The Weekly Advertiser – Wednesday, November 19, 2025

INACCESSIBLE: Farmers

Ben Duxson and Shane Bibby lock the gate at Bibby’s Greens Creek farm. Picture: PAUL

‘Back our farmers’

BY BRONWYN HASTINGS

Victorian Farmers’ Federation has launched a campaign titled ‘Help protect Victorian farmland’ as landowners across the state refuse renewable energy company representatives entry to their properties in peaceful standoffs.

On Monday, Victoria to New South Wales Interconnector West, VNI West, representatives were refused access to private property at Greens Creek, where an ecological survey is required before the project’s installation of a high-capacity overhead transmission line.

VFF president Brett Hosking has asked Victorians to pledge their support to grow and protect the state’s prime farmland by signing a new petition as part of the campaign.

“Our farmland is an economic powerhouse that underpins more than 150,000 jobs and contributes in excess of $20-billion to the Victorian economy each year,” he said.

“Across Victoria, productive agricultural land is facing challenges for competing use, such as housing estates, mining approvals, transmission corridors and large-scale energy projects.

“Victoria is Australia’s food bowl and our farmland is a national treasure, producing almost a quarter of the nation’s food, from just three per cent of arable Australian land.”

Mr Hosking said farmers and the soil they farmed were irreplaceable.

“I’m urging everyone to back our farmers – we must send this message loud and clear to governments right across the nation,” he said.

“The petition is designed to remind governments and decision makers that farmers and the rural communities they support are vital to our state’s success.”

VNI West will connect the two states’ power generators and stores.

The Victorian section of the project is about 240 kilometres long and runs from Bulgana in Victoria’s west to a

proposed new terminal station site at Tragowel in the north, before connecting with the NSW section at the Murray River north of Kerang.

Landowner and sixth-generation farmer Shane Bibby, who was supported by about 20 of his neighbours at Monday’s standoff, said it was the first time the area’s residents denied VNI West access for the survey.

“We’re just denying them access so far,” he said.

“They’ve got to get this survey for some sort of flower done in late spring or early summer, so if they don’t get that done in a certain timeframe, it will push them back 12 months, which is our first aim, and hopefully the project will fall over.”

Mr Bibby said there are about seven farmers in his area affected by the survey and subsequent transmission line.

“We’ve got our own group – today we’re working alongside the Wallaloo and Gre Gre group – and we catch up and talk about what’s happened,

what our next plans are, what we can do and what we can’t,” he said.

“Our options change all the time, but all that we have to concentrate on right now is to deny access for the survey.

“We’ve all got letters with dates and times, where they’re intending to be, so that’s where we will go.”

A broadacre farmer and sheep producer, Mr Bibby said there was about 2.5-kilometres of transmission lines set to go through the Stawell-Avoca Road part of his property.

“That would be six or seven towers, and I think it equates to 16 or 17 hectares of land that they’re going to fence out and basically take out of production,” he said.

“When they fence it up, some paddocks will be cut in half and I’ll have no dams on one side and the dams on the other side, biosecurity is massive – there are lots of issues.

“And it’s just the inconvenience of the whole thing, it’s just a pain, really.

“We’re all trying to get hay done,

we’re busy getting ready to harvest and sorting stock out, and we’re all standing down here, protesting something we don’t want.

“We’ve got no rights to our own properties anymore. It’s just disappointing.”

Mr Bibby said the process started about three years ago, when some landowners accepted wind turbines onto their properties.

“The offer was there for the wind turbines, but they have to get the power from here to there, so the next thing they basically just got a map out and put a line through it with a ruler, and said that’s where the transmission lines were going,” he said.

“No consultation, no community process.”

Ben Duxson, also a sixth-generation farmer in the area, encouraged landowners to refuse access peacefully.

“It’s about just standing at the gateway, saying no and not letting them in,” he said.

Continued page 3

CARRACHER

Co-operative plans three new projects

BY LAUREN HENRY

Three new services – a family violence refuge, a kindergarten and a family services team –are next on the agenda for Goolum Goolum Aboriginal Co-operative.

In the wake of the official opening of its new community services building, Dalki Guli Hub, last week – a $4.8-million upgrade to the building at 36 Hamilton Street, Horsham, the organisation has announced plans for further developments along Hamilton Street.

The co-operative has purchased several properties along the north side of Hamilton Street, opposite its current medical clinic on the corner of Urqu-

Brigade celebrates 150 years

Horsham Fire Brigade declared two of its volunteers life members at the weekend during 150th anniversary celebrations that included a members’ dinner, a community open day, and National Medal presentations.

The anniversary also celebrated the brigade’s ongoing roles in bushfire response across the state, this year’s launch of the Fire Medical Response program to support Ambulance Victoria, and the election of the brigade’s first female third lieutenant and its second female fourth lieutenant.

Captain Marc Ampt presented Graham Hill and Michael Ziersch with brigade life memberships, highlighting their achievements.

He said Mr Hill had served the brigade for more than 30 years and had received a National Medal and National Emergency Medal.

“Graham has also held many positions in the brigade, and continues to be active in various aspects as well as being a leader and mentor to many members,” he said.

“He’s been a VFBV Junior State Membership committee member, the VFBV District 17 president, the brigade social club president, a firefighter, a reserve firefighter, a deputy crew officer, a fire medical responder, the fire equipment maintenance officer, communications officer, fourth lieutenant, second lieutenant, and of course, captain.”

Mr Ampt said Mr Ziersch had also

hart Street. Goolum had outgrown the site at 43 Hamilton Street, purchased in 2007, closing its gym, community room and board room to accommodate office space for more staff, which had more than doubled in the past 10 to 12 years.

It currently employs 57 staff – 22 of whom are Indigenous – to deliver its health and community services across the Wimmera.

But it is now planning a major expansion – both in terms of programs delivered but also buildings needed to house extra services.

It also has an office in Stawell, purchasing a building in Leslie Street, to cater for community in the northern Grampians.

General manager John Gorton said the board had three major projects on its radar.

“In 2022 we were funded to build a family-violence refuge, so we’ve still got to do that piece of work,” he said “This year, we were given the green light to build a three and four years’ kindergarten, so we’ve got to do that piece of work.

“We’ve also just recently decided that we are going to build a new building for our family services team, which has grown quite big – particularly now that we’re in pre-authorisation for a program called Aboriginal Children Aboriginal Care.

“We’ll be doing elements of child protection work, but we’ll be doing it

a little bit different in early intervention prevention – more than removal as such.

“So we’ve got quite a few things on and people, I think, in the wider community probably underestimate our footprint in Horsham – not just buildings and things that we own, but our capacity and our service is growing.

“In the last 10 years we’ve more than doubled our staff, and the more services that are coming our way, we’ve got to cater for that.

“Those three big-ticket items that we’ve got now is our next part of our project.”

Mr Gorton said the co-operative had purchased properties in Hamil-

served in a variety of positions and roles during his three-decade involvement.

“Michael has been a VFBV junior state championships committee member, a brigade social club vice-president, a reserve firefighter, firefighter and also a 4th lieutenant,” he said.

“He has also been awarded a VFBV life membership and also a National Emergency Medal.”

The brigade thanked outgoing fire equipment maintenance contractor Ray Carman for his years-long contribution to the brigade.

“Ray worked closely for us and generated many thousands of dollars towards the future success of the brigade,” Mr Ampt said.

CFA deputy chief officer Brett Boatman, with board member group general manager of strategic services

Robyn Harris, presented National Medals to Josh Fanning, Marc Ampt, Kate Wills and Shane Carter, awarded for 15 years’ diligent service.

The evening also included the announcement that the brigade would soon release a commemorative history book, compiled by the brigade’s history committee led by ex-captain John Davies.

People interested in purchasing the book can email Horsham.fb@cfa. vic.gov.au.

HELLO: Ray Carman and Opal entertain Sarah and mum Ashlee Santuccione.

Picture: PAUL CARRACHER

The 150th celebrations will continue on November 29, with people welcome to attend a torchlight procession from 8.30pm along Pynsent, Firebrace and Hamilton streets, following the Western Districts Fire Brigades Association Championships from 1pm at Horsham’s Park Drive track.

ton Street to create a precinct for its services.

“From the other side of Rudolph Motors down to the sheet metal place, Goolum owns all those properties. We’re starting the process for plans of building our family services centre where the shed is on what used to be Antonoff Engineering,” he said.

Goolum is an Aboriginal community-controlled health organisation, which has delivered health, welfare, and family services to more than 800 Indigenous people in the Wimmera area since 1983.

• For Goolum’s Dalki Guli Hub opening, see page 7.

Call for support

From page 1

“If the police want to come and do something, they’re the law enforcement officers, if they want to start locking us up or fining us, then that’s their right,” Mr Duxson said.

“To me, this is our biggest chance to try and get people educated – seeing stuff like this, it’ll start to hit home in the city, and now that the Coalition has got rid of net zero, there isn’t actual debate out there.”

Mr Duxson said the refusal was not just about farmers sticking up for farmers.

“We’re doing it for all of Australia, we’re trying to make sure they’ve got food and fibre security,” he said.

“It’s all about the principle and not letting these billionaires into our area. They think it’s their playground to come and make money on. It’s certainly not.”

The VFF is calling for a change in how land-use decisions are made, with a particular focus on food security, local communities, and long-term sustainability.

The VFF wants the State Government to develop a statewide strategy that: protects high-value agricultural land from fragmentation; ensures real consultation with local communities; provides fair compensation for landholders and communities; and guarantees shared benefits for regional areas impacted by development.

“We’re not asking for development to stop. We’re asking for it to be planned with intelligence, respect and an eye to the future,” Mr Hosking said.

Victorians can support the campaign and sign the petition at www.vff.org. au/help-protect-victorian-farmland.

HONOUR: National Medal recipients, from left, Josh Fanning, Marc Ampt, Shane Carter and Kate Wills, with brigade life members Michael Ziersch and Graham Hill.

Picture: BRONWYN HASTINGS

HRCC NEWS

Council identifies key election funding projects

Council has earmarked five priority projects for which it is seeking State Government funding in the lead-up to next year’s Victorian State Election.

Horsham CBD CCTV Upgrade

The CCTV system in the CBD is ageing, and a replacement like-for-like system is required.

There would be no change to its functionality, and higher quality cameras would ensure the new system has a longer life, and provide increased security for businesses, at public open spaces, and for the community at large.

Council is seeking $600,000 in election funding towards the total cost of $900,000.

Aerodrome Upgrades

The regional significance of Horsham Aerodrome has increased markedly in recent years, in particular in its capabilities to support emergency services.

It is an important local base for air tanker aircraft during the fire season, and supports more than 500 Air Ambulance transports every year. Important upgrade work is required to the lighting system and the apron area.

Council is seeking State Government support of $600,000, with Council contributing the balance of $460,000.

Cameron Oval, Laharum – Community Facility

Cameron Oval supports a very active and strong local community in Laharum, and has served as a key staging area for emergency services during several recent fires in the northern Grampians.

Council is eager to construct a new 350 sqm multipurpose facility to support local AFL football, cricket, tennis, school and general use, transforming the site into a vibrant community hub.

Total cost is $1.7 million. Council is seeking a $1,275,000 commitment from the State Government.

Horsham Railway Corridor Revitalisation

Revitalisation of this area between North Horsham and the city centre will play a major role in connecting our community, with improved pedestrian and bicycle links, parking and landscaping.

A detailed design, including a new pedestrian underpass, has already been completed.

The total project cost is $11.7 million. Council is seeking State Government funding of $1.75 million towards the $3.5 million cost of landscaping, and a further of $8.2 million for the pedestrian underpass.

A-Double Truck Readiness

The volume of A-Double and B-Triple heavy vehicle combinations is continuing to increase on roads across the municipality. Council recognises the limited load capacity of some of the region’s bridges.

HRCC has identified a cost-effective five-year program of analysis, design and construction works to improve bridge load capacity.

Council is seeking $2.5 million in State Government funding to meet 50 per cent of the cost.

TENDERS AND RFQ

26-021

REMOVAL AND ASSET RECOVERY OF PARKING METERS HORSHAM CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT

Closes Friday 28 November

26-003

PROVISION OF MAINTENANCE, REPAIR AND INSTALLATION IRRIGATION EQUIPMENT

Closes Wednesday 26 November

26-001

PROVISION OF ROUTINE MAINTENANCE SERVICING FIRE SAFETY EQUIPMENT

Closes Monday 1 December

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

Roadside slashing underway across the municipality

Council has kicked off its annual roadside slashing program, with crews already busy in areas where roadside vegetation has started to dry out.

The program is carefully scheduled based on local conditions — areas that dry out first are slashed first, while wetter regions are completed later as they become ready.

Starting too early can actually increase fire risk later, as cutting green grass encourages regrowth that dries out later in the season.

Because the timing depends on how different parts of the municipality dry out, Council can’t provide exact dates for when specific roads will be slashed.

Residents can also play a vital role in community safety by maintaining their properties and nature strips in front of their properties.

The roadside slashing program will continue through to the end of December, helping ensure Horsham is well-prepared for the summer months ahead.

Grants for personal firefighting unit upgrades

From October 2025 to February 2026,

These grants cover items such as pumps, hoses, UHF radios, PPE and more.

For more information on covered items and how to apply, visit the QR code or BlazeAid's website.

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HAVE YOUR SAY

GLASS RECYCLING COLLECTION REVIEW

Council is asking residents to share their views on a proposed change to the glass recycling (purple bin) collection frequency.

Currently, only 18% of households put their glass bins out every four weeks, down from 24% the year before. On average, each bin collected is less than one-quarter full.

To make the service more efficient and sustainable, Council is proposing to collect purple glass bins every eight weeks instead of every four weeks.

This change would:

• Keep the total amount of glass collected about the same

• Make collection routes more efficient

• Save around $32,000 per year in costs

• Reduce CO2 emissions by 8 tonnes per year

You can provide feedback by completing the survey on Engage Horsham before 5pm, Monday 1 December.

C85hors - HERITAGE AMENDMENT

Planning Scheme Amendment C85hors (Heritage Amendment) proposes to apply the Heritage Overlay to:

• 31 individual properties,

• 10 precincts

• 1 serial listing containing 6 silos

This is in response to the findings and recommendations within the Horsham Heritage Study (2014) and Review of the Horsham Heritage Study 2025. These properties have been identified to be included in the Heritage Overlay as either an individually significant place, a contributory or non-contributory place as part of a heritage precinct.

To find out more, you can attend a drop-in session at:

• HRCC Civic Centre Wednesday 3 December 4.30pm - 6.30pm

• NC2, Thursday 4 December 4.30pm - 6.30pm

For more information and to make a submission, please visit Engage Horsham with the QR code.

Engagement closes Monday 22 December.

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

Next Council Meeting: Monday, November 24, 2025 - 5.30pm Horsham Rural City Council: 18 Roberts Avenue Horsham | Postal address: PO Box 511 Horsham VIC

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

BlazeAid are offering grants for farmers in high bushfire risk areas to upgrade or replace their personal firefighting units.

Municipal monitor’s report released

BY LAUREN HENRY

Cases of bullying, harassment, dysfunctional relationships, and racism towards former chief executive Sunil Bhalla are outlined in a municipal monitor’s report on Horsham Rural City Council for the State Government.

Municipal monitor Stephen Kingshott’s report for Local Government Minister Nick Staikos, released last week, comes after he was appointed to the role in August, 2024.

His appointment was in response to concerns raised to former Local Government Minister Melissa Horne following governance and process issues, including the council’s failure to meet statutory deadlines for the adoption of its 2024-25 budget, councillors’ understanding and performance of their statutory roles and responsibilities, and governance concerns.

Mr Kingshott’s report is split into two sections – the first phase, from September to October 2024, outlines a ‘significant number of issues’ with the resignation of Mr Bhalla; ‘dysfunctional relationships between some councillors’; failure to adopt the 202425 budget within the statutory timeframe; prolonged and sustained negative media, print and social, covering a number of issues; a second letter of complaint from the Australian Services Union regarding alleged bullying and harassment; ‘an orchestrated vote of no confidence from staff’ against Mr Bhalla; and ‘staff polarisation, silos and organisational impacts’.

He outlined that about 70 of the council’s 218 staff supported a vote of no confidence in the former chief executive, but said the events leading up to Mr Bhalla’s resignation on September 6 had ‘polarised many of the staff’.

“Several staff interviewed strongly defended the CEO and maintained they had never experienced or witnessed situations of bullying and harassment from the CEO. Some said there had been ‘an internal hatchet job done on the CEO by some members of staff including the involvement of a ‘senior staff member’,” Mr Kingshott wrote.

“There have been claims of racism that were directed towards the CEO. Some staff members provided examples to me of their observations of behaviour that they interpreted as racially motivated.

“Furthermore, I was provided with feedback from people who attended the council meeting gallery where they stated they observed racist comments, belittling and sniggering at the then CEO.”

Recommendations – building a new future

Recommendations for the new chief executive to review the organisational structure; better communication and information-sharing with all councillors; and further opportunities for training and professional development form part of municipal monitor

Stephen Kingshott’s report into Horsham Rural City Council.

The report’s ‘second phase – November 2024 to June 2025’ includes quite high praise for the current council, outlining the work of the council to commit ‘a lot of time and effort into the induction and training programs’ to ensure a strong foundation.

Mr Kingshott wrote that through this year’s budget preparations, the council had been ‘well focused, wanting to learn and understand the budget process’.

Six new councillors were elected in October, with Cr Ian Ross the only previous councillor to be voted in.

Mr Kingshott said the new council had been ‘conservative and cautious in its approach’, citing several examples where the new council changed planned funding agreements.

“The new council had to digest a lot of information and navigate its way through a number of complex issues. Through this period, I observed they have had to grapple with difficult decisions and have been genuine in their approach to making decisions,” he wrote.

Mr Kingshott said the new council had found the recruitment of a new chief executive as ‘an extremely challenging process’ with many struggling with the enormity of the decision, and

Mr Kingshott reported the bullying and harassment allegations were investigated by the council and he had reviewed the investigation report, where ‘there were no substantive claims sustained’.

He also reviewed and examined several investigations into workplace behaviour concerns.

“I will not go into details of these discussions and situations that I have reviewed. However, there have been instances in the previous four years where situations of bullying and harassment have occurred and been proven; also there have been situations where the allegations were not substantiated,” he wrote.

“In cases proven, disciplinary action was taken, including and up to separation from HRCC. Many of these allegations did not relate to the CEO.”

Mr Kingshott reported a staff attrition rate of 20 per cent between July 2024 and May 2025, and said he was concerned ‘some of this loss of employees can be attributed to internal organisational culture and climate. The impact of this is significant,

some ‘almost paralysed with fear, given the importance of the decision’.

But he said in no way should his commentary bear any reflection on the appointment of Gail Gatt, with the working relationship between the chief executive and the council being positive, having already worked through some tough decisions.

Mr Kingshott also praised the work of interim chief executive Craig Niemann for providing ‘significant leadership through this period, with an ongoing proactive and positive dialogue that built confidence and stability into the organisation’.

“During this period HRCC was going through a very difficult time. The council’s reputation and its relationship with both its employees and community was damaged.

“There was mistrust within staff groups, and the organisation was operating within silos. The organisational culture was fractured. In my interviews, some staff indicated not wanting to wear their uniforms into work and taking off their badges when they walked down the street.”

Mr Kingshott also praised staff in working with the current council, citing improved results in the community satisfaction survey, and commenting that staff should be ‘congratulated for this positive turnaround within a short period of time’.

“Despite some of the negatives and frustrations, what has come through in many of my discussions with the staff is the pride they have for Horsham, the district and its communities. There is a genuine willingness from both

adding additional cost in both replacement recruitment costs and lost opportunity.’

High turnover

Mr Kingshott prefaced his report by explaining the context of Horsham council and the high turnover rates of councillors, which he said created ‘potential for governance risks as there is limited knowledge transfer within the cohort’.

He outlined how he conducted numerous interviews with council staff and councillors, attended council and staff meetings and reviewed reports and background discussions by basing himself at the municipal and depot offices.

He also attended public meetings, met with current and former local members of Parliament and with former municipal monitor Jude Holt, who had made 80 recommendations about the council in her report.

On August 19, 2024, HRCC sent a letter to the minister informing them that of the 80 recommendations, 67 were completed, seven were ongoing,

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staff and councillors to create a better culture and operating environment for the betterment of the wider municipal community,” he wrote.

“This is a new council, with a new CEO. They have the opportunity to learn from the past, but need to clearly focus on the future, building a new future for HRCC.”

Acting Mayor Brian Klowss said the council welcomed the report and accepted each of the recommendations.

“Council is committed to ensuring each of the recommendations are acted upon, so that we can fulfill our duties as councillors and represent our entire community to the highest standards possible,” he said.

“In fact, many of the recommendations have already been implemented in the first year of the new council.

“I am pleased to see the report acknowledges that positive progress has been made in improving overall performance over the past 12 months, since the 2024 election.”

Cr Klowss said as the monitor’s report pointed out, the current councillors were ‘currently engaging respectfully and working well together’.

“Like all effective teams we must continue to work at building relationships with each other so that we can have robust debate, continue to hold each other to account and make good decisions,” he said.

The report can be found at www. localgovernment.vic.gov.au/councilgovernance/independent-reports# Municipal%20monitors.

• Editorial, page 11.

three were in progress and three did not require any action.

Mr Kingshott reported complaints were made by individuals against each other to the Principal Councillors Conduct Registrar and to the Local Government Inspectorate.

The council administration also facilitated independent conciliation and arbitration processes.

“As an observation, some councillors, at times, chose to abuse the complaints process to facilitate their own agenda, resulting in counter complaints,” Mr Kingshott wrote.

“At times, HRCC was having to provide professional psychological support for some individuals due to the impact of this egregious culture.

“Unfortunately processes that had been designed to assist with good governance were being used in a way that was counterproductive and resulting in further deterioration in relationships and trust.

“This does not de-ligitimise serious concerns that may have been raised by individuals, however the proportion of legitimate concerns versus the other

motivations could be concerning. The time and additional work generated by the complaints process also created a significant distraction and lost opportunity for this council, impacting staff morale and the reputation of HRCC.”

During 2020 to 2024, there were 87 complaints – almost two every month – lodged with the Local Government Inspectorate, ranging from potential breaches of the Local Government Act including conflicts of interest, directing staff, release of confidential information and misuse of positions.

“During confidential discussions, some councillors shared concerning examples as to how this situation had a serious impact on their mental health,” Mr Kingshott wrote.

Mr Kingshott’s direct observations of the 2020-24 council were limited to two months before the October local government elections.

He described the relationship between then mayor Robyn Guliine and Mr Bhalla as providing ‘relatively consistent leadership’, working closely together from 2020 to 2024.

“Some members of council would argue they had developed a reputation for successfully obtaining grant funding and project development for HRCC over that period. While others argued there was an environment created, over time, that wasn’t inclusive in its decision making and council became a ‘rubber stamp’. Certainly this long-term relationship, at the senior leadership level, had detractors within council and the community,” Mr Kingshott wrote.

The report details the specific issues around why the budget was not adopted in time – Mr Bhalla had indicated that due to a finance system change there had been ‘ongoing problems with the integrity of the data and migration of data from the old computing software system’.

“It wasn’t until early June that Mr Bhalla believed there could be potential data and integratory issues impacting cash flow,” Mr Kingshott wrote.

In other financial-management matters, the report outlines examples of how dysfunction impacted council oversight, with work on council projects either delayed, significantly changed or a lack of clear communication about the exact funding.

“I was told that it was usual to ‘just move money around’,” Mr Kingshott reported.

“Any proposed expenditure should reflect the actual approved budget, if there is a change it should be documented and reported with a clear rationale back to council regarding revised expenditure variance from existing budgeted amount.”

New hub ‘welcoming, safe, healing’

BY LAUREN HENRY

The Indigenous community and partner organisations celebrated Goolum Goolum Aboriginal Co-operative’s new community services building, Dalki Guli Hub, on Thursday.

The $4.8-million updated building, located at 36 Hamilton Street Horsham, will be a gathering space where Wotjobaluk, Jaadwa, Jadawadjali, Jupagulk and Wergaia people will be able to practise and celebrate culture.

The additional space will see Goolum improve its operational efficiency, catering for an increase in client numbers, with 130 program participants each year and 350 participants involved in activities at the hub. A variety of Indigenous training and employment opportunities will also be on offer through the hub.

The building is reflective of Indigenous culture, featuring design elements depicting the Wimmera River, Hindmarsh and Albacutya lakes, Bunjil the eagle, birthing trees, scar trees, and animals such as giant emu and galah that are important in Indigenous creation stories.

The upgrade has kept the straw-

thatched ceiling to fit with the natural elements of the building.

Goolum Goolum board chairperson

Jake Goodes said the hub had been thoughtfully designed to reflect cultural heritage principles, incorporating natural materials, textures and storytelling elements that grounded the building in country.

“Every design choice has been made to create an environment that feels welcoming, safe, and healing,” he said.

“I think the narrative of country and connection in bringing everyone together as community – it’s actually a story that now will always live in these walls.”

“The hub honours the past, celebrates the present, and lays the foundation for a stronger, more connected future reflecting who we are as a proud community grounded in culture, country, and care for one another.”

Mr Goodes said Goolum had purchased the building – which many would remember as Horsham’s former skate rink – in 2020.

“It’s been five years but how we’ve gone about it and what you’re looking at today, I think the end product is exactly what we wanted,” he said.

“The space that we’ve created, it’s

a safe space to come – you can just come in and sit down, have a coffee, get some food, have a yarn with whoever, you come visit other community members, walk through, catch up with staff and just catch up with what’s going on with the community and when the next event is.”

Mr Goodes thanked Locks Constructions for its work in completing the building and accommodating Goolum’s needs.

General manager John Gorton said

the organisation wanted to create a hub for its community, similar to what it had when situated at its former base at Droylsden House.

“Over the road was built for a medical clinic purpose – there was a lot of locked doors and the community didn’t feel like it was a co-op anymore,” he said.

“We needed more community spaces for program delivery and we needed a handful of more offices because we will have only about 13 or 14 staff

based here, and we needed meeting rooms.”

The hub also has a café, headed by Horsham chef Fabian Lauricella, who will provide catering for Goolum events.

“People were excited, I think. One of the community members said ‘this place has a feel like the old co-op’,” Mr Gorton said.

“There’s no locked doors – except for the staff area – which is only in one quarter of the building, but you can just walk through and if you need coffee or food, we have it here.”

Federal Government department, Indigenous Land and Sea Corporation, ILSC, contributed $1-million towards the hub’s renovations and fit out, and the State Government’s Aboriginal Community Infrastructure Program also helped fund the project. ILSC group chief executive Joe Morrison praised GGAC’s dedication in developing the hub – reflecting on its significance for local Indigenous groups.

“The Dalki Guli Hub will not only drive positive change, but it will also be a beacon of hope for the community, representing their investment and commitment to their future aspirations,” he said.

CELEBRATION: From left, John Gorton, Regina Hood, Jake Goodes, Aunty Pam Branson, Kelly Britten, Brandi Olston, Lachie Marks and Nola Illin at the opening of the Dalki Guli Hub. Pictures: PAUL CARRACHER

TRADITION: The Indigenous community and partner organisations celebrate the opening of Goolum Goolum Aboriginal Co-operative’s new community services building, Dalki Guli Hub.

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Council names five priority projects

Horsham Rural City Council has come out of the blocks early to earmark five priority projects on its wishlist ahead of next year’s state election.

The council will seek State Government funding pledges to upgrade Horsham CBD security cameras; Horsham Aerodrome improvements; build a community facility at Laharum’s Cameron Oval; Horsham railway corridor revitalisation; and strengthening bridges for an increased amount of A-Double trucks.

Horsham’s Acting Mayor Brian Klowss said the upgrades and revitalisation works represented projects of significance to the community’s security, council’s commitment to meeting infrastructure needs, and to transforming community spaces and facilities.

“Councils only collect around 3.5 per cent of taxation nationally and need support from other levels of government to provide and maintain local infrastructure and assets,” he said.

“These State Government grants are of critical importance, because they permit local councils to determine where the money is most needed.

“A lot of work has already gone into preparing these submissions, much of which has been informed by ongoing community engagement.

“Successful funding support for these projects will not only help us improve regional infrastructure, they will also benefit our community’s overall liveability, security and safety.”

The council’s explanations of the five priority projects are:

Horsham CBD CCTV upgrade

The CCTV system in Horsham CBD is ageing, and a replacement like-forlike system is required.

Higher-quality cameras would ensure the new system has a longer life, and provide increased security for businesses, at public open spaces, and for the community.

The council is seeking $600,000 in election funding towards the total cost of $900,000.

The State Government contribution would cover equipment and installation. The council would contribute $300,000 over a five-year period to maintain the system.

Aerodrome upgrades

The regional significance of Horsham Aerodrome has increased markedly, in particular in its capabilities to

support emergency services. It is an important base for air-tanker aircraft during the fire season, and supports more than 500 air ambulance transports every year. The airfield also hosts two aircraft maintenance businesses and pilot training services. However, important upgrade work is required to the lighting system and the apron area, at a total cost of $1.06-million.

The council is seeking State Government support of $600,000, with council contributing the balance of $460,000.

Cameron Oval, Laharum –community facility

Cameron Oval supports an active and strong local community in Laharum, and has served as a key staging area for emergency services during

several recent fires in the northern Grampians. The council is eager to construct a new 350-square-metre multipurpose facility to support football, cricket, tennis, school and general use, transforming the site into a community hub.

Total cost is $1.7-million. The council is seeking a $1,275,000 commitment from the State Government, representing 75 per cent of the cost.

The council will contribute $425,000, with the potential for some of that to be a local community contribution.

Horsham Rail Corridor revitalisation

Revitalisation of the area between Horsham North and the city centre will play a major role in connecting the community, with improved pedestrian and bicycle links, parking and

landscaping. The council prepared the Horsham Rail Corridor Master Plan to identify how better connections across the rail corridor would improve the image of the area through effective and sustainable urban renewal.

A detailed design, including a new pedestrian underpass, has already been completed.

The total project cost is $11.7-million. The council is seeking State Government funding of $1.75-million towards the $3.5-million cost of landscaping, and a further of $8.2-million for the pedestrian underpass.

A-double truck readiness

The volume of A-double and Btriple heavy vehicle combinations is continuing to increase on both state arterial roads and local government roads across the municipality.

The council identifies upgrades to these busy freight routes each year, with both state and federal governments funding a critical component, and recognises the limited load capacity of some of the region’s bridges.

HRCC has identified a cost-effective five-year program of analysis, design and construction works to improve bridge load capacity, with current works at Gross Bridge serving as a forerunner to works that will follow on other bridges, pending funding availability.

The council is seeking $2.5-million in State Government funding to meet 50 per cent of the cost.

For more details of the projects, people can visit www.hrcc.vic.gov. au/files/assets/public/v/1documentresources/state-election-2026priorities-final.pdf.

VITAL LINK: Revitalisation of the area between Horsham North and the city centre is among Horsham Rural City Council’s priorities. Picture: PAUL CARRACHER

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Report raises eyebrows

Municipal

monitor Stephen Kingshott’s report into Horsham Rural City Council has a list of interesting points as long as Firebrace Street itself.

An at-times toxic work culture of bullying, harassment, and dysfunctional relationships, and at times racism directed at former chief executive Sunil Bhalla, who after a vote of no confidence by some staff members ultimately resigned.

Another part of the report that raised eyebrows was details about how it was usual practice to ‘move money around’ on council projects without necessarily having the council’s approval and making it public knowledge.

There was his mention of ‘prolonged and sustained negative media – print and social – covering a number of issues’.

As a council reporter and editor covering Horsham council’s issues, I wasn’t sure how to take this point. Was he simply outlining that council’s actions had caused the negative media? Or was he implying the ‘negative media’ had unfairly contributed to the council’s reputation?

I can only speak for what was reported in The Weekly Advertiser, but the stories covering Horsham council last year were only a reflection on what was happening both at council meetings and internally.

If the local media did not report the council issues, how would the majority of our community be informed about the critical issues that laid within the council?

Then there was the section about councillors having a perceived conflict of interest, and the potential to show bias in decision-making.

This fell under the part where Mr Kingshott spoke at length about the

EDITORIAL

By Lauren Henry

council’s challenge in its advocacy role at a time of ‘significant change and transition’ with so many proposed mining and renewable energy projects in the region.

Mr Kingshott wrote council had ‘an important role and an opportunity to lead with proactive advocacy to get the best possible outcome for their communities’.

“Resisting this change isn’t really an option,” he wrote.

“Leadership is not always easy and at times the council may be perceived to be at odds with some strong and vocal sections of the community opposed to change.

“The council will need to consider how they get in front of the conversation and provide strong advocacy through this changing landscape. This will only happen through proactive dialogue to influence an appropriate path forward for the community.

“Some in the community may not always be happy with the direction or outcome.

“Change is going to happen. HRCC needs to seriously consider the important role that is hard to lead that change given the council’s core strategic role to guide the municipal district’s economic, social and environmental sustainability and achieve the best outcomes for the municipal community including future generations.

“Agriculture will continue to be the predominant sector in the Wimmera, however the engagement with mining and renewables cannot be ignored.”

Mr Kingshott said concerns had been raised to him about some councillors having a conflict of interest and potentially displaying bias with their opinions and decisions, but he had not observed undeclared conflicts.

“Regarding potential bias, I have met with each individual councillor and the CEO to discuss bias. I have expressed my concern, through observation, that there might be some bias within some of the current council cohort that will need to be managed effectively. This may include unconscious bias,” he wrote.

“I have recommended that there should be further training sessions, with external law, to reiterate and provide ongoing training and clarity regarding bias, both perceived and actual, and how it should be managed.”

It was an interesting perspective from someone who is essentially an independent observer, who has come into the role with a strong local government background – and was State Government appointed.

Mr Kingshott’s observations about conflicts of interest – perceived or actual – were on point.

It is not the first time I have heard this spoken about in our community, and will be further scrutinised as issues regarding mining and energy projects continue to bob up.

While dealing with and making decisions on behalf of the varying views in the community will be a challenge for councillors, so will the ability to ensure they are making those decisions for the betterment of the whole community.

Blokes in the Bush night

For Blue Ribbon Foundation Ararat branch president Dianne Radford, the message behind a Blokes in the Bush prostate cancer awareness event on November 24 is simple – ‘we just want blokes to get themselves tested’.

The event at Ararat’s Alexandra Oval Community Centre will feature legendary former AFL player and coach David Parkin, as well as local health professionals and prostate cancer survivors.

Mrs Radford said the concept arose when ‘a number of gentlemen in the Ararat community’ – many of whom had ties to the Blue Ribbon Foundation through February’s Grampians Ride to Remember – approached her with the idea.

“A lot of them had just been diagnosed or were being treated for prostate cancer, and they asked if I could help them put together an awareness night to make sure blokes go out and get themselves checked,” she said.

While the Blue Ribbon Foundation’s primary mission is to remember members of Victoria Police killed in the line of duty, Mrs Radford said she was eager to support the men.

“A lot of our locals have been great supporters of Blue Ribbon, and we felt we should do it for them and for other men in the community,” she said.

“Ararat Rural City Council, through chief executive Tim Harrison, came on board and booked the venue for us, and it’s just evolved from there.”

Mrs Radford said the event would be relaxed and informal, allowing men to share food, drinks and stories.

“We’ll have an informal outside space on the oval and a light tea with open rolls so the blokes can just have a bite to eat and chat with each other,” she said.

“The biggest thing I have learned from this is that blokes need to talk to each other, particularly after they have been through either surgery or radiation or whatever it is.

“There’s a group of about 10 of them who meet every Friday in Ararat and have a coffee together, and that’s where this concept came from.”

Mrs Radford said she had known Mr Parkin –a premiership captain at Hawthorn in 1971 and a four-time premiership-winning coach – for many years.

With Mr Parkin serving as an ambassador for men’s health charity The Male Bag, Mrs Radford said he was eager to support the Blokes in the Bush night.

“David is a prostate cancer survivor and a champion of the Male Bag Foundation, which raises money for prostate cancer equipment in hospitals,” she said.

“I said to David that the Ararat community would like to support his foundation, and he said he’d like to support our foundation.

“He’ll talk about being a prostate cancer survivor, and he’s also good at telling blokes to go get themselves tested.”

Mrs Radford said other speakers on a panel for the night would share their insights and allow attendees to ask questions.

“We have got Gay Corbett, who is the prostate cancer nurse for the Grampians Region, and some members of the local prostate cancer support group will join her,” she said.

“They’ll cover where you can go to find out information if you need it – it will all be relaxed and a bit of fun.”

Mrs Radford said she hoped between 70 and 80 people would attend the event, which begins at 6pm.

Tickets are $50 and cover entry and dinner, along with a complementary drink on arrival.

Subsequent drinks will be available for purchase at the bar.

People can book tickets via www.trybooking. com/events/landing/1493135 or call Mrs Radford for more information on 0419 316 920.

Pools open for summer

Outdoor public swimming pools are opening for the summer season across the Wimmera, with Horsham Aquatic Centre’s War Memorial outdoor pool opening on Monday.

Duty manager Kerrie Pietsch said swimmers were keen to dive in.

“Three brave swimmers took to the water at 6am, and by 8.30am about eight people had taken the plunge,” she said.

Pools at Kaniva and Edenhope opened on Saturday, along with pools at Dimboola, Jeparit, Rainbow and Nhill.

Ararat Rural City’s three outdoor swimming pools are set to open for the summer season, with Ararat on November 3, Lake Bolac on December 1 and Willaura on December 3.

Warracknabeal’s pool will open on November 22, Hopetoun on November 24, Murtoa on November 30, Goroke on December 1 and Minyip on December 6. The opening dates for Stawell, Woomelang, Rupanyup and Beulah have not yet been announced. Some pools’ opening hours will be extended during hot weather; people can check respective Facebook pages for more information.

READY AND WAITING: Lifeguard Brody Gray at Horsham Aquatic Centre. The War Memorial outdoor pool opened on Monday. Picture: PAUL CARRACHER

CHRISTMAS,

Absolute Curtain Co.

Acacia Caravan Park

Agrimac Horsham

Ararat North Store

Bi Rite Stawell

BJ’s Furniture & Bedding

Cellarbrations Superstore

Horsham

Centre for Participation

Clarks Furniture

Cooks Of Horsham

DCIRS Community Care, Warracknabeal & Donald

Decor Room Ararat

DMD Horsham

SHOP AT THESE PARTICIPATING BUSINESSES

DMD Nhill

Dollar Curtains & Blinds Ararat Fresca

GoldStar Self Storage

Harvey Norman Horsham & Ararat

Hermans of Horsham

Horsham Doors and Glass

Horsham Golf Club

Horsham Lanes and Games

Horsham Motor Co

Horsham RSL

Horsham Sports & Community Club

Intersport Horsham

Just Better Care Horsham & Ararat

Lardner Bros

Latitude Recruitment

McPhersons of Brim

Mountains of Chocolate

National Insurance Brokers

Nhill IGA Plus Liquor

Priceline Pharmacy Ararat

Sportspower Horsham

Spotlight Horsham

Spuddy Good

Stawell Lotto

Studio Sukha

Surf One

Telstra Ararat

Telstra Horsham

The Exchange Hotel Horsham

The Victoria Hotel Horsham

Thrive Health Clinic

Toyworld Horsham

Tyrepower Ararat

Tyrepower Horsham

Una Sosta

Wade’s

West Side Horsham

Wimmera Aquatrail

Wimmera Bearings

Wimmera Mallee Ag

Wimmera Outdoors

West Wimmera chief reappointed

BY COLIN MacGILLIVRAY

West Wimmera Shire Council last week announced it had reappointed chief executive David Bezuidenhout for a further five-year term.

Councillors unanimously voted to renew Mr Bezuidenhout’s contract at a council meeting.

Mayor Tim Meyer said Mr Bezuidenhout had led the council since 2021, driving initiatives to strengthen community engagement and improve service delivery across the shire.

Cr Meyer said the decision to reappoint Mr Bezuidenhout reflected the council’s confidence in his leadership and vision for the future.

“David’s performance has been consistently exceptional,” Cr Meyer said.

“He is a CEO of high calibre, and we are very privileged to have David on board. His strategic approach and collaborative leadership have positioned West Wimmera Shire for continued success.”

Mr Bezuidenhout said he was grateful for the council’s support.

“I am honoured to continue serving West Wimmera Shire. Together with our dedicated team, I look forward to building on our achievements and delivering positive outcomes for residents and businesses,” he said.

Mr Bezuidenhout’s reappointment comes amid a controversial labor dispute at the council.

In July this year West Wimmera Shire Council staff demanded the council stand down Mr Bezuidenhout, alleging he had created a ‘toxic and fearful’ workplace culture.

Staff passed a motion of no confidence in Mr

Bezuidenhout and Cr Meyer, alleging senior council leadership had misled the public and endangered staff.

At the time the Australian Services Union, ASU, demanded Mr Bezuidenhout stand down pending a full, independent investigation.

Council employees took industrial action in May after negotiations over a new enterprise bargaining agreement, EBA, stalled.

ASU representatives said council staff stood to lose a longstanding income protection scheme, which had been part of every EBA negotiated since 1999.

The union said the income protection scheme was negotiated as a tradeoff for lower percentage pay increases, but had been axed by the council in its latest proposed EBA with no consultation.

ASU Victoria and Tasmania branch secretary Tash Wark slammed the decision to renew Mr Bezuidenhout’s contract.

“The decision by West Wimmera Shire Council to reappoint David Bezuidenhout for five more years is a failure of leadership and a deep betrayal of its own workforce,” she said.

“For months, ASU members have formally raised serious allegations of bullying, harassment, and a toxic, fearful culture under his leadership, culminating in a staff motion of no confidence in both the CEO and the mayor.

“This is not a vote of confidence in leadership; it is a vote of confidence in a broken culture.

“The ASU demands that the council finally stand up for its workers and commence a full, independent investigation into the toxic workplace culture immediately. Anything less shows a council that is fundamentally unfit to govern.”

Picture: PAUL CARRACHER

5pm on Friday, November 28. People can register at The Forbidden Forest for the advent hunt, which has 16 gifts to collect from all stores. Pictured promoting the traderrun event, are, from left, Neil Shaw, Shane Harman, Kylie Harman, Mayhla Howells and La Vergne Lehmann.

Invitation to medieval combat

The Wimmera LARP Group is encouraging new members to try the sport as it prepares to host its next event at Horsham’s Sawyer Park Soundshell this Saturday from 1pm to 4pm. LARP, which stands for live action role-play, involves simulating medieval combat, with participants dressing up and wielding foam swords and other ‘weapons’.

Wimmera LARP Group leader Lachlan Mayberry said it was akin to ‘stepping into your favourite movie or video game for a couple of hours’.

Mr Mayberry said the group, which meets fortnightly at the soundshell, had seen steady growth since it was established last year, with its biggest turnout of 26 combatants at an event.

He said anyone could take up LARPing, with the group providing foam weapons for beginners.

“All equipment is provided for free. We’ve got some hire swords there and a little bit of armour

so people can have a try and see what sort of styles they like,” he said.

“You need absolutely zero experience. As long as you feel comfortable to pick up a sword and swing it at someone, we welcome you on board.”

Mr Mayberry said the group also focused on creating a family-friendly environment, with parents and grandparents often staying to watch younger members or even participating themselves.

“Our preference is that anyone under the age of 18 be accompanied by a parent or guardian, just for insurance purposes. It is a contact sport, so we’ve got insurance in place and first-aid training for our referees and marshalls,” he said.

“We’ve got Working With Children’s Checks and we’ve registered the Wimmera LARP Group as a not-for-profit organisation.”

People can find more information on the group by visiting www.facebook.com/ groups/1454547292230079.

FESTIVE: A market, late-night street shopping, a visit from Santa, an advent hunt and the return of the Dimboola Dollars incentive will feature at a Christmas in Dimboola event from

Iberdrola Australia appointed to develop VNI West in Victoria

VicGrid has partnered with Iberdrola Australia to develop the Victorian section of the Victoria to New South Wales Interconnector West (VNI West) project. This marks an important step forward in delivering one of the state’s most significant transmission projects.

Who’s doing what for VNI West?

Earlier this month, responsibility for planning Victoria’s transmission infrastructure transferred from the Australian Energy Market Operator’s Victorian Planning division (AVP) to VicGrid. The transition is designed to bring greater clarity, coordination and long-term oversight to how transmission projects such as VNI West’s Victorian section are planned and delivered.

The existing project team Landholder Liaisons will still be the point of contact for landholders, but VicGrid will have overall responsibility for engagement with landholders, Traditional Owners, and local communities.

During the development phase, VicGrid will lead VNI West’s development with Iberdrola supporting activities such as project design, procurement, planning approvals, the Environment Effects Statement (EES) process and engagement.

What’s next

Iberdrola Australia is working closely with VicGrid to progress early works for VNI West. Over the coming months, the VNI West project team will introduce the Iberdrola Australia team to landholders and communities. Together, VicGrid and Iberdrola Australia are committed to delivering VNI West in a way that strengthens the grid, supports regional economies and leaves a positive legacy for landholders, communities and all Victorians.

Staying connected

As these changes take place, the VNI West project team remains focused on supporting landholders, Traditional Owners and the wider communities through open, respectful and ongoing communication. We’ll continue to share updates so you can stay informed as the project and transition progress.

Website: transmissionvictoria.com.au

Email: enquiries@transmissionvictoria.com.au

Free call: 1800 824 221

Facebook: @TransmissionVictoria

Newly elected mayors ready to serve

BY COLIN MacGILLIVRAY

Mayoral elections across municipalities in the Wimmera, southern Mallee and Grampians regions this month have seen a mix of results, with some councils appointing new mayors while others returned incumbents.

Ararat Rural City Council last week elected Cr Bob Sanders as mayor, replacing Cr Jo Armstrong.

Cr Sanders was formerly mayor of the municipality in 2023-24 during the previous council term.

First-time councillor Teli Kaur was appointed deputy mayor alongside Cr Sanders, with both to fill the positions for the next 12 months.

Cr Sanders – a resident of the Ararat district for more than 50 years – has volunteered across organisations including the CFA, Victorian Farmers Federation and Moyston-Willaura Football Netball Club, and said he was excited to serve the community as mayor again.

“I’m pleased there was a unanimous decision for myself and Teli to be elected, entrusting us with these roles,” he said.

“I’m really happy with the direction that council is heading at the moment, and I look forward to this continuing.”

Cr Kaur is also the manager of Ararat Neighbourhood House and said she was passionate about uplifting the community’s varied voices and advocating for mentalhealth programs.

“It is my privilege to work alongside such dedicated councillors who care deeply about the wellbeing of our community,” she said.

“I am committed to serving our community to the best of my ability, and to

continuing to grow and learn in this role.

Together, we will keep building a stronger, more connected, and vibrant Ararat.”

Cr Armstrong congratulated the pair on their elections as she stepped down.

“I congratulate our new leadership team and look forward to our council’s ongoing stability and strong focus on delivering our council plan,” she said.

“The effort we have put in together over recent years to build a strong team has served our community exceptionally well and I am confident that will continue with Bob and Teli at the helm.”

There was also a changing of the guard at Yarriambiack Shire Council, with Cr Andrew McLean replacing Cr Kylie Zanker after a four-year stint as mayor.

Cr Corinne Heintze will be deputy mayor alongside Cr McLean for a one-year term.

Yarriambiack Shire Council chief executive Tammy Smith congratulated the incoming pair and thanked Cr Zanker for her years of service in the top job.

“During her four-year tenure as mayor, Cr Zanker played a key role in advocacy efforts, including securing the Murtoa early-years precinct and advancing commitments for Rabl Park, Anzac Park and the Beulah Supermarket,” she said.

“While some promises made by the opposition were not realised, these outcomes reflect the mayor’s dedicated service.”

Mrs Smith said Cr Zanker’s achievements as mayor included the completion of projects such as an affordable housing initiative; upgrades to netball and tennis courts in Brim and Rupanyup; new changerooms at Rupanyup and Beulah; funding for improvements to the Sea Lake-Lascelles, Banyena-Pimpinio and Hopetoun-Yaapeet

roads; the installation of new cabins at Hopetoun and Warracknabeal caravan parks; a new building with landscaping at Warracknabeal Kindergarten; landscaping at kindergartens in Rupanyup and Hopetoun; and the renovation of the former Dunmunkle Shire Office to create the Dunmunkle Community Library precinct.

“The team at Yarriambiack is committed to achieving the council plan objectives under the leadership of mayor McLean and continuing to build upon the councillors’ collective efforts, advocacy, and service to their shire,” Mrs Smith said.

Hindmarsh Shire Council reappointed Cr Ron Ismay as mayor for another 12-month term at its meeting on Wednesday last week, with Cr Rosie Barker elected as deputy mayor.

“I thank councillors and the community for their support over the previous year, and look forward to serving another term and working with Cr Barker as deputy mayor,” Cr Ismay said.

“With a new council plan, there is much to achieve, and I look forward to seeing a number of fantastic community projects coming to fruition.”

The West Wimmera and Northern Grampians councils undertook mayor elections earlier this month, returning councillors Tim Meyer and Karen Hyslop respectively as their mayors for new 12-month terms.

Cr Helen Hobbs was elected deputy mayor alongside Cr Meyer for his fourth term as West Wimmera mayor, while Cr Justine Hide will continue as deputy mayor with Cr Hyslop for a second-straight term.

Horsham Rural City Council will elect its mayor for 2025-26 at a statutory meeting on November 27.

CHANGING OF THE GUARD: Cr Andrew McLean has replaced Cr Kylie Zanker after a four-year stint as mayor of Yarriambiack Shire Council. Cr Corinne Heintze, right, will be deputy mayor alongside Cr McLean for a one-year term.

LEADERSHIP TEAM: Ararat Rural City Council last week elected Cr Bob Sanders as mayor, replacing Cr Jo Armstrong. First-time councillor Teli Kaur, right, was appointed deputy mayor.

STABILITY: Hindmarsh Shire Council reappointed Cr Ron Ismay as mayor for another 12-month term at its meeting on Wednesday last week, with Cr Rosie Barker, left, elected as deputy mayor.

Seasonal recruits ready to protect

Forest Fire Management Victoria’s 39 new seasonal firefighters from the Grampians region have come together for hands-on training to ensure they are wellprepared to respond to emergencies and carry out vital work to reduce bushfire risk.

Recruits from across both Midlands and Wimmera districts are completing training in Creswick – they are among 636 new seasonal firefighters across the state to join experienced permanent crews this summer to help protect communities and the environment.

There are 14 training camps across Victoria in coming weeks.

Recruits complete four weeks of classroom and field-based learning, covering topics such as fire behaviour, safety and survival techniques, fire suppression and working around aircraft.

The camps offer hands-on experience, including operating water pumps and chainsaws, and driving specialised firefighting vehicles.

Beyond emergency response, seasonal forest and fire operations officers also carry out land management tasks such as mulching, mowing, slashing and spraying.

They help maintain fuel breaks, public land roads, trails, recreation sites, and assist with planned burns.

Last year, FFMVic firefighters responded to more than 1265 bushfires across Victoria and delivered priority planned burns to help reduce the impact of future fires.

Forest Fire Management Victoria chief fire officer Chris Hardman said seasonal forest and fire operations officers were from diverse backgrounds, reflecting the communities they served.

“They play a critical role alongside our experienced crews, responding to bushfires in some of the state’s most remote and challenging environments to keep communities safe,” he said.

“This summer, they’ll be part of a team of nearly 1800 frontline personnel and 1200 accredited incident management staff.”

Forest Fire Management Victoria acting deputy chief fire officer – Grampians, Michael Condon, said with an increased risk of bushfires forecast for the region, seasonal firefighters were an important and valued addition to firefighting resources this summer.

“New recruits train and work alongside our permanent firefighting crews, responding to bushfires rapidly to keep communities safe this summer,” he said.

“Last year, Forest Fire Management Victoria responded to over 100 bushfires in the Grampians region, also delivering priority planned burns which will help reduce the impact of bushfires this summer.”

Aircraft ready

Ahead of what’s expected to be a significant and elevated fire season, firefighting aircraft has been deployed ahead of schedule to key parts

of the state. Premier Jacinta Allan, Emergency Services Minister Vicki Ward and Environment Minister Steve Dimopoulos joined Emergency Management Commissioner Tim Wiebusch earlier this month to meet crews and view the firefighting aircraft, which are now at Ballarat.

A total of 15 regional aircraft will start their service period early in key locations including Ballarat, Stawell and Ovens Valley.

The aircraft can be moved across the state according to risk.

Victoria’s aerial firefighting fleet is made up of a mix of firebombing aircraft, air supervision and information-gathering aircraft, and plays an important role in supporting the ground operations of firefighters.

Victoria also has a call-when-needed capacity of up to 100 aircraft that can supplement the Victorian core fleet, which is available year-round.

The remainder of this year’s aerial firefighting fleet will arrive in November and early December and are contracted until late March, which can be extended, if required.

Emergency Services Minister Vicki Ward said Victoria faced heightened fire risk this year due to low rainfall across the state, particularly in south-west Victoria, south-west Gippsland, the Mornington Peninsula and the Wimmera.

“Now is the time to prepare – have a fire plan, stay informed and never rely on one source of information,” she said.

Mr Wiebusch said emergency services would do everything they could to support people, but preparedness was a shared responsibility.

“Ensure you have downloaded the VicEmergency app, and practise using it, so you understand what to do and how to get information,” he said.

However, the Coalition says Thursday’s total fire ban in the Mallee was a stark reminder that ‘the fire season isn’t coming – it’s here’, and Labor was not as ready as it claimed.

The Coalition says 350 Forest Fire Management Victoria appliances remain offline due to a fault, and Environment Minister Steve Dimopoulos again failed to provide answers on when Victorians could expect the full fleet back online.

Shadow Minister for Public Land Management, Melina Bath, also warned that planned burns have been slashed to just one per cent of public land, saying the government is leaving regional communities dangerously exposed.

“Over the past 10 years, Labor has reduced fuel loads by just one per cent per annum despite the Bushfire Royal Commission setting a five per cent annual target,” she said.

“At the very moment Victoria should be preparing for a dangerous fire season, this government has failed woefully to reduce fuel loads and protect Victorians.”

For more information on how to prepare for fires and other emergencies, people can download the VicEmergency app or visit emergency.vic.gov.au.

ABC News Breakfast host guest speaker

ABC’s News Breakfast host Bridget Brennan will be the guest speaker at East Grampians Health Service’s annual general meeting on Tuesday night.

The health service’s 30th annual general meeting will start at 6pm at Ararat Town Hall.

Ms Brennan is a former foreign correspondent at the ABC and has worked as a journalist in London, Washington and Hong Kong.

She was the ABC’s Indigenous Affairs editor and helped to establish the national broadcaster’s first Indigenous Affairs Reporting Team.

EGHS board chair Cameron Evans said staff would be recognised for significant achievements in studies and long service, and the recipients of health service scholarships would be announced.

“It will also be fascinating to hear from guest speaker Bridget Brennan, who grew up in Buangor, went to school at Marian College in Ararat, and is a Yorta Yorta and Dja Dja Wurrung

Bridget Brennan

woman,” he said. “We would love to see a wide cross section of people from the Ararat region attend to hear about the achievements of our health service and staff over the past year.” To RSVP, people can contact Jo Summers on 5352 9303 or email jo.summers@eghs.net.au.

Nature-based events building community

A recent series of nature-based workshops helped West Wimmera Shire community members strengthen wellbeing, resilience and their connection to the environment.

Hosted by West Wimmera Shire Council’s Landcare officer Bindy Lees, the workshops formed part of a Look Over the Farm Gate initiative, supported by the State Government’s 2025 Drought Support Package.

The first event, Let it Breathe – Rural Women’s Wellness Day, was at Barangaroo Boutique Wines on October 19.

Participants took part in yoga and creative nature journaling workshops, and heard from environmental psychologist Kathleen Bagot, who shared insights into the benefits of time spent in nature.

Wimmera CMA, Landcare and Barangaroo Boutique Wines supported the event.

A second workshop, Yoga and Bird Observing, took place at Harrow Golf Club on November 8, involving an outdoor yoga session followed

by a bird observing experience

The day encouraged participants to stretch, breathe and unwind, while taking time to appreciate the natural beauty and biodiversity of the region.

Ms Lees said the workshops were designed to help community members reconnect with nature and develop practical tools for mindfulness and resilience.

“It’s important to build resilience into our community when seasons are restored, so we are prepared for the challenges that inevitably come,” she said.

West Wimmera Shire Council officials thanked the State Government for its support through the Look Over the Farm Gate funding program, as well as the instructors, local partners and participants who contributed to the success of the events.

with renowned Wimmera birdwatcher Jonathan Starks.

BREATHE: Participants take part in yoga during the Let it Breathe – Rural Women’s Wellness Day organised by West Wimmera Shire Council.

Building safe, equal and respectful communities

Working together to prevent violence against women and gender diverse people

WHG: Every little action counts

Women’s Health Grampians is encouraging businesses and organisations throughout the region to use the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence as an opportunity to raise awareness that men’s violence against women is unacceptable.

The United Nation’s annual, global campaign, starts on November 25 –the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women – and runs through to December 10, which is Human Rights Day.

It was started by activists at the inauguration of the Women’s Global Leadership Institute in 1991, and three

decades on, it is a widely recognised campaign that encourages action to end gender-based violence.

The two-week period is a key part of communities’ efforts to prevent violence against women in Victoria.

WHG’s activities and events planned so far across the Wimmera include men’s work sessions in Stawell and Horsham for Grampians Health; and hosting an intersectionality workshop for the Wimmera Southern Mallee LLEN in Horsham.

WHG will also distribute ‘Stop Tech-Based Abuse’ posters to its Communities of Respect and Equality, CoRE, Alliance members, in alignment with the United Nations’ 2025

theme of ‘UNiTE to End Digital Violence against All Women and Girls’.

Women’s Heath Grampians chief executive Jennie Courtney said there was still time for more events to be added to the local calendar.

Ms Courtney said WHG had seen a rise in year-on-year interest in participating in the campaign and increasing interest in grassroots events throughout the Wimmera.

“Every year we reach out to our CoRE members with offers of support and resources they can use to complement their own activities,” she said.

“These including printed and social media collateral, speakers – particularly our equality advocates, who can

Opportunities to show support

Councils from across the region will lead the way by hosting events and activities as part of the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence campaign.

The global campaign, from November 25 to December 10, aims to raise awareness and take action to end violence against women and children. With 46 sexual offences reported in 2025 in Ararat Rural City – an increase from 24 in 2024, while family violence reports slightly decreased from 326 to 315 – Ararat Rural City Council sees the campaign as an important message to spread to the community.

Cr Jo Armstrong said while the figures were a reminder that some progress was being made, there was still significant work to do to ensure the safety and wellbeing of women and children.

“Violence against women and children has no place in our community,” she said.

“During the 16 Days of Activism, we not only raise awareness but take meaningful action to support survivors and prevent future harm.”

The council encouraged the community to visit Respect Victoria’s website to learn how to identify abusive behaviours and respond safely and refer to the Women’s Health Grampians website to explore the social drivers of violence, including gender inequality and systemic discrimination.

Cr Armstrong said the council was

a proud member of Women’s Health Grampians’ Communities of Respect and Equality, CoRE, program.

“I encourage local businesses, organisations, and community groups to join the CoRE initiative to create safer, more respectful spaces for everyone,” she said.

To help spread the 16 Days of Activism message, council is making promotional stickers available for businesses to place on takeaway food and drink packaging and coffee cups.

West Wimmera

West Wimmera Shire Council will also host a series of community events as part of the 16 Days of Activism campaign.

Three events, in Edenhope, Goroke and Kaniva, will bring together guest speakers from Women’s Health Grampians, The Orange Door, Victoria Police and the Wimmera Southwest Family Violence Partnership to explore ways communities can build safety, equality and respect.

The Edenhope event, on December 1 at 10.30am at Edenhope and District Community Centre, will feature speakers Marg Murphy from Grampians Health, Melissa Morris from Women’s Health Grampians and a Victoria Police representative.

Lou Hurley from the Wimmera Southwest Family Violence Partnership, as well as Ms Morris and a police representative, will be guest speakers at the Goroke Community Complex on December 4 at 10.30am.

What is CoRE?

CoRE is an alliance of organisations, businesses, clubs and groups that are committed to creating safe, equal and respectful communities in the Grampians region

Renee Clarkson from The Orange Door will join Ms Morris and a police representative at the Kaniva LINK Neighbourhood House event on December 9 at 10.30am.

Morning tea will follow each session.

Council chief executive David Bezuidenhout said the events were an important opportunity to learn, reflect and take action at a local level.

“Family violence impacts every community, and awareness is key to change,” he said.

“These events will help people understand what support is available and how everyone can play a role in creating a safer, more respectful community.”

Northern Grampians

Stawell and St Arnaud will host walks to highlight the 16 Days of Activism campaign.

Northern Grampians Shire Council will host an event at St Arnaud on November 25 from 12 noon at Queen Mary Gardens, while the Stawell event will be on December 10, from 12 noon at the Town Hall.

The council and its partners invite people to join the two walks, which aim to encourage the community to find ways in their everyday lives to promote gender equity and say no to violence against women.

Guest speakers will say a few words at the beginning of each walk, and a barbecue will follow.

Organisers are also encouraging

bring an intersectional perspective to violence-prevention work, advice on planning and delivering events and initiatives, and our time as panel members, guest speakers and training facilitators.

“While we support and promote 16 Days messaging from Respect Victoria and Safe and Equal, two of our peak bodies, our work through CoRE enables us to support place-based initiatives that can be driven by the community.”

CoRE provides the expertise and scaffolding to give Wimmera organisations the confidence to engage with 16 Days of Activism in ways that can make a difference.

“The more people who know what the campaign is about and what events are happening in their area, the better,” Ms Courtney said.

“We firmly believe that every little action counts, from displaying a poster, to sharing a post online, to having a chat about what drives gendered violence at a morning tea.”

For more information about the campaign and assets to use to host an event, people can visit www. respectvictoria.vic.gov.au/campaigns/ toolkit/16-days-of-activism or safe andequal.org.au/16-days-of-activismagainst-gender-based-violence-2025 or contact WHG at whg.org.au.

people to wear orange – the colour representing the campaign.

RSVPs are required for catering purposes – people can visit www.ngshire. vic.gov.au/Events/Events-Calendar/ Walk-against-family-violenceStawell-and-St-Arnaud to register their attendance.

Hindmarsh

Hindmarsh Shire Council has received funding from Respect Victoria’s 16 Days of Activism Grassroots Initiative to host a colour run and barbecue tea in each of the four towns within the shire.

The dates for the community events are: Jeparit Riverbank Precinct, December 1, 6pm-8pm; Rainbow Recreation Reserve, December 2, 6pm-8pm;

Dimboola Soundshell, December 8, 6pm-8pm; Jaypex Park, Nhill, December 9, 6pm-8pm.

The colour runs will involve attendees running or walking a circuit, while colourful powder is thrown onto them.

The events are free to attend, and attendees are asked to bring along suitable footwear, eye protection and a change of clothes or a towel. Community members, schools, sporting clubs and other organisations are encouraged to attend and show their support.

For more information, people can contact Free from Violence project officer Stephanie Lynch on 5391 4444 or email slynch@hindmarsh.vic.gov. au.

CoRE Alliance members actively work to prevent sexism, discrimination and violence against all women in our workplaces and communities.

CoRE is based on the belief that the reach and influence across society of its wide and diverse partnership will help to drive cultural change, and reduce barriers to gender equality and re-frame cultural norms and acceptable behaviour –important steps in preventing violence against women and children.

Being a CoRE member is about committing to taking action.

With the support of Women’s Health Grampians, members review, plan and take steps to promote gender equality within their organisations and through their spheres of influence.

Find out more by visiting our website: whg.org.au

LEADERS: One Red Tree co-chief executive Tammie Meehan and Ararat Cr Jo Armstrong promote the 16 Days of Activism campaign.

Restaurant owner guilty, imprisoned

Former Horsham restaurateur Gunaseelan Manoharan has been declared a ‘serious sexual offender’ and sentenced to 12 months’ imprisonment after he was found guilty of sexual assault charges from incidents occurring between 2020 and 2022.

In sentencing Manoharan in the County Court of Victoria at Melbourne last week, Judge John Kelly said Manoharan, 42, took advantage of his position of seniority as an employer to exploit two vulnerable female employees, aged 15 and 25.

Manoharan was found guilty of four charges of sexual assault of a child under the age of 16, and one charge of sexual assault.

He was found not guilty of charges of false imprisonment, and sexual assault of a child aged 16 or 17 under care, supervision or authority.

He had pleaded not guilty to all charges, requiring a trial.

Judge Kelly said both victims provided impact statements following the guilty finding.

“The offending occurred in the workplace, where they were entitled to feel secure,” he said.

“You had previously offended against a 16-year-old employee of yours.

“The then-15-year-old says your offending caused her to grow up quickly… when she was 16, police attended school and she was taken out of class for interview,” he said.

“This started rumours that spread throughout school. She felt exposed, embarrassed, and judged without anyone knowing the truth.”

“Your moral culpability for these offences is high. They are not objectively grave examples of their type, but the impact of your offending has been deep.”

In December 2022 Manoharan was placed on a community corrections order and the sex offenders register for eight years, when he pleaded guilty to the November 2019 offences against the 16-year-old.

Manoharan was also sentenced in December 2022 for two unlawful assaults against his wife, committed in September 2020.

In September this year, Manoharan was found guilty at Ballarat County Court of five of the seven charges he faced in relation to the sexual assault of employees in Horsham.

The then-25-year-old victim described the ongoing impact of the offending on her mental health.

Judge Kelly declared Manoharan’s 48 days’ pre-sentencing detention as time served.

A 12-month community corrections order will follow his prison time, with a condition to undertake 100 hours of community work within 12 months, including 50 hours of treatment and rehabilitation.

On a bridging visa, Manoharan is at risk of being deported, and he is to be registered for mandatory life reporting.

delivery of healthcare across Victoria. Applicants are selected for their capabilities, including personal and professional experience, knowledge, and skills that contribute to the strategic leadership and oversight of healthcare for the Victorian community. It is preferable that applicants reside in Victoria or, within the border community of those hospitals near the New South Wales and South Australian borders.

While Victorian public health boards are based on capabilities, boards are more effective when these capabilities also represent the richness of the diverse voices of Victorian communities. We encourage First Nations people, people living with a disability, people from culturally diverse backgrounds, people who identify as LGBTIQA+, gender equality, and upholding human rights.

Applications close at Midnight Sunday 23 November 2025

Further information about Victorian health service boards and how to apply, please go to the following website: www.health.vic.gov.au/board-applications

AUTHOR VISIT: Renowned author Peter FitzSimons promoted his new book about Edward ‘Weary’ Dunlop to large crowds at Stawell and Horsham on Monday. ‘The Courageous Life of Weary Dunlop’ is the story of the heroic Australian doctor whose courage and leadership were a lifeline for thousands of Australian prisoners of war on the Thai-Burma Railway during the Second World War. FitzSimons is a bestselling nonfiction writer, journalist and columnist and is the author of several successful books, including Breaker Morant, Burke and Wills, Monash’s Masterpiece, Kokoda, Ned Kelly and Gallipoli. He is pictured at Stawell.

Picture: PAUL CARRACHER

Seaside escape win for all

Ararat business and education leaders have hailed the generosity of donors who supported a program to send the region’s schoolchildren to Cottage by the Sea, with plans to expand the concept to neighbouring Stawell.

Businessman Richard de Fegely last year launched a Victorian-first initiative to establish a fund enabling grade five students at primary schools across Ararat Rural City to attend Cottage by the Sea –a Queenscliff-based not-for-profit aiming to enhance the lives of children through fun and inspiring activities by the seaside.

At the time, Mr de Fegely aimed for Ararat businesses to raise $30,000 to support a one-off visit by Ararat North Primary School students, with a view to establishing a more permanent fund for all schools in the region.

As of Monday afternoon, the Cottage by the Sea fundraising webpage showed a total of about $80,000 raised.

“We’ve done a little bit better than we hoped, which is always nice,” Mr de Fegely said.

“The extra money just sits in that fund waiting to be used in the future. I think people have seen the benefit in the money they’re donating. It doesn’t go into a greater pool elsewhere or get washed down with administration stuff – it’s purely for the Ararat kids.”

In March this year students from Maroona, Pomonal and Buangor primary schools took part in Cottage by the Sea’s ‘Take a Break’

program, with Stawell West Primary School visiting in June and Ararat Primary School attending last month.

Mr de Fegely said the Ararat, Ararat North and Lake Bolac primary schools had arranged to send students, using money from the fund in 2026, with other schools in the municipality planning for 2027.

“Lake Bolac is booked in for the camp next year, so we want to create a bit more awareness and do some more fundraising down there as well,” he said.

“We want to branch out a little bit more. Being volunteers you’re always a little bit restricted with time, but we plan to just keep moving out and touching base with the local community. It’s offered to all the schools within Ararat Rural City and it’s up to them whether they want to do it or not.”

Ararat Primary School acting principal Natalie Dowsett said the program had been a win for local students.

“The cost factor is a big one. The cost of the camp is normally in excess of $800, which some parents wouldn’t be able to afford to pay for students to attend,” she said.

“The volunteers there were phenomenal. It was a big family feel, which is important because the students come from all walks of life.”

Ms Dowsett said the camp also fostered new social connections between children.

“I think resilience was a big thing we noticed in the kids who attended,” she said.

“Bonding together in that out-

side environment, because people were so welcoming and supportive, was a lot easier because they felt safe. They’ve come back quite settled and having made new friendships not only with students from other schools, but within their own groups, which has been nice.”

Mr de Fegely said the generosity of local groups, businesses and individuals who supported the fund had made the concept a success.

“The council has been really good and the Lions Club has been excellent from really early on. That gave me the confidence to say ‘maybe this will work’,” he said.

“The fund is really owned by the community. It’s about everyone, not individuals. It’s working well now, so we just want to make sure it’s sustainable and ongoing.”

Mr de Fegely thanked major donors and sponsors of the program, including 3WM, MIXX FM, The Weekly Advertiser, The Handbury Foundation, Ararat Rural City Council, The Rippers Club, Ararat Lions Club, Wirrinourt Transport, Ararat Community Enterprise, ATC Punters Club, Rotary Ararat and Ararat Turf Club.

He said planning was underway to establish a similar fund for students in Northern Grampians Shire after the success of Stawell West Primary School’s visit, with Stawell Gold Mine and Stawell Lions Club spearheading efforts to raise about $12,000 this year.

People can donate at www.cottage bythesea.com.au/fundraise/araratrural-city-council-take-a-breakfundraiser.

Celebration of collective action

Women’s Health Grampians will welcome guests from across the region and Victoria to its 2025 annual general meeting at Ararat on Friday. Member for Ripon Martha Haylett will be in attendance, along with chief executives and senior leaders from Gippsland Women’s Health, Women’s Health Goulburn North East, Women’s Health and Wellbeing Barwon South West, Women’s Health Loddon Mallee and the Multicultural Centre for Women’s Health.

The annual general meeting will also celebrate the launch of the 2025 Women’s Health Services Network Collective Impact Report – Working together for a healthier, safer and more equitable Victoria.

The keynote panel discussion will discuss regional and rural perspectives on women’s health: women’s health services’ commitment to increasing gender equality and access to services in the places they call home; how the services’ impact is greater when working together; and how well placed women’s health services are as a network to deliver health priorities such as the Bridging the Gender Pain Gap report recommendations.

WHG chief executive Jennie Courtney said WHG was embedded in the Grampians’ social landscape, having worked in the women’s health promotion space for more than 30 years.

“Partnerships and networks are central to our mission to create a gender-equal society where everyone can flourish,” she said.

“We work with more than 150 organisations across the region through the Communities of Respect and Equality, CoRE, Alliance and are looking forward to celebrating our hard work and progress as we look back on the year that was.”

The WGH AGM will be at Alexandra Oval Community Centre, from 11am to 1.30pm, with all welcome to attend.

Registrations are open at events.humanitix. com/whg-2025-agm-impact-value-change-women-s-health-services-network-working-for-theregions.

SHORN WETHER LAMBS

RIDING THE WAVES: Ararat Primary School student Bella enjoys some time in the sea.

Rural Northwest Health Board of Directors invite

DATE: Tuesday 25th November

Light lunch provided at the conclusion of the AGM!

Forty Winks Horsham 46-48 Pynsent Street, Horsham T: (03) 5381 1707 fortywinks.com.au

Cold caps now in Horsham

Anew scalp-cooling system that reduces chemotherapyinduced hair loss is now available for patients at Wimmera Cancer Centre.

Scalp cooling or ‘cold capping’ is proven to be an effective way of combating chemotherapy-induced hair loss and can result in high-level retention or complete preservation of patients’ hair.

Wimmera Cancer Centre manager Carmel O’Kane said patients who requested the cold cap treatment in the past had to travel to Ballarat because it was the nearest oncology clinic to provide the service.

LAUNCH:

Remote controlled glider pilots gathered at Green Lake on the weekend for the Wimmera Model Aircraft Association Midway Cup thermal duration competition. A record number of entrants launched their gliders during the two-day event in its 10th consecutive year.

Pictured is Nick Chabrel launching his gilder. More pictures page 45.

Picture: PAUL CARRACHER

“It’s going to be a great comfort to many patients knowing they can get the cold cap treatment in Horsham now and it’s thanks to the generosity of community donations that we were able to purchase the system,” she said.

“We have two oncology nurses who are trained to use the system and the device can be used by two patients at the same time, so we are confident we will be able to cover all requests for its use.”

Ms O’Kane said hair loss was a common side effect of chemotherapy treatment.

“Chemotherapy works by target-

ing all rapidly dividing cells in the body and hair is the second fastest dividing cell, which is why many chemotherapy drugs cause hair loss.

“Hair damage caused by chemotherapy can be alleviated by scalp cooling. It works by reducing the temperature of the scalp by a few degrees immediately before, during and after chemotherapy.

“This in turn reduces the blood flow to the hair follicles, which may prevent or minimise the hair loss.

“Scalp cooling is not always effective though. It can depend on factors like the specific chemotherapy drugs and dosage and the patient’s

hair type.” Patients having chemotherapy can request the cold capping by discussing it with their oncologist.

Grampians Health chief operating officer Ben Kelly said the organisation’s objective was to provide services closer to home.

“The Wimmera Cancer Centre is a fantastic service that has saved thousands of hours in travel and time for its patients,” he said.

“Now there will be even more patients who will feel a more positive attitude toward their treatment because of the responsive care they can now access locally.”

Celebrating inclusion

The Horsham-based Centre for Participation’s All-Abilities Support Steering Committee is inviting the Wimmera community to come together for a special event ahead of International Day of People with Disability.

Scheduled for Friday, November 28 from 6.30pm at Horsham Town Hall, the ‘Social Tables’ event will see guests seated in groups of up to 10 in an aim to promote conversation and connection.

Centre for Participation chief executive Robbie Miller said attendees would be encouraged to move between tables, meet new people and share ideas, with a goal of building a stronger, more connected community.

“Social Tables is all about celebrating inclusion in a relaxed and welcoming setting. It is a chance for everyone – people with disability, their families, local service providers and community members – to come together and have a great night out,” he said.

Mr Miller said guests were asked to bring their own food to share with their table. A photo booth and props will be on hand to capture memories from the night.

Tickets are $25 per person or $15 concession, available through the Horsham Town Hall box office or online.

The event is a collaboration between Beyond Community Inclusion Inc, Horsham Rural City Council’s Disability Advisory Committee, Centre for Participation and Horsham Neighbourhood House.

Mr Miller said the organisations were all committed to promoting inclusion, access and social connection across the region.

“It’s a night to share stories, make new friends, and celebrate everything that makes our community great,” he said.

People can book tickets online via HTH PAC.sales.ticketsearch.com/sales/sales event/157048 or call 5382 9555 for more information.

Two registration nights: Friday 21st and 28th November, 6pm to 8pm in the pavilion

Board Director opportunities at Rural Northwest Health

The Minister for Health, the Hon. Mary-Anne Thomas MP, is pleased to invite applications for part time board director positions at Rural Northwest Health. The positions start on 1 July 2026, for up to three years.

These positions provide an exciting opportunity for persons with an interest in making a difference in the health sector and have the knowledge and skills for ensuring health care is delivered safely and effectively, with public money used to the benefit of all Victorians.

As a director, you will be doing more than just contributing your time or knowledge. Being appointed to a hospital board places you in a position of trust. You will play an important role in providing leadership, accountability and integrity in the delivery of healthcare across Victoria.

Applicants are selected for their capabilities, including personal and professional experience, knowledge, and skills

that contribute to the strategic leadership and oversight of healthcare for the Victorian community. It is preferable that applicants reside in Victoria or, within the border community of those hospitals near the New South Wales and South Australian borders.

While Victorian public health boards are based on capabilities, boards are more effective when these capabilities also represent the richness of the diverse voices of Victorian communities. We encourage First Nations people, people living with a disability, people from culturally diverse backgrounds, people who identify as LGBTIQA+, gender equality, and upholding human rights.

Applications close at Midnight Sunday 23 November 2025.

Further information about Victorian health service boards and how to apply, please go to the following website: www.health. vic.gov.au/board-applications

TALENT: A diverse array of performances entertained at Saturday night’s RM Showcase at Horsham Town Hall. The annual showcase, now in its 21st year, featured an eclectic array of talented local stage performers, including musicians, dancers, singers and actors. Sienna Walsgott was announced the 2025 winner of the $3000 Richard Morris Memorial scholarship, and Prue Heard and Zara Nichols received $1000 encouragement awards. Pictured are, clockwise from above: Stella MorrisLennon; William Meyer; Dancer’s Zone tap students; Brittany Bates and Jed Prouse; A Midsummer Night’s Dream’s Natasha Kuchel and Ebony Hart; Wimmera Lutheran College’s Addams Family cast members Evan Hahn, Zara Nichols and Rhianna Williams; and centre, Jorja Polglase.

A ‘cool’ way to save

With the cost of living rising across Australia and energy bills on the up, Australians shouldn’t have to sacrifice a cool home this summer to save a budget.

Ef ciency is everything in this modern world and that extends to Australian advances in cooling.

Because it is not just about keeping the house cool.

It is about keeping it cool for long periods of time without breaking the bank – allowing us to make the most of amazing western Victorian summers the way only we know how.

Making use of the environment and the tools at our disposal makes sense in the search for ef ciency.

Evaporative cooling does this. Based on the principles of evaporation, hot and dry outside air is pumped through water-soaked cooling pads.

As the air is pushed through the cooling pads, the water evaporates and the heat in the air is absorbed, which lowers the air temperature.

All it takes then is a fan to push the cool air throughout a house via a network of ducts.

With plenty of heat available in the midst of an Australian summer, evaporative cooling remains the

pinnacle of working with what is abundant.

But it still takes a company with ef ciency in mind, to take this concept and apply it to the entire task of home cooling.

Seeley International has been keeping up with the Australian

climate for 50 years, designing and manufacturing world-leading air conditioning products for Australians here at home and abroad.

And it makes sense why the world continues to rely on Seeley products – they trust the Aussies to get it right.

Energy-ef ciency remains one of Seeley International’s top priorities, a priority Australians agree with given the brand is the country’s largest air conditioning manufacturer.

Their evaporative units remain the benchmark in ef cient temperature control – smoothly using

evaporation to cool the air. But it takes an entire air-conditioning industry to keep Australian’s comfortable in the heat and the team at Wade’s are happy to rely on Seeley International air conditioners because they know their customers are getting an ef cient, Australian-built machine.

Because Wade’s are a Seeley Climate Master Dealer, Wade’s can offer a 5 to 7-year warranty on Seeley evaporative units – more than three times the warranty length compared with some air-conditioning manufacturers.

Organising an evaporative cooling service is simple and easy with Wade’s.

Our servicing teams will ensure the unit continues to run at peak ef ciency and maintain its low evaporative running costs.

Just ask and Wade’s can add you to their annual servicing calendar, which means they automatically schedule and contact you when it is time to run an eye over everything.

Just like Wade’s, Seeley International is passionate and dedicated to Australian manufacturing – a guarantee that makes it possible to keep your family living their best life this summer.

EXPERT ADVICE: Jess Spicer from Wade’s with a Seeley evaporative air-conditioner.

Picture: PAUL CARRACHER

Contribute to community wellbeing

East

Grampians Health Service is currently recruiting for its board of directors, a rewarding role according to two of its current directors Megan Shea and Lisa Davidson.

Education consultant at One Red Tree Resource Centre and teacher Megan Shea, from Ararat, and human resources consultant Lisa Davidson, of Great Western, were appointed to the board in 2023.

The role of the board is to set and oversee the strategic direction of East Grampians Health Service and to ensure the frameworks and monitoring are in place to meet its obligations and to support the organisation in delivering high-quality health care.

Board members work collaboratively with other directors and the chief executive to support the health and wellbeing of the Ararat and wider district community.

Ms Davidson currently serves as vice-chair of the board and is also chair of the governance committee, previously serving as chair of the community consultative committee.

Ms Shea is the current chair of the community consultative committee and also sits on the clinical consultative committee and the building for the future foundation committee.

A deep, lifelong connection to the Ararat community originally prompted Ms Shea to apply to join the board.

“My grandmother worked at the hospital, and she, my mother, myself, and my three children were all born there,” she said.

“The level of care my family and I received was outstanding and reinforced my appreciation for the vital

role EGHS plays in our community.

“Having lived, worked and volunteered in Ararat for many years –particularly through sport and education, where I’ve been an educator for over 30 years – I feel strongly about contributing to the wellbeing of our community.”

Ms Davidson also has a strong personal connection to the health service.

“My family have been patients, and we even returned from the Northern Territory to have our second child

here because of my confidence in the maternal health services,” she said.

“Outside of being a user of the services, I participated as a volunteer on the community consultative committee, which gave me some initial insight into the way the services operated.”

Both directors have enjoyed their time so far on the board, with making connections a strong theme for both women.

Ms Shea said she had enjoyed the

“The health service touches the lives of so many of our community and for me, I see it as a personal responsibility to ensure that it continues to deliver outstanding service”

– Lisa Davidson

opportunity to meet and work with other members, especially those from outside Ararat.

“It has been inspiring to listen and learn about their roles and experiences across different fields,” she said.

“I’ve also really valued seeing the strong collaboration across the various departments at the hospital, and the many wonderful examples of ‘grow your own’ in action.

“Having taught many of the staff who now work at EGHS, it’s been incredibly rewarding to see their continued growth and development within the organisation.”

Ms Davidson said being able to connect with the volunteers who give their time across many different areas had been memorable.

“What I’ve enjoyed most is being part of a group that’s deeply committed to improving health outcomes in our region,” she said.

“The health service touches the lives of so many of our community and for me, I see it as a personal responsibility to ensure that it continues to deliver outstanding service.

“Ultimately, results of patient and client care is what it is all about.

“Seeing the commitment of the wonderful EGHS staff translate into great health care is always rewarding.”

The board has recorded several

MY26 Early Order Program

achievements during the current term, including the opening of the Women’s Sexual and Reproductive Health Hub and the Practical Laboratory, the continued growth and strengthening of the obstetric services and navigating the Department of Health’s restructure of Health Service Networks, as well as, through community consultative committee advocacy, seeing Ararat now on the permanent roster for blood donation services.

The board is currently seeking applicants with a range of skills.

“Being part of the board has been a truly valuable experience – not only offering opportunities for personal and professional growth, but also allowing me to contribute to something that genuinely benefits our community,” Ms Shea said.

Ms Davidson said she would encourage anyone with a passion for health and a desire to make a difference to consider applying for the board.

“Your lived experience, insights and professional skills can have a real impact. It’s a meaningful way to give back and help shape the future of health care in our region,” she said. Applications close on Sunday.

For further information, including how to apply, people can visit www. health.vic.gov.au/board-applications or contact Jo Summers at East Grampians Health Service on 5352 9303. Applicants are selected for their capabilities, including personal and professional experience, knowledge and skills that contribute to the strategic leadership and oversight of healthcare for the Victorian community.

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PASSIONATE: East Grampians Health Service board director Megan Shea and vice-chair Lisa Davidson are encouraging people to consider applying to be members of the board.

Continued efforts to reduce fire risk

Ararat Rural City Council officials are urging residents throughout the municipality to start preparing for the fire season by reducing fuels and undertaking essential maintenance on their properties.

Council chief executive Tim Harrison said all residents, whether they lived in town or on rural properties, could help safeguard homes, livelihoods and the broader community by being prepared for the impending fire season.

Dr Harrison said council staff would soon commence annual property inspections, anticipated to begin later this month.

Landowners who have not completed adequate fire preparation could be issued a Fire Prevention Notice, requiring prompt action to help make their property as safe as possible.

“Every year, the shared responsibility of fire prevention becomes clear,” Dr Harrison said.

“The choices we make now – early, thorough, and consistent preparation across our region – will shape our community’s safety over the months ahead.

“I encourage everyone to walk their paddocks and gardens, look for hazards, and act before summer arrives.”

Dr Harrison said people could prepare for fire season by: regularly cutting and maintaining all grass, weeds and undergrowth on their property to a height of less than 10cm; disposing of piles of green waste or fine fuel, either through composting or by using the council’s designated transfer stations; ensuring water tanks or firefighting equipment were available, accessible and in working order; clearing gutters of leaves, twigs and plant material; moving firewood and other combustible materials away from buildings; and creating a defendable space around houses by removing flammable objects and trimming low-hanging branches.

Dr Harrison said the council appreciated the continued efforts of landowners and occupiers to help reduce the risk of fire across Ararat Rural City.

For further information on fire preparation or green waste disposal, people can visit the council’s website at www.ararat.vic.gov.au.

New ventilator for maternity unit

Grampians Health midwives have welcomed the addition of a new neonatal ventilation unit at Wimmera Base Hospital.

Wimmera Health Care Group Foundation purchased the Drager ventilation unit for the Yandilla ward as part of a $115,000 donation made earlier this year.

Yandilla nurse unit manager Michelle Coutts said background research supported the purchase.

“The Drager unit has better functionality and a better interactive screen than the previous unit, but more importantly it is the same cot that Ballarat’s maternity team uses,” she said.

“This is very important because among the team, we have several midwives who transition between the two campuses. This means from a training and education perspective there is a clear familiarity with the equipment.

“We have also done the same with the latest ventilator we purchased. It’s the same model as Ballarat’s.”

Ms Coutts said having the same brand of unit as the Ballarat campus made troubleshooting and maintenance easier.

“It’s just made things more efficient all round. This particular unit will remain in the nursery and is being used for stabilisation, but also for full intensive resuscitation when necessary,” she said.

“We are very grateful to the foundation for their continued and generous support.

“They are providing a real comfort for both parents and our team, knowing that our babies have the best equipment possible.”

Foundation president Graeme Hardman said his committee had donated several items to maternity services at the Horsham campus in recent years, including birthing beds and cribs for Yandilla and an ultrasound for Horsham Maternity Clinic.

“We are pleased to be able to provide continued support to Grampians Health’s Horsham and Dimboola campuses,” he said.

West Wimmera cemetery records digitised

West Wimmera Shire Cemeteries Trust has completed a digitisation project to improve recordkeeping and public access across the Edenhope, Kaniva and Lillimur, and Goroke cemeteries.

The project was supported with funding from the State Government’s Department of Health and Human Services and undertaken in partnership with Chronicle, a digital cemetery-management platform.

Trust secretary Dalton Burns said the new online system would make it easier for families, researchers, and the wider community to find information and connect with local history.

“Preserving the history of our cemeteries and the people they represent is important,” he said.

Planning and Environment Act 1987 HORSHAM PLANNING SCHEME

Notice of the preparation of an amendment to a planning scheme Amendment C85hors

Overview

The Amendment seeks to implement the findings of the Horsham Heritage Study Stage 2 (Grieve Gillett, August 2014), the Review of Horsham Heritage Study (Landmark Heritage Pty Ltd, 2025) and Volume 2: Heritage Citations and Mapping (Horsham Rural City Council, 2025) through the application of local policy and the Heritage Overlay.

For further details, refer to the explanatory report about the Amendment.

Details of the Amendment

The Horsham Rural City Council planning authority has prepared Amendment C85hors to the Horsham Planning Scheme.

The Amendment affects places of heritage significance within the settlements of Brimpaen, Clear Lake, Dooen, Haven, Horsham, Jung, Kanagulk, Kewell, Murra Warra, Mitre, Natimuk, Pimpinio, Polkemmet, Quantong, St Helens Plains, Vectis and Wail.

The Amendment proposes to apply the Heritage Overlay to 31 new individual heritage places, 574 new places in 10 new heritage precincts, six new places in a new serial listing and removes the Heritage Overlay from 2 places. The Amendment makes changes to Clause 02.03-5 (Built environment and heritage), Clause 15.03-1L (Heritage conservation – Horsham Rural City), the Schedule to Clause 43.01 (Heritage Overlay), the Schedule to Clause 72.03 (What Does This Planning Scheme Consist Of?), the Schedule to Clause 72.04 (Incorporated Documents) and the Schedule to Clause 72.08 (Background Documents). The amendment also corrects a number of mapping and associated ordinance anomalies

You may inspect the amendment, any documents that support the amendment and the explanatory report about the amendment, free of charge, at the Department of Transport and Planning website www.planning.vic.gov.au/ public-inspection or by contacting 1800 789 386 to arrange a time to view the amendment documentation; the Horsham Rural City Council website at www. hrcc.vic.gov.au/C85-Heritage-Amendment; and on request, during office hours, at the office of the planning authority, Horsham Rural City Council, Civic Offices, 18 Roberts Avenue, Horsham by contacting 03 5382 9777 to arrange a time to view the amendment documentation.

Any person may make a submission to the planning authority about the amendment. Submissions must be made in writing giving the submitter’s name and contact address, clearly stating the grounds on which the amendment is supported or opposed and indicating what changes (if any) the submitter wishes to make.

Name and contact details of submitters are required for the planning authority to consider submissions and to notify such persons of the opportunity to attend planning authority meetings and any public hearing held to consider submissions.

The closing date for submissions is 22 December 2025. A submission can be sent by mail, to Strategic Planning Team, Submission to Amendment C81hors, Horsham Rural City Council, PO Box 511 Horsham VIC 3400 or submitted by email to: strategic.planning@hrcc.vic.gov.au or submitted using the online submission form available on Council’s website: www.hrcc.vic.gov.au/C85-Heritage-Amendment

All records for each cemetery are now digitised and mapped using high-quality drone imagery and GIS technology.

The interactive Chronicle platform allows users to search cemeteries by name, date of birth, or date of death, view grave locations and see headstone photographs where available. It also includes a ‘Life Chronicle’ feature, where families can add personal stories or memorials. People can access the online records via map. chronicle.rip/?org=West%20Wimmera%20 Shire%20Cemetery%20Trust.

“This project helps ensure our records are accurate, accessible, and respectful, while allowing families to engage with their loved ones’ stories in new ways.”

The planning authority must make a copy of every submission available at its office and/or on its website for any person to inspect free of charge until the end of the two months after the amendment comes into operation or lapses.

Gail Gatt Chief Executive Officer Horsham Rural City Council

GRATEFUL: Yandilla nurse unit manager Michelle Coutts and Wimmera Health Care Group Foundation president Graeme Hardman with the new neonatal ventilation unit.

MINIMISE YOUR DOWNTIME

Boosted appeal

Anupdated 2026 X-Trail medium segment SUV has been confirmed for early next year with design enhancements, advanced technology features and interior refinements Nissan says will boost its appeal.

A price rise of $1150 applies range wide with the two N-Trek models deleted from the 2026 nine variant line-up.

The new X-Trail kick-off point is now $38,140 excluding on-road costs for the ST 2.5 petrol FWD five seat model, rising to $58,215 for the TI-L e-Power range topper.

The X-Trail mixes it with numerous competitors in the hotly-contested medium SUV segment, including Toyota’s RAV4, Mitsubishi Outlander, Honda CR-V, Hyundai Tucson, Kia Sportage, Mazda CX-5 and CX-60,

Subaru Forester, and a growing plethora of Chinese offerings as well as a healthy Euro contingent.

In the face of this barrage, Nissan appears confident in announcing the MY26 X-Trail, which features a ‘bold new exterior design language with refreshed front and rear styling, enhanced interior materials and finishes, as well as the introduction of Nissan’s Connected Car Services technology across the range’.

Nissan Oceania managing director

Andrew Humberstone said the updated X-Trail range represented the next evolution of the company’s bestselling SUV, building on the foundation that has resonated so strongly with Australian families.

“This update delivers the premium design, advanced technology and refined driving experience customers

expect, while maintaining the practical versatility that makes X-Trail perfect for Australian lifestyles,” he said.

For the keen-eyed, the MY26 XTrail range exhibits Nissan’s ‘evolved design philosophy’ centred on a new front grille, redesigned front and rear bumpers and different LED lighting signatures that ‘combine to create a more premium and confident presence on the road’.

Complementing the exterior tweaks are a range of new colours in the palette, while inside features new seat materials, updated trim finishes and colour combinations that are intended to elevate the cabin’s premium feel.

Perhaps the most profound change for the MY26 X-Trail is the introduction of Connected Car Services that represent a significant technological advancement for the model.

The system offers features such as remote engine start, vehicle health reporting, theft/burglar notifications and maintenance alerts, all of which are managed through a dedicated smartphone app.

From the ST-L grade up, the MY26 X-Trail scores enhanced ‘Around View Monitor’ technology that now includes features such as ‘skeleton hood’ view for improved visibility on narrow roads and multi view support for T-junction scenarios.

The SUV’s updated infotainment system continues to offer wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay compatibility, while the 12.3-inch display audio remains standard from ST grade.

Nissan says the MY26 X-Trail maintains its Nissan Safety Shield 360 suite with higher model grades ben-

efiting from ProPilot and Lane Keep Assist ‘for enhanced highway driving confidence’.

Intelligent cruise control, forward emergency braking with junction functionality, and blind spot warning with intervention continue with the MY26 upgrade.

Hands-free power tailgate, wireless charging and dual-zone climate control ‘ensure the X-Trail continues to meet the practical needs of busy Australian families’.

Nissan will confirm full specification details closer to the vehicle’s Australian launch in the first quarter of 2026. The model is backed by Nissan’s 10-year/300,000-kilometre Nissan More warranty and Roadside Assistance when serviced at authorised Nissan dealers.

– Peter Barnwell

INSIGHT: Hybrid sales are leading the electrified

Hybrid sales rise

Hybridvehicle sales are leading the electrified sales race ahead of battery electric, BEV, and plug-in electric, PHEV, alternatives, with VFACTS data showing hybrid vehicle sales represented 17.8 per cent of the overall new car market at the end of October.

This represents a 25 per cent uptick in the number of hybrid vehicles sold year-on-year, well ahead of the 4.7 per cent increase in PHEV sales.

BEV sales continue to rise, with the Australian Automobile Association’s quarterly Electric Vehicle Index report showing that all-electric models represent 8.49 per cent of the overall motive power mix year-to-date – compared with 7.72 per cent a year prior, but hitting a new high of 9.7 per cent in the past three months.

Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries chief executive Tony Weber said the October results confirmed Australians were increasingly choosing hybrid and PHEV models as a practical path towards lower emissions.

“Hybrids are delivering strong growth right across the market, while PHEVs are also gaining momentum. Petrol-only vehicles, on the other hand, continue to lose ground,” he said.

“These shifts underline the pace of change in consumer preferences.”

Petrol models topped the new-vehicle sales list in October with 36,807 delivered, ahead of diesel with 30,073, hybrid with 17,751, electric with 7361, and plug-in hybrid with 4724.

Looking at the sale of various motive power types over the past five years it is obvious as to the important role hybrid-powered vehicles now play in reducing Australia’s transport emissions.

Since 2020, sales of hybrid vehicles have increased by 285.8 per cent. Year-to-date figures

supplied by the FCAI show that 161,426 hybrid vehicles were sold to the end of October, just 9000 units fewer than for the entirety of last year. Battery electric vehicle sales have grown steadily. Year-to-date figures for BEV models rest at 83,805 units and based on current sales trends, it is expected the total number of BEVs sold will exceed 100,000 units by the year’s end, around 10,000 more than in the 2024 calendar year.

Plug-in hybrid sales are at their highest on record with 42,797 delivered in the calendar year to date, a 2550 per cent increase on the total number of PHEVs sold just five years ago and 185 per cent up on the overall sales figure achieved in 2024.

It is evident that electrified vehicles of all motive types – BEV, HEV and PHEV – are taking a toll on pure internal combustion engine, ICE, vehicle sales.

Sales of diesel-powered passenger, light commercial and SUV models are likely to finish 2025 down 15 per cent on last year’s figures, although the overall market share of diesel has remained consistent so far this decade.

Petrol vehicles are forecast to achieve 12 per cent fewer sales this year than during 2024. While little impact has been made by the adoption of electrified power in the heavy commercial sector, it is worth noting the number of predominantly diesel-powered models sold in Australia are also down, likely reflecting the current cycle of the economy and a range-wide model refresh underway at market-leading Isuzu. Heavy commercial vehicle sales are tipped to finish the year at just 45,267 units, the lowest result since 2021 – and a decrease on last year’s tally of 11.8 per cent.

– Matt Brogan

Bendix celebrates 70 years

Bendix celebrated its 70th anniversary in Australia last week with an event at its historic Ballarat production plant.

The facility, which is the only one in the country producing automotive friction components, also serves as the company’s research, development and engineering base, producing more than 1.3-million sets of brake pads each year – or 70 per cent of the number sold into the Australian market.

Founded in 1955 as Mintex Limited, Bendix operates on a former government ordnance site and has previously produced OEM components for Chrysler, Ford, Holden, Mitsubishi, Nissan, and Toyota, becoming the exclusive brake linings supplier to GMH in 1967.

Bendix attributes much of its success to the proactive collaborations formed with its customers. It says that in understanding the multitude of changing requirements expected from buyers it is able to deliver a world-class product that was, at its peak, exported to more than 40 countries.

The company still exports brake pads to overseas destinations to this day.

The demise of local automotive manufacturing showed the resilience of the Bendix brand. Its relentless drive to innovate and adapt saw it become a powerhouse in the automotive aftermarket while at the same time developing new products for emerging markets.

As well as producing brake friction products, Bendix now supplies related braking components to an ever-increasing number of new models, including commercial vehicles, electric vehicles, four-wheel drives, hybrids, luxury cars, motorcycles, SUVs, and trucks.

It has even complemented its range with brake upgrade kits to suit numerous applications, particularly centred around GVM upgrades and heavy towing.

The Ballarat facility currently employs about 120 technicians and engineers across two shifts, preserving critical sovereign knowledge and local jobs.

Payload, passengers priority

The first fully electric Toyota

HiLux will reach Australia in 2026 with a technical package selected for urban fleet operations rather than private, heavy-duty or long-distance work.

Early, pre-homologation figures released by Toyota Motor Europe, TME, have outlined the basic specifications of the HiLux BEV, which will feature dual-motor four-wheel drive – but with a very compact battery that prioritises payload and passenger capacity over range.

TME data confirms the use of a 59.2kWh lithium-ion battery that meets Toyota requirements for offroad use.

TME has estimated the driving range to be just 240 kilometres with consumption of 24.6kWh/100km.

The remarkably modest energy storage plays a central role in weight control for the HiLux BEV.

While a kerb weight is not provided, TME estimates the payload will be 715kg – compared to 764kg for the outgoing HiLux 2.8-litre diesel in Rogue mild-hybrid trim.

As foreshadowed recently by Toyota Motor Company Australia, TMCA, vice-president of sales and marketing Sean Hanley, however, towing capacity is diminished compared to a diesel HiLux, with the BEV hauling just 1600kg.

TARGET: Local councils, other government fleet, corporates with strict ESG targets and town-based tradies are the primary targets for the HiLux BEV.

TMCA has, for months, indicated the HiLux BEV would be aimed squarely at organisations with predictable, urban-duty cycles and with the ability to charge an electric ute at a fleet base.

Local councils, other government fleet, corporates with strict ESG targets and town-based tradies are the primary targets for the HiLux BEV.

Mr Hanley recently told GoAuto

TMCA would launch the HiLux BEV in 2026 ‘to meet the needs of largely fleet buyers that require the payload and passenger capacity that HiLux offers, and are able to recharge easily and economically’.

TME claims the HiLux would have ‘best in class’ charging capabilities to minimise vehicle off-road time during shifts.

While power output from the dual motor ‘eAxle’ 4WD system is yet to be confirmed, TME advised the configuration produces 205Nm from the front axle and 268Nm from the rear axle for 473Nm combined.

A high degree of off-road capability is said to carry across into the HiLux BEV, with the multi-terrain select system calibrated to provide brake and

torque modulation ‘equivalent to driving in L4 low range in a conventionally powered vehicle’.

Australian homologation of the HiLux BEV is yet to be completed.

GoAuto understands the European figures for the electric ute are close to the mark for Australia and that only minor deviations are expected locally.

Compared with diesel versions of the HiLux, the trade-offs for going electric mainly relate to towing –1600kg vs 3500kg – and especially range, 240km vs theoretically about 1000km for the diesel.

Globally, carmakers have been vexed by the issues posed by electrifying commercial vehicles.

Long driving range requires a large battery, which in turn increases vehicle mass, reducing payload if the gross vehicle mass is not upped via various strengthening measures.

TMCA has acknowledged demand exists for a HiLux BEV from customers with ESG requirements who require the durability of the ute, access to the Toyota service network and who can accept range trade-offs.

However, TMCA has also announced it will introduce a hydrogenfuelled HiLux FCEV into the Australian market in 2028 with longer driving range and heavier towing capabilities than the BEV.

– Tom Baker

MORROW’S WEEKLY MOTORING

Plann

It’s Mazda Monday and Morrow Mazda have some great deals on demos including Mazda 3’s, CX-30, CX60, CX90, CX8 and super low prices on BT-50 dual cabs.

It’s Tucson Tuesday which means great deals on the Hyundai Tucson range starting from a low $39,990 drive away with a 7-year unlimited Km’s warranty.

It’s Winning Wednesday at Morrow Motor Group and every person who purchases a new or used car receives a FREE scratchie for the chance to win some money.

Call in today to secure your next vehicle and get your free scratchie.

It’s X-Trail Thursday where you can get the X-Trail Hybrid for the same price as a Petrol. Get in quick as stocks are short.

It’s 4 by 4 Friday and today we have some demo Nissan Navara dual cabs priced from $48,990 drive away which is a saving of over $8000. Various models available.

TaKe a BReaK

on ThiS Day

From The Weekly Advertiser archives: November 17, 2005 –After a 38-year running career, Ararat’s Don Weston, centre, was honoured by being announced as a Queen’s Baton Relay participant. In 1982, for the Brisbane Commonwealth Games, Mr Weston carried the baton for the last five kilometres into Ararat before handing it to Mayor Jim Dunn. In 2000, Mr Weston ran down Barkly Street with the Olympic Torch. A staunch member of Stawell and Ararat Cross Country Club, he had participated with great success in numerous Masters’ Games across the nation. Deputy Mayor Ian Wilson, left, and Telstra Country Wide south-west Victoria area general manager Grant Wiltshire are pictured with Mr Weston.

10 years ago: November 18, 2015

A petition calling on the State Government to make cancer compensation accessible to volunteer and career firefighters was being circulated by Member for Lowan Emma Kealy. She had also signed a pledge to support legislation that would give firefighters non-discriminatory access to compensation for cancers contracted as a result of their work.

Five years ago: November 18, 2020

A Wimmera cultural convention and tourism centre was high on the wish list for Leon Toy, who was looking for a buyer for his historic Horsham restaurant and gardens. Mr Toy, then aged 71, had spent almost five decades operating Toy’s Garden Restaurant, and believed the property presented a rare opportunity for Horsham to establish a major community development project.

One year ago: November 20, 2024

A bushfire that originated south of Edenhope the previous weekend was under investigation. It destroyed one home, several agricultural buildings and burnt almost 1280 hectares.

FIVE-DAY forecast

1. Born on this day in New York in 1942 was which fashion designer, known for clothing, jewellery and perfume, but perhaps best known for underwear?

2. What is the chemical symbol for the element mercury?

3. What is the name of the little dot seen above ‘j’ and ‘i’ – a dot, a tittle, a jot, or a spot?

4. In what year was the Great Fire of London?

5. Which song, written by Harry and Sandy Chapin in 1974 and covered by Ugly Kid Joe in 1992, has the lyrics ‘Little boy blue and the man in the moon’?

6. Who was Australia’s ‘golden girl of athletics’ during the 1950s?

7. A teetotaller is a person that never drinks what?

8. In which year was Vegemite first sold in Australia – 1923, 1933 or 1943?

9. What state in Australia will you find the ‘Big Lobster’?

10. Globe and Jerusalem are types of what?

11. Which plant has flowers but no proper leaves?

12. Who was the last Australian to win the men’s singles title at Wimbledon?

13. What type of pasta is shaped like a bow-tie?

14. Which chess piece can only move diagonally?

15. Which word goes before vest, beans and quartet?

16. Where would you find the Sea of Tranquillity?

Answers: 1. Calvin Klein. 2. Hg. 3. A tittle. 4. 1666. 5. Cat’s in the Cradle. 6. Betty Cuthbert. 7. Alcohol. 8. 1923. 9. South Australia. 10. Artichoke. 11. Cactus. 12. Lleyton Hewitt. 13. Farfelle. 14. The Bishop. 15. String. 16. The Moon.

Our office is at 2 Stawell Road, Horsham. Mail: PO Box 606, Horsham 3402. Telephone: 5382 1351. Website: www.theweeklyadvertiser.com.au Email: weeklyadvertiser@team.aceradio.com.au For classified advertisements: 5382 1351 – email: horsham@aceradio.com.au

Advertising: Mark Sulic: 0407 313 456, marks@team.aceradio.com.au; Lee Meadows: 0407 046 864, leem@team.aceradio.com.au; Kelly Schilling: 0437 894 257, kschilling@aceradio.com.au; Danica Cutter: 0488 473 562, dcutter@aceradio.com.au; Heidi Higginson: 0438 759 220, heidih@aceradio.com.au; Lily Olver: 0411 784 001, lolver@aceradio.com.au Newsroom 5382 1351: Lauren Henry: lhenry@aceradio.com.au; Bronwyn Hastings: bhastings@aceradio.com.au; Colin MacGillivray: cmacgillivray@aceradio.com.au; Georgia Bailey: georgiab@team.aceradio.com.au

AFTERNOONS WITH HUGHIE Weekdays, noon until 3pm on

yoUR LUcKy STaRS

FOR THE WEEK NOVEMBER 23 TO NOVEMBER 29

ARIES (March 21 - April 20)

Lucky Colour: Cream

Lucky Day: Friday

Racing Numbers: 5, 3, 2, 1

Lotto Numbers: 2, 13, 26, 36, 35, 8

Travel may be necessary to improve your financial situation. Your love life is the focus right now, with the welfare of loved ones weighing heavily on your mind.

TAURUS (April 21 - May 20)

Lucky Colour: White

Lucky Day: Tuesday

Racing Numbers: 1, 3, 2, 5

Lotto Numbers: 1, 15, 25, 23, 36, 7

Maintain a cool head when managing finances, even if tempted to spend on seemingly valuable items. Relying on others may lead to disappointment – trust in your abilities to get the job done.

GEMINI (May 21 - June 21)

Lucky Colour: Peach

Lucky Day: Monday

Racing Numbers: 1, 3, 2, 5

Lotto Numbers: 2, 3, 12, 26, 35, 40

Putting in extra effort to keep someone happy will prove worthwhile. Avoid getting involved in workplace disputes and let others take their own course.

CANCER (June 22 - July 22)

Lucky Colour: Violet

Lucky Day: Wednesday

Racing Numbers: 1, 3, 6, 5

Lotto Numbers: 1, 12, 26, 35, 5, 4

This is an accident-prone period, so stay alert. Opportunities and unexpected good luck may come from unusual sources, so keep an open mind.

LEO (July 23 - August 22)

Lucky Colour: Blue

Lucky Day: Friday

Racing Numbers: 1, 2, 5, 2

Lotto Numbers: 1, 12, 23, 36, 32, 20

Happiness and a delightful surprise in your love life are predicted. Be cautious with money – avoid overspending or making financial decisions based on unrealistic expectations.

VIRGO (August 23 - September 23)

Lucky Colour: Black

Lucky Day: Wednesday Racing Numbers: 2, 3, 2, 5

Lotto Numbers: 1, 12, 26, 35, 40, 45

Avoid being overly critical at work, as it could result in losing essential support. However, happy moments are likely in your relationships.

LIBRA (September 24 - October 23)

Lucky Colour: Cream

Lucky Day: Tuesday

Racing Numbers: 1, 3, 2, 5

Lotto Numbers: 1, 15, 45, 20, 32, 22

Misunderstandings may lead to revenue loss, so ensure clarity in communication. This isn’t the best time to extend invitations to stay at your place.

SCORPIO (October 24 - November 22)

Lucky Colour: Yellow

Lucky Day: Friday

Racing Numbers: 2, 3, 2, 1

Lotto Numbers: 1, 12, 25, 8, 6, 11

News from afar might inspire your next holiday destination. A streak of luck could help plans materialise sooner than anticipated – include your partner in the decision-making process.

SAGITTARIUS (November 23 - December 20)

Lucky Colour: Pink

Lucky Day: Sunday

Racing Numbers: 2, 3, 2, 1

Lotto Numbers: 1, 12, 25, 6, 30, 11

Keep communication lines open to avoid confusion. Reuniting with old friends will bring laughter and a welcome break from routine.

CAPRICORN (December 21 - January 19)

Lucky Colour: Silver

Lucky Day: Wednesday

Racing Numbers: 1, 3, 5, 9

Lotto Numbers: 8, 12, 5, 44, 40, 33

Avoid arguments, as they’re easy to start but hard to resolve. Prepare excuses for potentially unwelcome invitations. Luck is associated with the colour red.

AQUARIUS (January 20 - February 19)

Lucky Colour: Green

Lucky Day: Monday

Racing Numbers: 4, 5, 2, 6

Lotto Numbers: 1, 12, 15, 26, 34, 40

Surrounding yourself with people will enrich this period, and your leadership will guide others. Your experience will prove invaluable during this time.

PISCES (February 20 - March 20)

Lucky Colour: Silver

Lucky Day: Saturday

Racing Numbers: 1, 3, 2, 5

Lotto Numbers: 1, 12, 15, 26, 30, 33

Uncertainty may arise, but someone in a position to help will provide guidance. Past good deeds will bring benefits, and you may reconnect with people from your past.

Fill in the blank cells using numbers from 1 to 9. Each number can only appear once in each row, column and 3x3 block.

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.

Fit the numbers 1-6 once into every hexagon so that where the hexagons touch, the numbers are the same. No number is repeated in any single hexagon.

Classifieds

HOBBS, ‘TJ’ Travis John

Passed away on November 3, 2025, aged 47.

Leaving behind his wife Tenille.

Loved father of their three sons Hudson, Murphy and Lennox.

Son of Chris and Greg; and Garry (dec).

Cherished brother and brother-in-law of Dean and Cherie; Haylee; Trent and Marijke; Clint and Katherine.

Adored uncle to Georgie, Lachlan, William, Jack, Max, Evie, Bella, Brodie and Lani.

Grandson to Kath O’Reilly. Son-in-law of Mitch and Alyson King.

Dearly missed by all of his extended family.

Forever in our hearts

KEARNS, Noel Lawrence of Warracknabeal on November 13, 2025

Loved husband of Marjorie (Marj, dec).

Loved father & father-in-law of Louise & Frank, Therese, Paula & Shorty, Daniel & Amanda, Clare & Mark, Mary & Trent.

A loved Poppy of Madeline, Jamie, Will, Shaune, Petah, Lackie, Jack, Beau, Gracie, Fred, Tex, Lenny. Old Poppy to George, Lewis, Hugo & Harriett.

PAGE (Belleville), Taylah Deanne

Born 25-8-1997

28 years old

Passed away suddenly in Melbourne on 10-11-2025

Truly cherished daughter of Naomi (Mibus) and Paul (Belleville), adored stepdaughter.

A beloved best friend and sister to Marnie and Jordan.

My Everything

You’re my love, my life, The air that I breathe. You’re my soul, my happiness, The all that I need.

You’re my light, my dark, The stars in the sky.

You’re my ups, downs, the reason I try.

You’re my strength, my weakness, The love from the start.

You’re my heartache, my pain, The beat of my heart.

You’re my tears, my joy, In the love that you bring.

You’re my world, my galaxy,

You’re my “EVERYTHING”. Forever in my heart, Forever missed Love Mum xx

Thank you

~ McFARLANE ~ David

Elaine, Stuart, Greg, Bruce and families wish to express our sincere thanks to everyone who sent cards, flowers, food and messages on the passing of David. Your thoughtfulness was a great comfort.

just

$1500! Call Langley’s now 03 5568 2899 to book

3 year old black and tan bitch working kelpie, great yard dog, Ph or PM for details to Harry 0458318200

Bristlenose catfish , great tank cleaners $5ea until sold out Ph 0474159010 after 6.30pm

HOBBS,

‘TJ’ Travis John

Budgies , assorted colours $10 each Ph 0417533579

Budgies, including white to yellow, assorted colours $10 each Ph 0428010996

Cocker Spaniel pups for sale, purebred pups black, female available from September, microchip# 978142000982266, Source# R185238 Ph 0429912620

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Purebred Golden Retriever pups for sale, 2 gold males left, they have been vet checked, vaccinated and microchipped, ready for their new homes, microchip # 953010007911207/ 953010007911199, source# MB103066 Ph 0438923210

Reduced price to reflect age of puppies, Spoodle puppies, 2 Spoodle girls - could one of these girls be the missing piece in your life, raised in a loving family environment with sweet natures, 6 week vacations, microchip and vet checked, ready to join their new furever families, born 9 May, microchip# 956000017221175 & 956000018924045, source # EE223376 $2000 price neg Ph 0400035456

SquareMeater x Murray Gray, 4 yr old gray bull, 3yr old brown bull, a few cows, proven breeders, compact and muscly, commercial herd, NLIS, vaccinated, PIC# 3YKM L014 Ph 0428994210 Warracknabeal

Welsh Pembroke male and female Corgi puppies red and white, born 11/6/2025, vet checked vacc and microchip, available on the 8/8/2025 for there new home, microchip# 953010007914643, 953010007914649, 953010007914762, 923010007914686, the pups are reg with MDBA and come with Pedigree paper on limited reg, source# RB110579 Ph or text for pic and info 0448024815

2014 Billabong Grove 17’6 twin beds, toilet & shower, large fridge, lots of storage, stored undercover when not traveling, more extras $30,000 Ph 0419434790

2017 Franklin Core 22’, one owner, excellent condition, gas heater, twin bunks, washing machine, $1000+ extras, $59,900 Ph 0401986201

2019 Ezy Trail Stirling GT Mark 2 camper, EC, full annex, used 4 times, full rego $14,999 ono Ph 0428820446

Black series

McGuire, Jim GWMWater Board, management and staff are saddened by the passing of Jim McGuire.

Jim was a passionate environmentalist who was involved in the early planning stages of the Wimmera Mallee Pipeline project through to completion in 2010.

Our sincere condolences are extended to Jim’s family. Rest In Peace

A Memorial Service to Celebrate the Life of TJ Hobbs will take place at St Andrew’s Uniting Church, Horsham on Friday, November 21, 2025 commencing at 12.30pm. The service may also be viewed online at horsham. unitingchurch.org.au/watch Privately interred.

Trevor Bysouth & Daughter Ph 5381 1444 AFDA Member

KEARNS

Requiem Mass for the repose of the soul of Mr Noel Lawrence Kearns will be offered at the Catholic Church Warracknabeal on Thursday, November 20, 2025 commencing at 11am At the conclusion of Mass the cortege will leave for the Warracknabeal Lawn Cemetery.

W.B. Gardiner & Son Funeral Directors Warracknabeal 0407 340 064

Pre-arrange your wishes with Trevor Bysouth & Daughter of 5381 1444 (All Hours) www.wimmerafunerals. com.au

Roosters, ducks and guinea fowl wanted to buy Ph 0480137184

2000 Jayco starcraft , full annex, TV lots of extras, very good condition, one owner, very little use $20,000 or nearest offer Ph 0456601681

2006 Concept Ascot 18’ , low kms, EC, stored under cover, lots of extras $17,000 Ph 0413445347

off road, all extras

Ph 0428788212

21’ Queen bed, large ensuite, full oven, 3way fridge, washing machine, A/C, diesel heater, sirocco fan, solar panels., lithium battery, AC-DC charger, rollout awning Great condition many extras $48000 ONO Ph 0400189163 Jayco Journey Outback , independant suspension, single beds, all Jaco features plus diesel heater, shedded &spotless $46,500 Ph 0429842224

2011 Aline Cruiseliner , annex, roof lifter, reg 4/26, many extras $13,000 Ph 0408159993

Port Fairy 4-bedroom getaway with pool table –

Kimberley Off Road Kamper, genuine all Australian made in Ballina NSW $8000 Ph 0427535212

Motorhome Jayco Fiat Conquest, model FA 25.3, 4yrs old, $13,000 of extras, EC, 10,000kms $148,000 Ph 0428340802

4080B with forks and bucket, GC $15,000 Ph 0419389693

Expression of interest, for sale, Lowan round bale carrier Ph 0407911884 evenings

Hydraulic drive, lift + move, 40ft x 7inch 18hp V Twin Briggs, Stratto powered always shedded $4000, Silyan Boom Spray, 80ft Superior Boom 3,000 + 1,000 titre tanks custom, made to suit J, C, B, Tractor $20,000, John Shearer, harrows 15 leaf hydraulic lift $2,500 Ph 0427824233

FOR SALE Teak TV Cabinet

2 shelves 2 glass doors at bottom, 151H x 104W x 700 as new $60. Outdoor setting

laminex oval table 4 chairs

washable cushions $90, Bird bath large $60, large towing mirrors $40. Ph 0409967815, Pick Up Horsham.

Gold and opal ring, approx 80yrs old, current valuation

$4500 would like $2500 Ph 0458014560

Industrial Extensions

Ladder (Gorilla), closed 3.7 EXT 8.5 $475, Ph 53826461 or 0429 309 491

Pea straw small square bales $8 per bale, great garden mulch, pickup or delivery to Ph 0488303725

Stereo $200, Outdoor setting $150, a round table and chairs REDUCED $290, a beautiful organ paid $8000 selling for $3500, Chiffonier paid $950 selling for $350, ironing board $60, green leather couches,1 x 2 seater and 1 x 3 seater, pristine condition, paid $6500 sell for $4000, all needs to go by 27th October, Ph 53824788

15’ fibreglass clinker inboard boat, no motor, make an offer Ph 0407179433

Top Gun mobility scooter, EC, shade canopy, front basket, rear carrier, inspections welcome $4000 Ph 0438354414

2004 Mitsubishi Magna , all wheel drive, not going, vin# 6MMTL9F424T024238, 320,000km $800 Ph 0419303839

Stihl Petrol FS45 grass trimmer, $170 ono, powerful runs well, bikes one ladys one mans, good order, $170 each ono Ph 0429820692

Tent Dune Eyre, 10x10, near new, easy set up for Easter Ph 0491644368 Horsham

bed camper trailer, make an offer Ph 0407179433 REDUCED 1998 Cameron Canvas Camper , fully enclosed annexe, off road tires, double innerspring mattress, always stored undercover $4000ono Ph 0439553575

REDUCED Jayco Optimum 2013 motor home 28.5’, 2 slides, extras inc, 400 watt solar, diesel heater, bulbar, security system, 92,000kms, $150,000 Ph 0438951101

REDUCED New Age 2013, queen bed, TV, large fridge, microwave, gas/electric hot plates, toilet, shower, washing machine, full annex, sway bars, $39,000 Ph 0427778747

REDUCED Toyota Coaster camper , 2 seater, diesel heater, 1hz motor, solar and 12v awning much more $30,000 Ph 0418325662

Roadstar semi off road 20’, 2000 model, registered, photos available $14,000 Ph 0428847475

Inter Truck C1600, 72 Butter Box model, Jonker hoist, 14’, new head and radiator, front new tyres $5000 Ph 0429857207

Slasher 3PL J.Bervands

EP135, 4’6’’ cut wheel kit as new $2300, Small Bale Pickup loader Irish $120, Hay Stack Elevator $120, PH 0427 871 404

2 saddles, 2 bridles, 2 horse bits, 1 drench bit, 1 riding cap Ph 0447590865

20ft shipping container, $3500 ono Ph 0407285097

50 bales of native hay, small squares, always kept in shed $15 each Ph 55851429

6x4 trailer with cage, $900 ono Ph 0407285097

7x4 tool trailer, $3500 ono Ph 0407285097

Bath Cast Iron, EC Pale Pink $200 Ph 53826461 or 0429 309 491

Brick pavers , H shaped, beige colour, 1600 $800 Ph 0459027575 Stawell

Camper Trailer, all excellent condition $1500 Ph 0478254195

CCE cage on wheels 6x4

well made $400 ono, 500 gallon ex fuel tank $100 ono, Coolgardie safe $100 ono, Ute crate, 6x4 tub tight $50 ono, Bailey extension ladder 5.3 extends to 6.3 $500 ono, new Holland Mower GC with parts, 44g drums ideal for grain feeding cattle, best offer Ph 0429857207

Flat deck tandem trailer , 4.2m x 2.3m, $4500 onoPh 0407285097

Folding bike with training stand $350, Snow sled 1050x500 $45 Ph 0418992631

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

L shaped lockable 5 glass shelf display case, with 5 downlights, 500mm lockable storage at bottom, 2.125 mm x 3.180mm x 400mm wide x 2.14mm high, $6200 ono, or lay by, can be dismantled to a flatpack, MINERALS NOT INCLUDED Ph 0428564422

Omega gold watch , approx 65yrs old, still keeps perfect time $1500ono Ph 0458014560

Toro zero turn 42 inch deck, 2 years old, just had full service with new blades, great condition, less than 15hrs use, $6000ono Ph Tim 0418258787

recliner armchair in excellent condition, $950 ono Ph 0428150951

3.7 savage aluminium boat, UM198, 25 HP Mercury forward steer reyco trailer, b15834 electric motor and lawrence fish finder $2600 Ph 0428523919

Immaculate family ski boat, 1993 Ski craft 5.6 meters, 350 Chev, regularly serviced, new gel coat, new bimini, refurbished rolco easy tow trailer, stereo system, and high pole included, boat rego CV679, trailer rego D81783 $15,900 Ph 0409180016

Stacer Aluminium boat , 3.6m boat with trailer and 9.9hp Evinrude motor, comes with 3 adult life jackets, 2 child life jackets and fish finder $1800 Ph 0417105439

Stacer Aluminium fishing boat, 25 horsepower Yamaha outboard motor, trailer & boat registered, VGC $6000 Ph 0498549832

2004 Harley Davidson Heritage softail, screaming eagle pipes saddle bags, great condition, 25xxxkms, $17,000 Ph 0409406366 Stawell

2011 Honda 750 Shadow Shaft, as new cond, reg til 2/26, spares inc some new, 27,700kms $5250 Ph 0488023477

Sunglasses in Horsham Woolworths or Aldi car park on 24/8,

Quickie electric wheelchair, hardly used, EC $16,000 neg Ph 0429881523

2018 KTM 65, 2nd owner, powerful little motorbike, ready to go! $3200 ono Ph 0447316525

REDUCED BMW R1200RT Solo, 2007, Ex SA Police, GO, HGR, EWS, CC, RW cond, unregistered, service manuals $3000 Ph 0428154961

1994 Ford ED Futura Auto 4.0i, drives strong, great duco, no RWC or rego $5500 Ph 0409423541

2007 Ford Mondeo hatchback , diesel, very good condition, 150110 kms, UPS985 $7000 Ph 0487313892

2013 Ford Mondeo Zetec hatch, auto, economical turbo diesel, silver colour, full service history, registered June 25, RWC, 317,000km, 1AG2PW $5500ono Ph 0428928248 Ford BF Sedan 2005,

Hilux Toyota tray, excellent condition with push on tarp $1200 Ph 0484355030

Reduced alloy nudge bar, will suit Land Cruiser Prado 150 Series, $125 Ph 53569340 or 0412482521 Landsborough

Reduced Ute canopy, 2050L x 1900W,

Deb Dress For Sale, Size: 10-12, worn once, excellent condition, dry cleaned, $400 Ph: 0429802767

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

2018 Toyota Landcruiser

Prado GXL , auto, 4x4, EC, 1LZ3FW, 190,000kms

$39,500 Ph 0431603221

2023 Kia Stonic, like new, no longer needed, RWC and rego 2026, IXP9CS, only 11,000 kms $26,500 Ph 0419211643

REDUCED Nissan Navara ST 4x2 2018 , automatic diesel, white color, very good condition, engine 2.3L 4Cyl, service car at 121,654km, canopy , front bar sport, one new tyre, towbar, one owner, registered till 28 June 2026 in Vic, 1PR4MJ, 150,500km

$21,500 Ph 0434282826

Toyota Ute, no Ev tax on this one, dual cab SR5 auto transmission, 3 litre motor, diesel, 2011 model, RWC supplied, high rise canopy, tub liner, trailer pull, electric brakes, as new inside, 106,500 kms, YFK992 $32,500 Ph 0428 832 227

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

48 year old separated/single true gentleman bloke from Horsham who likes reading, music, occasionally going out for dinner then next the movies or watching movies at home, fishing and camping, walking and swimming, looking for 48+ old lady for serious relationship Ph 0491230835

Jill Nicholson went to Dover girls tech in the 60s Adelaide, lived 5 Broadway South Brighton left Adelaide to live in rural Victoria early 70s Ph John 0423315174

Stawell Lady recently moved to Stawell, interests include art, camping, ukulele, singing, bushwalking, dancing, looking for a respectable man for possible relationship aged between 60 -70yrs Ph 0413375338

3 bedroom house to share, near Horsham cbd, own walk in robe and ensuite, semi-furnished Ph 0427963906

Funeral remembrance

videos edited with cherished media by professional, each project individual, AI photo restoration available Ph 0478609837

Keyte’s mowing service , lawn mowing, lawn aeration (coring), block slashing, general pruning Ph 53826461 or 0429309491

Massage ......Don’t deprive yourself of time to be completely pampered, to made feel like you’ve not felt in a very long time, discreet in all aspects, is here at your service, can have all your sensual desires catered for including massage oils to help you relax, feel comfortable and put you in a state of euphoria, clean in all regards, a safe home environment, including off street parking that you can arrive at your appointment at ease, catering for both male and female Ph 0422275320

Wanted Land to share-farm or lease anywhere south of Horsham and accross to the Grampians, from 50 to 600 acres, cropping country preferred Ph Roger Hallam at Mockinya 0418822700

Wanted, Billy Goat service for 2 milking goats Ph 53840253

2 tanker loads of water as running low Nhill area cash paid Ph 53928295 and leave message

•

Looking to Buy a Home in Horsham I’m a genuine buyer seeking a house in Horsham. If you’re considering selling-now or in the near future-please get in touch. No agents, just a straightforward sale, any condition considered, call or text Ara on 0425906535

Care for 12 year old female greyhound, odd times, some overnight Ph 0427864628

Help Wanted, Spring/ House cleaning, located in Warracknabeal, price and time negotiable Ph 0435592080

The Door

“Ping!” There it went again. I got up quickly and raced across to close the door, turning the door knob to the right and to the left, jiggling the door and lifting the door up and pushing it down until the latch seemed to sit back in the hole. “Beauty”, I thought, “This should hold now”, as I edged my way back to the lounge... “Ping!”

Yep. The frosty wind blew the leaves into the kitchen as I raced across to the door. “I know”, I thought, “I’ll put a chair there and that should hold it until the morning.” With the change in weather, the shifting soil decided to move things out of place and the door soon followed. Doors are an important part of a house. They can open up to the warmth of friends and family, the warm breeze, a snuggly cat or dog. They can also close to keep out whomever you wish. Locked tight.

What is your spiritual house doing? Everyone has a door in their house. Is it open to God? Jesus says, behold I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come to him and dine with him and he with Me (Revelation 3:21). Jesus is knocking at the door of your heart. Will you invite Him in? He would love so much to be with you. He is a true companion and friend. I think I will keep my door open “ping!”

Suzanne McDonald - Seventh-Day Adventist Church

The Journey of Faith

was the opposite of what we expect. The journey of faith is not moving from a hard life to a comfortable or wealthy life. It is a journey from falsehood to truth. It is a journey from selfishness and self-interest to a life of love and a life that seeks the peace of others. It is a journey from self-satisfaction and personal joy to a life that seeks to please God.

God called Abraham when he was living a comfortable life. “The Lord said to Abram, ‘Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you.’” Leaving his country, his relatives, and his father’s household was not only about leaving a place. It meant changing his direction in life. It meant changing his values. It meant stepping out from what was familiar into what was unfamiliar. It meant leaving a stable life and walking into a place that could be uncertain or even dangerous. Faith is leaving. Faith is separation. Believers separate themselves from what is familiar but sinful. They lay down old habits and old ways of living. Faith also changes what we trust. Abraham once trusted in his livestock, his servants, and all the things the world calls “security.” But God teaches us that true safety does not come from these things. We are safe because God walks with us. Faith is shifting our hope—from the things of this world to God Himself.

Rev. Jacob Yang, Uniting Church minister in Horsham and District

the unimaginable reality Megan* and countless other Aussies are living right now. In fact, for every person experiencing homelessness you can see, there are 13 more you can’t.

we can help stop the rise in homelessness.

Tree Pick-up

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L ocation: Horsham/Ballarat

Competitive pay + Allowances + Travel claims Join

SUCCESS: Remotecontrolled glider pilots gathered at Green Lake on the weekend for the Wimmera Model Aircraft Association Midway Cup. Nick Chabrel won the weekend from Michael O’Reilly and Daniel Haskell. Kevin Botherway from New Zealand won group B. A record number of entrants launched their gliders during the twoday event. Left, Michael O’Reilly prepares his glider for flight.

EYES TO THE SKY: Peter Melders keeps an eye on his

Pennant ladder unchanged

BY COLIN MacGILLIVRAY

Only one match took place in round seven of Central Wimmera Tennis Association’s pennant competition on Saturday, with St Michaels forfeiting its scheduled encounter with Central Park.

The result Kalkee’s home matchup against reigning premier Horsham Lawn as the sole remaining fixture, with Lawn accounting for the Kees after a tight opening.

In the first doubles section the underdog Kees went toe to toe with the visitors, with each side winning two rubbers apiece.

Kalkee women Meaghan Pohlner and Anna Exell won a convincing 8-1 result against Lawn’s Ella Thompson and Lydi Boyd, while Jae McGrath and D’Artagnan Walls downed Jordan Friberg and Aiden Richardson 8-3 in their side’s best win of the first four rubbers.

It was in the singles section that Lawn separated itself, with McGrath’s 8-7 win over Friberg the closest result, while Thompson reversed her earlier doubles loss with an 8-0 whitewash of Pohlner.

The ladder remained unchanged at the round’s conclusion, with the forfeit win preserving Central Park’s perfect start to the season.

The Parkers top the ladder with a 7-0 record, followed by Lawn, which improved to 5-2. The Saints are third with a 2-5 record following their forfeit, while the Kees remain in search of their first win at 0-7.

Horsham Lawn will host the Saints this weekend, while Kalkee is away to Central Park.

Other grades

Central Park also sports an undefeated record to top the ladder in A Special competition.

The Parkers survived a tough encounter with Horsham Lawn O’Connor at the weekend to win 8-97 to 6-71, with Shaun Alexander and Eve Wear’s big singles wins helping seal the result.

Brimpaen, which had a bye, moved to second place on the ladder with Lawn O’Connor’s loss, while Horsham Lawn Dorman’s 11-100 to 3-68 win over Natimuk saw it remain in fourth place.

Drung South also kept itself in the finals race, beating Homers 9-99 to 5-55.

Exell provided a bright spot for the home side, partnering with Keeley Schultz and then Emily Polack to win a pair of 8-7 tiebreaks in the final doubles section, but it was not enough to prevent a comfortable Horsham Lawn win – 10 sets, 102 games to four sets, 63 games.

In A Grade, Horsham Lawn McGennisken survived a thriller against Haven Blue, winning 6-68 to 6-66 thanks to the late heroics of Pauline Amos and Elizabeth Holmes, who teamed up to beat Haven Blue’s Hayley Toet and Kylie Christian 8-0 in the final rubber of the day, dragging their team to a two-game win.

Other results saw Central Park 7-77 defeat Hosham Lawn Tigers 5-66, and Haven Red 9-87 best Homers 3-50, while St Michaels forfeited to Horsham Lawn Ahern.

Central Park’s 12-82 to 4-54 win over Haven saw it retain its place atop the B Special ladder, with

STRONG: Horsham Lawn’s Ella Thompson won two of her three matches against Kalkee in Central Wimmera Tennis Association’s pennant competition on Saturday.

Horsham Lawn Bardell defeating Natimuk 12-84 to 4-53 and Laharum topping Horsham Lawn Savage 11-79 to 5-58 in other results.

Horsham Lawn also hosted its junior tournament on Sunday, with players contesting 10-and-under, 12-and-under, 14-and-under and open-age categories.

The next junior tournament will be at Haven Tennis Club on Sunday, December 7. People can enter the tournament and find more information by visiting tournaments.tennis.com.au/ tournament/6019AA89-A0B34FDD-941A-E098853AEC97.

0-13.

Section 1 Boys: Horsham Lawn White 4-31 d Haven 2-21; Central Park 4-33 d Horsham Lawn Gold 2-24.

Section 1 Girls: Haven 3-28 d Horsham Lawn Gold 3-24; Horsham Lawn Gree 4-33 d Horsham Lawn White 2-20.

Section 2 Boys: Horsham Lawn Green 6-36 d Central Park 0-15; Horsham Lawn Gold 4-32 d Haven 2-20.

Section 2 Girls: Horsham Lawn Black 3-37 d Natimuk Yellow 3-25;

Bullants gather momentum

BY COLIN MacGILLIVRAY

Round five of Horsham

Cricket Association’s A Grade competition was defined by one-sided results, with three of the five losing teams bowled out for scores in the 50s.

Noradjuha-Toolondo’s hot start to the season continued to gather momentum, with the Bullants demolishing Lubeck-Murtoa on the road. Batting first after being sent in, the Bullants faltered early, with openers Troy Dumesny, 4, and Jack Combe, 11, dismissed cheaply by Mudlark bowlers Nic Ballagh and Jarvis Mitchell respectively.

But once Matt Combe and Jamie Byrne settled in at the crease, it became clear it would be a long day for the home side’s bowling attack.

Combe and Byrne put on 90 runs for the third wicket before Byrne fell to Shannon Reddie for 47, with Combe, 50, joining him shortly after.

But Justtin Combe continued to frustrate the Mudlark bowlers, making a team-high 66, while skipper Tony Caccaviello contributed 48 in the lower order.

The Bullants saw out their 40 overs at 9-245, setting a daunting challenge for Lubeck-Murtoa.

The Mudlarks were in trouble almost immediately when Matt Combe picked up the wicket of opener Reddie for 6.

Combe’s breakthrough paved the way for a devastating spell from Caccaviello, who took 4-1 in a twoover span that included a triplewicket maiden to leave LubeckMurtoa reeling at 5-11.

The Mudlarks were never able to recover, with Mitchell, 19, and Newell, 16, the only batsmen to reach double figures.

The home side was all out for 58 inside 20 overs, with Caccaviello taking 4-5 in five overs for the visitors.

It was a similar story at Sunnyside Recreation Reserve, where Laharum trounced St Mary’s by 172 runs.

Sent in to bat, the Demons had a few early wobbles as Max Bunworth, 6, Josh Mahoney, duck, and Chaminda Gamage, 6, all fell to Saint bowler Brodie Dennes, but with opener Daniel Griffiths, 36,

Dylan Ruurds led the way for Donald-Jeffcott with the bat, making 62 runs.

anchoring the top order, the team soon settled.

Griffiths’ patience allowed Jason Kannar, 72, and Jackson Hoffmann, 69 not out, to establish themselves, helping their team to a healthy total of 7-223.

The Demons never allowed the Saints to build any momentum in their run chase, with Joel Pymer, 5-29, tearing through the top order and Mahoney, 3-6, cleaning up the tail to have the visitors out for 51 inside 16 overs.

Donald-Jeffcott completed the third smothering win of the round, bowling Colts out for 55 after recording 7-179 from their 40 overs.

Dylan Ruurds, 64, and Will Burke, 42 not out, led the way for Donald-Jeffcott with the bat, while Cooper Anderson, 5-19, and Eddie Landwehr, 3-6, were the team’s most dangerous bowlers.

West Wimmera had five wickets and more than six overs to spare as it chased down Swifts-Great Western’s total of 9-131 at Nhill’s Davis Park.

The depth of the Warriors’ bowling attack was on display, with nine of the 11 team members delivering at least one over for the afternoon as they kept all but Lion opener Max McMahon below 20 runs.

The home side similarly shared the load with the bat, with Brad Alexander, 37, Brodie Cramer, 28, and Na-

DROPPED: Colts’ Jacob O’Beirne drops a Dylan Ruurds chance. Pictures: PAUL CARRACHER

than Alexander, 28, all contributing to the successful run chase.

Brim-Kellalac-Sheep Hills’ sixwicket victory over Horsham Tigers followed a similar path, with the Eagles holding the home team to 8-152 before reaching their victory target with six overs to spare.

Joel Plazzer, 37, and Dale Dridan, 30, made lower-order runs to give the Tigers a chance, but Leigh Dovaston’s 64 at the top of the score sheet for the Eagles set the visitors

up for victory, aided by Sandon Schultz with 43.

Round six will see Donald-Jeffcott take on Noradjuha-Toolondo in a blockbuster between two finals hopefuls, while Swifts-Great Western will host Lubeck-Murtoa at Central Park, Laharum is at home to Colts, St Mary’s welcomes Horsham Tigers to Anzac Park and BrimKellalac-Sheep Hills take on West Wimmera at Nhill.

Horsham’s Jannik Blair is bound for next year’s International Wheelchair Basketball Federation, IWBF, World Championships in Canada.

Blair and his Australian Rollers team won the IWBF Asia Oceania Championships at the weekend, defeating Japan 62-57 in a tense gold medal game.

The Rollers went through the Asia Oceania tournament in Thailand undefeated, punching their ticket to the world championships in the process.

Blair, 33, has previously represented Australia at both the Paralympics and IWBF World Championships.

In 2012 he was part of the Rollers team that won a silver medal at the London Paralympics, and added a gold medal to his trophy cabinet two years later at the world championships in South Korea.

He also won a bronze medal as part of the Rollers team that finished third at the 2018 world championships in Germany, and competed without medalling at the Paralympic Games in 2016, 2020 and 2024.

Next year’s world championships will be in Ottawa, Canada, from September 9 to 19.

Horsham

team wins memorial

Horsham Golf Club’s Nell Smithett Memorial teams event on October 31 was taken out by a Horsham team with 105 points, ahead of Hamilton on 102 points.

Horsham’s Helene Turvey, Kris Knight and Tracey Hobbs won, with Hamilton’s Enid Smith, Debbie Milne and Kerryn Price second.

Nearest-the-pin winners were: 2nd, Kerryn Price, Hamilton; 8th Debbie Lowe, Rainbow; 11th Sue Haylock, Warrnambool; 13th Kerryn Price, Hamilton.

Blair bound for worlds Croquet results

Horsham Golf Croquet’s Saturday competition saw Rob Bahr lead division one, with Glenn Price runner-up.

Gwen McCartney won division two, with Leanda Elliott and Jenny Pipkorn respectively first and second in division three.

Marj Weidermann won Thursday’s division-one competition, with Rob Bahr the runner-up. Greg Phillips won division two ahead of June Liddy, with Graham Schmidt division three’s victor ahead of runner-up Elizabeth Todd.

LEADER:

From jumping shadows to smashing it Paving the way

AFL Wimmera Mallee region manager Ange Ballinger believes the area is a model of success others can emulate as AFL Victoria transitions away from its regional administrative centre, RAC, model.

AFL Victoria established RACs across the state to administer multiple leagues in the wake of 2011’s Peter Jackson Report of Country Football in Victoria.

But AFL Victoria this month announced that, with the AFL Barwon deciding to move away from the RAC model, it would be scrapped across the state, with most leagues reverting to selfgovernance or region councils.

Ms Ballinger said the announcement would have no effect on leagues in the AFL Wimmera Mallee region, as they had already transitioned away from a RAC model prior to the 2023 season.

Rather than being directly overseen by AFL Wimmera Mallee, the Wimmera and Horsham District football netball leagues are now managed by the Wimmera District Football Netball Association, which was set up to share staff and resources between both leagues.

Ms Ballinger said AFL Victoria’s decision to abandon the RAC model was driven by the differing needs of leagues within the same region.

“Out of the five or six leagues in an area you might have one that’s really strong and has great skill sets on their board, with a huge amount of retained funds, so their aspirations are going to be dictated by that,” she said.

“But then you might have another league that is sliding along by the seat of its pants and struggling to get by each day, and it’s impossible for AFL Victoria to be everything everybody needs.

“This really just puts more control back with the leagues to be able to be what they want to be, but still with all the support that AFL Victoria can give. But they want to stop having to bail out bad management.”

Ms Ballinger said because leagues in the AFL Wimmera Mallee region had already moved away from a RAC model, other regional managers were asking her for advice as their own regions transitioned.

She said she believed leagues in the area could provide a template for others across the state to follow.

“I’m really proud of Wimmera Mallee and Sunraysia. Wimmera Mallee were the first to do it alongside Goldfields,” she said.

“It hasn’t been seamless, but it’s being done for the right reasons – it’s allowing the leagues to drive their own competitions, which is what they should be doing, and they can lean into AFL Victoria to access the full suite of supports. I think we’re really kicking goals out here. We’re leading the state. We’ve paved the way for what is going on now.”

A full statement from AFL Victoria on its transition away from the RAC model is available online at play.afl/victoria/ news/afl-victoria-announces-rac-directional-strategies-project.

Horsham owner-trainer Justin Lane went through more than a few anxious moments before his four-yearold entire Smashed It captured the Park Douglas Printing Maiden Pace at Mildura on Wednesday last week.

“He was jumping shadows in the preliminary, so Ryan Backhouse brought him back to have a shadow roll fitted before working in front of the stewards for a clearance to run in the race,” Lane said.

“They went back out and he jumped the first one but after that, thank heavens, went around without any issues – to say I was relieved is a huge understatement.”

Smashed It was having his eighth career outing for the Lane family and deserved to break through after weighing in at his previous five starts.

Team Lane bred the horse from their lightly raced mare Muckinbar Dutchess, a daughter of Muckinbar Lady and from the family of Administrator, which raced in the 90s.

Manning quinella

Great Western horsewoman Kerryn Manning posted a stable quinella in the first semi-final of the 3YO Fillies Vicbred Series at Melton on Saturday when Surfe La Mer edged out Alifetimeforliving close to the finish line.

Manning took the reins with the daughter of American Ideal USA while handing over the Pancare

charity horse Alifetimeforliving to Michael Bellman for a great result, with both going through to the rich final on Saturday night.

Surfe La Mer began well from the pole and enjoyed a soft trip throughout when Alifetimeforliving worked hard from gate five to cross to the pegs after they had gone 600 metres.

“She’s a nice little filly who has come a long way from last year,” Manning said after the race.

“There isn’t much between the two. I felt a little bit mean running past Alifetimeforliving as she did all the work.”

VicBred runners

It was terrific to see several of our ‘way out west’ stables get through

the Vicbred Super Series semi-finals last weekend at Melton and qualify their runners for Saturday’s rich finals.

Traditionally, finals night belongs to the ‘big guns’ like the Stewart, Lee, Lang, Tubbs and Stanley camps – here’s hoping Michael Bellman with Mercano and Zoolu, Aaron Dunn with Eyeneedthat, Out To Stay, Forty Love and Our Golden Deal, the Mannings with Surfe La Mer, Alifetimeforliving, Mystery Fred and Nostra Nipotina, Michelle Wight’s Maximez and Jason Ainsworth with Argyle Muse can pinch some of the Vicbred spoils and glory on offer.

– Tony Logan

SUCCESS: Smashed It, driven by Ryan Backhouse for ownertrainer Justin Lane, wins the Park Douglas Printing Maiden Pace at Mildura on Wednesday last week. Picture: Jo Morrish Photography

Rivals to square off

BY COLIN MacGILLIVRAY

The Horsham-Ararat rivalry looms large over the final round of the Country Basketball League southwest conference men’s season, with the Hornets and Redbacks set to square off for the first time with finals implications on the line.

Ararat enters round eight in second place on the ladder, and has a chance to lock in a home semi final with a pair of wins in a road double-header this weekend.

The Redbacks will face off against the Hornets in a blockbuster at Horsham Basketball Stadium at 8pm on Saturday, before travelling to Terang to take on the Tornadoes on Sunday afternoon.

The Saturday night game will be the first leg of a home double-header for the Hornets, who also host last season’s grand final opponent, Mount Gambier, at 2pm on Sunday.

The Hornets’ men, currently fourth on the ladder, have even more at stake as they seek to solidify a finals berth.

The reigning premier currently leads fifth-placed Portland by percentage only, and the Coast-

ers could overtake the Hornets with wins against last-placed Hamilton and-or sixth-placed Colac if the Hornets lose one or both of their final two games.

The round of intrigue was set up by Sunday’s round seven game, which saw Portland defeat Horsham 101-95 after the Hornets got off to a slow start.

Although Horsham captain Mitch Martin played his best game of the season, scoring 25 points, Micah Livingstone was again strong with 24 and Levi Munyard added 16, the Hornets were unable to stop a Portland offence powered by Brad Clark, 29 points, and Toby Jennings, 20.

The result came only one day after arguably the Hornets’ best performance of the season, in which they dismantled Millicent 111-71 on the road.

The Magic were within three points of the Hornets after a high-scoring first quarter, but the visitors clamped down thereafter, with Livingstone top-scoring on 34 while Tarkyn Benbow, 16, Martin and Munyard, 14 apiece, and Cody Bryan, 11, were all in double figures and every player scored.

Ararat was also impressive at the weekend, dominating its lone game against Warrnam-

bool to win 115-85 at Ararat Fitness Centre.

While Zac Dunmore has powered the Redbacks’ offence this season, he shared the spotlight with Ethan Fiegert – with Dunmore scoring 37 and Fiegert 36.

Women

While the Hornets’ women are out of finals contention entering the final round, they will be looking to continue their late-season vein of form.

The Hornets followed up their breakthrough win in round six with competitive performances against the top-of-the-ladder Millicent Magic and secondplaced Portland at the weekend.

Young players Hannah Plazzer, 11 points, and Indy Webb, 10, were given chances to shine against Millicent, but were unable to keep their team afloat in an eventual 88-50 loss on Saturday night.

It was a similar story on Sunday, with Plazzer scoring 14 points while Jorja Clode topscored with 23, but the Hornets were overrun by Portland, 82-58.

Their final games this weekend will see the team host Millicent at 6pm on Saturday night, before playing Mount Gambier at 12pm on Sunday.

BOWERS CHIROPRACTIC CENTRE

SOME HELPFUL TIPS FOR A SPRAINED ANKLE

What can Chiropractic do for a sprained ankle? Sprained ankles are a common sports injury and I think I practically majored in them! So here’s a few tips to help from the resident chiropractor!

1) Rest.Ice.Compression. Elevation. Wait 48hrs and reassess.

2) If there is any bruising there is most probably a ligament tear or worse a chipped bone. That may require X-ray.

3) See a chiropractor. “So how can a chiropractor help?” The chiropractor can assess the joint and let a person know how badly damaged it is. A chiropractor will also assess the rest of the spine. We can offer rehabilitation exercises and assist in recovery.

Why does Chiropractic help? In 20+yrs experience, an ankle sprain doesn’t just affect the ankle. As the song goes “The ankle bone’s connected to the knee bone, the knee bone’s connected to the hip bone “ etc. Rebalancing the whole body gives a much better result. It gets the brain to talk better to the body. Where here to help, Monday, Wednesday and Fridays. You can also book online at bowerschiropractic.com.au

Dr. Pauline Walsh B. Clinc Sci B. App. Sci (Chiropractic), DACCP

6 Allen Crescent, Stawell 3380 | M: 0459 754 223 | T: 03 5358 1464

She’s been deeply involved in feedlot operations, including managing

and playing a key role in completing MSA and farm audits.

Her hands-on experience means she understands what it takes to run a successful livestock operation. Her broad skill set and genuine passion for the industry make her a fantastic addition to our merchandise department.

Whether you’re looking for advice on animal health, fencing supplies or general rural merchandise, Kristy is here to help with practical, experience-based knowledge.

WINNERS: The winning teams at last week’s Horsham Golf Club Catalina Foursomes Championships were, left, Kaye Smith and Joan Buckley in division two, and, right, Kerry Henry and Annabelle Plowright in division one.

Henry, Plowright claim title

Horsham Golf Club hosted its annual Catalina Foursomes Championships from Tuesday to Thursday last week, with women contesting two divisions.

The championships are named in honour of New South Wales’ Catalina Country Club, which donated the division one trophy, while Catalina life member Dawn Scott donated a tray for the division two winners.

Taking out the division one title this year was a pairing of Kerry Henry and Annabelle Plowright, who shot rounds of 90 and 93 for a 36-hole total of 183 to beat runners-up Lisa Jakobi and Amanda Brownsea by two strokes.

Nett winners in division one were June Crabtree and Liz Jackman with a handicap-adjust total of 156, edging out Donna O'Connor and Tracey Hobbs on 158.

Tuesday’s best 18-hole scratch score was recorded by Henry and Plowright, with Crabtree and Jackman shooting the best nett 18-hole round.

On Thursday it was Jakobi and Brownsea with the best scratch score, with Henry and Plowright shooting the best nett round.

Competition was also tough in division two, with Kaye Smith and Joan Buckley shooting rounds of 103 and 105 for a winning 36-hole total of 208 – 10 strokes ahead of runners-up Lorraine Melville and Debbie Simpson.

Nett winners across 36 holes were Pauline Salter and Marg Moore on 152, beating Annette Fechner and Pat Latus on a countback.

Tuesday’s 18-hole scratch winners were Smith and Buckley, with Fechner and Latus winning the best nett total.

Smith and Buckley again recorded the best scratch score on Thursday, with Helen Burke and Lorraine Mitchell shooting the top scratch score.

Nearest-the-pin winners were: Tuesday, 8th Marg Moore, 11th June Crabtree, 13th Tracey Hobbs; Thursday, 8th Annabelle Plowright, 11th Tracey Hobbs, 13th Tracey Hobbs.

Kate Torpey B. Hlth. Sci (Pod) M. APodA

Loretta Howe B. Pod, M. APodA Gemma Morgan B.AppSc & M. PodPrac

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Sport

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DIGGING DEEP: The 30th annual Volleyball Horsham Invitation tournament was played across multiple venues in Horsham at the weekend, drawing teams from across the state and South Australia. Pictured in action are, clockwise from left: Horsham’s Tim Carter digging deep in premier one men’s division; Tamikah Dockerill playing for Horsham in premier one; Horsham’s Kayla Kelm ready to serve in state league one competition; and Cleo Baker, competing for Horsham in premier one women. Pictures: PAUL CARRACHER

Apprentice Chef

Horsham – Applications close: ASAP

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For more information, please contact Simon Rohde 0428 971 821

Business Traineeship

Horsham – Applications close: ASAP

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Seasonal Harvest Intake

Horsham – Applications close: ASAP

• Casual position – Monday to Friday shifts

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Refrigeration & Air-Conditioning Apprenticeship

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Need an electrican? See Sport

Five in a row for state champions

BY DAVID BERRY

The best team in Australia proved itself just that when BBJSC Pakenham made short work of Sunraysia in the premier division of the 30th annual Volleyball Horsham Invitation tournament.

The win was the fifth in succession at the Horsham tournament for the current state league champions, keeping their dream alive of surpassing Mazenod, which put together an amazing seven straight title wins from 2010-2016.

Captain Kanwarpal Singh said his team enjoyed coming to Horsham to display its powerful brand of volleyball.

“Volleyball Horsham gave us our first opportunity to play, when the majority of our team came to Australia in 2021 after the pandemic, and ever since then we have enjoyed coming to this tournament each year,” he said.

“We are acutely aware of Mazenod’s record here at Horsham, and we will keep coming to this event until someone beats us or we break the record.”

The Sunraysia team pulled out all stops to try and break BBJSC Pakenham’s hold on the title, enticing homegrown talent Dylan Lucchesi to play as well as inviting Melbourne Vipers players Lachie Chester, Harry Sinclair, Zac Curtis and up-and-coming star libero James McDonald to join them.

In the end, no matter what they threw at their opponents in the final, they could not find an answer to the power-hitting of twin towers Akash and Gurpinder and the undeniable talent of Manjot Singh.

In the women’s premier final the sleeping giant of Victorian volleyball KVA defeated newcomer Rise Volleyball in an entertaining four-set victory.

KVA volleyball club has a submission in to Volleyball Victoria to join the premier division of state league, and this win will go a long way to cementing its case for admission.

KVA bounced out of the blocks, taking the first two sets, only to see Rise take the third on the back of some undisciplined play from KVA. But the talent of the Fischer twins Tayla and Zoe and the experience of Emma Toleafoa saw KVA take the Horsham title for the first time.

Horsham teams

The growing reputation of producing quality junior talent continued for Volleyball Horsham, with the under-15 boys’ team reversing the result of the Junior Country Championships on Sunraysia, winning in straight sets, while an under-17 girls’ team came runner-up to Central Adelaide.

The under-15 boys had come off a week of intense volleyball at the Volleyball Victoria Junior Open tournament, where they finished eighth in the year-seven division one competition.

The boys were able to beat Eltham

and Kew in the tournament, but could not quite get over the likes of Mazenod, McKinnon and Upwey. However they were well prepared for their return match against the Sunraysia boys in the Horsham tournament.

The under-17 girls showed great improvement at the country championships, taking the year-nine division one title over Monbulk in straight sets, which also set them up for a successful Horsham tournament.

But the lack of a libero and the big week of volleyball showed in the final, when they could not quite match the intensity of their opponents from

Central Adelaide, especially when it came to floor defense, going down in straight sets.

Harry’s Match VII

The Good Ol’ Boys redeemed themselves against the Volleyball Horsham President’s XIII in Harry’s Match VII, taking the win in another highly entertaining match in front of an appreciative crowd.

While reversing the result of last year’s match was nice, the importance of playing for a cause, shining a light on men’s mental health, remembering a mate and raising funds for Beyond Blue was the ultimate winner.

The Good Ol’ Boys saw the Ladlow brothers, Tim and Joel, back on the court together for the first time in 15 years, and both did not miss a beat as they displayed the skills that made them such great players for Volleyball Horsham.

But the importance of participating in this match can be measured by two players who answered the call.

Zac Santamaria from Melbourne, the grandson of the legendary Tomas Santamaria, was drafted into the team to replace Matthew Berry, and he had no hesitation in leaving work early on Friday to get to Horsham in time to play, while Matty Hallowell from Ballarat also had no hesitation in playing, staying overnight and returning to Ballarat the next day.

The Volleyball Horsham President’s XIII wore specially designed tops for the match, which were put up for auction during the course of the tournament, with the bidding being quite cut-throat up until the 3pm cut off time on Sunday.

Sophie Quick’s top went for an amazing $280, while Paige Hemley’s top went for $250, with the 13 tops raising just over $1500 towards Beyond Blue.

The goal was to get to $10,000 and with a final donation from Volleyball Horsham, that goal was reached, much to the delight of all involved.

LEAP: Horsham’s Tyler Snowden competes in premier one men’s division. Pictures: PAUL CARRACHER

SKILL: Horsham’s Ariya Marwood in action during the 30th annual tournament.

Horsham’s Noah Werry