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“BOOTS on the ground” will be the focus for North East firefighters, as they play a vital role in the outcome of catastrophic fire conditions in the Wimmera today.
Some 12 members from across the North East’s District 23, including 10 from the Wangaratta Group’s
tares of land since igniting last Thursday.
16 brigades, have been stationed near Beaufort, west of Ballarat, at the southern edge of a blaze which has burnt more than 21,000 hec-
As part of a 30-strong Hume response made up of firefighters from Wodonga, Wangaratta, Shepparton and Yea districts, strike teams deployed on both night and day shifts spent Tuesday blacking out
around the blaze, with the fire threat expected to ramp up today.
Wangaratta Group duty officer Travis Ledger said a number of senior local personnel had been deployed as part of strike teams and as incident managers to assist the overall response to
the catastrophic conditions, which is only the second time the warning has been issued since the Black Summer fires in the North East four years ago.
“What it is about primarily is strengthening the CFA control lines and preparing for the adverse weather on
Wednesday and through to Thursday,” he said.
“It really is a numbers game in terms of both the weather – the numbers for the weather and the fire danger rating index – and then equally it’s (about) the number of firefighters.
■ Continued page 3
“Ascoreglorious full of instantly recognisable arias”
Wednesday
Thursday
WANGARATTA Players will hold an information day outlining their June production, The Long Road by Shelagh Stephenson, this Sunday, March 3 at 4.30pm at Stage Door Studio, 4D Evans Street, Wangaratta.
To be directed by Brad Buckingham, this will be a short session to introduce people to the play, see and hear a bit of the text, hear about the intended style and setting and provide details of the audition process for the show.
This is a gritty, true to life drama and actors will be required to
commit themselves to portraying a full range of emotions.
The play centres round the death of 18-year-old Danny who is fatally stabbed in a random attack and how his family struggles to find meaning and forgiveness after the event. His mother’s determination to understand the atrocity brings her face to face with his killer and forces the family to confront the bitter senselessness of their loss.
The cast required:
JOE: The elder brother of 21-year-old Danny, the murdered boy. Confused and frustrated by
his parents’ treatment of him and how they are dealing with Danny’s death in the days and months after it. 18-25 years old.
MARY: Danny’s mum. Struggling to process the randomness of Danny’s death and make her way through the grief. Wants to contact Danny’s killer to help make sense of it. 50-60 years old.
JOHN: Danny’s dad. Starts and stays angry. Seriously at odds with Mary. About 50-60 years old.
EMMA: The killer. 18 years old. Appalling childhood. Initially unaware of the impact she’s had on
THE World Day of Prayer will be held at St Michael’s Anglican Church in Wangaratta this Friday at 10.30am.
The World Day of Prayer is an international, inter-church organisation focused on sharing the thoughts of women from all parts of the world; their hopes, concerns and prayers, and is celebrated in more than l70 countries on the first Friday of March each year.
A group of Palestinian Christian women have prayed
of Practice of the Australian Press Council.
If you believe the standards may have been breached, you may approach the Chronicle itself or contact the council by email at info@presscouncil.org.au or by phone on (02) 9261 1930.
PLACE OF PRAYER: The World Day of Prayer service will be held at St Michael’s Anglican Church, 39 O’Leary Street this Friday at 10.30am.
and reflected together over the past several years to respond to the invitation to write the 2024 program. The Palestinian Christian women who wrote this worship service have invited the world to pray for peace, justice and freedom of religion and freedom of movement.
Their theme is “l Beg You... Bear With One Another in Love,” based on Ephesians 4:1-7, a call to bear with each other in love, despite all difficulties and oppression.
“The movement follows the example of Jesus Christ, who prayed from a place of knowledge and care for the world, and who acted from a place of prayer and connection to God,” said Margaret Gibson, a representative from the Anglican parish.
The movement calls specifically for participants to pray with women, refugees, persons experiencing homelessness, and all who are sick, dying and grieving to to be united in treating all with justice and love.
people’s lives. 18-25 years old
ELIZABETH: The prison social worker sought out by Mary as she tries to contact Emma. Wise, patient and self-contained, she tries to help everyone come to terms with what Emma did. Late 25-40 years old.
Auditions will be held by appointment on Sunday, March 10 from 5pm – 8pm and Wednesday, March 13, from 6pm to 8.40pmand if needed Monday, March 18, from 6pm to 8.40pm. Contact Brad on 0421 054 138 for more information or to make an audition appointment.
A FREE screening event is taking place for people to get checked for heart valve disease in Wangaratta this Friday from 9am to 5pm.
Checks are taking place at Northeast Family Medicine, suite 1/90-100 Ovens Street and to book, scan the QR code.
Upon arrival, attendees will see a clinician for a heart valve screening via a questionnaire and stethoscope check.
If further investigation is required, participants will be referred on the day for further free testing, such as an echocardiogram.
Heart Valve Disease (HVD) is a health condition where the valves in your heart, which control blood flow, don’t work properly.
To book an appointment, scan the QR code.
WODONGA police are investigating following the alleged armed robbery of alcohol last weekend.
Officers believe two men approached a Melrose Drive bottle shop in West Wodonga around 9.20pm on Friday, when one of the men allegedly stole drinks.
A staff member attempted to follow the man, but was then allegedly threatened with a machete by a second man, who then stole a slab of beer. There were no physical injuries.
Both men reportedly fled the scene in a blue sedan.
Images of two men who police believe may be able to assist with their enquiries have been released.
The first man is described as Caucasian and was wearing a tan coloured baseball hat, black t-shirt and black shorts.
The second man was reportedly wearing a white-coloured
hoodie, cream-coloured skinny jeans and black shoes.
Anyone who witnessed the incident, has CCTV or dashcam footage or information us urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential report at www. crimestoppers.com.au.
BY SIMONE KERWIN skerwin@ nemedia.com.au
FRESH from its Australia Day Event of the Year Award, Wangaratta’s Project 365 has revealed plans for its next live performance, to be held on February 22, 2025.
The Wangaratta Rodeo Grounds will again be the venue for the initiative’s third round of live performances, featuring U Can Cry, the 19-piece band comprising local singers and musicians aiming to spark conversations around mental health.
Pete Rourke, the initiator of the project, said the next show would be even bigger than the last event, which was staged at the rodeo grounds in November.
“We’re expecting a bigger crowd, more performances during the day, a bigger stage and big top, and bigger conversations,” Pete said.
Project 365 was born in 2021-’22, when a group of local musicians and friends worked towards presenting a live show at the Wangarat-
ta Performing Arts and Convention Centre to promote the message that ‘it’s okay to not be okay’, and encourage people to speak up and seek help when struggling.
One show expanded to two in May, 2022, and was followed by last November’s event, aptly titled ‘The Ripple Effect’, which drew 2000 peo-
ple and raised at least $50,000.
Now, with even more support from local sponsors, and a Project 365 “family” which has grown to at least 100, the team is gearing up for next year’s show.
“The people who have jumped on board are not in it for the notoriety, they’re in it for the conversations it
creates; it is really about that ‘ripple effect’,” Pete said.
As well as the local support, Project 365 is in discussion with national companies based in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane who have watched the initiative’s growth and are keen to offer support.
At the heart of the event,
though, is the spirit of the local community - from the artists taking the stage, to those working behind the scenes and sponsoring the event, to the music-lovers and supporters of the cause who know its worth.
“The conversations that have started as a result are our pay day; we all get mes-
DRUM ROLL PLEASE…:
Project 365 and the band
U Can Cry will be back for another show in 2025, and project initiator Pete Rourke (front), along with (back) band member Bruce Poulter and supporters Steve Stone (Stones Plumbing), Emma Merlo (event coordinator), Tanya McAlpin (Old Faithfulls Brew Bar), Georgia Hamidon (Dal Zotto Wines), Connor Tait (Tait Real Estate), Rob Smith (Ovens Valley Event Hire), Kathy Canny (Canny Carrying Co), Rob Humphreys (R&R Quality Homes), and Mick Littel (Tradelink) are excited to see the project continue sparking important conversations about mental health.
PHOTO: Kurt Hickling
sages from people saying the shows have made them talk, or have made their friends talk, and that’s why we do it,” Pete said.
“With the tsunami it creates, I believe we can really put our town on the map as far as discussion of mental health, if we put our minds to it.”
■ From front page
“It’s well known that when it’s in the catastrophic area and we’re in that realm, the fire is very difficult to fight, if at all, but that then means it’s about the lead-in, it’s about this preparation work, securing your control lines and securing the properties you can.
“It’s well documented what the effects of a catastrophic danger rating are, so boots on the ground is what it’s about – they’ll be doing all they can to assist in securing (the area) before Wednesday and doing what they can to protect life and property on Wednesday and after.
“We’ve also got some senior volunteers in the incident management role over there, and we’ve got (Wangaratta
Group officer) Lachie Gales and (deputy group officer) Garry Nash – a couple of wellknown local volunteers – so they’re more in that incident management space and that’ll be coordinating not just our crews and the Hume crews, but the entire fire (response).
The Bureau of Meteorology anticipated a strong north or north-westerly wind would prevail today, which could push the fire back towards Beaufort with gusts of up to 80kph.
Dry lightning was also forecast in the area, with a total fire ban in place throughout the Wimmera.
Comparatively, the North East’s fire danger today has been categorised as ‘high’, the second-lowest risk under the nation’s blanket fire
danger rating system.
“Our weather’s not as severe as over there and even other parts of the state, but we’re still resourcing and making sure this area is appropriately resourced, as will multiple groups and brigades across the state,” Mr Ledger said.
CFA chief officer Jason Heffernan said catastrophic fire danger signaled the worst possible grass and bushfire conditions.
“Do not plan to defend your home on catastrophic fire danger days – the safest place to be is away from high-risk areas such as campsites, parks and forests,” he said.
“Don’t wait for an official warning before you leave, emergencies can start quickly and threaten lives and homes within minutes.”
THE passenger in a crash which claimed the life of a motorist on Beechworth-Wangaratta Road late last week remains hospitalised in a stable condition.
The Sunbury woman, in her 60s, was airlifted to The Alfred Hospital shortly after a crash around 2pm on Friday, while the 48-year-old female driver was declared dead at the scene.
The pair’s vehicle is believed to have left the road and crashed into a tree west of Airey Lane, with the road subsequently closed between River Road Tarrawingee and White Post Road, Everton Upper to allow police to investigate the scene on Friday.
The road was re-opened to traffic by Saturday morning.
It marks the third fatal crash on the road since 2013, following a pedestrian fatality in that same year and another single-vehicle crash in 2018.
A MAN has died after crashing his motorbike in Freeburgh at the weekend.
Police are investigating the circumstances surrounding the Saturday afternoon crash, which is believed to have taken place near Dungey Track just after 5pm.
The motorbike is believed to have left the track and crashed into a tree.
Police believe the 57-year-old man was from New South Wales.
Anyone who witnessed the crash, or has footage or information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or www. crimestoppersvic.com.au.
The crash came a day after a 48-yearold Sunbury woman was killed when her car reportedly left the road surface on the Beechworth-Wangaratta Road and crashed into a tree.
A 60-year-old female passenger, also from Sunbury, was airlifted to The Alfred Hospital in a serious condition, however, was being treated as stable by Sunday afternoon.
FORK
INTERACTIVE COMMUNITY FORUM ON MARCH 6
AS part of the campaign for the End Pork Barrelling Bill, Dr Haines will host an interactive community forum at The Cube in Wodonga from 7pm on Wednesday, March 6.
At the event, Dr Catherine Williams, executive director of the Centre for Public Integrity will outline the prevalence of pork barrelling and how the major parties use it for political benefit.
Geoffrey Watson SC will host a ‘hypothetical’ panel discussion that will demonstrate how a lack of transparency and accountability has led to wasted public money and distrust in government.
The event will also be live streamed.
To register to attend in person or online, go to www.helenhaines.org/end-pork-barrelling-interactive-community-forum/.
Read more about the bill here: https://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Bills_Legislation/Bills_Search_Results/ Result?bId=r7153.
INDI federal Independent MP Helen Haines has introduced a bill to Parliament to reform how Commonwealth funding is managed to increase fairness, transparency and accountability.
The Accountability of Grants, Investment Mandates and Use of Public Resources Amendment (End Pork Barrelling) Bill 2024 seeks to end ‘pork barrelling’ by increasing transparency and accountability of government spending of taxpayer money in grant programs.
Pork barrelling is the practice of directing government funds to projects in marginal electorates to win votes, without regard to evidence of the project’s merit.
“Taxpayer money should be spent on the needs of communities not the wants of the major parties,” Dr Haines said.
Public Integrity to draft the bill, which would:
require all grants programs to have clear and publicly available selection criteria;
ensure robust reporting to the parliament to increase accountability; and
create a parliamentary committee with oversight of grant administration and guideline compliance
pork barrelling include the Sports Rorts, Commuter Car Park Rorts and the misuse of the opening round of the Community Battery for Household Solar program.
“At its best, pork barrelling is maladministration, at its worst its corruption,” Dr Haines said.
“Funding decisions should be evidence-based, with grants awarded on merit and need.
“My bill would require ministers to report to the Parliament when they have delivered money to their own electorates or gone against the advice of their department when awarding grants,” Dr Haines said.
“The solutions I have put forward in this bill are practical reporting measures that ensure that the Parliament, and the public, know how funding decisions are made, and why grants are awarded.”
“At election time, the major parties use taxpayer money to shore up votes in marginal seats.
“Rorting grants programs wastes money and destroys public trust in government processes.”
Dr Haines has worked closely with the Centre for
“Sunlight is the best disinfectant, and by forcing ministers to front up and explain themselves if they go against official advice, we are less likely to see dodgy decisions made on the eve of elections to win votes.”
According to Dr Haines, prominent examples of
Dr Haines has been a leading voice for restoring integrity to politics, campaigning for the establishment of an anti-corruption commission with her Australian Federal Integrity Commission Bill in 2021 and serves as the Deputy Chair of the parliamentary oversight committee for the newly established National Anti-Corruption Commission since July 2023.
Wangaratta-inspired fashion hits the runway in New York
BY SIMONE KERWIN skerwin@ nemedia.com.au
ANGARATTA had its moment in the spotlight on the runway at this month’s New York Fashion Week.Melbourne-based designer Tara Whalley revealed her Wangaratta Collection in a show staged during fashion week - an event which showcases international fashion collections to buyers, the press and the public.
The “uplifting, fun” collection features a series of prints Tara painted while living in Wangaratta during 2022 and ‘23 - and even incorporates Apex Park’s famed flood-marker, ‘Yogi’.
“When I moved to Wangaratta, I instantly felt connected to the place and my family’s roots,” Tara said.
“My grandad grew up on a farm on Whalley Lane in Myrtleford, and used to travel to Wangaratta for school.
“When the flood waters were too high, he would trade a bag of potatoes for lodging - and this is featured in the Wangaratta print.
“My great grandparents (Linley and Rupert Whalley) moved to Wangaratta during the war and became part of the community; they were involved in groups like the CWA, and my great grandfather was president of the Wangaratta RSL.”
Tara said it had been special to spend time walking down the same streets and visiting the same places her family would have known well while in Wangaratta.
“I even lived on the same street where my grandfather Bob went to the tech school,” she said.
“I felt fortunate to be welcomed warmly by the CWA, and was shown their vintage tea towel collection.
“I wanted to create my
DESIGNER DRAWS ON TIME IN RURAL CITY FOR COLLECTION UNVEILED IN NEW YORK
SHOWCASING WANGARATTA: Tara Whalley (centre) poses with models wearing designs from her Wangaratta Collection, which featured during this month’s New York Fashion Week.
own tea towels based on memories and icons of Wangaratta, so I took a lot of inspiration from the birds, produce and textile crafts of the region.
“Wangaratta is known for being a textile town, so I wanted to pay homage to traditional crafts such as crochet and lacework and put my own spin on it.
“My hand-painted artworks of my experiences are the basis of the collection, and then I move on to shapes and experiment there.”
The Wangaratta Collection is the latest work from the designer, who established her self-titled fashion brand in 2015, after returning to Australia following a year designing for war-affected Mayan weavers; her designs helped provide income to families to cover food, education and basic health care.
“After that time working with local artisans, I knew when I returned to Australia I wanted to start my label and do it local-made,” Tara said.
“My collections are based off my artworks; I paint wherever I go.”
T
ara’s hand-painted artwork is printed on natural fibres; it has previously been featuredSummer’s warm and mild climate creates the ideal conditions for wasps to flourish.
From common paper wasps to more aggressive species like yellow jackets, these insects can build nests around homes and gardens, leading to potential hazards for residents.
Wasp stings can be nasty and nests on your property are a danger to you and your family.
during Paris Fashion Week (2021) and New York Fashion Week (2020), as well as in publications such as Vogue, The Age and InStyle.
Tara said the Wangaratta Collection, which was made in Melbourne, featured native wildlife, country cakes and antique treasures and was inspired by her time spent with the local community.
“The community is super
- TARA WHALLEY
warm and lovely,” she said.
“I had a great time meeting other artists from Artisans Alley, the CWA and the men’s shed.
“I actually enjoyed shops being closed on Sundays, as I could really settle into my work and paint and reflect on my experiences from the week; it was a very productive and joyful time.
“I love that you don’t have to go too far (In
When
Wangaratta) before you find some fruit generously hanging from the front of the fence, and that people are so enthusiastic about saying ‘good morning’ that sometimes I would jump out of my skin from the happy surprise.
“Everyone is friendly and is happy to take time to welcome you and make you feel right at home.
“There is a big community spirit and a lot of passion and Wangaratta pride.
“Everyone I met was proactive in making the community the best it could be.
“Wangaratta holds a special place in my heart.”
Tara said through the Wangaratta Collection, she wanted to convey “the essence of life in Wangaratta, the community spirit and their warmth”.
She said it was “electrifying” to see the pieces on the runway in New York.
“The moment when you are seconds from sending out each model on the runway is exhilarating. Months and months of hard work finally being released to the world and to a live audience is unreal,” she said.
Tara will release a limited drop of the Wangaratta Collection on her return to Australia, with some styles expected to be available in March.
The extended range will be available in a few months’ time, including prints available across a range of styles and accessories.
“You can find some of my work stocked at Wangaratta Art Gallery too, or online at www.tarawhalley.com,” Tara said.
To see behind-the-scenes footage of Tara and her mother Anne on their recent trip to New York, visit her Instagram page @ tarawhalley.
wasp control and eradication,
TARA Whalley’s Wangaratta-inspired appearance at this month’s New York Fashion Week is an emphatic reminder of the natural beauty we are surrounded by every day.
Now Melbourne-based, Tara revealed her Wangaratta Collection, inspired by her North East upbringing, to the runway among international fashion collections to buyers, the press and the publics.
The “uplifting, fun” collection features a series of prints Tara painted while living in Wangaratta during 2022 and ‘23.
Building on Wangaratta’s long and prominent history of textile manufacturing, and craft making, Tara’s work highlights Wangaratta’s unique natural identity by incorporating local waterways, wildlife and produce of the region.
Tara said she tried to capture “the essence of life in Wangaratta, the community spirit and their warmth” in her series.
The fact a small community’s pride and values has stirred on stylings of such acclaim is an incredible reminder of how lucky we are to be living in such a wonderful environment.
The Wangaratta Collection is the latest work from the designer, who established her self-titled fashion brand in 2015, after returning to Australia following a year designing for war-affected Mayan weavers.
Wangaratta is well-known for its creativity including its textile art, boasting multiple textile events across our galleries and holding the nationally acclaimed Wangaratta Contemporary Textile Award.
Tara’s ability to pay homage to local traditional crafts and extract so much of Wangaratta in her now internationally recognised collection of styles is an inspiring accomplishment.
Tara’s achievements show the Wangaratta dream is never out of reach.
1 The cartoon character, Huckleberry Hound, is most commonly seen wearing what colour bow tie?
(a) Blue (b) Green (c) Red (d) Yellow
2 In 1960, Madagascar gained independence from which country?
(a) Netherlands (b) Switzerland (c) Portugal (d) France
3 What is Cody Simpson’s preferred stroke in competition swimming?
(a) Freestyle (b) Breaststroke
(c) Backstroke (d) Butterfly
4 In September 2021, who became Deputy Prime Minister of the United Kingdom?
(a) Dominic Raab (b) Sajid Javid (c) Michael Gove (d) Alok Sharma
5 In South Africa, the older males of which animal species are nicknamed ‘stink bulls’?
(a) Hyena
(b) Giraffe (c) Elephant (d) Lion
6 What is the largest body of water in the Caucasus
region?
(a) Lake Sevan (b) Lake Vodlozero (c) Lake Pielavesi
(d) Lake Parz
7 Who played the title role in the sitcom, Blackadder?
(a) John Cleese (b) Rowan Atkinson (c) Bob Hoskins (d) Jeremy Irons
8 In May 2022, former Australian women’s cricket coach Matthew Mott became the coach of which ODI team?
(a) England (b) West Indies (c) Pakistan (d) India
9 Which Bob Dylan song starts with the words, “You’ve got a lotta nerve to say you are my friend ”?
(a) Shelter from the Storm (b) Like a Rolling Stone (c) Positively 4th Street (d) Hurricane
10Jeanne Hébuterne was best known as the frequent subject and common-law wife of which artist?
(a) Paul Gauguin (b) Pablo Picasso (c) Amedeo Modigliani (d) Marcel Duchamp
1 (c) Red 2 (d) France 3 (d) Butterfly 4 (a) Dominic Raab 5 (b) Giraffe 6 (a) Lake Sevan 7 (b) Rowan Atkinson 8 (a) andEngl 9 (c) Positively 4th Street 10 (c) Amedeo Modigliani
NEIGHBOURHOOD Houses will be under financial pressure and may be forced to cut back services if they do not receive a funding boost.
There are more than 400 Neighbourhood Houses in Victoria, and they deliver vital services across the state, especially in the regions, including Wangaratta and district.
Services are delivered by 5500 staff, and almost 7000 dedicated volunteers, who receive 10 million visits a year and give out 2000 tons of food relief.
For a service that already runs on a shoestring budget, cost increases and a shortfall of funding seriously threaten the long-term sustainability of the program.
Indexed funding increases for Neighbourhood Houses are not keeping pace with real inflation, and without urgent support the food banks will soon have to start turning people away.
Neighbourhood Houses Victoria has appealed for additional funding of $2.5 million to be shared across the network, and I recently spoke in parliament supporting this request.
Neighbourhood Houses provide invaluable benefit to the community, and the government must do what is necessary to ensure they remain sustainable into the future.
The Minister must commit to delivering the requested $2.5 million for Neighbourhood Houses.
Wendy Lovell, MP for Northern Victoria
WITH Victoria preparing to swelter under hot weather conditions over the next 48 hours, The Lost Dogs’ Home has issued an urgent warning to pet families to make sure their fur babies are not at risk of a catastrophic health scenario.
Several animals had already arrived in an almost critical condition as a result of the heat.
The good news is these beautiful doggos have recovered completely and are out in foster while they heal and get ready for a healthier future, but we fear fatalities will happen if pet owners do not heed the
warning signs of heat danger and act now.
This is especially true in regional areas where the issue is further compounded by the threats of bushfires and even further extreme heat.
The threat of tragic fatalities from heat related conditions was especially of a concern for pets that escape the home and are on the streets.
These animals are extremely vulnerable to the scathing effects of the heat and find themselves at real risk of tragedy striking with no protection of the hot weather.
We implore everyone to make sure your pet is at home where they belong.
It’s never ok to put your pet in potentially devastating environments.
Because a dog is much closer to the hot asphalt, its body can heat up quickly, and its paws can sustain burns or injuries.
We urge people to think about their pets and exercise extreme caution in temperature such as those we are about to see.
Warning signs of heat stroke some
symptoms to keep an eye out for include panting excessively, moving sluggishly, excess salivation, drooling, reluctance to move, acting woozy, vomiting, losing consciousness.
If your pet is showing any of the above symptoms make sure you seek veterinary attention immediately.
Suzana Talevski, The Lost Dogs’ Home spokesperson
A BORDER man who forced entry into a Wangaratta fast food restaurant after a night of drinking late last year has been fined $1500 and encouraged to “lay off the booze”.
Appearing before Wangaratta Magistrates Court on Monday, the man pleaded guilty to charges of theft and burglary after CCTV cameras caught him inside a Ryley Street restaurant in the early hours of November 19.
He was filmed checking the store’s registers and taking a soft drink from the fridge around 5.40am, before moving towards the office and fiddling with a digital tablet.
The court heard the man threw the table to the ground twice before exiting the store through a drivethru window.
Police later found the man at another nearby fast food store.
Magistrate Peter Dunn questioned whether the man had been “enjoying the hospitality of the region” prior to the offending, and noted the man had priors for failing to move on while intoxicated.
He questioned whether alcohol was a problem for the man.
Defence lawyer Nancy Battiato noted her client had no similar New South Wales offending, while the man’s partner said the defendant had since significantly reduced his alcohol intake.
Mr Dunn did not convict the man, instead ordering he pay $1500 in fines and a further $526.60 to repair the damaged tablet.
IT’S OFFICIAL: Galen Catholic College held its opening Mass on Friday, when Sandhurst Diocese Bishop Shane Mackinlay officially opened and blessed the school’s new performing arts centre and extended stadium. The $8.3 million building project began in mid-2022, and the two facilities are this year being utilised by students at the college. Friday’s Mass was held in the stadium, which can now cater for up to 1400 people for whole-school assemblies, and features two full courts. The performing arts centre incorporates flexible learning spaces and a theatre for on-site performances.
A MAN found in possession of an ornate sword at a Wangaratta address has been urged to pursue the proper licencing for the weapon, which he said he used to decorate his bedroom.
The 20-year-old on Monday pleaded guilty to a single charge of possess a prohibited weapon, after officers located a Japanese katana in the boot of his vehicle when attending a Thomas Wedge Drive address for an unrelated matter.
Wangaratta Magistrates Court did not hear the date of the offending, however, Magistrate Peter Dunn noted police had been called to the address following reports of a family dispute between two women.
The weapon was mentioned by the women during their conversations with police, before the accused led officers to his vehicle to retrieve the sword.
The defendant told the court he had been given the katana by a friend, and had it displayed on his wall for 12 months prior to the weapon being found by police.
Mr Dunn said the “swordsmith” was not charged with using the weapon.
“You used to be able to go down to the local camping store and places like that and buy these things,” he told the court.
“It’s got to be viewed in that context.”
Lawyer Dayna Powell said her client managed anxiety and depression diagnoses, and had stopped school in year four amid a challenging upbringing which included a number of years in residential care.
Mr Dunn placed the man on a good behaviour bond for 12 months without conviction, and ordered the sword be surrendered to police.
THE Early Holden Car Club Wangaratta will present the all GM (General Motor) Day at Apex Park on Sunday, March 10 from 9am to 2pm.
All Holden/GM vehicles are welcome - if you can drive it, please bring it - with a sponsor trophy presentation to take place at 1pm.
Entry is $5 for participants on the day and by gold coin donation for spectators.
SIX-time Golden Guitar winner, Australian singer-songwriter, Amber Lawrence, will perform live at The Vine Hotel in North Wangaratta on Friday, March 15 from 8pm.
Amber Lawrence is one of Australia’s most celebrated country artists, announced the 2023 Female Artist of the Year at the CMAA Golden Guitar Awards, and the highest seeling artist of the year.
Tickets are available now by visiting thevinehotel.net.au/event-details/ amber-lawrence.
ARIES (March 21 to April 19) Stop being the wool-gathering Lamb and start turning that dream project into a reality. You have the ideas, drive and charisma to persuade others to follow your lead, so do it.
TAURUS (April 20 to May 20) You’ve scored some big successes. But remember that all hard-working Ferdinands and Ferdinandas need some time to restore their energies and refresh their spirits.
GEMINI (May 21 to June 20) You’re gaining a stronger mental image of what you’re trying to achieve. Now look for the facts that will help get this to develop from a concept into a solid proposal.
CANCER (June 21 to July 22) Some of you eager-to-please Moon Children might want to delay some decisions until midweek, when you can again think more with your head than your heart.
LEO (July 23 to August 22) A new business venture seems to offer everything you’ve been looking for. But be careful that this rosy picture doesn’t betray traces of red ink under the surface.
VIRGO (August 23 to September 22) A volatile situation needs the kind of thoughtful and considerate care you can provide right now. There’ll be plenty of time later to analyze what might have gone wrong.
LIBRA (September 23 to October 22) Your loyalty to a friend in a tough situation earns you respect from the people you care about. Those who criticize you don’t understand what friendship is all about.
SCORPIO (October 23 to November 21) Your strong work ethic is rewarded with the kind of challenging opportunity you love to tackle. Now go ahead and celebrate with family and/or close friends.
SAGITTARIUS (November 22 to December 21) A legal matter you thought had finally been resolved could require a second look. But don’t make any moves yet without consulting your lawyer.
CAPRICORN (December 22 to January 19) Taking charge is what you like to do, and since you do it so well, expect to be asked to lead a special group. This could
AQUARIUS (January 20 to February 18)
ELMO and everyone’s Sesame Street favourites will visit Wangaratta this weekend as part of their tour of regional Victoria.
The thrilling theatre show will take audience members on an enchanting journey with Elmo and his friends as they discover their hidden talents and dreams at the circus.
Get ready to be entertained by their amazing acts, catchy songs and heart-warming moments that will leave you smiling from ear to ear.
It all begins with Elmo’s enchanting bedtime story about the circus.
As Elmo falls asleep, he is magically transported to his dreamtime circus where he is warmly greeted by his friends Abby, Cookie Monster, Grover, Bert and Ernie.
The show bursts into high energy as the talented cast sings and dances to the iconic Sesame Street theme song, but with a twist - as they are embarking on an exciting adventure to the circus.
With their vibrant costumes and catchy tunes, they express their deep desire to join the circus and become part of its magical experience.
From hilarious clowning and
daring stunt attempts to mesmerizing dog acts and captivating dance routines, the stage comes alive with their boundless energy, skill and infectious enthusiasm.
But the excitement doesn’t stop there- with internationally renowned circus performers taking to the stage, showcasing their extraordinary talents.
Prepare to be spellbound by their impressive acrobatic dis-
plays, jaw dropping juggling acts and mind-bending illusions that will leave you in awe at their incredible feats.
Elmo’s Circus Dream is more than just a show – it’s an immersive experience that ignites the imaginations of children, encourages self-expression and teaches valuable life lessons in a fun and engaging way.
Get ready to be dazzled as the magic of the circus unfolds be-
FOLLOWING a sold out national tour, Australia’s new ‘Kings of Variety Television’ are back with a brand new show, coming to the Wangaratta Performing Arts and Convention Centre on Friday night.
The Robertson Brothers will present their heart-warming and uplifting 1960’s Variety TV Show, paying tribute to the musical giants of the sixties including The Beach Boys, The Monkees, Johnny Farnham, Peter, Paul and Mary, The Hollies, The Bee Gees, Frankie Valli, The Everly Brothers, Neil Sedaka and The Seekers.
MELBOURNE band
PISCES (February 19 to March 20)
The interactive theatrical TV experience is filled with all the fun, music and long forgotten memories of the fabulous era, with tickets available now at wpacc.com.au.
Siesta Cartel, which celebrates the traditional music of their Italian heritage, will perform at the Da Vinci Club on Saturday night. Doors open at 5.45pm and tickets include a three course meal (drinks at bar prices) with entrees beginning at 6.30pm. Tickets are $75 for non-members ($65 for members) and must be pre-purchased, available at https://events. humanitix.com/siestacartel-live-at-da-vinci or call Pip on 0409 307 606.
fore your eyes, leaving you with unforgettable memories and a renewed belief in the power of dreams.
Get your tickets now and join Elmo and his Sesame Street friends during Elmo’s Circus Dream at the Wangaratta Performing Arts and Convention Centre on Saturday, March 2 at 10.30am and 1pm, available at wpacc.com.au or from the box office.
THE Flying Fruit Fly Circus will dazzle the audience when Tempo is presented at the Wangaratta Performing Arts and Convention Centre on Friday, March 15. Tempo features an extraordinary ensemble of young performers aged between 12 and 18 who not only possess amazing circus skills but also play instruments. Enjoy magic, slapstick, juggling, balancing, acrobatics and aerials as they tumble in, out and around the concert grand piano in this fun, family show. Tickets are available now at wpacc.com. au.
ENJOY a rare operatic experience when Lyster Opera brings Friedrich von Flotow’s Martha to the Milawa Hall this Saturday for a special afternoon performance at 2pm.
The romantic comic opera tells the story of two Irish noblewomen who, bored with life at the Queen’s Court, decide to disguise themselves as servants and visit the local fair at Richmond.
When they are hired by two farmers to attend to their housework, comedy turns to romance, and a bad case of mistaken identity.
With a cast of professional singers who have performed regularly at Melbourne Opera and Victorian Opera, tickets are available now at lysteropera.com. au (concessions available).
THE award-winning team behind The Gruffalo and The Gruffalo’s Child return with songs, laughs and scary fun when they present Room on the Broom at the Wangaratta Performing Arts and Convention Centre on Thursday, March 21.
CDP Kids presents Tall Stories’ production of the popular book by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler, which tells the story of the witch and her cat flying happily on their broomstick – until a stormy wind blows away the witch’s hat, bow and wand. Suitable for children aged three to eight years and their grown-ups, tickets are available now at wpacc.com.au.
BY ANITA McPHERSON amcpherson@ nemedia.com.au
FORMER High Country residents Ruth and Don Pollock will visit the Wangaratta Library tomorrow to share insights into their life experience and the art of storytelling.
The couple, now in their eighties, spent 30 years in Mount Beauty happily running a homestay holiday business, where they enjoyed providing accommodation to international students, until the COVID-19 pandemic forced them to head in a new direction.
They turned to writing, initially to preserve their family history and legacy, but for Ruth, also extending into fiction.
They also made the decision to move to Bateman’s Bay to be closer to their daughter, although now spend a lot of time travelling and talking with others.
Don said they had both written poetry before for family and friends, and Don had produced the book Suggy’s Men about the first RAAF unit in Vietnam (of which he was a part), but COVID gave them the time to concentrate on writing.
“Suggy’s Men was an anthology - a collection of stories from the men who were there, about their experiences - but a lot of people we tried to contact for the first edition, we couldn’t find,” he said.
“The first edition was published in haste because we
We like to encourage other people to write their story, or perhaps the most interesting thing that’s happened in their lives.- DON POLLOCK
realised so many were dying.
“We were then asked to produce a second edition and include more stories - so over the next five years we collected them, and ended up with about 20 per cent more than the first edition - which was quite pleasing.”
Don said it was writing about her formidable mother and grandmother (captured in her first book, Hard Women) and then reminiscing about her own life, which inspired Ruth’s idea for the romance novel, Clouds and Sunshine.
Set in New South Wales, it tells the story of Rosie Franklin, an enthusiastic teacher and sports coach who, through her desire for adventure, forms a relationship with Chas Anderson, a daredevil stunt pilot and crop-duster.
Ruth and Don talk about their inspiration, research and the stories behind the stories, but they also encourage others to consider and prepare for change later in life.
“We like travelling and
meeting people, talking not just about the books, but about what you do when you’re 80 and living in a country town in Victoria, when your business suddenly closes and COVID is upon you,” Don said.
“I know other people have done it - taken the opportunity to have time off and write stories or write about themselves - it’s not relaxing, but it’s engaging and it can be tremendously absorbing.
“We joined the local writers group - and the amount of talent amongst those people is incredible.
“We like to encourage other people to write their story, or perhaps the most interesting thing that’s happened in their lives.”
Don said they also talk about how the couple overcame a traumatic incident, the challenges of writing books, and what happens in their aftermath.
“There are lot of people who identify with us - particularly in rural communities - and may be interested in what you do when you are suddenly compelled to leave your home and friends of many years and move somewhere else; the dislocation you experience.
“But if you expect it and prepare for it, you’ll be a damn sight better off.”
Meet Ruth and Don Pollock at the Wangaratta Library on Thursday at 6pm.
Bookings are essential and can be made by contacting Library staff on 5721 2366 or library@wangaratta. vic.gov.au.
Are you a WSAC member?
you a month free!
Wednesday, February 26, 2014
CORINNE Antonoff will represent Wangaratta at the regional Youth of the Year quest after winning the Lions Club of Wangaratta local final last week.
Ms Antonoff, with fellow Wangaratta High School students Ebony Coatsworth and Max Dewez, and Cathedral College students Madison Goswell and Charlotte Bodenhamer each gave their final address to almost 100 people at the club’s dinner meeting at Murdoch House on Thursday night.
Club youth of the year chairper-
son, Rodney Dean, said students each spoke for five minutes on a subject of their choice, which included marriage equality, making a difference, impacts of social media on communication today, young people’s beliefs and how they view the world and are viewed, and incidents and cruelty occurring in many of the world’s zoos.
“All of the presentations were excellently written, presented and thought provoking,” Mr Dean said, noting that each student had also acquitted themselves very well during impromptu questions and answers.
The judging panel of Sharon Walker form the National Australia Bank, Victoria Mallinder from the Rural City of Wangaratta, and Lion Neil Ottaway awarded the public speaking prize to Ms Bodenhamer.
Ms Antonoff, as the overall winner, will compete in the regional final at Tangambalanga this Sunday.
LOCAL parents are being urged to vaccinate their children against the human papillomavirus (HPV), as new data shows HPV vaccine coverage in Victoria has continued to decline, following two years of pandemic-related disruptions.
According to Cancer Council Victoria (CCV), data from the National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance Australia (NCIRS) annual immunisation coverage reports, shows the proportion of 15-year-olds who have had one dose of the HPV vaccine in Victoria has declined from 88.2 per cent to 86.8 per cent for girls and from 86.2 per cent to 84.2 per cent for boys from 2020 to 2022.
The HPV vaccine protects against nine types of HPV that cause almost all cases of cervical cancer, other HPV-related cancers and genital warts.
In Victoria, all children aged 1213 are provided the HPV vaccine for free under the National Immunisation Program, delivered through the school-based immunisation program.
The vaccine is free for people aged 12-25 and most people now only require one dose.
CCV head of screening, early detection and immunisation, Kate Broun, said that the continued decline of
HPV vaccination coverage was concerning and that it could put more young Victorians at risk of developing HPV-related cancers and diseases.
“The HPV vaccine works best when given at a younger age and before sexual activity commences, so it’s important that children are receiving it when they are due and if they have missed it, that they catch up as soon as possible to give them the best protection against HPV-related cancers and diseases in the future,” Ms Broun said.
Victorian Minister for Health MaryAnne Thomas said the science shows that the HPV vaccine is safe and effective.
Students in Year 7 and Year 10 can access free vaccines through Victoria’s Secondary School Immunisation Program.
Students who missed their HPV vaccination last year can receive it at school this year, or at their local council immunisation service.
They can also catch up on missed immunisations at their local GP or at selected pharmacies.
Parents who aren’t sure whether their child has had the HPV vaccine can speak to their doctor or check the Australian Immunisation Register.
Find out more at hpvvaccine.org.au
Showcasing all things education in the Wangaratta community
We at Springhurst Primary School pride ourselves on offering personalised learning experiences tailored to each student’s unique needs and interests.
We offer a nurturing environment, one-to-one intervention and instruction, and numerous specialist classes.
Located less than a 30-minute drive from Wodonga and only 20 minutes from Wangaratta, our school provides the perfect balance of rural charm and accessibility.
Now accepting enrolments for 2024/25.
EDGARS Books & News can help you out when it comes to your child’s school novels, textbooks, stationary needs and study guides.
Whether you have an engaged student who loves to delve further or a reluctant reader who needs an abbreviated, accessible explanation of the text they’re studying, Edgars are proud to provide a quality, local option.
Additional study guides will help your young person get the most out of their school year and beyond and come in the form of topic tests, course notes and ‘plain English’ texts.
Edgars cater for students with learning differences such as dyslexia, autism and ADHD as well as non-fiction books for teachers and educators to learn more or enhance the involvement of students with learning differences during class and at home.
Schools and kindergartens can order the latest books or beloved favourites for their libraries and classes with a diverse range for children and young adult readers including full series and stand-alone fiction.
Book lists for Easter, Anzac Day, Father’s or
Mother’s Day or other class interests can be curated by the Edgars staff and books delivered ahead of the celebrations.
School staff are eligible for 20% off all book purchases so there’s even more reason to shop locally for all your school texts and library resources.
From picture books to classics and everything in between, make your first and last stop for school books and stationary Edgars Books & News at 55 Murphy Street, Wangaratta or search and/or order online 24/7 at www.edgarsbookandnews. com.au.
WIDE-RANGING: For all your school novels, textbooks, stationary needs and study guides visit Edgars Books & News in Wangaratta.
THERE was huge success last Friday at Mount Bulller, as 10 of Wangaratta High School’s brave students competed in the Victorian Alpine High Country Schools Mountain Bike Competition.
Wangaratta High School finished in third place in Victoria - a wonderful achievement considering it’s the first time the school has ever entered a mountain bike team, and that students were competing against schools from all over Victoria, including private schools Geelong Grammar, Ballarat Grammar, Whitefriars College and Catholic Ladies College Eltham.
Individually, Wangaratta High School’s standout rider was Year 8 student Ruby Burns, who won gold in her Junior Girls (Year 7 and 8) age group.
She won easily with a cumulative time of 10:50 minutes across her three rides - a clear eight seconds in front of her nearest rival from Cathedral College.
Luke Griffiths of Year 11
was the other student to get a place on the podium. He finished with a silver medal in the Senior
Boys (Year 11-12), with his cumulative time of 8:45.5 minutes being just under two seconds behind
his rival from Geelong Grammar. Teammate and fellow Year 11 student Euca Boonzaayer did well
to finish fourth in the same age group, just five seconds from third place. Wangaratta High
School thanks to all of the 10 riders who had the courage to compete: Alec Armstrong, Euca Boonzaayer, Ruby Burns, Oliver Cleave-Sessle, Coen Coppinger, Andrew Fraser, Luke Griffiths, Gus Hedderman, Mike Sheppard and Cameron Vincent.
Principal Dave Armstrong drove and coached the mountain bike crew, with a 6am departure, while parent Penny Everingham was on hand as a volunteer to support the kids, and fellow parent Ian Burns helped secure a trailer to safely transport all the bikes.
Year 12 student Clove Boonzaayer, who couldn’t compete due an injury a few days prior, still made the trip to support staff and students - a fantastic effort.
Wangaratta High School hopes to take up an even larger team in 2025.
The school wishes the best of luck to the few riders who are competing at Thredbo, NSW next week, as part of the Australian Mountain Bike Interschools competition.
At the start of Term 1 for 2024, we held our Prefect Investiture, whole school assembly.
Our 2024 Prefects were inducted into their roles as leaders of the school as part of a longstanding tradition of Wangaratta High School. The Prefects will work with the Principal Team and be part of the student voice of our school.
All the best for your leadership and congratulations!
A large thank you to Helen Haines MP for attending and speaking with our student cohort, encouraging our bright young minds to grab at opportunity with both hands.
Throughout this assembly our Year 12 students excitedly received their new personalised rugby jumpers, appointing them into their final year of high school education.
We look forward to witnessing all that they achieve in 2024.
GALEN Catholic College’s history is built on charisms from both the Marist Brothers of family spirit and Brigidine Sisters of strength, hospitality, hope, kindness and justice.
The college’s Catholic faith and teaching extend outside of the classroom with opportunities for student immersions.
School retreats and immersion experiences are an integral part of the life-long faith formation of young people and form part of the distinctive character of Catholic schools. They recognise the individuality and dignity of each student by fostering their unique potential and spirituality.
Over the past 11 years, Galen students and their families have provided support to communities within Timor-Leste in Southeast Asia.
Previous fundraising has allowed the college to support the rebuilding schools in the Baucau province, TimorLeste at Abafala and, more recently, St Theresinha’s school Quelicai.
The new schools not only provide clean and safe classrooms, but they also provide toilet facilities and a water tank for clean water and some teacher facilities.
The local community there is very thankful for the generous support provided by the Galen community that makes a real tangible difference to the quality of life and opportunity for their people.
In 2024 Galen will continue to provide the support and immersion
experience with eight Year 11 students participating in Timor Leste Immersion.
The current project includes building a new school in Kulugia.
Principal Darta Hovey and deputy principal Catholic identity Jim Samon made a trip to the community towards the end of last year to reconnect and establish the support required to help plan the student immersion.
This opportunity has been supported by Galen families and friends who have organised two fundraising events in March. All proceeds raised will go towards the new build project and the local community of Kulugia.
Bookings for the fundraiser events can be made by scanning the QR codes (pictured right).
School kicked off the new school year with a vibrant and engaging meet and greet night on Wednesday, February 21.
This annual event provided a wonderful opportunity for teachers, parents, and students to come together, forging connections and setting the stage for a successful year ahead.
The atmosphere was filled with excitement as families arrived, eager to meet the teachers and support staff who would be guiding their children’s learning journey.
Teachers warmly welcomed parents and students, setting the tone for a collaborative and supportive school community.
A highlight of the evening was the chance for students to showcase their classrooms and the impressive work they had already accomplished.
From colourful artwork to science experiments and writing projects, the school was alive with the
creativity and enthusiasm of its young learners. Parents and students alike
marvelled at the displays, sparking conversations and igniting a sense of
pride in their school community.
In addition to exploring
the classrooms, families had the opportunity to attend short information
sessions, learning more about the school’s curriculum, extracurricular activities, and important upcoming events.
These sessions provided valuable insights and allowed parents to engage directly with school staff, ensuring a smooth transition into the new school year.
No school event would be complete without a delicious barbecue, generously provided by the Parents and Friends Association.
The aroma of sizzling sausages and the sounds of laughter filled the air, as families gathered to enjoy each other’s company and celebrate the start of a new academic year.
As the evening came to a close, it was clear that Wangaratta Primary School had set the stage for a year filled with learning, growth, and community.
With strong connections established between teachers, parents, and students, the school was poised for a successful and fulfilling year ahead.
Wangaratta (CCW) is excited to offer The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award (Duke of Ed Award).
Launched late last year, the college currently has 13 students participating in the program, with interest in the award growing.
The Duke of Ed Award is the world’s leading youth achievement program for young people between the ages of 14 and 25.
Through participation in the award, young people are empowered with the skills and opportunities to realise their full potential and go beyond academic success.
This is part of Cathedral College Wangaratta’s approach to ensuring students are offered a holistic education that extends beyond the classroom.
It also aligns with the college’s school-wide theme this year which is based on the words that appear on the college crest, ‘Truth and Service’.
Cathedral College Wangaratta Duke of Ed coordinator Penny
EXCITED BY OPPORTUNITY:
Townshend, explains, “It offers students a chance to test themselves by planning and undertaking an adventurous journey, demonstrate commitment to their community through voluntary service, challenge themselves by learning a new skill and dedicate themselves to physical recreation.
“Additionally, the Duke of Ed Award is recognised globally and opens doors to employment and university opportunities.”
The Duke of Ed Award can be achieved at three different levels: Bronze, Silver, and Gold.
There are four award sections and participants choose activities and set goals within each of the four award sections:
- Physical recreation (a sport or exercise);
- Service (unpaid voluntary work);
- Skill (non-physical ability); and
- Adventurous journeys (a practice journey and a qualifying journey).
Cathedral College Wangaratta year nine student Georgia Loffler
is currently completing the Bronze Award level.
“I knew someone from another school who has done the Duke of Ed previously and loved it, and I think it’s a good life opportunity,” said Georgia.
Students get to choose and plan how they will achieve each section.
“I plan to organise an orienteering course in the forest near our house,” said Georgia.
“This is for my physical recreation part of the award.
“I chose French cooking as my skill and hope to experiment with many French desserts.
“My service is to volunteer with the Dogs Connect program at school.
“I am looking forward to this most because I like working with animals.
“I am also looking forward to making lots of French desserts!”
To find out more about the Duke of Edinburgh Award and other cocurricular opportunities at Cathedral College Wangaratta, please visit the college website, www.cathedralcollege.vic.edu.au.
IT’S been a busy first month at Yarrunga Primary School for students and staff
The school held its annual presentation ceremony last Friday, acknowledging and making presentations to school captains, sports captains and kids council representatives.
The school is very proud of these young leaders and the positive contributions they will each make this year.
While students have been settling into the classroom routine, they have also enjoyed some time away from school too.
Prep to grade two student had a very enjoyable excursion to Kyabram Fanua Park, while grade three and four students ventured to Eldorado earlier this month.
Students are also supporting the Clean Up Australia campaign this week, helping pick up litter in the school and along the nearby Three Mile Creek to improve the local environment.
OUTSIDE is the place to be at Milawa Primary School this term.
With an enrolment of around 60 students, and a creative learning plan, Milawa Primary School has a huge variety of natural experiences on offer for students.
A new outdoor classroom, thanks to an Inclusive Schools grant, is home to a new ACE specialist subject - Aussie Culture and Environment.
ACE is exploring local flora and fauna, history and geography, and environmental science, ensuring a strong presence of Indigenous perspective across the curriculum.
A trip to Winton Wetlands is planned, and a visit from Let’s Chat Habitat to experience nature and ecology in song and dance.
Each classroom has a deck and outdoor learning spaces, and learners can often be found enjoying a book in the sun during the morning, debating in the amphitheatre or seeking the shade of the old oak tree.
Student leaders have been working with the school on a new recycling plan, and using the funds from cans and Primas collected to support some new furry friends to nurture and love - guinea pigs!
The chickens who were
incubated and hatched last year are now maturing and students are eagerly awaiting the first eggs.
In the meantime, students are caring responsibly for them, and enjoying playing with their hen mates in the yard each day.
The veggie beds are bursting with fresh produce planted in their Health/PE classes and students are now enjoying the literal fruits of their labour.
Students can be found snacking on a fresh capsicum at recess, or trying a radish for the first time, carefully tapping on the watermelon to test for ripeness and sharing the tomatoes between friends.
The native growth corridor
is a fun and adventurous place to build a cubby and go rock hopping.
With so much rain, it’s hard to keep up with the growth!
The school is looking forward to partnering with some VCE VM students later in the year as students add to their garden and construct a yarning circle.
Year 3/4 students are counting the sleeps until their camp to The Outdoor School at 15 Mile Creek, where they’ll camp out overnight, hike, ride, and explore through the Challenge and Grow program.
With farmland stretching out, and views of the mountains, it’s a wondrous place for students to learn and grow.
STUDENTS and staff at Appin Park Primary School have settled into the new school year, with students developing relationships with their peers and teachers.
Year six students have been proudly wearing their special grade six t-shirts as they begin their final year of primary school.
Students have been making the most of the beautiful playground and oval seeking respite from the heat under the shady trees that surround it or treating themselves with an icy pole on Fridays.
Appin Park has seen an increase in student enrolment for 2024 which in turn has seen new teaching and education support staff join the team.
The school provides all students with a learning program that supports and fosters individual growth in all areas of learning including academic, social and emotional development.
Students take part in weekly specialist subjects including PE, Visual Arts, STEM, Library, Italian, EQ and The Resilience Project alongside a comprehensive literacy and numeracy program.
At Appin Park Primary School, student leaders at voted on by their peers.
At the most recent whole school assembly students were congratulated and presented with their leadership badge.
This year three school captains were selected: Judd Campbell, Emma James and Lucus Doig.
Appin Park has four house teams each with a student leader: Logan Fraser, Lilly Heywood, Indie Smith and Chloe Littel.
The school has a strong culture of supporting all students and helping them to feel welcome and safe.
Breakfast Club is available for all students daily and students are able to check in with the student wellbeing support team throughout the week.
New students are welcomed and connections with families are quickly made so as to support the student with settling into a new environment as smoothly as possible.
Foundation students have settled into their classroom beautifully under the guidance of teacher, Christine Vescio, and are arriving at school smiling and ready to go.
They have been ably supported by a team of very enthusiastic grade five buddies, who nominated themselves at the end of last year to take on the role.
The buddies are available
are looking
to an
year ahead, of growing and learning
to the foundation students to help them get set up at recess and lunch with games and friendships. These connections are remembered fondly throughout primary school.
Appin Park Primary School offers a school camps program at all year levels.
The grade three and four students will be visiting Sovereign Hill in Ballarat for an overnight stay in term two whilst the grade five and six students will finish off term one with a two-night camp at Lake Nillahcootie outdoor camp.
The camps program aims to provide different experiences for students and allow them to build on the strong classroom programs developing students’ independence, fostering positive relationships and facing challenges in a safe and supported environment.
Students at Appin Park also have opportunity to take part in private, guitar and piano lessons.
All students participate in a water safety program in term four and this year will see the preparation and performance of a school production to be held in term three at the Wangaratta PAC at which all students play a role and get to experience a moment on the stage.
OXLEY Primary School has started 2024 with a new agricultural/science program to enhance the learning taking place at the school.
The school has been searching for a suitable program to foster the interests of the children coming from the local community for some time.
This year the school is very excited to announce it has the resources and people in place to create an excellent learning experience for the students.
Amanda Naish is the teacher that has put the program together and will run the program at the school.
Amanda comes to Oxley after running a similar program for secondary students at Cathedral College Wangaratta.
She has the full backing from the Oxley School Council and is excited about the prospects of the program.
The main vision of the program is to create a sustainable environment at the school that looks at
reducing the amount of waste generated.
Once this environment has been created with fidelity, the program will then look at building a circular economy.
This circular economy will look at the student’s building revenue from the work that they are doing in the agricultural/science program and then putting it back into the program.
The vision also looks at being able to use produce generated from the students work to give back to the students in the way of lunch treats which the will cook themselves.
To start the program the students have been learning about soil types.
This work has lead to learnings about worms which will lead to the creation of a worm farm at the school.
Oxley School Council is very excited by the prospects that this program will have on the students.
If you have any questions or queries about this program or anything to do with Oxley Primary School, contact principal Tim Seal on 03 5727 3312.
In today’s digital era, the widespread use of mobile phones by teenagers presents challenges, affecting their mental health, academic achievement, and social development. Since beginning my career, mobile phones have transitioned from luxury items to potentially problematic devices in young people’s hands. Don’t get me wrong, I am no technology hater or fearmonger. I have personally fully embraced every new tech at hand and make daily use of my own mobile phone and online connection. Having seen firsthand the negative impacts, I have also seen many ways that technology has served young people in positive ways we could never have imagined.
As I start my third year as Principal of Wangaratta High School, I continue to advocate for stringent mobile phone restrictions during school hours, building on my experience in both international and independent schools. We’ve diligently enforced a policy that exceeds the Department of Education’s ban, emphasising the importance of a phone-free learning environment for student well-being and academic focus. Its widespread use and mixed support from the community, parents, and carers complicate policy enforcement, crucial for student learning and wellbeing. I seize this moment to advocate broadly for a uniform understanding that mobile phones disrupt student learning and wellbeing during school hours.
The relationship between mobile phone use and wellbeing, particularly among adolescents and young adults, has been a focal point of recent research and informs our determination in this area. Studies have consistently shown a correlation between excessive smartphone use and various mental health issues, including depression, anxiety, and impaired cognitive function. Studies point to difficulties in cognitive-emotion regulation, impulsivity, addiction to social networking, and changes in the brain’s grey matter volume. We now know that the mere presence of a smartphone
WANGARATTA HIGH SCHOOL
17-49 Edwards St, Wangaratta
Phone (03) 5723 0500
reduces our brainpower, even though we feel they’re giving our full attention and focus to the task at hand. The use of mobile phones in bullying and inciting violence adds even more urgency and importance that they are excluded from the school day.
Prolonged mobile phone (think of an idle teen over summer or a weekend) use has been directly associated with depressive symptoms among adolescents, indicating a clear link between mobile phone use and mental health outcomes such as depression, anxiety, and stress.
As a parent or carer, I know that you will have struggled with the issue at times, and this informs our determination to be consistent and persistent in ensuring that the school day is mobile phone-free. If you haven’t yet provided your child with a phone, I recommend holding off as long as possible to allow for the requisite maturity. I can assure you that 16 and 17-year-olds are doing very well and do not own a phone.
The core elements of our policy are as follows: phone use is strictly prohibited during the school day. Exemptions are granted to specific circumstances, such as for remote health monitoring or when seen by the teacher as an appropriate way to support learning. Students have been carefully and repeatedly briefed on expectations, and phones are confiscated if used. We only return phones to parents and carers and encourage parents and carers to leave the phone overnight at school in safe storage to ensure an appropriate ‘cost’ for non-adherence to expectations. For the policy to be effective, we need the persistent and consistent support of parents and carers. The school can pass messages and arrange contact for any matters during the day, so there is no need for phone calls to home and back – one of the most common excuses provided.
You can access our policy and additional parent/carer resources at whs.vic.edu.au/mobilephones
www.whs.vic.edu.au
Be Curious, shape the new. Our college theme for 2024 is, “Be curious, shape the new.” This theme was developed by our senior school leaders with the support of a staff team.
Last week I worked with my Year 12 Human Journey class to explore how we have, and could, bring this theme to life. We considered how we might apply this to being a member of the Galen Catholic College community. As we explored the theme, I asked my class what they believe the key messages are that I should share with our community in future assemblies. Our Year 12 students have had the opportunity to reflect on our theme for three days, while they were away on retreat earlier this term at Falls Creek.
Firstly, my class of Year 12’s believe the theme encourages every student at Galen Catholic College to get out of their comfort zone and start something new.
I then asked the class how a student may do this, while at the same time, I considered how a staff member may do this.
The group focussed on taking the chance to create new friendships throughout their years at Galen Catholic College. This is at the heart of being curious, this does involve at times getting out of your comfort zone. It can be a little risky, it can make you nervous, but the rewards are worth it. I firmly believe that every conversation is an opportunity. An opportunity to shape the new and engage with other students beyond your current friendship groups. This is particularly so at the start of every school year. One of the best ways to do this is by simply starting a conversation or engaging in one. Galen Catholic College is a large secondary school, there will always be opportunities to connect with new students or to reconnect with friendships that may have had in your junior years.
This was highlighted to me in my retreat group last week. One student in the group believed the best activity they were involved in, was when she and another student with whom she spent time socialising during her junior years, reconnected. This happened through an activity we conducted on the final afternoon as we walked around the
facility’s grounds. I know that several students also found this activity to be their favourite.
Old friendships and new friendships are everywhere in a community of this size. These friendships lead to new opportunities.
The second theme the class spoke to when reflecting on how we could bring our theme to life was all students should explore everything. I fully agreed that staff should do the same.
When I asked what this looks like and what evidence shows they have tried new things, the group were quick to highlight the following.
Our extensive learning pathways which provide opportunities to engage in VET subjects such as Agriculture, Building and Construction, IT or Sport and Recreation. Exploring everything also had the class highlighting opportunities for engaging in activities such as VEX Robotics, local and international immersions, leadership positions and social justice and sustainability opportunities. The exact same could said for our staff. What pleases me the most is each of these opportunities listed by the students are facilitated by our passionate educators who help our students to explore everything.
These are all examples of what my Year 12 Human Journey class listed that showed they had been curious, where they decided to shape the new. While our Year 12 students only have a short time left with us at Galen Catholic College - 241 days to be exact - I know that based on their engagement in their retreat and the feedback I received from my Human Journey class, they are determined to be curious and shape the new for themselves and their year level, as they lead us throughout 2024.
One group of students encouraged a peer to share a quote that he had heard before.
“You always miss 100% of the shots you do not take.”
I love this quote and it is so true. So, for 2024 I will encourage our students and staff to take their shot and not let the opportunity slip by. In challenging ourselves and those around us we can be curious and shape the new for Galen Catholic College in 2024.
report on our learners’ progress. This is exciting work, and we look forward to implementing this vision across the College in 2024 and beyond.
I
We
forward to you
a part of our College community and experiencing the inclusive and supportive learning environment that we work so hard to provide. Entrusting us with the education and care of your child is both a privilege and an honour.
I also extend a warm welcome to the new staff members who have joined us in 2024. I would particularly like to welcome Mr Leigh Symons, Head of Junior School, to the College and acknowledge Mr Paul Carson, who is our new Head of Senior School. Both Paul and Leigh are exceptional educators and exemplary leaders. Experienced senior teacher Mrs Sue Synnot joins the College Executive Team as our Head of College Operations.
This year, we continue to focus on our core business of teaching and learning whilst challenging our students to adopt and embed our school-wide theme of ‘Truth and Service’ into their daily lives.
As committed education professionals, our staff spend a significant amount of time throughout the year involved in professional learning and development. We regularly reflect on our teaching practices and investigate how we can better support our students in their learning journey. Part of this work has involved creating and developing a ‘Vision for Learning’ for Cathedral College. This whole school process involves our staff looking at the skills and attributes that we want our young people to develop to ensure they will thrive in the world beyond our school gates. Sometimes, these attributes are described as twenty-first-century skills. For our young people to flourish in the world they will move into, we believe that our students need to be collaborative, purposeful, inquisitive, courageous, inclusive, and connected.
The development of these learner attributes informs and guides our work as we reflect on our learning programs, our pedagogy in the classroom, the opportunities and tasks we set for our students, and how we assess and
Our Junior School staff continue their focus on ‘The Science of Learning’. This evidence-based approach to the teaching of literacy and numeracy is proving highly successful across our classrooms.
In recent days, the Grattan Institute has released a report that encourages all schools across the country to implement this style of teaching, specifically in the teaching of literacy to our younger students. Our teaching pedagogy at Cathedral College is informed by this research-based, data-driven approach and how we are committed to the explicit teaching of literacy and numeracy skills in our Junior School.
Our school-wide theme for 2024 is ‘Truth and Service’, which are the words that are on our crest. An integral part of Cathedral Education is providing opportunities and encouraging our students to ‘give’; whether that be through formal service-learning and leadership opportunities, volunteering in their local communities or contributing to our school and giving to others in their day-to-day life. We offer programs like the Duke of Edinburgh Award, where service is one of the key pillars of the award. 2024 promises to bring countless opportunities for our students to thrive both in and out of the classroom. As I regularly remind our school community, my vision for Cathedral College remains that we are a school that inspires a passion for learning and a commitment to excellence. Our College is a safe and nurturing place where every individual is valued for their God-given talents. Our students are inspired to be resilient, compassionate and proactive people who go on to contribute to a just, fair and loving world.
A core priority of Cathedral College Wangaratta is to provide the families of Wangaratta and the Northeast region of Victoria the opportunity to access a high quality, independent Anglican education. While our enrolment numbers remain strong, we currently have limited places available in some year levels from Prep to Year Twelve. I encourage you to contact our College Registrar, Louise Trenkner, to inquire about the opportunity for you to join our Cathedral College family.
Nick Jones
FEATHERED FRIEND: Carra students Matilda Richardson
ANIMALS have a way of bring joy to those around them. Matilda Wilson, Milly Richardson and Mia Bell enjoyed lavishing attention on one of the school’s chickens.
YEAR six students recently stood up in front of their peers and presented well thought out speeches, indicating why they should be elected as one of the school captains or sports captains.
Each of them spoke about the school values and how they would like to encourage the school community to be their best and how they want to be supportive to all students and staff.
After listening to all the presentations, the year 5/6 cohort democratically voted for the person/ people that they thought would best represent the school, in the different roles.
Emma James, Lucas Doig and Judd Campbell were elected as the school captains.
Lilly Hayward is the sports captain for Clarke, Chloe Littel is sports captain for Bradman, and Logan Fraser and Indie Smith are the sports captains for Fraser and Freeman respectively.
Each of these students will be a great support to Mrs Carson and staff at various stages throughout the year.
MIDDLE and senior school students embraced the warm weather while supporting their houses.
Senior school students, Sophie Kelly, Mackenzie Dare and Mikayla Bellinger took a tropical spin on their outfits this year.
ALL DRESSED UP: Senior school students, Sophie Kelly, Mackenzie Dare and Mikayla Bellinger went troppo at the swim event.
READY TO RACE:
Harriet Day, Olivia Strack and Arlo Whitehead race their Vex Go ‘crawlers’.
LAST year, students enjoyed making and racing Vex Go ‘crawlers’. The motorized robotic creatures are a fun way to bring coding and STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) to life. Harriet Day, Olivia Strack and Arlo Whitehead were among those to test their Vex Go crawlers.
STUDENTS have being enjoying a fantastic opportunity to explore culture, communication and basic beats of African drumming. They are busy currently composing their own rhythms to showcase to their peers.
CULTURAL EXPLORATION: Students Archie Barrett, Christopher Munzel and Dare Patton are among those to embrace African drumming.
Do you have a photo and story from your school or kinder you would like to see on the page?
1
What is the term used in biology to describe fish that stay in a group for social reasons?
2If you wanted a one litre container with the smallest surface area possible, what shape should your container be?
3What kind of wave is the Parkes Pulsar Timing Array trying to detect?
4What gets produced in nectaries?
5An ozone molecule is made of three atoms of which element?
QUIZ ANSWERS:: 1. Shoaling fish stay in a group for social reasons. This is different from schooling, where fish swim all in the same direction. 2. Spheres have the smallest surface area for any given volume. 3. The Parkes Pulsar Timing Array is trying to detect gravity waves by looking at regularly flashing stars called pulsars. 4. Nectaries are where a plant produces nectar, a sweet liquid often used to attract animals to flowers. 5. Ozone is made of three oxygen atoms.
For more CSIRO Double Helix science visit www.csiro.au/helix or call 02 6276 6643.
BY ANITA McPHERSON amcpherson@ nemedia.com.au
MEMBERS and supporters of the King Basin Landcare Group have celebrated another successful year of the recently reformed group.
At its recent annual general meeting, this year’s office bearers were elected, with Rosie Suter returning as president, Owen Dixon as vice president, Rosemary Buchanan as secretary and Chris Arnold as treasurer.
Last year the group formalised its monthly meeting venue as Whitfield Recreation Reserve, where it meets on the second Monday of the month at 7pmwhile also consolidating its goals and intentions.
An interesting bat information night was held in March, and a Gentle Annie Reserve platypus walk was held in September.
The group was also successful in its application for a grant for the Jessie’s Creek Project and the first stage is completed, with a 200 metre gravel walking path in place between Jessie’s Creek and the Whitfield and District Primary School from the school entrance to the old bridge.
It also continues to work on developing a healthy working relationship with the Rural City of Wangaratta and the primary school,
and Neville Walsh has worked on a species identification list for Jessie’s Creek.
The group has also signed up for the River Detectives program this year its next steps will be focussed on Jessie’s Creek Walking Track community planting days and further improvements including helpful signage.
Those who attended the AGM
also enjoyed a presentation by Katrina Anderson and Stephen Curtain from Regenerate Earth; a nonprofit organisation committed to preserving biological diversity and indigenous wisdom in keystone ecosystems around the world.
Rosie Suter said the g roup currently has 35 members/ families involved and she encourages anyone interested to
ROUND four of Moyhu Community Bowls was held on Friday and club member David Waring said it was pleasing to see more players wearing fun, colourful outfits, while the standard of play is also improving as they gain experience.
Last Friday the Moyhu Netball team of cousins Olivia Baker, Amber and Bree Finger repeated their round one result with another first placing.
After four rounds, on top with 96 points is King Valley
WANGARATTA Senior Citizens Club will host a social gathering at its clubrooms in Tara Court, off Ford Street, today from 1.30pm.
Indoor carpet bowls will be held tomorrow (Thursday) from 12 noon, breakfast at the Quality Hotel Wangaratta Gateway will be held from 8am on Friday, indoor carpet bowls on Monday from 12 noon, and cards (500) and hoy on Tuesday from 1.30pm, all in the group’s clubrooms or in the adjoining St Patrick’s supper room.
Social event next Wednesday, March 6 is an in-house movie, ‘Good Boy’, from 1.30pm.
LEARN writing skills and techniques to make your family history more engaging during a session hosted by the Wangaratta Family History Society on Thursday, February 29 from 10am to 4pm in the community room at the Wangaratta Library.
Cost is $20 members and $30 nonmembers.
Bring along your laptop, and if available, a photo of a favourite relative.
Sustainability Group, followed by Moyhu Netballers with 91 points, Moyhu Action Group with 71 points, Edi Upper Primary School with 69 points and Greta Cricket Club with 68 points. Newcomers, King Valley Learning Exchange, are in sixth position on 61 points. All remaining teams are eligible to win the $400 team raffle drawn on the last night.
David said the barbecue team work hard keeping the customers satisfied with sausage and onions in bread -
the snags supplied by Edwards Street Butchers - who also donate the meat tray, which was won by Mark Baker.
The penultimate round will be held this Friday night from 6pm.
On Saturday, the club’s weekend pennant team will play St James in the grand final of B1 Division of the Ovens and Murray competition, with everyone wishing Moyhu the best of luck.
Good bowling is also wished to all clubs competing in the community bowls competition.
AN International Women’s Day social bike ride will be held on Friday, March 8 from 4.30pm to 6.30pm.
Hosted by Wangaratta Cycling Club in partnership with Sport North East, the event will begin near the canteen at the Wangaratta Showgrounds, with the 14km bike ride following the rail trail to North Wangaratta Recreation Reserve and back.
The ride is open to everyone, and participants are invited to have a go on a track bike after the social ride.
Every participant gains entry into a lucky draw for a great prize.
For more information, ph 5721 0200.
WANG’S Big Dig Record Fair will be held in the Colin Cave Gallery at The Centre in Chisholm Street on Saturday, March 9 from 9am to 4pm.
Thirteen stall holders from across Victoria will showcase thousands of records, cassettes, CDs and music memorabilia, there will be lucky door prizes, coffee available, and a DJ will provide the soundtrack to the experience.
The record fair will be hosted by No 49 Record Bar, and admission is free.
sign up and join the fun. “There is a super power in what people can achieve if they work together - we can do so much good,” she said.
“The King Basin Landcare Group is such a positive way to participate in community projects, learning about our environment and caring for its future - it is also a beautiful way to meet new people.”
WANGARATTA’S Black Dog Ride will leave from Apex Park on Sunday, March 17, with check-in at 8am.
The day-long ride aims to amplify a national message of hope, awareness and prevention.
For more information, contact Kurt Dissegna on 0428 657 196 or email kurt922@yahoo.com
INNER Wheel Wangaratta will host Professor Graham Jenkin and Dr Courtney McDonald, from the Ritchie Centre at the Monash Institute of Medical Research, at a cord blood fundraiser at the Old Town ‘n’ Country Tavern on Saturday, March 23 from 11.30am.
Cost if the event is $35, which includes a light luncheon.
Raffles and prizes to be won, limited seats available.
For more information, phone Patti on 0408 261 330 or Dale on 0418 469 755.
THE King River and District Fishing Club will hold its annual Meet and Cruise Day on Saturday, meeting in Moyhu at 10am before cruising to Lake William Hovell for a sausage sizzle at 12pm.
Everyone is welcome to attend this free event, with those who register their vehicle on the day going into the draw to win a voucher from the Moyhu General Store and other giveaways.
Post a photo of your ride on the Facebook event page, and the photo with most likes will win $100 (must be present on day to claim) with $2 sausages and cold drinks available on the day, a raffle and other prizes to be announced.
WHITFIELD and Moyhu Anglican Churches will hold a combined service at Moyhu All Saints on Sunday, March 3 at 10am to farewell Dean Ken Goodger of Holy Trinity Cathedral.
The service will be followed by lunch at 11.45am at the Moyhu Hotel, with more information available by calling Rod on 0418 809 712.
KING Valley community lunches are held on the first Thursday of the month at the Cheshunt Hall.
The next lunch will be held on Thursday, March 7 with those wishing to attend advised to call Lyn by Sunday on 0427 270 551.
THE Myrrhee School is once again holding its bulb drive, to support the purchase of specialised reading books for Myrrhee students.
Orders are to be placed online at bulbfundraiser.com.au/MYRRHEEPS, with a $6.50 postage fee per order placed, so orders can be sent directly to the purchaser.
Products are available until April 11 unless sold out, with more information including help to place an order available by contacting Myrrhee School on 5729 7524.
SATURDAY Quilters holds their meetings on the first Saturday of each month from 9.30am in the Wangaratta Small Bore Rifle Club rooms off the river end of College Street.
New beginner and experienced members are very welcome to attend.
For further information, contact Frances on 0417 158 220.
WANGARATTA Keenagers Table Tennis Club plays on Mondays and Thursdays at the table tennis centre at the Wangaratta Showgrounds. Play begins at 7.30am. New players welcome.
Morning tea provided – please bring your own cup.
For more information, contact Trevor Wolfel on 0476 891 596.
WANGARATTA Toastmasters conducts its meetings on the second and fourth Wednesday of each month from 6.45pm at The Centre in Chisholm Street.
For more information, contact president Joanne Howell on 0417 558 881.
COME and try croquet at the
Wangaratta Croquet Club, 46 Ryan Avenue, on any Monday, Wednesday or Saturday at 9am. Equipment and instruction provided in a friendly, welcoming atmosphere.
For further information, phone Susan Fischer on 0417 217 009.
WANGARATTA Symphony Orchestra meets each Tuesday from 7.30pm to 9.30pm at Wangaratta Baptist Church, 1 Sisely Avenue.
For more information, email wangsymphonyorchestra@gmail.com or call Wendie 0408 495065.
THE Wangaratta Artists welcome budding artists to come along, and established artists to exhibit in the studio at Batchelor’s Green.
The group meets at the studio on Mondays and Thursdays from noon.
For more information, phone Clare on 0419 365 149.
TO include your group‘s activities in this listing, email the details to skerwin@nemedia.com.au
ESTATE HAROLD ROBERT KEMP
Creditors, next of kin and others having claims in respect of the Estate of the Late HAROLD ROBERT KEMP deceased, late of 491 Upper King River Road Cheshunt Vic 3678 and 7a Price Avenue
Montmorency Vic 3094, Retired Army, who died on 12 September 2023 are requested to send particulars of their claims to the Administrator MARDI FAITH SHACKLETON care of the undersigned
Solicitors by 3 May 2024 after which date the Administrator will convey or distribute the assets only having regard to the claims of which she then has notice. Letters
Full-time
North East Media, publisher of the award winning Wangaratta Chronicle, is currently seeking expressions of interest from enthusiastic and motivated candidates to join the team in Wangaratta as a journalist.
We are seeking university graduates in journalism/communications (or equivalent experience) who have a genuine interest in living and working in a progressive regional Victorian community.
The successful candidate will be expected to write clear, concise and interesting news, sport and feature stories for our tri-weekly newspaper and associated digital and social media platforms.
We are searching for a skilful, passionate and determined journalist with excellent verbal and written English, sound computer skills, solid general knowledge, a genuine interest in the local community, and an ability to build rapport and networks quickly.
You will need to be well organised, able to work to deadlines, and have strong attention to detail.
Candidates must hold a valid driver’s licence, be available to work flexible hours, and photography and social media skills are desirable.
North East Media is a leading independent family-owned media group with a commitment to community journalism. Applications, including covering letter and resume, should be forwarded to:
Jeff Zeuschner, Group Editor, North East Media jzeuschner@nemedia.com.au
CARAVANS & CAMPERS
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SET of 4 bowls, OHeavy with carry trolley, v.g condition, $285. Ph 0412 874 585
SUNDAY saw a massive crowd of around 150 new and returning hockey players of all ages congregate at the Wangaratta Dragons Hockey Club’s come-and-try day, in a strong show of support for the club.
Hosted at the courts at Cathedral College, players of all ages came out to give the sport a shot or to shake the cobwebs out ahead of the 2024 Hockey Albury Wodonga season.
The day featured a barbecue, skill drills for players of all ages, and a merchandise
BY NATHAN DE VRIES ndevries@ nemedia.com.au
and equipment stall – even Blaze, the club’s dragon mascot was there to lend a hand.
Club president Daniel Warner said the event was a massive success, owing to the hard work the club had done in the weeks and months leading up to it.
“It was really, really good – I don’t have official numbers yet but I’d say there
WANGARATTA Bowls Club’s last remaining hope, the B3 side have bowed out of the finals.
B3: Wangaratta’s season came to an end after a preliminary final loss to Chiltern at Corowa Civic on Saturday.
Lyn Kahlefeldt, Susan Bull, Michael Howard, and John Keen went down in a close match (21-23), while Howard Beard, Heather Coyle, Ann Keen, and Thelma Stones lost (12-19). Graeme Norman, Sier, John Knight, and Bob Edwards also lost (16-21) as Chiltern claimed all three rinks in their fourteen shot win.
Final scores: Wang 49 shots lost to Chiltern 63 shots.
SEASON CLOSE: Lyn Kahlefeldt and Wangaratta B3 went down in Saturday’s preliminary final.
would’ve been around 100 kids and probably 40-50 adults and parents running around, which was good,” he said.
“We were looking for more senior players and coaches, and we’ve got two expressions of interest from coaches and we’ve picked up a couple of senior players as well.
“I can’t commend the volunteers in our club enough, we had some amazing people, the whole committee was there, we had all the coaches show up to take the
come-and-try sessions for their particular age groups, which was really good to see.
“It’s because of the hard work and dedication from the volunteers we’re getting that sort of interest and enthusiasm around hockey.
“Generally, we get a pretty good registration rate from our come-and-try days.
“Official under sevens and 10s training doesn’t start until March 14, so at the moment we’re still not expecting registrations for
all of our players to come through until then, it’s still two weeks away.”
Warner said the numbers in the under seven, 10, and 12 age groups were phenomenal, but there was still plenty of room for interested juniors to join up.
“We’re still on the hunt for some U16 boys, the team is a little bit light on at this stage,” he said. “We’ve had some really good interest from the under 16 girls, the under 14 boys and under 14 girls are looking good as well – we
could do with some more under 14 girls, but under 12s, under 10s and under sevens are absolutely looking amazing.
“The only team at this stage that we’re in desperate need of players would be the under 16 boys.”
Numbers are strong among the senior ranks at the club, who have been hard at work training since late January.
The 2024 Hockey Albury Wodonga season commences in April – fixtures are yet to be released.
WELL DESERVED: Marg Price was presented with her life membership by NEDGA president Phil Conway.
AT the NEDGA Women’s Opening Day at Yarrawonga Mulwala Golf Club last Friday, president of the North East District Golf Association (NEDGA), Phil Conway presented Wangaratta Golf Club life member, Marg Price with her life membership of NEDGA for the years of hard work she has contributed to both NEDGA and (previously) NEDLGA. Nominated by Angela Bishop and Frances Boehm of Yackandandah, she received her life membership badge, and a wall plaque commemorating her achievement.
TEST:
By BACKHAND WINNERSection 1
WAHGUNYAH had a confidence boosting win against Boorhaman ahead of finals next weekend.
Wahgunyah were never threatened by Boorhaman who threw everything at Wahgunyah (except the kitchen sink) and they tried every trick they knew but Wahgunyah had all the answers when it counted.
Wahgunyah’s men dominated while the Boorhaman women shared the honours with Wahgunyah, and Wahgunyah managed to win the mixed sets to provide them with a comfortable victory.
Wahgunyah’s best were Sonia Palmer, Max Harvey, Josh Parker and Jaxx Johnstone.
Boorhaman’s best were Shirley Fuller, Kathy Van Berlo, Dianne Blythman and Darren Saward.
Wang Hardcourt finished their season off with morale boosting win against Everton to cement top position on the ladder.
Hardcourt controlled proceedings from the start and never let Everton settle into a groove, while Hardcourt continued to keep Everton on the backfoot until the end and the result proved why they were the best per-
formed team throughout the season.
Hardcourt’s best were Chris Lucas, Matt Curran, Denise Goodwin and Kylie Doig.
Everton’s best were Jo Lucas, Russell Bennett and Gene Williams.
Rutherglen left their best till the finish but it still wasn’t enough to overhaul Everton and force their way into the finals.
Rutherglen outclassed and outplayed a below strength Corowa to run out the easiest of winners to completely whitewash Corowa in a demoralising performance ahead of finals next week.
Corowa will need to regroup and refocus quickly if they are to provide some resistance to Hardcourt next week.
Rutherglen’s best: Nicole Balfour, Freya Gneil and Ed Van Gool.
Corowa’s best were Anne Rhodes, Skye Somerville and Hudson Bilney.
Section 3
Wahgunyah Deep Heat (Josh Reid, Jacob Palmer, Nathan Andral, Kath Blake) put shock waves through Section 3 with an impressive win over Woorage (Ian McVea, Dean Bensted, Eiylish McRostie, Keely Maher).
BRIGHT’S preparations for the 2024 Ovens and King football season will take a step up this weekend, with the club hosting their first of two practice matches at Pioneer Park on Saturday.
The Mountain Men will take on Tallangatta and District FL team Barnawartha in two matches, providing both clubs a great chance to test themselves ahead of their respective seasons.
Senior coach Paul Harrison said the squad was in an extremely strong place for this time of the year.
“We’re definitely ahead of where we were last year. In terms of game plans and the fitness side of things, the boys are looking really good,” he said.
“I was quite surprised with where the boys were at, I didn’t think they’d be as fit as they are but it just shows they’ve been doing a fair amount of work themselves.
“I know the guys now understand we’ve probably got 30 guys who can play senior footy easily, so it’s going to be really hard – if you have a couple of bad weeks, it’s not like you can just get away with it like in the past.
“We’ve got blokes who are going to be right up their tail pushing for their spots, so everyone’s working hard so they don’t miss out.”
Barnawartha were bundled out of the first round of the 2023 TDFL finals by eventual premiers Chiltern, and will have a hard time against the battlehardened and hungry Mountain Men,
BY NATHAN DE VRIES ndevries@ nemedia.com.au
but practice match victories are hardly the main point.
“It’s all well and good to train and do as much ‘match sim’ stuff as you can at training, but we all know once you get out on the ground, getting tackled and you’ve got repeat efforts, it’s a whole different ball game,” Harrison said.
“Because we’re going to have maybe six or seven new players in the group, each line has got some new players mixed in.
“It’s about getting some more continuity between those groups, and learning how each other play.
“We’ll have some smaller structures we want the guys to work to, some smaller goals they’ve got to achieve during that game as a line.
“It’s more about getting our game plan stuff down pat – we won’t bring in our whole game plan, but we’ll bring in things each line needs to work on and get down before we move into the next practice match and we can open it up a little bit more again.”
The Mountain Men host Barnawartha Tigers at Pioneer Park this Saturday for their first practice match.
The 2024 O&K season begins on Easter weekend, with Bright taking on Tarrawingee on Saturday, March 30 at home.
Woorage had been on confidence building winning streak until Heat sizzled on Saturday and burst the Wooragee bubble.
Deep Heat were relent-
less with their pressure, and their precision tennis was too much for Wooragee to handle.
Wahgunyah Wranglers (Scott Parker, Wayne John-
stone, Andrew Palmer, Mitch Parker) continue to brush aside opponents at will, this week it was Wahgunyah United (Brain Jones, Brad Schmidt, Erinne Lutz, Jen Schmidt) that wilted under the consistency and power game of the Wranglers.
Wranglers look unstoppable after a very consistent and impressive season, only nerves or injury will stop the Wrangler juggernaut.
Section 1 Finals to be played at Corowa 1pm start.
Wang Hardcourt to move through to the grand final with a 6-3 victory over Corowa.
Wahgunyah to ease past Everton 5-4, this match will be decided by availability and team selection but Wahgunyah should finish in front.
Section 3 Finals to be played at Wahgunyah.
Wranglers look unbeatable but Wooragee should rebound from Saturdays surprise loss to push Wranglers.
Wranglers to win 4-2.
Wahgunyah Deep Heat were impressive on Saturday but Wahgunyah United have been consistent all year and should hold on for a 4-2 victory.
Under 15 finals to be played at Corowa.
Wahgunyah will be too strong for Rutherglen White 7-0.
Corowa Hewitt will have a battle on their hands with Rutherglen Red who have had some great results during the season, but Hewitt should prevail 5-2.
Results
Section 1
Wahgunyah 6-67 def Boorhaman 3-32, Wang Hardcourt 8-71 def Everton 1-33, Rutherglen 9-72 def Corowa 0-34.
Section 3
Wahgunyah Deep heat 4-45 def Wooragee 2-33, Wahgunyah Wranglers 6-48 def Wahgunyah United 0-20.
Under 15
Wahgunyah 7-42 def Rutherglen White 0-6, Rutherglen Red 7-42 def Corowa Barty 0-9.
Ladders Section 1
Wang Hardcourt 114, Corowa 87, Wahgunyah 75 , Everton 61, Rutherglen 55, Boorhaman 27.
Section 3
Wahgunyah Wranglers 79, Wooragee 54.5, Wahgunyah United 45, Wahgunyah Deep Heat 17.5.
Under 15
Wahgunyah 79, Corowa Hewitt 61, Rutherglen Red 45, Rutherglen White 29, Corowa Barty 8.
THE next wave of local footy’s whistle blowers is being sought out with a new junior umpiring academy set to land at a local school next week.
AFL Victoria will be hosting a junior umpiring clinic at Cathedral College starting on Tuesday, March 5, to help encourage and recruit more juniors to take the umpiring pathway.
The clinics will run over 10 sessions at the school’s hockey field during lunchtimes, spread across the last five weeks of Term one and the first five weeks of Term two.
BY BAILEY ZIMMERMANN bzimmermann@ nemedia.com.au
AFL Victoria umpire recruitment and retention officer Maison Ring said the AFL funded program was targeting schoolaged football lovers to boost umpiring participation in community footy.
“They’re investing a national budget into community football which is essentially trying to get school aged people and players involved in umpiring football
within their local clubs,” he said.
“The number of local umpires within clubs has dropped off quite a bit, so we’re not necessarily trying to get people to become AFL umpires, we’re just trying to make sure the clubs themselves have enough umpires throughout the year.”
The sessions will aim to develop knowledge in the basic fundamental skills of umpiring, including the laws of the game in field, boundary and goal umpiring disciplines.
At the end of the program the
participants will be linked in with AFL North East Border’s umpiring group, where they will be supported and mentored to commence umpiring within their community club or league in their chosen discipline.
Ring said he was hoping to take the weekly clinics to more local schools.
“The North East will be the first region to get these programs up and running which is good for our region,” he said.
“The program is a great way to keep the number of umpires within community clubs sustain-
able as well as provide the opportunity for players to develop a broader understanding of the game, and give them an alternate pathway to have involvement in community football.
“We’re doing a lot of work in the women and girls sector as well which is good, and we’ve got some promising programs in our area this year.”
Each participant will receive a free uniform kit as well as have access to subsidised gym memberships.
Participants can register via the link: bit.ly/49bMxfs.
By WILLSON MACK
THE Murray Bushrangers are just four weeks away from the start of their season.
At the start of the month the Bushrangers announced their 2024 squads in the u18 and u16 boys, as well as the u18 girls where a number of Wangaratta locals were picked.
With the squads set, the North East Victorian side are at the end of the pre-season and working towards their round clashes.
Murray Bushrangers talent manager Mick Wilson said things are heating up at this time of year.
“We’re well and truly into it,” Wilson said.
“Our u16 girls start this weekend and our u18 girls have their testing down in Melbourne and then next weekend our u18 boys have their testing.
“Both u16s teams play just
two games and then they turn their attention to Victoria Country.”
The u18 boys kick their season off with a clash against Tassie Devils at Craigieburn on March 23, while the girls open on April 14 against Gippsland Power.
“It’s always hard to tell how all of our teams will look at this time of year,” Wilson said.
“We hope that all teams are competitive and for us it’s just important that we give all of our players the best opportunity to showcase their talent in front of recruiters this season.”
Mark Brown will once again lead the u18 boys, while Emma Mackie will coach the u18 girls.
In the u16 boys, Dale Carmody and Carl Norton will coach those rising stars for the two games.
“We’re lucky that we’ve got so many experienced
coaches leading the sides,” Wilson said.
“Along with the head coaches we have people like Leon Higgins, Justin McMahon and Jason Wells who will assist as well.
“There’s plenty of wise footy heads there who will help out heaps.”
The Bushrangers had u18 boys and girls train with Victoria Country’s academy over the summer as they look to put their best foot forward for selection in the u18 National Championships.
“We had two u18 girls take part in the camp, Maddie Ibrahim from Yarrawonga and Holly Egan from Shepparton,” Wilson said.
“In the u18 boys we had Ollie Warburton (Shepparton Swans), Jack and Matt Whitlock (Shepparton), Zac Harding (Wodonga Bulldogs) and bottom-ager Riley Onley (Shepparton United) who did well to be selected.”
ROUND 17 of the Wangaratta Lawn Tennis Croquet and Pickleball Club’s aggregate competition was played at Merriwa Park on Saturday.
Mark Wettern added to his list of wins this season, taking out section one with a score of 22-14, in front of Ryan Patterson (20-12).
In section two, Henry Dean (23-11) grabbed a relatively comprehensive win in front of Frank Harris (19-19) and Maree Sullivan (18-18).
Section three saw Mike Lairson end the day with the illusive 24 games for (13 against) to take the section out ahead of Brett McClen (19-20) and Russell Canning (19-21).
Andrew Cope achieved the day’s best score of 24-11 in to win section four in front of Peter Curran (18-17) and Joel Eulenstein (17-17).
Section five’s Mark Gorman (23-16) saluted ahead of Russel O’Brien (21-18) and Terry
THE Wangaratta Lawn Tennis Croquet and Pickleball Club’s junior doubles tennis club championships were held last weekend in beautiful weather on perfect courts.
With solid numbers entered, a mixture of results was recorded across the age groups, with some one-sided results and some very close matches.
The feature match of the day was in the open boys’ final which went to a tie-break with Leo Sammon and Harry Allen prevailing 7-5 in the breaker
over Ben Hogan and Jay Canning. In the girls’ open final, Emily Liddell and Chloe Liddell proved too good for runners up Rani Meisenger and Leile Catier.
Results
Girls
Under 12 – winners: Phoebe Read and Ava Ryan, runners up: Zoe Flynn and Lola Flynn.
Under 14 – winners: Alice Rendell and Tessa Koop, runners up: Rose Hogan and Phoebe Alexander.
Open – winners: Emily Liddell and Chloe Liddell, runners up: Rani Meisenger and Leile Catier.
Boys
Under 12 – winners: Reid Scholes and Spencer Cole, runners up: Nicholas Brain and Riley Philipenko.
Under 14 – winners: Archie Knobel and Kalti Ross, runners up: Harrison Allen and Hamish Kerr.
Open – winners: Leo Sammon and Harry Allen, runners up: Ben Hogan and Jay Canning.
Flynn (19-20) who also finished on the podium.
Section six saw Max McAuliffe (22-14) grab a tight win over Peter Ablazej (21-14).
Results: Section 1: Mark Wettern 22-14, Ryan Patterson 20-12, Mark Brown 18-18, Tom Bloom 16-19, Brian Scobie 10-23.
Section 2: Henry Dean 2311, Frank Harris 19-19, Maree Sullivan 18-18, Phil Dryden 15-19, Mason Scholes 15-23.
Section 3: Mike Lairson 2413, Brett McClen 19-20, Russell Canning 19-21, Andrew Lindner 18-19, Alan Busk 1623.
Section 4: Andrew Cope 2411, Peter Curran 18-17, Joel Eulenstein 17-17, Brendan Jones 16-22, Pat Flynn 15-21.
Section 5: Mark Gorman 23-16, Russel O’Brien 21-18, Terry Flynn 19-20, John Shanley 15-24.
Section 6: Max McAuliffe 22-14, Peter Ablazej 21-14, Cate Geard 17-19, Mick Keogh 15-20, Tim Dickinson 13-21.
ALL-Stars Tennis will be hosting a free tennis clinic this Friday evening, March 1, for any interested juniors.
Held from 5-6.30pm at the tennis courts in Merriwa Park, the clinic is a prefect chance for juniors aged 6-17 years old to further hone and develop their tennis skills. Participants are asked to bring a hat, racquet and water bottle.
Limited spots are available, so registrations are essential. To register please visit www. allstarstennis.com.au/free-tennisclinic - if you have any questions please text Doug Smith at 0448 396 496.
in the under 12 boys and under 16 boys competitions in a first for the club.
WCFC president Kristy Mellor said the club had come close to fielding multiple squads in the one
age group before, but this year had finally seen it happen.
“Wangaratta City is pretty good, we normally fill every age group,” she said.
“We’re the only soccer club in Wangaratta, so we’re pretty good at being able to fill every age group.
“Normally, there are 13 teams, but we’re submitting 15 this year because of the added interest in those two age groups.
“We came close last year with the under 16 boys, but we just didn’t have enough.
“Each team has 14 players, and we had 28 players this year try out for under 16s, so we were able to have two teams of 14.
“It’s been building for a while, we knew those age
groups were strong.
“It’s really exciting, we’re really excited about this year, it should be really good.”
The club held four days of junior trials through February, but had to contend with both ends of the weather spectrum, with lashing rain and scorching heat.
“It was a little bit disrupted, but at this time of year you can’t really control
(L-R) Phoebe Read, Isabel Bradley, Ava Ryan and Claudia Kerr were all smiles during the junior tennis competition at Merriwa Park on Saturday morning.
Results: Page 31. More photos: Page 27
the weather,” Mellor said.
“It went well, and we’ve got some really good junior teams.
“We’ve had a lot of people move to the area as well which is really interesting.
“We’ve got a couple of players from Mansfield who are driving across, we’ve had quite a bit of interest from new families in the area, so that’s been really good too.”
For those aspiring players
who are still a bit young to join a junior team, the club’s ever-popular Mini-Roos is coming up, with muster date on Friday, March 1 and 15, commencing in the second school term.
Mellor said the club expected around 150 registrations from kids aged four to 12.
The 2024 Albury Wodonga Football Association season commences on Sunday, March 16.
