get Your Checks, No Regrets! This week is dedicated to the health of women, girls and gender diverse people in Australia. This year’s campaign is focusing on cancer screening.

Breast cancer screening

Cervical cancer screening (including self-collection of sample)

Bowel cancer screening

It will also remind women that it’s OKAY to put yourself first

Prevention is in your hands

GETTING regular health checks is one of the best ways to protect your health.

That’s why, today, Gateway Health is talking about do-it-yourself cervical screening.

All cervical screening participants now have the choice to self-collect their own Cervical Screening Test sample.

A self-collected sample is taken from the vagina and is checked for human papillomavirus (HPV) – a common infection that causes almost all cervical cancers.

“Regular screening is the best protection against cervical cancer and we have seen many of our patients opt for self-collection when offered the choice,” sexual health nurse, Clinic 35 Gateway Health, Sam Purna, said.

“Self-collection is reducing barriers for many people and making easier to screen for HPV.”

The prevention is in your hands.

Gateway Health’s Clinic 35 can provide you with a free swab and instructions to collect your sample.

It’s that easy.

“This has definitely removed a barrier for me and I recognise how important regular testing is for my health,” a

former Gateway Health client said.

“The nurses provided the testing kit and clear instructions.

“I found the process easy, less invasive and I would definitely choose to self-collect again.”

Gateway Health’s Clinic 35 also offers clients a confidential and safe setting in which to discuss sexual health concerns and receive sexual and reproductive health care.

When you visit Clinic 35 you will be assessed by a registered nurse with training in sexual and reproductive health.

The nurse will help you decide what is the right kind of support for you.

In some cases, the nurse may refer you to see your own doctor, or alternatively refer you to other services including our General Practitioner (GP) service.

The clinic is open from 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday at our Wodonga and Wangaratta sites.

It is a free Nurse Led Service where no referrals are required.

Call the Wodonga clinic 02 6022 8888 or Wangaratta clinic on 03 5723 2000 or email info@gatewayhealth. org.au to find out more and to make an appointment.

PREVENTION IS KEY: Sam Purna, sexual health nurse, Clinic 35 Gateway Health encourages women to get regular health checks to protect their health.

KING VALLEY NEWS

Covering Moyhu, Edi, Myrrhee, Whitfield, Cheshunt and Whitlands areas

New kindergarten project at Whitfield District Primary School

By CHLOE JAENICKE

WHITFIELD District Primary School will be getting a new onsite kindergarten as part of the Victorian Government’s Best Start, Best Life program.

The kinder is expected to have many positive impacts for families by making drop offs more convenient for families and making the transition between kinder and school easier.

Whitfield District Primary School principal, Tammy Holton, said the school is thrilled about the new kindergarten project.

“The new facility will be a wonderful addition to our community and will help strengthen learning, development and wellbeing outcomes for our students,” she said.

Ms Holton said the school has already seen the potential benefits of a kindergarten onsite due to the Whitfield Childcare/Kindergarten being based at the school temporarily for the past few months.

“It has been a joy to see our young people, educators and families learning, playing and exploring together,” she said.

The permanent kindergarten is set to open in 2025.

“We’re looking forward to the journey ahead and can’t wait to welcome new students and their families when our permanent space opens in 2025,” Ms Holton said.

WANGARATTA Senior Citizens Club will host an in-house movie, ‘My Big Fat Greek Wedding’, today from 1.30pm at its clubrooms in Tara Court, off Ford Street.

Don’t miss King River Sounds at the brewery

A LIVE music event called King Valley Sounds will be held at King River Brewing this Saturday from 12pm to 10pm.

A family-friendly concert designed to support local talent, the line-up includes Dallas Frasca, Sal Kimber, Dean Haitani Band, Marisa Quigley, Iva Mahoni, Texas Crude & Lucey and more.

Tickets are available at https://events.humanitix.com/king-river-sounds with free entry for kids and a range of activities on offer.

Pangerang art classes in Cheshunt next week

THE Pangerang mobile community hub will visit Cheshunt on Friday, September 15 to delivery art classes for children from 4.30pm and adults from 6.30pm.

Whether you are a beginner or more experienced, come along and learn the art of drawing with art teacher Robynne using a number of materials and techniques including pastels, with all material supplied.

Bookings are essential at https://www.socialplanet.com.au/activity/view?id=15813, visit Pangerang Community Hub on Facebook, or call 5721 3813.

King Valley cluster end of term disco at Moyhu

MOYHU Primary School will be bringing back the 80s at their end of term disco being held on Friday, September 15 from 5.30pm to 7.30pm. All school aged children are welcome and encouraged to dress in their best 80s gear and hit the dance floor, with a DJ and photo booth. Supported by the Rural City of Wangaratta, there will be finger food and cordial with entry by gold coin donation.

Concert at the Moyhu hall

GOLDEN guitar winner Graham Rodger will perform at the Moyhu Soldiers Memorial Hall on Sunday, October 29 at 2pm.

Whitfield District Primary school will continue to work closely with the Department of Education throughout the planning of the kindergarten to ensure it is the best it can

be for the school community. The State Government has been ensuring every new primary school opened since 2021 has a kinder on-site or next door and is providing $1.2 bil-

ELDORADO Senior Citizens Club hosts indoor carpet bowls at the hall every Thursday from 12.45pm.

SOCIAL CALENDAR

The club will hold indoor carpet bowls tomorrow (Thursday) from 12 noon; cards (euchre) from 1.30pm on Friday, indoor carpet bowls on Monday from 12 noon, and cards (500) and hoy on Tuesday from 1.30pm, all at its clubrooms in Tara Court, off Ford Street, or in the adjoining St Patrick’s supper room.

Next Wednesday, September 13, the club will host bingo at its clubrooms in Tara Court.

WANGARATTA Garden Club will hold its next meeting tomorrow (Thursday) from 1.30pm in the Seventh Day Adventist Church Hall in Phillipson Street.

There will be a mini-show with members’ flowers, a stall, and afternoon tea will be served.

Special effort this month is a vase/container of bulbs.

New members welcome.

WANGARATTA Newcomers will hold their next gathering on Thursday, September 7 from 2pm to 3.30pm at Intermezzo Café at the Wangaratta Performing Arts and Convention Centre.

Join the group for a cuppa, a chat and to meet some new people.

For more information, phone Joy on 0401 843 815 or Ann on 0435 275 864.

PARKINSON’S Disease support group meets every Friday at the Wangaratta RSL for coffee at 10am.

Those who are able can also meet at the main entrance from 9.30am for a 30 minute river walk prior to coffee.

For more information, contact Dave James on 0409 011 953 or Ros Taylor on 0429 624 844.

WANGARATTA’S Vocal Dimension will be part of the Three Choirs Festival at Holy Trinity Cathedral on Sunday, September 10 from 2.30pm to 4.30pm.

The event will feature an uplifting repertoire sung by the combined choirs of Vocal Dimension, the Murray Concert Choir and Beechworth Singers.

Tickets are available by visiting https://www.trybooking.com/ events/1082812/sessions/4010998/ sections/2012176/tickets

VETERAN and family morning tea is held at the Wangaratta RSL on the second Tuesday of each month.

The group’s next catch-up will be held on Tuesday, September 12 from 10am to 11.30am.

All current and ex-service personnel are most welcome for further information contact 0447 217 768.

THE newly-formed Oxley Garden Group will hold its first gathering on Thursday, September 14 from 10am

lion in the 2023/24 Victorian budget for new kindergartens at or near government and lowfee government schools alongside new and expanded kinders on local government sites.

at June Uebergang’s garden, 114 Oxley-Meadow Creek Road, Oxley.

The group meets on the second Thursday of each month.

Bring along a cup, a chair, and a small plate to share; tea, coffee, etc provided. Feel free to bring along cuttings, bulbs, etc to share, along with your knowledge of how to get the best results for your garden.

For more information, contact June (text only) on 0497 860 785.

WANGARATTA Cake Decorators meet every third Saturday of the month at Galen College in Phillipson Street from 10.30am, with the next meeting scheduled for September 16.

Those attending the next meeting will make rice paper flowers with Johanne Holt from Queensland.

BYO lunch and mug, $15 for members, $20 non-members.

Phone Lee Johnson on 0419 513 735 for more information or to book.

WANGARATTA Table Tennis Association is hosting a new social daytime group at the Wangaratta Showgrounds pavilion on Tuesdays from 10am to 12 noon.

People of all ages, from beginners to more experienced players, are encouraged to play singles and doubles in a relaxed, friendly environment, with coaching for beginners.

Winner of over 100 country music awards, mark the date in your calendar and enjoy an afternoon of entertainment, with tickets $20 per person.

Book by calling Christine on 0427 276 264, with tickets also available at the door on the day.

For more information, phone Maxine on 0403 209 857.

THE Wangaratta Artists are under new management, and welcome budding artists to come along, and established artists to exhibit in the studio at Batchelor’s Green.

The group meets at the studio on Mondays and Thursdays from 12 noon.

For more information, phone Clare on 0419 365 149.

COME and play mahjong at the Wangaratta RSL on Thursdays from 11am.

Beginners welcome. Contact Jan on 0429 166 016.

WANGARATTA Keenagers Table

Tennis Club plays on Mondays and Thursdays at the table tennis centre at the Wangaratta Showgrounds.

Play begins at 8am. New players welcome. Morning tea provided –please bring your own cup.

For more information, contact Trevor Wolfel on 0476 891 596.

WANGARATTA Sing Australia Group meets each Wednesday from 7.30pm to 9pm at Purbrick Hall, next to Holy Trinity Cathedral.

All welcome – for further information, call Keith Fleet on 0491 114 480 or Cheryl Hoysted on 0419 005 062.

WANGARATTA Concert Band rehearses on Mondays from 6.45pm to 9pm at the Avian Park Raceway Band Room in Newman Street. New players welcome, contact Helen on 0401 021 448.

GLENROWAN Indoor Carpet Bowls is held at Glenrowan Recreation Reserve Hall each Wednesday – arrive 12.45pm for 1pm start.

The competition runs until 3.30pm–4pm, and is followed by afternoon tea. For details, phone Frank on 0409 662 462.

COME and try croquet at the Wangaratta Croquet Club, 46 Ryan Avenue, on any Monday, Wednesday or Saturday at 12.30pm. Equipment and instruction provided in a friendly, welcoming atmosphere.

For further information, phone club president Susan Fischer on 0417 217 009.

SATURDAY Quilters meet on the first Saturday of the month for a relaxed day of sit, sew and chat, from 10am to 3pm at the Wangaratta Small Bore Rifle Club, off the river end of College Street.

Contact Colleen on 0427 221 138.

A NEW croquet club has started at the Wangaratta Lawn Tennis Club in Merriwa Park.

The group plays on Sunday afternoons, Tuesday afternoons and Thursday mornings, equipment supplied. While the park is closed, the club has found a temporary home for social gatherings at Corowa Croquet Club. For more information, contact Anne on 0490 173 169.

• TO include your group‘s activities in this listing, email the details to skerwin@nemedia.com.au

NEW KINDER: Students like (from left) Darcy Pryor, Aroha Waddell-Laing, Frankie-Clare Jennings, Mia Mori, Melodee Dunca, Rafferty Cook, Tully Grounds and Nate Denholm will benefit from the new kindergarten at Whitfield District Primary School.

INPERSONBYPHONESELLING ACAR BUY ONLINE

37 Rowan Street, Wangaratta 3677 5723 0101 classifieds@ nemedia.com.au

WHENTO BOOK BYEMAIL

Chronicle Classifieds 2pm business day prior to print North East Jobs 3pm Friday OPEN HOURS 9AM TO 5PM

2 WEEKS REGIONAL WITH PICTURE from $42

General Classifieds: wangarattachronicle.com.au

Employment: northeastjobs.com.au

Real Estate: northeastproperty.com.au

WANGARATTA’S MARKET PLACE WITH OVER 40,000 READERS EACH WEEK IN PRINT AND ONLINE

2 bedroom house, large yard, Burke Street, Wangaratta, $300 per week, bond plus first months rent. Ph 0434 069 245.

EMPLOYMENT

REGISTERED NURSE (LOCUM)

REMOTE LOCATION

DOG TRAINER, Frank Vickers, behavioural solutions, 0418 314 610.

PAINTER, old school, for all your painting needs. Commercial, industrial renovations. Phone Julian 0412 597 482.

VIVI

Smokin Hot 20’s

Sweet Lil Spicy

Awesome GFE

0435 218 318

SWA10618XE

Required at an Aboriginal Health Centre in Tennant Creek, NT. Flights and accommodation provided. Duration is flexible.

Forward resume to tonyadamo@bigpond.com or contact Tony on 0417 034 421 for more details.

PRE decimal coins, pennies, florins, crowns, round 50 cents, sovereigns. Phone Ray 5721 7341 or 0401 177 370.

2020 Toyota Hilux (1SO2UL), 2.8L ute, diesel, 28,000km.

$62,000. Phone Brian 0427 595 561.

Environmental Programs Officer Position Available

An exciting role at Beechworth Correctional Centre (Corrections Victoria), a minimum-security prison for men, is currently available.

The Prison has a strong focus on preparing offenders for their release back into the community, by engaging offenders in the prison industry, recycling, and environmental areas.

This organisation works in collaboration with program areas and communities to deliver services that are efficient, effective, and integrated.

About the role

This opportunity will see you joining a dynamic, friendly, and supportive team where you are responsible for the efficient delivery of the environmental strategy and assist in the supervision of various programs and environmental projects. The position will work with the community, and stakeholders and provide prisoners with an opportunity to acquire skills and knowledge that can be utilised post-release in relation to environmental management.

BLACK Ram for sale, part Persian, shedding, 14 months old, very quiet, 100% success rate, $300. Ph. 0427 844 639.

MECHANICAL and earthmoving repairs. Pre-season repairs and servicing, breakdowns and call-outs on Ag and earthmoving equipment, dam cleaning, boundary prep and drainage. Phone Tenny 0400 232 760

About You

To succeed in this role, you will bring a strong passion with your environmental strategy skills and as our ideal candidate you will possess:

management, or similar fields.

and to help achieve positive

How to Apply

For more information and to apply, go to www.careers.vic.gov.au and type in Job ID:

Applications should include a resume and cover letter that details the skills, attributes, and motivation you would bring to this role.

The successful candidate will be required to undergo pre-employment checks which prison based and will require prisoner contact. Applications close on 11 September 2023.

Looking for a change of direction? Find your next job in the classified section of the or go online anytime at

2012 Nissan Dualis, 6 speed manual, petrol, new clutch, new tyres, new radio, very tidy, 213,000km, $9900 ono, (ZAQ898). Ph 0427 368 901.

DEATH NOTICES

KAWECKI, Kathryn Mary.

The family of Kathryn are saddened to announce her passing on September 2, 2023.

Aged 65 years.

Kathy was dearly loved by her family and will be sadly missed by all.

Much loved wife of John.

Mother to Kye (dec), Ebony and Rian (dec) and grandmother to Lylah and Kaylah. For you were beautiful and we have loved you, More than words can say.

Memories held close to my heart. ~ Loving daughter Cheryl.

COSTANTINO, Antonio.

HOLDEN Cruze

SRi-V, (1OK9GX), great first car, 1.6L turbo, auto. Top of the range including heated seats, Bluetooth, Sat.nav, 6 air bags. Registered to Nov. 2023. RW certificate. $10,600. Couple minor scrapes on passenge r side. Contact Brad 0488 095 109.

BLACK Holden Cruze CDX 2010 (XWT095), 173,400klm. $3500 neg. Contact Andrew 0428 410 341.

NISSAN Navara, dual cab ute, JN1CNUD22A 0026712, suit wrecking, 2 engines, 2 radiators, bull bar with electric winch, tow bar, good axles and gear box, $500. Ph (03) 5764 4332.

CARAVANS & CAMPERS

KOKODA Endure II

Platinum, semi off-road, 18ft 6in, $50,000. Phone Brian 0427 595 561.

FUNERALS

KAWECKI

Friends, relatives and those whose hearts have been touched by Kathy, are invited to celebrate her life with her family. The funeral service to celebrate the life of Mrs Kathryn Mary Kawecki will be held in the Mason Park Memories Room, 95 Mason Street, Wangaratta on Monday, September 11, 2023, at 10.30am. Burial will follow the service at the Tarrawingee Cemetery.

Instead of flowers, a Memorial Gift

FUNERAL DIRECTORS

A funeral experience... not just a funeral service

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.

W. masonpark.com.au

MATADOR BBQ with stovetop, sink and cupboards (3 separate pieces), six year old, in good condition, $1400. Ph 0424 514 337.

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.

Personal Notices

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

classifieds@nemedia.com.au

Emailyouradvert classifieds@nemedia.com.au

Passed away 50 years ago today, taken way too soon.

From underdog to top dog

THE Wangaratta Wolfpack stamped their authority as the number one side in rugby league in the North East after winning the Goulburn Murray Premiership in a thrilling 22-20 win over the Corowa Cougars.

After coming from third place, The Wolfpack put on a show during the grand final at Glenrowan on Sunday, August 27.

Wolfpack centre Vaai Vaai was the standout for his side in the big game, crossing for two tries, whilst Titi Faalia, Poutasi Faaiuaso and coach Newyear Patiole also crossed for the boys in red and black.

After a tough couple of years for the club having no home ground or men’s side, their first year back in the competition has raised the bar.

The Wolfpack prides themselves on being a multicultural, all inclusive club and have their eyes set on relocating to the village of Eldorado, for the 2024 season.

Age shall not weary them

RAILS RUN

LEAGUE CHAMPIONS:

The Wangaratta

Wolfpack men’s side were crowned premiers after a thrilling grand final at Glenrowan on August 27.

By GRAEME TAYLOR

AGELESS Wangaratta

jockey Robbie Beattie recently notched up, what is believed to be his 370th winner at Echuca recently, for the Nathan Hobson trained King and King.

The 57 year old veteran of the saddle has some $2.7M in prizemoney to his credit, in a career which began in 1986.

His total number of winning rides and placings is open to discussion, given his longevity and various stat sites, but no doubt Robbie has his finger on this.

He names the James Fraser trained Dr NipandTuck as his most favourite ride.

Robbie is well known as the ‘I’ve been everywhere man’ as he ventures across Victoria and Southern NSW for rides.

Well done Robbie Beattie on a distinguished career.

Who remembers him?

Rails Run has been caught up in a football story, none the less, to answer a posing local football question.

“Who was the Sydney Swans player that was a publican in Wangaratta and played a handful of games for the local Magpies?”

He joined South Melbourne in 1963, played 119 games and kicked 27 goals.

Sadly, he passed away in 2005.

EXCITING TIMES: Wangaratta Bowls Club hosted an open day for the 2023/24 O&M season.

O&M pennant bowls season approaching

By WILLSON MACK

THE Wangaratta Bowls Club welcomed in the new season with its Opening Day on Saturday.

President Maurie Braden opened proceedings by welcoming all new and existing members and thanking all the volunteer efforts in presenting the greens and clubrooms in excellent condition.

Braden also thanked new major sponsors the Wangaratta Motor Group and Wangaratta Hyundai.

He then invited the current ladies champion in Lorna Martinelli and the men’s champion runner-up Gary Chambers to open the season by delivering the first two bowls of the season.

More than 60 players and guests

enjoyed social bowls followed by afternoon tea as part of the day’s proceedings.

The Ovens & Murray Pennant season will begin on October 7 with the A3 and B3 Divisions, followed by the remainder of the competition on October 14.

Lavington Bowls Club will make its debut in the O&M Region after successfully gaining

a clearance from Bowls NSW.

Wangaratta will maintain four sides in this year’s O&M weekend pennant season with teams featuring in divisions A1, A3, B1 and B3.

Wangaratta has increased its participation in the mid-week pennant with sides in divisions A1, A2 (promoted from A3) and the extra side will compete in B2.

Paul Harrison was the publican at the Royal Victoria Hotel in around the mid seventies, when Geoff Rosenow and Harry Skreja were coaching.

Legend has it that he played a practice match at Lavington and two games for the Magpies, before succumbing to the pressures of overweight.

A more recent coach was heard to say that “publicans come footballers”, are not a perfect match.

NORTH East Bushrangers Basketball (NEBB) is a collaboration between local North East basketball associations with the commitment of “Creating Realistic Pathways for all North East Athletes”

Eleven NEBB junior teams compete in the Victorian Junior Basketball League (VJBL) - the highest level junior competition in Victoria.

One NEBB Youth League Men’s (YLM) team competes in the semi-professional Big V competition.

Big V & VJBL consist of teams from both metropolitan and regional Victoria.

RESULTS:

PRELIMINARY FINAL U14 Girls 1 38 def Bulleen 2 30

(Top Scorers: Ella Mercieca 17, Scarlett Van Schaik 6, Lily Purss 5)

PRELIMINARY FINAL

U16 Boys 1 59 def by Coburg 1 69

(Top Scorers: Dashiell Smith 17, Connor Breheny 13, Blake Newton 11)

PRELIMINARY FINAL

U16 Boys 2 25 def by Melton 2 41

(Top Scorers: Brayden Lincoln 8, Lenny Lonergan 5, Harry Pople 4)

PRELIMINARY FINAL

U16 Girls 2 28 def by Keilor 4 30

(Top Scorers: Sophia Kotzur 7, Amelia Frazer 5, Lily Moffatt 5) SEMI FINAL FINAL

U18 Boys 1 72 def by Nunawading 1 77

(Top Scorers: Lochie Harvey 23, Coen Ainsworth 17, Benjamin Skalic 8)

CLOSE WATCH: Lorna Martinelli watches her bowl.

MATCH RESULTS

UNDER 17 SCOREBOARDUNDER 14 SCOREBOARDUNDER 12 SCOREBOARD

BEST: TIGERS: Wil Carmody, Lucas Webb, Drew Winter, Zack Carroll.

COLLEGE: Fraser Burgan, Rory Harvey, Jonah Massey-chase, Cashen

Monk, Tom Rebbechi, Selby Doyle. GOALS: TIGERS: Lucas Webb

5, Deacon Cleal 2, Ryan Mckay 2, Harry Mullane 1, Drew Winter 1.

COLLEGE: Rory Harvey 1, Hudson Lloyd 1, Cormac McNamara 1.

BEST: CENTRALS: Dean Balfour, Kaiden Wohlers, Henry Burke, Reid McNamara, Solomon Steer, Brooklyn Mawson. IMPERIALS: Beau Benton, Archer Direen, Charlie Flynn, Max Marek, Ryley Canning, Matthew Gay. GOALS: CENTRALS: Cooper Grimshaw 3, Ryan Parsons 3, Reid McNamara 1. IMPERIALS: Harry Allen 2, Beau Benton 1, Judd Campbell 1, Isaac Robinson 1, Aiden Sibraa 1.

BEST: BENALLA BULLDOGS: Joshua Bamford, Hugh Ross, Joshua Montgomery, Nicholas White, Ben Wells, Ryan White. COLLEGE: Cooper Bowman, Baiden Hallinan, Luke Pensak, Tate Llewellyn, Charlie OBrien, Jack Tonkin. GOALS: BENALLA BULLDOGS: Joshua Bamford 1, Oliver Parker 1. COLLEGE: Jack Tonkin 2, Cooper Bowman 1, Hudson Fieldew

1, Luke Pensak 1, William Pickett 1, Zachary Tamme 1.

THIS SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 10THIS SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 10THIS SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 10

GRAND FINAL: Junior Magpies vs Tigers, 12.30pm @ Wangaratta Showgrounds

GRAND FINAL: Kangaroos v Centrals, 10.30am @ Wangaratta Showgrounds

GRAND FINAL: Tigers v College, 8.50am @ Wangaratta Showgrounds

BEN HOGAN

HARRY ALLEN CONNOR ORMOND REEGAN MONK COOPER GRIMSHAW

WILLIAM PICKETT

ISAAC ROBINSON

HARRY MULLANE

PHOTO: BREE McCLEN

PHOTO: BREE McCLEN

PHOTO: BREE McCLEN

PHOTOS: MELISSA BEATTIE

RYAN PARSONS

JAYDA MASSEY-CHASE

LUCAS WEBB

BILLY YOUNGER

KAIDEN WOHLERS

PRESTON STAMP

SOLOMON STEER

AWARDS NIGHT

By BAILEY ZIMMERMANN

THE region’s finest young footballers were honoured on Monday night at the Wangaratta District Junior Football League presentations.

Footballers across under 12s, under 14s and under 17s were celebrated at the Quality Gateway Hotel with players presented with Most Valuable Player, leading goal kicker and best first year player awards.

The night led up to the vote counts across three grades to decide the league’s best and fairest winners.

In the under 17s Jaxon Coleman from Kangaroos pulled off a rare double win, taking home the McCormick Medal in just his first year in under 17s where he was also voted as the best first year player.

Using a strong finish to the season, Tigers’ Harry Mullane held off strong competition to come in second.

“I wasn’t really expecting this, we’ve got a pretty good team this year so I didn’t think I would poll too many votes but I’m over the moon,” Harry said.

The closest count of the night was left to the Ken Farrell Medal in the under 14s, where Josh Hart from Benalla Giants and Archer Direen from Imperials went headto-head for the entirety of the count, until Josh polled three votes in the last game of the year to win by that margin.

Josh polled a whopping 42 votes from a possible 54 available to lead all-comers.

The under 12s boasted a similarly close count which saw Joshua Montgomery from the Benalla Bulldogs come out with the Kevin Mahoney Medal, closely followed by Junior Magpies’ Lane Sloan.

Volunteers, coaches, parents and guardians received plenty of well-earned thanks from players and award winners across the night.

The WDJFL season culminates on a massive grand final day on Sunday, which will see Tigers take on College in the under 12s from 8:50am, Kangaroos against Centrals in the under 14s at 10:30am and Junior Magpies face off against Tiger in the under 17s from 12:30pm.

FULL LIST OF AWARD WINNERS:

Under 17s

 McCormick Medal: Jaxon Coleman 26 votes (Kangaroos).

 Runner up: Harry Mullane 20 votes (Tigers).

 Leading goal kicker: Will Phillips 72 goals (Junior Magpies).

 MVP: Xavier Wapling (Benalla Giants).

 Best first year player: Jaxon Coleman (Kangaroos).

Under 14s

 Ken Farrell Medal: Josh Hart 42 votes (Benalla Giants).

 Runner up: Archer Direen 39 votes (Imperials).

 Leading goal kicker: Harry Allen 85 goals (Imperials).

 MVP: Josh Hart (Benalla Giants).

 Best first year player: Lenny Sims (College).

Under 12s

 Kevin Mahoney Medal: Joshua Montgomery 31 votes (Benalla Bulldogs).

 Runner up: Lane Sloan 27 votes (Junior Magpies).

 MVP: Sam Elkington (Centrals).

FIRST YEAR’S A CHARM: Lenny Sims capped off an outstanding year in the under 14s by being named as the league’s best first year player

MVP: Xavier Wapling was voted the under 17s MVP on Monday night, after being named in the best every game he played for Benalla Giants this season.

TEAM SHOT: Runner up under 12s best and fairest Lane Sloan and under 17s leading goal kicker Will Phillips represented the Junior Magpies with pride on Monday night.

PRIME GOAL KICKER: Harry Allen from the Imperials kicked 85 goals in the under 1s this year to lead all comers.

SHINING STARS: As well as winning the inder 17s McCormick Medal, Jaxon Coleman was also voted as the best first year player, standing with best and fairest runner up Harry Mullane.

CLOSE COUNT: Imperials’ under 14s best and fairest runner up Archer Direen and winner Josh Hart from Benalla enjoyed fantastic seasons.

YOUNGEST WINNERS: Under 12s best and fairest runner up Lane Sloan and Kevin Mahoney Medal winner Joshua Montgomery.

CREAM OF THE CROP: The three best and fairest winners of the WDJFL presentation night; Jaxon Coleman (under 17s) Josh Hart (under 14s) and Joshua Montgomery (under 12s) were celebrated at the Quality Gateway Hotel on Monday night. PHOTOS: Bailey Zimmermann

GOOD CONTEST: Lavington’s Christine Oguche takes the ball over Wangaratta’s Brooke Pryse.

Slow start costs Magpies

By WILLSON MACK

WANGARATTA A grade netballers once again couldn’t match Lavington in Saturday’s qualifying final at WJ Findlay Oval.

The Magpies have now fallen to the Panthers in all three match-ups this season with the weekend’s affair resulting in a 45-53 loss.

Lavington were fast out of the blocks jumping to a five goal lead

at the first break and Wangaratta couldn’t recover despite winning the second half by two goals.

Lavington teenage superstar Christine Oguche was near unstoppable in goals for the Panthers, finishing the game with 46 of their 53 total in a best-oncourt display.

Wangaratta’s Amanda Umanski led Wangaratta’s goal scorers with 19 but unfortunately left the court with a knee injury which is a huge worry given it’s

RSL members find passion for the bow

WANGARATTA RSL’s sub-branch activities group enjoyed an introduction to archery, joining Wangaratta Archers on the range at South Wangaratta on Saturday morning for a come and try event.

The shooting line was full of laughter and friendly banter as participants attempted to outdo each other.

The coaches were also pleased to be able to provide the opportunity to others through the sport, and offer an opportunity for members

to enjoy themselves.

Most of the attendees said they had never considered archery as an alternative sport, and expressed interest in taking part in further activities going forward.

Anyone interested in learning more about the sport is urged to contact Paul on 0419 681 656, visit the Wangaratta Archers Facebook page, or visit www. wangarattaarchers.org.au.

Groups interested in trying a new activity are also invited to contact the Wangaratta Archers.

her first year back from an ACL injury.

Kellie Keen shot 14 goals of her own, while Georgia Clark grabbed 12. Wangaratta’s loss means they will take on Wodonga Raiders at Bunton Park in Sunday’s elimination final.

Raiders had an electrifying one-goal elimination final win over Myrtleford and will take that momentum into Sunday’s do-or-die semi-final clash.

Meanwhile, in other qualifying finals:

Wangaratta Rovers u15s fell to Raiders.

In the u17s the Magpies lost to Raiders.

Wangaratta’s C grade lost to Yarrawonga.

In Sunday’s elimination finals:

In the u17s Rovers comprehensively beat North Albury.

The Magpies’ B grade downed Myrtleford comfortably.

Greta’s there again

■ From back page

“The girls rallied which was brilliant; it’s credit to the belief in themselves and the belief in the team,” she said.

“Collectively they just stood firm and were able to nullify anything that came at them in that extra-time.

It was déjà vu for the Bulldogs who played out a thrilling extra-time preliminary final against Milawa just a year prior.

Everitt said the lessons learned in their extra time final last year was a key driving factor in the turnaround on Sunday.

“There was a lot of emotions riding through that game last year and I think they were determined not to let the game slip away,” she said.

“We placed a lot of emphasis in finals on getting those basics right and everything else will fall into place.

“The whole nine players we put on at the various stages in the game did their job and that’s one of the pleasing aspects of the team, no one wants to be a standout, they just want to be as one.”

LINE IT UP: Kellie Keen prepares to shoot.

ACCURATE: Issy Newton throws a pass.

TOUGH LOSS: Hannah Grady and Wangaratta fell to Lavington in Saturday’s qualifying final at WJ Findlay Oval. PHOTOS: Melissa Beattie

RAINING ARROWS: Wangaratta RSL sub-branch members enjoyed their time with Wangaratta Archers at the weekend.

PUSH FORWARD: Milly Matthewson looks for options in the goal circle.

SURVEYING THE FLOOR: Maddie Canning looks to find a pass in the goal circle at North Wangaratta on Sunday.

POISED: Taylah Reidy was prominent in front of goal on Saturday, leading all comers with 28 goals.

PHOTO: Bailey Zimmermann

Devils thrashed 9-1 in ugly semi-final

A FIERY semi-final has seen Wangaratta City crash out of the Albury-Wodonga Football Association season in ugly scenes at South Wangaratta Reserve.

Albury United had just gone 4-1 up on the eve of half-time when Devils’ striker Dan Kelly punched former Devil and United’s Ryan Luty at the half-way line which sparked a major scuffle as players walked back towards the change rooms, with spectators also becoming heated.

Police were called out on patrol at 4:20pm to check the incident out but there were no charges laid.

Both coaches calmed their players down at the break and there weren’t any other problems for the rest of the game as the Greens grabbed

BY WILLSON MACK wmack@ nemedia.com.au

a huge 9-1 win.

“An on-field incident prior to half-time resulted in a skirmish between a couple of players with supporters becoming hot,” Sergeant Peter McGuffie said.

“No matters reported to police.

“They just went down there to show the flag.”

Kelly gave Wangaratta the perfect start when he found the back of the net off a header in the 12th minute but United equalised within six minutes.

Wangaratta City coach Raff Molinaro was disappointed with the result.

“It was an interesting way to finish the year, it definitely wasn’t the result we were after,” Molinaro said.

“We started the game well and worked the ball well for that first goal but after about 20 minutes United just ran all over us.

“Their mids got on top and they’ve got some quick forwards that were able to score.”

United’s Melkie Woldemichael was his side’s leading goal scorer with a hat-trick,

while Aidan Rees scored two in the onslaught. Although the Greens scored five in the second half Molinaro was pleased with his side’s efforts.

“The second half was great that we came back out and still had a crack even though we were playing with 10 men,” he said.

“After everything that happened we walked off as a team.

“It was just a pity we lost the way we did.”

It was disappointing scenes for the Devils who were hosting their first semifinal in 10 years.

“Our volunteers did an amazing job with the day and everything ran well on that side,” Molinaro said.

“We don’t want the result to take away from the hard work that they did to get the day going.

“We would’ve had our biggest crowd of the season.”

The Devils weren’t giv-

en much of a chance preseason after losing several players including superstar Adam Burchell as well as coach Daniel Vasilevski.

“I’m pretty happy with our season overall,” Molinaro said.

“We had some good results beating top teams and finished higher than everyone thought we did.”

United will face Myrtleford in the division one grand final on Saturday night at the Lavington Sportsground.

Albury United squash Wangaratta City’s cup final dream

By BAILEY ZIMMERMANN

WANGARATTA City’s senior women’s finals campaign has come to a close, after a 3-0 loss to rivals Albury United at Wodonga on Saturday night.

Last year’s champions gained an early ascendancy in the semi-final with a goal off the back of a free kick in

the seventh minute to have the Lady Devils on the back foot early.

Star striker Paula Mitchell then found a gap in the Wangaratta defence to cruise for a second United goal, before it was all but sealed with a third goal at the hour mark.

Wangaratta City captain Beth Cope said the Lady Devils were on the back foot

from the onset with the late withdrawals of key players Bianca Mulqueen, Leanne Branson and an early injury to Sarah Morris.

“It just wasn’t our day, it was a pretty even battle but it looked like they wanted it more,” she said. United advance to play off in the grand final against Melrose, who caused the

upset of the season against league title champions Albury Hotspurs at South Wangaratta on Sunday, winning 4-2.

Cope said despite the disappointment of missing out on a grand final berth, she has been blown away by the rapid improvement of the side from last year, which only won three games.

“Seeing the development of the younger girls coming through has just been amazing to be a part of,” she said.

“Ruby Snowdon has had a cracker of a year, she’s just been selected into the under 16 New South Wales Country side as well which is a huge achievement for her.

“And Estella Hernandez is

just ruthless [in goal], she’s unbelievable.

“They’re both young as well and they’ve been a huge building block for our team this year.”

It was an unfortunate weekend for Wangaratta City sides in the semi-final with the under 12 girls, under 17 girls and under 14 girls all knocked out of finals.

SCANNING AHEAD: Hannah Swindley and the Lady Devils had their season cut short in the semi-final on Saturday night, going down 3-0 to Albury United.

BIG GAINS: Ruby Snowdon dribbles forward as she was rewarded with under 16s New South Wales Country selection last week. PHOTOS: Kat De Naps Photography

SEASON DONE: Stoycho Ivanov and Wangaratta City have bowed out of the finals series.

PHOTO: Kat De Naps Photography

Devils go down in fiery semi-final

TOUGH LOSS

WANGARATTA’S Ellie Cooper fires a pass off in her side’s 45-53 qualifying final loss to Lavington at WJ Findlay Oval on Saturday. The Magpies will now face Wodonga Raiders in this weekend’s semi-final.

 Story: Page 18

Greta’s there again

Blues are through to fifth straight O&K netball grand final, while Milawa faces Tarrawingee

GRETA are into a fifth consecutive Ovens and King netball grand final, as their quest for history is now one win away.

Going in against Milawa as slight underdogs at Tarrawingee on Saturday afternoon, the two netball heavyweights could barely be separated going into halftime as the Blues held onto

a one goal advantage.

The third quarter brought a change in momentum as the Blues tenacious defence and efficiency in attack led to a slight three goal advantage into the last quarter, which would only be extended in the 48-42 win.

A win in the grand final would be a record equaling

fifth premiership in a row, a feat only achieved by the Blues in the mid 80s and again in the 90s.

After just their second loss all year, Milawa will now play Tarrawingee in the preliminary final for a second chance at a grand final berth.

On the brink of elimination at North

Wangaratta on Sunday, the Bulldogs were five goals down halfway through the last quarter against a hungry Bonnie Doon outfit who looked to have the game in their control.

Tarrawingee rallied behind their stars and sisters Tegan White and Kaylee Allan, who brought the game level with two

minutes remaining.

Both teams had their chances to go-ahead in regulation but nerves had the better of the sides as the game went into extra time.

Going into the extra period at 47 each, the Dogs held their nerve, making a fast start and never looking back, escaping with a

heartstopping 61-54 win to advance to the preliminary final.

Coach Jackie Everitt said when the girls fell behind in the last quarter, she wasn’t sure if her side had enough in the tank to overrun a red hot Bonnie Doon, but was relieved to be proved wrong.

■ Continued page 22

PHOTO: Melissa Beattie

Leo’s going to Japan

By CHLOE JAENICKE

AFTER years of immersing himself in Japanese culture, year 11 Wangaratta High School student, Leo Harwood, is getting the opportunity to spend a year in Japan thanks to the Rotary Club of Milawa Oxley Student Youth Exchange Program.

Leo learnt about the program through a friend who is currently in Japan on the Rotary Youth Exchange.

“I’ve always been interested in Japanese culture, and always wanted to travel there and after talking to my friend I discovered it was a possibility,” he said.

After the discussion with his friend, Leo began to immediately research the exchange program to find out more.

Leo then completed the application process and recently was told that he had been accepted by a Rotary club in Kanazawa while at a Rotary weekend event in Corowa where inbound, outbound and rebound students met to discuss their experiences and learn more about the exchange program.

Leo was initially introduced to Japanese culture through the Studio Ghibli films and was fascinated by the language.

■ Continued page 6

How to communicate with your dog

BODY language is one of a dog’s main ways they communicate with us, so it’s important we learn how to understand them.

Many people know that if a dog’s ears are flat against their head, it means they’re not comfortable or happy.

However, there are many different ear positions that, in conjunction with the tail position and movement, will tell you how your dog is feeling.

Staring directly into a dog’s eyes can be threatening – brief eye contact is fine, but you should avoid staring.

The other parts of the body to check are the tail, mouth, face and general body stance.

The overall picture of the dog will reveal a great deal about how they are feeling.

Common signs of stress or fear include yawning, frequent blinking, lip licking, panting, turning their head away and showing the white part of their eye.

If you see these signs (whether you

with RSPCA

are interacting with them or just observing), your dog is uncomfortable and needs your help and understanding to resolve the situation, so they feel comfortable again.

When interacting with your animal physically, watch their body language to see if they give consent for the interaction.

This means understanding the signs that show they would prefer you stop the interaction or want it to continue.

Remember; never punish your dog when they growl as this is intended as a warning.

If it’s suppressed due to punishment, then they may not give a warning next time.

Your dog may need time to get used to strangers and children.

Children must be taught how to behave safely around dogs and should never be left unsupervised around them.

Trout are on the bite, yabbies a spring surprise

TROUT season is well underway in local rivers and streams throughout the North East.

The season opened on Saturday morning and many keen anglers headed out in search of a wild brown or rainbow trout.

I didn’t get out trout fishing on the weekend myself, but I know a few people that did - and all of them reported quite good fishing.

From the handful of reports I have received, worms accounted for a lot of fish in the Ovens River near Harrietville and bladed spinners worked well in the Buckland River.

I have been told that both rivers are running quite high and wading is difficult so care needs to be taken.

If this spell of dry weather continues as it is forecast to, wading will get easier by the day.

I have not heard of any big trout being caught, but

pan sized trout seem to be quite abundant.

I put some yabby nets in a small dam on Friday night in the hope of catching a few bait sized yabbies.

To my surprise I caught a magnificent feed of very large yabbies.

All up I caught about a dozen big yabbies and one bait sized yabby.

I put the small one back into the dam as its life was in great danger in the bucket with the monsters. I caught my yabbies in two Collapsible Bait Traps baited with dry dog food.

I was not expecting to catch this many big yabbies so early on in the spring time with the water being so cold.

I have a feeling that we may be in for a great yabbying season this year.

There is no official yabbying season, but they are generally more active during the warmer months.

This Day In History, 1973

A SPECIAL dinner was held in Wangaratta to celebrate 50 years of yarn production.

It was an important step forward for Wangaratta at the time, particularly as the founders of the new industry chose to take a different direction from other woollen mills operating in Victoria.

It was decided that rather than concentrating on the blanket manufacturer, the new mill would make knitting yarns, which were at the time being imported.

◆

DOGS: It’s important to know how to communicate with dogs so we can understand them.

As well as providing much needed employment opportunities for Wangaratta youth, the mill also was able to generate enough electricity to supply the town as well as the mill.

COMMUNICATING WITH

◆ YUMMY YABBIES: A meal fit for a king. At 8am on trout opening I found myself cooking up a great feed of early season yabbies. I am looking forward to hitting the trout streams this week.

with Rob Alexander WANGARATTA

Wonderful lemonade scones

GET ready to embrace the beauty of spring with Beechworth Bakery’s freshly baked treats that are perfect for recharging after a hike, enjoying a picnic, or taking some me-time.

Their seasonal delights, including Red Curry Chicken Pies and Nutella Loaded Cookies, are sure to satisfy your cravings.

You can also indulge in their classic lemonade scones with jam and cream, which are available daily at Beechworth Bakery or can be made at home.

Makes: 16

Oven temperature: 175ºC

Baking Time: 15-18 minutes

Ingredients:

6 ½ cups plain flour

3 ½ tablespoons baking powder

2 teaspoons salt

½ cup caster sugar

1 ¾ cups or 375ml lemonade

1 ¾ cups cream

Method

1. Pre-heat oven to 175ºC.

2. Mix together the dry ingredients in a large bowl.

3. Add lemonade and cream.

4. Knead together to form a soft dough. Don’t over-knead.

5. Turn out into slightly floured board.

6. Roll out to 2cm thick (30cm by 30cm).

7. Cut 16 squares.

8. Place on greased oven tray.

9. Brush top with milk,

10. Bake at 175ºC for 15–18 minutes.

◆ FRESH PRODUCE: Spring is the perfect time to grow your own produce.

Spring jobs in the vegie garden

GROWING your own produce is one of the most rewarding things to do in the garden.

As I pull out the last of the winter carrots, remove grassy weeds and pick the rocket leaves from plants that are rapidly going to seed, my focus turns to what is next.

With the recent rain and mild sunny days now is the perfect time to get out into the vegie patch.

It’s the season to refresh and renew.

The first thing to consider is the soil.

Edible plants are hungrier than non-edibles so we need to add organic matter and nutrients to replenish what’s been taken out.

Also, no matter what sort of garden soil you have, it will always be improved by adding organic matter.

I usually dig in a layer of homemade compost to my vegie beds, but well rotted manure or blood and bone would also be great.

After this, small seeds such as salad greens can be sown directly on top for a quick crop.

My favourites are baby spinach and rocket. Otherwise, you could top the beds with straw or leaves and let mother nature work her magic while you make up your mind what to plant.

Don’t be tempted to plant summer crops such as capsicums, tomatoes, eggplants and corn too early.

There is still a risk of frost around, and the soil is unlikely to be warm enough for a decent germination.

Local wisdom suggests after Cup Day in the cooler areas.

If you’ve got a greenhouse, however, you

can grow these crops out of season.

If you’re really keen, sow the seeds indoors and plant out later.

For our area, a terrific resource is the “North East Planting Guide”.

This poster has been developed with the expertise of passionate local gardeners.

It lists what seeds to sow in each month, and what seedlings to plant.

There are two sides to the poster – one for the hill country (e.g. Beechworth, Bright) and one for the lower valleys and plains (e.g. Wangaratta, Wodonga).

You can pick up a copy from the North East CMA office in Wodonga, or download it from https://www.necma.vic.gov.au/ Solutions/Sustainable-Agriculture/PlantingGuide

Recommended seedlings for planting in September are Asian greens, broccoli, cauliflower, kale, leeks, lettuce, salad greens, peas, snow peas and spring onions.

If you are more patient, all of the above are also suitable for growing from seed now, as well as beetroot, coriander, carrots, leeks, potatoes, radishes and silverbeet.

It is always better (and cheaper) to grow root crops from seed directly into the vegie garden.

Think carrots, parsnip and beetroot.

There are plenty of options, so why not get out into your patch this weekend?

Remember to keep feeding the soil. Most vegies will benefit from a liquid fertiliser such as fish emulsion or worm ‘juice’ at the time of planting plus regularly throughout the growing season.

with Natalie O’Connell part-time gardener, Yackandandah

Leo’s going to Japan

■ From page 1

“I become fascinated in watching shows and movies in Japanese, despite not being able to understand much of the language” he said.

From there, he continued to learn about Japanese culture and history which led to him picking up the language in order to learn more.

“It felt like this infinite rabbit hole that just gets more and more interesting as you continue learning, but I wasn’t really getting anywhere because I didn’t know the language very well, so I began formally learning it through the Victorian School of Languages,” Leo said.

Since then, Leo has immersed himself in the language through reading Manga in Japanese and changing all of his devices into Japanese.

Leo even has friends over in Japan who he said have been helping him

grasp the language and improve his Japanese conversational skills.

“My friends in Japan are really supportive and extremely helpful in improving my conversational skills in Japanese,” he said.

“Overall, just having that constant immersion of the language has been one of the best ways for me to improve my Japanese.”

Leo leaves for his year-long exchange to Japan in January 2024 and said what he was looking forward to most will be experiencing school in Japan.

“I am very excited the differences between school here and over in Japan,” he said.

“I am also very excited to meet new friends and live with different families from another culture.”

He is also excited to be able to fully immerse himself in the culture and see

FEATURE STORY

a new side of the world.

“If you only live in one spot, you only see one side of the picture whereas if you travel somewhere that speaks a completely different language, has different customs and traditions, you get to experience so much more, and I find that extremely interesting” he said.

Leo said he is extremely grateful to the Rotary Club of Milawa Oxley for all their help and highly recommends the youth exchange program to anyone considering it.

“The youth exchange with Rotary has been great, everyone is really nice and you learn so much and you meet so many amazing people through the travels and the time you spend with it,” he said.

For more information on the Rotary Club of Milawa Oxley Youth Exchange program visit www.rotaryclubofmilawaoxley.org.

◆ YOUTH EXCHANGE: After years of appreciating Japanese culture, Leo is excited to get the chance to visit.

NorthEast JOBS

JOBS AT INDIGO

Municipal Building Surveyor

Yackandandah

Visitor Information Centre

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

With

To

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

ABORIGINAL CHILD CARE AGENCY

Senior Payroll Coordinator

Permanent

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.

EXECUTIVE OFFICER

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. 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.

Project Engineer

About Us: Brown Family Wine Group is one of Australia’s most loved and respected wine companies built on over 130 years’ experience in quality winemaking, market leading innovation and family values that are at the heart of everything we do as a business.

Our portfolio has grown over time to now include market leading wine brands such as: Devil’s Corner from the East Coast of Tasmania, Tamar Ridge and Pirie from Tamar Valley Tasmania, Innocent Bystander from the Yarra Valley and of course Brown Brothers from Milawa Victoria the spiritual home of our business.

About the role: Reporting to the Infrastructure and Reliability Manager the main responsibilities of this role include:

Lead capital and improvement projects, including developing business case proposals, managing project implementation, and integrating new and upgraded assets within the existing operating environment.

Lead engineering activities in relation to plant and equipment upgrades, new installations, and optimization of existing equipment. Develop clear project scoping including project initiation, planning, execution, monitoring and closure.

Interact with a variety of internal and external stakeholders to optimise effective and successful project delivery.

About you: The successful candidate will be highly motivated and have proven project management skills and experience. You will have a bachelors degree in a relevant engineering field, ideally, chemical/ process, mechanical Mechatronics or electrical. You will also have:

Able to develop concepts, define project scope and interpret engineering drawings and documents.

Uses rigorous logic and methods to solve problems with effective solutions in a team environment.

High level written and interpersonal communication skills that can be applied across a diverse range of internal and external stakeholders. Strong negotiation skills across all aspects or project development and delivery

More Information:  Further information and a position description may be obtained by emailing Allyce Henwood at careers@brownfwg.com.au .

Applications will close on September 22, 2023.

VICTORIAN

Minimise headaches with a Milwaukee lawn mower

SPRINGTIME is here and it’s the perfect time to tend to landscape the garden.

At North East Fasteners, we have the perfect lawn mower for you.

The M18 FUEL Self Propelled Lawn Mower meets the performance, durability and ergonomic needs of landscape professionals.

This lawn mower delivers the ultimate cut quality in mulching, bagging and side discharge applications thanks to the optimised steel deck design paired with a high-speed blade designed to achieve maximum airflow and increased lift. It also comes equipped with front and side LED lights allowing users 180-degree visibility in low light scenarios.

The REDLINK PLUS intelligence also allows for total system communication between the tool and battery to maximise performance, pro-

tection and productivity.

The lawn mower also eliminates all headaches due to the push button start, removing all frustrations that come with a pull start and no engine maintenance or emissions while in use making it an easy-to-use lawn mower for everyone.

INFLAMMATION is something we as university qualified naturopaths see in pathology markers, in nutritional deficiencies, hear from our clients, and observe in our community.

Now the good kind of inflammation, the one that happens acutely when we have injured ourselves to make us stop what we are doing and rest is great.

We love it.

It brings cells to the area to cause swelling to stop you moving and aids in repair.

The type that we are concerned about as preventative disease educators is the type that is chronic and worsened by smoking, chemical usage, poor dietary choices, abdominal weight, disease states or reactions to viruses.

I have seen clients present to the clinic with body aches, sleep disturbances, headaches, hormonal changes, digestive issues and fatigue following a virus and or the diagnosis of diseases such as arthritis, diabetes,

long COVID/ post viral syndrome and autoimmune diseases etc.

After assessment of their diet and lifestyle and some well-chosen supplements, these clients are seeing a great improvement in their energy, sense of wellbeing, sleep quality, exercise endurance and digestion.

Here are some simple tips to get you started on reducing your inflammation load.

• Eat the rainbow- the more the better. If it has been picked or grown in the ground- eat it.

• Drink at least 30 ml per kg of body weight.

• Move gently daily, start slow and build as your body allows.

• Reduce stressors and overwhelm.

• Reduce the amount of packets, numbers and manufactured “food” you are consuming. Need help to get started?

Visit our website at https://www.nenaturalhealthcentre.com/.

◆ GET MOVING: Moving your body can help reduce inflammation.

◆ SPRING INTO ACTION: The M18 FUEL Self Propelled Lawn Mower is the perfect tool to help you landscape the garden this spring.

with Dean Ackerly NORTH EAST FASTENERS

with North East Natural Health Centre