ROVERS player Lockey McCartney has eyes on the ball while finding himself outnumbered by Yarrawonga players in the Pigeons’ 35-point win over the Hawks at WJ Findlay Oval on Saturday. Yarrawonga took out the minor premiership and it sets up nicely for a local derby qualifying final between the Rovers and Magpies at Corowa this weekend. PHOTO: Kurt Hickling ■ See story in sport
ELECTRONIC gaming machine (EGM) losses in the Rural City of Wangaratta eased last financial year but they still exceeded $10.5 million and trends over the last six months have shown increased spending.
Figures from the Victorian Gambling and Casino Control Commission show that $10,559,115 was spent on EGMs in Wangaratta in
BY STEVE KELLY skelly@ nemedia.com.au
2023/24, down $315,000 on the previous year’s figure of $10,874,190.
But it’s the behaviour of gamblers between January and June the shows a rise in the money being spent locally on EGMs compared to the
same data period last year, with almost a $1m swing on the ledger since the start of the year.
Up until December the financial losses at the four Wangaratta venues combined was an encouraging $651k less than at the same time in 2023 ($5.4m compared to $6.05m).
However, from January to the end of June in 2024,
gamblers pumped through $336k more through the venues compared to the same six months in 2023 ($5.15m compared to $4.82m).
Data shows the highest losses on EGMs in Wangaratta during 2023/24 were in August and October ‘23 with $972k and $907k, and May ‘24 with $910k.
These were not as bad as the historically high losses
in July, August and October 2022 when more than $1m was blown in each of those months.
The $1.121m lost in August 2022 remains the rural city’s all-time record month for EGM-related losses.
The 2023/24 data shows the most was spent at the Pinsent Hotel in 2023/24, with $4,032,950 spent on 44 EGMs.
This venue was followed
by Wangaratta RSL with $2,537,806 spent on 50 EGMs, The Old Town ‘n’ Country Tavern with $2,424,852 on 35 EGMs, and Wangaratta Club with $1,563,507 spent on 25 EGMs.
Wodonga city lost the most in the North East, with punters injecting $10.782m into the pokies, about $54k more than they did in 2022/23.
■ Continued page 3
WANGARATTA locals are struggling to access childcare in what experts are describing as a ‘childcare desert’.
The Mitchell Institute have released a report, highlighting the significant lack of accessible childcare places available when compared to the local population.
According to the report, there are 0.595 places in childcare facilities per child in Wangaratta and in the Wangaratta surrounds, there are only 0.194 places per child.
Indi federal Independent MP Helen Haines said
BY JORDAN DUURSMA jduursma@ nemedia.com.au
accessing childcare is critical to families being able to pay their bills and put food on the table.
“Childcare shortages are at crisis levels, and this is having a massive impact on our local families,” she said.
“This data confirms just how dire the situation is for families across Indi.
“We know that in some areas, there is literally zero childcare available and in others, at best, there is
double the demand for the places available.
“Families continue to face an impossible situation that is putting them under enormous stress, and it needs urgent government intervention.”
According to childcare directory ‘Care For Kids’, Wangaratta has seven childcare services, with only five of the services currently recording vacancies.
Between the seven facilities, there are a total of 542 approved places, which according to the 2021 census data, is well bellow what is needed to
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support the estimated 1535 children aged under four in Wangaratta.
The proposed childcare centre on Tone Road could provide a further 100 places and childcare centre built on Phillipson Street could also provide additional places, potentially providing some relief.
While availability is a key factor in the equation, Care For Kids also estimates the average cost per day for childcare in Wangaratta is between $140 and $150, highlighting another significant barrier for people trying to access childcare.
Last month Dr Haines brought advocacy group The Parenthood to Indi to give parents the chance to have direct input into the report they are launching in September to help influence change at the national level.
“These parents told The Parenthood about their struggle to access and pay for care and the impact it is having on their hip pocket and their stress levels,” Dr Haines said.
“Just this week I met with the Minister for Early Childhood Education and spoke directly about the childcare issues facing
families in Indi.”
According to the report, residents across the region are facing the same issues, with report revealing Beechworth has 0.507 childcare places per child, the Indigo Valley has 0.476 places per child, Yackandandah has 0.488 places per child, Myrtleford has 0.449 places per child, Towong has 0.591 places per child, Bright (Mount Beauty) has 0.679 places per child, Mansfield has 0.585 places per child, Benalla has 0.97 places per child and Benalla surrounds has zero places per child.
BY STEVE KELLY skelly@
nemedia.com.au
PETER Siperki is the latest resident to confirm his candidacy for the upcoming 2024 Rural City of Wangaratta council elections, planning to nominate for the Wareena Ward.
He will join Mel Paul as one of two candidates, at this stage, who have made it public that they will nominate for the Wareena Ward.
Mr Siperki has lived in the rural city since 2005 and has previously worked with the Rural City of Wangaratta as an IT technician.
He now operates his own business, Oxley Computers, and works at Australian Caravan and Campers and Buffalo Caravans.
Mr Siperki was on the committee for the Fox Run in Milawa and he and his family have a strong interest in outdoor recreation.
COUNCIL ELECTION IN OCTOBER
Rural City of Wangaratta voters head to the polls, via a postal ballot, in October to elect seven councillors for the next four years.
This year’s election will be different as a state electoral review will see the rural city’s current council ward structure of four wards (one city ward with four councillors, three rural wards electing one councillor each) being replaced with a new seven single-councillor ward structure.
Voters in each of the seven wards (Appin Ward, Bullawah Ward, King River Ward, Ovens Ward, Warby Ward, Wareena Ward and Yarrunga Ward) will only get to choose between those candidates standing in their ward.
Nominations for council are expected to open September 9 and close September 17.
For more details visit https://www.vec.vic.gov.au/voting/2024local-council-elections/wangaratta-rural-city-council
The father of three children is kept busy with his kids all involved in local sport and music and he has a vested interest in the community.
“I would like to see more focus on more activities around Wangaratta and the rural city and some investment in building on this,” he said.
“In the past I’ve had experi-
ence in the Fox Run committee and Oxley Primary School committee and we pushed for change and positive stuff happening.
“The Fox Run was amazing and we managed to pull a lot of businesses and the community into this really big event.”
As a business owner, Mr Siperki would like to see the com-
mercial sector grow in the rural city especially with the current tough economic climate.
“I would like to see council support business with more positive engagement,” he said.
Advocating for state and federal government funding can be one of the jobs for councillors and Mr Siperki said more funding for programs and resources was paramount.
“Wangaratta has a future with development and I would like to see a lot more happen on the west end side of town,” he said.
“There have been limitations with the sewer capacity issues but once this is fixed development and expansion will bring more jobs for Wangaratta.”
Other candidates who have confirmed they will nominate include Tania Maxwell (Appin), Dave Fuller (Bullawah), Harry Bussell (King River), Harvey Benton and Jennifer Garrett (Ovens), Irene Grant (Warby), and Allison Winters and Joanne Pane (Yarrunga).
■ Members of the public who are attending the Wangaratta forum can submit questions to the senior police panel via the link: https://app.sli.do/ event/8qLJgiKL4PZHf6NbBTAxy6/ live/questions
Pokies players lose $315k less than previous year, but trend over JanJune shows escalation
■ From page 1
Three venues across Benalla, including the Benalla Bowls Club, Benalla Golf Club and Royal Hotel, showed expenditure of $6.3m on 105 EGMs in 2023/24.
Alpine Shire recorded $3,313,215 in losses in 2023/24 across two venues (Myrtleford Savoy Sporting Club, and Star Hotel Bright), up from $3,082,046 the previous year.
Gamblers lost $1,652,829 on 40 EGMs at the sole venue located at Mansfield Golf Club in the Mansfield Shire last financial year.
At Strathbogie Shire’s only venue, Nagambie
Lakes Entertainment Centre recorded patron expenditure of $2.332m from use of 32 machines.
Indigo Shire still doesn’t have any poker machines.
Ovens Valley MP Tim McCurdy said, “Gambling is an entirely legitimate form of entertainment; however, we know that when things get tough it can be easy to slip into the grip of gambling addiction”.
“We are currently going through a tough time for everyone with the current cost-of-living crisis, so if you, or a mate, are struggling with gambling, reach out to the gambling helpline on 1800 858 858.”
TUESDAY’S Road Policing/ Safety Community forum will look to address local concerns in road safety amid a growing road toll across the state.
Currently the number of lives lost on Victorian roads has overtaken last year’s figures, with 185 road deaths so far in 2024 compared to 178 at the same time in 2023.
Last year was the highest death toll in 15 years, with 296 people losing their lives on our roads.
Acting Inspector Brendan Michael of Wangaratta police said the forum would focus on the collaborative effort of stakeholders in the community to work towards solutions in reducing road trauma.
“We’ll have some talking points to generate discussion around the number of people that have unfortunately lost their lives in the past five years in fatal collisions, but also the number of serious injury collisions we’ve experienced,” he said.
“We’ll also talk on concerns
BY BAILEY ZIMMERMANN bzimmermann@ nemedia.com.au
around the rate of serious collisions we’ve experienced and some of the other demographics with concerns in our area, and what we can try and do as a collective to reduce that.”
Representatives from Victoria Police Eastern Region Command will be part of the senior police panel leading discussions at the forum and encouraging community input.
Acting Inspector Michael said there would be around 45 attendees from partner agencies including from the L2P mentoring program, SES, CFA, Ambulance Victoria and council.
“We’ve got a broad range of representation, and we really wanted to have that collaborative community discussion and to invite people from those relevant agencies to be a part of the day,” he said.
Originally slated for the
Oaks Room at the Wangaratta Turf Club, the forum will instead be held in the Maples Room from 10am with light refreshments to be served afterwards.
There will also be a Road Policing/Safety forum in Beechworth on Monday for the Wodonga Police Service Area, which have seen a catastrophic period on their roads in recent times.
On July 10, an 18-year-old Wodonga man died in a two-vehicle collision in Allans Flat, while a 17-year-old girl subsequently died from injuries sustained in the crash on August 16.
A 63-year-old Tangambalanga man died on August 6 following a two-vehicle collision at Barnawartha.
If there’s a question any community member would like answered at the forum, it can be asked prior to the event via email on ED4DIVISIONAL-OFFIC@police. vic.gov.au and must include name and contact details.
ON THE RISE: Losses on the pokies between January and June 2024 shows a
locally compared to the same data period last year.
POLICE have arrested four people and seized more than $50,000 of methylamphetamine as part of an investigation into drug trafficking in Bundalong and Yarrawonga.
Across raids of four separate properties, police arrested a 38-year-old man and 36-yearold woman from Bundalong and 21-year-old and 24-yearold men from Yarrawonga.
On August 7 police raided a Bundalong home with assistance from a sniffer dog and allegedly seized a commercial quantity of ice and a large sum of cash.
Both Bundalong residents arrested were charged with drug trafficking and are set to face Wangaratta Magistrates’ Court on November 7.
The 38-year-old man was remanded in custody.
On August 13, police raided two Yarrawonga properties, with a small quantity of drugs allegedly found in one home and a shotgun and a large quantity of vapes allegedly found in the other.
The 21-year-old man also had his phone seized and will face Wangaratta Magistrates’ Court on November 7 for drug trafficking charges, while the 24-year-old will face Wangaratta court on November 11 charged with possessing a firearm.
On Wednesday, August 21, a Yarrawonga home was searched where a 56-year-old woman was cautioned after allegedly being found with a
small amount of cannabis.
Detectives from the Cobram Crime Investigation Unit, along with police from Yarrawonga and Tungamah, headed the investigation.
Detective Sergeant Marcus Boyd said drugs like those seized during this operation are not just illegal, they have the potential to destroy lives and fuel further crime.
“Community safety is our number one priority, which is why we will continue to run these investigations to remove illicit drugs from our streets,” he said.
“Our message for anyone involved in the illicit drug trade is clear – there is no safe haven for you in regional Victoria.”
By SIMONE KERWIN
COSTUME parades delighted communities across the Rural City of Wangaratta during Children’s Book Council of Australia Book Week.
The traditional celebration, which is aimed at nurturing young people’s passion for books and reading, is held each August by the CBCA.
The theme of this year’s event was ‘Reading is Magic’.
Among the local schools and groups which celebrated the week and took advantage of the opportunity to dress up as their favourite characters were students at St Bernard’s Primary School.
Monday, August 25, 2014
By ANITA McPHERSON
THERE was not a scone in sight as representatives of Country Women’s Association (CWA) branches in the North East gathered in Wangaratta for the region’s half yearly conference last Thursday.
Around 30 members representing branches from Barnawartha, Beechworth, Rosewhite, Myrtleford and Whorouly attended the meeting, which also welcomed CWA state president, Dorothy Coombe.
Ms Coombe said the visit gave her the opportunity to hear what the local groups were doing and what their issues were, as well as share information about what the association was focusing on.
“We’re growing as an association, which is really exciting, opening 25 new branches last year and another
21 branches this year,” she said.
“People want to be part of an association which has the capability to give back to society and give back to community, in whatever capacity they can.”
Ms Coombe said while the association was mindful of its traditional role, it had to remain dynamic, and these days welcomed working women who were time
poor but willing to volunteer their skills.
She said the work local groups had been doing was outstanding, raising money and supporting local community groups and people in need, while also having fun too.
But she said while “tea, scones, cooking and craft” was how the CWA was most well known, advocacy was also an important
READY FOR ACTION: CWA members including (at front, from le ) North Eastern Group secretary Dawn Mills, state president Dorothy Coombe and North Eastern Group president, Gail Robertson, are standing up to protect the health and welfare of their communities.
PHOTO: Luke Plummer
element of the association’s work, and as the largest women’s group in Australia, the government was taking notice.
“We meet regularly with ministers about issues which affect members and when it comes to agriculture and the environment, the biggest issue at the moment is fracking, and its impact on the water table and the land,” she said.
“The existing (state government) moratorium is not permanent and the current government has extended it with the ‘commitment’ to measure its impact, which is something we won’t know for many years, but we hope they will hold to that moratorium because at the moment it’s under threat.”
Ms Coombe said the CWA was concerned about the protection of land, jobs and food security, and this year chose to focus on actively raising awareness in the community about suicide as its social issue.
She said it also continued to lobby government to “stop talking” and take action on domestic violence.
“We’ve been fighting to see Bsafe (the personal alarm system developed by Women’s Health Goulburn North East) continued, which is a no brainer as far as we’re concerned because of its proven effectiveness and low cost,” she said.
“We’d love to see it extended across Victoria and then see an equivalent type of service offered in Melbourne as well.”
BY STEVE KELLY skelly@ nemedia.com.au
LOCAL Leila Gephart has scored Collingwood player Josh Daicos’ boots following the club’s dramatic one-point win over Brisbane at the MCG in round 23.
The exchange between the 16-year-old and her idol even made the Collingwood Football Club’s Ticktok account.
The fanatic ‘Pies supporter and Galen College student watched the game from top tier of the ‘G’ and following the nail-biting win, Collingwood has become famous for in recent years, she bolted down to the boundary line with her ingenious handmade sign.
During the players’ accustomed greeting of the fans on the boundary line, Leila held up her sign that read “Josh Daicos #7 Boots?” (love heart emoji).
It must have inspired Daicos as he undid his laces and handed the boots over the fence to Leila who was about five people deep in the crowd.
“I was cheering along to the song and I asked my Dad if he wanted to come with me to the lower level and he said yes, but he wasn’t coming with me so I just took off,” Leila recalled with excitement.
“I was racing down the stairs swerving through people and I got down to the bottom and I saw Josh, who i my favourite player, so I held my sign up.
“He bent down and I was thinking he was going to give them to someone else and I called his name as he stoodup and saw him looking for me and he reached over and gave
BOOTS?:A handmade sign and a run down to the boundary line after Collingwood’s thrilling victory was enough to secure Josh Daicos’ boots.
the boots to me, there was some pretty awesome eye contact too.
“I did mouth the words thank you and he did a thumbs up, it was pretty chill.”
Leia turned around and by that stage her family was there.
“I said to them that I had his boots and no one believed me because I was covering them with my sign,” she said.
“I revealed them and everyone just started jumping for joy, it was just crazy.”
The elation for Leila was comparable to the ‘Pies 20203 premiership which she said was the best month of her life.
Leila’s Mum, Dad and siblings are Collingwood supporters and Leila has been inspired to get back into playing local footy again next year.
She shared her excitement
and told everyone at Galen College about her once in a lifetime experience, and she has the boots in safe keep at home and she plans to buy a glass box to frame them in.
THE Questacon Science Circus is rolling into Wangaratta for one day only with a free pop-up science centre experience like no other.
Come along to the Wangaratta Sports and Aquatic Centre on Saturday, August 31 from 10am to 4pm to spin yourself dizzy, test your reflexes, explore your fingertips under the microscope, and watch some of our spectacular science shows.
With over 30 hands-on exhibits, the Science Circus pop-up is a fantastic STEM day out for the whole family.
National touring programs officer Brent Brosnan said each exhibit talks about a different scientific concept.
BY JORDAN DUURSMA jduursma@ nemedia.com.au
“All exhibits are interactive science displays, there are things to engage all of your senses and make you are questions,” he said.
“A big thing we like to do is change people’s perception of what STEM and science is, it’s not always an older person in a lab coat who stays inside and does research.
“We like to show that science can be all sides of things, just being curious about the world, having a questions or a guess and then testing that out is absolutely science, it can take any form .
“We feel it’s important to travel regionally because we want to create equal opportunities for all kids, so everyone gets a chance t o play around because you never know when you might spark someone’s interest and they might go on to do something amazing in a particular field.
“We like being there to ignite that spark and kick of their curiosity.
“We are super excited to be coming to Wangaratta, the event is for anyone and everyone in the community to come along and join in the fun.”
Don’t miss out on this exciting opportunity to ignite your curiosity, for more information visit https:// www.questacon.edu.au/.
NOTE: Comments as they appear online, without corrections.
IN 2023 Victoria had the highest road toll in 15 years and even more staggering is figures in 2024 are exceeding that year-todate tally.
For our region it has been catastrophic, with multiple fatalities occurring in numerous crashes.
It’s devastating for families, friends of the victims and the community, but spare a thought for those who are first responders to these horrific incidents.
The message is constant and it’s clear. Drive safely on our roads - don’t speed, don’t use your phone while driving, don’t drink or drug drive, don’t drive while fatigued, wear a seat belt, and obey road rules.
Wangaratta police will hold a forum on tomorrow where the community has a chance to submit questions prior to the event.
For those who may have experienced road trauma or people who are genuinely concerned about matters relating to road policing and safety on our roads, take the time to have your say by asking any questions you might have.
Over the years there have been many campaigns to try and curb the number of serious and fatal collisions, but with record high casualties and deaths, something more needs to be done.
Stakeholders will meet at the Wangaratta Turf Club’s Maples Room to discuss ways to put a stop to road deaths.
If there’s a question any community member would like answered at the forum, it can be asked prior to the event via email on ED4-DIVISIONAL-OFFIC@police.vic.gov. au and must include name and contact details.
1. Which 6PR radio host won the 2016 Brian White Memorial award at the 2016 ACRA presentations?
2. What is the national gemstone of Australia?
3. In which TV series did Patrick Warburton play the role of David Puddy?
4. Who succeeded Simon Crean as Leader of the Opposition?
5. What was mined on both Koolan Island and Cockatoo Island?
6. Which company has the slogan “Lose weight now. Ask me how!”?
7. Who created the character, Kay Scarpetta?
8. What is the colour of the crescent moon and star on the flag of Azerbaijan?
9. In 2015, who did Stacey Rosman replace as coach of West Coast Fever?
10. Which famous actress released the 1992 album, Do You See Me?, her fourth studio album?
11. Mount Aso is the largest active volcano in which country?
12. In what year was the Australian one-dollar coin introduced?
13. Amontillado is a variety of which drink?
14. Who wrote the poem, The Owl and the Pussycat?
15. In which decade was the Roe Highway first opened for traffic?
16. Which age came directly after the Stone age?
17. Who won the 2016 Doig Medal?
18. Cape Horn is located at the southern end of which continent?
19. By what name is Vincent Damon Furnier best known?
John
FACEBOOK users this week commented on ticket sales for the rejuvenated Wangaratta Festival of Jazz and Blues.
• Linda Simpson: Fabulous effort from all those involved in Wangaratta Festival of Jazz & Blues.
• Mark Bolsius: Linda Simpson hear hear!
Facebook users also commented on bad behaviour by politicians being policed by new
oversight body.
• Paul Crabb: What will be the punishment for broken promises?
Facebook users also commented on a woman escaping serious injury after crashing into a street light on Bowser Road.
• Lisa Marie: Jenelle Moss-Holland ahh that’s why I got diverted.
Facebook users also commented on the construction of the
I WOULD like to let people know that the North East Ostomate Support group is here to help anyone who may need information to assist dealing with living with a Stoma.
This also includes people contemplating Stoma Surgery to treat a medical condition.
We are seeking assistance from medical practitioners in the North East requesting they advise their patients of the existence of the Stomal Therapy Service at Northeast Health and of our group.
It is understood that a lot of people have trouble coping with a Stoma because it is a very private and invasive situation.
All of our members understand the need for support and understanding during this period and are only too happy to talk to anyone who is going through this very stressful period and are trying to come to grips with having a stoma for the first time.
If anyone needs to talk or require assistance from the Ostomate group or medical advice you can contact the following –
Amanda Forbes or Lizzie Smith who are Stomal therapists at North East Health Wangaratta on (03) 5722 5513.
Graeme Pitts, convenor, North East Ostomate Support group
WE support Federal MP for Indi Helen Haines who moved an amendment on Wednesday to require the government to include all allied health sectors in paid placements.
We urge the government to address the desperate shortage of Occupational Therapists (OT) by supporting them to enter the profession by expanding the practical paid placement scheme.
Vulnerable populations across Australia, including one in four school-aged children with a disability, depend on occupational therapy (OT) services.
In the past year, waitlists have surged for clients – these wait times are exacerbated due to almost 75 per cent of the country’s OTs experiencing significant financial distress, with many being forced to close their practices.
We must encourage, retain and inspire our student base - more than 90 per cent of which are women - and strongly urge the government to consider OTs’ inclusion in the Commonwealth Practical Placement Payment scheme.
250MW Goorambat East Solar Farm.
• Jack Carruthers: A breakthrough climate model shows that we have a window to stay below the dangerous threshold of 1.5 degrees Celsius, achieving net-zero emissions before 2040. The two-year collaboration with 17 leading scientists, entitled Achieving the Paris Climate Agreement Goals(APCAG), shows that we can prevent the worst
impacts of climate change while unlocking trillions in economic benefits through rapid decarbonization of our energy systems, a transition to 100% renewable energy, and large-scale land restoration.
• Noel Barnard: not on prime grazing land seems no one in the district has a say.
• Gloria Westbury: So digusting, taking up prime land!
Our follower total is Like the Wangaratta Chronicle Facebook page to have your say.
14,925
This will promote greater equity for students entering the allied health profession and alleviate a major financial barrier that hinders many from pursuing this vital field of practice.
To exclude occupational therapy would be reckless and jeopardise the future for OTs serving rapidly growing numbers of vulnerable populations across Australia.
Occupational Therapy Australia urges the government to address the desperate shortage of OTs by supporting them to enter the profession by expanding the Commonwealth Practical Paid Placement Scheme.
The profession is required to undergo 1000 hours of placement work before graduating as a registered and qualified OT.
This places an unrealistic burden on students with instances of students being unable to continue studying due to financial hardships.
It creates inequity in education opportunities – those who can afford to finish their studies, and those who cannot, and perpetuates a lack of diversity across allied health professions.
The number of Australians requiring occupational therapy services continues to surge with one in four school-aged children with a developmental delay or disability, depend on occupational therapy (OT) services, and 4.2 million Australians over 65 whose ability to live independently and actively can be enhanced by an OT.
In the past year, waitlists have surged for clients – these wait times are exacerbated due to almost 75 per cent of the country’s OTs experiencing significant financial distress, with many being forced
to close their practices.
We need to encourage and enable students to enter into our allied health professions, the future health of our nation depends on it.
We must encourage, retain and inspire our student base - more than 90 per cent of which are women – to enter a profession that must continue to expand in numbers to meet the growing needs of our community including, people with disabilities, children with developmental delays and our aging population.
Occupational therapy’s inclusion in the Commonwealth Practical Placement Payment scheme is a necessary step in securing the workforce for the future.
To exclude occupational therapy would be reckless and jeopardise the growth of a profession that serves the rapidly growing numbers of vulnerable populations across Australia.
Samantha Hunter,
CEO of Occupational Therapy Australia (OTA)
WE welcome your letters to the Editor. Priority is given to typed/emailed letters under 250 words. Every letter must have your full name, address and a daytime phone contact number supplied for verification purposes. Any letter may be edited for reasons of space, content or legibility. Email edit.chronicle@nemedia.com.au
Federal
MP for Indi, Helen Haines, has called on regional leaders and governments to take action to ensure regional Australia benefits from the renewable energy transition for decades to come.
In a keynote speech to 400 regional leaders from across Australia, Dr Haines said the theme of the Regions Rising Summit - ‘A New Frontier’reflected the key moment regional Australia is currently facing in seizing the opportunity presented by the shift to renewable energy.
“A New Frontier to achieve a thriving regional Australia is all we want,” she said.
“Not a regional Australia that only aspires to “get by” or a regional Australia that just wants to keep up with the major cities, that’s not for us – but regions that aspire to thrive in our own right, as a powerhouse of people, production, possibility and sustainability.”
Likening the energy transition to the opportunity and challenge presented by the Snowy Hydro scheme, Dr Haines said the opportunity and vision, as well as challenge was significant for the regions.
“Right now, in Australia, we don’t feel like we are being set up to benefit or thrive at all,” she said.
“I hear and share the legitimate concerns of regional communities – including in my electorate of Indi – about how renewable energy will impact them.”
It is essential for these concerns to be addressed and for communities to be included from the very start for such projects to be accepted, Dr Haines said.
Dr Haines pointed to regional projects that she said present ‘models of leadership, innovation and vision’, including the Hay Shire Council as demonstrating how communities can be on the front foot of renewable energy.
“They held community meetings... produced a set of principles to guide negotiations with renewable companies, and a ten-year strategy for the region,” she said.
“It included a strong ask for cheaper power, and proposed generational change projects in education, health and aged care.
“When Hay Council invited developers to back the strategy, they agreed.
“A whole renewable en-
The Wangaratta Chronicle will be in attendance at the midwifery ward on Wednesdays and Fridays at 9.30am to take photos of newborns with their parents, grandparents and/or siblings.
Consent forms are available from Northeast Health Wangaratta and from Wangaratta Chronicle staff on the day.
If you would like a photo but are not at the ward at the time of visiting, you can come into the Wangaratta Chronicle office at 37 Rowan Street during office hours to organise it.
Photographs are available to purchase from the Wangaratta Chronicle office.
ergy park – with solar and wind – has just been approved without one objection.”
Dr Haines said reversing the standard practice of developers approaching landholders and engaging with the community mid-way through a planning process was pivotal to helping com-
Margot Sewell-Dolphin
MARGOT Sewell-Dolphin was born at Northeast Health Wangaratta on Wednesday, August 14 at 7:39pm and weighed 3.3kg (7lb 4oz). She is the sister of Henry and Felix and the daughter of Elena Sewell-Dolphin and Allison Winters of Wangaratta.
munities be on the front foot.
“[When communities] are on the front foot of renewable energy development, they have some autonomy and control over what they want to see and how they want to benefit,” she said.
“They know their community and understand what
the legacy project should be.
“I want this to be the standard for renewable energy development, not the exception.
“To achieve that, it’s time for governments – both federal and state – to come to the table and support regional communities, to support community energy
Luca Gimenez Martins
LUCA Gimenez Martins was born at Northeast Health Wangaratta on Thursday, August 15 at 2:02am and weighed 3.1kg (6lb 13oz). He is the son of Giovana Gimenez and Henrique Martins of Wangaratta.
groups, farmers, local councils and all the other key regional stakeholders and leaders.
“The government have a choice – to back in these vital players or keep pushing them to the sideline.”
Dr Haines said she had big asks of government to support regional communities and encouraged other political leaders to stop turning away from the difficult questions, but to take part in difficult but respectful conversations.
“I want future generations to be able to point to safe roads, available healthcare and housing, affordable childcare, a skilled workforce and say we achieved this, in large part, because of the way we shaped the renewable energy transition in our patch,” she said.
“I am in there batting for us, I want governments to realise this vision – to create a system where community benefit is at the start, middle and end of every conversation about the renewable energy transition.
“In regional Australia, the challenge is ours but the rewards are ours too.
“Let’s write our own ticket.”
HARLYN Chloe Hansted was born at Northeast Health Wangaratta on Thursday, August 15 at 7:13pm and weighed 3.1kg (6lb 13oz). She is the sister of Hugo Hansted and the daughter of Tegan Hansted and Jordan Hansted of Wangaratta. Harlyn Chloe Hansted
WANGARATTA is set to welcome Shannon Noll when he plays the city’s main entertainment venue on October 3.
Twenty years on from reaching fame through Australian Idol, Nollsie has extended his That’s What I’m Talking About 20th Anniversary Tour, with 12 new show dates added across September, October and November.
Kicking off on September 13 in Rockhampton, Nollsie will make his way to Maryborough, Wangaratta, Bendigo, Wodonga, Port Macquarie, Coffs Harbour, Grafton, Bathurst, Dubbo and Launcestonbefore finishing up the tour in Hobart.
In April, Nollsie released a special 20th anniversary edition of his multi-platinum debut album That’s What I’m Talking About, via Sony Music Entertainment Australia.
This resulted in the album re-entering the Top 20 on the ARIA Album Chart and the Top 3 on the ARIA Australian Albums Chart.
The original That’s What I’m Talking About album was also released on vinyl for the very first time.
In 2003, a farmer from Condobolin stepped onto the Australian Idol stage.
This was Shannon Noll, whose audition would become the first chapter in an extraordinary tale of an Aussie icon and the start of the iconic “flavour savour”.
His powerful rendition of ‘Hold Me in Your Arms’ in front of Marcia Hines, Ian ‘Dicko’ Dickson and Mark Holden, not only showcased his undeniable talent but also resonated with his personal story – a man of the land, battling the hardships of drought and the personal tragedy of losing his father.
tralian Idol finale.
Nollsie and his great mate Guy Sebastian recently talked about that time in great detail on the Idol Talking With Nollsie podcast.
Twenty years on, Shannon Noll has become one of Australia’s most cherished and recognised recording artists and entertainers with 7 ARIA Top 10 Albums (including two multi-platinum #1 ARIA Albums), 17 Platinum and 3 Gold accreditations.
Nollsie’s landmark single ‘What About Me’ was certified 4 × ARIA Platinum and was the highest selling single in Australia in 2004.
He boasts a reputation as being the only Australian male artist in national ARIA chart history to have achieved 10 consecutive Top 10 Singles.
Nollsie’s Australian Idol journey took him all the way to that unforgettable night at the Sydney Opera House, where more than four million people tuned in to watch the very first Aus-
Earlier this year, Nollsie triumphantly returned to Australian Idol or the first time in over 20 years, to perform ‘What About Me’ at the Grand Finale, with eventual
2024 winner Dylan Wright. The crowd went crazy and the judges watched with admiration, as the two Northern Rivers NSW based artists performed the track, in what has been described by many as the biggest moment on Australian Idol since the inaugural season.
at #1 across ARIA’s Album Chart and AIR’s Independent Chart, became the face of national advertising campaigns for prominent brands such as Uber, KFC, and Jetstar.
Nollsie’s national headline tour has already seen him perform at some of Australia’s most prestigious live venues.
Tickets are on sale via the Wangaratta Performing Arts and Convention Centre at https://www.wpacc.com.au/ Whats-On/Shannon-Noll That’s What I’m Talking
In recent times, Nollsie’s latest album, RAW debuted
A NEW photographic exhibition by the AFL’s chief photographer, Michael Willson, has opened at the Benalla Art Gallery.
Titled Beyond the Boundary, the exhibition captures the action, the heartache and the emotion both on and off the field in this dramatic, poignant and insightful photographic exposé.
Open to the public right through the AFL finals series, the exhibition has been supported by Emblem Benalla, and delves deep into the heart of the game with great sensitivity and instinct.
Michael Willson has an innate ability to document moments otherwise unseen from a unique perspective that can only come from an intimate knowledge and love for photography and Australian Football.
Since the 2005 AFL season, Willson has earned the respect and trust of players and clubs alike, creatively photographing all the action, triumph, heartbreak, blood, sweat and tears.
In 2020 Michael was awarded the prestigious Melbourne Press Club Gold Quill for his iconic photograph of Tayla Harris.
The picture also won the Sport Australia Best Sports Photograph and the inaugural Women in Sport Photo Action Awards.
He has won multiple Australian Football Media Association Awards, and is a Ted’s Master.
In 2018 Michael was commissioned by Common-
wealth Games Australia to be the official photographer of the Australian team at the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games.
Michael has published two books; UP CLOSE – a remarkable photographic journal of the 2016 AFL season, and CYRIL – a pictorial celebration of a Hawthorn champion.
His work is featured on AFL.com.au, AFLPhotos. com.au, the AFL Record as well as newspapers and magazines around Australia and the world.
Rowan Pollard, director of Emblem Benalla, said the company was proud to support both the Benalla Art Gallery and this unique exhibition in the local community.
2021 digital photograph.
Michael Willson said he was excited by the opportunity to present some of his seminal shots within a distinguished public gallery.
“Football is the lifeblood of many regional Victorian communities, Benalla is certainly no exception, and I know this exhibition will resonate deeply with locals and beyond,” he said.
“I invite footy, photography and art-lovers alike to immerse themselves in the stories of our great game through the lens.
“I thank Benalla Art Gallery and Emblem Benalla for delivering this exhibition and look forward to seeing many visitors to the gallery.”
Benalla Art Gallery director Eric Nash said he was excited to be hosting the exhi-
bition and anticipates it will be extremely popular, both amongst the region’s photographic community and also sports and AFL lovers.
“Often sport and art are held separately or even considered mutually exclusive, but we acknowledge them equally as vital forms of cultural expression; helping to forge community identity and togetherness,” he said.
“This dual passion is palpable in Benalla - we look forward to welcoming many thousands of visitors during the exhibition, and perhaps some visitors for the first time.”
Beyond the Boundary will be presented in the Simpson Gallery of Benalla Art Gallery until October 13 and is free to attend.
Fans have been treated to
a high energy and nostalgic live show featuring songs from his historic debut album, along with hits and fan favourites across his illustrious full career catalogue to date.
Discover the joy of cooking with
By JORDAN DUURSMA
JOIN in Open Door Neighbourhood House’s (ODNH) engaging cooking program on Tuesdays and Fridays as skilful and passionate cooks share their hands on experience in a supportive and fun environment.
The classes are designed to bring people together, foster a sense of community and celebrate the joy of cooking and company.
The program provides an opportunity to meet new people, share stories and enjoy the camaraderie of cooking together, a fun and simply way to connect.
ODNH executive officer Loretta Waters said the team at ODNH love their cooking days.
“When you walk into the house, it feels like you’re coming into a lunch with friends,” she said.
Tuesday Cooking is held at the Homestead,10 Harrison Street from 10am till 12pm and is perfect for those starting out in the kitchen.
Friday Cooking is a casual cook up and a great opportunity to meet some new friends, share your cooking experiences and enjoy the sense of community that comes from cooking and dining together at ODNH from 10am till 12pm.
Discover the joy of creating practical meals from scratch, where you will learn how to interpret reci-
experience at
Door Neighbourhood House.
pes, create delicious and nutritious meals while learning new skills.
“We also host a community lunch every third Thursday at Homestead, 10 Harrison Street, where we have the visiting community paramedics come along for health checks and you get a delicious two course meal cooked while meeting a great bunch of people,” Ms Waters said.
“Get in quick as we are generally serving dessert by 12.15pm and we do ask for a donation, between $5 and $10 per person helps cover the cost of the meal, and places are limited.”
Check out Open Door Neighbourhood House’s website to see the full schedule of upcoming classes www.opendoornh.org.au.
Wangaratta’s own comic, gaming and pop culture convention expected to be g,ggppppppopular
PASSIONATE
ADVOCATE: Author
Lili Wilkinson
will be a guest speaker at the next GeekCon event, to be held at the Wangaratta Library on the afternoon of September 14.
FRESHWATER fishers can learn more about Victoria’s wild trout fisheries at a free one-day conference in Mansfield on Saturday, September 21.
Victorian Fisheries Authority (VFA) CEO Travis Dowling said the annual Talk Wild Trout conference attracts anglers, scientists, guides and opinion leaders to share the latest in research, fisheries management, habitat improvements, and trout trends.
“Make a weekend of it with friends and family by fishing the High Country on Sunday after you’ve learnt lots the day before at the conference,” Mr Dowling said.
“The event is jointly hosted by the VFA and Australian Trout Foundation, supported by fishing licence fees and the Victorian Government’s $96 million Go Fishing and Boating Plan.”
This year’s keynote address will be provided by flyfishing instructor, author and photojournalist Philip Weigall, who will explore the nuances of Victoria’s trout fishery over time.
Philip has spent more than 35 years fly fishing for trout throughout south-eastern Australia and is widely respected as an authority on Victoria’s trout fisheries in rivers and lakes.
WHAT A CATCH: Philip Weigall will be a guest speaker at the Talk Wild Trout conference in Mansfield next month.
Terry George from the Australian Trout Foundation will explain how we can learn from the past and plan for the future, while Mountain Fly guide James Norney’s presentation will highlight how environmental restoration plays a vital part in a healthy fishery.
The wellbeing benefits of spending time outdoors will be a topic covered by The Fly Program’s Matt Tripet, who will reveal how his company’s flyfishing adventures are improving the mental health of men.
Similarly impressive work
will be shared by Mending Casts, which is a group helping Australians recover from cancer by connecting with nature through flyfishing.
Karen Brooks, who captained Australia’s first ever women’s fly fishing team in Norway two years ago, is passionate about encouraging more women to cast a line.
She’ll propose ways we can all be more inclusive to boost female participation.
Dr Jarod Lyon from the Arthur Rylah Institute (DEECA) will outline how trout might be co-managed with native fish in a changing climate, while other talks will examine how agencies and anglers are working together to enhance streams, how the Women in Recreational Fishing and Boating (WIRFAB) network is leading the country to get more females fishing, and what secrets a decade of trout research has revealed.
Panel discussions will accompany sessions with questions from the audience.
The conference will be at the Mansfield Performing Arts Centre, between 9am and 4pm.
Tea, coffee and lunch will be provided. Learn more and book a free conference seat at www.vfa.vic.gov.au/ talktrout.
THE countdown is on to Wangaratta’s own comic, gaming and pop culture convention, GeekCon, which will be held at the Wangaratta Library on Saturday, September 14.
GeekCon is among 100 recipients of State Government funding for activities to be held in September as part of Youth Fest 2024, which recognises the contribution of young people in their communities.
However, while it’s part of Youth Fest, the event featuring a range of stalls, competitions and activities is designed for all ages and abilities.
Along similar lines to larger conventions held in capital cities (Melbourne hosted Oz Comic Con in July, while Sydney and Brisbane will host their events in September), GeekCon aims to bring the excitement of comics, cosplay, gaming and more to regional residents who may not be able to attend the larger events.
To be held between 2pm and 5.30pm on September 14 at the
BY SIMONE KERWIN skerwin@
Wangaratta Library in Docker Street, the event will feature guest speakers including writer Lili Wilkinson.
The award-winning author of 20 books for young people, including ‘The Erasure Initiative’ and ‘A Hunger of Thorns’, Lili has a PhD from the University of Melbourne, and is a passionate advocate for young adult fiction and those who read it.
She helped establish The Inky AwardsAustralia’s first national teen choice award for young adult literature - at the State Library of Victoria’s Centre for Youth Literature. Lili’s latest books are ‘Deep is the Fen’, which is aimed at teenagers, and for middle to upper primary school readers, ‘Bravepaw and the Heartstone of Alluria’. She will share details of her writing journey during her time at GeekCon, where she will be part of the afternoon’s free entertainment.
BY CORAL COOKSLEY ccooksley@ nemedia.com.au
AN INCREDIBLE display of community collaboration has seen Beechworth’s Administrative Precinct added to Australia’s National Heritage list by the Federal Government last Friday. Federal MP for Environment and Water Tanya Pilbersek made the announcement and said the listing recognised the heritage significance of the precinct.
“The Beechworth Administrative Precinct demonstrates the principal characteristics of an Australian gold mine administrative centre and has outstanding value to the nation as the location of a rare Chinese Protectorate Office,” she said.
The town tells the national story of the 1850s gold rush in North East Victoria with its historic buildings in the precinct having outstanding heritage value.
The Precinct with many of its original buildings including the Telegraph Office, Courthouse, Old Beechworth Gaol, Gold Warden’s Office, Chinese Protectorate Office, Sub Treasury Gold Office, and Town Hall.
The suite of buildings joins Australia’s list of natural,
Beechworth’s precinct joins Australia’s list of signifi cant pjgpplaces
historic and Indigenous places of outstanding significance to the nation, including the Great Barrier Reef, Uluru and the Port Arthur Historic site.
Heritage adviser to Indigo Shire Council, Deborah Kemp, worked arduously on the submission along with local historian Jacqui Durrant, with support from council.
Ms Durrant said Beechworth’s late Bill Wilson had also contributed to the
history research.
“Registration is also a win for many community members who worked tirelessly to preserve Beechworth’s heritage over a period of at least half a century,” she said.
“It is the best preserved 1850s gold rush town in the world, which people don’t always realise.”
Both Ms Kemp and Dr Durrant said Beechworth’s story was unique.
“With Beechworth a
gold fields town from the 1850s, within 100 steps people can see 1850s law enforcement from court to gaol and how gold was stored in the sub treasury before armed soldiers took to it Melbourne,” Ms Kemp said.
“People can also see how the Chinese were dealt with at that time in the Chinese Protectorate Office - the only one left standing in the world.”
Ms Durrant said following Victoria’s example, the Chinese Protectorate system
adopted throughout the British Empire eventually had all associated Chinese Protectorate offices demolished except for Beechworth.
Ms Kemp said Beechworth has one of the earliest town halls in Victoria showcasing how the township in the 1850s had aspirations for a civilised community with its highly decorated interior.
“It was a raw, rough gold field, yet the beauty of the precinct buildings stood for a future vision - initially a colonial one but also the scene of miners wanting more with votes, land and freedom from British rule,” she said.
“The role of the buildings changed from the 1850s, by the late 1870s the courthouse had early settler and land selection claims setting the scene for Ned Kelly - two stories within 20 years and a change of focus for these buildings.”
Indigo Shire Mayor Sophie Price was thrilled the Federal Government had recognised the importance and significance of the Historic Administrative Precinct.
“A special thanks must go to Deb Kemp and historian Dr. Jacqui Durrant for their meticulous and exhaustive work in preparing council’s nomination documentation,” she said.
“Timing of this announcement will hopefully enhance Indigo’s place in the Victorian Goldfields UNESCO World Heritage Listing bid.” Beechworth History and Heritage Society chair Jamie Kronborg said the listing is a testament to the extraordinary, persistent efforts of Beechworth’s people to maintain and celebrate the heart of the community.
“Historian Jacqui Durrant and independent heritage adviser Deborah Kemp, with the support of Indigo Shire Council, deserve particular recognition for their skill and diligence that helped to interpret the cultural context of our heritage precinct and its significance to the country,” he said.
“Beechworth History and Heritage Society is especially pleased to see the town hall included in the listing.
“Built from 1858, it’s a clear expression by our forebears of their belief in the value of democracy.”
Beechworth History and Heritage, Old Beechworth Gaol, Beechworth Inc and Indigo Shire Council are supporting a community BYO afternoon tea in the Police Paddocks from 3pm on Saturday (August 24) to celebrate the listing achievement, with everyone welcome.
By CORAL COOKSLEY
A WELL-KNOWN local fiction crime writer captivated a 65-strong audience of book lovers at Beechworth library recently.
Beechworth author and playwright Margaret Hickey delivered a talk about her latest new chilling mystery novel ‘The Creeper’.
The new release follows Margaret’s successful books - ‘Cutters End’, ‘Stone Town’ and ‘Broken Bay’ with a Penguin publishing contract for a further three novels until 2027.
Beechworth Books teamed up with the library to hold the event with co-owner Charles Dean interviewing Margaret.
The author gave insights into writing processes, her writing experiences, use of landscape for settings as well as into the world of publishing.
The novel is set in the small mountain town of Edenville in Victoria’s high country haunted for last the 10 years by the horrific murders of five hikers on Jagged Ridge, until the local detective constable Sally White is
drawn into the dark world by a notorious family.
Margaret said one of the most important aspects about the book is she penned it close to where she lives in Victoria’s high country.
“It is a place I know very well, and I have written about a completely new character which was difficult at first, but turned out to be an absolute joy,” she said.
“I always write from the point of view of landscape, and I always start with a setting that I know well, and usually a landscape that I love”.
Now working on her fifth book set in the panoramic horizons of the Wimmera, the author said she was thrilled to have a contract for a further two books after this one.
“It offers a bit of stability, and it means you can make a living off your writing,” she said.
“It’s rare, I’m very lucky, and I love my craft.”
Beechworth’s Lyn Thomas was excited about reading Margaret’s latest novel.
“It’s the sense of landscape, being in the high country and being a hiker,”
she said.
“Marg brings lovely energy, creativity and fun to Beechworth,” she said.
Beechworth Book’s Charles Dean said Margaret’s passion for writing and love for books shines.
Librarian Julie said the library with Beechworth Books had launched Margaret’s four novels.
“It’s really important for the library to support local authors and Margaret is an incredibly popular writer,” she said.
“People really love hearing the insights into the writing process.
“They’re fascinated and intrigued by the publishing and the all the steps involved in it gives them more depth and understanding for the books.
“I think supporting a known writer such as Marg Hickey, people are very proud that we have a wellknown author in the district and her books are really enjoyable.
“People love crime fiction.”
WANGARATTA students who trekked the arduous Kokoda Track discussed their journey during a special evening at the Wangaratta RSL last week.
Mak Clark, John Blake and Hayden Currie shared their recent experiences of the Bob Iskov Kokoda Scholarship, a program which allows local Year 11 students to retrace the footsteps of Aussie Diggers who fought on the Kokoda Track in World War Two.
The large crowd heard heart-warming stories from the three students about the friendships made, challenges overcome and the wonderful hospitality of the people of Papua New Guinea, Australia’s nearest neighbours.
Some discussions were about the physical challenges of the steep terrain, the cold nights, rain and mud.
Mak told how she became ill for several days, and admitted to second guessing her decision as she lay in her tent at night.
However, she dealt with her fears and persevered and now has the ultimate prize of personal satisfaction and pride.
Several members of other trekking parties suffered illness or injury and were evacuated by helicopter.
Hayden’s thoughts while climbing up or downhill was to ‘watch where you put your feet’, and he reassured prospective trekkers that it is an achievable journey if you put the work into training.
John entertained the crowd with his dry wit, and acknowledgment that his conversations with his mates
had become deeper after his experience; no longer just about footy.
All three students agreed that it was an emotional experience to walk in the footsteps of local soldiers who gave their lives for their country.
This culminated with a visit to the 3000 graves at Bomana Cemetery where they laid a poppy on the grave of their nominated soldier. Here, they promised to ‘live their best life’ for their soldier.
They agreed this moment put all their life challenges
into perspective.
The evening was also an opportunity for Wangaratta RSL to thank the families, schools, supporters and sponsors who make the scholarship possible each year.
Applications for current Year 10 students are opening soon for the 2025 Bob Iskov Kokoda Scholarship.
For more information or if any individual or business would like to support the Bob Iskov Kokoda Scholarship, contact the Wangaratta RSL at kokoda@wangarattarsl. org.au.
2023 Bob Iskov Kokoda Scholarship recipients who walked the Kokoda Track last year are busy representing the Wangaratta RSL and the scholarship in the wider community.
Scholarship recipient Ella Kidd, with RSL committee member Craig Iskov, presented information on the Kokoda scholarship to the members of the Wangaratta Lodge of St John.
Ella spoke about the benefit of the scholarship opportunities for local young people, and detailed her personal challenges and rewards of walking Kokoda last year.
The guests is turn learned about the charity work of Freemasons Foundation of Victoria, who donate millions of dollars each year into Victorian communities into ongoing projects and
communities in need.
Their support includes funding a wide range of projects including prostate cancer, cervical cancer, Shepparton Foodshare and Murchison Post- Flood Relief.
The foundation also funded the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra to play in a Recovery and Resilience project in Mallacoota after the devastating 2019-2020 bushfires.
The Wangaratta Lodge of St John and the Freemasons Foundation of Victoria are sponsors of the Bob Iskov Kokoda Scholarship and Wangaratta RSL acknowledges their support into our local community.
For more information or if any individual or business would like to support the Bob Iskov Kokoda Scholarship, contact the Wangaratta RSL at kokoda@ wangarattarsl.org.au.
ACROSS
3 In classical legend, which hero of great strength performed 12 extraordinary tasks (8)
7 In golf, what is a position in which an opponent’s ball lies directly between the player’s ball and the hole (6)
8 Name the most important narcotic principle of opium (8)
9 To withdraw something formally is to what (6)
10 Which soft unctuous medical preparation is applied to the skin (8)
11 Name a US city in NE New Jersey (6)
14 Which term describes something that is quite new (6)
17 The marriage of one woman with one man is what (8)
18 Name a historic goldmining township north of Bathurst NSW (6)
19 Which word describes industrial automatic processes (8)
20 What is another word for an exit (6)
21 Those who “linger longer” are what (8)
DOWN
1 What is a lofty tower attached to a church (7)
2 Name the more common term for loss of memory (7)
3 Having been sentenced to death, which poison did Socrates drink (7)
4 Which nautical device is used for hoisting weights (7)
5 One who “hangs about” does what (7)
6 To be perfumed is to be what (7)
11 Which word expresses a number (7)
Letters A to Z have a number value. Some are shown in the right-hand cells. Create remaining values using clues in
12 Name the horse that won the 1925 Melbourne Cup (7)
13 What is an organised series of boat races (7)
14 What is the Latin name for Odysseus (7)
15 The apparel of a police officer or the like is called a what (7)
16 Which term describes that which is infinite (7)
Find the following words in the grid. They may be read in any direction, even diagonally. Some letters are used more than once.
Solve the crossword. Each answer has four letters.
1 PERNICKETY (a)Exacting minute care (b)Highly injurious (c)Incessant
2 QUERIMONIOUS (a)Doubting (b)Complaining (c)Slightly mad
Build it yourself using the clues and each of the twenty-four letters once only to form ten words: five across and five down. A key word (bold clue) builds on the letter set in the grid.
CLUES:
An age (3)
Avoidance (7)
Before (poet.) (3)
Cow’s intestine (5)
Curtain (5)
Desmond (abb) (3)
Rest and relaxation (7) Show disdain (5) Steeple (5) Televisions (abb) (3
THROUGHOUT the autumn break, cropping on all levels has been an ongoing struggle for some farmers who have their woes with their crops with some making the choice to roll the dice and hope for a return.
Recent rain, warmer conditions and longer daylight hours have paid dividends for some while others are stuck in limbo with crops at a near standstill.
AG Warehouse agronomist Bec Bingley believes while some crop producers decided to bite the bullet and invest in their paddocks and crops, other farmers who have waited for a change in the elements are struggling significantly leading into the spring period.
“Farmers who have set paddocks up with full preparation, sown the correct seed, the right fertiliser and doing all this at the correct time are now seeing the benefits,” Ms Bingley said.
“These same farmers followed the traditional annual pattern of seeding during the autumn break despite concerns that it could backfire.
“Broadacre producers are seeing the biggest results, particularly wheat and canola, both taking
BY KURT HICKLING khickling@ nemedia.com.au
off at full steam ahead.
“Other producers who did not invest in inputs and were hoping for the best are really struggling right now as this evidently proves why it is so important not to take shortcuts.
“Having said that, it’s very tough on a farmer who struggles to risk tipping in money when sometimes there is no guarantee, especially when a lack of rainfall has been the primary issue.
“Local farmers have been very supportive of one another by having meetings to discuss current issues and ways to tackle the p roblems at hand and ways to be productive moving forward.
“Yes, we have had a drier winter but for our broadacre farmers, the conditions go in their favour as their crops do not require a lot of rain and allows farmers to bring machinery onto paddocks to fertilise.” She said.
The results for crop producers are mixed across the board locally with pasture farmers taking the hardest hit when it comes to the bottom line.
“Broadacre crops are going great guns right now, but our pasture farmers are feeling the sting with pasture potential down 50 per cent total annual dry matter production,” Ms Bingley said.
“Wheat, canola, barley and oats are having a fantastic season at the moment with producers feel-
ing very confident and will only improve as the warmer months set in.
“Farmers will apply another round of fertiliser and fungicide mid-September with an application for wheat at the end of September.
The next few months will be paramount to crop producers with the antici-
pation of warmer months and rainfall.
According to the Bureau of Meteorology, La Nina weather patterns are set to come into play from September through to February next year which will see higher than average rainfall throughout this period.
Moving forward if we
see a wet spring and summer, we will see a lot more summer crops being sown to fill the deficit from the early part of 2024,” she said.
“With the summer crop focus, I will work with producers on budget, the variety of seed to use but most importantly, how conditions will pan out.”
BROWN Family Wine Group has been identified by workplace culture authority Great Place to Work as one of the 100 Best Workplaces in Australia for 2024.
Emma Brown, fourth generation of the Brown Family said it was an honour to be recognised as one of the top workplaces in the country.
“It’s a true testament to each individual across the company, and to our leadership team who foster a culture of collaboration, innovation and trust,” she said.
Brown Family Wine Group are classified as a medium sized workplace (companies with 100-999 employees) with 360 employees.
Outside of the Brown Brothers winery head office in Milawa, they also have teams at Innocent Bystander in the Yarra Valley, and in Tasmania who are dedicated to producing the Devil’s Corner, Pirie and Tamar Ridge wine brands.
This is the sixth consecutive year that Brown Family Wine Group has been certified as a Great Place to Work, and the first year the company has joined the highly esteemed Best Workplaces list.
Sarah Thomas, head of Human Resources, Risk and Safety at Brown Family Wine Group emphasised the importance of the Great Place to Work® recognition.
“We are a family and our
people are at the heart of our company,” she said.
“With functions spanning across agriculture, manufacturing, marketing, hospitality and wine retail, we have a diverse business, employing a team with diverse backgrounds.
“Ensuring our team are proud and excited to come to work each day is crucial to us.
We could not be more humbled with this recognition, but equally, we are so proud of our team members who all contributed to getting us here.
“To be acknowledged as one of the 100 Best places to work in Australia certainly gives us even more reason to love what we do here at Brown Family Wine Group.”
Through the process, the companies were shortlisted using rigorous analytics and confidential employee feedback.
In curating what makes a Best Workplace in Australia, Great Place to Work have used the same methodology they do in curating the renowned Fortune 100 Best Companies to Work For in the US and Fortune’s World’s Best Workplaces. The Best Workplacesâ„¢ in Australia List 2024 highlights organisations committed to fostering workplace equity, ensuring their employees feel safe, heard, challenged and valued.
Chief executive officer at Brown Family Wine Group, Cameron MacFarlane, said he felt part of the family the day he walked into the company nine months ago.
“It’s a privilege to lead a company with such engaged people, culturally Brown Family Wine Group is in a league of its own,” he said.
37 Rowan Street, Wangaratta 3677
STUDIO APARTMENT for rent, 1 bedroom, Wangaratta showground area, fully furnished and bills. Ph 0428 217 493.
CONCRETING, big or small jobs, paths, driveways, shed slabs, verandahs, 15 years experience. For a free quote phone Trev Anderson on 0422 200 761.
MARK’S Mowing, reasonable prices, ride on mowing, edging, clean up, spraying and any waste removal. Ph 0472 603 156.
WHEELER Earthworks, available for all your earthworks needsyard clean ups, stump removals, driveways, material supply and spreading, rural work and more. Call Marcus on 0491 094 545.
Please
Based in Milawa, North East Victoria Permanent Part-time Role
About Us: Brown Family Wine Group is one of Australia’s most loved and respected wine companies built on over 130 years’ experience in quality winemaking, market leading innovation and family values that are at the heart of everything we do as a business.
Our portfolio has grown over time to now include market leading wine brands such as: Devil’s Corner from the East Coast of Tasmania, Tamar Ridge and Pirie from Tamar Valley Tasmania, Innocent Bystander from the Yarra Valley and of course Brown Brothers from Milawa Victoria the spiritual home of our business.
About the role: Reporting to the Risk & Safety Manager this role is responsible for providing administrative support to the Risk & Safety function and assisting in the development, delivery and maintenance of administrative systems of work.
About you: Ideally, the successful candidate will have:
• Minimum of two (2) years prior experience in an Administration role required.
• Experience in manufacturing or operational environments (preferred but not essential).
• Demonstrated proficiency in Microsoft office suite and a range of IT tools.
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WANGARATTA: M. Newton, A. Tilley, P. Naish, N. Richards, J. Clarke, H. Smart. WODONGA RAIDERS 0.2 1.4 1.4 4.4.28 WANGARATTA 5.6
A GRADE
Wangaratta Rovers 34 def by Yarrawonga 64 Wodonga Raiders 46 def Wangaratta 40 Lavington 32 defby Corowa Rutherglen 54 North Albury 58 def Wodonga 47 Albury 43 defby Myrtleford 53
B GRADE: Lavington 38 def by Corowa-Rutherglen 39; North Albury 44 def Wodonga 34; Albury 39 def Myrtleford 32; Wangaratta Rovers 30 def by Yarrawonga 45; Wodonga Raiders 26 def by Wangaratta 47.
C GRADE: Lavington 21 def by Corowa-Rutherglen 44; North Albury 49 def Wodonga 36; Albury 29 def by Myrtleford 36; Wangaratta Rovers 36 def by Yarrawonga 47; Wodonga Raiders 25 def by Wangaratta 39.
17 & UNDER: Lavington 24 def by Corowa-Rutherglen 35; North Albury 33 def by Wodonga 64; Albury 19 def by Myrtleford 44; Wangaratta Rovers 66 def Yarrawonga 18; Wodonga Raiders 52 def Wangaratta 30.
15 & UNDER: Lavington 67 def Corowa-Rutherglen 31; North Albury 28 def by Wodonga 51; Albury 41 def by Myrtleford 42; Wangaratta Rovers 75 def Yarrawonga 28; Wodonga Raiders 56 def Wangaratta 33.
Albury 20.10 (130) def Myrtleford 5.6 (36)
GOALS: ALBURY: D. Dunstan 7, T. Quade 4, H. Just 2, E. Wallgate 2, J. McPartland 1, O. Feuerherdt 1, J. Shanahan 1, W. El-achkar 1, N. Prentice 1. MYRTLEFORD: J. Hazeldine 2, H. Stripeikis 1, C. Howden 1, S. Crisp 1.
BEST: ALBURY: D. Dunstan, T. Quade, L. Hogan, E. Wallgate, B. Kerr, H. Just. MYRTLEFORD: O. Neil, W. Graham, B. Paul, H. Stripeikis, S. Crisp, J. Hazeldine.
Wang Rovers 14.19 (103) def Yarrawonga 1.4 (10)
GOALS: WANGARATTA ROVERS: P. Coleman 2, O. Clelland 2, C.
Johnson 2, J. Marek 2, J. Correll 1, S. Rourke 1, S. Comensoli 1, Z. O’Shannessy 1, T. Vincent 1, N. Scholte 1. YARRAWONGA: P. Waugh 1.
BEST: WANGARATTA ROVERS: H. McMonigle, C. Lugg, R. Ely, C. Breheny, S. Allan, S. Rourke. YARRAWONGA: Z. Forge, M. Parker, P. Waugh, A. Jaques, t. baxter, A. Skehan.
Wod. Raiders 7.8 (50) def Wangaratta 7.7 (49)
GOALS: WODONGA RAIDERS: T. Smith 2, B. Capper 1, D. Ramage 1, J. McCarty 1, J. McCracken 1, B. Wilson 1. WANGARATTA: M. Bihun 2, O.
Roberts 2, B. Newton 2, W. Prebble 1.
BEST: WODONGA RAIDERS: C. Howells, C. Smith, M. Baker, J. Cannell, B. Jones, F. Jensen.WANGARATTA: O. Boyle, C. Hughes, K. Driscoll, N. O’Kane, C. Hines, J. Hewitt.
Lavington 14.12 (96) def Corowa R’glen 7.5 (47) North Albury 9.6 (60) def Wodonga 8.4 (52)
GOALS: LAVINGTON: T. Oosterhoff 6, J. O’Brien 3, J. Costello 2, D. Smith 1, A. Butler 1, T. Hargreave 1. COROWA RUTHERGLEN: T. Willis 3, S. Dunstan 2, D. Hope 1, B. Minogue 1, S. Jansen 1, C. Wills 1. BEST: LAVINGTON: T. Hargreave, T. Oosterhoff, N. Newton, J. Costello, H. Barber, A. Butler. COROWA RUTHERGLEN: R. Eyers, D. Hope, T. Willis, J. Longmire, J. Eyers, C. Wills. LAVINGTON 3.1 7.4 11.9 14.13.97
GOALS: ALBURY: J. Conlan 6, L. Tiziani 2, B. O’Hara 2, R. King 1, J. Page 1, C. McGrath 1, E. Powell 1, J. Kelly 1, J. Gaynor 1. MYRTLEFORD: L. Murphy-Dale 3, M. Munro 2, R. Bouker 2, C. Crisp 2, N. Ferguson 1, J. Muraca 1, N. Turner 1, J. East 1, D. Harrington 1, L. Hourigan 1, B. Ricardi 1, S. Curtis 1. BEST: ALBURY: J. Conlan, F. Carroll, B. O’Hara, C. McGrath, L. Tiziani, R. King MYRTLEFORD: M. Munro, J. East, F. Dale, T. Cossor, T. Cappellari, S. Curtis.
GOALS: WANGARATTA ROVERS: A. Marklew 5, L. McCartney 1, j. lewis 1, A. McCarthy 1. YARRAWONGA: J. Koopman 4, L. Williams 3, M. Casey 1, T. Nyholm 1, C. Wilson 1, H. Wheeler 1, N. Irvine 1. BEST: WANGARATTA ROVERS: A. Marklew, K. Parnell, C. Ledger, X. Allison, A. McCarthy. YARRAWONGA: W. Wheeler, J. Koopman, M. Gibbons, H. Wheeler, M. Casey, N. Irvine. WANGARATTA ROVERS 2.3 6.5
GOALS: NORTH ALBURY: J. Minogue 1, N. Dennis 1, R. Polkinghorne 1, J. Penny 1, K. Tallent 1, J. Weidemann 1, R. Smith 1, L. Taylor 1. WODONGA: J. Cassidy 3, T. Miller 1, K. Winter-Irving 1, M. Soroczynski 1, J. Mathey 1. BEST: NORTH ALBURY: L. Taylor, G. Godde, A. Gardiner, J. Hayes, R. Smith, F. Ramage. WODONGA: O. Greenhill, C. Brodie, M. Wilson, J. Mathey, C. Morrison, N. Bradshaw.
Qualifying Final - Sat, 31 August (John Foord Oval, Corowa) Wangaratta Rovers vs Wangaratta
Elimination Final - Sun, 1 September (Albury Sports Ground, Albury) North Albury vs Wodonga
SATURDAY, AUGUST 24
A GRADE: Bonnie Doon 61 def Moyhu 32
B GRADE: Greta 48 def Bright 34
B RESERVE: Whorouly 44 def Tarrawingee 28
C GRADE: Bright 43 def Moyhu 30
15 & UNDER: Greta 19 def Benalla All Blacks 16
SUNDAY, AUGUST 25
A GRADE: Tarrawingee 39 def Whorouly 25
B GRADE: Tarrawingee 50 def Whorouly 31
B RESERVE: Greta 49 def Moyhu 35
C GRADE: Goorambat 42 def by King Valley 48
15 & UNDER: Milawa 18 def by Moyhu 28
AUGUST 25
Doon 4 8 32 def by Moyhu 12 7 79
GOORAMBAT’S senior football side is on their way to the semi-finals after blowing Milawa away on Sunday at the Tarrawingee Recreation Reserve.
From a relatively even first quarter, the Bats were dominant, piling on the scoreboard pressure to salute 19.15 (129) to 9.11 (65).
The game was evenly poised after the first period of play, the Bats and Dees trading blows with Milawa slightly ahead 3.1 (19) to 2.6 (18).
Kicking with the wind after the break, and with storm clouds gathering overhead, it started raining goals for Goorambat.
The Bats were electric coming out of the middle, hitting their forwards with precision and converting when they needed to.
Even when the ball would go to ground, Goorambat’s ground level pressure forced errors when the Demons went below their knees.
The Bats kicked six goals through the second quarter while keeping Milawa goalless to lead by 43 points at half-time.
BY NATHAN DE VRIES ndevries@ nemedia.com.au
Milawa fought back hard, bringing the margin back slightly in the second half, but the Bats were simply too strong.
Goorambat coach Ben Wapling said it was a brilliant performance from his entire side.
“They were great today, there was a fair wind to one side, we stuck with them in the first quarter, and we played four good quarters of footy, so I was really happy,” he said.
“There was a bit of wind, but it was our pressure, our pressure in the midfield, our pressure around the ground – I couldn’t tell you how many times we got them holding the ball.
“We’ve worked pretty hard on our fitness over the last month or so, working on our pressure, and our pressure around the ground on Sunday was unreal. “I just felt like we wanted it more.
“The All Blacks (match) the week before was pretty scrappy with the conditions, but we’ve been pretty happy with the football we’ve been playing, been playing some good four quarters of footy which we hadn’t been able to tick over during the year.”
Wapling said the match was won by his defenders and midfield.
“Al Moloney was fantastic in our backline, and Curtis Anker, they played great across there,” he said.
“Up forward, Charles Hunter, he was just fantastic, his work up and down the ground and obviously conversion as well.
“In the midfield, Jamie (Dunne) and Sully (Malay) were great, and Victor (Butler) off the wing as well.”
Goorambat will play Bright next Sunday at the Tarrawingee Recreation Reserve in their semi-final.
The Bats’ triumph was the second stunning result of the day, with the Hoppers defeating the muchfancied Bombers in the reserves hit-out 12.7 (79) to 4.8 (32).
A DOMINANT second half saw Bright storm home to defeat King Valley in their elimination final on Satu rday, coming in 14.10 (94) to 8.6 (54).
Played on the pristine deck at North Wangaratta, both teams took a while to get going, with King Valley’s pressure around the contest limiting Bright’s clean movement of the footy.
The Roos were finding plenty of the footy and moving it forward well, but Bright’s defensive unit stood tall, the Mountain Men leading at the major break by just five points, 5.4 (34) to 4.5 (29).
Bright turned up the heat in the second half, adjusting to the Valley game plan and finding its weak points, while their forwards converted when it counted.
Bright coach Paul Harrison said his side’s second half was outstanding.
“I think they started getting going in the second half, we were definitely a lot cleaner and started winning a lot more stoppage and clearance around the ground,” he said.
“The most pleasing thing was in the second half we started looking inside, whereas we were trying to go through the front of the stoppage all the time in the first half.
“We were hitting the hands in the back then the 45s in, which opens up the ground so much for us.
“It was definitely a challenging game, we broke it open in the end, but it definitely took our time.”
Forward dynamo Cooper Thomason was again impressive, kicking half of his team’s goals,
while the Bright midfield brigade was operating efficiently.
“Joe Gray was once again fantastic in the ruck, and around the ground he just finds so much of the footy – it’s like having another midfielder in there at times,” Harrison said.
“The mix of our mids, Sam Dalbosco, Rod Arguello, ‘Lovey’ (James Love), Max Rampling, were all very good as well.
“Cooper kicked seven, Declan Bren got two or three, Luke Quirk got two or three - the usual suspects.”
King Valley co-coach Tony Ciancio said he was proud of his team’s efforts throughout the season.
“During the first half, we were able to match Bright’s intensity at the contest which enabled us to get some really good looks going forward,” he said.
“From the moment we hit the front early in the third quarter, Bright adjusted and lifted their pressure which we found challenging to navigate for the rest of the third quarter.
“We had some positive moments again in the final term and were able to hit the scoreboard, but to Bright’s credit they were really efficient when they went forward which helped them keep the margin around four or five goals throughout the final quarter.
“Jack (co-coach Jack Davies) and I were really proud of the effort shown by the boys, and were really impressed with the turnout from King Valley community.”
In the earlier reserves final, Bright were too strong for North Wangaratta, smashing the Hawks 25.13 (163) to 5.3 (33).
WANGARATTA Rovers battled with the competition’s best for three quarters but in the end went down at WJ Findlay Oval on Saturday.
Taking on minor premiers Yarrawonga, the Hawks led by 10 points at half-time but Yarrawonga responded kicking eight second half goals to t wo, saluting 8.8 (56) to 12.19 (91).
While the Hawks lost, they already had second spot locked in and will face
BY WILLSON MACK wmack@ nemedia.com.au
Wangaratta in a derby qualifying final at John Foord Oval next weekend – the first time the two sides have met in a final since 1989.
Wangaratta Rovers football operations manager Barry Sullivan is looking forward to an exciting finals series.
“I think the last time the two sides met in a qualifying
final was 1989,” Sullivan said.
“It’s going to be a massive build up this week and I’m sure the whole town will get behind the game.
“Wangaratta are in some good form as well and we’ll be looking to rebound so it should be a good game.”
The home team jumped to an early lead and Alex Marklew continued his strong form with four goals in the first half.
However, one of the league’s best defenders in Yarrawonga’s Ned Pender-
gast was moved on to the livewire Hawks’ forward and restricted his impact.
While Rovers ultimately went down, they were within seven points of the league’s best team at three quarter time and will no doubt take confidence away from the affair.
“At the end of the day we showed for three quarters that we can match it with them,” Sullivan said.
“We had no serious injuries so we’ve got a healthy list to pick from and I know
that we can match it with any side on our day.
“It’s just about putting four quarters together.”
Pigeons star mid-sized forward Jess Koopman booted five majors in the affair, while gun full forward kicked three goals to finish two behind North Albury’s Josh Minogue in the Doug Strang Medal.
For the Hawks, along with Marklew, Kieran Parnell was excellent, while Xavier Allison was his reliable self.
Wangaratta belt Raiders to set up derby final
■ From back page
After losing their first four games of the season, Wangaratta are now just two wins away from playing in a grand final.
But the Hawks might stand in their way after going 13-5 this season.
“We enjoyed the win for 10 minutes but pretty quickly we turned our attention to next weekend’s final,” Reid said.
“It will be a big game, all derbies are big games especially in a final but it’ll be important that we don’t get overawed by the occasion.
“It is just another game at the end of the day.”
After Wangaratta’s reserves team finished on top of the ladder Reid will have a full squad to choose from for the first two finals.
Magpies stalwart Matt Kelly played his first senior game for the year in the win over Raiders and could feature in the finals series, while Callum Moore and Brad Melville are a chance to return next weekend.
“Matt Kelly played his first senior game on the weekend – he’s played five or six in the reserves so he’s got a few games behind him now,” Reid said.
“He’s someone that we think can play a big role for us in the finals series.
“Brad Melville and ‘Cal’ Moore could also return so we’re going to have some selection headaches but that’s a good problem to have.”
JAMES Love and Bright’s senior footballers overcame a slow first half to run out winners in their elimination final against King Valley on Saturday. Bright piled on nine goals in the second half to take the game by 50 points. They’ll face Goorambat on Sunday after the Bats downed Milawa 19.15 (129) to 9.11 (65). Stories page 18, scoreboard page 17.
PHOTO: Kurt Hickling
WANGARATTA’s demolishing of Wodonga Raiders has set up a mouth-watering derby qualifying final next weekend.
After smashing Raiders by 148 points in a 26.20 (176) to 4.4 (28) demolition, the Magpies leapfrogged North Albury to finish third on the ladder, be-
BY WILLSON MACK wmack@
nemedia.com.au
hind Rovers and Yarrawonga.
Now the Magpies and Hawks will meet at John Foord Oval next weekend in what will be the first time the two
sides have met in a final since 1989.
Wangaratta coach Ben Reid was happy with his side’s efforts.
“Raiders were undermanned and we knew that going in so the focus was just on playing good footy,” Reid said.
“To the boys’ credit they did
that, we had 46 scoring shots so when you have that many you must be doing something right with the footy.
“We moved the footy well a our effort was good – Matt Grossman went back with the flight with two minutes left in the game which shows the effort everyone was putting in.”
Michael ‘Juice’ Newton wound the clock back and booted nine majors, taking his tally to 14 from the past two weeks as he gathers some form ahead of a finals campaign.
“Juice was on fire,” Reid said.
“We took him off with 15 minutes to go just to make sure he got through unscathed, he’s an important player for us and hopefully he’ll continue his form next weekend.”
■ Continued page 19
“When he’s one grabbing marks you know he’s in form and he was clunking everything.