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Wednesday, February 23, 2022

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RAIN DANCE

Short tech courses to help local businesses navigate digital g realms and lift skills

THE long dry February has continued with locals keenly watching the barometer for any sign of a cool change. Wangaratta has recorded just 0.4mm of rain this month according to the Bureau of Meteorology, and 21/2 year old Lilyth Ireland could wait no longer. She is pictured enjoying the cool running water at the Mitchell Avenue Splashpark on the weekend.

PHOTO: Mel Beattie

WANGARATTA businesses operators will be given greater course access to upskill in the digital world after the region was identified as being well behind metropolitan areas in terms of digital skills knowledge.

The need for higher knowledge came from an Australian Digital Inclusion Index (ADII) which identified the region had a “very low” rate of digital inclusion.

To get a better picture about how to raise the region’s digital IQ, an education curator called Startup Shakeup applied for money through the State Government’s $3.5 million Regional Digital Fund.

The fund aims to support a broad range of important smallscale digital projects across Victoria, to increase digital capability, connectivity and infrastructure.

Startup Shakeup surveyed 13,000 Ovens and Murray businesses to work out how commercial operators could be assisted the best with digital tools and skills.

Managing director Ilena Young from Startup Shakeup said the very low level of digital inclusion

BY STEVE KELLY skelly@ nemedia.com.au

identified by the ADII is due to access, affordability and ability.

She said while improvements have been made in relation to access and affordability, the region’s population is still way behind in ability compared to metropolitan areas.

Startup Shakeup applied to the State Government’s Regional Digital Fund for money to improve digital inclusion especially in relation to the business sector.

“We have just collected data from a survey across the region looking into the type of business, industry, exactly which LGA they’re in and what they would like to improve on,” Ms Young said.

“We’re focusing on small to medium sized enterprises and in the North East we’ve got 13,000 small businesses and about 8400 employ nobody and around 4000 employ between 1-19 people.

■ Continued page 2

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Page 2 - THE CHRONICLE, Wednesday, February 23, 2022

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Ovens Street government centre upgrade IMPROVEMENTS: The Wangaratta Government Centre upgrade works commenced this week with Ovens Street expected to be closed on March 10 to allow a crane operation.

WORKS to upgrade the heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning system (HVAC) at the Ovens Street Government Centre will save Rural City of Wangaratta ratepayers tens of thousands of dollars each year while reducing council’s carbon footprint.

During the 16-week installation period which commenced

We are online!

on Monday, there will be a range of impacts on council staff, building tenants and to a lesser degree the public.

Ovens Street will be closed off on Thursday, March 10 to remove the old HVAC plant by crane and get the new plant into position.

A number of car parks in the Big W carpark will also be used

by the contractors across the 16week lifetime of the project.

The works are necessary given the existing HVAC plant is at the end of its serviceable life.

Once completed the new HVAC system will provide more comfortable conditions for visitors, staff, and tenants.

The works also provide a commercial and environmental

benefit to council by reduced utility costs by $85,000 per annum, reducing maintenance costs by $6000 per annum, while also reducing carbon emissions by 1800 tonnes of Co2 over a 15year lifespan.

The $2.5 million Government Centre HVAC upgrade contract was awarded to AG Coombs/ Floyd Industries.

MORE CHOICE: The new Novavax vaccine gives people who haven’t had their first or second dose another way to arm themselves against COVID-19.

wangarattachronicle.com.au

Est. 1884, Incorporating Wangaratta Despatch, Est. 1861

WEATHER

Novavax vaccine is now locally available

TEMPERATURES: Wednesday Max 33 Sunny

Min 14

Thursday

Max 33 Min 17 Possible shower

Friday

Max 31 Min 17 Possible shower

Saturday

Max 30 Min 15 Possible shower

Sunday

Max 31 Min 14 Mostly sunny

RAINFALL:

By ANITA McPHERSON

Last 72 hours

Last 7 days

Wangaratta

0.0 mm

0.2 mm

Lake Buffalo

0.0 mm

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Cheshunt

0.0 mm

1.8 mm

*NB: Rainfall totals up until 3pm, Tuesday

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

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

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Member

VICTORIANS aged 18 and over are now able to access the COVID-19 vaccine Novavax through selected state-run centres as well as GPs and pharmacies - providing another option for the small number of Victorians still waiting for their first or second dose.

The vaccine was made available from Monday through more than 400 general practices and community pharmacies across the state.

The Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation recommends the Novavax vaccine be given in two doses at least three weeks apart.

Novavax is not currently approved for use as a third dose or for children, but can be used with another approved COVID-19 vaccine as either a first or second dose.

It is one of four vaccines approved for use in Australia, along with AstraZeneca, Pfizer and Moderna.

Vaccination against COVID-19 is still recommended for those who have recently recovered from the illness, because any natural immunity gained from infection is short term.

Wangaratta pharmacist and pharmacist immuniser Kim Ching explained what makes Novavax different from the other approved vaccines.

She said Novavax is a protein vaccine which uses the spike protein, found on the surface of the coronavirus.

The spike protein is made in cells in a laboratory.

“After vaccination, the immune system produces an immune response against the spike protein,” she said.

“This is different from the mRNA vaccines (like Pfizer and Moderna) which provide instructions to the cell to make the spike protein, rather than directly using the spike protein to produce an immune response.”

The Australian Government Department of Health says two large clinical trials showed that Novavax is effective in preventing COVID-19 in people

aged 18 years and older.

People who had two doses of Novavax were about 90 per cent less likely to get symptomatic COVID-19 than people who did not get the vaccine.

It was equally effective in people over the age of 65 years, as well as people with some stable pre-existing medical conditions.

Bookings for Novavax are now open via the Coronavirus Hotline on 1800 675 398 or online at portal.cvms.vic.gov. au, with appointments at GPs and pharmacies available.

Docker Street Medical Centre has received Novavax stock and is offering a Covid-19 Vaccine Clinic from this week onwards.

Short tech courses to help businesses navigate digital realms and lift skills ■

From page 1 “We’ve got 10,000 out of 13,000 businesses in the region who employ under five people.

“The reason we’re focusing on them is because if you’re in small business you’re by yourself and only have one or two casual staff you don’t really have a brains trust you can go to if you aren’t familiar with the digital world.

“We’re trying to work out what level of ability people in business have and what they want to learn about.”

Rough survey findings indicate people are interested in three different kinds of areas including marketing, website and sales, while others want to learn about administration and finan-

cial options, and the third area is operational and production elements.

Startup Shakeup is planning on building digital coaching where people will be offered short snippets of information to help people navigate different levels of the digital realm.

Ms Young said there are a lot of digital resources on the market but people can find all of these quite confusing and Startup Shakeup is looking to curate the resources and become the trusted friend.

The company will be piloting some coaching in Mansfield, Indigo and Wodonga from now until July and there will be two groups they will target including

people who might have software but are only using 10 per cent of its capacity.

The other group will be people who know nothing about digital technology including accessing online webinars, which effectively disables them from learning online.

“We will be working with people so this is something that will be built with the businesses involved by using their feedback,” she said.

Startup Shakeup is a nonfor-profit regional innovation network supported by all seven local governments across the region and has sponsors such as Charles Sturt, GOTAFE, Hume Bank and NBNCo.

DIGITAL WORLD: Startup Shakeup managing director Ilena Young is waiting on survey data outcomes that will determine how best to assist the region’s businesses with digital up-skilling.

wangarattachronicle.com.au

THE CHRONICLE, Wednesday, February 23, 2022 - Page 3

Knife assailant stays in jail A WANGARATTA man who brandished a kitchen knife at a neighbour will remain incarcerated for at least another two months.

The 23-year-old was assessed as suitable for a Community Corrections Order (CCO) following a four month prison stay, after he attempted to stab a man at

an Irving Street property late last year.

He had previously pleaded guilty to criminal damage, threat to kill, unlawful assault and willful damage of property charges last month.

The court heard the accused had attended the address around 9.20pm on November 26, threatening to kill

a male who was taking refuge inside the home, before the male’s parents returned home to find the windows of their 4WD had been smashed.

An altercation then allegedly broke out, which saw the accused narrowly miss the father with the 40cm knife, before smashing the windows of the family’s station wagon.

He was located by police lying down in a nearby driveway later that evening, and ultimately arrested on December 16.

The court heard the accused had also been placed on an intervention order, after forcibly grabbing his former partner by the throat during an altercation early last year.

Magistrate Ian Watkins said the accused had exhibited poor judgment during both altercations.

“Some people are meant to be together and others aren’t,” he said.

“You can’t go assaulting your partner.”

He ordered the accused pay a total of $1750 in restitu-

Car bounced off tree, driver avoided major injury

Climate curveballs, no worries

By RYAN MALCOLM

By STEVE KELLY THE La Nina climate influence has kept grape growers on their toes to serve up another high quality vintage later this year, but for chief winemaker at one of Australia’s largest wine producers, it’s better than dealing with bushfires.

Joel Tilbrook is chief winemaker at Brown Family Wine Group (BFWG) and he reports that the company’s staff and contract grape growers throughout the state have been working hard to monitor potential disease such as Downy or powdery mildew.

The Brown’s Milawa vineyard had 170.8mm of rain in January, but with the assistance of sprays and canopy management, the crew was able to keep the grapes in beautiful condition ready for picking in the coming weeks.

The vineyard infrastructure managed to escape any damage from last month’s storms apart from a sheet of iron blowing off a roof and a tree falling down on a neighbour’s house.

“It was a much wetter spring last year and there’s been plenty of moisture for the grape vines to grow and it’s been actively managed during the growing season to keep things clean,” Mr Tilbrook said.

“Downy or powdery mildew became a little bit of a risk for vignerons but it’s a component you can manage with sprays and canopy management.

“They are controllable things, it just creates a lot of work and our own vineyards and the growers have had to work damn hard to keep their fruit clean and in good condition.”

Mr Tilbrook said the storms

tion for damage caused, and serve a total of four months in prison, 70 days of which have been served.

Upon release, the accused will enter an 18 month CCO, and undergo drug, alcohol, mental health and offending behaviour treatment, with further judicial monitoring to take place on June 6.

RIPENING: Brown Family Wine Group chief winemaker Joel Tilbrook checks out some berries at the Milawa Vineyard.

PHOTO: Nick Richards caused a few significant rain events in vineyards but all in all they’re shaping up to a high quality season and he will take the conditions they’ve had over bushfires any day.

“We need the ability to irrigate and keep vines healthy and we’ve had all that, and there have been no bushfires that cause catastrophic damage out of our control,” he said.

BFWG started harvest a couple of weeks ago at vineyards in Swan Hill and closer to Mildura and the fruit was excellent.

“We’ve been really lucky with

relatively warm conditions and the absence of heatwaves and plenty of water around there has been great for ripening,” Mr Tilbrook said.

“We brought in Chardonnay and Fiano grape varieties, with the latter an Italian variety we’ve been making the last few years and one we see potential in as a medium bodied, drier, white wine,” he said.

Yields through BFWG vineyards and the warmer parts of Victoria are solid and above average and Mr Tilbrook said in the cooler regions, in pockets, yields are looking a bit lighter such as the Yarra Valley.

“There are lighter bunches

because the weather during the flowering period caused less berries to set,” he said.

Growers are now hoping for the weather to become drier as they work through the harvesting period over the next two months, making it easier to get grapes off the vines at the optimum time.

“We’d prefer it to be dry over the next couple of months but we’ll deal with whatever we get,” Mr Tilbrook said.

The Bureau of Metrology reports that climate forecasts indicate La Nina has peaked, with an end likely in mid-autumn 2022.

A TEENAGER was lucky to avoid major injury, after losing control of her vehicle along WangarattaWhitfield Road around 9am on Monday.

Investigations into the nature of the crash remain ongoing, according to Senior Constable Cohan Newton of Wangaratta police, who attended the scene with SES and Fire Rescue Victoria crews.

“She’s lost control and tried to straighten up and overturned the vehicle - she’s hit a tree and almost bounced back onto the road,” he said.

“She looked like she got out of it fairly okay - her car didn’t.”

SES crews were on scene for more than 45 minutes, working to free the trapped 19-year-old before she was relayed by ambulance to Northeast Health Wangaratta with minor injuries.

Snr Cnst Newton urged anyone with information or dashcam footage of the incident to contact Wangaratta Police Station on 5723 0888.

Rock projectiles investigated REPORTS of rocks being thrown at vehicles near Wangaratta’s Rowan Street underpass on Friday night are being actively investigated by local police.

Anyone with information or dashcam footage of the incident is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 and quote incident number 220057422.

Anyone whose vehicle has been damaged in a similar incident should contact the Police Assistance Line on 131 444.

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Page 4 - THE CHRONICLE, Wednesday, February 23, 2022

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Mask requirements to change SWEEPING changes to Victoria’s mask mandate are set to come into effect later this week.

As of 11.59pm on Friday, a Victorian recommendation to work or study from home where possible will be removed, with masks no longer required in most indoor settings.

According to Minister for Health, Martin Foley, an increase in third dose vaccination rates has allowed

mask expectations to relax, with facial coverings only required in specific circumstances, including: • People on public transport, in taxis and rideshare, on planes, and indoors at an airport; • People working or visiting hospitals and indoor areas at care facilities; Hospitality, retail and court system workers; • Workers at justice and correctional facilities; Stu-

dents in year three or above at primary school, and workers at early childhood centres and primary schools (masks can be removed in secondary school); and • People working indoors at an event with more than 30,000 people attending in special circumstances, such as if you have COVID-19 or are a close contact and you’re leaving home.

As of Monday, restrictions on elective surgery will lift,

with private hospitals to return to 100 per cent of preCOVID activity where possible.

Public hospitals will be permitted to resume all surgery, but capacity will be dictated by staff availability and additional COVID demands.

“Victorians have done such a great job getting vaccinated, so we’re able to take safe steps to get more people to return to the office,” Mr Foley said.

“We’re balancing the need to support our health system with the benefits of easing restrictions in a careful and sensible way.”

Mr Foley also announced extensions would be provided for workers to receive their third dose of a vaccine, with education workers expected to be “up to date” by March 25.

Fully vaccinated workers yet to be eligible for a third dose will have a deadline

of three months and two weeks from their second dosage, while workers who have recently arrived from overseas will be required to receive their third dose within four weeks of their arrival.

Those with a temporary medical exemption will have a two week deadline from the exemption’s expiry.

For full details on the new restrictions, visit www. coronavirus.vic.gov.au.

Sharing stories of friendship and fun EIGHTY past and present members of the North East Victoria Caravan Club gathered at Springhurst Hall on Saturday to celebrate the club’s 50th birthday, and 500th rally.

Meeting for happy hour gave past members the time to catch up with old friends, and to meet the newer members of the club and pass on their experiences of past rallies.

A two-course dinner prepared by club members was then served in the hall, and thoroughly enjoyed by all.

Marlene Reilly and her late husband Kevin were the instigators of the club’s formation 50 years ago, and Marlene shared her memories of how the club grew from a small classified ad placed in the Wangaratta Chronicle.

Members reminisced about club activities and the many and varied rally venues chosen over the years, leaving those who attended in no doubt that the club’s creation was all about getting more use - and fun - out of your caravan.

Jim and Faye Doyle, who had been club members for 50 years, club president Rona Myers, and Marlene Reilly shared the honour of cutting the large 50th birthday cake on what was a memorable night for all involved.

GUEST OF HONOUR: Rangeview Private Nursing Home resident Neil Whyte celebrated his 103rd birthday on Thursday last week. PHOTO: Nick Richards

Neil Whyte feels fit at 103, loves his footy

By SIMONE KERWIN IT was celebration time at Rangeview Private Nursing Home last Thursday afternoon, as resident Neil Whyte marked his 103rd birthday.

The born-and-bred local enjoyed afternoon tea with fellow residents and staff as he notched up the milestone, and took time to reflect on a life which has seen him gather treasured memories, and witness plenty of change.

Born at Greta South, Neil grew

up around the Wangaratta district, and started at the Greta West school on the day it opened in 1924.

With his brother and two sisters, he would travel to school by horse (“two of us on each horse”).

He loved sport - playing tennis, and lining up for Glenrowan on the footy field as a youngster, later suffering a knee injury which curtailed his career.

Neil worked for Wangarattabased Cannys Carrying Company for 20 years, and enjoyed driving

to Melbourne daily for the local business.

“There were no forklifts in those days; not a day passed when we weren’t lifting something heavy. It was hard, really enjoyable work,” he said.

Neil then spent 20 years working at the Wangaratta hospital as something of a jack-of-all-trades - cleaning, as well as assisting with plumbing and electrical work - and it was here that he met his late wife Pat, who was also a hospital employee.

Romance blossomed, and led

to a wonderful marriage of more than 75 years which included the arrival of the couple’s two children, Ray and Carol.

Neil credits what he thinks is “a pretty good innings” to not drinking or smoking (“that might have helped me”), hard work, and a strong partnership with Pat, who passed away late last year.

He’s keen on the footy, following the fortunes of both Hawthorn and Melbourne, and says he’s feeling fit as he moves into his 104th year.

“I’ll just keep on going,” he said.

We’re upgrading the North East Line Coaches replace trains 12 to 20 March As part of Victoria’s Big Build, we’re upgrading the North East Line to enable improved train services.

Coaches replace trains in both directions between Southern Cross and Albury from 12 to 20 March.

Authorised by the Victorian Government, 1 Treasury Place, Melbourne

1559

Find out if you’re affected at bigbuild.vic.gov.au

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THE CHRONICLE, Wednesday, February 23, 2022 - Page 5

Final push for raffle

FRIDAY will mark the public’s last opportunity to purchase tickets for this year’s Wangaratta Community Raffle, with one winner set to drive away from the March 11 draw with a brand new car.

Last minute tickets for the Rotary Club of Appin Park-led raffle can be obtained from Rotarian Rob Tate at Big W between 9am and 2pm today,

tomorrow and Friday this week.

Club president Bev Maher said proceeds from the raffle would be reinjected into the community over the coming months.

“The Rotary club wishes to thank everyone for their support of this wonderful venture,” she said.

“The past years have been dif-

ficult for all but once again our community spirit has prevailed.

“Proceeds of the raffle will once again provide much needed resources to our community organisations and groups.”

Groups with outstanding ticket books can return them to the log cabin at Chisholm Street, Wangaratta between 4pm and 5.30pm tomorrow or March

1, or organise to arrange pick up with Rotarians Geoff Dinning (0418 530 242) or Rob Tate (0408 573 392).

Tickets cost $3, with the top prize winner to drive away in a brand new Toyota Yaris.

The draw will take place from 6pm on March 11 at the Wangaratta Motor Group showrooms on Tone Road.

SELLING FAST: Rotarian Rob Tate will be on hand at the front of Big W to sell last minute tickets for the raffle.

PHOTO: Ryan Malcolm

Helping keep the cinema doors open in Wangaratta

CINEMATIC SUPPORT: Liberal candidate for Indi Ross Lyman (left) with David Lowe from the Wangaratta Cinema Centre.

PHOTO: Shane Douthie

WANGARATTA Cinema Centre has received a $60,000 boost this week from the second round of the Federal Government’s $20 million Supporting Cinemas’ Retention Endurance and Enhancement of Neighbourhoods (SCREEN) Fund.

Minister for Communications, Urban Infrastructure, Cities and the Arts, Paul Fletcher, said a total of 125 independent cinemas across the country would receive a share of $7.3 million from the latest round of SCREEN Fund grants to support their resurgence from COVID-19 disruption.

“Independent cinemas are a vital component of

Sunday Funday is on every Sunday in

Australia’s economic, social and cultural wellbeing, which is why we continue to provide one-off business continuity grants to support the cinemas resurgence from prolonged closures and capacity restrictions,” Mr Fletcher said.

Senator Jane Hume said the latest grants would allow independent cinema operators to keep providing a popular, low-cost and COVID-safe way for people to go out and enjoy a movie as part of their local community.

“This funding will enable them to recover from severe disruption that has largely impacted their revenue streams, and work towards restoring normal

Open S Mond unday, ay an d Wedn 8.30a esday m – 4p m.

Tuesd ay and Thu 10.30a m – 6p rsday m.

February at the NHW Vaccination Clinic.

No appointment is needed and wait times are generally very short.

Come along to the clinic to receive a COVID-19 vaccination.

53-61 Tone Road Wangaratta.

Sunday Funday Activities 10am – 2pm each Sunday in February.

operations as COVID-19 restrictions ease,” Senator Hume said.

Ross Lyman, Liberal candidate for Indi, welcomed the funding announcement for Wangaratta and Mansfield cinemas, saying it builds on a $200,000 Community Development Grant awarded to the Mansfield Armchair Cinema by the Liberal/National Government.

“This new funding ensures the Wangaratta Cinema and the MAC can weather the COVID storm and prosper again as we emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic,” Mr Lyman said on Monday, while visiting the Wangaratta Cinema Centre.

Page 6 - THE CHRONICLE, Wednesday, February 23, 2022

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NOTE: Comments as they appear online, without corrections.

Spirits lift as stage performances return FURTHER confirmation that life is getting back to normal was the launch of the Wangaratta Performing Arts and Convention Centre 2022 season on Monday night.

For audiences and performers, support staff and venues, and associated businesses, it ended two years of pain and disappointment after performances were rescheduled or abandoned as lockdowns came and went.

It has been well–reported that the arts industry was one of the hardest hit by the pandemic restrictions and one of the least supported due to the vagaries of working in the industry which is highly geared to casual or contract employment and regular movement between jobs.

We have lost many creatives who have had no choice but to move to other more reliable industries which is a tragedy in itself, but for those who have survived, hope returns.

It has been equally challenging for all the volunteers and staff who could no longer enjoy the creative team environment that had drawn them to their roles to begin with.

Likewise, for the audiences who view the performing arts as a bright spot in the often weariness and drudgery of everyday life.

Yes, streaming services have brought similar escapist relief for some, but for any true lover of the stage who wants to see real people portraying real human emotions and endeavour in that shared experience only an audience at a live event can deliver, there is no substitute.

For local performers, from musicians to actors, front of house to back stage, the launch reinforces to them that the time is right to prepare, rehearse and perform, and bring life back to our stages for all to enjoy.

CROSSWORD PUZZLE

SOLUTION R A G E M E R L E A S E N V A N E A O F N O R T T E S R E F U T A R O M E N Y S E N S

F E D E R A T E D A T A

M N A N G I L A I C D E N R E S I G C H S

P G E L S T W E R E T E S N E E E D Y

DOWN 1 Fragment 2 Modest 3 Pertinent 4 Sphere of action

5 Printers’ measures 6 Facts given 7 Madman 8 Raw hide 13 Bitter-tasting aperitif 14 Knead 16 Engineless aircraft 17 Add sugar 19 Norwegian 20 Newt 24 Join in league 26 Over (poet) 28 Servant’s distinctive attire 30 Equine sounds 33 Smokes 34 Out of sorts 35 Garment 36 Makes brown 39 Cereal

S D C L E V M R A C U M P A R A M E S P S P A L A R I G R I V E E O B A R O Y E

ACROSS 3 Stormed 9 Dexterous 10 Handle 11 Smallest amount 12 Quickness of perception 15 Take in to graze for payment 18 Mine-deflecting device 21 Jurisprudence 22 Table-shaped hill 23 Commissioned serviceman 25 Indicated disgust 27 Roofs of mouths 29 Notch 31 Equip 32 Arbitrators 35 Fastener 37 Bear-like 38 Spicy fragrance 40 Territory of a baron 41 Ate into 42 Inward feeling

• •

be spread even across Wangaratta so not to further create social cast differences

• Unfortunately these units will Michael White:

fetch a premium price that won’t help those in need.

Vezz Davern: Michael White pretty sure it’s government housing so should be affordable hopefully Clinton Wings: All for social housing but I hope the design and planning are carefully considered so as

• •

not to create a ghetto like structure in the CBD. Would the money be better spent spreading social housing around different areas maybe. Just a thought.

Cindy Knight: Will be to pricey for the ppl in need Joane Sliver: We are about to see wether our councillors care more about the people in the community or profitability.

• • •

Ross Lomazov:

Hopefully it passes. Social housing is important for

the community - everyone deserves a home

•Question remains. Is

Charles Szeligiewicz:

it sympathetic to the neighbourhood character?

Does it impose too much new architectural form to the local neighbourhood?

Does the height seem out of context for the area. Our councillors are entrusted with ratepayers wishes.

The CBD seems to be going upward so let’s see the outcome.

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Battery bunkum, and there’s no need anyway DOUG Cooper (Chronicle letters, February 18 - Renewable energy is not the problem) just restated the problem.

The problem is duplicity.

It is duplicitous to have a policy of zero emissions when you don’t know how you are going to power the new infrastructure you say you want to build in Wangaratta and environs.

He says it’s batteries and quotes the presence of one at Geelong.

Sorry, that one caught on fire before it was fully operative, and took many days to extinguish.

OK, so Adelaide is going batteries.

Nobody has produced a successful battery for a city that size to run for more than a few hours.

Okay, they go back to the interconnector to NSW and Victoria, both states have either completed or announced their decommissioning of their coal fired plants.

And it is duplicitous to argue that there is a need for this nonsense in an era of relative coldness.

Jamie Fisher, Cheshunt

Would you like to see the Rural City of Wangaratta host a Commonwealth Games event?

POCKET ROCKET NORTHEAST Radio Control Car Club will hold its next meeting on Saturday, March 5 from 10.30am to 1pm at the Mitchell Avenue track near the splash park. Pictured is Tyler Lewis at the club’s event last Saturday.

The club has cars available to try, or bring your own 1/10 scale electric car or truck.

Racing takes place every second Saturday at this time.

For more information, see the Northeast Radio Control Car Club Facebook page.

Renewable energy a road to disaster

FACEBOOK users this week commented on the fate of the proposed $13 million social housing development in Wangaratta’s CBD, which was discussed at last night’s council meeting.

Nathan Bell: Good idea in principle, Hopefully if it’s passed it doesn’t end up like the social housing projects in Shepparton on Mooroopna have absolute slums..

Rod Larfield: The community housing should

HISTORY is littered with cast-off scientific hypotheses so it’s quite reasonable to query renewables as John Vance has (Chronicle letters, February 11).

He’s certainly stirred up the letter column hornet’s nest.

Peter Leonard (letters, February 18), laments sceptical John, contesting “The fact that our planet is burning up due to our input”, but he would have us believe that we can materially control the climate.

Ridiculous when you think about it.

Can we do that from a room in Canberra?

Ian O’ Brien (letters, February 16) says we’re deluded if we think “burning coal was the answer to energy” yet, driven by a global energy shortage, the price of Australian steaming coal is astronomical, five times the 2020 price as is the 93 million tonnes the Chinese used for power generation last year.

The electricity grid will have to be at least four times bigger to accommodate renewables, then there’s all the windmills and solar farms to build.

Captains of industry have sensed opportunity.

Good luck to them, but it’s being funded

by retail price maintenance.

Business interests have convened Climate 200 to field independents in metropolitan seats whose voters are indifferent to regional communities.

If renewables are so cheap, why are we paying so much for electricity?

John Vance correctly identifies “grid solutions”.

In other words, in our district it will be more efficient to build solar farms close to the hydro transmission lines which pass right across Indi electorate.

Doug Cooper (letters, February 18) unfavourably compares the prospect of coal power stations to solar farms.

Indeed he will have solar arrays on his doorstep to enjoy soon, they’ll surround the venerable red gums on the Oxley Plains facilitated by the independent he champions.

Contemplate the future that awaits when the wind stops blowing right across

southeastern Australia.

What of our electric cars then?

Without much impartiality from the mainstream media, somehow I think we will keep on sleepwalking into an electricity and domestic energy disaster.

Mike Burston, Myrrhee

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THE CHRONICLE, Wednesday, February 23, 2022 - Page 7

Driver pleading guilty to speed dangerous

Picnic break at Milawa for Daddo

By SIMONE KERWIN THERE was a famous face lounging on a picnic blanket at Milawa Cheese over the weekend, with veteran Australian TV presenter Andrew Daddo dropping in to film a segment for travel series ‘Subaru’s Great Australian Detour’.

Milawa Cheese’s Kellie Weidemann said she’d had a ball chatting to the down-to-earth Daddo as he took the time to enjoy local gourmet delights while exploring the region.

His series is described as “a license to get off the highway and dawdle” which proves “the long way is the best way”, and spending a couple of hours soaking up Milawa’s surrounds as well as sampling a picnic hamper proved the point.

“We’re finding as a result of COVID that people want to be outside, reconnect and take things slow as they enjoy time together, and the picnics on the lawn are a great way to do that,” Kellie said.

TAKING A DETOUR: Milawa Cheese’s Kellie Weidemann enjoyed a picnic with TV personality Andrew Daddo as he visited the district to film a segment at the business.

A MAN who allegedly overtook an unmarked police car while travelling at an estimated 191 kph has pleaded guilty to speed dangerous related charges.

Police prosecutor Leading Senior Constable Stuart Pritchard told Wangaratta Magistrates Court on Monday the accused’s car had been impounded following the December 16, 2020 incident.

He alleged the accused had followed closely behind an unmarked vehicle while headed southbound on the Hume Freeway near Benalla, before accelerating and overtaking at more than 190 kph.

According to LSC Pritchard, the accused had admitted his behaviour was “stupid” to intercepting police officers.

Magistrate Ian Watkins denounced the manoeuvre while adjourning the matter to March 28, when video footage will be broadcast as the accused endeavours to fight a further charge of following too close.

“He could have slowed down, and he should have slowed down,” he said.

Magistrate Watkins also ordered the accused personally attend court for further plea, refusing to rule out a term of imprisonment could be within sentencing range.

Debutante attacker pays $2000

A MAN responsible for a bathroom brawl at a Wangaratta debutante ball has avoided a conviction for the assault which allegedly left his victim with nerve damage in his face.

Appearing via WebeX at Wangaratta Magistrates Court on Monday, the Narre Warren man pleaded guilty to intentionally causing injury, after he pinned the man to the wall of a Wangaratta bathroom and repeatedly punched him to the face on April 17 last year.

According to police prosecutors, the victim attended Northeast Health Wangaratta in the wake of the attack, when he was diagnosed with fractures to his eye socket, cheekbone, nose and jaw.

The court heard the pair were not known to each other, however, had familial ties through marriage in recent years.

A victim impact statement was read to the court, which said he was reminded of the attack daily

due to residual nerve damage to his cheeks and lips which regularly cause him to slur words and spill food while eating.

Defence counsel Marcus Adams said his client had believed his victim had spoken ill of his partner while the two families were posing for photos.

A number of letters of character reference were detailed to the court, including one from a 31year veteran Senior Sergeant who detailed his extensive friendship

with the accused, who was aged in his 50s at the time of the incident.

“My client has maintained a blameless life until this incident,” Mr Adams said.

“No doubt the offending is serious - the impact is likewise confronting and serious.”

Magistrate Ian Watkins said the accused had suffered a “brain snap” during the incident but admitted character references from a senior police officer held considerable weight.

“You chose to defend (your wife’s) character - any husband should defend his wife,” he said.

“You handled this the wrong way and you took it far too far.”

While admitting a community corrections order was within range during sentencing, Magistrate Watkins elected to place the accused on a one-year good behaviour bond without conviction, placing weight on his otherwise clean criminal record.

He was also ordered to contribute $2000 to the court fund.

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Keep an eye out for our open times in next week’s Wangaratta Chronicle, our website and in our shopfront window at 48a Norton Street, Wangaratta.

STEP 3

Let’s keep the conversation going.

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Page 8 - THE CHRONICLE, Wednesday, February 23, 2022

wangarattachronicle.com.au

NATIONAL NEWS

Daughter and son-in-law’s murderer jailed AS Lindita Musai caught an Uber home from a Melbourne hotel with her husband after they celebrated their first wedding anniversary, the 25-yearold woman’s estranged father lay in wait armed with a handgun.

Osman Shaptafaj, 57, was parked outside the Yarraville home the young couple shared with 29-year-old Veton Musai’s family in December 2019.

After the driver helped them with their bags, Shaptafaj shot them both

in the head at the front door with an unregistered Smith & Wesson .38 calibre revolver.

He then rang the doorbell before leaving the couple on the porch and turning the gun on himself at a nearby park.

Shaptafaj on Tuesday faced the Victorian Supreme Court, where Justice Andrew Tinney sentenced him to at least 35 years in prison.

“What you planned was the cold-hearted, vicious and cowardly murder of

two defenceless people,” Justice Tinney said.

“You had at least some hours to contemplate your awful plan and desist, but chose not do so.

“They were young and still at the beginning of their lives together. And yet you allowed your anger toward them to drive you to unspeakable crimes.

You settled upon an evil plan which almost defies belief.”

Shaptafaj was arrested and taken to hospital where bullets were ex-

tracted from his head and his right eye was removed.

He now lives with an acquired brain injury.

Shaptafaj had a history of family violence, including physical abuse towards his ex-wife and daughter, and had not been in contact with either of them since 2011.

The 57-year-old then lived a “sad and isolated” life in the years leading up to the double-murder, Justice Tinney said, with his time spent watching TV, playing video games,

sleeping and crying.

He barely left his home in Altona.

Justice Tinney said he harboured “unwarranted” anger and resentment toward Veton and Lindita Musai after he wasn’t invited to their wedding or asked for permission to get married.

They had just spent three nights at a hotel in the CBD to celebrate their first wedding anniversary when he executed them.

Shaptafaj later told authorities he thought he was

NONSENSE: Scott Morrison says Russia’s claime its troops in Ukraine are peacekeepers is “nonsense”.

in a glitch in a video game.

Drilon Musai said that when his younger brother Veton died “he took half of me with him”.

“I pray nobody else goes through this,” Mr Musai previously told the court.

“Our lives will never be the same.”

Shaptafaj was sentenced to life in prison after pleading guilty to the double-murder, but he must serve at least 35 years behind bars before becoming eligible to apply for parole.

-AAP

PHOTO: (Mick Tsikas/AAP Photos

Russian peacekeeping claim ‘nonsense’: PM PRIME Minister Scott Morrison says it is “nonsense” to suggest Russia is sending “peacekeepers” into Ukraine, labelling the invasion unwarranted and unprovoked.

As Russian President Vladimir Putin recognised two breakaway regions in eastern Ukraine as independent, the country’s army has moved so-called “peacekeeping” forces into the area, heightening tensions in eastern Europe.

Mr Morrison hopes to see dip-

lomatic talks prevail to prevent a conflict in Ukraine, following the movement of “peacekeepers”.

“Some suggestions that they are peacekeeping is nonsense. They have moved in on Ukrainian sovereign territory,” he told reporters in Tasmania.

“We cannot have threats of violence being used to seek to advantage a nation’s position over others.”

The prime minister said Australia would be in lockstep with

other nations and immediately impose economic sanctions on Russia should there be further military action in Ukraine.

“Russia should step back, it should unconditionally withdraw, back behind its own borders and stop threatening its neighbours,” he said.

“It’s unacceptable, it’s unprovoked, it’s unwarranted, and Russia should understand that by seeking to invade another country, that this cannot advantage

Search underway for murdered SA man A SEARCH is underway in South Australia’s midnorth for the body of one of three men thought to have been murdered over their links to the drug trade in Adelaide’s southern suburbs.

Police say they’re searching in an area between Orrorroo and Peterborough for the remains of Robert Atkins who went missing in November 2020.

They believe the 29-yearold was held and tortured for up to a week before being forced to commit crimes for his captors.

Its believed he was then

murdered near Port Pirie with his body left near Orroroo although it has still not been found.

Late last year police established a special task force to look into his suspected murder along with the deaths of Trevor King and Jeff Mundy.

Mr King, 41, was found dead at suburban West Lakes in January 2020 with police now believing his death was staged to look like a suicide.

Police say in the months before his death, he was the victim of unlawful detention and serious assaults,

resulting from a drug debt.

The debt was initially $1000 but increased to $10,000 and then $50,000 when he failed to pay.

Mr Mundy, 36, was last seen in December 2020.

His body has not been found, with police suspecting it was disposed of somewhere on SA’s Fleurieu Peninsula.

Up to 15 people are believed to have been involved in the suspected murders and detectives are also checking another 200 overdose deaths since 2019 to determine if any more are suspicious.

-AAP

them, and it would seriously and significantly cost Russia.”

The call for Russia to withdraw has been reiterated by Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese.

The Labor leader said Australia stood in solidarity with Ukraine.

“There is no place in 2022 for nation states to just try to carve off sections of another sovereign nation state, which is what we’re seeing here,” he told reporters.

“This unilateral statement by Vladimir Putin has no place in a

world in which we have respect.”

Mr Albanese said other countries such as China needed to call out Russia’s behaviour on the Ukraine border.

“China and other countries need to speak out in support of the sovereignty of Ukraine,” he said.

“We call upon Russia to back off.”

The Labor leader said he had received regular briefings on Ukraine.

-AAP

Fugitive Potter used fake name: police BIOMETRIC testing was needed to confirm the identity of fugitive Graham Gene Potter who evaded capture for more than a decade, police say.

The 12-year manhunt for the convicted killer ended in Far North Queensland on Monday when detectives found the 64-year-old at a home in the Tablelands region.

Potter initially used the pseudonym “Josh Lawson” when police arrived at the Ravenshoe address, about two hours south of Cairns, Detective Inspector Kevin Goan said on Tuesday.

But detectives involved with the case for several years had enough cause to arrest him anyway.

“They had reasonable cause to effect his arrest, bring him into custody (and) do the biometric testing through the live-scan machine,” Det Insp Goan said.

The results confirmed that “Josh Lawson was in fact Graham Gene Potter”.

Potter has been wanted since 2010 after he allegedly failed to appear at Melbourne Magistrates Court on charges of conspiracy to murder and Common-

wealth drug offences.

Police have previously attended the address where Potter was eventually found, but said “our approach on this occasion was different”.

“The credible information that came through to investigators was sufficient ...for them to gain lawful entry to the premises,” Det Insp Goan said.

While he’s been “keeping a low profile”, police said he had assimilated with some members of the local community.

No one has been charged in connection with Potter’s hiding spot.

-AAP

wangarattachronicle.com.au

THE CHRONICLE, Wednesday, February 23, 2022 - Page 9

Airbnb up and about across the rural city

By GRAHAM CLEMENTS

IT may surprise many locals that the online accommodation booking service Airbnb had 74 premises listed in Wangaratta on February 14.

They ranged from single rooms to houses on sprawling rural properties.

Gwen Diffey has had a unit on the upper level of her house listed on Airbnb since 2015 and, like all Airbnb hosts contacted by the Chronicle, is happy with the service.

She changes between Airbnb and renting the property, and finds that there are fewer problems when using Airbnb.

“With Airbnb you have confidence that problems will be solved,” Gwen said.

“If there is damage done to the property Airbnb can compensate you.”

Owner of two Airbnb properties Marcia Nichol is similarly happy.

She said Airbnb are “fabulous to deal with” as you can speak to someone straight away.

Marcia’s properties include the iconic Crossroads Store which was renovated to be an Airbnb rental, and Rundle’s Retreat which she changed from a rental to an Airbnb three years ago.

Airbnb is not adversely affect-

HAPPY HOST: Gwen Diffey outside her Riverview Crescent Airbnb property. ing the local rental market according to Sarah Grimmer, department leader, at OBrien Real Estate Joyce in Wangaratta.

“There are approximately 2000 to 2500 rental properties in Wangaratta, so the small number of Airbnbs is not having a major effect,” Sarah said.

From her time in Wangaratta since 2019, Sarah has only lost two rentals to Airbnb, while one returned from Airbnb to the rental market.

Heavy Rigid Operator Nu Fruit Pty Ltd, a local Fresh Produce Wholesaler, has a Full Time position available for a Truck Driver.

An immediate start is required.

We are seeking a highly motivated, trustworthy person who is physically fit, has the capacity to work in a team environment and who is capable of working without direct supervision.

The position requires amongst other tasks the loading/unloading of Transports, the delivery of customer orders to their place of business.

Heavy Rigid Truck Licence is essential and a Heavy Articulated Licence would be considered favourably.

The successful applicant will be employed on a full time basis and weekend work does apply.

Above Award Wage Rates apply.

But Sarah said Airbnb is decreasing the number of rentals in the surrounding region, such as in Bright, Beechworth and other holiday areas.

For anyone considering hosting an Airbnb, Marcia said running an Airbnb is more work than for a rental property, but for her it is profitable and a good way to keep a property maintained.

Gwen said Airbnb have standards that a property must meet.

PHOTO: Shane Douthie

The premises might also need a permit according to Stephen Swart, Rural City of Wangaratta director development services.

“Council encourages anyone thinking about renting out a house or part of their home as short stay accommodation to check with council to understand if the property requires any permits or registrations before entering into an agreement with a global online selling website,” Mr Swart said.

Transport / Owner Driver Operator Nu Fruit Pty Ltd, a Fresh Produce Wholesaler based in Wangaratta, is seeking expressions of interest for Truck Owner Drivers/Transport Operators to sub-contract the transportation of fresh produce across Victoria and Southern NSW. Nu Fruit Pty Ltd provides the Refrigerated Trailers and only the Prime Mover with Driver is required to be supplied.

Operators must operate as an Incorporated entity, have own WorkCover policy covering their employees, and abide by safe driving practices.

This is work on an ongoing basis, with good klms available, with 7 day payment terms. Vehicle reliability is critical.

Road safety rule review

A NEW interactive tool launched by the State Government will allow Victorian road users to brush up on their road rule knowledge.

The recently launched Road Rule Education Online platform is set to provide interactive videos, graphics and quizzes on road safety issues for Victorians, as motorists continue to return to the roads.

Information about how to share the road safely with others, such as motorcyclists, cyclist and heavy vehicles, as well as tips for driving in wet weather will also be available.

Minister for Roads and Road Safety Ben Carroll said the online program was an ideal refresher course for all road users to take part in.

“We’ve come a long way since many Victorians first gained their licence, and this tool is a great way to check the latest road rules and ensure everyone’s safety on the roads,” he said.

“We can all be the reason someone makes it home safely to their families and knowing your road rules is a vital part of that.”

According to head of road safety Victoria, Carl Muller, the platform would be ideal for personal and business use.

“Many Victorians heading out on the roads this year may be feeling out of practice and Road Rule Education Online means you can brush up on your knowledge - great for businesses and employees who regularly use the roads for work as well as families teaching younger drivers about road rules and safety.”

To access the new platform, visit www. vicroads.vic.gov.au.

Casual Warehouse Positions Nu Fruit Pty Ltd, a local Fresh Produce Wholesaler are seeking highly motivated, trustworthy people who are physically fit, have the capacity to work in a team environment and who are capable of working without direct supervision.

Nu Fruit Pty Ltd, has a number of casual positions for an immediate start.

The position requires amongst other tasks the packing of orders and all associated tasks. Drivers Licence is preferred.

Some weekend work required.

Award Wage Rates apply.

The successful applicants will be employed on a casual basis.

Requests for further information & Expressions of Interest can be made to: positions@nufruit.com.au

P : 5723 7200 | F : 5721 9205 | online@nufruit.com.au nufruitwangaratta

Page 10 - THE CHRONICLE, Wednesday, February 23, 2022

wangarattachronicle.com.au

Young leaders Cathedral College Wangaratta THE college is enjoying a positive start to the new school year and has appointed its leadership team.

College captains Bella Bridgeman and Skip Pieper are looking forward to a great year leading their school community.

TEAMWORK: Charlotte Walker, Liv Day and Somaya Almohandes worked carefully together to create their floating house.

UNITED FOCUS: College captains Bella Bridgeman and Skip Pieper (with principal Nick Jones) are well prepared for their important roles this year.

Engineering focus Appin Park Primary School LAST week the year 5/6 classes had a group of young engineers visit the school from the University of Melbourne.

The focus was teaching them about engineering and problem solving with a humanitarian focus and a strong emphasis on sustainability.

The workshops included a short presentation followed by a hands-on activity.

The students enjoyed designing and creating a floating house, using sustainable resources and paying close attention to their allocated budget.

The aim was to hold the greatest number of marbles as possible.

Outdoor play Carraragarmungee Primary School STUDENTS have enjoyed being outside and active in the playground this week.

Some of the boys tackled the ‘spider web’ and climbed high towards the sky in the bright sunshine.

HIGH LIFE: Students Adrian Seymour-Williams, Jarrah Waldhart, George Newman, Jack and Mason Webbers and Jimmy Niklaus had fun climbing the spider web.

Twos Day Wangaratta Primary School STUDENTS and staff took the opportunity to celebrate the milestone event of Twos Day on February 22 this year (or 22-2-22). Classes took part in a range of fun events to celebrate the significant date.

TWO BY TWO: Students including Indi O’Brien Martin, Emily Henschke, William Cook, Everett Cox, Grace Jones, Maddi Puls, Riley Wheeler, Poppy Jones, Nate Hadley, Macy Smith (with staff Kylie Roberston, Paul Broomfield and Zoe Henschke) marked the unusual date.

1

What type of objects are Betelgeuse, Procyon, Sirius and Canopus?

2

What do beryl, ruby, amber and jade have in common?

3

Which two metals are combined to make cupronickel?

4

What is the largest Australian animal?

5

True or false? A tachyon is a particle that moves faster than light (and probably doesn’t exist).

For more CSIRO Double Helix science visit www.csiro.au/helix or call 02 6276 6643.

QUIZ ANSWERS: 1. Betelgeuse, Procyon, Sirius and Canopus are the names of bright stars in the sky.

2. Beryl, ruby, amber and jade are all gemstones. 3. Cupronickel is a mixture of copper and nickel, and it’s used to make many things, including silver-coloured Australian coins. 4. Saltwater crocodiles are the largest animals in Australia, growing up to six metres long and weighing up to one tonne. 5. True. A tachyon is the name scientists use to describe any hypothetical particle that moves faster than light.

wangarattachronicle.com.au

THE CHRONICLE, Wednesday, February 23, 2022 - Page 11

Prostate cancer equipment set for a $300,000 upgrade MORE than $300,000 will be spent upgrading prostate cancer equipment at Wodonga Hospital following a grant from the Albury Wodonga Regional Cancer Centre Trust Fund.

The Trust Fund has announced $256,500, donated

by Tony and Jenny Horne of Rutherglen, for a new ultrasound machine, applications and transducers to reduce the time taken to diagnose and treat prostate cancer patients.

The equipment is state-ofthe-art and offers patients in the region access to worldclass diagnostic and treatment modalities.

A further $50,000, donated by the Murray Valley Centre, will be invested in a stepper and stabiliser package to allow for ultimate image guidance ensuring biopsies are taken from areas of concern with absolute accuracy.

Trust Fund board member John Watson said the investment was expected to save at least five men a week from having to travel to Melbourne for scans or prostate cancer care.

“Existing equipment at Wodonga Hospital was used for 235 procedures last fi-

MAKING A DIFFERENCE: Albury Wodonga Regional Cancer Centre Trust Fund board member, John Watson, and urologist Dr Jonathan Lewin, with the existing prostate cancer equipment due to be replaced. nancial year and 274 the year before,” he said.

“But this equipment has now reached the end of its lifespan and has to be replaced.

“Without this investment we were at risk of losing a vital service that enables hundreds of people a year to receive life-

saving care close to home.

“This grant by the trust totalling $307,600 will not only ensure the service continues to be provided locally, but will actually improve that service through more accurate scans and biopsies.”

Urologist Dr Jonathan Lewin said the new gen-

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eration equipment would potentially allow Albury Wodonga Health to offer Barrigel insertion.

“This is where a barrier gel is injected between the rectum and prostate to protect the rectum from the side effects of prostate radiotherapy,” Dr Lewin said.

“This technique is only currently available through the private sector in the majority of Victoria, including the Albury-Wodonga region.”

“I think in terms of prostate cancer surgery, locally between Albury, Wodonga and Wangaratta - the sur-

geon at Wangaratta also uses this machinery - we may be looking at 120-150 patients (a year) having surgery alone and there would be somewhere between 80 and 100 patients having radiation treatment.

“Without this equipment, it would be very hard to diagnose and treat those patients appropriately locally.”

Albury Wodonga Health chair Matt Burke thanked the Hornes for their significant contribution towards border cancer services over a number of years.

He also acknowledged the Murray Valley Centre in Wodonga, which donated $50,000 from bingo proceeds last year before being taken over by Kirinari.

“The Murray Valley Centre is a wonderful facility that has been supporting people with disabilities in our region since 1985,” Mr Burke said.

“We’re thrilled that even as it comes to a close, the organisation overseen by chief executive David Martin was still able to make a huge contribution towards the local community through this generous donation towards new cancer equipment.”

Page 12 - THE CHRONICLE, Wednesday, February 23, 2022

wangarattachronicle.com.au

WHAT’S ON

Chart toppers 1927 to perform AUSTRALIAN rock band 1927 will perform live at the Wangaratta Performing Arts and Convention Centre on Friday night at 7.30pm.

The band’s debut album went five times platinum and stayed in the ARIA chart for 46 weeks and is still one of the top 10 most successful debut albums for an Australian artist.

Performing classic songs like Compulsory Hero, Don’t Forget Me, That’s When I think of You and If I Could, tickets are available by visiting www.wpacc.com.au or call 5722 8105.

Moonlight movie in Everton LOCAL families and friends are invited to the Everton Hall and Sports Complex on Saturday for a free screening of the movie Paddington 2.

There will be food and drinks available on the night from 5:30pm with the movie to start at dusk and while deck chairs will be available, those attending can bring their own rugs, pillow or beanbags.

Bookings can be made by calling 5722 0888.

Amber Lawrence at The Vine FIVE time Golden Guitar winning Australian singer-songwriter Amber Lawrence will perform at the Vine Hotel in North Wangaratta on Saturday night, as part of her Bring It Back tour.

Amber will be performing as a trio, singing the uplifting songs of self-belief, love, family and ordinary Australians she is renowned for.

With support act Lara Duncan, tickets are available at www. thevinehotel.net.au.

Comedy festival coming to town THE Melbourne International Comedy Festival Outta Town tour will visit the Wangaratta Performing Arts and Convention Centre on Friday, March 11.

It is a taste of what’s to come at the nation’s biggest comedy festival, offering a sneak peek with some fresh country air before the big event in April.

Among the comedians set to perform in Wangaratta are Lloyd Langford, Danielle Walker and Luka Muller, with tickets available at www.wpacc.com.au.

UNIQUE COLLABORATION: Special guest musicians and singers will be backed by the Row Jerry Crow band, made up from some of this state’s most iconic musicians, for the Keep The Circle Unbroken in March.

Musicians to keep circle unbroken in Wangaratta

AN incredible line-up of Australian musicians are hitting the road for the Keep The Circle Unbroken Tour in March, making a stop in Wangaratta on March 6.

The event is inspired by the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band’s 1972 album Will the Circle be Unbroken, which brought together two generations of musicians and a divided nation and planted the seeds of hope for a better future.

The roots of the concert started back in the seventies when the album’s release reconnected divided generations in the US at odds due to the perpetuating Vietnam War, hippie counter-

Celebration of popular composers AUSTRALIAN music theatre and television star Ian Stenlake will be joined by award-winning music theatre singer and actress Michelle Fitzmaurice for a show which celebrates popular music from the composing greats at the Wangaratta Performing Arts and

When

Sunday 8 May 2pm

Tickets

Adults $59 - Conc/Sen $49

culture and a troubling Richard Nixon presidential term.

It featured collaborations with country legends such as Roy Acuff, Doc Watson and Mother Maybelle Carter; the album pioneered by celebrated banjoist Earl Scruggs.

Across 38 songs, the release captured the imagination of rock music lovers, penetrating the mainstream whilst staying true to its raw, unadulterated aesthetic.

Keep The Circle Unbroken is described as an audible bridge stretching across generations, cultures, sexes, politics, race,

Convention Centre on March 3.

The narrative concert performance features over 20 hit songs from Broadway and London West End great Andrew Lloyd Webber, plus friends and influences like Elton John, Tim Rice and many more.

With songs from Cats, Phantom of the Opera, Jesus Christ Superstar, Evita, The Lion King and many more, the matinee show will be held at 10.30am and tickets are only $22,

Student (16 - 25yo with valid Student ID) $49 Child (15 & under) $40 - Group 4+ $49ea Duration 3hrs (incl. 20 min interval) COVID Information COVID Safe Protocols will apply to this show.

Where

Alpine MDF Theatre - Wangaratta Performing Arts & Convention Centre 33-37 Ford Street Wangaratta VIC 3677

www.wpacc.com.au/Whats-On/U-Can-Cry-Project-365

Book your ticket Now! Project 365 Wangaratta 'U Can Cry'

and musical genre - a showcase from every corner of the nation.

The circle of artists represents sitting around a campfire, a family dinner table, or at a traditional music session, sharing stories, thoughts and memories handed down through the generations.

Following the success of the original concert performed during lockdown in 2020 to an online audience, streamed live from St Kilda’s Memo Music Hall, the show is now touring.

It is performed live and in the round, each show featuring special guest musicians and singers in never-before heard trios and duets.

available at www.wpacc.com.au or from the box office.

Midnight Oil at All Saints MIDNIGHT Oil will perform at the A Day On The Green show at All Saints Estate in Rutherglen on Saturday, March 12, celebrating the release of their album Resist.

Well-known artists will be partnered with lesser known yet exceptionally talented younger artists and backed by the Row Jerry Crow band, which is made up from some of this state’s most iconic musicians.

The Wangaratta stop will be held in the Memorial Hall of the Wangaratta Performing Arts and Convention Centre on Sunday, March 6 at 2pm, allowing audience members to experience this unique, musical collaboration as it was intended.

Limited tickets are available now by visiting www.wpacc.com. au.

The band announced it will be their final concert tour - a tour that will see them performing classic Oils songs from across their repertoire while also showcasing some urgent new works.

With a line-up that also includes the mighty Hoodoo Gurus and acclaimed singer-songwriters All Our Exes Live in Texas, tickets are available now at www. adayonthegreen.com.au.

SAFE DRIVE SEMINAR Well Ageing Info Hub and Northeast Health Wangaratta (NHW) presents:

What challenges our ageing population?

Presented by John Weinert, RoadSafe

Where: The Uniting Care Hall, 10 Rowan Street, Wangaratta When: 2pm Tuesday 15th March 2022 Who should attend: Older people, their family members &/or carers Cost: FREE – afternoon tea included RSVP: by Friday 11th March 2022 Contact: Nadia on 1800 319 333 or infohub@nhw.org.au Online registration: https://safe-drive-seminar.eventbrite.com.au

wangarattachronicle.com.au

THE CHRONICLE, Wednesday, February 23, 2022 - Page 13

WELCOME BACK: Kevin Adams and Ros Crichley.

REASON TO SMILE: At the launch were (from left) Leonie Bourke, Helen Southam, Judy Byrne, and Ali Roberts. PHOTOS: Nick Richards

CHEERS: Judy Bach and Margaret Cunningham.

The show is ready to go on

By SHANE DOUTHIE AFTER virtually two years in limbo the Wangaratta Performing Arts and Convention Centre (WPACC) rang out with cheers and applause at the official launch of its 2022 season.

Venue manager Tanya Camplin said the atmosphere at the launch on Monday evening was electric as performing arts fans celebrated the return of live theatre.

“It was an amazing vibe; it was fantastic,” Ms Camplin said.

“It was a celebration of all we had missed over the last two years.

“It was just so wonderful to be back with our friends and families once more.”

Just over 130 people attended the evening including Wangaratta Mayor Dean Rees and Indi Independent MP Helen Haines.

Ms Camplin said the team had worked hard to curate this season around all the uncertainty of these time and

• Ben Fletcher, Mayor Dean Rees (centre) and Tanya Camplin. the effects COVID-19 has had on staff and the industry.

“We thank you, our valued patrons for your continued support and patience throughout lockdowns, restrictions, capacity limits, reschedules and cancellations,” she said.

“The night was really all about patrons, volunteers, seat sponsors and the rest of our team coming together.

“This year we look forward to one of our biggest seasons

ever with a number of returning shows and new shows taking to the WPACC stage.

“We are excited to present our audiences with a wonderfully diverse array of exhilarating drama, musical theatre, contemporary circus, family shows, belly laugh comedies and literature brought to life right here on this stage.”

Cr Rees said the pandemic had a major impact on the entire community.

“It changed the way we think about creativity and culture and many of us turned to the arts, embracing cultural pastimes during extended lockdowns,” he said.

“WPACC partnered with the Wangaratta Arts Council to deliver the ‘Steinway on Stage at Home’ series of online performances featuring our marvellous Steinway piano and talented local pianists streamed live into loungerooms.

“Tonight we are pleased to back together in the Alpine MDF Theatre to celebrate all that is wonderful and exciting about Season 2022.”

Ms Camplin said some of the early theatrical highlights of the season include plays Mother & Son, Become the One and Black Cockatoo.

“There are wonderful stories with humour, heartbreak and drama,” she said.

“There is something for everyone.”

For full details of the 2022 season visit the WPACC website wpacc.com.au/whats-on.

WPACC venue manager Tanya Camplin.

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Page 14 - THE CHRONICLE, Wednesday, February 23, 2022

wangarattachronicle.com.au

Young workers encouraged to speak up

Play School visit to have games and stories to tell

By SIMONE KERWIN, Wednesday, February 22, 2012 POPULAR Play School presenters Jay Laga’aia and Abi Tucker will be the “people with games and stories to tell” when a concert based on the beloved ABC TV series hits Wangaratta in March.

Hosted by Appin Park Kindergarten, two concerts will be held at St Patrick’s Hall in Ford Street at 10am and noon on Sunday, March 11.

And while tickets are selling well, the announcement that king of the kids Laga’aia will be part of the show is sure to prove an even greater drawcard.

Appin Park Kindergarten committee of management’s Tanya Camplin said the two shows were expected to emulate the successful concerts held in Wangaratta for the first time last year.

“Play School is loved by children, parents and grandparents, and we are thrilled to have been included in the 2012 national tour,” Mrs Camplin said.

IT’S PLAY SCHOOL: Appin Park Kindergarten students Felicity (4) and Madeline (3) Camplin are looking forward to seeing their favorite Play School toys in Wangaratta next month as part of a fundraiser for their kinder.

PHOTO: Cheryl Browne

“As a parent (to Felicity, 4, and Madeline, 3), it is great to support the activities our daughters are involved in, and it is a wonderful opportunity to help organise for children in

regional Australia to be able to enjoy a live performance of their favorite show without having to travel to Melbourne.”

Featuring favorite Play School toys Big Ted, Little Ted, Jemima and Humpty, the concerts include songs, games and stories familiar to viewers of the TV show.

Tickets can be purchased from Edgars Newsagency in Murphy Street.

A NEW campaign which aims to encourage young workers to speak up in the face of uncomfortable situations has been launched by WorkSafe Victoria.

After receiving 2431 claims from workers aged 24 or younger last year, WorkSafe’s newest mascot “UMM” will target workers who are unsure of their rights as they enter the workforce.

WorkSafe executive director health and safety, Narelle Beer, believes the new mascot will break down barriers around common but uncomfortable situations in the workplace.

“Like many young workers, UMM is eager to make a good impression, but can feel a little awkward about speaking up if something feels unsafe,” she said.

“No worker should ever feel unsafe - we’ve all experienced that ‘umm’ feeling before, so we want to empower young people to better understand their rights and feel confident speaking up when something isn’t safe.”

WorkSafe’s efforts to raise awareness about young work-

SPEAK UP: WorkSafe Victoria’s new mascot ‘UMM’ will urge young workers to raise important questions about their workplace.

PHOTO: WorkSafe Victoria

er vulnerability were initially launched as part of the ‘Unsafe is always unacceptable’ campaign, and while successful results were achieved, Ms Beer believes there remains room for considerable improvement.

The new campaign details worker rights, outlines commonly found unsafe work conditions, and provides young workers the knowledge to report unsafe conditions or work-related injuries.

“Safety is about more than

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just reducing the risks of physical injury,” she said.

“This campaign will show that unsafe work practices can happen in a range of industries and situations - from unreasonable workloads, to comments about appearance or being asked to complete tasks without proper training or guidance.”

For more information about safety for young workers, visit www.worksafe.vic. gov.au/umm.

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THE CHRONICLE, Wednesday, February 23, 2022 - Page 15

Macquarie perch numbers given a massive boost A LARGE scale release of Macquarie perch into the King and Buffalo rivers, and Cudgewa Creek last week aims to provide a much needed boost to the native fish populations in North East Victoria.

It’s been quite the journey for the species, starting with the ‘Macca chopper’ late last year, which transported the mature fish from Lake Dartmouth to the Victorian Fisheries Authority’s (VFA) Snobs Creek hatchery for breeding.

Now their offspring are happily swimming away in their new homes, thanks to the grant the Victorian Fisheries Authority (VFA) received from Landcare to recover Macquarie perch in bushfire-affected areas of the North East.

Macquarie perch haven’t been abundant in the Cudgewa Creek in almost 100 years.

The VFA release was carried out in partnership with Ovens Landcare Network, Upper Murray Landcare Network, Taungurung Land & Waters Council, Women in Recreational Fishing Network, Corryong Angling, North East Catchment Management Authority and DELWP. The grant has also supported: instream fish habitat, including boulder seeding and timber structures, fencing and revegetation; community engagement and communications; and planting weekends with recreational fishers, Landcare groups and Traditional Owners.

This Landcare-led bushfire recovery effort has been supported by the Australian Government’s Bushfire Recovery Program for Wildlife and their Habitat.

For more information, visit www.vfa.vic.gov. au/recoveringmaccas

Old time dance at Springhurst Saturday SPRINGHURST Old Time Dance will be held this Saturday at the Springhurst Hall, from 7.30pm to 11pm.

Music will be provided by Bohuns.

Entry is $10 per person, with people asked to bring a plate of supper to share.

For more information phone 5726 5241.

yourstars ARIES

(March 21 to April 19) Your ideas are finally reaching those who can appreciate them.

But don’t expect any immediate reactions. That will come later. Meanwhile, a personal matter needs your attention.

TAURUS

(April 20 to May 20) Your energy levels are rising, and you’re feeling restless and eager to get into some activity, whether it’s for profit or just for fun. In either case, the aspects are highly favorable, so go for it.

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(May 21 to June 20) A relationship seems to be winding down from passionate to passive. It’s up to you to decide what the next step will be. But don’t wait too long to take the initiative. Delay could create more problems.

CANCER

(June 21 to July 22) A decision looms. But be very sure that this is what you really want before you sign or say anything. Once you act, there’ll be little or no wiggle room for any adjustments.

LEO (July 23 to August 22) Money matters WELCOME YOUNG MACCAS: Young Macquarie perch getting acquainted with their new habitat in the North East.

EPA have eyes in sky across the North East

AERIAL surveillance in the North East is set to expand, with the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) implementing drones and other remote piloted vehicles to assess environmentally damaging activities.

Since the passing of the Environment Protection Act 2017 last year, new powers have seen EPA crews further diversify their evidence gathering kitbag, with drone pilot Matt Baronio the newest addition to the North East team.

He said his skills would allow EPA crews to further investigate and prosecute duty holders engaging in environmentally damaging activity.

“EPA has been using drones for several years now, and

they’ve provided evidence that has been used in court cases or have helped manage projects like the current clean up in Broderick Road, Lara or the illegal waste dump site in Lemon Springs in the state’s north west,” he said.

“Closer to Wangaratta, where I’m based, we used them in monitoring the clean-up of the tyre stockpile in Numurkah in 2019, and at many other hard to access sites.

“EPA’s remote pilots travel extensively so I anticipate I’ll see a lot of the North East in my role.”

According to EPA North East regional manager, Renee Palmer, Mr Baronio’s appointment showcased the EPA’s commitment to expanding its

SPECIAL of the WEEK

capability in regional areas.

“In July last year we got new powers under the Environment Protection Act 2017, and Matt’s appointment as specialist drone pilot servicing our region will boost our effectiveness, whether that is through covert monitoring of EPA permitted activities or tracing pollution in difficult terrain,” she said.

“EPA is well placed to identify and collect evidence of activities in the North East region that may cause harm to the environment.

“Of course, our best eyes and ears are the communities we serve - information from the public often leads to EPA intervention and the prevention of further harm.”

improve, but you still need to be cautious with your spending. Also, set aside that Leonine pride for a bit and apologize for contributing to that misunderstanding.

VIRGO (August 23 to September 22) A

tempting financial situation could make the usually unflappable Virgo rush in before checking things out. Be alert to possible hidden problems.

Get the facts before you act.

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(September 23 to October 22) It’s nice to know that you’re finally getting due credit for your efforts. You also should know that new opportunities will follow. A family member brings important news.

SCORPIO

(October 23 to November 21) Any uncertainty that begins to cloud an impending decision could signal a need to reexamine your reasons for wanting to take on this commitment.

SAGITTARIUS

(November 22 to December 21) You benefit from taking time out of your currently hectic schedule to do more contemplation or meditation. This will help reenergize you, both in body and soul.

CAPRICORN

(December 22 to January 19) Nursing hurt feelings can zap the energies of even the usually self-confident Sea Goat. Best advice: Move forward. Success is the best balm for a painful ego.

AQUARIUS

(January 20 to February 18) A display of temperament surprises you, as well as those around you. It could be all that pressure you’re under. Consider letting someone help you see it through.

TAKE TO THE SKY: Drone pilot Matt Baronio will assist North East EPA crews in investigating environmentally damaging activities from above. PHOTO: EPA

PISCES (February 19 to March 20) Some things don’t seem to be working out as you’d hoped. Don’t fret. Instead, take some time out to reassess your plans and see where changes could be made.

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Page 16 - THE CHRONICLE, Wednesday, February 23, 2022

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KING VALLEY NEWS Whitfield community meeting today THE Rural City of Wangaratta is holding a community meeting to discuss the Whitfield Adventure Playground and Visitor Hub project, at the rotunda and park in the main street of Whitfield today from 4pm until 5pm.

The King Valley community is invited to come and discuss their vision for the Whitfield community park and hear about the proposed project timelines.

It will be an informal meeting helping to start the conversation, and people of all ages are encouraged to attend and provide their valuable input.

Council said it is a drop-in session so people are encouraged to attend at a time that best suits.

Community members will be asked to write down their vision for the park and discuss key items they would like to see in the space.

This project has been funded via the Prosecco Road Revitalisation Project, helping to deliver community improvements as part of our ongoing commitment to the Rural Placemaking Program.

Registrations are encouraged by email to infradmin@wangaratta. vic.gov.au or phone council on 5722 0888.

Whitfield Childcare annual meeting THE Whitfield Community Childcare centre will hold its AGM tomorrow night at 6pm at the Mountain View Hotel in Whitfield.

All are welcome to come and to stay for dinner and a catch up after the meeting.

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

Valley makes waves with new arts initiatives

ARTS EXPERIENCE: Theatre production Waves by Alice Mary Cooper comes to the Moyhu Soldiers Memorial Hall on March 11, kicking off this year’s series of performances in the King Valley

Meet and Cruise Day Saturday THE King River and District Fishing Club will holds its inaugural Meet and Cruise Day on Saturday, with entry $10 per car which includes coffee for the driver and entry into the raffle.

Drivers and riders will meet at 10am in Market Street in Moyhu before setting off at 11am and cruising up to Lake William Hovell to meet with the fishing club for a barbecue lunch (with snags and more available to purchase on site).

Pre-purchase tickets would be appreciated to help with catering, available at the Moyhu General Store, with the raffle to be drawn at 1.30pm at the lake and lots of prizes to be won.

Find out more by visiting the club on Facebook.

Myrrhee bulb fundraiser

WITH an invigorated committee and three major projects already underway for 2022, King Valley Arts is off to a flying start this year in its goal to enrich the community with a wide variety of arts experiences and activities.

Among the new additions to the calendar of events is an exhibition called Convergence which will be held in the King Valley over the last two weekends of April.

It will feature a broad range of two dimensional artworks but three dimensional works may also be entered.

King Valley Arts president Anita Laurence said the exhibition is open to all residents who reside in the Rural City of Wangaratta.

“We are inviting artists to contribute up to two artworks for the group exhibition at King River Brewing over two weekends, April 23 and 24 and April 30 to May 1,” she said.

“The exhibition will bring together diverse approaches to art making in our community.”

Artists can find more information by

WANGARATTA Sing Australia Group meets each Wednesday from 7.30pm to 9pm at Purbrick Hall, next to Holy Trinity Cathedral.

Everyone welcome. For further information, call Cheryl Hoysted on 0419 005 062.

WANGARATTA Senior Citizens Club will host a light luncheon at the clubrooms in Tara Court, off Ford Street, from 12 noon today.

Carpet bowls will run tomorrow and on Monday from 12 noon. Euchre will be held on Friday at 1.30pm, with cards (500) and hoy on Tuesday, also from 1.30pm, at the clubrooms in Tara Court, off Ford Street.

WANGARATTA Seniors Dance will be

BY ANITA McPHERSON amcpherson@ nemedia.com.au

visiting the website www.kingvalleyarts. com.au where an online entry from should be completed by April 1 for those wanting to be considered for the show.

It promises to be an exciting opportunity for artists in the region who have had limited opportunity to exhibit and potentially sell their work over the last two years.

King Valley Arts also has Arts Culture Grants of up to $1000 available for those with an arts-based project in the King Valley they would like to get off the ground.

Applications are now open but they close on February 28, so anyone with a bright idea or exciting new concept is encouraged to get their application in now, with information on the website, or email hello@kingvalleyarts.com.au or

held on Friday, February 25 from 2pm to 4pm in St Patrick’s supper room, off Ford Street (entry through the church yard).

Music provided by the Rustic Ramblers, dance revision from 1.30pm to 2pm, admission $5 includes afternoon tea.

The event is held on the fourth Friday of each month. For further information, contact Margaret Colvin on 0407 357 226.

ELDORADO Carpet Bowls is held every Thursday from 12.45pm at the Eldorado Community Hall.

All the group’s events are held at the Eldorado Community Hall.

GROW, a peer support group for mental wellbeing, meets at Benalla’s Waminda Community House, 19

SOCIAL CALENDAR Ballintine Street, on Mondays from 10.30am.

All welcome, no cost, phone 0448 052 769 for more information.

WANGARATTA Concert Band rehearses on Mondays from 7pm to 8.30pm at the Avian Park Raceway Band Room in Newman Street.

KEENAGERS Table Tennis has resumed play on Mondays and Thursdays from 7.30am to 10am at the table tennis centre at the Wangaratta Showgrounds.

All players must show proof of double

call Karen Watson on 0408 353 143.

In the past, the grants have helped fund live shows, activities at local schools, projects and exhibitions such as an extraordinary light show in Moyhu; all engaging and involving local people.

King Valley Arts Presents will also kick of this year’s season of live performances, with Waves by Alice Mary Cooper coming to the Moyhu Soldiers Memorial Hall on Friday, March 11.

Waves is an intimate theatrical event - a tale of historical fiction - which has splashes of humour in its tribute to pioneering female swimmers of the early 1900s.

Limited tickets are available now by visiting www.trybooking.com and are $25 for adults which includes a supper courtesy of the Moyhu CWA, with the bar open from 6.15pm.

The not-for-profit group encourages everyone to enjoy an arts experience close to home in the King Valley, with more information at www. kingvalleyarts.com.au. vaccination to be able to enter and play.

For more information, contact Michael Chambeyron on 0490 447 452.

THE Wangaratta Veterans Art Group meets every Tuesday at the Yarrunga Scout Hall from 10am to 2pm.

New members welcome, enquiries to Michael on 0432 991 055.

WANGARATTA AL-Anon Family Group meets on Tuesdays from 1.30pm to 3pm at the backstage meeting room at St Patrick’s Hall in Ford Street.

All welcome. If your life has been affected by someone else’s drinking, this group may be for you.

Contact David on 0403 552 950.

WANGARATTA Toastmasters

THIS year the Myrrhee School is holding a fundraising bulb drive.

It is the schools only fundraiser and will support the purchase of specialised reading books for students.

Everyone is encouraged to show their support by placing an order online for daffodils, tulips, hyacinths and more at www. bulbfundraiser.com.au/ MYRRHEEPS. There is a $6.50 postage fee per order placed, with orders sent directly to the purchaser, and products are available until April 15 unless sold out.

King Valley community meal THE next King Valley community lunch will be held at the Cheshunt Hall on Thursday, March 3.

RSVP is required by tomorrow for catering purposes by calling Lyn on 5729 8383 or 0427 270 551.

conducts its meetings on the second and fourth Monday of each month from 6.45pm in the community room at the Wangaratta Library in Docker Street.

For more information, contact Leah Walker at leahwalka@gmail.com NORTHEAST Radio Control Car Club will hold its next meeting on Saturday, March 5 from 10.30am to 1pm at the Mitchell Avenue track near the splash park.

The club has cars available to try, or bring your own 1/10 scale electric car or truck.

Racing takes place every second Saturday at this time. For more information, see the Northeast Radio Control Car Club Facebook page.

THE CHRONICLE, Wednesday, February 23, 2022 - Page 17

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Got extra room in your heart or on your couch?

ANIMAL lovers in Wangaratta and surrounds are being called upon to open their hearts and homes to vulnerable animals.

RSPCA Victoria is looking for people who can provide temporary in-home care for Tempo snuggle rary animals currently in the Wangaratta shelter who need some extra TLC. budd needed ies Volunteer carers play a critical role in preparing adoption animals who may not be suited to a shelter environment or who are too young to be adopted out. Áǝƺɀƺ ƏȇǣȅƏǼɀ ȅƏɵ ƫƺ ȸƺƬȒɮƺȸǣȇǕ ǔȸȒȅ Ə ɮǣɀǣɎ ɎȒ Ɏǝƺ ɮƺɎ Ȓȸ Ɏǝƺɵ ȅƏɵ ˡȇƳ Ɏǝƺ ɀǝƺǼɎƺȸ environment a bit stressful and just need a break.

“The improvements we see in the physical and mental health of animals after being in foster care homes is unbelievable," Wangaratta foster care coordinator Nicole Oats said.

“The foster program also provides us with vital information so we can better understand behaviours and needs of our animals in a home environment.”

Litters of kittens can provide weeks of cute and cuddly fun, but taking in a timid animal who spends all their time hiding, and then grow to love human connection and companionship is a rewarding experience.

When you foster an animal from the RSPCA Wangaratta, they will ensure you have everything you need to look after the animal/s.

RSPCA Victoria covers all animal care costs including food, supplies and vet bills and new foster carers will be provided with support and advice from the local foster care coordinator.

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Page 18 - THE CHRONICLE, Wednesday, February 23, 2022

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The successful candidate will learn how to write clear, concise and interesting news, sport and feature stories for our newspaper and associated digital and social media platforms.

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THE CHRONICLE, Wednesday, February 23, 2022 - Page 19

NATIONAL SPORT

KAHLEFELDT, Harry.

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Newcastle, Canterbury draw in gritty NRL trial game NEWCASTLE and Canterbury’s frontline NRL stars have emerged unscathed from a gritty NRL trial game which ended in a 16-16 draw at McDonald Jones Stadium.

The Knights barely missed a beat without injured hooker Jayden Brailey and departed halfback Mitchell Pearce as they took an early lead.

Jake Clifford and Jirah Momoisea crossed in the opening 15 minutes after some meagre Bulldogs defending, while Kurt Mann was impressive as he slotted in at lock.

Canterbury began terribly with Jake Averillo dropping the ball off the kick off and

it was only when Newcastle began to make changes that Trent Barrett’s side were able to string together a coherent attack.

Their two first-half tries came via the brilliance of Matt Dufty, the first an assist for Jayden Okunbor and then a solo effort for the former St George Illawarra fullback.

The Bulldogs rested new recruits Josh Addo-Carr and Matt Burton while Jack Hetherington was absent for the birth of his first child.

All things considered, this was close to threequarters of the likely side that Canterbury will put

out in round one and there wasn’t a great deal of positivity from the opening stages.

Tevita Pangai Jr was forced into kicking at the end of one set and rarely got time to motor while centre Paul Alamoti, who was being touted to feature for the Dogs in round one, had a torrid evening opposite Dane Gagai.

Bulldogs forward Corey Waddell was placed on report for high contact.

Dufty was the one shining light in an otherwise underwhelming Bulldogs performance.

For Newcastle coach Adam O’Brien there would have

been relief that his side got through this game unscathed.

Newly appointed captain Kalyn Ponga wore a nasty shot in the first half while Daniel Saifiti, Tyson Frizell and David Klemmer all got a valuable tune-up.

English winger Dominic Young scored on the stroke of half-time, with Reece Hoffman hitting back for the Dogs in the second stanza.

“I was pretty happy with the first half,” Ponga said. “We gave them the ball and they scored against the run of play.

“Other than that we controlled the footy quite well and it felt quite comfortable.”

- AAP

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FUNERAL DIRECTORS Jimmy Peirson hit a half-century in Queensland’s Sheffield Shield draw with Victoria in Melbourne.

Victoria settle for draw in Sheffield Shield clash against Queensland

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VICTORIA coach Chris Rogers has defended his side’s decision not to chase a final-session Sheffield Shield victory target against Queensland at Junction Oval.

Despite boasting the big-hitting Nic Maddinson in their line-up, the Vics showed little intent from the outset of their innings at Junction Oval.

They rarely scored at more than two runs an over after being set 236 to win off a minimum 45 overs.

The home side eventually reached 3-104 off 48 overs, with Maddison (48) and Matt Short (31) the unbeaten pair.

Queensland had declared during the afternoon at 7-246

after captain Jimmy Peirson led his side from trouble with 76.

The Bulls commenced the day with a slim 58-run lead and three wickets down, but Peirson and James Bazley who contributed a rapid fire 42 not out - quelled Victoria’s early hopes.

“We had every intention of trying to chase, but just got into a little bit of a hole against the new ball,” Rogers said.

Victoria took 18 overs to reach 33 when the third wicket fell.

“It was always going to be tough against the spin on that kind of wearing wicket with the footmarks.

“With one of our best players out there in Nic Maddinson, he felt that it was going to be too hard to try and chase, and we supported that decision.”

Maddinson, who is on stand-by for the Pakistan tour, was the top-scorer in the match having also hit an impressive unbeaten 110 in the first innings.

“Day one we didn’t score the runs we needed to, and that was where we were behind the eight-ball,” Peirson said.

“It (the pitch) was flat, it took spin from one end, but quite good batting conditions (when we batted).”

Victoria were 1-9, and then

2-18, for the loss of Travis Dean (1) and Peter Handscomb (3).

The recent good form for Marcus Harris ahead of Australia’s tour of Pakistan came to a halt when he was lbw to the part-time spin of Matt Renshaw for 21.

Harris had posted two Shield half-centuries and a one-day cup century for Victoria over the past week.

There was little joy for the other Australian squad members with leg-spinner Mitch Swepson (0-51) unable to breakthrough for the Bulls across 18 overs, while Victoria’s Scott Boland earlier returned 0-43 from 13 overs. - AAP

Page 20 - THE CHRONICLE, Wednesday, February 23, 2022

wangarattachronicle.com.au

NATIONAL SPORT

Four Aussie stars skip ODIs, T20 for IPL

CHAIRMAN of selectors George Bailey admits it is a juggling act in keeping multiformat players fresh for international duty with four stars skipping Australia’s white-ball series in Pakistan.

Veteran opener David Warner and fast-bowling trio Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood will head to the Indian Premier League after the completion of Australia’s first Test tour of Pakistan in 24 years.

The four are signed to play in the IPL and the tournament is due to begin on April 2, meaning they will sit out

Australia’s three ODIs and the lone Twenty20 international against Pakistan.

Explosive allrounder Glenn Maxwell has also been excluded from the games as he is due to get married in India in late March.

Bailey and his selection panel on Tuesday named a 16-player squad for the four limited-overs games in March and April.

“We’ve worked really hard with our multi-format players over a long period, not just this series coming up and leading into the IPL,” Bailey said.

“One of the things we’re keen to ensure is we maintain having our best Australian players playing for Australia for as long as possible in the medium and longer-term.

“We’re constantly managing and working with them around their personal situations to get what they need and continue to get what they need.

“The (selection panel) will continue to be quite pragmatic in how we approach each series.”

Test wicketkeeper Alex Carey is in the squad, despite not playing a white-ball game

for Australia since August, along with Western Australian Josh Inglis, who enjoyed a stunning debut international series in the recently-completed T20s against Sri Lanka.

World Cup hero Matthew Wade now only plays the shortest-format for Australia and was not considered because of there being just one T20 game.

Star batter Steve Smith, who suffered a concussion during the Sri Lanka series, has been included despite concerns around his form in limited-overs contests.

Captain Aaron Finch was

gets some one-day cricket in the near future and to spend some more time at the crease.”

Australia’s first ODI against Pakistan will take place in Rawalpindi on March 29, after the third Test scheduled from March 21-25.

AUSTRALIA’S WHITEBALL SQUAD: Aaron Finch (capt), Sean Abbott, Ashton Agar, Jason Behrendorff, Alex Carey, Nathan Ellis, Cameron Green (WA), Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Marnus Labuschagne, Mitchell Marsh, Ben McDermott, Kane Richardson, Steve Smith, Marcus Stoinis, Adam Zampa.

- AAP

down on form against Sri Lanka, even spending two games at No.3 when Ashton Agar was tried as an opener.

However, Bailey has no concerns about the 35-yearold Finch leading Australia to another T20 World Cup in October. “(Finch) is still battling that knee injury a little bit,” Bailey said.

“Finchy will have a chance to keep working on that (knee), and T20s are a bit of a funny one, you can play a lot without getting much time in the middle.

“I’m really excited Finchy

BIG MAN: Carlton are hopeful Harry McKay will be fit for their AFL opener against Richmond.

(Daniel Pockett/AAP PHOTOS)

Blues confident Harry McKay plays in AFL opener CARLTON are confident Harry McKay will be right to start the AFL season despite the Coleman medallist struggling with a foot issue.

The Blues are dealing with a host of injury problems and McKay has joined best-and-fairest winner Sam Walsh (ankle) on the sidelines.

Walsh will miss at least the four rounds of 2022 but senior assistant Ash Hansen is optimistic McKay will face Richmond at the MCG on March 17.

The key forward has already

been ruled out of Carlton’s practice match against St Kilda on Thursday but could appear against reigning premiers Melbourne in the Blues’ final pre-season hit-out next week.

McKay is coming off a careerbest season, kicking 58 goals from 19 games last year.

“This time of year you certainly have an individualised approached to everyone’s program with the focus and priority being round one,” Hansen said.

“We’re not taking any risks at

the moment, but we’re confident if it was a home-and-away game he could have played.

“He hasn’t missed any sessions all summer so the work he’s done will put him in really good stead to play well.”

Walsh had surgery last week and is wearing a moon boot to recover from the first major injury setback of his promising career.

The Blues will assess the 21-yearold’s fitness after the first month of the season before making a call about when Walsh can return.

Demons flying high after AFLW Lions victory AFTER a job done away from home against the AFLW premiers, Melbourne are setting their sights on another top team in thirdplaced North Melbourne this weekend.

The Demons, inspired by star forward Tayla Harris, came back from a 22-nil deficit late in the second quarter of Monday’s rescheduled fixture at Metricon Stadium to defeat Brisbane by three points.

Harris kicked two goals in the 5.5 (35) to 4.8 (32) win over her former club as the fourth-placed Demons moved level on points with

the top three on a 6-1 record.

Having fallen to defeat in their last outing against Adelaide, Demons coach Mick Stinear said beating the Lions in Queensland would be a huge boost to his team’s belief.

“They’re (Brisbane) a great team. They play for each other,” Stinear said.

“Their strength and their workrate as a unit overpowered us early but, yeah, in the second half to be able to put our noses down and grind out a win, massive belief for our group.

“Adelaide was too good

for us when we played them but to play another top team and be able to get a result, it does a lot for this group and we’ve got to keep moving forward now.”

The high-flying Kangaroos are on a five-game winning run but Stinear is welcoming the challenge of another tough test at Casey Fields on Sunday.

“Last year the group responded when they hit another patch like this, playing top four teams consecutively,” Stinear said.

“I think it’s good. This is what we signed up for.”

- AAP

It is a major blow for new coach Michael Voss, with Carlton fans anxious to return to finals football for the first time since 2013.

In better news for the Blues, Sam Docherty is making significant progress after undergoing chemotherapy last year to treat testicular cancer for the second time.

The former co-captain is on track to make an inspirational return to the field in the early part of the season, something that seemed unlikely even a few weeks ago.

“It certainly gives you a sense of gratitude for your own health and puts into perspective footy in general when a player like him has gone through so much,” Hansen said.

“He’s ahead of where we expected him to be, and maybe that contributed to a little calf he suffered, but he’s responded well from that and is still a chance for round one.

“It would be a huge spiritual boost and such a great storyline for the playing group because they really want to connect with him again on the footy field.”

- AAP

Abdo stands by NRL’s high tackle crackdown LAST year’s Magic Round was overshadowed by the intense focus on high tackles, but NRL chief executive Andrew Abdo has no regrets about enforcing stricter onfield punishments.

Fourteen players were sinbinned and another three sent off across the showpiece event in Brisbane after the NRL instructed officials to come down harder on dangerous contact.

And it seems the NRL won’t ease up with seven players sin-binned in seven trial matches at the weekend.

“I don’t think it’s ever a mistake to protect player wel-

fare,” Abdo said at Monday’s 2022 Magic Round launch.

“The rule (for high contact punishment) has always been clear, but obviously we’ve seen a change in the way that rule has been applied and just how strict it is.

“I think what we saw in the second half of last season is that players, coaches and the teams have all adapted - and we’ve got a much better outcome.

“The game is still incredibly entertaining but it’s a little safer and I think that’s really important.”

Abdo flagged impending changes to the match review

and judiciary processes in the NRL and NRLW. The tweaks could come too late for Tyrell Fuimaono, however, with the Dragons second-rower facing up to a seven-match ban for a hipdrop tackle on Eels winger Haze Dunster due to loading and carryover points.

Abdo confirmed the NRL would “reinvigorate” its Hall of Fame in the coming months after COVID-19 scuppered plans for the 2021 ceremony.

“We’ll be inducting players and officials that missed the cycle from last year,” he said.

- AAP

wangarattachronicle.com.au

THE CHRONICLE, Wednesday, February 23, 2022 - Page 21

WDCA/Beechworth win first cricket title WOMEN’S CRICKET

By STEPHEN HICKS

IN a grand final for the cricket connoisseurs, Beechworth have been crowned premiers in the Goulburn Murray Cricket competition.

In a replay of last season, the clash against powerhouse Echuca went down to the wire with victory secured on the second last ball of the innings.

Played at the picturesque Tongala Recreation Reserve, Echuca won the toss and elected to bat.

Neve White and Sophie Panozzo opened the bowling and Echuca batted well against some quality bowling.

The introduction of Cath Wood saw the first wicket fall in the seventh over with the score on 39.

Kate Burns bowled two overs conceding just one run.

Kaitlyn Ritchie was introduced into the attack and after consecutive fours she turned the tables to remove the danger wicket of Grace Moyle to a brilliant catch by Alyssa Priest for eight runs.

At the 10 over mark, Echuca was 2/56.

After a 17 run partnership, Priest bowled her opponent to take the score to 3/66 and then quickly it was 4/67 when Crystal Stevens struck to claim the next wicket.

Stevens’ bowling was superb and her four overs yielded figures of 1/6 with 17 dot balls.

Priest bowled two overs taking 1/7.

The fifth and final wicket to fall for Echuca was a fantastic run out by Alex Randell who threw the ball to Stevens to rattle the stumps.

Echuca mustered 5/97 from their 20 overs.

Neve White had figures of 0/18 off two overs; Panozzo 0/17 off four overs; Ritchie 1/15 off one over;

CHAMPS: The victorious WDCA/Beechworth team of (Back L-R) Kaitlyn Ritchie, Neve White, Andrea Belci, Alex Randell, Crystal Stevens, Kate Burns (captain/coach), Stephen Hicks (assistant coach), (Front L-R) Cath Wood, Bree Wojtowyez, Sophie Panozzo, Alyssa Priest, Erin Brond, Emmaline Howard.

Wood 1/12 off two overs; Burns 0/14 off four overs; Emmaline Howard 0/6 from one over.

After the tea interval, Beechworth took to the batting crease and unfortunately Stevens was dismissed in the first over after a mix up led to a run out.

Sophie Panozzo joined Randell they were able to partner for 12 runs before Randell was dismissed.

Cath Wood joined Panozzo and in the space of three overs added 36 runs with seven boundaries to progress the score to 3/48 from six overs.

Panozzo was dismissed LBW for 25.

Wood was able to play all her shots for 30 runs before retiring after the 30 ball limit.

Bree Wojtowyez and Kaitlyn Ritchie came together at the wicket and ran hard between the wickets.

With the score on 85 Wojtowyez was dismissed for 10 which triggered a batting collapse with a triple wicket maiden restricting Beechworth from 4/85 to teeter at 7/88.

A valuable eight run partnership ensued with Alyssa Priest and Emmaline Howard which took the total to 8/96 when Priest was dismissed.

Burns came and was dismissed with still two runs required for victory.

Number 11 bat Andrea Belci then came to the crease and joined Howard.

After surviving the first ball, Belci took a blow to the helmet but scampered through for a single to tie scores.

After the injury was assessed, Belci came from the field and was replaced by Wood returning from retired not out.

With Howard on strike, a wide was bowled which saw the 2021/2022 Goulburn Murray A grade women’s premiership secured by the WDCA/ Beechworth team.

For her score of 30 from 30 balls and taking 1/12, Wood was awarded player of the grand final.

In batting order, the premiership team was Alex Randell, Crystal Stevens, Sophie Panozzo, Cath Wood, Bree Wojtowyez, Kaitlyn Ritchie, Emmaline Howard, Kate Burns, Neve White, Alyssa Priest and Andrea Belci, while Erin Brond was 12th team member.

SPORT

Sport Albury Wodonga cancel awards dinner THE Sport Albury Wodonga (SAW) Joss Young Achiever and Hall of Fame Dinner for 2022 has been cancelled.

Due to be held at the Commercial Club on March 4 when SAW were to announce the 2022 young achiever and announce 10 Hall of Fame inductees is cancelled due to the reluctance of people to attend due to COVID. Both events will still happen via video link on March 4 at 7pm and a link will be made available closer to the night and via SAW’s Facebook page and the media.

The committee is extremely disappointed to have to cancel the dinner but looks forward to still announcing the award and being able to move forward to next year’s event.

For further information contact Robert McDonald SAW president on 0419 270 738 or Greg Featonby SAW vice president 0439 694 732.

Wangaratta A1 bowlers secure top two finish A1: WANGARATTA survived its strongest test of the pennant season on Saturday when third placed Wodonga threw everything at the home side in a last-ditch effort to remain in contention for a top two finish to the season.

Wangaratta met every challenge that the visitors threw at them in what was a game worthy of a final.

Wangaratta held a slight advantage in the early stages before stretching the lead to over 15 at times before Wodonga would hit back to reduce the overall margin to single figures on numerous occasions before Wangaratta settled and posted a 10 shot win.

Maurie Braden, Dylan Filuk, Graeme Smith and Craig Fruend were always in control against Peter McLarty’s rink saluting with a comfortable (26-13) win.

Adrian Pantling, Jodie Fruend, Renee Hill and Rhoanna Smith were never troubled against Kylie Whitehead to win by 12 (28-16), while Ethan Fruend, Greg McDonald, Trevor Selwood

ALL GOOD: Ethan Fruend gave the A-okay on Saturday. and Phil Davern fought back from 10 shots down to lose by five (16-21).

Ian Brimblecombe, Laurie McDonald, Paul King and Greg Braden were in trouble against a red hot Mason Bayliss rink but recovered to reduce the margin and then win the last three ends to lose (14-24).

The win means that Wangaratta are now guaranteed a top two finish and a coveted double chance in the first week of finals.

Final scores: Wangaratta 14 pts 84 shots def Wodonga 4 pts 74 shots.

Wangaratta will play Rutherglen at on Friday evening.

Play will start at 6pm and

ZEROING IN: Rhoanna Smith gets low. PHOTOS: Melissa Beattie everyone is welcome to experience a game of Ovens and Murray A1 bowls at the Park Lane greens.

Sausage Sizzle and refreshments will be available.

A3: Wangaratta bounced back into second place on the ladder after a big win at Yarrawonga and some unexpected losses to Milawa and

Wodonga on Saturday.

After trailing the home side early a strong second half of the match saw Wangaratta post a 21 shot win with three rinks up.

Gary Fenlon, Brian Challman, Stephen English and Mick Mackow came from (57) down to win (23-14), likewise Terry Corrigan, Gerald

Brown, Barb McDonald and Tyson Chivers were (9-11) down but rallied to score a (29-21) win.

Gary Chambers, Lorna Martinelli, Willie Hall and Bobby McCalman won the last five ends of their match and eight unanswered shots to win (20-15), while Terry Johnson, Ron McAuliffe, Gary King and John Knight trailed (7-15) before fighting back to lose by one (19-20).

Final scores: Wangaratta 16 pts 91 shots def Yarrawonga 2 pts 70 shots.

Wangaratta will be at home to Bright next Saturday.

B1: Wangaratta were gifted a forfeit after Swanpool were hit with player unavailability due to the COVID virus.

Final scores: Wangaratta 14 pts 10 shots Swanpool 0 pts 0 shots.

Wangaratta are away to Moira next week.

B3: Wangaratta had a bye on Saturday.

Wangaratta are at home to Beechworth next week.

Page 22 - THE CHRONICLE, Wednesday, February 23, 2022

wangarattachronicle.com.au

SPORT

Country week players return

By PHIL PECK

COUNTRY week is done and dusted for another year and the Wangaratta Lawn Tennis Club were in the thick of the action with five teams entered and a number of other members representing other country town teams.

Wangaratta Blue/Green were closest to winning a section but failing at the end to lose the grand final to a younger more superior team in Leongatha, the remaining four teams fought out the week hard but all missed out on the finals.

A number of players took the Saturday aggregate off due to the stresses on the body from country week, but there were some who still chose to play with all up 31 players entered for the day.

Section 1 Section one had five players who took to the court with all five having played at Country Week with Matt Allen successful on 22 games from Frazer Judd on 20 games.

John Brunner was next in line with 18 games from the top spinner in Sam Allen in fourth with 17 games.

Some could not believe it

WINDING UP: Sam Allen serving. when Frank Harris turned up to play in the aggregate.

Earlier in the week he had to pull out and rest due to a blister the size of baby’s fist that formed on his little toe.

Fight through the pain he did and finished in fifth place with nine games.

Section 2 Barry Sullivan was back to his best on Saturday, but this time it was not the lob doing the damage, but more the forehand volley with time after time an

easy winner was put away.

Barry’s score of 20 games just pipped Brett Goodwin on 19 games.

Matt Curran came in third with 17 games from Dave Postlethwaite on 16 games followed by Lance Crockett in fifth place.

Section 3 The gourmet chef of the rib cooking world in Mike Lairson certainly outdid all in the Big 4 cook off challenge earlier in the week and he followed up by serving

SOFT HANDS: Matt Allen plays a volley. PHOTOS: Melissa Beattie up a treat in section three to win with 23 games.

Maree Sullivan came in second with 22 games from Alan Busk on 19 games.

Andrew Cope and Pat Flynn were equal on games with 17, but the old silver fox did not win a set for the day and finished fifth on games against.

Section 4 Matt Murray and filthy Phil Dryden could not be separated and shared the winning points in section

four to come equal on 21/16 apiece.

In third was Des Steele on 19 games from Greg Renner on 13 games.

Section 5 Andrew Brew took the track over from Yarrawonga and it certainly paid dividends as he won the day with 24 games and thus take home the glass for his troubles.

Terry Flynn and Beth Cope were at each other all day with eventually Terry

taking second place with 20 games from Beth on 18 games.

Peter Curran was his crafty best but just could not win the vital points to end the day in fourth on 16 games.

Section 6 Jacob Reidy had the agility over his opponents in section six as he took away the win with ease as his score of 24/11 confirms.

Coming in equal second was Amy Lairson and Geoff Davidson on 17 games from in fourth position John Shanley.

Section 7 Sue Piper was all smiles on Saturday night after winning a glass for taking 24 games.

In second position was Mick Keogh on 16/19 along with Denise McCallum also on 16/19.

Jenni O’Sullivan was next in line with 14 games.

Entries to the aggregate play are needed to be in prior to 12:30pm and can be done a number of ways, either through the club website www.wanglawntennis.com.au, via phone (03) 5721 2438, or simply by placing your name on the aggregate sheet in the clubhouse.

Magpies premiership player retires

SPEAKING FROM EXPERIENCE: Collingwood premiership defender and current Wangaratta coach Ben Reid speaks to young players during this season’s first training session for the local Peak Football Academy on Friday. Reid was a guest coach for the evening, which was held at the Cathedral College oval, and helped put the young participants through their paces in the lead-up to season 2022. A community football academy, Peak provides high level, football-specific coaching, along with learning and development and community engagement opportunities, with sessions designed for both male and female players.

WANGARATTA premiership player Will Reilly (pictured) has been forced to retire at just 24 years of age due to concussion.

Reilly was advised by his doctor that he has moved into the high risk category due to the amount of concussions he’s had.

Reilly played 84 senior games for Wangaratta, including the Magpies outstanding upset of Albury in the 2017 grand final.

The tagger also played in successive grand final losses to Albury again and Lavington in 2018 and 2019 respectively.

The strongly built Reilly played five matches for Wangaratta’s reserves last season, before joining former coach Luke Morgan at Centrals Trinity Beach in the AFL Cairns competition.

Reilly was set to play for Myrtleford this season.

Warriors under 16 girls and boys teams impressed at state championships ■

From back page “We were down by four points and then called a timeout to organise what we wanted to do and then in the last 10 seconds we shot to level and put the game into overtime.”

Patterson has been a part of the girls’ team since u12s and said they keep improving year after year.

“They seem to be getting better and better each year,” he said.

“This season is the best season I’ve seen them play, it’s going to be exciting to see how they’re going to go in the years to come.”

In the boys, the Warriors managed to down Mildura

STARS: The u16s boys side.

PHOTOS: Wangaratta Basketball Inc Facebook and Southern Peninsula, but suffered defeats at the hands of Horsham and Ballarat on their way to the semi-final against Geelong.

Geelong managed to just get over the local boys but then

went on to beat Whittlesea by three points in the grand final highlighting the quality of the Wangaratta team.

“The boys were outstanding,” u16 boys coach Jacqui Henry said.

OUTSTANDING: The u16 girls did Wangaratta proud.

“They followed the team plan all weekend and showed they’re as good as any team there.

“They’ve achieved a great deal this season.”

After losing to Geelong by

just one point, Henry said her side showed great fight.

“Geelong had a seven point lead at one stage and the boys made sure they didn’t let them extend it anymore,” she said.

“They brought the lead back in and showed really good fight.”

With the senior Wangaratta Warriors program only a few years away for the u16s, Henry said it’s imperative to keep the players in the system.

“It’s extremely important to try and keep all of them around,” she said.

“They’re going to be great role models in the future.

“They’ve all experienced many highs and lows over the past few years which will only hold them in good stead.

“Both the boys and girls couldn’t have represented Wangaratta any better over the weekend.”

wangarattachronicle.com.au

THE CHRONICLE, Wednesday, February 23, 2022 - Page 23

SPORT

Corowa Red stunned by Lawn White

By BACKHAND WINNER

Section 1 LAWN Blue have given themselves a chance of finals action this year after defeating Corowa Red, and with a winner take all match against Hardcourt next week to decide the last place in the top four.

Lawn were on top early but as top teams do, Corowa fought back to be only two games behind with three sets to play.

Josh Quick and Peter Filliponi set the cat among the pigeons when they won 8-2 and Corowa had their noses in front and they looked likely to continue, but Kim Brown and Jo Hale returned the favour for Lawn and the match was all squared with one set still to go.

Lawn had a big early lead over Corowa in this set but Corowa were edging closer inch by inch and the tension could be felt by all players.

Corowa were within striking distance at 5-7 but Lawn held their nerve, steadied and served out the set to win 8-5.

Jo Hale and Emily Brown (three sets) were masterful for Lawn and Corowa’s Scott Francis, Peter Filliponi and Josh Quick controlled the men’s sets.

Corowa Blue had the upper hand in their match with Lawn White from the outset and at every change extended their lead to runaway convincing victors.

Lawn White had no answers to the consistency of the Corowa Blue players and were totally mesmerised and unable to find any form to compete at Corowa’s level.

Greg Filliponi and Helen Fuge were the chief destroyers for Corowa (three sets each) and White’s Janelle Hartwig, Lucas Evans and Steve Russell battled against the odds.

DOWN THE LINE: Darrell Spencer plays his forehand.

PHOTOS: Melissa Beattie Section 2 Wahgunyah Red have all but put an end to Wahgunyah Blue’s aspirations of playing finals this year when they methodically dismantled their opponents to record a comfortable victory.

Blue were always playing catch up tennis after they were whitewashed in the early sets then a couple of close victories meant there was a glimmer of hope for Blue but it was diminishing quickly.

Red quickly regained the ascendancy and continued to press home their advantage to ensure they had the bragging rights.

Red’s Jesse Johnstone, Mareeta Corcoran and Kylie Greig were outstanding, while Blue’s Saskia Van Leuwen, Jake Goddard, Jack King and Jackie Seymour were their best.

Myrrhee never gave Boorhaman a sniff in their match on Saturday as they destroyed their opposition to record a comfortable victory.

Boorhaman showed lots of spirit but lacked the class and consistency to match it with Myrrhee and proved there is a big gap between the top and bottom teams.

Robyn Oliver, Cathy Van Berlo and Di Griffin were at their best and for Boorhaman Darren Saward, Dale Robinson and Shirley Fuller put some respectability on the scoreboard.

In another lopsided match Everton Blue trounced Wang Hardcourt to enhance their standing in the section two finals race.

Everton Blue are putting together an impressive run towards the finals and look likely to cause a few headaches to their opponents.

Garry Bennett, Russell Bennett and Alan Wood were excellent for Everton, while Marika Van Stekelenburg, Tomo Moriya and Kath Trainer put up stern resistance for Wang Hardcourts.

Section 3 Wahgunyah Sth (Brad Schmidt, Rob Hill, Matt Da-

ACE: Lukas Evans hits his serve. vis, Clara Davis) caused a boil over against Wahgunyah Blue (Matt Vogel, Dylan Hewitt, Kellie Storer, Jen Schmidt).

Blue were missing some stars due to COVID but South were impressive in their victory.

The highlight of the match was provided by Jen Schmidt who previously had never picked up a tennis racquet but managed to win a set.

Wooragee (Ian McVea, Dean Bensted, Sjip Peiper, Keely Maher) have made the last round of the season interesting with a win over Wahgunyah Gold (Wayne

Johnstone, Ali Bartel, Grace Eales, Jaxx Johnstone).

Both Wahgunyah Gold and Wooragee have a chance of playing finals with one point separating them on the ladder and next weeks matches will be pivotal in deciding who goes through.

My opinion is Gold hang on by the skin of their teeth as Wooragee play the all conquering Wahgunyah Red, while Gold play second placed Wahgunyah Blue.

LADDERS Section 1 Corowa Blue 84, Corowa Red 65, Lawn White 49,

Wang Hardcourt 44, Lawn Blue 42.

Section 2 Wahgunyah Red 78, Myrrhee 56, Everton Blue 55.5, Everton Red 52.5, Wahgunyah Blue 49, Boorhaman 40, Wang Hardcourt 29.

Section 3 Wahgunyah Red 67, Wahgunyah Blue 44.5, Wahgunyah Sth 43.5, Wahgunyah Gold 25, Wooragee 24.

Under 15 Wahgunyah Black 61, Wahgunyah Gold 56, Corowa Red 49, Corowa Blue 40, Rutherglen 33, Corowa White 23.

Hawks gearing up for duck drop

By WILLSON MACK THE helicopter’s booked and the ducks are ready to be dropped for Rovers United Bruck’s (RUB) annual duck drop this weekend.

A handy $2000 will be up for grabs this Sunday with the $50 ticket to include food and drinks from 12pm4pm.

Live music from The Notorious Rickenbrothers and kids games will also be on show.

RUB committee member Luke Whitten is looking forward to the weekend.

“The chopper’s ready and we’ve

got all of the food and drinks sorted so we’re ready to go,” Whitten said.

“Originally we weren’t able to get a helicopter but we’ve managed to secure one last minute which is great because that makes the show.

“We’re looking forward to enjoying the atmosphere with ticket holders.”

The 2021 duck drop didn’t go ahead due to COVID-19 with the fundraiser last featuring in 2020.

“We’ve been looking forward to this event, especially after not having it last year,” Whitten said.

“Even though everyone catch up on weekends we’re all playing at

different places so it’s going to be good to all gather together.”

Along with the duck drop, there will be a Sunday cricket game played beforehand, while funds from the fundraiser will be donated to Wangaratta hospital.

“To link the fundraiser in with a Sunday cricket game is going to be great,” Whitten said.

“The game rolls into the duck drop so there’s plenty of entertainment on all day.

“Ticket sales have been really positive as well so hopefully plenty of people come along.”

The ducks will be dropped at 3pm.

WELCOMED DUCK: Rovers United Bruck will host their duck drop this Sunday.

PHOTO: Rovers United Bruck Facebook

Page 24 - THE CHRONICLE, Wednesday, February 23, 2022

wangarattachronicle.com.au

WDCA Beechworth girls premiers p remiers

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TEAM MEETING

Page 21

WANGARATTA A1 bowlers (L-R) Renee Hill, Rhoanna Smith, Adrian Pantling and Jodie Fruend discuss tactics in their tight tussle against Wodonga on Saturday.

■ Story: Page 21 PHOTO: Melissa Beattie

Top 12 for u16s Wangaratta g Warriors under 16 ggirls and boys y teams impressed p at state championships p p WANGARATTA Warriors u16 girls and boys teams were well represented at the Victoria u16 Country Division 1 & 2 Championships in Bendigo over the weekend.

The girls lost their semifinal to Mildura Heat by three points with the game going into overtime, while

BY WILLSON MACK wmack@ nemedia.com.au

the boys also went down in their semi-final by only one point with a nailbiter against Geelong United.

The semi-final

appearances place both sides inside the top 12 teams in Victoria.

Wangaratta Basketball Inc representative coordinator Tanya Camplin was proud of the juniors’ efforts.

“It was definitely an exciting weekend,” Camplin said.

“After two years of

disrupted basketball it was a massive achievement for both teams to do so well.

“As a spectator and parent both matches were definitely tough on the heart (nerve-wracking).”

Under 16 girls’ coach Matt Patterson said his team was confident leading into the championships.

“The girls were really excited leading in,” Patterson said.

“We had a good lead up making three finals before so all of the girls were confident we could have a good championship.

“It was a tough weekend but they matched it with some of the best sides.”

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After beating Southern Peninsula and Swan Hill, but losing to Bendigo and finalists Ballarat across the weekend, the girls faced Mildura in the semi-final.

“The game against Mildura was pretty nerve wracking,” Patterson said.

■ Continued page 22