The Weekly Advertiser – Wednesday, November 26, 2026

Win for Wesley

BY LAUREN HENRY

Horsham Rural City Council has committed to fund the $2.28-million redevelopment of The Wesley performing arts centre.

At Monday night’s meeting, councillors unanimously voted to refer the funding allocation to the 2026-27 budget.

The council will consider funding for The Wesley from a range of sources including loans, grants, philanthropic organisations and council cash.

Council will also finalise the transfer of the building from the Wesley Performing Arts and Cultural Centre, WPACC, committee prior to the redevelopment of The Wesley starting.

WPACC president Mary Starr said the committee was ecstatic with council’s decision.

“We are very, very fortunate and pleased that this present CEO and the present councillors are so community minded and very straightforward and open with the discussions,” she said.

“The sum  that has been raised by the community, which is a huge effort, is surely an affirmation of their wish for The Wesley to be reopened.

“We were asked to raise some money for the redevelopment project, and we launched a Wesley fundraising committee – that committee was given the task of raising as much money as they could in the 12 months after the launch in 2024.

“The committee is still open to accepting any donations that people want to make, and we still hold the charitable status so that any donation is tax deductible, and that will continue for as long as our committee is functioning.”

Council noted The Wesley Redevelopment Project fundraising campaign had

raised $423,667 for the project, including $226,000 of their own funds.

The committee had lobbied for the reopening of The Wesley for the past eight years, since the closure of the building in 2017 due to safety non-compliance.

A fundraising campaign, launched in April 2024, attracted donations of $30,000 from The Handbury Foundation and public donations totalling $167,667.

However with the cost of the project escalating from about $1.6-million in 2023, to $1.94-million in June 2024, and now $2,322,165 in the latest September estimate, the project was at risk of being financially out of reach if work did not begin soon.

There are also operational extras such as front-of-house and furnishing costs, technical and sound equipment and information technology systems that will add an extra $384,060 to the cost estimates.

Council will also incur operational costs of between $70,000 and $100,000 each year.

So far, council has been unsuccessful in any government grant applications, including to the State Government’s Regional Tourism Investment Fund last year.

At a meeting with council in May, WPACC announced it had concluded its fundraising campaign, seeking support from the council to further advance the project.

In the agenda report for Monday’s meeting, acting communities and place director Brett Luxford said before The Wesley closed there were about 6000 users of the facility – the figure is expected to rise to about 8000 and 156 hires each year.

Continued page 3

HRCC NEWS

The Roaming Avent Calendar returns for 2025

Council’s Roaming Advent Calendar is back in 2025 with customers rewarded daily for shopping local this Christmas.

Starting Monday 1 December and ending on Christmas Eve, the Roaming Advent Calendar will see shoppers go into a daily draw to win a $200 voucher.

To enter people simply need to make a purchase at the nominated business for that day.

Advent Calendar winners will be drawn each day and notified by phone.

The businesses participating in the Advent Calendar prize draw include:

December 1: Robertsons Furniture

• December 2: Exquisit

• December 3: Steph Meyer & Co

• December 4: Bloom Beauty By Ashlyn

• December 5: Shelton & Lane

• December 6: Repco

• December 7: baa3400

• December 8: Optus

• December 9: Black Pepper

• December 10: Mackay's Family Jewellers

• December 11: Feel Good Look Younger

• December 12: George The Salon

• December 13: Bonnie & Clyde's Pizzeria

• December 14: Norton Estate Winery

• December 15: Network Mobility

• December 16: Snap Fitness

• December 17: Macchia Jewellery

• December 18: Lilli Vogue

• December 19: Maria Da Ros & Earles

• December 20: Horsham Sports & Community Club

• December 21: Spuddy Good

• December 22: Luxe Clothing

• December 23: The Exchange Hotel

• December 24: The Capital

COUNCIL MEETING DATES 2026

Council has set the dates for its meetings in 2026.

Council will hold its monthly meetings on the fourth Monday of each month, with one exception in January due to the Australia Day holiday.

The meeting dates are as follows:

• Tuesday 27 January (Due to Australia Day)

• Monday 23 February

• Monday 23 March

• Monday 27 April

• Monday 25 May

• Monday 22 June

• Monday 27 July

• Monday 24 August

• Monday 28 September

• Monday 26 October

• Thursday 12 November

(Statutory meeting to elect the Mayor)

• Monday 23 November

• Monday 14 December (Early due to Christmas)

Council meetings are open to the public, and community members are encouraged to attend.

TENDERS AND RFQ

26-021

REMOVAL AND ASSET RECOVERY OF PARKING METERS HORSHAM CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT

Closes Friday 28 November

26-001

PROVISION OF ROUTINE MAINTENANCE

SERVICING FIRE SAFETY EQUIPMENT

Closes Monday 1 December

Q08/2026

EXTERNAL PAINTING WORKS AT TELANGATUK HALL

Closes Friday 5 December

Q07/2026

COMPREHENSIVE REVALUATION OF BUILDING ASSETS

STAY UP TO DATE

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HAVE YOUR SAY

Closes Monday 8 December GLASS RECYCLING COLLECTION REVIEW

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

Firebrace / Baker Street Intersection Works Update

Works on the intersection of Firebrace Street and Baker Street are well underway.

Old kerbs and channelling have been excavated, so the areas can be realigned before the new concrete is poured.

Due to the proximity to the work area, the Botanic Gardens gate on Firebrace Street has been closed, to prevent unassuming pedestrians from walking into an active job site.

The Botanic Gardens can still be accessed by the entrance on William Guilfoyle Drive, or through the Caravan Park.

Council thanks pedestrians and motorists for their patience during these major reconstructive works, which are expected to be completed by the end of December.

Free period products in Horsham, Kaniva and Edenhope

Period products aren’t a luxury — and now you can grab them for free at more public locations across Victoria. No stress, no cost, just support when you need it.

Now stocked at:

•Kalkee Road Children's & Community Hub

•Horsham Library

•Edenhope Library

•Kaniva Library

Proudly delivered by the Victorian Government, together with Horsham Rural City Council and West Wimmera Shire Council.

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, December 15, 2025 - 5.30pm Horsham Rural City Council: 18 Roberts Avenue Horsham | Postal address: PO Box 511 Horsham VIC 3402 | Phone: (03) 5382 9777 | Email: council@hrcc.vic.gov.au | Web: www.hrcc.vic.gov.au

Summer safety priority

BY BRONWYN HASTINGS

Apolice operation focusing on road policing, liquor licensing compliance and public safety around licensed premises and entertainment precincts has launched ahead of the holiday season.

Operation Aura, which started at the beginning of this month and will run until the end of March next year, is overseen by Horsham’s Acting Inspector Eddie Malpas.

Police will carry out the operation in Horsham, Hindmarsh and West Wimmera local government areas, and will involve uniform police as well as officers from highway patrol.

“We will also draw on our partnership with the Victorian Liquor Commission, which has licensing inspectors working in the region,” Acting Inspector Malpas said.

“We have a strong and sustained focus on ensuring these LGAs are safe areas for the community to enjoy themselves.”

Acting Inspector Malpas said police would conduct regular and thorough compliance checks to ensure venues were providing safe environments for patrons and staff.

“We meet with venue operators and licensees regularly to discuss improved partnerships and police operations,” he said.

“The public can expect to see more uniform police and police enforcement activity as part of this ongoing community safety focus, including foot patrols of venues and licensed premises, compliance checks, driver breath-testing sites and intercepts of vehicles right across the local government areas.

“Our goal is to maintain a safe environment for the local community and visitors to the area.

“We want to see people relax and

have a good time, but in a safe, responsible manner.”

Acting Inspector Malpas said last summer’s operation recorded 11 notable incidents across the three local government areas; mainly assaults, fights and general unruly behaviour.

“Unfortunately, we also saw one incident where a police officer was assaulted,” he said.

“We also detected several drink-

drivers within the Horsham CBD as part of the operation. This tells me that people are still making the decision to have a few drinks when out at venues, and jump in their car to get home.

“It frustrates me that in 2025 we still see people making such poor decisions, but I can guarantee the police officers in this region are highly motivated to catch offenders and hold people to account.”

Acting Inspector Malpas said his message to the community was that people have the right to not only be safe, but to feel safe.

“As such, you will see an increased police presence in and around the licensed venues and out on our roads across the summer season,” he said.

“Think about your behaviour, make the right decisions, have a good time, but do so safely.”

Alliance a united, credible voice for region

The six councils of the Wimmera and Southern Mallee region have joined forces in a new alliance to advocate for the needs of their region. Representing Buloke, Hindmarsh, Horsham, Northern Grampians, West Wimmera, and Yarriambiack councils, the Wimmera Southern Mallee Alliance aims to deliver enduring social, economic and environmental value for communities through collaborative leadership and co-ordinated action.

At an initial meeting in September, council representatives, including mayors, deputy mayors and chief

executives, discussed key regional issues, including renewable energy, mining and energy transmission proposals; a lack of consultation from State Government; financial sustainability of councils; the Emergency Services and Volunteers Fund, and the decline of basic services such as healthcare, childcare, education and housing opportunities.

The councils often face similar issues, with each council having a relatively small rate base, representing remote communities and managing large asset bases.

Each municipality is increasingly the location for a range of major projects backed by state and federal governments.

The alliance plans to amplify advocacy and present a united, credible voice for the region.

With 2026 being an election year for Victoria, a key objective of the alliance is to ensure government initiatives leave a lasting positive legacy, addressing challenges such as housing, transport, workforce development, and community wellbeing.

The alliance is calling on the State

Government to recognise the distinct challenges faced by small rural councils and to partner with them to deliver real, lasting benefits for the region.

“We urge the State Government to work with us to secure the tangible outcomes our communities need and deserve,” the alliance said in a statement.

“Together, we are stronger – and together, we call on the State Government to act responsibly and ensure a sustainable future for our communities.”

– Lauren Henry

Council to fund Wesley

From page 1

There has been an identified need for a smaller space facility, at less cost for hiring, particularly for primary school and community group use.

Events are likely to include touring performances, small conferences, wedding and civil ceremonies, forums, meetings, workshops, and musical recitals.

“At present, the Horsham Town Hall cannot meet 15 per cent of its enquiries. The economic benefit of events held at The Wesley is estimated to bring an additional $300,000 to the local economy,” Mr Luxford said.

“Due to higher cost overheads regarding the use of Horsham Town Hall, usage of Wesley for several smaller community groups will be more cost-effective.”

At Monday’s council meeting, Cr Cameron McDonald, who moved the motion to approve council’s commitment to paying for the redevelopment project, addressed the gallery where several WPACC committee members sat.

“I congratulate the committee on such a wonderful presentation –you’ve done an awful lot of work, and presenting very, very sound plans and up-to-date QS costings has taken an awful lot of work,” he said.

“Us councillors understand the time constraint on this or the need to bring this forward sooner rather than later.

“We also understand your concerns about handing over the asset versus council finishing the project, and we hope this document has gone some way to addressing that – there’s a degree of trust there ... so hopefully that will be sufficient. There’s still a lot of work to do.

“Let this be an example of two other organisations wishing to bring a proposal forward to council – this is how you do it.”

The council had previously allocated $224,000 to the 2023-24 budget, and $419,000 in the 2025-26 budget.

The Weekly Advertiser questioned the council about previous budget allocations, to which a council spokesperson responded: “Funding in each of the financial years was contingent on the project proceeding with grant funding. The amounts have not been carried forward and this new commitment from council will ensure the entirety of council’s funding is available for the project.”

MESSAGE: Horsham’s Acting Inspector Eddie Malpas will head Operation Aura, with a goal of maintaining a safe environment for the local community and visitors to the area. Picture: PAUL CARRACHER

Councillors offer connection

BY LAUREN HENRY

Encouraging people to seek help for mental health and suicidal ideation was at the forefront of Horsham Rural City Council’s meeting on Monday night.

Councillors took time in their reports to thank Horsham man Simon Clark for organising the Wimmera Against Cancer in Kids, WACK, event Check Engine Light Night at Horsham Showground last week.

Hundreds turned out to the event –an opportunity for men and the people in their lives to check in on their mental health.

It comes after several deaths by suicide have occurred in Horsham this year.

SEC funding expansion

State-owned renewable energy company, State Electricity Commission, SEC, will increase its community benefit fund to $100,000 a year for Wimmera projects.

With construction of the SEC Renewable Energy Park at HorshamLubeck Road, on the outskirts of Horsham, soon to be complete, the fund will increase to $3-million over the 30-year operational life of the project.

SEC’s executive general manager of assets Lane Crockett said the $30,000 a year funding increase reflected shared priorities identified during close engagement with the Horsham community.

“Community consultation highlighted the unique role this project has in Victoria’s renewable energy landscape as a publicly owned, large-scale renewable energy asset,” he said.

“What became evident during our consultation was the increased impact we could achieve by increasing the annual allocation, so we have adjusted our funding accordingly.”

The SEC’s Community Benefit Fund Consultation Report summarises responses from more than 100 people who completed surveys via the Engage Victoria consultation hub.

The feedback included ideas on how SEC investment in local programs and initiatives could support the community, providing direction on what mattered to residents.

Common themes included a need to support local jobs, skills, and education; youth; accessibility; and community infrastructure upgrades.

The fund will provide $126,000 over the construction period, followed by $100,000 a year once operational.

Cr Dean O’Loughlin took the opportunity to highlight an issue ‘that’s been on a lot of people’s minds lately’.

“Look, one suicide is too many and I know that there’s been too many over the little bit of the journey, and I just wanted to assure the public and the municipality that we talk about it a lot at council,” he said.

“It usually comes up in every briefing. It’s affected us all, and I think it’s affected a lot of people within the municipality.

“Personally I would just like to, to put out to people that are struggling to stay connected, to please reach out, for family and friends.

“Please reach out for any support that you need.”

Cr O’Loughlin said council would

publicise mental health services’ contact details to ensure people knew where to seek support.

“All of us councillors have our phone numbers on the council website – if anybody wants to ring me, please ring or leave a message and I’ll call you back,” he said.

“Even if you just want to chat, even if it’s just wanting to know what we are thinking about as a council or just personally as a 50-odd year-old male, who has had to deal with my own sort of stuff, as we all do.

“I’m here for anyone. Sorry, I didn’t mean to get emotional about it, but reach out if you need.”

Cr O’Loughlin congratulated Mr Clark, WACK, and Horsham Neighbourhood House for their efforts in

organising events for International Men’s Day.

Acting Mayor Brian Klowss said he attended the Check Engine Light Night event.

“ I do want to acknowledge the work that Simon Clark and the WACK crew did with the mental health night that they put on last Wednesday,” he said.

“It was a fantastic night, and to think that Simon actually did most of it off his own bat, is just a fantastic achievement.”

• If you, or someone you know needs help, phone Lifeline on 13 11 14, Kids Helpline on 1800 55 1800, 13YARN on 13 92 76, MensLine Australia on 1300 789 978 or Suicide Call Back Service on 1300 659 467. In an emergency, phone triple zero.

Community giving for festive season

An annual reverse advent calendar

project is this year aiming to fill 500 boxes with non-perishable pantry staples for people in need this Christmas, through donations by individuals, groups and organisations.

Supported by Horsham Sports and Community Club, HSCC, the filled boxes are distributed by Horsham Christian Emergency Food Centre, after items such as fruit, vegetables and meat are added to them.

Centre client assessment manager

Bev Miatke said the four-year-old project showed people their whole

community was supporting them.

“People who come to the Christian Emergency Food Centre are people who are struggling to put food on their table. That could be people who are working, who are on Centrelink benefits, or anybody,” she said.

“Sometimes it’s just circumstances that have created the need for them to come to us, and it’s not an easy thing for them to do.”

People can pick up empty boxes from HSCC and fill them according to a supplied list, before returning them to HSCC.

“Each time we get a box that has been packed by a community member, it saves our volunteers’ time,” Mrs Miatke said.

“They don’t have to repack that food, so it saves the food centre both time and money, and we’re showing our community how much we care for them.

“Thanks to all those who do supply the reverse advent boxes.”

People can also find more information and shopping lists at www.hscc. org.au/reverse-advent.

– Bronwyn Hastings

With harvest season now in full swing across Victoria, the Victorian Farmers Federation is calling on all road users to take extra care and show patience as heavy agricultural vehicles move between paddocks, silos and storage sites.

Farmers are entering the busiest time of year, with crops, hay and silage being harvested, resulting in more headers, trucks, tractors and machinery on rural roads, often travelling slowly, carrying wide loads, or stopping frequently during busy harvest operations.

VFF Grains president and Minyip farmer Ryan Milgate said patience could make a major difference in keeping everyone safe during one of the busiest times of the year.

“We are asking everyone, including farmers to take it easy on the roads this harvest season. Patience and sharing the roads is key,” he said.

“Saving a few minutes by taking risks can lead to tragedy.”

Drivers can help keep safe this harvest season by:

Avoiding areas around grain receival sites, where truck and machinery traffic is especially heavy.

Moving completely off the road when stopping, giving agricultural vehicles room to pass safely.

Staying off unsealed roads unless absolutely necessary, as these can be damaged or become hazardous under increased harvest traffic.

Being aware of farmers loading and unloading machinery or bales on roadsides, particularly during hay and silage cutting, and remaining patient around oversized machinery.

Limit scrapped

The Federal Government’s proposal to make the default speed limit as low as 70 kilometres an hour on rural roads has been scrapped.

Member for Mallee Anne Webster said Friday afternoon’s ‘quiet shelving’ of the proposed default speed limit reduction was ‘a victory for Coalition advocacy and common sense’. Dr Webster said it was infuriating the proposal ever saw the light of day. “Time and again the Coalition are having to activate regional Australians to make their voice heard because Labor put hare-brained ideas forward that simply will not work in the regions,” she said.

“Regional development would have slowed, and the tyranny of distance would have grown even larger had this nonsense become Labor policy.”

Coalition MPs, and a string of rural and regional-based people, had opposed the proposed legislation through the consultation process.

DONATION: St Brigid’s College students Sharon Tholath, Sophie McEldrew, Archie Hausler and Eamon Kelly with a Christmas tree of donated food for Wimmera Christian Emergency Food Centre through the Horsham Sports and Community Club’s reverse advent calendar project. Picture: PAUL CARRACHER

$15-million centre transformation

Ararat Rural City Council and Grampians Community Health have revealed plans for a $15-million redevelopment of Ararat’s A and J McDonald Centre, aiming to turn it into a community-health hub.

The project would see the centre’s 1950s-era art deco buildings redeveloped into a modern, accessible facility that designers said could continue to serve the Ararat community while meeting current accessibility requirements.

Leaders expect the project to take between two and three years to complete after funding is secured and construction begins, with the full process extending from 2026 to 2030. Designers are currently creating concept plans for the project.

Ararat Rural City Council chief executive Tim Harrison said the project could breathe new life into two of the

city’s most characterful buildings and establish a welcoming hub for community health, social connection, and local services.

He said a detailed structural condition report found the centre’s theatre space to be in good-to-excellent condition, and was suitable for adaptive reuse.

Project plans will retain the building’s façade, while adding a new floor to the hall to create flexible and fully accessible areas for community activities and services.

The centre’s other building, currently housing Grampians Community Health, would either be rebuilt or adapted to be universally accessible, pending the outcome of additional feasibility studies.

Dr Harrison said the redeveloped hub would be designed to foster health, inclusion and opportunity, and would bring together current partners

alongside new service providers such as Headspace.

The centre is also set to feature meeting and co-working spaces, GP clinics, a multicultural hub and more.

“This project reflects the commitment of council and our partners to tailoring services that genuinely respond to the needs of Ararat’s people,” Dr Harrison said.

“By honouring the history of the A and J McDonald Centre while creating state-of-the-art spaces, we’re paving the way for a healthier, more connected community.”

Grampians Community Health chief executive Greg Little said the modernised centre would offer more care closer to home for clients by increasing its capacity for mental-health support, alcohol and other drug services, family-violence response, chronicdisease management and carer support.

Mr Little said trauma-informed design principles would help the centre offer more welcoming spaces, with secure reception areas and compliant, accessible amenities.

“This development is about strengthening the service offering of what’s available in Ararat and the district,” he said.

“When we opened our current Stawell site in 2009, moving into a fitfor-purpose building meant the community was able to access services from a GP clinic, carer support services, counselling, youth, NDIS services, a community space, and beyond.

“The same thing has happened in Horsham. We moved from a house to a fit-for-purpose site and have gone from 15 to 60 staff, and it’s been great for jobs and the Horsham economy.

“The space is somewhere clients want to go. It’s time Ararat’s residents get truly for-purpose health services.”

Community farewells Murtoa school

Murtoa’s Our Lady Help of Christians School will celebrate its 62year history with a mass, meals and gathering on Sunday, December 14.

The ‘Remembering Our Lady’s’ day will begin with mass at Mur-

toa’s St Mary’s Church at 12.30pm, followed by lunch at the school from 1.30pm.

The gathering will continue at Murtoa’s Railway Hotel from 5pm, where meals will be available.

People interested in attending are asked to register at olhcmurtoa. schoolzineplus.com/form/8 by December 7 for catering purposes.

The Diocese of Ballarat Catholic Education announced the closure

of the school in September, after its forecast six-student 2026 enrolment fell below the regulatory-required minimum of 11.

Ararat Mayor Bob Sanders said the A and J McDonald Centre had been ‘a place for local people to gather and support each other’ for decades.

“As we approach the 70th anniversary since the foundation stone was laid, it feels fitting to look ahead to the centre’s next chapter – a place designed to nurture well-being, connection, and shared opportunity in Ararat,” he said.

Cr Sanders said enhanced coordination of referrals and support services would offer better integrated patient care.

By providing modern, purpose-built facilities, the council and Grampians Community Health also aim to attract and retain dedicated rural clinicians, strengthening local health services.

Cr Sanders said the redevelopment would honour the legacy of the A and J McDonald Centre as a cornerstone of community life.

Hindmarsh bins rollout

Hindmarsh Shire Council is seeking feedback on the implementation of its food organics and garden organics service model, which is State Government-mandated to be in place by July 1, 2027.

Council has developed options with consideration of cost, convenience, and environmental impacts.

Currently, waste management trucks cover a distance of more than 42,000 kilometres each year to collect all bins at different intervals, and this distance will increase with introduction of the additional bin.

Costs provided are indicative and based on the assumption that a local processing facility will be established within Hindmarsh Shire.

The four options include combinations of weekly and fortnightly FOGO and general waste collections, ranging in costs between $496 and $617 per household per year.

People can find more information on council’s website, at an online webinar at 7.30pm tomorrow, or at dropin sessions at Jeparit Library, 3-4pm December 1; Rainbow Library, 4-5pm December 2; Nhill Council Chambers 8.30am-9.30am December 3; Dimboola Library, 3-4pm December 5. The survey closes on December 17. Feedback will be presented at the February council meeting, with the recommendation to council made by considering cost, environmental impact, and community preference.

MEMORIES: The first whole-school photo of Murtoa’s Our Lady Help of Christian School, taken in 1963.

MILESTONE: A 2009-plated 200 series LandCruiser Sahara was driven to 999,999 kilometres last week. It was purchased by Gary Driscoll, left, a grain agent by trade, in April 2010 from Horsham Toyota. Mr Driscoll is pictured with, from left, Horsham Toyota staff Tim Barnett, Mark Riedl and Joel Kelly.

Driving into history books

A 2009-plated 200 series LandCruiser Sahara has been driven 999,999 kilometres, and is now on display at its purchase place, Horsham Toyota.

Purchased by Gary Driscoll, a grain agent by trade, in April 2010, Horsham Toyota general sales manager Joel Kelly said they had not yet seen a vehicle with original motor and gearbox reach the 1,000,000-kilometre milestone. “He bought it here, and has had it serviced here

every 10,000 kilometres,” he said. “It’ll sit in our showroom for a few weeks, and then we’re going to have a discussion with Gary about whether it goes into the museum at Altona or what they’re going to do with it.”

Horsham Toyota staff were unsure whether the six-place LCD odometer would stay at 999,999 or reset to 000,000 when driven beyond the 1,000,000 kilometres.

Picture: BRONWYN HASTINGS

Nhill aged care redevelopment

A$17-million redevelopment of the Avonlea aged care home in Nhill is due for completion in late 2027.

Aged-care provider Respect announced construction began on September 2, and was being staged to minimise disruptions to residents, families, the community and staff.

The major redevelopment, supported by $8-million in government funding, is set to expand and modernise Avonlea.

The redevelopment includes rebuilding 33 existing beds and adding three new beds, increasing the total number of resident beds to 48; refurbishment of existing wings; new lounge, sitting and activities rooms; enhanced green spaces and outdoor areas; and installation of solar panels to reduce emissions and operating costs.

Respect chief executive and managing director Jason Binder said the redevelopment was about preserving

Avonlea’s spirit while preparing it for the future.

“Avonlea is a testament to what a community can achieve when it comes together,” he said.

“This redevelopment honours that legacy and ensures Nhill families continue to have access to exceptional aged care close to home.”

Avonlea’s story began in 1959 when Nhill Apex Club ran a formal survey to gauge support for an aged-care home, attracting an ‘overwhelming response’.

A citizens’ meeting followed and a planning committee formed, with fundraising subcommittees, trustee appointments and appeals to clubs and families turned a vision into reality.

Avonlea has expanded in stages, each funded by community campaigns and endowed by local groups.

Auxiliary volunteers have continued to support the home in all aspects –from resident support to activities.

Council adopts meeting dates

Horsham Rural City Council has adopted its meeting dates for 2026.

All monthly council meetings will be at 5.30pm at the Civic Centre Horsham and live-streamed.

Most meetings will be on the fourth Monday of each month, except for the first meeting of 2026, which is scheduled for Tuesday, January 27 due to Monday, January 26 being the Australia Day public holiday.

The other dates are: February 23; March 23; April 27; May 25; June 22; July 27; August 24; September 28; October 26; November 23; and December 14, which is earlier due to Christmas.

Council has elected to have its 2026 statutory meeting, where the mayor is elected, earlier than usual – on November 12. This year’s statutory meeting to elect the mayor is on Thursday evening.

Recruiting for police custody

Victoria Police is recruiting police custody officers for full-time roles at Horsham station, with an information session for prospective applicants available online next month.

Acting Inspector Eddie Malpas said people of all ages and experiences could apply, and if prerequisites were met, would be trained in an eight-week course at the Melbourne academy.

“You go through orientation training, offender interaction and techniques, and a work placement as well,” he said.

“So while you’re doing that eight weeks, in weeks six and seven, you go out to a custody facility. So if you’re applying from Horsham, you can get a job at Horsham.

“The course also teaches you how to deal with people and you’ll learn

a lot about communication as well –you’ve got to be a really good communicator to be in that role.”

Acting Inspector Malpas said people apply to be a PCO as a pathway into the police force, or as a change of pace.

“We had a police custody officer here in 2023 – she joined quite young, and wanted to get a bit of an understanding of police life,” he said.

“She loved that for about six months and then transitioned across, and she’s now a sworn police officer, so that was a real success.”

Acting Inspector Malpas said people with more life experience also offer valuable aspects to the PCO role.

“You come across people in custody with different life experiences, and your own life experience gives you an understanding as to why

they’re in the position they’re in,” he said.

“Having empathy is important as well, because life’s not black-andwhite.”

Clive Howes was a mechanic before he became a PCO and worked at Ringwood for three years. He transferred to Horsham three months ago.

“I wanted a country change. I thought it was going to be quiet, but it’s not, at the moment,” he said.

“It’s better here than the city. It’s a good job, they are good people to work with – everyone at the station is friendly.”

People can join the free online session at 6pm on December 16 to learn more at eventbrite.com.au/e/ become-a-police-custody-officeronline-information-session-tickets1847583565179?aff=oddtdtcreator.

PATHWAY: Horsham police custody officer Clive Howes, left, with Acting Inspector Eddie Malpas. Mr Howes was a mechanic before he became a PCO and worked at Ringwood for three years. He transferred to Horsham three months ago.

Picture: PAUL CARRACHER

BOM bombs out with new project

Atotal of $96.5-million. Can you believe the Bureau of Meteorology’s new website cost that much money?

Its well-publicised and monumental failure for functionality and providing accuracy to those depending on weather forecasts has become one of the almighty stuff-ups by a government department in 2025 – and that’s saying something.

The BOM certainly bombed out with this project.

The new website would not have received such negative publicity if it had delivered a functional tool to the millions of Australians who not only use it, but depend on it for their livelihood.

The bom.gov.au is one of Australia’s most visited websites – changes were made for good reasons including stability, security and accessibility.

The previously stated $4.1-million price-tag was apparently just to redesign the front-end of the website.

The BOM says the remaining $92.4-million cost reflects the investment required to fully rebuild and test the systems and technology that underpin the website, making sure it is secure and stable and can draw in the huge amounts of data gathered from our observing network and weather models.

The BOM’s chief executive and director of meteorology Stuart Minchin says the impending update will be rescheduled as soon as the severe

Weather forecasts are particularly crucial at this time of year – during harvest and heading into summer where emergency services will no doubt be relying on it during natural disasters.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Renewal is possible

I welcome the council’s commitment to acting on the monitor’s recommendations and building a stronger, more transparent and accountable organisation, while also recognising the efforts of staff and the community who have helped Horsham move forward.

The release of the municipal monitor’s report marks an important moment for Horsham Rural City Council and our community.

For many, it confirmed what we already understood: the past few years have been challenging.

Governance pressures, internal strain and shifts in leadership created uncertainty that affected both the council and the wider community.

Horsham’s experience highlighted how important trust, communication and organisational culture are in local government.

The monitor’s findings, along with the experiences shared by staff and councillors, show that when those foundations weaken, the whole organisation feels it.

At the same time, the report highlights a willingness to rebuild.

The current council’s commitment to induction, training and careful decision-making demonstrates that renewal is possible.

Six new councillors stepped into a steep learning curve, yet their genuine effort and respectful engagement have been encouraging.

The appointment of a new chief executive also marked a positive turning point.

Early signs show a more stable and constructive working relationship with council, which matters because leadership sets the tone for the whole organisation. Staff pride in Horsham and its communities remains strong, reflected in improved community satisfaction.

The report’s recommendations – strengthening communication, reviewing structures, and fostering greater accountability – are practical steps toward stronger governance and a healthier culture.

EDITORIAL

By Lauren Henry

weather – namely Cyclone Fina in the Northern Territory – subsides.

He said it was committed to supporting everyone to make the most of the new site through video tutorials, website help and troubleshooting, and directly engaging with key user groups to answer specific questions about the new site.

“As the BOM does consistently all year round, I can assure the community that we’re working closely with emergency management agencies at all levels preparing for the severe weather season,” he said.

I look forward to staying involved, listening, and contributing wherever I can to help Horsham continue to grow and thrive.

David Bowe, Horsham

Roads denial

The Labor Government has once again shown its complete disregard for rural and regional communities, with its Roads Minister seemingly in denial about the state of the Western Highway.

I have made countless representations to the government regarding safety concerns with the highway, including community requests to lower speed limits in sections near Horsham and Dadswells Bridge.

The minister’s responses were astounding. In response to the Dadswells Bridge community’s request to lower the speed limit through town, the minister said there was limited activity in the area, and hence a speed reduction was not justified.

For the minister to label the second-busiest highway in the nation as having limited activity is dreadfully ignorant and a slap in the face to everyone who relies on the Western Highway every day.

The minister claims the government will continue to monitor the highway, but our communities know this is Labor code for ‘do nothing’.

And despite Labor’s assertions, the conditions on the highway couldn’t be further from what road-users expect and deserve.

The highway connects our communities, brings tourists to our beautiful part of the state, and is a vital interstate freight link.

But under Labor, it has become a patchwork of potholes and broken promises, and a safety risk to anyone who travels on it.

Labor can’t manage money and can’t manage our roads, and Victorians are paying the price.

It’s time for a fresh start, and only the Nationals and Liberals will make the necessary investments in our roads to make them safe.

Emma Kealy, Member for

Lowan

“Our embedded meteorologists and expert hazard preparedness teams provide dedicated and tailored analysis, forecasts and warnings directly to these agencies, and support emergency decision making.”

Member for Mallee Anne Webster said there should be consequences and ‘sheer waste of money’ – requiring a review.

She said farmers across the Mallee electorate contacted her as soon as the new site launched, telling her how hopeless it was.

“The seriousness of this cannot be understated. This isn’t just about a clunky website, the changes actually put lives and safety at risk,” she said.

“The new platform did not allow people to enter GPS co-ordinates for their specific property locations, restricting searches to towns or postcodes. Families and farmers could not

access vital, localised data such as river heights and rainfall information and this missing data created panic and fear across communities.”

Dr Webster said the BOM had been responsible for a series of errors and mistakes for years, providing inaccurate information and ‘losing currency’ in regional Australia.

The BOM needs to ensure it is providing accurate, accessible weather information for everyone – and it needs to do it quickly.

For $96.5-million, surely there should have been tests and consultations conducted before it went live? If it wasn’t such a crucial tool for so many Australians, it would be a joke. But it is another case of consultants taking government departments for a ride when delivering a project. Someone needs to be held accountable.

New titles at Hindmarsh libraries

Hindmarsh Shire Libraries has been awarded more than $5000 from the Premier’s Reading Challenge to bolster its physical and digital resource collections.

Specifically for young people, the funding is from the next financial year’s $1.1-million allocation.

Leading and popular titles in three formats have been purchased: e-Books, a digital version of the book to read; e-Audiobooks, books being read aloud; and, for the first time, readalong digital audio books, with the book image and text displayed and read along at the same time.

The new titles will give young people the opportunity to participate in the upcoming

‘Big Summer Read’, from December 1 until January 31.

The Big Summer Read is an annual reading challenge run by Public Libraries Victoria. It is designed to encourage young people aged up to 18 years to read and engage with their public libraries over the summer school holidays in December and January.

People can join the challenge via readbooks. com.au/bsr.

People can access BorrowBox at no cost as part of a Hindmarsh Shire Libraries membership. More information can be found at website www.hindmarsh.vic.gov.au/Community/ Libraries or at library branches.

care specialists

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State support to restore habitats

A$3-million State Government investment will help meet demand for native woody shrub and tree seeds and seedlings in areas across the state, including the Wimmera.

The funding will help seed businesses and organisations grow more native plants to restore landscapes and protect habitat through BushBank – Victoria’s largest restoration program.

Environment Minister Steve Dimopoulos said the funding was part of the $77-million BushBank program, which would restore important habitat for native wildlife across Victoria and reduce carbon emissions.

Other areas to benefit from more reliable seed supply include Goulburn Broken, West Gippsland, Mallee, Glenelg Hopkins, North Central and Port Phillip.

Mr Dimopoulos said the investment would ensure Victoria had the seeds and plants needed to restore ecosystems, protect biodiversity, and create healthier environments for future generations.

“BushBank is our most ambitious habitat restoration program that is planting millions of native trees and plants across more than 20,000 hectares of land across Victoria,” he said.

“Today’s seeds will be tomorrow’s habitat, a vital source of shelter and protection for wildlife and an important tool in our fight against climate change.”

The BushBank Seed Sector Support Grants will help expand and upgrade seed orchards.

Mr Dimopoulos said the funding would also assist seed sector businesses, organisations and traditional owner groups to create new regional jobs, purchase machinery to improve harvesting, expand and upgrade nurseries and propagate hundreds of thousands of seedlings each year.

He said it would also support Indigenous participation in the sector, provide workforce training and capability uplift and help establish a strategically located seed centre to build regional capability.

Most native seed used in the BushBank program is currently collected from existing native vegetation, with availability dependent on local, seasonal weather conditions and the health of plants.

BushBank’s program partner, Cassinia Environmental, continues to work with landowners for planting on private properties, working towards a target of revegetating 20,000 hectares of land by 2035.

Carols by Candlelight returns

Choirs, groups and ensembles will showcase Wimmera talent at the annual Horsham Carols by Candlelight family event on December 7.

A similar format to previous years, entertainment will be paired with miniature railway train rides as well as food and drink vendors.

Organiser Simon Dandy said the decision against hiring a celebrity to perform was reinforced after he watched the Richard Morris Memorial Showcase at Horsham earlier this month.

“We haven’t got a big artist coming in – we’ve had Debbie Byrne and Sylvie Palladino before, but we ask people every year about the entertainment, and I reckon people want local people,” he said.

“We had Jorja Polglase from Warracknabeal and Sienna Walsgott, who’s now in Melbourne, sing at the Richard Morris concert, and it was just incredible.

“And Noah Mibus – he has done a lot in the last three months, with SmartArtz and Horsham Arts Council, and his nomination for a state award.

“I think it’s great, the talent he has and the accolades he’s receiving.”

Mr Dandy said Horsham Rural City Band would perform, and a group from Horsham

Arts Council’s Godspell would do a children’s section.

“We’ve written up a script this year, they’re going to do a Hi-5 type of thing,” he said.

“It will be really interactive and energetic, the kids will love it, and they’re going to be doing it with Santa.”

About 40 people will perform in the main choir, with other singing groups made up of men, women and seniors respectively, with up to 70 different performers set to take to the stage.

Nine vendors will provide food and drinks, while this year’s collection will raise money for The Outback Mind Foundation, with its founder Aaron Schultz the guest speaker.

“We try and support local groups, we take up a donation just for a group that impacts on local welfare,” Mr Dandy said.

“Last year we supported Wimmera Against Cancer in Kids. We usually collect about $1000 to $1200, last year was $3800.”

The free event will again be emceed by Greg McKinnon and Yolande Grosser.

At Sawyer Park, pre-carols begin at 6.30pm with the main event at 7.30pm.

PREPARATION: Musical director Lane Hyde leads the Horsham Carols By Candlelight choir during a rehearsal. Picture: PAUL CARRACHER

Preserving cricket’s history

BY COLIN MacGILLIVRAY

Aproject that began as a way to pass time during the COVID-19 pandemic has become something of an obsession for Horsham man Brenton Hallam.

For the past five years Mr Hallam, a member of the Horsham Tigers Cricket Club, has meticulously recorded historical Horsham Cricket Association scorebooks, filing the statistics in an online database.

While he began the project as a way to document his own club’s records, he said his ambitions soon expanded.

“It all started with just wanting to do all the Horsham Tigers stuff, and then that turned into all the clubs that have merged with us like Horsham, Taylors Lake, Pimpinio and Jung,” he said.

“After I did all of those, I thought ‘why not keep going?’

“I’m working my way through Laharum’s scorebooks at the moment.

Benny Peucker and Josh Mahoney were more than nice enough to let me borrow the books.

“I thought it’d be nice for people who are into club history.”

Mr Hallam said he had enjoyed delving into the history of Horsham cricket, discovering remarkable feats from past players.

“Some of the stats that stand out are things like high scores. In 1985 Howard Schier scored a triple-century in a B Grade grand final,” he said.

“I was talking to Bruce Hartigan about that game and he reckons ‘Schiery’ was dropped on about 30-odd and went on to make 308.

“Schiery’s innings went for so long they had to turn over to a second page to put his scores over on the next page.

“I got a call from Barry Hopper who said there was a bloke in Melbourne who’s writing an article or a book about Doug Wade. He was talking about Doug’s 208 runs in 74 minutes or something along those lines against Laharum.

“I’m pretty sure the A Grade record for the highest team score is something above 500. It was Jung against Quantong and Don Rush, Jock McRae and

those guys were playing back in those days.”

While Mr Hallam said he was now able to record the contents of a scorebook in ‘probably an hour and a half if I do it quickly’, his efforts were beset by many challenges.

“The early A Grade seasons are quicker because they were all two-day games until about 2000,” he said.

“It’s hard trying to get through 18 games rather than just 10 two-day games in a season.

“With Laharum I’ve got books back to 1937-38, and a lot of the writing is very faded and trying to read the cursive handwriting is a bit difficult for us younger guys. I’ve had to Google a couple of times the difference between cursive letters just to make sure I’ve got it right.

“I’m lucky Laharum has done such a good job. They’ve got all the names sorted.

“In the book I’m up to, there are two G Trotters – Gary and Greg – so I’m lucky they’ve actually written which one is which when they’re both in the same games, because some other clubs

just don’t.” Mr Hallam said former players and their families had aided him in his mission.

“I work at Lutheran Homes Group Horsham, so a lot of the residents have told me stories and I’ve met some past players,” he said.

“Don Rush’s daughter Meredith was one who helped me get a lot of the Jung books. She was a big help.

“Don Jagger helped with all the Pimpinio ones. He had all of them except for maybe one or two seasons.”

Mr Hallam said while some old scorebooks had been lost to time, he was hoping to paint as complete a picture of the association’s history as possible.

He encouraged people who knew of old scorebooks sitting in their cupboards – or those of their parents or grandparents – to pass them along.

He said he could either return the scorebooks after he was done recording the statistics or arrange to donate them to the relevant clubs to be archived.

“A lot of people don’t know what to do with the books and just end up

throwing them away. It’s a shame because it’s a lot of history that just ends up in the rubbish,” he said.

While he admitted the exercise had become more time-consuming than he initially anticipated, Mr Hallam said was still enjoying the project.

“I love it. I love the statwork behind it. My girlfriend is probably a bit sick of it, but whenever I find books anywhere she says I’ve always got a big smile on my face,” he said.

“I’ve been doing this for nearly five years. I was getting bored during COVID because there wasn’t much to do during lockdown, so I thought I’d see if I could get hold of anything to keep me entertained.

“I loved it and just wanted to keep doing it. Now I can’t stop. There’s just so much interesting history.”

People wanting to pass scorebooks to Mr Hallam or wanting to offer information can contact him via 0497 639 065 or brenton.33@hotmail.com.

People can view the statistics compiled so far online at www2.cricketstatz.com/ss/w?club=32419.

McArthur new leader

Member for Western Victoria Bev McArthur is the new Leader of the Opposition in the legislative council after a Liberal leadership shakeup last week.

Under new Liberal leader Jess Wilson, Ms McArthur was named in the leadership team under Sam Groth as deputy leader and Evan Mulholland as deputy leader in the legislative council.

She also serves as shadow minister for local government and government waste.

“Every day, Victorians from across the state tell me the same thing: we must defeat this Labor Government for the good of Victoria. To do that, we must put forward the strongest team possible,” Ms McArthur said.

“A team with the breadth of vision and talent to win the next election, and then to govern. Jess Wilson is that leader.”

Ms Wilson, a first-term MP representing Kew, replaced Brad Battin as Liberal leader. She is the third Liberal leader in less than one year.

Ararat man wins lotto

An Ararat man watched his TattsLotto win of almost $932,000 play out in real time on television on Saturday.

He said he chose the numbers at random, purchasing the System 8 entry at Ararat Lottery and News.

“It was late Saturday night, and I was watching TV when the TattsLotto numbers came up,” he said.

“I suddenly realised – hang on, those numbers seem really familiar.

“I checked my ticket straight away and that’s when I found out I’d won division one.”

The man said the money would be a huge help in his and his wife’s retirement years.

PASSIONATE: Horsham cricket enthusiast Brenton Hallam is digitising cricket records from clubs, with some records going back 100 years. Picture: PAUL CARRACHER

Co-ordinating renewable energy zones

Energy and Resources Minister

Lily D’Ambrosio has issued draft renewable energy zone orders for five onshore renewable energy zones – the Western, Central Highlands, Gippsland, North West and South West zones.

Consultation is open on the draft orders until February 22, 2026, offering people a chance to provide feedback to help shape development of the renewable energy zones, REZs.

A draft order for the Gippsland Shoreline Renewable Energy Zone, which is designed to co-ordinate the private underground cables that connect offshore wind generation to the shared network, has also been issued.

Each draft order sets out a map of the zone, transmission projects to enable the zone, and the intended hosting capacity the planned transmission network could support in the zone.

The orders make it a requirement that solar, wind and battery developers meet government expectations for

community engagement and deliver social value and economic benefits.

Previous consultation and technical work has gone into developing the zones, and VicGrid is now seeking significant new information about sensitive areas, potential impacts or areas that are suitable for development that was not identified in previous rounds of consultation.

VicGrid chief executive Alistair Parker said co-ordinating development in renewable energy zones would give communities and industry greater certainty, minimise impacts and keep down costs.

“Coal-fired power stations are becoming unreliable and closing down and the cheapest option to replace them is solar and wind generation backed by storage and transmission infrastructure,” he said.

“This is a big change that has the potential to leave a lasting legacy for regional and rural Victoria if it’s well managed and planned.

“Renewable energy zones will play

Next year is looking up

Horsham’s Mary Fitzgerald has produced a calendar of cloud images she has taken, extending on her photography and storm-chasing hobbies.

“I’ve been taking photos of clouds for years,” she said.

Ms Fitzgerald was supported by Just Better Care to complete a computer course to produce the calendars, showcasing her hobby.

Just Better Care support co-ordinator Janine Schmidt said people can buy the calendars.

“People can get them from our of-

fice, and we’ve got them at Horsham library as well, for $25,” she said.

“This is something that Mary has been very passionate about and we have supported it.”

HOBBY: Right, Mary Fitzgerald and Just Better Care support co-ordinator Janine Schmidt with Mary’s 2026 calendar. Picture: PAUL CARRACHER

a key role in helping us co-ordinate the energy transition and ensure local communities see real benefits and are treated with respect.”

But Member for Lowan Emma Kealy said Ms D’Ambrosio’s recent response to landholder feedback had deepened the sense of disconnect between the government and regional communities.

“People are tired of spending hours preparing submissions, thinking the government will consider their views, only to see decisions made that completely disregard them,” she said.

“For Labor to invite feedback on its projects means nothing when that feedback is never acted on.”

Ms Kealy said communities within the proposed REZs had gone to great effort to share their views, with landowners detailing their concerns about the loss of productive farmland and biodiversity.

Many have urged the government to de-prioritise or exclude certain locations altogether, identifying them

as areas to avoid. Ms Kealy said despite the feedback, the government proposed to allow projects to proceed outside the REZ boundaries, with VicGrid providing support through a new ‘Grid Impact Assessment’ process.

“What is the point of a REZ if renewable projects can be developed and approved outside of the zone?” she said.

“This is a deplorable and deceitful act by Labor and only further demonstrates the government’s contempt for rural and regional communities.

“Our local communities and farms are expected to host these large-scale energy projects to power Melbourne, all while our energy bills skyrocket, roads crumble and health services are centralised to the city. It’s disgraceful.”

Ms Kealy said the release of three VicGrid documents for public consultation – the draft Access and Connections Consultation Paper, the draft Grid Impact Assessment Guidelines,

and the draft Community Engagement and Social Value Guidelines – must represent a genuine turning point.

“Feedback must be clearly reflected in the final guidelines if the government wants to rebuild any trust with regional communities,” she said.

“Regional Victorians deserve genuine engagement, not token consultation, and the views of affected landholders must be respected.”

Following a review of feedback received on the draft orders, ‘relevant new information’ will be incorporated to help define zone boundaries or other aspects of the draft orders.

The minister will then make a decision about the formal declaration of the five renewable energy zones.

More information on the consultation for the Central North REZ will be provided in early 2026.

People can find details at engage. vic.gov.au/renewable-energy-zoneorders.

Rocklands fatal

A man driving a truck died when his vehicle crashed into a tree off the Henty Highway at Rocklands on Saturday.

Police are investigating the exact circumstances surrounding the incident.

Anyone who witnessed the crash, has CCTV or dashcam footage, or anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential report online at www.crime stoppersvic.com.au.

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Building for the future at Donald

Donald has turned its focus to one of its most pressing challenges – affordable housing.

With quantity surveyor estimates now confirmed, site plans ready, and a planning permit lodged, construction is poised to begin.

Donald Housing Innovations, DHIP, has announced the launch of stage one of a new housing development on McCracken Avenue.

The first stage will deliver three detached homes – two two-bedroom and one four-bedroom – designed to meet the growing demand for worker and family accommodation in the region.

The $1.8-million project is backed by land contributions and major funding from the State Government’s Regional Worker Accommodation Fund.

DHIP is now inviting the public to subscribe and help raise $510,000 as the local contribution.

DHIP spokesperson John McConville said the development would complement Donald’s successful industrial estate and growing tourism appeal, reinforcing the town’s reputation as a place where innovation meets community pride.

“This is a chance to be part of something bigger than bricks and mortar,” he said.

“It’s about continuing Donald’s tradition of building together – whether it’s a skate park, a

“This is a chance to be part of something bigger than bricks and mortar. It’s about continuing Donald’s tradition of building together – whether it’s a skate park, a community centre, a new home for a family, or growing our industrial estate”

– John McConville

community centre, a new home for a family, or growing our industrial estate.”

Recent community forums, involving East Wimmera Health, Buloke Shire, and local employers such as Australian Eatwell and Kooka’s Country Cookies, have consistently identified the lack of affordable, modern housing as a key barrier to workforce growth, population retention, and sustainable job creation.

“Everyone talks about the housing crisis,” Mr McConville said.

“But in Donald, we do something about it.

“We’re confident that with our local support, we’ll once again turn a challenge into a community-led solution.”

The housing development comes on the back of the town launching a locally-owned bank to build the Big Kookaburra and developing skate parks, reinforcing Donald’s proud tradition of community-driven success.

master plan.

Pre-loved monster auction

A Natimuk community fundraiser will raise money towards the Natimuk Community Showground Master Plan.

Natimuk Agricultural and Pastoral Society’s pre-loved monster auction is scheduled for February 14, 2026.

Money from the auction will go towards a planned multi-purpose community facility at Natimuk – the first priority the society’s master plan.

Project officer Michael Sudholz said registrations for the auction had already begun rolling in, with the first registration night on Friday.

The second auction registration night will be this Friday, from 6pm to 8pm, at Natimuk Showground Pavilion, with drinks and snacks available.

“This is a great opportunity to view the draft multipurpose facility plan, ask questions, and register auction items,” he said.

“Items for the auction can be donated or sold on commission.”

All auction items need to be submitted by November 30 to allow time for an auction catalogue to be created.

Mr Sudholz said master plan fundraising had recently received a boost with $2000 raised through a Scouts Victoria Monster Raffle, drawn on November 19.

“We want to extend our gratitude to everyone who supported the raffle and to Scouts Victoria for organising the event,” he said.

Mr Sudholz said the master plan was a valuable opportunity for the Natimuk and district community.

The society has so far invested more than $60,000 to complete a feasibility study, resulting in a concept plan.

“We are currently progressing through the design phase for priority one, which involves creating a multipurpose community facility in consultation with showground user groups and beyond,” Mr Sudholz said.

People who cannot attend the registration on Friday, can call 0447 454 351 for more information.

Online registration is available on request, or people can pick up a form from the Natimuk Milk Bar or post office.

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PLANNING: Project officer Michael Sudholz pictured with Natimuk Agricultural and Pastoral Society’s

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Reliving Nutbush record

Organisers of a Nutbush dance at Horsham City Oval that set a Guinness World Record are reflecting on its success 10 years on.

The original Guinness World Record, GWR, for the most amount of people dancing to the Nutbush was set on the Horsham City Oval on November 29, 2015.

Under the watchful eyes of judges, witnesses and cameras, 256 dancers made history when they danced together for five minutes and 15 seconds to create the first-ever record.

Organiser Mark Radford said others had tried for many years, but for the record to be approved by GWR in London, the dancing had to be of a high standard.

Mr Radford said the foundation of the event was to highlight the performing arts with the new Horsham Town Hall construction and raise some funds to support the project.

“In order to get the approval from Guinness World Records we had to submit a video of the Nutbush dance that we were going to perform,” he said.

“When that was approved we invited locals to come along and learn the steps and practise the steps.

Indigo delivering Pomonal project

Ararat Rural City Council last week announced Indigo Power as the winner of a tender process to install a community battery at Pomonal.

The Central Victorian Greenhouse Alliance, CVGA, co-ordinated the tender process for the ‘Powering Resilience in the Regions’ battery project in collaboration with 10 councils.

Ararat Rural City Council chief executive Tim Harrison said Indigo Power’s appointment marked an important step toward strengthening local energy resilience for Pomonal.

The project will see a battery installed at Pomonal Hall, designed to provide backup power to the facility in the event of a grid outage or emergency.

Dr Harrison said Indigo Power’s flexible approach to supporting local needs and making the most of available grant funding was key to their selection, as was their ability to upskill council and community members to operate the battery for long-term sustainability.

Mr Radford said in the lead up to the attempt, Nutbush dancing classes were held at the Horsham Aquatic Centre, local schools and on Sunday afternoons in May Park and the Sound Shell.

Flash mobs of Nutbush Dancers promoted the project at random places in Horsham.

Dancers paid $15, received their Nutbush card with their number on it, and later received an official yellow t-shirt to mark the event.

“There were many GWR processes to follow on the day of the attempt, including having independent witnesses, line judges and video and photographic evidence,” Mr Radford said.

Dancers aged from six to 90 were involved, and had to be

“We discovered there were at least three ways of doing the dance that people knew – but we had to be all doing the same thing – turning this way, not that way, putting the clap in the right place and in time with the music, the iconic Nutbush City Limits by Tina Turner.”

counted twice on to the arena.

“We needed a minimum of 250 – we had 256 – and GWR would allow a maximum of five per cent of dancers to make a dancing error,” he said.

“The dancers formed up, standing in east-west lines, designated with a colour. This colour corresponded with their wrist band.

“Every line had a marshal, in the same colour.

“The oval was marked out with a cross for each dancer to dance on. We wanted it to look good.”

Four lead dancers stood on platforms for people to follow, and at 5.20pm the world record attempt began under the leadership of dance instructor Lynne McKenzie.

Marty Lieschke, at the sound desk, fired up the Tina Turner track and the evidence – a video –

was gathered and sent to London.

“A few months later we received the news: ‘We are thrilled to inform you that your application for Largest Nutbush Dance has been successful and you are now the Guinness World Records Title Holder’,” Mr Radford said.

“I am sure for everyone who participated on that day, as a dancer or as an official, it will be a life-long memory.”

An Official Guinness World Record certificate remains at Horsham Town Hall.

Since Horsham’s 2015 record, the Nutbush dancing record has been broken many times by attempts around the world.

The current record is 6779 dancers, set at the 2025 Mundi Mundi Bash at Birdsville.

“This project is a testament to the power of collaboration and the commitment of regional councils to deliver for our communities,” he said.

“Indigo Power’s proposal demonstrates a strong focus on practical outcomes and local opportunities, and we look forward to seeing Pomonal benefit from enhanced energy resilience and community capacity building.

“We are proud to play our part alongside CVGA and our fellow councils in making this happen.”

Dr Harrison said the CVGA’s evaluation panel highlighted Indigo Power’s track record of delivering reliable renewable-energy projects for regional communities, flexible approach and commitment to local capacity-building as strengths.

The State Government supports the Powering Resilience in the Regions through the second round of its 100 Neighbourhood Batteries program.

Dr Harrison said involvement in the initiative was part of a wider effort by Ararat Rural City Council and project partners to create energy security, support local businesses, and promote ongoing sustainability for the region.

People can view ongoing progress reports on the project, by visiting the Engage Ararat website.

GOOD TIME: The original Guinness World Record for the most amount of people dancing to the Nutbush was set on the Horsham City Oval on November 29, 2015.

TOP PRIORITIES

1. Better Hospitals and Healthcare outcomes

2. Better Roads

3. Addresing Cost-of-living pressures

4. Border Security

5. Lower Taxes

CHEAPER, BETTER, FAIRER ENERGY

61% Oppose both of Labor’s 2030 43% renewables target and 2050 (net zero) emissions targets

69% Don’t even want to pay $1 for net zero

To read more scan the QR code

90% of people feel cost-of-living pressure BIGGEST COST-OF-LIVING PRESSURES

1. Grocery prices

2. Energy bills

3. Council rates

4. Insurance premiums

5. Fuel expenses

CHILDCARE ACCESS & AFFORDABILITY

48% Prefer government support for stay-at-home parent

47% Cannot access and/or cannot afford childcare

39% support a Grandparent Carer Payment

BUSINESS PRIORITIES

1. Cheaper Energy

2. Reducing Red Tape

3. Cutting Taxes

4. Trades Training

ENERGY AND MINING ON FARMLAND

51% Want landowners to have a right to veto projects

41% Oppose it on farms altogether

30% Only support mining on poor farmland

Only 10% want mining prioritised on farmland

PRIMARY HEALTHCARE CONCERNS

1. Waiting times to see a doctor

2. Out-of-pocket costs

3. Wait times to see allied-health professionals

SCAMS:

SURVEY FINDINGS

1 in 5 residents have been scammed over $1,000

57% of people were scammed over the internet

24% were scammed over the telephone

The current scoreboard setup at the Harrow Recreation Reserve relies entirely on manual scoring. West

Shire Council will apply for funding to support the installation of one AFL LED scoreboard and two netball LED scoreboards to replace the existing manual systems.

Money sought for new projects

WestWimmera Shire Council is seeking financial support for three major projects across its communities.

The council will seek funding to complete schematic design works for the Edenhope Swimming Centre and associated stadium facilities.

The project aims to address ageing infrastructure, accessibility limitations and assets that are nearing end of life.

Schematic designs are required to position the centre for future funding opportunities and longterm renewal.

The council will aim to seek funding through the State Government’s Local Sports Infrastructure Fund to undertake these works.

The Edenhope Swimming Centre includes a 25-metre pool, plant and equipment room, children’s pool, and changerooms.

Many of the components are more than 20 years old and no longer meet current standards for accessibility, safety or inclusion.

Mayor Tim Meyer said the design phase was a critical step toward securing the long-term future of aquatic and recreation facilities in Edenhope.

He said the ageing condition of the assets would create ongoing operational and financial risks.

“Completing design work now will support applications for larger renewal projects in the future,” he said.

“This project will include schematic designs for major infrastructure works including renovated amenities, upgraded plant and equipment, ramp entry to the pool, and a wet deck.

“Schematic designs will allow council to pursue significant funding for renewal works, ensuring the facilities continue to serve the community into the future.”

Serviceton Bowling Club

Serviceton Bowling Club could soon see much-needed upgrades, with the council applying for funding to bring the facility up to modern standards.

Cr Meyer said the council would also apply to the State Government’s Local Sports Infrastructure Fund to complete the major upgrade of the club’s facilities.

The project would deliver new accessible infrastructure and replace the existing natural turf green with a modern synthetic surface, reducing the heavy maintenance burden on volunteers and ensuring the club can continue operating.

Cr Meyer said the Serviceton Bowling Club’s current facilities were outdated and posed significant accessibility and safety challenges for participants and visitors.

“This funding application would enable council to deliver key upgrades including a new seven-rink synthetic bowling green, renovated

accessible toilets, an accessible carpark and improved pathways throughout the site,” he said.

The project would be funded through State Government grants and major community contributions, with council providing project management services.

Cr Meyer said the upgrades were essential to the long-term sustainability of the club and the vitality of recreation opportunities in Serviceton.

“Improving these facilities will provide a safer, more inclusive and more reliable space for the community to enjoy lawn bowls and other social activities,” he said.

Cr Meyer said the funding opportunity presented an important step toward bringing recreation facilities across the shire in line with modern standards.

“Securing funding for these important upgrades will help ensure the Serviceton Bowling Club can continue operating for years to come,” he said.

Harrow scoreboard

The council will also apply for funding to upgrade scoreboard facilities at Harrow Recreation Reserve.

The project proposes the installation of one AFL LED scoreboard and two netball LED scoreboards to replace the existing manual systems, improving functionality and reducing the workload placed on volunteers.

The current scoreboard setup at the Harrow Recreation Reserve relies entirely on manual scoring, which creates additional pressure for volunteers and adds further steps when transferring scores to online reporting platforms.

The proposed upgrade would provide improved visibility for players and spectators, reduce manual processes, and bring the site’s sporting facilities in line with modern expectations.

The project would be funded through State Government grants and major community contributions, with council providing project management services.

Cr Meyer said the upgrade would deliver important benefits for both volunteers and the broader sporting community.

“Electronic scoreboards offer greater reliability and ease of use, helping clubs focus more on the game and less on administration,” he said.

Cr Meyer said improving facilities across the shire remained a priority to ensure local sport continued to thrive.

“These upgrades will support the long-term sustainability of sport at Harrow and provide a modern, accessible and user-friendly environment for all participants,” he said.

HANDS ON:

Wimmera

You can’t buy happiness!

This Black Friday and Cyber Monday, as your inbox and social media bombard you with enticing offers for your hard-earned money, take a moment to think, “could I be buying locally?”

The reality is, with the rising cost of living and interest rates staying high, the decisions you make about where to spend your dollars will have a lasting impact on our local communities.

When you choose to buy from a local business, you’re not only supporting jobs but also strengthening the economy and contributing to the vitality of your community. Local businesses are the ones that step up to support our clubs, schools, hospitals, charities, and events.

So, please – think before you shop, and choose to buy local!

Brendan O’Loughlin General Manager – 3WM, MIXX FM and The Weekly Advertiser

ACCURATE: Izzy Sampson, Horsham, in the strike one disc twice event, supported by Warracknabeal Fire Brigade’s Cameron Whelan.

Brigades in spotlight

Country Fire Authority competition teams from Horsham and Hamilton joined Warracknabeal at its home ground for a District 17 demonstration on Sunday.

Brigades fielded teams across three sections – under-14 and under-17 junior teams, and seniors – to compete in wet and dry individual and team events.

Warracknabeal won the under-17 aggregate with 57 points, ahead of Hamilton 46 and Horsham 15, and the senior aggregate with 76 points, with Horsham on 48 and Hamilton 15.

Hamilton won the under-14 aggregate, 67 points, ahead of Horsham with 40 points.

People are welcome to attend the Western Districts Fire Brigades Association Championships at Horsham on Saturday from 1pm at Park Drive, which is part of Horsham Fire Brigade’s 150th anniversary celebrations.

There will also be a torchlight procession at about 8.30pm, which will begin in Pynsent Street, continuing through Firebrace Street, before concluding at the fire station in Hamilton Street.

The competition season will conclude with state championships at Stawell during the weekends of March 21 and March 28 next year.

Hamilton’s Gabe Tyack

Horsham’s Arjai Johnston, front, and Jonathon Hornsby

COMPETITIVE: Warracknabeal’s Rohan Richards competes in the senior hose and reel sixes event.

Official Warren Johnston

ON YOUR MARKS: Warracknabeal’s Clint Jonasson, Kynan Jonasson, Shaune Winsall and Cody Polack leave the mark in the Y-coupling four competitor event. Pictures: BRONWYN HASTINGS

ROAMING ADVENT CALENDAR 2025

DECEMBER 1: ROBERTSONS FURNITURE

DECEMBER 2: EXQUISIT

DECEMBER 3: STEPH MEYER & CO

DECEMBER 4: BLOOM BEAUTY BY ASHLYN

DECEMBER 5: SHELTON & LANE

DECEMBER 6: REPCO

DECEMBER 7: BAA3400

DECEMBER 8: OPTUS

DECEMBER 9: BLACK PEPPER

DECEMBER 10: MACKAY’S FAMILY JEWELLERS

DECEMBER 11: FEEL GOOD LOOK YOUNGER

DECEMBER 12: GEORGE THE SALON

DECEMBER 13: BONNIE & CLYDE’S PIZZERIA

DECEMBER 14: NORTON ESTATE WINERY

DECEMBER 15: NETWORK MOBILITY

DECEMBER 16: SNAP FITNESS

DECEMBER 17: MACCHIA JEWELLERY

DECEMBER 18: LILLI VOGUE

DECEMBER 19: MARIA DA ROS & EARLES

DECEMBER 20: HORSHAM SPORTS & COMMUNITY CLUB

DECEMBER 21: SPUDDY GOOD

DECEMBER 22: LUXE CLOTHING

DECEMBER 23: THE EXCHANGE HOTEL

DECEMBER 24: THE CAPITAL

I’d like to give a shoutout rst up to the regional Australians who answered the call I made last column to tell the Albanese Labor Government to drop their harebrained idea to potentially slash default speed limits from 100 km/h to as low as 70 km/h.

Common sense has prevailed and Labor quietly binned the idea last Friday. Regrettably, regional Australians are nding they must learn political activism because the Albanese and Allan Labor Governments simply don’t care about the regions.

Mallee farmers have discovered the necessity to follow the protest playbook to stop their farms being railroaded by VicGrid – the fancy name for one of the tentacles of the Allan Labor Government – into forced access onto farmers’ land.

I applaud the 50 or so farmers who stood in solidarity with their neighbour to peacefully protest last Friday.

I published Mallee’s Biggest Survey’s results this last week where, among many other responses that concur with The Nationals’ policy positions, the majority of 5,300 Mallee residents said they stand with the farmers on their property rights.

While there are some farmers who

Fighting for Mallee

have accepted the offer made by energy project developers – and that is their right – there are others who have every right to say no and stand up for their rights.

The Nationals stand for a Cheaper, Better, Fairer energy policy on our pathway to reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Australians have already reduced emissions at twice the rate of the rest of the developed world, let alone India and China whose emissions continue to grow.

There is no merit in streaking ahead of the pack in what is a distance race, not a sprint.

The cost-of-living impact of Minister Bowen’s energy vanity project is eyewatering – up 39 per cent since Labor adopted net zero.

A Mallee pensioner shared her yearon-year power bill, up 130 per cent in just one year.

I encourage readers to type powering. au into their browser to read all the facts and nd out more about our Cheaper, Better, Fairer Energy plan.

We can grow jobs and our economy and reduce emissions at the same time.

Hopelessly devoted to Grease Call for crew

Ararat

Regional Theatre Society’s 2026 production will be the hit musical Grease.

Society president Leanne McCready said Grease had been on ARTS’ bucket list for some time, and the society believed the time was right to stage the production due to the number of younger potential cast members keen to be on stage.

“Mamma Mia attracted a fantastic amount of young talent this year and we want to encourage and support the next generation of local people to participate in our productions, while still providing space on stage and behind the scenes for older cast members,” she said.

Russell Purdie, no stranger to the Ararat stage, will direct Grease.

Purdie has taken on major roles in Curtains, Les Misérables, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat and Mamma Mia.

He is also no stranger to Grease, directing a production for Numurkah Singers in 2016 and performing in Grease for Shepparton Theatre Arts Group, STAG, in 2011.

Purdie’s theatre background also includes directing many short plays for STAG for its 10 in 10 play festival and directing and performing in Beatles Number 1s.

He also performed for STAG in Enchanted April, Dare to be Faceless, Murdered to Death and many short 10 in 10 plays.

“I am really looking forward to bringing Grease to life in Ararat next year,” Purdie said.

“Grease is a great show full of fantastic characters and memorable songs that everyone knows, and we believe it will

attract a great cast.” Purdie said he was keen to foster the development of talent on and off the stage next year.

“It’s really important to me to encourage the next generation of ARTS’ members, both in performing on stage and learning stage craft, as well as giving people the space to step up and take on production team and backstage roles,” he said.

“These are the people we need to encourage as they are the future of ARTS.”

Ms McCready said an information night would be held on Tuesday, December 2 at 7pm in the Ararat Scout Hall in Queen Street.

“We encourage anyone interested in being part of Grease – on stage or off – to attend the information night, where audition information will be outlined, as well as the rehearsal process, with rehearsals commencing early next year,” she said.

“However, due to the story content of Grease, ARTS is unfortunately unable to include primary school aged children in the production.

“Auditions will be on December 9, 11 and 13. Everyone wishing to be on stage will be required to audition this year, but don’t be scared, auditions are held in a supportive, friendly and fun environment, and everyone who auditions will be part of the cast.

“Grease will be staged across two weekends at the end of June at Ararat Town Hall and you must be available for all performances.

“ARTS is an inclusive and supportive group and anyone who wants to be part of Grease, whether that’s on stage or behind the scenes, is welcome and can be involved.”

food & entertainment from 6pm • Carols from 7:30pm in conjunction with the ACE RADIO NETWORK proudly presents

SUNDAY 7 DECEMBER 2025

SAWYER PARK HORSHAM

Ararat Rural City Council has opened expressions of interest for young people aged 12 to 25 to join YEAH Crew in 2026.

YEAH Crew aims to empower members wishing to lead, learn and make a positive impact in their community, giving them a chance to develop skills, collaborate with peers, and help shape events that inspire and connect the Ararat region’s young people.

Mayor Bob Sanders said the YEAH Crew offered a unique opportunity for its members to create and organise innovative events, with crew members set to gain hands-on experience in event planning, leadership, communication and teamwork, while networking with organisations and professionals.

He said the council was looking for creative thinkers who were passionate about career development, education and building social networks.

“We know how much potential exists right here in Ararat, and I urge every young person who’s keen to get involved and make a difference to put their hand up,” he said.

Expressions of interest close at 5pm on Friday, December 19.

To apply, people can visit the council’s Engage Ararat platform, engage.ararat.vic.gov.au/ expressions-interest-join-yeahcrew, or contact pre-prep project co-ordinator Nerissa Gee for more information via ngee@ararat.vic. gov.au or 5355 0257.

The council delivers the YEAH Crew initiative with support from the State Government’s Engage! 2025-27 program.

READY TO ROLL: Russell Purdie will direct Grease for Ararat Regional Theatre Society in 2026. He is pictured with the iconic ‘Greased Lightning’ car.

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

Horsham response times among best

BY COLIN MacGILLIVRAY

Ambulance

Victoria, AV, data has shown mixed results in recent response times to serious callouts across municipalities in the Wimmera, Grampians and southern Mallee regions.

AV publishes quarterly data tracking its average times to reach code-one incidents – defined as high-priority calls requiring a lights-and-sirens response – for each local government area across the state.

AV aims to respond to code-one calls within 15 minutes, with about 64 per cent of crews reaching that target during quarter one of 2025-26 between July and September this year.

Yarriambiack Shire saw one of the biggest quarterly improvements, rising from 19.8 per cent of code-one calls attended within 15 minutes in the fourth quarter of 2024-25 – one of the lowest figures in the state – to 31.4 per cent in the first quarter of 2025-26.

The average time for AV crews to attend a code-one call in Yarriambiack dropped from 31.31 minutes between April and June to 27.02 from July to September.

Horsham Rural City had one of the best results statewide, with ambulance crews attending 81.9 per cent of codeone calls within 15 minutes in an average time of just 12.34 – a four per cent improvement on the previous quarter.

Hindmarsh Shire saw a modest quarterly improvement of 0.9 per cent

in code-one calls attended within 15 minutes – from 37.5 to 38.4 – although the figure was markedly lower than the 46.2 per cent of code-one calls attended within the target time in the corresponding period last year.

Northern Grampians Shire’s response rates below 15 minutes remained stable at 61.5 per cent between July and September compared to 61.6 per cent between April and June, while the average response time dropped slightly from 17.16 to 16.47 minutes.

But Ararat and West Wimmera saw their response data trending in the wrong direction, with the percentage of times below 15 minutes dropping from 65.9 to 57.9 in Ararat and 33.3 to 26.8 in West Wimmera, with Ararat’s average response time rising by more than two and a half minutes.

AV acting executive director of regional operations Michael Georgiou said demand for ‘lights-and-sirens’ ambulances rose by nearly three per cent between July and September compared to the preceding three months.

“Winter consistently brings the highest emergency call volumes, and this year was no exception. This was our busiest first quarter on record with 101,632 code-one emergencies in just three months, and overall, it was our second-busiest quarter ever,” he said.

“This was another challenging winter – the entire health system was extremely busy with seasonal illness. We are incredibly proud of our highly

skilled paramedics and first responders for the exceptional care they provide their communities – all day, every day.

“We sincerely thank our people who worked tirelessly to meet record levels of demand this winter.

“Their dedication and commitment to consistently deliver best care and saving lives under pressure is remarkable.

“Despite this record demand, we continue to lead the way in pre-hospital patient care, including the best cardiac arrest survival rates in Australia and third best anywhere in the world.”

Grampians regional director Steve Doyle said the community could aid AV by considering whether an ambulance was the most appropriate care in a given situation.

“Our paramedics are focused on reaching the sickest patients first – but every day, about one in five calls to triple zero do not need an emergency ambulance response,” he said.

“Getting the right care fast can make all the difference and means more paramedics are on the road for people who need our urgent lifesaving care the most.

“There are many options people can access when they need timely medical care and health advice, at any time of the night or day – but not an emergency ambulance or calling triple zero – including the Victorian Virtual Emergency Department, VVED, urgent-care clinics, Nurse-on-Call, GPs and pharmacists.”

PRODUCTS:

Vending machines operating

Grampians Health has installed vending machines offering free pads and tampons across its campuses.

Delivered through a State Government initiative, the project will ensure sanitary products are readily available, helping remove the stress of being caught without sanitary products for staff, patients and visitors.

Rolled out by Grampians Health’s support services team, new vending machines are now located in nongender bathrooms across Stawell, Horsham, Dimboola, Edenhope and Ballarat campuses. Chief redevelopment and infra-

structure officer Veronica Furnier said the project represented a step toward building a more inclusive and supportive healthcare environment.

“We’re proud to support a program that helps create a more comfortable and equitable experience for everyone who visits our facilities,” she said.

“By offering free pads and tampons in convenient locations, we’re helping to normalise menstrual health, reduce stigma and ensure that no one is placed under unnecessary stress because they don’t have access to essential products.”

FREE

Grampians Health engagement officer Kelsey Sevenich is pictured next to a new sanitary product vending machine in Stawell.

Northern Grampians Shire Council

RESPECT IS KNOWINGTHATYOU CAN HELP PREVENT VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN

Grampians Shire Council

16 DAYS

OF ACTIVISM AGAINST GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE NOVEMBER 25 - DECEMBER 10, 2025

COMMUNITY UPDATES

COUNCIL EMBARKS ON 16 DAYS OF ACTIVISM, ENCOURAGES COMMUNITY TO WEAR ORANGE

Northern Grampians Shire mayor Karen Hyslop has called on the community to participate in the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence campaign, which aims to prevent violence against women at a grassroots level. “We encourage everyone in the community – individuals, businesses, sporting clubs and community organisations – to join us in raising awareness of the devastating impacts of violence against women and children in our community,” she said. She thanked the community for participating in a Walk Against Family Violence in St Arnaud yesterday and encouraged people to support the Stawell version on December 10. “We hope these walks encourage conversations about how we can all say no to violence and support gender equity,” she said. “We would love to see as many people as possible wearing the colour orange, which is associated with domestic violence awareness and advocacy, throughout the campaign. We will also light up several buildings across the shire in orange throughout the 16 days.” Council has partnered with community organisations including Grampians Community Health, East Grampians Health Service, Women's Health Grampians, Budja Budja, Victoria Police, The Orange Door, Grampians Multicultural Hub, and Lions Clubs to promote the campaign and will share important messages on our social media channels.

NOMINATE FOR AUSTRALIA DAY AWARDS FREE SUPPORT FOR COMMUNITY GROUPS

Do you know someone who goes above and beyond for our community? Is there a local group or individual who has made a real difference in Northern Grampians Shire this year? Now is the time to recognise them. Nominations for the 2026 Australia Day Awards are open until December 5. For more information, scan the QR code above or visit our website.

You can learn more about our free online support resource for community groupsthe Community Learning Hub - through a webinar on Tuesday, December 2, from 5.30pm to 6pm. There will also be drop-in sessions at Stawell and St Arnaud libraries on Wednesday. For more information, including a webinar link, you can scan the QR code above.

Heat pump tenders: Council invites tenders for the supply and installation of electric heat pumps at Stawell Sports and Aquatic Centre, 49–51 Houston Street, Stawell. This project forms part of council’s commitment to sustainability and energy efficiency. The works include removal of existing gas boilers, installation of heat pumps and associated equipment, testing, commissioning, and training. For more information and to apply by Friday, December 12, scan the QR code above or visit our website.

Next council meeting: Monday, December 1 in the Perry Room, St Arnaud Town Hall, St Arnaud at 12.30pm. The meeting is open to the public and will be livestreamed via our YouTube channel. The agenda will be available on our website.

Prize returns to Halls Gap

Adiverse array of artworks competing for Australia’s top environmental-art prize will be on display in the Gariwerd-Grampains region this summer.

The 54 finalists for the WAMA Art Prize will be displayed in Halls Gap’s newly opened National Centre for Environmental Art from December 6 to March 9.

The WAMA Art Prize is a biennial exhibition celebrating environmental art, including drawing, printmaking, collage, sculpture and experimental artforms.

This year marks the third edition of the prize, with the major acquisitive prize-winner receiving $15,000, while three awards of excellence worth $2500 each, as well as a people’s choice award, will also be presented in March.

WAMA board director and art prize judge Jacqueline Healy said this year’s finalists reflected the many environmental issues facing Australia.

“The 2025 finalists were selected out of a remarkable body of work. These works reveal the talented and diverse range of artists engaged with the theme of art and nature,” Dr Healy says.

“Works in the exhibition capture flora, fauna, landscapes, waterways and the sky in forms ranging from large-scale drawings to intimate paper structures, all telling us to take care of the environments that we are privileged to inhabit.”

The judging panel also included RMIT University associate professor and Yoonggama First Nations Transdisciplinary Research Cohort director Vicki Couzens, former RMIT Gallery director and chief curator Suzanne Davies and Australian Print Workshop chief executive Anne Virgo.

WAMA chief executive Francesca Valmorbida said the prize reflected the organisation’s purpose of exploring art, science and nature in accessible and diverse ways.

“To see the WAMA Art Prize now exhibited within the modern and inviting National Centre for Environmental Art is incredibly special,” she said.

“The selection of artworks offers something for everyone and speaks to WAMA’s vision of celebrating creativity and our unique environment in equal measure.”

Located at 4000 Ararat-Halls Gap Road, WAMA sits on a 16-hectare site that includes the Gariwerd Endemic Botanic Garden and Jallukar Native Grasslands alongside the National Centre for Environmental Art.

In preparation for the WAMA Art Prize, the National Centre for Environmental Art will be closed to the public from November 28 to December 4.

The rest of the WAMA precinct will remain open during those dates, with entry reduced to $2 per person.

For more information on the art prize, people can visit wamafoundation.com.au/experience/wama-artprize-2025.

ON A SAFE PATH: Horsham Mobility Group offers education, guest speakers and support to motorised wheelchair and gopher users and their carers at its monthly meetings. Members aim to educate both users and the community on living together safely, while also offering a social gathering. The group welcomes new members, and meets at Horsham RSL at 10.30am on the fourth Tuesday of each month. Pictured are, from left, Wimmera Mobility Group members Elaine Cooper, Loris Miatke, Beryl Moloney, Lois Reid and Gladys Ampt. Picture: PAUL CARRACHER

Showcase lunch to celebrate diversity

Ararat community leaders are inviting people to attend a cultural showcase lunch on Saturday, December 6 from noon to 2pm at the Alexandra Oval Community Centre.

The free, family-friendly event aims to bring residents, both new and longstanding, together to celebrate cultural diversity across the region and strengthen community connections.

The event will feature traditional music and dance performances by multicultural community groups, who will also cook food from around the world, while art-and-craft activities, fairy floss and face painting will keep children entertained.

The event is organised by Grampians Gariwerd Rural Australians for

BLACK FRIDAY Sale

open 9am-5.30pm Friday 28th 9am-noon Saturday 29th

Refugees, RAR, and Ararat Neighbourhood House, with support from Ararat Rural City Council and the State Government.

Mayor Bob Sanders said the council continued to strengthen community connections through its settlement services, supporting migrants and refugees as they built new lives in the region.

The council also delivers a dedicated culturally and linguistically diverse, CALD, service, helping CALD families settle into the community, with a focus on connecting pre-school-aged children to early-learning opportunities.

Cr Sanders said the Ararat Cultural Showcase Lunch was a valuable op-

portunity to celebrate the diversity that enriched the Ararat region.

“Whether you’ve lived here your whole life or newly arrived, you’re part of our community,” he said.

“This event is a great chance to share great food from other cultures, enjoy some music and meet new people. We’re proud of our cultural mix, and it’s days like this that really show what makes our region such a welcoming place.”

To help ensure there is enough food for everyone, organisers are encouraging attendees to RSVP by calling 5355 0200 or by visiting TryBooking and searching ‘Ararat Cultural Showcase Lunch’.

Proposal for heritage sites

Horsham Rural City Council is recommending the inclusion of 31 new sites across the municipality to protect their heritage significance.

Council’s program identifies, assesses and documents places of heritage significance, as part of its work to preserve and protect the municipality’s unique character and cultural history.

A Planning Scheme Amendment, for heritage purposes, will affect sites at Brimpaen, Clear Lake, Dooen, Haven, Horsham, Jung, Kanagulk, Kewell, Murra Warra, Mitre, Natimuk, Pimpinio, Polkemmet, Quantong, St Helens Plains, Vectis and Wail.

The amendment is among a suite of proposals to recognise the value of properties and sites, which characterise the municipality’s rural landscape and towns and provide a sense of place.

Based on findings from expert heritage studies, the amendment proposes to apply the heritage overlay to 31 individual heritage sites; identifies 319 properties across 10 new heritage precincts to which heritage controls will apply to protect the character of these streetscapes; include six sites as part of a new grouped, serial listing, being some of the concrete silos that demonstrate the municipality’s strong agricultural history; and remove the

“Our region’s heritage reflects the diversity of the Horsham district and it is important to recognise these heritage places”

– Brian Klowss

heritage overlay from two sites no longer considered significant due to demolition.

“Our region’s heritage reflects the diversity of the Horsham district and it is important to recognise these heritage places,” Horsham’s acting Mayor Brian Klowss said.

“These protections are important to preserve our living history for both ourselves and for future generations.”

The amendment is informed by the Horsham Heritage Study Stage 2, 2014, the Review of Horsham Heritage Study, 2025, and Volume 2: Heritage Citations and Mapping, 2025.

People can obtain further information and details about how to have their say by visiting https://have yoursay.hrcc.vic.gov.au/planningscheme-amendment-c85-heritageamendment.

ADVOCATING: A ‘check your engine light’ mental health night at Horsham last week attracted more than 200 people. Guest speakers Rae Bonney, with catchcry ‘what does it feel like, being you today?’, and Justin Knorpp, with coined phrase ‘depression hates a moving target’, shared their experiences. The event was hosted by Simon Clark, on behalf of Wimmera Against Cancer in Kids, who will shave his 20-year-old beard for the cause at the conclusion of this month’s Movember men’s health campaign.

Tiny Towns Fund gives big boost

Applications are now open for round three of the State Government’s Tiny Towns Fund, offering grants of up to $50,000 to support creative projects and improvements in Victoria’s smallest towns.

The Tiny Towns Fund aims to attract more visitors to and celebrate the unique character of local communities.

The fund has helped deliver nearly 350 projects across more than 300 small towns since it began.

Ararat Rural City Council Mayor Bob Sanders said projects supported by the Tiny Towns Fund were carried out with the help of local contractors and suppli-

ers, supporting jobs, small businesses and the regional economy.

He encouraged groups across the municipality and the wider region to apply before applications close on February 4.

“Our small towns have so much heart and resourcefulness,” he said.

“Funding like this helps our communities bring local ideas to life, create welcoming spaces, and ensure our towns continue to thrive.

“I encourage groups across our municipality to get their applications in and showcase just what makes our region special.”

Applicants may seek a minimum of

BLACK FRIDAY

$5000 and up to a maximum of $50,000.

The Tiny Towns Fund is designed to foster economic development by helping local businesses in small towns to prosper, while also addressing gaps in community infrastructure and facilities that benefit small communities.

State Government officials said the fund supported projects that built community pride and enhanced opportunities for living, working, socialising and recreation within small towns.

For more information or to apply for funding, people can visit www.rdv. vic.gov.au/grants-and-programs/tinytowns-fund.

Open 7 Days for Lunch

Dimboola

Antoinette

“The

“Applying

minutes.”

“We are extremely grateful to the Horsham Sports and Community Club,” she said.

Pitch festival to adopt pill testing

Pitch Music and Arts Festival is among three live-music events set to introduce pill-testing facilities as the State Government expands a trial program this summer.

Mental Health Minister Ingrid Stitt this month announced that Pitch, staged near Moyston during March, would join Ballarat’s Spilt Milk and Melbourne’s Dangerous Goods 6XXL festivals in receiving pill-testing stations, with more events to be added to the list.

The Victorian pill-testing trial is in response to a rise in drug-related

emergency department admissions and overdose deaths involving synthetic drugs.

A 23-year-old man died at Pitch last year from a suspected drug overdose. With research showing about half of Australian adults had used drugs at some point in their lives and new, potent synthetic drugs circulating, Ms Stitt said the risk of harm and overdose was increasing.

She said pill testing could detect life-threatening substances and reduce potential harm by giving people the information they needed to make safer and more informed decisions.

“It doesn’t encourage young people to use drugs, but allows them to see what’s really in their substances and make informed health decisions”

– Ingrid Stitt

Ms Stitt said the testing service would be free, confidential and staffed by an experienced team of experts who were able to test a range of drugs and work rapidly to warn attendees if high-risk substances were detected.

“The results from last festival sea-

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son speak for themselves: pill testing works,” she said.

“It doesn’t encourage young people to use drugs, but allows them to see what’s really in their substances and make informed health decisions.

“With a rise in dangerous synthetic opioids, this service is more important than ever – it offers a sensible healthled approach to reduce drug harms, while also delivering critical drug surveillance information.”

The State Government trialled its mobile pill-testing program at five music festivals, including Pitch, last summer, collecting almost 1400 sam-

ples. Data from the trial showed 11 per cent of samples collected were not what people expected their drugs to be, with workers issuing 10 drug notifications, including two statewide advisories.

Ms Stitt said pill testing also reduced pressure on frontline health services and enhanced the government’s drugsurveillance capabilities by boosting early detection and rapid assessment of hazardous synthetic drugs.

People can find more information about the State Government’s pilltesting service at www.health.vic.gov. au/alcohol-and-drugs/pill-testing.

Christmas shopping fun

Traders across the Ararat region are joining forces to make Christmas shopping more exciting this year, offering a ‘shop-til-you-drop’ prize.

Greater Ararat Business Network, GABN, members are rolling out a festive 12 Days of Christmas promotion featuring a mix of participating businesses, including home and garden retailers, accommodation providers, bars and wineries, clothing stores and professional services.

Each business will set its own minimum spend for customers to enter the draw, with the winner of the grand prize set to receive a voucher that can be used across any of the participating outlets.

Entering is simple, with participants able to scan a QR code in-store and securing a free ticket through a TryBooking webpage.

GABN will announce the winner on Friday, December 12 in Ararat –

coinciding with a late-night trading festival in Barkly Street complete with food vans and a Skate into Summer event at Ararat Town Hall.

Ararat Rural City Mayor Bob Sanders said the council valued its strong collaboration with GABN on initiatives that highlighted the depth and diversity of local business offerings.

“As we lead up to Christmas there’s a natural focus on retail,” he said.

“But we also encourage people to think about booking accommodation for visiting family or giving experience-based gifts like winery tours or meal vouchers.

“You really can find something for everyone right here in Ararat and our surrounding towns and venues.”

For a full list of participating businesses in the 12 Days of Christmas promotion, people can visit www. gabn.org.au/memberdirectory.

FESTIVE CHEER: Greater Ararat Business Network businesses this week celebrated the extra trade the 12 Days of Christmas promotion will bring to the region.

Wednesday

Roadside slashing underway in west

West

Wimmera Shire Council has commenced its annual roadside slashing program across the shire’s local road network.

The program sees workers slash grass, weeds and low-level vegetation along council-managed roads in an effort to improve sight lines and fire preparedness during the growing season.

The program also sees slashing on state-controlled roads through the council’s maintenance contract with the Department of Transport and Planning.

The slashing program started in October and will run throughout November, subject to weather conditions.

Chief executive David Bezuidenhout said council crews and contractors would operate across the municipality, asking motorists to slow down, obey all signage and exercise caution when passing machinery.

Mr Bezuidenhout said the program played a vital role in preparing the region for impending hot weather, as well as maintaining safe access for all road users.

“Managing fire risk and maintaining sight lines are essential and slashing is one of the ways council can support safer travel across the shire.”

– David Bezuidenhout

“Roadside vegetation grows quickly during the spring period, and this program helps ensure the network remains safe, clear and ready for summer,” he said.

“Managing fire risk and maintaining sight lines are essential and slashing is one of the ways council can support safer travel across the shire.”

Mr Bezuidenhout said the balance between protecting the region’s environment and meeting road-safety requirements was important.

“The program is designed to manage vegetation responsibly by targeting only the areas where slashing is needed,” he said.

Mr Bezuidenhout thanked the community for its patience while the program was underway.

For further information, people can call the council on 13 99 72.

Researcher

Federation University research associate and former Ararat resident Leo Bell was a guest at an East Grampians Health Service Leadership Group lunch.

Dr Bell is an accredited exercise physiologist and research associate at Federation University Australia’s Health Innovation and Transformation Centre.

His journey began in Ararat, where he grew up, before moving to Ballarat for tertiary education, where he completed a PhD in exercise physiology, focusing on understanding why individuals respond differently to exercise.

Dr Bell gained experience in rehabilitation within sporting organisations throughout his academic career, while contributing to research on innovative biomarkers of health and fitness.

Now returned to Ararat, Dr Bell said he was dedicated to improving the health and wellbe-

ing of rural communities through The Healthy Regions InterVEntion – THRIVE – program.

His current work focuses on chronic-disease prevention by integrating genetic testing, behaviour-change counselling, and digital-health technology to create personalised health solutions for rural populations.

Dr Bell said he was passionate about bringing cutting-edge health research back to the Ararat community.

EGHS chief executive Nick Bush thanked Dr Bell for speaking to the leadership group at the health service, and for sharing his journey.

“We appreciate Leo giving up his time to speak to our leadership group, who were interested to hear of Leo’s history, his time in Ararat and the challenges he faced when he moved on to tertiary studies before finding his passion,” Mr Bush said.

Hindmarsh golden hour formal

Hindmarsh Shire Youth Council will host an end-of-year ‘golden hour’ formal for people aged 12 to 18 years.

A chance to celebrate and reflect on the year and socialise, there will be food, music and a photobooth at the December 12 event, from 6.30pm to 9pm at Nhill Memorial Community Centre.

Registrations are essential by 5pm on December 11 to guarantee a seat on the bus.

There will be no pass outs issued. All FReeZA events are fully supervised as well as being free of drugs, alcohol, smoking and vaping. To register, people can visit form.jotform. com/251828043387866.

Return buses with adult supervision will be provided from Dimboola, Rainbow and Jeparit to Nhill.

SPECIAL GUEST: Dr Leo Bell, centre, with his brother, East Grampians Health Service head chef Will Bell, left, and chief executive Nick Bush.

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Wake wins jumps comp

Wimmera Equestrian Club’s second annual standalone jumping competition brought riders from across Victoria and interstate to Dimboola at the weekend.

The event’s third year, it previously included a dressage competition.

Riders competed across 11 classes on Saturday, with jumps ranging from

40 centimetres to 130 centimetres in the 120-centimetre jump-off.

Ally Wake won the 120-centimetre jump-off on Olympia MVNZ, ahead of second-placed Lachie Wake on Riccardo MVNZ.

Third-place went to Kristy Bruhn on Viva Baluna.

Event organiser Suz McKenry said

the calibre of riders was high during the two-day event.

“This is their sport, this is what they do. They will go on to jump in the Australian championships,” she said.

Ms McKenry said the club was made up of adult riders, but children who were interested in riding could contact Horsham Pony Club to enquire.

LEAP: Lachie Wake, left, and Jorja Farrugia, above, compete in the Wimmera Equestrian Club’s jumping competition at Dimboola.

HIGH JUMPERS: Riders from across Victoria and interstate travelled to Dimboola at the weekend to compete in Wimmera Equestrian Club’s second annual standalone jumping competition.

Pictured in action are, clockwise from left: Chelsea Whicker; competition winner Ally Wake; Susanna Verco; Kristy Bruhn and Sarah Elsden.

Pictures: PAUL CARRACHER

All-abilities athletes shine at games

All-abilities

athletes from across the Wimmera and Grampians have returned from a successful outing at this month’s Tri State Games, with many wearing new medals around their necks.

The Tri State Games is an annual sporting competition for people with disabilities from Victoria, South Australia and New South Wales.

This year’s games saw 253 athletes across 38 teams and more than 150 support staff and volunteers converge on Portland, Victoria.

Horsham Rockets volunteer Jeff Pekin said the athletes enjoyed renewing old friendships and making new ones as they competed at the games, with sportsmanship taking centre stage.

Participants from Stawell, Ararat, Warracknabeal, Kaniva and Horsham competed at the week-long event, which will be in Mildura in November 2026 and 2027 – the latter of which will mark the 40th anniversary of the games, which started in Mildura.

Mr Pekin said all Horsham participants represented their families and the Horsham community with pride and passion during the games.

Results from local teams included: Horsham Heat: Glenn Castleman, silver medal in 25m run, silver in 50m run, gold in open walk, gold in 25m freestyle; Jess Sorrell, gold in basketball throw, gold in 25m freestyle, gold in 25m run; Carly Bird, bronze in 25m run, silver in open walk, bronze in 25m freestyle; Chelsea O’Connor, gold in open walk; Holly Mee bronze in basketball throw, gold in 25m walk, gold in beanbag accuracy throw; Mark Sommerville, gold in 200m run, silver in 100m run, silver in 50m freestyle, bronze in 25m backstroke.

Grampians Pumas: David Kilner, bronze in basketball throw; Hannah Storach, bronze in basketball throw, bronze in 50m run, silver in 100m run; Tom Fleming, silver in basketball throw, silver in 25m freestyle, gold in 50m run, silver in 100m run; Tom Parker, gold in basketball throw, bronze in 25m run, personal best in 50m run, gold in football distance kick; Kim Ransome, bronze in beanbag target throw, bronze in 25m run, bronze in 50m walk; Kris Kloester, gold in upright beanbag target throw, bronze in 100m run; Tavis Starrick, silver in quilts; Josh Perry, gold in darts, silver in walk; David Gustus, gold in darts, silver in kickboard; Martin Starrick, bronze in walk minimum assist; bronze in barbell minimum assist, silver in 25m manual chair, silver in 50m manual chair; Andrew Wills,

teams to compete at this year’s Tri State Games

silver in walk minimum assist, silver in barbell minimum assist, bronze in 25m physical assist, bronze in 50m physical assist; Matt Joy, silver in walk, bronze in 50m run, personal best in 100m run; Nicola Phillips, bronze in 50m walk.

Wimmera Weapons: Tori Phelan, bronze in 25m Run, silver in 25m walk, silver in running, silver in long jump, gold in open kickboard, gold in open walk; Heather Pipkorn, gold in open barbell, silver in open walk; Shantell Morrison, silver in 25m run, silver in open kickboard; Donna Leith, great efforts; Peter Mackay, great efforts; Anthony Arts, gold in open noodle, gold in open walk, bronze in basketball throw, silver in 25m walk, bronze in running long jump; Andrew Kent, bronze in open barbell, bronze in golf putting.

Horsham Rockets: Andrew Lang,

bronze in table tennis doubles, gold in pool walk, silver in barbell across pool, silver in 100m run, runner-up in the Sportsmanship Award; Jason Perkins, gold in beanbag target throw, silver in pool walk, bronze in 200m run, bronze in standing long jump; Julie Clark, bronze in beanbag target throw, bronze in 25m breaststroke, bronze in 50m backstroke, gold in 50m run, bronze in beanbag accuracy throw; Maureen Cameron, silver in carpet bowls, silver in barbell across pool, silver in 50m run, silver in beanbag distance throw; Michael Clark, gold in table tennis singles, bronze in 25m backstroke, bronze in 50m backstroke, bronze in 50m run, silver in discus; Sharon Creasey, personal best in pool walk, gold in barbell across pool, silver in 25m walk, silver in 50m walk; Tom Leembruggen, bronze in table tennis doubles, bronze in pool walk,

gold in tennis ball throw; Warrick Lang, silver in carpet bowls, gold in pool walk, personal best in 25m walk, bronze in tennis ball throw. The Horsham Rockets were third in the overall indoor sports event.

Wimmera Wildcats: Rachael Werner, gold in 100m freestyle swim, gold in 50m walk, gold in football distance kick, silver in 50m freestyle swim, silver in 50m hurdles; Adam Werner, gold in basketball throw, gold in 25m run, gold in 25m walk, silver in kickboard across pool; Indya Baulch, gold in discus, silver in pool walk, bronze in basketball throw, bronze in 25m freestyle.

Warracknabeal Warriors: Lachie Young, silver in table tennis, bronze in football distance kick; Madee Townsend, bronze in basketball throw, gold in 50m freestyle, gold in 50m backstroke, silver in 200m run, silver

in 100m run; Stephan Coon, silver in 100m run; Merryn Baxter, gold in table tennis, bronze in pool walk, bronze in barbell, gold in 50m run, bronze in 100m run; Mark Fogarty, bronze in golf putting, gold in 50m run; Ray Hinchcliff, bronze in barbell; Callum Barnes, bronze in upright beanbag, gold in pool walk, gold in barbell, bronze in beanbag accuracy; Ken Hunter, personal best in barbell, silver in 25m run, bronze in beanbag accuracy.

Just Better Care Jets: Danielle Simpson, bronze in 25m walk, bronze in beanbag throw; Charlie Skinner, bronze in 50m hurdles, gold in swimming noodle, gold in pool walk; Ashely Frost, attended her first games and was head of the team cheer squad; Matthew Schmidt, silver in 50m walk; Keenan Marra, bronze in 25m run, silver in swimming noodle; Logan Hough, attended his first games. Ararat Braves: Bernard Kennedy, silver in 25m walk, silver in 25m pool walk, bronze in 25m freestyle, bronze in 50m walk, bronze in beanbag accuracy. Bernard, 64, is the son of legendary AFL-VFL coach, the late John Kennedy Snr; Ken Flack, gold in beanbag accuracy, silver in 50m walk, silver in barbell open; Chris Rolph, silver in 25m run, silver in 50m run, silver in 25m breaststroke; Jamie Webb, bronze in barbell open, bronze in football distance kick. Other Horsham participants Amy Benbow, Jayden Dumesny, Jackie Trigg, Toni Niblett, Abby DumesnyHuf and Kai Hoye all competed and collected medals during the games.

CENTRE STAGE: All-abilities athletes from across the Wimmera and Grampians were among 38

in Portland. Below, Grampians Pumas athletes celebrate the occasion.

November 26, 2025

Bartlett Brothers’ contract harvesting team has found good yields from the bottom of Queensland and into the Wimmera, where spring’s cool start has seen lentils stripped first. Co-owner Dale Bartlett, right, is pictured with his daughter Milla and employee Luke Swinfen. Story, page 51. Picture: PAUL CARRACHER

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Rain app a potential game changer

Federation University researchers believe an app enabling users to view spatial variations in rainfall across short distances has potential to provide farmers with ‘an unprecedented level’ of rainfall data.

Rainfall Mapper, developed by researchers at the university, enables users to receive information for specific 500-by-500-metre tiles, allowing farmers to gain greater insight into rainfall data specific to their property.

Available to the public on a trial basis, Rainfall Mapper is a standalone online application developed by the technical team from Federation University’s Centre for eResearch and Digital Innovation, CeRDI, based on initial work by researcher Peter Weir during his Soil CRC PhD project.

Dr Weir said with increased access to information about past rainfall, the app would enable farmers to make

more informed decisions, including crop planning and irrigation strategies.

He said results from the trial period would help improve the design of the app to enhance user experience, as well as enabling the research team to gain a deeper understanding of the varied practical applications of the tool.

Dr Weir said the specificity of the data available through the app was unique.

“It is an area measurement – not a point measurement from a single location and that means the app has the capability of picking up rainfall details of localised thunderstorms that often occur unmeasured between official Bureau of Meteorology gauges,” he said.

With regional rain gauges sparsely located at an average distance of about 30 to 50 kilometres apart, Dr Weir said single-point measurements could

National day for farmers

National Agriculture Day celebrates Australia’s farm sector, and this year with the theme of Stand with the Land, encouraged all Australians to unite and celebrate with farmers and rural communities.

Farmers face many challenges, from weather extremes, bushfire and environmental expectations, and is the second-most dangerous industry shown in Safe Work Australia data.

Australian Institute of Health and Safety, AIHS, chief executive Julia Whitford said National Agriculture Day, this year on November 21, was a time to celebrate the vital work of farmers, but it was also a reminder that safety should always be top of mind.

“Ag workers are exposed to a range of health and safety hazards throughout their workday, making them vulnerable to injury, stress, and fatigue,” she said.

“Some of the most common physical safety risks include operating heavy machinery and vehicles, working with animals, handling chemicals, and being exposed to extreme conditions such as weather and dust.

“Working long hours, financial pressures, and the impact of weather can lead to a heavy mental toll.”

Safe Work Australia data shows the agriculture, forestry and fishing sector is Australia’s second most dangerous industry, accounting for 22.8 per cent of all work-related fatalities from 2003 to 2024.

There were 45 worker deaths recorded last year.

“Tragically, we continue to see preventable deaths in the agriculture sector. Our farmers feed us, clothe us, and care for the land that sustains us,” Ms Whitford said.

“Every fatality is one too many.”

Nationals leader David Littleproud thanked Australian farmers on Agriculture Day, for producing the nation’s food and fibre.

He said it was important to acknowledge farmers needed extra support this year, after ‘being forced to bear the brunt of Labor’s race to all-renewables and reckless net zero ideology’.

“Under Labor, 95 per cent of emissions cuts have come from cutting productive farmland, not energy transition,” he said.

“Large areas of bushland and farmland are being cleared for solar panels and wind turbines, threatening native species and local communities.

“We have sadly already lost 7.2 million hectares of agricultural land,

sometimes be flawed. “We’re very careful with our disclaimer because the rainfall amounts are dependent on the modelling of the weather radar signal to estimate the amount of rain that has fallen in that specific area, but the results are extremely interesting,” he said.

Rainfall Mapper uses data sourced from the official Bureau of Meteorology, BoM, rain gauge network across Australia, merged with the BoM’s weather radars to generate a Rainfields3 dataset, which is available online from the National Computing Infrastructure.

It is currently available as a component within the Visualising Australasia’s Soils portal – a long-running Soil CRC initiative bringing together soils research, information and activities from across Australia and New Zealand.

CeRDI principal research fellow Associate Professor Peter Dahlhaus, who

supervised the project, said the potential applications for Rainfall Mapper were varied.

“If you’re a farmer and you want to seed your paddock, you would like to know how much rain you’ve had since the last harvest, and when and where the rain has fallen,” he said.

“It’s farmers and farming groups that are currently showing interest in the app.

“Apart from the agricultural sector, I anticipate strong interest from people involved in catchment management and those living in high-rainfall areas.

“Biodiversity groups are also likely to find this tool valuable.

“The resolution is so much finer than any other tool that is available and rainfall patterns have shifted due to climate change.

“Instead of getting normal reliable winter rain, we’re now getting more scattered intense rain events and scattered showers.”

Assoc Prof Dalhaus said the app relied on modelled data that converted reflectivity picked up by weather radars – often detected up to a kilometre off the ground – and converting it to rainfall.

It includes two years of data and allows users to select specific date parameters.

Assoc Prof Dalhaus said the research was ‘shining a light in a dark corner’ to show already-available information in a user-friendly way.

“Now we are going on to the next step, which is to convert this rainfall data into soil moisture at a finer resolution than we have been able to do so far,” he said.

“The important point is not just the rain that has fallen on a specified area – this is valuable information – but a lot more interest will come when people are able to say how much water is in the bucket.”

TIMELY REMINDER: Nationals leader David Littleproud thanked Australian farmers on Agriculture Day, for producing the nation’s food and fibre.

and to achieve Labor’s net zero targets, we’ll lose another 5.1 million hectares.

“That means our food security is under threat and when supply goes down, prices go up, so families will pay for Labor’s ideology at the checkout.

“Regional Australia and our agriculture industry is being torn apart.

“We need a cheaper, better, fairer way to reduce emissions.

“The Coalition’s energy plan won’t lock up our agriculture land.

“We need common sense, such as the Emissions Reduction Fund, which has practical measures to alleviate the use of agricultural land and supports environmental stewardship programs.”

Mr Littleproud said agriculture also needed to be protected through the use of a Scientific Advisory Group for biosecurity import risk analyses, es

pecially when it came to bananas, but that was not happening under Labor.

“We need a full Biosecurity Import Risk Analysis under the Biosecurity Act, which the Minister can direct the Department to undertake,” he said.

“Our agriculture industry is too important to be put at risk and Agriculture Day is a timely reminder of that.” National Agriculture Day is an initiative of the National Farmers Fed-

Wimmera Bearings

Cereals

Pulses

Freight needs identified

GrainGrowers has released a landmark report highlighting the complexity of Australia’s grain freight task and the urgent infrastructure investments needed to support growers and regional communities.

The advocacy group is calling on government policymakers and infrastructure planners to use the findings to prioritise investment in the freight routes that matter most to growers and regional communities.

The report comes as farmers are mid-harvest – the busiest time of year for growers transporting product on regional roads.

The report, Australia’s Priority Grain Freight Routes: Critical Infrastructure, Bottlenecks, and Strategic Investment Requirements, provides a rare, state-by-state breakdown of grain freight movements.

Drawing on CSIRO’s Transport Network Strategic Investment Tool,

Drought support available

Farm drought support grants of up to $10,000 are available for stock containment areas, water systems and upgrades, grain and fodder storage and upgrades, and internal refencing.

Agriculture Victoria livestock extension officer Greg Ferrier said a stock containment area, SCA, could provide many benefits to farm management, from times of drought, seasonal extremes, after fires, and for more general farm management.

“An SCA can support stock feeding, watering and monitoring; pasture management; minimising erosion risks by avoiding over grazing; and an area to manage potential weed introduction from introduced feeds,” he said.

Mr Ferrier said when siting a SCA, landholders should consider adequate setbacks to minimise risk of run-off to waterways; the location on moderately sloping, well drained, stable soil,

the analysis reveals how complex grain freight routes are, with distinct networks and patterns in each state shaped by production, markets, and infrastructure access.

GrainGrowers chief executive Shona Gawel said the findings highlighted the diversity and the challenges of moving millions of tonnes of grain from farm to market.

“Grain freight in Australia is not a one-size-fits-all task,” she said.

“The report shows the complexity of freight movements and the unique challenges in each state – from bridge weight limits at the New South WalesVictorian border, to gaps in the PBS A-double network in Queensland, or the high volume of grain on local government roads in Western Australia.

“These bottlenecks add costs and reduce efficiency for growers.”

Ms Gawel summarised the report under four main sections.

“If I had to summarise what the report is telling us, in four overall main

headlines – the first is that there’s targeted upgrades needed to our regional roads,” she said.

“The second is that we could address some performance-based standard network limitations.

“The third one is that we are going to have to address how to mitigate some more climate-related disruptions on our roads.

“And the fourth – and the big one –is cross-border harmonisation.”

Ms Gawel said detailed, publiclyavailable information about grain freight had historically been limited.

“This report helps fill that gap, offering new insights into the complexity of freight routes and providing a clear, state-by-state picture of where targeted investment will deliver the greatest benefit,” she said.

Ms Gawel told Country Today the key challenge for growers was interconnectivity.

“So you’ve got national highways, there’s state controlled roads, and

there’s local government routes, and it does differ state by state,” she said.

“But we’ve identified key findings for each state, and we hope that this will be able to target investment and co-ordinated responses across state and local networks going forward.”

Ms Gawel said climate impacts, such as flooding, was causing damage to roads – with a greater prevalence of potholes or road degradation.

“When you think about B-double trucks that are trying to cart grain from the farm off to wherever their destination is, you see that more and more, and the report actually looks into to some of the flood risks that our roads see and that can actually cause quite significant disruptions on road networks,” she said.

“As people would appreciate with harvest it, it’s a time where it doesn’t stop for anything, and so when you have those disruptions, it really does dilute the efficiencies and the productivity of our grain farming.”

HELP ON HAND: Eligible primary producers across the state can access up to $5000 as a co-contribution grant to support stock containment areas, water systems and upgrades, grain and fodder storage and upgrades, and internal refencing.

avoiding pen-to-pen drainage; shade and shelter for stock; and distance to neighbours and local and state planning requirements.

“When planning for and setting up a SCA, farmers should consider five to 10 square metres per sheep and 10 to 15 square metres per head of cattle,” he said.

“People should avoid feeding directly from the ground, and use fencing suited to the type of animal to be managed.

“Be sure to locate feed points well away from water troughs to minimise contaminating the water source, and consider laneways and vehicle access.”

Mr Ferrier said animals in SCA needed to be supplied a suitable diet with consideration of energy, minerals and roughage, and water.

“The Navigating Farm Developments web-based platform can help work through considerations for appropriate siting of the development of

SCAs,” he said. People can find more information on SCA’s and feeding on Agriculture Victoria’s website.

Eligible primary producers across the state can access up to $5000 as a co-contribution grant, while southwest Victorian producers can access up to $10,000.

For program guidelines, a list of eligible drought management activities and to apply, people can visit www. ruralfinance.com.au/grants.

EVENTS

MultiMix Field Day

People can join in a field day at Hamilton Smart Farm from 10am to 1pm on December 1.

People will hear about how multispecies pasture has the potential to improve sheep production, reduce methane emissions and extend the resilience of pastures in the Southern regions of Australia.

The session will showcase the trial platform with presentations from research scientists explaining the aims of the MultiMix project.

The event will conclude with a free barbecue lunch.

Soil moisture workshop

Agriculture Victoria will host a free soil moisture monitoring half-day workshop at Irymple for irrigators on December 8 from 9am to 11am.

People can learn more about interpreting soil moisture data, gain a better understanding of soil water principles, interpreting graph responses and more. People can bring their login and data to discuss soil moisture for their properties.

Limited places are available. People can register by email to irrigation@ agriculture.vic.gov.au.

Water planning webinars

A series of informal presentations by land management extension officer Clem Sturmfels will explore water self-assessment, water planning, farm dams, pipeline layout and design, and installation and construction.

Participants will also have access to a range of other recordings, videos and associated resources.

People can register for the webinars, each Tuesday at 10am until December 16, at trybooking.

Applications open

Agriculture Victoria is seeking applications from service providers across the state – including agronomists, farm business planners and veterinarians – to deliver local group-based events next year.

The request for quotation program for group-based events is open until December 21.

Service providers who registered to deliver events under rounds one and two can reapply for round three. Priority areas for the round three group-based events program include technical decision-making and farm business management.

People can apply at the Agriculture Victoria website.

Quality cropping land Dimboola East...

Strong start to harvesting season

BY BRONWYN HASTINGS

Harvesting operations are moving southwards and crops are producing good yields in some areas after spring rains and a cool finish to the growing season.

Bartlett Brothers Harvesting’s Dale Bartlett said his team started the season on the Queensland border, at Goondiwindi and Moree, with six of their eight harvesters.

“Northern New South Wales was really good, it was above average,” he said.

“We did wheat, barley, canola, chickpeas and beans – canola and wheat were between two-and-a-half to three tonne to the hectare, while wheat varied between four tonne to six tonne. Barley was sort of constant over six tonne.

“It was a really good year, a lot of grain up there this year.”

Mr Bartlett said crops produced slightly above what NSW farmers expected this year.

“They got a good spring rain up there about six weeks before harvest, which just added a really soft finish, and it was nice and cool for them,” he said.

Travelling further into New South Wales, Mr Bartlett said the crops dropped off.

“As soon we got south and west of Dubbo the crops dropped off,” he said.

“We didn’t do any harvesting, but you could tell by just driving on the road that they’ve had a very poor year back through there, just with lack of rain and late rain,” he said.

“They didn’t get out of the ground early, like we got here in Victoria, and then just didn’t get any spring rain.”

Mr Bartlett, who was working near Hopetoun late last week, said the

Mallee should produce good yields of wheat, barley, lentils and canola this season.

“For the amount of rainfall they’ve had for the year, it’s exceptionally good,” he said.

“Crops are down on yield, but when you work out kilo for the hectare to rainfall that we’ve had, it’s really good conversion.”

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Since buying their first machine in 2003, Pimpinio-based Mr Bartlett and his brother Chris have grown their business to employ up to 14 seasonal workers – a mix of English, Irish and Australian workers, who bring different skill sets to the operation.

Mr Bartlett said depending on the weather, their harvest usually finished in the western districts sometime in

“Crops are down on yield, but when you work out kilo for the hectare to rainfall that we’ve had, it’s really good conversion”

– Dale Bartlett

January. His team had moved to Tarranyurk by the weekend.

“Everything’s running late this year, it’s been a cold finish in Victoria,” he said.

“Usually we’d come home and be into the cereals and everything, but with this really cold weather everyone’s been harvesting lentils.

“We have got a fair few lentils to get over, so it works out well.”

Mr Bartlett said farmers had made similar cropping and cutting decisions as previous years.

“There’s more or less your rotation –a percentage of your farm is legumes and cereals, and on a wetter season there’s a little bit more canola, but majority of the time it’s very similar each year,” he said.

“This year in the Mallee, people were cutting for hay, but none of my clients have really cut any extra hay or cut their crop for hay than what was planned.

“But everyone’s got their different programs on what they want to do.”

GOOD YIELDS: Bartlett Brothers Harvesting’s Dale Bartlett, based in Pimpinio, was harvesting at Tarranyurk earlier this week. Picture: PAUL CARRACHER

Unrealistic targets

The decision by Federal Liberal leader Sussan Ley to dump the parties policy to reach net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 does one major thing: it differentiates the Coalition from Federal Labor.

Speaking to Country Today last week, Ms Ley said it was all about helping Australian families with the cost-of-living crisis.

“This is absolutely putting Australians who deserve affordable energy front and centre … affordable energy is vital right now and so is responsible emissions reduc-

Country Today

with Libby Price

Here’s an extract from the media release put out by the then Prime Minister, Scott Morrison in October 2021:

“The Morrison government will act in a practical, responsible way to deliver net-zero emissions by 2050 while preserving Australian jobs and generating new opportunities for industries and regional

san Ley like leadership hungry wolves.

As I said to Sussan Ley on Country Today, it’s not a good look.

“Ultimately it’s not about us. It’s not about me. It’s about the Australian people and it’s about the job that we need to do for them and putting together a serious, compelling policy agenda,” Ms Ley said.

It would seem throwing some tasty policy scraps that her leadership aspirants had previously relished, may not be enough to satisfy their renewed appetites.

There’s also another problem facing the Coalition.

Haystack fires prompt warning

Hay season is underway and farmers are reminded to take precautions to prevent are right for making hay and for the future storage and transport of the product

THREAT: CFA responded to 73 haystack and hay shed fires in regional areas in 12 months.

College planning for the future

Longerenong College is preparing for a big year ahead in 2026 following a past 12 months that college leaders described as ‘active and engaging’.

Representatives from the agricultural education provider attended nearly 30 career expos and field days across Victoria, New South Wales and South Australia this year.

Marketing and business development co-ordinator Brad Barber said college staff had connected with hundreds of parents and prospective students, helping them explore pathways into agricultural careers and education.

He said Longerenong’s annual open day in August was a standout event, generating enthusiasm around the college’s course offerings, with many attendees expressing excitement at the opportunity to pursue qualifications they had previously considered out of reach.

Mr Barber said flexible study options had proved enticing for prospective students, with ‘a surge of enquiries’ when applications for 2026 opened.

“All our courses are one year in duration, and students can study two qualifications side-by-side each year,” he said.

“It’s a choose-your-own-adventure

Rising leader shares agriculture journey

At just 21 years old, Longerenong College student Alanna Hansford is establishing herself as a future leader in the Australian agriculture field.

Originally from Victoria’s southwest, Ms Hansford spent her formative years balancing life between her family’s dairy farm near Cobden and the nearby township.

She said the dual upbringing inspired her appreciation for rural life and an interest in pursuing a career in the agricultural sector.

Earlier this year, Ms Hansford and her partner Ryan moved to the Wimmera, purchasing their first home and embracing the opportunities and challenges of living and working in one of Australia’s key agricultural zones.

Currently undertaking an Advanced Diploma of Agribusiness Management at Longerenong College, Ms Hansford said she was focused on gaining practical, hands-on knowledge to enhance her agriculture work.

Her studies encompass crop and livestock management, soil health, sustainable farming practices and the integration of modern technologies.

“Studying at ‘Longy’ is equipping me with the tools to make informed decisions, adapt to changing conditions, and prepare for future op-

portunities in the sector,” she said.

Ms Hansford credited multiple mentors and role models for shaping her journey, including local farmers Jon and Brad, who supported her studies by allowing her to conduct practical work on their properties.

She also acknowledged the guidance of industry leaders and educators including Gaye Cameron, a former teacher and long-time supporter, who encouraged her to apply for a Global Footprints Scholarship, which she said stood out as one of her proudest achievements.

“It’s a dream come true. This award allows me to travel globally, learn from innovative practices, and contribute to the future of sustainable agriculture,” she said.

Looking ahead, Ms Hansford said she was eager to continue expanding her knowledge and network.

She plans to attend agricultural conferences across Australia and potentially abroad in the next 12 months, depending on the timing of her scholarship travel.

Ms Hansford said she was particularly interested in further study in animal nutrition and agronomy, driven by her strong passion for livestock.

She encouraged anyone considering undertaking agricultural educa-

style of study at Longerenong. Students can combine either a Certificate IV in Agriculture or an Advanced Diploma of Agribusiness Management with wool-classing or agronomy, depending on their interests.”

Mr Barber said students often elected to stay for a second year after undertaking an Advanced Diploma of Agribusiness Management.

“Students not only study together – they live and socialise together, forming lifelong friendships and industry connections that carry into their careers,” he said.

Mr Barber said the diversity of agricultural backgrounds among students added to their learning experience.

“We have students from broadacre cropping, sheep, beef, dairy, irrigation, rice – you name it. They often arrive with one focus, like dairy or cropping, and leave with a broader interest in areas like beef or agronomy,” he said.

While most of the college’s students come from across Victoria – including Gippsland, north-east Victoria, Melbourne, Corangamite and the Wimmera-Mallee – Mr Barber said the college also attracted strong interest from interstate.

“This influx of students from across the country is fantastic for the region,” he said.

“Many get involved in local events

and sporting clubs, contributing to the community while they study.”

Applications for next year are at between 70 and 80 per cent capacity, with Longerenong College officials expecting numbers to climb further following the completion of year-12 exams.

Mr Barber said no ATAR score was required to apply to the college, but students underwent a selection process to ensure course suitability. People interested in learning more about Longerenong College or wanting to book a personal tour can call Mr Barber on 622 222.

tion – especially young women – to pursue it.

“Just go for it. Agriculture has opened so many doors for me, and I love seeing more people get involved,” she said.

“Don’t let anyone discourage you. You’re more capable than you believe.”

Ms Hansford shared guiding principles that shaped her journey in agriculture.

“You’re part of something bigger,” she said.

“Feeding a nation – and often the world – is no small task. Every early morning, tough decision, and challenging season contributes to a legacy that matters.

“The land teaches patience. Growth takes time. Keep showing up.

“Embrace innovation, respect tradition.

“Ag tech is evolving rapidly, but

the wisdom of traditional practices remains invaluable.

“Invest in soil health. It’s the foundation of resilience and productivity.

“Plan for variability. The Australian climate demands adaptability and foresight.

“Mental health matters. Farming can be isolating – check in with yourself and others, and never hesitate to seek support.”

LOOKING AHEAD: Longerenong College student Alanna Hansford is establishing herself as a future leader in the Australian agriculture field.

‘Common sense’ management call

Member for Lowan Emma Kealy is urging the State Government to apply commonsense measures to control kangaroo numbers across Victoria.

Ms Kealy, the Victorian Nationals deputy leader and shadow Minister for Agriculture, said analysis showed a decline in the number of control measures being employed across the state despite a boom in kangaroo populations.

Ms Kealy said many farmers applying for an Authority to Control Wildlife permit were either knocked back or not given sufficient scope to control

kangaroos on their property. At the same time she said the number of tags issued to registered hunters through the government’s kangaroo-harvesting program had dropped.

“Mobs in plague proportions are stripping paddocks bare, destroying crops and pose a danger to road travel, but the government keeps cutting the number of harvest tags and control permits available,” she said.

“Farmers are being told to apply for permits that allow for just a handful of kangaroos, while licensed harvesters are standing ready and willing to do the job properly – under strict regu-

“Let the trained, licensed harvesters manage the problem responsibly, rather than burdening farmers with endless paperwork for permits that don’t match the scale of the issue”

– Emma Kealy

lation, with no waste, and with the potential to create a valuable source of income and protein.”

Ms Kealy said government data showed Victoria’s kangaroo-harvesting quota at 166,750 in 2023 before

ESTABLISHED: Early intervention to prevent deer populations from becoming unmanageable will be the focus of a forum in Halls Gap next month.

Feral deer forum in Halls Gap

Feral deer and their impact on biodiversity, agriculture and road safety will be the topic of a community forum next month.

Hosted by the Victorian Deer Control Community Network, in collaboration with Project Platypus and local Landcare groups, the event will focus on early intervention to prevent deer populations from becoming unmanageable.

Victorian Deer Control Community Network executive officer Peter Jacobs said now was the time to act for early intervention and manage-

ment. “Deer are well established in eastern Victoria, but populations in the west remain smaller and more controllable,” he said.

“Acting now for early intervention is essential, particularly after the bushfires.”

Project Platypus’s Lachlan McIntyre said deer damaged private and public land.

“Deer threaten both biodiversity and primary production in the Grampians-Gariwerd area,” he said.

“They damage crops, consume pasture, destroy fencing, and hinder

bushfire recovery and revegetation efforts.”

At Halls Gap, on Saturday, December 6, the forum will feature expert presentations, practical advice, and opportunities for landholders to ask questions and share experiences and solutions.

Bookings are essential – people can visit the events section of the Project Platypus website www.project platypus.org or call Peter Jacobs on 0487 295 198 to register attendance.

admission of Rachel Meulendyks as a solicitor of the Supreme Court. To arrange an appointment with Rachel, please contact our office today.

dropping to 115,575 in 2024. She said the government had lowered the quota again this year to 106,750 despite kangaroo populations rising.

“It makes no sense for the government to hand out rebates for farmers to shoot and bury kangaroos while cutting back tags for professional harvesters who could be processing them for human consumption,” she said.

“Let the trained, licensed harvesters manage the problem responsibly, rather than burdening farmers with endless paperwork for permits that don’t match the scale of the issue.”

Ms Kealy called the government’s

current approach ‘wasteful and inconsistent’ leaving farmers without viable options.

“Our farmers feed the nation. They deserve a system that helps, not hinders, and that means issuing more tags to licensed harvesters where kangaroo numbers are out of control,” she said.

“The government must urgently review its kangaroo management programs and bring some common sense back into the system before more damage is done to farms and regional food production.”

Brooks elected to GrainGrowers’ board

Dimboola’s Ash Brooks has been elected to the GrainGrowers’ board, one of two directors representing the southern region.

Ms Brooks has served as a director since 2023 and was re-elected after retiring in accordance with the constitution, while Fiona Marshall was elected to the other position on the board.

Ms Brooks is part of a familyoperated broadacre cropping business, growing cereals, canola and pulses.

With an agronomic background, she is actively involved in crop management and brings wide experience to the board, having worked within the grain industry for more than 20 years, including national marketing and strategy positions.

Ms Marshall farms with her family at Mulwala in the Southern Riverina of New South Wales.

GrainGrowers chair Rhys Turton congratulated the pair on their election to the board.

Mr Turton said the elected members bring a wide range of knowledge and experience, and he looked forward to their ongoing contributions as members of the GrainGrowers board.

“As a grower-focused membership organisation, it is extremely satisfying that we have grower members who not only have the skills and experience, but also the dedication to

Ash Brooks

serve on the board and continue our stewardship of our great organisation,” he said.

“As a board, I am confident that we have the right blend of experience and expertise to address the wide range of issues that can help deliver a better future for our growers.

“We again have a strong and experienced board, and this, combined with our management staff and the input from our National Policy Group and our members and supporters, allows us to deliver meaningful results across key policy areas.”

Picture: Steve Morvell

Lauren Emblem

LL.B., B.A., GDLP M.App Law (Family Law)

Rachel Meulendyks

LL.B., GDLP

Patrick Smith

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

Livestock holds consistent prices

Strength in livestock markets has continued throughout the spring rush to date, with some outstanding results being achieved privately, through the saleyards, as well as online.

Lamb has maintained the rage regularly trading north of $11 CWT and mutton has consistently been holding in the mid-$7s, providing very handy returns for cast for age ewes off shears and even the odd ram entering retirement.

I was not aware that AWN was also in the business of selling horses, however there has even been the odd pen of those slip through and making exceptional money as well.

Quality has been excellent with a soft spring keeping feed relatively fresh, slowing down the onset of seed and delaying the requirement to shear in traditional grazing areas.

Perhaps the odd pen of lambs that have been weaned for a period of time are presenting a little drier in the skin, however this has done little to dampen the enthusiasm of buyers with weight still present underneath and any dips being cleaned up by store buyers leaning into a clear line of sight on forward contracts.

Wool markets, after a huge uptick and an equally as dramatic slide, has the swinging pendulum showing signs of going back the other way with solid lifts in the past week.

Try not to get hypnotised by this pendulum

when attempting to read the market however, with weekly bales on offer sitting about 32,00033,000, when it would usually be 10,000 bales per week more at this time of the year.

This reduced supply alone would suggest that a level of firmness should be able to be maintained for the medium term.

A very successful AWN 1st X Ewe and Lamb Sale at Edenhope saw top 1.5-year-old ewes achieving the magical $500 with an average of $406, with top ewe lambs making $350 and averaging $285.

It is an absolute credit to our repeat vendors that A, continue to stick with their breeding programs through thick and thin no matter what is thrown at them, and B, repeatedly produce top quality breeding stock and prioritise the sale of that stock through their local network and selling centre.

It is not an easy thing to do on a consistent basis – congratulations to all involved on a very successful result.

Game duck study takes off

Victoria’s largest duck-tracking study is underway, with Deakin University fitting more than 400 game ducks with solar-powered satellite trackers to monitor their movements, survival and behaviour.

Game Management Authority research principal Jason Flesch said the main goal of the three-year study was to identify what the drivers of game duck movements were.

“In Victoria, we have fluctuating environmental conditions including water availability, and this dictates not only how many ducks we’re going to have, but also their movements within the landscape,” he told Country Today.

Ducks are trapped in wetland areas, attracted by grain, before they are transported to a nearby area to be fitted with a tracker.

Mr Flesch said data was gathered by attaching lightweight solarpowered satellite tracking devices to the ducks – 100 of each game duck species Pacific black duck, Australian wood duck, grey teal and chestnut teal.

“They’re basically little mobile phones attached using a small harness, which goes over the back of the ducks and under their wings,” he said.

The project will provide finer-scale patterns about the ducks’ diurnal patterns of activity – resting, feeding, flying and in some cases, breeding activity.

“More importantly, what it also shows us is mortality, so most of the duck species display boom-bust type reproduction patterns,” he said.

“In times of relative high rainfall and good water availability, you’ll see large breeding and then conversely, when conditions dry, we’ll see population crashes.

“This will tell us not only where they move when conditions are good but also where they move and how far they’ll move when conditions decline, but also what, in some cases, the reasons are for their death.”

Mr Flesch said the benefits of the project extend beyond duck movements.

“The research provides us not only an understanding of movements of ducks across Australia but also the relationship between our habitat availability and these behaviours,” he said.

“This can help manage and improve water birds and their habitats, and

“It doesn’t interfere with their flight, and this positions the solar panel above the duck, so these things recharge over time and each day, whenever the duck’s in mobile service, it will download to the server.”

will also feed into adaptive harvest management.”

The study will also provide information for waterfowl conservation more broadly, and disease management.

Updates are posted on website research-stories.shorthandstories. com/tracking-victorian-game-ducks.

Feeling the heat?

Updates include reasons for ducks’ mortality, from raptors, foxes, hunters and unknown; distances travelled by area and kilometres, and ducks’ activity at different times of the day. The project has been approved by the Deakin University Animal Ethics Committee.

New hemp legislation

A consultation process is underway for a new sustainable hemp industry, proposing new legislation to make it easier for farmers to grow it in an expanding market.

Hemp is a fast-growing crop, and fibres and seeds can be used for a wide range of products, including building materials, packaging, biofuels, textiles, seed oils and other food products.

Industrial hemp is currently regulated under the Drugs, Poisons and Controlled Substances Act 1981, which exempts licensed growers from cannabis-related offence when cultivating and processing hemp for non-therapeutic use.

The proposed new stand-alone legislation will mean industrial hemp will no longer be directly associated with drugs and poisons laws. The proposed legislation for industrial hemp does not relate to medicinal cannabis, which is regulated separately to hemp by existing Victorian and Australian government legislation.

The State Government invested $400,000 from the Victorian Budget 2025-26 for the reforms, which would help lay the groundwork for a new industry that creates jobs, supports farmers, and drives regional economic growth.

Agriculture Minister Ros Spence said the State Government was looking at ways to grow Victoria’s industrial hemp industry, unlock new farming potential and create new jobs in regional Victoria.

The consultation is open until December 3, at engage.vic.gov.au/hemp.

TRACKING: The grey teal is one of four species of ducks in a 400duck three-year study by Game Management Authority and Deakin University.

New GAC trio

New entrant GAC will introduce a three-model line-up in Australia at the end of this month, having confirmed pricing of its launch trio of two SUVs and one MPV at a brand-launch bash last week.

Guangzhou Automotive Group, GAC, had already announced its initial line-up for Australia, consisting of the price-leading, petrol Emzoom small SUV, fully electric Aion V, and up-spec plug-in hybrid, PHEV, M8 minivan.

The Emzoom, priced in a single grade at $25,590 plus on-road costs, serves as the brand’s opening act, positioned as a conventional combustion-only SUV with a 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine producing 125kW/270Nm.

Squeaking in with the Euro Vemission rated powerplant just ahead of a December 1 type approval deadline that will see cleaner Euro 6d engines mandated locally, the Emzoom is unavailable with hybrid powertrains.

The $26,000 price sees the Emzoom positioned between cheaper Chinese rivals such as the MG ZS, from $25,990 driveaway, and Chery Tiggo

4, from $23,990 driveaway, but well below the likes of familiar nameplates such as the Toyota Corolla Cross from $37,440 plus on-road costs.

The Emzoom is a relatively generously proportioned small SUV with a standard sunroof, power tailgate, 14.6-inch touchscreen, heated/cooled driver’s seat and wireless charging.

Sitting above the petrol Emzoom is the sole GAC launch model from its premium BEV sub-brand – the Aion V.

Built around the marque’s 75.2kWh fire-retardant ‘Magazine Battery 2.0’ lithium iron phosphate battery, the Aion V is front-wheel drive and makes 150kW/210Nm with a 510km range claim.

Priced in a two-grade line-up –$42,590-$44,590 plus on-road costs – the Aion V will compete squarely with the Kia EV5, Skoda Elroq and MGS5 EV.

The Aion V has relatively brisk DC fast-charging capability for a 400-volt BEV, with GAC quoting a 16-minute 30-80 per cent replenishment, while an 11kW onboard AC charger will allow a full recharge at home overnight – with orders placed before December 31 seeing a 22kW wallbox thrown in.

Equipment for the Aion V includes 19-inch wheels, a panoramic sunroof, heated/cooled vinyl seating, reclining second row seats, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a heat pump and wireless charging.

The up-spec luxury grade adds niceties like genuine leather trim, massaging front seats, tray tables for back seat passengers, and a 6.6-litre fridge up front that can run for 24 hours at 4ºC while consuming a claimed 0.5kWh, or less than one per cent of

the battery. A third launch model, the M8 MPV, will for now be GAC’s flagship in Australia, entering the slowly flourishing premium people-mover segment at a significant discount to current luxury van benchmarks like the Lexus LM or Zeekr 009.

The M8 uses a PHEV system pairing a Euro 6-compliant 2.0-litre turbo four with an electric motor for combined outputs of 140kW/330Nm, directed through a two-speed hybrid transmission to the front wheels.

OPTIONS: Country buyers, in particular, will appreciate the Aion V offers the option of a spacesaver spare, replacing the standard-fit tyre repair kit.

Energy is stored in a 56-litre fuel tank and 25.5kWh LFP battery, enabling the M8 to claim 106km EV range and 1032km combined range, with ‘dead battery’ efficiency of 6.1L/100km.

DC charging is possible for the M8, with a zero to 80 per cent session requiring 30 minutes, though AC charging is capped at 6.6kW.

The M8 will be sold in premium and luxury guises.

GLOBAL DEBUT: The Navara will be supported

Nissan

debuted its all-new Navara in Adelaide last week, almost 40 years to the day since the original went on sale in Australia.

Half-a-million units and four generations later, the latest Navara brings a new design Nissan says balances its rugged heritage with modern sophistication – the model adopting locally tuned suspension and familiar Mitsubishi Triton underpinnings to offer comfort and confidence both on and off-road.

Due to appear in showrooms during the first quarter of 2026, the D27 series Navara promises greater power and torque, improved efficiency, a higher level of standard safety equipment, and a host of new in-cabin technologies Nissan Oceania managing director Andrew Humberstone says will offer utility buyers exactly what they want.

“The new Navara represents what Australian drivers need from their pickup truck in this region,” he said.

“This isn’t just evolution – it’s built on four decades of Nissan experience, with deep Australian insights and a unique suspension calibration, tuned by Premcar specifically for our arduous conditions.”

Offered in a ‘simplified’ double-cab body style and with an automatic transmission as standard, the 2026 Nissan Navara benefits from a Premcar tuned suspension setup that centres on meeting unladen and laden ride confidence, and ‘steadfast handling’ when towing.

The model’s braked towing capacity remains unchanged from the predecessor at 3500kg, while payload varies from 950-1047kg depending on variant.

“The local suspension development program represents one of the most comprehensive engineering projects undertaken by Nissan here in Australia,” Mr Humberstone said.

“Premcar invested countless man hours, driving the new Navara over 18,000 kilometres, testing across every conceivable surface and driving condition – from the outback’s corrugated roads to urban stop-start traffic with heavy loads.”

The Navara runs the same 4N16-series twinturbocharged four-cylinder diesel as the Mitsubishi Triton.

Displacing 2.4 litres, the unit delivers a familiar 150kW at 3500rpm and 470Nm at 1500rpm to return a claimed combined cycle fuel consumption figure of 7.7 litres per 100km.

Paired exclusively with an Aisin-sourced sixspeed automatic transmission, the configuration is married to an ‘Easy 4WD’ system that automatically switches between two and four-wheel drive as required and is paired as standard with an electronically activated locking rear differential.

Higher grade ST-X and PRO-4X grades receive a new ‘Super 4WD’ system that offers full-time high-range four-wheel drive with an open centre

differential and Torsen limited slip rear differential Nissan says is tuned to deliver ‘optimised torque distribution’ irrespective of terrain.

Seven pre-programmed selectable terrain modes are offered.

A newly adopted electric power steering system is in place of the former hydraulic unit that Nissan says benefits both the driving experience and fuel economy.

The system is said to reduce the parasitic losses that affect fuel economy while at the same time ‘providing precise control across all driving conditions’.

On the styling front, Nissan says the all-new Navara ‘reimagines’ the brand’s DNA into ‘new, more advanced territory’.

Drawing inspiration from the nameplate’s heritage, the Navara integrates signature elements that connect it with its past, while at the same time embracing more contemporary brand styling cues, such as the V-strut grille.

Members of Nissan’s global design team travelled to Australia to study ute culture and were inspired by the modified utility and four-wheel drive scene, which led to a ‘bull bar inspired’ take on the V-strut shield, establishing what Nissan says is a ‘commanding’ frontal presence.

The three-slot design atop the grille pays tribute to the D21-series Navara, while the signature C-shaped headlights are said to ‘interlock seamlessly with the grille’, a recurring theme in modern Nissan utility models and SUVs.

“When working on the new Navara, we aimed to honour nearly 40 years of heritage while creating something fresh for today’s Australian buyers,” Nissan Motor Corporation senior design director Ken Lee said.

“This wasn’t about nostalgia – it was about understanding what makes a Navara instantly recognisable and then evolving that for modern life in Australia and New Zealand.

“We needed to deliver a pick-up that looks confident on a construction site but sophisticated enough for weekend family adventures.

“The design had to be both capable and aspirational, rugged yet refined.”

On the all-important safety front, the 2026 Nissan Navara range offers as standard eight airbags, emergency lane assist, all-LED lighting with auto high beam, traffic sign recognition, blind spot detection, autonomous emergency braking, front and rear cross-traffic alert, driver monitoring functionality, adaptive cruise control, and more.

As is the case elsewhere in Nissan Australia’s portfolio, the new Navara will be backed by a 10-year/300,000km warranty when the vehicle is serviced through the Nissan dealer network.

years,

Take a Break

On This Day

From The Weekly Advertiser archives: November 24, 2005 –Horsham’s Art Is... festival received the state award for arts and culture in the National Australia Bank Volunteer Awards at a ceremony at Horsham Rural City Council reception room. Pictured at the ceremony are, clockwise from left, Art Is... volunteer co-ordinator Rudy Panozzo, Volunteers Australia representative and Wimmera Volunteers manager Debbie Coyle, Art Is... director Carolynne Hamdorf, NAB regional agribusiness manager Andrew Mooney, Art Is... volunteer Gill Venn and Horsham Regional Art Gallery director Merle Hathaway. Ms Venn received a gift for being involved with the Art Is... festival since its inception 10 years before. The festival received a cheque for $7000 as part of the award.

10 years ago: November 25, 2015

Nearly 17,000 homes and businesses across the Wimmera were without power as firefighters extinguished a fire at Horsham power station the previous week. The fire, at the intersection of Stawell Road and Henty Highway, closed the Western and Henty highways. A Powercor spokesperson said a transformer within the sub-station had caught fire, and 16,957 customers were without power for about three hours.

Five years ago: November 25, 2020 Ararat district YMCA kindergartens presented Ararat Rural City Council with a banner in acknowledgement of the work of council offices in creating virtual tours of the kindergartens and early learning centres during COVID-19 restrictions. The banner was to be put on display at the Maternal and Child Health Centre.

One year ago: November 27, 2024

Work was set to begin on Rainbow’s Llew Schilling silo tourism development, taking the site beyond the traditional mural of the area’s art trail and installing viewing platforms and internal artwork.

1. Born on this day in 1922, was which American cartoonist, who created a character with the catchcry ‘good grief’?

2. True or false – Akubra hats are made from kangaroo pelts?

3. Aureolin is a shade of what colour?

4. Which is the only continent with land in all four hemispheres?

5. How many minutes are in a full week?

6. Who did Human Nature record their hit ‘Every Time You Cry’ with?

7. The subject of a song written by Peter Hellier and comedic trio Tripod, was which former Young Talent Time star, originally from Dimboola?

8. What is the traditional birthstone for November?

9. What does SPF in sunscreen stand for?

10. Who said, ‘The pen is mightier than the sword’?

11. In the game of chess, in which direction does the pawn travel to capture an opponent’s piece?

12. What type of dance is performed with metal-soled shoes?

13. Tin has which chemical symbol?

14. Which year marked the grand opening of the Country Music Hall of Fame – 1951, 1961 or 1971?

15. Which part of the human skeleton houses the sacrum, ilium and pubis?

16. Which naval captain did Maria Augusta Kutschera marry on this day in 1927, at the age of 22?

Brought to you by AFTERNOONS WITH HUGHIE Weekdays, noon until 3pm on

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FOR THE WEEK NOVEMBER 30 TO DECEMBER 6

ARIES (March 21 - April 20)

Lucky Colour: Pink

Lucky Day: Monday

Racing Numbers: 1-2-7-4

Lotto Numbers: 1-10-11-17-22-42

Be careful in what you say and how you say it – you don’t want to put your foot in it. There seems to be a chance of extra travel, and sorting out problems should be easy.

TAURUS (April 21 - May 20)

Lucky Colour: Green

Lucky Day: Friday Racing Numbers: 1-2-2-4

Lotto Numbers: 19-22-39-43-44-45

Someone might try to mislead you, so double-check all information you receive. Take care with your health, and make decisions quickly, or you could miss out on something.

GEMINI (May 21 - June 21)

Lucky Colour: White

Lucky Day: Wednesday Racing Numbers: 1-5-6-3

Lotto Numbers: 1-5-6-30-32-44

A personal disappointment may change your mind about someone or something. Try not to let it get to you – it will work out better in the long run. Some luck in games of chance.

CANCER (June 22 - July 22)

Lucky Colour: Grey

Lucky Day: Friday Racing Numbers: 4-2-2-5

Lotto Numbers: 4-22-23-26-30-39

Money matters should become easier to handle, and a stroke of luck could help you achieve your ambitions. Your love life may also become more interesting.

LEO (July 23 - August 22)

Lucky Colour: Pink

Lucky Day: Wednesday Racing Numbers: 1-8-2-11

Lotto Numbers: 9-18-35-36-40-43

You should be able to achieve most of your goals during this period, and something unexpected could delight you. It’s a good time to ask for favours from those in authority.

VIRGO (August 23 - September 23)

Lucky Colour: Blue

Lucky Day: Thursday Racing Numbers: 6-1-8-2

Lotto Numbers: 6-18-26-35-36-38

Answers: 1. Charles M. Schultz. He created ‘Peanuts’ in 1950 and continued drawing until his death in 2000. 2. False – they are made from rabbit fur. 3. Yellow. 4. Africa. 5. 10,080. 6. John Farnham. 7. Beven Addinsall. 8. Topaz. 9. Sun Protection Factor. 10. Edward Bulwer-Lytton. 11. Diagonally. 12. Tap dance. 13.

Sn. 14. 1961. 15. Pelvis. 16. Georg von Trapp. Getting in

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

You may feel more active and energetic than usual. Someone you thought you knew could give you a big surprise, and your personal relationships should flourish.

LIBRA (September 24 - October 23)

Lucky Colour: Olive

Lucky Day: Sunday Racing Numbers: 1-5-1-7

Lotto Numbers: 1-5-17-34-38-44

Tie up loose ends now – you might not have time later. Travel could bring surprises, and someone special may finally bring you news you’ve been waiting for.

SCORPIO (October 24 - November 22)

Lucky Colour: Green

Lucky Day: Tuesday Racing Numbers: 2-4-5-6

Lotto Numbers: 2-11-14-22-28-41

Solutions are on the way. Don’t forget those who’ve supported you. Your earning potential should improve, and your ambitions could soon be within reach.

SAGITTARIUS (November 23 - December 20)

Lucky Colour: Purple

Lucky Day: Friday Racing Numbers: 1-6-1-7

Lotto Numbers: 7-16-18-27-36-45

It’s time to curb your spending and focus on future plans. Seek professional advice in property and financial matters – it will pay off.

CAPRICORN (December 21 - January 19)

Lucky Colour: Yellow

Lucky Day: Tuesday Racing Numbers: 1-8-2-7

Lotto Numbers: 1-8-18-27-36-40

Surprise romantic interludes could be on the cards. Your charm is working in your favour, but don’t let anyone pressure you into something you’re not comfortable with.

AQUARIUS (January 20 - February 19)

Lucky Colour: Green

Lucky Day: Saturday Racing Numbers: 4-1-6-2

Lotto Numbers: 4-16-20-28-32-41

You might feel conflicted about someone or something familiar. Try not to act impulsively – this time, it’s up to others to decide how things move forward.

PISCES (February 20 - March 20)

Lucky Colour: Silver

Lucky Day: Tuesday Racing Numbers: 1-3-4-1

Lotto Numbers: 4-11-20-29-38-43

Some upheavals could disrupt this otherwise positive period. Don’t let others dictate what you want. Be cautious with promises and make backup plans just in case.

Sudoku

Fill in the blank cells using numbers from 1 to 9. Each

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.

2

Quick Crossword

Crossword

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.

*

“If

Ace

OPEN HOURS

Classifieds

ATKINS (nee Pohlner), Margaret Jean ‘Biddy’

Passed away peacefully on November 22, 2025 aged 81 years.

Dearly loved wife of Barry ‘Spaz’ (dec).

Loving mother and motherin-law of Paul & Teena; Steven & Tracey.

Adored Nan to all of her grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Forever In Our Hearts

CLARK, Elma

30-6-1934 to 18-11-2025

With love we say goodbye to our Mum and Nan, Elma Clark.

Your journey is complete and you can rest now.

Cherished always – Coll, Lucas, Riley and Tyler. At peace at last

Mum, I can’t find the words to express our loss.

You will be remembered and treasured always. Deb and families.

To our beautiful Mum and Nanna, Elma Clark.

We take comfort knowing you are now at peace.

Forever loved and remembered by your daughter Wendy and son-in-law Dave. Grandchildren, Jordan, Nicholas, Dana and Alex. Their partners, Brad, Emma and Kyle.

Great grandchildren Hugo, Felix and Matilda.

Mum, your love and smile will remain with us always.

Remembering you.

Reunited with Dad.

Your daughter Sue, son-in-law Bruce.

Grandchildren Casey, Josie, Steph and Paul. With their partners Jay, Chris, Koen and Elise.

Grandchildren, Zara, Clayton, Deacon, Adalynn, Octavia, Xavier, Pearson, Everly and Indiana.

Remembered with love always, your son Wesley.

In God’s care you rest above, In our hearts you rest with love.

Your loving younger sister, Shirley; nieces Karen and Julie and families.

CLARK (nee Ellis), Elma Marianne

Passed away on November 18, 2025 aged 91 years.

Dearly loved wife of Frank (dec).

Loving mother and motherin-law of Sue & Bruce; Wes; Debbie; Wendy & Dave; and Coll.

Adored Nan to all of her grandchildren and great grandchildren. Reunited with Frank

DODDS (nee Standen), Kathleen Mary

May 1, 1942 to November 20, 2025

Passed away peacefully at St John of God Hospital, Ballarat, surrounded by family.

Daughter of George (dec) and Jean (dec) Standen, sister of Roberta.

Loved wife of Ken.

Loved and loving mother of Peter and Aimee, Chris and Amanda, and Ritchie and Tarrah.

Adored Nana Kath to Sophie and Charlotte, Leo and George, and Lucy, Jack and Tori.

A good friend of many. Now at peace

DODDS (nee Standen), Kathleen Mary

May 1, 1942 to ovember 20, 2025

Mum / Nana Kath – thank you for everything you have done for us.

Your love, kindness and sense of humour will be sorely missed.

We will treasure all of the wonderful memories we made together. Forever in our hearts Ritchie, Tarrah, Lucy, Jack and Tori.

DODDS (nee Standen), Kathleen Mary

May 1, 1942 to November 20, 2025

Adored and loving wife of Ken.

Loving & beautiful mother of Ritchie & Tarrah, Chris & Mandy, Peter & Aimee.

Adored Nanna Kath of Lucy, Jack & Tori, Leo & George, Sophie & Charlotte.

Lived the dream, created an amazing legacy.

Loved forever Ken

D ODDS (nee Standen), Kathleen Mary

1-5-1942 to 20-11-2025

Dearly loved and loving sister and aunt of Roberta, Alan and Catherine. FOREVER IN OUR HEARTS

ELDRIDGE,

Thomas Henry

25-9-1958 – 24-11-2025

Tom passed away peacefully at Natimuk Nursing Home with all of his family by his side.

He was our brother-in-law and cherished friend and we loved him dearly.

Deborah, Rodney, Zach and Rosie

ELDRIDGE,

Thomas Henry ‘Tom’

Passed away on November 24, 2025 aged 67 years.

Dearly loved husband of Leonie.

Loving father and father-inlaw of Claire & Zane; James & Emily.

Adored Pa to Quinnie and Frankie; Mila and Maya. Treasured Memories

KROKER, Gregory Herbert ‘Greg’

Passed away on November 14, 2025 aged 68 years.

Dearly loved husband of Sharon.

Loving father and fatherin-law of Heath & Melissa; Drew & Quyen; Elisabeth & Andy; Holly & Glenn; Jane & Ty.

Adored Pa Pa to Sophie, Zachary, Alba, Isha, Wyatt and Lucas. Now at peace

McCUISH, Angus Campbell

1940-2025

Passed away peacefuly at SJOG Hospital Ballarat on Wednesday, November 19

Dearly loved husband of Norma for 61 years.

Loved by his son Campbell. Loved brother of Kevin (dec), Charlie and Isabel (Purtle).

Loved by his many nieces and nephews.

Thank you for the years we shared, the love you gave, the way you cared.

Resting in Heaven, free from all pain

NATT (nee Mackenzie), Nita Allison of Jeparit, on November 17, 2025

Loved wife of Ray (dec).

Loved mother of Greg, Gail (dec), & special friend of Graeme.

In keeping with Nita’s wishes, a private cremation has been held.

W.B. Gardiner & Son

Funeral Directors Warracknabeal 0407 340 064

PIETSCH, Paul John

27-10-1938 to 23-11-2025, aged 87 years

Dearly loved husband of Lyn. Loving father and fatherin-law of Craig (dec) & Rosemarie; Anthony (dec); Darren & Andrea; Janine (dec); Nick & Letitia. Adored Pa to Tyler, Bryce, Lucy and Charli. Step Grandfather to Tyler and Steph.

Forever In Our Hearts

WARRICK, Yvonne

The President, Committee and Members of the Horsham Croquet Club Inc regret the passing of their esteemed member Yvonne on the 21-11-25 Our sincere sympathy to Yvonne’s family

ATKINS, Margaret Jean ‘Biddy’

The funeral of Margaret Jean ‘Biddy’ Atkins will take place at St Andrew’s Uniting Church, Horsham on Monday, December 1, 2025 commencing at 2pm and will be followed by private interment.

The service may also be viewed online horsham.unitingchurch. org.au/watch

Trevor Bysouth & Daughter

CLARK, Elma Marianne

The funeral of Elma Marianne Clark will leave St Andrew’s Uniting Church, Horsham on Thursday, November 27, 2025 after a service commencing at 1.30pm for the Horsham Lawn Cemetery.

The service may also be viewed online at horsham. unitingchurch.org.au/watch

Trevor Bysouth & Daughter Ph 5381 1444 AFDA Member

DODDS (nee Standen), Kathleen Mary May 1, 1942 to November 20, 2025

Kathleen’s funeral service will be held at Nhill Uniting Church, 11am, Friday, November 28

In lieu of flowers, donations to Fiona Elsey Cancer Research Institute would be a meaningful tribute to honour Kathleen.

Emiley & Mathew Bone Nhill, Dimboola & Kaniva District Funerals 0419 008 464

ELDRIDGE, Thomas Henry ‘Tom’

A memorial service to celebrate the life of Tom Eldridge will take place at the Horsham Church of Christ on Wednesday, December 3, 2025 commencing at 10am

Trevor Bysouth & Daughter Ph 5381 1444 AFDA Member

KROKER, Gregory Herbert ‘Greg’

The funeral of Greg Kroker will leave the Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, Horsham on Friday, November 28, 2025 after a service commencing at 1.30pm for the Horsham Lawn Cemetery.

Trevor Bysouth & Daughter Ph 5381 1444 AFDA Member

PIETSCH, Paul John

The funeral of Paul John Pietsch will leave the Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, Horsham on Wednesday, December 3, 2025 after a service commencing at 2pm for the Horsham Lawn Cemetery.

Trevor Bysouth & Daughter Ph 5381 1444 AFDA Member

Celebration of life for Timothy Fechner

Loved son of Annette, brother, father, uncle and friend.

Tuesday, December 2 at 2pm, Horsham Golf Club

Join us in celebrating a life that was taken far too soon.

REYNOLDS, Simon Ashley

30-1-1974 to 30-11-2016

Simon did everything his own special way. They are the memories that stay with us forever.

Dearly loved son, brother, brother-in-law, uncle and great uncle to his extended family. Sadly missed

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

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

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

Purebreed Dalmation

Puppies , 12 weeks old, 3 males, 3 females, all vaccinated and microchipped, source# MB29299295301000 microchip# B2929927970309 ,MB2929927970314,MB29299 27732796,MB2929927970322, MB2929927970310, MB2929927970330, MB2929927970359 $1800each Ph Rob 0439878845

Roosters, ducks and guinea fowl wanted to buy Ph 0480137184

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

The Weekly Advertiser welcomes your advertising.

We are required strictly by law to include specific information on some items when publishing your adv your obligations are as follows:

ANIMALS -

*All “for sale” or “to give away” advertisements, for either cats or dogs must include one of the following:

• Individual microchip numbers

• Vet certificate to exclude individual animals from needing microchips

• Domestic animal-business number PLUS a source number from the Pet Exchange Register

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

Colorado Summit 210E 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

Queen bed camper trailer, make an offer Ph 0407179433

Roadstar semi off road 20’, 2000 model, registered, photos available $14,000 Ph 0428847475

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

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

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

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

Jayco Journey Outback , independant suspension, single beds, all Jayco features plus diesel heater, shedded &spotless $46,500 Ph 0429842224

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

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

Garden shredder, coffee machine, linen, household items, plants, wool, clothing and more 38 Leahy Street, Nhill

Saturday, November 29 9am to 1pm

Deb Dress For Sale, Size: 10-12, worn once, excellent condition, dry cleaned, $400 Ph: 0429802767

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

Inter Truck C1600, 72 Butter

Flat deck tandem trailer , 4.2m x 2.3m, $4500 onoPh 0407285097

Folding bike with training stand $350, Snow sled 1050x500 $45 Ph 0418992631

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

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

2 Malvern Road, Dimboola (estate of Bob Gooding)

Sunday, November 30

From 9am - Sale of Engines, Tools including vice and post, anvil and block, heavy duty bench drills, bench grinders, metal lathe, electric hacksaw, air compressors, electric arc welder, assorted grease guns, socket sets,

as new winch, electric pumps, ladders, garden tools and axes.

From 11am - Sale of kitchen appliances, misc household items, picture frames, books, toys, DVD player, various DVDs, PlayStation 2 & 4 consoles and games, Nintendo Wii and games.

Box model, Jonker hoist, 14’, new head and radiator, front new tyres $5000 Ph 0429857207

Slasher 3PL J.Berands EP135, 4’6’’ cut wheel kit as new $2300, Small Bale Pickup loader Irish $120, Hay Stack Elevator $120, PH 0427 871 404

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

Electric recliner armchair in excellent condition, $950 ono Ph 0428150951

Lost, Prescription Sunglasses in Horsham Woolworths or Aldi car park on 24/8, if found please Ph 0429861917

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

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

2 saddles, 2 bridles, 2 horse bits, 1 drench bit, 1 riding cap Ph 0447590865

20ft shipping container, $3500 ono Ph 0407285097

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

Stacer Aluminium fishing boat, 25 horsepower Yamaha outboard motor, trailer & boat registered, VGC $6000 Ph 0498549832

LIVESTOCK*Selling, giving away or bartering of all livestock must include a Property Identification Code (PIC number) in the advertisement. *The

2021 Regent Cruiser, 18’, Tare 1800kg, shower & toilet, single beds, all modern comforts, as new tyres & battery, only travelled a few thousand km’s, priced to sell $31,000 ono Ph 03 53870522

Black series total off road, all extras $50,000 Ph 0428788212

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

Bikes one ladys one mans, good order, $170 each ono Ph 0429820692

Brick pavers , H shaped, beige colour, 1600 $800 Ph 0459027575 Stawell

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

Tent Dune Eyre, 10x10, near new, easy set up for Easter Ph 0491644368 Horsham

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

Quickie electric wheelchair, hardly used, EC $16,000 neg Ph 0429881523

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

Wheelchair like new, valued at $1800, $500ono Ph 0409844546

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

your advertising. We are required strictly by law to include specific information on some items when publishing your advertisement. A snapshot of your

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

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, will fit extra cab and single cab, LH side pull out dropt down kitchen, 110lt fridge, 120Ah lithium bat and power hub, rh side all storage $15,000 Ph 0427840201

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, dual fuel, ex cond, 280,000kms, WIY315 $4500 Ph 0468 559 166

Peugeot 407 HDI, beautifully cared for car, $8000 Ph 0484355030

Commodore VS Series 2

Ute, auto, very good order, 139,000kms, OFF349 $10,500 Ph 0427894200

Holden Trax 2016 auto , excellent condition, RWC, 1GY7EC, 70,720kms $11,000 + Gst Ph 0439975206

2004 Mitsubishi Magna , all wheel drive, not going, vin# 6MMTL9F424T024238, 320,000km $800 Ph 0419303839

2014 Isuzu D-Max, 5 speed, auto, 3.0lt turbo diesel, 4x2, Tommy Gate loader 460kgs, RWC, reg til 19/1/26, 285,658kms, 1DQ6HB $23,990 Ph 0466375088

The Kitchen

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It’s true. I finally succumbed to making sourdough bread. At first I didn’t understand what all the fuss was about. How do you even make a starter? The condition of my plants suggested that I shouldn’t try keeping a starter alive. But unexpectedly, one day, my sister sent me a starter with instructions, and away I went. It wasn’t as hard as I had first thought, and here we are today baking bread!

The kitchen can be the heart of a house. It’s the place where people gather to eat and strengthen relationships. It’s where life happens. But how much thought do we give to life?

There are so many facets of life that can impact our wellbeing. What we eat, think and do all impact on who we are, our health and how we see the world. 1 Corinthians 10:31 encourages us that in whatever we eat or drink, or do, to do it all in the glory of God. We desperately need the Holy Spirit to guide our appetites, not just for the food we eat, but the food we put in our minds.

We are encouraged to think on things that are true, noble, just, pure, lovely and of good rapport, and if there is anything praiseworthy - to meditate on these things (Philippians 4:8). Put these into practice and the God of peace will be with you. It might start off slowly, but with practice and the right food, you can certainly have this peace and grow in character, just like the sourdough starter.

Suzanne McDonald - Seventh-Day Adventist Church

New Life in Faith

One of my favourite characters in the Bible is Jacob, because he lived with hope in the midst of difficulties. To me, he seemed like a quiet and gentle person. He did not enjoy hunting. He preferred to stay at home with his mother. When Isaac became old and

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in Bethel and had a dream. In the dream he met God. God said to him, “I will give you the land on which you are lying. I will keep you safe wherever you go, and I will bring you back to this land.” After this experience, Jacob became a strong-minded person. Even though he faced many hardships throughout his life, he never lost heart. Jacob worked very hard for his uncle Laban in a foreign land, but his uncle deceived him many times. Still, Jacob never lost heart. He remembered the promise of God at Bethel. He trusted God even though he experienced many difficulties. So I named myself Jacob in Australia because I wanted to have his invincible mind. I trust in Jesus, who is faithful to us. He will never leave us, and He will never abandon us. When we hold this kind of faith, we will not fall into despair, and we will be able to overcome the world. Jacob Yang, Uniting Church minister in Horsham District

Trades & Services

Christian Devotion

motor

WARRACKNABEAL SECONDARY COLLEGE

is seeking to fill a position as EDUCATION SUPPORT

Full Time – Fixed Term 27th January 2026 – 22nd December 2028

The primary role will be working with students with additional needs.

Applications close Wednesday 10th December 2025

For further information contact Casey Phelan –Principal on 5398 1433

To apply visit – https://www.vic.gov.au/school-jobs

Concrete Agitator Operator

We are seeking applications for a concrete agitator operator to join our team in a role that will see the successful applicant being trained in and undertaking duties that include concrete slumping / deliveries, occasional truck and trailer deliveries and assisting others in the production team as required. The positon will offer a variety of vibrant and satisfying work with relevant training provided and create an opportunity to develop skills in a team environment.

All applicants should possess the following attributes:

• Possess a current Victorian Heavy Combination Drivers Licence and proven driving record.

• Possess and demonstrate a general understanding of heavy vehicle operation (incl. truck and trailer) with some knowledge of concrete an advantage (but not essential)

• Be willing to undertake any internal & external training for tasks in-line with company policies and as directed by the site manager.

Basic duties include:

• Follow a prescribed schedule for deliveries in a safe, punctual and efficient manner.

• Follow the site manager’s requirements for specific tasks, offering initiative and input when completing them.

• Follow company policies and procedures including any required training and submission of documents.

• Follow company housekeeping standards at all times for both personal and vehicle presentation.

The application process:

• Resume’s can be submitted in person (Selkirk Drive Horsham), by email to james.langlands@conholdings.com. au, or posted to P.O Box 641 Horsham Vic. 3402.

Successful applicants will be asked to :

• Demonstrate literacy / numeracy skills and copy of licence will be requested at interview

• Undertake a pre-employment medical (including drug screen)

• Undertake a six month trial period for the final successful applicant.

Position Available:

Office Manager

Experience with MYOB, BAS and PAYG is essential. Offering approximately 20 hours per week with the possibility of full time. Award rates apply.

General duties include but not limited to:

• Managing debtors and creditors invoice entry and accounts.

• Receiving customer account payments and entering into AM-WIN (POS system) and MYOB. Training provided in AM-WIN POS (Point of Sales) system.

• Banking and general of ce duties ( ling, maintaining stationery supplies and supporting sales staff etc).

• Helping with end of month processing, including sending out customer statements.

• Maintaining online sales (checking daily and sending out orders).

For a Position Description contact the office on 03 5382 5244 or email info@horshambearings.com.au Send resume to john@horshambearings.com.au or drop off to 60A Darlot Street. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. Join our team and make a real difference in a vibrant workplace!

BREAK: Horsham Hornet Levi Munyard makes a fast break against Ararat.

WICKET: Bullant spearhead Tony Caccaviello celebrates getting an early wicket on Saturday.

Pictures: PAUL CARRACHER

FULL HOUSE: Horsham lawn tennis, croquet and cricket action aplenty.

RETURN: Kalkee’s Meaghan Pohlner eyes the ball.

RIVALS: Ararat’s Clancy Bird and Horsham’s Cody Bryan.

SUPPORT: Horsham Hornets supporters were in full voice at the weekend.

FOUR: Donald-Jeffcott batter Cooper Anderson hits a four.

celebrates Saturday.

PASS: Horsham Hornets veteran Jess Cannane passes around Millicent player Ashlee Dean.

spOrT

Unique round of pennant

BY COLIN MacGILLIVRAY

St Michaels came close to pulling off an upset against reigning premier Horsham Lawn in a unique round of the Central Wimmera Tennis Association’s pennant competition at the weekend.

Round eight saw a change to the standard format of play, with all eight players from each side playing off in best-of-two-set singles rubbers, with sets to six games and a tiebreak to 10 points if scores were locked after the second set.

The format allowed the Saints’ strong men’s line-up to shine, with Steve Schultz beating Horsham Lawn’s number-one man Lachlan Punchard 6-5 6-2, Eli Bailey triumphing against Lawn’s August Koch 6-1 6-5 in the men’s numbertwo slot and Peter Hayes winning 6-5 6-4 against D’Artagnan Walls at number three.

It was Graeme Wood who got Horsham Lawn on the board in the number-four men’s rubber, beating Nick Robertson 6-5, before Robertson retired injured, resulting in a 6-0 second set.

The script was reversed in the women’s section however, with Kassie Peachey’s 6-4 4-6 (10-4) result in the number-three slot the only win for the Saints.

It was the Horsham Lawn women

dominating for the most part, with Ella Thompson beating Mia Rees 6-1 6-1 in a battle of number ones, Lydi Boyd downing Violet McGennisken 6-3 6-1 at number two and Luisa Boddi overcoming Ayva Robertson 6-1 6-2 at number four.

The result saw scores tied at four rubbers apiece entering the truncated doubles section, in which teams split into one-and-two and three-and-four pairs across both men’s and women’s sections.

It was Lawn that pulled decisively ahead in the final section with Walker and Boddi beating Peachey and Robertson 8-3, while Thompson and Boyd bested Rees and McGennisken 8-2 to sweep the women’s doubles.

While Saints Schultz and Bailey teamed up to get the better of Lawn’s Punchard and Koch 8-4, Walls and Wood were too strong for Hayes and Robertson, winning 8-2 in the other rubber.

The final scores saw Lawn, with seven rubbers, 12 sets and 108 games defeat St Michaels 5-8-75.

The other match between top side Central Park and bottom-ofthe-ladder Kalkee was predictably more one-sided, with the Parkers dominating to win 10-15-120 to 2-5-60.

The Parkers’ women were dominant throughout the afternoon, winning each of their rubbers

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comfortably in both singles and doubles.

Central Park number one Willow Sainsbury nearly consigned opponent Meaghan Pohlner to a dreaded double bagel, winning 6-1 6-0, while her team-mate Adele Joseph repeated the scoreline in her singles rubber against Emily Polack.

The closest rubber of the afternoon was Tara McIntyre’s meeting with Keely Schultz, with McIntyre escaping with a 6-5 5-6 (10-6) win to preserve the Parkers’ perfect record in the women’s section.

The men’s half of the draw was more evenly matched, as Kee Jor-

dan Friberg beat Harry Allan 6-5 3-6 (10-6) at number one while his team-mate Grant Schultz triumphed 6-5 6-3 against Frazer Shurdington at number three.

But Central Park number two Matt Jones managed to overcome Kalkee’s Jeff Friberg 4-6 6-4 (105), with Reece Harmon whitewashing Ryan Fischer in the only 6-0 6-0 result of the afternoon. Kalkee will host St Michaels this weekend as it attempts to record its first win for 2025-26, while the Parkers will attempt to extend their lead over Horsham Lawn in a meeting at Lawn’s home courts.

Seniors

Pennant: Horsham Lawn 12-108 d St Michaels 8-75; Central Park 15-120 d Kalkee 5-60.

A Special: Horsham Lawn O’Connor 14-112 d Drug South 0-40; Homers 8-93 d Natimuk 6-82; Brimpaen 9-85 d Horsham Lawn Dorman 5-78.

A Grade: Horsham Lawn Tigers 9-89 d St Michaels 3-45; Central Park 10-90 d Homers 2-53; haven Red 8-75 d Horsham Lawn McGennisken 4-56; Haven Blue 8-88 d Horsham Lawn Ahern 4-72.

B Special: Central Park 16-96 d Natimuk 0-35; Horsham Lawn Savage 11-78 d Haven 5-47; Laharum 16-96 d Horsham Lawn Bardell 0-36. Juniors

Open: Central Park White 4-34 d Central Park Blue 2-20; Central Park Orange 5-33 d Central Park Yellow 1-17; Horsham Lawn Green 4-32 d Horsham Lawn Gold 2-17.

Section 1 Boys: Haven 5-34 d Central Park 1-18; Horsham Lawn White 3-26 d Horsham Lawn Green 3-25.

Section 1 Girls: Horsham Lawn Gold 4-30 d Horsham Lawn White 2-26; Horsham Lawn Green 6-36 d Haven 2-19.

Section 2 Boys: Central Park 5-34 d Horsham Lawn Gold 1-15; Horsham Lawn Green 6-36 d Natimuk 0-14.

Section 2 Girls: Homers 4-25 d Horsham Lawn White 2-22; Haven 4-29

IN FORM: Central Park’s Willow Sainsbury had a solid day, winning all of her matches comfortably. Picture: PAUL CARRACHER

Volleyballers bring home the gold

BY DAVID BERRY

A12-monthplan has paid off for a Volleyball Horsham year-nine girls’ division one team at the Volleyball Victoria Junior Open with a gold-medal victory for the ages.

After taking a silver medal last year in a three-set loss, the plan was hatched to return 12 months later and go one better, and that is what was achieved when the team accounted for Monbulk in straight sets.

To underline the team’s improvement, it only dropped one set in six games on the way towards a welldeserved gold medal.

Volleyball Horsham’s Kara Johnson said the team had accumulated some great results during the past two years in the lead up to the event.

“The girls had won silver and bronze at the junior country championships and a silver at this event last year, so their development has been outstanding,” she said.

“They had been training against us older girls in the four weeks leading up to the tournament and it certainly helped the girls no end, as they got used to the faster pace of the game.”

Johnson said the writing was on the wall after a first up win against Monbulk, as they fought back to win

100 UP WINNER:

Ron Hallam, pictured, won Horsham City Bowling Club’s 100 Up competition – a competition played in singles format with the closest bowls to the kitty scoring points from four to one respectively and the winner is the first to 100 points. In the final, Hallam defeated John Williams 10372 points. Hallam had won his way through to the finals by defeating Duncan Bottoms 106-99 in the semi-final, while Williams defeated Derek Ballinger 10381.

in a deciding set, after dropping the first set.

“The girls responded in the best possible way taking the second set 25-13, before digging deep as Monbulk upped their service pressure,” she said.

“From that point on the team started to gel and settle into their roles, with strong wins against McKinnnon and Northcote teams, to set up a rematch with their metro counterparts.”

Volleyball Horsham is building an enviable record at this event since its inception in 2019 – after Volleyball Australia moved the National Schools Cup to the Gold Coast – taking bronze medals in year-12 division one in

2019 and 2024, and silver medals in 2023 and last year.

Johnson said younger players were introduced into the team to give them a taste of what they could face going forward.

“The two year-eight girls, Eden Pumpa and Drew Armstrong, contributed significantly and it is hoped they will drive their peers towards participating next year,” she said.

A year-seven boys’ team, participating at this event for the first time, finished eighth in division one.

The team opened its account with a win over Eltham, but losses to powerhouse teams in McKinnon, Upwey and Mazenod consigned them to the

ALL SMILES: The winning Horsham team, back from left, coach David Berry, Molly Gawith, Bonnie Grieger, Hannah Gabbe, Victoria Brown, Amelia Van Buuren, Tiffany Petering and team manager Clare Petering, and front, Serena Johns, Drew Armstrong and Eden Pumpa.

classification rounds, where they defeated Kew and had a return loss to Upwey.

Coach Sophie Quick said the boys would have learnt plenty.

“We were still trying to get them to play the way we wanted them to, especially coming straight into division one, which didn’t help,” she said.

“To their credit they took on board what we were trying to teach them, which was reflected in their final two games, and will only stand them in good stead going forward.”

Both teams showed just how important getting quality game time is when going into a major event, with the girls taking a silver medal in the

under-17 girls division at the Horsham Tournament, beaten by a very slick Central Adelaide team, while the boys defeated Sunraysia to take gold in the under-15 division.

Quick said the association’s junior program was bearing fruit.

“Our juniors have done a great job this year both at these events, junior country champs and Horsham Tournament, which is positive going forward,” she said.

Quick said the association would conduct its first ever junior development camp in January, aimed at the under-17 age group, in order to prepare them for 2026.

“I’m looking forward to working with home-grown coach Matthew Berry and Volleyball Horsham coaches Laelah Robertson, Tyler Puls and Jasper Ponseca over the two days of the camp,” she said.

“Not only will the participants receive on court training, they will also receive four professional development sessions over the two days, including volleyball specific learning sessions, careers in sport, pathways in volleyball, and diet and nutrition.

“It will be a volleyball feast and set the participants up for a great 2026.”

Registration details are on the association’s socials and website.

New heat management bylaw adopted

The AFL Wimmera Mallee Region Council has unanimously adopted a new regional bylaw about extreme heat management, providing guidance for all local clubs and groups conducting activities during periods of high temperature.

The bylaw, effective December 1, aims to prioritise player and participant safety across the region’s community football leagues.

The new bylaw was developed in direct response to numerous requests for guidance from club leaders and staff regarding safe participation in AFL activities during extreme heat.

Over the past eight months, AFL Wimmera Mallee region manager Ange Ballinger initiated discussions with the AFL Vic Policy Panel Reference Group, culminating in collaboration with AFL Vic football operations manager Darryl Collings to create a practical and regionally-specific policy.

The bylaw designates AFL as a Sports Risk Classification Three activity, referencing the Sports Medicine Australia Extreme Heat Policy.

Ms Ballinger said crucially, it mandated that clubs use the Bureau of Meteorology’s hourly forecast to determine the risk level, focusing specifically on the peak temperature and the accompanying relative humidity at the time of play.

“The safety and well-being of our community players are paramount,” she said.

“This new bylaw provides clubs with an objective, data-driven tool to inform their decisions.

“By plotting the forecast temperature and humidity, clubs can quickly identify the level of heat stress risk and make informed choices to modify, bring forward, delay or cancel activities when necessary.

“We believe this is a best-practice approach for community football.”

AFL Wimmera Mallee recommends that clubs only participate in activities if the plotted weather point falls within the low risk, green, or moderate risk, yellow, zones.

Clubs are strongly advised not to participate if a high risk, orange, or extreme risk, red, is identified, as managing those risks requires resources like misting fans that are typically unavailable in a community club setting.

The new bylaw supplements and encourages the application of strategies recommended in Section 17.2 of the AFL National Community Football Policy Handbook.

AFL Wimmera Mallee will now work with AFL Vic club development lead Liam Brady and WDFNA operations manager Jennie French to ensure all clubs are fully informed about the implementation and application of the new safety bylaw.

Competition fierce

BY COLIN MacGILLIVRAY

Horsham

Cricket Association’s

A Grade competition remains fierce as teams prepare for their first two-day matches of the 202526 season.

An initial slate of one-day matches wrapped up at the weekend, with Noradjuha-Toolondo’s six-wicket victory against Donald-Jeffcott providing intrigue at the top end of the ladder.

The Bullants and DJ Boys – a moniker picked out by Donald-Jeffcott’s players this season – entered round six on equal footing with four wins and a loss apiece.

The visiting DJ team elected to bat on Horsham City Oval’s turf wicket but quickly lost opening batsman Jake Needs to in-form Bullant Tony Caccaviello, who had him out leg before wicket for two runs.

It brought DJ captain Eddie Landwehr to the crease, where he helped absorb overs from the dangerous trio of Caccaviello, Matt Combe and Heath Lang.

Landwehr’s 25 off 51 balls set the table for Koby Westerland’s 41 runs at number four, with Westerland coming to the crease at 2-38 after Cooper Anderson was bowled by Lang for 12.

When Westerland fell to Caccaviello in the 37th over, the innings was all but over, with Colby Anderson’s LBW dismissal by Combe in the following over seeing the DJ Boys all out for 131.

The relatively modest target afforded the Bullants patience in their run chase, and while DJ bowler Cooper Anderson struck twice at the top of the order to remove opener Troy Dumesny, 3, and Matt Combe, 11, the home side did not panic.

Jamie Byrne came to the crease at 2-24 but formed a match-winning partnership with Caccaviello, with Byrne batting methodically while Caccaviello scored at nearly a run a ball.

The pair finished unbeaten on 43 and 46 respectively as the Bullants brought up the winning runs with six wickets and more than six overs to spare.

The win saw them take outright control of second place on the ladder, trailing only reigning one-day premier West Wimmera, which made mincemeat of Brim-Kellalac-Sheep Hills in a surprisingly one-sided result at Nhill’s Davis Park.

The depth of the Warriors’ bowling attack was on display after the visiting Eagles won the toss and batted.

While Westerland’s knock was the centrepiece of the DJ innings, he kept losing partners as Landwehr, William Burke, Sam Postlethwaite, Thomas Reekie, Nicholas Atkins and Jett Adams all cycled around him at the other end of the pitch.

Each of the Warriors’ five bowlers – Josh Lees, Nathan Alexander, Tim Braendler, Brodie Cramer and Austin Merrett – finished with two wickets as ducks littered the BKSH scoresheet and only Lachlan McGinniss, 28, and Chris McPherson, 10, reached double figures.

Set a target of only 59, the Warriors reached it in 31 balls as Nathan Alexander blasted an unbeaten 40 from just 13 deliveries, including two sixes and five fours.

At the other end of the ladder, Horsham Tigers broke through for their first win of the season against St Mary’s – a team that was also winless entering round six.

The Saints batted first and set a defendable total of 9-157 from their 40 overs thanks to Sean Smith’s 46 runs at number four, while Tiger youngster Archie Knight, 4-20, did his best to keep the target within reach.

A nervous run chase saw the Tigers lose opener Callum Jackson on the first ball of the innings, but Tyler Puls produced a captain’s knock of 90 not out to drag his team across the line, hitting 12 runs in the 39th over to give his side a two-wicket win.

A confident Laharum was too much for Colts to handle at Cameron Oval, with the home-side Demons posting 7-178 on the back of opener Daniel Griffiths’ 82.

While the likes of Josh Colbert, 29,

FOCUS: Donald-Jeffcott captain Eddie Landwehr made 25 off 51 balls against Noradjuha-Toolondo on Saturday. Picture: PAUL CARRACHER

and Joey Nagorcka, 30 not out, got starts, the Colts’ run chase never gathered serious momentum.

The visitors saw their 40 overs expire at 8-141 – 38 runs short of victory – as Laharum’s Jason Kannar took 5-33.

Swifts-Great Western got back on track after two losses from its previous three matches, making an imposing 7-231 thanks to Zach Marrow’s 109 at a run a ball.

The visiting Lubeck-Murtoa faced a daunting run chase, and while skipper Cameron Newell, 37, and middleorder batsmen Will Gellatly, 48, and Blake Turner, 40 from 19 balls, tried

to give their side a chance, wickets tumbled at regular intervals and the Mudlarks found themselves 9-198 at the end of their 40 overs.

The Lions now face the in-form West Wimmera in a two-day game at Stawell’s Central Park, while the Mudlarks will look to rebound against Laharum.

Donald-Jeffcott will host St Mary’s in a battle of former Wimmera-Mallee Cricket Association sides, with the Horsham Tigers at home to Colts and Noradjuha-Toolondo taking on BrimKellalac-Sheep Hills at Brim. Matches will begin this Saturday and conclude on December 6.

Strengthening community sport

BY COLIN MacGILLIVRAY

Coaches from across the Wimmera gathered in Horsham last week to launch an initiative designed to unite, educate, and empower coaches across all sports.

Titled the Wimmera Coaches Collective, the initiative was delivered by the Wimmera Regional Sports Assembly, WRSA, in partnership with the FedUni WestVic Academy of Sport.

WRSA executive officer Tony Caccaviello said the event aimed to strengthen community sport, promote active living and create a network of coaches committed to leadership and continuous improvement.

Mr Caccaviello said the WRSA developed the concept in response to local feedback.

“Coaches told us they wanted more support, more connection, and more opportunities to develop,” he said.

“Last week showed what’s possible when we

“Last week showed what’s possible when we bring passionate people together. This network is here to grow great coaches across the Wimmera”

– Tony Caccaviello

bring passionate people together. This network is here to grow great coaches across the Wimmera.”

The evening featured three presenters: Badminton Victoria chief executive and former Box Hill Hawks head coach Clint Proctor; dual para-cycling world champion and Paralympic medallist Alana Forster; and VIS endurance cycling head coach and AusCycling gold-medal-winning head coach Tim Decker, a Wimmera local.

Mr Caccaviello said the Wimmera Coaches Collective would continue as an ongoing network, providing opportunities for coaches to learn, collaborate and strengthen community sport across the region.

TRIUMPHANT: Driver Michael Bellman waves the whip in triumph as three-year-old gelding Mercano takes out the Group One Vicbred Super Series final at Melton on Saturday night. Picture: Harness Racing Victoria

Another ‘big one’ for Bellman

After waiting a lifetime in racing for his first Group One success as a trainer or driver, Ararat horseman Michael Bellman finally realised his dream at Maryborough with Mercano’s victory in the Victoria Trotting Derby.

Roll forward to Entertainment Park Melton on Saturday night and the three-year-old gelding delivered his second ‘big one’ with a ‘Lazarus like’ performance to capture the prestigious Vicbred Super Series three-year-old trotters final.

Drawn the extreme outside of the second line at the start, Mercano was forced to race three wide for the first lap, working forward to find the spot outside the leader Enchauffour, James Herbertson, at the bell.

With 300 metres to go Enchauffour had edged away, and with Bellman urging his charge it looked like the effort had taken its toll and the son of Tactical Landling US had run his race. Then Mercano showed what only the good horses can do when it counts, he found enough up the home straight to score by 1.8m in a rate of 1:57.3 for the 2240m contest.

“Ah, a fabulous performance by Mercano,” cried caller Dan Meileki after they’d crossed the finish line.

“He had to work, then he had to dig deep and lift... and he did.”

Out on the track HRV’s Bronte Nieuwenburg spoke to Bellman as he bought Mercano back.

“Nothing seemed like it was falling into place for us tonight. It felt he was off the bridle at the 400. Turning for home he went into another gear. He’s just a freak. We’re just so super proud of him. To lift himself off the canvas... he just knows what he has to do.”

It was a joy to see Mercano’s owners, Gary and Tracey Hull, being rewarded for their love of the trotter and the significant investment they have made in breeding and racing horses over more than 20 years.

Mercano is from their smart trotting mare Sundon’s Pride, winner of 16 races $112,733 including the 2007 SA Trotters Oaks and placed in the Victorian Trotters Derby final and MHRC The Holmfield Classic.

– Tony Logan

Two days of croquet competition

Horsham Golf Croquet’s two days of competition last week saw players fill three divisions.

On Saturday, Rob Bahr, Shirley Price and David Wortley won division one, ahead of runnersup Marj Weidermann and Gary Devlin.

June Liddy and runner-up Rachel Cousins led division two, while Leanda Elliot and Marlene Schmidt won division three, with Dawn Scott

WE’VE GOT BLACK FRIDAY WRAPPED UP

WE’VE GOT BLACK FRIDAY WRAPPED UP

runner-up. On Thursday, Ian Rees and David Wortley enjoyed success in division one, with Marj Weidermann the runner-up. Greg Phillips and Rachel Cousins placed first and second respectively in division two, while Di Jackson won division three ahead of runner-up Bev Keogh.

WE’VE GOT BLACK FRIDAY WRAPPED UP

Young takes lead in Cyprus

BY COLIN MacGILLIVRAY

Ararat

lawn bowler Chris

Young is in red-hot form as he prepares to skipper Australia at the Atlantic Senior Fours tournament in Cyprus, starting this weekend.

Young is coming off player of the series honours as he represented Victoria at the Australian Senior Sides Championships in Tasmania this month.

His Victorian team nearly brought home a gold medal but was relegated to third place in dramatic circumstances on the final day.

“We just got pipped at the post on the last bowl to win the event. We ended up running third,” he said.

“We needed to get two shots on the last end to win the event overall and because we didn’t get that shot we were relegated to third position. It was fairly dramatic.

“New South Wales were the winners in the men’s side and Queensland were the runners-up.

“But to get announced as player of the series was good.”

The Chalambar Golf and Bowls Club member was announced as a member of the eight-person Australian team to travel to Cyprus for the Atlantic Senior Fours tournament earlier this year, skippering both the men’s fours and mixed fours teams.

Young said he would enter the competition in top form.

“I’ve been playing a lot of bowls, so when you’re playing a lot you tend to be in reasonable touch,” he said.

“Playing on lots of different surfaces allows you to be fairly flexible on any surface.

“I’m very much looking forward to going overseas as one of eight players who get to represent Australia. It’s a real feather in our caps to be able to do this.”

The Atlantic Senior Fours is an invitational tournament open to all World Bowls member nations, with teams comprising players aged 55 and up.

Young, 65, said he would aim to enjoy the experience, which comes 26 years after his only previous chance to represent Australia in 1999.

“It’ll be a bit of wait and see. The event is conducted at a hotel on the Mediterranean and they have a bowls complex as part of the hotel facilities,” he said.

“The hotel has about 600 rooms, so it’s a pretty big place. All the bowling facilities are outdoors and they’re not grass, so I’m assuming they’re an outdoor carpet surface.”

Young said he hoped a familiarity with his team-mates would help the Australian side bond quickly and challenge for the title.

“My leader Tony Schiavello has led for me in the Victorian side on a number of occasions. The second is Scott Chamberlain, who is from Broadbeach in Queensland, and I’ve known him for three or four years. Terry Warder is the third and he’s from New South Wales. We just played against them in Tasmania, so I know those guys pretty well,” he said.

“We’ll play a lot of bowls, particularly in the men’s fours. We’ve got about 13 15-end games over

the course of seven or eight days. We have a day’s practice when we get there before we commence on Sunday, so we have a day to acclimatise to the facilities as they are and hopefully we go well from there.”

Young said some matches from the Atlantic Senior Fours tournament would be livestreamed on the event YouTube page at www. youtube.com/@atlanticseniorfours2025/streams.

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Wrestling returns

American former WWE professional wrestler Brian Kendrick will headline a star-studded wrestling promotion in Horsham this weekend.

The MXW Pro Wrestling event, titled Horsham Hangover, will see Kendrick take on Ace Shack in the third encounter of an ongoing feud, with Kendrick having won the first match and Ace Shack taking the second.

Also featured will be wrestlers including Horsham local Marco Dal Lago against Ballarat’s Kayno, as well as Demolition Man and a new trainee making his wrestling debut.

Kendrick will host a free meet-and-greet at the conclusion of the wrestling, including signing autographs and posing for photos. Attendees will also be able to purchase merchandise.

The event, at Horsham Table Tennis Association’s building at 11 Harriet Street, will kick off at 2pm, with doors opening at 1.30pm.

There will be no alcohol at the family-friendly event, with tickets starting at $20.

People can book tickets online via events.humanitix.com/horshamhangover.

Age groups change

Mininera and District Football League has announced it will change its junior age groupings for the 2026 season.

League chairman Dale Bruns said the current under-12 and under-16.5 age groups would be changed to under-13 and under-17, bringing them into line with neighbouring competitions.

“This update to our junior age groups will help create a cleaner progression for young players as they develop their skills,” he said.

“It’s an important step in supporting participation, growth and the long-term sustainability of our clubs.”

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IN FORM: Ararat lawn bowler Chris Young will skipper Australia at the Atlantic Senior Fours tournament in Cyprus, starting this weekend. Picture: PAUL CARRACHER

Hornets make finals

BY COLIN MacGILLIVRAY

The Horsham Hornets men kept their Country Basketball League south-west conference title defence alive in dramatic fashion at the weekend, qualifying for the finals while knocking out rival Ararat.

The Hornets entered their finalround double-header requiring wins from both games to qualify for the finals, but faced a daunting task with match-ups against the second-placed Redbacks and ladder-leading Mount Gambier Lakers.

In a boost for Horsham, the visiting Redbacks were without league-leading scorer Zac Dunmore on Saturday, with the remainder of the Ararat squad struggling to pick up the slack left in the absence of Dunmore’s average of 43.6 points per game.

While Clancy Bird, 18 points including four three-pointers, and coach Josh Fiegert, 13 points, did their best to keep Ararat in touch, the Hornets won all four quarters en route to a percentage-boosting 95-59 win.

Leading the way for the Hornets was three-time defensive player of the year Cody Bryan with 21 points, while young guard Levi Munyard scored 20, captain Mitch Martin had 13, Micah Livingstone added 12 and

Tarkyn Benbow had 11 in an even scoring spread.

But the Hornets still required a win against the top-of-the-ladder Lakers –last season’s grand final opponent – on Sunday to ensure a finals berth.

Horsham got off to a slow start, with Mount Gambier jumping out to a 2419 lead thanks to guard Taj Brumby’s seven first-quarter points.

But the Hornets worked their way on top in the second quarter, with assistant coach Tim McCormick chipping in 10 first-half points and Livingstone providing a solid presence down low, while Ryan Pfitzner and Jeremy Williamson played valuable minutes off the bench.

The game flipped again in the third quarter as Brumby continued to light up the scoreboard with deadly longrange shooting, while Simon Berkfeld and Toby de Wit proved excellent foils.

Trailing by three points entering the final term the Hornets needed a spark and they found one through Judd Wright.

Wright scored 15 of his 21 points in an electrifying fourth quarter, draining three triples despite only having made one in the entire season up to that point and throwing down a fastbreak dunk to bring the large Horsham crowd to its feet.

His third three-pointer of the quarter gave Horsham the lead with two minutes remaining in the contest, and the home side never trailed from that point as it held on to win 113-111 in an entertaining shootout.

Livingstone top-scored with 28 points, while Martin had 16, McCormick added 14 and Bryan chipped in with 13.

The unlikely win was enough to earn Horsham a finals berth, but the Hornets’ place came at the expense of Ararat after the shorthanded Redbacks came up just short against the Terang Tornadoes on Sunday.

The Redbacks fought for their playoff lives in a see-sawing contest, trailing early before riding the hot hand of Fiegert, who was magnificent with 41 points.

But the lack of depth around Fiegert eventually told, with Adan Wisby, 10, the only other Ararat player to score in double figures, while Cory Jones, 31, Jake Bartlett, 15, and Jack Fowler, 13, powered Terang to a 77-73 win.

The unlucky Redbacks finished the season fifth, one place behind the Hornets, who slid into the last finals berth.

Horsham will now play Mount Gambier again, but this time on the road as they seek to keep their title defence alive. A start time for the game is yet to be finalised.

Women

The Horsham Hornets women’s side ended its season in the best possible fashion at the weekend, beating Millicent and Mount Gambier in a home double-header.

While the Hornets were out of finals contention entering the round, the results saw them avoid the wooden spoon, while their younger players showed plenty of promise in extended court time.

Horsham beat Millicent 62-41 on Saturday night, with Jorja Clode scoring 19 points to lead the way and Georgia Hiscock adding 10.

With a comfortable lead in the fourth quarter the Hornets were able to empty their bench, giving opportunities to developing players like Hannah Plazzer, Indy Webb, Tayla Hudson, Lucy Holland, Phoebe Downer and Ilze Van Zyl.

The Hornets looked set to cruise to a win against Mount Gambier on Sunday, leading by 19 points at half time before the Lakers stormed back to tie the scores at the final change.

But with Hiscock, 28 points, leading the way with support from Plazzer, 17, Shannon Cross, 9, and Jess Cannane, 6, the home side stabilised to win 85-76.

IN CONTROL: Ararat coach Josh Fiegert scored 13 points against Horsham Hornets on Saturday. Pictures: PAUL CARRACHER

DRIVE: Horsham Hornet Lucy Holland drives around Millicent’s Emily Denton.

ON THE RUN: Ararat’s Christ Kitapindu chases Hornet Mitch Martin.

by

respective regular seasons with double-header wins across the weekend. The

and cemented a spot in a CBL semi-final with a win over flag favourite Mt

and Mt Gambier to finish their season on a high, winning three of their last four games. Story, page 79.

Horsham Hornets’ Micah Livingstone gets fouled

Redback Clancy Bird at Horsham Basketball Stadium. Hornets men’s and women’s teams finished their

men’s team backed up a Saturday night win over Wimmera rival Ararat Redbacks

Gambier on Sunday. They will play the Lakers again on Saturday. The women’s team defeated Millicent

Picture: PAUL CARRACHER