WC310724_Digital_Edition.pdf

RALLYING TOGETHER

GROWTH PLAN

Still time to comment on draft economic development and tourism

RESIDENTS and local businesses have until Friday to submit their thoughts on the Rural City of Wangaratta’s economic development and tourism strategy, as its consultation period draws to a close.

Described as “more than just a vision…a collective commitment to shaping the bright future of our region”, the draft strategy was developed through a series of individual consultations, community workshops and an online survey designed to attract community and business feedback.

It lists strengths, challenges and opportunities for the

BY SIMONE KERWIN skerwin@ nemedia.com.au

municipality through to 2029, and includes priority initiatives and an implementation plan for fostering sustainable economic growth.

The priorities identified by the draft strategy are infrastructure and service enablers (including internet and telecommunications, sewage, roads, energy and recycling); a major tourism product development plan exploring initiatives which would increase visitor numbers;

development of ‘health and wellness tourism’ to expand the luxury travel sector; ‘township activation’ to build individual character and tourism appeal; and ageing community infrastructure to strengthen aged care services and support in Wangaratta.

The implementation plan sets out objectives in five areasinvestment attraction and local business support; infrastructure and planning; skills and workforce, township activation, and another which has attracted strong feedback through the Wangaratta Chronicle letters page: tourism development.

p

Short-term goals in the implementation plan (scheduled to be undertaken within the next two years) include conducting a business health check survey and developing a comprehensive investment attraction framework targeting priority industries; encouraging housing developments that meet sustainability or affordability criteria and advocating for State Government funding for water infrastructure; conducting a regular skills gap assessment; and exploring the demand for extended hours from local businesses as part of township activation.

On the tourism front, the draft

strategy proposes conducting detailed market research in the short-term to identify gaps and opportunities in agri-tourism, eco-tourism, food and wine tourism, arts and cultural tourism, historical tourism, sports tourism and high-value tourism.

It also suggests increasing the number of large and small festivals to encourage yearround visitation and community engagement, and increasing and enhancing Wangaratta’s wayfinding to encourage stopover visitation and increase awareness of the region.

■ Continued page 2

MORE than 300 people of all ages gathered in Wangaratta's King George Gardens to march against family violence last Saturday.

Pictured leading the march are (from left) Tess Burns, Shantelle van der Leeuw and Ollie van der Leeuw. Full story page 5.

PHOTO: Kat de naps Photography

Nominate a local hero who could use a hand

LOCAL heroes who need support are the focus of a new program initiated by Jim Penman, head of Jim’s Group.

Amid the cost-of-living crisis, many people continue to solider on and help others across the community, demonstrating kindness, fortitude and selflessness.

The Jim’s Local Heroes Program aims to give back to people who are struggling, and to acknowledge and reward them for their contributions to the community.

Being delivered nationwide, the program will see one winner each week receive up to $2000 worth of Jim’s services they need.

Members of the community are invited to nominate a local hero who is doing it tough and deserves recognition and support.

Nominations are now open for the community to nominate via jims.net/jimslocalheroes/.

Growth plan for Rural City of Wangaratta

■ From front page A number of recent letters from local residents published in the Wangaratta Chronicle have pointed to the need for a dedicated visitor information centre in Wangaratta, but the draft strategy does not suggest any change to the current arrangement.

The Rural City of Wangaratta’s visitor services relocated last year from the former library in Murphy Street to Glenrowan’s Ned Kelly Discovery Hub, where it opens from 10am to 4pm Monday to Sunday, with a visitor information kiosk established at the Wangaratta Performing Arts and Convention Centre which is open from 10am to 2pm Monday to Sunday.

Brochures are also supplied to eight ancillary information kiosks within partner businesses at locations throughout the district.

Information provided by the Rural City of Wangaratta says the visitor services team has experienced a significant increase in daily counts of face-to-face visitor interactions since relocating from Murphy Street to the hub and employing the kiosk model of operation.

It was also reported that visitation to the Rural City of Wangaratta by the end of 2023 was up by 31 per cent on the previous December, with council saying this supported the integration of resources such as visitor servicing with experiences or attractions.

“Our visitor information servicing must evolve and adapt in

order to remain competitive and relevant,” Stephen Swart, Rural City of Wangaratta director sustainability and culture, said.

“Positioning visitor services within the Ned Kelly Discovery Hub in Glenrowan and the Creative Precinct in Wangaratta has proven successful, with a notable increase in visitation.

“The Ned Kelly Discovery Hub is strategically located in Glenrowan, a prominent stop for travellers from Melbourne.

“Our visitor services play a crucial role in enhancing visitor experiences and extending their stays, thereby boosting the regional economy through widespread visitor dispersal.”

Anyone wishing to lodge a submission relating to anything contained in the draft economic development and tourism strategy can do so by Friday at the Connect Wangaratta portal, https:// connect.wangaratta.vic.gov.au

For more information, contact economicdevelopment@wangaratta.vic.gov.au

P-plater to avoid stint behind bars following Great Alpine Rd fatality

A WODONGA woman will avoid jail following a fatal collision on the Great Alpine Road overpass of the Hume Freeway near Glenrowan in 2021.

The 23-year-old appeared at Wangaratta County Court on Tuesday, formally pleading guilty to dangerous driving causing the death of a 47-year-old Narre Warre man.

Before he took off, he texted his wife at their Melbourne home that he had stopped at McDonalds in Glenrowan and told her he would let her know when he arrived in Myrtleford.

had come to a rest 88m from the impact of the collision.

Police estimate the car was travelling at around 95 to 107kph at the point of impact with the hatch.

when it pulled out in front of it,” he said.

wangarattachronicle.com.au

9261 1930.

The court heard of the “enormity” of the loss of a devoted husband and father of three through a victim impact statement from the man’s wife of 21-years, read by her friend.

“You will eternally be 47 and forever handsome,” she said.

“It’s the little things you miss the most, his smile gone forever.

“I am now a widow, a sole parent and the role I loved the most just ended, I was no longer a wife.

“Concentrate when you’re in control of a vehicle, it’s that simple.”

The court heard the victim’s children were aged 10, seven and three at the time of the incident and struggled to come to terms with the loss of their father.

“It breaks my heart they will never have their dad to cheer them on at their games to support them,” the victim’s wife said.

On October 29, 2021, the 47-year-old was visiting family in Wangaratta and set out to travel to Myrtleford to visit other family members.

The defendant, who was 20-years-old at the time, was travelling from Wodonga to visit family based in Waldara and took the Great Alpine Road exit.

The court heard the P-plater would traditionally take the exit at Bowser Road, but because she didn’t want to overtake a truck near the exit, she waited until she arrived at the next turnoff

Witnesses on the east and westbound lanes of Great Alpine Road saw the hatch either come to a complete or come close to a complete stop at the edge of the give way line at the exit.

The hatch put its nose into the lane of the Great Alpine Road to turn right, and clipped or “tbonned” the rear passenger side of the victim’s Volkswagen that was travelling towards Myrtleford.

The victim’s vehicle lost control, rolled across the lane of oncoming traffic and stopped in the grass field adjacent to the westbound resting on its roof, with the driver pinned inside the car.

According to witnesses the Volkswagen rolled about 10 times, with police analysts estimating the car

One vehicle travelling towards Wangaratta was forced to brake and take evasive action to avoid collision with the rolling vehicle.

Around five witnesses of the collision stopped and tried to assist the victim along with a former army medic who arrived shortly after.

The witnesses saw the victim was unresponsive and the former army medic could not locate a pulse.

Witnesses saw the defendant race to the victim’s car, kneeling by the driver’s side and repeatedly saying “I’m sorry”.

The former army medic then attempted to assist the defendant who appeared to be in shock.

“It’s my fault, I’m going to jail,” she told the former army medic at the scene.

Paramedics pronounced the victim dead at the scene at 5:24pm.

The defendant asked police if she was going to jail, saying she “didn’t see him” and “he didn’t stop”.

Crown prosecutor David O’Doherty said there were no faults assessed with either vehicle and the conditions and visibility on the road was good at the time.

“There was no way the Volkswagen could have avoided the hatch

“Her failure to look properly with sufficient attention before she entered the Great Alpine Road constituted driving that was dangerous to the public in all circumstances.

“The risk posed by her driving tragically manifested in this fatality.”

Defence counsel Abbie Roodenburg said her client had experienced significant mental impairment since the incident, experiencing suicidal tendencies.

The court heard the defendant suffered from a high level of anxiety when driving since the incident and had no prior records of speeding or erratic driving prior to or just before the collision.

Ms Roodenburg said her client accepted that she didn’t look properly when deciding to enter the intersection, but submitted her offending was of the lowest level and would risk a further decline in her mental health if imprisoned.

Judge Anne Hassan acknowledged the enormity of the tragic circumstances surrounding the accident and adjourned her sentencing remarks for Friday, August 2, when she would place the 23-year-old on a community corrections order and a mandatory loss of licence.

Est. 1884, Incorporating Wangaratta Despatch, Est. 1861

LOOKING TO THE FUTURE: Janine Rollers, Rural City of Wangaratta economic development and tourism coordinator, in front of the visitor services kiosk at the Wangaratta Performing Arts and Convention Centre.

PHOTO: Kurt Hickling

Expect mail, for council election

VOTERS in the Rural City of Wangaratta must cast their vote via post in this year’s council election.

But time is fast running out for people who have not yet registered to vote and VEC commissioner Sven Bluemmel urges new voters to enrol by 4pm on August 7.

As this is a postal election Mr Bluemmel said it’s important for enrolled voters to also check that their address details are correct.

“If you’re an Australian

citizen and recently turned 18, or moved and haven’t updated your address, or if you’ve just closed your post office box with Australia Post, you can enrol or update your details online at vec.vic.gov.au/enrolment.

People living outside the Rural City of Wangaratta who pay rates for a property they own in the Rural City of Wangaratta, non-Australian citizens who occupy and pay rates on a property in the Rural City of Wangaratta, or

a representative of a company or business operating in the Rural City of Wangaratta can apply to the council to enrol by calling 5722 0838.

Mr Bluemmel also reminded voters that the rules for council enrolments have recently changed.

“Voting in local council elections is now compulsory for all state and council enrolled voters,” he said.

“In previous elections it was not compulsory for council-enrolled voters to vote

– now everyone must vote if they are on the voters’ roll.”

Voters who will be away during the election period can have their ballot pack redirected to an address of their choice by completing a redirection form online at vec.vic.gov.au by Monday, September 9.

More information is available by calling 131 832 or at vec.vic.gov.au, where stateenrolled voters can also sign up to the free VoterAlert service to receive important

election reminders by SMS and email. 

Rural City of Wangaratta voters head to the polls in October to elect seven councillors for the next four years.

Following a state electoral review there will be seven single-councillor wards (Appin, Bullawah, King, Ovens, Warby, Wareena and Yarrunga) and voters will only get to choose between those candidates who nominate in their ward.

Council candidates are not required to live in the ward in which they nominate.

Council still eyeing AFL pre-season matches

By SIMONE KERWIN

A RECENT announcement that the Wangaratta Sports and Aquatic Centre would host an NBL pre-season match in August has prompted queries about the potential for more AFL pre-season games to be held in the rural city.

Tickets go on sale on August 1 via Ticketek for the NBL preseason match between the South East Melbourne Phoenix and Brisbane Bullets, which will be played on Thursday, August 29 on the re-

vamped WSAC show court.

The nearby Norm Minns Oval (Wangaratta Showgrounds) has previously hosted a number of AFL pre-season matches as part of an arrangement following upgrades to the facility; the most recent of these was contested by Collingwood and Richmond in early 2020.

The Rural City of Wangaratta told the Wangaratta Chronicle in February this year that it had been advised to contact individual AFL clubs to coordinate pre-season games, and that council was aware

the community had a strong desire for live sport, particularly AFL.

Rural city manager arts culture and events, Simone Nolan, said while council officers had not spoken directly with any clubs since February, council continued to use its networks to ensure it did not miss any future opportunities.

“Nothing has yet come to fruition from our initial conversations, but we are always open and welcoming to any future engagement and are now focusing on the 2026 pre-season matches,” she said.

Ms Nolan said building relationships with individual clubs would take time.

“This is a very competitive space and there are much larger facilities in closer proximity to Melbourne also vying for these games,” she said.

“Council officers are actively working with AFL NEB (North East Border).

“By combining resources and expertise, we hope to create an attractive package that meets the needs of prospective AFL clubs.”

Nominations for council open September 9 and close September 17.

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

To find the ward that you live in, visit the VEC’s interactive map at https://maps. vec.vic.gov.au/, then enter your address.

New committee nominated for Whitfield’s main reserve

By ANITA MCPHERSON

A GROUP of local residents gathered for a special general meeting of the Whitfield Recreation Reserve, held by council on July 24.

Council invited the community to the meeting to appoint a new Community Asset Committee, to help maintain the reserve and the A.C. Swinburne Pavilion, which is a designated place of last resort in emergencies, used regularly for meetings and events by local groups and clubs including the King Valley United Football and Netball Club, and also used for private functions.

Council director of community and infrastructure, Marcus Goonan, said 11 people attended the meeting, with three apologies due to commitments.

He said the meeting was held so council and the local community could work together to ensure the important community asset continued to be managed by locals.

“We acknowledged the work of the previous committee members and then called for nominations for a new committee to be formed,” he said.

“From there, the committee-elect and council officers discussed how to move forward and outlined the support that could be offered if required.”

Mr Goonan said while nominations for a full committee were received, these would need resolution by council before they can be formally adopted.

He said council officers will continue to work with and support the new committee.

DRAWING A CROWD: The Rural City of Wangaratta is working on attracting more AFL pre-season matches to Wangaratta, such as this one contested by Richmond and Collingwood in early 2020.

Local experiences of Ovens River sought for art project

By JORDAN DUURSMA

COMMUNITY members are being asked to contribute to a collaborative art installation between ex-local Happy Valley artist Clare McCracken and Heather Hesterman which will be on display at the Wangaratta Art Gallery in September.

The exhibit will tease out the complex political, social, cultural, economic, and ecological history of the Ovens River and what it means to the local community.

Through documentation of performative fieldwork, creative writing, and participatory practice, ‘Wild Country’ explores the historical, cultural, and social importance of the Ovens River and its tributaries.

Clare and Heather are calling on community members to send in letters about the Ovens River, which will form part of the exhibition

- this can be anonymous or signed.

The pair are seeking people’s recollections, family holidays, fishing, swimming, rafting, picnicking etc, and any thoughts or, memories or history about the river.

Given the regional river towns’ diverse and rich histories, the artists want as many locals as possible to participate in the project.

Clare said the idea for the exhibit came out of the lockdowns when she was stuck in Melbourne missing home.

“I grew up in North East Victoria and when I was missing home I found myself on google maps looking at the area through satellite view,” she said.

“I entertained myself through lockdown by falling into deep research into the history of the Ovens River and I realised even though I am physically very familiar

with the area there was all these histories which I was completely unfamiliar with.

“We acknowledge that there is this huge national narrative with all of these significant histories of Indigenous heritage and care for Country, goldmining, cattle farming, tobacco and hops, but the river means so many extraordinary things to the little communities along it.

“We have been approaching community members and we have received amazing letters and it got us very excited about the other stories we might be missing.

“People can be creative, we’re asking for a letter and that can be an aspiration for the river, a forgotten history, a memory, a drawing or photograph, I don’ want to restrict peoples’ creativity.”

To submit a letter, email clare.mccracken@rmit.edu. au.

WANGARATTA HANDWEAVERS & SPINNERS ARE SUCCESSFUL AT BENDIGO SHEEP AND WOOL SHOW

Wednesday, July 30, 2014

By Simone Kerwin

WANGARATTA’S newest golden girl has given her hometown good reason to cheer this week.

Swimmer Belinda Hocking cruised to victory in the 200m women’s backstroke final at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games on Monday, delighting family friends, former teachers, and those keen to follow in her footsteps.

The 23 year old, who attended St Bernard’s Primary School and Galen College before joining the Australian Institute of Sport at 15, took the gold in a Games record time of 2:7.24, ahead of fellow Aussie Emily Seebohm.

She was the third fastest swimmer into the final, and in

WANGARATTA Handweavers & Spinners members displayed their talents at the recent three day Australian Sheep and Wool Show in Bendigo.

Seven members entered various classes and Cathy Eldred won first prize for a skein of hand spun fine yarn spun from fleece.

Three other members - Tracey Sharkey from Myrtleford, president Annie Longmuir from Benalla, and Colleen Arnold from Kyabram - all had their entries featured in the daily fashion parade.

Ms Sharkey prepared handspun cream wool and crafted it into a crocheted floor length coat and scarf.

Both the coat and scarf were dipped into a dyebath created using Brazilwood shavings that were soaked and fermented to produce a red dye.

The variation in the depth of col-

our at the base was achieved by doing multiple dye sessions using the same dye bath, each time reducing the amount of the garment being submerged.

Ms Longmuir entered a felted sleeveless jacket and matching hat using the 2024 theme of Fire and Ice as her inspiration.

One side of the jacket captured the blues and blacks of the glaciers in the lava fields of Iceland.

The other side featured red, orange and black to capture the dynamic colours of the volcanic eruptions and lava flows also in Iceland.

Ms Arnold created three machine knitted articles for the competition classes and her red machine knit bulky jumper with a generous rolled collar featured in the fashion parade.

Member Marion Stewart said all of these garments demonstrate

many months of planning and creating so it was wonderful to see the crafters recognised for their efforts by having their entries paraded.

“One section that requires a great deal of planning and co-operation is the team competition for five distinct articles displaying at least three different techniques and addressing the theme of Fire and Ice,” she said.

Wangaratta Handweavers & Spinners were awarded second prize and the local machine knitters were awarded third prize in the team section.

“The displays looked wonderful and were a tribute to the many hours of work put in by the two teams of local wool crafters,” Ms Stewart said.

“The annual Bendigo Sheep and Wool Festival always displays the highest standard of wool craft and it is a great honour to win a prize.”

Wangaratta born and bred swim star wins gold at Glasgow Games

backstroke title remains in Australian hands for the third consecutive Games.

But for locals, it means a whole lot more.

the race for gold was eighth after the first 50m, then moved to fifth at the halfway mark, before gliding past her opposition in the third 50m to lead at the final turn, and go on to claim victory.

Hocking took to social media after the win to thank her fans, saying: “Thank you so much for the support everyone, I can’t thank you enough.

“So happy and relieved.

“Been waiting a long time to get a gold around my neck, feels awesome.”

Her victory means the 200m

Family friend Maree Warnett, who has watched Belinda develop from a talented youngster to a star of the Australian team, rose early on Monday morning to watch the swim.

She contacted Belinda’s mother Jenny, who was in Glasgow with husband Ian to watch their daughter’s milestone, following the final.

“Her initial comment was that Ian had stopped breathing for the entire two minutes,” Ms Warnett said.

“And she said Belinda cried when her brother Robin, who is stationed with the Australian army in Kandahar, rang to say all his army friends were cheer-

ing for her during the race.

“Belinda even had the chance to shake hands with the Queen.”

Ms Warnett, Wangaratta Indoor Sports and Aquatic Centre manager, said the win was not only a highlight for those who knew Hocking, but for those who were chasing similar dreams.

“It’s inspiring to them to say a little country girl can do it, and it gives them the knowledge that it can be achieved,” she said.

“Myself, I was so emotional and proud, it’s so wonderful to see her achieve her dream.”

Students at St Bernard’s Primary, who have closely followed Hocking’s progress in recent years, celebrated the win at assembly on Monday morning, many having watched replays of the race before school.

THE OVENS RIVER: Photograph titled ‘Walking along the river’ will be showcased in the Wild Country exhibition by Clare McCracken and Heather Hesterman. PHOTO: Andrew Ferris

WOOLLY WORKMANSHIP: Tracey Sharkey from Myrtleford prepared handspun cream wool and crafted it into a crocheted floor length coat and scarf. INSET: FIRE AND ICE: President Annie Longmuir’s felted sleeveless jacket and matching hat using the 2024 theme of Fire and Ice as her inspiration.

INSPIRATION: Christian Ashworth, Alexandra Nolan, Daniel Titcumb and Charlie Timms, par-ticipants in the Wangaratta Indoor Sports and Aquatic Centre’s swim lesson program, show their support for Belinda Hocking’s gold medal winning performance.

Our community rallies against family violence

MORE than 300 people of all ages gathered in Wangaratta’s King George Gardens to march against family violence last Saturday.

The rally was a collaboration between new community group Firey Lou and What Were You Wearing, an Indigenous not-for-profit with the aim of ending sexual violence.

Many brought along their own signs and founder of Firey Lou, Shantelle van der Leeuw, said she was overwhelmed by the emotion of the crowd.

“It was incredible, we started with our guest speakers and victim survivors bravely and generously sharing their stories, which bought a lot of emotion in the crowd which fuelled the march,” she said.

“Seeing the children marching holding their signs chanting loud was so powerful, but then to see the elderly doing the same bought a tear to my eye.

“This violence affects us all throughout our whole lives.”

Guest speakers included former state MP Tania Maxwell, executive officer of LINE Wangaratta Allison Winters, Sophia Redjeb from What Were You Wearing, and family violence survivors.

After the guest speakers and the march, the ‘What Were You Wearing’ exhibition was unveiled at the Uniting Church Hall, displaying clothes people

BY CHLOE JAENICKE cjaenicke@ nemedia.com.au

were wearing when they were assaulted alongside their stories.

“The responses to the exhibition were extremely powerful, lots of emotion from people who looked through which can be uncomfortable and confronting but it is necessary to see the severity and impact of sexual assault,” Ms van der Leeuw said, hoping to organise similar events in the future.

“I have been overwhelmed with the amount of people wanting to join our community group and work on projects together, it has been amazing,” she said.

For those who couldn’t make the rally but would like to support the cause, Ms van der Leeuw encourages them to visit the What Were You Wearing website to sign the petition that calls for mandatory trauma informed training for first responders across Australia and increase funding for grassroots organisations in the domestic, family, sexual violence sector, including men’s behaviour change programs and women’s refuges.

For more information, visit the Firey Lou Facebook page or @ whatwereyouwearing_ on Instagram or contact fireylou@gmail.com.

Reshaping narrative around death

By JORDAN DUURSMA

EVENTS as part of the ‘GOOD2GO’ festival will foster and encourage conversations around death, dying, grief and loss in an inclusive and safe space.

A film screening of ‘Live

The Life You Please’ will be held on Wednesday, August 7 at St John’s Terrace at 1pm.

An expo on ‘Dying To Know Day’ will be held on Thursday, August 8 at Wangaratta Masonic Hall from 10am to 3pm.

Truckie failed to report peak hour Murphy Street crash

A FORMER truck driver has been fined after causing a peak hour collision in Wangaratta’s main street and failing to stop or report the crash with police.

The court heard on January 30 this year at around 5:10pm a semi-trailer travelling on Murphy Street collided with a Holden Barina at low-speed, causing damage to the Barina. The truck kept travelling down Wangaratta’s main street without attempting to stop, as the victim became disgruntled and recorded the truck with their mobile phone. At around 5:30pm the truck was intercepted by police at the Benton’s Hill rest area.

The truckie told police that after colliding with the vehicle, he rolled down his window and told the female driver he would be waiting for her at the Faithfull Street roundabout, not wanting to disrupt traffic in Murphy Street.

“You don’t want to have a truck pulled over on the main road,” he told police.

“I’m sorry.”

Leading Senior Constable Stuart Pritchard told the court that members had taken issue with the driver’s explanation.

Defence counsel Geoff Clancy said his client accepted that he should’ve reported to police that he was waiting for the victim at the nearby roundabout.

Magistrate Ian Watkins imposed a $500 fine, taking into consideration the truck driver’s good prior record over a 32-year career.

“It’s a busy time in Murphy Street, so I can understand what you were wanting to do, but she didn’t understand and you should’ve reported it to the police,” he said.

Organisers say it will be a safe place to ask questions you’ve been wanting to have answered by healthcare professionals.

Unfortunately, the gala event at Swanpool Cinema on Wednesday, August 7 has been cancelled.

• Pressure Washers

• Pond Pumps

• Wine Pumps

• Fire Hose Kits & Reels

• Fire & Transfer Pumps

• Mowers & Garden Equipment

• Ride On Mowers

• DeWalt Products

• Chain Saws & Accessories

SUPPORTING THE CAUSE: More than 300 people marched in Wangaratta against family violence on Saturday.

Have your say on rural city strategies

THE time for local businesses and community members to have their say on one of the rural city’s most crucial draft strategies is coming to a close.

The consultation period on the Rural City of Wangaratta’s economic development and tourism strategy closes this Friday so anyone who has strong ideas on what our council should be focussing on into the future needs to put their ideas in writing now.

Too often residents are critical of such strategies because they don’t reflect what some feel are the true needs and desires of the community, but unless locals make submissions through the proper channels, their voices will not be heard.

While letters to the editor in the Wangaratta Chronicle or comments on council’s digital media can bring issues to the attention of council and council officers, they won’t be utilised in development of long term strategies unless conveyed through the correct channels.

Council has been criticised in the past for some of its decisions taken without the need for consultation, so if people want important strategies such as this to reflect the community’s thoughts and aims, they must get their submissions into council officers reflecting that.

Whether you are in business, retired, have a young family, or just turning 18, check out council’s economic development and tourism strategy via the council website so you are informed enough to have your say.

You may even have an idea that council officers may not have thought to include in the strategy that proves a gamechanger.

It’s your town and your future, so take responsibility for it this week.

CROSSWORD PUZZLE

The Australian QuizNo.86

1

What is the middle name of the cartoon character, Donald Duck?

(a) Cedric (b) Fauntleroy (c) Hodgson (d) Archibald

2

Goodluck Jonathan served as president of which country from 2010 to 2015?

(a) Zimbabwe (b) Uganda (c) Nigeria (d) Somalia

3

What was the real first name of famous musician, Fats Domino?

(a) Antoine

(b) Germaine (c) Theo (d) Sasha

4

As at January 2022, what was the approximate population of Papua New Guinea?

(a) 2 million (b) 5 million (c) 9 million (d) 14 million

5 Harold Desbrowe-Annear was an influential Australian in which field of the visual arts?

(a) Sculpture

(b) Architecture (c) Photography (d) Painting

1961 9 (c) John Grisham 10 (d) Basketball

Keep conversation going on tourism

LETTERS published in the Wangaratta Chronicle last week from Peter and Sandra Headland and Ken Clarke raise some interesting points about tourism in Wangaratta.

But we need to have a much bigger conversation about if Wangaratta really wants tourism.

Over the 12 years that I have lived in and around Wangaratta I have been amazed that anyone ever drives into Wangaratta.

As you drive up or down the Hume highway there are signs alerting us of what can be discovered at various towns along the way - Seymour has its Vietnam’s vets and railway museum, Euroa has its VCs and Benalla has Weary Dunlop.

What does Wangaratta offer?

An exit in 5km or 2km to the mysterious town of Wangaratta or if you are close enough there are signs telling us how far it is to the Great Alpine Road.

Is there any accommodation here, somewhere to eat, probably not just a little town between Melbourne and Sydney?

We recently built the Ned Kelly discovery centre at Glenrowan, an infamous outlaw, but there is no indication of that as you drive along the highway.

It now houses the Wangaratta tourist information centre - we are the gateway to the region, who would know.

When I am asked where I live, I struggle to tell people about Glenrowan, but when I say the service centre after Benalla, most know where that is.

We can all pretend that having the biggest swimming pool or best netball courts makes us a reason to stop off here, but these are only for locals and our neighbours who use them.

As to Ken’s point that a firm from Melbourne was involved in the water tower painting, that was no secret, despite the mayor asking us to buy local, we have a fascination with what we don’t have and someone that will bring it all to us.

When the “Two dogs and lost cat” agency told us we needed a new logo or we would be combined with another city, we jumped and then we asked the community.

Thank you Ken for insisting that we needed to revisit that decision and to those who stood up and questioned if it was best for us.

How can we take control of this important aspect for our community?

Let’s first of all decide if we want tourism

6

Who was named Player of the Match for game one of the 2022 NRL State of Origin series?

(a) Cameron Munster (b) Dane Gagai (c) Ben Hunt (d) Valentine Holmes

7 Stanley Sugerman is one of the main characters in which 2022 movie?

(a) Don (b) The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent (c) Hustle (d) Interceptor

8 The Bay of Pigs Invasion occurred during which year of the 1960s?

(a) 1961 (b) 1963 (c) 1966 (d) 1969

9 Who wrote the 2022 bestselling novel, Sparring Partners?

(a) Rick Riordan (b) Jonathan Franzen (c) John Grisham (d) Dan Brown

10 Allison Tranquilli is best known for her involvement in which sport?

(a) Softball

(b) Field hockey (c) Tennis (d) Basketball

help the

from

and its volunteers

members of the public every Monday, Tuesday,

7pm

and if we do, how we make the place somewhere others will want to visit.

This time don’t ask an “expert” decide ourselves.

We have accommodation, wineries, history, restaurants and great nature and wildlife, not just schools and a hospital.

Some signs on the highway might be a start but there is a lot more to do.

Ian O’Brien, Glenrowan

Council must do more to support tourism

I WRITE in support of those preceding letter correspondents (Kenneth Clarke and others) bewailing the lack of support by our local in the establishment of a tourist hub for the whole of the Wangaratta region.

I don’t believe councillors have had an appetite to assist in the promulgation of any efforts to support the continuation of the Wangaratta Jazz Festival and earlier, the El Dorado Festival.

It has been necessary for a committee to place time, effort and money to rejuvenate the jazz festival without any vestige of support from the council.

One could be forgiven for determining that our local councillors have no interest in supporting events such as this.

My point is that the success or failure of these events is inextricably bound to the promotion of such events and that tourist information is an important element in ensuring our visitors can seek out with a minimum of difficulty what is on offer. Hence, it should be an integral plank of the council’s future charter to establish without delay in its planning a tourist centre which meets the criteria of what is sorely needed to adequately support a vibrant centre and in doing so seek the support of those businesses which place reliance on the tourist dollar.

Rod J Barnett, Wangaratta

WE welcome your letters to the Editor. Priority is given to typed/emailed letters under 250 words. Every letter must have your full name, address and a daytime phone contact number supplied for verification purposes. Any letter may be edited for reasons of space, content or legibility.

Email edit.chronicle@nemedia.com.au

Post Letters to the Editor, 37 Rowan St, Wangaratta 3677

CRAFTY DONATION: The St Michael’s Craft Group generously donated $1000 to Wangaratta Carevan last week. Carevan representative John Houghton gratefully received the funding

group members Lyn Johnston and Carol Stamp, saying it will

Carevan

continue to deliver free, warm hot meals to

Wednesday and Thursday evenings, from 6pm to

at Apex Park.

Battle a chance a to gain exposure, confidence in music

SINGER/guitarist Anthony

Chisholm will showcase some of his original songs when he takes part in the Wangaratta Battle of the Bands on October 20 at The Vine.

It will be the local resident’s first involvement in the event, which is part of the North East Battle of the Bands series, and he said it seemed like a valuable chance for young performers to gain exposure and build confidence.

“I thought it would be a great opportunity to share my music, gain more experience in performing, and hopefully motivate me to go further with my music and help improve my skills,” he said.

Anthony began performing in Wangaratta High School talent quests at the age of 13, when he first started teaching himself guitar.

He is a four-time WHS talent quest award-winner, and also took part in Wangaratta’s 2023 Winter Fest, as well as being part of busking competitions in Rutherglen.

Anthony described his music as “a mix of bedroom pop and indie with R’n’B influences - heartfelt, laidback, love, sad”.

BY SIMONE KERWIN skerwin@ nemedia.com.au

“I like to write songs that tell stories and connect with people on a deeper level,” he said.

“My music is inspired by my personal journey and explores themes of self-discovery attachment and emotion.

“I’m looking forward to being able to share my music with others and see what people think of it.”

Anthony said he often performed covers before he started writing consistently, but now mainly performs originals.

“I will be performing four originals (at Battle of the Bands); one of them, ‘Wide Awake’, is set to be released as a single at the end of July,” he said.

He said the Wangaratta Battle of the Bands audience could expect an “original, intimate acoustic performance” from his set.

Expressions of interest from local bands, duos and solo artists keen to take part in Wangaratta Battle of the Bands are open until October 4.

Entry to the competition is

free of charge, and open to artists of all genres aged between 12 and 25.

Artists must perform two or three songs per act, or for a maximum of 15 minutes, at the event, and performances must be appropriate for viewing by a young audience.

Songs do not have to be original, but a bonus point will be awarded for each original song.

Performers from the Rural City of Wangaratta, Mansfield, Benalla, Alpine, Indigo, Moira, Strathbogie, Towong and Albury shires are eligible to enter the competition, and other events which form part of the North East Battle of the Bands series.

Once a performer has won one of the events in the series, they cannot participate in others, as they will have already advanced to the final.

To sign up for the Wangaratta Battle of the Bands, visit https://forms.office.com/r/QqTG6A8mgn

 SONGS THAT TELL STORIES: Anthony Chisholm will perform a selection of his original songs at the Wangaratta Battle of the Bands on October 20 at The Vine Hotel in North Wangaratta.

MAKING MUSIC

WANGARATTA High School music students including Archer Wilson (centre) and Harrison Kelly (right) have been working hard this year and they look forward to sharing their achievements at a mid-winter music concert being held at the high school performing arts centre on Thursday night from 7pm. All are welcome, with tickets $10 for adults, $5 for children, available at the door.

Serious injury avoided in three-vehicle collision

By BAILEY ZIMMERMANN

DRIVERS of a sedan, utility and a motorbike have avoided serious injury after a collision on BeechworthWodonga Road on Saturday afternoon.

Sergeant Tony Chamberlain of Wodonga police

said a 65-year-old Albury man lost control of his utility driving towards Beechworth at around 12:40pm.

Around 100 metres past the turn off to Yackandandah, the utility clipped a motorbike travelling in the opposite direction.

A sedan travelling behind the motorbike then drove into the bike as it reduced speed.

Sgt Chamberlain said the 59-year-old Wodonga man in the sedan avoided injury while the 67-year-old bike rider was taken to hospital for assessment.

 SHARING HIS MUSIC: Local resident Anthony Chisholm is looking forward to showcasing his songs at the Wangaratta heat of the North East Battle of the Bands series. re lo hi Ba

KING VALLEY NEWS

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

NECMA visit a positive step towards King River remedy

BY ANITA McPHERSON amcpherson@ nemedia.com.au

REPRESENTATIVES from North East Catchment Management Authority (NECMA) and Water Technology have paid a visit to the King Valley to conduct a site assessment and discuss ongoing issues in the King River.

NECMA staff including managers Helen Wilson and Kelly Behrens attended the Corsini family property, to see a site of concern identified by Franco Corsini at the Fosangs Creek offtake on the King River.

Mr Corsini is among 13 landholders to have signed a petition in 2020 which called for NECMA to address problems including extensive erosion, debris blockages and sediment islands caused by repeated flood events and a lack of ongoing maintenance in the King River.

About six other riverside landholders came along to meet with NECMA, voicing their concerns and hearing from the delegation about their plans for reparation.

Mr Corsini has said railway iron piles installed on a bend in the King River at his property about 30 years ago had been effective barriers over many floods, until about five years ago.

Water Technology conducted a site reassessment in March and recently provided their findings to NECMA and the Corsini family, including observations of the Fosangs Creek

WANGARATTA Senior Citizens Club

offtake inlet pipe, the way it has been exposed after repeated floods, and its impact on the flow of water into Fosangs Creek.

Mr Corsini said the visit by NECMA and their interest in seeing the site for themselves, was productive.

“It was the most positive meeting we have had for a long time,” he said.

“It was great they took the time to listen to our views and concerns a little more and when they saw what we were dealing with, they realised a blanket approach to prob lems doesn’t apply in all situations.

members will host indoor carpet bowls tomorrow (Thursday) from 12 noon, cards (500) on Friday from 1.30pm, indoor carpet bowls on Monday from 12 noon, and cards (500) and hoy on Tuesday from 1.30pm, all in the group’s clubrooms in Tara Court, off Ford Street, or in the adjoining St Patrick’s supper room.

Breakfast will be held at the Quality Hotel Wangaratta Gateway on Friday from 8am.

Social gathering next Wednesday, August 7 will be an in-house movie (‘Kate and Leopold’) from 1.30pm at the clubrooms.

WANGARATTA Newcomers will hold their next gathering on Thursday, August 1 from 2pm to 3.30pm at Intermezzo Cafe. Join the group for a cuppa, a chat and to meet some new people. For more information, phone Joy on 0401 843 815 or Ann on 0435 275 864.

WANGARATTA Garden Club will hold its next meeting on Thursday, August 1 from 1pm in the Seventh Day Adventist Church hall in Phillipson Street.

“I think they got a better understanding of our concerns, and we got a better understanding of their position and the challenges they face, and it felt this time as though they were on our side.”

Mr Corsini said survey work is to be undertaken by NECMA, and then modelling will take place, which is expected to take around six to eight weeks, but he was “pleasantly optimistic” a solution could be found to address the issues at the Fosangs Creek site.

NECMA is in the process of developing a broader Rehabilitation Plan for the King River following consultation sessions

There will be a mini-show with members’ flowers, a stall, and afternoon tea. Special effort this month is a vase/container of yellow, lemon and gold tones. Visitors are welcome.

OXLEY Garden Group’s next gathering will be held at Janice and Greg Cherry’s home at 34 Simpson Street, Oxley at 10am on Thursday, August 8. BYO cup, chair and a plate to share. All welcome.

WANG Ukes meets on Tuesdays from 7pm to 8.30pm at the Masonic Lodge in Appin Street. All abilities welcome, phone 0407 311 899 for more information.

WANGARATTA Artists Society Inc provides a supportive environment for local artists to work on their projects, welcoming beginners to experienced individuals.

It hosts workshops led by experienced artists in various mediums throughout the year, and the studio is equipped to cater to artists and their artistic endeavours.

For more information, contact Robyn on 0412 291 066.

SOCIAL CALENDAR

it held with the community earlier this year, but it has not yet been released.

NECMA said this week staff including managers Helen Wilson and Kelly Behrens “were pleased to visit the site and meet with impacted landholders to continue discussions with the group on the options being explored to address the waterway issues that are causing concern.”

It said “meeting on site with impacted parties is always the preferred approach to addressing waterway issues so that all parties can share concerns, knowledge and explore solutions together.”

WANGARATTA Orchid Club meets on the second Wednesday of each month from 6.30pm in St Patrick’s supper room, off Ford Street. Meetings include flower shows and talks, and everyone is welcome. Phone Hans on 0428 119 737.

OSTINATO Wangaratta and District Community Choir meets each Tuesday from 7pm to 9.30pm at the Log Cabin, corner Faithfull and Chisholm Streets, Wangaratta. New members welcome. Contact Helen on 0457 269278.

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

All welcome. For details, call Keith Fleet on 0491 114 480 or Cheryl Hoysted on 0419 005 062.

WANGARATTA Woodworkers Inc meet at the Wangaratta Show-

King Valley church service

KING Valley Anglican Churches are having a combined service at All Saints Anglican Church in Moyhu on Sunday, August 4.

The service starts at 10am with all welcome.

KVA Film Club screening in August

THE King Valley Arts Film Club will hold its next screening at the Cheshunt Hall cinema on Tuesday, August 13 at 7.30pm.

The film is the 1959 classic On The Beach starring Gregory Peck, Ava Gardner, Anthony Perkins and Fred Astaire, a sci-fi romantic drama set in 1964 in Australia, which becomes a temporary safe haven after an atomic war wipes out humanity in the northern hemisphere.

Doors open at 7pm and an annual club membership of $40 (for six screenings) is available by visiting kingvalleyarts.com.au/film-club.

Cheshunt memorial tree planting on August 14

IN 1959, two memorial trees were planted in Cheshunt in memory of two nurses from the region, Sister Caroline Ennis and Sister Dorothy Gwendolyn Howard, who died following the Vyner Brooke bombing and Banka Island massacre in Indonesia in 1942.

One of the original memorial trees was dying and was removed in April this year, and a replacement tree will now be planted at the Cheshunt Hall.

The planting will be held on Wednesday, August 14 at 10.30am with morning tea provided and all welcome.

Circus show for all ages is coming to Moyhu

MULTI award-winning Australian circus group A Good Catch brings its hit show Casting Off to the Moyhu Soldiers Memorial Hall on Friday, August 30 at 7pm.

Casting Off is described as a joyful, absurd, witty and poignant circus show, which challenges the stereotypes of women and aging, and throws away the textbook on how contemporary circus is viewed.

Funny and heartfelt, see these powerhouse women tumble, talk, fly, and balance precariously, making the personal political and the furious funny, with acrobatics that are downright dangerous.

Presented by King Valley Arts Presents and suitable for all ages, tickets are available via Humanitix or follow the links by visiting kingvalleyarts.com.au and include a delicious supper by Moyhu CWA.

grounds each Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday from 9am to 12 noon (closing earlier if no-one is present).

The rooms are open on the first and third Wednesday of each month from 5pm to 7pm, and Sundays from 10am to 1pm. All welcome. Contact Bevan on 0437 196 118.

WANGARATTA Keenagers Table Tennis Club plays on Mondays and Thursdays at the table tennis centre at the Wangaratta Showgrounds. Play begins at 8am. New players welcome. Morning tea provided –please bring your own cup. Contact Maureen O’Keefe on 0409 215 881.

SATURDAY Quilters meet 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.

Beginner and experienced members welcome. Contact Frances on 0417 158 220.

COME and play mahjong at the Wangaratta RSL on Thursdays from 11am.

Beginners welcome. Contact Jan on 0429 166 016.

WANGARATTA Toastmasters meets on the second and fourth Wednesday of each month from 6.45pm at The Centre in Chisholm Street.

For more information, contact Joanne Howell on 0417 558 881.

WANGARATTA Family History Society opens each Thursday from 10am to 3pm in the local history room at the Wangaratta Library. Outside of these hours, assistance is available by appointment only by emailing wangfamhs@gmail.com or phoning 0474 443 626.

COME and try croquet at the Wangaratta Croquet Club, 46 Ryan Avenue.

Equipment and instruction provided. 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. Email wangsymphonyorchestra@ gmail.com or call Wendie 0408 495065.

ON SITE: NECMA managers (left) Helen Wilson and (right) Kelly Behrens, with Franco Corsini (centre) were among the delegation to visit the King Valley and see the Fosangs Creek site of concern on the King River. PHOTO: Anita McPherson

EDUCATION IN FOCUS IN

Smooth start to the year at St Bernard’s

THE first semester of 2024 school year was smooth and calm for the students at St Bernard’s Primary School.

The children all settled in well to the routines of school life and reconnected with old friends and extended friendships to new classmates.

“Our classroom environments offer small class sizes, with focused support from extra teachers and learning support officers,” principal, Patricia Boak, said.

“The classrooms are well resourced, attractive providing calm light filled environments that enable our students to flourish.”

Of particular note during first semester were the efforts of students to live their faith through their efforts to collect blankets, beanies, scarves and socks for the St. Vinnies winter appeal.

This was achieved through donations from families as well as their year long recycling efforts where the children collect the drink containers from lunch order days, cash in the containers at the depot and then donate the funds to St Vinnies.

Social justice and sustainability student leaders from the senior school drove this initiative.

One of the highlights for the children at St Bernard’s is the ample grounds to play in.

CREATIVE PLAY: St Bernard’s Primary School has ample grounds and plenty of sandpits for the children to play in.

“Our grassed areas provide welcoming play spaces where children freely run, roll, sit, play cricket, soccer, football or chasie/ tag games,” Ms Boak said. “These opportunities contribute

to our children being physically fit and healthy.

“Basketball, netball and four square are enjoyed year round under the extensive cover over the basketball courts.”

The variety of play equipment areas designed with a variety of difficulties for different ages of students offer opportunities for children to develop upper body strength and agility.

The three large sandpits provide opportunities for creative and imaginative play for all ages.

These unstructured play areas assist our children to learn to take turns, share and develop social and positive behavioural skills in addition to developing creative and imaginative play.

In addition to the grassed areas, are a variety of hard surfaces where children engage in further opportunities for basketball, netball, hand ball or dancing and performing on the stage spaces.

These opportunities develop hand-eye coordination and agility whilst providing opportunities for children to develop a sense of mateship and what it is to belong to a team.

Areas such as Brigidine Place and the chicken coup have plantings that encourage bird life, butterflies and other insects which provide play opportunities to develop curiosity, help children to be self-directed, and to stay with tasks longer.

“We believe that playing in the outdoors at St Bernard’s contributes to developing happy and healthy children,” Ms Boak said.

“When children have rich vigorous experiences in the outdoors, they come into class refreshed and ready to learn.

“We invite families to come and join our school community.”

EDUCATION IN FOCUS IN

Navigating for future career pathways

GALEN Catholic College held its senior pathways information evening last week.

During the evening guests were able to meet with learning area teams, TAFE and universities, local employers and attend presentations to help guide them in their choice of subject selections.

Galen’s senior students have the flexibility to study a course that suits their own interests and allows them to develop their own pathways to success.

Galen offers a wide variety of options including VCE with more than 30 subject choices, VCE Vocational Major, 10 VET courses and a School Based Apprenticeship and Traineeship Program.

The college has the facilities for many VET courses including building and construction with VET sheds on site, along with a fully equipped hospitality kitchen and café.

The school’s vineyard is situated just across from the college and the new stadium and performing arts centre are the latest in providing first-class facilities for the college and community.

Pathways in a regional community can be an academic one, taking students to university in regional or capitals such as Melbourne and Sydney.

However, a significant proportion of senior students at

BUILDING&CONSTRUCTION

Galen - up to 20 per cent - attain apprenticeships and traineeships in their final year. This is a considerable achievement, up to 2.5 times the state average for students.

A recent report for Foundation for Young Australia (FYA) explored how the career pathways for young people looks very different to those of their parents. Instead of a few jobs across

a single career pathway, it is estimated that a young person today will have approximately 18 different jobs over six different careers in their lifetime (source FYA New Work Order report series).

The range of opportunities to learn, grow and engage with the college’s community provides each Galen student the foundation to adapt to their own pathways of success.

HAIRDRESSING

VCE > Deakin University > Law Degree Abby Walker - Class of 2017

PATHWAYS TO SUCCESS: There are many pathways students can take at Galen College.

Innovative SEAL program

THE Select Entry Accelerated Learning (SEAL) Program is an innovative program for high ability and high potential students that has been running successfully at Wangaratta High School for almost two decades.

It is regarded as the strongest and most rigours high ability program in the region, and enrolment interest increases each year.

“We are immensely proud of our SEAL Program and the success our students have enjoyed both academically and beyond in the broader community,” executive principal, Dave Armstrong, said.

“Designed for a range of learners, the program accommodates formally assessed gifted children, students who have shown high ability in one or more learning areas, and students who have shown high potential even though their current results may not reflect their ability.

“Our high ability and high potential programs aim to help students develop their innate gifts and strengths into talents across both curricular and extra-curricular activities.

“We cater for children who have shown academic potential, strengths and potential in sporting, music and artistic endeavours, as well as fostering interpersonal and leadership talents.”

The SEAL model at Wangaratta High School Students are selected into the program through an application, high ability and potential testing through Edutest, and an interview with the school SEAL panel.

In years 7-9 selected students accelerate through the year 7-10 core curriculum of English, maths, science and humanities, compacting four years of learning into three.

Some students who have demonstrated

exceptional strengths in mathematics are offered acceleration into VCE maths subjects at year 9.

Year 10 SEAL students can:

• apply to complete VCE over two years;

• complete a wider choice of VCE subjects over three years;

• combine year 10 electives with some VCE subjects;

• combine year 10 subjects with VCE and VET subjects.

Year 11 and 12 students also have access to university courses and VCE level subjects through the Centre for Higher Education Studies (CHES).

CHES offers an increasingly broad range of courses which are only available to high ability and high achieving students in government schools.

Universities offering these courses include Go8 members, the University of Melbourne and Monash University, as well as RMIT, La Trobe, Swinburne, ACU and Federation University.

Wangaratta High School also has a long established relationship with ANU in Canberra, with early offers made to SEAL students before the end of year 12.

Questions?

If you feel your child may benefit from participating in the SEAL program, visit www.whs.vic.edu.au/SEAL for more information.

The first testing session for 2025 has just occurred, but there will be future opportunities in coming months.

If you have any questions about the program or if you are unsure if your child should register for testing, please get in touch with enrolments officer Jodie Bell 5723 0500.

THE TOP HIGH-ABILITY STUDENT PROGRAM IN THE REGION

We encourage all current Year 6 families to explore our 'best-in-region' programs for high-ability students, particularly our highly regarded Select Entry Accelerated Learning (SEAL) program and the expanded university subject offering from the Centre for Higher Education Studies (CHES). Information sessions have been held, but it is not too late! Contact our Enrolments Officer or visit whs.vic.edu.au/SEAL

wangaratta.hs@education.vic.gov.au

HIGH ACHIEVERS: The SEAL program is available everyone at Wangaratta High School, including year seven students Annabelle Wills and Willow Norris.

EDUCATION IN FOCUS IN

One VCE - two options One VCE - two at Cathedral in 2025 at Cathedral in 2025

FROM 2025, there will be two options for studying Year 11 and 12 at Cathedral College

Wangaratta: VCE and VCE Vocational Major, a two-year vocational, applied learning program within the VCE.

Each student at Cathedral College will have a different journey to prepare for life after school and the college’s continued focus is to ensure students have the flexibility to choose the right pathway, opening up post-school opportunities and careers in the most in-demand industries.

Students can add vocational education and training (VET) subjects to either the VCE or VCE VM pathway, giving them practical skills and knowledge for work and further study.

Cathedral College has expanded its VET offerings for 2025.

In essence, the VCE Vocational Major (VCE VM) builds knowledge and skills for work and life.

Students get hands-on experience in one or more industries, so they finish school with an employability edge.

This senior secondary qualification opens up pathways to higher-level TAFE or VET certificate courses, apprenticeships, traineeships and the workforce.

Students at Cathedral College have the opportunity to complete the VCE, selecting from more than 25 VCE studies and 10 VCE VET programs.

By completing the VCE, students can specialise in areas of interest, meet the requirements for future tertiary studies, and develop skills for various careers.

Principal, Nick Jones, said the college takes pride in fostering enhanced academic outcomes and personal bests through a broad, well-balanced, and comprehensive curriculum.

He said academic integrity and rigour are fundamental to the college’s philosophy, promoting a culture that

highly values learning and academic excellence.

“The breadth of these pathways will ensure our students can pursue courses that align with their unique interests, aptitudes, and aspirations,” Mr Jones said.

“Ultimately, students will have more choices.

“We will continue to support those completing a VCE pathway, focusing on academic excellence and preparation for tertiary or further education.

“Additionally, starting next year, we are excited to offer the VCE VM, which is designed to equip students for the world of work through hands-on experience in one or more industries, giving them an employability edge upon graduation.”

Visit the college’s website, www.cathedralcollege. vic.edu.au, to find out more about VCE options at Cathedral College in 2025 and beyond or to join principal Nick Jones for a tour of the college.

PRINCIPAL TOURS

THURSDAY AUGUST 29, 2024

OPTIONS FOR SUCCESS: Year 11 student, Henry Findlay, is among those taking advantage of the options at Cathedral College in the VCE VET Furnishing class.

EDUCATION IN FOCUS IN

There’s a new way to get your VCE

THE VCE Vocational Major (VCE VM) is a two-year applied learning program that’s part of the VCE.

You will get skills for work and life and hands-on experience in one or more industries, finishing school with an employability edge.

Your teachers will assess your progress through a range of activities.

Your only exam is the General Achievement Test (GAT) (Part A only).

The four VCE VM study areas use a different form of assessment to other VCE studies.

The assessment is completed by your teacher in class, who’ll support you to achieve the requirements.

VCE VM subjects don’t receive a study score, so they won’t count towards an ATAR.

The VCE VM is a great choice if you prefer to learn in a real-world environment and don’t need an ATAR.

Where the VCE VM can take you

The VCE VM will help you prepare for:

• an apprenticeship or traineeship;

• further education and training;

• university, through alternative entry programs;

• going straight into the workforce.

Your VCE VM subject options

To complete the VCE VM, you need to successfully complete at least 16 units.

This needs to include:

• three VCE VM Literacy or VCE English units (including a Unit 3 and 4 sequence);

• two VCE VM Numeracy or VCE Mathematics units;

• two VCE VM Work Related Skills units;

• two VCE VM Personal Development Skills units;

NEW OPTIONS: VCE VM is a new way for students to complete school.

• three other Unit 3 and 4 sequences of your choice;

• VET at a Certificate II level or above (180 nominal hours).

You could also spend time learning in a workplace as part of your VET.

This is known as Structured Workplace Learning Recognition.

You can add other VCE studies to your VCE VM program.

What you’ll get

When you finish your studies, you’ll get:

• a Statement of Results from the VCAA;

• a Statement of Attainment from your VET training provider (if you completed any VET units);

• your VET qualification (if you completed one);

• your Victorian Certificate of Education with the additional words ‘Vocational Major’. Students who don’t complete the certificate will receive a Student Achievement Profile summary that lists all their achievements.

EDUCATION IN FOCUS IN

Local education needs covered

EDGARS Books & News

are your local go-to store for your child’s school novels, textbooks, stationary needs, student and teacher resources and study guides. They stock and can order required booklist items whatever the time of year.

Edgars cater for students with learning differences such as dyslexia, autism, neurodiversity and ADHD as well as non-fiction books for teachers, educators and parents to learn and enhance the involvement of students during class time and at home.

Outside of the required textbooks and novels, Edgars also stock a large range of STEM, scientific and nonfiction books for enquiring young minds to devour.

Children’s Book Week is coming up August 17-23, so visit Edgars and let the kids find a copy of their favourite book or order it in ahead of the excitement and dress-ups.

Schools, day care centres and kindergartens will find a diverse range of choices from children to young adult readers including full series

ALL YOUR STUDY NEEDS: Edgars Books & News has everything a student needs from textbooks to stationary supplies.

and stand-alone fiction, picture and board books and manga, anime and graphic novels.

Make sure your school/ teachers are registered for emails from Edgars to receive notifications on limited time specials and end of year prize book offerings.

Book lists for Easter, Anzac Day, Father’s or Mother’s Day or other class interests can

also be curated and supplied by Edgars’ staff

Schools, libraries and education staff are eligible for 20 per cent off all book purchases so there’s even more reason to shop locally for your book needs.

Visit Edgars Books & News at 55 Murphy Street, Wangaratta, call 5721 3758 or search and/or order online 24/7 at https:// edgarsbooksandnews.com.au/.

Celebrating Australian culture at Milawa Primary

IN 2024 Milawa Primary embarked on a new and exciting initiative with the creation of a specialist subject to help build student and community engagement and understanding of this amazing country we call home.

“Our students have a great connection to our community and Milawa and the surrounding areas have a rich and deep history on many levels in regards to Australian culture and our environment,” Australian Culture and Environment (ACE) teacher and Marrung Lead, Ash Campbell, said.

“Our overarching goal was to help students gain knowledge of this rich and deep history and provide them with the tools to help continue to shape the future of our country.

“There are many curriculum components to what we affectionately call ACE including history, geography and science.

“There is also a beautifully weaved inclusion of Indigenous education within the subject to support this understanding.”

INDIGENOUS CULTURE: Students from Milawa Primary school learnt more about Australia’s history while visiting the Winton Wetlands.

Thus far, students have explored their own understanding of connection to country and developed both a sense of pride and deeper understanding of the significant places they identified where they have their strongest connections.

They have also begun the exploration of Australia’s deep history starting from their current generational history and then moving back through different eras in Australia’s development as a nation.

They have had

opportunities to explore the richness of our local environment with supportive activities such as the 15 Mile Creek camp and a whole school excursion to Winton Wetlands to consolidate their understanding of how our environment has changed and adapted over thousands of years.

They have looked at the significance of Australian flora and fauna and developed an appreciation of the significance of the Long Neck Turtle to the Yorta Yorta Nation.

“Supporting the development of the subject has been some deep level professional development with staff trained in material supported by the schools inclusion in the Marrung Indigenous Education initiative as well as an initiative called Strengthening Principal Perceptions (SPPIKE) in Korri Education which not only supports our Indigenous students but also helps develop a sense of belonging and understanding and appreciation of diversity for our students and the wider community,” Mr Campbell said.

EDUCATION IN FOCUS IN

Inclusive playground brings joy to students

WANGARATTA Primary

School is proud to unveil its new inclusive playground, a vibrant and engaging space designed to cater to all students.

The playground features a variety of equipment, including a new sandpit, balance and climbing structures, a trampoline, musical instruments and sensory gardens.

Over the past few months, students have eagerly watched the transformation of the playground area, and their excitement has been palpable.

Anticipation for the playground has now turned into joy as they explore the new equipment and spaces designed to enhance their playtime experience.

The inclusive playground is more than just a fun area; it provides numerous benefits for the students’ development.

The balance and climbing equipment help improve motor skills, coordination, and physical strength.

The trampoline offers a fun way for students to engage in physical activity, promoting cardiovascular health and muscle development.

Sensory gardens and musical instruments add an extra layer of enrichment, stimulating the senses and encouraging creativity.

These elements are particularly beneficial for students with sensory processing needs, offering them a calm and engaging

environment to explore and enjoy.

Social and emotional development is another key benefit of the new playground.

The inclusive design ensures that all students, regardless of their abilities, can play together, fostering a sense of community and

inclusivity.

principal, Jacinta Kubeil, said.

Shared playtime experiences help students build friendships, learn cooperation, and develop empathy and understanding for one another.

“We are thrilled to see our students so excited about the new playground,”

“This space is a testament to our commitment to providing an inclusive and enriching environment for all our students.

“We believe that play is a crucial part of learning, and this playground will offer countless opportunities for our students to grow and thrive.”

The new playground is already a hit, with students eagerly spending their playtimes exploring and enjoying the new equipment.

Wangaratta Primary School looks forward to seeing the positive impact this inclusive space will have on the students’ physical, social, and emotional well-being in the years to come.

Students in Foundation enjoyed exploring the new playground.

EXCITED STUDENTS: Jolene, Annabell, Clancy and Neave test out the new balancing frame.

EDUCATION IN FOCUS IN

Many learning opportunities at Appin Park

TERM 2 saw students at Appin Park Primary School have opportunity to participate in several activities to enhance their classroom learning programs.

Students in grade 3 and 4 attended an overnight camp at Sovereign Hill in Ballarat, exploring life on the goldfields.

Students went gold panning, visited an underground mine, observed gold pouring and watched the evening sound and light show.

Students in the junior school took part in an excursion to Mansfield Zoo in the last week and had a wonderful day in winter sunshine looking and feeding some of the different animals.

Appin Park proudly offers all students opportunities throughout the year to take part in several camps, excursions and incursions depending on the grade they are in.

These activities help foster students’ development in areas of independence, organisation and facing challenges in safe and supported environments.

Term 3 will be no less busy with the annual Book Fair and Book Week activities in August, including opportunity for students to dress as a favourite book character for the parade.

Middle school students will be taking on roles in tree and garden planting projects around the playground including taking part in Plant a Tree Day this month.

Foundation students will shortly celebrate 100 days of learning at school with each student bringing along a

collection of one hundred items, such as marbles, buttons or pebbles.

The big excitement for the term is Appin Park’s whole school production which is held every second year.

All students for Foundation to grade 6 are involved in singing and dancing performance.

The grade 5 and 6 students will be presenting a musical production of Nemo.

The performance will take place at Wangaratta Performing Art Centre on Friday, August 30 with a matinee and evening show.

Tickets are now available.

Students attending Appin Park Primary School develop strong foundations in literacy and numeracy along with weekly lessons in the specialist programs of STEM, library, visual art, PE and Italian.

All students take part in regular lessons supporting student understanding of their emotions and responses to them alongside Respectful Relationships and the Resilience Project.

Students at Appin Park are fortunate to have a beautiful natural environment in which to play, with a full-sized oval and multipurpose sports court and playground equipment suitable for different age groups.

Before and after school care is available everyday as well as holiday programs at each of the term breaks.

Appin Park Primary School are taking enrolments for 2025 Foundation and prospective students.

WINTER SUNSHINE: Junior school students, Talina Cokanauto, Ollie Holmes, Ayla Kiely, Rylee Carter, Kade Tucker, Owen Powell, Oliver Stevenson and Blake Mackrell enjoyed their trip to the Mansfield Zoo.

EDUCATION IN FOCUS IN

Study Tips

1. Organisation is key PLAN a study schedule and make time for breaks.

When you have a clear outline of how you are going to achieve your end result, you’re less likely to procrastinate.

You can use a planner or diary to help get organised or there are some great online tools including:

Notion: allows you to create personalised calendars, study plans, organise research materials, track assignments and collaborate with your classmates on group projects;

Todoist: captures your deadlines and exam dates, keeps your course load and assignments organised, and helps you to be more productive.

2. Take regular breaks

STUDYING for hours on end can lead to burnout and decreased productivity.

Research shows that our brains need time to rest and recharge to stay focused.

The ideal duration for study breaks will vary from person to person because everyone’s energy levels are different throughout the day.

Experiment with different times and break durations to find what works best for you.

If you’re not sure, start by taking a 10-minute break every hour or two.

When you start to feel tired or lose concentration, take a longer break.

Or you can try The Pomodoro method that follows a basic pattern of 25 minutes of studying followed by a five-minute break.

Instead of turning on Netflix or social media on your break, to properly rest your mind, try these options:

A walk or any other type of exercise;

Mindfulness and meditation;

Meet up with a friend for coffee;

Take a 20 minute power nap;

Stretch or do a 10 minute YouTube yoga class.

3. Create a good space to study

MAKE sure your desk and chair are set up ergonomically to avoid injuries or pain in the body.

Use a lamp that doesn’t shine directly on your screen and make sure there is no glare or shadows on the screen.

A cluttered desk = cluttered mind so try to keep your desk clean.

You can find cheap items to organise your notes and stationery at various retail outlets.

Make your study area a lovely place to be - use a diffuser for essential oils, buy a pot plant, a picture to place above the desk or a nice lamp.

Experiment with background music to create a calm atmosphere and drown out any noise.

4. Eat the frog first

“EAT a live frog first thing in the morning, and nothing worse will happen to you the rest of the day”.

- Mark Twain

Brian Tracy wrote a book ‘Eat That Frog’ that basically advises you to ‘do the worst first.’

Is there a particular assignment or exam topic that you’re putting off ?

Do that one first, because having a task that you’re delaying can drain your energy and make you less productive.

Once you complete that task, it will give you a sense of accomplishment and relief and you’ll have the momentum to get through your other work much more easily.

Building strong and respectful relationships

OUR Lady’s Primary School has had a fantastic start to the year with plenty of fun activities for the students to enjoy.

There have been many highlights in term two including the school strengthening its relationship with Galen College.

Their grade 3/4 and Galen connection, which has been operating for a couple of years, has allowed for the grade 3/4 students to go on excursions and complete activities with students from Galen College.

“Our grade 3/4 students along with the Community Service Group from Galen College have been working hard in our garden area to refresh this space,” Our Lady’s Primary School principal, Cassie Lynch, said.

“Our grade 3/4s were also invited along to the musical performance Aladdin which they all enjoyed thoroughly.”

The grade 5 students also participated in Our Lady’s first ever Student Voice Forum at Galen College in May.

Ms Lynch said the

students were able to learn all about respectful relationships with a cluster of other Catholic Schools at the forum.

“We have only recently joined the cluster, so it was our first experience in this space,” she said.

“We are now a proud Respectful Relationship school, promoting gender equity and respectful relationships in all areas of our school and community.”

Grade 6 students also organised and run a talent show for the whole school to enjoy.

There were a range of different performances including dancing, solo guitar performances, comedy acts and skits and on the same day the school had their crazy sock day to raise money for childhood cancer.

For the rest of the year, Ms Lynch said the main event they are looking forward to is the grade 5 and 6 students’ performance for Sandhurst Arts on show, where they will perform with other students from Catholic Education Sandhurst.

BUILDING FRIENDSHIPS: Students like Bonnie Skase and Isla Webb are learning build strong relationships at Our Lady’s Primary School.

School Principal

Darren ‘Darta’ Hovey

At Galen Catholic College we have returned to a world of ‘temp’ fencing on part of our campus. Our Year 9 students could be forgiven for thinking that temp fencing is part of our educational plan as they have experienced movement restrictions due to the erection of fencing since they started at Galen Catholic College. Fortunately, the fencing in the centre of our school will come down in two weeks, while the temp fencing which is visible from Phillipson Street will be with us for the remainder of the year.

During the school holidays, the fencing was placed around our Max Fletcher auditorium. In the coming weeks, work will start on the creation of our new Student Services Centre. The current auditorium will be renamed as the Max Fletcher Student Services Centre. The Centre will be the new home for our Deputy Principal Student Development, Wellbeing Team, House Leaders, Learning Diversity leadership and our school nurse. Administration support for each of these teams will also be in the new space.

This development is directly aligned with the three-year research project which is being led by La Trobe University. The centre will commence operation in time for the 2025 school year. The decision to retain Max Fletcher’s name to the building is very important, as Max was our College’s first lay principal from 1987 until 2001. During his time as principal Max oversaw significant changes in the structure of the College and responded to the changing educational landscape of the time.

I had the pleasure of working with Max when he became the Secondary School Consultant in the Ballarat Diocese in 2002. During his time in the Ballarat Diocese, I saw firsthand Max’s passion for learning. Upon arriving in Wangaratta in 2011, I was reacquainted with Max, as he had moved into the Deputy Director’s role in the Sandhurst Diocese, and I commenced my role as Deputy Principal of Learning and Teaching at Galen Catholic College. Max continued to have a significant influence on education, not just in our school community, but across the Sandhurst Diocese right through to his retirement.

Linking all the teams in the Student Services Centre in one large, purposebuilt facility on Phillipson Street gives our community easy access to each of the teams. If any of the teams are conducting family meetings or there is the need to pick up a student early due to illness, our community will go to the front desk at

the Student Services Centre, rather than walking to the main administration office in the centre of the school. Providing a dedicated space for Student Wellbeing, House Leaders, Learning Diversity and First Aid signifies our commitment to supporting the health and wellbeing of all our students. Our students will be able to access a dedicated space that allows each of them to seek support from the team, best suited to provide the support they need.

The Max Fletcher Student Services Centre allows all the teams within the Centre, under the leadership of the Deputy Principal Student Development, coordinate activities and programs that specifically target areas and opportunities within our community. This targeted approach will assist our students to engage in our community to the very best of their ability. In time, we see the Centre as a place where we can further extend our support of students and families to enhance their wellbeing and connection to our community. The Max Fletcher Student Services Centre will provide our community with the chance to further engage in a holistic approach to the education of each student in our community, where our academic learning is integrated with physical health, emotional wellbeing and social development.

The second piece of our temp fence puzzle will conclude over the next two weeks. The heart of our school community, the central courtyard, is nearing the final stages of its redevelopment. As in any school, our students design our paths. Over time as we have changed the configuration of our school by developing new facilities, our students then create pathways that get them to their destination via the quickest way, path or no path. The new space will align all the walkways in the area. This will assist students and staff to easily access facilities, as well as providing gathering spaces and quiet areas for students and staff during recess and lunchtime. Parts of the courtyard such as our ANZAC and Memorial spaces will remain within the courtyard, while our statue of Marcellin Champagnat is on the move to a space dedicated to the Marist Brothers, one of our founding charisms.

As a community, we look forward to sharing our Max Fletcher Student Services Centre and our new courtyard over the coming six months.

Happy days

Darta

Community in Concert: The Transformative Power of Wangaratta High School’s Music Program

At Wangaratta High School, we believe that our instrumental music program is not just about learning to play an instrument but about fostering a myriad of essential skills that contribute to the holistic development of our students. Our program provides young people with unique opportunities to engage in intellectual development, teamwork, and cultural enrichment. It is regarded as the strongest and highest quality program in our region, backed by long-serving and highly regarded staff.

Intellectual Development

Participation in our music program significantly enhances intellectual growth, which is why we value it so highly. Research shows that learning to read music and play an instrument requires high cognitive function. Musical training improves memory, attention, and problem-solving skills. Additionally, students involved in music education often perform better in other academic subjects due to the discipline and critical thinking skills developed through music. Dr. Anita Collins, a renowned music educator, states, “Learning music requires the brain to do some hefty multitasking, making it a great tool for developing young minds.” These academic benefits translate to better overall performance, as students apply the same discipline and critical thinking from music to their broader studies. This is reflected in our consistently strong academic results.

Teamwork and School Culture

Music is inherently a collaborative art form, and our students thrive in ensemble settings. The energy at rehearsals is a key reason engagement levels are so high! Whether in orchestras, bands, or smaller groups, students learn to listen to one another, blend their sounds, and work towards a common goal. This collaborative effort nurtures a strong sense of community and belonging within the school, enriching our school culture and fostering mutual respect and cooperation among peers.

Excellence and Persistence

The pursuit of musical excellence requires dedication and perseverance. Students in our instrumental program are constantly encouraged to strive for their personal best through regular practice and rehearsals. This commitment to consistent effort and improvement cultivates a mindset of persistence, resilience, and determination— qualities that are invaluable not only in music but in all areas of life.

Music Support Group

Founded in 1981, the High School’s Music Support Group began with the goal of converting an old tractor shed into a music room for practice.. Their efforts evolved with extensive fundraising to build a music centre. As the music program expanded, the group fundraised for instruments, excursions, equipment, uniforms, banners, music, and camps and tours.

Now in their 44th year, the Music Support Group includes not just parents of music students, but also community volunteers, past

students, parents of past students, and music enthusiasts, all united to make music education accessible at Wangaratta High School. Special thanks to all Support Group members from the students and staff who have benefited from their service to music!

Exemplary Facilities and Staff

Our program is supported by excellent facilities, including our own performing arts centre, and offers access to a full accoutrement of percussive, brass, and woodwind instruments and a small range of strings,  making the program incredibly versatile and inclusive. Music tuition is free within Wangaratta High School, ensuring that every student has the opportunity to participate. Our expert instrumental teachers, some of the best in the region, provide high-quality instruction. Wangaratta High School has produced some significant Australian musicians, reflecting the exceptional standard of our music education.  The program has been serving and enriching our town and community for almost 40 years, with more than 2000  students directly involved and many more having enjoyed their performances. Our school boasts 3 concert bands, 2 big bands (jazz ensembles), numerous rock and contemporary bands, and a jazz quartet, providing diverse opportunities for students to explore various musical genres and styles.

Kool Skools Recording Project

The Kool Skools Recording Project, initiated by Studio 52 in 1996, offers young songwriters from Victorian Secondary Schools the chance to record their songs professionally. Starting with our first school compilation in 1997, through to our 2023 compilation ‘Unrehearsed’, Wangaratta High School has been the longest participating school in this project. For over two decades, our involvement has supported individual musical talent and showcased our band program’s smaller ensembles. With Studio 52’s recent expansion, this year, for the first time, we will record the Symphonic Band and showcase one of our larger ensembles.

At Wangaratta High School, we are proud of the significant role our music program plays in shaping well-rounded, accomplished, and culturally enriched individuals. By supporting our students in their musical journeys, we are investing in their future success and the vibrancy of our school community.

Upcoming Performances:

• Mid Winter Concert – August 1st 7pm at the Wangaratta High School PAC

• Primary School Performance Day –September 15th

• NEVR (Region schools) Music Ensemble Day

– September 19th

• Concert Band Phillip Island Tour – September

• End of Year Concert – November 20th

• Symphonic Band Anglesea/Melbourne Tour

– November

See www.whs.vic.edu.au for more details about our wonderful music program, and connect with us on Facebook and Instagram

Dave Armstrong  Executive Principal

I have recently returned from a period of long service leave and was lucky enough to travel to Europe for an extended period of time with my family. This was a fantastic trip and a truly enjoyable experience that my family and I will remember and cherish for many years to come. Being away from the hustle and bustle of the school day allowed me to reflect on many aspects of my role as a school principal and, more generally, on how our school is preparing our students for the world they will enter upon graduating from Cathedral College Wangaratta.

The first thing that struck me was how far away Australia is from the rest of the world. The twenty-two-hour plane journey was a clear reminder of this distance. Although Australia and its neighbouring countries are far from the majority of the world’s population in the northern hemisphere, I believe it’s crucial to encourage our young people to embrace opportunities to engage with the global community. Globalisation has profoundly transformed the world of work, and the demand for a globally-minded workforce has increased. Embracing globalisation means preparing our young people to thrive in a diverse and dynamic global labour market.

The impact and reliance on technology were also evident during our travels. On the plane trip to Europe, I enjoyed tracking the flight path in real time as we flew over countries and cities. The in-flight Wi-Fi was instant and reliable, allowing me to communicate with people around the world whilst mid-flight. On the ground, my iPhone became an invaluable tool, enabling me to pay for anything by simply tapping my phone, which instantly transferred funds into different currencies. GPS maps provided real-time directions in any country, whether I was travelling by foot, car, boat, or bike. Additionally, the iPhone allowed me to access historical information about the sites and attractions I visited instantly. From Westminster Abbey and Saint Peter’s Basilica to the Old Course at Saint Andrews, I could scan a QR code and receive fascinating information about each landmark. The ability to book a taxi, theatre tickets, ferry tickets, or a restaurant instantly was also invaluable.

These experiences reminded me that our young people are entering a world where information is available instantly. The ability to access and consume information is limitless, and the impact of this technology on future jobs and professions remains uncertain. While the convenience of connecting and communicating with anyone at any time is undeniable, it is

also recognised as a significant threat to some people’s mental health and wellbeing. As educators, we need to support and educate our students on how to balance the consumption of information and maintain healthy boundaries.

At Cathedral College Wangaratta, we continue to reflect on how we can best prepare our students for the ever-changing world in which they will be a part of. There are certainly traditional skills that students need to master. We continue to prioritise the development of literacy and numeracy skills that provide the foundation for all other skills to be developed. In our Junior School, our experienced teachers are implementing evidence-based teaching practices that prioritise the explicit and direct instruction of the literacy and numeracy skills that remain so vital for our young people. Alongside the development of core literacy and numeracy skills, we recognise that our young people need to acquire additional skills and competencies that may not have been as critical for previous generations. With an infinite amount of information available on our devices, it is essential for young people to develop the ability to analyse and evaluate the accuracy of this information. The rise of artificial intelligence (AI) also presents the challenge of determining whether or not the content has been AI-generated. We need to educate our young people to be discerning in the consumption and processing of information.

While I have always been supportive of developing our students to be proactive and enthusiastic global citizens, my travels have reinforced the importance of exposing our young people to the exciting opportunities the world has to offer. At Cathedral College, we have swiftly re-engaged many of our programs post-COVID, providing students with opportunities to connect with the global community. These programs include a biannual language and cultural tour to Germany and Indonesia, as well as an annual service-learning trip to Samoa. Additionally, we host exchange students from various countries, including Germany, Switzerland, Spain, and Brazil. Our young people are global citizens who recognise the world as a place filled with countless opportunities. I am incredibly grateful for the experiences I recently enjoyed during my travels. At Cathedral College, we will continue to provide our students with opportunities that inspire them to take active roles both locally and internationally.

Nick Jones

BLUE: The Songs of Joni Mitchell

AUSTRALIAN cabaret chanteuse and musical theatre star, Queenie van de Zandt and her three-piece band will celebrate a musical legend when they present BLUE: The Songs of Joni Mitchell at the Wangaratta Performing Arts and Convention Centre on Saturday, August 24.

Renowned for her artful storytelling and raw, emotive vocals, Queenie presents the songs, stories and art of Joni Mitchell, a renaissance woman, painter and poet who not only crafted the soundtrack for the Woodstock generation, but also captured the hearts of a whole new generation through her music featured in films like Love Actually.

Revealing the intimate stories behind Joni’s haunting songs from her iconic album, BLUE, such as A Case of You, River and Little Green, as well as celebrating her greatest hits such as Big Yellow Taxi and Both Sides Now, tickets for this spellbinding show are available at wpacc.com.au.

Author Margaret Hickey to visit the library

AWARD winning local author and playwright Margaret Hickey will speak at the Wangaratta Library on Tuesday, August 13 at 6.30pm.

Margaret is the author of the popular novels Cutters End, Stone Town and Broken Bay, a crime series featuring detective Mark Ariti.

Celebrating the launch of her latest novel, The Creeper, all are welcome to the free event, with bookings essential via Humanitix or by contacting the library at library@wangaratta.vic.gov.au or call 5721 2366.

Annual Daffodil Day stall

THE Cancer Council Victoria Wang Volunteer Group will hold its annual Daffodil Day selling day on Thursday, August 22nd from 8.30am until sold out at the Reid Street kiosk and the Post Office arcade.

On sale will be beautiful bunches of daffodils, the symbol of hope, at a cost of $10 per bunch with all proceeds going to the Cancer Council Victoria.

The Howie Brothers at Park Lane

VETERAN musicians The Howie Brothers will return to Wangaratta to perform a reunion gig at Park Lane Bowling Club on Friday, August 16 from 1.30pm to 3.30pm.

Identical twins, John and Graeme Howie, will be joined on the day by long time Howie Brothers bass player and funny man, Robbie Edge, and local Wangaratta musician, Gill Delaney.

Sing along to songs everyone will know and love like When Irish Eyes Are Smiling, You Are My Sunshine, I Belong to Glasgow and many more, with tickets $20 available at the door, which includes a cuppa and bikkies at interval.

WHAT ABOUT ME: Shannon Noll will play all his hits during his 20th anniversary national tour which arrives at the Wangaratta Performing Arts and Convention Centre on October 3.

Shannon Noll’s 20th anniversary tour is coming to Wangaratta

CELEBRATING 20 years since the release of his multiplatinum debut album That’s What I’m Talkin’ About, Shannon Noll will play at the Wangaratta Performing Arts and Convention Centre on October 3 as part of his national tour.

Nollsie’s rise to fame as the runner-up of the record breaking first series of Australian Idol, saw him go from being a farm hand in Condobolin, to one of Australia’s most cherished and recognised recording artists and entertainers.

It was back in 2003 when he first stepped onto the Australian Idol stage.

His powerful rendition of Hold Me in Your Arms in front of Marcia Hines, Ian ‘Dicko’ Dickson and Mark Holden, not only showcased his undeniable talent but also resonated with his personal story – a man of the land, battling the hardships of drought and the personal

tragedy of losing his father.

Nollsie’s Australian Idol journey took him all the way to an unforgettable night at the Sydney Opera House, where more than four million people tuned in to watch the finale of the very first Australian Idol.

Twenty years on, he has become one of Australia’s most cherished and recognised recording artists and entertainers with a string of ARIA awards and top 10 albums.

His landmark single What About Me was the highest selling single in Australia in 2004, and he is the only Australian male artist in national ARIA chart history to have achieved 10 consecutive Top 10 singles.

Today Nollsie is at the peak of his powers as he continues to release new music, host his popular new podcast Idol Talking With Nollsie, headline major festivals and perform to

huge crowds across Australia. His most recent album release, RAW, debuted at number one on the ARIA Australian Album Chart and number one on the AIR Independent Album chart.

This year Nollsie is celebrating with a special 20th Anniversary album release which features the original 12 recordings, including the hit singles What About Me, Drive and Learn To Fly, plus live recordings and two brand new songs, including an anthemic duet with fellow Australian Idol finalist, Cosima De Vito.

During the tour, fans will be treated to a high energy and nostalgic live show featuring songs from his debut album as well as hits and fan favourites across his entire career catalogue to date.

See Shannon Noll on Thursday, October 3 at 7.30pm, with tickets available at wpacc.com.au.

Cathedral College school production

CATHEDRAL College Wangaratta will present a musical for all ages, The Wind in the Willows, at the Wangaratta Performing Arts Centre on Friday, August 2 and Saturday, August 3.

Middle and senior school students will take audience members on a riotous journey in this adaption of Kenneth Grahame’s classic children’s story, featuring everyone’s favourite characters, including Mole, Rat, Badger and the impulsive Mr Toad, whose antics land him in serious trouble.

Full of humour, wit and a soaring score, and heartwarming lessons of friendship, shows will be held at 6.30pm both days, with tickets available at wpacc.com.au.

Friends of the library book sale

THE Friends of Wangaratta Library are holding a book sale on Saturday, August 3 from 9.30am to 12pm at Wangaratta Library.

There will be a large range of secondhand adult fiction, non-fiction and children’s books to choose from and all money raised will assist the library in providing programming and events.

ARIES (March 21 to April 19) A misunderstanding tests the temperament of the sometimes headstrong Aries. But instead of blowing your top, take time for a pleasant diversion while things cool down.

TAURUS (April 20 to May 20) A workplace problem could make the divine Bovine see red. But talk it out before you consider walking out. Some surprising facts emerge that can change your earlier focus.

GEMINI (May 21 to June 20) You face a choice between ignoring your uneasy feelings about your relationship with a special person and demanding explanations. A close friend offers wise counsel.

CANCER (June 21 to July 22) A change you’d been hoping for carries an unexpected complication. Stay the course, and things will work themselves out. Be sure to make time for family and friends.

LEO (July 23 to August 22) Aspects favor spending time with loved ones. On the job, new ideas are generally welcomed, but some demands for change could cause problems. Be ready to defend your choices.

VIRGO (August 23 to September 22)

Good news: A workplace problem is close to being resolved with results that should please everyone. Take time off to indulge in your love of fun and games.

LIBRA (September 23 to October 22) Most of the time, you are the most unflappable person around. But be ready to be thrown off-balance in the nicest way when Cupid takes aim in your direction.

SCORPIO (October 23 to November 21) It’s not often that someone tries to “sting” the sharp-witted Scorpion, but it can happen. Continue to be skeptical about anything that seems too good to be true.

SAGITTARIUS (November 22 to December 21) Your strong sense of self-esteem helps you serve as a role model for someone who needs personal reassurances. Meanwhile, your efforts pay off in an unexpected way.

CAPRICORN (December 22 to January 19) Someone close considers revealing a painful secret. Withhold any judgment. Instead, open your generous heart, and offer dollops of your love and understanding.

AQUARIUS (January 20 to February 18) Your talents as a peacemaker are called upon once more as an old problem reemerges with new complications. Move cautiously in order to avoid falling into hidden traps.

PISCES (February 19 to March 20) The artistic side of yourself is enhanced with the reception given to your new project. Use this success as encouragement toward fulfilling your larger goals.

A JOINT exhibition of sculptures by Ron Ahl and paintings by Jana Brook (pictured) are delighting visitors to the Art Gallery on Ovens. Jana’s paintings capture the Winton Wetlands in different seasons, and most are presented as sketchbook pages,

PHOTO: Kurt Hickling

37 Rowan Street, Wangaratta 3677

SINGING lessons available. All ages. Teaching privately via online video sessions. Focusing on techniques such as breathing, pitch, vocal tricks and performance. $30 per half hour, $50 per hour. Contact Claire O’Connell 0481 387 127. FOR LEASE

Cafe at Rees & Rees

Full kitchen Available immediately Contact Dean 0418 553 087

CONCRETING, big or small jobs, paths, driveways, shed slabs, verandahs, 15 years experience. For a free quote phone Trev Anderson on 0422 200 761.

MARK’S Mowing, reasonable prices, ride on mowing, edging, clean up, spraying and any waste removal. Ph 0472 603 156.

PAINTER, old school, for all your painting needs, commercial, industrial renovations. Phone Juliano 0412 597 482.

WHEELER

Earthworks, available for all your earthworks needsyard clean ups, stump removals, driveways, material supply and spreading, rural work and more. Call Marcus on 0491 094 545. CHECK OUT OUR NORTH EAST JOBS in today's Regional Extra for more employment opportunities. Published every Wednesday in your Wangaratta Chronicle, Ovens and Murray Advertiser, Myrtleford Times and Alpine Observer

SHEEP FOR SALE, Dorpers, sel f shedding, young ewes, some with lambs, tagged, healthy, from $80, can deliver. Ph 0459 899 884.

MERCEDES C300

sedan, 2018, Auto, White, black interior, 6 months rego (AYG702), RWC, HAS 4AMG PACKAGES, air suspension, petrol, 2ltr Turbo, 74,910km, full service history, excellent condition, $48,000. Ph 0412 543 949.

2018 Toyota Prado, 4WD, Auto, white, 7 seats, bull bar, snorkel, towbar, caravan and horse float ready, current RWC, 145,005km, (IVL 7VT), $46,500. Ph 0437 762 668.

TIPPER FARM UTE, 1998 Ford Courier (unreg) petrol / gas, 4WD, manual, straight single cab, steel tray, drop side tray, tow bar, could be re-reg, runs well, VIN: JCOAAASGHCVB78825, $4,500 firm. Ph 5729 3669.

TOYOTA Hilux 2023 workmate ute, automatic, as new, 3300km, reg till Oct 24 (TGH121), $33,000. Ph 0414 428 544, located Mansfield.

2007 Nissan Tiida, gold colour, (WRF170), 6 speed manual, new front and back shockers, 2 new front tyres, 235,600km, $5000. Ph 0458 859 959.

PACKAGE Deal, for genuine sale 2004 Ford F250, 7.3ltr Diesel, 292,000km, has near new bravo a/t Maxxis 980 tyres, plus 2 spares on back, rear camera, rear airbag suspension, 274ltr fuel capacity plus 100ltr tank under rear canopy, rear slide on picnic table, central locking system, Hayman Rees tow ball, top winch to help load the boat, plus 15,000 pound bull bar winch, lots storage includes 2x60ltr fridge slides, plus boat motor slide, 2 large draws in canopy, lots storage above canopy and below 3x120 Uni solar panels, has pro star solar controls wired ready to go, 4 glass matt batteries, plus built in charger, built in compressor. Side steps and bull bar all aluminum, driving lights CB radio, electric brake system to suit caravan, fully serviced and will sell with road worthy. Caravan, 2004 Kedron Cross Country, made in Brisbane, 20ft inside, electric brakes, pullout awning, has matching wheels as the F250, dual axle plus 2 spares. 2 x jerry can holders at rear, in front bin has 4 x glass matt batteries, pro star solar controls invertor, has 4x120 Uni solar panels on roof, tv antenna, fold up side cooking table built on side, steps that fold up on the door, single beds with inner spring mattresses, wired for CPAP machines x 2, lots storage cupboards, built with Tasmanian oak, 4 burner stove with grill and oven, 240ltr Vitri Frigo, full sink, wired for TV, reverse cycle air con, Island bench table with storage under seats, storage under beds, brand new elec and gas hot water service (never used), water filters and hoses, electric legs, A-Trail Jack plus ockie wheel, 2 wind stiffeners pegs and mat (outside 8x4m) original tyres and rims for caravan, out door shower, 5 water tanks, one tank for drinking only, carpet or vinyl flooring, wired for 12 volt or 240 volt, full annex plus extra plus sun shade, never used, new wheel bearings (never used), 2 gas bottles, front bin and generator compartment, very clean and neat, has lots of extra’s as well. $139,900 ono package deal, will consider splitting, but they do compliment one another. Boat not included. Ph 0427 936 630.

HYSTER forklift,

MELOURY-KAUP, Joshua Zane. 31/7/1994

May the calm winds of Heaven whisper in your ear, how much we love and miss you and wish you were here.

Happy 30th Birthday Josh. You will not be forgotten as long as we live, as long as we breathe and as long as our hearts beat.

~ Love Mum, Andy and Cody.

new gas bottle, new battery, $5200. Ph 0427 936 630.

FISHER and Paykel Dryer, $300, as new, Snow chains, 2 sets, diamond pattern, $50 each. Ph 0438 279 335.

FRIDGE, washing machine and freezer, make an offer. Ph 0427 820 487.

DEATH NOTICES

DIFFEY (Sessions), Lois. 8/6/1937 – 25/7/2024

When someone you love becomes a memory, the memory becomes a treasure. A wonderful mum and mother-in-law to Kathy and Tony (dec). Nana to Belinda and Mathew, and Andrew and Kelly.

Special Gran Nan to Nate, Flynn, Airlie and Leo. Forever in our hearts.

NORMAN, Stephen Douglas. 3/4/1950 - 21/7/2024

It is with great sadness and heavy hearts we grieve the loss of our Uncle. Our memories of time spent with you and your wicked sense of humour will always remain. Rest easy.

Condolences to Amanda, Karl, Khaela and families.

~ Love Kylie, Jeremy, Faith and families.

DEATH NOTICES

SPEAKMAN, Dawn. Dawny, you were so brave, fought till the end.

Treasured friend of Trish for many years. Heart goes out to devoted husband Carl. Gav, Vicky and girls, Crystal and Brandon. Your love and strength shone through. She was so proud. Never forgotten.

~ Aunty Trish, Lisa, Chrisdeanne and family.

DEATH NOTICES

SPEAKMAN, Dawn. To Carl, Gavin, Crystal and families –condolences on Dawn’s passing. A good friend, will be sadly missed.

~ Kerri Seymour and David Robinson.

NORMAN, Steve.

Farewell brother, the pain has gone. Rest in peace. Brother of Daryl and Trang. Uncle of Kylie, Jeremy, Faith, Ruby Rose and families.

FUNERAL DIRECTORS

In loving memory of RUBEIS, Pietro.

It has been a pleasure to know you. A life well lived.

Much loved and respected. Rest in peace.

~ Joe and Peter De Rubeis.

SPEAKMAN, Dawn.

7/8/1951 – 20/7/2024

The family of Dawn Speakman regret to announce her sudden passing on July 20, 2024.

Much loved wife of Carl, and mother of Gavin and Crystal.

The funeral service for Dawn will be held at the Mason Park Chapel, 95 Mason Street, Wangaratta on Friday, August 2, 2024 at 2pm.

A private cremation will follow the service.

“Always in our hearts.”

Mason Park Funerals 5721 5060 masonpark.com.au

Reid retires from AFL

BRIGHT football product Sam Reid has hung up the boots after 15 years with the Sydney Swans in the AFL.

Reid made the announcement to the playing group last Tuesday after sustaining a hamstring injury in the VFL the Saturday prior, and he and his family were given an adoring farewell as they walked the boundary of the Sydney Cricket Ground just before the Swans played Western Bulldogs on Sunday.

Raised in the North East and educated at Galen Catholic College in Wangaratta, Reid was drafted with pick 38 by the Swans in the 2009 draft, before debuting in Round 22, 2010 against Brisbane.

He quickly became a staple member of the Swans forward line, going on to play 181 games and kick 183 goals.

Reid also was a premiership player for the Swans, racking up 13 disposals and one goal in the 2012

grand final win over Hawthorn.

“I have called the Sydney Swans home for the past 15 seasons and I’m so grateful for the time I have had here at the club,” Reid said.

“Since arriving from Victoria all those years ago I’ve grown up from a 17-year-old school kid to now having a wife and two kids of my own.

“The club has looked after me and my family so well and I can’t thank them enough for the opportunity I’ve been given.

NORTH East Bushrangers Basketball (NEBB) is a collaboration between local North East basketball associations with the commitment of “Creating Realistic Pathways for all North East Athletes”

Ten NEBB junior teams compete in the Victorian Junior Basketball League (VJBL) - the highest level junior competition in Victoria.

Our Club offers specialist Basketball Clinics, as well as pathways through Senior Big V Competitions.

One NEBB Youth League Men’s (YLM) team competes in the semi-professional Big V competition.

Big V & VJBL consist of teams from both metropolitan and regional Victoria.

Norman passes at age 74

OVENS and Murray Hall of Famer Steve Norman has passed away at the age of 74.

The Wangaratta Rovers legend was a four-time O&M Leading goalkicker, twelve-time O&M Representative player, O&M Hall of Fame member and seven-time premiership player.

Norman’s funeral will be held in the Mason Park Chapel today, commencing at 2.00pm.

Wangaratta Rovers president Wally Pasquali paid his respect to Norman.

“He has just has an amazing football resume,” Pasquali said.

“I will look back with so many great memories of playing here –the people I’ve been able to work with have been incredible and a big reason why I lasted 15 years.

“Of course, the 2012 Premiership sticks out in my mind as the footballing highlight.

“I want to say thank you to the entire football club, the players past and present, the coaching staff, and of course all the Swans members who have supported me along the journey.”

“He’s definitely one of those players that could’ve played at the higher level but as was typical of that era, he just wanted to stay in the country and play football with his mates at Rovers so he never took that leap down to the VFL.

“For his size it was ridiculous how good he was at full forward, an amazing kick and had plenty of speed to get away from his opponent.

“The whole club is going to miss him and we send our condolences to the whole Norman family.”

LADY DEVILS RAMPING UP TO FINALS

■ From back page

“Our ball movement was good from defence, they found Hannah and Leanne who then distributed it and created quite a few opportunities for us.

“We got a bit shaky at the start of the second half, but that was because we put all of the bench players on and it disrupted us a little bit, so we took a while to settle down, but then we settled down and took control of the game.

“The good thing was the movement from the various lines, some of the football we played in patches was super - I think there was one instance where it went all the way from the goal kick to their end, seven or eight passes and the opposition didn’t touch it and we got a shot on goal.

“That’s pleasing, being able to do that.”

The Lady Devils head into their bye weekend sixth (32 points) overall, but with a favourable run into the finals series.

Wangaratta City take on Myrtleford Savoy next weekend (eighth, 25

points) before Wodonga Diamonds (fifth, 34 points) to close out the home and away season.

Masters still believes with some strong performances and a bit of luck in other matches, the Lady Devils can enter the finals in a powerful position.

“We get three points this week because we’ve got the bye, we play Diamonds so there’s another opportunity to take points off them, and Myrtleford,” he said.

“There’s a good chance we can get maximum points, Boomers (fourth, 40 points) have to play the two top sides and those two won’t ease up because they’re pretty close to each other.

“If we win all of our games, we certainly should be ahead of Diamonds, and you never know, we could even sneak in to the top four if Boomers drop their games.”

The division two women solidified their top three position with a 2-0 win over Boomers White, with Arabella Cavicchiolo and Samantha Scott finding the back of the net.

SUPER SIX: Bianca Mulqueen scored six goals in the 9-4 result over Wodonga Heart.

PHOTOS: Kat De Naps Photography

RETIRED: Bright’s own Sam Reid has announced his retirement from the AFL.

PHOTO: Phil Hillyard

College 5.4 6.8 7.10 8.10 (58)

Myrtleford 0.0 1.2 4.8 8.9 (57)

GOALS: COLLEGE: F. Burgan 4, C. Ashworth 2, H. McKenzie 1, C. Fitzgerald 1. MYRTLEFORD: T. Cooper 2, A. Morgan 2, S. Muraca 1, S. Colson 1, R. Harris 1. BEST: COLLEGE: H. Bowman, C. Ashworth, N. Monk, S. Doyle, S. Reid, F. Burgan. MYRTLEFORD: L. McManus, T. Morgan, A. Morgan, B. McMasters, S. Muraca.

Junior Magpies 1.5 1.7 2.7 2.8 (20)

Kangaroos 0.1 1.5 2.7 2.12 (24)

GOALS: JUNIOR MAGPIES: J. Comensoli 1, C. Allan 1. KANGAROOS: H. Jacka 1, A. Obrien 1. BEST: JUNIOR MAGPIES: J. Wohlers, L. Suffield, L. Sexton, C. Bott, Z. Bott, C. Miller. KANGAROOS: Z. O’Shannessy, M. Sacco, E. Mullins, W. Graham, E. Beach, E. Cook.

Mansfield 2.1

Centrals

(60)

(42)

GOALS: MANSFIELD: J. Benton 5, J. McCormack 2, H. Desmond 1. CENTRALS: H. Barry 2, C. Curr 2, R. Parsons 1, C. Breheny 1. BEST: MANSFIELD: J. Benton, J. McCormack, C. Dobson, H. Banks, D. Leenen, O. Guppy. CENTRALS: C. Ormond, H. Barry, C. Boman, R. McNamara, R. Parsons, B. Mawson.

Bright 0.2 2.4 5.5 5.7 (37)

Imperials

(61)

GOALS: BRIGHT: L. Robinson 3, H. Johnston 1, O. Dalbosco 1. IMPERIALS: W. Prebble 5, M. Semmens 2, K. McPhan 1, B. Benton 1. BEST: BRIGHT: P. Ferrito, A. Hargreaves, T. Russell, H. Johnston, H. Lindner, J. Thomson. IMPERIALS: D. O’Sullivan, H. Allen, W. Prebble, L. Griffiths, C. Maher, K. McPhan.

Benalla 1.0

Tigers

(33)

(40)

GOALS: BENALLA: S. Gates 1, J. McCarthy 1, J. Hart 1, T. Reeve 1, A. Siede-Davon 1. TIGERS: M. Correll 2, H. Dodgshun 1, L. Webb 1. BEST: BENALLA: J. Hart, J. Mathieson, L. Hyland, C. Squires, H. Carter, B. Cooney. TIGERS: J. Preston, J. Perna, D. Winter, L. Webb, M. Benton, J. Wickham.

Junior Magpies

2-3-15

Kangaroos 26-20-176

GOALS: JUNIOR MAGPIES: J. Pell 1, J. Vincent 1. KANGAROOS: I. Chilcott 9, H. Wallace 6, M. Murphy 2, M. Skermer 2, H. Ackerly 2, A. Symons 2, J. Crotty 1, R. MACKINNON-BURMAN 1, J. Pople 1. BEST: JUNIOR MAGPIES: W. Maiden, J. McNeill, M. James, J. Vincent, C. Wright. KANGAROOS: M. Skermer, I. Chilcott, H. Wallace, C. Kelly, R. Mackinnon-Burman, J. McCarthy.

Mansfield Yellow

Centrals

(48)

(66)

GOALS: MANSFIELD YELLOW: M. Rossiter 2, Z. Hotton 2, J. Clydesdale 1, F. Smith 1, M. Watson 1. CENTRALS: A. Knobel 5, J. Walkerden 1, M. Wallace 1, A. Fraser 1, C. Grimshaw 1. BEST: MANSFIELD YELLOW: F. Smith, Z. Hotton, N. De Santis, W. Benton, M. Rossiter, J. Clydesdale. CENTRALS: A. Knobel, S. Gales, L. Bennett, B. Johns, A. Morris, W. Boulton.

Mansfield Blue

GOALS: COLLEGE: J. Tonkin 1. MYRTLEFORD: M. Mcmasters 6, C. Herbert 2. BEST: COLLEGE: F. Mckenzie, J. Tonkin, K. Hope, J. Borschmann, E. MILLIS, A. McKeown. MYRTLEFORD: N. Durling, B. McMahon, H. Szaraszek, M. Mcmasters, C. Carroll, B. McLean.

GOALS: BENALLA BLACK: J. Jackson 2, O. Parker 1. CENTRALS: H. Muraca 1. BEST: BENALLA BLACK: J. Jackson, C. Thwaites, J. Quarrell, M. Yuen-Francis, M. White, B. Parker. CENTRALS: D. Hogarth, J. Oats, K. Steele, N. gales, C. Richards, J. Vincent.

(40)

(17) Myrtleford

GOALS: MANSFIELD BLUE: G. Robinson 1, B. Turner 1. MYRTLEFORD: T. Cartwright 2, L. Gabler 1, S. Lupo 1, H. Durling 1, T. McPherson 1. BEST: MANSFIELD BLUE: A. Dunn, J. Fleming, J. Hoskin, G. Robinson, R. Watts, Z. Haslau. MYRTLEFORD: S. Lupo, L. Gabler, M. McMahon, T. McPherson, L. McKeone. Bright

(155) Imperials

GOALS: JUNIOR MAGPIES: E. Fulton 1, G. Thomas 1. KANGAROOS: L. Solimo 2, H. Edwards 1, C. Ackerly 1. BEST: JUNIOR MAGPIES: R. Sessions, X. Graham, C. Gardner, W. Hernan, E. Fulton, L. Fraser. KANGAROOS: H. Edwards, L. Kelly, G. McCurdy, L. Solimo, T. Gigliotti, M. Tucker.

GOALS: BRIGHT: A. Tanaskovic 5, B. Buckland 3, H. Bruneau 3, D. Andersen 3, G. Banks 2, O. Lewis 2, J. Oswin 1, N. White 1, B. McConnachie 1. BEST: BRIGHT: O. Lewis, N. White, H. Bruneau, B. Buckland, A. Tanaskovic, H. West. IMPERIALS: K. Ely, T. Sealey, S. Newton, L. Wilson, J. O’Connor, G. Marek. Benalla Black 1.0 1.1 1.3 2.6 (18) College

(105)

GOALS: BENALLA BLACK: K. Thwaites 2. COLLEGE: L. Sims 7, L. O’Brien 3, L. Dillon 2, E. Maher 1, Z. Peebles 1, J. Guley 1. BEST: BENALLA BLACK: K. Thwaites, J. Montgomery, H. Blyss, R. White, T. Osborne, H. Ross. COLLEGE: L. Sims, C. Bowman, T. Hill, N. Allan, H. Dean, J. Guley.

Benalla Red vs Tigers: PENDING

NOAH PAUL AND ETHAN CRYER PHOTO: SUPPLIED

MAC CORRELL

Dominant Demons continue to build

By NATHAN DE VRIES

MILAWA coach Kerrie

Gray thinks the best is yet to come for the Demons’ A grade squad.

This comes after the Demons recorded a massive win over Benalla All Blacks on Saturday, 81-39, to sit a game clear on top of the ladder and undefeated.

While heavy favourites to take the points in their round 17 clash with the Panthers, Milawa made their presence known on the court, shooting well to open an 11-goal margin in the first 15 minutes.

Momentum continued to flow Milawa’s way, and despite the 42-goal differential after the hour’s play, Gray still thinks they can improve.

“Our timing and ball movement was a little off, so it was a great opportunity to work on ‘fixing’ things midmatch and continue to work on our connections through the midcourt,” she said.

“It was a great game where the scoreboard didn’t necessarily reflect the game.

“We have been working all year on adding some depth to our defence game and being able to adapt at the time to the style of defence required.

“The Benalla goalers were quite accurate on the weekend especially with their long shots, so our defenders were

kept on their toes all day.

“I think it’s a credit to all teams in the competition that there has been a considerable improvement and that teams across the board are more competitive than they have been in recent years.”

Emily Canny was impressive under the post, shooting 65 goals from her 72 attempts, while Tahlia Matthews-Vincent held the side together in the centre.

In other A grade matches, Whorouly may have done enough to secure a finals berth after downing Bright 44-32.

The Lions sit two games clear in the six, while every other contender chasing them on the ladder has the bye in the run home to finals.

Moyhu will need to overcome Whorouly this Saturday to secure their September future after falling to Tarrawingee 36-45 in their weekend match.

The Hoppers held a narrow lead at the first break, but the Bulldogs were able to overcome it thanks to a powerhouse second quarter.

While Moyhu did fight their way back to within four goals in the third, Tarrawingee were too strong.

Elsewhere, Greta overcame King Valley 58-44, and Bonnie Doon handled North Wangaratta 77-24.

PHOTOS: Kurt Hickling

LAST Wednesday the Wangaratta Table Tennis Association’s annual club championships were held for singles and doubles in each grade.

It was a fantastic night of competition for players and supporters watching the supreme endeavours of players battling it out to continue through each round.

Andrew Lindner is the 2024 A Grade singles champion.

He claimed the ‘Tony Constantino’ Perpetual Shield for the second time, having won it previously in 2022.

He defeated runner-up Tom Brown in a sporting but intensely competitive final, in the deciding fifth game.

Andrew and Tom progressed to the final after defeating Marcus Angehrn and last year’s champion Mark Comensoli in their respective lead up semi-final matches.

John Bajada continued with his

Lindner claims Club Championship

great form winning the B Grade singles championship.

He won contests against Phil Fitzgerald and Andrew Higgins before playing the talented Ted Tatulaschwili in the final.

Manni Poulos played with confidence and persistence, reaping the reward in winning the C Grade championship.

He defeated strong contender Andrew Holmes in the final, a match filled with long rallies and close games. In the lead up matches he overcame Renee McCarthy and Matt Curran.

Championship results:

A Grade singles winner: Andrew Lindner, R/up: Tom Brown.

A Grade doubles winners: Mark Comensoli/Robert Voss, R/up: Andrew Lindner/Steve Picken.

B Grade singles winner: John Bajada, R/up: Ted Tatulaschwili.

B Grade doubles winners: Tim Oliver/Rod Gerrett, R/up: John Bajada/ Phil Fitzgerald.

C Grade singles winner: Manni Poulos, R/up: Andrew Holmes.

C Grade doubles winners: Andrew Holmes/Stephen Alger, R/up: Manni Poulos/Campbell Hobbs.

A consolation event was also held and the winners were:

A Grade: John Wright.

B Grade: Klaus Kazenwadel.

C Grade: Reggie Kanaskar. Congratulations to all competitors on their efforts and achievements.

Play continues with Wangaratta hosting the Wangaratta vs Yarrawonga annual challenge on Friday.

The Spring Competition will continue each Wednesday at 7pm and junior players are welcome between 6pm and 7pm.

Enquiries Tom Brown 0429 809 927.

CHAMP: Andrew Lindner claimed the Wangaratta Table Tennis Association’s Club Championship. INSET: B GRADE WINNER: John Bajada took out the B grade championship.

SURE SHOT: Emily Canny shot 65 goals at 84.4 per cent accuracy against Benalla.

U12s female football competition launches

UNDER 12 ROVERS

By CHARLI SIMMONDS (U12 Coach) & Katherine Presley (team manager)

An early shift at Birallee Park, Wodonga, had been fixtured for the first match for the newly minted in Brown and Gold under 12 Wangaratta Rovers team.

We and a handful of other teams were asked to provide players to a combined team and so we agreed with our North Albury opposition to play 10 a side for the first half, increasing to 11 in the second.

The Rovers took to the field with Aviva Lovelle showing diligence in her first outing as ruck.

The Rovers defensive standouts were Milla Graham and Milly Bihun with excellent work in the contest from Phoebe Cresswell.

Quarter two saw some players move around the field which had immediate impact in slowing our opposition.

Stella Ryan was persistent in harassing her opponents, Lexi Clark was great at moving the ball and Anna Conroy showed a natural aptitude for shaping the game.

Amazing tackling was shown from Milly B and Bonni Dalton.

Maya Blackall’s return in the second half saw her head straight into the ruck position and from there drive great running efforts which resulted in our first goal.

Milla showed great footy nous to

act in a ruck rover position.

Having tickled the scoreboard, we had great energy heading into quarter four.

We saw forward momentum and achieved behinds from Maya B and Phoebe, but we continued to be tested in defence and were well served by Maya Horne’s persistence and tackling.

Towards the end of the match, Maddy Healy ran down a much larger opponent with both going to ground and both showing great concern for each other’s welfare after the tumble.

This was indicative of great sporting behaviour from all of our players.

The newly formed team is gelling nicely, but we welcome others.

Training sessions are from 5-6pm at WJ Findlay Oval on Wednesday nights and 5 - 6pm at Barr 2 on Thursday nights for the remaining three weeks of the season.

All girls born between 2012 and 2014 with an itch to play footy are welcome.

UNDER 12S - PURPLE DIAMONDS (COMBINED TEAM)

By HELEN COLLINS

Four Wangaratta Rovers players joined a ‘Combined team’ cobbled together at the last minute to minimise players’ time on the sidelines.

The Combined team quickly renamed themselves the Purple Diamonds and got to work against one

of the Lavington teams.

Rovers Maya and Eloise played the first half of this game impressing with their game smarts from their experience in the under 14 competition.

Aviva and Stella played the second half.

They put on strong tackles and pursued ground balls with persistence.

The Purple Diamonds were all challenged to play with a new combination each quarter joining players from Lavington, North Albury and Raiders.

All the players demonstrated courage, maturity and leadership to make the game a fun experience from which they learned to that football can be chaotic and rewarding.

Knights venture to Tumbarumba

By ADELAIDE FITZPATRICK

EARLY in the morning on Sunday, The Wangaratta Knights boarded a coach to Tumbarumba for their round 13 match of Goulburn Murray Strom Premiership. against the Tumbarumba Greens.

The Knights faced a challenge with dwindling numbers in both the men’s and ladies teams.

Team spirit shone through regardless of score, with the Ladies Tag resulting in a 0-14 points difference Tumbarumba’s way.

This ended the Knights Ladies’ five game winning streak.

Knights still remain second on the ladder.

Injuries were a weak spot for Wangaratta’s men’s team, resulting in limited numbers starting the game and even less to finish.

The Knights men put in a huge effort without their forward pack, but couldn’t quite pull it together.

The final score was 0-84 Greens’ way.

The Wangaratta men remain at fifth on the ladder.

For the last round before finals, the Wangaratta Knights play against Shepparton Eagles in Mooroopna on Saturday.

Direen’s u15 Victorian side on fire at Schoolboys

By WILLSON MACK

IMPERIALS junior footballer Archer Direen and his Victorian side are impressing at the under 15 School Sport Australia football national championships at the Gold Coast.

The dominant Victorian team sits atop of Pool A after beating Queensland by 35-points, following their 83-point thumping of South Australia on the first day.

Victoria faces the ACT today in their final match of the carnival before a likely finals campaign.

Gold Coast is playing host to around 4000 participants across five days of competition in Australian football, basketball, hockey, netball, softball and swimming for the inaugural School Sport Australia Games.

CLEAN: Phoebe Cresswell swoops on a ground ball.

TOO QUICK: Maya Blackall gets away.

ROVERS U12: The under 12s played their first game with coach Charli Simmonds (back left).

PHOTOS: Kev McGennan

Lady Devils ramping up to finals

WANGARATTA’S senior women’s side proved they’re sure to be a contender come finals after posting a comprehensive 9-4 win over Wodonga Heart at home on Sunday.

The goals came thick and fast in the opening 45 minutes, as the Lady Devils slotted five first half goals to blast Heart out of the contest early.

Wangaratta brought on their bench after half-time, and while the defence leaked four quick goals, they settled into the match and repelled any further advances.

The midfield and strikers were dominant, with Bianca Mulqueen (six goals) and Hannah Swindley (three) doing the damage up top, while

DEES ON TOP

MILAWA’S Jordan Leslie shot 14 goals in the Demons’ massive 81-39 win over Benalla All Blacks at Milawa Recreation Reserve on Saturday. Milawa remains on top of the ladder with three games to play.

■ O&K netball: Page 26

PHOTO: Kurt Hickling BY NATHAN DE VRIES ndevries@ nemedia.com.au

Leanne Branson was influential through the midfield.

Coach Terry Masters said the side took the game on early and transitioned the ball well throughout the match.

“Especially in the first half, we played really well, moving the ball from defence to the forward line,” he said.

“We were pretty strong down the middle with Leanne, Hannah and Bianca, they controlled everything.

■ Continued page 24