Chronicle Wednesday 100424

Beyond Housing backs budget submission bid for regional homelessness support

HOMELESSNESS should be a priority for the State Government as it prepares its 2024-’25 budget over coming weeks, according to a local community housing organisation.

Celia Adams, chief executive officer of Beyond Housing which works within the Goulburn and Ovens Murray

regions, said a budget submission from the Council to Homeless Persons (CHP) presented a roadmap to address the immediate social housing crisis - and to invest in a strategy to end homelessness in Victoria.

“The time for incremental changes has passed...what we need now is bold action,”

she said, backing a call for $20 billion over four years to grow public and community housing stock by 24,000.

“The comprehensive investments proposed by CHP are critical to ensuring we address the immediate housing needs of tens of thousands of people and lay the foundations for a long-term solution to end homelessness.

“The people of the Goulburn and Ovens Murray regions, especially those experiencing homelessness, deserve no less.”

As of December, statistics provided by Beyond Housing showed there were more than 5000 people in the

region on the wait list for social housing; 956 of those were in Wangaratta.

A Uniting community housing build currently under way in Templeton Street is set to offer some relief through its provision of 44 units, which are on track to be completed by the end of the year.

However, Serg Djurovic, proprietor of D5 Build which is involved in the Templeton Street construction, told the Wangaratta Chronicle last week that up to 1500 units would be required to meet the high need for social housing in the region.

■ Continued page 3

Fire Danger Period ends April 15

Authorities still urge vigilance as grassfire risk remains ggg

THE Fire Danger Period (FDP) for the Rural City of Wangaratta will finish at 1am on Monday, April 15, and for the remainder of the North East region in the municipalities in CFA’s District 12, 13, 23 and 24.

While restrictions are lifting in these areas, the CFA still expects the grassfire risk to remain across the state, so residents are being advised to be alert and prepared.

CFA deputy chief officer North East, Ross Sullivan, said the mild conditions

across the region with an increase in rain has allowed for fire restrictions to ease.

“With the wet weather looming, the end of the Fire Danger Period will be an opportunity for some landowners to burnoff again before we hit winter, and for those in the agricultural sector to prepare their crops,” Mr Sullivan said.

“We’re seeing reduced fuel loads and those green shoots coming through, however residents should continue checking local

conditions are safe before undertaking these activities.

“We may still see some days of elevated fire risk, so please monitor hot, dry and windy days.”

Landowners must still register their burn-offs, check weather conditions and follow local council laws, as well as EPA laws and applicable regulations.

“Registering your burnoff ensures that if smoke or fire is reported, the incident is cross-checked with our register, which

prevents firefighters from unnecessarily responding,” Mr Sullivan said.

“When conducting burn-offs, remain alert and always have resources on hand to extinguish the fire.”

Landowners can register their burn-off online at www.firepermits.vic.gov.au or call 1800 668 511.

If possible, landowners should also notify their neighbours and others nearby who may be sensitive to smoke so they can take necessary precautions.

Keep your burn off safe and legal:

• Check fire restrictions in your area and always register your burn at www.firepermits.vic.gov.au.

• Check and monitor weather conditions – particularly wind.

• Notify your neighbours beforehand.

• Leave a three-metre fire break, free from flammable materials at burn.

• Have sufficient equipment and water to stop the fire spreading.

• Never leave a burn-off unattended – stay for its entire duration.

• If your burn-off gets out of control, call ‘000’ immediately.

Doggies and diners were well catered for at event

By JORDAN DUURSMA

WANGARATTA Kennel and Obedience Dog Club Inc hosted the grand opening of its new kitchen while hosting its annual championship show last weekend.

Club president, Kevin Felmingham, said there were more than 1000 entries to the event over the course of the weekend, and it was a fitting time to open the new facility at the clubrooms at the Wangaratta Showgrounds.

“We are absolutely pleased with the result from the weekend, some of our members did very well and opening the new kitchen was great,” Mr Felmingham said.

“We had people from all over Australia...from Queensland, Tasmania and New South Whales, travel over for the weekend.”

Mr Felmingham said the club received positive feedback about the dog show which showcased the club’s commitment.

“It was a great weekend, great results for the club and we are hoping we made some good profit from our new canteen,” he said.

The kitchen opening marks

a major milestone in the growth of the club, enabling it to run events from its location and act as an emergency evacuation centre if needed.

The new kitchen will also be available to hire for future events.

“We appreciate all the efforts and help from our trades people, our members who contributed some 431 voluntary hours to this project, “ Mr Felmingham said.

“The rural city council has also been a major support to the growth of our club.”

The club’s next event, the Obedience and Rally Trial, is set to go ahead on May 11 and

12, with 270 entries already submitted and still a month to register.

The club holds obedience training on Monday and Wednesday nights and agility training on Thursday.

“The community is welcome to come down at anytime to our training nights and see what we do,” Mr Flemingham said.

For more information about events or training nights visit Wangaratta Kennel and Obedience Dog Club’s website or Facebook at https://www. wkodc.com/ or https://www. facebook.com/WKODC.

■ More coverage page 9

Funding to upgrade two bridges in Indi electorate

INDEPENDENT federal MP for Indi Helen Haines has welcomed the announcement that two bridges will be upgraded in Indi after the Federal Government committed $483,314 to the Boorhaman East road bridge and $520,000 to Redcamps Bridge in Myrrhee.

“The confirmation of funding for these two new bridges is wonderful news for these communities,” Dr Haines said.

“The bridge upgrades will strengthen existing infrastructure, improve safety and build flood resilience.

“Too many of our regional roads and bridges have been damaged by floods in recent years.

“Our communities and local councils need federal funding support such as this to build back better.”

Announced by the Minister for Regional Development, Local Government and Territories Kristy McBain, the new bridges are two of 19 high-priority projects sharing in $45 million under the Bridges Renewal Program funding, an $85 million per year federal program.

The funding follows the announcement of $1.24 million from the same program in November 2023 to build a new bridge on Indigo Creek Road.

“We know that our regional road networks are ageing at the same time as communities outside of our big cities are growing – which is why we’re partnering with local councils to get their high-priority road safety projects off the ground,” Ms McBain said.

Nationals Senator for Victoria Sarah Henderson said the improvements would ensure safety for road users in these two areas, making it easier for heavy vehicles to move agricultural produce from farm to market.

“This program has seen hundreds of projects across the country funded since 2013, allowing state, territory and local governments to upgrade bridges to accommodate high productivity heavy vehicles, improve road safety and efficiency of the national freight network,” Senator Henderson said.

She said it was concerning Labor has actually underspent in the Bridges Renewal Program to the tune of $28 million and the Heavy Vehicle Safety and Productivity Program by $51 million in the 2023-24 financial year.

“There are additional road and bridges across Indi which could have benefited from this program had Labor spent the full budget allocation,”

Senator Henderson said.

MANY HANDS MAKE LIGHT WORK: Staff hard at work in the new kitchen last weekend.

NEW KITCHEN FOR DOG CLUB: Officiating at the kitchen opening on the weekend were (front, from left) Councillor Harry Bussell and club vice president Marion Gray; (back, from left) deputy mayor Harvey Benton, club president Kevin Felmingham, Mayor Dean Rees and Ron Webb OAM.

Wangaratta driver shows “deep remorse” over fatal collision

A WANGARATTA woman is seeking to avoid imprisonment for a fatal collision with a cyclist on Rutherglen-Springhurst Road in January last year.

The 23-year-old faced Wodonga County Court on Tuesday accompanied by family and friends as defence lawyer Jo Swiney made her submissions in the defence of a “kind, compassionate and caring” young woman.

Ms Swiney told the court the defendant had been overwhelmed

Doing it for the girls at Moyhu on Saturday

By BAILEY ZIMMERMANN

THE Moyhu Recreation Reserve is set to be covered in pink on Saturday as the football netball club invites the community to its Ladies Day.

While senior footballers and netballers will be locking horns with Bonnie Doon on the field, the clubrooms will be open to women of all ages for an informative talk by breast care nurse Laura Nish from Alpine Health.

She will be the feature guest speaker during the afternoon which will also include live music performed by Galen Catholic College student Maya Humphreys, spot raffle prizes and plenty of themed food and drinks.

Ms Nish is one of three breast care nurses across the local service area and said she was hoping she could help spread awareness about breast cancer and the support available.

“We’re a local support for people who get diagnosed with breast cancer; every woman is within 75km of a breast care nurse, so it is nice having it in these smaller centres so people

with remorse, regret and sorrow in the aftermath of her offending, with a psychologist report diagnosing the woman with post-traumatic stress disorder.

The Wangaratta-based nurse previously submitted a guilty plea to the charge of dangerous driving causing death.

Rutherglen man Anthony ‘Tony’ Reeckman was pronounced dead at the scene of the January 27 collision, after the defendant rear-ended the victim’s bike.

The court heard the defendant’s vehicle had stopped and completed a u-turn, before the woman attempted to perform CPR on the victim while speaking to a triple zero operator.

Analysis of the woman’s phone found she had allegedly sent and received messages on Snapchat while driving and had Instagram open on her phone at the time of the collision.

Ms Swiney said while the matter was finely balanced, she was seek-

ing a non-custodial sentencing due to the genuine remorse shown by the defendant and the mental impairment it had caused, citing her immediate actions of assisting the victim after the incident.

“This is a young person with a great deal to offer to her community,” she said.

“She has shown an enormous amount of remorse for the victim.”

Crown prosecutor Ben Kerlin said a term of imprisonment was warranted for the offending due to

have that support in their local community and not necessarily just in a big centre,” she said.

“I’ll be talking a bit about breast cancer awareness, how people can look out for it themselves, steps to take if people have concerns and about our role for people who are diagnosed with breast cancer, so what support we provide.

“It’s important people know that breast care nurses are out

there if they do have a diagnosis, that we’re that extra support next to them and their medical team to help them through the medical speak they don’t understand or someone just to vent to.”

Part of the ticket purchase of $40 will go towards the McGrath Breast Cancer Foundation to help fund more breast cancer nurses in communities across Australia.

Ticket purchases will also include a glass of sparkling on

arrival, a raffle ticket and finger food.

The action will begin midway through both senior football and netball matches at 3:30pm and will go on into the evening.

A bus will be leaving from the Pinsent Hotel at 2pm to Moyhu and will be returning at 7pm.

Tickets can be purchased via the link: https://checkout.square. site/buy/BSUYGLZK3M52N7IFOXKFKOBW.

the use of the mobile phone and minimum conditions to avoid imprisonment were not met.

Judge Peter Rozen said the extent of the accused’s use of her mobile phone, acknowledgement of her offending and whether genuine remorse had been shown were key considerations in his sentencing.

The plea hearing will return to Wodonga County Court today, with potential for a sentence indication to be made.

Beyond Housing backs budget bid for regional homeless funds

■ From page 1

As the Wangaratta Chronicle reported on Monday, the State Government has committed to partial financial support for a $50 million 250-home affordable housing development at the former Ovens College site on Greta Road.

This planned redevelopment of the former school site will provide a mix of affordable private, social and disability housing, and will also include an early learning centre and community centre.

State Government support for the project is part of a pledge to deliver hundreds of affordable new homes in the North East under a plan for 800,000 new homes to be built over the next decade.

The State Government will provide financial support and remove a land title restriction to enable the redevelopment of the council-owned site to occur.

Federal Government funding is also being sought for the project, with Helen Haines (MHR, Indi) advocating for support in her 2024-’25 budget submission.

Amid these developments under way and being planned, Ms Adams said Beyond Housing strongly supported the CHP proposal’s focus on addressing regional needs.

“Guaranteeing that 25 per cent of new housing is allocated to regional Victorians recognises and attempts to tackle the district challenges faced outside metropolitan Melbourne,” she said.

“It is a positive step towards reducing the disparity in housing availability and support services.”

COMBINED FORCES: Moyhu Football Netball Club’s Tayla Scobie (left) will be welcoming Alpine Health breast cancer nurse Laura Nish to the club this weekend as a guest speaker for a much anticipated Ladies Day at Moyhu.

PHOTO: Bailey Zimmermann

Court told of alleged drunken family violence incidents

AN alleged family violence offender will face a sentence indication on Wednesday after a “serious set of circumstances” injured an ex-partner on multiple occasions.

Appearing online from custody at the Wangaratta Magistrates Court on Monday, the court heard instances of two alleged drunken outbursts enacted by the accused.

Police prosecutor Senior Constable Luke Land told the court a Melbourne

woman had suffered injuries of a lacerated back, face, six fractured ribs, a fractured hand and multiple bruises and bite marks in the aftermath of both alleged drunken incidents at the accused’s Glenrowan address last year.

Sen Const Land said an alleged drunken outburst with the victim’s two-yearold daughter present in the living room in May, led to the victim allegedly being pushed, shoved and viciously mocked by the accused in a late-night incident.

The accused, allegedly visibly under the influence, allegedly grabbed a knife and threatened to “kill himself” with the weapon, cutting a two-centimetre gash across his own calf.

As the victim attempted to pack her belongings and leave, the accused allegedly snatched her suitcase and dumped her possessions outside the front of the residence.

The victim received assistance from the accused’s mother the following morn-

ing and was taken to Wangaratta Railway Station to return home to Melbourne. Initially refusing to share details of the incident when taken in by police for a welfare check on her “visually disturbing” injuries, the victim lodged an incident report to police days later.

When the accused was brought in by Wangaratta police for questioning, he allegedly said his partner was the instigator in the offence and denied allegations of assault.

A family violence order was placed between the pair in August, but the order was breached when the victim visited the accused’s Glenrowan address in October last year.

After a night out drinking, the pair were allegedly walking home from a Glenrowan pub, when the victim allegedly attempted to rush home after noticing violent, drunken behaviour of the accused.

Police were called by the accused’s mother who allegedly helped the victim flee from the assault.

The man was arrested and a number of allegedly homemade weapons were seized from his home.

Magistrate Pete Mithen adjourned the matter for a sentence indication hearing on Wednesday due to the “serious set of circumstances”.

The victim was allegedly kicked, punched, strangled, bitten and stomped on in the accused’s bungalow next to his main place of residence.

Walking the road to health

Wednesday, April 9, 2014

By SHANE DOUTHIE

Mr Picioane, who played 77 games of AFL after stints with Adelaide, Hawthorn and North Melbourne in an eight year career, overcame his own battle with anxiety, depression and substance abuse to combat the disease.

He founded the Love Me Love You Foundation, a youth focused mental health not-for-profit organisation aimed at improving and empowering young Australians by getting them “Back to School, Back to Sport, Back to Life!”.

“Mental health issues are a massive issue for young people, even in country Victoria,” Mr Picioane said.

“The statistics used to say that

mental health issues affected one in four, but now they believe it could be as high as one in three.”

Former Benalla All Blacks player Michael Donehue is also on the trek after first meeting Mr Picioane at a grand final function two years ago.

“We stayed in contact and when Lance told me about this walk I was keen to join him,” Mr Donehue said.

“These issues are all too common in country Victorian kids as well, it’s a massive issue.”

Mr Picioane said his experience was typical of what other people are going through.

“It started in my mid-teens

and I never dealt with it,” he said.

“Even in my footballing days life, on the surface, was pretty good but there was always a little man on my shoulder who didn’t let me enjoy it.

“It’s like swimming with goggles on, you know what you are doing but you can’t see the clear picture.

“If these feelings aren’t dealt with and people can’t deal with it on their own they can feel like they have no other option but to end it all.

“It’s not a blame game.

“To seek help is the toughest thing you will do but it will be the best thing you can do.”

Mr Picioane said people who thought their friends or family members might be facing some of these difficult challenges should not turn a blind eye, but contact a support agency or visit his website to see what options are available.

“If people don’t look out for others in their network these

walks won’t do anything,” he said.

“This country has to change how it accepts it (mental health issues), and how it’s dealt with.

“It’s not something you can ever cure but you can manage it.”

He said identifying the underlying factors was the first step to addressing the situation.

His trek started in Sydney on May 26 with the aim of walking 900km through Victorian towns and cities raising money and awareness in his quest to help more than 100,000 young Australians affected by mental health issues.

He will reach Melbourne’s Etihad Stadium on Saturday.

Love Me Love You has developed several accredited programs and activities to help those at risk realise their potential and get back to living a happy, rewarding life.

For more information or to support Love Me Love You go to www.lovemeloveyou.org.au.

Part of Hume Freeway set to close over the coming weekends

PART of the Hume Freeway will be closed for works on dates between mid-April to early May.

The Department of Transport and Planning’s flood recovery works will force the closure of the southbound lanes of the Hume Freeway from the Wallan off-ramp through to Donnybrook Road in Kalkallo.

Crews will work continuously from 9pm Friday, April 19 to 5am Monday, April 22, and 9pm Friday, May 3 to 5am Monday, May 6, weather permitting.

There will be no works on the ANZAC Day weekend.

Detours will be in place throughout the duration of the works for southbound traffic on the Northern Highway and the Hume Freeway.

There will be impacts for the residents of Wallan and Beveridge, as well as Kalkallo residents and businesses located near to the Hume Freeway.

Authorities are advising motorists to plan ahead and allow for at least 25 minutes of additional travel time as you move through the area via the signed detours.

To help plan your journey, visit the VicRoads website and search “Hume Freeway, Beveridge/ Kalkallo, maintenance works”.

This work is part of the Victorian Government’s recovery package in response to the October 2022 floods.

The works involve resurfacing the southbound lanes of the Hume Freeway in Beveridge and Kalkallo between Gunns Gully Road and the Donnybrook Road off-ramp.

This will maintain the road’s condition and are necessary to prevent further degradation, according to DTP.

DETOUR MAP: This map shows the main detour for vehicles travelling south on the Northern Highway and Hume Freeway, along with the secondary detour from the Hume Freeway.

WALKING WITH MEANING: Lance Picioane (right) and Michael Donehue take a well-earned rest in Wangaratta after their walk from Rutherglen on Monday.

FORMER AFL player Lance Picioane stopped off in Wangaratta on Monday on his March With Me walk from Sydney to Melbourne to raise awareness about mental health issues.

Community groups share in fund’s gift of $24,500

A DOZEN community organisations in the Wangaratta district have benefitted from more than $24,500 of grants from the 2023-24 Garry Nash & Co. Community Fund.

Fund spokesperson Marion Nash said it was pleasing to be able to continue to support the community.

“Garry Nash & Co. Community Fund, a proud subfund of Into Our Hands Community Foundation, is committed to building and strengthening our community and these recipients should be congratulated on the quality of their grant applications and their innovation,” she said.

“We strongly believe these projects will make a significant difference to the community and we are pleased to be able to show them our support.

“We thank everyone, including our own staff, who have donated to the fund for their ongoing support.”

With more than 40 years of servicing Wangaratta and district communities, Garry Nash & Co. Real Estate wanted to build on the history of giving and established the Garry Nash & Co Community Fund.

Through generous donations and client support the Garry Nash & Co Community Fund has laid the foundation for an enduring fund whilst supporting current charitable causes including housing and homelessness, natural disaster relief, health and wellbeing and education.

Since the fund began in 2021-22, it has provided grant funding of more than $105,000 and helped support 50 organisations.

Recipients of the 2024 Garry Nash & Co. Community Fund are:

• NESAY’s Lighten the Load project to provide specialist homelessness service clients access to hygiene services, particularly laundry facilities.

• Bobinawarrah Soldiers Memorial Hall upgrade of its electrical system and storage room in readiness for the hall’s centenary next year.

• Centre Against Violence to support resources available during counselling sessions for survivors of sexual assault.

• Gapsted Cricket Club to acquire a defibrillator.

• Howmans Gap Discovery Camp YMCA to help keep its 34-seater ‘Little Red Bus’ available to support community events and activities.

• Milawa Hall and Park Committee to host its annual ‘Carols in the Park’ event each Christmas season.

• Northeast Health Wangaratta to hold its annual ‘Careers in Health Forum’ for secondary school students.

• North East Multicultural Association for a new website.

• Open Door Neighbourhood House to co-organise the 2024 Caring and Ageing Well Festival with the Rural City of Wangaratta.

• Wangaratta Hockey Club to supporting skills clinics and training sessions for youth.

• Wangaratta Prostate Cancer Support Group to raise awareness of local peers support and services.

• Wangaratta Agricultural Society to develop a resting picnic area.

Reckless crash driver hit with two year ban

A 19-year-old man has been banned from driving for two years due to multiple instances of reckless driving, including rolling his vehicle near Wangaratta last year.

Wangaratta Magistrates Court heard on Monday that on January 25, 2023, the defendant was witnessed driving erratically along Federation Way heading towards Wangaratta, where he drove his car off the road where it rolled, leaving him with serious injuries.

After being airlifted from Benalla to a Melbourne hospital, a blood test found he had a blood alcohol reading of 0.191 and also had cannabis in his system.

The defendant was interviewed by police on March 21 at the Wangaratta Police Station and admitted to drinking before driving but couldn’t recall

if he had cannabis.

The defendant was also found driving 110kp/h in a 50kp/h zone in the heart of Rutherglen where he fled from police, didn’t properly display his red P plates and refused to cooperate with police when asked to get out of the vehicle on April 1 of last year.

On May 31 of the same year, the defendant also stole his father’s ute and phone and purchased a skateboard and cannisters of nitric oxide cannister with his father’s money, which are no longer in his possession, before being found by police on Murphy Street in Wangaratta. The defendant admitted to stealing the car and making purchases with his Dad’s phone.

Defence Lawyer, Nancy Battiato, said her client has had mental health issues for

most of his life, has experienced periods of homelessness and is currently working towards rehabilitating himself with the help of medical professionals.

Magistrate Peter Mithen gave the defendant the minimum licence disqualification for drinking and driving due to his honesty and good prospects for rehabilitation.

“This was out of control behaviour but to your credit you were very honest with police,” he said.

“You are not experienced on the road after three months of driving and you weren’t in your right mind.

“You need to do a 180 degree attitude change and there are some bridges that need to be built.”

Mr Mithen also ordered the defendant to pay $1000 to the court fund within two years.

Wood collection disagreement leads to fiery dispute: court

A NEIGHBOURLY dispute in Greta West led to an elderly man almost driven over in his own driveway, Wangaratta Magistrates Court heard on Monday.

Police prosecutor Senior Constable Luke Lard told the court on July 26 last year two men entered a verbal dispute after terms of firewood collection at the defendant’s neighbouring property had been changed.

After the defendant drove into his neighbour’s property, a fight broke out between the pair and the 71-year-old man entered to retrieve a chainsaw and a jerry can before heading off

With his neighbour hanging by the front gate, the accused drove at a high speed towards the gate, causing it to open and fling his neighbour five metres down his driveway before fleeing.

The accused’s neighbour was taken to hospital with minor injuries.

Defence counsel Stephen Sartori said the pair had previously had a long-standing relationship as neighbours for five years, and his client was shocked, confused and upset in the aftermath of the incident.

Mr Sartori said while his client left his neighbour’s residence at an unacceptably high speed, a difference in gear stick positioning in his wife’s ute he was driving had the defendant accidentally drive in first gear instead of reverse.

Magistrate Peter Mithen said it was regrettable the dispute panned out the way it did.

“It’s a terrible shame things boiled over for you and the victim, who I’m sure isn’t blameless in this either,” he said.

The man was sentenced to a 12-month good behaviour bond.

LENDING SUPPORT: NESAY CEO Leah Waring (front) was delighted to receive a grant from Garry Nash & Co. Community Fund to help provide laundry facilities to its homelessness clients. She is pictured with Garry Nash and Co staff members (from left) Sara Corker, Isabel West, David Sutton and Kylie Samson, with NESAY member Amanda Crane.

PHOTO: Kurt Hickling

Rural Telstra users left to carry the can

TELSTRA customers in Moyhu have been warned that from today, their mobile service may be interrupted, and coverage may be affected, as the company begins an upgrade of the base station.

While improved 4G capacity and new 5G coverage is welcomed, the community will experience a complete service outage from Monday to Friday next week.

Last Wednesday, the Telstra service dropped out across the entire King Valley without warning, leaving many retail businesses unable to accept EFTPOS payments, including accommodation providers whose guests were departing after the Easter break.

Advice from Telstra to turn to a wi-fi signal for mobile coverage during next week’s outage might sound easy, but it isn’t an option for those who already have limited or no signal.

Telstra says to contact the financial institution (not them) to make alternative arrangements for your EFTPOS terminal, but it seems some of those can’t help, or try to push you back to Telstra.

Better communication between the EFTPOS provider and the telecommunications service might help, so the customer has someone to call who can facilitate alternative arrangements.

Surely any customer unable to use their mobile or internet service for a period of time, through no fault of their own, is entitled to appropriate compensation or an account credit, either from Telstra, or from the Federal Government which is responsible in the long run for telecommunications.

Small businesses in rural areas are suffering as it is - they should not have to wear the loss of turning EFTPOS shoppers away over the next 10 days if Telstra can’t provide an alternative.

The Australian QuizNo.70

1

Which of the following instruments does not have a double-reed?

(a) Oboe

(b) Clarinet

(c) Bassoon

(d) Cor anglais

2 Jigme Khesar Namgyel

Wangchuck became the head of state of which country in 2006, a title still held in 2022?

(a) Nepal

(b) Thailand

(c) Bhutan

(d) Mongolia

3 Who was the host of The Celebrity Apprentice Australia from 2011 to 2015?

(a) Lindsay Fox

(b) Mark Bouris

(c) Andrew Banks

(d) Gerry Harvey

4

The islets of Langerhans, named after physician Paul Langerhans, are found in which organ of the human body?

(a) Kidney

(b) Liver

(c) Brain

(d) Pancreas

5 Australian sportsperson, James Nitties, is best known for his involvement in which sport?

(a) Golf

(b) Cricket

Danger lurks beneath in our waterways

TIMELY warning from our own Olympian Lisa Curry on the spate of drownings this summer in the national media which brings me to the fact that teenagers sometimes forget dangers lurk in rivers like the Ovens also.

It might be tempting to jump off the bridge unaware of snags that lie beneath from fallen trees past winters shed, even a snake I have witnessed, to become a paraplegic, when we have such a first class swimming pool at the Barr Reserve.

Australia is the land of dry hot summers, beaches and water beckon, so it is sad to see these figures climb every year.

Perhaps keep the entrance fees down to a minimum at the aquatic centre so more families can utilise swimming pools.

Valerie Kennedy, Wangaratta

Library funding cuts are a concern for all

I, ALONG with many other community members, am shocked to hear of the Allan Labor Government’s plans to slash funding to community libraries by up to 50 per cent.

In the modern age, libraries are more than a place to borrow books; they are a hub for the whole community, providing access to wi-fi, computers, meeting rooms, and various other programs and resources.

I believe that the Ovens Valley has some of the best public libraries in the state, providing so much benefit to the community.

I also believe that it is important we continue to fund these fine institutions, not only for the good they bring now, but as a message for our future generations.

Buildings may be built with bricks and mortar; societies are built with books and community.

Rest assured I will work hard to fight against these cuts and ensure library funding remains in place.

Tim McCurdy, Nationals MP for Ovens Valley

Kicking the can a down pot-holed road

THE Albanese Government’s decision to launch an inquiry into the financial sustainability of local government is another broken

(c) Rugby union

(d) Basketball

6 In which Canadian province could you visit the famous Butchart Gardens?

(a) Ontario

(b) Quebec

(c) British Columbia

(d) Alberta

7 Neill Blomkamp co-wrote and directed which critically acclaimed science fiction movie?

(a) Soylent Green

(b) Westworld

(c) Gattaca

(d) District 9

8 What is the main colour of the flag of Belarus?

(a) White

(b) Green

(c) Blue

(d) Red

9 The Tour of Sharjah is a men’s stage cycle race that is held in which country?

(a) Malaysia

(b) Indonesia

(c) United Arab Emirates

(d) Yemen

10 Back to Work is a 2011 non-fiction book by which former United States President?

(a) Bill Clinton

(b) George W. Bush

(c) George H. W. Bush

(d) Barack Obama

Should daylight savings finish at the end of summer?

promise and a cynical attempt to stall action to deliver more support for the Rural City of Wangaratta and 536 other councils across Australia.

Before the 2022 federal election the Labor Party promised ‘fair increases’ to local government funding but has actually delivered cuts to regional programs which councils relied on.

The Prime Minister is kicking the can down a pot-holed road to avoid making any new commitments to Australia’s 537 local councils in this year’s budget.

Just a month ago, the Australian Local Government Association publicly warned that time was ‘running out for the Federal Government to deliver on its pre-election promise of fair increases to Financial Assistance Grants to Australia’s 537 local governments’.

Instead of keeping its promise, we have yet another review from a government which has failed to deliver a single project under its regional grants program after almost two years in office.

The House of Representatives Standing Committee on Regional Development, Infrastructure and Transport is to inquire into and report on local government matters, with a particular focus on:

• financial sustainability and funding of local government;

• changing infrastructure and service delivery obligations of local government;

• any structural impediments to security for

local government workers and infrastructure and service delivery;

• trends in the attraction and retention of a skilled workforce in the local government sector, including impacts of labour hire practices;

• role of the Australian Government in addressing issues raised in relation to the above; and other relevant issues.

Submissions are due by May 3 which is an admission there will be no new funding for local government in this year’s budget and we can expect Cabinet Ministers to hide behind talking points that they ‘can’t possibly speculate while the inquiry is underway’.

Darren Chester, Shadow Minister for Local Government

Wangaratta’s Andrew Thackray releases horror-inspired game

BY ANITA McPHERSON amcpherson@ nemedia.com.au

AWANGARATTA game developer is determined not to let his regional location hold him back, having just released his first independently developed video game called, We Are Not Alone.

Andrew Thackray studied games programming at The Academy of Interactive Entertainment in Melbourne and graduated in 2014, but made the move to the North East in 2019.

He didn’t make or release anything until 2021 - starting with a short 15-minute gamebut it was in late 2022 when he thought he’d get serious.

“I decided I was just going to use my savings, see what happens and make a game, so I decided to go full time and give it my best shot,” Andrew said.

“It’s a game idea I’d had for a while, playing with different camera perspectives, and by the end of December in 2022 I had a very basic prototype and figured that’s how it’s going to go.”

We Are Not Alone is described as a new twist on horror that combines first person exploration and third person point and click adventure.

As a member of a “safe” isolation experiment the player

Council approves re-subdivision for Hansonville couple so they can retire in their community

By STEVE KELLY

RURAL City of Wangaratta councillors have approved a re-subdivision of 64 hectares in Hansonville despite council officers recommending against the permit.

The site is at 64 Grahams Lane and proponents Terrence and Judith Tanner sought to re-subdivide two existing lots to effectively excise an existing dwelling on 2ha of land so they can retire on the property.

“The creation of a small dwelling lot allows a location farmer to retire in the family home and be supported by his local community in the short term while providing long term options for rural workers and their families to locate on a small lot in an area close to agricultural employment,” the summary read.

Council acting director of sustainability and culture Simone Nolan reported that key planning issues relate to the protection of productive agricultural land, the fragmentation of the agricultural land, the proliferation of dwellings in the Farming Zone and land use conflicts with rural lifestyle properties.

The predominant agricultural activities consist of grazing, with some viticulture evident in the landscape.

A previous application seeking a re-subdivision was refused by council in May 2023, and since then preapplication meetings were held with the landowner and their planning consultant.

Cr Harvey Benton moved an alternative motion at the March council meeting to grant the notice of decision to approve the re-subdivision and said in this scenario there will be no more development.

I decided I was just going to use my savings, see what happens and make a game, so I decided to go full time and give it my best shot.

- ANDREW THACKRAY

explores an underground facility, solves puzzles and uncovers the mystery of an unknown creature.

Andrew says he believes one of the most important elements of a really gripping video game is having a solid story.

“I focus on the story and then the gameplay, or how the game feels,” he said.

“I love a good story - I’m not so much into multiplayer games - I just like to be able to relax and enjoy it like a good book.”

Andrew said the game went through many adjustments and

he did multiple versions of his demo.

He said he didn’t finalise the ending until the last three months of development, something which is not the common practice, but it’s simply when the idea for the perfect ending came along.

“A month before the release too, I found out what would be the perfect twist for that ending as well,” he said.

“Lots of game designers will probably tell you not to make changes that late, but I like the idea of having an idea for a game and being able to change it because if it feels right.”

Andrew said as a big fan of horror, specifically from the 70s and 80s (including old zombie movies like Day of the Dead and Dawn of the Dead), having a horror element was something he always wanted to include, and parts of the story and plot reference these movies.

Apart from the use of voice actors and players who tested the demo version, he has written and developed the game entirely on his own.

And he said he’s been encouraged by the positive feedback received so far, with some players saying they want to keep pushing themselves, because they want to find out how it ends.

“People say they love the style of gameplay, they’re loving the way the story progresses, and they’re just getting really hooked on it - enjoying it - which is really nice,” he said.

While Andrew can technically work at developing games at any location, he says if he wanted to expand and bring on another programmer or artist, it would be challenging finding the funding and also suitably qualified people.

He said while most game developers head to the city to pursue their careers, he’s determined to stay in Wangaratta and extend on what he has created so far, currently seeking funding from Screen Australia and Film Victoria to take the next step.

“I like the idea of keeping every game I make in the same universe in a way that will always reference each other, and I’ve got an idea that I’ve started to work on already,” he said.

“I’d love to be able to have a game development business in a rural town so people don’t need to go back to the big cities, so they can stay with their families and just do what they want to do.”

Find out more about We Are Not Alone by Stasis Booth Games by visiting https://store. steampowered.com/app/2249440/ We_Are_Not_Alone/.

“When we did the rural planning strategy the idea was to maintain one home per 40ha which I think this does and we’ll put a (section) 173 agreement over the remaining land so the dwelling density will not be any greater,” he said.

“As farmers get older they still want to remain in the community and it’s a little bit sad when you get to that stage in life and you have one alternative and that’s to move out of the community you’ve worked in and still want to remain in.”

Six of the seven councillors voted in favour of an alternative motion to issue a notice of decision, however, Cr Jack Herry was against the move as he questioned the use of a section 173 agreement and potential future conflict between landowners.

“I’m going to speak against the motion on the table largely because I am of the understanding that section 173 agreements, there are case law examples where they have been recognised as not a legitimate way of precluding rights that would otherwise be afforded in a planning system,” Cr Herry said.

“So normally this re-subdivision would result in a very small lot with a dwelling and then a larger substantial balance of land and that balance is of a size such that it would have an as-ofright dwelling on that.”

Cr Herry also had reservations about future land sales and agricultural activities being conducted around the dwelling owned by a separate party, which he described as a “recipe for friction”.

“It creates friction in our communities and it makes it difficult for operators to conduct agricultural activities in those situations and settings,” he said.

IMAGINATION RUNS WILD: Wangaratta game developer Andrew Thackray is keen to keep on developing his creation. PHOTO: Kurt Hickling

NOWOUT The ultimate guide for tourists and locals

By JORDAN DUURSMA

WANGARATTA Kennel and Obedience Dog Club Inc’s championship show last weekend was a success with a huge crowd turning up to watch pooches of all sizes and breeds compete. For more information about events or training nights visit Wangaratta Kennel and Obedience Dog Club’s website or Facebook at https://www.wkodc. com/ or https://www.facebook.com/WKODC.

TEAM EFFORT: Jodie Hatzikiriakos with Harry from Paynesville.

SPECIAL BOND FOR TEAMMATES: Kimberly Raven with Pippen (also pictured inset) from Nagambie.

COMPETING IN STYLE: Gillian Robinson with Morris from Melbourne.

SUCCESS AT THE DOG SHOW: James Pachett with Maui from Wallan.

TRAVELLING THE DISTANCE: Vanessa Soper with Darcy all the way from the Blue Mountains.

PRIZE WINNING PUPPY: Jill Hocking with Oliver from Bacchus Marsh placed 1st in the baby puppy sweepstakes section.

SMILES ALL ROUND: Makaela Chato with Norman from Melbourne. PHOTOS: Kurt Hickling

LOCAL DREAM TEAM: Tegan Kelly with Sylvie from Bright placed 3rd in the baby puppy sweepstakes section.

PRECIOUS POOCH: Dogs from far and wide competed at last weekend’s championship show.

More than $24k raised for RCH by team Willow

By LEAH ANDERSON-BYRNE

MYRTLEFORD’S Molly Chambeyron has done it again, raising $24,090 for the Good Friday Appeal with her annual family fun day event at McEvoy Tavern in Eldorado. The local grandmother was still delivering raffle items to winners on Monday after the hugely successful event which saw a crowd of hundreds gathered at the smallest pub in Victoria.

Ms Chambeyron began her involvement with the appeal in 2021 after her then three-year-old granddaughter, Willow, was diagnosed with cancer.

“It was a huge day with an amazing outcome; I think

donations are still coming in,” she said.

“Kellie’s head shave raised more than $1870 and she looks beautiful, I think she should’ve done it years ago.

“The crowd was great, I ran around with the tin and our auctioneer was excellent too.

“The crowd was so big we had to move the ferret racing and a few other things into the paddock next door and we had people show up at 9:30am to buy ferrets for the races and others who stayed all day.

“Our sculptures in the raffle were a highlight, well over $6000 was raised through those alone and there was such a fury for

them, somebody was going home with them.

“The seahorse sculpture has ended up in Myrtleford which is great.

“Dee selling the raffle tickets sold every single book we had and the day before I had a man ring up and donate a dressed lamb which we made our second prize.

“Our motorbike riders came along and set themselves up with their own money tin and signs and they raised $540 for us which was amazing.

“The ferret racing was a hit; Whitey will be returning next year.”

Another highlight for Molly was her stepdaughter making a speech on the day.

“It was such a special moment; during the speech Willow yelled out “I’m cancer free” and there were many teary eyes,” she said.

“It feels great to see all my hard work pay off and it went smoothly despite being so hot and so busy.

“The easter egg hunt was a task to set up; the kids were eyeballing myself and Kellie for most of the day so I had to pick a stranger from the crowd to hide them in secret.

“The handmade table that started it all was yet again bought by David Hogg and he’s burnt Willow’s name into it now; I’m sure it will end up in next year’s event again.”

Local artistic talent on display at Mount Beauty

By BRODIE EVERIST

THE Mount Beauty Community Centre was filled with art appreciators last Thursday night for the Mount Beauty Art Group’s Annual Easter Show, featuring a wide range of local talent on display.

The show exhibited works by members of the Mount Beauty Art Group, with many available for sale.

It included works by artist Bec Winnel, who has exhibited in Los Angeles, New York and London, and realist painter Bronwyn Van de Graaf, who has won a number of awards across Australia for her works.

Mount Beauty Art Group president Janet Grealy said she was pleased with the opening, and committee members had been busy all night fielding artwork sales.

“We’ve got a few new members as well, so that always adds to the group,” she said.

Mount Beauty resident Helen Cubbidge had two of her works on display – one a depiction of clownfish amongst a sea anemone and the other of a crimson rosella – both drawn using Prismacolor pencils.

She said the depiction of the clownfish was drawn during the COVID-19 pandemic and sat under her bed for four years.

“I started with the clownfish and then it grew into something that I am terribly proud of,” she said.

“This is the first time that it’s out on display, framed and on show.”

She said the crimson rosella was drawn as a gift for her supervisors when she worked at the Falls Creek Hotel for a ski season.

“I saw the crimson rosellas in the snow for the first time at the hotel,” she said.

“They just struck me so much, and I was like it’d be a good gift for these people who have been so kind to me.”

Last Thursday was the first time she displayed her works, but she is planning to do a solo exhibition of 20 of her works – though she still needs to create anoth-

er 16 before she is ready.

“I got some work ahead of me, but I’m confident and I’m driven so it’s going to happen,“ she said.

The show ran over the Easter weekend, March 29-April 1.

Alpine Health to run positive ageing expos

ALPINE HEALTH will be running three Positive Ageing Expos this April and May to empower older people to enhance their quality of life and wellbeing.

The free expos will focus on understanding the services available to older people, enabling them to access the right support at the right time.

From health and wellness services to social activities and community resources, attendees will have the opportunity to explore a wide range of options to enhance their well-being, according to Alpine Health.

The expos will feature informative sessions and service booths showcasing a variety of services tailored to older peoples’ needs.

The first expo will be held at the Myrtleford Senior Citizens Centre,1/12 Smith Street, on April 16, from 1011:30am.

The second will be held at the Bright Uniting Church (enter via Burke Street) on May 2, from 10-11:30am.

The third expo will be held on May 16 at the Lakeside Community Centre, 2 Lakeside Avenue, Mount Beauty, from 1011:30am.

Find the Humanitix website and search ‘positive ageing expo’ in your area to register.

TEAM WILLOW: Willow’s eldest brother Bailey Lawton, grandpa Shady Whitbread with event organiser Molly Chambeyron.

HUGE SUPPORT: A crowd of hundreds showed up at the McEvoy Tavern to raise money for the Good Friday Appeal.

Mount Beauty residents (from left) Erin Francis, Laura Coverdale, Mandy van Gastel and Helen Cubbidge.

PROUD ARTIST: A number of Mount Beauty artist Blanche Spargo’s works were on display.

WATERCOLOUR WONDERS: Mount Beauty artist Maria Sutcliffe (right), with Tawonga South resident Sue Retallick, had a number of watercolours on display, including local scenes and depictions of travels in Europe. PHOTOS: Brodie Everist

Enjoy Wangaratta Farmers Market in city CBD Saturday

THE next Wangaratta Farmers Market will be held in the grounds of the Holy Trinity Cathedral on Saturday morning from 8am until 12pm.

Shop for seasonal fruit and vegetables along with meat, fish, eggs, baked goods and other locally made products, from local growers and makers.

Entries open for Thirty X Thirty Exhibition

NOT for profit gallery Art Gallery on Ovens will hold its annual Thirty X Thirty Exhibition at the gallery from June 6 to June 17 this year.

Local and regional artists are encouraged to enter the exhibition, which showcases two dimensional artworks limited to 30cm by 30cm in size.

This year’s judge will be local artist Michael Ashby and there will be a range of prizes on offer, with entry forms available now by visiting artgalleryonovens.com.

The Beach Boys Experience visits Wangaratta

ENJOY some good vibrations when The Beach Boys Experience plays at the Wangaratta Performing Arts and Convention Centre on Saturday, May 11 at 7.30pm.

The Beach Boys Experience brings to the stage the mesmerising vocal wall of harmonies The Beach Boys was famous for, playing all their biggest hits including Surfin USA, Little Deuce Coupe, Barbara Ann, California Girls and many more, in a celebratory concert.

Tickets are available at www. wpacc.com.au.

Historic Winton arrives in May

THE 47th annual Historic Winton, Australia’s longest running, all-historic motor race meeting, will be held at Winton Motor Raceway on May 25 and 26. Over 400 historic racing cars, motorbikes and sidecars from the 1920s to the 1980s are expected to battle it out for line honours, supported by vehicle displays, an automotive trader market, food vendors and more.

Tickets are available at historicwinton.org.

Piano concert at Benalla Art Gallery

BENALLA Art Gallery will present Andrea Lam plays Matthew Hindson: Sad Piano Music as part of its program of concerts by world class musicians, at the gallery on Saturday, April 13 at 3pm.

This special performance spawned out of the long lockdowns of 2021, when one of Australia’s most acclaimed composers, Professor Matthew Hindson, began writing solo piano pieces that seemed to fall under the increasingly popular streaming search term of ‘sad piano music’, then selecting internationally renowned pianist Andrea Lam to bring these new pieces to life at the keyboard.

Limited tickets are available for purchase online or call the gallery on 5760 2619.

DREAM

Keaper brings multi-artistic experience to Tanswell’s

HAILING from the suburbs of Melbourne, Keaper is a ‘dreamo’ audiovisual project born from the shared artistic dreams of vocalist/guitarist Ameya and bassist Julia during their university days.

With the addition of classmates Austin and Sam, Keaper’s distinct sound and live performance has come to life with layers of fuzzy hooks and driving percussion.

Recognisable by their introspective lyrics, melodic instrumentation and dreamy atmosphere, the band draws inspiration from 90s alternative rock, midwest emo, shoegaze and artists such as DIIV, The Smashing Pumpkins, Radiohead and The Sundays.

Doubling as an immersive art project, Keaper combines art forms to provide a unique style of escapism reflective of the band’s interest in cinema, illustration and photography. Instantly becoming a staple of the Melbourne live scene,

Keaper released their debut EP Duality in 2021 - heading out on a national headline tour and playing alongside the likes of Blue Vedder and Eastbound Buzz.

After performing as part of St Kilda Festival’s New Music Competition, the band instantly returned with the 2022 EP Fade, showcasing enormous growth in their distinct sound.

Having wasted no time gathering an impressive catalogue since their 2020 formation, Keaper has now unveiled a conceptual debut album, Waking Dream.

Accompanied by a physical short story that enriches the album’s narrative, Waking Dream encapsulates the band’s desire to create a multi-artistic record that blends music, visuals and written material.

The result is an immersive, cascading body of work led by achingly beautiful vocals and

School holiday art workshops for kids

CREATIVE workshops for kids continue at the Wangaratta Art Gallery during the school holidays.

Healing Paper Plant Wreath sessions will be held tomorrow and Friday from 10am to 12pm, where participants will make their own individual paper leaf wreath incorporating the leaves of healing and medicinal plants, such as calendula and mint.

The workshops are suitable for all ages and bookings are required by visiting wangarattaartgallery.com.au/ Programs.

Creative Arts Exhibition in Wangaratta

COUNTRY Women’s Association Moira Group is holding a creative arts exhibition at the Uniting Church Hall in Rowan Street on April 19 and 20.

The exhibition will feature sewing, art, embroidery, photography, floral art, cooking, knitting, crochet and more.

It will be open on Friday, April 19 from 1pm to 4pm and on Saturday, April 20 from 9.30am to 3pm and entry is $10 for adults (children free) with all welcome.

yourstars

ARIES (March 21 to April 19) New opportunities spring up for the Arians. Kick up those heels and go, go, go for them. Remember, someone special will be rooting for your success.

TAURUS (April 20 to May 20)

Indulge in your love of beauty. Buy something marvelous for your home, then plan a romantic dinner at a special place with your special person.

GEMINI (May 21 to June 20) Your diligent search for the truth pays off. You can now go ahead and make a decision fully armed with the facts. But expect some resistance to your plans.

CANCER (June 21 to July 22) Travel is favored, but be prepared to be flexible in planning your trip. A family situation may cause you to delay your original departure date.

LEO (July 23 to August 22) Be careful to whom you confide in with your secrets. While you certainly have your admirers, you also have detractors who would love to puncture the Lion’s pride.

VIRGO (August 23 to September 22)

A certain family problem still needs your attention. It would be unwise at this time to let things slide. Things start to look more promising on the job.

layers of reverb-drenched, experimental instrumentation.

Vocalist Ameya said the album is told through the eyes of a character that is exploring an unknown world in her slumber.

“My partner Ramsay and I both loved the idea of music being paired with maps and from that concept the worldbuilding expanded into a short story with that character journeying through it,” Ameya explains.

“Each song relates to a different location on the map of this world and step of the journey.

“The story conveys a message of unifying all facets of yourself, exploring your inner world and path through life.”

The band will now continue its impressive run of live shows with a series of headline performances across regional Victoria, playing at Tanswell’s Hotel in Beechworth on Saturday, April 27, and entry is free.

LIBRA (September 23 to October 22) Your mate seems to feel increasingly ignored. Try for a better balance between your home and work commitments. Start with a romantic weekend getaway.

SCORPIO (October 23 to November 21)

Missed opportunities usually come from miscommunication, but it’s not too late to correct the wrong assumptions. A timely call can help reestablish important contacts.

SAGITTARIUS (November 22 to December 21)

Your usually keen sense of direction needs some sharpening this week. Stay focused on your goals despite some pesky distractions. Your efforts will soon pay off.

CAPRICORN (December 22 to January 19)

Don’t automatically reject suggestions from friends and family members. Some of their ideas might be helpful. Check them out before you decide to chuck them out.

AQUARIUS (January 20 to February 18)

Expect to be pleasantly startled when a promise from the past finally comes through for you. Use this as an opportunity to restart a long-delayed project.

PISCES (February 19 to March 20)

An air of conspiracy dominates the workplace. Avoid taking sides. This is one time when you need to concentrate on being your own best friend.

BLEND: Melbourne band Keaper will play at Tanswell’s Hotel in Beechworth on Saturday, April 27, following the release of their conceptual debut album, Waking Dream. PHOTO: Papermoon Projects

KING VALLEY NEWS

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

Outages expected for Moyhu Telstra customers from today

RESIDENTS and businesses in the Moyhu region who rely on the Telstra network are warned to brace for temporary disruptions, with works on the mobile base station to begin today.

It comes a week after the entire King Valley region experienced an “unplanned outage” from Telstra which lasted for several hours, leaving many local businesses unable to use their EFTPOS facilities.

Telstra says the upgrade will bring improved 4G capacity and new 5G coverage, but it means along with intermittent interruptions and a reduction in mobile coverage, a full site shutdown will occur from Monday, April 15 to Friday, April 19, due to major work required on site.

A Telstra spokesperson said all mobile customers impacted, including those with another retailer which uses the Telstra network, will receive advance notification of the works, although they couldn’t estimate how many there were.

He said those impacted will be customers in Moyhu and immediate surrounds, while those in nearby localities like King Valley,

TENNIS CELEBRATION: Players

BY ANITA McPHERSON amcpherson@ nemedia.com.au

Edi, Greta and Carboor, should not experience any issues.

“The works are significantwe’re bringing 5G coverage to the site - and for that, upgrades and new equipment is needed,” he said.

“The work will take five days because we need to install various infrastructure like antennas to accommodate the change, but it will be done as quickly as possible.

“We only turn the site off when we absolutely need to, and we always try to do whatever we can to return coverage to the area.

“Those who are closer to other towers in places like Edi, King Valley and Oxley may get some connectivity, depending on the topography.

“We encourage people to use WiFi Calling, so if they’ve got an NBN modem at home, they’ll be able to make and receive mobile calls while in range of it.”

Telstra emphasises they do not

including (back, from left) William Perkins, Lucy Galloway, Elise Walker, Miranda Perkins, Emily Hodgson, Vada Manning, Niamh Courtney and Ed Baker, with (front) coach Doug Smith, Courtney Manning and coach Gary Comins, were proud to receive their certificates for successful completion of the term one tennis program at Moyhu Tennis Club. Regular coach (and popular with all the youngsters) Gary Comins had organised a mini tournament between junior players after learning backhand, forehand and volleying skills during the term. All Stars Tennis coaching director Doug Smith was also there for the final session. The club will soon announce their AGM and any interested locals who would like to support the club and join the committee are encouraged to attend. Keep an eye on the club’s Facebook page for details. The club continues to focus on much needed improvements for the Moyhu courts, to resolve the issues of cracks and damage.

WANGARATTA Senior Citizens Club will host bingo at its clubrooms in Tara Court, off Ford Street, from 1.30pm today.

Indoor carpet bowls will be held tomorrow (Thursday) from 12 noon, with cards (500) on Friday from 1.30pm, indoor carpet bowls on Monday from 12 noon, and cards (500) and hoy on Tuesday from 1.30pm, all in the group’s clubrooms or in the adjoining St Patrick’s supper room.

Social event next Wednesday, April 17 will be a bus trip to Chiltern.

WANGARATTA Prostate Cancer Support Group meets at the North Eastern Hotel in Spearing Street today from 7pm to 8pm.

Members and prospective members are welcome to come along earlier at 6pm for dinner prior to the meeting. Partners most welcome. For more information, phone Bill on 0408 552 768, Neil on 0427 214 856 or Frank on 0448 313 506.

OXLEY Garden Group will hold its next gathering on Thursday, April

operate the EFTPOS network, and retailers who rely on Telstra for their EFTPOS terminals should contact their bank for more information and details on how to switch between fixed line or Wi-Fi/ NBN internet connections, to ensure continuous service.

But for businesses like the Moyhu General Store, switching to WiFi/NBN connection has not proved reliable, and their EFTPOS provider has so far not been able to offer an alternative solution.

While they are continuing to seek assistance to manage the disruption, store owner Wendy Brand says it will have a significant impact on trade - as it did last week - when they had to turn away customers who didn’t have cash.

She said it comes at a time when many retailers have noticed a significant downturn in trade, and while it was possible to make other payment arrangements for locals, the same thing couldn’t be done for travellers, including the many tourists, tradespeople and delivery drivers.

“You definitely lose business, and if this goes on for nine days it

will be a big problem - and I really think there should be some sort of compensation for those affected,” she said.

The Telstra spokesperson said there was “never a good time” to do this work, but he said for safety reasons it needed to be done during the day, and they did their best to work around public holidays, community events and other considerations.

He said once it was complete, the community would be left with a much better service.

Landline services, NBN internet services and mobile coverage from other providers will not be impacted by the works, and any calls to Triple Zero from a Telstra mobile when the site is off air will automatically be diverted to any working mobile network for connection to emergency services.

Once completed, Moyhu customers will have 5G coverage (provided they have a 5G capable device).

While the works are intended to improve mobile connectivity, it will not provide additional coverage beyond the existing coverage footprint.

11 from 10am at Kath and Howard White’s garden at 244 Oxley-Greta West Road, Oxley. BYO cup, chair and a small plate to share, and bring along bulbs, cuttings, etc, and gardening tips to share. Everyone most welcome.

For further information, phone Kath on 0447 256 048.

WANGARATTA’S branch of the Cake Decorators Association of Victoria will hold its next workshop on Saturday, April 20 from 10am to 3pm in the food tech room at Galen College (Phillipson Street entry).

Suitable for all skill levels, it will focus on making sugar flowers. Cost is $15 members and $20 nonmembers. Children under 15 years must be accompanied by an adult. BYO lunch and mug. Contact Lee on 0419 513 735 for more information/requirements list.

GRETA Cemetery Anzac service will be held on Wednesday, April 249.45am for a 10am start.

SOCIAL CALENDAR

The morning will involve flagraising, placing flags and poppies on local veterans’ graves by students, the opportunity to lay wreaths or flowers, and light refreshments will follow at Greta Cemetery marquee. All welcome, honours and awards may be worn on the day.

RSVP is essential by April 21 for attendance and catering purposes. Contact Noeleen Lloyd on 0427 276 372 or email noeleenlloyd@gmail.com

WANGARATTA Woodworkers

Inc meet at the Wangaratta Showgrounds each Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday from 9am to 12 noon (closing earlier if no-one is present).

The rooms are open on the first and third Wednesday of each month from 7pm to 8.30pm, and Sundays from 10am to 1pm. All welcome.

Moyhu Rural Fire Brigade meeting

MOYHU Rural Fire Brigade will hold its biennial general meeting, including the election of office bearers, tomorrow night.

The meeting will be held at the Moyhu Fire Station at 7.30pm.

Moyhu Recreation Reserve public meeting

THE Moyhu Recreation Reserve will hold a public meeting at the recreation reserve on Monday, April 15, commencing at 7.30pm.

The purpose of the meeting is to nominate no less than three or more than nine persons as the Committee of Management for the reserve, for a term of three years, with the current committee’s term to expire on May 5 this year.

All positions will be declared open, and nominations will be accepted prior to or on the night, with further enquiries to secretary Michelle Wright on 0448 371 069.

Myrrhee School bulb fundraiser

THE Myrrhee School is once again holding its bulb drive, to support the purchase of specialised reading books for Myrrhee students.

There is a selection of beautiful flowers to choose from, with orders to be placed online at bulbfundraiser.com.au/ MYRRHEEPS, and a $6.50 postage fee covers delivery direct to the purchaser.

Products are available until April 11 unless sold out, with more information including help to place an order available by contacting Myrrhee School on 5729 7524.

ANZAC Day service in Cheshunt

A DAWN service will be held on Anzac

For more information, contact

Bevan on 0437 196 118.

WANGARATTA Keenagers Table

Tennis Club plays on Mondays and Thursdays at the table tennis centre at the Wangaratta Showgrounds. Play begins at 7.30am. New players welcome. Morning tea provided –please bring your own cup. For more information, contact Maureen O’Keefe on 0409 215 881.

WANGARATTA Orchid Club meets on the second Wednesday of each month from 6.30pm in St Patrick’s supper room, off Ford Street. Meetings include flower shows and talks, and everyone is welcome. For more information, phone Hans on 0428 119 737.

SATURDAY Quilters holds their meetings on the first Saturday of each month 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.

OXLEY table tennis social competition for 2024 is under way on Mondays from 7pm at the Oxley Hall. Adults and secondary school students of all ages and abilities are most welcome to join in the weekly competition.

Bring your own bat, $2 entry fee, and small plate to share.

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

COME and play mahjong at the Wangaratta RSL on Thursdays from 11am. Beginners welcome. Contact Jan on 0429 166 016.

WANGARATTA Toastmasters conducts its meetings on the second and fourth Wednesday of each month from 6.45pm at The Centre in Chisholm Street. For more information, contact president Joanne Howell on 0417 558 881.

PLASTERER, no job too small. Ph 0424 911 161.

COURSE, Joy.

The Staff of Illoura Residential Aged Care are saddened by the passing of Joy Course who has been part of our community. We would like to pass on our deepest sympathy to her family and friends during this difficult time.

PRITCHARD, Bryan Maxwell. Dearly loved father of Rodney and daughter-in-law Sue. Loved grandfather of Shaun and Daniel. Love and miss you endlessly. Rest in peace.

WALKER, Matthew Paul.

8/3/1978 – 1/4/2024

Loved husband of Katrina. Cherished father of Maggie and Sydney. Stepfather of Bailey and Eli. Step-grandfather of Florence and Edith. Cherished son of Robert and Christine. Much loved brother of Adam, Christopher, and Angela. Brother-in-law of Kerrie and Bart. Adored Uncle of Arabella, Aurora, Logan, Dallas, and Murray. Son-in-law of Glenda and Wayne. Brother-in-law of Bill. Dearly loved by everyone who knew him. Forever in our hearts. For funeral arrangements, please see later paper.

YOUNGER

The funeral service to honour the memory of Amanda Jane Younger will be held in the Mason Park Chapel, 95 Mason Street, Wangaratta on Monday, April 15, 2024 commencing at 10.30am. Private cremation will follow the service. In lieu of flowers, a donation made to Dementia Australia in memory of Amanda would be appreciated. Donations can be made online at https://donate.dementia.org.au/memory

Mason Park Funerals

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JACK Russell pups, 2 female, tan and white, 7 weeks old, vaccinated and microchipped, beautiful pups, $1250 each, source ID: MB247428, microchip numbers:

956000016590495, 956000016670613. Ph 0432 243 392.

WHEELER Earthworks, available for all your earthworks needs - yard clean ups, stump removals, driveways, material supply and spreading, and more. Call Marcus on 0491 094 545. ABBEY!

11/2011 Colorado RCLTR, duel cab, 3lt Isuzu diesel, manual trans, tyres 80-90%, new spare, performance program, pedal boost controller, canopy, tubliner, nudge bar and driving lights, tow bar 2.5 tonne, 183,000km, just serviced, RWC, reg (1IO3TK) till 10/24, new hd clutch and rear brakes, many extras, $19,750 ono. Ph 0413 138 469.

2015 Skoda Octavia

Scout Premium Wagon,

OLD cars wanted, cars removed. Ph 0435 083 115.

ELECTRIC fence unit,

PRITCHARD, Bryan.

Loved brother-in-law and Uncle to Max, Frances and family. HALLORAN, Anne.

The Committee of Management, Management, Staff and Residents of St Catherine’s extend our deepest sympathy to Charles, Monique and family on Anne’s passing.

SNOWDON, Wendy.

13/11/1947 – 5/4/2024

The family of Wendy Snowdon is saddened to announce her passing on April 5, 2024.

Aged 76 years.

Dearly loved mother of Faye, Susan, Jim and Nugget. Always in our hearts.

Mason Park Funerals

5721 5060 masonpark.com.au

SNOWDON

The celebration of the life of Wendy Snowdon will be held in the Mason Park Chapel, 95 Mason Street, Wangaratta, on Friday, April 12, 2024 commencing at 10.30am. Burial will follow at the Wangaratta Lawn Cemetery. Wendy’s service can be viewed via live stream at https://masonpark.com.au/live-streaming/

Mason Park Funerals 5721 5060 masonpark.com.au

Honouring the Journey

Mason Park Funerals

WILL CHRISTIE

WANGARATTA Chronicle photographer Kurt Hickling made his way down to O&M football while Melissa Beattie went to O&M netball on Saturday to capture some action. Photographs can be purchased at the Chronicle.

ISSY NEWTON

AMANDA UMANSKI

CHAYE CRIMMINS

WILL NOLAN

XAVIER ALLISON

HANNAH GRADY

LEAH JENVEY

KELLY KEEN

KY WILLIAMSON

KATIE DEAN

Thewlis grabs a podium finish at Mount Panorama

BY WILLSON MACK wmack@ nemedia.com.au

MTaking on the iconic Mount Panorama circuit, Thewlis and his co-driver Chris Heiniger finished third in D Class in their Fifth Gear Motoring Toyota 86 GTS in a time of 6:02:43.8120.

The Bathurst 6 Hour is a staple on the Australian racing calendar, an old–school production car race which occurs annually over the Easter long weekend.

Thewlis was stoked with the weekend.

“We finished third in our class and 17th outright - it was a good weekend for us,” Thewlis said.

“We always said if we got on the podium that would be a great result so everyone was happy and I feel we maximised what we had.

“The team at Fifth Gear Motoring haven’t had a podium since 2017 either so it was nice to give them a positive result.”

As it quite often is in motorsport, there was plenty of pre-race car dramas with the team forced to drive their back-up car across the weekend.

“In the lead up to the event our car had a rollover in testing so we were put into the spare car which was a red beast,” Thewlis said.

“We worked out quickly that that car probably wasn’t quite up to the spec of the other Toyota 86 GTS entrants in our class.

“That was evident early because we were down in performance and our straight line speed up the mountain probably wasn’t as good as some of the other cars.”

Thewlis and his team got through Friday practice but were nearly forced to withdraw from the whole weekend when their windscreen was smashed by some wild rubber during practice on Saturday.

“We got through Friday practice and then in practice two we had some electrical problems with the ABS module failing so we had to figure that out overnight,” Thewlis said.

“We then got to practice three and that didn’t go to plan either because a bit of rubber hit our windscreen and it looked like the synoptic weather chart with all of the cracks.

“We tried to access a new

WE ALWAYS SAID IF WE GOT ON THE PODIUM THAT WOULD BE A GREAT RESULT SO EVERYONE WAS HAPPY AND I FEEL WE MAXIMISED WHAT WE HAD.

screen but being Easter that was near impossible so we worked hard with the officials and put a clear film over the windscreen to stop it cracking even more and they were happy enough with that.”

Come qualifying Thewlis had barely any time out on track but was pleased to start the race in P8.

“Come the start of the race the plan was just to get up the grid as much as we could and I got us into P2 by the end of the first stint in the seat,” Thewlis said. “I then handed the car over to Chris and he did a double stint which was a massive effort and by end of his stint we were hanging out for a safety car but didn’t think we’d get it so Chris came into the pits to swap.

“I jumped in and then as I was driving out there was a safety car so the car that was in third place got a lap back.

TEAMEFFORTThFifthGMi

“Not long after, the header on the exhaust was busted so we lost some performance there and had to deal with that for three hours, so half of the race.

“All things considered we hung on really well.”

Thewlis said the noise in the car was deafening after experiencing exhaust issues.

“Losing the header was frustrating because it made the car so noisy,” he said.

“It sounded like we were racing a tractor and it was at 11,000 RPMs – my ears were ringing for two days after the race.

“A heap of credit has to go to Chris, the double stint he did was huge – he’s never driven a car for that long in a race let alone on a daunting track like Bathurst,” he said.

“It was such an impressive stint, personally I was so impressed with how well he held us in a good spot.

in because it’s always so competitive,” Thewlis said.

“The class is tight from the bottom to the top and there are always 13 or 14 cars in the class to go up against.

The D class was revolutionised by the stunning two-door Sports Car co-developed by Toyota and Subaru, which at $40,000 remains a remarkably cheap way to get a Bathurst win.

The Toyota 86 GTS has dominated the class.

“It’s a great class to race

“So the noise was probably the biggest battle, it made communicating to the team difficult and the only time I could hear them was when there was a safety car and I’d clutch the engine to get the revs down.”

“The Toyota 86 has won nearly every year since the class started – it’s a reliable car and it was reliable for us apart from the exhaust problem.

“The beauty of racing an event like this is you’re always going to have problems when you’re racing production cars.”

“I also have to thank the team at Fifth Gear Racing, it was an impressive effort by them to get us in the backup car after rolling our main car two weeks prior to the event.

“They’re not a professional team like some of the others are, they work out of their business shed which makes it all the more impressive.

“Outside of the car issues it was all smooth sailing, they were all over the strategy which allowed me to just focus on my driving which hasn’t happened for a while.”

TEAM EFFORT: The Fifth Gear Motoring team.

PODIUM: Matt Thewlis and Chris Heiniger (far left) celebrate their third place finish on the podium.

THIRD PLACE: Matt Thewlis (right) and Chris Heiniger finished third in their class at the Bathurst 6 Hour.

ATT Thewlis enjoyed a podium finish at the Bathurst 6 Hour over the Easter weekend.

Thewlis thanked his codriver and team for their efforts across the weekend.

Dale on track for best season to date

BY WILLSON MACK wmack@ nemedia.com.au

AS the 2023/24 racing season hits the final four months, Andrew Dale Racing currently sits at 39 winners and is on track to having his best season to date.

With Dale targeting 50 winners by season’s end, four winners in the past two weeks sees the training operation sit at 39, with Hells Son’s victory at Avoca on Saturday the most recent.

Hells Son won the second race of his career in race eight’s 0-58 handicap (1300m) with apprentice hoop Brittany Button steering him to victory.

With a healthy winning percentage of 11 per cent, along with a 36 per cent place rate, Dale said he’s hopeful the stable can get to 50 by August 1.

“We always aim to train 50 winners for the year and we haven’t got there yet, I think our best season has been 46,” Dale said.

“We’re currently at 38 so hopefully we can get there this year and we think there’ll be a few opportunities to get closer over the coming weeks.

“It’s been a quiet couple of weeks but we’ll head to Avoca this Saturday and then there are meetings at Kyneton (April 11), Holbrook for their cup day (April 13) and Albury on the 15th.”

Rovers seeking juniors for female footy season

WANGARATTA Rovers Female

Football Club is on the lookout for more junior players to fill the ranks of their squads for the 2024 AFL NEB Female Football League season.

The club is actively seeking players to join the under 14 squad to play this year, as well as those who could play in an under 12s competition the league will be trialling.

Girls born in 2010 or earlier are eligible to play with the under 14 girls competition, with girls in grades 5-8 suitable for the team.

Those already playing in a local junior league team are able to play in both the junior league and for the Rovers on Sundays.

Under 14 coach Bron McGorlick said all players were welcome regardless of skill.

“We’ve had quite a few girls graduate up an age bracket which is going to happen every year, and we’re just struggling to find those new younger ones coming through,” she said.

“It’s tricky with school holidays, but once school returns we’re hoping to really push the word out there to try and get some girls involved at that

But while to most it would look like 38 winners would produce financial gains, Dale said there’s much more to training in today’s industry.

“Sometimes you have to go far and wide to try and get a winner and the cost that comes with that can be taxing; so you have to weigh up whether it’s worth taking horses to those meetings,” he said.

“Winners don’t always corre-

late to financial performance by the time you factor in things like fuel for the truck, wages, horse feed etc.

“Like all businesses you have to get the balance right and even though we’re on track to have our best season the costs of running a business increases daily.”

11, 12 and 13 age group.

“We’ve got 14 or 15 registered players at the moment, some of those are in a share arrangement playing juniors, so we won’t have them every week, and there are a couple of ones at the bottom end of the age group who will hopefully be part of that new trial under 12s competition.

“Ideally, we’d find another 10 players to have really good numbers in the under 14 team.”

The Rovers under 14 girls team trains on Thursday nights from 5.30-7pm at the Barr 2 Oval in Wangaratta.

Players are also welcome to train on Wednesday nights for ex-

tra training and experience from 5.30-7pm at the WJ Findlay Oval.

On top of the three established grades in the competition, the AFL NEB Female Football League is trialling a new under 12 girls competition.

Rovers is inviting all interested under 12 girls to start training with them as soon as possible so that they can build their skills and get to know each other.

This new competition will bridge the gap from Auskick, and any girls currently participating in Auskick or who have recently finished are welcome at training.

“There’s good participation by girls in Auskick, and there’s

Best of track and field to head to nationals

■ From back page

Callum Bott will be looking to back up his impressive silver medal finish last year in the under 17 400m next Wednesday.

Although Callum’s season began with a gold medal in the 4x400 m relay at the Australian All Schools Championships back in December last year,

Xavier Pitt will be the lone local representative in the field events, lining up for the under 20 javelin on Saturday

While five of the local hopes have all had experience on the national stage, Declan O’Sullivan will be making his debut representing Victoria.

Declan will be leaping the 110m and 400m hurdles on Monday and next Thursday.

The 17-year-old said it would be an exciting week to be a part of and he was ready for the first-time challenge on the big stage.

a bit of a gap,” McGorlick said.

“Some of them will go and play juniors which is great, we always encourage that, but some girls don’t, for various reasons.

“If we can capture those ones at under 12, then it’s going to be very exciting.”

The club will hold a special training session to welcome new players to the under 12 team on Thursday, April 18 from 5.30pm at Barr 2.

For more information about the Wangaratta Rovers Female Football Club’s under 14 and under 12 program, visit the club’s Facebook page or contact Bron McGorlick on 0408 522 001.

“It’s pretty cool, it’s a goal I had in the mind since the start of the season and I’m glad I could get there,” he said.

“I’d like to get a PB in both events, but I’m happy just to be there.

“I’ve been putting a lot of work in the 110m, I ran on the weekend and got a PB so I’m feeling pretty confident with that.”

Declan competed in five different events in March’s state championships as part of three straight weekends of competition, before a break leading into his runs next week.

The championships will be broadcast live and free on Seven’s online platform 7plus for all nine days of action at the South Australia Athletics Stadium.

LOADING UP: Xavier Pitt will be competing in the under 20 javelin at nationals on Saturday.

THE LONG RUN: Caleb Gilbert will be competing at his second nationals when he sets off to run on Thursday at Adelaide.

ON TRACK: Andrew Dale’s Hells Son won at Avoca on Saturday.

PHOTO: Racing Photos

CLEARING THE WAY: Jasmin Fordham shepherds for Zara McCrae.

PHOTO: Kev McGennan

Magpies salute in salute in Crimmins’ 150th

By WILLSON MACK

WANGARATTA A grade

netballers gave Chaye Crimmins a 150th to remember.

Crimmins, a premiership player and former coach, returned to netball this season after the birth of son Clancy and played her 150th game in the Magpies’ tight twogoal win over North Albury at Bunton Park.

Scores were level at 21 a piece at the main change with the ‘Pies grabbing a two goal buffer at the final change to then hold that lead at the final whistle in the 39-41 affair.

Crimmins told the O&M post match that she’s loving life back on the court.

“I started at the Maggies when I was 15, I’m now 28 so it’s been a long time and it’s awesome, I’m very proud to play my netball here,” Crimmins said.

“Some of my best friends play in this team and it makes it enjoyable.

“It’s (netball) a bit of an outlet now that we’ve got Clancy.

“I was pretty much born into this club so I’ve continued to come back.”

Quizzed on how netball has changed since having Clancy, Crimmins said it’s vastly different.

“Game day you don’t really think about the game until

you’re warming up so that side of things is really nice because previously I sort of thought about it too much,” Crimmins said.

“Physically my body’s still getting there but it’s awesome to be back and I didn’t think I’d be back in A grade so it’s been awesome to be in A grade with all of the girls.

“But it’s definitely a drastic change compared to the last few years of playing.”

The Magpies have welcomed new coach Shea Cunningham to the club and Crimmins said she’s enjoying playing under her.

“Bringing in Shea has been amazing,” she said.

“Having that off-court presence instead of a playing coach has been awesome.”

Wangaratta takes on Wodonga in round three.

Meanwhile, Wangaratta Rovers went down to Corowa-Rutherglen by 21 goals at WJ Findlay Oval.

The Hawks were put on the back foot from the start after they fell 11 goals behind at the first change with Corowa-Rutherglen’s firepower too much to handle in the 34-55 affair.

Two-time Toni Wilson medallist Sophie Hanrahan went into attack and netted 47 of the ‘Roos’ 55 goals. Rovers face Wodonga Raiders on Saturday.

NETBALL REVIEW

Lions roar home over Panthers, Bulldogs hold off Roos

By NATHAN DE VRIES

TRAILLING by seven goals may cause many teams to drop their heads, but Whorouly’s A grade squad fought hard to take the points over Benalla All Blacks 43-39.

The Lions were behind for most of the match, but turned it on when they needed to in their first hit-out of the 2024 O&K season.

A six-goal deficit early was pared back to four by quar-

ter time, as early errors were tidied up by the Lions.

Some positional changes at half-time led to a massive fightback through the third, with the height of Ebony Allen and Ebony Hughes in the defensive end lifting the overall defensive pressure and causing crucial turnovers.

Working hard, Whorouly brought it level by three quarter time, setting the stage for a massive final term.

Coach Kelly Cousins said

the win was a true testament to the drive behind the team.

“I am super proud of the girls and their ability to grind out a win,” she said.

“At one stage I think Benalla’s lead may have got out to seven, so to turn that around to a four-goal win is quiet a momentum swing and is a credit to the girls’ determination.

“They all just put their heads down and put in the hard work to chip away at Benalla’s lead.

“We really didn’t do anything impressive to turn the game around, we just looked at going back to our systems and executing the simple things consistently.”

Cousins said the slow start was something the team can work on going forward, and adapting to a fierce opposition.

“I think we fell down in both attack and defence in the first 10 minutes of the game,” she said.

“We weren’t executing our

set plays and just made a few uncharacteristic skill errors.

“Full credit to the Panthers who dominated in all areas from the first whistle and didn’t give our girls a chance right from the get go.

“It was then just about not panicking and getting back to how we know we can play and grinding out the rest of the match.”

In other matches from the weekend, Tarrawingee held off a determined King Valley 48-36 in a fiery contest.

The Bulldogs led at every change, but King Valley did not make it easy for them, forcing turnovers and capitalising under the ring.

However, Tarrawingee were too good, with Kaylee Allan finishing the match with 44 goals at 86.27 per cent shooting accuracy.

Elsewhere, Moyhu took down North Wangaratta 5724, Greta got home comfortably over Goorambat 63-18, and Milawa defeated Bright 40-21.

DEFENCE: Katie Dean tries to block her North Albury opponent’s pass.

YOUNG GUN: Rose Henry leaps at the ball.

MILESTONE: Chaye Crimmins played her 150th game in Wangaratta’s win over North Albury. PHOTOS: Melissa Beattie

FEED: Kelly Jackson sends the ball into the Bulldogs’ attacking end. PHOTO: Kurt Hickling

GO FOR GOAL: King Valley’s Shani Rickard lines up the shot. PHOTO: Kurt Hickling

OPTIONS: Katelin Ansebury looks for options in Whorouly’s four goal win over Benalla All Blacks. PHOTO: Nathan de Vries

Ups and downs for Lady Devils

THE busy week of competition produced both successes and unfortunate results for Wangaratta City FC’s senior women.

The Lady Devils bounced back from a 4-1 loss to Wodonga Diamonds in last Thursday’s FA Cup clash, by producing a stunning 6-0 win over Diamonds in the Sunday league.

Meeting at the LaTrobe grounds on Thursday evening, Wangaratta found themselves on the back foot early, trailing by two goals at the half.

Hannah Swindley pegged one back, but the Diamonds’ pressure was too great, resulting in a pair of second half scores.

With just two days to recover, the Lady Devils came out on Sunday and looked a completely different team.

Defensively strong, and creating more than enough chances up forward, Wangaratta never looked in doubt, with Sarah Morris (two goals), Hannah Swindley (two), Lara Seeger and Eleisha Baker (one each) finding

BY NATHAN DE VRIES ndevries@ nemedia.com.au

the back of the net.

Coach Terry Masters said the contrast between the midweek game and the Sunday match was stark.

“It was a bit of chalk and cheese - Thursday night we weren’t at our best, but on Sunday we were at our best,” he said.

“We were a bit off the pace on Thursday night, they were well-organised, they had a couple of quick forwards that tested us, and even though we had a fair bit of possession and we had opportunities to score, we probably didn’t deserve the win.

“We were missing our passes on Thursday, we weren’t at our best.

“We did enough to be competitive, a few players played in their first game of the year too, so they were a bit rusty you might say.”

After the midweek result, Masters said he knew what to expect from Diamonds.

“We just tweaked a couple of things and it all came off,” he said.

“A few of the players hadn’t had a run, and they were better for it come Sunday, and I knew what to expect from the opposition, what their strengths were.

“The pleasing thing was the backline was as solid as anything, I don’t think they really had any chances to be quite honest.

“We had a good squad, we could rotate people off the bench.

“We put Leanne (Branson) into central defence, and she just dictated everything, organised out on the pitch, Lara Seeger played in midfield and she helped with the structure, same with Hannah (Swindley), so we had three experienced, very good players help with the positioning of the youngsters.

“We were a totally different side.”

The division two women came up short in their Sunday clash with Diamonds, downed 2-4.

 DEFEATED: Tom Humphies and Wangaratta City lost 5-1 to Wodonga Diamonds.

 ON THE RUN: Luke Simian finds space.

 INTERCEPT: Raul Pahina tries to win the ball back.

PHOTOS: Kat De Naps Photography

Devils thrashed

5-1 by Diamonds

By WILLSON MACK

WANGARATTA City suffered a tough loss to Wodonga Diamonds at South Wangaratta Reserve on Sunday.

While the Devils looked a strong chance at grabbing their second win for the season it wasn’t to be as they fell 5-1 in a one-sided affair.

The Diamonds jumped out to a 3-1 lead at half-time with Devils midfielder Raul Pahina the lone scorer for the home side.

And unfortunately for the Devils Pahina would stay their only goal scorer as the away side piled on another two second half goals to run away comprehensive winners. The Devils were dealt a blow when gun English import Mason Taylor was handed a red card during the piece.

Wangaratta have now won just the one game from their first three clashes and face Melrose next weekend who are 1-1 along with a draw to start their 2024 campaign.

Melrose have showed promise though drawing 4-4 with Cobram in round two, while they downed Albury City 2-1. Their only blemish came against Boomers when they fell 2-0.

GOAL: Lara Seeger puts one in the back of the net in the Lady Devils’ 6-0 win over Wodonga Diamonds on Sunday.

PHOTO: Kat De Naps Photography

Six Wangaratta athletes will be vying for nationals success this week gyg Young talent time

SIX Wangaratta athletes are on their way to Adelaide over the next week to compete with the nation’s best at the National Athletics Championships.

A bumper nine days of track and field will see the local hopefuls compete across multiple days in their quest to end their seasons on the biggest of highs.

BY BAILEY ZIMMERMANN bzimmermann@ nemedia.com.au

Bella Pasquali will be the first to hit the track on Thursday afternoon for the under 20 women’s 400m. Bella enters the meet with

the third fastest season best time of all the qualifiers as she looks to break the mark of 55.40sec to be in contention for selection at the World Junior Athletics Championships. The 17-year-old will be looking to go one better than her result in the under 18s last year when she claimed silver, missing out on gold by a photo finish.

Edyn Hill will also take to the track on day one in the under 20 women’s 5000m.

Edyn said her focus this year had transitioned from the steeplechase to the 5km runs and will be entering the

championships in good form, looking to break 18 minutes.

“I’m feeling pretty good, I’ve run some PBs going into it so hopefully I can get another one,” she said.

“I focused less on the hurdles this season to see if I could lower my times in the 5km, but I’ll probably do some

steeple again next season.”

Gilbert will also run the 5000m distance in the under 20s on Thursday with the 18-year-old looking to build on his Albury Athletics Club record-breaking time in the same event at last year’s nationals.

■ Continued page 17

RUNNING FOR GLORY: Wangaratta’s Edyn Hill (left), Bella Pasquali, Declan O’Sullivan and Callum Bott will be racing to Adelaide with Xavier Pitt and Caleb Gilbert to represent their state at the National Athletics Championships.

PHOTO: Kurt Hickling

Caleb