Page 6 The Moorabool News – 5 July, 2022
Dreaded ‘Lerdy’ strikes again
News
Email - news@themooraboolnews.com.au
He “wanted to shoot his mates…”
By Lachlan Ellis
VICSES Bacchus Marsh Unit volunteers conducted their seventh search and rescue for lost hikers in the last two months in the Lerderderg Gorge. Photo – BM SES By Helen Tatchell It is getting beyond a joke, with SES volunteers from the Bacchus Marsh unit involved in their seventh search in the Lerderderg Gorge area in the last two months. Around 8.30pm on Saturday 25 June, SES Rescue crews were on scene searching for two missing hikers. The volunteers successfully located the hikers just after 10pm, escorting them back to the carpark. A spokesperson said on social media the hike involved difficult terrain. “We do recommend allowing extra time on this hike, particularly at this time of year
when it gets dark quite quickly. “It also involves getting wet feet, as the track passes through the Lerderderg River several times.” The spokesperson said they are working with Parks Victoria and local police. “We are exploring options in this area to help hikers complete their hikes safely.” Regardless of the search and rescues that take place, the VICSES Bacchus Marsh unit said their volunteers are “committed to the safety of our community members and are ready to respond 24/7”. The Lerderderg Gorge Circuit is rated as ‘difficult’ and is just over an eight kilometre loop.
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A driver who tested positive for drugs and had an imitation firearm in his car has been spared imprisonment, with the Magistrate accepting the imitation gun was not intended for malicious use. Solomona Raeina appeared in-person at the Bacchus Marsh Magistrates’ Court on Friday 24 June, entering a guilty plea on four separate charges including illicit drug possession, possession of an imitation firearm, and driving while suspended. Magistrate Ronald Saines heard that Mr Raeina had been stopped at a vehicle checkpoint when police discovered the imitation firearm and drugs. “At 6 pm on Thursday the 1st of October 2020, the accused was directed into a COVID vehicle checkpoint on the Western Freeway at Bacchus Marsh. Checks revealed his licence was suspended until 15th of October 2020. A search of the vehicle was conducted with his consent, prior to the search the accused informed police there was an imitation firearm in a bag behind the driver’s seat. It was located in the bag, along with a bottle containing blue gel ammunition pellets,” Police Prosecutor Leading Senior Constable Clare Kane said. “A small deal bag containing a small quantity of methamphetamines was also located, and these were seized. He was arrested and taken to Bacchus Marsh Police Station for an interview. The methamphetamines weighed 0.011 grams. “The accused admitted the firearm and the methamphetamines belonged to him. He didn’t have any exemptions or permits to possess the imitation firearm. He said he wanted to shoot his mates at a social
gathering for fun,” SC Kane said. The court also heard that Mr Raeina had failed to notify VicRoads of a change in address, and thus may not have received a letter telling him his licence was suspended. Magistrate Saines found all four charges proven, and gave Mr Raeina a chance to speak before delivering his penalty. “At the time of the offence I willingly submitted to all charges. Also, at the time, I didn’t know that the gel blaster was illegal. It was actually my son’s, I bought it off Ebay. When police took me to the station, I willingly told them that I had bought more. They came to my house and took them, my sons weren’t too happy about that,” Mr Raeina said. While Magistrate Saines acknowledged that the gel blasters were unlikely to have been bought with any criminal use in mind, he said they did strongly resemble real firearms. “The fact that gel blasters are treated as being firearms under Victorian law is problematic, because most of their use is for kids to play and have war games, which is non-criminal. If I was a bank teller and someone pointed that at me, I wouldn’t ask if that was a toy, I’d be too scared to consider it,” Magistrate Saines said. “I am prepared to accept you bought them on Ebay, they may have been for the use of their children more than your own use, and you were quick to volunteer all the truth about your possession of them.” For the two driving charges Mr Raeina received a two-month suspension and an aggregate fine of $600, a $500 fine for the imitation firearms, and a further $200 fine for the drug possession. He was also ordered to pay $129.30 in court costs.
Seek out free music events
By Helen Tatchell The tunes are already playing however, there is still time to experience the dulcet tones wafting around Moorabool Shire. The Hide & Seek Music Festival has an array of free events every Saturday, coming up in Ballan and Bacchus Marsh. Gordon and Blackwood have already held their events which started on 25 June. The festival offers a rare opportunity to see over 60 local artists across 20 unique venues. The free music program for Bacchus Marsh will play host this Saturday 9 July, 1pm-9pm inside local venues and roving, whilst Ballan offers free indoor and outdoor sessions from 12 noon – 9pm on Saturday 16 July. Ballan’s Young & Local musicians offer classic covers and original music. A spokesperson for Moorabool Council said they have 17 young people from across the Shire involved in the program. “It’s a truly inclusive program and has involved young artists from across the
Shire,” the spokesperson said. The music festival not only involves young musicians, it has been developed by young people within the shire, with the aim to build capacity for them to produce events and progress their careers within the music industry. “This program will support further pathways for young people and provide links to the music industry. It will also establish an ongoing music focused Freeza group and continue to support further events and inform youth led initiatives as aprt of the Shire’s Live Music Plan.” The Hide and Seek Music Festival will also develop a model that can be replicated in future years. The festival of music has been run in partnership with Moorabool Shire Council, Victorian State Government, Freeza, Moorabool Youth Services and Live and Local. Find all the program details at www. moorabool.vic.gov.au/hide-and-seek