Page 8 The Moorabool News – 21 June, 2022
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Tigers and Cats showdown By Lachlan Ellis They might be opponents on the football field and netball court, but two community sporting clubs are uniting this month to battle a common enemy – a plan to put overhead power lines through their towns and land. Before the senior football match on Saturday June 25 at Wallace Recreation Reserve, the Springbank and Newlyn Football Netball Clubs are inviting spectators to wear their club colours or ‘Stop AusNet’s Towers’ shirts, and bring Stop AusNet’s Towers banners, signs, and posters, to raise awareness of the power line fight. President of the Springbank Football Netball Club, Jason Carey, said it was important to get more people aware of the ongoing battle. “It’s a pretty significant issue for both communities. We’re trying to raise a few bucks for the legal fight, but for us it’s less about the money and more about raising awareness,” he told the Moorabool News. “I grew up halfway between Gordon and Wallace but now live in Ballarat … but the general public in Ballarat have no idea about this issue. So, we’re hoping to raise a bit more public awareness.” Steve Harper from Stop AusNet’s Towers said the involvement of community groups, like the two sporting clubs, was crucial to continuing the fight. “It’s essential, at the end of the day we have thousands of people supporting the campaign…having particular community groups like sporting teams is fantastic. It just demonstrates how widespread the impact is, that all of these different groups get involved,” Mr Harper said. “The Stop AusNet’s Towers campaign is really grateful that community groups like the Springbank and Newlyn clubs do these things, because it really shows the communities behind this fight “A lot of the players, both football and netball…their families are heavily affected by the proposed power line project. So, the clubs wanted to really get behind raising awareness for the campaign and, raising funds for the legal fight Stop AusNet’s Towers are embarking on.” Following the game, an 18+ hoedown fundraiser will be held at on Saturday 25 June at Donegan’s Farm on Butter Factory Rd, Gordon from 7pm till late, with tickets on sale online. Tickets to the hoedown fundraiser at Donegan’s Farm are available at www.trybooking.com/BZVXY. They cost $40 per person, including two free drinks, finger food and live entertainment, with all proceeds going to Stop AusNet’s Towers’ legal battle.
Springbank and Newlyn players at Wallace Recreation Reserve, ready for their match this Saturday. Photo – Steve Harper
Two more rescues in Gorge’s VICSES Bacchus Marsh Unit
Alleged home invader stays in remand By Lachlan Ellis A Strathdale man will face a plea hearing more than a year after allegedly committing over 40 offences, which include vehicle theft, unlawful assault, and armed robbery. Kalem George appeared from remand via livestream at the County Court of Victoria on Wednesday 15 June, represented by lawyer Andrew Jackson. In April, the County Court heard that Mr George and a co-accused allegedly took part in a series of home invasions and vehicle thefts on 12 October 2021. That session was adjourned for the 15 June hearing, where Judicial Registrar Rosalind Avis was told more time was needed, with a draft indictment lodged but not yet signed. “There are a number of issues with that draft indictment that need to be discussed
between Mr Jackson and I,” prosecution lawyer for the Director of the Office of Public Prosecutions (OPP), Jordan O’Toole, said. Mr Jackson asked for more time and requested that this matter, and another matter Mr George is facing in the Magistrates’ Court, be combined into one court session. “Just in relation to the plea date, there’s another issue that Mr George has that is going through the system. The hand-up brief for that is due on the 25th of June, what we’re looking for is a plea date at least 10 weeks from today, so that we can look at the prospect of if we can resolve that matter, and they can both be done at the same time,” Mr Jackson said. Judicial Registrar Avis agreed, remanding Mr George in custody until a plea hearing, to be held in the County Court on 20 October.
A long weekend doesn’t mean a holiday for some, especially VICSES volunteers in Bacchus Marsh. The Queen’s Birthday long weekend turned out to be a busy one for the Unit’s volunteers with two rescue call outs, one after the other. A spokesperson posted on their social media site saying that just after 2pm on Monday 13 June, their volunteers were called to Assist Ambulance Victoria locate and extricate a hiker suffering a dislocated shoulder in the Werribee Gorge. “Due to the remote location of this incident Ambulance HEMS aircraft was called in to winch the patient to safety after SES crews managed to get the injured hiker to a clearing,” the post read. SES Rescue, Ambulance Victoria, Police and Parks Victoria all attended. Just as the Bacchus Marsh SES volunteers were heading home, a second call came in to Assist Police with two lost hikers in the Lerderderg Gorge. SES Search and Rescue crews hiked into the Gorge as darkness had set in, locating the missing hikers and escorting them back to the car park via torchlight. “All in all, over 20 of the local volunteers were active responding for the community over that weekend, giving up their time on their public Photo: Bacchus Marsh SES holiday,” the spokesperson said.