Wangaratta Chronicle 150124

TODAY

30o Late shower

29o 28o 27o TUE

WED

THURS

www.wangarattachronicle.com.au

Monday, January 15, 2024

Phone (03) 5723 0100

$1.80 INC. GST

TOP OF THE CROP

Rural city recycles with state’s best

GRACIE IE EY York o k and or d Louis Pye will feature at Wangaratta’s 2024 Australia Day Ceremony as nominees for the Young Citizen of the Year award, having been acknowledged for their leadership and work within the community. The pair will join the rural city’s Citizen of the Year and Event/Project of the Year nominees at the January 26 event, which is set to commence from 9am.

■ Full story page 3.

PHOTO: Shane Douthie

Page 2

SES seeking new members Page 5

Hawks soar into decider Sport

FESTIVAL REVIVAL Return of Jazz and Blues Festival continues to ggain momentum with November target g set

A REVIVAL of the Wangaratta Festival of Jazz and Blues continues to grow momentum as a target date is set.

Chairing the meetings has been local performer and festival enthusiast Andrew Nunn, who said as it stands, it was aimed to have a festival of some capacity for the Melbourne Cup weekend in November 2024.

A third public interest meeting regarding the festival

in the plans to reinvigorate the nationally recognised event of the past 33 years.

Mr Nunn said the current group is looking to organise sub committees and future board members leading into the current committee’s AGM, which was slated for February 13, 14 or 15.

Current chair of the Wangaratta Festival of Jazz and Blues committee, David Fuller, said he has been working closely with the

BY BAILEY ZIMMERMANN bzimmermann@ nemedia.com.au

was held at the Railyard Café on Tuesday night which recorded another strong showing of 25 people in attendance with plenty of fresh faces.

Across the three meetings, the steering committee have seen around 60 different people in share their curiosity

leading members of the steering committee to ensure a smooth handover if a new board is formed at next month’s meeting.

“It’s important to get people’s interests defined because there’s a large group starting to grow and to help prep and plan some of these committee’s work on some things in the background,” he said.

“For example I highly recommended a fundraising

sub-committee, somebody who’s going to look at getting out there and sourcing some funding, whether that be private sponsorship or philanthropic.”

Mr Fuller said the only thing stopping a new board being formed at the AGM would be the same difficulties faced by any committee across the volunteer spectrum; time, ability to commit and the unknown.

“It’s a daunting process to

put on a festival and albeit last year was at a smaller scale, it’s still daunting for a small group to put together something that appeases all the community,” he said.

While the ‘last hurrah’ 2023 version of the festival was scaled back compared to its former years, strong crowds still attended the event, indicating the appetite for music in the rural city was still there.

■ Continued page 2

Wangaratta featuring the

WANGARATTA

GIFT

under lights

SPORTS CARNIVAL SATURDAY JANUARY 27

WOODCHOPPING from 11am | RUNNING from 2:30pm

WANGARATTA SHOWGROUNDS

FREE ENTRY

Principal Sponsors

WANGARATTA

Page 2 - THE CHRONICLE, Monday, January 15, 2024

wangarattachronicle.com.au

Wangaratta container deposits hit 1.6 million in first two months

By RYAN MALCOLM

FORM A LINE: Aluminium cans have been the most popular recyclable item at Victorian Container Deposit Scheme sites so far.

PHOTO: Kurt Hickling

Est. 1884, Incorporating Wangaratta Despatch, Est. 1861

WEATHER

WANGARATTA’S Container Deposit Scheme (CDS) depot has proved a hit with North East locals, accepting more than 1.6 million recyclable containers since the start of November and ranking seventh among regional depots across the state.

The Newman Street ‘Exchange Depot’ site stormed out of the blocks after opening its doors on November 1, accepting 240,000 containers in its first fortnight of operation, and has continued the momentum into the new year to rank 11th among similar depots Victoria-wide.

According to new Victorian

Government data, the 1.6m containers already traded in at the site beat out nearby Wodonga (1.4 million) as the Victorian North East’s premier donation point, but trailed major regional centres such as Mildura (4.1 million), Shepparton (2.6 million), Ballarat South (2 million) and Bendigo (1.7 million).

Since the program’s inception, nearby Alpine Shire has collected 153,261 containers, Mansfield Shire has recorded 330,754, and Strathbogie Shire has pooled 203,051.

Minister for Environment Steve Dimopoulos said the CDS, which grants Victorians a 10c

refund for each eligible can or container they recycle at a depot, had been a major boost for the state’s recycling efforts.

“It’s remarkable to see so many Victorians get involved in recycling, providing 100 million containers and counting for reuse in new products instead of going to landfill or ending up in the environment and harming our wildlife,” he said.

“The CDS is a great initiative to get people recycling – we’re rewarding Victorians who do the right thing, reducing litter and making sure recyclable products don’t end up in landfill.”

Across the state more than 100 million containers

have been recycled at CDS sites in the two months since the scheme commenced, while more than 15.8 million containers were collected in the week before Christmas.

On average, some 10 million cans, cartons and bottles are recycled across the state each week, with individuals returning an average of 129 containers per transaction.

The majority of containers collected have been aluminium cans (53 per cent), followed by polyethylene terephthalate plastics (26pc) and glass (18pc).

For information on the CDS, as well as guidelines on eligible containers, visit https://cdsvic. org.au.

Midnight works to limit Telstra outage impact

By STEVE KELLY

TEMPERATURES: Monday

Max 30

Min 17

Late shower

Tuesday

Max 29

Min 15

Mostly sunny

Wednesday Max 28

Min 16

Possible shower

Thursday

Max 27

Min 12

Clearing shower

RAINFALL: Wangaratta Lake Buffalo Cheshunt

Last 72 hours

Last 7 days

0.0mm 0.0mm 0.0mm

50.0mm 41.0mm 109.0mm

*NB: Rainfall totals up until 3pm, Sunday

LUCKY NUMBERS Tattslotto - Draw 4433

41, 33, 40, 39, 8, 37 (35, 2) Winning numbers are subject to verification by ticket holders.

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

CONTACTS POSTAL ADDRESS: 37 Rowan Street, Wangaratta GENERAL TELEPHONE INQUIRIES: 5723 0100 CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING INQUIRIES: 5723 0101 DISPLAY ADVERTISING INQUIRIES: 5723 0100 Fax: 03 5721 9447 Email: edit.chronicle@nemedia.com.au Website: wangarattachronicle.com.au

WANGARATTA Telstra customers could expect some service outages from early Tuesday morning due to the relocation of cables connected to the Green Street bridge rebuild works.

Telstra and TPG will complete the connections only in early morning hours to limit the impact of service outage to customers.

The Telstra relocation works are being undertaken prior to the construction of Green Street bridge as these services will be impacted by the new bridge structure.

Works include disconnecting redundant cables and connecting new cables and will occur within the rail corridor.

Telstra will notify their customers directly of any anticipated impacts to services.

A Telstra spokesperson said “we aren’t expecting any significant outages as a result of the works being conducted in Wangaratta”.

“Our Telstra technicians will manage works in a way that will minimise any impact to customer services,” she said.

Works will occur between the following hours: • Monday, January 15, mid-

SERVICE OUTAGES: Works to relocate Telstra cables near the Green Street bridge are expected to cause minimal disruption to services during the week. night to Tuesday, January 16, 6am; • Tuesday, January 16, midnight to Wednesday, January 17, 6am; and • Wednesday, January 24, midnight to Thursday, January 25, 6am.

People can expect: • light vehicles entering and

exiting the construction site; • light towers directed at the ground works; and • noise from vehicles and light tower motors, machinery used light vehicles and light towers.

How they’re managing impacts: • performing night works to limit Telstra service outage; and

• reducing vehicles required onsite.

The Australian Rail Track Corporation (ARTC) thanked the public for their patience and cooperation during this activity.

For any concerns or enquiries phone 1800 929 244, email victoriaprojects@artc.com. au.

Return of Jazz and Blues Festival gains momentum ■

Follow us ADVERTISING CLOSING TIMES Monday Issue: Display Thurs. 10am. Classifieds Fri. 2pm Wednesday Issue: Display Fri. 10am. Classifieds Tues. 2pm Friday Issue: Display Tues. 10am. Classifieds Thurs. 2pm Published by Hartley Higgins for North East Media Pty Ltd, 37 Rowan Street, Wangaratta 3677.

Responsibility for election comment is accepted by Editor Jeff Zeuschner.

Copyright: All advertising and editorial content of this issue is the copyright of North East Media Pty Ltd and cannot be used without the company’s permission.

The Chronicle is bound by the Standards of Practice of the Australian Press Council.

If you believe the standards may have been breached, you may approach the Chronicle itself or contact the council by email at info@presscouncil.org.au or by phone on (02) 9261 1930.

Member

DISCUSSIONS BUILDING: A Wangaratta Jazz and Blues Festival steering committee is looking to build sub-committee and future board members before the current jazz and blues festival committee’s February AGM.

From page 1 Mr Fuller said it was wonderful to see the community rally behind the festival as they have done.

“I think if they start with some small expectations they’ll be able to achieve that from a similar sort of perspective to what we did as a group last year; if they stay on that track they should be able to put together something for the community,” he said.

“I’m pretty grateful the community has responded in this way, it’s nice to see how well loved the festival is and there’s been some great work going on.

“Some of these people are putting in some hard yards to put together some kind of direction which is good to see.”

The next public interest meeting was scheduled for Tuesday, February 6 from 6pm at the Norton Street based Railyard Cafe.

Anyone interested in seeing the continuation of the Wangaratta Festival of Jazz and Blues is encouraged and welcome to attend.

wangarattachronicle.com.au

THE CHRONICLE, Monday, January 15, 2024 - Page 3

Our rising stars shine bright Gracie York and Louis Pye y were honoured with nominations at local Australia Dayy Ceremonyy A PAIR off th the rurall city’s it ’ talented youth were full of surprise and pride when nominated for the Young Citizen of the Year award at this year’s Australia Day Ceremony.

Nominated for their prominent participation in the community, Gracie York and Louis Pye have been hand-picked for the award.

Gracie was an active member of the Wangaratta High School and wider Wangaratta community last year, serving as head prefect of her school and a featured member of the Wangaratta Players.

The 18 year-old said she was extremely honoured to be recognised with the nomination for the award within her community.

“I’m just so glad I’ve been able to help others in the community,” she said.

“I’ve done a lot with Wang High this year; in the prefect role especially I was so glad I was able to help the younger students.

“We were very involved with the orientation days and transition weeks for the younger kids.

“It is exciting, definitely not how I was expecting to spend Australia Day.” Gracie is a musician, actor, seamstress and will be taking her performing talent and passions onto her tertiary studies this year at Federation University in Ballarat.

“I got references from quite a few of the players’ members who were really helpful,” she said.

“It’s what I want to do for the rest of my life so I

BY BAILEY ZIMMERMANN bzimmermann@ nemedia.com.au

didn’t want to wait; I just wanted to go straight into it.”

Louis has been an active member of the Rural City of Wangaratta Youth Council over the past year, showcasing his passion for politics through his opportunity to represent the youth of the community.

“I was certainly surprised to be nominated,” Louis said.

“I wasn’t expecting it.”

The 16-year-old Galen College student was nominated by Senator Bridget McKenzie, who has witnessed his commitment to engaging with the community first-hand.

“I work at Senator McKenzie’s office on a weekly basis, taking calls, talking to constituents,” he said.

“I have an interest in politics and it’s really great young people are empowered to engage in politics.

“It’s testament to Senator McKenzie, and the Youth Council was also part of that.

“I became involved in that because I was interested in meeting other young people and representing them to council.”

He said young people’s voices are often not heard but he had nothing but praise for Wangaratta council for how they engaged with the Youth Council.

Louis said he was looking forward to the Aus-

CENTRE STAGE: Louis Pye and Gracie York were honoured with nomination for Wangaratta’s young citizen of the year this Australia Day. PHOTO: Shane Douthie tralia Day ceremony and meeting the other nominees.

“Win or lose I’ll be excited on the day and supporting all the other young people there,” he said.

“It’s a credit to their character that they are so engaged with the community.”

The Young Citizen of the Year will be awarded along with the rural city’s Citizen

Woman remanded in wake of alleged assaults, thefts A WANGARATTA woman has sought bail and maintained she is not a threat to the community, following a series of alleged assaults of workers and police officers throughout 2023.

Appearing at Wangaratta Magistrates Court remotely from custody last week, the accused pleaded to be released from a two-month custodial stint after being arrested in mid-November, following a spate of alleged thefts from local liquor stores.

The court heard the alleged offending, which included the burglary and theft of a phone from a Greta Road store, had culminated in a stand-off with police at a Baker Street store, where she was said to have resisted arrest and spat at a police officer.

A police informant said a sergeant had been forced to “duck and weave” to avoid the woman’s spit while attempting to converse with her in the Wangaratta cells the following day.

The court also heard the woman had allegedly slapped a service station attendee in the face after the man had refused to provide a refund for partially-used cigarettes, had assaulted a woman at a Wills Street store and abused staff at a fast food restaurant in three separate incidents earlier in the year.

A number of other incidents involing the accused were also alleged to have occurred in the vicinity of Seymour earlier in 2023, largely centred around a series of alleged thefts.

The informant said the accused’s offending was a “constant cycle” and said the woman “posed a constant threat to members of the general public”.

He also expressed his concern around her alleged willingness to assault police officers, and noted her behaviour could be linked to an alleged substance addiction which has been ongoing for some time.

“She will assault people to get what she wants,” the informant said.

The woman maintained she was “not a risk to the community”.

“Please don’t take it personally just because you’re in uniform,” she told the police informant.

The court heard a court integrated services program (CISP) assessment had yet to be completed for the accused.

Magistrate Ian Watkins questioned whether a Forensicare mental health assessment may be more appropriate, however, ordered a CISP assessment be completed before a bail decision is reached.

He remanded the woman in custody to return before the court on January 29.

of the Year and Event/Project of the Year at the King George V Gardens from 9am.

The Wangaratta Lions will be cooking up a free barbecue breakfast

for those in attendance, donated by Wangaratta Woolworths, with live performances from Sing Australia and the Wangaratta Concert Band to feature.

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

DON

Wangaratta's premier audiology clinic

angaratta udiology

Everyone deserves to communicate

82 Docker St Wangaratta|www.wangarattahearing.com.au|Phone: 03 5722 4433

Page 4 - THE CHRONICLE, Monday, January 15, 2024

wangarattachronicle.com.au

Heavy rainfall topples records THE first 10 days of January saw widespread heavy rain and thunderstorms across much of Victoria and across the border into the Riverina and to as far north as Broken Hill and Bourke.

Rainfalls in the 24 hours to last Monday January 8 broke many daily records for January.

At Bendigo 91.8mms was not only a record daily fall for January but also the wettest ever day in 162 years of records.

At Redesdale 116.8mms fell on January 8 which was its wettest ever day in 120 years of records, while at Heathcote 154.4mms on

WHAT’S UP WITH THE WEATHER?

By Peter Nelson, retired CSIRO climatologist

January 8th was its wettest January day in 165 years of records with only one wetter day overall, a record daily fall of 179.1mms on February 10, 1883.

At both Lake Eildon and Yea a record daily rainfall for January of 84mms and 88.4mms respectively was also set last Monday.

The previous wettest January day at Lake Eildon was 62mms in 2021 and 73.4mms on January 8, 1897 at Yea - both towns

having records 136 years.

Yea had a two day total of 120mms - the only two day wetter totals were in February 1973, March 1950 and September 1916.

Closer to home Strathbogie recorded a total of 117mms for the first nine days of January-, the wettest for early January since 1934.

Wangaratta has recorded 104mms so far, which is our wettest for early January since both 1934 and 1974.

Benalla has recorded 84mms, Rutherglen 35.8mms and Albury only 24mm.

Daily maximum temperatures to date this month have been half to

one degrees below normal for January at these towns whilst night minimum temperatures have been two to three degrees above normal.

Further north, Broken Hill has had 148mms of rainfall to date - the wettest for January since 216mms in 1974.

This heavy rain at Broken Hill followed one of the hottest Decembers on record.

The current synoptic surface chart has shown a long belt of a strong high pressure sitting well south of the Bight and a broad area of low pressure covering most of the interior

of WA and the NT. This has continued to be a blocking situation and it has been that way since the third week of November, resulting in an absence of very hot days of 40 degrees in our regions.

To date there is no indication when this blocking situation will break down and when it finally does probably after January 23 we should get some days of over 40 degrees. In recent weeks low pressure troughs have projected southwards from near Bourke to well into Gippsland and then moved west wards into SA and deepened markedly bringing the heaviest rain-

falls to many places west from Wangaratta.

Tropical cyclone Jasper which gave all time record December rainfalls to the Cairns district was an unusually early occurrence for a tropical cyclone.

This cyclone could be blamed for all this notably record daily rainfalls in Victoria.

Cocos Keeling Island completed 2023 as being the driest year since 2006 and the warmest November-December period on record.

The previous warmest November to December at Cocos Island was back in 1957.

NEWEST ARRIVALS AT NORTHEAST HEALTH WANGARATTA The Wangaratta Chronicle will be in attendance at the midwifery ward on Wednesdays and Fridays at 9.30am to take photos of newborns with their parents, grandparents and/or siblings.

Consent forms are available from Northeast Health Wangaratta and from Wangaratta Chronicle staff on the day.

If you would like a photo but are not at the ward at the time of visiting, you can come into the Wangaratta Chronicle office at 37 Rowan Street during office hours to organise it.

Photographs are available to purchase from the Wangaratta Chronicle office.

PHOTOS: Chloe Jaenicke

COOL FILM: Oscar and Teddy Platfuss were rapt with the storyline of Frozen.

PHOTO: Luke Plummer

Disney freezes out opposition Monday, January 13, 2014

By LEAH TINDILL FROZEN is the flick of the summer “by a million miles”, according to Wangaratta Cinema Centre manager John Coxhell.

Mr Coxhell said while most summer releases were drawing large crowds, the Disney animation was attracting local families in droves with its feel good tunes and 3D and 2D options.

“Frozen is just really good

across the board, it’s a really beautiful film from Disney,” he said.

Oscar and Teddy Platfuss travelled from Benalla to see the film last Thursday and loved the unexpected twists.

“There were bits when the Queen was making the ice tower that was really good in 3D,” Oscar said.

Mr Coxhell said The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug was also popular over the holidays though was winding down now.

Thea Loretta Gavin THEA Loretta Gavin was born on Monday, December 8 at 7:59pm and weighed 3.69kg (8lb 2oz). She is the daughter of Michelle Gavin and Elouise Gavin of Wangaratta.

newsletter Ĵ + &)"! 1%/"" 1&+"0 4""( Ĵ " 12/&,$ ) 1"01 ,"40 %" !)&,"0 ,! -%*1*0 Ĵ "" 4% 1Œ0 + (&,$ ,"40 &, ,$ / 11 ,! 1%" */1% 01 /"$&*, ≥ PLUS Ĵ /" (&,$ ,"40 )"/10 0 &1 % --",0

SIGN UP FREE TODAY

2 0 /& " 1*! 6 1

wangarattachronicle.com.au/subscriptions

Levi Joseph Levi Joseph was born on Wednesday, January 10 at 12:05am and weighed 3.34kg (7lb 5oz).

He is the son of Carly Rowe of Yarrawonga.

wangarattachronicle.com.au

THE CHRONICLE, Monday, January 15, 2024 - Page 5

SunSmart sends melanoma warning amid UV concerns

JOIN THE FAMILY: Up-and-coming SES Wangaratta unit members Damien French and Jasmine Ammer are urging more locals to join the cause.

PHOTO: Ryan Malcolm

Volunteers need help to provide life-saving service RESIDENTS are being urged to explore volunteering opportunities with Wangaratta’s SES unit, in the wake of a busy start to 2024 which saw local crews respond to more than 100 calls for assistance in the year’s first week.

An information night for prospective members is set to be held at the unit’s Handley Street base from 7pm on Tuesday, where volunteers will answer questions and showcase the camaraderie and group mentality which has long been associated with our orange-clad heroes.

Having joined the local unit four months ago on top of his ongoing com-

BY RYAN MALCOLM rmalcolm@ nemedia.com.au

mitments with the neighbouring Wangaratta CFA brigade, Damien French said the move had been particularly rewarding.

“I’ve been a member of CFA for nearly 10 years now and just decided I needed a new challenge, something different and I know a lot of people within the SES so I wanted to try something new and learn some new skills,” he said.

“Some of the late nights you spend out with the crew, and especially that storm event that came through just before Christ-

mas, that was a really big (event) where it looked like a tornado had ripped through Wangaratta.

“That kind of stuck with me because there was such destruction out at North Wangaratta with all the trees down and the damage overall, that became a long night.

“I was actually out on a fire call just as it ripped through, we had a grassfire out at Bowser and we got stopped by the trees over the road, so I was having to swap helmets for a second and cut up the tree.

“As soon as I was back from the grassfire I swapped gear completely and went across to SES for the rest of the night and

did my job over there.”

Having spent considerable time as a teen in the New South Wales coastal town of Ballina watching the SES manage emergencies and flood scenarios, Jasmine Ammer’s move to don the orange jumpsuit in Wangaratta a year ago had been a childhood dream.

“I’ve wanted to join since I was a teenager living in New South Wales – my partner’s very active in the CFA but I’m more interested in the rescue side of things so that led me to SES,” she said.

“We do get a vast variety of jobs and being in the SES I’ve got my truck licence so I can respond to emergencies, my boat

licence so I can do water rescues and lots of other general skills.

“The unit is sort of like a second family – we had a rough go of a few car crashes close together and just the support afterwards and the many debriefs and dinner nights that followed and individual people checking in on me, it was just very supportive.

“If you’re on the fence I definitely recommend coming and checking it out – we should be doing walkthroughs of the unit and you’ll be able to speak to people with a range of skills in different areas.”

Wangaratta SES unit is located at 36 Handley Street.

SUNSMART Victoria is ramping up its skin cancer prevention campaign ‘Don’t Let Cancer In’, as UV continue to rank ‘very high’ or ‘extreme’ throughout Victoria.

Recent data from the Victorian Cancer Registry (VCR) shows melanoma is still Victoria’s fifth most common cancer, as new data shows melanoma diagnoses could increase by 24 per cent over the next decade.

Last year, 2885 Victorians were diagnosed with melanoma (1697 males and 1188 females), prompting Victorian Minister for Health Mary-Anne Thomas to urge people across the state to take their sun safety seriously.

“When exploring the best of Victoria’s great outdoors this summer, it is important people take care of themselves by being sun-smart,” she said.

“Sun-smart Victorians can do five easy things to stay safe this summer: use sunscreen, stay in the shade, and wear a widebrimmed hat, sunglasses, and protective clothing like long sleeve shirts.”

Head of SunSmart Victoria, Emma Glassenbury, said while skin cancers were almost entirely preventable by using sun protection whenever the UV index hits three, only one in six Victorians could identify when that was.

“You can’t see or feel UV, and it’s not dependent on the weather, so we plead with Victorians to take the guess work out and check the UV level before going outdoors and if it’s three or above, cover up using all five forms of sun protection,” she said.

“We want Victorians to enjoy the great outdoors without adding to their skin cancer risk.”

The free SunSmart Global UV mobile application also provides real-time, location-specific UV and sun protection advice.

‘This latest SunSmart campaign is sending Victorians a clear message when the UV is three or above to cover up and sharing the knowledge of how they can cover up properly,” Ms Glassenbury said.

For more information, visit sunsmart.com.au.

Alleged concrete fraudster to return to court later this month A MAN alleged to have quoted and received more than $120,000 from victims in the North East without commencing or completing concreting jobs will return to court later this month.

The accused, in his late 40s, was formally charged early last year after allegedly failing to complete works in the Benalla, Wangaratta, Shepparton and Wodonga areas between July 2022 and January 2023.

He was arrested and remanded, and has remained in custody since.

A committal mention to progress the matter further had been slated to take place at Wangaratta Magistrates Court last Thursday, however, the court heard the man was ill and unable to attend the hearing remotely.

Crown prosecutors had been set to object to plans to further adjourn the matter, but ultimately consented after the accused failed to attend the hearing.

The defence noted discussions remained ongoing around whether the

accused would continue to be funded through Victorian Legal Aid. As part of the alleged offending, the accused is said to have received payments from at least 15 victims throughout the local area.

A potential plea to the alleged offending is yet to be outlined before the court.

He faces 15 charges of obtain property by deception.

The matter is set to return to court on January 29.

Ceremony, reception & flexible food & beverage packages available Scan for wedding brochure, pricing & to make an enquiry www.thevinehotel.net.au

Page 6 - THE CHRONICLE, Monday, January 15, 2024

wangarattachronicle.com.au

NOTE: Comments as they appear online, without corrections.

Emergency effort needs helping hands TOMORROW night’s SES information evening is an important opportunity for locals to explore whether there is more they personally can do within the community to help it thrive.

Over the last three years, Wangaratta’s SES unit has been among the state’s busiest, regularly managing flooding scenarios, protecting the livelihoods of residents and providing life-saving assistance in a range of situations.

The demand on the unit has been extraordinary and yet our volunteers in orange, many of whom are local residents, have been up to the task, while juggling work, school and family commitments.

Each of these volunteers is motivated to help the rural city and its people, and the vast majority do so with a smile in the face of challenging scenarios.

In the past month alone, Wangaratta has seen several instances of flash flooding and a storm cell which flattened an extensive number of trees at North Wangaratta.

Those within the unit speak of their joy in seeing the community heed their words of warning, and they celebrate the little victories such as the fact no residents needed to be rescued during the recent flash flooding event to start 2024.

Many feel their commitment is being more widely recognised, and the unit’s social media is now full of praise from thankful residents after each emergency.

But this responsibility cannot be left to only a few within the community – more volunteers are desperately needed to assist the SES’ operations as the demand for their services continues to increase.

So get along to the Handley Street headquarters tomorrow night and see if you can lend a hand.

The Quiz No. 68 1. In what year of the 2000s was Wikipedia launched?

2. Which three countries have one word names starting with the letter R? 3. Sancho Panza was the squire of which fictional character?

4. The Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum is located in which US city?

5. Which sport is played by the Adelaide Bite?

6. What is the name of David Bowie’s final studio album, released two days before his death?

7. Which game uses a squidger?

8. Cyril P. Callister is credited with inventing which food spread in the 1920s?

9. What is the first name of the character, Dr Frankenstein?

10. Which alcoholic beverage is generally added to red wine to make port?

11. What was the only team to have over 2,000 points scored against it in the 2015 WAFL season?

12. Which popular 70s TV series centred around the Bradford family?

13. Who is the mother of Beatrice Milly McCartney?

14. Anthony Burgess is best known for writing which 1962 novel?

15. Which Sesame Street character lives in a garbage bin?

16. Gruyère cheese originated in which country?

17. Which film won the Best Picture award at the 2016 Academy Awards presentations?

18. In December 2014, who became the Australian Minister for Immigration and Border Protection?

19. American singer/songwriter, Geetali Shankar, is better known by what name?

20. The Tokelau Islands are located in which ocean?

Answers 1. 2001 2. Romania, Russia, Rwanda 3. Don Quixote 4. New York City 5. Baseball 6. Blackstar 7. Tiddlywinks 8. Vegemite 9. Victor 10. Brandy 11. Perth Demons 12. Eight Is Enough 13. Heather Mills 14. A Clockwork Orange 15. Oscar The Grouch 16. Switzerland 17. Spotlight 18. Peter Dutton 19. Norah Jones 20. Pacific Ocean Compiled by Ric Allport – www.brainfoodfactory.com – Challenge your Brain

FACEBOOK users this week commented on the inaugural Glenrowan Solar Farm community-driven benefit sharing program, which distributed $50,000 in total funding to 10 different local community groups.

•

Julian Savery: Would love to see them develop a website that we could see how much power it generates at any given time.

SH Arm: Julian Savery would be nice to see

•

especially determining ROI time frame, input vs output etc Natalie O’Brien: Well why not? If you go to the La Trobe valley everything from park benches and bus stops to school fences and drinking fountains have been funded by the power station companies. It’s hardly sinister and certainly not a new idea as a way for big business to engage with the small communities they operate in.

Sarah Jane: They’d

•

•

be better off investing in Hydrogen

Facebook users also commented on the closure of the Green Street Bridge.

•

Kat Livingstone: Rode on the bike track last night 7pm ish and came across 2 work vehicles and lots of lighting.

Any idea if we should expect to see vehicles there regularly in the evening? No signage to indicate that?? On a side note, I would definitely LOVE to have permanent lighting on the town bike tracks!!

•

Katie Graham: I’m so not looking forward to this .They still haven’t finished Glenrowan yet .

Kim Huggins: Sitting at those lights today listening to an ambulance in the distance, looking down and seeing the traffic banked up at the train line I had to wonder where the ambulance was going as I could hear the sirens going one way then the next.

Kylie Lee: 6months what a joke

•

•

Like the

Wangaratta Chronicle Facebook page to have your say.

Our follower total is

14,571

Have your say in Wangaratta Chronicle poll

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

Better footpaths, not dinosaurs, needed

Would you like to see Yarrawonga and surrounds incorporated in the Rural City of Wangaratta area?

IN regard to Brian Fox’s pic and letter (Wangaratta Chronicle, January 10) regarding the possibility of Wangaratta council purchasing a giant dinosaur I can only hope that it was sent ‘tongue in cheek’.

Apart from the fact that a dinosaur is totally unrelated to any aspect of Wangaratta I’m sure that council’s funds could be better spent on areas that benefit the actual ratepayers.

For example repairing footpaths so that unwary walkers don’t trip and sustain serious injury.

I was badly injured after tripping on an uneven section of footpath in October.

I am aware there have been a number of similar incidents.

Carole Breust, Wangaratta

Local post office is worth shouting about I WISH to share my pleasure in the friendly service we receive at the Milawa Post Office/Newsagency.

Simon also has a collection on display and each month a different charity is nominated and customers have the chance to donate to them.

Over $600 was raised for the various charities last year.

Richard Morgan, Markwood

Welfare boost claims don’t stack up DISMISSING welfare payment increases on the basis that they are unaffordable and would fuel inflation lacks economic sense and is a heartless response to the many Australians living at or below the poverty line.

While the Albanese Government acknowledges that many households are struggling, the time to take appropriate action is now, not in a few months’ time when the Budget is handed down.

Phone calls from people seeking our assistance have risen alarmingly across Australia, by nearly 40 per cent in some places. Requests for emergency relief are also hitting highs, and not just in flood disaster zones.

In this environment, claims that increases to welfare payments for 3.3 million men, women and children are unaffordable displays a complete lack of respect for those living in poverty.

Moreover, it is a fallacy to say nothing can be done because increasing crucial supports like JobSeeker would only contribute to infla-

CLASSY OCCASION: (From left) Sharon Fear, Cheryl Matthews and Summer Pallmann were part of a strong crowd in attendance at last Thursday’s race meet at the Wangaratta Turf Club, which featured the Ovens Kia Wangaratta Maiden Plate (1170m). The event was a popular appetiser ahead of the turf club’s Australia Day Eve races on January 25.

PHOTO: Chloe Jaenicke tion and make matters worse. In a wealthy country this is completely unacceptable.

Vulnerable groups being assisted by the Society included people experiencing homelessness, social housing residents, people seeking asylum, Indigenous communities, women affected by family violence, and older adults. All of these and more are disproportionately affected by the cost of living and housing crises.

Various fallacies seek to explain why such people are not being helped to attain basic security of housing, food and other essentials.

The biggest is that the economy can’t afford to provide proper levels of welfare.

This is simply not true, as was explained in the research paper the Society commissioned from the Australian National University.

A Fairer Tax and Welfare System for Australia shows, for example, how up to 834,000 vulnerable people could be lifted out of poverty by the Australian Government’s adopting one of three affordable reform options.

St Vincent de Paul Society wants JobSeeker to be increased by 50 per cent, to around $1100 per fortnight. It’s currently $753.

Unlike pensions, income support payments are only indexed (biannually) via the CPI. In real terms, this means people actually go backwards.

We also advocate Parenting Payment be increased to $1340, Youth Allowance to

$887, Commonwealth Rent Assistance by 25 per cent, DSP and Carers payments (by $249 per fortnight, and Family Tax Benefit (Pt A) by 20 per cent.

Another fallacy is that enhanced support to low-income earners would fuel inflation and so contribute to even higher prices.

This seems to hint that the less well-off, whose purchases are mostly low-cost essentials of life, are the main cause of inflation, rather than those who buy highly priced real estate, luxury goods or costly travel.

We should not try to shirk our responsibilities through arguments that lack economic or moral weight.’

Mark Gaetani, St Vincent de Paul Society

WE welcome your letters to the Editor. Priority is given to typed/emailed letters under 250 words.

Every letter must have your full name, address and a daytime phone contact number supplied for verification purposes. Any letter may be edited for reasons of space, content or legibility.

Email

edit.chronicle@nemedia.com.au

Post

Letters to the Editor, 37 Rowan St, Wangaratta 3677

wangarattachronicle.com.au

THE CHRONICLE, Monday, January 15, 2024 - Page 7

Community thankful for free summer fun day

By CHLOE JAENICKE

GIVING BACK: Aaron Wardle, Reg Dobson, William Lee, Joshua Wardle, Georgia Hamidorm, Faye Gronow, Colleen Jackel and Bruce Neilson handed out free sausages to the community at the Wangaratta Baptist Church fun day.

THE Wangaratta Baptist Church held a free summer fun day at the Wangaratta Sports and Aquatic Centre (WSAC) on Wednesday, January 10.

The fun day allowed families free entry to the WSAC pools and featured an inflatable obstacle course and a free sausage sizzle.

Pastor Aaron Wardle said the day was a huge success as they welcomed around eight to nine hundred people to the pools and gave away 700 free sausages.

He said they received plenty of thankful feedback from families who attended.

“I think it helped the family budget that people were able to take the kids to something free during

school holidays.”

Mr Wardle said he would like to thank Woolworths and the WSAC for all their support in making the fun day possible.

“I just wanted to thank Woolworths who donated all of the sausages and the pool to partner with us to put it on,” he said.

“The WSAC didn’t have to do free entry but they wanted to join with us and do that for the community, so we got some great feedback for that.

“It’s a great response to see so many people using the council facilities and free entry, that is a great benefit to everyone I think.”

The church is putting together another free summer fun day at Apex Park this Wednesday from 10am that will have a super slide, face painting and a sausage sizzle.

Observing grass dry critical to keeping Victorians safe this summer CFA is calling on North East residents to become ‘citizen scientists’ to help contribute critical information about the state’s fire risk.

The 2023-24 fire season is expected to be hotter and drier than recent years and grassland curing observers play a vital role in collecting ground information.

The ground observations are combined with satellite imagery to produce maps that show how dry the grass is across Victoria.

CFA remote sensing analyst, Danielle Wright, said CFA needs more observers trained to provide readings of grass curing.

“There are parts of the state where we really need more eyes on the ground like the North East, where we have fewer observers participating,” Dr Wright said.

“Our volunteer grassland observers are an incredibly valuable resource that

BY BAILEY ZIMMERMANN bzimmermann@ nemedia.com.au

helps to inform a lot of our decision-making over the fire season.

“We can’t rely on satellite imagery alone.

“It is the best performing model available to us, but it can overestimate and underestimate the curing levels.

“Across bare sand and soil, the model over-estimates curing.

“In areas of new growth from rainfall, the satellite sensor can pick up the green growth and underestimate curing.

“Observers can adjust the satellite readings which means we can provide more accurate information to inform decision making when it comes to fire risk over summer.”

Melissa Hughes is a volunteer with Wattle Glen Fire Brigade and is a

grassland observer.

Ms Hughes said the online training module took about 30 minutes to complete and it gave her everything she needed to become a citizen scientist.

“I love the data and the science that goes into this grassland observation,” she said.

“The course was so easy and CFA gives you great tools to support the role.

“This really is citizen science at its best, the information we observers gather has an immediate benefit to the community.

“I don’t just see grass anymore when I am out on the road, I see so much more detail.

“It might be dry at the top but still green at the bottom, and I know exactly where it is in the curing process no matter where I am.”

For more information: visit www.cfa.vic.gov.au/ grass or email grassland@ cfa.vic.gov.au.

17 MARCH 2024 EARLY BIRD PRICING ENDS 31 JAN

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

wangarattamarathon.com.au

HELP THE FIRE RISK: CFA Victoria is calling on more grassland observers in the North East like Melissa Hughes with Wattle Glen Fire Brigade.

Page 8 - THE CHRONICLE, Monday, January 15, 2024

wangarattachronicle.com.au

North East wine zone: A bubbly future ahead?

THIS special report is by guest writer Dennis O’Neill.

The Glenrowan resident was chair of the Wangaratta Economic Development and Tourism Advisory Committee for two years after a varied public and private sector career, including 11 years as CEO of the Australian Council for Infrastructure Development covering policy and investments in energy, water and transport sectors.

R

EPORTS late last year that China will review its punitive tariff regime on Australian wine imports and that Australia has walked away from negotiations over an EU Free Trade deal are a timely reminder of the serial challenges impacting the North East wine zone since 2019.

The zone, covering both viticulture (grape growing) and winemaking, comprises six geographical indicators (or GI’s) – Alpine Valleys, Beechworth, Glenrowan, King Valley, Rutherglen and ‘other’, with a total economic output in 2021 of $331.5m, 70 per cent of which is from the King Valley.

So how have our regional grape growers and wineries managed following the accumulated trauma of bushfires, COVID, China’s imposition of wine tariffs and the efforts by the EU to constrain the use of the term ‘Prosecco’ to all but Italian producers of that iconic bubbly drop?

Unlike the recent bushfire experience of some Adelaide Hills vineyards, where vines were fire damaged or lost, the threat to North East vineyards came primarily from smoke, sometimes conveyed over long distances.

As North East vineyard fruit began to mature in late 2019 and into early 2020, fires in the alpine areas resulted in the absorption

of unwanted chemical components of the smoke into the grape skins leading to undesirable impacts on the taste of any resulting wine.

Not a new phenomenon, smoke taint hit Rutherglen grapes in 2003 after the Black Saturday fires and remains a regular threat even from fuel reduction burns in adjacent national parks.

That impact led to early technical efforts to understand chemically how smoke impacts grapes and adds unwanted flavours to wines produced from affected grapes.

Some winemakers made wine in 2003 and this wine found a market for blending in small proportions with better wine, eventually released to market in the lower quality price bracket.

However premium winemakers had no tolerance for any compromise on quality and elected to plough tainted grapes into the ground.

The knowledge gained over the past 20 years of research now contributes to a better understanding of the potential remediating role of insurance and how broadly to seek coverage.

However, if fires occur, it becomes a matter of good fortune and meteorology as to what impacts may be incurred.

In general only three days of smoke exposure may lead to terminating grape contracts, something that is now more accurately measured with an array of sensors in vineyards.

There is also new technology that may be applied to impacted wine to remove unwanted taint chemicals.

The resulting ‘cleaned’ wine is of lower quality and possibly only for distillation to produce wine spirit.

There is no silver bullet.

Alpine Valleys,

CRITICAL INDUSTRY: Vineyards dot the North East countryside and contribute hundreds of millions of dollars annually to the local economy.

Beechworth and upper King Valley vineyards remain most at risk with red varietals generally more at risk than white.

Recovery from the 2019 fires is still under way, with some vineyards losing a complete 2020 vintage, and the recovery process expected to take up to 10 years.

B

eyond the regular threat of fires and smoke, the key strategic threat to North East region grape growers is climate change.

On a year by year scale, some growers say that there is little evidence of change given the natural variability of annual weather patterns.

On a longer time scale, however, it is becoming clear that vintages are advancing steadily, fruit is maturing earlier and harvest time arrives earlier, creating labour challenges.

Adding to this is the shortage of regional shortterm accommodation.

Increasingly water is also

a key issue, with increased evaporation the problem.

Work has already commenced to plant less sensitive grape varieties.

As to future investment, there is insufficient suitable land for large scale expansion.

If there were a 25 per cent increase in vineyard areas, there would be insufficient water in drought years.

The impact of the fires and the loss of cellar door trade was rapidly reinforced as COVID took hold in 2020 and visitors disappeared.

Pre-COVID visitor numbers are just beginning to restore in late 2023.

But the market is hesitant and cost of living inflationary impacts are being reinforced by lower price point pressures as retailers seek more value.

A solution might lie in targeting restaurants and hotels based on the boutique and quality appeal of smaller North East region wineries.

During COVID, the export market to China

disappeared as Chine imposed tariffs on Australian bottled wine.

Collectively, the North East region was not impacted as much as some other wine regions in Australia.

Although redirected to a small extent to other export markets, the bulk of the wine originally destined for China, 99 per cent of which is red wine, remains in tanks, still to be bottled.

It will likely add to a growing wine glut for the Australian domestic market, yet another point of price pressure for our regional wineries.

Although the wine war with China may be approaching a cease fire, recovery of this market for Australian wine is unlikely to return exports to the level and product mix seen previously.

The Chinese domestic economy is changing COVID had an impact there.

Inflation and reduced manufacturing exports to the West have changed

Chinese domestic buying power and discretionary spending.

Some wineries will have retreated with burnt fingers and may be unwilling to take the risk of re-entering China.

The quality end of the market, a feature of Australian wine exports to China, might endure.

The biggest unresolved risk in the region remains the use of the Prosecco descriptor, with potentially huge impacts for King Valley wine-makers, in particular.

Having walked away from negotiations with the EU over a Free Trade Agreement, Australia has maintained its position in favour of continued wide use based on use of the relevant grape varietal.

The EU wants this limited to wines made from Prosecco grapes in two regions of northern Italy near Venice.

This is a make or break issue for the Australian industry with tens of millions of dollars of potential new vineyard investment in the North East region, especially the King Valley, hanging on the final outcome.

The wine industry in general is very sensitive to emerging social and political pressure associated with sharpened concern about the health impacts of alcohol consumption.

Some winemakers who provided background for this overview can see potential for campaigns like those commenced over 50 years ago targeting cigarettes, starting with punitive taxation regimes based on alcohol content, as in the UK. So as the sector surfaces for air after the triple blows of fires, COVID and China, it must don new protection against a growing healthdominated challenge.

O NO UT W

The ultimate guide for tourists and locals

wangarattachronicle.com.au

THE CHRONICLE, Monday, January 15, 2024 - Page 9

ACROSS THE ARTS

Alpine peaks add chill to Gabriel’s latest thriller A

THRILLING READ: The Caretaker by Gabriel Bergmoser (pictured) is set in an isolated, Alpine ski resort during the off-season. Gabriel will discuss his novel when he visits the Wangaratta Library on January 25.

UTHOR, playwright and screenwriter Gabriel Bergmoser will visit the Wangaratta Library on January 25 to talk about his novel, The Caretaker, released last year.

The psychological thriller, set in an Alpine ski resort, is Gabriel’s latest in the genre, inspired partly by his upbringing in Mansfield and also by a more recent visit to Mount Baw Baw during the offseason.

“I was struck by how isolated, eerie and lonely it was there,” he said.

“In the off-season the resorts have this washed out, grey, stark, austere and slightly unsettling, ghostly beauty to them, and I’ve always thought - since I was younger - that it would make a unique backdrop to a story.”

Now based in Melbourne and absorbed in his writing, Gabriel started out in the youth theatre scene and completed his Masters of Screenwriting at the Victorian College of the Arts.

He won the prestigious Sir Peter Ustinov Television Scriptwriting Award in 2015, was nominated for the 2017 Kenneth Branagh Award for New Drama Writing and went on to win several awards at the Victorian Drama League, One Act Play Festival.

In 2016 his first young adult novel, Boone Shepard, was shortlisted for the Readings Young Adult Prize.

In 2019 Gabriel signed with Harper Collins for his first adult novels, publishing The Hunted and The Inheritance, of which the film adaptation is currently in development.

He said his foray into writing suspense and edge-of-your-seat thrillers happened accidently, although he was drawn to horror and pulp fiction in his youth.

“I was always a fan of thrillers

BY ANITA McPHERSON

amcpherson@ nemedia.com.au

growing up and anything a bit dark and unsettling,” he said.

“Throughout my early twenties I thought I’d be writing young adult or children’s books, writing for a younger age group, but I had no real luck getting anything off the ground.

“I did have the Boone Shepard trilogy (between 2016 and 2018) but it was small scale with a smaller publisher, and while they worked hard, it was not on the same level as Harper Collins.”

Gabriel had been trying to get a darker, young adult novel across the line but hit a wall, which led him to try something totally different - plunging into an extreme “pulpy” thriller.

“I wrote The Hunted and I had no idea if it would work or not, or if I had the capability to do this kind of writing, but it got snapped up by Harper Collins and it kicked everything off,” he said.

“Now these fast paced, bruising, high octane thrillers have almost become my stock in trade.”

That’s not to say Gabriel hasn’t also been exploring other ideas with the support of his agent and publisher, releasing The True Colour of a Little White Lie a couple of years ago, and the upcoming action/ adventure novel Andromache Between Worlds - both titles designed for younger readers.

He says while he tries to write every day, he doesn’t set a word target or try to force his way through writers block, preferring instead to write notes, brainstorm or walk if the ideas aren’t coming.

He also doesn’t plan each novel to the letter, creating a rough shape and direction, but not wanting to write himself into a corner in such a way that he might miss an opportunity.

“I like to have a little bit of latitude to explore new avenues and take a new direction if something better than what I already had in mind presents itself,” he explained.

The success of The Hunted,

which is a best-seller, was something which took him by surprise, acknowledging the extraordinary effort the publisher put in to promote it.

“The real surprise was that they did that to begin with, because The Hunted is so extreme, so bloodsoaked and so over the top,” he said.

“Even when I sent it to my agent, the moment I hit send, I thought I’d made a gigantic mistake because it is so extreme - an unfettered expression of this wild sensibility that I must have in my storytelling DNA - but I didn’t think anyone else would get it, or that it would appeal to a mainstream publisher.”

More edge-of-your seat thrillers followed, but in The Caretaker, released last year, the violence is stripped back and the journey is more of a slow-burn; a character drama which is both thrilling and menacing.

The action takes place in an isolated and empty Alpine ski resort where a woman called Charlotte, on the run from a controlling husband and his underworld associates in Melbourne, has adopted a new identity and found a job as a caretaker during the off-season.

Gabriel said the location almost had to play another main character in the story.

“During three months of the year these places are bustling and alive with people, parties and holiday makers, but for a lot of the rest of the time they sit there empty,” he said.

“It’s such a unique and interesting setting and it jumped out at me as the obvious setting for this kind of thriller.

“The work from there really became about making it as vivid and alive - as stark, terrifying and real -as it possibly could be.”

Gabriel Bergmoser will visit the Wangaratta Library on Thursday, January 25 at 6.30pm, where he will discuss The Caretaker and his writing process, and he is looking forward to meeting readers.

Bookings are essential and can be made by contacting library staff on 5721 2366, email library@ wangaratta.vic.gov.au or via Humanitix.

Wangaratta

SPORTS CARNIVAL

featuring the

WANGARATTA

GIFT under lights

SATURDAY JANUARY 27

Principal Sponsors

WOODCHOPPING from 11am | RUNNING from 2:30pm WANGARATTA

WANGARATTA SHOWGROUNDS

FREE ENTRY

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

Local people, local places

wangarattachronicle.com.au

OU NO T W !

...immerse yourself in the region

wangarattachronicle.com.au

THE CHRONICLE, Monday, January 15, 2024 - Page 11

REGIONAL NEWS

Violet Town produces Australia’s first mural honouring women in war Violet Town RSL and artist Tim Bowtell created the 17-metre-long g mural - a sight g to be seen

By DARREN CHAITMAN & KIRSTY HARRIS AUSTRALIA’S first mural to honour the contributions of all women to war will be unveiled in Violet Town in February.

The 17-metre-long mural, a project of the Violet Town RSL sub branch, was painted by Tim Bowtell, who lives near Benalla and whose many murals are dotted across North East Victoria.

Located next to the Boer War Memorial in Cowslip Street, the artwork tells the story of local women connected to Violet Town and district who served, but set in a national context.

It all started with the idea of one lady, Longwood East’s Jenni Kennedy, whose cousin, aircraftswoman Beryl Ramage, is one of the women depicted on the mural.

“Going around all districts, there was never anything to recognise the women who had served,” Ms Kennedy said.

“It started out as a very small project to recognise the ladies who served in the Violet Town district.

“After a few conversations

and round-table conferences, we decided that we would include from the Boer War to now.”

She said the RSL was also encouraged to complete the more ambitious project when they successfully received grants from the State Government and Strathbogie Shire Council.

The mural’s story progresses in chronological order from right to left, starting with the Boer War on the right and ending with Iraq and the present day on the left.

The artist, Mr Bowtell, said the mural gets progressively more complex as it moves towards the present day.

“Even when it came to conflict, [life] was a little bit more simple than it is now, because the mural gets complex,” he said.

“Women’s involvement has definitely changed – it was very nurse-centric to start, and then they got into what were male-dominated roles.”

When he spoke to North East Media recently, he had completed the mural, which took him 16 days with the help of his son Sam Bowtell, and he had commenced

THE ARTIST: Tim Bowtell worked from photographs provided by the Violet Town RSL to create a mural honouring women at war. To his right are three Violet Town ladies who served, whose names will be revealed at the official unveilling in February.

PHOTO: Darren Chaitman work on the final, full-colour panel, to be displayed separately from the main mural.

The relatively small scale of the mural and the fine detail in parts had proved

a challenge for Mr Bowtell, who normally works with spray-paint.

“For five years I’ve been painting large-scale murals, and this is probably the first time in five years I’ve had to get the paintbrushes out,” he said.

Violet Town RSL acting president Joe Martin said he was proud so many volunteers within the Violet Town community had come together to produce a national memorial.

“Apart from members of the RSL – past and present – the work involved our local men’s shed, local history researchers, a women’s war historian, the Violet Town history group and many more,” he said.

Ms Kennedy said even the local football club got involved by putting the mural panels in place.

She said a lot of credit should go to Neil Garrett, who has worked tirelessly as the manager of the project.

The mural will become part of Victoria’s military history trail, extending from Seymour northward.

It will be officially unveiled at 10am on Friday, February 16 in Cowslip Street, Violet Town, across the road from the Ellen Frances Hotel.

Christmas efforts to build on positive feedback despite alleged thefts

By RYAN MALCOLM THE alleged theft of festive decorations erected throughout the Beechworth CBD for the Christmas period has been labelled “soul destroying”, in the wake of positive praise for the initiative from within the community.

Coordinated by Beechworth Inc, Ford and Camp streets have been awash with red and green since the beginning of December, with a host of new decorations and volunteerdriven displays on show, including an installation in the centre of the town’s major roundabout.

Despite being widely lauded by many members of the public, Beechworth Inc president Katrina Witherow said the initiative had been hamstrung by a series of alleged thefts and instances of vandalism.

A light display established in the “hero tree” of the Beechworth Town Hall Gardens was said to have been vandalised at least twice.

“We spend all these volunteer hours putting things up so that people can enjoy it and then some people just come along and think they have the right to take our hard work and the work that volunteers have done,” she said.

“The yarn bombing was taken off the bollards around the centre of the roundabout and some of the Christmas presents we did up in the centre were taken.

IN THE SPIRIT: A number of large Christmas ‘gifts’ adorning Beechworth’s Ford and Camp street roundabout were reportedly stolen over the festive season.

PHOTO: Coral Cooksley “All of our ladies knitted profusely to get the decorations put on the bollards, there was a whole group of us who did it and were really excited, and the feedback we got was unbelievable and the support from the community was fantastic.

“It’s such a disappointment that we’ve got people in our community who don’t understand the hard work that volunteers put in.”

Bolstered by $50,000 in

funding courtesy of Indigo Shire Council, Community Bank Beechworth and District (Bendigo Bank), Billson’s Brewery and Bridge Road Brewers, as well as the tireless work of volunteers in the area, Ms Witherow said the decorations would remain on show until later this month.

“It’s been a fantastic project and this is only the beginning – we hope to build from this and more projects will come

LIGHTS OUT: Fairy lights erected in the Town Hall Gardens’ ‘hero tree’ were alleged to have been vandalised at least twice before being lit just before Christmas.

PHOTO: Beechworth Inc. along,” she said.

“We’ve got great support and we’ve got a fantastic committee which is really passionate about doing things which can help our business sector and our community.

“There have been a lot of

businesses come and go (in Beechworth), and long-standing businesses have closed their doors, so we’re trying to band together to see how we can continue on and trying to be positive and get things going for the town.”

Page 12 - THE CHRONICLE, Monday, January 15, 2024

wangarattachronicle.com.au

Junior Reporter Club

How many?

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO...

Milly Hingham .........................................January 16 Marley Hingham .....................................January 16 Matt Leerson ........................................... January 18 Madison Robinson.................................January 19 Archie Johnson................................January 20

Roxy Smithwick ......................................January 21 Xander Siperki ........................................January 21 Joy Jackel ................................................January 21 Imogen O’Keeffe ....................................January 21 Riley Twomey..........................................January 21

This Week’s Winner of a birthday cake from Shelley’s Country Bakehouse is Archie Johnson To be in the running to win a birthday cake from Shelley’s Country Bakehouse, join the Junior Reporter Club. Phone 5723 0100 or email bsommer@nemedia.com.au with your child’s name, address, DOB and phone number. Your address and phone number will not be printed in the Chronicle but is required to contact you should you win the cake. Birthday Book is for 1 to 14 year olds. All existing Birthday Book participants will remain eligible to win a birthday cake. Please note 48 hours notice required.

6 67a Reid Street WANGARATTA W

P: 5722 9211 P

Pies, Pasties & Sausage Rolls, Salad Rolls, Breads, Cakes & Pastries, Cold Drinks & Coffee HOURS: H OUR RS S: M Mo Monday on ond nd day ay - F Friday rriida rida day 6 6.30am .

- 5.30pm S atur at urda day 7 .0 00a 0am - 2.30pm 0am Saturday 7.00am

THE CHRONICLE, Monday, January 15, 2024 - Page 13

wangarattachronicle.com.au

GENERAL KNOWLEDGE CROSSWORD

O B U S H D I R A T E E L E B R M W T E D I E O D I D K T R H O S E E K

Find the following words in the grid. They may be read in any direction, even diagonally.

Some letters are used more than once.

Bare Bush Debt Dew Dim

3 What are the two egg-shaped

masses of grey matter at the base of the brain (7) 4 Which persons are not members of a particular profession (6) 5 La Paz is a capital of which South American republic (7) 6 Name the roe of the sturgeon, considered a great delicacy (7) 7 Which musical instrument is struck by hammers, and has a keyboard (7)

of aluminium (7) gullies or channels (7) with edible leafstalks (7) 18 What are nurses for children called (7) 20 To dwell for a considerable time, is to do what (6)

2 INERM (a) Impossible to erase (b) Unarmed (c) Incapable of error

BIYWORD

322

L

CLUES: Coral-forming animal (5) Extraterrestrial (5) Horse: gives birth (5) More foolish (7) Parent Teacher Association (3) Repair (3) Semester (abb) (3) Unintentionally stopped car (7) Woody tissue (5) Writing tool (3)

3

6

SUDOKU

© Puzzles supplied by AUSPAC MEDIA

CROSSWORD

7

4

6

3

5

2

WHICH WORDS: 1 (a) Belonging to magic, 2 (b) Unarmed

1

DOWN 1 Waiting 2 Sweet-talk 3 Sicilian volcano 4 Consider

BIYWORD

ACROSS 1 Coffee choice 5 Fawn 6 Channel 7 Test

F M S I N S I O S L P T L P X L R Y

SOLUTIONS

312

Solve the crossword.

Each answer has four letters.

A A D E E E

G R E T E L B C C A H A C C O L A D E L V L A V I A R Y I L M E D I C I N E V A S H O M A G E L M N O N I R T A R E N A T I B I A A R U H R H A R A U R E Q U I N E B N C O X C O M B S T I Y I T A L I C R E O U T B O A R D R E S E M B O S S

QUICK THINK

*6

012 SUDOKU

052

Build it yourself using the clues and each of the twenty-four letters once only to form ten words: five across and five down. A key word (bold clue) builds on the letter set in the grid.

A / S I E R E M N

I×I I+D K-Y S+R I+E Y÷I I+R

Tea Work

1 HERMETIC (a) Belonging to magic (b) Concerned with interpretation (c) That may be inherited

17 Name a garden plant

Letters A to Z have a number value. Some are shown in the right-hand cells. Create remaining values using clues in centre cells.

D E I K R S Y

Seek Sew Sit Skew Strike

WHICH WORDS

15 What are steep-sided

c37o052

E-QUATIONS

13 Name a farm vehicle (7) 14 Name the principal ore

Hid Hose Led Oil Orbit

QUICK THINK ACROSS: 1 Iced, 5 Dote,

MINI WORD FIND

S T A L L E D

cut square, with a filling of meat or cheese (7)

6 Lane, 7 Exam.

P DOWN: 1 Idle, 2 Coax, F O © 3 Etna, 4 Deem.

S I L X Y P

DOWN 2 Name small pieces of pasta,

E-QUATIONS D:9, E:12, I:3, K:21, R:15, S:6, Y:18

yacht to challenge for the America’s Cup (6) 8 What is a ceremony used in conferring knighthood (8) 9 In which enclosure are birds kept (6) 10 Name a substance used for treating disease (8) 11 What is respect, or reverence paid (6) 12 What is the given name of Ms Hazlehurst (4) 13 Name the inner of the two bones of the lower leg (5) 16 What is an enclosure for sports contests (5) 19 Which river in western Germany flows into the Rhine (4) 21 Name another term for a horse (6) 22 What are conceited dandies called (8) 23 Name a style of printing in which the letters usually slope to the right (6) 24 Which petrol motor is clamped on the stern of a boat (8) 25 To make protuberant, is to do what (6)

O B U S H D I R A T E E L E B R M W T E D I E O D I D K T R H O S E E K

ACROSS 1 Name the first Australian

MINI WORD FIND 312

1012

Page 14 - THE CHRONICLE, Monday, January 15, 2024

wangarattachronicle.com.au

RURAL

Severe weather exposes some livestock to risk Severe weather across state contributes to a high g number of deaths

LIVESTOCK owners are reminded to ensure they provide adequate shelter for their livestock if there are severe weather events forecast over the remainder of summer.

Agriculture Victoria principal veterinary officer, Dr Dianne Phillips, said recent localised severe weather has seen a higher number of deaths in vulnerable livestock in some areas of Victoria.

“Severe weather can include high winds, concentrated rainfall and/or hail and sudden temperature changes, which can impact livestock even in the warmer months of summer,” he said.

Dr Phillips said vulnerable groups of livestock are those which are more prone to the effects of exposure and can include: • recently shorn sheep; • livestock with newborns or recently weaned animals; and • livestock with parasitism or other underlying diseases associated with weight loss, anaemia, or low protein levels.

“Farmers are encouraged to also ensure livestock are up to date with routine stock health management requirements, such as drenching and vaccination programs, and to conduct regular inspections, monitoring for and treatment of diseases,”

ALL GOOD HERE: Agriculture Victoria has reported a high number of deaths in livestock in some other areas across Victoria where severe weather has hit.

Dr Phillips said.

“This will help your animals stay healthy and be able to better adapt to changing conditions.

“Cold weather increases an animal’s energy requirement to keep warm.

“As a result, when storms are forecast, additional supplementary feed before the event should be considered.

“Adequate shelter can include

Wangaratta Livestock Exchange - Prime Market Report VENDOR

HEAD BREED

SEX

paddock shelter belts (often retained vegetation and tree plantings), sheds or other buildings where stock can shelter on the side out of the wind, and undercover yards like those at a shearing shed.

“Isolated paddock trees can provide some shelter for livestock but can also act as a conductor for lightning strikes in a thunderstorm, which, in some circumstances, can lead to sud-

TUESDAY 9TH JANUARY 2024

AVG. WT.

C/KG

AGENCY

COWS

Mt bay past

1

speckle park cow

625

234.2

Corcoran parker

Northgate park

1

angus

cow

595

235

australian wool network

Homeleigh holdings

4

angus

cow

591.25

238

Nutrien livestock

Jarrot jl

1

angus x

cow

755

245

nutrien livestock

Jarrot jl

1

angus

cow

630

247

nutrien livestock

Fraser, m

1

angus

cow

695

247

nutrien livestock

Taafe brian

1

angus

cow

690

263.2

Australian wool network

Mt bay past

1

angus

heifer

410

224.2

Corcoran parker

Homeleigh holdings

1

black baldy heifer

540

232

nutrien livestock

Homeleigh holdings

1

angus

heifer

445

232.6

Nutrien livestock

Taafe brian

2

angus

heifer

567.5

265

Australian wool network

Davies t

1

black baldy heifer

445

270

elders

Forster a & k

1

angus x

steer

335

242.2

Nutrien livestock

Forster a & k

1

angus x

steer

340

242.2

Nutrien livestock

Forster a & k

3

angus x

steer

310

242.2

Nutrien livestock

Anderson km & ni

1

simmental

steer

845

250

australian wool network

Fraser, m

1

angus

steer

380

269.2

Nutrien livestock

Mt bay past

1

angus

steer

720

275

corcoran parker

Hammat veronica

1

angus

bull

970

225.2

Corcoran parker

Forge gg & am p/l

1

angus

bull

855

226.2

Elders

Evans m & a

1

limousin

bull

1,055.00

245

Nutrien livestock

HEFIERS

STEERS

BULLS

Next Sale: Tuesday 16th January 2024 1st AWN 2nd CP 3rd Elders 4th Nutrien

den death of livestock sheltering underneath the tree.”

If you need assistance with livestock losses associated with severe weather events, please contact your private vet, the Agriculture Victoria customer call centre on 136 186, or your local animal health team.

For emergency assistance, phone the Emergency Animal Disease (EAD) hotline on 1800 675 888.

Dairy tankers 2.4 times more likely to crash DATA from an NTI Limited insurance company report shows that, on average, dairy tankers are 2.4 times more likely to be involved in a crash than other freight transport types.

The National Truck Accident Research Centre (NTARC) report reviewed data on major incidents (greater than $50,000 incident cost) to identify trends with incidents involving dairy tankers which showed some critical differences between dairy tankers and all other unit types.

The most significant difference is the frequency of inappropriate speed crashes (not necessarily over speed limit).

These are predominantly single vehicle ‘untripped’ rollover crashes.

For dairy tankers, they represent one third of all major incidents (32 per cent) compared to one in eight for all unit types (13pc).

The report concluded that slosh (movement of milk within tank), in particular, can elevate crash risk as it raises a tanker’s centre of gravity and generates significant centrifugal force, pushing the tanker outwards on a curve.

It is particularly dangerous when a tanker is around half full (40–70pc) as the load has significant mass and room to move.

Roads and access play a part in the crash data, with road networks typically narrow and winding with substandard shoulders, the report details.

NTI’s report highlights the data during International Dairy Week that’s running until January 18.

THE CHRONICLE, Monday, January 15, 2024 - Page 15

wangarattachronicle.com.au

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

WHEN TO BOOK

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

SELLING BUY A CAR ONLINE

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

2 WEEKS REGIONAL WITH PICTURE

from only $42

OPEN HOURS 9AM TO 5PM MON-FRI

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

MARKS Mowing, reasonable prices, ride on mowing, edging, clean up, spraying and any waste removal. Ph 0472 603 156.

PAINTER. Ovens and King Painting Service, trade qualified, over 25 years experience, Interior/exteriors, for free quote phone Cherime Demaj 0422 778 257 or 5721 5482.

BABY Polecat ferrets, ready to go, $50.

Contact 0466 056 616.

EMPLOYMENT

DIRECTOR OF PEOPLE & EXPERIENCE

RJB Forestry Services is seeking a highly motivated labourer to join their team.

This is a casual position and will start daily from Myrtleford and travel to various forestry areas.

A manual driver’s license is required along with a willingness to work outside in all weather conditions. Experience using a chainsaw is preferred and previous experience in the forestry industry would be highly regarded.

For a full position description and or to submit your application please email rjbforestry@gmail.com.

Want to know more?

Contact Bob on 0447 853 472

TRUCK DRIVERS WANTED

PEDIGREE Miniature Poodle Puppies, apricot, red, brown, and black, excellent temperament vaccinated and microchipped, many testimonials available on request, source number: MB238702, microchip numbers: 956000016207918, 956000015910702, 991003002427976, 991003002427979, 991003002427980, 991003002427977.

Ph 0455 171 780 or 03 5727 0595.

Finding the right job for you matters to us MALSHIPOO puppies, 2 absolutely gorgeous females, 1 apricot and 1 black, 9 weeks old, microchipped, vaccinated and vet checked. Source number MB205779.

Microchip numbers 991003002598492, 991003002598502.

Contact Joanne 0413 534 180.

EMPLOYMENT

For the 2024 Grape Season.

MUST BE OR HAVE: CURRENT HC LICENCE, OVER 25 YEARS OLD, FORKLIFT LICENCE, EXPERIENCED WITH GENERAL FREIGHT. APPROXIMATELY 8 WEEKS WORK, STARTING EARLY FEB. Above Award Wages for the right applicants.

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

Warehouse and Delivery Person We are seeking a reliable and experienced warehouse and delivery person to join our team.

As a warehouse and delivery driver, you will play an essential role in ensuring the smooth operation of our warehouse and timely delivery of our products to our customers. This is a physically demanding role that requires excellent attention to detail and strong organisational skills. To start immediately.

Relevant licenses essential for more information please contact Bianca via email accounts@sammiranda.com.au

CreditCard& Eftposfacilities

Why not charge your advertisement to Mastercard or Visa?

5723 0101

FORESTRY LABOURER Mansfield District Hospital has an opportunity for a Director of People & Experience The role recognises the connection between employee culture, wellbeing and the consumer experience.

It will oversee all workforce functions and design and deliver people experience programs that changes people’s working lives and the health service’s culture for the better to make a difference.

Position Type: Permanent Full-time or Part-time flexibility Closing Date: 21st January 2024 Position Description and Applications: https://www.livehire.com/job/mdh/AAMMR

CARAVANS & CAMPERS

1997 Toyota Landcruiser 40th Anniversary Edition, excellent condition, only 210,000 kms, dual fuel, auto, bull bar, tow bar, CB antenna and wiring, includes 3rd row seats, reg (OOE152) until end Dec 2024, $21,000.

Ph 0439 840 716.

EMPLOYMENT

KING VALLEY WINEMAKERS

WE ARE LOOKING FOR OUR NEW WAREHOUSE’S TEAM MEMBER Pizzini Wines specialises in the production of Italian wine varieties and excellence in customer service. For further information about role requirements and responsibilities, scan the following QR code.

2013 Renault Clio RS 6SRUW SHUIHFW ¿UVW FDU 39,400km, (CS1990), RZQHG VLQFH QHZ DQG only driven locally and in immaculate condition, K D V D O Z D \ V E H H Q JDUDJHG DQG KDV KDG QR PHFKDQLFDO LVVXHV IXOO VHUYLFH ERRNV 3K

Classifieds Work!

If you have past experience or a willingness to learn, we would love to hear from you.

Please send applications to production@pizzini.com.au

Phone:

(03)

5723 0101

KOKODA caravan 20’6” 2017 model, full ensuite with ceramic vanity, front island queen bed, café dinette with trifold table, 190Ltr 3 way fridge, full oven with 3 gas and 1 electric burner, 19” digital TV, reverse cycle aircon, LED down lights, top load washing machine, rolled bench tops, drawers on rollers, diesel heater installed, double glazed windows, full checker plate on front and all-comp sides, roll-out awning, 2x 95ltr water tanks with galvanised stone, 22.6Ltr gas and electric hot water system, 2x 9kg gas bottles, deep cycle battery with charger, solar wiring provision with regulator, generator hatch, picnic table, 6” alloy wheels, dual access tunnel boot with lights, immaculate condition, $60,000, legitimate reason for selling, located in Bright.

Ph 0418 802 351 or 0427 189 176.

Emailyouradvert classifieds@nemedia.com.au

HINOMOTO Combac backhoe with blade, 13 H.P, 1960’s, good rubber, faulty carby, $2500 or fix carby on site, hourly rate. Ph 0427 662 951.

FOR SALE $50 OR UNDER FREE electric treadmill, very good order, can deliver locally. Ph 0407 500 630.

LIGHT fittings x3, large white balls, pendant style, matte chrome fittings, excellent condition, $30. Ph 0402 403 887.

S TA I N L E S S s t e e l double sink, 1.370 long, 470mm wide mixer, tap with connecting hose, deep sinks, $120. Ph 0427 662 951.

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

If you don't use it...

Sell it!

ELNAPRESS 2000 electronic press, type EP 31, in Bright, $100.

Contact 0427 189 176.

CLASSIFIEDS WORK - 5723 0101

Chronicle Classifieds get results.

5723 0101

Page 16 - THE CHRONICLE, Monday, January 15, 2024

wangarattachronicle.com.au

DEATH NOTICES COLLINS, David Timothy Henry.

Passed away on January 11, 2024.

Aged 84 years.

Loving husband of Este, father of Tim (dec) and Anna, son-in-law Richard and grandson Archie.

Will be forever missed.

DICKSON, Allan.

7/6/1931 – 11/1/2024 Much loved husband of Bev (dec).

Loving memories from Ian, Renee and Stella; Helen and Graham.

Adored Grandfather of Jack, Courtney, Matthew, Chantelle, Elyse, Sienna and Warwick.

Thank you, Dad, for the time we shared, The love you gave, the way you cared.

You left a place no-one can fill, We miss you Dad, and always will.

FUNERAL NOTICES

Read local news wherever you are Ĵ 2 )&16 )* ) '*2/, )&0+ 6*2 1/201 Ĵ ,#*/+ 1&*, 1% 1 (""-0 6*2 *,," 1"! Ĵ "40 #/*+ 1%" ,$ / 11 and the local region

COLLINS A memorial service to celebrate the life of Mr David Timothy Henry Collins will be held at the‘Glasshouse’, Benalla Lakeside Community Centre, enter via Arundel Street, Benalla on Friday, January 19, 2024, commencing at 11.30am.

To livestream funeral, go to the N J Todd Website and follow the links.

Private cremation.

N.J. TODD Member AFDA BENALLA (03) 5762 2461 EUROA 1800 352 425

DICKSON The funeral service to celebrate the life of Mr Allan Dickson will be held in the Mason Park Chapel, 95 Mason Street, Wangaratta on Thursday, January 18, 2024 at 2pm.

Burial will follow the service at the Milawa General Cemetery.

FUNERAL DIRECTORS

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

John & Christine Haddrick

5722 2525

Your award winning local newspaper is also available as a digital edition.

All Hours

northeastfunerals.com.au

A funeral experience... not just a funeral service

Mason Park Funerals

P. 03 5721 5060 W. masonpark.com.au

For more information on our special discounted subscription rates and to purchase a digital subscription visit wangarattachronicle.com.au and select the subscribe tab.

wangarattachronicle.com.au

THE CHRONICLE, Monday, January 15, 2024 - Page 17

Wangaratta & District Cricket Association 2023/24 season

A GRADE BENALLA BUSHRANGERS DEF BY WANGARATTA MAGPIES WANGARATTA MAGPIES 1ST INNINGS Cooper Matheson c: Michael Honman b: Daniel Brew .66 Nicholas Pell c: James Carboon b: Mitchell Wheelens ...4 Jack Davies not out .........................................................53* Fraser Ellis lbw: Daniel Brew ..............................................1 Nic Bonwick c: James Carboon b: Daniel Brew.............20 Jarryd Wallace c: Priyank Chohan b: Conor Brodie ......16 Frazer Dent not out..........................................................16* Thomas Clayton did not bat................................................Matt Gathercole did not bat ................................................Zac Guilfoyle did not bat......................................................Charlie Stafford did not bat .................................................Extras ...................................................................................14 Total...............................................................................5/190 Overs ...................................................................................40 FOW: 1-30 Nicholas Pell, 2-101 Cooper Matheson, 3-108 Fraser Ellis, 4-132 Nic Bonwick, 5-169 Jarryd Wallace.

Bowling: Conor Brodie 8/0/43/1, Charlie Bull 8/1/39/0, Mitchell Wheelens 8/0/34/1, Priyank Chohan 4/1/17/0, Tyler Begnone 4/0/26/0, Daniel Brew 8/0/29/3.

BENALLA BUSHRANGERS 1ST INNINGS James Carboon c: Cooper Matheson b: Thomas Clayton ................................................................................................3 Michael Honman lbw: Zac Guilfoyle ...............................24 Gary Priest c: Frazer Dent b: Zac Guilfoyle........................6 Priyank Chohan c: Fraser Ellis b: Frazer Dent .................34 Jonty Priest c: Cooper Matheson b: Frazer Dent .............4 Daniel Brew c: Cooper Matheson b: Fraser Ellis ..............0 George Lithgow lbw: Fraser Ellis........................................0 Charlie Bull c: Jack Davies b: Frazer Dent ......................12 Mitchell Wheelens c: Nicholas Pell b: Zac Guilfoyle.........9 Susanka Gamage c: Nicholas Pell b: Zac Guilfoyle........10 Tyler Begnone not out ...................................................... 1* Extras .....................................................................................6 Total............................................................................ 10/109 Overs ...................................................................................36 FOW: 1-3 James Carboon, 2-34 Michael Honman, 3-37 Gary Priest, 4-65 Jonty Priest, 5-74 Daniel Brew, 6-74 George Lithgow, 7-74 Priyank Chohan, 8-94 Charlie Bull, 9-106 Susanka Gamage, 10-109 Mitchell Wheelens.

Bowling: Matt Gathercole 8/3/13/0, Thomas Clayton 5/0/17/1, Zac Guilfoyle 8/0/19/4, Fraser Ellis 7/1/33/2, Frazer Dent 4/0/19/3, Nic Bonwick 1/0/1/0, Charlie Stafford 3/0/6/0.

SCOREBOARD: Saturday, January 13

ROVERS UNITED BRUCK DEF CITY COLTS

YARRAWONGA MULWALA DEF BY BEECHWORTH WANDERERS

OVENS VALLEY UNITED DEF BY DELATITE

ROVERS UNITED BRUCK 1ST INNINGS Jeremy Wilson c: Mitchell Giggins b: Josh Nanson .........0 Harry Jones b: Kent Braden .............................................17 Jacob Beattie c: Archie Crispin b: Kent Braden................7 Josh O’Donohue b: Kent Braden.......................................2 Lakpriya shantha Gangabadawatta Arachchilage c: Mitchell Giggins b: Tyler Nanson .....................................58 Paddy McNamara c: Jed Marek b: Josh Nanson ...........32 Jacob Schonafinger not out............................................. 0* Josh Ansell c: Mitchell Giggins b: Tyler Nanson ...............2 Matthew Whitten not out.................................................. 5* Connor Dennis did not bat ..................................................Matthew Winter did not bat ................................................Extras .....................................................................................9 Total...............................................................................7/132 Overs ...................................................................................24 FOW: 1-0 Jeremy Wilson, 2-27 Jacob Beattie, 3-28 Harry Jones, 4-29 Josh O’Donohue, 5-125 Paddy McNamara, 6-125 Lakpriya shantha Gangabadawatta Arachchilage, 7-127 Josh Ansell.

Bowling: Josh Nanson 4/0/30/0, Tyler Nanson 4/0/23/2, Kent Braden 5/1/12/3, Archie Crispin 5/0/14/0, Matthew Lister 3/0/21/0, Jed Marek 3/0/26/0.

YARRAWONGA MULWALA 1ST INNINGS Reid Clarke b: Clancy Ellett...............................................32 Matt Knight b: Brenton Surrey .........................................34 Jobe Fraser b: Clancy Ellett ..............................................10 Fraser Smart c: Kayde Surrey b: Clancy Ellett ..................0 Brock McCabe not out ....................................................43* Matthew Casey c: Will Prebble b: Gareth Taylor ............29 Kyle Archibald c: Gareth Taylor b: Kayde Surrey .............4 Angus McMillan c: Brenton Surrey b: Kayde Surrey ........0 Ben McDonald not out ...................................................... 0* Angus Heslin did not bat......................................................James Irvine did not bat ......................................................Extras ...................................................................................21 Total.............................................................................7 / 173 Overs ...................................................................................40 FOW: 1-62 Matt Knight, 2-85 Jobe Fraser, 3-85 Fraser Smart, 4-91 Reid Clarke, 5-168 Matthew Casey, 6-173 Kyle Archibald, 7-173 Angus McMillan.

Bowling: Timothy Cogger 4/0/23/0, Gareth Taylor 5/1/21/1, Campbell Fendyk 8/0/25/0, Dean Fitzpatrick 1/0/10/0, Brenton Surrey 8/0/26/1, Clancy Ellett 5/0/25/3, Henry Scalzo 3/0/12/0, Kayde Surrey 6/0/26/2.

OVENS VALLEY UNITED 1ST INNINGS Seamus Phillips b: Matt Stevenson .................................23 Gurjot Gosal c: Matt Stevenson b: Joe Kelleher...............0 Dylan Bursill b: Lachlan Scales ..........................................0 Cooper Thomason c: Trent Berry b: Mitchell Purcell ....39 Conner Forde b: Mitchell Purcell .....................................12 Thomas Chettleburgh b: Michael Burrows ......................3 Samuel Piazza b: Michael Burrows .................................10 Nicholas Impink c: Matt Stevenson b: Michael Burrows 4 Glenn White not out ........................................................25* James Neary b: Michael Burrows ......................................1 Mikka Paulsen b: Lachlan Scales .......................................3 Extras .....................................................................................7 Total............................................................................ 10/123 Overs ................................................................................35.5 FOW: 1-4 Gurjot Gosal, 2-7 Dylan Bursill, 3-42 Seamus Phillips, 4-75 Conner Forde, 5-82 Cooper Thomason, 6-90 Thomas Chettleburgh, 7-95 Samuel Piazza, 8-120 Nicholas Impink, 9-120 James Neary, 10-123 Mikka Paulsen.

Bowling: Lachlan Scales 5.5/1/16/2, Joe Kelleher 5/1/25/1, Peter Scales 6/0/29/0, Matt Stevenson 4/1/12/1, Mitchell Purcell 7/2/19/2, Michael Burrows 8/1/21/4.

CITY COLTS 1ST INNINGS Mitchell Giggins c: Josh Ansell b: Jacob Schonafinger ...1 Tyler Nanson c: Paddy McNamara b: Harry Jones ..........0 Josh Nanson c: Connor Dennis b: Harry Jones ...............8 Kent Braden b: Jacob Schonafinger .................................4 Jessie Smith not out........................................................20* Justin Solimo b: Jeremy Wilson ........................................8 Hayden Murray c: Connor Dennis b: Paddy McNamara .1 Nicholas Norris not out ..................................................... 6* Archie Crispin did not bat ....................................................Matthew Lister did not bat ..................................................Jed Marek did not bat ..........................................................Extras .....................................................................................6 Total.................................................................................6/54 Overs ...................................................................................24 FOW: 1-1 Tyler Nanson, 2-1 Mitchell Giggins, 3-13 Kent Braden, 4-15 Josh Nanson, 5-33 Justin Solimo, 6-38 Hayden Murray.

Bowling: Harry Jones 5/0/13/2. Jacob Schonafinger 4/1/6/2, Matthew Winter 2/0/6/0, Paddy McNamara 5/1/11/1, Jeremy Wilson 3/0/5/1, Jacob Beattie 3/0/4/0, Josh Ansell 2/0/4/0.

WELL LEFT: Conner Forde shoulders arms and lets the ball pass to the keeper.

PHOTOS: Janet Watt

BEECHWORTH WANDERERS 1ST INNINGS Kayde Surrey c: Reid Clarke b: Angus Heslin....................1 Clancy Ellett c: Angus McMillan b: Brock McCabe .........16 Campbell Fendyk not out...............................................69* Brenton Surrey c: Matt McCabe b: Ben McDonald ........91 Gareth Taylor not out ........................................................ 7* Timothy Cogger did not bat ................................................Dean Fitzpatrick did not bat ................................................Will Prebble did not bat .......................................................Lewis Richards did not bat ..................................................Henry Scalzo did not bat .....................................................Michael White did not bat....................................................Extras ...................................................................................20 Total...............................................................................3/204 Overs ...................................................................................40 FOW: 1-1 Kayde Surrey, 2-34 Clancy Ellett, 3-197 Brenton Surrey.

Bowling: James Irvine 5/0/20/0, Angus Heslin 6/0/25/1, Jobe Fraser 6/0/26/0, Brock McCabe 8/0/35/1, Angus McMillan 5/0/19/0, Matt McCabe 6/0/36/0, Matthew Casey 2/0/14/0, Ben McDonald 2/0/23/1.

BIG HITTER: Matt Stevenson launched three sixes in a single over.

DELATITE 1ST INNINGS Gregor Fraser c: Nicholas Impink b: Glenn White ..........27 Mark O’Loughlan run out: Glenn White, Nicholas Impink ................................................................................................6 Mitchell Copey lbw: Conner Forde ..................................22 Lachlan Scales c: Nicholas Impink b: Glenn White........11 Ben Martin b: Glenn White..................................................0 Trent Berry c: Conner Forde b: Glenn White ....................5 Mitchell Purcell c: Gurjot Gosal b: James Neary ............28 Matt Stevenson not out ..................................................35* Joe Kelleher not out .......................................................... 0* Michael Burrows did not bat ...............................................Peter Scales did not bat .......................................................Extras ...................................................................................15 Total...............................................................................7/149 Overs ...................................................................................40 FOW: 1-27 Mark O’Loughlan, 2-64 Mitchell Copey, 3-64 Gregor Fraser, 4-76 Lachlan Scales, 5-77 Ben Martin, 6-90 Trent Berry, 7-125 Mitchell Purcell.

Bowling: Cooper Thomason 4/0/15/0, James Neary 8/0/22/1, Gurjot Gosal 8/3/38/0, Samuel Piazza 5/0/15/0, Mikka Paulsen 2/1/10/0, Conner Forde 6/0/27/1, Glenn White 7/2/20/4.

RIGHT ARM OVER: Peter Scales steams in to bowl.

A RESERVE

City Colts 10/103 Ben Fledtmann 22 Senaka Lakmal 6/14 def by Rovers United Bruck 5/168 Luke Whitten 78 Harvey Moore 2/28. Wangaratta Magpies 6/178 Lachlan Hadden 71* Jasper De Fazio 1/6 def Benalla Bushrangers 10/47 Gurpreet Singh Mann 11 Matthew Prestianni 5/12. Rutherglen United 7/146 Dean Simmons 46 Oliver Connekk 3/11 def Yarrawonga Mulwala 10/127 Jyda House 26 Tom Ford 3/13.

B GRADE

Benalla Bushrangers 4/151 Jack Fullager 76 Fill-In 1/0 def Wangaratta Magpies 10/106 Rhys Delahunty 33 Will Botten 4/11. Ovens Valley United 10/131 Josh Harris 23 Aaron Kosch 4/26 def Greta 10/95 Lachlan Alexander 27 Corey Southern 3/10. Beechworth Wanderers 10/99 William Vlahos 40 Kristopher Allan 3/15 def by Milawa 7/170 Reuben Corsini 80 Oliver Biddulph 3/35. Delatite 9/152 Richy Jacob Philip 52 Lachlan Phillips 3/21 def Yarrawonga Mulwala 10/142 Marcus Hargreaves 51 Andrew Cook 3/36. Rovers United Bruck 8/152 Adriano Speziale 47 Pat Beattie 3/36 drew Rutherglen United 7/152 Pat Beattie 74 Edward Jones 2/8. Merton 6/237 Jai Lerch-Mackinnon 91 Tony Ormond 3/42 def City Colts 7/144 Brodie Watson 37 Henry Berriman 4/36.

C GRADE

Greta vs Benalla Bushrangers results unavailable. Yarrawonga Milwala 2/268 Glenn Sullivan 120*def Beechworth Wanderers (Stanley) 8/82 Jed Enslow 32 Ben Pickering 3/9.

UNDER 16

Greta/OVU 10/57 Mitch McMasters 17 Alasdair Brett 3/6 def by City Colts 6/106 Max Marek 32 Bayley Power 3/20. Benalla Bushrangers 6/91 Bryce Cooney 27* Mac O’Loughlan 3/3 def Delatite 3/62 Henry Berriman 23* Angus Richardson 1/3. Yarrawonga Mulwala def (forfeit) Rutherglen United. Beechworth Wanderers 6/90 Henry Scalzo 30 Edward Jones 1/5 def Rovers United Bruck 9/75 Will Graham 23 Alex Beatson 3/13.

UNDER 14

Rovers United Bruck Green 3/94 Henry Gibb 28 Alexander Sockett 2/10 def by Beechworth Wanderers 6/95 Luke Balzer 21 Henry Gibb 2/4. City Colts 6/61 Gus Marek 19Tate Llewellyn 1/1 def Rovers United Bruck Gold 10/46 Maddox Coleman 12 Finn Newton 3/2. Rutherglen United vs Benalla Bushrangers results not available. Delatite vs Ovens Valley United results not available. Yarrawonga Mulwala 3/98 Levi Purtle 19 Cullen Jenkin 2/7 def by Greta 6/99 Angus Fraser 30 Darcy Hargreaves 1/3.

Page 18 - THE CHRONICLE, Monday, January 15, 2024

wangarattachronicle.com.au

Wangaratta & District Cricket Association 2023/24 season

SCOREBOARD: Saturday, January 13

OVU Tigers fall to Delatite, still make A grade white ball final

By NATHAN DE VRIES

DRIVING: Gregor Fraser gets on the front foot.

TURNING: Michael Burrows picked up four wickets while going for less than three runs an over against Ovens Valley United.

PHOTOS: Janet Watt

NOT OUT: Sam Piazza survives a massive LBW shout.

OVENS Valley United have qualified for the A grade one day final in a far from convincing four-wicket loss to Delatite on Saturday at McNamara Reserve.

The Tigers were sent in to bat and were rolled for 123 in less than 36 overs, with Delatite making 7/149 in response.

Ovens Valley United failed to fire with the bat early, sitting at 2/7 before Seamus Phillips (23) and Cooper Thomason (39) started putting some runs on the board.

As wickets continued to fall, a handy knock of 25 not out from Glenn White helped salvage some pride for the Tigers as they were rolled for a below-par score.

Michael Burrows was the pick of the bowlers for Delatite, finishing with 4/21 and one maiden from his eight overs.

With a target in sight, Delatite went after the bad balls and kept rotating the strike, before Glenn White managed to find Mark O’Loughlan’s edge for the breakthrough.

Mitch Copey (22) Gregor Fraser (27) and Mitch Purcell (28) all contributed valuable runs while other batters went cheaply.

However, it was Matt Stevenson who stole the show after belting three consecutive sixes off the final over to finish unbeaten on 35 not out.

Glenn White was outstanding with the ball, claiming 4/20 and a run out.

Ovens Valley United skipper Dylan Bursill said it was a disappointing way to qualify for a final.

“We just didn’t bat well enough,” he said.

“We had a late change in Kane Fitzpatrick, he was out crook on the morning of the

game, so that wasn’t great – he’s been batting really well at the top of the order the last couple of games.

“We didn’t quite get to the score we wanted, I think 150 would’ve been par on a big ground like that with the ground pretty quick.

“We bowled and fielded really well, but in saying that, Delatite batted really well and didn’t give us any chances, and we knew it was going to be tough to defend 123.”

Bursill said despite the result, there were a number of very promising individual performances.

“Cooper Thomason batted really well, he was a bit crook as well, and Seamus (Phillips) batted well then just went out to a bad ball which was unlucky for him,’ he said.

“Glenn (White) batted really well at the end, he just needed a partner to stick with him, he was looking really good, just hitting the bad balls which was good to see.”

Having locked a position in one day final, Bursill said the entire competition was incredibly close, with any team able to take the win on their day.

“It was disappointing but I think in the A grade comp this year you can’t take any team lightly, you’ve got to be prepared,” he said.

“Delatite beat Yarrawonga last week and us this week and they’re on the bottom of the ladder, so it’s a lot tighter comp than you think.”

In other matches, Rovers United Bruck defeated City Colts to claim a spot in the final, Wangaratta Magpies downed Benalla Bushrangers, and Beechworth made 3/204 chasing Yarrawonga Mulwala’s 7/173.

Hawks down Colts to claim place in one day final ■ From back page

“We didn’t get underway until 3.30pm, it was a long day waiting around – it was almost like a rain delay but it was 35 degrees and perfect cricket weather, and we couldn’t get on.

“Harry Jones got us off to a really good start, but we fell into a little bit of a heap, lost four for not many.

“We had Lucky Perrera back for his first game since he’s been away, he came in and absolutely smoked them, and I was able to build a partnership with him which got us to the total we were looking for.

“We knew if we could just bowl tight early, make sure we don’t let them get off to a good start and get early wickets ourselves, we knew the game would be ours.

“Harry Jones and ‘Schona’ bowled really well at the top as per usual – plenty of dot

balls, a couple wickets, and it was pretty much game over from there.”

With other results leaning their way, the Hawks will finish on top of the one day ladder, and will face Ovens Valley United in the grand final on Sunday, February 4.

For the Colts, the loss does sting, with skipper Mitch Giggins confident his side can put it behind them and focus on making the two-day playoffs.

“It’s a little bit disappointing, it would’ve been great to play the one day final, but we’re not here to play one day finals, we want to play in the two-day final,” he said.

“It’s disappointing we rocked up to a game that could’ve put us into the final and we were well below par.

“It’s another opportunity to learn and grow and get better in preparation for the back half of the year.”

CLEAN HITTING: Lucky Perera smashed 58 from 50 deliveries to help set Rovers United Bruck up for a solid victory and a place in the white ball decider.

PHOTO: Melissa Beattie

wangarattachronicle.com.au

THE CHRONICLE, Monday, January 15, 2024 - Page 19

SPORT

Fraser hangs up the reins Legendary Wangaratta trainer James Fraser calls time after 35 years in the busines business

BY WILLSON MACK wmack@ nemedia.com.au

J

AMES Fraser has called time on his horse racing career after 35 years and a few hundred wins.

A trainer known for having only half a dozen to 10 horses in his stable at a time, Fraser’s career was nothing short of impressive having featured in some of the country’s best races throughout his career.

Fraser’s love of horses developed from a young age, going along to riding lessons as a four-year-old before competing in pony races a few years later.

“My older sister is seven years older than me and she was going to riding lessons as an 11, 12-year-old and I got sent along with her,” Fraser said.

“Dad was a keen punter and loved his racing so I’d go along to the races with him every Saturday as a kid, I’ve always been around racing.

“Originally I wanted to be a jockey but I went to Bert Honeychurch’s stables in Berrigan one day and I put one foot out of the car and he said by the size of my foot I’d end up being too tall to ride so by the time I put the next foot out the door I wanted to be a trainer.”

Fraser’s career began when Lager Lassy became his first winner on December 7 1991, saluting at Wangaratta at $14.

“My first winner was a big thrill,” he said.

“All of the locals told me to scratch him because he drew barrier 14 of 14 and it was a wicked 1200m back then but the horse was going well and the jockey Brian Johns told me to leave it to him.

“Brian flew out of the gates on him, knocked over anything in front of him and ended up winning which was a great thrill.

“I had $70 each-way on him at 14/1 and ended up shouting the bar which probably would’ve only cost me $70 back in those days.”

From there, the boutique trainer would go on to train a number of star horses including Dr Nipandtuck who was a stakes winner, group placed and country cup winning dream horse.

The son of Dr Fong went on to win 11 races and place 17 times from 78 starts, winning $755,490 in prizemoney with victory in the listed Sandown Six Stakes, Wodonga Cup and Swan Hill Cup a few highlights.

But his ability was further highlighted with third place finishes in the group one Manikato Stakes and group three Hong Kong Jockey Club Stakes.

Dr Nipandtuck was also only two lengths off the winner Bon Hoffa in 2007’s

DONE AND DUSTED: Local horse trainer James Fraser has retired from racing and is looking forward to spending more time with his boys Angus (left) and Andrew (middle).

PHOTO: Bailey Zimmermann

STAR: James Fraser’s Ghost Doctor. group one Rupert Clarke Stakes, while it was a similar result in 2007’s group one Emirates Stakes where he was just two lengths behind $101 pop Tears I Cry. “Dr Nipandtuck won more VOBIS money than any other horse in his three-year-old year which he won an award for,” Fraser said.

“He was group one placed, group three placed and a listed winner and he also won Wodonga and Seymour cups.

“He would’ve raced five or six times in Melbourne Cup week which was just so much fun because all of the owners would come down.

“In the 2009 Emirates Stakes we were two lengths away but drew outside and had to be dragged back to last because of it so that’s a race I reckon we could’ve won if we’d drawn a better gate.

“We had a few people sniffing around him as a three-year-old, we got offered around $300,000 to sell him to Hong Kong but we opted not

PHOTO: Racing Photos

to and ended up pulling the right rein because he ended up winning around $800,000 and gave us a lot of fun.”

Fraser said Slamming was his life-changing horse though, which he sold to Hong Kong after winning his second start at Flemington down the straight in the 2010 Responsible Gambling Awareness Week Handicap (1000m).

“He finished second at Bendigo in his first start and was really unlucky,” Fraser said.

“We said that if he had won we’d take him to Flemington and because he finished so close we still took him there.

“After he won there was a bit of press around and we had no plans of what we were going to do next but I knew he was a handy horse and I told the press he’d probably end up in Hong Kong.

“I went to get my complimentary drink after the race and before I knew it I had calls coming in asking to sell him.

STABLE FAVOURITE: James Fraser and Get Ya Kicks.

“At the time I had two mortgages on farms and my credit cards were maxed out so selling him for $300,000 was life-changing, especially considering I also had a 65 per cent share in him.”

Slamming was renamed Pocket Rockets on arrival in Hong Kong and won three races in a two-year stint over there before coming back to Australia where he was trained by Tony McEvoy.

Pocket Rockets took out four races under McEvoy, eventually retiring under Nick Ryan’s care after 41 starts, eight wins, seven placings and $395,160 in prizemoney.

“He won a couple of jump outs over in Hong Kong and looked like a really good horse but then went a bit ordinary,” Fraser said.

“His tongue used to go over the bit so when I had him I put a tongue tie on him and he became a four length better horse but they wouldn’t put one on him over there.

“Once he was back in Australia he won a race for

Tony McEvoy at Flemington where Craig Williams was riding him and I couldn’t figure out whu they weren’t putting a tongue tie on him.

“Anyway a week or so later Craig Williams was talking about the horse in the Herald Sun and said he needs a tongue tie so I reckon he would’ve won a few more if they’d had done that.”

Fraser also had the likes of Pindari Prince who won the 2005 Swan Hill Cup and Windward Bay who took out a Corowa Cup. “Windward Bay came as an eight-year-old reject,” Fraser said.

“He was given to me and he ended up winning the Corowa Cup in his first start under me.

“He also won the Golden Mile which was the second biggest race in Wangaratta back then.” ears later the North East region would get to know the likes of Keep The Faith progeny Get Ya Kicks and Ghost Doctor who were both bred by Fraser.

Y

“In the latter years I trained Get Ya Kicks and Ghost Doctor who were your bread and butter type horses,” he said.

“Get Ya Kicks won 13 races and Ghost Doctor won 11 so 24 between the two of them was a great result considering I bred them myself.

“Both won around $250,000 each and were a lot of fun to train.”

Unfortunately Get Ya Kicks passed away in 2020 after a fractured pelvis which resulted in a blood clot.

“It was a sad day when Get Ya Kicks died at the farm, he was a favourite,” he said.

“I was going to the races that day and he died in my arms, I couldn’t stop crying.

“Craig Weeding was new to Wangaratta and came across and helped me with him while I went to the races which I was really thankful for.”

Fraser said a mixture of exhaustion and not taking a liking to the direction racing is going in led him to the tough decision of finishing up.

“I’m exhausted, I need a knee replacement and my shoulder’s stuffed from pulling horses around,” he said.

“I’ve been doing it for 34 years as a one man band and don’t have the ammunition to compete anymore.

“I’m not interested in going to places far away to pick up a maiden because there’s less and less country races now because all of the racing’s around Melbourne at places like Pakenham and Cranbourne.

“Years ago the majority of meetings at Wangaratta would be on the weekends so everyone would go along, I’d have 10 to 20 owners coming and staying in Wangaratta for the weekend but now they’re on Tuesdays or Thursdays when everyone’s working which is sad.

“I don’t like the direction racing’s going in, we have races worth $20 million in Sydney and $10 million in Melbourne but we’re only racing for $27,000 in the country.

“I just feel like the heart of racing is being pulled out a little bit.”

Fraser said he’s loved the owners he’s had involved with the stable and couldn’t thank them enough for their support.

“I’ve pretty much had the same owners from when I started to now which I think is a compliment,” he said.

“A lot of the owners have turned in to great friends and we’ve had plenty of fun along the way.

“I wouldn’t have been able to do it without them.”

And as for now, Fraser said he’s looking forward to watching his boys Angus and Andrew play cricket for Greta and footy for Centrals.

Page 20 - THE CHRONICLE, Monday, January 15, 2024

wangarattachronicle.com.au

James Fraser hangs up the reins

Page 19

SLASHED AWAY GLENN White belts the ball through the off-side in Ovens Valley United’s A grade clash against Delatite. The Tigers came up second best, rolled for 123 before Delatite chased down the runs with four wickets in hand.

The Tigers will play in the one day grand final in early February.

■ Story page 18.

PHOTO: Janet Watt

Hawks get home over Colts Rovers U R United i dB Bruck kd down Ci Cityy C Colts l to claim l i pl place iin A ggrade d one d dayy ggrand d finall d decider id ROVERS United Bruck’s A grade squad has rocked the competition and leaped to the top of the one day ladder, just in time to make the white ball grand final.

The Hawks downed City Colts in a much-delayed match, with the game reduced to 24 overs per side due to unsuitable ground conditions.

BY NATHAN DE VRIES ndevries@ nemedia.com.au

After being watered the night before, the pitch had not drained as expected, leaving the wicket table and square too wet for play to begin until 3.30pm.

Tension was running high, with the winner of

the match guaranteed a grand final berth against Ovens Valley United Once play was underway, the Hawks worked into a strong innings after a shaky start, posting 7/132 from just 24 overs.

Lucky Perera was nigh unstoppable, belting 58 runs from 50 deliveries, combining with skipper Paddy McNamara (32 from 50) for a

MOVE IT HIRE IT Call 1300 722 132

3DUÀWW 5G :DQJDUDWWD ZZZ SDFLÀFKLUH FRP DX

96-run fifth wicket partnership.

For the Colts, Kent Braden (3/12), Tyler Nanson (2/23) and Josh Nanson (2/30) all found themselves among the wicket-takers, with the boys in blue set a mountainous chase to secure their spot in the decider.

RUB’s bowling attack proved far too good, limiting bad deliveries and striking

early and consistently, as the Colts struggled to 4/15.

Jessie Smith was the only Colts batter to reach double figures in the run chase, finishing unbeaten on 20, while the wickets continued to fall at the other end.

Jacob Schonafinger and Harry Jones were economical and picked up two wickets each.

RUB skipper Paddy McNa-

ɵ ([FDYDWRUV 7RQ ɵ 5ROOHUV 7RQ ɵ 3ODWH &RPSDFWRUV .J ɵ DQG PDQ\ PRUH

HIRE SATURDAY GET SUNDA Y

FREE!* *T&C’S A

PPLY

mara said it was a tremendous result on a bizarre day.

“I got to the ground a bit early and the square was just soaked,” he said.

“We gave it a little bit of water on Friday night, nothing too extravagant, and due to putting a bit of new soil in last week, the moisture just held to the soil and it was absolutely soaked.

■ Continued page 18