Wangaratta Chronicle 100124

TODAY

33o

Fog then sunny

35o 34o 34o THURS

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Wednesday, January 10, 2024

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Remembering Maisie: our wildlife warrior Page 9

More than a fun run for Jackie

By BAILEY ZIMMERMANN LOCAL masseur Jackie Hobbs (pictured) couldn’t think of a better cause to step out of her seven year running “retirement” at the Wangaratta Chronicle Marathon and Fun Run in March.

Ms Hobbs will be joining Centre Against Violence Wangaratta’s (CAV) team of runners at the 5km start line to help raise awareness of their services and make a community stand on family and sexual violence through the healthy and connected activity.

Purchasing herself a fresh pair of bright white Adidas runners over Christmas for the March 17 event, Ms Hobbs said she felt inspired to step back into running and proud to support CAV’s zero tolerance for family or domestic violence in the community.

■ Continued page 3

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tv GUIDE

Ablett to play for the Saints

PHOTO: Bailey Zimmermann

Sport

‘Dodged a bullet’

A SERIES of major storms cells which settled over the rural city earlier this week are not expected to see floodwaters rise far above the minor level, with one local emergency provider noting Wangaratta had “dodged a bullet”.

Some 50mm of rain fell at Wangaratta Airport’s automatic weather station between 10am Sunday and

rmalcolm@ nemedia.com.au

1.30pm Monday, with more than 550 sandbags distributed by local SES members throughout Sunday as community members braced for

a forecast of up to 70mm of torrential rain that evening alone.

Initial flash flooding warnings on Sunday ultimately subsided, with both the Ovens and King rivers expected to rise to around the minor flood level yesterday afternoon.

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Wangaratta SES unit controller Jess Zuber said community flood preparedness had markedly improved in the wake of consistent wet weather over recent years.

“I think we literally dodged a bullet, and yes we prepared for the worst and we’re really grateful we

didn’t get it, but we know that it could’ve happened – we look at places like Yea and Seymour (both subject to major flood and evacuation warnings),” she said.

“So I think people will be (concerned about) that ‘boy who cried wolf’, but it’s better to be prepared

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than to get caught out and I think we definitely saw that (last) Tuesday night (when 54.4mm of rain fell) and the impacts that had.

“We were proactive and the community was really proactive, and we had a great result in the end.

■ Continued page 2

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Flooding risk averted as Wangaratta avoids worst of storm cell

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Page 2 - THE CHRONICLE, Wednesday, January 10, 2024

Moyhu meeting to discuss dangerous trees ANY community members worried about dangerous trees near roadsides or public walkways are encouraged to attend a meeting with Ovens Valley MP Tim McCurdy and council representatives on Monday, January 15 at Moyhu Lions Park at 3pm.

The meeting has been arranged by a group of people in the King Valley, some who have had near misses in the past, and people from across the municipality are invited.

For more information about the meeting call 0400 969 818 or 0429 306 679.

wangarattachronicle.com.au

Flooding risk averted as Wangaratta avoids worst of storm cell ■ From page 1

PREPARING FOR THE WORST: Local SES members distributed more than 550 sandbags to local community members on Sunday amid forecast torrential rain.

PHOTO: Wangaratta SES

“I think (preparedness) has definitely improved on the back of last year, and I think again on Tuesday when we saw roads within the Wangaratta area flooded and houses potentially impacted, to have no water rescues and no major safety concerns I think shows the community is really taking on our messaging.”

Having responded to just shy of 300 calls for assistance throughout 2023, the Wangaratta SES unit has already turned out to 103 requests to begin the new year, clearing

downed trees and assisting households in managing their flooding risk.

Ms Zuber said downed trees and river rises could continue to impact the rural city in the wake of the most recent weather event.

“Trees are going to be our biggest concern, particularly now as it’s beginning to warm up again,” she said.

“Flooding is not a major risk for the area at the moment, but we still need to be mindful – I looked on the weekend and there is still some rain coming, not a lot, but our catchments are wet.

Cyberattack prompts court hearing shift

Est. 1884, Incorporating Wangaratta Despatch, Est. 1861

WEATHER

TEMPERATURES: Wednesday Max 33 Min 17 Fog then sunny Thursday

Max 35 Sunny

Friday

Max 34 Min 20 Mostly sunny

Saturday

Max 34 Min 20 Mostly sunny

Sunday

Max 33 Min 19 Late shower

Min 16

RAINFALL:

Last 72 hours

Last 7 days

Wangaratta

50.0 mm

104.0 mm

Lake Buffalo

41.0 mm

78.6 mm

Cheshunt

109.0 mm

135.0 mm

*NB: Rainfall totals up until 3pm, Tuesday

NEWS TIPS Office Hours: 5723 0100 After Hours: 5723 0107 Email: edit.chronicle@nemedia.com.au

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Member

“People have been fantastic camping along the river and they’ve really heeded the warnings and left, we just don’t want them to become complacent – it’s not going to take much for our rivers to rise quickly.

“For those thinking the worst of the weather is gone – which hopefully it has – we still want them to be monitoring conditions if they are heading out camping and enjoying the rest of the school holidays.”

For up-to-date warnings, visit https://www. emergency.vic.gov.au/ respond.

UNDER THE PUMP: Cars take on floodwaters which pooled in the Rowan Street underpass on Monday afternoon, as council director community and infrastructure Marcus Goonan says recent “unprecedented” rains had overwhelmed some local facilities.

PHOTO: Amanda Corbett

Overwhelming downpours approach 21st century high

By RYAN MALCOLM LONG-TERM damage to council infrastructure is not expected to arise in the wake of recent storms, despite “unprecedented” rainfall to begin the year.

As of yesterday, some 104.4mm of rain had been recorded at Wangaratta Airport to begin January, marking the month’s 10th-highest monthly figure in a century and the second-highest figure since 1996.

Torrential downpours on January 3 (54.5mm), and again on January 7 and 8 (34.8mm and 15.2mm respectively) have resulted in several flash flood

warnings, with water pooling in the Rowan Street underpass twice in as many weeks.

However, riverine flooding is unlikely to exceed the minor level along both the Ovens and King rivers as a result of the most recent downpour, according to the Bureau of Meteorology.

Rural City of Wangaratta council director community and infrastructure, Marcus Goonan said the recent rainfall had “overwhelmed” some council infrastructure, particularly in the wake of the January 3 event.

“It (infrastructure) is simply not designed to cater to those

types of events,” he said.

“We are still working on some buildings which sustained some damage.

“There are no ongoing areas of concern, although significant amounts of water are still in and around our river systems.

“We thank the SES for their continued response effort and ask the community to follow any directions from emergency services.”

Local SES crews have already responded to 103 requests for assistance so far this year, more than a third of the total callouts the unit received in 2023.

LOCAL court proceedings took an alternative approach on their return from the holiday break earlier this week, following a cyber-attack late last year which compromised Victorian courtrooms’ in-built audio visual link systems.

Magistrate Ian Watkins hosted a WebeX link from the bench in Wangaratta on Monday, as lawyers appeared in court either in-person or retreated from court room two to appear via WebeX for matters concerning accused already in custody.

The December 21 attack on the statewide system is believed to have seen recordings of some hearings in courts between November 1 and the date of the attack accessed, prompting Court Services Victoria (CSV) to temporarily shut down its audio visual in-court technology network.

Hearings throughout January are expected to go ahead either in-person or purely online, with hybrid hearings (where some attendees appear in person and some online) rendered impossible as CSV works to restore in-court video, audio and transcription services.

CSV chief executive officer Louise Anderson said the organisation was working closely with Victorian Government cyber security experts to restore the network, which has been widely used since the COVID pandemic.

“All courts have put in place arrangements so that they can continue to safely and securely hear matters while CSV re-establishes the affected network,” she said.

“We appreciate the cooperation of court users during this period.

“The work on the restoration of systems includes work to strengthen security across the broader court and tribunal-wide technology environment.”

wangarattachronicle.com.au

THE CHRONICLE, Wednesday, January 10, 2024 - Page 3

Rural city’s greatest shows honoured with Aussie nominations

BY BAILEY ZIMMERMANN bzimmermann@ nemedia.com.au

FIVE local community events and projects showcasing awareness advocacy, accessibility, youth, positive mental health and classic car culture, have been nominated for the 2024 Rural City of Wangaratta Australia Day awards.

Nominators sung the praises of all five.

Wangaratta City Raceway was nominated for their project in hosting the then flood ravaged Wahgunyah Speedway’s marquee 2022 Boxing Day race meet at Wangaratta, raising nearly $30,000 to keep the neighbouring speedway afloat.

Wangaratta Speedway president, Kenneth Mankey, said it was an honour to have the speedway being recognised for their tireless work in the speedway racing community, which has continued throughout the year.

“We thank the Wangaratta community for this opportunity, the event was a major thing in the speedway world, no one had ever seen two clubs come together,” he said.

“It’ll go down in the history books as something no one else had done before then and it’ll be something I’ll hold very close to myself to be a part of it.

“To be finally at the stage as a club that we can do these things and it does give you a smile inside knowing we’re doing our part as much as anyone else.”

Wangaratta City Raceway has also worked with multiple community organisations throughout the year and is always looking for ways to benefit the community as a whole.

Project 365 and the band U Can Cry was nominated for

Pardon the pun, but it’s created a ripple effect and that was our goal, was to make people talk and that it certainly did and we’re very proud of that. - Project 365 organiser Peter Rourke HUGE HONOUR: Project 365 Ripple Effect concert was one of five nominations for for the 2024 Rural City of Wangaratta Australia Day awards of project/event of the year.

PHOTO: James Christie Media their 365-day project and music event, The Ripple Effect.

Starting out as a a diverse group of local musicians and cohort wanting to start conversations around mental health, Project 365 has turned into a 365 day movement to raise local awareness and support for positive mental health.

Project organiser Peter Rourke said it was a nice feeling for the concert to receive recognition with the nomination, as he still can’t believe the overwhelmingly positive community response from the event back in November last year.

“Pardon the pun, but it’s created a ripple effect and that was our goal, was to

make people talk and that it certainly did and we’re very proud of that,” he said.

“It goes further than the show, we’ve received countless messages of support and people saying you’re creating a conversation, not that we’re changing a lot of lives but we’ve received a few messages saying we’ve made people open up and that’s what it’s all about, that’s a bigger reward than anything.

“We’re very honoured to be put into this category and we’ll see how the day pans out.”

The Art Project - Warriors Unmasked was nominated for embodying the spirit of community sup-

port, awareness advocacy, and the transformative power of art therapy.

It not only gave survivors of gender-based violence and sexual assault a platform to express their experiences but also played a crucial role in educating and healing the community.

The four Free Family Fun Days provided opportunities for the whole community to gather, to be fed, to be entertained and to participate in activities, all 100 per cent for free.

Over 3000 people attended these community events, and each offered something unique.

These events worked

with local businesses and other community groups to bring everyone together, and being completely free, made them accessible to the most vulnerable and disadvantaged in our community.

The Wangaratta Cruise Night started off as a monthly event that initially attracted about 20 cars but, with a lot of work and assistance from various local organisations, this monthly event has grown to the point where up to 70 cars arrive on the day and local hospitality remain open to cater for the crowds that converge on Murphy Street to enjoy music and classic car culture.

More than a fun run for Jackie ■ From page 1

“It’s bigger than me; I just want to be a part of a good community event and part of a team with some great messaging,” she said.

“From now until March 17 I thought for myself and anybody else thinking about a New Year’s resolution to commit to a 10-week training program, whether it’s a 5km, the 10km or something longer, I love how there’s distances for all abilities and everyone can participate.”

This will be the third year running CAV have entered a team in the fun run, with 50 people already on board this year and many to be running or walking the Wangaratta Marathon and Fun Run for the first time.

CAV’s annual National Community Attitudes survey results last year showed two in five people were uncertain about how to access family violence services.

The first 250 registrants to the team will receive an exclusive free CAV shirt, which will aim to help CAV’s mission in creating a visible, local support network and spreading awareness of who they are and what they do.

As a long-time member and past worker at Wangaratta Sports and Aquatic Centre (WSAC), Ms Hobbs said healthy movement and connected activity was a perfect combination for CAV’s vital messaging.

“I enlisted the support of a friend and we’ve committed over the last few months to some run sessions, she’s never done a fun run, she’s only ever walked and she’s already exceeded her expectations with her ability to run,” she said.

“I’ve got my partner on board, and also my sister, my mother, a member of WSAC and I know through conversations through friends and members of the sports centre, we will have a very big team this year.”

To learn more and register to CAV’s team – head to www. centreagainstviolence.org.au.

■ For more on the Wangaratta Marathon and Fun Run see full page advert on page 10.

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Page 4 - THE CHRONICLE, Wednesday, January 10, 2024

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NGV creates fun for kids A DECADE since it was initiated by the National Gallery of Victoria, the NGV Kids on Tour series has returned this year bringing free art-making activities and workshops to kids and families across Victoria this summer, with Wangaratta Art Gallery among the destinations it will visit this week.

Marking the largest program to date with more than 140 venues participating across metropolitan and outer metropolitan Melbourne and regional Victoria, the 2024 NGV Kids on Tour reaches galleries, libraries, paediatric hospitals, neighbourhood houses, migrant resource centres and community organisations.

Coinciding with the NGV’s free summer exhibition for children and families “RIFIFI: Jean Jullien for Kids” NGV Kids on Tour celebrates the work of local and international contemporary artists and designers with free activities which draw inspiration

from the world around them.

Inspiration Train is related to the design work of Australian designers Daniel To and Emma Aiston aka Daniel Emma.

In this drawing activity that encourages creativity and problem-solving skills, children can design an object inspired by their favourite food using Daniel Emma’s tips and tricks.

In Underwater Drawing Club children can create their own drawings of their favourite sea creature in the bold and playful style inspired by French artist Jean Jullien.

To Become Light asks participants to complete their own lantern and dilly bag drawings with symbols of their identity inspired by the artist Jenna Lee, a Gulumerridjin (Larrakia), Wardaman and Karajarri Saltwater woman with Japanese, Chinese, Filipino and Anglo-Australian ancestry.

In Remaking Home, inspired by the work of Melbourne-based

artists and wildlife carers Gracia and Louise, children can create a collage from drawings of native Australian plants and animals.

Young children and their families can also draw a Greyheaded Flying Fox and discover interesting facts about this often misunderstood furry mammal.

Teens are also catered for with NGV teens bracelet beading, an activity inspired by the slow fashion label Collective Closets, a collaboration between sisters Fatuma and Laurinda Ndenzako.

While the sessions being held today and tomorrow at the Wangaratta Art Gallery are currently booked out, due to the overwhelming demand, another free workshop will be run on Friday from 10am to 12pm by Wangaratta Art Gallery’s own registered educator, Inga Hanover.

Places are limited and bookings can be made by visiting wangarattaartgallery.com.au/ Programs/NGV-KIDS-on-TourWorkshops.

 CELEBRATION: Family members Robyn Finnmore, Sandra Handcock, Cynthia Grady, Elizabeth Gilbert, Kerrie Grady, Mandy Grady-Joyce, Russell Grady, Dennis Handcock, Pete Grady, Suldee Grady, Uka Grady and Steven Grady all celebrated Elizabeth’s 90th birthday.

CREATIVE PLAY: The NGV Kids on Tour program will visit the Wangaratta Art Gallery this week, with activities suitable for children of all ages, and their carers.

PHOTO: Eugene Hyland

Elizabeth Gilbert’s 90th birthday celebration

By CHLOE JAENICKE

 FAMILY GATHERING: Elizabeth Gilbert celebrated her birthday at the Wangaratta RSL with her family. PHOTOS: Chloe Jaenicke

ELIZABETH Gilbert celebrated her 90th birthday at the Wangaratta RSL surrounded by family on Friday, January 5.

Her actual birthday was on January 4 and Ms Gilbert said she appreciated everyone in her family gathering for her milestone birthday.

She attributes her long life to her genetics as she said many other family members have lived to be older than 90.

 MILESTONE: Cynthia Grady, Elizabeth Gilbert, Pete Grady and Robyn Finnmore celebrated Elizabeth’s birthday.

A quilt to make you feel at home Wednesday, January 8, 2014

By STEVEN BURKE A UNIQUELY Wangaratta quilt will keep carers warm at Nesay’s LinX2Home facility.

LinX2Home is an early intervention program aimed at preventing young people from becoming homeless, providing temporary accommodation under supervision of qualified carers at Nesay’s Rowan Street headquarters.

Wangaratta Saturday Quilters support the program and decided the best way to show that support was to do

what they do best, make a quilt.

“The theme for the quilt was home,” quilter, Carol Sonogan said.

Members contributed blocks representing Wangaratta and what home meant to them.

Eight year old Mackenzie

Nash-Webster also got in on the act, making a panel for the quilt, while Frances Salathiel designed and hand stitched the central panel depicting a country home scene.

Nesay’s Bek Nash Webster said the quilt was much appreciated.

“Saturday quilters are amazing to do this,” she said.

The quilt will adorn the staff bed at LinX2Home.

For more information about Saturday quilters contact Kerrie Vanthoff on 5721 9780.

For more information about LinX2Home contact Nesay on 5720 2201 or visit www.nesay. com.au.

MADE WITH LOVE: Eight year old Mackenzie Nash-Webster and Saturday quilters (back, from left) Carol Sonogan, Shirley MacPhee, Maggie Brown and Frances Salathiel show the quilt they made for Nesay’s LinX2Home facility.

PHOTO: Luke Plummer

wangarattachronicle.com.au

THE CHRONICLE, Wednesday, January 10, 2024 - Page 5

History of crime lands man fine following weekend drug bust FREE STI TESTS: The STI test vending machine at the Wangaratta Library is located in an alcove to the left upon entering the library. PHOTO: Simone Kerwin

Trial begins for access to free, discreet STI kits

By SIMONE KERWIN A VENDING machine offering free test kits for sexually transmitted infections (STI) is currently operating at the Wangaratta Library, as part of a 12-month regional Victorian trial program.

The machine has been available to the public in Wangaratta for about a month, and will remain at the library until March.

It is one of two of its kind being moved across regional Victoria as part of the unique trial led by the University of Melbourne, Department of Rural Health, Centre for Excellence in Rural Sexual Health (CERSH).

Kim Cowen, sexual health promotion officer (Hume) and part of the CERSH team, said the initial idea for the trial came from project lead Dr Dave Evans, CERSH senior health promotion manager (Hume), who had worked in the United Kingdom and witnessed the machines operating successfully there.

He was interested to see whether the concept could work with similar success in Australia.

“We always say that going to a cli-

nician is gold standard, but for the portion of the community not likely to access help that way, this offers another option,” Ms Cowen said.

She said the initiative was prompted not by an increase in STIs in the region, but by the need to provide a range of options to ensure people could maintain their health, and to break down stigma around sexual health issues.

While available to all members of the community, the machine particularly aims to target priority populations including Indigenous Australians, the MSM (men who have sex with men) community, and young people in the 16 to 25year age group.

The vending machine dispenses kits which test for chlamydia, gonorrhoea and HIV. “The HIV test is a screener which offers a rapid indication of whether you are likely to have HIV, along with a list of supports,” Ms Cowen said.

“The chlamydia and gonorrhoea tests are self-tests which need to be put back in a box and sent for testing, so there is some onus on the person to send them away.”

Ms Cowen said the response

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times on specimens sent for testing was about two weeks.

“If negative, there is no need for the person to see anyone; if positive, they will be contacted by a nurse and given options for what they can do,” she said.

The vending machines have been placed in a number of different settings in their regional locations - including a community health building in Shepparton and a youth centre in Swan Hill - to ensure a range of data collection, but Ms Cowen said libraries had proven a successful host.

“It is quite discreet, as you could be in the library for any number of things, and libraries often have opening hours which are not just 9-5 and may include weekends,” she said.

“We were also looking for places which didn’t have a front desk people necessarily needed to access.”

Ms Cowen said the vending machine had been well-received in Wangaratta.

“It’s on track to dispense about the number of kits we would expect in a community of this size,” she said.

She said she was unable to speci-

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fy just how many kits had been dispensed locally. “(The trial) worked well in Echuca, where it was also based in the library, and did okay in Shepparton, where it was in a different setting,” Ms Cowen said.

The machine will be relocated to Mansfield following its four-month stay in Wangaratta, for the final phase of the trial, while the machine currently available in Swan Hill will move on to Mildura.

Rural City of Wangaratta youth team leader Rachel Harrop said the vending machine program was a great initiative.

“There are a lot of barriers for young people in rural towns to get access to services when it comes to their sexual health,” she said.

“With this machine, it’s accessible, anonymous and free.

“It only takes a few taps of the screen and the testing kit is dispensed.”

Evaluation of the trial program will follow its completion in mid2024, with data to be used to gauge the success of the concept, and indeed whether the machines should become a permanent fixture in regional communities.

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A WANGARATTA local with an extensive criminal record has been released from custody, after spending the weekend locked up having been intercepted in possession of methylamphetamine while on bail.

The defendant faced Wangaratta Magistrates Court on Monday from the Wangaratta Police Station cells, pleading guilty to a single possession charge after being found with 0.33 grams of the illicit drug on Saturday.

Police prosecutor Senior Constable Victoria Lennon said police had intercepted the man, who the court heard had 40 pages of prior matters, as he walked north on Higgins Street, before locating a small Ziploc bag of a crystal substance in the man’s pocket.

The defendant told police he had found the drug.

SC Lennon said the man had been subject to three counts of bail at the time, having allegedly offended in late October and in the days after Christmas.

Defence counsel Nancy Battiato urged Magistrate Ian Watkins to impose a fine or a time-served prison disposition, however, Mr Watkins said the offending was not worthy of a jail term.

He imposed a $300 fine before ordering the defendant be released.

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Page 6 - THE CHRONICLE, Wednesday, January 10, 2024

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The Australian Quiz

1

AS storm clouds gathered to the west and threatened upwards of 70mm of torrential rain over the rural city on Sunday night, it was pleasing to see so many locals take their flood risk seriously, seasoned by consistent wet weather over recent years.

While the downpours largely skirted the rural city to instead result in major flooding and the eventual evacuation of parts of Yea and Seymour, the sheer number of people who attended Handley Street’s SES base to retrieve sandbags is a testament to a community which has endured its fair share of flood-related hardships in the last 36 months.

The 50mm of rain which eventuated between Sunday and Monday fell well short of the forecast, but it’s important community members don’t become complacent in their preparations amid future flooding warnings.

Speaking at the scene of the flooding further south along the Hume Freeway on Tuesday, Emergency Services Minister Jaclyn Symes acknowledged that “emergency” flooding situations appeared to be occurring more frequently in the last three years.

And while the Bureau of Meteorology’s forecast for Wangaratta may have been slightly off this time around, the advance warning of the potential for a major flooding event could well have proved the difference for many households if those storm clouds had strayed over the North East.

This won’t be the last time Wangaratta dodges serious flooding in the wake of a major storm, but as long as community members continue to heed those warnings when they do come, and prepare for the worst when urged to, the city will be better for it.

CROSSWORD PUZZLE

ACROSS 1 Quantitative 5 Stuffs 8 Conscious of 10 Tantalising puzzle 13 Crab’s claw 15 Events 16 Ancient Roman days 17 Part of a coat 20 Burdened 22 Longing 23 Sailor 24 Holy 27 Ragged strip 30 Lower in reputation 31 Takings 32 Murder of one’s own father 34 Admit to holy orders 36 Kite 37 Measure of length 38 Lowest point 39 Settle cosily DOWN 2 Level 3 Dwelling-place 4 Is concerned 5 Emergency 6 Corded cloth 7 Small shoot 9 Bony outgrowth

10 Money drawer 11 Sour 12 Paradise 14 Couple 18 Drinks taken before retiring 19 Snow on glacier’s surface 21 Church recess 22 Father 23 Occupant 25 In the midst of 26 Long, slender sword 27 Go by ship 28 Check 29 Song for two 30 Suffocate in liquid 31 Verdant 33 Business transaction 35 Friend (Fr)

SOLUTION M E T R I C C R A M S V E A W A R E P N I P P E R T E A S E R A I I N C I D E N T S I D E S L I N I N G L D E S I R E L A D E N P N T A R G V S A C R E D S H R E D G A T E U D E M E A N I P A T R I C I D E R E L A N E T O R D A I N M E T R E P A W N A D I R N E S T L E

The city of Waterford, famous for its Waterford Crystal, is located in which country? (a) Ireland (b) Canada (c) United States (d) United Kingdom

2

Who immediately succeeded Julie Bishop as Minister for Foreign Affairs in 2018? (a) Nigel Scullion (b) Bridget McKenzie (c) Marise Payne (d) Simon Birmingham

6

Who is often referred to as the “Father of Rockabilly”? (a) Carl Perkins (b) Buddy Holly (c) Benny Goodman Australian sportsperson, Des- (d) Jerry Lee Lewis tanee Aiava, is best known for Javier Bardem won the Acadher involvement in which sport? emy Award for Best Support(a) Tennis ing Actor for his performance in (b) Swimming which 2000s movie? (c) Cricket (a) Vicky Cristina Barcelona (d) Soccer (b) Collateral (a) Laos (b) China (c) Cambodia (d) Myanmar

4 5

7

What is the colour of the soft mineral known as azurite? (a) Orange Aung San Suu Kyi received a Nobel Peace Prize for her non- (b) Yellow violent struggle for democracy and (c) Red (d) Blue human rights in which country?

3

(c) Before Night Falls (d) No Country for Old Men

8

What was the first team to defeat the Blues in the 2022 Super Rugby competition?

(a) Brumbies (b) Crusaders (c) Hurricanes (d) Force

9

Ghirardelli Square is a major tourist attraction in which city? (a) Saint Petersburg (b) San Francisco (c) Madrid (d) Venice

10

In which play does someone murder their father, Laius, and marry their mother, Jocasta? (a) Antigone (b) Oedipus Rex (c) Prometheus Bound (d) The Trojan Women

1 (a) Ireland 2 (c) Marise Payne 3 (d) Myanmar 4 (a) Tennis 5 (d) Blue 6 (a) Carl Perkins 7 (d) No Country for Old Men 8 (c) Hurricanes 9 (b) San Francisco 10 (b) Oedipus Rex

Best approach is to prepare for worst

No.57

Have your say in Wangaratta Chronicle poll

Visit our website to vote at www.wangarattachronicle.com.au

Lord’s Prayer hasn’t always helped in past IT’S apparent from letters to The Chronicle, that Cr Jack Herry’s progressive motion to remove the Lord’s Prayer from council meetings has ‘set a cat amongst the pigeons,’ and ruffled feathers of many ‘suitably shocked’ correspondents.

Maybe their ire would be better satisfied addressing the significant issues in our troubled world.

Cr Herry’s well intentioned proposal failed, however, he showed foresight and fortitude in attempting to abolish adherence to an archaic, mythical based ritual with no relevance whatsoever to council governance.

The removal of the prayer in favour of an appropriately worded allegiance to council’s code of conduct would reinforce the obligation and duty of councillors to uphold the moral principles of integrity.

When ethical values are disregarded, opportune indiscretions escalate and prosper, as evidenced by the exposure of Moira Shire Council misdeeds, and the corrupt land dealings of Casey City Council.

Beverley Waring, Hansonville

Migrants not to blame over rental crisis MORE than 40 housing, homelessness and community services organisations have written to the Prime Minister and opposition leader, expressing concern that migrant communities are being scapegoated as the primary reason for the housing crisis.

It is nonsense to blame overseas migration as a primary driver of a housing crisis that has been decades in the making.

During the COVID era which had lower migration, rents actually increased more than they did in the preceding decade.

The letter references fresh analysis of SQM statistics which show national asking rents rose $84 extra per week between the closure of Australia’s borders (March 2020-February 2022).

That’s higher than the $69 per week increase in the entire decade prior (March 2010-March 2020).

The organisations including the Australian Council of Social Service (ACOSS), Federation of Ethnic Communities Councils of Australia (FECCA) and National Shelter say decades of poor policy choices by suc-

Which way do you face in the shower - towards the taps or away from the taps?

Time for rural city to become a ‘big’ destination I HAVE noted on Facebook this dinosaur pictured (above) is for sale for $60,000 - installed by the builder.

I’m promoting the idea to the council to make a purchase.

It would be a wonderful attraction situated almost anywhere.

My preference would be in the King George gardens or next to the police station.

Brian Fox, Wangaratta

cessive governments, including the chronic undersupply of social housing and inflationary impacts of investor tax incentives, have fuelled the crisis.

The organisations urge the government and opposition to show leadership in the housing affordability debate and focus on the main drivers.

Migrant communities are being scapegoated for Australia’s housing crisis.

That rhetoric excuses failed government policies and detracts from the solutions that will fix this national emergency.

Governments have given handouts to investors, allowed unlimited rent increases, and stopped building homes for the people who need them.

That’s why housing is so unfair, so unequal and so unaffordable.

It’s a distraction to suggest that migrants are to blame.

Migrants make a valuable contribution to society and fill workforce shortages.

They don’t just create demand for housing, they help build the homes we need.

To make housing affordable again, our lead-

ers must tackle the big drivers of this crisis.

That means ending the unfair tax policies that push up the cost of housing, and building more social housing.

The new year brings a renewed chance to end this housing crisis.

That can only be done by concentrating on the solutions that will actually fix it.

Maiy Azize, Everybody’s Home spokesperson

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THE CHRONICLE, Wednesday, January 10, 2024 - Page 7

EMPOWERING A HEALTHY WELLBEING: Centre Against Violence Intake and therapeutic services manager, Lucy Lee.

Workshops to help survivors of family and sexual violence

TREASURE TROVE: Wangaratta Library staff members Tanya Hopper (left) and Peyton Williams take a look at digital resource Trove. The library is already involved with Trove, which is encouraging other local organisations to make their collections and data available and findable online.

PHOTO: Kurt Hickling

More scope to share all digital collections DIGITAL library Trove is inviting community-led, volunteerrun and rural and regional collecting organisations across Australia to make their collections and data available and findable online.

Following a budget announcement earlier this year, the National Library of Australia has announced that these organisations will not be asked to pay to showcase their digital content through Trove.

Assistant-director general collaboration branch Alison Dellit said the national library had been able to reduce the financial barrier which prevented small organisations from adding their content to Trove.

“Sharing local community stories is part of the magic of Trove, and we look forward to inviting them to be part of the Trove community,” she said.

Kate Ross, assistant director of

BY SIMONE KERWIN skerwin@ nemedia.com.au

Trove community liaison, said the digital library was keen to hear from museums, galleries, local history organisations, heritage groups and family history societies.

“There will be many who have their collections online on their own websites already, and these will likely be more straight-forward for us to start working with,” she said.

“However, we are also very happy to hear from organisations which are not at that point, and hopefully we can give them some pointers about where to start.

“Victoria is already ahead of the game because of the wonderful Victorian Collections, who we work closely with.”

Name our youth hub

By SIMONE KERWIN YOUNG people are being asked to tap into their creativity to come up with a name for the Rural City of Wangaratta’s new youth hub.

The hub, which is currently in development, is set to be located on the corner of Flanagan and Burke streets in Wangaratta, sharing space with the Yarrunga Maternal and Child Health Centre.

Catering for 12 to 17-yearolds, the hub is expected to open one afternoon a week in its early stages, and will look to partner with organisations to run programs for young people.

Activities available at the centre may include games

or craft afternoons, as well as sessions teaching basic cooking skills, to help young people learn to prepare quick, easy and healthy meals.

The opening of the hub is still some time away as renovations are undertaken, but in the meantime, young people are encouraged to put their minds to possible names.

Ideas can be submitted via email to youth@wangaratta.vic.gov.au, or via the Wangaratta Youth Facebook or Instagram.

There will be a vote for the most popular name, and a prize for the winner (12 to 25 year-olds only, and no crude or offensive words will be accepted).

She recommended interested organisations get in touch with Victorian Collections and Trove, which would work together to provide access to collections through both, by visiting either trove.nla.gov.au or victoriancollections.net.au Ms Ross said this initiative was primarily targeted at communityled, volunteer-run and rural and regional collecting organisations.

“The beauty of Trove is that it provides one place for people to be able to search across a great diversity of large and small collections Australia-wide, and find records, resources, newspaper articles as well as objects, oral history interviews, photographs, maps, objects, diaries, letters, websites the list goes on,” she said.

“This means that people can then explore related items online if they are available digitally, or

even arrange to visit the material in person.”

Ms Ross said Wangaratta Library was already involved with Trove, while the Wangaratta Historical Society, Wangaratta Art Gallery, Wangaratta High School, Wangaratta Urban Fire Brigade, Wangaratta Family History Society, Wangaratta RSL Sub Branch and Galen Catholic College were all in Victorian Collections.

“We should now be able to bring all of these collections through to Trove via our collaboration with Victorian Collections, so we would love to hear from them,” she said.

“I’m sure there are many more significant local history collections we don’t yet know about too – so next time you’re visiting a favourite museum or historical society, do ask them to reach out to us.”

WANGARATTA’S Centre Against Violence (CAV) will run its Wellbeing Workshop Series to help empower survivors of family and sexual violence from mid-February in Wangaratta.

CAV’s intake and therapeutic services manager, Lucy Lee, said the workshop series, funded by the Kyamba Foundation, will provide survivors with a safe and supportive space to embark on their journey of healing and recovery.

“We are delighted to extend a warm invitation to individuals who have experienced family and/ or sexual violence to join our free Wellbeing Workshop Series,” she said.

“This program is designed to address various aspects of survivors’ wellbeing, offering practical tools, emotional support, and a sense of community throughout the healing process.”

Ms Lee said the Kyamba Foundation’s invaluable contribution has made it possible to provide free workshops covering a range of topics crucial to survivors’ empowerment, such as financial empowerment, parenting support, art therapy, legal guidance and mindfulness and meditation.

“Recovery after leaving an abusive relationship or experiencing violence is a lengthy process, and education is a powerful tool to help victim survivors create a brighter future for themselves,” Ms Lee said.

“Our workshops aim to build a supportive community where survivors can find comfort, encouragement, and essential tools to help rebuild their lives.”

The Wangaratta workshop series will start mid-February, with the series to run in Wodonga mid-year.

Participants can attend one or all sessions, depending on their preferences and needs.

To register for the wellbeing workshops go to https://events. humanitix.com/wellbeingworkshops.

Care pathways amid flooding PEOPLE are being urged to save Triple Zero for emergencies and remain aware of alternative care pathways available, as severe weather and flooding impacts parts of the state including the North East.

Ambulance Victoria said the Victorian Virtual Emergency Department (VVED) and Nurse-on-call pathways could be used to treat nonlife-threatening emergencies, particularly in areas which are experiencing flooding.

Seek out your local flood guide through the VICSES website at www.ses.vic.gov.au and download the VicEmergency app or visit the website for the latest information.”

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New waterbird surveyy data offers ‘ammunition’ as Victoria considers season future

A

nimal welfare and conservation groups have renewed calls for the Victorian Government to ban duck hunting, citing new evidence released in the 2023 Eastern Australian Waterbird Survey.

The annual survey revealed five of the eight game species of ducks continue to show significant long-term declines in abundance.

It also indicated three major indices for waterbirds (total abundance, number of species breeding and wetland area index) show significant declines over time.

Researchers noted that long-term trends more accurately predict population status than yearly fluctuations.

RSPCA Victoria, Animals Australia, Wildlife Victoria and BirdLife Australia said the survey data provides further, critical evidence to support a ban on hunting and reinforces the recommendation made by the Select Committee during a recent Parliamentary Inquiry.

RSPCA Victoria chief executive officer Dr Liz Walker said her organisation has long-held animal welfare concerns around wounding from hunting and the latest data also highlights sustainability concerns that cannot be ignored.

“We know that many ducks are wounded and left to suffer during hunting season, and the release of this latest survey data highlights the fact that duck hunting will put additional pressure on species that are already threatened by global warming,” she said.

“There is now so much evidence to support a ban on duck hunting in Victoria, and we are calling on the government to finally put one in place.”

BirdLife Australia chief executive officer, Kate Millar, echoed these concerns.

Both sides fire shots in duck hunting debate

“The latest survey clearly shows that despite a series of good seasons, waterbird and game species numbers have not increased to where we would expect them to be,” she said.

“With a return of drier, El Nino conditions there can be no justification for increasing the hazards faced by waterbirds through continued duck shooting.”

Animals Australia chief executive officer Glenys Oogjes cited multiple reasons why her organisation supports a ban on duck hunting.

“We know that unacceptably high wounding rates are unlikely to reduce, despite continual scrutiny,” she said.

“We know that there are too many wetlands for any level of robust regulatory management, and we know that the majority of the Victorian community support an end to

shooting native birds.”

Wildlife Victoria chief executive officer Lisa Palma shared additional concerns about compliance.

“In the first week of this year’s duck hunting season, Wildlife Victoria’s veterinary triage unit assessed 73 native waterbirds found abandoned in direct violation of duck hunting regulation,” she said.

“Of these, eight were identified as threatened species and six were nongame species.”

W

angaratta-based Nationals MP for Ovens Valley, Tim McCurdy, is leading the call for the Victorian Government not to ban duck hunting.

“Duck hunting is a legitimate sport and is an economic driver for regional Victorian communities,” he said.

Field and Game Australia is also leading the charge, and believes data from the 2023 Eastern Australian Waterbird Survey supports the continuation of regulated and sustainable hunting practices.

The organisation said the survey reports that most game duck species have populations well above the long-term averages.

It said that despite repeated references to long-term declines in total waterbird numbers, the results this year show the highest number of game birds in 20 years.

“There has been some concern that game bird numbers are not recovering to the same extent as in the past; however, this year’s survey results show the greatest single-year increase in waterbird numbers since 2011, and the third biggest ever, since the records began,” the

organisation said.

“These results underscore the importance of wetland habitats for healthy waterbird populations, indicating a very strong correlation between the abundance of healthy habitat and the abundance of game bird species.

“The report says availability of wetland habitat is a major driver of waterbird abundance, breeding and diversity.

“Reductions in habitat area and persistence due to climate change, river regulation and water extraction have resulted in ongoing long-term declines, particularly in the Murray Darling basin.”

Field and Game Australia said the high abundance of certain game species suggests that regulated, species-specific hunting does not have an impact on numbers but rather is a vital part of a balanced

conservation strategy.

“The presence of high numbers of certain duck species presents an opportunity to balance ecological health with economic activities, like hunting, which can fund further conservation efforts,” it said.

Field & Game Australia said its hunterconservationists play a crucial role in conservation by supporting habitat protection initiatives and advocating for sustainable water management – and have done so for more than 60 years, when the organisation’s members took it upon themselves to secure habitat for waterbirds to ensure healthy populations into the future.

Field & Game Australia is now eagerly awaiting the release of the Interim Harvest Model outputs, expected in the coming weeks.

Two exhibitions coming to Benalla for PHOTO 2024 THE PHOTO 2024 International Festival of Photography is again coming to Benalla Art Gallery.

Centred on the theme ‘The Future is Shaped by Those Who Can See It’, the festival from March 1 to 24 next year will feature over 150 photographers and artists from over 40 countries exploring the possible and parallel futures that lie ahead.

Benalla Art Gallery will again participate in the statewide festival, hosting two of the 100 major exhibitions.

Laresa Kosloff will present New Futures, which brings together two darkly humorous video artworks assembled and edited entirely from corporate video stock footage sourced on the internet,

BRAVE NEW WORLD: The PHOTO 2024 exhibition features Laresa KOSLOFF New Futures 2021 (film still) 4K video (made from commercial stock footage), 4:38 duration, voice actor: Francis Greenslade, sound design: Final Sound, music: Secession Studios, Shakespeare from Richard 11 (Act 5, Scene 5). each exploring themes of duplicity, neoliberalism

and the climate crisis.

Laresa Kosloff makes

performative videos, Super 8 films, hand drawn anima-

tions, sculpture, installations and live performance works.

Her practice examines various representational strategies, each one linked by an interest in the body and its agency within the everyday.

Scotty So explores the perspectives and aspirations of young people from diverse backgrounds in Benalla and Melbourne in his exhibition, +50.

This exhibition offers a platform for young voices to be heard, encouraging reflection on the changing world and our place in it, as well as on ageing and the impact of time on our lives.

With the help of AI processing, each of the young participants is presented in large-scale portraits imagining them in their old age.

Through So’s use of AI technologies, it considers how we utilise these currently, and to what degree can we depend on their accuracy in the future.

Benalla-based youth aged 18 to 25 had the opportunity to participate in the project in December as a volunteer portrait sitter, sharing their thoughts on how they see themselves and the world changing in the next 50 years.

A selection of ten aged portraits, audio recordings and text panels of the participants’ thoughts about the future, will feature as part of the final exhibition.

Laresa Kosloff: New Futures will run from February 23 to April 28 and Scotty So: +50 will run from March 1 to May 5 at Benalla Art Gallery next year.

wangarattachronicle.com.au

THE CHRONICLE, Wednesday, January 10, 2024 - Page 9

Fond farewell to a caring community member

BY SIMONE KERWIN skerwin@ nemedia.com.au

OBITUARY:

Maisie Enders OAM 23/5/1931 - 17/12/2023 AN informal gathering of family and community members over a cuppa on Wednesday, January 3 provided just the farewell Maisie Enders deserved in celebration of her life.

The woman remembered by many as a “friend to bush babies and little children” passed away on December 17, achieving her wish to live her life out at home on her Carboor property.

The 92-year-old was still sending cattle off to sale, continuing to exhibit the determination she had shown throughout her life.

Her real wish was to stay on the farm as long as she could, and the family, friends and the Carboor community supported her to ensure that could happen.

Maisie was well-known to three generations of local kindergarten children, and the teachers and parents who accompanied them to regular visits to her Carboor farm, where she cared for a range of native animals before they could be released back into their natural habitats.

She believed that if she could help children to understand why they needed to care for wildlife, they would carry that into adulthood and across their lives.

MUCH-LOVED: Maisie Enders passed away in December.

It was this work that earned Maisie an Order of Australia honour in 1997.

Maisie’s granddaughter Sophie Enders described her grandmother as determined, innovative and a lifelong learner.

She was fascinated by animals and how they worked and moved, and was constantly learning and looking

at new ways of doing things for animal care.

Exhibiting a hunger for knowledge, there was a tone of care to everything she did, and a love for animals and her farm.

Maisie was originally a Sydney girl, attending Ravenswood School for Girls before moving to Victoria to continue her studies in

dairy milk analysis.

Her early working years were in Stanhope, where she travelled by horse and cart with her faithful horse Dolly, using a mobile lab to test milk on farms.

It was in Stanhope that she met her future husband, Stanley Enders.

After the couple married in 1953, they moved to their

beautiful piece of land in Carboor where they raised four children - Ian, Rosemary, Jenny and Graeme in the original house on the property before building the house that now stands on the farm.

“Gran’s garden sprang up around the house, originally a veggie garden to feed the kids, and then a rose garden

and more,” Sophie said.

“She loved landscaping, and often said she would have loved to be a landscape gardener.

“The garden was her greatest passion project.”

It fitted perfectly alongside the farm’s ever-evolving menagerie of animals, from the dairy cows and pigs to native animals including kangaroos, possums and wombats.

Maisie’s most favourite were probably Oli the emu, who greeted people at the front gate, and Cocky and Percy the cockatoos, who were her alarm bells for so many years.

Maisie had a great friendship with the Warby Street Veterinary Clinic, which would send animals to her for rehabilitation, and she was often contacted by people who had discovered orphaned wildlife.

It was never a problem for her to get up every two hours in the night to feed a baby animal, and depending on the animal, they were re-released from the garden or from elsewhere; it was always about animals going back to where they needed to be.

Maisie continued to work the farm following Stan’s passing in 2004, with the help of her family, friends and the Carboor community.

She was a grandmother of eight and great-grandmother of two.

“Her biggest lesson to all of us was just to care,” Sophie said.

“She said as long as you care, you’re doing what you need to do.”

I’m hearing VWX΍ Ζ KDYHQȇW heard in years!

DON

GONE FOR A DIVE: The excavation site at the Inland Rail underpass works at Wangaratta Railway Station had been filled with water pooling from last week’s heavy downpour

Underpass pooling nothing to fear: ARTC

By BAILEY ZIMMERMANN WATER pooling at the Wangaratta Railway Station underpass worksite won’t have any material impact on construction, says Australian Rail Track Corporation.

The downpour of heavy rain and thunderstorms last Tuesday evening left the excavation site filled with

around one metre of water in the aftermath.

Works at the underpass are planned to resume this week.

“Any water will be pumped out using temporary pumps

by McConnell Dowell when they return to site,” an ARTC spokesperson said.

“Once complete the new Wangaratta Station under-

pass will have a permanent pump station that will mitigate flooding of the underpass.”

The underpass structure was installed during ARTC’s September 60 hour track possession and plan to install the permanent pump station at a later date before the underpass becomes open to the public.

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THE CHRONICLE, Wednesday, January 10, 2024 - Page 11

WHAT’S ON

Free Summer Fun Day at the pool today THE Wangaratta Baptist Church will hold the first of its Free Summer Fun Days providing entertainment for local families today at the Wangaratta Sports and Aquatic Centre pool from 10am to 2pm.

Cool off with some fun and games in the water, with free entry and a sausage sizzle on offer.

NGV Kids on Tour at the art gallery The popular National Gallery of Victoria Kids on Tour 2024 program is visiting the Wangaratta Art Gallery this week.

The workshops will feature free art-making activities and games facilitated by educators David Godkin and Glenis Rice, designed by contemporary artists and collectives who worked with the NGV. Limited place remain for the session being held on Friday from 10am to 12pm with more information available by contacting the gallery or visit wangarattaartgallery.com.au/ Programs/NGV-KIDS-on-Tour-Workshops.

WE WANT YOUR NEWS Call the Wangaratta Chronicle on (03) 57230113 or email us at edit.chronicle@nemedia.com.au

DEEP HOUSE: Belgium four-piece band Stavros will be the headline act at CHI WOW WAH TOWN, being held at Winton Wetlands on February 23 to 25.

Boutique arts festival celebrates 10th anniversary at Winton

CONSIDERED Australia’s most open-minded boutique electronic music, arts, performance and wellness festival, CHI WOW WAH TOWN (CWWT) will be held over three days on the last weekend in February at Winton Wetlands.

CWWT is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year and invites everyone to rediscover nature to a soundtrack of deep organic house, techno, ambient and global electronic sounds.

The festival has always been rooted in the life force “Chi”, capturing the event’s focus on fostering love, nourishing, revitalising the spirit and unlocking one’s potential.

For its tenth birthday, the

Wangaratta Farmers Market this weekend FIND out what fruits and vegetables are in season at the next Wangaratta Farmers Market being held on Saturday morning in the grounds of the Holy Trinity Cathedral.

There will be wide range of stalls showcasing locally grown produce and goods including baked goods, meats, cheeses, preserves and more, from 8am until 12pm.

ing Winton Wetlands and surrounding Yorta Yorta Country from above.

Festival director Ewan Scott aka Uone, who has been living with Multiple Sclerosis for more than 12 years, says CHI WOW WAH TOWN is not simply an occasion to break free from the shackles of the 40-hour work week, but to cleanse, reboot, and attain “collective effervescence”.

An independent, non-corporate disability-led organisation, $2 from each ticket sold to the 2024 festival will be donated to MS Australia.

To find out more or to purchase tickets visit https://www. chiwowwahtown.com/.

CWWT community - catering to just 2500 people - says it will “return to source” and re-engage with the festival’s founding motives.

The 2024 line-up features 14 international acts (including Belgium four piece jazz deep house band Stavroz) along with 35 domestic artists spanning live performances and DJ sets across two live music stages.

Beyond the main stage arena, the three-day camping event is set up to make everyone feel completely free, with the Winton Wetlands one of Victoria’s superior stargazing sites.

During the daylight hours,

punters can physically and spiritually immerse themselves in the area’s unsullied natural beauty, while meal times offer a chance to dine in nature and feel more in tune with the cycles and desires of the body.

The Saturday night of this year’s festival will be the Night of the Howling Moon when at 3am, CWWT will attempt to set a world record for the largest group of people howling at a full moon.

There will also be on-site sound healing, yoga, and mind, body and spirit workshops.

Those who attend will also be able to hop in a hot air balloon for a one-hour ride at sunrise, witnessing the sprawl-

The Australian INXS Show coming next month

Dan Sultan to perform in Wangaratta

CONSIDERED one of the best and most authentic INXS experiences in the world today, The Australian INXS Show will play at the Wangaratta Performing Arts and Convention Centre on Friday, February 9 at 7.30pm.

Fronted by Dellacoma Rio, whose uncanny portrayal of Michael Hutchence has captivated audiences worldwide, the authentic six piece band will take you on a journey through all the classic INXS hits that have made them a household name for decades.

Tickets are available now at wpacc. com.au.

OFF the back of his ARIA nominated fifth studio album, Dan Sultan will play at the Wangaratta Performing Arts and Convention Centre on Saturday, February 10 as part of a regional tour.

Following a string of theatre shows to celebrate the release of his new album, Sultan will showcase his new songs in a different format and take things back to the way they were written.

Accompanied by band member Zeppelin Hamilton (Velvet Trip), tickets are available now at wpacc. com.au or from the box office.

The Outdoor Ball in Merriwa Park SHAKE your hips to the rhythmic beats of the Latin band Vatos Locos, when they perform at the annual Outdoor Ball being held next year on Saturday, February 17 from 6pm to 10pm.

Presented by the Rural City of Wangaratta, entry is free at the community event with food and drink vendors onsite and all welcome.

yourstars ARIES

(March 21 to April 19) The new year holds promise for all you Lambs who know how to take advantage of the opportunities out there.

The key is keeping a positive attitude.

TAURUS

(April 20 to May 20) Over the course of this new year, you beautiful Bovines will continue bulldozing the barriers that stand between you and the success of your long-term plans.

GEMINI

(May 21 to June 20) The new year kicks off with a major decision about a job change that could involve a lot of travel. The choice you make could influence other decisions down the line.

CANCER

(June 21 to July 22) Familial relationships continue to have a strong influence on whatever long-term decisions you make involving both your career and your personal life.

LEO (July 23 to August 22) Any decisions that

you put off making last year should be confronted and dealt with as soon as possible. You need to clear away the past and make room for the future.

VIRGO (August 23 to September 22) Last

year’s disappointments are history. Expect to see more opportunities opening up and waiting for you to use them to your advantage.

LIBRA

(September 23 to October 22) You still have some trouble spots lingering from last year.

Resolve them so that you can move on to tackle more rewarding situations.

SCORPIO

(October 23 to November 21) Developments in the year ahead can be more challenging than you had expected, but the rewards will be well worth your efforts.

SAGITTARIUS

(November 22 to December 21) You are the Philosopher of the Zodiac, and your wisdom will go a long way in helping you deal with the challenges of the upcoming year.

CAPRICORN

(December 22 to January 19) Take stock of what you propose to do in the new year and get started as soon as possible.

On another note, last year’s critics turn into this year’s admirers.

AQUARIUS

(January 20 to February 18) This year, the typically gentle Water Bearer can reveal a hidden streak of steel that few people suspected you had; they will be surprised to see how you use it.

PISCES (February 19 to March 20) Although new friends open up different social vistas, your penchant for privacy is still strong and allows you the quiet time you need to indulge in your creative gifts.

Page 12 - THE CHRONICLE, Wednesday, January 10, 2024

wangarattachronicle.com.au

KING VALLEY NEWS

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

‘Stroke’ and Carmel remembered at Whitfield and District Golf Club

BY ANITA McPHERSON

amcpherson@ nemedia.com.au

MEMBERS and friends of the Whitfield and District Golf Club gathered at the course in December for the annual Stroke for Stroke Day, in memory of club stalwart and former captain, Geoff “Stroke” Newth.

The event was made even more special this time around as it also honoured past life member and club champion Carmel Dickson, with Carmel’s family presenting the club with seating for the new clubhouse, reminding everyone of the Dickson family’s dedicated contribution to the King Valley.

A total of 19 competitors took to the course including players from Bamawm, Mansfield and Beechworth Golf Clubs.

Winner of the day was Hollie Goodwin who cleaned up; also winning longest drive and nearest the pin, in what was a remarkable effort.

Runner up on the day was Robyn Hogan, while Duncan Laidlaw won the men’s longest drive.

Among those who came along for the event were members of Carmel Dickson’s family including sons Neale and Gary, their wives Kaye and Carmel, her nieces and nephew Helen, Kathy and Leon, great nephew Cohen and their families.

Club president Greg Rosser thanked the Dickson family for the beautiful seat they had made WANGARATTA Senior Citizens Club has commenced its 2024 activities, and will host bingo at its clubrooms in Tara Court, off Ford Street, today from 1.30pm.

Cards (euchre) will be held on Friday from 1.30pm, indoor carpet bowls on Monday from 12 noon, and cards (500) and hoy on Tuesday from 1.30pm.

The club will host lunch at the Wangaratta Club from 12 noon on Wednesday, January 17.

COME and try croquet at the Wangaratta Croquet Club, 46 Ryan Avenue, on any Monday, Wednesday or Saturday at 9am.

Equipment and instruction provided in a friendly, welcoming atmosphere. For further information, phone club president Susan Fischer on 0417 217 009.

THE Wangaratta Artists have resumed for 2024, 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.

CYCLING Without Age Wangaratta offers free tri–shaw rides to the elderly, and to people of any age with disabilities or reduced

Rubber Duck Regatta in Whitfield King River and District Fishing Club will hold its Rubber Duck Regatta on Saturday, January 27 at Gentle Annie Caravan and Camping Reserve in Whitfield and all are welcome to the family day out.

There will be a barbecue at 1pm before the duck race begins at 2pm with the winner taking home a major prize, plus Pimp-a-Duck and Best Dressed Duck prizes also to be won.

The number of ducks available is limited and they can be adopted now at Moyhu General Store, Gentle Annie Caravan and Camping Reserve or by contacting the club via Facebook.

King Valley community lunch The next King Valley community lunch will be held on Thursday, February 1 at the Cheshunt Hall from 12pm.

RSVP is required one week prior by contacting Lyn on 0427 270 551.

CWA King Valley branch meeting

GENEROUS CONTRIBUTION: Members of the Newth and Dickson families gathered at the Whitfield and District Golf Club for the annual Stroke for Stroke Day event in December. The Dickson family also presented the club with a beautiful seat in memory of Carmel. in memory of Carmel, which was presented to the club.

Thanks were also extended to Geoff ’s family members who attended, including sisters Sue and Julie, brother Barry, nephews Sam, Ben and Nathan and their extended families.

The club also acknowledged the generous support of John and Sue from Valley View Caravan Park, for once again sponsoring the day. mobility, and resumes for 2024 on January 15.

The group provides regular rides around Wangaratta to people living at home, or living in care.

For more information, phone 0418 387 089 or email cwawangaratta@gmail.com WANGARATTA Garden Club’s Annual General Meeting will be held on Thursday, February 1 at the Seventh-day Adventist Church hall in Phillipson St starting at 1:15pm.

This will be followed by the general meeting.

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

The special effort for February is a container/vase of Pink tones.

Everyone is welcome.

WANGARATTA Newcomers will hold their next gathering on Thursday, February 1 from 2pm to 3.30pm at Intermezzo Café.

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 meet at the main entrance at 9.30am for a 30

Whitfield and District Golf Club will hold its annual members day extravaganza on Sunday, February 4 at the Whitfield Recreation Reserve from 12 noon to 4pm.

Entry for members is free and includes lunch and drinks along with the chance to win cash prizes up to $3000.

All are welcome to come along to this great community event,

with memberships available for $50 (lunch only $15, children under 15 free).

If anyone in the valley would like to assist the golf club in its fundraising efforts by recycling cans and bottles, the club is happy to supply bags and come and collect them from you.

Please call 0427 762 464 for more details, or to purchase membership.

SOCIAL CALENDAR minute river walk prior to coffee.

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

PANGERANG Ukes and More meets each Thursday from 5.30pm at Pangerang Community Hub. Cost is $5, and any instruments, as well as voices, are welcome.

All enquiries to 0407 311 899.

WANGARATTA Sing Australia Group meets each Wednesday from 7.30pm to 9pm at Purbrick Hall, next to Holy Trinity Cathedral, with its first 2024 meeting on January 17.

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, and will return to meeting on January 15.

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, returning on January 17.

The competition runs until 3.30pm–4pm, and is followed by afternoon tea. New players welcome.

For details, phone Frank on 0409 662 462.

WANGARATTA Symphony Orchestra meets each Tuesday from 7.30pm to 9.30pm at Wangaratta Baptist Church, 1 Sisely Avenue, returning for 2024 on February 2.

For more information, email wangsymphonyorchestra@gmail. com or call Wendie 0408 495065.

SATURDAY Quilters will recommence their monthly meetings on Saturday, February 3 from 9.30am in the Wangaratta Small Bore Rifle Club rooms off the river end of College Street.

New beginner and experienced members are very welcome to attend.

For further information, contact Frances on 0417 158 220.

WANGARATTA Keenagers Table Tennis Club plays on Mondays and Thursdays at the table tennis centre at the Wangaratta Showgrounds, starting back on February 5.

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.

THE CWA King Valley branch meets on the first Thursday of each month at 6.30pm at the Whitfield Recreational Reserve.

All local women are welcome to join in, with the next meeting being held on Thursday, February 1 at 6.30 pm.

To RSVP, call Mary on 0427 404 411.

King Valley Good Neighbour Program THE King Valley Good Neighbour program has a tipping trailer with caged sides available for use by the local community, along with a highpressure washer.

To find out more contact Jenny Ashby on 0419 878 025.

OSTINATO Wangaratta and District Community Choir meets each Tuesday from 7pm to 9.30pm at the Log Cabin, corner Faithfull and Chisholm Streets, Wangaratta, resuming on February 6.

New members are welcome to join this enthusiastic and welcoming group of singers. For more information, contact Helen on 0457 269278.

LIFEBALL is held each Tuesday from 1pm on the basketball court at the Wangaratta Sports and Aquatic Centre, resuming on February 6.

Lifeball is a non–contact game of netball, designed by a doctor and physio for the safety of mature players, with no running, walking backwards or throwing high balls, but enjoying fun and friendship.

For more information, phone 0418 574 404.

WANGARATTA Table Tennis Association is hosting a new social daytime group at the Wangaratta Showgrounds pavilion on Tuesdays from 10am to 12 noon, and starts again on February 6.

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.

For more information, phone Maxine on 0403 209 857 or Julie on 0422 321 456.

THE CHRONICLE, Wednesday, January 10, 2024 - Page 13

wangarattachronicle.com.au

IN PERSON BY PHONE BY EMAIL 37 Rowan Street, classifieds@ 5723 0101 Wangaratta nemedia.com.au 3677

WHEN TO BOOK

SELLING BUY A CAR ONLINE

Chronicle Classifieds 2pm business day prior to print North East Jobs 3pm Friday

General Classifieds: wangarattachronicle.com.au Employment: northeastjobs.com.au Real Estate: northeastproperty.com.au

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LOVING home needed for a Pedigree Miniature Poodle, my health issues and age mean I need to make the tough decision to re home my beautiful dog, excellent temperament, vaccinated and microchipped, microchip number: 991003001858887, source ID MB238702.

Please phone 0455 171 780 or 03 5727 0959.

HOLIDAY house in Ocean Grove, available for rent for selected dates in January and from February 2024 o n w a r d s . C o n t a c t PEDIGREE Miniature Leanne 0403 386 945. Poodle Puppies, apricot, red, brown, and black, excellent temperament vaccinated and microchipped, many CONCRETING - Big testimonials available or small jobs. Paths, on request, source driveways, shed slabs, number: MB238702, verandahs. 15 years microchip numbers: experience. For a free 956000016207918, q u o t e p h o n e Tr e v 956000015910702, Anderson on 0422 200 991003002427976, 991003002427979, 761.

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KING VALLEY WINEMAKERS

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

classifieds@nemedia.com.au

Phone: 03 5723 0101

WE ARE LOOKING FOR OUR NEW WAREHOUSE’S TEAM MEMBER FUNERAL DIRECTORS

Pizzini Wines specialises in the production of Italian wine varieties and excellence in customer service. For further information about role requirements and responsibilities, scan the following QR code.

A funeral experience... not just a funeral service If you have past experience or a willingness to learn, we would love to hear from you.

Please send applications to production@pizzini.com.au

EMPLOYMENT

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PHONE GREG 0429 306 679 or email jenveytransport@gmail.com

Emailyouradvert classifieds@nemedia.com.au

Mason Park Funerals

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NORTH EAST JOBS in today's Regional Extra for more employment opportunities.

Published every Wednesday in your Wangaratta Chronicle, Ovens and Murray Advertiser, Myrtleford Times and Alpine Observer

Advertise FREE! If you’re selling for $50 or less Sell those unwanted items that are lying around your home or gathering dust in the shed!

Simply fill in the coupon below and deliver by hand, fax, or post to ‘Free Classifieds, 37 Rowan St, Wangaratta.’

2013 Renault Clio RS 6SRUW SHUIHFW ¿UVW FDU 39,400km, (CS1990), RZQHG VLQFH QHZ DQG only driven locally and in immaculate condition, K D V D O Z D \ V E H H Q JDUDJHG DQG KDV KDG QR PHFKDQLFDO LVVXHV IXOO VHUYLFH ERRNV 3K WHITE Ford Futura Sedan 2004, as is, motor goes well, auto, needs work, alloy rim s, unr egi st er ed, (6F9AAAJGSW4E 51127), $1200 ono. Ph 0418 582 938.

Classifieds Work!

Phone:

(03)

Name:............................................................................................................

Address: .......................................................................................................

Phone:...........................................................................................................

✁

CONDITIONS:- Advertisements will not be accepted by phone or email - Prices included in advertisement must not exceed $50 in total - No commercial advertisers - Price and phone number must be included in the advertisement - No animals can be advertised unless being offered FREE - No auto parts or accessories can be advertised - Advertisements will appear in Monday or Wednesday editions only - One entry per household, per week - The publisher reserves the right to publish on the next available date if space is unavailable.

- Advertisements may only be submitted on this form.

(Original only - No photocopies)

MARTIN, Margret.

January 9, 2023.

Treasured memories of a wonderful friend.

Forever remembered. ~ Marlene.

Personal Notices

Wangaratta’s Market Place 37 Rowan Street, Wangaratta. Fax (03)57219447

5723 0101

WINE bottle storage crates, solid pine, excellent condition, 26 available, $165 each, or take the lot for $4290, pick up only from Cheshunt. Phone 0412 710 751.

The only family owned funeral home in Wangaratta Proud Member of Australian Funeral Directors Association

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Remember your loved one in a lasting way The memory of a much loved family member or friend can live on through a donation to your local health service - Northeast Health Wangaratta. Your memorial donation can assist in securing the continued availability of comprehensive health care locally.

The bereaved family will be notified of your memorial gift according to your wishes and you will receive a tax-deductible receipt for your donation. For further information or to make a donation please contact: Community Engagement Team (03) 5722 5069 or PO Box 386, Wangaratta, Vic 3676.

Emailyouradvert classifieds@nemedia.com.au

Page 14 - THE CHRONICLE, Wednesday, January 10, 2024

Local people, local places

wangarattachronicle.com.au

OU NO T W !

...immerse yourself in the region

THE CHRONICLE, Wednesday, January 10, 2024 - Page 15

wangarattachronicle.com.au

WANGARATTA Chronicle photographer Melissa Beattie made her way down to WDCA A Grade cricket on Saturday to capture some action. Photographs can be purchased at the Chronicle.

NIC BONWICK

ISAAC WILLETT

E OLLE CO RC MATT GATHER

HARRY JONES

JACOB BEATTIE

ZAC GUILFO YLE

JAMES NEARY

D JACOB ILSON AN JEREMY W

BEATTIE

GURJOT GOSAL

COOPER THOMASON

PADDY McN AMARA

Page 16 - THE CHRONICLE, Wednesday, January 10, 2024

wangarattachronicle.com.au

WANGARATTA gallops Thursday

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1.10

Insite Real Estate Plate

Apprentices can claim 3yo & up Maiden SW $27,000

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1 0s42 Gallagher (12) M Price & M Kent Jnr .....Ms A Kelly 59.5 4.60 2 s6874 Overloaded (1) G W Egan ......................C Murtagh 59.5 6.00 3 47879 Pammukale (4) M & L Cerchi ................... J Kissick 59.5 21.00 4 80608 Premium Asset (11) Ms J Schmidt ........................ ............................................... Ms H Le Blanc (a1.5) 59.5 101.00 5 25s94 Tahitian Warrior (7) Matthew Brown .. T Stockdale 59.5 9.00 6 504 Wynns Well (6) C Maher & D Eustace ......... L King 59.5 6.00 7 4727 Knight Island h (13) Craig Weeding............ J Duffy 58 21.00 58 7.00 8 45 Whispering Pharaoh (5) Robert Hickmott . J Bowditch 9 273s6 Zipper Gate (3) David Brideoake & Matt Jenkins ... ....................................................... Ms L Burke (a4) 58 51.00 10 26s46 Backlit Beauty (2) L Kennewell & L Yeomans ........ ................................................................. L Riordan 57.5 15.00 11 33093 Sparkling Adiction (10) Lee Hunter .....Ms M Lloyd 57.5 6.00 12 653 Expeetee (9) G W Egan............................ M Aitken 56 7.00 EMERGENCY 13 76075 Sheza Snake (8) C J Davis ..................................... 57.5 34.00 GALLAGHER, Overloaded, Wynns Well, Sparkling Adiction

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1 Autumn Rock h (1) Craig Weeding ........J Richards 58 2 38s7 Ferrimo (9) M Price & M Kent Jnr ..........Ms A Kelly 58 3 2 Salchow (8) Nick Ryan ............................................

58 4 Spirit Rouge (5) Simon Zahra ...................... L King 58 5 3 Tallis Drive (11) A & S Freedman ........ T Stockdale 58 6 6s4 Truth I Fear (7) M J Ellerton ..................J Bowditch 58 7 33s Villasaurus (10) Ms D Scott ..................... M Aitken 58 8 6 Asinglepromise (3) S A Lake .............Ms L Lafferty 56 9 Coomoroo Lady h (2) Craig Weeding......... J Duffy 56 10 6L5 Sacred Shikoba (4) Ms D Scott ..........Ms E Ly (a3) 56 11 68s9 Vampire Kisses (6) C J Davis ................C Murtagh 56 SALCHOW, Tallis Drive, Sacred Shikoba, Spirit Rouge

2.20 McGregor Machinery Plate

15.00 8.00 3.80 7.50 4.60 11.00 8.00 34.00 13.00 6.00 41.00

1400m

Apprentices can claim 3yo & up Maiden SW $27,000

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1 346s7 Apollo Sun (10) Michael Gibson . Ms H Le Blanc (a1.5) 59.5 34.00 2 74 Master Bob (15) G Brunsdon.................C Murtagh 59.5 11.00 3 759 Nails And Pride (16) M D Moroney......... L Riordan 59.5 34.00 4 Smilex (1) Patrick Payne ....................Ms L Lafferty 59.5 10.00 5 4560s Tornado Alley (4) Erin Maher .................Ms A Kelly 59.5 17.00 6 6s80 Walker Road (2) Ms R Hoysted ................ C Parish 59.5 26.00 7 5963 Ashau Valley h (5) Craig Weeding .............. J Duffy 58 5.50 8 5 Breytenbach (18) Patrick Payne .............................

58 11.00 9 Divine Crown (12) M J Ellerton .............J Bowditch 58 13.00 10 s4440 Manalore h (13) Andrew Dale ...................... L King 58 34.00 11 9 Ariarne (11) N J Dyer ...........................L McNeil (a) 57.5 101.00 12 09 Fandeni (14) C J Davis .................. Ms L Burke (a4) 57.5 34.00 13 9 Hot Spring h (6) Ben Brisbourne ............................ 57.5 34.00 14 24s34 Lunar Module (7) Archie Alexander .....Ms M Lloyd 57.5 5.50 EMERGENCIES 15 9995 Brilliant Badger h (17) Ben Brisbourne ..................

58 10.00 16 55s59 Bonita Bon (3) J W Price .............. Ms A Herrmann 57.5 21.00 17 00s05 Faithful Champion (8) Ben, Will & JD Hayes ......... 59.5 7.50 18 9687s Petrus (9) Ms B Dunn .............................................. 59.5 8.00 ASHAU VALLEY, Lunar Module, Faithful Champion, Petrus

4

2.55 Ovens Kia Wangaratta Plate 1170m Apprentices can claim 3yo & up Maiden SW $27,000 2.

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Apprentices can claim 3yo & up Benchmark 58 $27,000 3.

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1 66417 Burning The Clock dw (2) I W Lister ....J Bowditch 62 2 84215 Quinlan w (6) D J McCarthy ..................... J Kissick 62 3 6s08s Tramontana d (5) E W Nichols . Ms H Le Blanc (a1.5) 61.5 4 66s64 Comanche North dtcw (3) Ms D Scott ... M Aitken 61 5 82222 Lidder Valley dwb (14) David Brideoake & Matt Jenkins ....................................................... Ms L Burke (a4) 61 6 415s Simple Times dw (9) Patrick Payne.......Ms A Kelly 60.5 7 32101 Zuurberg w (7) K F Hanley..................Ms E Ly (a3) 60.5 8 s5178 Our Boy Beau h (8) Ben Brisbourne ............ L King 60 9 12116 A Bit Racey dw (12) Craig Weeding ......J Richards 59 10 s2142 Jordy Girl (11) D J O’Prey ....................L McNeil (a) 59 11 12658 Denirra w (4) Luke Oliver .....................Ms M Lloyd 58.5 12 1389s The Hay Flyer w (10) Simon Zahra ......... L Riordan 58.5 13 607s6 Minifinn w (13) Jacqui Sims ........ Ms A Warren (a3) 54 14 059s5 Villianaire dw (1) C J Davis ... Ms R Hammond (a2) 54 ZUURBERG, Lidder Valley, Jordy Girl, Comanche North

6

26.00 13.00 15.00 6.00 4.60 15.00 4.00 26.00 67.00 5.00 21.00 9.00 34.00 51.00

4.05Sportsbet Set A Deposit Limit 1000m Apprentices can claim 3yo & up Benchmark 64 $27,000 2.

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Pacific Hire Handicap

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1.45John Wohlers Jewellers Plate 1300m 2.

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2000m

PR

1 77731 Mojo Music dwh (9) Andrew Dale ......Ms E Ly (a3) 63 3.50 2 14164 Triumphantly d (2) Saab Hasan ...............J Keating 60 5.00 3 56553 Ruckman dtc (4) S A McIntosh................ J Kissick 59.5 3.50 4 12s Andouillette w (8) A & S Freedman .... T Stockdale 58 6.00 5 1466s Anthemic twhb (5) Andrew Dale ............... C Parish 58 8.00 6 4940s Birdies Galore w (1) Patrick Payne........Ms A Kelly 57.5 8.00 7 49117 Redneck Princess dtw (7) Ben Brisbourne............ ..................................................... Ms A Warren (a3) 56 15.00 8 51635 Killawarra Lass (3) J E & C Ledger ............ J Duffy 54 51.00 9 s1180 Miss Brondolino dw (6) S S Cunningham ..J Richards 54 67.00 MOJO MUSIC, Ruckman, Triumphantly, Andouillette MOJO MUSIC (Andrew Dale) 5G By Outreach - Chamber Music (35:6-11-4): Gave good sight 1/2 hd, lng hd 3rd of 9 (3) $12.00 58.5 Oh No Mikki 1000m Albury (Bm66) Good(4) Dec 16. Scored sht 1/2 hd win of 10 (2) $8.50 61.0 Mojo Music 1200m Corowa (Bm66) Good(4) Dec 30. Led and just lasted at Corowa at latest. This trip suits. Include among the better chances.

TRIUMPHANTLY (Saab Hasan) 5G By Starspangledbanner - Sardaaj (NZ) (16:3-1-2): Slowly away, Overraced early stages, Minor injury when 4 len 6th of 9 (1) $18.00 60.5 Moon And Back 955m Moonee Valley 3yo+ (Bm64) Good(3) Dec 8. Slowly away, Pulled hard when 3 len 4th of 5 (2) $4.60 59.0 Toronto Rain 1065m Wagga Riverside Hcp (C3) Good(4) Dec 22. Ran home respectably at Wagga Riverside last time out. Normally races well at this distance. Nice gate. Must be considered.

RUCKMAN (S A McIntosh) 5G By O’lonhro - Winger (7:2-0-1): Beaten but not disgraced when 3 len 5th of 12 (7) $26.00 61.0 Star Honour 1200m Seymour 3yo+ (Bm58) Good(4) Dec 21. Hit line hard in 1-3/4 len, 1/2 nk 3rd of 10 (5) $5.50 59.5 Showies Best Shot 1000m Wangaratta 3yo+ (Bm64) Good(3) Jan 2. Improved showing here last start.

Decent alley. Major player.

ANDOUILLETTE (A & S Freedman) 3G By Russian Revolution - I Am Gypsy (2:1-1-0): Scored sht nk win of 12 (5) $6.00 57.0 Andouillette 1100m Wodonga 3yo+ Mdn Soft(5) Sep 11. Hung out during race, Vetted - no abnormalities when 3-1/4 len 2nd of 8 (3) $4.20 60.0 San Marino 1100m Horsham 3yo+ (Bm58) Good(4) Sep 26. First-up. Won in Maiden company at Wodonga first-up last campaign. Among the dangers.

ANTHEMIC (Andrew Dale) 6G By Tavistock (NZ) - Banchee (NZ) (31:4-8-2): First-up finished 3-1/4 len 6th of 6 (3) $11.00 59.0 Sheila 1180m Gundagai (Bm66) Heavy(10) Sep 10. First-up finished 4 len 6th of 7 (3) $3.30 62.5 Miss Mouse 1000m Jerilderie (Bm58) Good(3) Sep 23. Resuming. Pacy. Each-way.

BIRDIES GALORE (Patrick Payne) 4M By Spieth (NZ) - Atalanta Miss (10:2-1-1): Firstup finished 1-1/4 len 4th of 14 (7) $21.00 56.5 He’ll Rip 1200m Mornington 3yo (Bm64) Soft(6) Jun 12. First-up finished 7-1/2 len 12th of 13 (6) $15.00 55.5 Movader 1400m Sandown-lakeside 3yo (Bm64) Heavy(9) Jul 5. Strips fitter for 8 len 9th of 10 (9) Peri Peri Rich 950m Traralgon 3yo+ (Barrier Trial) Good(4) Dec 14. First-up. Generally competitive fresh. Drawn favourably. Back to country level. In the mix.

REDNECK PRINCESS (Ben Brisbourne) 6M By Redente - Tuscan Princess (48:4-1012): Claimed sht 1/2 hd win of 12 (2) $4.40 54.0 Redneck Princess 1100m Wangaratta 3yo+ Hcp (58) Good(3) Dec 9. Wide throughout when 6 len 7th of 10 (8) $7.50 53.0 Showies Best Shot 1000m Wangaratta 3yo+ (Bm64) Good(3) Jan 2. Average effort in similar company here last start. Place preferred.

KILLAWARRA LASS (J E & C Ledger) 6M By Outreach - Winesearch (16:1-1-3): Began awkwardly when 1 len, lg nk 3rd of 9 (3) $10.00 55.0 Artie Bee 900m Albury (Bm58) Soft(5) Dec 9. Battled away for 4 len 5th of 10 (9) $4.80 59.0 Ronny Rock Art 1000m Tumut (Bm50) Soft(6) Dec 26. Wasn’t all that far away at Tumut last outing. Can’t have.

MISS BRONDOLINO (S S Cunningham) 5M By Ilovethiscity - Tanzaam (15:2-1-1): Raced wide without cover when 3-3/4 len 8th of 11 (9) $21.00 55.5 Piiink Beauty 1103m Kyneton 3yo+ F&M (Bm58) Good(4) Dec 14. Sound when 6-3/4 len 10th of 10 (8) $5.50 60.0 Ronny Rock Art 1000m Tumut (Bm50) Soft(6) Dec 26. Can’t have.

7

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1 55583 Actionero (11) D J McCarthy .............Ms L Lafferty 59.5 8.00 2 67s Harmony Lad (3) Linc Sullivan............S Brown Jnr 59.5 16.00 3 8 Just Rich Lika (1) Ms G Johnstone ........................ ............................................... Ms R Hammond (a2) 59.5 21.00 4 75972 One Lucky Kid (12) D J Laws ......... SCRATCHED 5 32s32 Stubbyholler b (6) D J McCarthy ............. J Kissick 59.5 5.00 6 Flying To Mars (5) David Brideoake & Matt Jenkins .................................................................. M Aitken 58 11.00 7 s3333 Hells Son hb (14) Andrew Dale .................... L King 58 6.00 8 0 Ogatan (10) Matthew Brown ............... T Stockdale 58 41.00 6 Teddy Boy (4) Claire Patterson ............L McNeil (a) 58 41.00 9 10 4s Hot Gospel (2) Patrick Payne ................Ms A Kelly 57.5 12.00 11 527s3 Made The Effort (9) J W Price ..............J Bowditch 57.5 6.50 12 9s0s7 Iguassu (8) James Cummings ................ L Riordan 56 17.00 Juliette’s Joy (7) Ben, Will & JD Hayes ..Ms M Lloyd 56 21.00 13 56 6.50 14 440s3 Vancouver Rocks h (13) Ben Brisbourne . C Murtagh STUBBYHOLLER, Hells Son, Made The Effort, Vancouver Rocks

LEGEND T – Won at track. C – Won at this distance on this course. D – Won at this distance on another course. W – Won in slow or heavy going. B – Beaten favourite at last start. H - Trained on track. N - Won at night. S – Spell of three months. F - Fell.

P - Pulled up. L - Lost rider.

4.45

Winsec Savings & Loans

1400m

Apprentices can claim 3yo & up Benchmark 58 $27,000

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1 112s4 Kodiak dw (1) A & S Freedman... Ms A Warren (a3) 63.5 2 56720 Paint Me Red dw (8) Brett Scott ............................ ...............................................Ms C Hollowood (a3) 61 3 1324s Paululu dwb (7) Patrick Payne ...............Ms A Kelly 61 4 5135s Saint Lazare (2) L Kennewell & L Yeomans..L Riordan 61 5 s7876 Sellente w (3) D J O’Prey .......................... C Parish 61 6 540s7 Too Viennese dwn (10) Matthew Brown . T Stockdale 61 7 2s212 Smart Poppy dwh (6) Craig Weeding ....J Richards 60.5 8 12024 Keith wb (5) Ms D Scott ......................Ms E Ly (a3) 60 9 1080s Rich Result dtc (13) J E & C Ledger .......... J Duffy 60 10 677s8 Elidi wn (12) Jess Gleeson .... Ms R Hammond (a2) 59.5 11 4s762 Fuzz Buzz dtwn (11) Luke Oliver .............M Michel 59.5 12 47s54 Long Lost Friend h (4) Ben Brisbourne .. C Murtagh 57.5 13 97905 Cranach Dreaming w (9) I W Lister.....Ms M Lloyd 54 SMART POPPY, Kodiak, Long Lost Friend, Keith

10.

5.00 41.00 9.00 9.00 21.00 26.00 4.20 8.00 15.00 67.00 8.00 6.00 17.00

This publication takes all care in compiling the TAB details but cannot accept any responsibility for any errors. Readers are urged to check TAB information with the official lists before placing their bets.

TAB GUIDE

TRACK/RAIL

Daily Double 6, 8 Early Quadrella 1, 2, 3, 4 Treble 6, 7, 8 Quadrella 5, 6, 7, 8 First Four All Races Fixed Odds All Races

TRACK: Soft (6).

RAIL: Out 3m.

WEATHER: Fine.

8

5.25

Dyson Bus Group

1590m

Apprentices can claim 3yo & up Benchmark 64 $27,000

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1 134s8 Classy Joe dw (4) D J McCarthy ........Ms E Ly (a3) 65.5 2 11881 Char dh (5) Ben Brisbourne ........ Ms A Warren (a3) 61.5 3 27530 Easy Road wnh (11) Craig Weeding ........... J Duffy 60.5 4 68384 Ferlaxing dw (2) D J McCarthy ........... T Stockdale 60.5 5 83533 No Quarantine wn (1) Craig Weeding....J Richards 60 6 44226 Bellman dwh (12) Andrew Dale.................... L King 59.5 7 351s8 Quite The Lass dw (10) David Brideoake & Matt Jenkins ....................................................... Ms L Burke (a4) 59.5 8 67s95 Storm’s Colours dtc (3) Anthony Chibnall . J Kissick 59.5 9 17 Redneck Jerry dhb (8) Ben Brisbourne .. C Murtagh 58 10 3831s Kharma w (9) Patrick Payne ..............Ms L Lafferty 57 11 42113 Harlem Nic dtcwh (6) Ben Brisbourne .................... ............................................... Ms H Le Blanc (a1.5) 56.5 12 14s94 Pendante dw (7) R G Symons ..Ms R Hammond (a2) 56 CHAR, Ferlaxing, No Quarantine, Storm’s Colours

10.

41.00 3.50 51.00 4.20 5.00 51.00 67.00 6.00 67.00 13.00 8.00 7.50

CLASSY JOE (D J McCarthy) 9G By Danerich - Capital Growth (64:10-7-9): On return from break finished 1-3/4 len 4th of 10 (2) $3.30 62.0 Nordic Pride 2000m Wagga 3yo+ (Bm74) Heavy(8) Jul 24. Resumed with 5 len 8th of 10 (1) $41.00 65.5 Mojo Music 1200m Corowa (Bm66) Good(4) Dec 30. Veteran who went to the line only fairly in similar grade at Corowa first-up. Cannot entertain.

CHAR (Ben Brisbourne) 5G By Danerich - Homeland Sheila (13:4-2-2): Blundered at start, Crowded near 400m when 9 len 8th of 9 (8) $17.00 60.5 Fifi Blue 2050m Wodonga (Bm64) Good(4) Nov 24. Recorded 1-3/4 len win of 8 (8) $5.00 60.5 Char 1600m Albury (Bm58) Good(4) Dec 16. Freshened. Showed a fine turn of foot to score convincingly under 60.5kg at Albury last time out. 3kg claimer engaged. Looks one of the main chances.

EASY ROAD (Craig Weeding) 7G By Super Easy (NZ) - Ormond Road (NZ) (32:8-4-2): Settled midfield when 3/4 len, 3/4 len 3rd of 8 (1) $3.30 58.0 Man From Uncle 2000m Manangatang Manangatang Cup Good(3) Oct 14. Slowly away when 6 len 10th of 10 (3) $19.00 62.0 Mojo Music 1200m Corowa (Bm66) Good(4) Dec 30. Awkwardly drawn. Can’t have.

FERLAXING (D J McCarthy) 6G By Ferlax (NZ) - Silenzia Blue (26:6-3-3): Reasonable effort 3-1/2 len 8th of 10 (8) $26.00 61.0 Aramco 1700m Geelong 3yo+ (Bm64) Good(3) Dec 7. Slowly away when 1 len 4th of 8 (7) $5.00 55.0 Kiptanui 1675m Wagga Riverside Open (Bm82) Good(3) Dec 22. Wasn’t all that far away at Wagga Riverside last time out. Backmarker. Normally races well at this distance. Good draw. Must be considered.

NO QUARANTINE (Craig Weeding) 6G By Master Of Design - No Objection (25:3-4-5): Keen, Held up near turn when 1/2 len, 1/2 len 3rd of 14 (11) $6.50 62.5 A Bit Racey 1175m Albury (Bm58) Good(4) Dec 16. Made up late ground for sht 1/2 hd, 2-1/4 len 3rd of 10 (5) $10.00 60.0 Mojo Music 1200m Corowa (Bm66) Good(4) Dec 30. Ready to win. Handy and boxed on fairly to fill the minors at Corowa last time out. Up in distance now. Good draw. Key player.

BELLMAN (Andrew Dale) 5G By Belardo (IRE) - Maneo Invictus (NZ) (22:3-5-3): Held up near 400m when 1 len 2nd of 11 (1) $10.00 60.0 Wings Of Song 1606m Benalla 3yo+ (Bm58) Good(3) Dec 16. Held up near turn when 3 len 6th of 11 (10) $5.00 62.0 Diamond Carat 1400m Gundagai (Bm66) Good(4) Jan 1. Fair effort without threatening at Gundagai last time out. Wide alley is a concern. Appears tested.

QUITE THE LASS (David Brideoake & Matt Jenkins) 5M By Helmet - Ominous Quality (18:3-2-2): First-up finished lg nk win of 11 (4) $11.00 58.0 Quite The Lass 1600m Seymour 3yo+ (Bm64) Soft(6) Aug 17. Resumed with 5 len 8th of 11 (10) $26.00 57.0 Vagrant 1400m Caulfield 3yo+ F&M (Bm70) Soft(5) Dec 26. Average effort in similar grade at Caulfield first-up. Needs luck from out there. Can’t have.

STORM’S COLOURS (Anthony Chibnall) 6G By Fighting Sun - Areyoutalkintome (NZ) (47:6-4-11): On return from break finished 9-3/4 len 9th of 9 (6) $41.00 61.0 Ludovisi 1321m Geelong 3yo+ (Bm64) Good(4) Dec 15. Wide throughout when 4-1/2 len 5th of 8 (8) $26.00 60.0 Credible Analyses 1400m Wangaratta 3yo+ Hcp (64) Soft(6) Jan 2. Coming off an average run in similar class here at latest. Suited over this distance.

Drawn favourably. Can play a role.

REDNECK JERRY (Ben Brisbourne) 4G By Boulder City - Tuscan Princess (2:1-0-0): Posted 1-1/2 len win of 9 (9) $10.00 59.5 Redneck Jerry 1606m Benalla 3yo+ Mdn Good(4) Dec 16. Slowly away, Laid in in straight when 5 len 7th of 12 (9) $3.30 59.0 Miss White 1600m Corowa Plate (C1) Good(4) Dec 30. Coming off an average run in similar company at Corowa last time out. Rank outsider.

KHARMA (Patrick Payne) 4M By So You Think (NZ) - Lucha Libre (NZ) (4:1-0-2): Held up near 500m when 3-1/4 len, 2-1/2 len 3rd of 12 (4) $17.00 57.5 Torranzino 2000m Warracknabeal 3yo+ Mdn Plate Soft(7) Jun 30. Tactics queried when 2-1/2 len win of 12 (9) $6.50 57.5 Kharma 2200m Bendigo Mdn Plate Soft(6) Jul 27. Had the benefit of 8-1/2 len 4th of 6 (4) Writey O’pal 850m Tatura 3yo+ (Barrier Trial) Good(4) Nov 27.

Resuming. Place hope.

HARLEM NIC (Ben Brisbourne) 4M By Manhattan Rain - Nicodora (13:2-2-1): Knuckled down well to score 1-1/4 len win of 9 (1) $3.70 57.5 Harlem Nic 1590m Wangaratta 3yo+ Hcp (58) Good(3) Dec 9. Held up in straight when nk, 1-1/4 len 3rd of 12 (7) $7.50 59.5 Charcoal Annie 1590m Wangaratta 3yo+ (Bm58) Good(3) Jan 2.

No match for winner but kept on for the minor spoils here last time out. 1.5kg claimer engaged. Consider.

PENDANTE (R G Symons) 3F By Impending - Pepiniere (IRE) (7:1-1-0): Slowly away, Struck interference near 50m when 4 len 9th of 14 (7) $31.00 55.0 Fire Of Etna 1414m Seymour 3yo+ Hcp (64) Good(4) Dec 21. Laid out near turn, Laid out in straight when 1 len 4th of 8 (1) $9.00 54.0 Yosemite Falls 1600m Seymour 3yo+ (Bm64) Good(4) Jan 3. Worked home okay to finish close to placegetters last outing. 2kg claimer engaged.

Each-way.

GEAR CHANGES RACE 1: (4) Premium Asset blinkers on first time, winkers off first time RACE 2: (1) Autumn Rock blinkers on first time, gelded; (4) Spirit Rouge gelded; (11) Vampire Kisses blinkers on first time, nose roll off first time, tongue-tie off first time RACE 3: (4) Smilex gelded; (5) Tornado Alley blinkers on first time, cross-over noseband on first time, tongue-tie off first time, winkers off first time; (9) Divine Crown gelded, stallion chain on first time; (10) Manalore blinkers on first time; (14) Lunar Module blinkers on again; (18) Petrus blinkers off first time RACE 4: (3) Just Rich Lika pre-race ear muffs on first time; (6) Flying To Mars blinkers on first time, gelded; (7) Hells Son blinkers on again, nose roll off first time; (8) Ogatan nose roll on first time; (9) Teddy Boy cross-over noseband on first time; (13) Juliette’s Joy pre-race ear muffs on first time, lugging bit on first time RACE 5: (2) Quinlan blinkers off again, cross-over noseband off again, nose roll on first time; (3) Tramontana blinkers off again, cross-over noseband on first time; (4) Comanche North blinkers on first time; (10) Jordy Girl winkers on first time; (12) The Hay Flyer tongue-tie on first time RACE 6: (2) Triumphantly blinkers on first time, winkers off again RACE 7: (1) Kodiak equicast on first time; (3) Paululu blinkers off first time; (5) Sellente winkers off first time RACE 8: (6) Bellman blinkers on again, visors off first time; (10) Kharma blinkers off first time

wangarattachronicle.com.au

THE CHRONICLE, Wednesday, January 10, 2024 - Page 17

SPORT

Weeding stacked for meet THE second of three meetings for January will take place tomorrow at the Wangaratta Turf Club.

The club will present an eight race card which is filled with locally trained runners, including eight of Craig Weeding’s.

It’s an exciting meeting for Weeding with a two juveniles making their debuts, while a number of seasoned gallopers also look a chance.

Weeding said he’s looking forward to another race day at home.

“It’s just fantastic having another meeting at home where we just need to walk across the road,” Weeding said.

“The track’s in good order and even with the rain over the past few weeks it should still race really well.

“It’s an open, fair track that gives everyone a chance.”

Weeding’s day kicks off with Knight Island looking to break his maiden in race one (2000m) but will have to do it from gate 13.

“Knight Island has drawn wide but that suits him,”

BY WILLSON MACK wmack@ nemedia.com.au

Weeding said.

“Last start he got posted four, five wide for the whole trip so hopefully there’s going to be some improvement there.”

Race two’s three-year-old maiden (1300m) will see two first starters with Autumn Rock and Coomoroo Lady to make their debuts from gates one and two respectively.

“It will be good to kick both of these horses off,” Weeding said.

“I think they both still need a bit of time and are probably six months away.

“Coomoroo Lady trialled better than Autumn Rock but Autumn Rock will go forward from barrier and should go okay.”

Maiden runners don’t stop for Weeding with Ashau Valley taking his place in race three (1400m) after a third place finish last start, a touch over two lengths off the winner.

GOOD CHANCE: Craig Weeding’s Smart Poppy will be eyeing victory at Wangaratta tomorrow.

PHOTO: Racing Photos “Ashau Valley ran well last time and if we got going a little bit earlier I think we would’ve finished a lot closer,” Weeding said.

“I think he’s a good chance to go better on Thursday.”

A FAMILY AFFAIR

A Bit Racey will be looking to continue her strong form that has seen her win three of her last five starts when she features in race five’s benchmark 58 (1170m).

“It’s impossible to draw a

good gate with A Bit Racey, I don’t think we’ve drawn one in single figures since we’ve had her,” Weeding said.

“I’d say she’ll still run and she’s going well.”

Weeding’s best chance of

the day will come in race seven when Smart Poppy eyes victory from gate six.

The five-year-old gelding has been in fine touch recently, winning two starts back, while he’s finished second in four of his past six.

“I’m disappointed he didn’t win last start,” Weeding said.

“From barrier six he’s going to get an even better run so I think he’s a really good chance.

“He’ll go back and then spin around them late, this race looks a bit easier than the last too so fingers crossed.”

A busy day concludes for Weeding in race eight’s benchmark 64 (1600m) with Easy Road and No Quarantine in action.

“No Quarantine has never ran over the mile but he’s been running well with big weights so I think it’s a good time to test him over 1600m and I think he should get it,” Weeding said.

“Easy Road will be looking for further so we’ll see his best in a few starts I’d say.”

■ See full fields on page 16

Lambrose day back for second appearance

IT was all about family on the opening day of the Bright Bowls Club’s 70th Christmas Carnival. The six day bowling festival brought players from across the Ovens and Murray bowls region, as well as clubs located further afield in Numurkah, Cobram, Macedon Ranges, Melbourne and Geelong to the picturesque club.

Day one saw Wangaratta bowlers Maurie Braden, Aaron Braden and Kent Braden take out the open three bowl triples event, ahead of Greg Braden, Terry Braden and Brian Challman, also from Wangaratta. Bright Bowls Club’s Steven Jenvey (left) presented the winning Braden trio with their prize.

By WILLSON MACK THE Wangaratta Golf Club will host their Lambrose Day on Australia Day for the second year in a row.

The two person ambrose will kick off at 8:30am through a shotgun start.

The round will be followed by a lamb burger and pavlova for lunch, while there will also be prizes to be won.

The event costs $30 for members and $35 for nonmembers which includes green fees, competition fees and lunch.

Contact the club on 03 5721 3426 to register your team.

17 MARCH 2024 EARLY BIRD PRICING ENDS 31 JAN

42.2K • 21.16K • 10K • 5K • 2K Register now

wangarattamarathon.com.au

Page 18 - THE CHRONICLE, Wednesday, January 10, 2024

wangarattachronicle.com.au

SPORT

Woodchop dodging the axe THE 103rd edition of the Wangaratta Woodchop on January 27 is set to bring its familiar marquee atmosphere to the Wangaratta Sports carnival, in the face of native timber harvesting bans taking effect since the new year.

The historic event has been allowed to go on this year thanks to North East and Border Axeman Association (NEBAA) securing a semi-load of poles (native timber) out of the Wombat Forest through state forestry department VicForests, which will supply the Wangaratta Woodchop and other upcoming shows in Tolmie, Mitta Mitta and Tallangatta.

Supreme Court orders in November 2022 limited the area available for logging and expanded protected areas after it found the state-owned logging agency

BY BAILEY ZIMMERMANN bzimmermann@ nemedia.com.au

VicForests failed to adequately protect the yellow-bellied glider and the endangered greater glider in Victoria.

In May last year, the State Government brought forward the ban on native timber harvesting, which has formally taken effect from January 1.

The impending ban left the whoodchop sport on its knees, with the possibility of last year’s 102nd woodchop at Wangaratta being the last.

Wangaratta-based NEBAA vicepresident, Fabian Harding, said the association have been looking at all options in securing native logs

which will preserve the event in the future.

“With the injunctions and then the stop on hardwood logging altogether has made it a lot harder, a lot of shows have dropped off, through Victoria we’ve lost about 30 or 40 shows; shows which have been going on for over 100 years,” he said.

“We’re a little bit lucky up here, we’ve secured the Wombat Forest load and we’ve also approached some private landholders who are going to help us out too.

“In the future we’ll have to diversify and look for a soft timber, the radiata [pinewood] is not suitable for around here, so we’re just on the lookout for the future to keep the sport going… it’s one of Australia’s oldest professional sports”

Harding said the woodchop has always received a strong local following in the area and is excited to be able to keep the traditional sport alive in the community.

“It’s huge for us and huge for Wangaratta I reckon, at one stage this was the richest woodchop in Australia, we just want to sustain it and keep it going,” he said.

“It was a 40 degree day last year and we had around 120 people here watching, it always gets good support.

“Now being on TV with the STIHL Timbersports Series, it’s good for a crowd because they can come and be two metres away from some of the best.”

This year’s woodchop will have an extra will introduce equal prizemoney for men and women disciplines for the first

time in the event’s history.

Winners will be paid out $350 in each of the 12 men’s and women’s event, and prizemoney to be distributed for placings down to sixth.

Harding, said the exciting development in the event has already drawn further interest in the women’s woodchopping this year.

“We’ve already got interest from women cutters down around Melbourne, Kilmore and Tasmania so hopefully they come along,” he said.

“It’s evolving, I’ve got two daughters who will be cutting, they’re not just getting dragged along, sitting down on a hot day watching, they’re being a part of it and they’re starting to love the sport too, it’s a good family sport.”

 SWINGING FOR THE FENCES: Fabian and Eliza Harding are excited to be bringing back the Wangaratta woodchop at the sports carnival on January 27. PHOTO: Bailey Zimmermann

Lions lock in practice matches WHOROULY’S footballers will take on Tallangatta and District FL sides Wodonga Saints and Rutherglen in practice matches before launching into their 2024 Ovens and King campaign.

The Lions will front up against the Saints at home on Saturday, March 16, before facing the Cats in Rutherglen a week later.

Senior coach Lachy Moore said the practice matches should let the side see how they stack up before the O&K season kicks off on Easter weekend from Friday, March 29.

“We played Rutherglen last year, their head coach was an assistant coach at Whorouly in 2019, Duane

BY NATHAN DE VRIES ndevries@ nemedia.com.au

Moloney,” he said.

“We have a pre-existing relationship with them, so I reached out and they were happy to go again.

“Wodonga Saints, we have a practice match with them every year so we wanted to keep the relationship going with them and have a hit out.

“We travel to Rutherglen which is exciting to start to prepare for the season we have the bye in the first round, so we’ll have the week off that week, then get into it in round two.”

Moore said his first few

months in the senior coaching role have been incredibly enjoyable, citing amazing support from players and the coaching group.

“I’ve really enjoyed it, it’s been a really good couple of months so far,” he said.

“There’ve been challenges of being appointed a bit later which makes recruiting and stuff a little bit harder, but in terms of training and dealing with the boys, it’s been fantastic “A couple of the boys, specifically Andy Newton and Sam Piazza, look really, really solid out there, so I’m looking forward to seeing them crack in and have a good year.

“The input from the lads

over the Christmas break, I have to say it’s some of the best I’ve seen over the last couple of years.

“We’ve had a really good bunch of boys posting their runs and their workouts and stuff like that, which is really promising.

“Sometimes over Christmas break it’s pretty easy to get sucked into watching the cricket and having a few beers on the couch, but I’ve been really happy with how the boys have bought in.”

Training resumes at the Lions’ Den on Monday, January 15, with just over two months of preparation before their first practice match

READY TO WORK: Coach Lachy Moore and the Lions will launch back into training on Monday.

PHOTO: Nathan de Vries

wangarattachronicle.com.au

THE CHRONICLE, Wednesday, January 10, 2024 - Page 19

SPORT

Country Week washed out THE weekend’s wild weather caused havoc for the start of Junior Country Week, with rainfall and poor ground conditions forcing all matches to be abandoned across the region.

The Wangaratta and District Cricket Association confirmed the opening round of matches in the North East Country Region 6 Country Week competitions, from under 12 to under 16, would not be played as scheduled on Sunday.

Instead, conditions forced the matches to be rescheduled to the spare weekend on Sunday, January 21 and Monday, January 22.

Junior representative cricket liaison Wayne Cooper said they had to work around weather and ground conditions they were handed.

“It was just the weather,” he said.

“A couple of them got started in Beechworth and Myrtleford, and I think the game at the Barr Reserve got two overs in.

“Some games in Wagga Wagga went

BY NATHAN DE VRIES ndevries@ nemedia.com.au

ahead, but no games in Wangaratta.

“Those games will be replayed in two weeks’ time, there was a spare weekend for that reason.

“There’s not a lot we can do at all (about the weather), so that’s why we have a spare weekend, so no one will miss out.”

If weather conditions continue to harass the area and more games are washed out, the make-up matches will determine finalists.

Meanwhile, junior cricketers in the domestic under 14 and under 16 competitions will pull on their whites for the first time in 2024 this weekend as play resumes.

Under 12 players will have to wait an extra week to return to the pitch, with the Blue and Gold competitions resuming on Saturday, January 20.

WASHED OUT: WDCA Under 15 co-captains Lucan Ham (right) and Reid McNamara were kept from the field due to rain and wet ground conditions.

PHOTO: Jeff Zeuschner

SAINT GARY: Gary Ablett Jr, pictured leading a Saints training session in 2021, will soon return to McNamara Reserve. PHOTO: Justin Jenvey

Gary Ablett Jr will pull on the Saints’ colours for a cameo match early this season ■ From back page

FULL STRETCH: Matt Curran sends the ball back.

SOFT TOUCH: Ryan Patterson plays a crafty forehand.

PHOTOS: Melissa Beattie

ACE: Maree Sullivan prepares to serve.

Five sections dine out on aggregate tennis

By WILLSON MACK AGGREGATE tennis returned from the festive break on Saturday.

Section one saw Mark Brown run away a clear winner with a score of 23-14, ahead of Kevin Callahan’s 20-16.

It was Ryan Patterson who was in top form in section two, saluting with a score of 24-10.

In section three Alan Busk (2317) and Russell Canning (22-20) could barely be split.

Section five’s Pat Flynn grabbed top honours on 23-15, edging out Russel O’Brien (2115).

The final section of the day, section five, saw Cate Geard grab top honour on 21-13 ahead of Mark Gorman (19-13).

Full results:

Section: 1 Mark Brown 23-14, Kevin Callahan 20-16, Carmine Adamo 1719, Brian Scobie 15-19, Matt Curran 13-20.

Section: 2 Ryan Patterson 24-10, Maree Sullivan 21-15, Phil Dryden 15-22, Frank Harris 13-19, Noel Thomas 13-20.

Section: 3 Alan Busk 23-17, Russell Can-

ning 22-20, Michael Falkenberg 21-19, Andrew Cope 19-20, Brett McClen 15-24.

Section: 4 Pat Flynn 23-15, Russel O’Brien 21-15, Des Steele 18-20, Beth Cope 17-20, Peter Curran 13-22.

Section: 5 Cate Geard 21-13, Mark Gorman 19-13, Terry Flynn 18-15, Sue Piper 17-18, Jennifer Lee 9-24.

“By process of elimination, at this stage – it’s not locked in – it’s likely going to be round six against Corowa-Rutherglen, but that could change.

“We didn’t want it to be Easter Saturday, that’s already a big day itself, one of our biggest of the year, so we wanted to capitalise on another big day in the year as well.

“In round three we’ve got our mental health round, we have that every year against Yarrawonga, so we didn’t want to interrupt that.”

The town is sure to be buzzing in anticipation of Ablett’s appearance, with bumper crowds sure to be surrounding the ground on game day.

“When we’ve spoken to Gary Jr, he’s really looking forward to it,” Chapman said.

“It’s not just a good thing for the Myrtleford Football Netball Club, we think it’s great for the local community to have someone big like that playing for Myrtleford.

“It doesn’t happen that often – there are a lot of one-off games in this day and age, but I think Gary Ablett’s a bit extra.

“We’ve got a few other ideas of things we can do around that weekend as well, which will be good for the community as well.

“We think it’s going to not only be good for us, but good exposure for the town, it’s going to be great for everyone involved.”

Page 20 - THE CHRONICLE, Wednesday, January 10, 2024

wangarattachronicle.com.au

WINDING UP PHIL Dryden lines up for a forehand at the Wangaratta Lawn Tennis Croquet and Pickleball Club’s aggregate competition on Saturday.

■ Results: Page 19 PHOTO: Melissa Beattie

Ablett is coming Garyy Ablett Jr will p pull on the Saints’ colours for a cameo match earlyy this season

GARY Ablett Jr will play a one-off game with the Myrtleford Saints this season.

The club confirmed Ablett’s involvement in a single match appearance during the first half of the 2024 Ovens and Murray season, with final dates still to be confirmed.

Ablett’s resume is beyond

BY NATHAN DE VRIES ndevries@ nemedia.com.au

reproach – 445 goals from 357 career AFL games, duel premiership player and Brownlow Medal winner, five time AFLPA MVP, and eight-time All Australian, to name a few.

Club co-president Luke Chapman said former president Ian Wales was the driving force behind Ablett’s involvement. “’Bimbo’ Wales has been the brain behind this, he’s got a close connection with the Ablett family having played with Gary Sr and becoming really good friends through that year

and beyond,” Chapman said.

“I believe Gary Jr contacted ‘Bimbo’ in November, saying he’d like to play a one-off game and it’s gone from there, and moved pretty quickly.

“By mid-December it was agreed upon by all parties that this is what’s going to happen, so it’s all going ahead.

“We’ve just got to select a date, and hopefully in the next month we’ll have that.”

The Ablett name is closely linked with football at McNamara Reserve, with both Gary Sr and Len Ablett having played for the Saints.

Chapman said it was a challenge to find a date which worked for the one-

off appearance, but had pencilled in round six on May 11 against CorowaRutherglen as the most likely date.

“We want it to be in the first half of the year, when there’s nicer weather, but we don’t have a lot of games in the first half of the year,” he said.

■ Continued page 19

Thursday . Friday . Saturday . Sunday . Monday Lunch & Dinner

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GREAT ALPINE RD WANGARATTA 34KM

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LIVEMUSICBOBTURK FRIDAY12THJAN6PM-9PM BEERGARDEN

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