News
Page 10 The Moorabool News – 5 July, 2022
Email - news@themooraboolnews.com.au
New hawke officially roosts
Conviction for drug affected driver
By Lachlan Ellis
A 38-year-old male driver who was involved in a collision last year has had his licence disqualification upheld, with a conviction recorded despite his lawyer’s request for no conviction. Blagoja Stojanovski appeared on livestream at the Bacchus Marsh Magistrates’ Court on Friday 24 June, after he tested positive to methamphetamine following a 2021 vehicle collision.
was analysed and confirmed the presence of methamphetamines. He was asked his reason for driving with drugs in his system, he said ‘No reason, I’ve got nothing in my system, I just take medication’,” LSC Kane said. Mr Stojanovski’s lawyer, Simon Northeast, asked that a conviction not be recorded given that this was Mr Stojanovski’s first time facing a charge in court. “Mr Stojanovski is a qualified plasterer, but
“On the 26th of September 2021, police were performing divisional van duties in the Bacchus Marsh area when they were notified by police communications of a collision involving two vehicles on Geelong-Bacchus Marsh Road. At 3.06 am police arrived and spoke to people at the scene. First Constable Jahn spoke with the driver of one of the vehicles we now know is the accused,” Leading Senior Constable Clare Kane told Magistrate Ronald Saines.
for the past three years he’s been on disability
“The accused was driving southbound on Geelong-Bacchus Marsh Road, he drove over a slight inclined ridge before colliding with a stationary vehicle. The stationary vehicle was involved with a single vehicle collision only moments prior, and as a result was blocking the left-hand lane.
“I accept it’s his first time in court, but this
support pension, taking home about $370 per week. He’s spoken to the prosecutors about whether his medication could have affected the reading…this is his first time in a court, with excellent prospects of rehabilitation,” Mr Northeast said. “He’s pled guilty at the earliest possible opportunity. I think we can be confident we won’t see Mr Stojanovski in court again.” is his second offence as a driver…I don’t see there’s a basis upon which I should withhold conviction,” Magistrate Saines replied. Mr
Stojanovski’s
licence
remains
disqualified for a 12-month period which
“A breath test showed there was no alcohol in his breath. A drug test was then conducted which was positive. A sample
began on 26 September 2021, with a fine of
From midnight last Thursday 30 June, residents in Moorabool and all of Victoria, are not able to collect firewood from public as the autumn collection season has finished.
of the storm works is assessed for the highest and best end use.
Peter Kambouris is Forest Fire Management Victoria (FFMVic) Grampians Region Acting Deputy Chief Fire Officer, and said firewood collection areas would reopen in spring, on Thursday, 1 September.
People who collect firewood outside designated firewood collection areas or a firewood collection season or take more than the maximum allowable amounts can face fines of $727, or a maximum penalty of one year imprisonment or a fine of up to $9,087 or both, if the matter proceeded to Court.
$500 and court costs of $85.70 imposed by Magistrate Saines.
Sam Rae is congratulated by newly elected Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and the Labor Government caucus in Canberra on 31 May. Photo - submitted The ‘projected winner’ of the new seat services and infrastructure our community of Hawke has officially been declared the needs,” Mr Rae said. electorate’s inaugural MP by the Australian “We haven’t wasted a single day since being Electoral Commission (AEC). elected. We’ve already seen the minimum Sam Rae was Labor’s candidate for the new wage increase by $40 a week, we’ve scrapped seat at the federal election in May, which the cashless welfare card and I’m pushing takes in Bacchus Marsh, Ballan, Melton, and forward on the Western Highway. Sunbury. “I want to thank the volunteers, my family, Despite a significant swing against the and my partner Zoe for all their support major parties (-7.4% for Labor and -3% for during the campaign. Most of all, I want to the Liberals on first preferences), Mr Rae thank the people of Hawke for trusting me was elected the MP for Hawke with 57.6 per to represent them in Australia’s Parliament.” cent of preferences in the final count, to his In a media release, Mr Rae said his priorities Liberal opponent Enamul Haque’s 42.4 per were “building the roads and infrastructure cent. our growing community needs, getting our Rae was confirmed as Hawke’s MP by kids the best education possible, creating the AEC at 2 pm on Wednesday 15 June, decent, well-paid local jobs, and ensuring our and said it was “an honour and a privilege loved ones can access world-class healthcare to represent the people of Hawke in the when they need it”. Australian Parliament”. Given Hawke is a new electorate, Mr “I want to speak with as many people across our growing area as possible to make sure Rae doesn’t yet have an electorate office our community’s voice is heard in Canberra. – but he can be contacted via email I’m excited to get to work and deliver the Sam.Rae.MP@aph.gov.au.
Firewood collection season closes
“More firewood was made available to the community following the storms in 2021,” Mr Kambouris said. “DELWP has balanced the need to ensure the debris caused by the storms doesn’t pose a fire risk with the desire to provide the community with firewood and ensure fallen logs are still available to wildlife,” he said. Mr Kambouris said timber collected as part
“This includes timber to supply local mills, construction and community firewood.”
Mr Kambouris said financial help is available for people on low incomes who purchase firewood or wish to transition to other energy sources. Further information is available at www.ffm.vic.gov.au/firewood/ energy-concession-and-support
The Autumn Firewood Collection season has closed. Photo - DELWP