The Weekly Advertiser – Wednesday, April 30, 2025

Program on tenterhooks

BY LAUREN HENRY

Aprogram critical to the development of children across the Wimmera is under threat if it misses out on funding in this year’s State Budget.

With the initial four-year State Government investment due to end in June, the Wimmera Southern Mallee Regional Partnership’s By Five Early Years Initiative is seeking $3.5-million to fund another four years.

Continued funding will deliver phase two of the ‘By Five Innovation and Equity Hub’ to continue supporting implementation of the successful changes trialled.

The State Budget will be handed down on May 20.

By Five has achieved a suite of initiatives, including developing a service model that provides greater accessibility and sustainability of early education and care service across the

region; elevating the voices of women in the discussion around pregnancy care in rural areas, and emphasising the need for equity and supporting the skills of rural health professionals.

By Five has also successfully trialled an alternative model of paediatric allied health service delivery in rural and remote towns that delivered improved outcomes for children, parents and education staff; and trialled an alternative model of tertiary paediatric services, reaching all local government areas and supporting vulnerable children, as well as delivering timely care and eliminating the need for families to travel.

By Five executive officer Jo Martin said the real success of the trials would be moving them to a ‘business as usual’ model – not relying on fragile funding streams.

“This does not always result in more government money, but the ability to use existing investments more effec-

tively through adjustments to funding guidelines or rigid service criteria that can occur in the various streams of government,” she said.

“Living rurally isn’t the problem –far from it. But to truly support every child, we need more flexible systems and guidelines that can adapt to the unique realities of rural communities like the Wimmera.

“Every child deserves the same opportunities to thrive, no matter where they live.

“We can and must do better. Because if we don’t act, the gap between rural and urban children will only grow –and that’s something none of us should accept.”

Member for Lowan Emma Kealy said By Five was an ‘incredible program developed locally, which has been proven to significantly improve both health and education outcomes for our children’.

“By Five shouldn’t even be up for

consideration as to whether the program continues or not,” she said.

“We know the model works to significantly improve health and education outcomes for our youngest children at a very small cost to taxpayers.

“Even Labor Ministers are on the record praising the program, and yet the future of By Five is on the chopping block because Labor can’t manage money, and sadly, it’s our most vulnerable children that will pay the price.”

Ms Kealy said there was strong support from across the region, and from both sides of politics.

“I don’t think anybody questions the value this program offers to not just our young ones, but also to families who live, work, study and do business in the country,” she said.

At an online advocacy forum earlier this month, Ms Kealy commended the By Five team for their strong advocacy work in a respectful, well-informed and evidence-based approach.

“I will continue to do what I can to promote and get that support,” she said.

“We’ll continue to fight for more money. Don’t write it off just yet because we haven’t had the nod.” Member for Mallee Anne Webster said the By Five program had ‘done amazing work since their 2021 inception, developing vital initiatives to address childcare deserts’.

Dr Webster said three of the southern Mallee’s five shires ranked among the 10 most disadvantaged in Australia and children in the region were 40 per cent more likely to be developmentally vulnerable.

“Not only are Mallee families unable to access subsidised childcare, they can’t be employed to their full capacity and are deprived of income during this cost-of-living crisis,” she said. •For full coverage, see pages 20 and 21, and editorial on page 11.

HRCC NEWS

Leading psychologist Dr Michael Carr-Gregg to speak in Horsham

psychologist

deliver a presentation for parents and carers at Horsham Town Hall on Wednesday 30 July.

In partnership with Brophy Family Services, Horsham Rural City Council is proud to bring the free community event to the region as part of a broader focus on youth mental health and wellbeing.

Dr Carr-Gregg is a highly respected expert in adolescent psychology, parenting, mental health and the effects of technology on young people. A best-selling author, broadcaster and consultant, he brings decades of experience and deep insight into the issues facing families today.

His Parents and Carers Information Session will run from 7.00pm to 8.00pm and is designed to provide practical, easy-to-implement advice on supporting young people through life’s challenges. From managing anxiety and emotional wellbeing to navigating technology and social pressures, Dr Carr-Gregg will empower attendees with tools and knowledge they can use right away.

This is a free event, but bookings are essential as places are limited.

The evening is part of a broader Youth Mental Health Roadshow, which also includes a separate session for educators and school staff. For more information about that session or to help spread the word among your networks, please get in touch with Council.

Don’t miss this opportunity to hear from one of the nation’s leading voices in youth mental health — and walk away with real-world strategies to support the young people in your life.

Book your spot with the QR code.

Community Event Grants open Thursday

Council is set to open its Community Events Grants Program on Thursday 1 May, offering a significant boost to not-for-profit groups in the municipality.

People are encouraged to read the new program guidelines as these are different to previous years. The Guidelines are available on Council’s website, by emailing events@hrcc.vic.gov.au or calling into the Council Office.

The HRCC Community Event Grants Program allocates funding to local not-for-profit organisations and groups. The maximum allocation per organisation is $10,000, although most successful applications range between $500 and $5,000.

The program has several key objectives. Events must align with the Council Plan and aim to increase the range of diverse, inclusive, and vibrant events.

They should demonstrate social benefits that support our community, increase economic stimulus through event attendance, and deliver participation opportunities for our community.

To be eligible for the HRCC Community Events Grants Program, you must:

• Be a not-for-profit group.

• Be incorporated or have an auspice body.

• Have public liability insurance covering your proposed event.

The event must be held within the Horsham municipality. For more information, please contact Council on 5382 9777 or email events@hrcc.vic.gov.au or visit Council’s website.

Pedal boats make a splash

A long-held vision of Council has come to life this summer, with pedal boats now gliding across the Wimmera River thanks to local operator Luke Ladlow and The Boat House. The new attraction has already made waves in the community, with residents and visitors alike embracing the opportunity to enjoy Horsham’s scenic riverfront from a fresh perspective.

“The response has been overwhelmingly positive,” Mr Ladlow said. “Locals have jumped at the chance to finally get out on the water – something many have said they’ve wanted for years.”

Afternoons and weekends have proven to be the most popular times for pedal boat rentals, particularly during the school holidays. Families make up the bulk of customers, but tourists passing through are also taking notice.

“Many travellers have told me they’re pleasantly surprised to discover something so fun and active to do in Horsham. Some have even extended their stays just to enjoy more time on the river,” Mr Ladlow said.

It hasn’t taken much to turn the riverfront into a community hub. One simple improvement — adding sand to the old boat ramp — created an impromptu beach that quickly became a magnet for families.

“That moment really stood out,” he said. “It showed how small changes can have a big impact.”

The pedal boats have also helped transform the overall atmosphere along the Wimmera River.

“There’s a real buzz now,” Mr Ladlow said. “People walking by stop to watch or ask questions, kids are laughing on the water, and there’s this renewed sense of life and energy around the riverfront. It’s shifting the perception of Horsham from a stopover town to a destination.”

Despite a successful launch season, there have been some challenges — namely, infrastructure. Access to the water remains a hurdle, with calls for a purpose-built docking area and more natural entry points to make the river even more inviting.

Looking ahead, Mr Ladlow has big plans for expanding the riverfront experience.

“I’d love to see a permanent food and drink venue operating in the evenings and offer more options like paddleboards and kayaks,” he said. “There’s so much potential here.”

The business has already exceeded expectations since opening just after Christmas.

“It’s proven that there’s a real appetite for more things to do in Horsham – especially outdoors and on the water,” Mr Ladlow said. “The Wimmera River is calm, beautiful, and right in the heart of town. It’s the perfect place for creating lasting memories.”

The Boat House is now closed for the season but remains open to group bookings by arrangement. Locals and visitors are encouraged to reach out if they’re interested in planning a group day out on the river.

Next Council Meeting: Monday, May 26, 2025 - 5.30pm Horsham Rural City Council: 18 Roberts Avenue Horsham | Postal address: PO

Email: council@hrcc.vic.gov.au | Web: www.hrcc.vic.gov.au

HORSHAM RURAL CITY TALKS

Council is developing its Council Plan and reviewing the Community Vision to ensure it is in line with the communities hopes, aspirations and priorities and want your input into that process.

We encourage all members of our community to participate in our survey and/or register to attend in person workshops which will inform the renewal of these key documents.

Survey closes Friday 2 May.

For details visit the Engage Horsham section of HRCC's website

TENDERS AND RFQ

All tender, EOI and RFQ details at hrcc.vic.gov.au

and many young, local volunteers.

A bench built from many wooden skateboards and painted by local children was removed from the Gardens last year, after age and wear caused the bench to become unsafe.

This February, Horsham Youth called on local artists aged 13 to 25 to assist with painting a new set of metal skateboards, fabricated by CHS Horsham.

The new bench brings a lively splash of color to the area, with the updated metal construction expected to greatly enhance the longevity of the structure.

“It was such a fun project to work on and went amazingly,” Youth Programs Officer Arianna Vettos said.

“The group of young people we had did a fantastic job on their boards and had lots of fun letting their creativity flow while working on them. It was the perfect way to pay homage to the original.”

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An art installation at the Horsham Botanical Gardens has been replaced, following an effort from Horsham Youth

Leading Australian

Dr Michael Carr-Gregg will

Mallee candidates quizzed

Mining on agricultural land, rising cost-of-living expenses and funding access to develop community sporting facilities were on the agenda at a Mallee candidates forum on Monday night.

The Weekly Advertiser, 3WM and MIXX FM hosted the forum – one of only two candidates’ forums in the Mallee electorate, with the second at Inglewood last night.

Six of the eight candidates attended the Horsham forum – incumbent Member for Mallee Anne Webster, standing for The Nationals; Labor’s Greg Olsen; Nicole Rowan, Greens; Adam Veitch, Trumpet of Patriots; Jeff Barry, Libertarian Party; and Chris Lahy, Australian Citizens Party.

Family First candidate Ashleigh Gray and Vaughan Williams, standing for Pauline Hanson’s One Nation, were late apologies to the forum.

The forum, which attracted about 40 people to Coughlin Park Community Centre and hundreds to the online streaming, began with candidates each having two minutes to introduce themselves and provide a background

Audience questions, from both those in attendance and submitted prior to The Weekly Advertiser, then gave the voters a chance to hear from the candidates directly.

Questions about mining on agricultural land; transgender policies; candidates’ influence on major party decisions; measures to curb rising cost-of-living expenses; and access to funding streams to develop and maintain community sporting facili-

ties were key items on the agenda.

The forum was moderated by The Weekly Advertiser editor Lauren Henry, who thanked all candidates for travelling to attend the forum, and for putting up their hand to stand as a candidate.

“Ours is a big electorate made of so many different communities with differing needs, challenges and issues,” she said.

“There are so many red-hot topics in our region right now – renewable energy; mining; recovery from the Grampians fires; and access to public land, such as Arapiles, which are key challenges in the Wimmera.

“And then there are all the issues and challenges in Mildura and Swan Hill

and down south in Maryborough – the candidates have a lot to be across.”

Ms Henry said The Nationals’ longheld stranglehold of the Mallee was evident with Dr Webster recording a strong primary vote of 49.1 per cent at the 2022 election – a 27.9 per cent increase from 2019.

Wannon

An election forum for Wannon allowed Ararat residents to quiz candidates ahead of Saturday’s election.

Sitting member Dan Tehan, Liberal; will go up against independent candidate Alex Dyson; Lee-Ann Elmes, Family First; Kate Gazzard, Greens; Julie Ann McCamish, Trumpet of Patriots; Robbie Swan, Legalise Cannabis; Leo Curtain, Pauline Hanson’s

One Nation; Fiona Mackenzie, Labor; and Bernardine Atkinson, independent.

Voters have already begun going to the polls, with record numbers voting before election day on Saturday despite the pre-poll period including two public holidays.

By Monday, 2.95 million Australians had cast their ballot, according to the Australian Electoral Commission.

People can vote early at Horsham Anglican Church Hall, Stawell Baptist Church Hall; and Ararat’s Holy Spirit Centre.

There are many other voting centres across the region open on Saturday. For more information, visit www.aec. gov.au/Voting/ways_to_vote.

Alliance withdrawal

Northern Grampians Shire Council has withdrawn from a five-council alliance created to collectively advocate to State Government on issues including transmission lines, renewable energy and mining.

The alliance also includes Buloke, Gannawarra, Yarriambiack and Loddon councils.

Northern Grampians Shire deputy mayor Justine Hide said the shire was in a different position to the others.

“The vast majority of our farmers are strongly opposed to the proposed VNI West transmission line project, which is not necessarily the case in all the other shires,” she said.

Yarriambiack Shire Mayor Kylie Zanker said she had only recently been made aware of Northern Grampians decision to withdraw from the alliance.

“We see value in working together across our region to represent the needs and interests of our communities, but respect their decision,” she said.

“We will continue to assess how we can best advocate and represent our community. Council’s stance on transmission lines, renewable energy, and mining remains the same.

“As a council, we recognise the community angst and division that mining, renewable energy, and transmission distribution developments have caused within our shire and region.”

In response to recent reports, Cr Zanker also confirmed that council had no knowledge of a reported $100million being offered to the alliance by VicGrid.

Council to request WIFT removal from mining licence area

Horsham Rural City Council’s submission to the Earth Resources Regulator on WIM Resource’s mining licence application will request the Wimmera Intermodal Freight Terminal be removed from the mining licence area.

The Earth Resources Regulator is currently assessing submissions made to WIM Resource’s application for a mining licence for Avonbank mine at Dooen.

The mineral sands mine spans 3426 hectares, staged over 38 years, and is about 1.3 kilometres northeast of Dooen – with a footprint that is split by the Wimmera Highway.

Council approved to make a submission at its meeting on Monday evening, following its listening post meeting at Dooen Hall on April 15,

where about 100 people attended, raising issues that fed into council’s submission.

The council officer’s report to councillors recommended the WIFT be removed from the mining licence area ‘due to its primary role as freight terminal, council ownership, strategic importance to the region and need for it to operate independently of any mining licence’.

The council believes the proposed mine activity to have no connection to rail at this stage, accordingly, it is appropriate to request it be removed from the mining licence.

Another key part of the submission is council’s concern about the WIM Base Area being located outside the licenced area.

“Council has been of the strong view

that the WBA should be included in the mining licence area so that the same regulatory frameworks are applied to the processing plant and that the State Government should be the regulatory authority for all mining activity,” the report read.

Other concerns included in the submission were: the haulage route and frequency of trucks; progressive rehabilitation of local roads; landscape screening; air quality management plan; real-time continuous air quality monitoring; radiation management plan; agricultural baseline assessment completed prior to mining within each landholding or paddock by a suitably qualified person; and comprehensive rehabilitation plan.

Council also raised the need for targeted community and workforce sup-

port programs; a workforce accommodation strategy; a wellbeing plan and access to counselling services to support landholders and families who will be displaced by the project; land access agreements or land purchase – with consent from the owners/occupiers of the land directly affected needing to be granted prior to the commencement of works; and a contingency plan for unplanned closure.

Cr Brian Klowss moved the motion to make the submission, and said the document put the community’s views at the forefront.

Cr Angela Munn said council had put a lot of work in trying to gauge as much of the community’s opinions as possible.

Cr Rebecca Sluggett said she ‘wholeheartedly endorsed’ the submission.

“Having gone to our listening post recently it was very evident that is a topic our community did not have enough input into the earlier stages,” she said.

“Mining done correctly and safely is likely to have a big impact on Horsham and would potentially have a really good benefit for many of our local businesses when done correctly.

“I’m also very concerned that a big industry that we have here, being agriculture, of which many of our businesses are very reliant on, is something that may be impacted not just for the next 32 years, but far into the future.”

– Lauren Henry

HORSHAM FORUM: Mallee candidates at a forum in Horsham on Monday, from left, Adam Veitch, Trumpet of Patriots; Member for Mallee Anne Webster, standing for The Nationals; Labor’s Greg Olson; Nicole Rowan, Greens; Jeff Barry, Libertarian Party; Chris Lahy, Australian Citizens Party; and The Weekly Advertiser editor and moderator Lauren Henry. Picture: PAUL CARRACHER

Put your foot down for Breast & Ovarian Cancer Research

Join us on Sunday, May 11 at the Horsham Soundshell for a 2km walk or 5km walk or run to support those diagnosed with breast and ovarian cancer.

Schedule:

On the day registrations - 8am Formalities commence - 8:45 am Walk / run begins - 9am Event concludes - 10:30 am

Also on the day: BBQ

& Spot Prizes

*Please bring cash as EFTPOS may not be available at all stalls/services

We will also be announcing the Winner of the Workplace Warriors Shield

Online registrations until Friday, May 9

All online registrations go in the draw to win a prize thanks to Mackays Family Jewellers!

Dogs are allowed at this event, must be kept on lead. Parking available along Hocking Street and Firebrace Street.

www.mothersdayclassic.com.au/event/ mothers-day-classic-horsham Proud major sponsors:

Plan to ‘get the balance right’

BY LAUREN HENRY

Shadow minister for Indigenous Australians Jacinta Nampijinpa

Price joined Member for Mallee Anne Webster at Mount Arapiles on Monday to announce cultural heritage reforms, if a Coalition government is elected.

Ms Nampijinpa Price said blocking world-class rock-climbing routes at Mount Arapiles, under a proposed State Government plan, was a clear example of not getting the balance right.

The Arapiles-Dyurrite Draft Management Plan, made public in November, seeks to protect areas of cultural significance to the Wotjobaluk, Jaadwa, Jadawadjali, Wergaia and Jupagulk Indigenous groups, represented by Barengi Gadjin Land Council.

But Ms Nampijinpa Price, an Alice Springs-based Senator, said a Coalition Government would push back against current Indigenous cultural heritage laws, and streamline national reform to restore public confidence in decisions, while protecting cultural heritage.

“We have always said that cultural heritage and environmental protection are not mutually exclusive,” she said.

“Rock climbers who come to places like Mount Arapiles are some of the most concerned with protecting the environment, and we must not lock them out simply at the first mention of cultural heritage.

“The Coalition’s reforms are critical to restoring rational and balanced conversations about cultural heritage, and ensuring decisions are made on the basis of sound evidence.”

Ms Nampijinpa Price said climbing had been taking place at Mount Ara-

piles for more than 100 years. “Climbers want to share these beautiful natural environment structures that we’ve got, as well as learn about our cultural heritage – so that’s what we aim to do,” she said.

“We want to get the balance right. We can look after culturally significant places in our natural environment and keep it safe, but also share with the wider community. Part of this announcement means that we are going to establish a national interest test, whether it comes to sharing our natural environment or whether it’s projects that need to take place more broadly, and apply that national interest test.”

Ms Nampijinpa Price said  the responsibility of cultural heritage would fall under her portfolio of Minister for Indigenous Australians, if the Coalition was elected.

She said a subcommittee of relevant ministers would be formed to discuss cultural heritage, fast-tracking claims, capping fees and cutting process times, while also setting up a national repository to establish places of significance available to anyone who makes a claim going forward.

Ms Nampijinpa Price said a Coalition government would work closely with states and territory government to  ‘allow prosperity’ and not duplicate processes.

When asked  what stakeholder groups she had spoken to in relation to access issues at Arapiles, and if that included Barengi Gadgin Land Council, Ms Nampijinpa Price said the Indigenous corporation had been reached out to but hadn’t ‘come to the table as yet’.

Dr Webster, the Nationals candidate for Mallee, said cultural heritage issues

Upholding tradition

Anzac Day was observed by hundreds of communities nation-wide on Friday, with thousands of people attending dawn and commemorative services and laying wreaths in remembrance of those who served during World War I.

At Horsham, a march left the McLachlan Street RSL and finished at Sawyer Park’s war memorial and cenotaph, where traditional observances were led by Horsham RSL president Gareth Lane, and guest Lieutenant Tam Tran spoke.

Lt Tran, first generation Vietnamese Australian, said it was a great honour to attend to represent the Australian Defence Force, and recognise the selfless sacrifice of thousands of people.

“We meet here today not to glorify war or praise victors, but to remember

those who have served our country during times of conflict and crisis and to reflect upon their selfless sacrifice,” he said.

“To all Australians, Anzac Day is tradition, paid for in blood and celebrated in our freedom. It is a day in which not only do we salute the Anzacs, but in paying tribute to them, we also take the opportunity to invigorate our national spirit and pride.”

Horsham is Lt Tran’s second posting – he spent two years at a central Melbourne unit before managing Horsham’s troop.

Mr Lane said 463 Horsham and district people died during World War I, they were remembered alongside those involved in conflicts in World War II, Korea, Borneo, Malaya, Vietnam, Bougainville, Iraq, East Ti-

were affecting several communities across the region.

“There has been a significant amount of unrest throughout Mallee, whether it’s Mount Arapiles’ climbing communities, and Natimuk town itself – there are broken heart signs pretty well wherever you drive in Natimuk,” she said.

“On top of that, we have other issues that are at Lake Turell, with the Mallee rally.

“It was in November last year that I put together the Arapiles declaration, which both Jacinta and I signed, and several other of the senators and ministers, members, and shadow ministers signed. That talked about our shared life and how we do that, while respecting cultural heritage nonetheless, but being able to move forward as a nation to prosper and to grow in a more unified way.”

Dr Webster said a significant amount

of her Mallee constituents had expressed overwhelming concern about the impending rock climbing bans.

“Today I’ve heard, to be fair, probably three voices who are not happy, who have different views, and that’s fine – people have a right to have different views,” she said.

“But I would say that the absolute vast majority are really grateful that this has now come to a federal position where we have policy now that we’re taking into the election.”

The announcement was originally set to take place at the Pines campground on Monday morning, and attracted more than 50 people, many climbers and Natimuk residents, and a police presence, but was moved last-minute to a more private setting at Pharos gully car park.

Barengi Gadjin Land Council was contacted but declined to comment.

Licence approved

Resources Victoria’s Earth Resources Regulator has approved an exploration licence for an area between Stawell and Warracknabeal, targeting a mineral formation known as the Jackson deposit.

Licence EL008516 allows a subsidiary of Astron Corporation, Jackson Mineral Sands Pty Ltd, to look for evidence of minerals over an area to the west and north of Rupanyup.

An exploration licence does not allow mining – but allows mapping, water and soil sample testing, ground surveying and targeted drilling.

If a commercially viable deposit is identified, a separate process toward mining involves further assessment, community engagement and regulatory approvals.

The new exploration licence is for an area about one kilometre from Astron’s existing Donald Mineral Sands Project, which was granted a mining licence in 2010 and has a work plan under assessment.

Resources Victoria statutory authorisations director Laura Helm said Victoria’s minerals legislation set out the reasons to grant or refuse an exploration licence.

“The criteria for granting an exploration licence includes whether the applicant is fit and proper, has a suitable program of work and is likely to be able to fund their activities,” she said.

REPRESENT: District students at Willaura Anzac Day service, back, from left, Charlie and Katie Raftopoulos, Grace Robertson, Maevie and Archie Price, MC Colin Holmes, Ellen McCartney-Lees, and guest speaker Lieutenant Brendan Hogan, and front, Charlotte Vallance, Lily Costigan, Roy Brewis, James Tucker, Wally Brewis, Edna Wickham-Leersen, Harry Price and Johnny Tucker.

mor, Afghanistan and the Middle East.

“Since then, thousands have worn the uniform from this area whose names won’t be on any memorial, but their service is of no less value than any

others,” he said. Letters from the frontline were read by school leaders from Horsham Special School, Horsham, St Brigid’s and Wimmera Lutheran colleges, and about 50 wreaths

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were laid by community and school representatives. Proceeds from the day’s donations and fundraisers went to Wimmera Veterans’ Centre.

• Anzac Day pictures, page 19.

UNITED: Shadow minister for Indigenous Australians Jacinta Nampijinpa Price, left, and Member for Mallee Anne Webster at Pharos Gully, Mount Arapiles. Picture: PAUL CARRACHER

Region primed for Grape Escape

BY LAUREN HENRY

The region’s food and wine is primed, musicians set to entertain and the ‘feel good’ vibes are ready to explode for the Grampians Grape Escape at Halls Gap this weekend.

Kicking off with ‘Feel-Good Friday’ from 4pm, the festival’s opening night doubles as a community celebration with two-for-one tickets for Grampians region residents.

Festival organisers are keen to grow the Friday night event, and to encourage those affected by the fires in the Grampians over summer, to attend and connect with their community.

Feel-Good Friday will feature live performances and food trucks offering delicious bites – offering a taste of what is in store when the full festival village opens on Saturday at 10am.

The full festival will continue across Saturday and Sunday, with a recreation reserve full of exhibitors’ stalls offering the best produce from across the region. Tasting ticket-holders can explore hundreds of wines, beers, and ciders throughout the festival, and after sampling, stock

Barrique auction

A unique shiraz barrique will be the feature items in the Grampians Winemakers auction at the Grape Escape on Saturday.

The barrique is crafted from parcels of standout shiraz from the Grampians region’s finest wineries, expertly blended and aged.

Only 300 bottles of the 2023 Grampians Winemakers Shiraz Barrique will be available – offering a blend that winemakers described as never being replicated again and ‘representing a true taste of the region’.

Proceeds from the auction will support the region’s fire recovery efforts and go towards new events and initiatives for the region’s wine community.

Grampians Estate winemaker Tom Guthrie said the barrique was usually a two-year-old blended wine from all of member wineries in the Grampians.

“But in the last few years we’ve started to auction off some back vintages –  this year we have in the mix some of the very first barrique vintages of 1991,” he said.

“These wines have been stored meticulously because back then we used cork, and these wines I’ve tasted and they’re all absolutely sensational wines, all in pristine condition.

“How often do you get the opportunity to buy a bottle that’s 34 years old?”

up on their favourite drops. There will also be a barrique auction, guest chefs, masterclasses and cooking demonstrations, and children’s activities, plus entertainment from both local artists and musicians from further afield.

The line-up includes The Doodads, The Double Agents, The Settlement and No Mistake on Friday evening; followed by Flynn Gurry, Bel Kil, Crown Heights, and Jason Singh on Saturday; and then Little Wise, Aaron D’Arcy, Smoke Stack Rhino and No Plans on Sunday.

Foodie, cook and culinary creator Dani Venn, a former Masterchef contestant, will offer a masterclass on Saturday, while Justine Schofield, host of Network 10’s Everyday Gourmet and publisher of five cookbooks, will feature on the festival stage on Sunday.

There will also be an array of masterclasses and cooking demonstrations on offer to satisfy all food-lovers.

Festival director Kate Kirkpatrick said ticket sales were progressing on par with last year’s event.

“All is tracking really well – obviously the weather is on our side this year, which

is fabulous, and ticket sales are similar to last year,” she said.

“Obviously we’re just thankful for the support everyone has shown to the region after the summer that we’ve experienced with the fires.

“Just for the region, obviously everyone coming is spending on accommodation, transport and that sort of stuff, so it does all add up and help our economy.”

Ms Kirkpatrick said there would be slight changes to the layout of the festival this year, but it would mostly be a program similar to previous events.

“We generally see close to 90 per cent return year on year,” she said.

“Obviously people are bringing friends each year with word of mouth, and they let them know and bring a group back, and we’re very grateful for that.”

“This is the 32nd festival – it’s been run with two years off with COVID – so those repeat visitations and coming back into the region really do count towards the success.”

People can find out more information and purchase tickets from grampians grapeescape.com.au.

Mr Guthrie said there were a range of back vintages including 1991, 1999, 2005, 2007, 2009, and 2011.

The auction, with no reserve, features lots ranging from two bottles to one dozen, plus a dozen magnum bottles, which are 1500-millilitre bottles.

“The wine is a testament to the reputation this region has for producing really long-living wines,” he said.

“When you get aged wines, they develop a sort of complexity and just really interesting aromas because they’re aging – I can tell you they’re pretty special to drink.”

Mr Guthrie said the barrique auction was the major event on the region’s winemakers calendar.

“It’s obviously very important for the Grampians winemakers, given it was the winemakers who started the whole thing way back in 1992,” he said.

EXCITED: Viv Thomson, from Best’s Winery, and Grampians Estate owner Tom Guthrie prepare for Saturday’s Grampians Winemakers barrique auction at the Grape Escape.

“It was Trevor Mast and Rick Heinrich, from the Kookaburra Hotel, who over a couple of drinks came up with the concept and obviously the barrique wine as well to make it a bit different from any other festival.”

Mr Guthrie said the auction was an important fundraiser, with an aim of raising $30,000.

“It’s very important for us because it’s promoting our wine region as a destination for, particularly Melbourne people, but also for everyone, to come and visit our region and taste our wine,” he said.

“The more money we can generate from the barrique, the more we’ve got to draw people to our region.

“We’ll also put a bit aside for fire recovery – last year we did the same and held an event in Pomonal.”

The auction will take place at 2.15pm on Saturday in the masterclass marquee.

New health hub opens in Ararat

BY COLIN MacGILLIVRAY

Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan was in Ararat last week as she helped open the rural city’s new women’s sexual and reproductive health hub – one of 20 such hubs across the state.

Ms Allan joined Member for Ripon Martha Haylett and representatives from East Grampians Health Service, EGHS, at the official opening on Thursday.

The women’s sexual and reproductive health hubs are a State Government initiative offering free and-or low-cost services to girls, women and gender-diverse people of all ages, without the need for a referral from

a GP or health professional for most services.

Services provided at the hub include the distribution of contraception, medical abortions, referral for surgical abortions, and the testing, diagnosis and treatment of sexually transmitted infections.

The program’s success in other areas of the state has seen it expand, with the Ararat hub one of six to open in the past 12 months, including one at Horsham’s Alan Wolff Medical Centre operated by Grampians Health.

EGHS director of community services Sarah Woodburn said the hub would be an important part of the region’s healthcare network, operating out of the East Grampians Community

“The new Ararat hub will provide local women with safe, confidential and low-cost care – making a real difference for so many across our community”

– Martha Haylett

Health Centre on Girdleston Street, Ararat.

“East Grampians Health Service is excited to offer access to sexual and reproductive health care to women and girls from the Ararat region, close to home without the need to travel and without the need for a referral,” she said.

“We were pleased Premier Jacinta Allen was able to officially open the Ararat Women’s Sexual and Reproductive Health Hub, view the facilities and meet our GP obstetricians and staff.”

Data from Victoria’s sexual and reproductive advice line, 1800 My Options, showed the Grampians region had the highest levels of calls seeking advice or services for unplanned pregnancy outside of Melbourne.

Ms Allan said the hub’s workforce would be supported through a Women’s Health Scholarship Program, with four scholarships worth more than $35,000 awarded to staff at Ararat.

The scholarships offer recipients a chance to upskill in areas such as IUD

friends on a new

insertion, pelvic physio training, and polycystic ovary syndrome, as well as training to promote cultural safety.

Ms Allan said the hubs were part of a $153-million women’s health package.

“These hubs in Ararat and Horsham are closing service gaps in regional Victoria – ensuring more women can access the care they need, close to home,” she said.

Ms Haylett said the hub’s opening was a positive step for Ararat.

“The new Ararat hub will provide local women with safe, confidential and low-cost care – making a real difference for so many across our community,” she said.

Project complete

A $2.8-million project to upgrade Natimuk Primary School is complete, with the school’s 30 students settling into new classrooms and making the most of outdoor facilities.

The project saw the State Government allocate $2.09-million to upgrade and modernise the school’s facilities in the 2020-21 budget, with a further $750,000 allocated in 2023.

Natimuk Primary School principal Ingrid Clarkson said staff and students were thrilled with the upgrades after a year of disruption in 2024.

“It’s fantastic that it’s all finished,” she said.

“During last year we had a good 12 months of renovations, so kids had to move classrooms and be taught in different rooms.

“Everyone is in their brand-new classrooms for this year, and the deck has just been finished off, so we’ve had some great fun and enjoyment being able to have lunch out on the deck and do school work out on the deck.

“A good coat of paint and new facilities lifts everyone’s spirits.”

CELEBRATION: Natimuk Primary School students Logan Hennessy and Ava Hausler, front, with their school

deck at the school.

The Dunmunkle Health Services Foundation in partnership with the Rupanyup Lions Club, invites you to join our...

Mo er’s Day Run & Walk

The Dunmunkle Health Services Foundation continues to provide support and assist projects, big and small, that will contribute to better health outcomes within the triangle of the Dunmunkle area.

When: Sunday, May 11, 2025

Where: Rupanyup Community Centre, Gibson Street

Race Information

8.30am Registrations

9am Pre-event warm up Walk and Run around Jack’s Track – 3.5km

10am Morning tea for all to enjoy

Registration Fees

$5 Children | $10 Adults | $20 Families

Payments

Registration fees and donations can be paid in advance via Direct Deposit to:

Dunmunkle Health Services Foundation

BSB: 533-000

Account Number: 17818 8546

Alternatively, you can pay on the day during the registration period at 8.30am.

Your aged care specialists

Choosing aged care is emotionally challenging. The complexity of the process can be overwhelming. Dean Winfield and Richard Goudie, qualified Age Care Advisors, help you determine the costs applicable to your chosen facility, Centrelink impact, family home options, and cash flow strategies to meet living needs. Personal circumstances shape fees and strategies, emphasizing the need for specific advice before deciding.

31 Darlot Street, Horsham Ph 03 5381 1951 E advice@planrite.com.au W www.planrite.com.au

Are your kids living in a world revolving around their passions? That’s a good thing.

It’s why the VCE’s new Vocational Major creates worlds where passions can be explored.

From agriculture to construction, health to clean energy. Whatever world our kids are into, there’s a VCE program to help develop the skills they’ll need to land a job in Australia’s most in-demand industries.

Richard and Dean

A shared vision

It’sa program many readers may not know a lot about – unless you are a parent in need of paediatric service. When you need paediatric care for your child, you usually need it fairly soon.

Unfortunately wait times to see a private paediatrician are more than a year, while access to public paediatricians exceed four years.

It’s a pretty sad state of affairs when parents can’t access specialised care for their child while their child is still a child.

But there is a program – the By Five Wimmera Southern Mallee Early Years Initiative – that is allowing Wimmera parents to access paediatric care, and much more.

By Five is described as a place-based community collaboration with the vision that ‘Every WSM child succeeds in learning and life’.

It assists children, families, healthcare professionals and teachers across five local government areas – Hindmarsh, Horsham, Northern Grampians, Yarriambiack and West Wimmera.

In a nutshell, By Five helps identify where children across the Wimmera are below standard – in terms of health, education and social goals – and co-ordinates programs to assist.

Services like antenatal care, paediatrics, and allied health services like speech therapy and occupational therapy, as well as psychology are all key parts to the program.

It facilitates our region’s general practitioners in connecting with city-based specialists, not only allowing for a comprehensive, whole-person style of healthcare, but also allowing local healthcare professionals to develop and be further educated.

To extend the funding for By Five – they need $3.5-million over four years, which in the scheme of State Government programs is not a lot of money.

EDITORIAL

By Lauren Henry

The funding would improve the lives of another 1000 children through targeted health and education services; and support 200 rural professionals to deliver localised services.

It would also deliver allied health services directly to five rural and remote public schools; support eight new antenatal access locations across the region; integrate eight existing kindergartens and long day care centres; and establish eight new long-day care services in small rural communities.

But it’s not just about the healthcare of Wimmera children – as if that wasn’t important enough – it’s also the advocacy work that By Five undertakes on behalf of the region.

Whether it be improved childcare services or better early education, By Five’s work has led to better outcomes in so many areas of the region’s communities, and will continue to do so in years to come.

Improving health services and early education has so many flow-on effects in terms of lifting socio-economic standards in the Wimmera.

The program’s online forum ‘I’m backing By Five’ was testament to their success, and hopefully will go a long way to showing people at a State Government level how important and valued this program is to the Wimmera.

Last year, By Five produced a fantastic video to demonstrate what it does. I highly recommend people watch the video at www. youtube.com/watch?v=h4MQY8Pjpkw or seek out more information at www.byfive. com.au.

Governments must build homes

Superannuation expert Bec Wilson asserts that home ownership amongst those approaching retirement has slumped and many more are still mortgaged; that this is no longer a niche problem but a slow-moving crisis.

She further calculates that the age pension and Commonwealth Rent Assistance only cover about two months’ rent and are not fit for purpose.

Retirees who rent are thus condemned to a life of poverty as rents have exploded and Labor has done little and the LNP absolutely nothing.

I agree with Maiy Aziz from Anglicare that rental increases should be limited – up to two per cent each year – as per the good model in the ACT rather than uncapped outside the ACT – between five and 10 per cent each year.

I agree with Wilson that housing for retirees, and everyone else for that matter, must be planned much better. But the private rental market is not going to fix this. This is not rocket science – governments can do this much cheaper and better because of lower borrowing costs and no profit margins.

Federal and state governments must urgently build homes themselves or in combination – for all classes of residents over an extended time period as they did at the end of World War Two.

Robert Blakeley, Horsham

Too little, too late

The Allan Labor Government is once again trying to spin a photo opportunity as meaningful support – this time at Rocklands Reservoir – while regional businesses continue to suffer without real help.

Dressed up as a good news story, Labor’s announcement of more fish and a concrete boat ramp at Rocklands Reservoir does nothing to address the devastating losses faced by small businesses across the Grampians after bushfires four months ago.

Premier Jacinta Allan’s claims of ‘immediate’ support for the area are not only misleading, but also insulting.

Labor has offered only $5000 in support to those affected by bushfires in the region, and the money is only just starting to trickle through.

Premier Allan is trying to pretend she’s come to the rescue, but $5000 in support – which was not announced until months after the fires and is only rolling out now – is far too little, far too late for local businesses who have faced catastrophic down-

turns. This is not immediate support. It’s delayed, inadequate, and fails to meet the scale of the crisis.

The Allan Labor Government went missing when our communities needed them most. While New South Wales and Queensland delivered up to $75,000 in support within days of ex-tropical cyclone Alfred last month, Labor in Victoria left Grampians businesses in limbo.

Instead of standing with small business owners facing closure, Labor is celebrating a concrete boat ramp and hoping no one notices the real damage that’s been done.

Labor is happy to show up for the photos once the weather clears and the boats are back on the water –but where were they when livelihoods were on the line?

The Grampians and broader western Victorian communities deserved a government that delivered, not looking to spin.

This is just another example of a government more interested in appearances than outcomes.

Labor can’t manage money and regional Victorians are paying the price.

Emma Kealy, Member for Lowan ‘Scrap The Tax’ campaign

The emergency services tax is the Allan Labor Government’s latest sneaky cash grab and The Nationals will continue to fight it.

What better way of joining us in the fight than sending a message directly to the Treasurer, Jaclyn Symes?

You can do just that at website scrapthetax.com.au.

The website is the cornerstone of our ‘Scrap The Tax’ campaign aimed at killing off the desperately unfair emergency services tax before its planned introduction on July 1.

The tax hits households and businesses, with farmers copping a 189 per cent rise on the amount paid under the former fire services levy.

There is no guarantee the extra money will go to the frontline emergency workers who deserve it. It will be used to prop-up back room city staff.

Labor can’t manage money and regional Victorians are paying the price.

A vote on the emergency services tax has been deferred and we must strike now before another vote next month. Let’s send a message to the Treasurer now and scrap the tax.

Danny O’Brien, Leader of The Nationals

MOTEL ACCOMMODATED COACH TOURS

CAIRNS, THE GULF, BIRDSVILLE, MARREE FLINDERS RANGES

24 days Friday 30th May

$12,840

Highlights: Bourke, Darling River, Charleville, Cosmos Centre, Blackall Woolscour, Longreach, Stockman’s Hall of Fame, Thomson River Cruise, Charters Towers, Magnetic Island, Paronella Park, Australian Sugar Museum, Green Island, Cairns, Barrier Reef, Daintree River Cruise, Kuranda Train and Sky Rail, Breakfast with the Birds, Port Douglas, Undara Lava Tubes, Gulflander Train Ride, Gulf of Carpentaria Sunset Cruise, Mt Isa, Birdsville, Marree, Lake Eyre, Flinders Ranges, Burra, Renmark. CAIRNS, LONGREACH, MAGNETIC ISLAND BARRIER REEF

12 days Friday 30th May

$6940

Highlights: Bourke, Darling River, Charleville, Cosmos Centre, Blackall Woolscour, Longreach, Stockman’s Hall of Fame, Thomson River Cruise, Charters Towers, Magnetic Island, Paronella Park, Australian Sugar Museum, Green Island, Cairns, Barrier Reef, Daintree River Cruise, Kuranda Train and Sky Rail, Breakfast with the Birds, Port Douglas CAIRNS & THE GULF COUNTRY INC BIRDSVILLE

16 days Saturday 7th June $8980

Highlights: Cairns, Green Island, Barrier Reef, Daintree River Cruise, Breakfast with the Birds, Port Douglas, Atherton Tableland, Georgetown, Undara Lava Tubes, Gulflander Train Ride, Normanton, Karumba, Gulf of Carpentaria Sunset Cruise, Mt Isa, Birdsville, Marree, Lake Eyre, Flinders Ranges, Burra, Renmark SPLENDID SINGAPORE

10 days Tuesday 1st July $7870

Highlights: Luxury Hotel Accommodation, Stunning Singapore, City Sights Tour, Botanic & Orchid Gardens, Singapore River Cruise, Raffles Hotel High Tea, The Singapore Zoo, Singapore Flyer, Marina Bay Sands Lookout, S.E.A Aquarium, Changi District, National Museum of Singapore, Gardens by the Bay, English Speaking Guides.

NORTHWESTER & SOUTH WEST COAST

47 days Monday 28th July $23,970

“See the itinerary for the many tour highlights”.

DARWIN VIA CENTRAL AUSTRALIA

15 days Monday 28th July $9460

Highlights: Central Australia, Coober Pedy, Ayers Rock, Kings Canyon, Alice Springs, West MacDonnell Ranges, Tennant Creek, Katherine Gorge Cruise, Kakadu, Yellow Waters Cruise, Darwin, Mindil Market, Litchfield National Park.

COOBER PEDY, AYERS ROCK, ALICE SPRINGS

9 days Monday 28th July

$6215

Highlights: Adelaide, Port Augusta, Central Australia, Coober Pedy, Umoona Opal Mine, Ayres Rock, Kings Canyon, Alice Springs, West MacDonnell Ranges, Standley Chasm, Alice Springs Reptile Centre, Alice Springs Desert Park, Royal Flying Doctor Service, Alice Springs School of the Air, Alice Springs Telegraph Station.

WEST COAST, KIMBERLEY & SOUTH WEST COAST

35 days Saturday 9th August

“See the itinerary for the many tour highlights”.

WEST COAST & THE KIMBERLEY

23 days Saturday 9th August

$17,820

$13,240

Highlights: Darwin, Mindil Beach Market, Katherine, Kununurra, Ord River Cruise, El Questro Station, Zebedee Springs, Chamberlain Gorge Cruise, Wyndham, Halls Creek, Fitzroy Crossing, Derby, Boab Prison Tree, Broome, Cable Beach Sunset, Port Hedland, Tom Price, Exmouth, Coral Bay, Monkey Mia, Kalbarri, Perth.

BROOME TO PERTH INC TOM PRICE & NINGALOO REEF

14 days Monday 18th August

$8670

Highlights: Broome 3 nights, Cable Beach, Eighty Mile Beach, Port Hedland, Mt Tom Price Mine tour, Karijini National Park, Exmouth, Ningaloo Reef, Coral Bay, Shark Bay, Carnarvon, Monkey Mia Dolphins, Kalbarri Wildflowers, Perth 3 nights.

PERTH AND SOUTH WEST COAST

15 days Friday 29th August

$7540

Highlights: Perth, Gloucester Tree, Margaret River Chocolate Factory, Cape Leeuwin & Lighthouse, Pemberton Timber Mill, Valley of the Giants, Albany, Whale Watching Cruise, Esperance, Kalgoorlie, Super Pit Tour, Great Australian Bight, Nullarbor, Port Augusta, Adelaide, Mannum.

CANBERRA “FLORIADE”

6 days Sunday 14th September $3080

Highlights: Albury, Canberra City, Cockington Green, Australian War Memorial, Government House, Parliament House, Old Parliament House, Embassy Drive, National Arboretum, High Court of Australia, Royal Australian Mint, Floriade Festival, Wodonga.

CAPE YORK AND THURSDAY ISLAND

10 days Sunday 21st September $6460

Highlights: Cairns city accommodation, Cape Tribulation, World Heritage Daintree National Park, Bloomfield Track, Cooktown, Lakefield National Park, Musgrave Telegraph Station, Weipa, Bramwell Station, Fruit Bat Falls, Seisia, Cape York tip, Thursday Island.

VIETNAM

17 days Tuesday 23rd September $8690

Highlights: Hanoi, Halong Bay, Hue, Hoi An, Danang, Saigon, Cu Chi Tunnels, Long Tan, Nui Dat, Mekong Delta, Bay of Descending Dragon, Floating Village in Halong Bay, English Speaking Guides, Hue Royal Fine Art Museum, Elaborate Khai Dinh Royal Tomb, Cham Museum, Marble Mountains, Thien Hau temple.

TASMANIA

10 days Tuesday 14th October $5680

Highlights: Spirit of Tasmania, Grindelwald, Launceston, Ross, Swansea Bark Mill, Hobart, Hobart Grand Chancellor Harbour Views accommodation, Wrest Point Casino, Huon Valley, Port Arthur, Cascade Brewery, “The Wall”, Queenstown, Gordon River Cruise, Stanley, Burnie, Emu Valley Rhododendron Garden, Devonport. NORFOLK ISLAND

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New action group to drive change

BY BRONWYN HASTINGS

Newly-formed West Wimmera Action Group will address issues surrounding the proposed Emergency Services and Volunteers Fund, Little Desert National Park management, and an apparent Little Desert dingo breeding program.

Born from a public meeting at Winiam on March 19, and incorporated at its first official meeting on April 6, group secretary Jennifer Goldsworthy said a statement of purpose was developed for the group to serve its community in both current and future issues.

“We’ve left it fairly broad. We have three main issues at the moment, but we don’t know what it will morph into further down the track,” she said.

The group will work ‘to address community concerns and collaborate with relevant organisations to foster positive change through action and ensure ongoing accountability surrounding the issues’.

Mrs Goldsworthy said five motions were passed at the March meeting in relation to the three issues.

“The fire services levy is our big one right now, then we’ll move on to the fire and the dingoes and whatever else pops up over time,” she said.

The meeting’s motion said the group did ‘not accept this unfair burden of the Emergency Services and Volunteers Fund that has been placed on rural rate payers’.

“Twenty-five per cent of Victorian people will be paying 90 per cent of that fund, and it’s not going to come back to us. We might get 10 per cent, if we’re lucky,” Mrs Goldsworthy said.

“It will pull $5-million out of a small shire like ours with 5660 people in it – it’s daylight robbery, nothing less.

“Our farmers will be slugged with an increase of at least 164 per cent on the current Fire Services Levy and as a result everything will go up because it’s got to have a flow-on effect.

“The government just has not thought this through at all.”

Mrs Goldsworthy said the meeting’s attendees also moved a motion for a policy and process

to be put in place for better communication between all stakeholders, including local CFA brigades and Forest Fire Management Victoria, following the devastation of February’s Little Desert National Park fires.

“We want to enable collaboration and information sharing between all stakeholders a minimum of four times a year for firefighting and fire prevention activities, including fuel reduction burns,” she said.

“We want to be better-prepared for the next fire, that’s just what it comes down to.”

Mrs Goldsworthy said there was discussion around an alleged dingo breeding program in the Little Desert, with a motion moved to ask the Department of Environment, Energy and Climate Action to conduct a forensic audit.

The motion said the audit should include the examination of record books, microchip details, veterinary invoices and public display records.

“We were aware there were some dingoes being fed on the edge of the Little Desert, but we didn’t realise it was a breeding facility,” she said.

“When the fire went through, that area had to be evacuated, they went in to get the dingoes and apparently three escaped into the Little Desert National Park.

“Some were burnt and some were taken away, but the exact numbers of dingoes that were out there is very sketchy.

“If you’ve got a licence to keep dingoes, you’ve got to document everything.

“If they haven’t been doing that, if they are unsure about something, then they’ve breached their licence.

“We will also be requesting for GPS tracking collars to be attached to all dingoes held in captivity, so if they escape, we can then determine where they are.”

Mrs Goldsworthy said another public meeting had not yet been scheduled, but people were welcome to join the group.

“If anyone wishes to become a member of the West Wimmera Action Group, or if they have contributions, photos, or data that could be useful, they can contact me on 0428 593 351,” she said.

SAPPHIRE ANNIVERSARY: David and Jean O’Reilly with the local branch of the Victorian Young Farmers providing a guard of honour.

Shining bright after 65 years

David and Jean O’Reilly are celebrating their 65th wedding anniversary today, 66 years after meeting at Nhill Hospital.

Mr O’Reilly, then a farmer at Bleak House, met Miss Wrate, an English nurse who was working at the hospital, while he was recovering from a car accident.

They married at St George’s Anglican Church at Nhill and had three children before leaving the district for Frankston in 1970, where they still reside.

Mr O’Reilly worked in many communitybased jobs in Frankston; ambulance officer, postie and council worker, while Mrs O’Reilly continued nursing, specialising in midwifery.

Community has always been a focus for them – in Nhill, Mr O’Reilly was a member of the Young Farmers, CFA and Apex and in Frankston he was a member of the Lions Club for more than 30 years.

Mrs O’Reilly, after retirement, volunteered for the Cancer Council for more than 20 years and still works in the kiosk at their retirement village.

The secret to a long and lasting marriage – in the middle years of their marriage Mrs O’Reilly would say ‘night shift’ and Mr O’Reilly would say ‘a glass of whisky’ – the decades have shown a deep love and commitment to each other and their family.

‘Hot Henry’ fires up Goatfest event

BY COLIN MacGILLIVRAY

Humour and a spirit of adventure were features of the latest iteration of Natimuk’s annual Goatfest film festival this month.

The festival, organised by ACT Natimuk, has run since 2002 and serves as a major fundraiser enabling the group to host other arts and cultural events.

A special guest at this year’s festival was ‘Hot Henry’ Barber, a rock climbing pioneer from the United States who first visited Natimuk in the 1970s to climb at Mt Arapiles-Dyurrite.

Goatfest director Ashlee Hendy said Mr Barber enthralled the crowd of about 200 attendees with stories from a climbing career that had taken him around the world.

“He spoke a lot about his experiences and some bold climbs, risk taking and challenges he has done over the years, which was very impressive,” Ms Hendy said.

“There were a couple of quite amazing stories that had the audience really hanging on.

“It was really cool to listen to his experiences, because he’s certainly had an exciting life – one full of adventure and one that really resonates with climbers.

“As time marches forward there are less and less opportunities to truly explore and adventure.

“Listening to some of his experiences and ideas on how to maintain some wildness in the outdoor world was really interesting and inspiring.”

The festival program comprised 11 amateur films, with a judges’ award going to Another Punk by Dylan Tubaro, while the audience choice award went to Bin Wizard by Madi Russell.

“I would say both the audience and the judges really valued the comedy side of the films that were submitted,” Ms Hendy said.

“There was a lot of laughter – that seemed to be what resonated with the crowd. Everyone had a lot of fun, which is always the number-one goal of Goatfest.

“It wasn’t an easy decision to select a winner. It was a high quality level of submissions for amateur films.”

Ms Hendy said Mr Barber had remained in Natimuk following the festival to work with local climbers.

“He’s asking a few of the climbers from the area, including my husband and myself, to do some of his original climbs using his original 1975 gear, which is not quite as comforting as modern safety equipment,” she said.

“It’s cool that he’s coming to town and giving some of the local climbers a taste of some of the adventure he had in the past.”

Grass fire investigation

Police are investigating a grass fire they believe was deliberately lit in Horsham on April 13.

Emergency services responded to the fire between Hickson Street and Riley Road at about 2.20pm. Police are asking any-

Motivational speaker, author and mental-health advocate Luke Kennedy will bring his high-energy, relatable and thought-provoking session to Horsham on May 8.

For adults and teens alike, Mr Kennedy draws on his experiences to deliver a blend of storytelling, humour, and practical strategies to help people develop strong mindsets, strengthen leadership and workplace culture, and improve resilience and stress management.

The event is free, however bookings are essential due to venue capacity at Federation University.

For more information or to reserve a seat, people can visit the Eventbrite website and search for Real Talk with Luke Kennedy.

one with information or CCTV footage to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

You are welcome to attend any of the following sessions:

7:45am Breakfast with our Principal 11:30am College in Action Tour

3:30pm Afternoon Tour & Bright Sparks Program

6:15pm Evening College Tour & Sausage Sizzle 7:00pm Year 7 2026 and New Student Information Session

Luke Kennedy

ENTERTAINING: About 200 attendees enjoyed the latest iteration of Natimuk’s Goatfest film festival.

New chair to lead Grampians

Anew leader will take the reins of Regional Development Australia Grampians going forward.

Michael Tudball will support the Grampians region as one of six RDA committees across Victoria with the goal of delivering economic success by linking government, businesses and communities together.

Mr Tudball, who has extensive leadership experience in local and state government, private enterprise, and the not-for-profit sector, replaced outgoing chair Stuart Benjamin.

Mr Benjamin has served RDA Grampians for more than 12 years, helping strengthen regional Victoria’s prosperity.

“It’s a great privilege to be able to lead RDA in Grampians for the next two years, continuing to support economic growth and material outcomes,” Mr Tudball said.

“I thank Stuart Benjamin for his service in RDA and I’m looking forward to the future of our work in regional Victora, with opportunities for the public to apply for committee roles.”

Mr Benjamin said he was confident the RDA Grampians committee was strongly positioned to continue guiding the region towards prosperity for the entire community.

“The Grampians region is at a crossroads, confronting economic and political uncertainties. With strong community leadership and focused investment, we can avoid being left behind,” he said.

RDA Grampians is currently recruiting new members, with applications open until 5pm today, Wednesday.

RDA Grampians is focused on driving regional economic growth by addressing key challenges and unlocking opportunities across the region – including improving energy security and leveraging renewable energy investments; expanding value-added agriculture and food production; and strengthening workforce and housing solutions.

Committee members are selected for their business expertise and understanding of their respective regions.

Previous members have brought experience to RDA from local government, private sector, local communities and not-for-profit sectors.

RDA committees are served by voluntary members who are part of advisory bodies supported by Regional Development Victoria.

They meet regularly throughout the year to discuss opportunities for growth.

Each Victorian RDA committee is involved in developing submissions, providing strategic advice to government and supporting regional investment attraction.

Last year, the RDA network delivered a work program to support key worker housing, transitioning to renewable energy, skilled workforces and more digital connectivity in industries across the state.

RDA, a Federal Government program, operates in Barwon South West, Gippsland, Grampians, Hume, Loddon Mallee and Melbourne, alongside Victoria’s nine Regional Partnerships and Regional Development Victoria offices.

People can find out more information about RDA committees at www.rdv.vic.gov.au/rdaapply.

FLOWERS FOR FUNDRAISING: The Wimmera Hospice Care Auxiliary is selling Chrysanthemum’s at Horsham Plaza from May 5 to 9. The flowers, from local growers and members of the auxiliary, are $15 a bunch. Pictured is Haven resident Jenny Mitchell who has grown flowers and supplied the group for several years. The auxiliary is thankful to Jenny and all those who have grown flowers to support its fundraising.

Wellbeing workshop in Ararat

Wellbeing educator and BrainSweet founder Clare Linane will bring a wellbeing workshop to Ararat RSL next month.

BrainSweet wellbeing workshops are designed to empower attendees, helping them to take control of their wellbeing through basic understanding of their own neuroscience.

Ms Linane aims to teach participants how they can proactively influence their psychological wellbeing during the hands-on workshop. Topics covered will include four types of thinking or cognition, the ways in which people

tend to use one or two styles of thinking more frequently than the others, and how to use this knowledge to communicate more effectively with people who use different thinking styles.

The workshop is jointly hosted by Commerce Ballarat and Central Highlands Growers and Producers Hub, in partnership with Ararat Rural City Council and GABNetwork.

The workshop will be on May 15 from 5pm to 7.30pm. Tickets are $10. People can call Ararat RSL on 5352 2794 or email admin@araratrsl. com.au for more information.

RDA Grampians chair Michael Tudball

Bistro Open 7 Days

SCAN HERE TO BOOK YOUR TABLE!

11.30am to 2pm & 5.30pm to 8pm (8.30pm on Fri & Sat) Available at lunch & dinner

Take advantage of our FREE

Courtesy Bus

Also available over lunch 11.30am to 2pm, Monday to Friday For bookings phone 5382 6262 Available 7 nights a week

*Conditions apply, visit hscc.org.au

Retail – hello or goodbye?

For those with an indomitable approach to life, those seeking a new path, a venture into being your own boss, setting your own terms and being in control of your own destiny, small business has long been the dream.

The question now is whether it is worth the effort.

More specific is the changing face of one sector in particular.

We see it, we hear it, we ‘feel’ it. Should retail be something to avoid or embrace?

We are all witnessing the transformation of our CBD or central activity districts.

The shuttered storefronts are a stark reminder of businesses that have served as the foundation of our social hubs for decades.

Various factors contribute to this unprecedented period of change for our retail areas.

These include a lack of strategic leasing and the influx of an unsustainable number of incompatible industry and service-based businesses occupying traditional retail spaces.

The result? A profound and lasting effect on foot traffic, which in some cases has drastically reduced trade to untenable levels.

On a more overarching scale, the Australian retail sector is encountering significant challenges, but it is far from being crushed and removed from our business landscape completely.

Various factors are influencing its performance, such as economic pressures, increasing costs, and the growth of online retail.

These issues are leading to store closures and insolvencies, particularly affecting some traditional retail chains.

One of the most obvious factors impacting each and every one of us is the economic downturn.

The current cost-of-living crisis and inflation are putting a strain on consumer spending, resulting in decreased demand for non essential goods.

Rising operational costs, including labor, rent, and electricity, shifting consumer behaviours, and the rapid embrace of the comfort, ease and convenience of online shopping all play a part.

For businesses to be proactive and innovative in their marketing strategies to boost both real

Sponsorships

Horsham Rural City Pipe Band, Liz Minne:

Horsham Rural City Pipe band will use a $2000 Horsham Sports and Community Club grant to update equipment and uniforms.

Band member Liz Minne said the band had been competing in competitions and the upgrades to drum skins, chanter reeds and uniforms have helped the band get good results. “Uniforms cost a lot of money and if you look and sound good it helps us at competitions. It’s fairly easy to apply for these grants, even though it’s a lot of work, and we appreciate HSCC helping out with the things we ask for.”

HSCC – “Working for the community with pride”

BUSINESS

with Stacey Taig West Vic Business Ambassador

and virtual foot traffic, there are specific skill sets required and a particular attituded approach, and these can be particularly challenging for many local businesses predominantly owned by baby boomers.

In our region, and in some shires, this figure sits close to the 70 percentile. In simpler terms, our local business owners are ageing out, and the decision is sell or close.

Let’s throw in a shortage of skilled labor, increases in complex and restrictive laws, planning, rules and regulations, all of which further limit retailers’ capacity to expand or meet changing consumer demands.

Trading hour regulations and penalty rates further challenge retailers’ ability to operate during peak times when consumers are likely to shop online, affecting their overall competitiveness.

With society no longer bound to a nine to five structure with stay-at-home mums and working dads, adapting to the new family norms is no longer a choice, and the willingness to adjust business operating hours to align with target consumers, has become essential.

All doom and gloom? Ask any entrepreneur and they will tell you a ‘low’ is the most exciting time to dream big and create new visions.

Cluster vacancies enable councils and stakeholders such as real estate agents to come together, to plan and headhunt specific and complementary businesses that will create strong and sustainable precincts – precincts that address livability issues such as entertainment and hospitality, both of which drive foot traffic to retail.

Ideas need to be bold, they need to be exciting and different to current offerings, but this is what makes it exciting.

Retail now needs to be experiential to entice and reinvite the shopper instore, using all the senses. Looking at new trends, new offerings in different markets.

Not saying goodbye, but saying hello. Hello to a new way of doing business. Hello to the next wave of entrepreneurs brave enough to go big or go home.

YEAH Crew seeks new members

Ararat Rural City Council has opened expressions of interest for people aged 12 to 24 to join its events initiative – the Youth Events, Activities and Happenings, YEAH, Crew.

YEAH Crew is an opportunity for young people who are passionate about career development, social networking and further education to make an impact in their community by organising events that inspire, educate and empower young people while celebrating cultural diversity.

Crew members will have opportunities to organise innovative activities for young people; collaborate with other young leaders to brainstorm, plan and host events; and develop skills in event planning, leadership, communication and teamwork that will benefit their personal and professional growth.

Ararat Mayor Jo Armstrong said YEAH Crew events would aim to promote inclusivity, respect

and understanding of all cultural backgrounds, personal abilities and aspirations.

“When young people take the initiative to create exciting and empowering events for their peers, it injects such an authentic energy into the community,” she said.

“We can’t wait to see the leadership, inclusivity and vision that the YEAH Crew is going to display over the course of its term.”

To submit an expression of interest, people can visit engage.ararat.vic.gov.au/expressionsinterest-join-yeah-crew.

People 18 years and older can fill in the online form, while those under 18 must download the form and have a parent or guardian follow the instructions and provide a signature before applicants can fill out the remaining sections.

YEAH Crew is supported by the council’s Engage! 2025-27 grant from the State Government.

HANDS UP: Ararat Rural City Council is seeking people aged 12 to 24 to join its Youth Events, Activities and Happenings, YEAH, Crew.

REFLECTION: Hundreds braved early rain to commemorate Anzac Day across the Wimmera on Friday. Services in Horsham included a traditional dawn service and a march from Horsham RSL to Sawyer Park. Pictured are, clockwise from above: Chief petty officer Anthony Harris and keynote speaker Lt Tam Tran; Veterans march along Firebrace Street; Horsham Army Cadets Keeley McDermott and Rohan Richards; Kobe Augustin and Ashlynne O’Connell from Ss Michael and John’s Primary School; Rex Dumesny with the eternal flame; and Billie and Kate Hair place poppies at Sawyer Park. For more photographs go to theweeklyadvertiser.com.au

Backing By Five

By Lauren Henry

Advocate for many voices

For Miga Lake mother Jessie Ferguson, the By Five program has offered a lifeline as a parent raising her four children in a rural area.

Mrs Ferguson, a teacher in Horsham, said the By Five program had allowed her husband and herself to increase their capacity as parents to seek support, guidance and assistance in regard to what their children needed.

“This program has become a sounding point for families and organisations alike,” she said.

Mrs Ferguson told By Five’s online advocacy forum earlier this month that she felt comfortable to seek help through the By Five program

“In becoming a mother, I found myself now really able to advocate for what my family’s needs are and I’ve created the assistance from local healthcare providers, a really solid support base for me as a mother.

“I have absolute confidence in the capable health care providers that we have access to.”

Mrs Ferguson said she felt, like many others, that travel was the biggest barrier in accessing healthcare.

“Having battled postnatal anxiety and two premature babies, I was really quite anxious, even with baby number four, so I knew I had to put into place some systems and I’d worked with the Royal Flying Doctor’s counselling service before and during with those midwives that I knew really helped me,” she said.

“Our fourth baby was born seven minutes after we got to the hospital.

“Being on a farm and out of town in these areas, it requires a lot of precision to get us there to the hospital safely and a quick

phone call to that midwife enabled us to have the confidence to head to hospital knowing that we were going to be safe.”

Mrs Ferguson said By Five enabled processes and connections to enable better healthcare.

“They have a really strong foundation for positive relationships with many, many women in the district,” she said.

“I feel confident when I say they’re going to advocate for us because they know us, they know what support we need and they know the circumstances we face and the battles daily.

“We have a lot of hurdles and trying to know who to turn to and where to turn is one of those hurdles.

“Having to navigate that personally and figure it all out has been quite hard.”

Mrs Ferguson said having an organisation like By Five to support and guide parents was ‘so wonderful’.

“They help us through healthcare, infancy, pregnancy and now moving into childhood and school – it’s really quite fantastic,” she said.

“Without these amazing organisations ... I would have a lot more kilometres on my car without having these people around close by, and I’d have hundreds more Google searches, usually at about 2am or 3am – I think we can all speak to those – and I really think that without the help of these people and being able to access them, my mental health would have again declined with the birth of our fourth baby.

“I now feel that By Five has given us this voice and we are a community of really strong people who are highly qualified individuals – all we really want is the same rights and responsibilities as metropolitan women.”

Rainbow P-12 College principal Colleen Petschel described her school’s relationship with By Five as ‘a game-changer’.

The college was previously struggling to engage allied health services in the remote town.

Ms Petschel told the Backing By Five online forum earlier this month that due to overworked and understaffed Department of Education support services, it had been five years since a speech therapist had visited the school, prior to 2023.

The college also had been unable to engage the services of an occupational therapist for three years, and a psychologist for more than five years.

“There was an eight month wait for any cognitive assessment so the school had to basically go into private practice to get any cognitive assessments we needed,” she said.

“The school nurse visits were spasmodic and often occurred at the end of the year, which was not really any help to our new preps at all.

“Basically, our junior students with extra needs were falling through the cracks.

“Staff didn’t have the time, expertise or confidence to support them effectively in these areas, and the staff were struggling, feeling they were letting our kids and families down.”

Ms Petschel said one day she received a phone call from By Five executive officer Jo Martin, who wanted to link the college with an organisation called Royal Far West for a pilot program.

The program consisted of combined weekly telehealth sessions in speech therapy, occupational

therapy and psychology, along with two outreach visits each year.

Mrs Petschel said what followed was ‘such a good news story’.

“Linking with Royal Far West had such a positive ripple effect,” she said.

“It closed the gap – kids were no longer falling through the cracks –they were being noticed.

“It allowed our kids to catch up and build their self-worth and their confidence.

“It provided strategies and support for students and staff, but also parents.

“It built staff capacities and it gave our kids that extra caring adult in their life, which was so important.”

Mrs Petschel said the pilot was so successful the college decided to fund another year of the program, with the help of By Five.

The program has extended to a small cluster of schools, including at Beulah, Hopetoun and Jeparit.

“But the program’s not cheap and schools covering the whole cost is not sustainable in the medium to long term as we only have access to limited funds that specifically cater for these services,” Mrs Petschel said.

“And this is where By Five has once again come to the fore by providing funding and trying to find a way to access funding from other sources and navigating a very confusing and frustrating system so that we can support programs like Royal Far West in schools on a more longterm basis.

“Without our relationship with By Five, we may never have heard of Royal Far West.

“The connection to their program has genuinely changed the life trajectory of some of our students who now have the opportunities to feel success with their learning.

“It has allowed our staff to develop their skills and has reduced the stressful burden of the feeling that we were letting our kids down, and it’s also allowed our community to see that living in remote rural areas does not mean that we have to accept the tyranny of distance as a complete disadvantage.”

Ms Petschel said By Five had provided families in rural areas a chance to thrive, be optimistic, and access opportunities that others took for granted.

“I see By Five as the glue that holds us together and fights to keep that dream alive, and By Five gives us hope,” she said.

“It would be devastating for our community and others like it if they were not able to continue the fantastic work they have started.”

Rainbow P-12 College principal Colleen Petschel

Backing By Five

Changing the trajectory

Horsham

social and economic researcher Cathy Tisch-

ler believes By Five not only offers practical help for families in need across the Wimmera, but changes policy that assists the region as a whole.

Dr Tischler, from Federation University’s Future Regions Research Centre, said By Five was changing policy and changing thinking about how to undertake rural engagement, and how rural investment works for better outcomes for families and children.

“I think the real importance of By Five is that it brings hope to our communities and it brings us an ability to reverse some of the trajectory of loss that we feel that happens in rural communities as services

shift and change and respond to the whims of various different governments,” she said.

“Through this program, we actually have some control over that and can design things that work well for people.”

Dr Tischler said continuing the program did not require more investment – just matching investors to the outcomes the region wanted to see and brokering relationships.

“By Five is absolutely critical in our region in terms of brokering those relationships,” she said.

“By Five is in the space of being able to nimbly move between the systems that exist in our region and actually pragmatically think about those things and try and test some solutions and work with people to actually make things happen.”

“I think the real importance of By Five is that it brings hope to our communities and it brings us an ability to reverse some of the trajectory of loss that we feel that happens in rural communities as services shift and change and respond to the whims of various different governments”

– Dr Cathy Tischler

Dr Tischler said By Five had high-level policy dealings with the Federal Government’s Productivity Commission review of childcare.

“Our experiences with childcare and access to childcare and even just having any sort of childcare in

some of our communities is almost an impossibility, and we need to think about that differently in terms of urban childcare,” she said.

“Our participation in that policy process has been really critical in starting to move the trajectory around how we think about rural childcare.

“From that, we’ve been able to engage much more broadly with a range of philanthropic, Federal Government, federally focused organisations and other regional networks around changing the trajectory of childcare in rural settings as well.”

Dr Tischler said the ripple effects of By Five were critical for reinforcing the importance of families in the region, and reinforcing the experiences of women and children.

Dr: Early childhood intervention critical

Lister House Clinic general practitioner Felix Ritson says it will be a ‘shockingly poor decision’ by the State Government to discontinue funding for the By Five program.

Dr Ritson, who is one of several GPs in the Wimmera to use and engage with By Five, said the program had transformed the type of care doctors could provide to young people and their families.

Doctors are able to liaise with various healthcare professionals, including the Royal Children’s Hospital, to care for Wimmera children.

“It cannot be understated how immense and farreaching all the benefits of the By Five program are, particularly in a region of Australia that is disadvantaged in so many different ways – particularly due to the tyranny of distance, lack of healthcare resources and specialists,” Dr Ritson said.

“This program doesn’t completely fill, but goes a long way to filling what is otherwise a massive deficit for our region.”

Dr Ritson said  good paediatric care, which the program provided, does not touch on just one aspect of any child’s health, but rather manages the whole person or whole family health.

He said doctors treated behavioural and mental health issues, as well as physical health and social issues, helping to refer to specialised services for domestic violence, self-harming or suicidal behaviours.

Dr Felix Ritson

“This is a program that empowers the local community significantly as well –  it gives local families access to these services when otherwise they essentially wouldn’t have access to,” he said.

Dr Ritson said usual wait times to see a private paediatrician could exceed a year, while access to public paediatricians exceeded several years.

a tremendous amount about paediatric care and care for young persons through this program, and the relationships we establish, particularly with the Royal Children’s Hospital paediatricians, are invaluable.

“They understand our community needs, they understand the families and patients. And that is a tremendous help and benefit to the healthcare workers on the ground who are often at a significant arm’s length to getting expert specialist advice.”

Dr Ritson said with his background in public health and health economics, his opinion was the most efficient use of taxpayers money was early childhood intervention.

“In the short, medium and long term, particularly spending what is not a significant amount of money ensuring the healthy development of children and families at a young age has huge, longlasting and broad effects for society,” he said.

Dr Ritson, a guest speaker at the online forum, said Wimmera communities were disadvantaged in many ways, including the tyranny of distance, which impacted their access to healthcare.

Councils share their concerns

Yarriambiack and Hindmarsh shire councils have expressed their concern about the uncertainty surrounding the future of By Five Funding beyond June 30.

By Five – Wimmera Southern Mallee Early Years Initiative represents five local government areas – Horsham, Yarriambiack, Hindmarsh, Northern Grampians and West Wimmera.

Yarriambiack Mayor Kylie Zanker said By Five was committed to ensuring every child and family had access to consistent, quality early years services in the quantity required to thrive.

“Children in our region face poor learning and health outcomes due to limited access to early childhood education and paediatric services, resulting in 40 per cent higher rates of developmental vulnerability than the Victorian average,” she said.

“This gap creates long-term economic, healthcare, welfare, and justice burdens.

“Geographical isolation, extensive waiting times for localised health and education support and poor access to specialist health care were identified as key drivers of these developmental issues and broader lower socioeconomic outcomes, however By Five has successfully trialled and tested solutions to address these issues.”

For over four years, the paediatric telehealth service has been delivered in partnership with the Royal Children’s Hospital, funded jointly through By Five and the Victorian Medical Specialist Training program.

However, the funding is only secured until June 30.

“To build on the success of the initial government investment, an additional $3.5-million in Victorian government funding is essential for phase two of By Five,” Cr Zanker said.

“This program is vitally important to change the outcomes of our young people. It is imperative that By Five continues to be funded until 2029.”

Hindmarsh council is also urging the State Government to commit to ongoing funding for phase two.

Mayor Ron Ismay said in many rural settings, limited access to specialised healthcare could lead to delayed diagnoses, untreated conditions, and higher rates of preventable illnesses.

Dr Ritson pointed out the broad, ripple effect not just for the family but for the entire community, if those issues were not treated and addressed.

“ Furthermore, having this level of expertise and network of health professionals working together really empowers and educates the other health professionals, not least the local GPs involved and their colleagues, but other health professionals, teachers, and healthcare workers,” he said.

“Certainly the GPs here and myself have learnt

“Particularly if families have several young children, those with disabilities, or they’re working, which often is the case with the families and patients we see – the Wimmera community is also disadvantaged from a high burden of a broad range of illnesses, a lack of education and childcare services, as well as a relatively low socially economic status,” he said.

“It is vital this community is supported given those disadvantages.”

“Rural children should not be left behind –ensuring access to paediatric services in rural communities is vital for promoting healthier childhoods, reducing healthcare disparities, and improving long-term outcomes for children,” he said.

“By Five has demonstrated the power of systemic interventions to change the odds rather than simply helping families beat them.”

Enduro Dog Food

Council Plan Survey

At the beginning of each Councillor Term, the Council is required to develop and adopt a new Council Plan that outlines the Council’s strategic priorities for the next four years. The Councillors are currently in the process of developing their new Council Plan for 2025 – 2029. Your feedback is crucial to shaping the objectives of the plan. More information and the online survey form are available via the ‘Have Your Say’ portal on Council’s website.

Budget & Council Plan Community Consultation Sessions

The Mayor, Deputy Mayor, and Councillors invite you to attend a presentation on the Council’s Draft Budget and Strategic Priorities for the next 12 months.

Hopetoun Recreation Reserve Monday 26 May 6pm

Council Rates

Have you paid your rates?

Council have appointed CollectAU as a debt collection agency tasked with following up overdue rates payments via email, SMS, phone and mail

CollectAU is a professional and highly experienced Australian debt collection agency, based in Melbourne If you are contacted by CollectAU, they will engage in respectful and genuine conversations to assist you with resolving your outstanding account

You can contact CollectAU via rates@collectau com or phone: (03) 7004 8200

Have you signed up to our Yarri Yarns weekly eNewsletter? Visit our ‘News’ section on our website to get our weekly email updates!

Use the ‘Snap Send Solve’ app to tell us about non-emergency issues in our community.

You can download the app for free from the App Store or Google Play.

Add your business, community group or event to our Online Directory to reach as many people as possible!

Update at any time to ensure your details are up to date Visit our ‘Online Directory’ webpage to register.

Mayoral Matters

The activity in the region over the past few weeks has highlighted the opportunities that exist to increase our economy through tourism and events

The 13th Annual DiRT Music Festival at Rupanyup was a great success and the music talent was outstanding Steampunk at Dimboola, reportedly attracted around 3000 attendees, highlighting the opportunity to showcase the region and the benefits of major events.

The Easter period also saw significant visitation to our region and businesses making the most of these opportunities These events require significant work, and this is mostly undertaken by volunteers I wanted to take this opportunity to acknowledge the work of each of these organisations and thank them for their ongoing commitment

On Friday we also recognised ANZAC day ANZAC Day is a national day of remembrance that commemorates all Australians and New Zealanders "who served and died in all wars, conflicts, and peacekeeping operations" and "the contribution and suffering of all those who have served". This remains an important day for all Australians and once again I acknowledge the work of the Returned and Service League committees across our municipality

The Hopetoun and District Historical Society have completed the restoration of a 1890s map of the Shire of Karkarooc The map is a great snapshot into our history and was painstakingly restored with great patience The launch of the restored map on Sunday 13 April 2025 at the Old Limestone School in Hopetoun was a great celebration

I have continued to be involved in advocating for Wimmera Southern Mallee By5 funding post 30 June 2025. I recently attended an online event where more than 230 people came together to reinforce the message

The Wimmera Region Group of Council Mayors and CEOs came together in Dimboola to meet with the Secretary of the Victorian Department of Transport and Planning, Jeroen Weimar The visit to the region from the Secretary enabled us to highlight the opportunities and challenges that exist across our region including interest in renewable energy and mining, the impacts on housing and the impact on our existing transport inf restructure It also highlighted the importance of working together as a regional group of Councils and the influence that a coordinated voice can have

Work With Us

Council are seeking tenders from suitably experienced and qualified contractors for the following works

Provision of Internal Audit Services (C361-2025) – Request for Tender Request for Tender - Hopetoun

Outdoor Swimming Pool - Major Repairs (C358-2025)

Visit our website for more information

Join Our Team

Council now has the following vacancy

Town Maintenance/Plant OperatorSouthern Works

Application instructions and further details are available on our ‘Jobs’ webpage Applications close Friday 2 May nd

iambiack Libraries! book club

Storytime

After school activities

Local Laws Officer visits

May The 4th Lego Exhibition in Warracknabeal

PLUS all the regular new titles, free BorrowBox access, and of course access to over 951,000 books and titles.

Find more information on these programs, get your free membership, or see the Engagement Van schedule at yarriambiack vic gov au/Community/Library

Upcoming events

Don Costa - Live at the Warrackabeal

Town Hall

Budget & Council Plan Community Consultation sessions Plus lots more!

Check out our online Events Directory to find out more or to list your event

The new ‘Little Yellow Wagon’ started collections in some of our smaller townships during April This service aims to provide the opportunity for our smaller communities to recycle some of the more difficult to recycle items This is a free service to those communities and will be assessed in coming months to see how it can be improved and extended

Opportunity for Ararat artists

Ararat Gallery TAMA has opened up expressions of interest to artists wanting to exhibit their work at either of two community art spaces – a community wall and the Barkly Street laneway.

The community wall is a visible and accessible exhibition space located in the gallery’s foyer, directly opposite the front doors.

Gallery officials said as the building also housed the Ararat and Grampians Visitor Information Centre, community wall exhibitions were often the first artworks a diverse mix of visitors to the region saw.

The Barkly Street laneway exhibition space is located between Lyle Eales and The Reject Shop on Barkly Street, and the K-Hub carpark. Also visible and accessible, the laneway receives passing foot traffic.

TAMA staff reported pedestrians pausing to ask questions or comment on the space during the installation of exhibitions.

Both spaces are dedicated to showcasing projects by artists and community groups based within or with links to Ararat Rural City.

The expression-of-interest period opened on April 15 and will close on June 3.

Completing an application form does not guarantee an exhibition proposal will be selected, but TAMA will notify applicants of the outcome of their expression of interest by July 10.

Gallery officials asked applicants to bear in mind that TAMA programs exhibitions up to one year in advance.

“We’re incredibly proud of the way the community wall and Barkly Street laneway have activated greater exposure for our local artists,” Ararat Rural City Mayor Jo Armstrong said.

“These spaces have not only provided valuable

opportunities for artists and community groups working across many different mediums to showcase their work, but they enhance the artistic vibrancy of our township.

“Our TAMA staff consistently plan top-quality programs for these spaces, and you could be part of the upcoming schedule.”

To read more about the exhibition spaces or to fill in an application form, people can visit ararat gallerytama.com.au/event/community-wall-eoi and araratgallerytama.com.au/event/barkly-streetlaneway-eoi.

Sketch away stress

Ararat Gallery TAMA will host another of its Drawing Circle art sessions tomorrow from 5pm to 8pm.

Drawing Circle was initiated by Ararat artist Alex Kennedy and focuses on collaborative drawing in a low-stress environment, allowing participants to meet and socialise while creating artwork.

Cr Armstrong said people were welcome to bring their own solo drawing projects, or could choose to take part in a collaborative drawing exercise that involved passing a sketch from person to person, with each participant adding to the drawing.

“Drawing Circle is such a fun and low-pressure event at TAMA,” she said.

“Collaborative drawing is all about sharing perspectives, igniting new ideas, and seeing that creativity really is amplified when we share it.”

Drawing Circle caters to all abilities, with inexperienced artists welcome to participate in the collaborative drawing with simple shapes or letters. Entry is free, with no booking required. Materi-

Healthy holiday activity in demand

East Wimmera Health Service’s ‘smoothie bike’ was in hot demand during the school holidays, when it made a scheduled stop at St Arnaud library.

Health service staff estimated people made 60 smoothies between 10am and 3pm, pedalling the bike to mix their fruity concoctions.

Northern Grampians Mayor Karen Hyslop said library staff reported a massive increase in patronage on the day.

“They were expecting about 80 people but instead welcomed 193 people to the branch,” she said.

“The event was incredibly popular with families and the kids proudly showed off their concoctions to our library staff and discussed their fruit of choice.”

Cr Hyslop said the council was keen to continue its partnership with EWHS, promoting healthy choices for residents.

“The education around healthy eating and supporting youth with a healthy holiday activity was a fabulous initiative,” she said.

“On behalf of council and the community, we thank Maddison and Stacey from EWHS for bringing the smoothie bike to the library and supporting the health and wellbeing of the St Arnaud community.”

Program for established, aspiring leaders

Applications for Wimmera Southern Mallee Development-led The Changemakers Program will open in coming weeks, giving community leaders the opportunity to learn and develop impactful strategies.

The new round of the program is open to 20 people who own businesses or who have leadership positions in their work or community.

Facilitated by Leading Teams, the 10-month program will feature a dynamic mix of im

Program manager Binesh Tholath said the program was designed for established and aspiring leaders.

“Whether they own or manage a business or lead a team in the workplace or community, participants will gain in-depth leadership skills, refine their personal leadership brand, and develop strategies to make a lasting impact,” he said.

OʼBrien & Smith Lawyers are pleased to announce they have acquired

As Yvonne Derbyshire steps into a well-earned retirement, O’Brien & Smith Lawyers are excited to continue Derbyshire Legal’s tradition of exceptional legal service. O’Brien & Smith Lawyers extend their heartfelt congratulations and best The team O’Brien & Smith Lawyers will be available to assist you with your legal needs from the same Please note that consultations will be conducted by appointment only to ensure the highest level of service. To arrange your appointment, kindly contact O’Brien Smith Lawyers’ reception by calling 5381 2222

The team at OʼBrien and Smith Lawyers look forward to assisting with your legal needs, and are happy to announce that Helen Thomson is

Lauren Emblem

Patrick Smith LL.B. (Hons), B. Int. St., B.Ec., GDLP

Lauren Emblem

Patrick Smith

Helen Thomson LL.B., B.A., GDLP

POPULAR: St Arnaud librarian Belinda Huggins attempts to make smoothies using a push bike, courtesy of East Wimmera Health Service.

Thank You

On International Day of the Midwife (May 5), International Nurses Day (May 12), and every day, RNH thanks its dedicated team of compassionate and all-round wonderful nurses and midwives.

We couldn’t do what we do without you!

Your commitment to caring for our communities during their most vulnerable times is both acknowledged and very much appreciated.

Our Nurses. our Future. Midwives: Critical in Every Crisis

April 30, 2025

Not a cloud in the sky

Travis Maybery, a third-generation farmer on his family property between Mitre and Gymbowen, began the new season last week at Duffholme. He was hopeful of a good season, which would enable his first crop of balansa clover to be harvested and sold for seed, and his second of canola to be harvested for oil. Early predictions are for a warmer April to June quarter. Story, page 27.

Picture: PAUL CARRACHER

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Dry conditions forecast to continue

BY BRONWYN HASTINGS

Global models have forecast neutral to wetter rainfall and warmer weather nationally across the next six months, which may result in a disappointing season for many wheat, barley and canola producers.

Bendigo Bank Agribusiness agricultural analyst Joe Boyle said both South Australia and Victoria would fare worse than other states.

“Looking ahead, the three-month outlooks for April to June and May to July currently have large areas across the southern states at a greater than 50 per cent chance of having below median rainfall,” he said.

“However, the rainfall outlook is a bit more positive for northern New South Wales and Queensland and generally more favourable for Western Australia through May to July.

“The extremely dry conditions in South Australia have led to what is estimated to be the lowest production figure for the state since 2008.

“Victoria has also seen the lowest level of wheat production since extremely adverse conditions in 2018, with both states down around 40 per cent year-on-year.”

Mr Boyle said median rainfall had a lower chance of being met across the two states.

“Unfortunately, South Australia and

Victoria are forecast to have a well below 50 per cent chance of exceeding median rainfall in May at this stage, paired with a forecast for warmer than average weather, which is also likely to feed into drying conditions,” he said.

“Australian Crop Forecasters is projecting wheat, barley and canola production to be lower this year, reverting closer to the longer-term average levels.”

Agriculture Victoria seasonal risk agronomist Dale Grey said warm oceans to Australia’s north were providing moisture to Queensland and the eastern coast of New South Wales, while a positive southern annular

mode was pulling fronts further south, resulting in a late break for most of Victoria.

“Those things need to change, but when they do change, they normally have changed for the better,” he said.

“But the trouble is, we have zero predictability about when that might happen.

“Producers will start putting a fair bit in dry, because that’s what they always do when it doesn’t rain.”

Mr Grey said some soil moisture was not accessed last season.

“Soil moisture comes from a combination of what the crop was growing there last year, so people who grew things like hay, vetch and-or oats that

were terminated early, and people who had crops that were sown late and didn’t actually access all the moisture from two years ago,” he said.

“There’s what we call fossil soil, moisture underneath there in some of those Mallee paddocks that didn’t get used last year, and of course just before harvest last year we had some really heavy rain in parts of the state that put moisture into those profiles as well.

“The farmers have sprayed the weeds on those paddocks over summer and they’re just sitting there waiting, ready to go, waiting for a rain of almost any kind to kick things off.”

Pigeon Ponds lamb producer Tim

Leeming said the weekend saw about 18 millimetres of rain fall locally.

“When we put some of those little rainfalls on the previous weekend, it certainly germinated all our annuals and fired up the perennial grasses –the district’s starting to turn green, which is good,” he said.

“There’s been a lot of feed going out to livestock, a lot of people are sick of spending a lot of money and sick of the monotony of feeding stock, so it’s very nice to see green grass coming through, but we’ll need some followup rain very shortly.”

Mr Leeming said until significant, soaking rain falls, farmers would continue to cart water for stock.

“We’ve got a lot of stock water storage issues, a lot of farmers either run out of water or they’ve got very limited water, which causes pressure on parts of the farm,” he said.

“They might have to put all their livestock on certain areas of the farm, which can cause issues with overgrazing, and carting water to livestock is horrendously monotonous and expensive and time-consuming.

“We won’t really be out of jail until we get significant soaking rain during the winter, when we hopefully can fill up the soil profile and run a bit of water into catchments.

“Fingers crossed that happens.”

SOWING: Travis Maybery sowing balansa clover at Duffholme.

Picture: PAUL CARRACHER

OPEN TO PUBLIC

For those with long enough memories, the drought in Victoria’s south-west is the worst since 1967. Even I can’t remember that.

Just over the border, the South Australian government has well and truly come to the party, offering drought assistance now totalling $73million, while the Victorian government has committed only $13.53-million. Go figure.

The National Farmers Federation is calling on Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Opposition Leader Peter Dutton to visit droughtstricken parts of Victoria this election campaign.

Unlike the Grampians fires, which did not occur during an election campaign, maybe some good old-fashioned pork-barreling might be in order for what is a now the marginal federal seat of Wannon.

I always get slightly annoyed when people say farmers are resilient. Indeed they are, but they have no choice.

The changing climate is only going to demand more resilience from farmers. Yet somehow, beef cattle producers navigating their way through the big dry have had their spirits lifted with the brighter prospects for the global beef market.

We’ve all been caught in the headlights of the Trump tariff mania.

Look a little closer as far as our $6-billion beef exports to the US go, things are on the up. US beef cattle prices are currently twice that of ours.

Editor of the US Cattle Buyers Weekly marketing and business newsletter, Steve Kay, told Country Today cattle are selling for the highest prices in decades, with the herd at its lowest since the 1950s due to drought.

“The live, fed steer price last week averaged,

Country Today

with Libby Price

and remember this is in $US, averaged $211.63 per hundred weight, and we’ve had record, or near record prices, all this year so far,” he said. Ok, so I’m not great at maths so I won’t attempt to calculate what that translates to in $A per kg.

The take-away point is – it is roughly double what Australian farmers are being paid for their grain fed cattle.

But wait, there’s more. Ranchers and feedlotters in the US are not in a hurry to rebuild their herds.

“Even though the prices from all classes of cattle, from calves to finished cattle, are at near record highs, it is not a sufficient incentive for ranchers to risk their finances to borrow money, because our interest rates are high … the last 10 to 20 years have made them as risk-averse as I’ve seen in my 35 years in covering the business,” Mr Kay said.

So all the signs, despite Trump threats of tariffs, are that Australia’s beef export market to the US look very promising.

“Australia’s beef, particularly lean manufacturing beef, is filling a critical shortage. Fifty ‘something’ of all our beef is in ground or what you call mince product, whether it’s hamburger beef patties to meat loaf … so Australia’s exports will be strong for the rest of the year and it is going to remain well into next year,” Mr Kay said.

Leaders release election wishlists

BY COLIN MacGILLIVRAY

Improved transport infrastruc-

ture and guidelines for a structured transition to renewable energy are among policy commitments sought by agricultural bodies ahead of this week’s federal election.

The Victorian Farmers Federation, VFF, National Farmers’ Federation, NFF, and grains industry body GrainGrowers have released election wishlists, with each sharing common themes.

NFF president David Jochinke, a Murra Warra farmer, said a lack of investment into regional infrastructure by successive governments needed to be redressed.

“The number one topic at any backyard barbecue is the state of regional roads,” he said.

“Potholes, blown tyres and detours aren’t just annoying, they’re slowing freight down and costing farmers time and money.

“This isn’t just about roads. It’s about investing in the entire supply

chain, from paddock to port, to keep Australian agriculture productive and competitive.”

Mr Jochinke said the NFF was calling for all political parties to commit an extra $1-billion annually to the Federal Government’s Roads to Recovery program and $4-billion to reinstate a Roads of Strategic Importance program targeting improvements to key freight corridors, as well as allocating one per cent of federal tax revenue to grants for local government road repair and maintenance.

Mr Jochinke also called on parties to back housing initiatives to facilitate regional worker migration, a $20-million on-farm telecommunications connectivity program, sustainable development of Australia’s water grid and $1-billion for new regional childcare centres.

GrainGrowers chair Rhys Turton also called for improvements to road and rail transport links.

“High supply-chain costs directly impact growers, and without improved road and rail infrastructure the

Smoke taint limits region’s vintages

Vineyards hit by smoke taint following the Grampians fires over summer have had their 2025 vintage affected.

Grampians Estate’s Mafeking vineyards was one of those to be struck by smoke taint, which is when vineyards and grapes are exposed to smoke resulting in wines tasting smoky, burnt, or ashy.

The grapevine growth stage, grape variety, smoke composition and the length of smoke exposure are factors determining whether smokeexposed grapes become tainted.

Grampians Estate owner Tom Guthrie said their Mafeking property, farming sheep and growing vineyards, was directly hit by the December 2024 fire, losing about 90 per cent of their grazing area and about 20 kilometres of fencing.

He has since spent 42 days with volunteer organisation BlazeAid to rebuild fences – about 90 per cent of his fencing is now restored.

Mr Guthrie said his attention then turned to vintage.

“I’ve spent the last five or six weeks full-on with vintage and getting all the wines under control,” he said.

One of Grampians Estate’s two vineyards is at the Guthries’ Mafeking property, producing just under half the winery’s total grapes.

Mr Guthrie said that vineyard was unusable this vintage due to testing positive to smoke taint – meaning the winery cannot produce its chardonnay or its premium Streeton Reserve Shiraz this year.

“We obviously didn’t have our own vineyard to pick because they tested positive to pretty high

Australian grain industry will struggle to compete in international markets,” he said.

“While we welcome the recent commitments for regional roads by both sides, this is a drop in the ocean compared to what is needed.

“Studies have shown that for every $1-million invested in our roadconstruction industry, $2.9-million in output is contributed to the economy, and $1.3-million of value is added to Australian GDP.

“While rail can effectively transport grain over long distances – producing 16 times less carbon pollution than road freight per tonne-kilometre travelled – a patchwork of track gauges, varied axle loads, and ageing infrastructure currently restricts capacity and addressing these issues must be a priority for the next Federal Government.”

Renewable transition

All three bodies listed a need to transition to renewable energy in a fair and orderly manner as crucial for the future of Australian agriculture.

VFF president Brett Hosking said the group supported a renewable energy transition but farmers and regional communities needed to be central to any discussions.

“Farmers aren’t opposed to progress, but we won’t accept a system where multinational energy companies dictate terms to local landholders,” he said.

“We want proper consultation, fair compensation, a fair go for our communities, and most of all we want Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and opposition leader Peter Dutton to listen.”

Mr Hosking called for the Federal Government to refrain from funding energy and transmission projects unless developers properly engaged with affected landholders and were governed by a mandatory code of conduct.

He also asked parties to commit to scrapping tax on compensation payments made to farmers hosting transmission infrastructure on their land.

“This isn’t a windfall, it’s compensa-

tion for lost productivity and ongoing disruption. Taxing these payments is giving with one hand and taking back with the other,” he said.

Mr Jochinke said the NFF also favoured a partnership-based approach to sustainability.

“Farmers manage more than half the country’s landscape and are at the forefront of emissions reduction, biodiversity protection, and land stewardship,” he said.

“Farmers need a collaborative approach that puts us at the centre of decision-making, not making us a victim of it.”

Mr Jochinke said clarity around emissions reporting, with standardised guidelines for measuring on-farm carbon, were important steps.

Mr Turton said GrainGrowers members wanted to see more proactive investment from the government to tackle climate change.

“Research shows that for every dollar invested in climate-resilient infrastructure, six dollars can be saved,” he said.

levels of smoke taint,” he said. “But our Great Western fruit was fine and we bought a bit from another Great Western vineyard, which we do normally anyway, so we had about 70 per cent of a normal vintage.

“That sort of fitted in pretty nicely given everyone’s selling a bit less after the fire.”

Visitation to all Grampians wineries has dropped since the fires, impacting wine sales.

The Grampians Estate cellar door, at Great Western, has noticed a significant drop in visitors this year with the downturn in tourists visiting the region.

Mr Guthrie said Fallen Giants Vineyard at Halls Gap and other vineyards in the Grampians region also had their  vintage affected by smoke taint.

“It’s not been a good run. Of course, that’s on the production side, and then we’re struggling to get visitation back to the region, not just for us, but for accommodation and all the other things that happen in the area,” he said.

“It’s been a tough three to four months.”

– Lauren Henry

AFFECTED: Grampians

Estate owner Tom Guthrie said the business would produce about 70 per cent of a normal vintage due to one of his vineyards being unusable because of smoke taint from the Grampians fires over summer.

Passionate green collector

BY BRONWYN HASTINGS

John Deere enthusiast Ross Johns has added a ninth implement to his collection – an early tractor, manufactured within months of the company making the shift from horse-drawn to horsepower.

Mr Johns said he had been looking for the unique tractor for about five years when he was told of one to be auctioned at Michigan, in the USA.

“I bought it, fully restored, along with three other tractors and shipped them out,” he said.

“There was a bit of customs duty and taxes, but if you want it, you want it, and you have to pay the price.”

Mr Johns said he believed horsedrawn plough producer John Deere bought Waterloo Engine Company in 1918, and manufactured the tractor the following March.

“What I find really interesting about it, is it’s much easier to design a tractor once a tractor has been designed – this is very, very early, and has been made from imagination and creativity only,” he said.

A twin-cylinder, open-tappet engine that starts on petrol and runs on kerosene, the tractor is 25-horsepower on the belt and 12 on the drawbar – humble beginnings for the 500-odd-horsepower diesel tractors of today.

“My grandfather used to talk about driving horses and ploughing paddocks with horses,” Mr Johns said.

“It would have been amazingly tough back in those days, trying to feed the horses and keep them ready for operation.”

Mr Johns’ grandfather first purchased land in the Wimmera in 1873, but after losing it during the Great Depression in the 1930s, bought another property west of Warracknabeal in 1947, where the family still farms today.

“My son is taking over the opera-

tions of the farm,” Mr Johns said.

“I’m building myself into a bit of a retirement mode.”

Mr Johns shows the tractor at various events, including at Lake Goldsmith and Warracknabeal Agricultural Museum.

“It is quite a hit, quite a few people are very interested,” he said.

“It’s amazing the number of people who are interested in that sort of thing, but in agriculture, some

people are very passionately red, and I’m more than happy to be passionately green.”

Mr Johns houses his collection ‘tucked away’ in a shed and transports the 1919 to events.

“I’ve only had it going once,” he said.

“And it runs absolutely perfectly.”

Mr Johns won machine of the day at Wheatlands Agriculture Machinery Museum Easter rally.

Cross-border inequality

Farmers facing drought conditions across Victoria and South Australia can apply for financial assistance – up to $5000 for farm improvements and free financial counselling in Victoria, while cross-border counterparts could be eligible for up to $20,000 in waterrelated rebates.

Livestock South Australia chair Gillian Fennell said she had empathy for Victorian farmers, who had been granted $13-million compared with South Australia farmers’ $73-million in eligible funding.

“I have close relationships across the border, and I wish we could treat our farmers across Australia more equitably and fairly,” she said.

Ms Fennell said while the current drought did not affect the entire state, it did affect a significant number of South Australian producers.

“The biggest thing about this particular drought is that it’s affecting areas that are usually historically quite reliable for rainfall,” she said.

“The producers there are under an extra amount of pressure – I live up near the Northern Territory border in the desert and am quite used to the dry conditions, but some producers have never experienced those circumstances and it’s very distressing for them.”

Ms Fennell said she had been working closely with South Australia’s Agriculture Minister.

“She has been very supportive and very open to suggestions,” she said.

“South Australia is very Adelaide-centric, it takes a long time to convince the rest of the government that this is something that needs to be acted on with urgency, so I’m glad to see they have finally acknowledged that and have delivered a package that will bring relief.”

Ms Fennell said the eligibility-based $20,000 water storage and improvement rebates were helping producers with ongoing sustainability.

“It’s not a direct injection into producers’ pockets to help them manage the drought, but a commitment to help us be more sustainable in the future,” she said.

“They’ve got dams that are now dry, so they’re take the opportunity to clean them out, or installing tanks and troughs and pipe work.”

Producers can find out more about onfarm drought infrastructure grants at agriculture.vic.gov.au/support-andresources/funds-grants-programs/onfarm-drought-infrastructure-grants.

PROUD: Ross Johns with his 1919 John Deere tractor, the first model John Deere made, at Wheatlands Agricultural Machinery Museum where it won machine of the day during Warracknabeal Easter Festival.

DEMONSTRATION: Mark Hutchings and son Thomas at Wheatlands Agricultural Machinery Museum rally. Pictures: PAUL CARRACHER

SPIRAFLEX AIR SEEDER HOSE

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In stock ready for the 2025 season

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The right plan is crucial

Insurance o en gets a bad rap, with many people only thinking about it when things go wrong. But the true value of insurance comes to light when it works as it’s meant to—providing timely support and nancial relief when the unexpected happens.

Here are a few claim success stories that highlight how insurance can make a real di erence in people’s lives.

One of the most common and impactful scenarios involves home insurance. A homeowner in regional Victoria experienced signi cant water damage a er a burst pipe in their roof caused ooding throughout their home. anks to having the right level of coverage, the insurer was able to cover the repair costs and even provide temporary accommodation for the family while the damage was being xed.

Without insurance, this kind of sudden expense could have been nancially crippling. In the world

of business, insurance also plays a critical role. A small local café owner in Melbourne had her kitchen equipment destroyed in a re caused by an electrical fault. e damage was extensive, and the business was forced to close for several weeks.

However, with the proper business interruption and property insurance, she was able to replace her equipment and reopen without losing revenue, all while covering the cost of repairs and temporary closure.

Even in the case of car insurance, things can turn around thanks to the right policy. One driver in Sydney had her vehicle written o a er a collision with an uninsured motorist. While she initially feared her premiums would skyrocket or that her claim would be rejected, her comprehensive car insurance provided the necessary coverage, allowing her to replace her car and continue on without nancial strain. ese are just a few examples of how insurance can come to the rescue when disaster strikes.

“While it might seem like an unnecessary expense, the peace of mind and financial protection that comes with having the right insurance coverage is invaluable.

Whether it’s your home, business, or car, insurance ensures that you’re not left to deal with the consequences alone.”

Abbie Wilson, National Insurance Brokers NIBA VIC / TAS Broker Of The Year

Coalition makes a stand

BY LAUREN HENRY

Acoalition of agricultural groups concerned about Australia’s energy policy is growing across Victoria.

The groups believe the governments’ energy policies are ‘ripping up productive agricultural land, robbing rural communities of resources, and destroying large amounts of native habitat’.

The coalition includes many Wimmera groups – Dunmunkle Land Protection Group, Farm for Food, Firefighters Against Renewables Over Victoria, Mine Free Wimmera Farms, Southern Wimmera Renewables Research Association, Wimmera Mallee Alliance, Wimmera Mallee Environmental and Agricultural Protection Association, and Wallaloo and Gre Gre District Alliance.

Dunmunkle Land Protection Group chairman Andrew Weidemann hosted a meeting with representatives from more than 12 of the groups, who gathered to discuss the energy-related issues.

“It is time we challenged the very simplistic view that coal is a brown energy source and all other forms of energy are green,” Mr Weidemann said.

“Energy which rips through highly productive agricultural land and reduces our capacity to produce food is not green.

“While it is not the job of Australian farmers to determine

‘Your

“Victorian

food production is now under threat from energy projects spread across the entire state, including battery energy storage systems, mineral sand mines, wind turbines and solar panels”

– Andrew Weidemann, right

or fix Australia’s energy issues, as farmers we feel it is time to inform the broader community about what is really going on, and to seek to protect Australia’s food security.”

Mr Weidemann said the meeting did not capture all of the concerned entities across Victoria, but attracted a significant number of groups, each with a strong number of members and supporters, which materialised that there was a clear policy failure.

“Over the past 24 months, as a result of Australia and Victoria’s energy policies, hectares of agricultural land and native habitat have been placed under threat from energy providers seeking to reap the benefits of poorly thought-through policy,” he said.

“Globally, agriculture has to feed 8.2 billion people, a figure predicted to rise to 10 billion by 2050.

“Australian agriculture feeds our nation and provides 14 per cent of the country’s export revenue.

“Victorian farmers punch well above their weight by producing one quarter of Australia’s agricultural produce, on a tiny 1.5 per cent of the country’s land mass.

“Victorian food production is now under threat from energy projects spread across the entire state, including battery energy storage systems, mineral sand mines, wind turbines and solar panels.

“In addition to destroying farms, communities are concerned about the ability of energy and mining companies to manage fire risk, contain noise and dust, as well as demands on water, the removal of native habitat, and the toll these projects will have on already inadequate and unsafe rural roads, which councils will be left to fix

without any additional funding.”

Mr Weidemann said farmers were concerned that energy and mining companies showed a lack of respect for the farmers in the communities they sought to operate.

“Of grave concern is the stress that farmers are being placed under as a result of this situation, resulting in very poor mental health outcomes,” he said.

“Many of the farms identified in energy licences granted by the government, have been owned, operated and sustainability managed and improved by several generations of farmers.

“These families live in fear they will be forced to leave their farms, thereby denying one or possibly two future generations the opportunity to farm their land.”

Mr Weidemann said the coalition of groups was putting current and aspiring politicians, energy and mining companies, and the investment community on notice and questioning their values.

“We want to see a pledge to deliver and support sensible, sustainable and ethical energy and given the vast area of uninhabitable land across this country, we think this should be achievable without destroying farms and iconic landscapes,” he said.

“Victorian and federal politicians must ensure that Australia’s energy policy does not rob one industry to fix another.”

ticket to the table’ for AgXchange

Tickets are now on sale for the National Farmers’ Federation’s reimagined national conference AgXchange Australia 2025. Taking place on the Gold Coast on September 23 to 25, AgXchange will unite farmers, agribusinesses, policymakers, researchers and industry leaders to tackle the biggest issues facing agriculture.

NFF president and Murra Warra farmer David Jochinke said was not ‘just a talkfest’.

“It’s where practical ideas meet big-picture thinking to shape the future of Australian food and fibre production and distribution,” he said.

“Whether you’re working on the land, on the tools, in the lab, or at the policy table –AgXchange is your space to connect, collaborate and drive change.”

AgXchange is built around five themes: Innovation – from on-farm tech to productivity

breakthroughs; Sustainability – including carbon, water and circular economy challenges; Risk – tackling drought, biosecurity, succession and trade volatility; Farming Communities – covering workforce, safety and social license; and Supply Chain – from gate to global markets.

Over three days, attendees will hear from keynote speakers, take part in solution-focused panels, and get hands-on

in interactive sessions tailored for every part of the supply chain.

Mr Jochinke urged farmers and agricultural industry professionals to buy their tickets early.

“Don’t wait for change to happen to you. Be part of the conversation and help drive it. This is your seat at the table,” he said.

People can find more information at agxchange.com.au.

Ag workshops

Agriculture Victoria will host several workshops aimed at farmers in the coming months, with some planned for locations in the Wimmera and Grampians regions.

A roadshow presented by the BetterBeef and BestWool/ BestLamb networks will visit the Edenhope and District Community Centre at 76 Elizabeth Street, on May 28 – the first stop of a four-leg tour that will also take in Dunkeld, Warragul and Mansfield.

The four-and-a-half-hour workshop will comprise four sessions, with presenters including Nicon Rural Services’ Cam Nicholson, The Livestock Vet’s Jane Gaussen, Chiltern Park’s Ben Young and JT Agrisource’s Jason Trompf.

Morning tea is included. People can visit agriculture.vic. gov.au/support-and-resources/event-listing/betterbeef-andbestwoolbestlamb-networks-roadshow-edenhope for more information.

An event at Great Western Hall, 103 Main Street, on July 14 will see Mr Nicholson discuss low-carbon farming, with topics covered including productivity benefits to farm businesses; external factors driving a need to track farm emissions; carbon neutrality versus carbon intensity; the best calculators to determine farm emissions; farm data required to calculate emissions; and solutions available to the livestock and grains industry to help lower emissions in the future.

The workshop, from 2pm to 6pm, is free and people can register via agriculture.vic.gov.au/support-and-resources/ event-listing/great-western-low-emissions-farming-withcam-nicholson.

Mr Nicholson will present the same workshop on the following day, July 15, at Taylors Lake Hall, 2032 Horsham–Lubek Road, St Helens Plains, from 1pm to 5pm.

People can register for the Taylors Lake workshop via agriculture.vic.gov.au/support-and-resources/event-listing/ emissions-in-agriculture-opportunities-and-risks-with-camnicholson.

A workshop on farm business strategies will be at St Arnaud Sporting Club, 26 Dunstan Street, on July 23 and 24.

The two-day workshop will discuss and examine effective farm business strategies, covering financial tips, farm resources, human relationships, setting business goals, and tools and skills for farmers to use.

Agriculture Victoria’s Dale Grey will present a talk on climate risk and resource management, while Brendan Williams will lead a session on the latest agricultural technology.

The free workshop will be from 8.30am to 3pm both days. People can register via agriculture.vic.gov.au/support-andresources/event-listing/setting-strategies-for-farm-businesssuccess-st-arnaud.

Agriculture Victoria will also present an online farm business program starting on May 7.

The free five-module short course, presented on Wednesday evenings, will cover risk identification and management; strategic planning and setting business goals; financial management, budgeting and profitable decision making; managing people on farm, succession planning and farm safety; climate risk and natural-resource management; and business planning.

Each session will start at 7pm and will run for two hours.

As part of completing the course, participants will be offered a one-on-one session with Adam Jenkins from Rural People Co to review their business plan.

People can register via agriculture.vic.gov.au/support-andresources/event-listing/online-farm-business-program.

Make safety steps part of farm life

An awareness of community and devastation of work deaths prompted Rupanyup farmer Scott Arnold to share his story as part of WorkSafe’s ‘It’s never you, until it is’ campaign.

Mr Arnold’s family has farmed in the districts of Rupanyup North and Minyip for more than a century.

Instilled generationally, his world revolves around the land – growing crops, raising sheep and working alongside family and friends who share the same way of life.

In such a tight-knit community, he knows that when tragedy strikes, it rocks the whole region. That’s why he’s so passionate about farm safety –not just for his own family and workers, but for everyone around him.

That reality hit hard in February last year when a 61-year-old farmer was killed while loading grain from a silo into a truck at nearby Kellalac.

Just six days later, a 91-year-old farmer died after his quad bike struck a fence at Wallup.

“What put the spotlight on farm safety for me was seeing farm tragedies and the impact they have on the community,” Mr Arnold said.

“If something happened to me it’d be my wife Stacey and my two girls who are left behind.

“And our worker has a young family – the thought of making that phone

call and explaining what’s happened drove me to make changes.”

Since 2020, a further 77 workers in agriculture have been injured in the Wimmera. Of these, there were 18 vehicle and machinery injuries, 17 materials and substances injuries, and 14 caused by animals.

For Mr Arnold, the solution started with small but meaningful changes –simple steps like vehicle maintenance, personal protective equipment, and making sure everyone had the Vic-

Emergency App downloaded. The efforts grew Mr Arnold’s confidence, and he soon took on bigger tasks like improving the signage in his chemical storage shed and putting a formal induction process in place with the help of a WorkSafe inspector and other external services.

“The benefits I saw in the little things gave me more belief in what I was doing,” Mr Arnold said.

His advice to fellow farmers was to ask for help and take it one day at

ADVOCATE: Rupanyup farmer Scott Arnold hopes sharing his story encourages others to think about the small steps they can take to protect those around them.

into practice on your own farm – we can learn from each other.”

Mr Arnold shared his story as part of WorkSafe’s It’s never you, until it is campaign – which has returned to TV, radio, print, and online media to highlight the importance of farm safety.

WorkSafe executive director of health and safety Sam Jenkin said the campaign was about supporting farmers to take safety action in ways that worked for them.

“Farmers know their land, their vehicles and their teams better than anyone,” he said.

“We are here to give them the tools and confidence to make safety a routine part of farm life.”

As farmers across Victoria prepare for seeding, Mr Arnold hopes his story encourages others to think about the small steps they can take to protect those around them.

a time. “There is plenty to do, but as you fill in each piece of the puzzle, the next bit becomes easier. Don’t burden yourself with the whole thing and think it has to be done tomorrow,” he said.

“We need to get comfortable talking to each other about the way we do things on our farms.

“It might feel awkward to ask a mate how they handle safety on their farm, but once you start having these conversations it’s easier to put their ideas

“In my 20 years of farming, I’ve learned that unless you teach people the right way to approach tasks safely, they might not actually know something they do is unsafe,” he said.

“No job on the farm is important or urgent enough to skip safety steps and risk lives.

“When something happens on a farm it doesn’t just affect one person, it breaks an entire community.

“We can’t afford to wait until another mate, another parent, another worker doesn’t make it home.”

Family hooked on trials

BY BRONWYN HASTINGS

Edenhope’s Sarah Lee loves what she does – working alongside her husband and children, breeding and trialling working dogs across the country.

Originally from England, Mrs Lee said she met husband David on a cattle station in Queensland, where he bred Border Collies, before the couple moved further south after about eight years.

“We started to get into kelpies as well because the Collies weren’t ideal for working sheep, kelpies were more suited for the job,” she said.

“We saw a couple of yard dog trials and thought it looked like fun, so we gave it a go and have been hooked ever since.”

Mrs Lee said the trials had improved their stock-handling and dog training.

“You think you’ve got a good handle on your dog until you go to a dog trial, that’s when you see where the cracks are, but you go back and work on those bits,” she said.

The Lees have bred dogs for about 16 years, trialling across the country and gaining valuable experience in the process.

“We’re showing our kids that

trialling is more about the process than the prize,” Mrs Lee said.

“It’s great to win, but it’s even better to have fun, push ourselves to be better stockmen, and take every challenge as an opportunity to grow.”

The couple’s son Thomas, 10, also trains and trials his own dogs.

“He loves it – Jazz, one of his dogs, is such a great dog for him,” Mrs Lee said.

“She does everything he tells her to, and they have so much fun together. He does really well to remember the course and stay calm and cool in front of lots of people.

“He’s won an encourage with her, so now has to compete in the open with all the other adult handlers in the top class.”

Mrs Lee said the next generation of breeders were well-supported.

“It says a lot about the Victorian Yard Dog Association that they back the kids, and they want them there,” she said.

“You want the next generation coming through – and I also think it’s so much easier if you’ve done trials as a kid, you don’t get as nervous as when you’re an adult, it can be quite daunting.”

Mrs Lee said her daughter, seven-year-old Ivy, has her own dog but is a bit too little for trials yet.

“She loves it too, and when she’s

PASSIONATE:

Sarah Lee with Hank during Victorian yard dog championships at Natimuk. Picture: PAUL CARRACHER

ready, I daresay you’ll see her out there.”

Mrs Lee said the business – The Lee’s Working Dogs – offers clinics and training sessions for people and their dogs.

“We’re very fortunate we get to

share our knowledge with other people and help them with their dogs,” she said.

“We get to do something for a business that we really enjoy and love and are passionate about it.”

Top sowing tips

Farmers can now run a germination test on seed retained from last year to assess viability and adjust sowing rates to give new crops the best possible start.

Many of last season’s crops in western Victoria were impacted by a dry finish and spring frosts last season, while in northern Victoria they were affected by rain during harvest.

Frost and drought can impact seedling vigour and germination, often by between 20 and 40 per cent. Ideally, rain-damaged seed should not be used for sowing; if seed contains shot grain from weather damage or poor storage, a germination test will help alter the sowing rate according to the seed viability, or determine if alternative seed is needed.

Seed kept for more than two seasons will generally have a lower germination percentage than fresh seed, as viability declines with age. In some cases, however, two-year-old seed that has been stored well may be a better option than fresh seed of poor quality.

Home germination testing methods for cereals, pulses and canola are available on Agriculture Victoria’s website.

Weather-damaged seed should ideally be tested in a laboratory for germination. Laboratories can also test for vigour, weed seeds and purity.

A range of accredited laboratories provide germination, vigour and weed seed testing.

For seed-borne disease testing, people can contact crop health services, Agriculture Victoria on 9032 7515 or email chs.reception@agriculture.vic.gov.au. Further information on retaining and testing crop seed for sowing can be found at agriculture.vic. gov.au/crops-and-horticulture/grains-pulses-andcereals.

Dry seasons support is available at agriculture.vic. gov.au/dryseasons or by calling 136 186. – Felicity Pritchard, Grains South West

Gene bank impresses trust head

Horsham SmartFarm show-

cased its Australian Grains Genebank to international visitors recently, including International Crop Trust head Stefan Schmitz.

The gene bank is one of 1750 worldwide that conserves and makes available plant material to assist in developing more resilient and productive crops.

Dr Schmitz said he was most impressed by the facility.

“The gene bank in Horsham is excellent,” he said.

“When looking at how many seeds from those gene banks, those genetic resources, are distributed every year to breeding companies, to researchers, to find their way from there to the farmers on the ground, you can imagine how important that is.

“The gene bank in Horsham alone is in constant contact with all the other gene banks around the world.

“There is a constant exchange of plant genetic resources to make sure that researchers and breeders are constantly able to find new genetic traits for better varieties that are better adapted to climate change, to higher temperature, to new pests and diseases, come up with varieties that are more resource efficient, or that have a higher nutritional value and the like.”

Dr Schmitz said a green revolution was needed to produce better,

and more food, to overcome world hunger.

“I think we need another green sustainability revolution that enables us to produce more and better food and food for all without exploiting the planet,” he said.

“To stay within the limits of the planet, make agriculture sustainable, and this is possible if we all are aware

of the great treasure trove of crop diversity, of genetic diversity.

“Using this as a starting point for modern breeding, for repatriation, for all kinds of agronomic innovation to make sure that we have a safe future with more sustainable, better food systems.

“It is possible, but we need a prerequisite for all of that, we need to

conserve the old varieties and use them as raw material for the future, for better varieties. That, I think, is a crucial point.”

Dr Schmitz said it was important gene banks worldwide were wellmaintained and functioning.

“In a country like Australia, this is no problem, however gene banks in Africa, in Southeast Asia and Latin

AGRIMAC IS YOUR TRUSTED KRONE DEALER IN THE WIMMERA-MALLEE

America are in a desperate state,” he said.

“That is where the work of the crop trust comes in. We support them in upgrading the gene banks, in trading, in building modern information systems and so on.”

Dr Schmitz said the crop trust had worked with other international organisations to ensure Ukraine’s gene bank was protected.

“We helped Ukrainian colleagues to safely duplicate all their seeds they have conserved, send those safety duplicates outside the country and also relocate the gene bank as such from the east part of Ukraine to the far west, where it’s regarded to be much safer,” he said.

“Global co-operation is more important than ever before; genetic resources are spread around the world.

“Agriculture started many years ago in many parts of the world. There is not one, except for the macadamia, not one crop that originated from Australia. We are all absolutely interdependent on food.”

Following the Horsham visit, Dr Schmitz travelled with genebank research leader and plant genetic resources leader Dr Sally Norton to Canberra to be part of panel discussion ‘Crop Diversity: A lifeline for resilience, peace, nutrition and food security’ with CSIRO scientist Dr Tony Fischer.

TOUR: Horsham research and plant genetic resources leader Sally Norton, International Crop Trust head Stefan Schmitz and The Crawford Fund board member Tony Gregson during a tour of the Australian Grains Genebank in Horsham.

VFF: Scrap the tax

The Victorian Farmers Federation, VFF, is encouraging people to contact their local Members of Parliament to demand they vote to scrap the State Government’s proposed new emergency services tax.

VFF president and Quambatook farmer Brett Hosking said the unfair proposed tax hike had sparked unity among farmers, firefighters, councils and the business community, who were all campaigning against the tax and calling for it to be dumped.

“This tax is unfair, unnecessary, and completely out of step with what Victorians expect from their government,” he said.

“It’s time for the community to raise their voice and let politicians know they won’t stand for yet another hit to the household and business bottom line.”

With the legislation yet to pass the Upper House after the Bill was deferred last month, the levy will come before Parliament again in the coming weeks.

The VFF is calling on concerned Victorians to contact MPs and crossbench representatives to voice their opposition and demand a vote against the bill.

The VFF had earlier called for the Bill to be referred to a parliamentary inquiry to ensure the community

had a voice in the process. “This tax has no support, not from the fire services, not from local councils, and not from the people who’ll be forced to pay it,” Mr Hosking said.

“The Upper House has the chance to stop it in its tracks, but they need to hear loud and clear from the people they represent.”

Rather than introducing a new layer of tax, the VFF is urging the State Government to focus on fixing the current Fire Services Property Levy system by introducing CPI caps, protecting households from levy shock due to inflated land values, and ensuring regional communities are not overcharged for the services they provide as volunteers.

“This is a moment for the Victorian community to stand up and say ‘enough is enough’. Don’t burn regional Victoria with more taxes,” Mr Hosking said.

Mr Hosking slammed the levy as ‘a blatant cash grab that unfairly punishes farmers’.

“The median fire services levy for primary producers will skyrocket by 109 per cent, from $621 to $1299 per assessment, with some landholders facing hikes in the tens of thousands of dollars,” he said.

Residential property owners will see a much lower increase of 32 per cent.

Ararat South farmer Bruce Mac-

kay said the increasing costs of the levy was a discouragement to enticing farmers to the industry.

“Last year we paid $6000 in our fire levy. This year we paid $17,000 and next year it is approaching $40,000,” he said.

“We’re getting bugger all for it and people have got to remember in the country, the farmers put out their own fire.

“In the Grampians, fighting the fires in the Grampians, when the fire came out of the mountain itself and entered grazing country, it was put out by volunteers, mainly with their own trucks and own equipment.

“It wasn’t government funded, it was volunteers who were using their own machinery, trucks, fire trucks, and graders – the whole shebang was donated and the government wasn’t even putting the bill for it.

“It’s an absolute disgrace. It’s just a money grab for this state that’s in diabolical trouble and hit the country people – they don’t even want to know the country people any other time of the year, but when there’s a new tax and they can get some money out of them, they’re all over them.”

For more information, including a letter template how to contact local MPs, can be found at bit. ly/4cGIASV.

Disease guides now available

Agriculture Victoria has released new disease guides for grain growers who are keen to review their management plans for winter crops this season.

Supported by Grains Research and Development Corporation, the updated guides rank varieties for disease susceptibility and provide advice on reducing disease risk.

The guides are relevant for both new and commonly grown grains such as wheat, barley, oats, lentil, field pea, faba bean and chickpea.

Agriculture Victoria plant pathology research leader Joshua Fanning said the guides would help growers make seasonally informed decisions around disease management.

“Despite less disease observed last year, any paddocks with stubble remaining that had disease previously, will increase the risk,” he said.

“Proactively managing disease will be important, as seasonal conditions will determine the severity of disease.

“Widespread use of susceptible varieties will increase the risk if conditions are favourable for disease development.

“Testing prior to sowing will identify paddocks at risk of soil-borne disease and help growers choose less susceptible varieties.”

Agriculture Victoria cereal pathologist Hari Dadu said fungicide resistance was an increasing issue.

“During last year’s season, net form net blotch showed widespread resistance to fungicide resistance,” he said.

“The disease guide will assist in selecting varieties with resistance to various diseases, reducing the need for fungicide applications and supporting better management.”

The new disease ratings are based on an understanding of diseases present in Victoria and on data collected from plant pathologists with GRDC support.

The 2025 Cereal Disease Guide and 2025 Pulse Disease Guide are available on website agriculture.vic.gov.au.

Agriculture Victoria plant pathology research leader

Joshua Fanning

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Mitsubishi

Motors Australia

Limited has announced early details of upgrades to its strongselling Outlander, the medium SUV range set to benefit from an Australian-specific suspension and steering tune, range-wide tech upgrades, and a ‘sophisticated’ interior makeover said to enhance cabin ambience.

While full details of the upgrade are yet to be detailed, MMAL said its localised ride and handling program would dial in greater connection for Outlander drivers, while also improving occupant comfort.

The chassis enhancements will be accompanied by a refreshed exterior and interior design aimed at keeping the fourth-generation Outlander fresh – the model now in its fourth year of production following its launch Down Under in November of 2021.

Fans of premium sound will be thrilled to learn Mitsubishi has paired with Yamaha in offering a new Dynamic Sound Yamaha Ultimate audio system in the Outlander Exceed Tourer grade.

The high-end sound system will support wireless operation of both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, all accessed via a new 12.3-inch touchscreen display.

Other Outlander grades will be offered with Dynamic Sound Yamaha Premium sound, again with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and a 12.3-inch touchscreen.

GoAuto understands the Mitsubishi Outlander range would continue to be offered with five and seven-seat options across ES, LS, Aspire, Exceed, and Exceed Tourer grades.

Petrol and plug-in hybrid electric, PHEV, driveline choices would remain unchanged.

MMAL general manager of product strategy Bruce Hampel said since its 2021 Australian market launch, the Mitsubishi Outlander had resonated with Australian customers.

“With a value-packed range offering a choice of five or 5+2 seating, frontor all-wheel drive and efficient petrol and PHEV engine options, Outlander was in the top five best-selling vehicles in Australia last year,” he said.

“As a core market for Mitsubishi Motors globally, Australian market feedback played a significant role in further improving the updated Outlander’s steering, ride and handling, tuning it to further suit Australian conditions and buyer requirements with a new tyre specification.

“There’s also an incredible new suite of Yamaha audio systems that further enhance the driving experience, while the refreshed exterior, new alloy

wheel designs, interior and improved infotainment systems add further presence and sophistication.

“These updates will no doubt continue to grow Outlander’s reputation as a value-driven, capable and popular medium SUV, backed by Australia’s first 10-year warranty program, with 10 years’ capped price servicing.”

The updated Mitsubishi Outlander range will be in Australian showrooms in third quarter of 2025.

Pricing and specification details will be confirmed closer to the launch date. – Matt Brogan

Kia prices its highly-anticipated ute

KiaAustralia has announced pricing for its highly-anticipated Tasman dual-cab utlity, the 24-variant range available from July priced from $42,990 in twowheel drive guise and toppingout at $74,990 for the four-wheel drive X-Pro range-topper.

The pricing compares favourably against dual-cab segment rivals including the Ford Ranger, from $43,290 to $77,640 in comparable trim, and Toyota HiLux, from $37,300 to $74,310 in comparable trim.

Five trimlines are available – S, SX, SX+, X-Line, and X-Pro – across two and four-wheel drive configurations, all with a dual-cab body style and all powered by a turbocharged 2.2-litre four-cylinder diesel engine producing 154kW-440Nm paired with an eightspeed automatic transmission.

All Tasman ute variants will be available with payload ratings exceeding 1000kg, the gross vehicle mass, GVM, listed at 3250kg across all variants, contributing to a gross combination mass, GCM of 6200kg.

Braked towing capacity is listed at up to 3500kg. All Tasman variants are equipped as standard with an integrated trailer brake controller.

Dual-cab variants will also be offered with a reduced payload option, specifically aimed at meeting the criteria for novated lease buyers.

Kia lists the Tasman dual-cab’s load bed dimensions at 1512mm in length, 1572mm in width, and 540mm in height, quoting a VDA capacity of 1173 litres. An additional 45 litres of storage is offered under the rear seats, which offer slide and recline functions on X-Line and X-Pro grades.

The high-trim X-Line and X-Pro are further offered with a folding console table, and dual wireless smartphone charging pads.

Across the range, there is dual 12.3inch instrumentation and infotainment screens, and a separate five-inch

screen for climate control functions. Connectivity highlights include wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone mirroring, and Kia Connect remote control functions. Overthe-air software updates are also part of the deal.

In addition to the features already listed, people will find the Kia Tasman S, from $42,990 plus on-road costs, offered as standard with 17-inch steel wheels, front and rear parking sensors, rear-view camera, adaptive cruise control, LED headlights, trailer sway control, keyless entry and ignition,

LED cabin lighting, dual-zone climate control, and six-speaker sound.

SX grades, from $54,490 plus onroad costs, add 17-inch alloy wheels, terrain mode, safety power windows, satellite navigation, highway driving assist, navigation-based cruise control, and electric folding wing mirrors.

For the SX+, from $62,390 plus on-road costs, 18-inch alloy wheels, LED fog lights, LED ambient cabin lighting, second-row vents, load bed liner, dual 240-volt power outlets, and a single wireless smartphone charging pad feature.

The penultimate X-Line grade, from $67,990 plus on-road costs, adds a column-type gear shifter, paddle shifters, rear privacy glass, roof rails, second-row armrest, dual wireless smartphone charging pad, rear fender flare storage, parking collision avoidance assist, 360-degree camera system, blind-spot view monitor, projection-style LED headlights, heated front seats, and an eight-way powered driver seat.

Finally for the flagship Tasman XPro, from $74,990 plus on-road costs, buyers find 17-inch alloy wheels with all-terrain tyres, rear differential lock, X-Trek four-wheel drive mode, an addition terrain mode setting, ground view monitor, harman-kardon premium audio, fuel tank protection plate, a heated steering wheel, heated secondrow seats, full LED ambient cabin lighting, a powered front passenger seat, sunroof, and off-road pages with steering direction and oil levels.

The Kia Tasman will be offered in eight exterior colours across the lineup. Inside, there is a choice of three two-tone interior trim choices.

Dual-cab pick-up versions of the Kia Tasman will launch in July with cab-chassis variants to arrive ‘approximately one month later’. Singlecab-chassis models will join the range towards the end of 2025.

– Matt Brogan

LAUNCH: Kia’s 24-variant Tasman is available from July, starting from $42,990.

Zeekr mulls 9X as Aus flagship

Zeekr’s flagship SUV, the 9X, is expected to play a leading role in the brand’s global expansion strategy, with the hybrid-powered large luxury model under serious consideration for Australia in 2026 as a halo model.

The 9X will sit atop the range for the Geelyowned Chinese luxury brand Zeekr in its domestic market, where it is positioned to compete with the likes of the BMW X7 and MercedesBenz GLS, as well as emerging Chinese luxury options from Yangwang and others.

Locally, it is being evaluated as the fourth model for Zeekr’s growing Australian line-up to sit above the brand’s 009 premium minivan.

The hybrid SUV, which combines a turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine producing 205kW of power with front and rear electric motors can accelerate from 0-100kmh in a claimed three seconds on its way to a top speed of 240kmh.

A large CATL Freevoy lithium iron phosphate battery of undisclosed size is utilised for electric driving capability, delivering 380 kilometres of range on China’s lenient CLTC rating system, equating to about 300km WLTP.

A 900-volt architecture affords a peak DC charge speed of 480kW.

The claimed electric driving range is sufficient to make the 9X the longest-range hybrid SUV in the world, Zeekr says.

The SUV is also the first Chinese car to utilise a 48-volt active stabiliser while dual-valve air suspension is fitted as standard.

Zeekr launched in Australia earlier this year with two all-electric models: the compact Zeekr X SUV, priced from $49,900 plus on-road costs, and the aforementioned 009, priced from $135,900 plus on-road costs. A third model, the 7X midsize SUV, is due to follow by the end of the year.

If approved for the Australian market, the Zeekr 9X would become the most expensive model in the brand’s local portfolio.

Pricing is expected to exceed that of the 009 people mover, suggesting a possible starting figure above $150,000 plus on-road costs.

Such a price would make the 9X more affordable than the Mercedes-Benz GLS, priced from $171,000 plus on-road costs, and BMW X7, from $171,300 plus on-road costs, while the

slightly shorter Audi Q7 remains something of a value buy in the segment, from $108,815 plus on-road costs.

Attention now turns to the 9X as Zeekr weighs its next move.

While a final decision on an Australian release is yet to be confirmed, head of Zeekr International Mars Chen, who has responsibility for Australia, has indicated the flagship SUV was a leading candidate for local release, though it was one of two potential additions under review.

“The 009 minivan is the big brother in the family,” Mr Chen told GoAuto.

“Maybe the 9X will be the big sister.”

However, he noted the Australian market was unlikely to receive both large models while volume remained limited.

“Not both, I have to be practical,” Mr Chen said.

The 9X’s hybrid system, dubbed Super Electric Hybrid, is believed to be an advanced iteration of the Leishen EM-I plug-in hybrid architecture developed by parent company Geely.

Zeekr has beefed up the Leishen EM-I system with a larger 2.0-litre engine with 46 per cent thermal efficiency in combination with the two electric motors, a silicon carbide power module, and an integrated suite of vehicle control, transmission, and power distribution units.

Visually, the 9X is expected to leave a strong impression. Measuring 5290mm in length, the large SUV draws on design elements first seen in the Zeekr 009, while also echoing the upright, opulent proportions of the Rolls-Royce Cullinan.

The resemblance has not gone unnoticed, with some Chinese observers dubbing it the ‘Hangzhou Bay Cullinan’. That comparison appears to be embraced by Zeekr design chief Stefan Sielaff, who told media the 9X was the better Cullinan.

“Don’t get me wrong, I am not arrogant. I have to be humble. The 9X is only the first member of a new family of luxury cars we are going to show in future. I think it is very, very good,” he said.

Technologically, the Zeekr 9X will incorporate the latest Nvidia Thor autonomous driving chipset, which supports enhanced driver assistance capability via a five-lidar array, consisting of

and four short-range sensors.

NEW

A luxury plug-in hybrid

PUZZLEs

Quick Workout

Fit the numbers 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 into the hexagons so that where the hexagons touch, the numbers will be the same. No number is repeated in any hexagon.

Crossword

Solutions

ON This DAy

From The Weekly Advertiser archives: April 28, 2005 –The creation of the traditional floral carpet tribute for the Ararat Anzac Day parade was again created by volunteers. Yvonne McKinnon, left, Jim Dunn and Jenny Pearse are pictured laying out marigolds in the display. Ararat PS800 State School had coordinated the display for 49 continuous years, with the school’s former teacher Mr Dunn overseeing the exercise for 48 of those.

10 years ago: April 29, 2015

A short animation film titled Teacher’s Pet made in collaboration with Delkaia Aboriginal Best Start and Dimboola Primary School was set to feature as part of the Little Big Shots International Film Festival. Facilitator Tracey Rigney worked with 13 Koorie children from the school, alongside animator and school business manager Desiree Cross.

Five years ago: April 29, 2020 Ararat fire brigade was celebrating the completion of its new $2.25-million station. The building featured a four-bay drivethrough motor room, official command area, meeting room, kitchen and pergola. It replaced the outdated building on the same Tuson Street site.

One year ago: May 1, 2024 Fundraising to reopen Wesley Performing Arts Centre – to be rebranded The Wesley – was launched, attracting about 60 people to an event at Horsham Rural City Council’s Civic Centre. The fundraising committee and council already had $450,000, so a $550,000 target was set for the $2-million upgrade. An application would be made for government funding to match the amount.

TAKE A BREAK

yOUR LUCKy sTARs

1. British film The Stud premiered on this day in the UK in 1978. It was based on the book written by Jackie Collins and starred Joan Collins. How are the two women related?

2. Sophie Dahl, a model and author in her own right, has a character named after her in which of her grandfather’s children’s books?

3. Built in 1889 to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the French Revolution, and intended to last 20 years, was which structure saved by scientific experiments and ongoing telecommunications use?

4. What nickname did Willie Nelson bestow upon his battered Martin guitar?

5. Founded by an Australian surfer in California who longed for the soft sheepskin boots of his youth, what American boot brand took off in 2003 after being featured as one of Oprah’s ‘favourite things’?

6. How many players are on the field for each team in an official hockey match?

7. The thin, dark line in cheese French Morbier is due to what – volcanic ash, gauloise ash, or blue mould?

8. Actor Anthony Daniels is best known for playing what Star Wars character?

9. Sideroxylon is a type of what, found naturally in parts of the Wimmera?

10. Who said, ‘Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I’m not sure about the universe’?

its common name is ironbark. 10. Albert Einstein.

Tower. 4. Trigger. 5. Ugg. 6. 11. 7. Volcanic ash. 8. C3PO 9. Gum

Answers: 1. They are sisters. 2. Sophie in The BFG. 3. The Eiffel

35, 9

A restless period is ahead, and things may not move as quickly as you’d like. Though offers are coming, progress is slow for now. In your career, you’ll likely impress the right people.

TAURUS (April 21 - May 20)

Lucky Colour: Blue

Lucky Day: Thursday

Racing Numbers: 4, 3, 2, 5

Lotto Numbers: 1, 15, 26, 34, 45, 8

Taking a calculated risk could lead to surprising success. A gamble might pay off, but be sure to know who your true friends are before taking their advice.

GEMINI (May 21 - June 21)

Lucky Colour: Violet

Lucky Day: Wednesday

Racing Numbers: 2, 3, 6, 2

Lotto Numbers: 2, 13, 26, 25, 40, 33

New projects and opportunities are opening up. There will be surprises in both domestic and career environments. However, a close relative or associate may block some of your progress.

CANCER (June 22 - July 22)

Lucky Colour: Cream

Lucky Day: Monday

Racing Numbers: 1, 3, 5, 9

Lotto Numbers: 1, 15, 26, 34, 8, 5

A busy period with plenty of travel related to business responsibilities. Opportunities to improve your financial situation will arise, though success will depend on your personal efforts.

LEO (July 23 - August 22)

Lucky Colour: Mauve

Lucky Day: Saturday Racing Numbers: 6, 2, 3, 5

Lotto Numbers: 1, 12, 26, 34, 43, 2

Make sure others are on the same wavelength before committing to partnerships, whether in love or finance. Singles may meet someone special during this period.

VIRGO (August 23 - September 23)

Lucky Colour: Fawn

Lucky Day: Monday

Racing Numbers: 1, 3, 6, 9

Lotto Numbers: 1, 12, 15, 26, 35, 45

A financial boost is indicated, making this a good time to ask for favours or even a raise. Avoid unnecessary spending on household items. This is also an excellent time to show off your leadership skills and impress the right people.

LIBRA (September 24 - October 23)

Lucky Colour: Blue

Lucky Day: Wednesday

Racing Numbers: 4, 2, 3, 6

Lotto Numbers: 1, 12, 15, 26, 34, 40

Your career and social life should blend well, and new acquaintances could be highly supportive. However, be careful not to spend money you don’t have –focus on paying off old debts first.

SCORPIO (October 24 - November 22)

Lucky Colour: Hot Pink

Lucky Day: Friday

Racing Numbers: 1, 3, 5, 9

Lotto Numbers: 1, 12, 26, 35, 36, 33

Changing your approach will yield positive results. An unexpected trip may be necessary during this period, and old friends could provide the support and advice you need.

SAGITTARIUS (November 23 - December 20)

Lucky Colour: Blue

Lucky Day: Thursday

Racing Numbers: 1, 9, 4, 5

Lotto Numbers: 1, 15, 24, 45, 40, 33

Gaining favour with superiors will be easier if you stick to your plans. A friend’s request could put you in a winning position, both personally and professionally.

CAPRICORN (December 21 - January 19)

Lucky Colour: Peach

Lucky Day: Monday

Racing Numbers: 1, 8, 4, 4

Lotto Numbers: 1, 15, 45, 40, 22, 21

Increased communication with distant contacts may result in a change of address. Many Capricorns could return to school or acquire new skills, expanding their future opportunities.

AQUARIUS (January 20 - February 19)

Lucky Colour: Green

Lucky Day: Tuesday

Racing Numbers: 4, 2, 1, 2

Lotto Numbers: 4, 12, 26, 35, 8, 40

Caution is needed in financial dealings. The smart move is to pay off outstanding debts before committing to new agreements. Avoid confiding in people you don’t know well.

PISCES (February 20 - March 20)

Lucky Colour: Apricot

Lucky Day: Sunday

Racing Numbers: 7, 5, 1, 4

Lotto Numbers: 7, 15, 28, 40, 11, 1

Avoid provoking trouble and focus on staying calm. Your hidden talents could shine, and many people may begin to appreciate you both professionally and socially.

~ D OMASCHENZ ~ Linda May

9-9-1957 to 4-4-2025

Linda was a rebel and a creative life force.

She lived with conviction and without apology.

She loved nothing more than a glass of wine and a smoke.

Linda was always passionate about progressive causes, especially confronting the climate crisis.

She refused to conform and defied convention, trying her hand at many things, from fashion, to being one of the first women roustabouts, from washing dishes to running Cafe Kudos in Nhill, And finally, a shop in her beloved Kiata Town Hall.

Linda moved to Kiata with Bear, who would become her life partner of three decades.

They turned a sleepy little abandoned school into an environmental wonderland.

30.11.1934 - 21.4.2025 Passed away peacefully aged 90 years. Cherished brother of Margaret (dec), Alan and Marline, brother-in-law of Robert.

Beloved uncle of Mark, Paul, Matthew and their families. Rest in peace

Horsham & District Funerals

Dylan & Amity Hartwich 5382 1149

DENHOLM, Avis Ella

3-3-1924 to 17-4-2025

Loved wife of Len (dec).

Loving mother and motherin-law of Neil & Lorraine.

Loving Nana of James, Thomas & Kate.

A big thanks to the wonderful staff at the Wimmera Base Hospital and the Natimuk Nursing Home and staff at Horsham Community Options.

Horsham & District Funerals

Dylan & Amity Hartwich 5382 1149

ECKERMANN (nee Kruger), Kaye Jeanette

Passed away on April 21, 2025 aged 74 years.

Loved wife of Brenton (dec).

Dearly loved mother to Kristel.

To describe how special you are would take a lifetime, and even then, words would fall short.

I will always have this piece in my heart that smiles whenever I think about you!

The Kiata home was fully offgrid, a sanctuary for wildlife, be they plant, animal, or people.

Linda was wild in every sense.

Linda was loved fully, and without constraint by her life partner Ross Smith (Fred Bear).

She was the mother of Bianca Eve Barling and Mina Lea Barling.

Daughter of the late Beryl and Len Domaschenz of Robe (formerly Edenhope).

Grandmother to Mietta Aiko Barling and Malo Lea Barling Seden.

Younger sister to Ralph, Lyle and Trevor.

Aunty to Jessie, Melanie, Robyn, Sonia, Toni, Brett, Cameron and Haagan.

A cousin to many throughout Australia.

ECKERMANN (nee Kruger), Kaye Jeanette Love and sympathy to Kristel at this sad time.

Thinking of you Pam, Ron and Family Sleeping Peacfully

JAKOBI, Douglas Ralph “Doug”

Passed away on April 25, 2025 aged 84 years.

Dearly loved husband of Irene for over 54 years.

Loving father and father in law of Wayne & Janelle; Joylene & Gavin (dec); Sharon & Paul; Carolyn & Joel.

Adored Pa to ten grandchildren and one great grandson.

Forever In Our Hearts In God’s Care

LOVE, Maurice Alfred of Hopetoun on April 23, 2025

Loved husband of Lillian Margaret (dec). Loved father of Geoffrey, Allan (dec), Kevin (dec), Ian, Steven, Suzanne, Julie, Neville and their Families.

MAHER, (nee KRELLE)

Kaylene Joy

2.10.1951 – 24.4.2025

Loved sister and friend of Dorothy and Michael Cook. Aunt of Sam, Emily, Joseph and Alice.

Fond memories of happy times shared together.

Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth and the life; no-one comes to the Father except by Me.” John 14:6

MAHER (nee Krelle), Kaylene Joy

02.10.51- 24.04.25

It is with great sadness that the family of Kaylene announce her passing.

Kaylene will be sadly missed by husband Stephen and her children Anita (dec), John, Vashti, Connie, Danial, Alexander, Eliza and 11 grandchildren.

Rev 21:4

“And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes”

OSBORNE, Graham Benjamin

Born: February 25, 1935 at Cobden.

Died: April 15, 2025 at Warracknabeal.

Passed away peacefully at Yarriambiack Lodge, Rural Northwest Health, at the age of 90.

Loved husband of Marjorie (dec).

Cherished father of Owen, Peter, Richard, Libby, Judy and Fiona.

Father-in-law and friend to Patricia, Debbie, Christine, Barry, Hamish, Tim, Leigh and Angela.

Grandfather of fourteen, Great Grandfather of seven.

Survived by siblings, Donald, Marg, Phillip and Penny.

A champion of education, a man of faith, a devotee of the Geelong Cats and his family.

“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith”. 2 Timothy 4: 7-8.

WEBB (nee Stevenson), Lesley

Passed away peacefully at Goodwin Village, Donald on April 24, 2025 aged 85 years.

Dearly loved wife of Roger (dec).

Loving mother and mother in law of Glenn; Shane & Raelene; and Dean.

Loved Nanna to Jordie, Kalen, Joshua and Ben.

Sister of William Stevenson In God’s care

BURNS, Donald Edmond

A Requiem Mass for the repose of the soul for the late Mr. Donald Burns will be offered at St Malachy’s Catholic Church, Edenhope. Monday 5th of May 2025 at 2pm.

A private cremation will take place.

Amity & Dylan Hartwich 5382 1149

DENHOLM, Avis Ella

The funeral service to farewell the late Mrs Avis Denholm will be held at Balmoral Cemetery, on Friday, May 9, 2025 commencing at 2pm

Dylan & Amity Hartwich 5382 1149

DOMASCHENZ,

Linda May

09/09/1957 – 04/04/2025

Linda’s funeral service will be held Grave-side at the Kiata Cemetery Friday 2nd May at 11am.

The family kindly requests that, in lieu of flowers, donations, be made to Gerang Gerung Wildlife Rescue and Restoration.

Emiley & Mathew Bone Nhill, Dimboola & Kaniva District Funerals 0419 008 464

ECKERMANN, Kaye Jeanette

The funeral of Kaye Jeanette Eckermann will leave St Stephen’s Lutheran Church, Rainbow on Thursday, May 1, 2025 after a service commencing at 1pm for the Rainbow Cemetery.

Trevor Bysouth & Daughter Ph 5381 1444 AFDA Member

JAKOBI, Douglas Ralph “Doug”

The funeral of Doug Jakobi will leave the Horsham Church of Christ on Tuesday, May 6, 2025 after a service commencing at 1pm for the Horsham Lawn Cemetery. The service may be viewed online at youtube.com/live/ zfY47oSma2Q

Trevor Bysouth & Daughter Ph 5381 1444 AFDA Member

LOVE

The funeral of Mr Maurice Alfred Love will leave the Co-operative Parish Church Hopetoun on Thursday May 1, 2025 after a service commencing at 10.30am for the Hopetoun Lawn Cemetery.

W.B. Gardiner & Son Funeral Directors Warracknabeal 0407 340 064

MAHER, (nee KRELLE) Kaylene Joy

2.10.1951 – 24.4.2025

It is with great sadness that the family of Kaylene announce her passing. Kaylene will be sadly missed by husband Stephen and her children Anita (dec) John, Vashti, Connie, Daniel, Alexander, Eliza and 11 Grand Children. Rev 21:4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; A Memorial Service for Kaylene’s life will be held at the William Farmer Reflection Chapel, 12 Victoria Street, Eaglehawk on Thursday, May 1 commencing at 11am.

WEBB, Lesley

The funeral of Lesley Webb will leave the Murtoa Mechanics Hall on Monday, May 5, 2025 after a service commencing at 1pm for the Murtoa Cemetery.

Trevor Bysouth & Daughter Ph 5385 2833 AFDA Member

DECKERT, Ian Maxwell

23/06/1942 – 11/04/2025

Loved by Aline, with whom he shared a lifetime of memories.

Treasured father of Sallianne, Christopher, Sarah-Jane and Samuel, and cherished father-in-law to Kandice and Steve.

Adored grandfather of 11 grandchildren and proud great-grandfather of one.

Ian’s legacy, strength and love will be remembered with deep affection by all who knew him.

“The eternal God is your refuge…” Deuteronomy 33:27a

The family of the late Nancy Peterson would like to sincerely thank everyone who attended our beautiful mother’s funeral. For all those who sent flowers, cards of condolences, phone calls, texts and visits. We are deeply grateful for your presence and support during this difficult time. Your kindness and compassion meant the world to us all. Nancy Peterson’s Family

DECKERT, Ian Maxwell Forever in our hearts, Papa. Riley, Aimee, Ruby, Ella, Ethan, Noah, Kuleni, Tsega, Mimi, Charlize, Summer and Carter.

3 year old black and tan bitch working kelpie, great yard dog, Ph or PM for details to Harry 0458318200

Aged pensioner looking to buy a male chihuahua, 1 1/2 - 2 years old Ph 0421237043

Aust White/Dorper Ewes pic# 3WWWJH126 Ph 0447275737

Beeamma White, Australian White Stud purebred rams, private sale on farm, BRUC, ACC, OJD, VAC, ewes available, Elders Alan Thompson 0427849779, Rod Donnell (08) 87582095

Birds for sale , princess parrots, cockatiels and bourkes, all colours Ph 0408535515 Stawell

Bristlenose catfish , great tank cleaners $5ea until sold out Ph 0474159010 after 6.30pm

Budgies , assorted colours $10 each Ph 0417533579

Budgies , pastel and standards $10 each Ph 0428010996 Horsham

Chihuahua puppies , last litter, one girl and two boys available, born on 20/01/25, grey/white male microchip# 953010006886663 Grey male microchip# 953010006886703 Black female microchip# 953010006886699, source

MB168010, microchipped and first vaccination, ready to go Ph 0406048840

Cocker Spaniels, purebred for adoption, two females, mother and daughter pair, aged 9 and 7, vaccinated, groomed, wormed, desexed and microchipped, adoption at the discretion of owner based on assessment of compatibility, apply to 0475834545

Goats for sale, 6mth old male goat, pregnant female goat Ph 0414851313

Love birds assorted colours $20 each pick up only Warracknabeal Ph 0447776408

Princess Parrots for sale, breeding pairs, various colours Ph 0439655239 Stawell area

Purebred black faced Dorper , rams and ewes, rams 2yrs old, ewes 9months old, pic# 3HSDC083 Ph Liz 0419664345

Purebred German Shepherd, 13 weeks old, black and tan, great temperament, toilet trained, straight, 2 boys source# MB115424, m/chip# 953010007067038/7069200

Ph 0421018631

Purebred German Shepherd, 7 months, black and tan, great temperament, toilet trained, straight, one boy & one girl source# MB115424, m/chip# 956000016586733/6681104

Ph 0421018631

Roosters, ducks and guinea fowl wanted to buy Ph 0427361940

Very pretty & young budgies, assorted colours, ready to go $10 each Ph 0423182267

REDUCED 2014 Concept

2017 Ezytrail Stirling, excellent condition, forward folding hard floor, full annex, 600w inverter, TV, 80lt WACO fridge, memory foam mattress topper, always stored undercover, $18,500 ono Ph 0439022870

2017 Jayco Starcraft caravan, 16', queen size bed, full oven, ensuite, easy to tow, hardly used, as new van Ph 0429982394

2019 Ezy Trail Stirling GT

Mark 2 camper, EC, full annex, used 4 times, full rego $14,999 ono Ph 0428820446

Caravan 20' full length, solid annex, ensuite shower, basin toilet, on permanent site in Portland Seaside Caravan Park, fully furnished, for holidays or permanent living $5800ono Ph 0432544164

CUB Escape camper, 2020, Australian made, off road camper that will go anywhere, queen size bed, all canvas awnings, very good condition

$24,800 Ph 0490532715

Jayco Finch Pop Top, double beds with fly mesh, electric brakes, boat rack, annex $12,000 Ph 53582560

Restored Antique cast iron/ timber garden benches $250 each Ph 53522691

Jayco Starcraft pop-top , 18', 4 birth, disel heater, porta potty, outdoor shower, hot water, full annex and awning, tv, GC $12,900 Ph 0419560817

13' 1992 Colt Caravan, tv, a/c, 2way fridge, awning, VGC, reg till May 25, as is $8500 Ph 0487750540

2000 Jayco starcraft , full annex, TV lots of extras, very good condition, one owner, very little use $20,000 or nearest offer Ph 0456601681

2013 Jayco Starcraft, 21', one owner, very little use, as new, many added extras

$40,000 Ph 0427909230

2014 JB dirt roader

, 3 ton McHitch, fridge, redarc dc to dc charger, EC $14,500 Ph 0407147996

REDUCED 2006 Concept

Ascot pop-top, immac cond, shedded, low kms, new full annexe, R33763 $18,500 Ph Ray 0413445347

Innovation, 590R, 19ft 6in, full ensuite, WM, Q bed, full fridge/freezer, TV, new microwave, 2 batteries, AC, 2 toolboxes, awning, annex, ex cond, $42,000 Ph 0437164589

REDUCED 2018 Dingo

Ultimate Camper , heavy duty top of the line off-road trailer including boat rack, fully enclosed annexe including ensuite, lots of storage, built-in instant gas hot water to sink and shower, dual AGM batteries and built-in inverter and charger, innerspring mattress and ability to make up second double bed, two new off-road tyres, VGC, Y76535 $16,500ono Ph 0407360212

REDUCED Isuzu Outback

Express Motorhome for sale, 2 seater, sleeps 3, 4ltr diesel engine, solar panels, auto, diesel, fridge, tv, shower, toilet, stove and lots more, have to see to believe, can drive on normal car licence, 3.1m long, RWC, $38,000 with 6mth rego and RWC Ph Phillip 0428173606 or Susan and ask for Phillip 0458727370 Horsham

REDUCED New Age 2013 queen bed, TV, large fridge, microwave, gas/electric hot plates, toilet, shower, washing machine, full annex, sway bars, $44,000 Ph 0427778747 Toyota Coaster camper , 2 seater, diesel heater, 1hz motor, solar and 12v awning much more $40,000 Ph 0418325662

Expression of interest, for sale, international 511 28 row trash floats combine, 211 33 tyne scarifier, 18 disc Connor-Shea hyd lift 4 fold, B45 baler working order, Lowan round bale carrier Ph 0407911884 evenings

Ferguson Tea20, good tyres, new clutch, resealed final drives, new dash gauges, rewired, good battery, complete re-spray, new seat, new steering wheel, fitted with 3 PL carry all $4200 ono Ph 0429491426

International A414 tractor, recent engine overhaul, good tires, paint is weathered $3000 Ph 0428190549 Murtoa

New Holland T8 360, 2250 hours, suit new buyer, power shift, 50km box, heavy axel model, 1 owner/operator, always serviced, excellent all round, immaculate condition, wired for trimble auto steer, UHF, quick hitch linkage, duals, new fan belts, ad blue switched off, front suspension & cab suspension, 4 remotes, always shedded, used for light work only, reg until 19/6/25, can provide 12 months extra if req, $210,000 + gst, $231,000 inc gst Ph0418504408

REDUCED 2022 Mahindra 6110, 60 HP, front end loader, 4 in 1 bucket, FWA, a/c cab, balance of new warranty, 368 hrs on clock $43,900 Ph 0428349401

REDUCED Versatile 555

Tractor, good working order

$12,000 ono Ph 0493394223

Tradesman trailer, off road

$4500 Ph 0407285097

Archery equipment , 3 compound bows, 35 pound youth bow, 60 pound adult bow, 16 wheeler antique, 1 45 pound Samic longbow, arrows, tool boxes, apres and fletching jig $500 Ph 0429164375

Camping equipment, 2 dome tents, 10 man and 4 man, sleeping chair tent, 3 roll up tables, shower tent, 2 gas stoves, 4 spare bottles, camp kitchen, blow up q/bed $450 Ph 0429164375

Camping Equipment, including as new Yamaha 2KVa inverter generator never used, aqua cube shower, porta potty, Komodo pantry, and clothesline $2500 Ph 0458683879

CCE cage on wheels 6x4 well made $400, 500 gallon ex fuel tank $100, Coolgardie safe $100, Ute crate, 6x4 tub tight $50, Bailey extension ladder 5.3 extends to 6.3 $500, leith grain measuring sheep feeder $1000, new Holland Mower GC with parts, best offer Ph 0429857207

Configura twin motor tilt recliner lift chair, beige vinyl, model S15444, $2500ono, Royale Medical over bed tilting split table $200ono Ph 0428810806 Horsham

Craftsmen ZTS700 ride-on zero-turn mower, good condition, 21 hp engine, reconditioned spindle and deck, many hours left in this machine $2850 Ph Eddy 0428922335

Galvanised trailer, 5x5 $800 Ph 53522691

Gold and opal ring, approx

80yrs old, current valuation $4500 would like $2500 Ph 0458014560

Good Clean Faber Beans, 10 tonne ready to sow, graded and treated with cruiser insecticide $650 a tonne plus Gst Ph 0429836055

Hot potato mobile van , bought new 2018, never used $980 ono Ph 0432544164

Kirby Avalir 100th Anniversary, EC, clean and functions perfectly, includes filter bags, brand new home care system, all attachments some brand new $750 Ph 0429679481

Omega gold watch , approx 65yrs old, still keeps perfect time $1500ono Ph 0458014560

Pea straw small square bales, $7 per bale, great garden mulch, pickup or delivery to Horsham Ph 0488303725

Rare 1895 Furphy tank, both casts are in good condition $6000 Ph 0428519879

REDUCED 1 Bridgestone Turanza Tyre , R35 55 R17, done 10,000kms $30 Ph0428504558

REDUCED 4KW 240V Generator, gauges and trolley $550 Ph 0428504558

Round bale hay ring $350 Ph 0429200566

Round dining table with 4 velvet chairs $340 Ph 53824788

19’caravan, full ensuite queen bed, 3 way fridge washing machine, reverse cycle a/c diesel heater, Sirocco fans, 2 solar panels, 2 batteries, 280 litres water

$44,000 Ph 0427902375 Beulah

REDUCED 2009 Jayco

Stirling Expander , immaculate cond, front club lounge, slide out q/bed, full ensuite, roll out awning and full annex $40,000ono Ph 0428913307

2 saddles, 2 bridles, 2 horse bits, 1 drench bit, 1 riding cap Ph 0447590865

23 of PVC pipes, 39" long x 6 1/4" diameter, ideal planters

$150 for the lot or $5 each Ph 0428504301

5 step platform ladder , galvanised, on wheels with brakes $450 Ph 53522691

MDC Highside Cruiser 2019

Antiques caravans

Sherwell PTO bin $1200 Ph 0428857312

Slow juicer, Kuvings, very good condition, no further use $295 Ph 0408823136

Strongberg Carlson Console Radio, ex condition Ph 53824316

Tent Dune Eyre, 10x10, near new, easy set up for Easter Ph 0491644368 Horsham

Tradies Trailer enclosed , containing shelving storage, power points $680 ono Ph 0432544164

Turkey Bones for soup or dog food, $3 per kg, Deutscher's Turkey Farm Dadswells Bridge Ph 53595220

3.7 savage aluminium boat, UM198, 25 HP Mercury forward steer reyco trailer, b15834 electric motor and lawrence fish finder $2600 Ph 0428523919

BoCam aluminium fold up boat trailer, EC, 50kg tare, GTM 250kg, $1650 Ph 0428990602

Pietscraft 3.5m Fishing Boat, 15hp, Johnson tilt trailer, boat cover, all accessories $5000 Ph 0428822730

Quintrex FishAbout MKII Repowered 40HP Yamaha, low hours, new Oceanic Trailer

Bimini Hummingbird Finder 40Ib Elec Motor Dec Estate Ph 0491644368 Horsham

Outdoor spa , sapphire, 5 person $4500 Ph 0407285097

Wall unit sliding door & shelves $30, coffee table with tiled top $25, timber corner unit $15, outdoor setting with 4 chairs & laminex oval table $80 Ph 0409967815 Horsham

Aspire wheelchair, as new condition, barely used once a day for 3 months, extremely comfortable, cost $3500 from Action AIDS, reduced price $950 Ph 0427562913 Horsham

Freedom forearm walker

$250, wheelchair $150 Ph 0437600095

ICare IC333 electric Homecare bed, in very good condition, king single, extra mattress and gel overlay $2500 cash Ph 0428313173

2020 Harley Low Rider 107, FXLR 1745 cc, heaps of extras, EC, rego 3 monthly basis, 27,270 kms, 2K4ZJ

$20,000 Ph 0409590596

BMW K1200 RS, 2010 model, comes with panniers, top box, reg til Aug, RW, BY136 $4800ono Ph 0419508310

Stawell area

BMW R1100 RT, EC, reg till 5/25, 123k kms, YD865 $4600 Ph 0409954491

REDUCED BMW R1200RT Solo, 2007, Ex SA Police, GO, HGR, EWS, CC, RW cond, unregistered, service manuals $3000 Ph 0428154961

1946 Anglia Ford Ute , engine fully rebuilt $700 Ph 0492975751

1989 Toyota Camry Sedan

2 litre EFI, red, unregistered, vin# 6T153SV2109103569, 198,000 kms $500 Ph Peter 53525927 leave message Ford XA 1972 era Panel Van with rust $1500 neg Ph 0428501109

2005 SP Mazda 3 Hatch, 5 speed manual, power steering & aircon, black in colour, 1YD6TE, 193000km, RWC, $4500, Ph 0423335246

2012 Ford Territory , 173,000kms 1GK5WZ

$8000 inc roadworthy Ph 0492975751

2013 Ford Mondeo Zetec hatch, auto, economical turbo diesel, silver colour, full service history, registered June 25, RWC, 317,000km, 1AG2PW

$5500ono Ph 0428928248

Honda Civic , 1994, great condition with RWC, automatic & aircon, colour black, Vtech motor, vin

JHME6548005203141

$10,000 Ph 0428501109

Proton Jumbuck Utility 2010 , black, 1.5L petrol, 5spd man, excellent mech condition, drives very well, air conditioned, decent time and money spent to prepare for registration, good straight body no dents, no rust, good paint, new tyres front and 60% rear, great little ute will be sorry to see it sold, inspection invited and will not disappoint, always serviced has original books, further information on request, vin# PL1097PNRAB015607 $3600 Ph 0402756744

REDUCED 75 series

Toyota Landcruiser ute, 4.2l diesel, dual tanks, dual batteries, comes with quality rooftop camper, TJM pro diff lockers front/back, airbagman suspension fitted, 5 new tyres, winch, Engel fridge and slide, lots of accessories, very well looked after, RWF984 $19,990 ono Ph 0487700251

Palm tree for removal, free, located Goroke Ph Mick 0400005266

LOST necklace in white

Prouds The Jewellers bag, dropped in the main street of Horsham, reward offered Ph Leon 0402363355

3.7 m boat and cover , QL624, an aussie made trailer P83061, Yamaha 15 HP motor, near new $4000 Ph 53582560

Invacare Pegasus mobility scooter, excellent condition, includes, shade canopy, front basket & rear carrier $3500 Ph 0408826727

Shoprider Allrounder mobility scooter, 2yrs old, EC, hard canopy, weather proof fittings $4200 Ph 0419633821

Top Gun mobility scooter, EC, shade canopy, front basket, rear carrier, inspections welcome $4000 Ph 0438354414

1990 Nissan Patrol GQ

4.2petrol, 12months rego, 654000km, new tyres, JN1OWGY6OA0020221, 1YI5EW $10,000 neg Ph 0428501109

2001 Fairlane Ghia, AU11 series, meteorite colour, QFQ527 $3250 Ph53503220

2001 Nissan Pulsar, 2 keys, as new tyres, auto, just serviced, reg to April 30, RWC, 1WD5ZZ, 143,000km, $5000 Ph 0413960612

The Weekly Advertiser welcomes your advertising. We are required strictly by law to include specific information on some items when publishing your advertisement.

A snapshot of your obligations are as follows: ROAD VEHICLESAll advertisements for road vehicles must include a price, as well as:

• A registration number, if registered

• Either an engine number, VIN or chassis number if the vehicle is not registered.

1999 Toyota Dual Cab Ute, 4x4 diesel with fold out camper

$12,500 Ph 0428822730

MGB GT Sports car, 1974 model, burgundy colour, 4spd manual in perfect cond, built for the American market, all leather interior with original Smiths instrumentation, original 1.8 motor with twin SU carbies with only 29,000 miles, comes with many club awards and trophies, manuals etc, valued by Shannons at $31,000, selling $15,000 or nearest offer Ph David 0402 318 447

REDUCED 2013 Toyota ATARA, 2.5L sports sedan, auto, RWC, Toyota seat covers, only 2 owners, selling due to downsizing, 127,000kms, $12,000 Ph 0400728252

REDUCED 2014 Mitsubishi Challenger, silver, 4X4, 2.4 diesel, auto, 1 owner, full service history, elec brakes, good cond, dual batteries, reg till Aug, 220,000km, 1EB5FL

$12,000 ono Ph 0408576391

2003 Landcruiser , auto, factory turbo diesel, lots of accessories, HDJ100, 420,000km $29,500 Ph 0447159379

2014 Nissan Navara D22 2.5 turbo diesel 4X4 ute, registered until December with service books, low 91,600kms $22,500ono Ph 0492496448

2014 Toyota Hilux, 3 litre diesel, new shockers and springs and injectors, oil filter and oil every 600km, great for towing vans, 290,000kms $25,500 Ph 0417109816

2019 Ford Ranger XLS grey double cab with full screen, very good condition 125,000km, 8 mths rego, new tyres, snorkel, arb bull bar, air bags, side steps, black duck seat covers, under tray tool boxes, many extras always shedded, minimal towing $45,000 inc Gst Ph Andrew 0427923236

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7 seater, very economical, 7 seater 2 foldout seats in the rear, 1 owner since new, factory towbar, leather seats, great condition, diesel, auto start/S\stop, heated/cooled front seats, lane departure warning, keyless start, front rear sensors, rear camera, power tailgate, full service history, all the gadgets, USB ports, 171,579kms, CYU214

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Mini Cooper S , 2016, 5 door hatch, 2.0L, 6speed auto, near new condition, 51,900kms AHB987 $29,900 Ph 0428320108 Horsham

Toyota Hilux 2022, 4 wheel drive, auto, diesel, new tyres, warranty, immaculate condition, 48,747kms, 1NV4FU $42,390 plus Gst Ph 0427858264

Landcruiser ute with slide on camper, 2002, 4.2 litre diesel, 4x4, Millhaven tray towbar, bullbar, Superwinch, tool lockers, Polyair bellows, Davsher hitchhiker camper, new 90L, 3-way dometic fridge/freezer, fiamma awning, 2 burner gas cooktop/griller, sink,120kW fold up solar panels, 200W inverter, 200AH AGM house batteries, queen bed, robe, spacious storage, midge-mesh screening, Highjacker hydraulic legs, 2nd spare wheel, plus extras, excellent condition, 228,961km, HZJ79R Ph 0427482976

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Dimboola

Trades

and Remuneration Committee

Council is seeking to appoint an independent Chairperson to its CEO Employment and Remuneration Committee and is calling for expressions of interest from suitably skilled and qualified people. The committee is an advisory committee providing advice to council on the recruitment, performance review, remuneration and contract of employment of the Chief Executive Officer.

The Independent Chairperson must have and be able to demonstrate the following:

• Knowledge and experience in human resources management, including executive recruitment, remuneration and oversight of employment contracts

• Experience in developing and facilitating executive performance reviews

• Senior business or government (including local government) experience

• Strong leadership and communication skills

• An understanding of good governance and previous experience working with governance bodies or boards

• The ability to work effectively with councillors and the CEO

• Knowledge and understanding of the issues affecting Northern Grampians Shire.

The Independent Chairperson will be appointed for three years and will be required to attend a minimum of two meetings per year, plus additional meetings as determined by the committee.

Respondents should provide the following information as part of their expression of interest:

• Relevant experience and qualifications

• Contact details of at least two referees

• A 1-2 page summary addressing the key selection criteria

• Schedule of rates including remuneration, travel and miscellaneous costs.

A copy of the adopted CEO Employment and Remuneration Policy can be downloaded from council’s website at www.ngshire.vic.gov.au/ Council-policies/CEO-Employment-and-Remuneration-Policy

Expressions of interest must be sent to Vaughan Williams, Director Corporate Services and received by 4pm on Friday 16 May 2025. BRENT McALISTER CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

MONTHLY PAPER DRIVE IS ON THIS WEEKEND

SUNDAY,

MAY

4

Leave your old newspapers and catalogues out for residential kerbside pick-up within the Horsham township.

to the input of your love for us and the world around us. Susan Hobbs (Ps) - Horsham & District Uniting Church

GWMWater is an innovative and progressive employer committed to contributing to the sustainable growth of communities within the Grampians, Wimmera and Mallee regions.

Property Administration Officer

Position number VG/5503A

Are you looking for a great opportunity to kick-start your career? Do you have strong computer and communications skills, along with good planning and organisational skills? If so, we want to hear from you to be part of our Development Services Team!

Year 11 secondary education, a certificate III in Office Administration or demonstrated experience in a relevant administrative role is desireable.

To apply online please visit: gwmwater.org.au/careers

Applications close: Friday 16 May 2025

GWMWater contact: Ollie Reynolds, People & Culture Officer

GWMWater is committed to achieving ‘Zero Harm’ across all operations. We prioritise a safe working environment, ensuring that everyone returns home safely every day.

As an Equal Employment Opportunity employer, we are dedicated to fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace. For confidential support throughout the application process, please contact our People, Culture and Legal division at 1300 659 961 to ensure a fair and inclusive experience.

Subscribe to receive GWMWater job alert emails by visiting gwmwater.org.au/careers

Mark Williams Managing Director

McLachlan Street Horsham gwmwater.org.au

CAUGHT: Pimpinio’s Tom Baker tackles Laharum’s Harry Miller.

RUCK: BirchipWatchem’s Hamish Hosking and Sea Lake

ruckman Connor Michael jockey for supremacy in a North Central football match at Sea Lake. Picture: BLAKE LEE

FOCUS: Horsham Saints young gun Madi Bethune.

VISION: Saints youngster Luke Miller looks for options.

WREATHS: Sally Ison, Brendan O’Loughlin, Grant Kuchel, Billy Ballagh and Tim Wade.

CLASH: Horsham’s Bronte Campbell and Saints’ Judd Wright fly for a mark on Anzac Day at Horsham City Oval. Picture: PAUL CARRACHER

GOT HIM: Pimpinio’s Dylan Bates collars Lahraum’s Monty Wynne. Picture: BRONWYN HASTINGS

VISION: Pimpinio centre Annie Felini looks to pass.

sport

Brought to you by The Morning Crew

Weekdays from 6am to 9am

Surfe La Mer sets the pace

GBY TONY LOGAN

reat Western-trained filly

Surfe La Mer took out the feature event on the card at Charlton’s annual Djaara Peoples recognition race day last week.

The talented three-year-old faced up against older rivals and gave them a beating, leading from go to whoa over the flying mile to score by seven metres in a rate of 1:55.2.

Surfe La Mer took her record to four wins and two minors from just 11 starts and continues the more than 30 years of success from Ken Salmon’s foray into the breeding game with the broodmare Madeline Neptune.

Her 1990 filly, Federal Cabinet won 14 races and after retirement dropped her first foal, Dont Tell Lib, 12 wins, the producer of Our Surfer Girl, eight wins, in turn the dam of Onthecrestofawave, 14 wins, 16 placings and $105,770.

In December 2020, Salmon and Kerryn Manning sent Onthecrestofawaveand to the outstanding stallion American Ideal USA and a year later Surfe La Mer arrived. They race ‘their girl’ in partnership with a large bunch of harness racing fans and it looks like they all have plenty of good times ahead.

Charlton trainers Zac Steenhuis and Michael Gadsden combined

with another local driver, Luke Dunne, for a home-track double on Djaara day. Dunne piloted Steenhuis’ four-year-old mare Lombok to a victory in the Ngarri Pace after pushing out hard from gate six at the start to take the lead before they entered the first bend.

One in front, the combo enjoyed a soft quarter before ripping home in 56.2 seconds for a six-metre victory in 1:55.6 – Lombok's second success from 10 starts.

Later in the day, Dunne took Gadsden’s nine-year-old gelding No Emotion to an early to score by 10 metres in the Charlton Training Centre Pace.

Just too good

Aaron Dunn’s three-year-old geld-

ing Pick Up Elvis was the much deserved winner of IRT Cranbourne 10,000 first heat at Melton on Friday night.

In the words of racecaller Lachie McIntosh – ‘he’s still in front with 50 to go, it’s been a tough win, Pick Up Elvis is just too good’.

‘Elvis’ made it back-to-back victories and another emotional night for the Dunn family, with the son of Rock N Roll Heaven USA being the last horse Barry purchased at the yearling sales.

US

victory

Australia’s leading harness racing reinsman James Herbertson has broken through for his first victory in the United States at his 12th drive away from home.

The 22-year-old is spending five weeks working at the New Jersey stables of USA Hall Of Famer, Ron Burke.

However, his first winner was for trainer Michael Posner, with Select Friday in the final race at the Meadowlands night fixture on April 25 – early afternoon on April 26 AEST.

‘Herbie’ has been staying with expat Brad Chisholm who works with Joe Campbell at Gaitway Farm.

In a little over three weeks he will head to Sweden for the iconic Elitloppet carnival and work alongside trainer Jörgen Westholm, who hosted another young Victorian reinsman, Ryan Sanderson, last year.

Age no barrier

The longevity of some athletes both human and equine never ceases to amaze and 13-year-old gelding Celestial Daybreak defied his age with another victory at Mildura.

Still raced by his breeders, the Byrne family of South Australia, Celestial Daybreak has the imposing record of 60 wins, 104 minors and $225,428 from 444 starts.

Since first stepping out at Yarra Glen in March 2015, the evergreen has raced on 22 individual tracks, winning at Cranbourne, Globe derby, Kapunda, Whyalla, Victor Harbour, Broken Hill, Mt Gambier, Gawler, Charlton, Swan Hill and Mildura.

Greg Sugars after Mach Dan’s

Vale Greg Sugars

Alongside the entire harness and wider racing industries, Harness Racing Australia mourns the loss of Greg ‘Candyman’ Sugars.

A genuine champion in and out of the sulky, Sugars was also a caring and thoughtful mentor to many. No question too small, nor favour too big – he found a way and time to help. His talents and generous nature transcended Australia. Fittingly, tributes have flowed from three continents, with Sugars winning fans with driving stints in the United States, Sweden and New Zealand.

Sugars shared a special partnership with Jess Tubbs, and together they not only enjoyed tremendous success, but were amazing ambassadors for the sport wherever they went.

This was on full display when taking on the world’s best in Sweden, with Just Believe in 2023 openly sharing the vulnerability and perseverance that made them so great and endearing to so many.

Our sincere condolences and thoughts are with Jess, the Sugars and Tubbs families as they navigate the next steps, we will be here for them.

SUCCESS: Djaara Community representative Rodney Carter, trainer-driver Kerryn Manning and part-owner Ken Salmon celebrate a Djaara Cup victory with Surfe La Mer. Picture: Charlton HRC

victory in the 2021 $60,000 The Weekly Advertiser Horsham Pacing Cup.

sport

Thorns making steady progress

BY DAVID BERRY

Round eight of Volleyball Horsham’s women’s competitions will see some exciting matches in both grades.

After their hard fought win last week, Ilze Van Zyl’s WLC Thorns are now primed to take a scalp, and Emily Hannan’s Tsunami is in their sights.

Thorns had to dig deep to record their confidence-boosting win against Heidelberg, with Van Zyl and Kirrily Dandy to the fore, while Hannan’s Tsunami had to come from behind to beat Molly Carter’s Jamm B Jam, with the experienced duo of Hannan and Tamikah Dockrill shining bright for the victors.

The Thorns are slowly but surely getting their systems down right, and this will stand them in good stead as they face an enormous onslaught from Hannan’s experienced team.

Lydia Schneider’s Lakers are showing the benefits of a settled six, sitting comfortably in second place on the ladder.

Kymberley Murray and Hannah Birch have settled in nicely with the team, enabling Kayla Kelm and Tayla Eltze to show their wares. They’ll have to be on their toes against an improving Heidelberg team desperate to record their first win for the season.

Amelia Van Buuren is settling into her setting role well, while Victoria Brown and Hannah

SHOW OF SUPPORT:

Goroke P12 College hosted its house athletics last week, with students donning their house colours while competing.

Pictured in action are, clockwise from above: Will Hausler in flight; Sophie Light shows her discus technique; and Riley Batson launches the votex. Pictures: PAUL CARRACHER

Gabbe were good last week, and if they carry that form into this clash, an upset could be on the cards.

The final game sees Lily Adams’ Phantoms sitting pretty on top of the ladder undefeated, ready to take on Carter’s Jamm B Jam.

Both teams are capable of some good volleyball, but only when they have their full contingent available. Whoever is in this position player wise, will be the hardest to beat.

In the Women’s B competition, the battle of the top two teams is the highlight of this round.

The Von Steiger Sisters are on top undefeated but have the youngsters from Horsham College in Power Divas breathing down their necks.

The Von Steiger Sisters have shown the benefit of regular training, spending most of their Saturday afternoons fine tuning their skills.

Meg Armstrong, Gwen Agustin and Lyn Aneban are leading the way.

But the Power Divas are steadily improving, with Eden Pumpa and Maci James in good touch.

In their earlier meeting the Von Steiger Sisters dropped the first set to their younger opponents but showed great resolve to bounce back and take the remaining two sets.

This game promises to be a beauty and whichever team can apply good service pressure on their opponents will come out on top.

Price, Goodwin share croquet win

Horsham Croquet Club hosted competitions on Thursday and Saturday.

Sharing the division one win on Thursday were Shirley Price and Robyn Goodwin, with Donna Frost finishing runner-up.

Dawn Scott was the division three winner from Phill Jackson.

Saturday’s competition saw David Wortley winning division one, with Donna Frost again runner-up.

Division two went to Juny Liddy, from runnerup Elaine Nicholls, while in division three Lorna Mills was the winner, with Joy Smith finishing second.

AFL LIVE ON

around tHe leagues

Eagles soar to top of the ladder

BY COLIN MacGILLIVRAY

The Ararat Eagles have flown to the top of the Mininera and District Football League ladder after a round-two thumping of reigning premier Penshurst.

The Eagles were sharp from the outset, recording 12 scoring shots to two in the first quarter in front of a home crowd at Alexandra Oval.

By three-quarter time the team’s lead had ballooned to 67 points, and while Ararat managed only three behinds in the final term, the result was beyond doubt.

The 14.15 (99) to 5.9 (39) win was a resounding endorsement of the Ea-

gles’ off-season recruiting drive, with pickups Zach Louder, five goals, Andrew Cameron, three, and Chevy Elliott, two, all playing prominent roles alongside captain Jackson Taurau.

Only two rounds into the season, Ararat is now the only team with eight premiership points, with Tatyoon the only other undefeated side after a draw and a win.

The Hawks played Woorndoo-Mortlake at the weekend, shaking off a slow start to win 14.15 (99) to 12.10 (82).

Tatyoon trailed by 17 points at quarter time and the same margin at the half, but took the lead after a sevengoal blitz in the third term.

The fruits of a successful recruiting period were also on display for the Hawks, with former WAFL-listed players Dylan Mulligan, Lachie McGrath and Cameron Anderson shining alongside captain Josh Bibby and former Corio player Brad Horsham.

The win sets up an enthralling showdown between the Hawks and Ararat Eagles this weekend at Alexandra Oval, with the winner guaranteed to finish the round atop the ladder.

Moyston-Willaura won its first game of the season and only its second in the past 12 months on Saturday, defeating SMW Rovers 11.14 (80) to 11.8 (74) in a nail-biting finish at Moyston Rec-

ON THE RUN: Birchip-Watchem’s Hamish Hosking dishes out a handpass to a running Dale Hinkley as Sea Lake-Nandaly’s Bryce Delmenico lays a tackle. The Bulls turned a 14-point quarter-time deficit into an entertaining 10-point win at Sea Lake in North Central Football Netball League action on Saturday. Birchip-Watchem sits second on the NCFNL senior ladder behind Boort by percentage. Sea Lake-Nandaly is fourth.

reation Reserve. The Pumas trailed the Bulldogs by 27 points at half time but maintained their belief, kicking six goals to two in the third quarter to drag themselves back within a goal.

With captain Liam Kaine leading by example in the midfield, Ararat recruit Izaiyah Turner kicking three goals in a forward pocket and Ned Bohner playing well at full back, the Pumas fought tooth and nail to pull out the win.

Great Western was also on the winners list at the weekend, defeating Caramut 20.11 (131) to 10.11 (71).

The Lions had too much firepower for the Swans, with Nathaniel Cooper, seven goals, outduelling Caramut’s Ben Makepeace, who kicked five.

Other results saw Wickliffe-Lake Bolac 12.11 (83) defeat Lismore-Derrinallum 11.8 (74) and GlenthompsonDunkeld 13.16 (94) best HawkesdaleMacarthur 8.6 (54).

In addition to the top-of-the-ladder showdown between the Hawks and Eagles, this weekend will pit Moyston-Willaura against Great Western at Moyston, Wickliffe-Lake Bolac against Glenthompson-Dunkeld at Lake Bolac, Hawkesdale-Macarthur against SMW Rovers at Macarthur, Woorndoo-Mortlake against Caramut at Woorndoo, and Penshurst against Lismore-Derrinallum at Penshurst.

SPECIAL GUEST: AFL umpire Rob Findlay will lead a training session with Wimmera Mallee Umpires Association members tonight, before hosting a dinner at Horsham’s White Hart Hotel.

Umpiring coup for region

One of Australia’s leading football umpires will share his wealth of experience with Wimmera Mallee Umpires Association members at a special training session in Horsham tonight.

Rob Findlay has umpired 362 AFL games since his debut as a field umpire in 2009, with 16 finals and one grand final under his belt, making him the sixth-most experienced active umpire in the league.

In 2023 he was named the AFL’s All-Australian field umpire.

Findlay will host an informal question-and-answer session at 6pm at the Horsham City Oval clubrooms tonight before leading WMUA members in a warm-up and intensive training session.

Following training he will host a dinner at Horsham’s White Hart Hotel to share his experiences in umpiring, challenges and journey to the top of his field.

AFL Victoria umpire recruitment and retention officer Cam Pickering said Findlay’s visit was ‘a massive coup’ for the region.

“This will kick off Community Umpiring Round, where the AFL and community footy leagues and umpire groups promote the importance of umpires in our game and continue to push recruiting for more umps to jump on board,” he said.

– Colin MacGillivray

Kate

Picture: BLAKE LEE

HorsHam district league

Lightning halts run

Aspecial occasion, wild weather and a 69-point win made for a memorable Horsham District Football Netball League clash at Kaniva on Friday.

Kaniva-Leeor United hosted Edenhope-Apsley under lights in an Anzac Day showcase – the league’s only match on the holiday.

Cougars’ co-coach Jonno Hicks said defensive pressure was a focus for his team after inconsistent efforts in a narrow round-one loss to Rupanyup and a round-two win over Natimuk United.

“We’ve been scoring okay in the first couple of rounds, but with our defensive side and our team discipline we’ve often let ourselves down,” he said.

“It was a real feature of our game last year and we wanted to make sure we really piled on the pressure early. It helped set up the game for us.”

Hicks’ players clearly heeded his words, with Edenhope-Apsley scoring only a single goal in the first half, while the Cougars piled on 9.10 to lead by 58 points at the long break.

Kaniva-Leeor United continued to put distance between itself and the Saints in the third term before experimenting with structural changes, allowing their opponents to gain midfield ascendancy for the first time in the match.

“We had some sore boys because the first couple of weeks had been really solid hitouts, so we changed our midfield group and they actually got on top in the first five minutes of that last quarter,” Hicks said.

But five minutes was all the Saints

would enjoy of their newfound momentum, with the game called off early in the final quarter due to torrential rain and nearby lightning strikes as the scoreboard showed the Cougars ahead 14.15 (99) to 5.0 (30).

While brothers Lochie and Jacob Eats kicked seven goals between them, half back Blake Dodson was named best afield and midfielders Billy King and Sam Vivian were prominent, Hicks said it had been a true team victory.

“It was one of our better team efforts. When we were picking the best players after the game it was nice because it was one of those ones where we had contributors across the board,” he said.

“We’ve got some good players in the side but we really need to rely on every single player to get a performance like that.”

The Cougars will now set their sights on another home game in round four, this time against Taylors Lake, which lost for the first time this season against Swifts at the weekend.

“Taylors Lake have been much improved this year, a bit like us, so their expectations will be higher from where they were last year,” Hicks said.

“I think it’s a real danger game. They’ll be coming here expecting a win and we’ll have to play our best football.”

The Lakers, despite their 14.16 (100) to 6.10 (46) loss to the Baggies on Saturday, can take heart from a third quarter in which they outscored their opponents four goals to two.

Taylors Lake forward Alex Baker kicked three goals in the third quarter alone, finishing with four for the match, while Billy Finnigan put his body on the line in the midfield.

But after Baker’s final major brought the home side within four goals halfway through the third term, the Baggies showed why they are regarded among this season’s premiership contenders.

Defender Liam Scott cut off subsequent Lakers forward entries, while Sean Mantell gave the Baggies’ onball brigade a boost.

With Jordan Motton finishing off the good work with six goals up forward, Swifts skipped away to a 54-point win at the final siren, setting up an enthralling contest against Laharum at North Park this Saturday.

The Demons came up just short at the weekend in the latest installment of what appears to be a budding rivalry with Pimpinio.

Laharum started strongly, kicking three goals to one in the opening frame, but Pimpinio retook the lead with a six-goal second quarter before the sides traded blows throughout the second half.

An early goal in the last quarter to Dylan Bates gave the Tigers a handy 10-point lead, but Laharum co-coach Robbie Miller ran into an open goal minutes later to trim the margin again.

An outstanding set shot from the boundary by young Demon Chase Whelan levelled the scores, which remained locked until deep into time on. Pimpinio, which had been hemmed in in its back half, found a release

valve in ruckman Matt Healy, whose strong contested mark on the wing sent the Tigers forward.

After repeated stoppages and a scrambled kick from the Laharum defence, an intercept mark from Pimpinio veteran Daniel Baker set up a match-winning goal from Tom Arthur.

Laharum had time for one last foray forward, but desperate defending from the Tigers saw them hold on for a 12.12 (84) to 11.12 (78) win.

Cullen Williams and Jason Westley, along with Healy, were among Piminio’s leading players, while Daniel Easson was immense for the defeated Demons.

The round’s other matches saw reigning premier Harrow-Balmoral surprisingly tested by a young Kalkee side, leading by only eight points at the final change before winning 9.15

(69) to 5.4 (34). The class of midfielder Will Plush and two goals each to Ethan Appleton and Cody Deutscher were the difference for the Roos, with Kalkee’s leaders Matt Nield, Paddy Mills, Matt Magee and Ben Lawson gallant in defeat.

Noradjuha-Quantong was too strong for traditional rival Natimuk United, winning 18.16 (124) to 11.8 (74) on the road.

The Bombers’ firepower proved too much for the Rams, with Jye Walter kicking four goals and Declan Phyland three, while Will Taylor was Natimuk United’s top performer.

The Bombers will host EdenhopeApsley this weekend, with the Rams to face Rupanyup on the road. Kalkee will travel to play Pimpinio, while Harrow-Balmoral has a bye.

Saints netballers dominant in Anzac Day showcase

Edenhope-Apsley’s netballers shook off the disappointment of a narrow loss to Swifts before the Easter break to convincingly win an Anzac Day showcase against Kaniva-Leeor United on Friday.

All eyes were on the netball court at Kaniva Recreation Reserve as the A Grade match opened proceedings, with the Saints gaining a three-goal advantage at quarter time before putting their foot down.

In the remaining three quarters the visitors outscored the Cougars 46-22, as defender Rebecca Carter impressed in her first game of the season along-

side Emily Burgess. Edenhope-Apsley coach Lavinia Fox, who scored 37 goals in the 60-33 win, said she was pleased with the way her team had rebounded from its two-goal loss to Swifts in round two.

“We were looking to bounce back in a strong way, and the performance we put out at the weekend is more the brand of netball that I know the girls are capable of playing,” she said.

“In the last quarter we shot 17 goals, which was our highest-scoring quarter for the game, so I think that showed that we continued to build across the four quarters.

“We are a very versatile side and I think against Swifts we could have made use of that a bit more.

“But of course it’s still early in the season and we’re figuring out where everyone plays best.

“Particularly on Friday, that’s what stood out to me – we had a few girls who played across two or three positions and were able to shine in all of them.”

Next for the Saints is a meeting with perennial powerhouse NoradjuhaQuantong, which defeated Natimuk United 56-28 at the weekend behind a dominant defensive display from

co-coach Taylor Shelley and 39 goals from young gun Taya Quick.

Fox said her team would need to be at its best to match the Bombers.

“You always know what you’re going to get against Noradjuha-Quantong. They’re a strong side,” she said.

“For us it’s going to be about continuing to be consistent and continuing to play high-intensity netball.

“Against quality opposition like that, that’s what we’ve got to do. If we’re not consistent, we won’t get the win.”

Elsewhere, reigning premier Laharum proved far too strong for Pimpinio, winning 74-30 thanks to an ac-

curate 43-goal outing from Maddie Iredell.

Kalkee was similarly too good for Harrow-Balmoral, winning 52-30, while Swifts dealt Taylors Lake its first loss of the season, winning 44-39 as Rebbekkah Seeary and Michaela Carey shared the load in attack.

In addition to the Bombers and Saints’ clash at Quantong, this Saturday will see Swifts host Laharum in a battle of undefeated teams at North Park, Rupanyup taking on Natimuk United, Kalkee travelling to Pimpinio and Kaniva-Leeor United at home to Taylors Lake.

WINNERS: Umpire Angus King declares Pimpinio’s winning goal, kicked by Tom Arthur, right, clear. He celebrates with team-mates, from left, Link Smith, Dylan Bates and Jason Westley. Picture: BRONWYN HASTINGS

league

Martin awarded in traditional clash

BY LAUREN HENRY

Aside from Ararat’s demolition of Dimboola on Saturday, round two of Wimmera league featured competitive games of senior football.

Kicking off on Friday evening with the traditional Anzac Day clash at Horsham City Oval, Horsham Saints scored a 63-55 win over the Demons. With just five points separating the two Horsham teams at the last break, the Saints were able to put together a solid fourth quarter effort to secure the win.

Jack Henry, kicking three goals, impressed, as did Jacob O’Beirne and Jackson Davidson.

Mitch Martin, with two goals, was awarded the Anzac Medal for his efforts.

The Saints will now turn their attention to this Saturday’s winnable match against Dimboola.

For the Demons, Billy Carberry, Archie Elliott with three goals, and Rhys Barber impressed.

Warrack Eagles showed they might be the big improvers of 2025, going down by only 20 points to last year’s grand finalists Southern Mallee Thunder.

Playing at home, the Eagles led by a goal at half-time and there was just two points the difference at the last change.

But the Thunder, led by playing coach Kieran Delahunty and assisted by Jarrod Stokes, Bailey Morrish and Jake Garvey showed their class in the final quarter, kicking four goals and

But with a 28-point lead at half time, Minyip-Murtoa fought off a late showing by the home side in the final quarter to hang on to win.

Sam Griffiths with four goals, Tim Mackenzie and Lachlan Johns were named in the best for the Burras. The one-sided match of round two was predictably played out between the reigning premiers, who travelled to Dimboola.

holding Warrack to just one major for the term.

Sam Hanna, Ned Grieve and Riley Morrow were judged best for the Eagles, who now face another tough task this weekend when they take on the in-form Minyip-Murtoa.

The Burras will go into their next match full of confidence after a 20-point win over Stawell. The Warriors led by seven points at quarter time but were stopped in their tracks after that – not kicking a goal until the fourth term.

Saints rise above Demons

Horsham Saints’ netballers exacted some grand final revenge on the Horsham Demons with a 20-goal win in an Anzac Day showdown under lights at Horsham City Oval.

The Saints and Demons have contested each of the past two Wimmera Football Netball League A Grade grand finals, with the Saints winning in 2023 and the Demons capturing last year’s flag.

While many of the teams’ recent meetings have yielded close results, the Saints appear to have an early leg up in the race for this year’s title.

They now sit atop the ladder with two wins from two games and a percentage above 200 after their 60-40 thumping of the Demons on Friday.

Wet conditions made the Horsham City Oval court slick underfoot as the match got underway at 5pm, but the Saints appeared unbothered as they reeled off 15 goals to seven in the opening term.

Captain Ash Grace played with her customary level of assurance at centre, providing plenty of opportunities for Saint goal shooter Jorja Clode.

Despite a laudable effort by Demon defender Ebonie Salter, the weight of the Saints’ forward entries proved telling, with Clode shooting a game-high 50 goals.

Saint goal defence Holly Phillips fought an entertaining battle with Horsham’s Georgia Batson, while Demon Keely Pope was prominent, but it was Grace who was awarded the Anzac Medal for her efforts.

Saturday saw Stawell shake off its Good Friday loss to Ararat and open its account for the season with a win against Minyip-Murtoa at Central Park.

The Warriors were unable to shake the persistent Burras in the first half, leading by only two goals at the first and second changes, but outscored their opponents 13-8 in the third term

to set up the 48-41 win.

Sophie Dyer came off the interchange bench to play a crucial defensive role on Burra goalie Lucy Brand, while fellow Warrior Holly Graveson netted 25 goals.

Stacey Arnold was Minyip-Murtoa’s top performer, playing all game at wing defence in an effective midcourt tandem with Johanna Griffiths.

The visiting Southern Mallee Thunder overpowered the Warrack Eagles at Anzac Park, winning 35-23 after a low-scoring first half.

The Eagles were only able to muster five goals in the first quarter and two in the second as Thunder goal keeper Sydney Thorogood held sway.

At the other end Steph Thomson, 19 goals, did enough to get her side across the line despite Eagle defender Jess Kelly fighting a valiant battle to blunt the influence of Emma Mill.

Dimboola overcame a slow start to defeat Ararat 60-44, outscoring the

In fact, neither side kicked a goal in the third quarter, which would have made for boring viewing at Central Park.

With a commanding 57-point lead already slotted by half-time, Ararat went on its merry way to boot 24 goals and post a 117-point win. With 13 goal-kickers, the major scores were shared around – Cody Lindsay kicked four goals, while Jack Ganley, Naish McRoberts and Brody Griffin booted three each. McRoberts, Lindsay and Griffin, along with Brayden Draffin, all showed their class in a match where the Roos never really looked in it. Round three will see only three games played as the Ararat – Stawell match was played on Good Friday.

Nhill returns from a bye to take on the Demons, Minyip-Murtoa host Warrack Eagles at Murtoa and the Saints will play Dimboola at Coughlin Park.

visitors 30-14 after the long break.

Bridget Dorrington was a brick wall in defence for the Roos, while Paige Glover controlled play in the midcourt.

LEADER: Horsham Saints’ Ash Grace was awarded the Anzac Medal. Grace leads away from Horsham’s Jorja Jones.

This weekend will see only three matches played, with a Southern Mallee Thunder bye and Ararat and Stawell resting after their Good Friday match.

Minyip-Murtoa will host Warrack Eagles and Murtoa, Nhill is at home to Horsham and Dimboola will travel to Coughlin Park to meet the Horsham Saints.

– Colin MacGillivray

HONOUR: Horsham Saints’ Mitch Martin was awarded the Anzac Medal for his efforts during Friday’s Anzac Day clash against Horsham. Pictures: PAUL CARRACHER

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Kaniva, Yanac battle for advantage

WBY SIMON KING

immera Hockey Associa-

tion action moves to Warracknabeal’s Anzac Park for round two this weekend, where the feature game will be the rematch of last year’s women’s grand final.

While it is still early in the season, there is work to be done by the early pacesetters to prove last week’s results were no fluke, and for those who did not open their season as they would have liked, to get back on track.

The first grand final rematch for the season will see Yanac attempt to reverse the result of last year’s season decider when they take on Kaniva in the women’s competition.

Kaniva started its premiership defence with a narrow loss to Dimboola last week, and Yanac started with a comfortable win. These two teams have played off in the last two grand finals, for one win each, so this is bound to be a top encounter with both wanting to gain the early advantage over an opponent they are likely to meet in the finals.

Two first round winners in the Dimboola Roos and Nhill Thunderbirds should also put in a hard-fought game, with both determined to show their round one result was not a chance occurrence.

Warracknabeal will be regrouping after its loss last week, but face Horsham Jets who also did not have

the season-opening game they would have liked, setting the scene for another tussle that could go either way.

The open competition will also feature two big games.

Warracknabeal will welcome back several regular players who missed a solid win over Nhill Rangers in round one, and will have to continue its best form as it meets Horsham Hurricanes who played some impressive hockey in a narrow loss to Yanac Tigers.

Both teams played the artificial surface at Dimboola well last week, but the big test will be to see which best adapts its game plan to the grass surface at Anzac Park.

After the bye last week, Kaniva Cobras go into their first match of their season against Yanac Tigers as an unknown, and although the Tigers were pushed hard last week before their win, they are always a challenge to play at any time of the season and on any playing surface.

Considering the round one results in under-16 competition, all three matches in this division should also be entertaining meetings.

The opening match is an opportunity for either Warrack Revengers or Horsham Bombers to record their first win for 2025 after both fell short last week.

UNDER PRESSURE: Horsham Hurricanes’ Fraser Cullen plays the ball under pressure from Yanac veteran

Kim Croot. Picture: RACHEL CLARK

This will be followed by Yanac Warriors taking on Kaniva Raiders, which has been an entertaining rivalry over recent seasons regardless of where they are on the ladder, and then Dimboola Kangaroos will attempt to build on their first-round win when they tackle Nhill Leopards, who also opened with a win. Round-one results –Open: Warrack Hoops 4 (goals, T. Jorgensen, S. Williamson, D. Schultz, J. Knoop; best, T. Jorgensen, B. McKenzie, J. Knoop) d Nhill Rangers 1 (L. Marra; B. Tischler, D. Reichelt, J. Reichelt). Yanac Tigers 3 (B. Alexander 2, T. Alexander; B. Alexander, Z.

Dorrington, S. Alexander) d Horsham Hurricanes 2 (W. Gulline 2; J. Harris, W. Gulline, C. Hassall). Women: Dimboola Roos 1 (N. Kuhnell; B. McMaster, J. Hauselberger, A. Rintoule) d Kaniva Women 0 (I. Williams, N. Hutchins, J. Wallis). Nhill Thunderbirds 9 (K. Clark 3, R. Clark 2, C. Rowe 2, L. Clark, B. Clark; C. Rowe, K. Clark, C. Shurdington) d Warrack Women 0 (K. Williamson, E. Williamson, S. Williamson). Yanac Women 4 (C. Alexander 2, M. Mackley, I. Hedt; E. Alexander, C. Alexander, M. Mackley) d Horsham Jets 0 (L. Schilling, H. Mackereth, A. Heal). Under-16: Dimboola Kangaroos 2 (J. Ward, A. Corbett; J. Ward, V. Ward, W. Hadzig) d Kaniva Raiders 1 (O. Curtis; O. Curtis, C. Champness, J. Beattie). Nhill Leopards 3 (B. Clark, C. Bone, J. Bee; T. Bee, B. Cannell, B. Clark) d Warrack Revengers 0 (E. Williamson, S. Williamson, N. Eilola). Yanac Warriors 5 (S. Pedie 2, H. Zanker 2, R. Dickinson; L. Cramer, A. Pedie, N. Pedie) d Horsham Bombers 2 (A. Newman, H. Knoop; J. Schwarz, H. Knoop, K. Besselaar).

Development program: Warrack Avengers 0 v Nhill Bandits 3 (H. Albrecht 3). Yanac Lowan Stars 2 (A. Cramer, P. Dart) v Horsham Black Hawks 1 (C. Claassen). Kaniva Rampagers 0 v Dimboola Kookaburras 2 (L. Hauselberger 2).

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National success

HBY COLIN MacGILLIVRAY

orsham’s Georgia Foster and Jett Hill have returned from the weekend’s Australian Little Athletics Championships in Adelaide with six medals in what represents by far the region’s best-ever performance.

Foster is a national champion after winning the under-15 girls 200-metre final, storming home in 26.28 seconds to win by 0.07 of a second from fellow Victorian Eden Pike.

Foster also competed in the under-15 girls 100m final, crossing the finish line in 12.70 seconds to finish third behind Victoria’s Zali Dalton, 12.59 seconds, and Queensland’s Charli Cox, 12.69 seconds.

Foster was also picked for two Victorian relay teams, running the final leg of the four-by-100m in a gold-medal effort.

She was also a member of the Victorian Swedish medley relay team – an event involving relay legs of 400, 300, 200 and 100 metres.

Foster ran the 200m leg, with Victoria finishing second behind Queensland.

Hill also returned with a pair of medals, winning silver as a member of the under-13 boys four-by-100m Victorian relay team and bronze in the Swedish medley relay.

Hill ran a personal-best time of 25.63 seconds in the under-13 boys 200m heats to qualify for the final, where he finished seventh in 26.03 seconds.

He also contested the individual 400m final, finishing just off the podium in 56.20 seconds.

Both athletes were thrilled with their performances, with Foster buzzing after claiming two gold medals.

“Probably the 200 was my favourite result because it was an individual event,” she said.

“I didn’t run a personal best but it was pretty close. All the races I did apart from the relays were really close.”

Foster, who was named Junior Athlete of the

“We think Horsham has had an athlete medal at nationals before, but we don’t think we’ve ever had a national champion. Georgia could be our first” – Peta Bond

Year at this year’s Wimmera Sports Star of the Year awards, said she would now turn her attention to gift running after appearing in the Stawell Gift women’s field for the first time this month.

The 14-year-old ran off an impressive handicap of only six metres, and also put in good showings at this season’s Ballarat and Castlemaine gifts.

“I ran at the Stawell Gift and came fourth in my heat,” she said.

“That was cool. I like gift races because there’s a big crowd. I met Stawell Gift women’s winner Bree Rizzo and men’s sprinter Gout Gout. They were lovely.

“I’ll go around the gift circuit and hopefully do well in the Stawell Gift next year.” Hill, 13, said he was also ‘very happy’ with his performance at the championships and wanted to continue rising through the athletics ranks.

Horsham Little Athletics Centre president and Foster’s mother Peta Bond said she was proud of both athletes.

“We think Horsham has had an athlete medal at nationals before, but we don’t think we’ve ever had a national champion. Georgia could be our first,” she said.

“We’re trying to go back in the history books as far as we can to see if we’ve ever had a national champion before.

“It’s very exciting for the club. Having two national representatives was amazing, and having six medals come back between them is absolutely fabulous. We’re so proud of them as a club.

“I’m a super proud president and mum for what they’ve achieved and the hard work they’ve put in.”

Weir bound for United States

A trip of a lifetime to the United States awaits Horsham’s Lilly Weir after the teenager qualified for the final of the global CrossFit Games.

Last month Weir made waves after finishing fifth in the world, and first in the Oceania region, in the open round of the girls 16 and 17-year-old games to qualify for this month’s semi finals.

The open and semi final rounds can be completed remotely at an accredited CrossFit centre by athletes, with the final taking place in Albany, New York, in August and September.

The semi-final consisted of five separate workouts, with the challenges revealed to competitors on the day of each event.

Rankings were based on a cumulative score across all five workouts, with the top 30 athletes earning a place in the final.

Weir finished 17th in cumulative standings worldwide, and third in the Oceania region behind fellow Australians Sophie Prater and Sophie Robinson.

Swiss CrossFit athlete María Granizo appears to be the athlete to beat in the finals after finishing either first or second in all five workouts to convincingly top the semi-final standings.

Weir, 17, said reaching the final had been her goal after she missed out by only about 15 places last year.

PROUD: Horsham Little Athletics Club’s Jett Hill and Georgia Foster with their medals won at Australian Little Athletics Championships in Adelaide. Picture: PAUL CARRACHER

Stunning Saints

Horsham Saints star Jorja Clode lines up for one of her 50 goals in her team’s stunning 20-goal win over reigning premiers Horsham on Anzac Day. The Saints dominated the grand final rematch 60-40 in slippery conditions at Horsham City Oval. The loss sees Horsham in an uncharacteristic fifth place on the A Grade