Moorabool News










A charitable soul has been recognised for her work for local food relief, taking out the Australia Day Moorabool Citizen of the Year award for 2023.
Judy D’Attoma started Bacchus Up to Pay it Forward (BUTPIF) in 2015, which runs a food voucher program supporting people experiencing food security or hardship.
Since late 2018 the program has raised over $25,000 and distributed more than $15,000 (1,523) in vouchers to people in need.
Judy was instrumental in working towards a free community pantry, where the community can donate pantry items and take what they need.
BUTPIF has also provided 30 fruit trees to two primary schools in the area and has set up a garden to provide fresh vegetables to the community pantry and Soul Food.
Ms D’Attoma said it was a shock to get the call from Mayor Cr Rod Ward telling her she’d won the award.
“I was going through a hard time myself and had community helping me and I just wanted to give back, I’m not the only one going through this… there are people who go through worse than me. I woke up one morning and thought ‘Bacchus Up to Pay it Forward’, and the idea just grew from there,” she told the Moorabool News.
Ms D’Attoma said she hopes her Citizen of the Year award will bring more awareness to the needs of the community, and she hopes to expand the program to Ballan this year.
“There’s a lot of people that are in need of support. We sort of go through our daily lives forgetting what another person needs, but hopefully this award brings awareness that there is more need than what we’re giving at the moment,” she said.
“I’d like to say a huge thank you to the community of Bacchus Marsh. It’s just amazing, absolutely incredible, what people have done and what they’ve donated. This wouldn’t exist without the support that we’ve gotten from businesses and the community…I’m a small piece of the pie, this is a 22,000-person effort.”
All award recipients, including the yet-to-beannounced Young Citizen of the Year and Community Event of the Year winners, will be formally recognised at the 2023 Australia Day Awards at the Mechanics Institute, Inglis Street, Ballan on Thursday 26 January 2023 commencing at 9 am.
Certificates of Achievement and the Mayoral Award for outstanding contributions will also be announced closer to the day.
Greater Western Water (GWW) has awarded over $125,000 to community organisations through its inaugural ‘Thriving Communities’ grants and sponsorship program, including two Moorabool groups.
GWW received 90 applications for funding last October, with 11 groups receiving sponsorship of up to $5,000 and five groups awarded grants of up to $20,000.
The Bacchus Marsh Baptist Church was one of the recipients of a sponsorship for the Darley Community Art Garden project, while the Moorabool Landcare Network received a community grant to revitalise the Werribee River.
Speaking on behalf of Moorabool Landcare Network and Grow West, Roger MacRaild said their grant of nearly $20,000 to rehabilitate the banks of the Werribee River will have a significant positive impact on the environment, wildlife, and community.
“There is extensive infestation of serrated tussock and artichoke thistle along the banks of the river. Rehabilitation will improve water quality and habitat potential, particularly for the vulnerable platypus who live around the site,” Mr MacRaild said.
“It will also have a significant influence on farms in the area who are currently at risk in terms of biodiversity, productivity and fire safety.”
GWW General Manager Strategy & Partnerships, Kessia Thomson, said it was fantastic to see locally led projects creating opportunities to increase participation in community life.
“We received many outstanding applications for projects across our area, all with the purpose of inspiring and connecting people to community or Country,” she said.
“We’re proud to help 16 groups bring their diverse ideas to life and actively contribute to making our region a great place to live.”
Applications for the next round of the Thriving Communities program will open in March 2023.
The Ballan Autumn Festival will be back to its regular autumn timeslot this year, and kids will be a big part of the superhero-themed celebrations.
The superheroes theme has been carried over from the cancelled 2020 BAF, and local kids and teens have been invited to take part in the ‘Design A Superhero’ competition, with the best designs to go on public display and win prizes.
The Wombat Regional Arts Network’s children’s workshops for the competition have concluded, but there’s still time to enter – entries can be lodged in the boxes provided at the Ballan Newsagent, Zest Café, and Gordon General Store, by 5 pm on Monday 6 February.
Lou Callow from the Wombat Regional Arts Network said it was exciting to be getting more young people involved in the local art scene.
“Wombat Arts received a Moorabool Shire Council grant specifically for the workshops to support BAF. Whilst the parade showcases people of all ages – the schools and kinder are just delightful to witness – we feel it is important to in-
clude young people in the arts and showcase them around town,” Ms Callow said.
“The under 12 age bracket for designing superheroes will be displayed in Zest Café’s windows, and the older children’s work will be included in the ‘Autumn’ themed exhibition in the Ballan Arts Space over the month of March. We also plan to print selected works as large posters to display around the town.”
Winners will be picked from three Age Groups: Under 6, 7 to 12, and 13 to 18, under the categories Most Colourful, Most Inventive, Most Inspiring Superhero to Be, and Audience Choice.
A winner from each Age Group will win a shirt with their superhero printed on it, and Zest Café will also provide free milkshakes for the winners.
The Wombat Regional Arts Network is also running free workshops in February for streetscape banner painting, allowing people of all ages to contribute to the incredible banners that decorate Ballan during the Autumn Festival.
Dates for banner painting workshops and any other information is available online at www.wombatarts.org.
This February is REDFEB, heart awareness month. In addition to encouraging people to wear red and donate, Heart Research Australia is raising awareness about the underdiagnosis and undertreatment of women with heart disease.
Heart disease is not just a man’s disease. Globally, it is the number one killer of women, and we’ve found over recent years that women are doing worse after their heart attacks, they’re more likely to have another heart attack, and more likely to die or have heart failure than men within the five years following their heart attack.
Time is critical and a huge issue with women is the delay to treatment. Women go to hospital later after symptoms start, which reduces the window of opportunity for effective treatment and increases the risk of complications and damage to their heart. Women also tend to develop symptoms of heart disease at a much later stage of the illness than men and their symptoms are often vaguer. Some feel extremely tired or short of breath. Other atypical symptoms include nausea and abdominal, neck, and shoulder pain.
It is important for women to know that early menopause, inflammatory conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis and lupus, and complications during pregnancy - such as pre-eclampsia, hypertension, and gestational diabetes - are all important risk factors for women. So, if you are a woman over 45* please have a heart health check with your GP and discuss your obstetric history with them if you have had children. This enables proactive prevention to be taken to reduce risk. (*Over 35 for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples).
Heart Research Australia aims to reduce the devastating impact heart disease has on families and the community by supporting world-class and emerging researchers to conduct ground-breaking research into the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of heart disease. For more information or to donate, please visit www.heartresearch.com.au
Nicci Dent, CEO, Heart Research Australia
The State Government has refocused its efforts in reducing road trauma in the new year, after 2022 marked an increase in Victoria’s road toll.
As the year ended, tragically 240 people lost their lives on Victorian roads – an increase on the 233 deaths last year, but the fourth lowest since TAC records began, including the pandemic-affected record low of 211 in 2020.
Regional road users continue to make up a disproportionate amount of road fatalities, with 134 people dying in country areas compared with 119 in 2021 – while metropolitan road deaths dropped from 114 in 2021 to 106 in 2022.
More than two-thirds of regional fatalities occurred on 100 –110km/h roads. Crashes on rural high-speed roads continue to be too frequent, where the combination of high speeds and motorists travelling longer distances mean consequences are often more severe when something goes wrong.
There was a decline in driver and passenger deaths (126 down from 147), but despite more people than ever strapping themselves in when they get in a car, 27 per cent of people who died in a vehicle weren’t wearing a seatbelt.
Vulnerable road users, including motorcyclists (57, up from 43) and pedestrian (44, up from 29) fatalities increased year-on-year.
Victoria has historically been a world leader in road safety – from the introduction of compulsory seat belt laws to a no tolerance approach to drink driving, but Minister for Roads and Road Safety, Melissa Horne, says work will not be complete until no lives are lost on the roads.
“Our hearts go out to all those impacted by road trauma – we can’t accept that anyone should lose their life, or have it permanently changed, as a result of getting behind the wheel,” Ms Horne said.
Under its Road Safety Strategy 2021-2030 and Action Plan, the State Government aims to halve the number of road fatalities by 2030, with work focused across education, infrastructure, enforcement, policy, and technology.
The Victorian Budget 2021/22 also invested $49.4 million to install and commission new fixed road safety cameras at 35 dangerous intersection sites and two point-to-point highway camera systems. These cameras will begin enforcing throughout 2023.
In 2023, Victorians are once again urged to slow down, put the phone away, never drive drunk or on drugs, take adequate breaks when driving long distances, and be aware of pedestrians, cyclists, and motorcyclists.
Change is coming to the Darley Market, and its new organisers are eager to hear from the community on how to improve the market.
While the Darley Market has generally been run by members of the Darley Football Netball Club (DFNC) over the years, the market has come under more direct management by the Devils this month.
DFNC President Mark Shelly acknowledged a decrease in stallholders and patrons at the Darley Market in recent times, but said the club was welcoming community suggestions on how to improve and revitalise the market.
“We’ve had some complications based around availability of the ground, because we had portables up where the stallholders would usually be, because of the pavilion being built. So unfortunately, over a period of time, the number of stallholders has become less and less,” Mr Shelly told the Moorabool News.
“Before Christmas last year, Grace informed us that she’d be unable to keep running the market on behalf of the club, so it’s fallen to the club to kind of resurrect it. One thing we’ve done, with the assistance of Ally Edwards and Ray Newton, is we’ve reached out to make sure our communication with past and existing stallholders is second to none.
“We’ve also conducted a customer survey to get feedback, about what we can do to improve the market. We understand we’ve got to keep trying to make things better, and by talking to people, we can obtain some invaluable feedback to get the market back on track.”
Mr Shelly said the market would also have a greater online presence and “think outside the square” to get more patrons to the market, with early ideas in the pipeline including running Darley training sessions alongside the market for people to watch while browsing, and a twilight market.
Anyone with feedback or suggestions is encouraged to email darleycommunitymarket@gmail.com, or message ‘Darley Community Market’ on Facebook
The inter-brigade relationship between two local fire brigades is still going strong, after ten years of partnership.
Eynesbury brigade members were recently invited to join Parwan brigade members for a training session at the newly completed Central Highlands Victorian Emergency Management Training Campus (VEMTC), near Ballan.
Situated south-east of Bacchus Marsh, Eynesbury Fire Brigade was first registered with CFA in July 2012, following significant residential growth in the Melbourne outer fringe area.
Parwan brigade members were integral in the establishment of the Eynesbury Fire Brigade, supporting future Eynesbury members with training and mentorship, and ensuring they were fire ready by the time construction of the new fire station in Eynesbury was completed.
Eynesbury Fire Brigade has grown from strength to strength since their formative years; however, the brigade is still well supported by Parwan brigade.
Following the joint training session, Eynesbury brigade took their Light Pumper appliance to Parwan Fire Station for a familiarisation session.
Parwan brigade returned the favour by inviting Eynesbury brigade to participate in a training session utilising the Pentland Group mobile training prop, which is housed at the Parwan Fire Station.
These inter-brigade training sessions are full of skill sharing, joint learnings and relationship building.
Parwan Lieutenant Lisa Cruickshank said the opportunity to come together across district boundaries has been invaluable.
“We have seen positive working relationships between the two brigades, both in training and when responding to emergencies,” she said.
Eynesbury Captain Kylie Newton agreed, saying members have really embraced the relationship between the neighbouring brigades.
“Training together really helps members learn from each other, build skills, and identify future learning opportunities,” Captain Newton said.
“It's wonderful to have such a solid relationship, which not only benefits both brigades, but also has a positive impact on
This February, Moorabool Leisure Services have some extra activities in store for those enjoying the pool in Ballan and Bacchus Marsh.
At the Ballan Outdoor Pool, residents are invited to come for a swim, with live entertainment, with a Sunday Tunes Session on 12 February from 12 to 4 pm, featuring live DJ music.
Have you ever watched a movie at the pool? Well, you can on Saturday 18 February, when the Bacchus Marsh Outdoor Pool hosts a screening of ‘Strange World’. Numbers are capped for the movie screening, so ensure you register your attendance before arriving at www.moorabool.vic.gov.au/Events/ Bacchus-Marsh-Outdoor-Pool-Movie.
the wider community.
“As Captain, I'm proud that our brigade has maintained the connection that was started ten years ago. It also makes it easier to support each other on the fire ground, as we work together to protect life and property.”
Obligation to publish – Designated Resolution 5
Publication of notices about the Council
The cost of both events will be covered as part of your swim entry, and the kiosk at both events will also be open for refreshments.
Each publisher must publish a notice about the Council in each print publication it controls and on each website it controls.
For more information, head to www. moorabool.vic.gov.au and search events.
The content and format of the notice will be as determined from time to time by the Council. The notice is to be published in a prominent position on the same page as letters to the editor or the home page of a website, or in such other position as is agreed with the Executive Director of the Council.
OFFICE 15 Haddon Drive, Ballan, 3342 PHONE (03) 5368 1966
EMAIL Editorial news@themooraboolnews.com.au
As part of Victoria’s Big Build, we’re building Melbourne Airport Rail. Connecting Victorians to Melbourne Airport for the first time with a new rail service.
Coaches replace trains in both directions on the Ballarat Line
and content determined by the Council – Council decision
Advertising sales@themooraboolnews.com.au
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EDITOR Helen Tatchell GRAPHIC DESIGN Glen MartinAt night, 3 and 4 February Southern Cross to Ballarat or Wendouree
Check before you travel at bigbuild.vic.gov.au
PUBLISHED BY The Ballan News Pty Ltd[Name of publication] is bound by the Standards of Practice of the Australian Press Council. If you believe the Standards may have been breached, you may approach the newspaper itself or contact the Council by email (info@presscouncil.org.au) or by phone ([02] 92611930). For further information see http://www.presscouncil.org.au.
The Moorabool News is bound by the Standards of Practice of the Australian Press Council. If you believe the Standards may have been breached, you may approach the newspaper itself or contact the Council by email (info@presscouncil.org.au) or by phone ([02] 9261 1930). For further information see www.presscouncil.org.au.
A Bacchus Marsh man has been fined over $1000 and lost his licence for 10 months, after blowing more than twice the legal BAC.
Bailey Mcdonough appeared in-person at the Bacchus Marsh Magistrates’ Court on Friday 13 January, entering a guilty plea to drunk driving.
The court heard that Mr Mcdonough was caught rapidly exiting a car park last July, prompting police to pull him over.
“On Saturday the 2nd of July 2022 at 1.19 am, the accused was observed by police driving a white Mitsubishi Triton ute east on Main Street in Bacchus Marsh. Police observed the accused exit the Main Street parking and drive at a fast rate of speed eastbound. He was required to undergo a preliminary breath test. Police formed the opinion there was alcohol present in the accused’s breath, and required him to accompany them to the Bacchus Marsh Police Station for an evidentiary breath test,” Police Prosecutor Senior Constable Mitchell Prewett said.
Mr Mcdonough blew 0.107 – more than double the limit of 0.05 – but Senior Constable Prewett said he was compliant and apologetic.
“The accused was forthcoming with police and made full admissions, stating that he’d had beer and Jack Daniels. He was asked his reason and stated, ‘just not concentrating, not thinking, clouded mind’,” Prewett said.
Magistrate Hugh Radford told Mr Mcdonough he was lucky not to have caused an accident.
“At that level, if you’d been in an accident that night and killed someone, you’d be facing charges of culpable driving causing death. You’d be facing something between seven and 10 years in jail, leaving aside the guilt that you would’ve killed someone of course,” the Magistrate said.
“I’ve accepted your plea of guilty, I’m not going to proceed any further…I’m going to impose a fine of $1200 and a licence suspension of 10 months beginning on 2 July 2022, being the date of the offending.”
Dear Editor,
For years our local councils have been battling to balance the books, battling to deliver essential services to communities.
Yet recent RedBridge polling shows most Victorians want councils abolished, or are even unsure of what they do.
This reflects the challenges councils –particularly in rural and regional areas –now face.
The polling also suggested more than half the people surveyed supported even more council amalgamation.
Local Government faces an uphill battle, with regional councils responsible for assets across thousands of square kilometres – for example, the Rural City of Mildura is more than 22,000 square kilometres and more than double the size of greater Melbourne.
Our councils are also being forced to do more with less, as the Andrews Labor Government shirks its responsibilities by pushing more costs from the state to local government.
And its ratepayers who are footing the ever-increasing bill.
While councils deliver essential services such as roads and rubbish, they are also responsible for incredibly vital community programs such as childcare.
Regional communities are already struggling with childcare waiting lists that continue to increase, in too many smaller
communities the locals are left with no services at all.
This is having a direct and seriously detrimental impact on attracting new families to towns to fill an increasing number of job vacancies.
It is a domino effect that is beginning to threaten the viability of more and more small regional communities.
We are also seeing the results of Labor’s funding cuts – including its axing of the Country Roads and Bridges Program – on our dangerously crumbling local roads.
Many regional councils maintain and thousands and thousands of kilometres of roads and hundreds of bridges in their local government area.
The Country Roads and Bridges Program meant local councils could plan necessary projects such as bridge renewals and resurfacing unsafe roads on which the community relies.
Labor’s disregard for the role of local councils has left a bitter taste in Victorians’ mouths, and the polling shows it.
Confidence in councils will only come from a financially responsible state government, rather than one that passes costs – and the buck – to local government.
Victoria Police may sound like a broken record, but the message just isn’t getting through to some.
Council Mee�ng
NEVER leave kids or pets in the car unattended.
Commi�ee Mee�ng
Leaving children unattended in a car on any day is dangerous, let alone when it’s hot. It can result in serious injury or death. The same goes with our four-legged loved ones. Even on a mild day, the temperature inside a parked car can reach 20 to 30 degrees hotter than the temperature outside. According to Kidsafe Victoria, tests have
shown that leaving windows open by 10cm only reduces the inside temperature by five degrees.
rules, safety tips for wiser driving, and the importance of vehicle safety features and roadworthiness.
Navigators Community Centre Incorporated Public Mee�ng
Planning Permit
It’s against the law to leave children unattended in a car and parents or guardians can be fined or jailed. It’s also illegal to leave pets unattended in cars for more than 10 min-
utes when outside temperatures are at or above 28°C.
If you see a child or pet locked inside a car - call Triple Zero (000) immediately. Head to KidSafe for more information.
Drivers who want to refresh their knowledge on road rules and driving safety have been invited to attend a series of free workshops, run by Moorabool Shire Council. The Wiser Driver Program will cover road
The program is a four-week course consisting of weekly two-hour sessions, with sessions held every Tuesday from 14 March to 4 April at 10.30 am to 12.30 pm at Lerderderg Library, and every Thursday from 30 March to 20 April from 10.30 am to 12.30 pm at the Ballan Council Chambers.
The course aims to maintain independence and connection to relevant support services for older drivers aged 75 years and older, but younger drivers are also welcome to attend. Though the sessions are free, booking is essential. To make a booking, contact the Aged and Disability Liaison Officer at 5366 7100. This program has been funded by the Department of Transport Community Road Safety Grant.
Council Mee�ng
Order made pursuant to sec�on 25 of the domes�c animals act 1994
Changes to Waste Service - Easter
Western Zone – Northern Collec�on - North of Old Melbourne Road
Commi�ee Mee�ng
Community Grants
Incorporated Public Mee�ng
Commi�ee Mee�ng
Navigators Community Centre Incorporated Public Mee�ng
Employment
Council invites applica�ons for the exis�ng vacancies:
Employment Tenders
• Senior Informa�on Management Officer Full-Time Permanent. Based at Ballan Applica�ons close on Sunday 29 January
Have Your Say:
Unscheduled Mee�ng of Council
Scheduled road closure – Yendon-Egerton Road, Millbrook
Tourism Grants
Please be advised of the following road closure and detour due to pavement reconstruc�on and guardrail upgrades: Loca�on: Yendon-Egerton Rd, Millbrook; between Mcguigans Rd and Sullivans Rd
Closure period: 16 January to 6 February 2023 unless works are completed early
More informa�on: moorabool.vic.gov.au/scheduled-road-closures
Planning Permit
Order made pursuant to sec�on 25 of the domes�c animals act 1994
Wednesday 1
Changes to Waste Service - Easter
Western Zone – Northern Collec�on - North of Old Melbourne Road
Community Grants
Unscheduled Mee�ng of Council
Tourism Grants
Female Friendly Strategy
• Maternal & Child Health Nurse Part-Time Permanent. Based at Darley Applica�ons close on Sunday 5 February
Planning Permit
• Youth Development Officer (3 posi�ons) Full-Time Fixed-Term. Based at Darley Applica�ons close on Sunday 5 February
For more details, visit moorabool.vic.gov.au/careers
Order made pursuant to sec�on 25 of the domes�c animals act 1994
Changes to Waste Service - Easter Western Zone – Northern Collec�on - North of Old Melbourne Road
Community Grants
Unscheduled Mee�ng of Council
Tourism Grants
Rates Payments
Australia Day Celebra�ons 2021
Thank you!
Police were on scene last Tuesday (Jan 17) investigating a fatal collision between three cars, that claimed the life of a woman in Meredith in the early hours of the morning.
It is believed a silver Holden Commodore, driving on the Midland Highway, ran into the rear of a white Suzuki Ignis.
The Ignis then collided with a silver Toyota Hilux travelling along intersecting McLeod Street just after 6 am.
The driver of the Commodore, a 24-year-old Bonshaw man, was hospitalised with non-life-threatening injuries and was later interviewed by detectives and released pending further enquiries.
The driver of the Suzuki, a 32-year-old Gisborne man, was taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
Sadly, his passenger, a 29-year-old Gisborne woman, died at the scene.
The driver of the Hilux, a 34-year-old Barwon Heads man, and his passenger, a 34-year-old Lethbridge man, were assessed at the scene and were uninjured.
Major Collision Investigation Unit detectives are investigating the circumstances surrounding the collision.
Anyone who witnessed the collision, or has dashcam footage or information, is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000, or submit a confidential report online at www. crimestoppersvic.com.au.
At the time of writing, 18 lives have been lost on the roads this year, compared to 15 lives lost the same time last year.
By Lachlan EllisCouncil has responded to the concerns of a local aged care resident, stating that a long-awaited bus stop and shelter will soon be completed.
Providence Retirement Village residents protested for a bus stop, shelter, and pedestrian crossing at Maddingley’s busy Griffith Street back in August 2019, and Providence resident Sylvia Merry wrote to the Moorabool News this month (Letter to Editor, 10 Jan 2023) asking why there had still been no action.
“We have been trying hard since 2016, we had our petition submitted in 2019 when we were advised these changes would happen, they are urgently needed for all residents to gain access to the bus going into town without having to go for a ride around Maddingley,” Ms Merry told the Moorabool News.
“Not to mention, having the pedestrian refuge will cut the danger to children trying to cross the road. I am so frustrated with Council, we get nowhere.”
The Moorabool News took Ms Merry’s concerns to Moorabool Shire Council CEO Derek Madden, who said a bus stop and shelter would soon be installed, while safety works for Griffith Street form part of a priority project for Council that requires external funding.
“A DDA-compliant bus stop and shelter for Griffith Street has been designed and manufactured. It will be installed on the north side of the road, with associated connecting footpath works to be constructed on the south side, and installation is scheduled for next month,” Mr Madden told the
Moorabool News.
“This is an interim treatment as Council is currently advocating for an $8 million investment by State and Federal governments for full duplication of Griffith Street from Grant Street to Cassina Boulevard. This work will include a centre median strip and pedestrian-operated signals at the front of Providence Village. Design works for this upgrade are complete, and Council is actively seeking external funds to implement the project.”
Residents are encouraged to join Council in lobbying local MPs for this much-needed funding. To find out how, visit www.moorabool.vic.gov.au/helpingmooraboolthrive.
Isaac Povey arrived in Australia with Edward (John) Hill in 1854. Isaac Povey and Edward Hill came from West Bromwich, in Staffordshire, near Birmingham in England. Povey and Hill were said to have first gone to Sydney where they worked on the Sydney Mint at their trade as bricklayers. Later they arrived in Melbourne and made their way to the Mount Blackwood ranges. Within a year Isaac Povey caught a chill and died, age 24 years, on the 10th July 1855. As there was no cemetery at that time in Blackwood, John Hill buried his friend on his claim, in a coffin made of sheets of bark, on the summit of the hill now known as Deadman’s Hill, Simmons Reef, and marked the grave with stones and a wooden tablet. Today a headstone in the bush marks the place where Isaac Povey died. Isaac Povey had left his home town and told his sweetheart Mary that he would return with lots of gold and marry her. John Hill stated twenty three years later that “he could not let poor Mary know of his fate because he did not know where she lived and Isaac was too bad to tell us at the last.” So Mary waited, but Isaac never returned.
Many years later, the lone grave was visited by a Mr. Tom Johnston then the proprietor of a foundry in the Melbourne suburb of Brunswick. Some years later, Mr. Johnston visited Birmingham on matters connected with his foundry business, and walking along a street, he noticed above a business premises, the name of Isaac Povey, which struck a chord in his memory. On impulse, Mr. Johnston went inside, and on meeting the principals of the firm, asked if
any relative of theirs had gone to the Australian goldfields. He learned that there was indeed, a relative called Isaac Povey who had gone to Australia, and the family believed, although without certainty, that he had died soon after arriving in Australia. To their very great interest and gratitude, Mr. Johnston told them of the grave of Isaac Povey on the hill above the Lerderderg River in Simmons Reef in Blackwood.
Several years later, around 1926, a bush fire swept through the hills, and the wooden tablet on the grave of Isaac Povey was destroyed. Mr. Johnston having heard of the fire, made
another visit to Blackwood and revisited the grave.
After talks with the local people Mr Johnston offered to have a bronze tablet cast in his foundry. This he did and the local residents transported it to Deadman’s Hill and erected the headstone on the grave with the inscription reading “Isaac Povey, died July 10th 1855.”
Today the grave stands alone, occasionally visited by people who search it out. The area surrounding the grave is riddled with mine shafts and open reefs where local legend has it that gold was found while they dug his grave, presumably on his claim. The bridge across the river, having been washed away, access is only by a rough track across the river, and up the steep hill through the bush and natural surroundings now reverted to much the same as when Isaac Povey first arrived there - a fitting resting place for a pioneer.
(Some of the above information is gratefully acknowledged to Grace Rayner for her poem “Deadman’s Hill”, based on an article written by the late Joseph Shaw in the Australian Post Office Magazine Aug-Sept issue 1960. Also to the late Edgar Williams, Great Grandson of John (Edward) Hill, for information kept in a scrapbook by his Aunt Annie Williams.)
Taken from the book "Some History of Simmons Reef, Blackwood" by Margot Hitchcock, Historian for the Blackwood & District Historical Society.
COVID restrictions have pushed the event out a year, but descendants of one of Ballan’s pioneer families are now planning to meet for a 180th anniversary reunion next month.
February 2022 marked 180 years since John and Emma Lay arrived in Australia, but a reunion acknowledging their arrival will take place at 10.45 am at the Ballan Cemetery in Gosling Street, on Sunday 19 February this year.
After meeting at the Ballan Cemetery, the group will head to the Mechanics Institute on Inglis Street, where a BYO lunch and other activities will be held.
The day will coincide with the arrival date of the British emigration ship ‘Regulus’ 181 years ago to Port Phillip in 1842, when their ancestors settled in the district, and where some descendants still reside.
John and Emma Lay knew Thomas Pyke and accompanied him from Wiltshire, England, to work for him as a married couple on ‘Morockdong Estate’. John’s brother Thomas Lay, and his wife Eliza, arrived in Ballan at
the same time, but later moved away.
Eventually John and Emma Lay owned a property at East Ballan called “Montview”, which remained in the family for many years.
The couple had 12 children all born in the Ballan area; they all married and had heirs. Two of their infant grandchildren, Mary Ann Lay and Henry Charles Lay are buried in unknown sites at the Old Ballan Cemetery. John died in 1886, and Emma 14 years later in 1900.
In 2002, descendants of John and Emma Lay had a gravestone erected on the site, and two years later a book was launched, “That dinkum breed of true Aussies: the story of the Lay family from Wiltshire to Ballan”. This family history was compiled by Dr. M. G. Lay (AM).
For further information, please contact Denise Lay on 0417 306 600.
Maddingley Brown Coal (MBC) are looking for volunteer community and business representatives to be part of our Community Consultative Committee (CCC) from March 2023. The CCC provides MBC with informed and constructive advice which will help to guide us on operations and future projects.
To find out more use the QR code to access our website and update your details in the application form.
Expressions of Interest are open until 5pm Friday 17 February 2023 For enquires contact Alice O'Mara, Group Communications Manager by email alice@callejagroup.com.au
As of 1 January 2023, the department formerly known as the Department of Sustainability and Environment (DSE) and then the Department of the Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP) has become the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DEECA).
“The new department brings together portfolios that are directly related including Energy, Water, Climate Action, Environment, Agriculture and Resources, as well as our vital role in Emergency Response,” a DEECA spokesperson told the Moorabool News.
"Across DEECA we will focus on policies and programs that enhance Victoria's key natural resources including through climate action and a renewable clean-energy future, emergency response capability and protecting the state from the threat of harmful pests and animal diseases.”
The new Department was created by the State Government’s Machinery of Government changes, comprising the Agriculture portfolio and the Resources portfolio elements of the former Department of Jobs Precincts and Regions and the functions of the former DELWP, except for those areas supporting the Planning portfolio.
Functions supporting the Minister for Planning have moved to the Department of Transport and Planning.
This isnt the first time the department has had a name change. Before DELWP, it was known as the DSE.
A Moorabool business has been given a four-figure grant from a neighbouring shire, which its owners say will boost communication with customers.
Truffle Treasures in Spargo Creek is run by sisters Sue and Sharon Daly, and was awarded $2,200 under Hepburn Shire Council’s Small-Scale Artisan Agriculture Grants.
Sue Daly said the money would be used to boost the business’ communications, which have been unreliable in the past.
“As a small-scale truffle producer located in a 'black spot' telecommunications area we face diverse challenges, including effective mobile phone coverage. In addition to poor mobile signal strength, we have discontinued our land-line access due to the lack of reliability,” Ms Daly told the Moorabool News.
“As a result, our phone communications are compromised resulting in interrupted conversations, call backs and the potential for lost business opportunities from customers who become frustrated with the challenges of an efficient phone conversation. The issue also impacts on our business processes including marketing, social media and invoicing clients.
“The objective of this project is to complete installation of a Telstra repeater in order to gain a reliable signal strength for everyday business communications.”
Ms Daly thanked Hepburn Shire Council for the timely funding, as business picks up again after COVID lockdowns.
“We are very grateful for this funding opportunity provided by Hepburn Shire through their Small-Scale
Hepburn Shire Council Mayor Cr Brian Hood said the $34,000 of grants, shared between to 18 farmers and producers across the Central Highlands, would provide boosts to the local economy and community.
“We have a strong and diverse group of farmers and artisan agriculture producers across the region. We’re very pleased to be able to offer this support through our grants program,” Cr Hood said.
“The grants program aims to help create an environment that will support the small-scale agricultural industry to innovate, evolve and thrive.”
For more information on the Small-Scale Artisan Agriculture Grants Program, head to: www.hepburn.vic.gov.au.
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Victoria hasn’t been the happiest hunting ground for Copy That but that may all change in the 2023 TAB Summer of Glory, if last Saturday nights dominant display is a window into what’s to come.
Ray Green’s outstanding dual New Zealand Trotting Cup winner was in complete control throughout the $150,000 PETstock Ballarat Pacing Cup, a peerless performance that’s seen him shorten into clear favourite for the February 4 DelRe National A. G. Hunter Cup.
“I was hoping he’d bring his New Zealand form over,” his reinsman Blair Orange told TrotsVision. “As you know he just hasn’t been at his best the last couple of campaign overs here. He got a lovely lead early and controlled the race. Very happy with the performance.”
All going to plan has been a foreign concept for the Kiwi team in previous Victorian visits.
Late in 2021 he ran 11th at Cranbourne just a tick over a month after his first New Zealand Trotting Cup and then suffered a hairline fracture in his offside hind leg, which ended his 2022 Hunter Cup hopes.
Despite the misfortune, the team returned to Victoria last September when Copy That won one of his four starts – the Gammalite Free For All – but was shy of his absolute best when fourth in the Victoria Cup.
He then thrived when he returned home to defend his New Zealand Trotting Cup. Only weeks later Green suffered horrible injuries after being kicked by a filly, but the resilient team has returned with a point to prove and did exactly that last Saturday night.
Copy That launched from the gates with intent, crossing polemarker and Shepparton Cup winner Cranbourne while Major Meister worked to the breeze.
That would be their order until the 400-metre mark, at which point Major Meister was the first horse beaten, falling through the field while Triple Eight’s Greg Sugars, Mach Dan’s Mark Pitt and Honolua Bay’s David Moran found gaps to attack late.
Old Town Road and Torrid Saint also ran on well, but none would threaten the leader, who followed a 28.8-second third quarter with a 27.3-second run to the line to claim the Cup. He did overrace a little bit today in front, he didn’t quite come back to me as well as I’d hoped, but we managed to punch an easy time of it mid-race, coasted up to the line good,” Orange said. “He’s one of those horses that if you don’t drive them out to the finish he will go to sleep on you, which he did again today.”
The win was great reward for Green's team and the Butterworths, with the latter on hand at Bray Raceway to accept the prize.
They have all got much to look forward to in coming weeks, including Orange, who said he’d return for the February 4 A. G. Hunter Cup, which will be his first race start at Tabcorp Park Melton.
By Michael Howard (HRV)The ‘Believers’ are growing en masse after another outstanding performance by Myrniong’s Jess Tubbs and Greg Sugars’ brilliant trotter, who built on his summer of glory with a big win at Ballarat last Saturday night.
Just Believe was driven a treat by Sugars who pounced when his rivals were vulnerable, a winning move that would help secure the prized E B Cochran Trotters Cup.
“We are obviously extremely proud of what this horse has been able to achieve in his short time with us,” Sugars told TrotsVision, with Just Believe recording a fifth straight win in his first outing since his Inter Dominion triumph on December 10.
“I was a little bit concerned going into tonight that it had been a few weeks since his last race start and he hasn’t been off the place since then, so I thought he was a little bit vulnerable tonight. To win the way he did was extremely pleasing because he should only take benefit out of the run.”
The race had plenty of thrills. Sundons Courage saw off an early challenge from Sleepee, who eventually accepted leader’s back, and then when the pace settled Chris Alford made a play for the front with Aldebaran Zeus.
Again Ryan Duffy and Sundons Courage resisted, but while they were able to see off the one-two punch, the third strike proved successful, with Sugars emerging from the gapped chasers to take up the lead and from there the race was in his hands.
He ripped home in a 27.9-second last quarter to win by six metres from a fast-finishing Aldebaran Zeus, while Im Ready Jet (third) and Sundons Courage (fourth) battled on gamely after doing plenty in the run.
The $30,000 Group 3 victory brought more thrills to breeder Yabby Dam Farms and owners the Iona Trotter Syndicate, who are enjoying an outstanding run.
“They are having a great ride so far,” Sugars said. “Hopefully Just Believe can keep the flag flying and keep getting these results for as long as possible, but I am trying to forewarn them that it won’t last forever.”
It certainly seems like much more fun will be had, with Sugars revealing Just Believe would likely contest the V L Dullard Trotters Cup at Tabcorp Park Melton this Saturday and then back up on Friday February 3 in the Woodlands Stud Great Southern Star, which features two rounds of heats and then the $300,000 final on the one night.
“I think (the two races in one night) will (suit). He’s the type of horse, he’s so versatile and resilient, any type of racing he seems to be able to adapt too. No concerns for us going back to the mile, but I’m not going to say that’s his forte either – he’s the type of horse that can adapt to anything.”
Results – W/e Saturday 21 January (R10)
Ballan 1st XI (BCA 2nd Grade)
Ballan 9/226 lost Wendouree 7/231
Bowling - Ben Loughnane: 9-2-2-17, Heath Doherty: 7-1-2-32
Batting - Jack McGregor 87, Mick Nolan 51, Matt Thomas 25
Wendouree won the toss and chose to bat with young bowler Eli Muir opening. Through the middle overs Wendouree's quick start was pulled back with great bowling from the spin twins Heath Doherty and Ben Loughnane.
Unfortunately, some missed chances and wide bowling meant that Wendouree were always making quick runs and in the end finished with a very competitive score of 231. With the bat, Jack McGregor was the absolute standout with 87. He was assisted in the middle by Mick Nolan, 51 and Matt Thomas,25. They brought Ballan back into the game and in the end the boys gave themselves every chance to win.
Wendouree were too good on the day and in the end held on with good bowling and fielding to win by six runs.
Ballan 2nd IX (BCA 4th Grade)
Ballan 10/79 lost Ballarat Fire Brigade 10/166
Bowling - Jake Wernicke 6-0-5-34, Stuart Grigg 6-0-4-24, Chris Thom 8-0-1-36
Batting - Max Burton 32
Ballan took on Ballarat Fire Brigade who won the toss and elected to bat first. Chris Thom pulled on the whites, and left the camera on the bench, once more and delivered eight outstanding overs in a row, opening up with Jake Hotchin who both had the Fire Brigade batters on the front foot for most of their spell. Some tight bowling resulted in some big shots being played (including one on to the new pavilion roof) to relieve the pressure being applied by the Ballan openers. Chris was unlucky not to have picked up a couple of wickets but he did get a nice caught behind, courtesy of Josh Singh behind the stumps in the 5th over. John Costello came on first change with his off-spin, as did young-gun Jake Wernicke a couple of overs later who proceeded to pick up a wicket, clean bowled with his first ball of the match in the 17th over. He didn't stop there, collecting a second wicket later in the over via a nice catch in the deep by Michael Vallance. A third wicket arrived via the ball collecting the wickets again and Jake was on fire against The Brigade.
Jake picked up his fourth wicket via a nice Jake Hotchin catch, and then the number five wicket came courtesy of a catch by Max at deep long on. A wonderful spell of bowling by Jake, and it looked like the Ballarat Fire Brigade were not going to make it through their innings being 6/134 in the 25th over. Jake claiming 5/34.
Time for Stu Grigg and Dave Leach to enter the attack. Stu in his second game back had the ball moving both ways through the air and delivered some wonderful bowling to the batters. Dave Leach as always, was economical and caused trouble for those holding the willow. A great bowling partnership saw the last 11 overs go for only 32 runs with Stu cleaning up the tail, picking up 4/24 - a nice catch by Jake Wernicke out on the boundary, Dave Leach taking the traditional slips catch and the final two batters being cleaned bowled to end the innings. Fire Brigade finished all out on 166.
In reply, Ballan lost John Costello first ball as he played onto his stumps. Number 3, James Somers did not hang around too long and was dismissed cleaned-bowled for 4 with Jake Wernicke departing quickly as well for 2 after directing a ball to gully. In the 10th over Ballan was 3/22.
Max and Stu dug in for a small partnership with some sharp running between the wickets and a few boundaries being hit. The score had reached 38 before Stu caught the outside edge of his bat through to the keeper for eight.
Jake Hotchin copped a beauty of a delivery first ball for LBW and Michael Vallance found himself at the wicket on a hat-trick.
Survived he did, but not for much longer and he also found himself out LBW a couple of overs later for 0.
Opening batter Max, was fighting hard against some difficult bowling with the ball moving both ways and at great pace from some of the bowlers. He lost his wicket soon after drinks for 32 by not really getting a hold of the ball whilst attempting to cut through the gully on one
too many occasions. In the 21st over, Ballan were 7/54.
Dave Leach and Glenn Easterbrook put on a small partnership before Glenn was out, caught for two. Josh Singh joined the fray, hitting a nice 4 to square leg before he found himself trapped in front LBW for 6 trying to turn a ball to mid-wicket.
The last batter for Ballan, Liam, came to the crease, but unfortunately did not hang around for very long, getting clean-bowled for 0.
Dave Leach finished on 7 not out, including one boundary via a cut shot through cover. Ballan finished all out for 79.
This week – Ballan will take on Wendouree in a two-day match starting at home.
Little Athletics returned for the second half of the season on Saturday morning. While numbers were slightly down due to school holidays, those athletes in attendance enjoyed being back competing and catching up with their team mates.
152 Personal Best results were recorded for the meet. Darley Bakehouse PB Stars of the Week were awarded to Nicholas Ibrahim, Tahlia Hunter, Phoenix Dart, Blaithe Fletcher, Evie Taylor and Matilda Askew.
Athletes are invited to register for the Maryborough Open Day to be held on Sunday 12th February, while Under 9-17 athletes have until next Monday to register for the upcoming Region Track & Field Championships to be held at Corio on 18th & 19th February.
Centre training will return on Thursday 2nd February, once school returns.
Underdogs Mt Clear toppled the ladder leading Lions in convincing style to the tune of nine wickets at Darley Park last Saturday.
The visitors won the battle with bat and ball to stun their more fancied rivals and in the process, reduce the Lions advantage to just four points ahead of looming Wendouree and Naps-Sebas who enjoyed wins at the weekend.
The emphatic result amounted to no excuses after the Lions won the toss and elected to bat on a wicket that provided seamers opportunities with the new ball placed in the right areas. And the visitors were justly rewarded for their discipline and were aided at times with impatience and poor judgement from one of the more potent batting line-ups in the comp.
Lions coach Brian Wheelahan was fully aware of the situation at the halfway mark having watched his boys plummet to be all out for just 105 in a tick over 30 overs.
"It simply wasn't good enough," he said.
"Being bowled out with almost 20 overs still remaining was disappointing."
Clearly perplexed, Wheelahan conceded they were outclassed on an off day.
"It certainly wasn't (the true version of) us," Wheelahan said. "The boys are hurting and already itching to bounce back ahead of a return to two-day cricket this week against quality opposition, Naps-Sebas."
Defending 105 was always going to be an uphill battle for the Lions but history suggests that it wasn't beyond them.
When strike opener Madushanka Ekanayake claimed his 18th wicket of the season to have the visitors 1/4, there was a sniff of an improbable victory. Credit to the fifth placed Mt Clear who backed up their bowling performance to remain wicketless before reeling in the miserly total. Wheelahan acknowledged the efforts of his bowlers despite
the nine wicket defeat.
"Our bowling wasn't too bad but with only 105 to defend it was always going to be difficult," he said.
Needless to add the dual Premiership coach was keen to move on.
"We need to park this result, learn from it and embrace the challenges in front of us for the remainder of the season," he said.
BCA 1st GRADE - (R13)
Darley 105, Overs 30.2. H. Wickramasinghe 27, D. Chandima 20.
Mt Clear 1/107, Overs 21.3. M. Ekanayake 1/17. Darley lost by 9 wickets.
BCA 2nd GRADE - (R10)
North Ballarat 7/170, Overs 45.1. B. Ward 3/39, L. Cornford 2/31.
Darley 5/171, Overs 35.3. L. Cornford 62, S. McAndrew 37*. Darley WON by 5 wickets.
BCA 3rd GRADE - (R10)
Darley 7/165, Overs 40. D. Hoey 50, J. Wilkie 42. East Ballarat 5/166, Overs 35.5. A. McAndrew 1/16, T. Cox 1/19.
Darley lost by 5 wickets.
BCA 4th GRADE - (R10)
Darley 8/182, Overs 40. T. Gallagher 83, DN Hynes 45. Wendouree 6/184, Overs 38. F. Kilmartin 2/11. Darley lost by 4 wickets.
BCA 5th GRADE - (R13) Creswick-Imperials 7/174, Overs 40. C. Amor 3/7, Kilmartin 2/26.
Darley 74, Overs 32.2. C. Amor 14, R. Amor 12. Darley lost by 100 runs.
Results - W/e Saturday 21 January
Wednesday – Stableford
Winner - Denis Conroy (17) 38 points.
R/up - John Costello (21) 37 points.
Magpie - 14th Barry Sims.
NTPs - 12th Bob Arklay, 15th Chris Tudor.
A GRADE
Winner - Anthony Moore (6) 39 points.
R/up - Jason Bonar (12) 36 points.
B GRADE
Winner - Andrew Carton (14) 34 points.
R/up - Greg McAloon (28) 35 points.
NTPs - 12th Frank Raffaele, 15th Anthony Moore. Magpies - 14th Stuart Miller, 18th Anthony Moore (Eagle).
Balls 5 Cut-off 34 points on c/b Andrew Carton, Anthony Moore, Jason Bonar, Greg McAloon, Rick Roden.