Chronicle Monday 150424

NEW BEGINNINGS

DEBBIE Conroy of the Bobinawarrah Memorial Hall committe was thrilled to receive a $2500 grant from Garry Nash and his real estate company’s Community Fund.

 Story page 3

GROWTH SPURT

Rezoning of land for 333-lot subdivision in rural city’s south is now open for public submissions gypp

PROPOSED new residential growth has taken its first steps in Wangaratta’s south with a multi-lot subdivision up for community consultation.

BY BAILEY ZIMMERMANN bzimmermann@ nemedia.com.au

A combined planning scheme amendment and 233-lot subdivision of residential land near Targoora Park and Clarkes Lane on Wangaratta-Whitfield Road has been submitted as an application through council as a part of the Wangaratta Planning Scheme. The application includes proposed amendments

which will seek to rezone low-density residential land on Clarkes Lane to a general residential zone and part of Targoora Park from a public park and recreation zone to a public use zone.

Initial plans for the rezoning were announced in November 2022 which cited a 248-lot subdivision

of transformed residential land.

Rural City of Wangaratta director of sustainability and culture, Stephen Swart, said the applicants had gone through detailed planning processes over the past year which has led to the prosed amendments in the submitted application last week.

“We’re taking the first step in the planning process by telling the community we’ve got this application and giving people an opportunity to look at it and have their say,” he said.

“It’s taken that amount of time to do all of the detailed planning work and the negotiation and

conversations that is needed to get a proposal to this point.” The application was slated to have been for the State Government’s Minister for Planning’s office late in 2022, but was delayed due to the amendments made in the proposal.

■ Continued page 2

Fire Danger Period ends today

THE Fire Danger Period for the Rural City of Wangaratta ended at 1am this morning and for the remainder of the North East region in the municipalities in CFA’s District 12, 13, 23 and 24.

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

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

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

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

333-lot subdivision is now open for public submissions

■ From page 1

The proposal will ultimately be sent to Planning Minister Sonya Kilkenny for a final decision.

Due to Wangaratta’s sewerage capacity restraints, developers propose to use cutting edge technology to install an integrated water management facility (IWM) – the same tech used at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

This would convert wastewater from the sewer system into Class A recycled water that would free up capacity for an additional 100 households in the area.

The recycled water can then either be used for irrigation purposes at the Cathedral College sporting fields and Targoora Park or fed back into the sewer system.

FIRST STEPS: The proposed 233-lot subdivision in the rural city’s south is now open for public submissions until May 14.

Before the large-scale works can commence, North East Water have installed 150-kilolitre sewer detention tanks in the rural city’s north-west to help alleviate the city’s

sewer system during storm events. Mr Swart said there would be similar short-term solutions to be installed in the southern growth areas.

Community members have the chance to make their submissions on the application until May 14.

Council will also be reviewing submissions for a development plan on 61 and 69 Clarkes Lane as a part of the southern growth area.

The development proposes to subdivide the land into around 97 residential lots and construct an internal road network, public open spaces, drainage reserve and services to support the subdivision of land.

Mr Swart said the area was rezoned back in 2019 from a farming area to a general residential zone and council would review community’s submissions which closed on Friday.

Peer support group seek community connection

By JORDAN DUURSMA

A LOCAL Low Vision and Blindness Peer Support Group is making a positive impact in the Wangaratta community, supporting those who are blind or vision impaired.

The group started in September 2023 as a volunteer led initiative backed by Blind Sport and Recreation Victoria (BSRV).

It meets the first Wednesday of each month from 10:30am to 11:30am at Where’s My Coffee.

Assistant program coordinator, Tegan Allen, said the support group provides the opportunity for people with low vision and blindness to come together and support one another.

“Creating connections between people and facilitating social interactions is the focus, it’s a safe space for members to share their tips and tricks and support one another,” she said.

“Giving the support group members a chance to come along and have a social connection, and meet other people who are similar to them and have experienced similar disability is important.

“BSRV has predominately been Melbourne based up until recent years, it’s important for us to be able to branch out and run things in regional areas.”

Program manager, Rachel DeSumma, said the group focuses on the social connection, seeing it as integral to people’s health and wellbeing.

“It is helpful to learn what supports are out there because sometimes you don’t hear about what is available and how to navigate them,” Ms DeSumma said.

“By talking with each other, members can learn more about what’s available; one of our members has recently lost his vision so for him it was about getting awareness about the different technologies, support, equipment and tools that are available.

“Understanding what’s out there and learning little things from each other about daily living activities or ways to do things with vision loss is key.”

Ms Allen said the motivation behind starting the support group came from having conversations with people in Wangaratta about the need in the community.

The group is primarily for people with low vision and blindness, but support people and family members are also encouraged to join in.

Ms DeSumma said vision loss is a big life change and so it often takes people time to adapt to that and feel comfortable.

“If anyone is feeling nervous or unsure about coming along they can give us a call, we’re happy to talk through any concerns you might have and be there to welcome you,” she said.

“Being in an inclusive space where people have an awareness of how to support people with vision loss is important, making people feel welcome and being able to do the small things that make an experience more accessible for people with vision loss is something we put effort into.”

The next group meeting will be trivia themed led by regular member, Luke Davis, who Ms DeSumma described as a “trivia buff ”.

People who want to learn how to support people in the community with low visions and blindness are encouraged to join BSRV’s

Vision Loss Awareness training on Wednesday, May 29 from 5pm to 7pm at the Wangaratta Library.

“People can be uncertain about how to approach someone with vision loss to offer help,” Ms DeSumma said.

“The Vision Loss Awareness Training gives you more skills and understanding around how to support people with vision loss,” she said.

“It builds a level of awareness and understanding about how to make sport and recreation inclusive for people with vision loss.

“People can be meaningfully involved and participate in a lot of different ways.”

Another way community members can be involved is volunteering to walk with someone with vision loss in The Walking with Willpower program.

For more information about joining, donating or volunteering, visit BSRV’s website at www. blindsports.org.au or the support group’s Facebook at https://www. facebook.com/blindsportsrecvic/. Contact the support group via email at tegan@blindsports.org.au or call 0408424275.

HERE TO SUPPORT YOU: BSRV assistant program manager Tegan Allen, Nimbee and BSRV project manager Rachel DeSumma, welcome the Wangaratta community to join in.

PHOTO: Jordan Duursma

Preserving town’s identity

Bobinawarrah Memorial Hall receives $2500 grant from Garry Nash and Co Community Fund BbihMilHlli$2500fGNhdCCiFd

THE Bobinawarrah Memorial Hall will benefit from some much needed upgrades thanks to a $2500 grant from the Garry Nash & Co Community Fund.

The hall is almost 100 years old and the grant money will be used to improve its electrical system and renovate the storage room.

“We’ve seen the opportunity this year to get on with applying for it because we urgently need an upgrade to the electrical,” said Bobinawarrah Hall president, Debbie Conroy.

“We thought with that smaller type grant it would be perfect for applying for that job to get done before we tackle bigger jobs.”

Ms Conroy said the hall committee decided to apply for the grant to ensure the longevity of the hall.

“We need the upgrades to continue using the hall and make sure the air conditioners and everything don’t overload the old power board,” she said.

BY CHLOE JAENICKE cjaenicke@ nemedia.com.au

“This was a badly needed upgrade to make sure it’s safe going forward.”

The upgrades are also important to maintain the long history of the hall.

The site of the hall was initially the old school and in 1925, the bricks from the school were used to build the soldiers hall war memorial.

“There are plaques inside the hall for returned soldiers and the ones who have made the ultimate sacrifices locally,” Ms Conroy said.

“The hall was built in memory of the soldiers, and we’d love to keep that memory alive for younger generations going forward.”

From there, many upgrades have been made to the hall, that have made it into the social hub it is today.

The first renovation to the hall was a supper

room built in the 1950s.

Later, the concrete tennis courts were built by local farmers and even though the tennis club disbanded, Ms Conroy said the courts have always been an active space for the community.

“The courts have always been there for locals to use,” she said.

“We used them a lot when our kids were young to go for a hit for an hour or two.”

After the tennis courts were built, the hall received some major grants resulting in even more upgrades including upgrades to the kitchen.

According to Ms Conroy, the hall has always been a gathering place for the community for local groups including the CFA, who have been meeting there for decades, the Carboor Bobinawarrah Landcare Group and other events hosted by locals.

“The major hall renovations made it a lot more attractive and practical for functions so there have

been a lot more of those in the recent years,” she said.

“Its use hasn’t changed much, being a farming community, the hall gives

Bobinawarrah its identity.”

Ms Conroy said she would like to thank not only the Garry Nash & Co team and the Into Our Hands Founda-

tion for the generous grant, but also members of the hall’s committee both past and present for keeping the hall alive.

Wangaratta’s first CALD swimming program at WSAC

RURAL City of Wangaratta launched its first Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) swimming program at the Wangaratta Sports and Aquatic Centre (WSAC) last week.

Enrolment was strong, with nine participants learning basic strokes and building confidence in the water.

Aaron (Alex) Alexander, WSAC’s Programs Team Leader, led the swimming lessons for young CALD (Culturally and Linguistically Diverse) community members.

Originally from Nigeria, Alex gained experience working with diverse groups, teaching activities such as dry aerobics, basketball, general fitness, and swim instruction.

LEARNING VALUABLE LESSONS:

importance of mastering essential life skills.

In 2002, during a picnic with friends by a river, he narrowly escaped drowning.

With no access to formal swimming lessons, Alex and his friends were self-taught swimmers.

This incident motivated him to learn how to swim and develop his water safety knowledge.

Subsequently, three years before his relocation to Australia, he transitioned into a swimming instructor role driven by his passion for imparting these vital skills to others.

‘’As someone from a CALD background, I was excited when the opportunity came to oversee the swimming program and to be a part of this project,” he said.

“The drowning statistics within this demographic of people are alarming.

“I want to commend everyone who has made this possible and I look forward to our partners bringing more people to participate soon.

“One person at a time, we can prevent drowning when we help everyone to know how to be safe around water.”

in 2022 by the Youth Affairs Council of Victoria (YACVic), has evolved from supporting young people aged 16-25 in building resilience in fire-affected communities to adopting an ‘all-hazards allagencies’ approach.

The latest Life Saving Victoria drowning report for 20222023 highlights the tragic loss of 12 individuals from CALD communities due to drowning incidents in Victoria.

The Rural City of Wangaratta is working to expand future class offerings to ensure greater accessibility and participation in water safety education.

He moved to Australia in 2022 and joined WSAC as a swimming teacher in 2023, driven by a strong commitment to drowning prevention and sharing his expertise with students from various backgrounds.

Alex’s firsthand experience underscores the critical

Alex said providing swimming lessons to members of the CALD community is a crucial step in promoting water safety and reducing the risk of drowning for our whole community.

WSAC is collaborating with the North East Multicultural Association (NEMA), Future Proof project staff, and the CALD community to prevent drownings in North East Victoria.

Future Proof, launched

Additional information can be found via: https:// blog.lsv.com.au/2023/12/11/ victorian-drowning-report-22-23 or /https://www. wsac.vic.gov.au/Learn-toSwim.

CELEBRATING HISTORY: Debbie Conroy, Garry Nash (front), Rex Gibb, Rob Bridgefoot, Mark and Sue Hurley are looking forward to seeing the Bobinawarrah Hall bieng upgraded.

PHOTO: Kurt Hickling

Daisy Pearce (left)

Kristopher Lovel, Kabelo Mokgophi, Mary Salazer and Aaron Alexander featured in council’s first Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) swimming program at the Wangaratta Sports and Aquatic Centre (WSAC) last week.

PHOTO: Kurt Hickling

Poisonous mushrooms sprout

Health authorities issue alert amid a growing concern in autumn’s cool conditions gg

HEALTH authorities are warning about the dangers of poisonous mushrooms, including death cap mushrooms and yellow-staining mushrooms, which occur in Victoria during autumn as the weather becomes wetter and cooler.

Victoria’s acting chief health officer, Dr Evelyn Wong, said that anyone who collects and consumes wild mushrooms of unknown species is putting themselves at risk of potential poisoning and serious illness, and that consuming a death cap mushroom may result in death.

In an alert notice issued this week, Dr Wong said that unless you are an expert, do not pick and eat wild mushrooms in Victoria.

“Children should not touch wild mushrooms with their bare hands and animals should be kept away from them,” the advice notice reads.

“Pets can develop a range of illnesses from eating wild mushrooms, including gastroenteritistype syndrome to severe life-threatening disease and death.

“Dogs are more likely than cats to ingest mushrooms.

“Remove any mushrooms from your garden before pets have a chance to eat them...wear gloves and

carefully place in a bag and dispose of them in a closed rubbish bin.”

Mushrooms purchased from a supermarket, greengrocer or other reputable source are safe to eat, the notice reads.

Dr Wong said there is no home test available to distinguish safe and edible mushrooms from poisonous mushrooms, and cooking, peeling or drying poisonous mushrooms does not remove or inactivate the poison.

Emergency help

People should urgently attend an emergency department if they believe they’ve eaten a poisonous mushroom.

They should also take any remaining mushrooms with them for identification.

In most cases, the sooner treatment can begin, the better the outcome...do not wait for symptoms to occur before seeking medical attention.

Contact the Victorian Poisons Information Centre immediately on 13 11 26 (24 hours a day, seven days a week, Australia wide).

Keep and photograph a sample of the mushroom that was consumed to share with the Victorian Poisons Information Centre for expert identification of the mushroom.

Death cap mushrooms

Death cap mushrooms (Amanita phalloides) are extremely poisonous and consuming just one mushroom can kill an adult.

Symptoms of poisoning by death cap mushrooms can include violent stomach pains, nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea.

Even if initial symptoms subside serious liver damage may have occurred that may result in death.

These mushrooms grow under oak trees and the caps are 40-160 mm in diameter.

The cap ranges in colour from pale yellow-green to olive brown and the ridges on the underside of the cap are white.

The base of the stem has a membrane ‘cup’.

Yellow-staining mushrooms

The yellow-staining mushroom (Agaricus xanthodermus) is the cause of most poisonings due to ingestion of wild fungi in Victoria.

Consuming yellow-staining mushrooms causes nausea, stomach cramps, diarrhoea and vomiting.

The severity of symptoms varies with the amount eaten.

This mushroom looks very similar to regular purchased mushrooms or ‘cultivated mushrooms’ (Agaricus bisporus) and to edible wild mushrooms such as the field mushroom (Agaricus campestris).

In urban areas the yellow-staining mushroom is unfortunately much more common than edible mushrooms.

It can grow in large troops in lawns and gardens.

Winds of cool change, with snowfall for alpine resorts

LAST week’s active cold frontal system that invaded Tasmania, Victoria and most of NSW also delivered the first snowfalls at the North East alpine resorts of Mt Hotham and Falls Creek.

The noticeable drop in temperatures will see maximum stay below normal into this week.

Once again last week’s heaviest rainfalls were in Central Victoria where Melbourne recorded 36mms and Scoresby recorded 40mms to Tuesday morning.

Melbourne has now recorded 104mms this month and Scoresby 133mms.

Melbourne has now recorded successive Aprils of more than 100mms for the first time since

WHAT’S UP WITH THE WEATHER?

By Peter Nelson, Peter retired CSIRO climatologist

1995 and 1996.

Rainfall totals to date in North East Victoria are still down on average, but significant rainfalls are anticipated by the fourth week of April.

Perth has completed its driest October to March period in 148 years of records with only 21.8mms of rainfall.

The average rainfall for this period of the year is 130 mms.

Other very dry October to March

periods between 40 and 50mms were in 1891-92, 1902-03, 1943-44 and 1993-94. April and May in Victoria tended to be wetter than average after these four episodes.

Carnarvon in the Gascoyne district of WA recorded 40.6 degrees on Wednesday, April 3 - the fourth hottest April day there in 117 years of records.

The hotter April days of 41 degrees occurred in 1910, 1911 and 1959.

The period from October 2022 to January 2024 was exceptionally dry in Carnarvon with only 54mms of rainfall in that 16 month period.

Because of this very dry 16 months it was not surprising to re-

cord over 40 degrees each month from January to April this year.

This has happened only once before in the last 117 years - in 1928, but came very close in 1998.

1928 was very wet in Victoria and NSW during the first three months of that year which of course did not happen this year.

Certainly more like 1998 which did see a notably warm and dry March in NSW and Victoria that year which also happened this year.

There were periodic significant rainfalls from late April to mid November 1998 in Victoria and a hot dry December with maximum temperatures near 40 degrees during the second week.

Make your pitch to turn city into live music capital

TRIPLE j’s One Night Stand is back, fresh from a five-year break and ready to make a regional town a live music capital for one night.

Locals from regional towns can make a pitch to triple j, sharing why hosting the One Night Stand will make a difference n their community.

Ben Nyman, local musician and owner of No 49 Record Bar in Wangaratta, said the community should take any chance for young people to access live music.

“People should get on board and pitch Wangaratta,” he said.

“With so many festivals and pubs closing down, Wangaratta’s music scene is lacking, not in talent, but in venues.

“There is heaps of local talent that I’ve seen come through, from school bands to people forming new groups, but nowhere to play in town.

“I go to Albury and Beechworth with my band, Lowline,

BY JORDAN DUURSMA jduursma@ nemedia.com.au

because there are venues to play there.

“If triple j’s One Night Stand came to Wangaratta, it would let council or the people in charge know that there is a scene that is asking for live music, and wants to be heard. “I think it could influence something to happen for the local music scene.”

In partnership with Music Australia, triple j’s One Night Stand is set to return for an epic one-day, all-ages, drug and alcohol-free live music event.

The event will run later this year, with more details on the date, location and line-up to be announced.

Local music enthusiast, Derek Smith, said the next generation needs access to live music in their town or they will

go somewhere else.

“Our town has lost its live music scene, and we need it back in a big way,” he said.

Head of triple j, Double J and ABC Country, Lachlan Macara said they are beyond stoked to be bringing back triple j’s One Night Stand in 2024 to continue supporting Australian artists and provide an opportunity for young people in the regions to “get around some live music”.

“We’re busy working on an incredible line up sure to create another One Night Stand for the history books and we can’t wait to see where we’ll be heading in 2024,” he said.

Director of Music Australia, Millie Millgate said Music Australia is excited to support the return of triple j’s One Night Stand, a trusted platform that builds the profile of Australian artists and supports engagement in regional communities.

Head to triple j’s website to pitch Wangaratta for the event.

Bestselling authors to support Project 365 on national tour stop

By SIMONE KERWIN BESTSELLING

authors

Anne Buist and Graeme Simsion will roll into Wangaratta this Thursday as part of their Great Australian Bookshop Tour.

The husband and wife duo have been on the road for more than two weeks already visiting bookshops across the nation to promote the new novel they’ve written together, ‘The Glass House’, and the tour is set to continue through to July.

“It will be nice to visit Wangaratta on our way home (to Melbourne) - we are not home very long before we head to Tasmania, so we’re looking forward to it,” Anne said.

Anne and Graeme’s author talk on Thursday evening from 6.30pm at Where is My Coffee in Murphy Street, organised by Edgars Books and News, will also serve as a fundraiser for local mental health initiative Project 365.

All profits from book sales and donations made on the night will go to the local group of musicians, who have staged performances over the last two years to raise awareness of mental health with the message ‘it’s okay to not be okay’.

“We’ve read up a bit about the group and their use of music to help people talk about mental health; music for many people is a great way of tapping into emotions,” Anne said.

“Our royalties from sales at events are going to mental health charities, a different one in each state, and it’s great to be able to support a local group with this one.”

The cause fits perfectly with the themes of the book, which centres on psychiatry registrar Dr Hannah Wright. A country girl with a “chaotic history”, Hannah thought she had seen it all in the emergency room, until she begins work in the psychiatric ward at

Menzies Hospital.

She must learn on the job in a strained medical system, as she and her fellow trainees deal with the common and the bizarre, the hilarious and the tragic, the treatable and the confronting.

Every day brings new patients: Chloe, who has a lifethreatening eating disorder; Sian, suffering postpartum psychosis and fighting to keep her baby; and Xavier, the MP whose suicide at-

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tempt has an explosive story behind it.

All the while, Hannah is trying to figure out herself.

The story draws on Anne’s experience as a psychiatrist, while Graeme said he was able to offer a lay person’s take on the various character’s stories, which are structured “like a TV series” in the novel.

“It’s a structure people are familiar with from series like ‘House’ or ‘Grey’s Anatomy’,

looking through the eyes of the health professionals and following their story arcs, while delving into the ‘patient of the week’ and the three patients we follow throughout the book,” Anne said.

Graeme, who brought attention and awareness to autism through his wellknown series which began with ‘The Rosie Project’, added: “Every one of us has a mental health story - whether it involves us, a family member or someone else we know, and what Anne brings is an understanding of what’s actually going on.

“People who have read this book say it has helped with their understanding of what these people are experiencing.

“My aim is to give people a gripping book they enjoy, where any learning is painless.”

The couple, who have previously written two books together - ‘Two Steps

Forward’ and ‘Two Steps Onward’ - and have also found success individually with their writing, plan for ‘The Glass House’ to be the first in a series, with each instalment focusing on a different medical specialty.

“We’re both extroverts, so it’s enjoyable to work together, and I think it helps enormously to have that sounding board - whether we’re working in the same room or working from different rooms and yelling out to each other,” Anne said.

Thursday’s session will explore this writing process, and the content of ‘The Glass House’.

The event is free, but tickets are required, and can be obtained via the link on the Edgars Books and News Facebook page, or visiting https:// events.humanitix.com/ in-conversation-with-annebuist-and-graeme-simsion. There is an option for food available on the night when ordering tickets.

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AUTHOR VISIT: Anne Buist and Graeme Simsion will be in Wangaratta on Thursday for an event which will raise funds for Project 365. PHOTO: Max Deliopoulos

GET

BOARD: Ben Nyman encourages people to make a pitch for Wangaratta. PHOTO: Kurt Hickling

Keeping money local a beauty of sub-funds

THE latest beneficiaries of an Into Our Hands sub-fund grant round are another reminder of the significance of distributing funds to passionate local groups.

The Bobinawarrah Memorial Hall committee was just one of a dozen community organisations to have received funding from the Garry Nash and Co Community Fund, which were listed last week.

The sub-fund, which is in its third year, has been one of many to have spread its highly valuable funding among the community under the Into Our Hands banner in recent months.

Applications have recently opened for the 2024 Give Wangaratta grants round, which aims to support a wide range of community projects.

New Angie’s Angels charity has already started making a significant difference in the community with young people facing adversity, which will be on full show during next month’s fashion show fundraiser.

Into Our Hands has proven in its short lifespan its commitment to fostering community recovery, strength, and resilience in the region.

The foundation recorded an incredible milestone last month by topping $1.5 million in grant funding distribution to local community organisations.

Preserving long-standing symbols of our rural city’s suburbs like the Bobinawarrah Memorial Hall by funding upgrades helps keep the identity of our proud communities.

And without the generous donations of community organisations and community members, these groups simply would not be able to continue to operate in the manner in which they are needed to serve their community.

The Quiz No. 80

1. In relation to the computer file format, PDF, what do the letters PDF stand for?

2. Bluto (aka Brutus) is the nemesis of which comic/cartoon character?

3. What is the symbol for the chemical element, calcium?

4. Which famous actress has had roles in the TV series, Family Ties, Seinfeld and Friends?

5. In Morse code, which letter is represented by four dots?

6. Sometimes I Sit and Think, and Sometimes I Just Sit is the 2015 debut album by which Australian musician?

7. Rod Marsh’s older brother is best known for his involvement in which sport?

8. If you are a grabatologist, what do you collect?

9. Shark Bay is located in which region of Western Australia?

10. What is added to gin and vodka to the make the cocktail called a Green Vesper?

11. In what year did Jesse Martin circumnavigate the globe solo, non-stop, and unassisted?

12. Who succeeded Malcolm Fraser as Prime Minister of Australia?

13. Which island in California is often referred to as The Rock?

14. In which 2016 movie did Morena Baccarin play the role of Vanessa Carlysle?

15. Which country was the first to officially recognise darts as a sport?

16. Rainbow, white, goldstripe, Indian oil and madeiran are all types of which fish?

17. The Heard Island and McDonald Islands are an external territory of which country?

18. In which decade did Krispy Kreme open its first Australian store?

19. What name is given to a triangle where all sides are unequal?

20. Who wrote the classic song, Alexander’s Ragtime Band?

FACEBOOK users this week commented on Wangaratta surgeon, Peter Thomas, retiring from Wangaratta private hospital next month.

• Gail Gordon: Congratulations on your retirement.

• Trish Phyland: Good luck Peter Thomas and thanks for everything!

• Colleen Perry Heyden: Thankyou for your amazing service Peter, over the years saving many lives.

You will be greatly missed. I hope you have a happy retirement

• Sarah Fruzynski: Enjoy retirement Peter! All the best.

Facebook users also commented on Rocco the rock snake, located on the Bullawah Trail path.

• Tammy Keppels: Great job getting this up and running Sharon Dunne !!!

• Deb Coleman: Great initiative…. My grandson has painted his rock today

Barriers for borrowers looking to refinance

NEW survey findings from the Mortgage and Finance Association of Australia (MFAA) have confirmed that serviceability remains the number one reason mortgage broker clients are unable to refinance.

The dial hasn’t shifted when it comes to mortgage holders being able to refinance, with our survey indicating that more than half of mortgage brokers having considerably more clients in this position than six months ago, when we first ran the survey.

2023 saw unprecedented levels of refinancing with more than 880,000 loans coming off ultra-low fixed rates last year and a further 450,000 fixed rate loans are expected to expire this year.

We know that borrowers coming off their fixed rates have been doing so in an environment of markedly higher interest rates following 13 interest rate rises since May 2022.

We have heard repeatedly from our members about clients who are good borrowers, with a strong record, being unable to refinance simply due to buffer rates, even when the client’s repayments would actually decrease if they were to switch lenders.

While 60 per cent of our members told us that lower serviceability buffers have made it somewhat easier for their clients to refinance, they also noted that further changes to serviceability buffers would assist more of their clients to refinance,

We believe it is possible for lenders to maintain responsible lending and help more borrowers out of mortgage prisons, by having flexibility when it comes to addressing the needs and objectives of a borrower.

Anja Pannek, MFAA CEO

Share your climate change concerns

THE Climate Change Authority (CCA) is inviting Australians to have their say on 2035 emissions reduction targets to be included in Australia’s new Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) under the Paris Agreement. The authority has released an issues paper entitled Targets, Pathways and Progress, presenting its latest thinking on its three major projects.

This year the authority will be advising government on Australia’s 2035 emissions reduction targets, pathways for six sectors to

NOTE: Comments as they appear online, without corrections.

so he can add it to the snake tomorrow..

Facebook users also commented on the fatal crash in Taminick.

• Davina Bermingham: Condolences to all involved

• Grace Elizabeth: Thanks for making this public.

• Karen Tobias: So sad, condolences to all involved.

Facebook users also commented on Beyond Housing calling for homelessness to be a

priority in the State Government’s 2024-25 budget.

• Marlene Lamond: Should have already happened. Homelessness hasn’t just happened, been there for years.

Facebook users also commented on cautions of sprouting poisonous mushrooms

• Alexis Baillie: I mean how do you dispose as can’t put in green waste or hard waste ??

Our follower total is Like the Wangaratta Chronicle Facebook page to have your say.

14,777

Have

your say in Wangaratta Chronicle poll

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

Should the Fire Danger Period (and fire restrictions) remain in place in the local district until May 1?

support Australia achieve net zero by 2050 (electricity and energy, transport, industry and waste, agriculture and land, resources and the built environment), and the Minister’s third Annual Climate Change Statement to Parliament.

The evidence we have considered so far suggests a 2035 emissions reduction target in the range of 65 per cent to 75 per cent below 2005 levels would be ambitious and could be achievable if additional action is taken by governments, business, investors and households.

In developing our advice, we are looking at the latest science, economic data, technological developments, and the opportunities and impacts for Australians, including First Nations peoples and those in rural and regional areas.

To assist the authority finalise its recommendations to the government, we invite Australians to respond to the 14 questions detailed in the issues paper.

We also want to hear personal perspectives and experiences with climate change, and suggestions about how Australian governments can support the wellbeing of workers, communities and regions as the nation decarbonises.

The authority will provide its advice on sectoral pathways by August 1, and on Australia’s 2035 emissions reduction targets, as well as its third annual progress report, to the government later this year.

Submissions can be made via the authority’s consultation hub until 17:00 AEST on May

For more information visit and to make submissions visit the authority’s website: www.climatechangeauthority. gov.au.

Brad Archer, CCA CEO

Latest book recommendations

With Pauline Moncreiff and The Book Circle

THE March gathering of The Book Circle was held on Wednesday, March 13 and a variety of books were shared.

FICTION

Murder at the RItz - Jim Eldridge.

SCOTLAND Yard during the Blitz.

A credible plot, which sees the Yard, the Foreign Office, MI5 and MI6 pitted against criminal gangs and crooks, political interference, and an exiled King of Albania, after the murders at the Ritz.

Recommended author

- Dion Meyer, a South African author, writing in Afrikaans.

MANY of his books have been translated, and they deal with crime-solving by the South African Police Department.

The Secret ChordGeraldine Brooks.

HISTORIC fiction, telling of the life of David, father of King Solomon.

There are graphic details, beginning with the murder of the narrator’s family.

We see David killing Goliath, then becoming king, with acts of treachery throughout.

Those were brutal times.

Geraldine Brooks has successfully fleshed out the David we read of in the Old Testament, and captured his life and times in this interesting and wellresearched novel.

A Waltz for MatildaJackie French.

THIS is the imagined story behind the Banjo Paterson song, and of Australia’s early years as an emerging nation.

In 1894,12-year-old Matilda flees the city slums in search of her unknown father and his farm.

He has turned swaggie, and the troopers are after him.

‘You’ll never catch me alive’, said he.

A clever and enjoyable fleshing-out of the characters in the the iconic song.

The Girl from Snowy River - Jackie French.

IN the tradition of The Man from Snowy River, comes the sequel to A Waltz for Matilda.

The year is 1919, 30 years after the heroic ride.

WWI is just over.

Flinty McAlpine, an orphaned 17-year-old, has lost her brother after the Snowy River men marched off to war.

Characters from Paterson’s poems appear throughout.

There is a brumby muster under the watchful eye of Clancy of the Overflow, and Flinty’s brother Andy has gone droving cattle, deserting the family.

The story is a love song to the Snowy Mountains and a tribute to one of Australia’s greatest bush poets.

Gone to GroundBronwyn Hall.

AN impressive debut novel.

UN surgeon, Rachel Forester, is working at a remote medical centre in the Congo.

As violence escalates, she risks her life to remain with an injured child.

An airlift takes two critically ill patients, leaving Rachel and three soldiers to flee through the jungle to the capital city.

They face many dangers, and uncover an illegal mining operation using stolen children as mine workers, and this appears to involve members of the UN.

With these covert forces ranged against them, they must be extra careful to stay alive and see the perpetrators brought to justice.

The Chasm - Bronwyn Hall.

A FEMALE vet returns to her home town and finds there are many ruthless and desperate people who have much to lose by her presence among them.

The story is set in the mountains near Wangaratta, and the local colour makes it all the more exciting. Highly recommended.

In the Woods - Tana French.

AN impressive first novel, in the Dublin Murder series. Read this one first.

Three children go into the woods for a picnic in the 1980s, and only one is found.

Man charged with drug and firearm posession

By BAILEY ZIMMERMANN

WANGARATTA

Police

arrested and charged a man with possessions of drugs and an unlicenced firearm on Thursday night.

Senior constable Jacob Handley and Senior Constable Ramadam Hamidon investigated a dispute between neighbours at around 7:30pm in Wangaratta.

As a result of speaking to one of the parties, Senior Constable Handley said the

officers located a cannabis plant, an unregistered firearm and ammunition inside the accused’s housing unit.

The 51-year-old Wangaratta man was charged and arrested with the possession of the illegal items as well as the unsecure storage of the unregistered firearm and ammunition.

He will appear before the Magistrates’ Court at a later date.

Police later returned to

Years later, the surviving boy becomes a detective.

The series is available from High Country Library. Recommended.

The Shipping NewsAnnie Proulx.

SET in Newfoundland, this is a thought-provoking novel, which was made into a film starring Kevin Spacey.

Circle of Women - Lisa See.

WRITTEN during COVID, the book tells the story of a woman doctor, Lady Tan, in the Ming Dyynasty.

She had learned herbal medicine from her grandparents, and became a well-known and respected doctor.

Lady Tan was married at the age of 15, and as was the custom at the time, her husband took many concubines.

As we follow her life, we learn much about the lives of women in that era.

Foot-binding was common among upper-class women at that time, and the agonies they endured are well described.

Lady Tan’s own mother died from a foot infection

from foot-binding.

Deadly Game - Michael Caine.

THE story revolves around DC Harry Taylor, who somehow solves a ‘spook’ problem.

This in itself is not exactly believable, when MI5 and MI6 have failed at the same task.

The Golden Gate - Amy Chua.

HIDTORICAL detective story set in San Francisco in the 1930s and 19490s.

A presidential candidate is assassinated.

The history of San Francisco is woven through the story, we see the terrible poverty of the common people, contrasted with the vast wealth of the moneyed classes.

NON-FICTION

Minnie - Marianne Van Velzen.

THE story of Minnie Berrington and her youngest brother Victor, who migrated to Australia in 1925.

Minnie spent 57 years at Coober Pedy, and 17 years at Andamooka, searching for opals.

She lived a reclusive life in Adelaide, then in Quorn, and by chance she was discovered in an aged care facility, under the name ‘Alice Davies’, and her lifestory was researched and published.

Minnie died in 2001 at the age of 103.

I Can Jump PuddlesAlan Marshall

THE author was born at Noorat, in western Victoria, and caught polio at the age of 5.

The book tells of his early years.

He learned to manage well on crutches, and nothing stopped his happy life, riding, swimming and climbing trees.

His world was the Australian outback, filled with rough riders, bushmen, farmers, swaggies and tellers of tall tales.

The book is at once happy, sad and inspirational.

It was first published in 1955, and many of us remember studying it at school.

The Rubaiyat: Poems by Omar Khayyam.

KHAYYAM was a Persian poet, born in 1131 CE, and there are many muchquoted lines such as ‘The moving finger writes and having writ, moves on…’ and ‘Herewith a loaf of bread…’

Goodbye to All ThatRobert Graves.

AN autobiography, where we see Graves first as a schoolboy, then an officer in WWI, then a teacher in Cairo.

He is farewelling both his youth and the England he once knew.

PODCAST

A new podcast, Police Life: The Experts.

THIS tells of the work of various divisions of the Victorian police force.

The first in the series is The Negotiators, where they describe their techniques for calming a scene and helping a troubled person.

the residence to conduct an extensive search of the unit with a warrant.

Police said it was a timely reminder for anyone who has unregistered firearms and/or illegal firearms, that the National Firearm Amnesty encourages the surrender of these firearms without prosecution.

You can find out more information on illegal and unregistered firearms via the link: https:// crimestoppers.com.au/ illegalguns/.

Off-Grid Living Festival a huge success

OVERCAST skies on Saturday failed to dampen enthusiasm with a 5000-strong crowd attending the first day of the Off-Grid Living Festival in its new Chiltern location. And with the sun shining on the Sunday - and the weather in the balmy mid to high 20s – organisers once again welcomed similar numbers through the gate, with many return visitors to the two-day event.

The festival wasn’t just a significant drawcard for locals and those across the North East, a steady stream of vehicles were coming from further afield, with trains to the township also full with attendees.

Other visitors came from as far away as Western Australia and the Northern Territory, whilst others made the pilgrimage across the border with guests from Griffith in New South Wales and Canberra making a weekend of it.

Festival director Kate Nottingham confirmed that the festival always draws

BY EMMA OLIVER eoliver@ nemedia.com.au

interest from across the country.

“It has become the largest festival of its kind in Australia,” she said.

“There is nothing as diverse as Off-Grid, with its array of products, services, skills and knowledgesharing in areas of sustainable, alternative, offthe-grid and eco-living.

“We cover the whole gamut from electric vehicles and latest technology to traditional skills and homesteading.

“The emphasis of the festival is on people walking away with skills and knowledge to become selfsufficient and lower their carbon footprint that they can then employ in their day-to-day lives and within their community.

“This is about change and how to enact that change, and then hopefully spread the word.”

This year is the festival’s sixth, having only missed one year due to COVID lockdowns.

“The inaugural event was a one-day festival,” said Kate.

“We planned for 2000 guests and got 4000.

“The demand was there, and we realised early on that we needed to go up to two days to accommodate that interest, which we did the following year.”

The second festival had the market on the first day with workshops a

focus of the second.

“There was a huge uptake for the workshops which proved very popular.

“We then decided to mix it all in together, add talk stages and make it interactive.”

Every year organisers have looked to improve on the event, allowing the festival to grow organically guided by community feedback and responses.

“It’s also got bigger each year, but we’ve arrived at the point where it’s big enough.

“The emphasis going forward is now on just making it the very best festival it can be.

“We are now in the perfect location to deliver our vision and have some amazing people on board with incredible ideas on how to develop the festival.”

Wangaratta-based Brent Ibom from My Slice of Life conducted numerous workshops over the weekend festival on butchering and small goods making.

“Brent had sell-out sessions with about 40 people in each workshop, and when he was going over the bookings the vast majority came from further afield,” Kate said.

“It just emphasises that people are happy to travel to the event and are keen to get involved, and with increasing demand for workshops on the subject of butchering and things like sausage and salami making Brent is keen to expand what’s on offer in 2025.

THE GOOD DROP: Hank and Carrie Thierry from Mansfield’s Swiftcrest Distillery were the only alcohol proprietors allowed onsite, thanks to their unique status as one of the world’s only completely off-grid and environmentally friendly distilleries.

PAVING THE WAY: Bendigo-based Jackie Yong is Soilz Alive a former hairdresser and salon owner, who pivoted her career to develop a large-scale composting business in Stanhope. Merging her two interests, Jackie uses hair offcuts from sustainable salons, transforming this beauty byproduct into a nutrient dense compost for people’s gardens.

ARTISAN CHEESE: Moussa Taouck from Little Cedar Farmhouse Goat Cheese, is pictured with one of his Saanen goats. Moussa and wife Victoire produce handcrafted artisan goats cheese at their 70 acre Winton farm.

SPLASH

COLOUR:

“Alongside the popular homesteading tent, he has proposed a standalone butchering and ethical hunting tent which is already generating interest and we’re keen to make it a part of Off-Grid.”

The festival registered strong attendance at all the talks and workshops (both free and paid), with vendor talks and demonstrations at individual stalls also drawing a crowd.

Stanley-based Charlie Showers from Black Barn

farm drew a particularly large crowd for his free demonstration on grafting fruit trees.

Food vendors across the site appeared to be doing a roaring trade, and with all cups and plates reusable and washed onsite to reduce waste, the washing station was a hive of activity as the festival committed to practice what it preached.

“The dishwashing station was actually a highlight for some people,” said Kate with a laugh.

My products use natural materials like hemp, cotton, silk, wool, leather, fur, beeswax, gum turpentine and linseed oil and avoid plastics, toxic chemicals, harmful dyes, and industrial processes.

- LEIGH BLACKALL

“In the end, we generated only four red bins of nonrecyclable rubbish after 10,000 people went through over the two days.

“We did have cardboard and of course food waste which went into the green bins and this is now going to be composted.

“It was a great achievement all round.”

Kate also commended the Indigo Shire for its ongoing support of the festival with mayor Sophie Price opening the festival on the Saturday.

“The Chiltern Tourism Group were also invaluable, organising the shuttle bus ferrying people in and out of the historical township, running the service until 11pm at night on the Saturday so that campers onsite could visit Chiltern’s hospitality venues,” she said.

“They really embraced the opportunity to showcase their beautiful town and region.”

Kate said that a significant part of the smooth running of the event was thanks to volunteers from the Chiltern SES, who spent the entire weekend supervising parking

and facilitating the campground.

“We had over 250 campers onsite, plus all the exhibitors, across two separate campgrounds,” said Kate.

“The SES oversaw the whole operation seamlessly with such a friendly and accommodating attitude, it was just a great welcome to the festival.”

Although exhausted after delivering a full weekend of workshops, talks and entertainment and the logistical challenge of accommodating 300 stalls and assorted stages across multiple arenas, Kate is riding high on the success of the event.

“I’m already fielding calls from people who want to know next year’s dates and log it in the calendar,” she said.

HEALTHY PLANTS: Craig Hulbert from Alpine Perennials was doing a brisk trade at the festival, with the reasonably-priced plants from his Harrietville nursery proving popular.

THINGS TO DO: Over 300 stalls and numerous tents, stages and hubs spaced out across the Chiltern race course, ensured the 5000 strong crowd were kept entertained.

QUALITY GUARANTEED: Leigh Blackall, designer and maker of Peak Oil Company products, creates outdoor clothing and equipment in Eldorado.

NO FEAR: Kenzie Poole from Snakes Alive is seen cuddling a croc.

OLD SKILLS: Bill Tracy from Echuca with Beau, draught horse ploughing in the arena.

OF

The event was child friendly with numerous spaces and activities to keep the younger generation engaged.

Awe-inspiring prints by Caitlin Bell on show

AN exhibition by local photographer Caitlin Bell which features images capturing the natural beauty of elements in the landscape, is being held at the Benalla Art Gallery in April.

Titled Australian Awe and located in the gallery shop, it includes photographic prints inspired by the nature parks and bushland of North East Victoria.

Caitlin has a fascination with the wonders of Mother Nature and fuelled by this admiration, aims to capture the essence of the intriguing elements that she finds.

Bush walks and fossicking for tiny worlds spark joy, which she encapsulates in her images.

Caitlin shares the awe inspiring realms of the natural world with viewers, including the most minute details.

Bikes on ship to Timor Leste

Caitlin Bell is the founder of Lyptus Art, and curates bespoke pieces designed to evoke emotions, and spark conversations and connections to nature.

Caitlin aims to bring the beauty of the Australian outdoors into people’s homes through her artwork.

Benalla Art Gallery director Eric Nash said Caitlin’s works evidence the boundless inspiration artists of the region draw from their natural surrounds.

“Through her photographs, she encourages us to appreciate the beauty in the small details, particularly the incredible textures and colours that can be found all around,” he said. They will be on display in the gallery shop this month and are available for purchase.

Rock at Rye 2024, digital print.

VCE Top Arts 2024 on display in Melbourne

CELEBRATING its 30th year, Top Arts 2024 is on display at The Ian Potter Centre: NGV Australia, featuring the work of 45 VCE student artists selected from a competitive pool of nearly 1200 applicants across Victoria.

The exhibition provides a platform to celebrate the extraordinary talent of the next generation of Victorians engaged with VCE Art Making and VCE Exhibiting and Art Creative Practice.

Encompassing painting, sculpture, video and photography, the exhibition presents highly skilled traditional works alongside fresh and daring new forms.

From this multifaceted display, themes such as chaos, space, perception and repetition emerge.

The paintings featured in the exhibition have been hung in a 19thcentury-inspired salon.

Top Arts is supported by a suite of curriculum-aligned programs and resources for students and teachers developed by NGV educators including introductory talks, folio viewings and a dedicated online Top Arts Hub, featuring interviews with exhibiting students.

TOP ARTS: Gabriella Vittoiro, entrant from Notre Dame College, Shepparton, is pictured with her work Lunchtime, 2023 and Lab Rats, 2023 on display now in Top Arts 2024 at The Ian Potter Centre: NGV Australia. PHOTO: Tim Carrafa

The winner of the Officeworks Creativity Award and the winners of the Deakin University People’s Choice Awards will be announced at an awards ceremony at the Ian Potter Centre: NGV Australia in July 2024.

Top Arts 2024 will be on display until July 14 at The Ian Potter Centre: NGV Australia, Federation Square in Melbourne and entry is free.

Monday, April 14, 2014.

By JAMIE KRONBORG

WANGARATTA’S Friends of Lacluta will pack 16 refurbished bikes and pre-school equipment on a trailer in South Wangaratta today for a journey via ship from Melbourne to Singapore and on to Timor-Leste.

SMART GIVING: Friends of Lacluta president Heather Redmond with Keryn and David Taylor with bikes and packed pre-school equipment that is being sent for distribution to children in Timor-Leste’s Lacluta sub-district.

The shipment, the Friends’ third, is one of the outcomes of a formal friendship agreement between the Rural City of Wangaratta and Lacluta, an area in Timor-Leste’s Viqueque district about 100 kilometres –eight hours’ drive – south-east of the capital, Dili.

The agreement was established in 2005.

John Bradford has co-

ordinated the collection of the 16 bikes – all donated – from Wangaratta, Benalla and Myrtleford.

“Most of the bikes have needed some minor repairs,” Mr Bradford said.

“Rob Sullivan from ‘Rock and Road Cycles’ has been a big help, selling us bike accessories at a big discount as well as advising me on how to dismantle the bikes and prepare them for boxing-up.

“We have spent $350 on spare tyres and tubes, bike chains, pumps and repair kits.”

Mr Bradford, Friends of Lacluta president Heather Redmond and committee members Keryn and David Taylor said the shipment would also include books, pencils, jigsaw puzzles, mops, heavy rubber matting to go under a climbing frame, an electric organ, a guitar and other items.

Ms Redmond said Victorian Certificate of Applied Learning students at Wangaratta High School, directed by teacher Kjirsten Robb, had restored five of the bikes for this week’s consignment.

“Many people have helped to put this together, including Liz and Beth Walpole, Barb Broz and John Ambrosio,” Ms Redmond said.

The friendship agreement between Lacluta and Wangaratta aims to build resilience in the Lacluta communities with health, education, agricultural and environment programs and support.

A current project includes the renovation of a ‘friendship’, or community, house in Dilor, one of Lacluta’s main communities, with the support of Appin Park Rotary in Wangaratta and direct in-country visits by members who have been helping with the work.

Others centre on enhancing education opportunities by sponsoring kindergarten teacher training and student scholarships and improving health and health awareness through the provision of maternity and sanitary packs.

Mr Taylor said the Wangaratta Friends had also supported the Adventist Development and Relief Agency to show local people how to install toilets in Lacluta communities.

Mrs Taylor said the Friends were currently seeking donations of backpacks and reuseable water bottles for the children who would be cycling to school on the donated bikes.

Donations can be arranged by emailing enquiries@wfolacluta.org.

NATURAL TEXTURES: The exhibition of photographic prints includes Caitlin Bell,

ACROSS

1 What is either of two corresponding parallels of latitude on the terrestrial globe (6)

8 What is a desire for food or drink (8)

9 Who takes care of the horses at an inn (6)

10 Name another term for a poll (8)

11 What are open spaces in forests (6)

12 Name the capital of Fiji (4)

13 What are buildings for storing hay, grain, etc (5)

16 What are coverings for faces (5)

19 Name the former monetary unit of Italy (4)

21 What are groups of Scouts called (6)

22 What is a national memorial to those killed in war (8)

23 To impose as a burden, is to do what (6)

24 Which term implies a relationship to a bishop’s territory  (8) 25

English orchestral conductor, Sir Thomas ... (1879-1961) (7)

6 When one separates into parts, one does what (7)

7 What are female donkeys (7)

13 Name a fabric woven with an elaborate design from any yarn (7)

14 What is an array of many bright colours (7)

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

Find the following words in the grid. They may be read in any direction, even diagonally. Some letters are used more than once.

WHICH WORDS

SOLUTIONS SUDOKU BIYWORD

THINK

Solve the crossword. Each answer has four letters.

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.

NERVOUS WAIT: Doug James inspects the very dry soil in preparation for sowing in a few weeks time.

Dry as a bone

LOW RAINFALL CONCERN FARMERS AS AUTUMN BREAK DEADLINE APPROACHES

Free property mapping for Landcare members

By ANITA MCPHERSON

MANY local landholders have taken up the opportunity to have their properties professionally mapped for free, as part of an initiative of the Ovens Landcare Network (OLN).

The OLN received funding from the Australian Government under the Smart Farms, Small Grants Program to assist 220 landholders, who are members of their local Landcare group, to develop property maps across the Ovens Catchment.

The organisation will also run a series of workshops in May providing targeted technical support and advice to landholders around the improvement of natural assets on their properties.

Project officer Sally Day said she will work with landholders to develop an A1 sized colour laminated property map detailing the location of property boundaries, fencing, waterways and roads, with the potential for other features such as water points and paddock names to be added.

She said the map is designed to be used as a tool for planning works and activities on-farm.

While many have taken advantage of the opportu-

By KURT HICKLING

RECENT rainfall has not been enough to create favourable conditions for some local farmers leading to the traditional autumn break deadline on ANZAC Day.

Despite the drier conditions, some farmers across the region have rolled the dice, commencing preparations for seeding in the hope that sufficient rainfall arrives in the coming weeks.

Doug James, who has lived on his ‘Viewbank’ sheep property at Boweya and cropped in the Bungeet area for the past 54 years, is not optimistic with the current autumn conditions.

He has only received 24mm of rainfall in the past five weeks, all but 3mm of which fell on the Easter weekend, but still plans on sowing 400 acres of oats and 60 acres of lupins.

“I am feeling a bit apprehensive with the amount of rainfall we have had so far and how dry the soil is at the moment,” Mr James said.

“This time last year we had good moisture content in the soil which allowed for better preparation and seeding, however, this year is very different.

“We need moist soil with warm

conditions to give an optimum opportunity for seed to germinate.

“Direct drilling has commenced on soils which is good for seed tilth (the suitability of soil for tilling), but again it all hinges back on rainfall.

“Farmers are always nervous when we have weather conditions like we have as it can feel like a roll of the dice and hope it all pans out for the best.”

According to the Bureau of Meteorology, the forecast for the autumn–winter period will see conditions stabilise and average rainfall with air and surface temperatures return to normal after a wetter than average summer which could present optimal autumn conditions for crop growers leading into winter.

Mr James is keen to move forward with agriculture preparations as feed later in the year for his stock is vital to the farming operation.

“Things will begin to ramp up with sowing come ANZAC Day with the hope of more rain to come before then,” he said.

“In the meantime it’s all about preparation, planning and timing with lime and fertilisers being added before the sowing period.

“We have commenced lambing which is another commitment we need to focus on.”

nity to have a map created, from locations in Bright, Beechworth, the King Basin through to Rutherglen, there is still time for more to register.

“The map benchmarks the current arrangement of fencing and allows an aerial view of the property to assess needs for shade, shelter, improvements to farm watering systems, grazing systems and protection of natural assets and so on,” Ms Day said.

“It can be displayed on a wall in the shed or house and to use wipe-board markers to sketch ideas and record important information on their map, like dates paddocks are sown, or spray rates.”

Ms Day will then develop a draft map for review, with participants able to book in for a 90-minute consultation to finalise it and explore opportunities for improving natural resource management and/or productivity on the property.

A range of resources will be available to support the discussion including information on weed control, management of farm dams, designing revegetation sites, fencing and managing erosion.

The project is running until mid-May and is available to Landcare members, with registration at https://tinyurl.com/OLNpropertyplans or contact Sally Day on 0437 136 162.

PHOTO: Kurt Hickling

PHOTO: Kurt Hickling

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The ultimate guide for tourists and locals

NOWOUT

Wodonga Raiders 8.6.54 defeated by Wangaratta Rovers 11.9.75

BEST: WODONGA RAIDERS: William Robertson, Declan Ramage, Adam Brown, Fraser Jensen, Charlie McFarland, Joshua McCracken.

WANGARATTA ROVERS: Harvey Correll, Oscar Clelland, Preston Coleman, Zac O’Shannessy, Jed Marek, Noah Scholte.

GOALS: WODONGA RAIDERS: Adam Brown 3, Declan Ramage 3, Ashton Everett 1, Finn Gray 1.

WANGARATTA ROVERS: Oscar Clelland 3, Cody Johnson 2, Preston Coleman 1, Samuel Comensoli 1, Ryley Ely 1, Jed Marek 1, Jez Rigoni 1, Eden White 1.

JEZ RIGONI

WANGARATTA Chronicle photographer Melissa Beattie made her way down to Ovens and Murray thirds football on Saturday to capture some action at the Wodonga Raiders vs Wangaratta Rovers match. Photographs can be purchased at the Chronicle.

OSCAR CLELLAND

JOCK CORRELL

PRESTON COLEMAN

HARRY McMONIGLE

RYLEY ELY

RORY HARVEY

TREY VINCENT

JED MAREK

HARVEY CORRELL

CODY JOHNSON 

RYLEY ELY

WINNERS AND LOSERS

SCOREBOARD RESERVES RESULTS

WODONGA RAIDERS 0.2 5.3 6.8 9.10.64

WANGARATTA ROVERS 3.4

GOALS: WODONGA RAIDERS: Tom Bracher 3, Nick Bracher 2, Archer Scammell 1, Lochlainn

Simpson 1, Harry Sweetman 1, Zac Whitsed 1. WANGARATTA ROVERS: Alexander Marklew

5, Stuart Booth 3, Samuel Murray 3, Samuel Cattapan 1, Brodie Filo 1, Lockey McCartney 1.

BEST: WODONGA RAIDERS: Cameron Ellis-Yolmen, Sam Darley, Harvey Cribbes, Bradley St

John, Tom Bracher, Connor Taylor. WANGARATTA ROVERS: Tom Boyd, Stuart Booth, Lochie

O’Brien, Alexander Marklew, Lockey McCartney, Brodie Filo.

GOALS: COROWA RUTHERGLEN: Nathan Dunstan 2, Joe Hansen 2, Judd Kuschert 2.

NETBALL SCORES THIRDS RESULTS

A GRADE Myrtleford 55 def Yarrawonga 49

Corowa-R’glen 47 def North Albury 38

Albury 35 def Lavington 30

Wod. Raiders 62 def Wang Rovers 51

Wangaratta 61 def Wodonga 42

B GRADE: Myrtleford 49 def Yarrawonga 42; Corowa-R’glen 35 def by North Albury 54; Albury 49 def Lavington 32; Wod. Raiders 43 drew with Wang Rovers 49; Wangaratta 45 def by Wodonga 47. C GRADE: Myrtleford 26

def by Yarrawonga 44; Corowa-R’glen 37 def by North Albury 51; Albury 52

def Lavington 20; Wod. Raiders 26 def Wang Rovers 24; Wangaratta 37 def Wodonga 33. UNDER 17s: Myrtleford 62 def Yarrawonga 35; CorowaR’glen 32 def by North Albury 46; Albury 27 def Lavington 24; Wod. Raiders 40 def by Wang Rovers 42; Wangaratta 43 def by Wodonga 63. UNDER 15s: Myrtleford 47 def Yarrawonga 17; Corowa-R’glen 45 def by North Albury 49; Albury 38 def Lavington 30; Wod. Raiders 47 def Wang Rovers 40; Wangaratta 34 def by Wodonga 55.

YARRAWONGA vs WANGARATTA

LAVINGTON vs MYRTLEFORD

WODONGA vs COROWA RUTHERGLEN

NORTH ALBURY vs WODONGA RAIDERS

WANG ROVERS vs ALBURY

Raiders 8.6.54 def by Wang Rovers 11.9.75

BEST: WODONGA RAIDERS: William Robertson, Declan Ramage, Adam Brown, Fraser Jensen, Charlie McFarland, Joshua McCracken. WANGARATTA ROVERS: Harvey Correll, Oscar Clelland, Preston Coleman, Zac O’Shannessy, Jed Marek, Noah Scholte. GOALS: WODONGA RAIDERS: Adam Brown 3, Declan Ramage 3, Ashton Everett 1, Finn Gray 1. WANGARATTA ROVERS: Oscar Clelland 3, Cody Johnson 2, Preston Coleman 1, Samuel Comensoli 1, Ryley Ely 1, Jed Marek 1, Jez Rigoni 1, Eden White 1. Wangaratta 10.14.74 def Wodonga 0.2.2

BEST: WANGARATTA: Hugh Canning, Oscar Roberts, William Petersen, Josh Styles, Charlie Haring, Curtis Hines. WODONGA: Lachlan Nugent, Isaac O’Neill, Mason Prenter, Riley Mimmo, Sam Wapling, Riley Chant. GOALS: WANGARATTA: Charlie Eames 3, Max Bihun 2, John Blake 1, Owain Boyle 1, Hugh Canning 1, Chad Donald 1, William Petersen 1.

Myrtleford 6.6.42 def by Yarrawonga 9.9.63

BEST: MYRTLEFORD: Oliver Neil, Noah Hall, Lachlan Barbour, Jack Hazeldine, Harry Stripeikis, Nicholas Hall. YARRAWONGA: Zac Forge, Patrick Waugh, Charlie Lappin, tyrone baxter, Darby Mullins, Samuel Bigger. GOALS: MYRTLEFORD: Lachlan Barbour 2, Jack Hazeldine 2, Nikolai Nannipieri 1, Jock Pascoe 1. YARRAWONGA: Warrick Campbell 3, Jack Eales 1, Zac Forge 1, Blake Keenes 1, William Scott 1, Ryder Stevens 1, Griffin Surrey 1.

Corowa R’glen 9.5.59 def Nth Albury 7.13.55

Albury 5.4.34 def by Lavington 8.8.56

*Ladder correct at time of print from Ovens and King website.

A GRADE: Benalla 38 def Bright 37

Goorambat vs King Valley

Moyhu 31 def by Bonnie Doon 57

Tarrawingee 30 def by Greta 39

Whorouly 44 def North Wangaratta 27

B GRADE: Benalla 30 def by Bright 59; Goorambat vs King Valley; Moyhu vs Bonnie Doon; Tarrawingee 34 def by Greta 50; Whorouly 51 def North Wangaratta 29 B RESERVE: Benalla vs Bright; Goorambat vs King Valley; Moyhu vs Bonnie Doon; Tarrawingee 38 def by Greta 44; Whorouly 61 def North Wangaratta 14

C GRADE: Benalla 9 def by Bright 57; Goorambat vs King Valley; Moyhu vs Bonnie Doon; Tarrawingee 31 def by Greta 64; Whorouly 34 def North Wangaratta 25 UNDER 15s: Benalla 19 def Bright 18; Goorambat vs King Valley; Moyhu vs Bonnie Doon; Tarrawingee 3 def by Greta 21; Whorouly 18 def by North Wangaratta 31

Not all scores available at time of print

NORTH ALBURY: Joshua Minogue 5, Cayden Winter 4, Nathan Dennis 3, Ben Fulford 3, Cody Gardiner 2, Tim Broomhead 1, Archer Gardiner 1, Foster Gardiner 1, Jack Penny 1.

BEST: COROWA RUTHERGLEN: Joe Hansen, Tom Forrest, Judd Kuschert, Jedd Longmire, Jordan Eyers, Stephen Owen. NORTH ALBURY: Archer Gardiner, Cayden Winter, Riley Smith, Fletcher Ramage, Foster Gardiner, Zac Hanrahan.

GOALS: WANGARATTA: Fraser Holland-Dean 4, Jackson Clarke 2, Michael Newton 2, Liam Mcveigh 1, Callum Moore 1, Patrick Naish 1, Daniel Sharrock 1, Jessie Smith 1. WODONGA: Noah Spiteri 5, Ethan Redcliffe 4, Jack C O’Sullivan 2, Kyle Winter-Irving 2, Riley Gill 1, Joshua Mathey 1, Oscar Willding 1. BEST: WANGARATTA: Alex Federico, Daine Porter, Daniel Sharrock, Fraser Holland-Dean, Aidan Tilley, Chris Knowles. WODONGA: Jack C O’Sullivan, Noah Spiteri, Noah Bradshaw, Ethan Redcliffe, Joshua Mathey, Connor Brodie.

GOALS: MYRTLEFORD: Simon Curtis 3, Lachlan Murphy-Dale 2, Levi Young 2, Addison Bedendo 1, Ryley Bouker 1. YARRAWONGA: Leigh Williams 7, Harrison Wheeler 2, Lochie Forge 1, Bailey Frauenfelder 1, Daniel Howe 1, Nicholas Irvine 1. BEST: MYRTLEFORD: Simon Curtis, Tom Sparks, Matthew Munro, Lachlan Murphy-Dale, Ashton McPherson, Jaxon East. YARRAWONGA: Leigh Williams, Ryan Bruce, Ned Pendergast, Harrison Wheeler, William Wheeler, Cameron Wilson.

GOALS: ALBURY: Jackson Kelly 2, Jeff Garlett 1, Isaac Muller 1. LAVINGTON: Ryder Corrigan 2, Jack Driscoll 1, Shaun Driscoll 1, Samuel Hargreave 1, Tom Hargreave 1, Jake O’Brien 1, Tim Oosterhoff 1, Charlie Sanson 1. BEST: ALBURY: Hamish Gilmore, Fletcher Carroll, Michael Duncan, Tom O’Brien, Lachlan Tiziani. LAVINGTON: Tim Hanna, Adam Butler, Nick Paton,

GOALS: BENALLA ALL BLACKS: Dylan Sinclair 1. BRIGHT: Cooper Thomason 10, Declan

Bren 8, Jack Dalbosco 2, Riley Bacon 1, Patrick Bren 1, Samuel Dalbosco 1, Kieren Jamieson 1, Nick Lebish 1. BEST: BENALLA ALL BLACKS: Sam Cox, Chelton Orchard, Jordan Smith, Dwaine Lancaster, David Button, David Whitechurch. BRIGHT: Michael Elliott, Cooper Thomason, Declan Bren, Thomas Gray, Samuel Dalbosco, Dale Breeding. GOORAMBAT

KING

GOALS: GOORAMBAT: Duane Haebich 6, Travers Nolan 3, Dylan Beavis 2, Kobe Black 2, Jamie Dunne 2, Rhys Goodley 2, Lachlan Boyle 1, Darcy Edgar 1, Charles Hunter 1, Sully

Malay 1. KING VALLEY: Joshua Cook 2, Jack Davies 1, Joshua Toy 1. BEST: GOORAMBAT: Duane Haebich, Samuel Gladstone, Lachlan Boyle, Darcy Edgar, Joel Bate, Rhys Goodley. KING VALLEY: Dylan Browne, Joshua Toy, Sam Evans, Thomas Stewart, Beau Wheeler, Joshua Cook.

MOYHU

GOALS: BONNIE DOON: Luke Murray 7, James Law 5, Will Foster 3, Conor Heaslip 3, Joel Sanford 2, Al Bennett 1, Jayjay Curtin 1. BEST: MOYHU: Dylan Carmody, Jett Roberts, David McDonald, Ethan Rooney, Nick Stewart. BONNIE DOON: Jayjay Curtin, Matthew Hedin, Luke Murray, Will Foster, Jack Goonan, Joel Sanford.

TARRAWINGEE

GRETA

GOALS: TARRAWINGEE: Dylan Adams 1, Austin Amery 1. GRETA: Frazer Judd 15, Cody Crawford 6, Tyler Arrowsmith 5, Lachie Kennett 4, Brodie Pearson 3, Bradley Whinray 3, Joshua Bell 2, Brenton Newbold 2, Dale Walker 1, Trent Whitecross 1. BEST: TARRAWINGEE: Will Creed, Jarrod Everitt, Dylan Adams, Austin Amery. GRETA: Tyler Arrowsmith, Frazer Judd, Jack Kelly, Cody Crawford, Bradley Whinray.

WHOROULY

GOALS: WHOROULY: Andrew Newton 2, Glenn White 2, Matthew Harris 1, Lachlan Moore 1, Joshua Newton 1. NORTH WANGARATTA:

Tregenza, Jess Koopman, Blair Eddy, Douglas Arnold, Cory Pearn, Brock McCabe. Albury ....................10.10.70

Lavington ..................7.3.45

BEST: ALBURY: Zachariah Packer, Shaun Turvey, Jackson Payne, Ty Quade, Harry Cameron, Jonathan Male.

LAVINGTON: Oscar Lyons, Jordan Weidemann, Will

Liersch, Peter Flood, Josh Roscarel, Hunter Galvin.

Wangaratta................9.9.63

Wodonga ...................3.4.22

BEST: WANGARATTA: Will O’keefe, Charlie Ross, Lachlan Bray, Nathan Sampson, Xavier Laverty, Patrick Wright.

WODONGA: Ashton Brookes, Rhys Venturoni, Kade Brown, Harry Baxter, Hugh Venturoni, William Teunon.

Massive margins across O&K

North Wangaratta record first win of the season with

■ From back page

“Some of our forwards were making the most of the opportunity, I was really proud of some of our younger players that really stood up,” Manning said.

“Jhye Devine, a young centre half forward, had the best game I’ve ever seen him play – his hands are elite, he was terrific at half forward.

“Tyler Schulze wasn’t sure if he was going to get up for the game, but he was terrific, really made the most of every opportunity and fought hard all the way.

The Hawks will look to build momentum with a series of matches against tough opposition in Goorambat, Greta and Milawa.

Manning said if the Hawks can play the way they did on the weekend, they’d be difficult to beat.

“That was probably the disappointing thing last week, we played nowhere near the type of footy that we’ve been training for and knew what we were capable of,” he said.

“Satu rday will give the side great belief that the system, the way that we want to play stacks up.

“It’ll give them a big shot of confidence going into our next month of football.”

By NATHAN DE VRIES

IT was a tough round for defenders across the Ovens and King competition, with the average margin from the weekend’s senior matches a whopping 147 points.

Bright returned from Friendlies Reserve with the points after dominating Benalla All Blacks 25.17 (167) to 1.3 (9).

The Panthers were kept goalless until the third term, while the Mountain Men were in complete control, amassing 23 scoring shots to half time.

The fourth quarter saw the visitors kick away with a seven goal term, securing the win with a 158 point margin.

Michael Elliott and Declan Bren were among the best on ground for the Mountain Men, while forward Cooper Thomason continued his stellar season with a bag of 10 goals.

Dylan Sinclair was the lone goal kicker for Benalla, while Sam Cox and Chelton Orchard performed well.

Elsewhere, Goorambat looks to be much improved on last season after they sent shockwaves through the league with a 111-point drubbing of King Valley.

Playing their home ground well, the Bats cruised after quarter time to a 21.14 (140) to 4.5 (29) result.

After booting five in the opening term, the Bats accelerated, piling in the forward 50 entries while keeping the Roos without a

major score through the middle two quarters.

Duane Haebich did the damage on the scoreboard for the Bats, bagging six, while Goorambat boasted nine other goal kickers.

For King Valley, Dylan Browne and Josh Toy were standouts, while Beau Wheeler and Josh Cook impacted the match at both ends of the ground.

The reigning premiers returned from the bye in fine form, with Bonnie Doon obliterating Moyhu by 154 points.

The Bombers kept the Hoppers goalless for the match, coming home winner 22.23 (155) to 0.1 (1).

Luke Murray and James Law booted 12 goals between them in the landside result, with Bonnie Doon in complete control.

Dylan Carmody and Jett Roberts tried to give Moyhu some spark, but Bonnie Doon were simply too good.

Greta gave the Bulldogs a fair touch-up in their clash at the Tarrawingee Recreation Reserve, kicking 43.14 (272) to Tarrawingee’s 2.3 (15).

Frazer Judd was the main target up forward, finishing with a 15-goal haul, while Cody Crawford (six goals), Tyler Arrowsmith (five) and Lachie Kennett (four) also pitched in.

The Blues backed up a 13-goal opening term to have 144 points on the board by the half.

Will Creed performed well for the Bulldogs, alongside Jarrod Everitt and Dylan Adams.

55-point victory over Whorouly Lions

CAUGHT: Zac Tanner runs down Moyhu’s Liam Cook in the Bombers’ 154-point win. PHOTO: Bailey Zimmermann

Josh Nanson sprints through the contest. FULL STRETCH: Glenn White leaps and holds the mark while Kade Parkinson tries to spoil.

WRAPPED UP: Matt Curtis lays a massive tackle on Andrew Newton in the Hawks’ win over Whorouly on Saturday.

PHOTOS: Marc Bongers

Rovers go 3-0 to start season ‘24

WANGARATTA Rovers are off to a flier in 2024 with their 34-point win over Wodonga Raiders taking them to 3-0 to start the season.

A seven goal to one penultimate term proved to be the difference with Alex Marklew dining out on the Raiders booting five majors in the 9.10 (64) to 14.14 (98) affair.

Rovers coach Sam Murray said the third quarter was the difference.

“It was a tight contest up until half-time but we still felt like we controlled most of the game and it’ll be interesting to have a look at the numbers and see how we fared,” he said

“We moved well in the third quarter and then the game was probably iced in the fourth and we didn’t increase the margin by much.”

Along with Marklew’s five, Tom Boyd was excellent at centre-half back, while Lochie O’Brien and Murray were unstoppable in the midfield.

The Rovers got back for buck in their midfield with Murray kicking three majors, while Sam Cattapan, Brodie Filo and Lockey McCartney booted one apiece.

“On the big ground we felt like we could utilise our run and carry,” Murray said.

“Lochie had a good game and was probably second best behind Tom Boyd, his run and carry was exceptional and he picked them apart with his foot skills.

“It was also good to see our midfield impact on the scoreboard, we would’ve kicked six or seven between us along with

maybe 120-130 touches.

“Stu Booth also kicked three so we had an array of goal kickers which was a real positive.”

Former AFL midfielder Cam Ellis-Yolmen was solid for Raiders, while Bracher brothersTom and Nick - booted two goals each.

“Cam was someone we kept an eye on but we didn’t necessarily identify him as someone we needed to put work into,” Murray said.

“He was good at the source but we felt like once we got the ball on the outside we got on top.

“Overall I was happy with how we went, we can probably sharpen up our ball use when going inside 50 though.”

At 3-0 the Rovers have equalled their start to the 2023 season and now have a massive test when they face Albury at home on Satu rday.

“We couldn’t be in a better position so we’re very pleased,” Murray said.

“Now we have a great test against Albury which will show us where we’re at.

“We had a great win over Wangaratta in round one and then felt like we controlled the next two games (Corowa-Rutherglen and Raiders).

“As we saw through results this weekend, there’s no easy wins in this competition so we need to stick to our gam eplan and show up every week.”

Magpies stunned by Dogs in tight affair under lights

By WILLSON MACK

WANGARATTA threw a 26-point lead away against Wodonga to lose their third game on the trot at Norm Minns Oval on Saturday night.

The Magpies grabbed the ascendency in the third term, however, a bullish Bulldogs booted five goals in nine minutes to win 13.11 (89) to 16.1 (97).

The Bulldogs were three points up with two minutes remaining and had the ball deep in their forward line when Wangaratta defender Ryan Battin went to handball the ball to Aidan Tilley, but missed his man and went out of bounds.

The umpire deemed the handball deliberate out of the bounds with the free kick going to Ethan Redcliffe who snapped it through to give his side the win.

Wodonga skipper Jack O’Sullivan was unstoppable racking up 33 touches, while Noah Spiteri kicked five goals for the visitors in a crafty display.

For the Magpies, Fraser Holland-Dean kicked four majors and Alex Federico and Daine Porter led from the front in the midfield.

Similarly to last season the Magpies are now winless from their first three games and need to find form quickly with a tough match-up against Yarrawonga next.

The Pigeons were seen as the team to beat in 2024 after taking out the 2023 premiership, however, reasonably tight wins over Lavington (11 points) and Myrtleford (25 points) may suggest they’re as gettable as ever.

SILVER SERVICE: Shane Gaston gives his mids first use.

SPOILED: Xavier Allison attempts to spoil.

ON THE HANDS: Sam Cattapan looks for a teammate.

BEST ON: Tom Boyd was best on ground in Wangaratta Rovers win over Wodonga Raiders. PHOTOS: Melissa Beattie

ON THE BOOT: Daniel Sharrock gets a kick away in his 100th game.

THIRD LOSS: Pat Naish’s Wangaratta fell to Wodonga at Norm Minns Oval on Saturday. PHOTOS: Marc Bongers

THREE FROM THREE BRODIE Filo and Wangaratta Rovers are 3-0 to start the 2024 season after downing Wodonga Raiders by 34-points at Birallee Park on Saturday. ■ Story: Page 19 PHOTO: Melissa Beattie

By NATHAN DE VRIES

NORTH Wangaratta are on the board after a convincing performance against Whorouly on Saturday, recording their first win of the season 15.12 (102) to 7.5 (47).

BY NATHAN DE VRIES ndevries@ nemedia.com.au

The Hawks took the lead early and maintained the pressure throughout the match, holding a sevengoal lead by half-time. Whorouly came out after the long break and looked rejuvenated, winning centre clearances and hitting their forwards, while North Wangaratta strug-

gled to find rhythm.

However, the Hawks found their feet in the final term, booting six goals to take a 55-point victory.

Coach Steve Manning said the effort from the entire squad after a disappointing first match was heartening.

“We were stung by our performance last week,

and I put it on the boys to have a response, so our lads were really motivated,” he said.

“Right from the start, we were playing the style of footy we want to stand for.

“We knew Whorouly were going to come out and have a crack and they did –to their credit, they really fought hard, made it hard

for us in the third quarter and were able to score themselves.

“Whorouly threw everything at us, and considering we’d conceded three goals, I thought we held up really well.

“Our boys were able to reset and finish off strongly.

“It was a really good team performance, I’m re-

ally proud of how the boys went about it.”

North Wangaratta’s Damien Bradley, Jhye Devine and Tyler Nanson finished with three goals apiece, while midfielders Matt Vescio, Ed Bramich and Andrew Newton were among the best on ground for the Lions.

■ Continued page 18