WC220724_Digital_Edition.pdf

Har vey Harvey Benton to nominate

MONICA MEETS HER LIFESAVERS

AMBULANCE community officer

■ See story page 3

Childcare wait times stretched in Wangaratta

PARENTS in Wangaratta are experiencing up to twoyear wait times for childcare, a problem the MP for Indi Helen Haines wants to help fix.

BY STEVE KELLY skelly@ nemedia.com.au

Dr Haines met with advocacy group The Parenthood in Wangaratta last week and they are formulating a study right across Australia on people’s experiences in accessing childcare in country areas. She explained that parents are enrolling their children prior to birth, but even then many are having to wait for childcare vacancies, affecting their

ability to return to work after the baby is born.

Families are having to drive their children to other towns such as Benalla and Beechworth so they can put their children in care because they can’t access it in Wangaratta.

The issue is mostly affecting mothers who want to get back into the workforce but they can’t due

to the lack of vacancies.

Grandparents are also dropping from full-time to part-time work to share the responsibility of care for their grandchildren.

With Wangaratta’s population expected to grow in the coming years due to the government’s building program, it’s an issue that needs fixing soon.

“There has been a centre

built in Phillipson Street that is encouraging but we know that a study by the Mitchell Institute that there are 0.48 childcare positions available for every child,” Dr Haines said.

“This has a ripple effect on the whole community with businesses wishing to employ particularly women who have the skills and they can’t engage in the workforce

to the degree which they wish to and businesses can’t employ them and they have job vacancies.”

Dr Haines arranged for The Parenthood campaign director Maddy Butler to visit Wangaratta after she met her in parliament and she wants the voices of people from the Indi community in the study report.

■ Continued page 2

Chris Walkear (left), Monica Arundel, Kelly Barton and paramedic Natasha Orfandis re-united on Friday after saving Ms Arundel’s life in 2022.

PHOTO: Kurt Hickling

Melbourne Craft and Quilt Fair

THE Melbourne Craft and Quilt Fair will be held at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre at South Wharf from Wednesday, July 24 to Saturday, July 27.

Enjoy the Studio Art Quilt Associates Global Exhibition of international textile artworks exploring the theme “RED”, see the winners and finalists from the 2024 Australasian Quilt Convention Challenge, or get some knitting tips from guest artist, Jake Henzler during his daily workshops.

Visitors can also see quilts designed and embroidered by singer, Kate Ceberano, learn how to mend their favourite winter woolies, visit the vintage wedding dress display and shop for handmade gifts and craft accessories.

The fair will be open from 10am to 4pm each day with tickets at craftfair.com.au/ aqc-2024.

Long-time councillor will seek re-election in 2024

Roads, sports facilities, education are key topics for Harvey Benton ,p,ypy

BY STEVE KELLY skelly@ nemedia.com.au

ROAD infrastructure, sporting facilities and education for young people are the main passions that drive the newly announced candidate for the Ovens ward, Harvey Benton.

The existing North ward councillor has spent the last two terms on council and with previous stints on the Wangaratta Shire, he has surpassed 20 years in the job.

With the new ward structure, the Ovens ward, like the King ward, covers a massive geographical area and takes in towns from Boorhaman North to Whorouly.

Funding for roads renewal and maintenance continues to be a concern for residents and Cr Benton believes there is still work to be done in this area.

“We have a few reviews coming up and I’ve always been a rural advocate for the roads and they’re not the sexiest thing to be talked about, but they are the most common thing people complain about,” he said.

”We have a strategy review early in the (next) term and I think there are some issues to sort out.”

Cr Benton said it’s the little things that give him the greatest pleasure out of council like fixing a footpath, as they are the things that affect people every day.

“I would say at least every fortnight I get a request and with our survey on the state roads, either sealed or unsealed, they are always up there in what people highlight,” he said.

“We can’t ignore that and say we’re 2-3 per cent under the state average - what does it mean if you have to keep driving over the same defects?

“Other infrastructure problems like gravel supply have to start being looked at now, as to where we’re going to get that from.”

If elected this October, Cr Benton will start a term that will lead to 25 years as a councillor in four years’ time.

“There needs to be a little bit of consistency to go forward

within the council and I think I have the ability, having been there, to do that,” Cr Benton said.

“Now with the new ward structure, it’s making it a big job, particularly with the Ovens ward.

“We (Ovens) pick up at least another two communities (Killawarra and Whorouly), starting at Chicks Road and going right around to Whorouly, and everyone wants a bit of you.”

Advocacy for state and federal government funding is key for any successful council and Cr Benton highlighted that capital works has slowed down due to funding, however, he praised the recent $600,000 for Wareena Park.

“I’m very passionate about making sure the sporting fraternity, not only in the urban area but the rural area, gets their fair share,” he said.

Cr Benton said Eldorado needs changerooms for the rugby and he will push for that.

With 1600 homes being built in the next five years in the Rural City of Wangaratta, he questioned where are the kids going to go to school.

“We’ve got to become far more assertive in our advocacy to get that, because if we don’t, no one else is going to do that

RURAL City of Wangaratta voters head to the polls, via a postal ballot, in October to elect seven councillors for the next four years.

This year’s election will be different as a state electoral review will see the rural city’s current council ward structure of four wards (one city ward with four councillors, three rural wards electing one councillor each) being replaced with a new seven single-councillor ward structure. Voters in each of the seven wards (Appin Ward, Bullawah Ward, King River Ward, Ovens Ward, Warby Ward, Wareena Ward and Yarrunga Ward) will only get to choose between those candidates standing in their ward.

Nominations for council are expected to open September 19 and close September 25.

For more details, including enrolment to vote details, visit the Victorian Electoral Commission website: https://www.vec.vic.gov.au/ voting/2024-local-council-elections

for us,” he said.

“I pushed for an advocacy policy and we have one now, it’s a document that is given to every MP who visits the municipality.

“It covers all the things we have in the pipeline - Wareena Park project, the aerodromeand all the housing and connected infrastructure to build 5000 homes over the coming years.”

Councillors are not required to live in the ward they nominate for but Cr Benton said despite this wards do serve their purpose as they hold councillors to account.

“It does help to live in the ward you’re standing in but I

think last time I had more calls from people outside of my ward than within the ward I was looking to represent,” he said.

“At the end of the day you still need to show that connection and that’s why I am a pro-ward person.

“Councillors become a little bit lazy in a multi-ward structure, you can hide behind things, but people know that I represent that area.

“I represent the sport portfolio and education is another area I am very passionate about - to try and get the youth involved in some activity because a happy community works well.”

Childcare wait times stretched in Wangaratta

■ From page 1

Ms Butler said at The Parenthood they’re advocating for improved access to childhood education and care in regional, rural and remote Australia.

“We’re releasing a new report in September focusing on the negative impacts that lack of access to care has on, not just children and parents, but carers, whole families, towns and regions,” Ms Butler said

“We’ve been meeting with parents, carers, grandparents - chatting to them about what the situation is like for them right now and what the

impacts have been.

“A few people have said they have to travel 25 minutes to over an hour to drop their kids at a centre.

“It’s a real struggle and a huge cost for petrol and maintaining your car and sitting in a car for that long is not an ideal environment for children.”

She said the other option is to not return to paid work and this is unfortunately what many are experiencing right now.

“These people work in essential industries like public health, they’re nurses, and teachers,” she said.

“We advocate to the state and federal governments and they can’t shy away from it and say it’s not happening or it’s not real.”

COMMUNITY FIRST: Cr Harvey Benton will nominate for the Ovens ward at the October Rural City of Wangaratta Council election.

PHOTO: Kurt Hickling

OCTOBER COUNCIL ELECTION

CARE CRISIS: Isabel Young, Helen Haines and Maddy Butler, with (front left) Eloise Gorton, Edie Gorton, and Matilder Fraser at the Wangaratta Library children’s room. PHOTO: Kurt Hickling

Local woman meets her quick thinking lifesavers

Monica Arundel’s life saved thanks to the bystanders and GoodSAM y

WANGARATTA woman Monica Arundel on Friday reunited with the people who saved her life in 2022 after she went into cardiac arrest.

Ms Arundel was enjoying lunch with her Probus club in November of 2022 at the Club Savoy in Myrtleford when she suddenly collapsed.

Luckily, Kelly Barton, an infection prevention control officer from Myrtleford, was attending a line dancing social in the same building and quickly sprung into action to save her life.

“I had just jumped on the dance floor when my mother-in-law told me somebody collapsed,” Ms Barton said.

“I went over, and a couple of the patrons had popped her into the recovery position, but I had rolled her over back onto her back and checked her pulse to check if she was breathing and started the CPR.”

While Ms Barton completed CPR, other patrons called 000 and another bystander retrieved a publicly accessible AED and delivered it to Ms Arundel before

BY CHLOE JAENICKE cjaenicke@ nemedia.com.au

paramedics arrived.

While they waited for an ambulance, Ms Barton completed CPR on Ms Arundel for around 40 minutes, with ambulance community officer, Chris Walkear, who arrived on the scene around the eight-minute mark thanks to an alert from the GoodSAM app.

The GoodSAM app is available to anyone over the age of 18 with a first aid certificate to register and alerts the nearest GoodSAM responder of a cardiac arrest near them and also provides information on where the nearest AED is located

Mr Walkear said it’s important for CPR to start as soon as possible and that Ms Arundle was lucky Ms Barton was nearby.

“Time is muscle time and it’s very important to start those compressions as soon as possible and anyone can do it, don’t be afraid to do it,” Mr Walkear said.

Natasha Orfanidis, an Ambu-

lance Victoria paramedic who was at the scene of Ms Arundel’s cardiac arrest, said she encourages people to register for the GoodSAM app and to not be afraid of using the publicly accessible AEDs, which offer voice prompts to walk you through the process.

“The AEDS are all automatic, anyone can use them, it is step by step and it really is fool proof,” she said.

“After 10 minutes of no response you’ve got virtually 0 per cent chance of survival.”

Every day, around 20 Victorians suffer a cardiac arrest and only one in 10 survive.

When a patient receives CPR and a shock from the an AED before paramedics arrive, their chances of survival doubles.

Currently there are 28 locations in Wangaratta that have an AED.

Mr Walkear said since 2022, the amount of AEDs in Myrtleford has increased from around 16 to 34 and it’s important to have more around.

“They can’t hurt you and you don’t need to be scared of them,” he said.

“By using one you can give that poor person every oppor-

Students invited to explore career opportunities at expo

THE Rural City of Wangaratta in partnership with NE TRACKS Local Learning and Employment Network, and GOTAFE will host a Local Government Careers Expo at Galen Catholic College this Thursday from 9am to 3pm.

Students from Year 9 and up at Wangaratta’s five secondary schools are invited to participate in the career exploration event. This initiative aims to provide students with valuable insights into the diverse job opportunities available within council and the skills needed to pursue them.

Independent review into the construction sector

THE State Government has called for an independent review into the Victorian construction sector following allegations of criminal and unlawful conduct within the Construction, Forestry and Maritime Employees Union (CFMEU).

On Saturday the government released the scope of the independent Construction Sector Review to strengthen the powers of bodies which are engaged with construction companies and construction unions to respond to allegations of criminal or unlawful conduct.

The review will be conducted independently by Greg Wilson, who has previously served as secretary of the Department of Justice and Regulation, secretary of the Department of Sustainability and Environment and most recently as the acting commissioner of the Victorian public sector commissioner.

The review will investigate and recommend ways to amend any gaps or limitations in the current powers of Victorian bodies or legislation to respond to allegations of criminal or other unlawful conduct in the Victorian construction sector, and their interaction with the powers of the Commonwealth.

tunity of survival.”

Since suffering cardiac arrest in 2022, Ms Arundel went through all the steps of rehabilitation and now lives independently and is an active member of her Probus club thanks to the help of an Aged Care Package and taxi services.

“It’s great to meet everyone and say thank you very much for what they did for me,” she said.

“I’m eternally grateful for everyone.”

Ms Barton said Friday was their first time meeting properly and it was amazing to see what happened to Ms Arundel.

“This has been amazing because you don’t get to see the outcomes and lot of the time when you do the resuscitation the outcome isn’t great,” she said.

“I’m just so grateful and feel blessed that we got to meet Monica and got such a fantastic outcome.”

To register an AED or see how many devices are registered in your area, visit registermyaed.ambulance.vic.gov.au.

For more information on GoodSAM visit www.ambulance.vic.gov. au/goodsam/.

this week

Participating schools include Borinya Wangaratta Community Partnership, Wangaratta District Specialist School, Wangaratta High School, Galen Catholic College, and Cathedral College. Each student will be allocated five 10-minute time slots to engage in a speed learning exercise, with their choice of representatives from one of the council’s 21 departments. This unique opportunity allows students to learn about various career paths, the responsibilities associated with each role, the benefits of local employment, required skills,

and the training and qualifications available to them.

“We are thrilled to welcome students from our local schools to this event,” director corporate & leisure, Sarah Brindley, said.

“This is a fantastic opportunity for young people to discover the great variety of career options available within our community and to understand how they can contribute to the future of the Rural City of Wangaratta.”

Students who would like to attend are encouraged to contact their careers advisor for more details.

The review will consider how government can establish clear processes and protections for whistleblowers and complainants with allegations of criminal or unlawful practices, coercion, bullying or intimidatory conduct.

The review will strengthen practices in workplace relations and health and safety by reporting on the current roles and responsibilities of those managing construction projects and any steps that need to be taken to strengthen these practices.

It will also investigate the Victorian Infrastructure Delivery Authority’s ability to direct the removal of individuals engaging in criminal or unlawful practices.

An interim report to the government must be provided by Thursday, August 29, 2024 and a final report by November 28, 2024.

At the request of the Victorian Government, the National Executive of the Australian Labor Party has banned donations from the CFMEU’s construction division and suspended the division from the Victorian Labor Party.

For further details on the review go to vic.gov.au/formal-review-construction-companies-and-constructionunions.

SAVING LIVES: ACO Chris Walkear, Monica Arundel, Kelly Barton and paramedic Natasha Orfandis encourage people to register on the GoodSAM app and learn first aid. PHOTO: Kurt Hickling

HISTORICAL DISCOVERY:

More local soldiers discovered by Greta students

STUDENTS in grades three to six at Greta Valley Primary School spent five weeks researching a soldier buried in the Greta cemetery, presenting their work at the community’s ANZAC Day service.

In this next instalment of a series we are sharing with the support of school principal Howard Gibson, student Georgie Clancy tells us what she found out about Eric George Graham.

The project has given students an opportunity to get a better understanding of the war experience while revealing just how many local families were affected by conflict.

Eric George Graham was born in Wangaratta on June 6 in 1915.

His dad was Albert Alex Graham and his mother’s name was Hannah Dinning. Eric had nine siblings

and their names were Robert, Irwin, Melba, John, William, Elsie, Muriel, Marie, and Colin.

Eric later married Edna Marjorie Doig in 1949 and they went on to have five children - Merv, Noel, Ian, Dawn and Ronald.

Eric joined the army on May 23 in 1941 in Tiaro, Queensland and he was a Private in World War ll.

His next of kin was his father.

Eric only fought in Australia in Darwin when it was bombed by the Japanese. He fought alongside John Hunter Dinning - a soldier we also remember today.

Eric’s service number was QX39563 and he was called up for full time duty on December 17 in 1941.

Eric was discharged on May 3 in 1944.

He died on February 10 in 1985 at the age of 69.

WDSS building earns more recognition

BY SIMONE KERWIN skerwin@ nemedia.com.au

A WANGARATTA building which last month received an award and commendation at the Victorian Architecture Awards has collected another gong, this time a national one.

Design work on Wangaratta District Specialist School’s new building on Appin Street last month netted Sibling Architecture a commendation in the educational architecture category of the state awards, as well as the EmAGN Project Award, acknowledging projects where Emerging Architects and Graduate Network members have made significant contributions.

Now, it has been selected as the winner of the ArchitectureAU Award for Social Impact, an accolade honouring projects which have made valuable societal contributions and prioritise empathy over aesthetics.

From a shortlist of 32 projects, the jury unanimously named the WDSS building the winner, with five other projects receiving commendations.

“Design thinking can be as varied, nuanced and individualistic as the people it serves,” jury chair and ArchitectureAU editor Linda Cheng said.

“In the second year of the ArchitectureAU Award for Social Impact, it was encouraging to see the impact of de-

MAKING A DIFFERENCE:

St Michael’s Craft Group generously donated $1000 to the SES Wangaratta. Peter Moncrieff (left), Jess Zuber, Lyn Johnston, Carol Stemp, Vincent McKenzie and Damian French are pictured at the donation handover.

sign continuing to be defined in different ways.

“The award was launched in 2023 to promote and celebrate good design for the common good.

“In 2024, the jury was cognisant of the potential of good design for the greater good - projects that demonstrate the potential for widespread, nationally applicable impact, and the transferability of their design strategy across different built environments, beyond their immediate contexts and communities.”

Organised by Architecture Media alongside presenting partner Melbourne School of

Design, the award program is the only national recognition of this type of work within Australia.

Sibling Architecture’s WDSS design was praised by the jury for its “joyous interior and exterior spaces” which meet the needs of the school’s neurodivergent students, as well as enhancing their independence and enjoyment of learning.

The jury said: “A variety of clever design moves has created a ‘building as experience’ – with spaces that range from active and engaged to calming and restful, with bespoke lighting and mate-

rial choices to reduce sensory stimulation.

“The project provides a model for engagement with a diverse user cohort and expert teaching staff, and an exemplar of spatial and tactile design for numerous learning (or even workplace) environments across the country.”

Sibling Architecture undertook the WDSS project for the Victorian School Building Authority, as part of the first stage of a masterplan aimed at maximising the use of space across the adjoining specialist school and Appin Park Primary School campuses in Appin Street.

CLEVER DESIGN: The exterior of the Wangaratta District Specialist School building in Appin Street which has won state and now national recognition for its design work, completed by Sibling Architecture.

PHOTO: Derek Swalwell

Greta Valley Primary School student Georgie Clancy learnt about Eric George Graham, who is buried in the Greta Cemetery with his wife and infant son.

Pipeline could supply park lagoons

Fresh water from King River to be pumped into lagoons potentially via underground gppgpygpppipe

By STEVE KELLY

AQUATIC life, including fish, platypus, yabbies and ducks in the Merriwa Park lagoons will be given a fresh lease of life from the King River as plans are being discussed to run a more reliable water supply to their home.

Rural City of Wangaratta Council director of community and infrastructure, Marcus Goonan, said aquatic life in the lagoons is a really important part of Merriwa Park and council is keen to see them stay healthy.

He said during recent dry weather, the area where water was being pumped from out of the King River to the lagoons has run dry and over a long period of time debris from trees has filtered through the area.

“Council is not in a position to clear the area out so we are looking at alternative options to transport the water from the river to the lagoons,” he said.

“This may include drilling a line all the way back to the King River or another option that we might come up with.

“It’s not something we

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.

have thought through in any great length but we know it’s something that we need to get onto.

“The pipleline would be drilled underground and that way we won’t have any impact on the vegetation down there.”

Council also has plans to reconstruct the Merriwa Park levee and they will factor in the ability to fill the lagoon once this is complete.

The water that will be pumped into the lagoon will not be filtered, as Mr Goonan said it is meant to be a natural state for wildlife.

LUKE Matthew Neighman was born at Northeast Health Wangaratta on Monday, July 15 at 2:53pm and weighed 3.22kg (7lb 1oz). He is the son of Alexandra Spasevska and Jordan Neighman of Wangaratta.

The plan is to complete the infrastructure to supply water to the lagoon by the start of this summer.

“We might struggle with water again this summer so we’ll be working on that and it will not be a difficult or ex-

pensive solution, it will be just trying to figure out what the right solution will be,” he said.

Taylan White was born at Northeast Health Wangaratta on Tuesday, July 16 at 6:37pm and weighed 3.55kg (7lb 13oz). He is the brother of Tarni, Tyson and Hazel White and the son of Jenna and Matthew White of Glenrowan.

John Bruce Smith was born at Northeast Health Wangaratta on Tuesday, July 16 at 9:39pm and weighed 4.2kg (9lb 4oz). He is the brother of Poppy Smith and the son of Tayla Clark and Isaac Smith of Culcairn.

HAYDEN

HAYDEN Taylan White

LUKE Matthew Neighman

ARCHIE

ARCHIE John Bruce Smith

WATER WORRIES: Wildlife such as ducks and platypus enjoy the sanctuary of the Merriwa Park lagoons but the water supply infrastructure from the King River needs an upgrade.

PHOTO: Kurt Hickling

Childcare shortages hurting community

CHILDCARE placement shortages have been an ongoing concern in regional areas especially since the pandemic with staff shortages in the industry adding to the issue.

In today’s page 1 story, Independent MP for Indi Helen Haines took time out on Friday to meet with The Parenthood campaign director Maddy Butler, who visited Wangaratta and Wodonga to hear firsthand the issues that parents in the region are facing.

Many people have been unable to return to work when they would have liked after their child reached an age where childcare should be an option.

A post-pandemic report by Community Early leaning Australia showed that the sector has faced serious workforce shortages, due to attraction and retention issues, and along with required staff-child ratios, this has affected vacancy rates.

The 2022 Mitchell Institute report found that 50 per cent of families in regional areas and about 80 per cent in remote neighbourhoods are stranded in ‘childcare deserts’ (an area where there are 3+ children for every available position).

The Parenthood also released a report titled ‘Choiceless’ which captures a range of views from parents and guardians across Australia.

By not having access to childcare services it is costing local rural, regional and remote communities.

But more so, many parents - usually women - are having to forego income, including superannuation, as a result of the void in childcare services.

The Parenthood’s latest report will be given to state and federal governments in support of new strategies to address the shortfall in areas such as Wangaratta.

The Quiz No. 94

1. Which country hosted the 2016 G20 summit?

2. In which decade of the 19th century was gold discovered in the Wiluna area?

3. Which team knocked the West Coast Eagles out of the 2016 AFL finals series?

4. In which 2016 movie did Tom Hanks play the role of Chesley Sullenberger?

5. Who composed the music commonly known as Für Elise?

6. Mauritius is located in which ocean?

7. Most commercial canned baked beans are made from what type of bean?

8. In order from left to right, what are the three colours on the flag of Italy?

9. What type of fencing material is also known as Devils Rope?

10. Who did Angelique Kerber defeat in the 2016 US Open women’s singles final?

11. The aurora borealis can be seen in which hemisphere?

12. Which Australian band released the 2016 album, Skeleton Tree?

13. Ovaltine originated in which country?

14. Who preceded Mark McGowan as Leader of the Opposition in Western Australia?

15. Tuptim and Lun Tha are characters from which musical?

16. In which Australian state or territory could you trek through the Daintree Rainforest?

17. Max Ernst is best remembered for his work in which two art movements?

18. In what year did Jennifer Hawkins win the Miss Universe title?

19. Who wrote the 1997 book, The Perfect Storm, on which the movie of the same name was based?

20. The classic Australian TV series, The Sullivans, was set around the time of which war?

FACEBOOK users this week commented on South East Melbourne Phoenix and Brisbane Bullets playing at Wangaratta’s $12.9million basketball facility.

• Jack Carruthers:

Perhaps it would be charitable to allow the homeless living in tents behind the stadium free entry. They would allow them to be warm for a few hours at least.

• Cam Green: Dylan Webb Sam Waite main game 7pm Mondays still.

• Brett Direen: Cam Green you pale into significance nice try though.

• Kiangkai Douangphosay: Matt Ryan nice!!!

Facebook users also commented on drivers being urged to show caution around a busy Wangaratta intersection after a weekend of minor collisions.

Quality people lift confidence in election

I’M reading with interest about the upcoming council elections and the number of female candidates.

Historically, women have been at the forefront of advocating for community needs.

When women obtained the right to vote, family healthcare, disability, women’s health were some of the areas of the community to be prioritised.

Time and opportunity have refined women’s professional skill sets, and the quality of candidate selection is fantastic.

The interview with Tania Maxwell, who is keen to educate people on what local council and government is responsible for as most people are unaware of the limited power local council has on bigger ticket items such as hospitals and education, is refreshing to read.

Seeing women stand from the Women Leading Locally Fellowship – an 18-month course designed to educate and support women on running for and participating as a councillor, is also truly inspiring.

Candidates such as Yarrunga ward resident Al Winters (already a familiar face in the Chronicle, serving our community and the mental health and wellbeing of so many) fills me with confidence that we have active members of our community who have done so much work to prepare them for this moment and beyond.

I wish all the candidates well on this journey.

I also welcome the community to make sure they are voting for candidates who have shown through prior actions that they are committed to their community and have done the work to understand what they are to be responsible for.

May the best people be elected for these very important roles and lead us through an exciting new chapter ahead for Wangaratta.

Céline Forster, Wangaratta

Return of Boomerang Bags in Wangaratta

OVER the last seven years the Wangaratta Boomerang Bags group has made more than 36,000 bags.

These bags have been distributed for free, by donation or at low cost.

Although we enjoy making these bags it is disappointing that we don’t see many being used in day-to-day shopping in Wangaratta. We know they are out there somewhere, accumulating in cupboards, in the boots of cars etc.

NOTE: Comments as they appear online, without corrections.

• Shez Mitchell: Green St and Rowan Street roundabout needs lights. Too.

• Mark Sanders: Maybe right turn arrows on the main road might help.

• Julian Savery: I’m sure every traffic light intersection in Australia has stories like the above.

• Debbie Butler: I was coming down Warby st towards Ryley st . The car in front had green light but red arrow to turn right. He still turned and the pedestrian

light was flashing as they were crossing.

• Linda Simpson: Debbie Butler so dangerous!

• Cindy Knight: Maybe if ppl dont try and beat the orange light. Accidents might not happen. Especially coming from the vets they speed up at the corner to go through an orange.

• Trevor Dawson: So many aggressive and impatient drivers out there. I see them every day.

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

14,917

Our motto on the pockets reads ‘Choose to Re-use’, the idea being that by using material bags less plastic is being produced and less plastic ends up in landfill.

We encourage everyone to use the bags they have, but also ask that if you have Boomerang Bags that you are not using please return them.

We will wash, iron and redistribute them.

We have organised return boxes at two collection points at the Wangaratta Library and the Rural City of Wangaratta council office foyer.

Roberta Pollard, Wangaratta

Dark day in our nation’s history

JULY 19 marked the 11th anniversary of a dark day in Australia’s history when the then-Rudd government announced that “unauthorised maritime arrivals” would not be allowed to settle in Australia and were to be detained in offshore locations.

This marked a reversal of Labor policy, as the newly elected Rudd Government in 2007 closed down the detention centre in Nauru, with the then-Minister calling it a “shameful and wasteful chapter in Australia’s immigration history”.

Since July 19, 2013, the astronomical cost of the policy has reached $12.118 billion.

Today, around 48 refugees remain in Port Moresby, PNG after transfer from Manus Island in a 2021 deal that neither the Morrison nor Albanese governments has adequately explained, nor has PNG’s.

Like so much of this detention program, the PNG deal is clouded in secrecy.

As a result of this secrecy and the poor way the whole process has been handled, a num-

ber of the asylum seekers are seriously ill, without access to proper medical care, and are struggling to get by in an environment that is neither safe nor welcoming.

At present, Australia is paying PNG an undisclosed amount to handle an issue that could be more humanely resolved here.

The reality is that vulnerable individuals are being sacrificed on the altar of diplomacy.

A further 100 asylum seekers, more recent arrivals, are being held offshore on Nauru, the independent Pacific nation, most of them in a facility run by the US for-profit prison company, Management and Training Corporation.

This costly and poorly run program is also lacking in transparency, with journalistic and human rights access denied.

St Vincent de Paul Society believes all those held in offshore detention should be brought to Australia immediately for proper assessment, medical treatment where necessary, and then for consideration of resettlement, whether here or in a third country.

Mark Gaetani, St Vincent de Paul Society national president

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COMMUNITY SUPPORT: The Men’s Shed Wangaratta accepted a generous donation of $1000 from the Early Holden Car Club Wangaratta (EHCC). All funds were raised at the car club’s popular All GM Day on March 10. Lester Hilli (left) and Brian Wadley (right) from the EHCC presented the donation to Mick Villella and Bill Gerritsen from the Men’s Shed. For more information on the EHCC, visit their Facebook page.

Ambos urge a stop to violence on paramedics

REPEATED incidents of violence against paramedics brought an urgent plea from Ambulance Victoria (AV) for patients to show respect to first responders during emergencies.

AV reports show there have been 105 reported incidents resulting in injury to paramedics from July 2023 to March 2024 across the state.

Recent incidents included a paramedic grabbed and punched in the face by a patient they were treating, a paramedic suffering a dislocation after a patient became aggressive and paramedics harassed and followed by a man outside of a Melbourne hospital, who was threatening to assault them.

An AV spokesperson said they were unable to share

BY BAILEY ZIMMERMANN bzimmermann@ nemedia.com.au

LGA specific data from the total 105 incidents.

Senior North East MICA paramedic Paul Stefaniak said while he has heard of incidents of paramedic violence in the region in the past, there has been no recent issues of improper patient behaviour to his knowledge.

AV said paramedics are also often exposed to situations involving verbal assault, swearing and name calling, which can result in paramedics pausing their treatment or withdrawing from the scene or terminating a call.

AV executive director Regional Operations, Danielle North, said violence against

paramedics is never ok and we do not accept this behaviour as part of the job.

“We know emergency situations can be stressful for people, but this is no excuse to behave aggressively towards paramedics,” she said.

“We are aware of several serious occupational violence incidents recently across the state and it is timely that we remind the community again that violence against paramedics, first responders and call takers is never ok.

“Our top priority is the safety of our paramedics and first responders, and they have our full support to leave an incident if they ever feel unsafe.

“Assaulting or berating a paramedic will not help them do their job any quicker.”

Injuring an emergency worker in Victoria is a Category 1 offence and carries a mandatory minimum sixmonth jail sentence.

Paramedics are trained in a variety of strategies to assess, manage and de-escalate violent or aggressive scenes, but ideally paramedics shouldn’t need to use these skills.

AV is committed to exploring ways to reduce and prevent occupational violence and our people are encouraged to report every instance of this behaviour.

For more information on the impact of occupational violence on paramedics and how you can help, visit www.ambulance.vic.gov.au/campaigns/respect-our-paramedics.

Nearly 10,000 trees illegally felled

THE silent and devastating toll of firewood theft from Victoria’s forests and parks has been revealed as public land authorities announce a crackdown on escalating illegal firewood take and habitat destruction threatening the survival of native wildlife and Aboriginal cultural heritage.

In 2023 alone, firewood thieves damaged or destroyed more than 9200 native trees or cleared roughly 462 hectares –approximately 178.5 MCGs worth – of public land in Victoria, with much of the stolen wood sold on to unsuspecting Victorians by illegal firewood operators.

The Conservation Regulator and Parks Victoria have launched Taskforce Ironbark, a joint state-wide initiative targeting illegal commercial firewood removal from public land and empowering Victorian firewood consumers to make choices which help protect our forests and native wildlife.

With winter here and factors like rising living pressures and a lack of community awareness,

for firewood

the demand for cheap firewood is likely to increase, exacerbating illegal firewood theft and the destruction of vital habitat.

“We have seen a rapid rise in firewood-related damage on public land, and native trees are being stolen from Victoria’s forests and parks faster than they can be replaced, leaving our native birds, reptiles, and small mammals without crucial habitat,” Taskforce Ironbark manager from the Conservation Regulator, Brady Childs, said.

When Victorians unintentionally buy illegally sourced firewood, often through online marketplaces, roadside stalls, and word-of-mouth, they could also be inadvertently supporting the individuals and syndicates destroying native forests and wildlife habitat.

The community can help by reporting suspicious sellers or firewood theft from public land to 136 186.

For more information on responsible sourcing of firewood, visit: www.vic.gov.au/sourcingfirewood.

Calls for more train services as region demand almost doubles

THERE are renewed calls to increase V/line train services on the North East Line after new information revealed demand for trips has nearly doubled within a year.

Nationals’ state MP for Euroa, Annabelle Cleeland, said data she requested has shown there were almost 40,000 passengers on the North East line in March this year, compared to 26,000 in the same month last year.

Ms Cleeland said despite the increased demand, just one extra weekend coach service has been added to the schedule, leaving residents to travel on overcrowded trains or unable to reserve a seat.

“While reserved-only services have been introduced, my office continues to deal with complaints from passengers who are now unable to reserve a seat and are being told to stand or sit on the floor for long journeys,” she said.

“With tickets selling out at a rapid pace, many people needing to make spontaneous trips will either have to stand, sit on

BY JORDAN DUURSMA jduursma@ nemedia.com.au

the floor, or skip their journey entirely.”

Ms Cleeland said it was irresponsible to continue avoiding the issue, and that more services must be prioritised for those using the North East line between Albury and Melbourne.

“With demand expected to keep rising, our trains are getting less and less accessible for local passengers,” she said.

“Due to a lack of other public transport options in our towns, these trains are crucial for those needing to attend medical appointments and other essential services.

“This simply cannot continue as it is.”

In response, a State Government spokesperson said since the regional fare cap was introduced, Albury line passengers have saved up to $30 for a oneway full-fare trip, and more if they need to take a return trip.

“We’ve also added additional special train and coach options to support increase demand on the line, and have extended the popular reservation-only seating trial on Albury Line trains,” the spokesperson said.

Earlier this year, V/Line introduced a weekend return coach service between Albury and Seymour to connect with trains between Seymour and Southern Cross, giving passengers more options to get where they need to go.

According to the government spokesperson, V/Line has being running an additional train service from Albury on Saturdays and Sundays for the past year.

V/Line’s reservation-only seating, which was introduced as a trial in September 2023, was extended for the long-term from July 1 to help provide greater certainty around seating for passengers who make a reservation.

If all seats are booked, passengers have the option of purchasing an unreserved ticket.

The government spokesperson said V/Line “frequently” provides

additional coach support for busy North East line train services, giving passengers the option to take a coach rather than stand if they have an unreserved ticket.

ALL ABOARD FOR CHANGE: Member for Euroa, Annabelle Cleeland, said more services must be added to the North East Line after new figures indicate a huge surge in demand.

Eccentricity explored by Schneed Collective at Bainz Gallery

BY ANITA McPHERSON amcpherson@ nemedia.com.au

AN exhibition of diverse artworks by former Wangaratta High School students Matthew Turk and Benjamin Steer, otherwise known as the Schneed Collective, is on display in the Bainz Gallery at the Wangaratta Library.

The Schneed Collective was formed by the aspiring regional artists in 2008; the pair - who grew up in Wangaratta and Whorouly South respectively and still visit regularly - drawn together by their shared passion for the odd and eccentric.

Early in their formative years, they released a flourish of musical projects, performing in groups Jamin Factory, Black Oak and Turtle Escape Capsule.

They also authored a screenplay for two seasons of a sketch comedy show and produced two segments, along with a series of music video clips and short films.

In recent years however, the Schneed members say their interests have matured and they have focused their efforts on the contemporary art space.

On display in the Bainz Gallery are two bodies of work, the Klean Collection (2023) and Supine LXXXVI (2024).

Matthew Turk says the intention of the Klean Collection was to explore Australian themes in a “clean art” environment - capturing contemporary style while avoiding messy visual experiences.

“The ‘K’ in Klean pays homage to the various Australian animals sharing the same first letter: the Koala,

Kangaroo, Kiwi and Kookaburra,” he says.

“The collection features primarily acrylic on canvas, and the digitally illustrated Man Chair.”

For the Supine LXXXVI Collection, the Schneed Collective wanted to capture the idea of “looking at the world differently”, from an angle or perspective not usually captured.

Matthew says he stumbled upon the original idea after losing his keys under the fridge, finding himself on his back on the kitchen floor.

Stretching to recover his lost item, he realised how strange and alien the space felt from an unusual angle, and this way of thinking is how Supine LXXXVI came about.

“The Roman numerals are a tribute to the collective ages of the Schneed members, along with the age of collaborator and ex-Wangaratta local, Steve Curcio,” Matthew said.

“Supine uses primarily acrylic on canvas, with some small use of scavenged car accessories to provide texture to the piece ‘youdontknowmebutyouhurtmeeveryday’.”

Recently the Schneed Collective has found new inspiration in both the Incoherents art movement, and the use of highlighters.

They intend to combine these elements in their next collection - planned to be unveiled in 2025 - while also potentially integrating elements of performance art into their next exhibition.

See the work of the Schneed Collective in the foyer of the Wangaratta Library until the end of July.

Education support staff now able to upskill

THE State Government has launched a pilot program which will provide 300 education support staff and Koorie education support officers with teaching qualifications.

The program enables rural and regional education support staff to upskill and help combat the Australiawide issue of teacher shortages while continuing work in a Victorian government school.

Ben Carroll, Minister for Education, said he was proud to have launched the $13.9 million initiative to trial undergraduatelevel employment-based teaching.

“The Allan Labor Government is proud to invest $13.9 million, so our outstanding education support staff have the

support they need to pursue rewarding teaching careers,”

Mr Carroll said.

“The undergraduate level employment-based teaching degree initiative opens up teaching to a broader pool of diverse candidates by supporting staff to gain teaching qualifications while working in our schools.”

The program is set to start in 2025 and is partnered with Federation University Australia and La Trobe University.

The qualification delivery will be predominantly online, to allow access for people in rural and regional areas, but faceto-face components will be available at both the Wodonga and Shepparton campuses.

Mr Carroll said that the

flexibility of the program removes the hand break which stands in the way of rural and regional education support staff upskilling.

“The initiative is yet another example of the Victorian Government removing financial and geographical barriers so that our schools can recruit the next generation of dedicated teachers,” he said.

Interested candidates currently employed as an education support staff can discuss their interest in upskilling with their principal, and further information about how to apply for the 2025 program will be published on the Department of Education website.

Participants will have access to Department of Education-funded living

White

beats red in national crush

THE white wine grape share of the national crush increased this year to 51 per cent – the first time since 2014 the white crush has been higher than the red crush, according to the National Vintage Report 2024 released by Wine Australia.

The report also indicates the average value for cool/ temperate white varieties, such as those grown in the King Valley region, increased by three per cent in 2024 and reached a new record of $1436 per tonne - 48 per cent higher than in 2015, and 30 per cent above its 10-year average.

In the King Valley, the crush volume was up eight per cent from 2023, and value was up 20 per cent on last year, in contrast to the overall average value nationally, which decreased by five per cent.

This year’s national wine grape crush is estimated to be 1.43 million tonnes, nine per cent more than 2023, and 18 per cent below the 10year average of 1.73 million tonnes.

It’s the third vintage in the past five years that has been below the long-term average.

South Australia accounted for the largest share of the national crush in tonnes with 49 per cent (down four percent) while the thirdlargest state by crush size was Victoria at 17 per cent of the national crush in tonnes (up 43 per cent year-on-year, but still 13 per cent below its 10-year average).

The grape crush value is estimated to be $1.01 billion, a two per cent increase over the previous year.

The overall average value decreased by five per cent from $642 per tonne to $613 per tonne, a result of a decrease in the share of tonnes from cool/temperate regions, which have a higher average value.

The crush of red varieties overall in 2024 declined by one per cent to an estimated 705,489 tonnes, which is 24 per cent below the 10-year average and the smallest crush of red varieties since 2007.

The crush of white varieties was up by 19 per cent to 721,519 tonnes, but still 10 per cent below its 10-year average of 804,854 tonnes, and the second smallest since 2007.

Chardonnay had the largest crush with 332,643 tonnes and overtook shiraz to resume the title of top variety by crush size that it last held in 2013.

Shiraz declined by 14 per cent to 297,868 tonnes, its smallest crush since 2007 and 31 per cent below its 10-year average of 430,903 tonnes.

All other varieties in the top 10 increased except for semillon, which decreased by 10 per cent.

Apart from chardonnay, pinot gris/grigio had the largest increase in percentage terms, up 27 per cent, while prosecco was up 18 per cent from last year.

expenses scholarships, relocation incentives, and mentoring support.

Additionally, in the final years of the program, teaching positions as paraprofessionals are available.

Both universities’ programs focus on supporting rural and regional Victorian education support staff, with La Trobe University’s program emphasising Koorie education support officers.

The new undergraduatelevel employment-based teaching degrees aim to expand Victoria’s nation-leading suite of employment-based teaching degrees – known as the Teach Today and Teach Tomorrow programs, currently available to postgraduate students.

Men’s shed continuing to build

Monday, July 21, 2014.

By JOSH HAWKE

WANGARATTA’S Men’s Shed held its annual general meeting last week, with Bernie Morrow re-elected president for another term.

Peter Patton was also re-elected secretary at the meeting, which was attended by 48 members.

Three new members joined the committee, which is looking at new activities and opportunities to in-volve all members.

Mr Patton, who is in charge of getting grants for the club, has obtained almost $50,000 over the last two years to improve the shed’s conditions and materials.

He is hopeful of soon

introducing a vegetable garden and possible cooking lessons, to further improve the men’s health.

The shed currently has 59 members, who have access to woodwork and metal machinery, countless tools, a kitchen, a computer room and a pool room.

The men’s shed organisation deals with men’s mental health struggles such as loneliness and depression and provides a space of socialisation and inclusion for all.

KLEAN PORTFOLIO: Among the artworks on display in the Bainz Gallery is the digitally illustrated Man Chair, digital, oil brushes, 3508 x 2480px, Schneed Klean Collection (2023).

ARTISTIC EXPRESSION: Former Wangaratta High School students Benjamin Steer and Matthew Turk (pictured) are the faces behind the Schneed Collective, and have always wanted to hold an exhibition in their hometown.

BUILDING TOWARDS HEALTHIER LIVES: Wangaratta Men’s Shed (from left) new member Dennis Williams, secretary Peter Patton and president Bernie Morrow are constructing strong friendships for men in the area.

PHOTO: Luke Plummer

DI D NG N TOWAR A DS D H

Treaty negotiations commence

First People’s Assembly of Victoria to commence negotiations with authority F i P l ’

By STEVE KELLY

THE First People’s Assembly of Victoria is set to enter the first round of Treaty negotiations following several years of engagement events seeking input from Aboriginal communities.

The notification to enter negotiations was entered onto the Treaty Authority’s Negotiation Database and a copy of the declaration was presented to the Treaty Authority at a ceremony last week, signifying that the assembly is ready to enter Treaty negotiations with the State Government.

Assembly co-chair, Gunditjmara man Rueben Berg, said it was a culmination of years of work from Victoria’s various Traditional Owner groups and Aboriginal Torres Strait Islander community to create a shared understanding and vision of how the journey to Treaty should unfold.

“We’re proud of the inclusive structures and ways of working that we have in place to ensure the collective hopes and aspirations in our communities are well represented and that the assembly can be the strongest advocate possible for all mob in Victoria,” Mr Berg said.

The Treaty Authority will now consider the information in the declaration and invite community members to provide comment.

Assembly co-chair, Wamba Wamba, Yorta Yorta, Dja Dja Wurrung and Dhudhuroa woman Ngarra Murray, said the public comment phase would provide time for the assembly’s elected members to finalise the pri-

A bl

orities for the negotiations.

“We have been preparing for Treaties for a long time and will continue to gather feedback and input from our communities throughout the process,” she said.

“We are a diverse mob here in Victoria made up of many nations and clans and we want to make sure everyone is heard.

“It’s an exciting time for First Peoples in Victoria, we’ll be sitting down to negotiate the first Treaty in Australia.”

An assembly spokesperson said they’ll be looking to agree on a process and timetable for transferring decision-making powers about Aboriginal matters from the government to the assembly.

“We’ll want to expand the assembly’s roles and responsibilities, so that in addition to the new decision-making powers we’d be seeking, it could also provide advice to government on a range of issues that affect First Peoples, and ensure accountability for promises made and standards set,” he said.

“We will seek to find ways to ensure First Peoples’ cultures and languages are recognised and respected, and can be shared and celebrated by everyone.

“And we’ll be looking at how key recommendations from the Yoorrook Justice Commission’s truth-telling process should be implemented.”

To find out more about the role of the Treaty Authority and read the Assembly’s Declaration visit: https:// www.firstpeoplesvic.org/ treaty/treaty-authority/.

CELEBRATING TOGETHER: Lifeball Wangaratta players (back) Elaine Broadway, Joyce Ryan, Sally Haynes, Maureen O’Keefe, Di Worthington, Glenyce Roy, Fran Doig, Margarit Anderson, Brenda Anderson, (front) Pat Menzies, Glenis Johnstone, Rupert Cheethan, Lynne Hahne, Helen Norton and Anne Brown enjoy the celebration of Rupert’s 90th birthday.

Never too old for Lifeball

By SIMONE KERWIN

LIFEBALL

Wangaratta

member Rupert Cheethan marked his 90th birthday recently, a milestone celebrated by his fellow players.

Rupert is testament to the fact that there is no age limit when it comes to Lifeball, which is played each Tuesday from 1pm on the basketball court at the Wangaratta Sports and Aquatic Centre. Lifeball is a non-contact game of netball, designed by a doctor and physio for the safety of mature players, with no running, walking backwards or throwing high balls, but the chance to enjoy fun and friendship. For more information about Lifeball, phone 0418 574 404.

EXPRESSIONS of interest are now open to customers wishing to be part of a reference group looking into the fees charged as part of Goulburn-Murray Water’s (GMW) diversions services.

The water corporation is undertaking a Diversions Cost Review to ensure full transparency and accountability and assess the underlying data that determines the service’s costs.

GMW Diversions Groundwater and Streams manager Peter Clydesdale said customer feedback would play a key part in the review.

“To support the review, we are looking to establish a customer reference group,” he said.

“This group will be involved in the review at key times and provide feedback on the review’s direction and deliverables.”

In addition to the customer reference group, the review will capture data for the activities associated with GMW providing its diversions services.

Mr Clydesdale encouraged diversions customers to apply to be part of the reference group.

“The Diversions Cost Review Customer Reference Group is expected to hold about four meetings between August 2024 and February 2025.

Expressions of Interest are welcomed until close of business Wednesday, July 31. The application form can be found on GMW’s YourSay page: https://yoursay. gmwater.com.au/diversionscost-review.

For a hard copy call GMW on 1800 013 357.

MARCHING WITH DECLARATION: Supporters of the First Peoples Assembly walk to deliver a copy of the declaration to the Treaty Authority.

Upcycling felled timber to rehabilitate Kiewa River

REPURPOSED timber from the restoration of Bogong High Plains Road has already delivered benefits for a nearby waterway rehabilitation project on the Kiewa River being undertaken by the North East Catchment Management Authority (CMA) and the Victorian Fisheries Authority (VFA).

The timber, collected from felled trees, was donated by Major Road Projects Victoria and East Gippsland-based construction partner Whelans Group Investments following the completion of repair works on Bogong High Plains Road after the biggest landslide in Victoria in more than 40 years in October 2022.

The North East CMA has worked with MRPV in line with a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for repurposing timber felled during road projects for waterway rehabilitation, first introduced by the Victorian Government in May 2019.

The timber provided will form part of a project on the Kiewa River between Tawonga and Tawonga South.

Funding via a VFA fish habitat grant is being sought to support delivery of the project.

MRPV executive program director Alexis Davison said donating timber from felled trees on their projects ensures a continued life cycle for the valuable resource, and enables important collaboration between different agencies.

North East CMA project officer, Richard Dalkin, said the partnership with MRPV leverages a rare opportunity where a road project was located close to the waterway rehabilitation site on the Kiewa River.

“Often the biggest challenge is finding timber in the location

LANDSLIP TIMBER GIVEN NEW LIFE IN FISH HABITAT PROJECT

where these works are being undertaken,” Mr Dalkin said.

“The biggest cost of these waterway projects is cartage of the timber being repurposed.

“We are also working in another partnership with Alpine Shire which is providing timber for this project.”

North East CMA chief executive officer, Katie Warner, said instream woody habitat (IWH)

is important for the health of waterways and biodiversity.

“It helps sustain fish populations; providing fish with shelter, food resources, breeding areas and territorial markers,” Ms Warner said.

“Reusing timber removed during road construction such as the work on the Bogong High Plains Road boosts opportunities for instream woody habitat

rehabilitation projects.”

Ms Warner said North East CMA would continue to work in partnership with private contractors and other agencies to best utilise repurposed timber on future waterway projects.

“Working with the road project managers from the early planning stages of this project has ensured the best possible outcome,” she said.

Alpine Shire Council seeks input on future of aquatic and sports facilities

ALPINE Shire Council is calling on all users of its swimming pools and sports stadiums to provide feedback to inform the preparation of an Aquatics and Indoor Sports Feasibility Study.

Alpine Shire Mayor, Cr John Forsyth, said the study is part of council’s commitment to ensuring aquatics and indoor sports facilities in Bright, Mount Beauty and Myrtleford are fit-for-purpose, safe and accessible to all members of the community, including people with disabilities.

He said the need for a dedicated aquatics analysis was highlighted in the Sport and Active Recreation Plan, adopted by council in March 2022.

“Our community has clearly expressed a strong desire for improved aquatic and indoor sports facilities across the shire,” Cr Forsyth said.

“With valuable input from our community, the outcomes from this study will be incorporated into the Sport and Active Recreation Master Plan wherever possible.

“Identified upgrades to our swimming pools and stadiums will then be assessed and prioritised alongside other sport and active recreation facilities.”

Cr Forsyth said that while the benefits of

COUNCIL SURVEY: Alpine Shire Council is calling for public feedback to help them improve local sport stadiums and aquatic facilities in the shire.

participating in aquatic activities are well-recognised, providing these facilities in areas with lower population density presents economic challenges.

“Our goal is to conduct thorough research to determine the types of aquatic opportunities our community desires, so we can develop the most effective and achievable plan for pool allocation across Alpine Shire,” he said.

Roo blue leaves locals shaken

By CORAL COOKSLEY

A TERRIFYING encounter with an injured and aggressive male kangaroo left a local resident shaken last Saturday morning and another with some injuries.

Beechworth’s Kat Beaton had been on a run along the track around the golf course’s large dam in Balaclava, Havelock and Alma Roads’ bushy area without her mobile phone.

“I was in the wrong place at the wrong time,” she said.

Running around the corner she came across the hostile kangaroo around five metres away.

“It had a cut and was bleeding from its ear when I encountered it,” Kat said.

Shocked to see the reared up wild animal, Kat said she had to shelter behind a large tree and grabbed a stick for protection as it ran after her.

Kat, without her phone, yelled and flagged down help from Jason West as he drove past.

Her rescuer attempted to scare away the animal, but was attacked, sustaining some injuries and also became trapped.

Police arrived in a four-wheel drive and managed to scare the animal away.

“The kangaroo was there for nearly an hour before the police were able to move it on,” Kat said.

Kat reported the incident to Wildlife Victoria, when they said the behaviour was unusual with the injury a possible cause for the animal’s aggression.

Wildlife Australia chief executive officer, Lisa Palmer, said kangaroos are gentle animals and in normal situations will not exhibit aggressive behaviour towards people.

“Their natural “fight or flight” response is to flee rather than attack,” she said.

Ms Palmer said like all native animals, they perceive humans as threats and it seemed in this situation, the kangaroo may have also been unable to hop away quickly enough to feel safe.

“Some common signs that a kangaroo might feel threatened include growling and head shaking,” she said.

“While in kangaroo habitat, Wildlife Australia advise to remain at a safe distance and if a sick, injured, orphaned or distressed kangaroo is encountered, back away and call Wildlife Victoria on 03 8400 7300 for assistance.

“We also ask that the community keep an eye out for this injured kangaroo and to call us if spotted so the appropriate care can be provided.”

Beechworth Wildlife Shelter’s Sue Hiatt and Kangaloola Wildlife Shelter’s Gayle Elliott both agreed the behaviour was unusual.

Sue said it might have been the same kangaroo in the local cemetery grounds for the last three months.

“We’ve been watching it and it disappeared last Thursday,” she said.

“We don’t know where this kangaroo is now.”

Sue also said for anyone experiencing trouble with kangaroos, stay away from them and call Wildlife Victoria.

“They will organise a rescuer and we can then deal with it,” she said.

Sue said older male kangaroos are often kicked out of the mob by younger males and living on their own.

A survey is currently open on Engage Alpine, council’s online engagement platform, with printed copies also available from council’s customer service centre in Bright, and libraries in Mount Beauty and Myrtleford. You can complete the survey online now at https://engage.alpineshire.vic.gov.au/aquatics-and-indoor-sport-feasibility-study. Submissions close on Sunday, July 28.

“By building more homes in areas kangaroos are losing their habitat and being landlocked too,” she said.

PAVING THE PLANKS FOR RENEWAL: Looking forward to the benefits of the Kiewa River rehabilitation project are (from left) Richard Dalkin from North East CMA; Patrick Newman and Charlie Whelan, Whelans Group; and James Aroin, Major Road Projects Victoria (MRPV).

RECENT research revealing deeply distressing rates of family violence and filicide, the act of a parent killing their own child, has prompted calls for an inquiry.

A landmark report from Australia’s National Research Organisation for Women’s Safety (ANROWS) and the Australian Domestic and Family Violence Death Review Network (the Network) has brought to light the alarming intersection of intimate partner violence and filicide.

This national report, the most comprehensive examination of national figures to date, examined 113 cases of filicide occurring from 20102018, revealing that 76 per cent had an identifiable history of domestic and family violence.

Centre Against Violence chief executive officer, Jaime Chubb said filicide is now the second leading cause of death for children in Australia and children deserve their own inquiry and funding to cease the violence against them.

“It is a sobering reminder that the risk and impact of family violence extends to everyone within the family, and all too often it can have devastating consequences.

“The rate of filicide is a call to action for all of us to protect and support the entire family as early as possible.

“We were devastated by the deaths of three young children in Lalor Park in NSW last weekend, in what police have described as a family violence incident perpetrated by their father.

“And yet, in contexts of family violence, children and young people are so often forgotten or invisible.”

According to the report, 88 per cent of filicide cases had a history of intimate partner violence.

Ms Chubb said intimate partner violence impacts children deeply.

“Child sexual, physical, and emotional abuse often coexist alongside a parent’s use of intimate partner violence,” she said.

“Even where these direct forms of abuse do not occur, children are experiencing the acute and chronic impacts of living in a home where a parent use violence and abuse.

“This report is heart-breaking, though we are sadly not surprised at the findings, the confronting connection between intimate partner violence and the tragic deaths of children is still shocking,” she said.

CALLS FOR CHANGE: Research revealing harrowing rates of family violence and filicide has prompted the community to call for change.

“It is crucial that the government, the service system, and the broader community recognise children and young people not just as extensions of their parents or caregivers, or ‘secondary victims’ of family violence, but as victim-survivors in their own right.

“The focus has traditionally been on the parents, in the

middle are these children, whose danger and damage are often overlooked.

“When we know what to look for and how to help mitigate the threat of violence, we can succeed together in saving lives.”

If you or someone you know needs our help due to family violence, contact the Centre Against Violence team

during business hours at the Orange Door on 1800 271 157.

If you require immediate support outside of business hours, please call Safe Steps on 1800 015 188.

If you or someone you know have been impacted by sexual violence have questions or need support, call the team at the Centre Against Violence on 035722

2203 during business hours, and for after-hours support, call the State-Wide Sexual Assault Crisis Line on 1800 806 292.

If you are unsafe, call the police on 000. Read the report at https:// www.anrows.org.au/publication/australian-domesticand-familyviolence-deathreview-network-filicides/.

Calls for an inquiry into filicide NOWOUT

Junior Reporter Club

ACROSS

GENERAL KNOWLEDGE CROSSWORD

1 Name a renowned Roman general, Julius (6)

8 What was the title of an earlier Austrian sovereign prince (8)

9 Name a month of the year containing 31 days (6)

10 What are sudden bursts of ill humour (8)

11 To be crazy, is to be what (6)

13 To picture mentally, is to do what (8)

16 What are apothecaries known as (8)

19 Name small linear measurements (6)

22 What do we call a beekeeper (8)

24 What might we call proposals of marriage (6)

25 To be more cordial, is to be what (8)

26 What are waistbands known as (6)

DOWN

2 What is a sky-blue colour (5)

3 Name a renowned Australian explorer, Charles (5)

4 What were old goods trains known as (8)

5 What might we call a person seen to be closest to an admired stereotype (4)

6 When one adds lustre, one does what (6)

Letters

7 To stand with hand on hip and elbow bent outwards, is to stand how (6)

12 Name a coastal resort on the Riviera (4)

14 What are callers known as (8)

15 What is a ticklish sensation (4)

17 Which short stroke is used to connect the parts of a compound word (6)

18 Which term implies a deficiency in quantity (6)

E-QUATIONS

20 What are low-priced restaurants (5)

21 To be weird, is to be what (5)

23 Who is regarded as the goddess of the rainbow (4)

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

1 ARGENT

(a) A burner admitting air within a cylindrical frame (b) Silver (c) The adjutant stork

2 CLAVICLE

(a) The hooked nail of a beast or bird (b) The collarbone (c) An old keyboard instrument

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.

CLUES: Bear (5)

Coastal refuge (7) Fish (5)

Parramatta (coll) (5)

Preliminary golf event (3-2)

Risk: chance one’s ... (3) River in FNQ (7)

Tastes good (coll) (3) Taxi (3)

Vigour (coll) (3)

Renewed confidence in cattle

1200 quality cattle penned on the day with plenty of interest locally at Wangaratta qypypyygyyards

BY KURT HICKLING khickling@ nemedia.com.au

RENEWED confidence in the cattle market was seen last Thursday with increased prices welcomed by breeders as the Wangaratta livestock exchange store market showed signs of returning to a more traditional price trading pattern.

With tough autumn conditions due to little rainfall, cattle producers have had it tough but a reflection on the Wodonga and Wangaratta sales has shown a swing in the tide.

Elders livestock manager of Wangaratta Kirsty Taylor was very pleased with the July sale and believes new confidence has been boosted for local producers moving forward towards spring.

“We had a very good sale with 1200 quality cattle penned on the day with plenty of interest locally,” Ms Taylor said.

“Prices were definitely up from the June sale and I would expect confidence to be instilled moving forward.

“The cattle presented on the day were in fantastic condition and holding great body weight.

“We had a good run of Angus weaners with big feature lines which helped drive competition and prices forward.

“Confidence in the market has certainly given things a big boost this month which also puts our prices on par with the recent store sale in Wodonga.

“A lot of the cattle were purchased by local buyers which is a great sign there is movement and progress in the industry in the local area.”

Wangaratta livestock exchange had steers 300-400kg at $1200-$1400, steers 250290kg at $1120-$1190, heavy steers 360kgs at $1250, light weight steers 270-320kg

$850-$1100, Angus heifers 300-320kg at $3/kg, euro steers 900-1040kg at $3.20/ kg, euro heifers 260-320kg at $970-$1040 and black weaner steers at $4.20/kg.

“Moving forward we will come into our Gordon Sinclair memorial sale, which is on August 15 at the Wangaratta livestock exchange that kicks off at 9am,” Ms Taylor said.

Greta West cattle producer Stewart Thrum, with

his wife Mary have been on the land for over 60 years running over 70 black bald and Angus Hereford cross cows on 400 acres and they believe this year has been tough going but they see a light at the end of the tunnel.

“The beginning of the autumn break was promising as we did have some rain early in the piece, however, the dynamics changed with little to no rainfall which has not allowed pastures to grow, creating a shortage in feed supply,” Mr Thrum said.

“Right now there is little green pick and we are still in a position where we have been feeding out hay daily.

“Mary and I are feeding out two round bails a day, and at $100 per bail it has become an expensive exercise because of the lack of feed in our paddocks.

“Overall costs on the farm have gone up because of the conditions on the farm which has put a squeeze on budget and profit margin on how much stock to run on the property.

“We decided to offload some of our stock to take some pressure off as we have cows that have started calving already.”

Mr Thrum presented 27 cattle to the July store sale in Wangaratta with 20 steers and seven heifers and he was optimistic that prices would remain steady based on a six-month trend.

“Prices have been up and down over the last six months, but the consensus is with recent rain, paddocks greening up and spring conditions just around the corner, the market should take a turn for the better,” he said.

“The recent store sale in Wodonga showed movement in prices which should be a reflection in the market leading into the spring period.”

Mr Thrum was very

pleased with his lot sales and feels more confident leading into the warmer months.

“I was very pleased with the end result of our cattle sale as my expectation was around $3/kg but reached $3.89/kg for my steers and reached $1070 each for my heifers, which proves the market is on the move,” he said.

Park 15 ANGUS 349.33 1290

LIVESTOCK CLONKEEN 18 ANGUS 340.56 1270 ELDERS

FISHER AG 18 ANGUS 284.17 1150 ELDERS

O'BRIEN R & K 15 ANGUS 326.33 1260 NUTRIEN LIVESTOCK

TOLLIDAY FARMS 18 ANGUS 315 1300 NUTRIEN LIVESTOCK

RAE PASTORAL 8 ANGUS 290.63 1190 CORCORAN PARKER

DKF HEYWOOD & SONS 6 ANGUS 355 1150 ELDERS

MINIFIE D & S 23 HEREFORD 295.65 1125 CORCORAN PARKER

PARKER P G 15 BLACK BALDY 336.33 1310 AWN

THRUM SH & ML 20 BLACK BALDY 328.5 1280 AWN

VINCENT KT & GR 10 ANGUS 374 1450 AWN

KELLY BC & MB 25 ANGUS 292.8 1160 AWN

STONE AXE PASTORAL Co.

HOT UNDER THE HAMMER: Prices were up from last month’s sale.

LOCAL CONFIDENCE

RETURN: Grandson Cameron Impink with veteran cattle producer Stewart Thrum. PHOTOS: Kurt Hickling.

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WANGARATTA

BRIGGS, Sue.

Remembered with love for all the good times we shared. Our deepest sympathies to Tim, Erin, Hannah, partners and grandchildren. Reunited with Graeme. ~ Neville and Judith Pollard.

DILLON, Jack.

The

on his

Sadly

PETERSEN, Noel James. 10/6/1949 - 17/7/2024

Passed away peacefully at Royal Melbourne Hospital surround by his loved ones, on Wednesday, July 17, 2024, after a long illness at the age of 75.

Beloved husband of Chris, adored Father of Shane, Tanya, Troy and Sally, and father-in-Law of Kim, Eric, Christie and Darren. Cherished Pop of 14 loving grandchildren.

God looked upon His garden, And saw an empty space, And then He looked upon you, And saw your smiling face, He put His arm around you, And called you home to rest God’s garden must be beautiful, Because He only takes the best.

PETERSEN

Relatives and friends are invited to attend the celebration of the life of Noel Petersen, at the Mason Park Chapel, 95 Mason Street, Wangaratta on Thursday, July 25, 2024, commencing at 10.30am. Burial will follow the service at the Wangaratta Lawn Cemetery. Donations can be made in memory of Noel to the Dialysis Unit at Northeast Health Wangaratta at https://givenow. com.au/nhw or to Diabetes Australia at https://donate.diabetesaustralia.com.au/ donate-today.

Noel’s service can be viewed via livestream at https://masonpark.com.au/ livestreaming

Mason Park Funerals 5721 5060 masonpark.com.au

care and attention provided. Community Engagement Team (03) 5722 5069 or PO Box 386, Wangaratta, Vic 3676. The bereaved family will be notified of your memorial gift according to your wishes and you will receive a tax-deductible receipt for your donation. To make a donation or to request information about memorial service donations or remembering Northeast Health Wangaratta in your will, please contact -

Phone: 03 5723 0101 may be placed before 2pm the business day prior to publication

Personal Notices Guidelines

• All personal photos submitted for printing in this issue must be collected within the next 4 weeks.

• All engagement and marriage notices must carry the signatures of BOTH parties, if under 18 the parents’ signatures as well.

• Birth Notices require signatures

03 5723 0101

WINNERS AND LOSERS

SCOREBOARD RESERVES

WODONGA 1.1

GOALS: WODONGA: A. Jorgensen 4, J. Mathey 3, T. Miller 2, J. Cassidy 1, A. Reichman 1, R. Venturoni 1. WODONGA RAIDERS: L. Simpson 1, L. Waters 1, B. St John 1. BEST: WODONGA: J. Mathey, M. Driscoll, N. Bradshaw, A. Jorgensen, C. Morrison, T. Miller. WODONGA RAIDERS: C. Daly, N. Conway, N. Bracher, M. Glass, A. Scammell, N. Twycross.

NETBALL SCORES THIRDS RESULTS

A GRADE

Wodonga 40 def by Wodonga Raiders 62 Wangaratta Rovers 29 def by Lavington 44 Myrtleford 40 def by Wangaratta 47 Yarrawonga 35 def Corowa-Rutherglen 33 North Albury 51 def Albury 39

B GRADE: Wodonga 40 def Wodonga Raiders 37; Myrtleford 49 def Wangaratta 30; Wang Rovers 45 def Lavington 29; Nth Albury 36 def by Albury 38; Yarrawonga 51 def Corowa-R’glen 30

C GRADE: Wodonga 27 def by Wodonga Raiders 55; Myrtleford 33 def Wangaratta 28; Wang Rovers 52 def Lavington 37; Nth Albury 31 def Albury 26; Yarrawonga 50 def Corowa-R’glen 38

17 & UNDER: Wodonga 53 def Wodonga Raiders 25; Myrtleford 30 def Wangaratta 21; Wang Rovers 52 def Lavington 23; Nth Albury 40 def Albury 21; Yarrawonga 20 def by Corowa-R’glen 41

15 & UNDER: Wodonga 20 def by Wodonga Raiders 34; Myrtleford 41 def Wangaratta 22; Wang Rovers 48 def Lavington 40; Nth Albury 16 def by Albury 36; Yarrawonga 38 def Corowa-R’glen 29

Myrtleford 1.1 (7) def by Wangaratta 10.5 (65)

GOALS: MYRTLEFORD: N. Hall 1. WANGARATTA: B. Newton 3, K. Hadley 1, H. Barry 1, C. Eames 1, A. Simmonds 1, C. Hughes 1, C. Hines 1, N. O’Kane 1. BEST: MYRTLEFORD: W. Graham, C. Beveridge, L. Barbour, J. Jones, J. Browne, S. Crisp. WANGARATTA: H. Canning, B. Newton, K. Hadley, W. Petersen, J. Styles, C. Hughes. Wang Rovers 6.5 (41) def Lavington 1.5 (11)

GOALS: WANGARATTA ROVERS: J. Marek 2, S. Comensoli 1, O. Clelland 1, J. Correll 1, S. Rourke 1. LAVINGTON: R. Costello 1. BEST: WANGARATTA ROVERS: N. Scholte, T. Vincent, H. McMonigle, J. Marek, C. Lugg, S. Allan. LAVINGTON: D. Finnimore, T. Goonan, J. Powling, C. Hall, O. Hutchins, A. Cohalan. North Albury 3.8 (26) def by Albury 6.8 (44)

GOALS: NORTH ALBURY: L. McPhee 1, W. Clohesy 1, T. Hunt 1. ALBURY: D. Dunstan 3, K. Griparis 1. BEST: NORTH ALBURY: C. Spencer, A. Shannon, W. Satchell, L. Frohling, W. Clohesy, T. Hunt. ALBURY: D. Dunstan, R. Kilo, J. Shanahan, H. Just, L. Hogan, O. Feuerherdt.

Wodonga 7.9 (51) def Wodonga Raiders 5.9 (39)

GOALS: WODONGA: J. Hodgkin 4, B. Nicklin 2, R. Mimmo 1. WODONGA RAIDERS: T. Ellis 2, J. Cannell 1, B. Wilson 1, A. Brown 1. BEST: WODONGA: J. Grohmann, C. Brookes, D. Mcburnie, J. Hodgkin, C. Munro, C. Collins. WODONGA RAIDERS: B. Jones, B. Wilson, F. Jensen, T. Ellis, B. Capper, J. Cannell. Yarrawonga 10.11 (71) def Corowa-R’glen 7.7 (49)

GOALS: YARRAWONGA: N. Fothergill 3, M. Gibbons 3, P. Lewis-Smith 2, J. Urquhart 2, N. Pendergast 1, L. Williams 1, K. Tyson 1, B. Frauenfelder 1. COROWA RUTHERGLEN: D. Hope 2, J. Johnstone 1, S. Dunstan 1.

BEST: YARRAWONGA: P. Lewis-smith, D. Howe, H. Wheeler, N. Fothergill, L. Masters, M. Gibbons. COROWA RUTHERGLEN: D. Hope, B. Morton, J. Johnstone, M. Lavis, J. Hansen, T. Forrest.

GOALS: MYRTLEFORD: Brody Ricardi 2, Ryley Bouker 1. WANGARATTA: Max Bihun 2, Michael Newton 2, Will O’Keefe 2. BEST: MYRTLEFORD: Jaxon East, Toby Cossor, Mitch Dalbosco, Ryley Forrest, Brody Ricardi, Harry McKerral. WANGARATTA: Chris Knowles, Aidan Tilley, Liam Mcveigh, Will O’Keefe, Daine Porter, Max Bihun.

GOALS: NORTH ALBURY: J. Minogue 2, T. Broomhead 1, J. Reynolds 1, J. Penny 1, L. Taylor 1, K. Tallent 1. ALBURY: L. Tiziani 2, M. Walker 1, J. Kelly 1. BEST: NORTH ALBURY: Zac Hanrahan, Cayden Winter, Harry Weaven, Julian Hayes, Jack Penny. ALBURY: Isaac Muller, Michael Duncan, Fletcher Carroll, Max Byrne, Rhys King.

GOALS: WANGARATTA ROVERS: S. Murray 2, N. Amery 1, D. Stone 1. LAVINGTON: D. Smith 2, A. Cook 2, S. Hargreave 1, T. Oosterhoff 1. BEST: WANGARATTA ROVERS: J. Mcquade, C. Ledger, X. Allison, S. Cattapan. LAVINGTON: J. Hart, D. Beavan, O. Lyons, N. Newton, W. Liersch, D. Smith.

WINNERS AND LOSERS

GOALS: BRIGHT: L. Quirk 4, D. Bren 3, M. Paulsen 1, M. Rampling 1, R. Arguello 1, C. Thomason 1, J. Dalbosco 1, P. Bren 1. BEST: BRIGHT: A. Dalbosco, J. Love, L. Quirk, C. Cambridge-Dillon, P. Bren, R. Arguello. MOYHU: J. Coonan, M. Thrum, G. Hearn, N. Stewart, N. McAsey, E. Rooney.

BENALLA

B0NNIE DOON

GOALS: BONNIE DOON: L. Murray 5, J. Law 4, B. Hedin 3, A. Bennett 3, S. Campitelli 2, J. Sanford 2, C. Humphrey 2, G. Murray 1, P. Revell 1. BEST: BENALLA ALL BLACKS: C. Orchard, S. Cox, D. Lancaster, D. Button, K. Linke, R. Nedeljkovic. BONNIE DOON: P. Cairns, J. Law, A. Croxford-Demasi, L. Murray, l. berriman, G. Murray.

ROUND 17

GOALS: Unavailable. BEST: Unavailable.

A GRADE: Bright 39 def by Moyhu 46; Benalla All Blacks 17 def by Bonnie Doon 56; Milawa 57 def Whorouly 29; Tarrawingee 67 def North Wangaratta 31

B GRADE: Bright 37 def Moyhu 35; Benalla All Blacks 16 def by Bonnie Doon 76; Milawa 46 def Whorouly 34; Tarrawingee 50 def North Wangaratta 30

B RESERVE: Bright 50 def Moyhu 22; Milawa 33 def Whorouly 28; Tarrawingee 56 def North Wangaratta 34

C GRADE: Bright 45 def Moyhu 20; Benalla All Blacks 9 def by Bonnie Doon 101; King Valley 36 def by Goorambat 39; Milawa 29 def by Whorouly 30; Tarrawingee 36 def North Wangaratta 18

15 & UNDER: Bright 20 def Moyhu 18; Benalla All Blacks 4 def by Bonnie Doon 37; King Valley 30 def Goorambat 1; Milawa 13 def Whorouly 7; Tarrawingee 17 def by North Wangaratta 23

No other scores available at time of print

SATURDAY, JULY 27

KING VALLEY vs GRETA MILAWA vs BENALLA NORTH WANGARATTA vs BONNIE DOON

MOYHU vs TARRAWINGEE

WHOROULY vs BRIGHT

GOORAMBAT - BYE

GOALS: MILAWA: B. Bartlett 4, J. Lea 3, S. De Napoli 2, B. Kearns 2, D. Bihun 1, J. BakerSwain 1. WHOROULY: B. Hurst 1, C. Wood 1, B. Harrington 1. BEST: MILAWA: K. Collisson, J. Owen, C. Dunn, B. Kearns, J. Baker-Swain, J. Whitehouse. WHOROULY: D. O’Shannessy, D. Gephart, O. Dixon, E. Bramich, L. Moore, G. White.

GOALS: TARRAWINGEE: W. Creed 1, W. Styles 1, J. Hoggan 1, S. Piper 1. NORTH WANGARATTA: T. Nanson 3, J. Nanson 2, M. Prestianni 1, D. Killen 1.

BEST: TARRAWINGEE: W. Creed, S. Piper, L. Allan, D. Adams, W. Styles, L. Zane. NORTH WANGARATTA: A. Enever, T. Schulze, M. Curtis, K. McQuade, T. Nanson, M. Prestianni.

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

Hawks home, Hoppers hammered

BY NATHAN DE VRIES ndevries@ nemedia.com.au

NORTH Wangaratta will look to improve efficiency going inside their forward 50 after kicking 7.17 (59) but they still took the win over Tarrawingee 4.8 (32).

While the ball was wet and slippery, and ground conditions weren’t conducive to free-flowing footy, the Hawks kept the pressure on the Bulldogs’ backs all game.

A narrow margin at quarter time was pushed out to 14 points by the half, as North Wangaratta’s midfield started finding their forwards in space.

Momentum continued to flow the Hawks’ way after the half-time break, but they couldn’t make it count on the scoreboard, kicking 1.5 through the third.

Tarrawingee tried to make North Wangaratta pay for their inaccuracy, but couldn’t penetrate the Hawks’ defence.

The behinds continued to come for the Hawks, and while the Bulldogs produced five scoring shots in the final term, the deficit was too great to bridge.

Adam Enever was best on ground for the Hawks, while Tyler and Josh Nanson combined for five goals between them.

Will Creed, Sam Piper and Lukas Allan were among the best for the Bulldogs, who take on Moyhu in round 17.

Elsewhere, a depleted Moyhu outfit was shown the standard at Pioneer Park, the Hoppers trounced 1.1 (7) to Bright’s 13.13 (91).

Forced to forfeit from their reserves match, the Hoppers kept pace through the first term, before Bright put the foot down.

The Mountain Men dominated proceedings, producing 11 scoring shots while keeping the Hoppers scoreless through the second term.

From there, the match was all but finished, with Alexander Dalbosco and Luke Quirk among the best on for

Bright, while Josh Coonan and George Hearn battled hard for the Hoppers.

Bonnie Doon kept Benalla All Blacks scoreless on their way to a percentage boosting 23.9 (147) win, with six goals kicked in the opening quarter to set up the day.

Luke Murray was the beneficiary up forward, finishing with five goals, while eight other Bombers found the middle of the big sticks.

Milawa made the most of a wet day against Whorouly, taking the points 13.12 (90) to 3.7 (25).

It took until the third term for the Lions to kick a goal, by which time Milawa had already set the game up, leading by 25 points at halftime.

Kyle Collisson was influential across the ground, keeping forwards Brady Bartlett (four goals) and Jared Lea (three) well supplied.

For the Lions, Darcy O’Shannessy was prolific across the backline, while Lachy Moore and Glenn White fought hard all day.

Valley’s Whitfield fortress claims Goorambat scalp

IT’S said they’re tough to beat on their home deck and, on Saturday, King Valley senior footballers proved punters right yet again with a 5.8 (38) win over Goorambat 2.7 (19).

Both sides entered the match eyeing a win to all but assure a place in finals, and from the first siren, the intensity and unfavourable ground conditions ensured it was a scrap.

While clean ball movement was tough at times, the Roos worked hard all day to keep the ball moving.

“It was definitely a contested game on Saturday, there would’ve been a ridiculous amount of stoppages all around the ground,” King Valley co-coach Tony Ciancio said.

“For the first 10-15 minutes or so, it was a really tightly-fought struggle.

“We were able to get a couple of scores on the board and kick a couple late in the first quarter, and Goorambat bounced back and kicked

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one just before quarter time.

“Apart from that, I think Goorambat kicked one goal in the second quarter, but we didn’t actually kick another goal until the fourth quarter.

“It was really hard to score at both ends, and we were just lucky enough and were able to get a couple hard-fought goals in that last quarter to get the buffer out to over two goals.”

Ciancio said his defenders were instrumental in limiting Goorambat’s chances to score, rebounding well.

“Across half back, we had Dylan Browne and Jack Davies play particular roles for us, playing from an intercept perspective,” he said.

“When Goorambat were able to get the ball forward they could kill the contest out not the boundary line or rebound and take territory coming down the wing.

“Our midfield, Connor Shanley, Sam Evans, Ben Bray, were able to continue to put our best foot for-

Contact us on 5723 0113 or edit.chronicle @nemedia.com.au

ward in terms of the territory game and to get the ball going forward at any opportunity possible.

“Goorambat have some impressive depth, it was one of those games where all 21 on both sides were required to step up at stages, given the conditions.”

The win sees King Valley all but guarantee a spot in finals sitting a game up on the Bats in sixth, and three games clear of North Wangaratta in seventh.

The Roos have showdowns with top two sides Bonnie Doon and Greta in coming weeks, as well as a bye.

While the calculations for a top six finish are trending in the Roos’ favour, Ciancio said they weren’t looking too far ahead.

“We don’t really take too much notice with the ladder - for us, it’s about consistency,” he said.

“Our good can match it, but some weeks it’s not the case.

“For us, it’s about building consistency.”

PRIZED SCALP: Tony Ciancio, pictured back in June, said a full-team effort was needed to defeat Goorambat on the weekend.

PHOTO: Kurt Hickling

MOVE IT ON: Matt Curtis pops a handball over the stoppage.

PHOTO: Kurt Hickling

Rovers lose two on the trot, shocked by Panthers at home

BY WILLSON MACK wmack@ nemedia.com.au

WANGARATTA Rovers were shocked by Lavington in slippery conditions at WJ Findlay Oval on Saturday.

The understrength Panthers bounced back from their most disappointing loss of the season last weekend to restrict the Hawks to one goal after half-time in the 6.10 (46) to 4.3 (27) affair. While Rovers were missing Lochie O’Brien, Kieran Parnell and Will Nolan, Lavington had some of their top players missing in Billy Glanvill, Tom Hargreave, Nico Sedgwick and Ben Ashley-Cooper.

Rovers coach Sam Murray kicked two goals, with defenders Jace McQuade, Charles Ledger and Xavier Allison joining on-baller Sam Cattapan in the best. For the Panthers, young defender Jesse Hart was named best on ground, while Aidan Cook and Darcy Cook kicked two majors each.

The Hawks have now fallen to third on the ladder, sitting with the same record as the second placed North Albury at 10-4. Rovers have the bye next week before a massive clash against the Hoppers and will then finish the home and away season off against Wodonga, Myrtleford and Yarrawonga.

It’s going to be an exciting race for the invaluable top three finish, with Albury and Wangaratta two wins behind.

The Tigers are finding some hot form at the right time of year, while the Magpies have a nice run home with matches against Lavington, CorowaRutherglen, Albury and Raiders.

Hit the winning run or just had a great day. Get a permanent reminder with great sports shots from The Chronicle

HARD BALL GET: Elijah Amery swoops on a ground ball.

TEXTBOOK: Sam Murray in action.

QUICK KICK: Brodie Filo sends Rovers forward.

ROVERS FALL: Shane Gaston battles in the ruck as Wangaratta Rovers went down to Lavington.

PHOTOS: Kurt Hickling

Rovers shocked by Lavington

Page 19

WET AFFAIR

JOSH Nanson goes to fend off Tarrawingee’s Sam Piper in the Hawks’ 27-point win over the Bulldogs, with North Wangaratta booting 17 behinds in the wet.

■ Story page 18.

PHOTO: Kurt Hickling

Magpies’ gutsy win

WANGARATTA pulled off a 10-point win in a low scoring affair against Myrtleford at RC McNamara Reserve on Saturday.

The Magpies trailed by four points at half-time but rallied and kept Myrtleford goalless in the second half to grab a 3.9 (27) to 6.1 (37) victory.

BY WILLSON MACK

The game started almost an hour late at around 2.50pm after an ambulance was called for an injury in reserve grade.

Wangaratta coach Ben Reid was proud of his side.

“It was a good old fashioned slog,” Reid said.

“It was one of the better wins I’ve been apart of at the club with everything that went on.

“The game didn’t start un-

til 2:50pm after one of the reserves boys got injured so we had to wait for an ambulance and then our game finished with the lights on.

“We lost three boys to injury so were down to 19 for most of the second half, so to win in those conditions was just terrific.”

Magpies debutant Max Bihun enjoyed a stellar first outing kicking two goals including the match sealer.

Wangaratta coach Ben

Reid was proud of Bihun’s efforts.

“Max was great, he looked dangerous every time the ball went near him,” Reid said.

“He kicked two including the match winner which was from the boundary, it was a pretty unbelievable goal.

“He’s a no fuss kid and just goes out and plays, he’s getting used to the structures in seniors but he’ll be

OPEN

better for that game.”

Morris Medal winner Callum Moore and Nick Richards limped off with hamstring injuries, while Matt Grossman was out with a neck complaint.

”Cal will be out for a few weeks, we have the bye and then Lavington and then Corowa (Rutherglen) so we’ll wait and see on the severity of it before deciding if he plays that game against Corowa,” Reid said.

“Nick is in a similar boat, both those boys will have scans and then we’ll go from there.

“We’ll follow the same mantra that we have all season, that next man up mentality.”

Along with Bihun, ruckman Chris Knowles was terrific and Aidan Tilley was strong down back.

Michael Newton and Will O’Keefe both kicked two goals each.