Gippsland Times Tuesday 11 October 2022

Young at heart

Industry confidence ‘undermined’:

Phillip Hopkins

TIMBER processors at Heyfield and Yarrammay lose more wood supply, after the state government announced ahalving of the native timber sold by VicForests by 2024 under the Victorian Forestry Plan.

The immediate catalyst for the cut backs was the government’s release of the ‘Threatened Species &Communities Risk Assessment’,which outlines further new protection areas that willaffect for est areas set aside for timber harvesting

This is on top of the extra 100,000 hectares of protection areas put in place in 2019, much of which has since burnt.

The major event review of the Victorian regional forest agreements noted that the 95,000haofimmediate protection area for the GreaterGlider and Leadbeater’sPossum was half burnt in the 2019/20 bushfires, with more than 31,000ha severely burnt.

Withthe latest cutbacks, the area available for timber harvesting is now less thantwo per cent of Victoria’s public forests.

Currently, VicForests is supplying 253,000 cubic metres of D+ saw logs per annum until 2023/24.

According to theplan, thiswill reduce to 185,000m3 in 2024/25 and to 140,000m3from 2025/26 until 2029/30, when allharvesting will cease.

The amount of Vic ash timber that will be harvested during this period is 85,000m3, while the annual harvest of mixed species will go from 100,000m3 in 2024/25 to 55,000m3 from2025until 2030.

Australian Sustainable Hardwoods at Heyfield is amajor user of Vic ash timber, while Radial Timber sources timber from VicForests untilits own plantations are mature.

Many of these, however, will not be mature by 2030, leavingRadial short of timber.

Alongwiththe risk assessment cutbacks, the government delayed release of VicForests’ next timber release plan until after the state election on November 26.

It also announced anew tranche of its ‘sawmill opt-out scheme’ for processors

who may want compensation to leave the industry.

The government is offeringasmuch as $250,000 as aredundancy payment for plant and equipment, and $150,000 for the safe retirement and repurposing of mill sites.

The chief executive of the Victorian

Forest Products Association, Deb Kerr, said the state government’s actions were totally undermining any industry confidencethat it would be able to guarantee supply timber until 2030, as promised.

“On the face of it, it appearstobe forcing mills to leave the industry they love -all rightbeforethe November election,” she said.

“The government’sexitpackage has come at atimewhenmanymills have beenoperating with very little timber supplies for months, withsome mills mothballing operations due to lack of supply.”

Now the government has confirmed it is reducing saw-log supply by 24 per cent and further reducing the effective harvest area by expanding protection zones for threatened species.

“Victoria’s sustainable native forest industry operates on just 0.04 per cent of the forest each year and for most of 2022 has been held to ransom through the courts by litigiousgreen groups,” she said.

“Mills and their workers are stressed about their future and have little confidence in the government’s promise to guarantee supply until 2030.”

The risk-assessment report, produced by DELWP, found 61 species of floraand fauna that it considered to be affected, or potentially affected,byforestry operations.

Of these, 19 species were recommended for interimprotections relating to forestry operations.

These include three spiny crayfish, seven rainforest-affiliated species, and ninerestricted and limited-range plants Key hazard themes assessed across the 61 species were climate change, fire, forestry operations, habitat modification, invasivespecies and threats to population health and resilience.

PHOTO:

‘Time is now’ to create industry

Dan Pedersen

GIPPSLAND Trades and Labour Council was told on Wednesday, August 28 that Loy Yang Awould close earlier than previously thought.

There had been no discussions with the workforce, nor unions, before the public announcement, Gippsland Trades and Labour Council secretary, Steve Dodd, said.

“The writing has been on the wall though, AGL told the stock market (the ASX) that the company would review its assetsinlateSeptember,”hesaid.

Wellington Blue Light wants you

WELLINGTON Blue Light is looking for people to join its organising committee.

The committee meets about fivetimes ayear to organise upcoming discos, and aims to host about four discos annually.

The committee’s annual general meeting is on Thursday, November 3, at the Sale Police Station at 6.30pm.

All positions are open for nominations.

Committee members have missed hosting discos for the past two years, and look forward to organising them again,asthe feedback from children in Grades 3-6 who have attended past discos has been “fantastic”.

The WellingtonBlueLight Committee is anot-for-profit organisation, and the money from each disco goes straightinto funding the next one.

For more information, phone Leading Senior Constable Kim Kell on 5142 2200.

“And hey, it’s late September.”

GTLC represents 24 unions in the region.

Mr Dodd said at least the Latrobe Valley hadn’t been “ambushed” this time, as it was when Hazelwood Power Station was shut down in April 2017.

He said AGL now had asocial responsibility not justtoits workersand the unions, other companies invested in power generation, but also the greater Gippsland community.

He said both Loy Yang Aand Bwere being fuelled with coal, but it might not be feasible for Alinta to continue operating the mine alone.

There were many discussions to be had at many levels, but aleadtimeofmorethan adecadehelped.

“We have time to speak with the Andrews government, to speakwith the Albanesegovernment,” he said.

“It’s all very well to speak of transitioning, but transitioning into what? What we have to look at now is industry creation.”

Construction, Forestry, Maritime, Mining And Energy Union Latrobe Valley organiser, Toby Thornton, said his union’s role would be to ensure all existing agreements remained in place and safety was maintained at Loy Yang A.

“Really by the time 2035 comes around most contractors will have moved on, at least they’re announcing it (the closure) now.”

For constructiongenerally,the Hazelwood closure wasmoreofa classic example of how things happen, he said.

“Really, now, it’s about how they’re planning to power the state,” he said.

He said there had been no discussion with the union at thispointand it had no news of the company’s plans until Thursday morning’s announcement to the ASX.

Have you seenthis garden supply truck?

Police Beat

A2018Hino500,8-10 tonne tipper with ‘Sale Garden Supplies’ written over the cab, was allegedly stolen from the Sale area on October 42022.

The truck is described as atipper truck with awhite body;the topofcab is white, bottom half white/grey/green as shown in the photo.

Registration is: 1LV7MK.

If you have seen this truck or have any information in relation to the alleged theft, phone Wellington Investigation Unit on 5142 2200 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Erratic driver

POLICE are seeking assistance from witnesses after reports of ablack Holden ute driving erratically and dangerously on Raglan St around 8.15am on October 3, causing motorists to take evasive action.

If you have any information or dash cam footage, call Sale Police on 5142 2200 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Community Safety Day

DON’T forget that this weekend is Community

Police areseekingassistance to help locate this truck, which wasallegedly stolen from Sale Garden Supplies. Photo: Contributed

Safety Day.

The family-friendly event will see local crews from the SES, CFA and Victoria Police displaying their vehicles along the Cunningham St, Sale pedestrian mall.

Afree sausage sizzle and jumping castle will also be there for entertainment.

The event runs from 10am until midday this Saturday (October 15).

Honouring motorcycling legacy

TomParry

MAFFRA-SALE Motorcycle Club is preparing to celebrate its 75th anniversary with a weekend of activities next month.

The weekend is beingplanned and promoted by Darren Kennedy, son of life members and club legends Ian and Jan Kennedy.

“I’vegot an older brother who rode sidecars with dad; and then my sister and then me, being the youngest, grew up here -helped build the clubrooms, paint, all the sorts of things you did as kids when you were dragged along with your parents,” Mr Kennedy said.

Having spent muchofhis youth around the organisation, Mr Kennedy has himself been instilled with apassion for motorbikes.

He is now tasked with arranging the club’s social events -aresponsibility whichoncefell to his father, who would organise wine nights and barbecues in years gone by.

For Mr Kennedy, the event will be bittersweet, as it also marks the fifth anniversary of his parents’ deaths.

During the 70th anniversary celebrations of the clubin2017, Ianand Janwereriding outtoan event at the Newry Motocross Track when they were involved in an incident at anearby crossroad

Mr Kennedy’s parents will be honoured as part of the 75th anniversary.

The weekend will begin with ameet at the Morison St clubrooms, Maffra at 8amonSaturday,

November5,followed by aride to the Maffra Cemetery for abrief service.

Theservice will be followed by abush-ride and a bitumen-bound ride-and-drive with the Gippsland Vehicle Collection -ofwhich IanKennedy was a founding member -proceeded by abarbecuelunch.

On the Saturday evening, areunion dinner will be held for past and present members of the club, the venue for which is yet to be decided.

Anniversary celebrations conclude on Sunday morning with abreakfast, again held in the Morison St clubrooms.

Maffra-SaleMotorcycle Club wasofficially founded on October 24, 1947 after much discussion between Maffra’stwo motorcycle dealers -Jack Templeton and Ron Emmens.

It has held numerous events in the years since, such as motorsport weekends and the renowned

Among its more famous members is international motocross champion Shane Watts, who was honoured with life membership in 1997.

Coincidentally,Watts celebrates his 50th birthday the Monday following the anniversary weekend.

Mr Kennedy puts the longevityofthe club down to multiplefactors, including the universalappeal of motorsport,the Harold Parsons Memorial Ride, the surrounding bushland, and the “verygood touring roads” in the area.

“And havinganactual clubroomhas helped heaps -not too many clubs,unlessthey’re aone percenter (outlaw) club, have their own clubrooms,” Mr Kennedy said.

“Most people have apub or ahall or something like that, and they share it with someone else.

“I don’tknowoftoo many other clubs,ifany,that have their own actual clubrooms…”

He also insists that the club has never shared the stigma of other “bikie clubs”.

“We’re not patched-up people like that,” he laughs.

“We’re not all tattooed and bald and things like that.”

For more information about the 75th anniversary celebrations, phone Darren Kennedy on 0493 222 323.

Maffra-Sale Motorcycle Club can also be found online via their official Facebook page: www. facebook.com/maffrasalemc/

Defibrillatorsdistributed thanks to Maffra Community Bank

THE CommunityBankMaffra&DistrictBoard is buying six automated external defibrillators (AEDs) and outdoor cabinets.

Fiveofthe AEDs will be placed at Tinamba, Newry, Boisdale, Briagolong and Valencia Creek, locations where there are currently no 24-hour, accessible AEDs.

The sixth AED is being donated to Foodworks supermarket on Powerscourt St, Maffra.

The boardhas worked closely with officers from the Maffra Ambulancebranch, who will delivertraining about the AEDs for those in the community.

Additionally, the board has pledged to provide replacement pads and batteries in the future.

The initiative is part of Shocktober,Ambulance Victoria’smonth-long campaign to highlight the importance of learning cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and how to use an AED.

GoodSAM is an applicationdeveloped by Ambulance Victoria thatcan connect cardiacarrest patients with trusted responders, who in turn can provide lifesaving support while an ambulance is on the way.

More than 6000 Victorians suffer acardiac arrest awayfrom ahospital annually, equating to 16 people aday

For every minute that goes by without CPR and defibrillation, the chanceofsurvival reduces by 10 per cent.

Atrivia night at Boisdale Public Hall on Saturday October 29 from 7pm will raise funds to buy future equipment for the AEDs.

The theme will be ‘Come As Your Super Hero’. Cost is $20 per person, with alimit of 10 people to atable.

See the Community Bank’s Facebook page for bookings and more details

Harold Parsons Memorial Ride, honouring a motorcyclist who set an endurance record in the region in 1920.

Maffra-SaleMotorcycle Clubmember DarrenKennedystands next to awall honouring his late parents,Ian and Jan Kennedy. Photo: TomParry

Members of the Boisdale andValencia Creek Halls receivingtheir AEDs. Photos: Contributed

Briagolong GeneralStore’s John Knowles(centre) receiveshis AED from MaffraCommuity Bank’s Sarah Dearne and Helen Montague.

Regions short of workers: RAI

afford to park these things and money keeps going out. I’m trying to find locals.”

Terrorism, security: Chester at the UN

MEMBER for Gippsland DarrenChester says high leveldiscussions about national security, peace and terrorism have featured during his first weeks at the United Nations General Assembly in NewYork.

Mr Chester said Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and safely repatriating women and children from camps in Syria had been major topics of discussion during briefings he had attended.

“There’s been alot of focusonthe security challenges facing the world, in particular the war in Ukraine, and the repatriation of Islamic State-linkedfamilies from Syria,” Mr Chester said “I attended aUnited Nations security seminar where Iraqiofficials spoke about the nationals they are already successfullyrepatriating, andother countries emphasised the need to get people out of these unsafe camps.

“There are up to 50 Australian women and childrenwho have beenheld in camps for more than three years.

“In all fairness, Ibelieve the individuals need to be assessed on acase-by-case basis with input from

the best possible security advice and acomplete understanding of their situation.

“The bottom line is, these are Australian citizens and we need to rely on the advice of our national security experts, and trust theirassessmentofthe future securityrisk they may pose, along with the currentsituation in Syria.”

Mr Chester is currently representingthe federal government as aparliamentary advisor for the United Nations.

He said he was continuing his work as Member for Gippsland duringthe weeks he is based in New York.

“There’s been alot of teleconferences and emails between my offices in Traralgon and Sale as we keep up with local issues and the time differences, but I’m very fortunate to have experienced local staff who are continuing to helpGippslanders with Federal Government issues.”

Mr Chesterisexpected to return to Australia in December.

ALMOST onethirdofadvertised job vacancies are in regional Australia, according to last week’s National Skills Commission (NSC) data.

Regional Australia Institute (RAI) chief executive Liz Ritchie said August data showed 309,000 job advertisements nationally, of which 91,000 are in the regions.

“When accounting for unadvertised jobs, which are often low-skilled, temporary positions, we know this number could be doubled or even tripled,” Ms Ritchie said.

The NSC’s ‘skills priority list’ identifies national shortages across286 occupations,anincrease from 153 in 2021.

The most pronounced national shortages are in the areas of healthcare, trades, machinery operators and personal services, such as aged care and childcare workers.

Two thirds of the regional vacancies are for managerial, professional, and qualifiedtrades positions.

The shortages in these skills are hitting the regions hard and, if left unaddressed, threaten to widen the gap between city and country and see the regions miss out on valuable opportunities.

Sale businessman Gagandeep Singh runs a trucking business, and hasbeen working on the redevelopment of the Gippsland Line Upgrade.

Mr Singh has two employees who join him in driving atruck to “move dirt around”.Hewants to keep Australia moving, but like most employers around the country, he’s experiencing askills shortage.

“It’s getting hard, there’s ashortage of drivers. Ineed to find someone who has atruck licence,” he said.

“I needacasual driver to openmore work options. Ineed drivers to work at night and during the day. I’m trying to run abusiness in Melbourne as well, so I’ll need two more drivers.

“I’m offering good pay, so it’s not like I’m ripping people off. Ihave trucks on hold that Ican’t make any money from. It’s running me down. Ican’t

The impact of the lack of skilledworkersrequired is being felt in the regions.

About 3.7 million regional Australians live in aregional childcare ‘desert’. When it comes to access to adoctor, thereare about 328 full-time equivalentGPs for every 100,000 people in the regions, compared with an averageof465 full-time equivalent GPs in the capital cities.

Ms Ritchiesaid ashortage of builders, plumbers, electricians, machinery operators andlabourers was constraining badly needed developments such as new housing projects and slowing productivity growth.

Addressing regional Australia’s unprecedented jobs and skills gap is akey aim of the RAI’s Regionalisation Ambition 2032 -AFramework to Rebalance the Nation,launched last month.

Theframework includes agoaltoreduce recruitment difficulty to less than 40 per cent, from 70 per cent today, and to increase the share of skilled workers employedinregional Australia to 80 per cent, an increase from 73 per cent in 2022.

“The key to addressing the region’s labour difficulties is to increase the overall number of people making aliving in the regions,” Ms Ritchie said.

TheRAI wants to see adoubling of the proportion of new migrants settling in regional Australia by 2032, and anational populationplantochart a pathway to liftthe regions’ overall population to 11 million, an increase from 9.5 million today.

The RAI’s most recent More Jobs; More Opportunities campaign is promoting the career opportunities outside city bounds to urban Australians who might be considering aregional move.

“Now more than ever, Australians movingto the regions can not only benefit from an improved lifestyle with more time and more value, but also enjoy arewarding regionally-based career,” Ms Ritchie said.

Stefan Bradley

Regional Australia Institute chief executive Liz Ritchie.

Photo: Contributed

Member forGippsland Darren Chester with formerfederalgovernment minister and Australia’s Ambassador to the United Nations,Mitch Fifield.

Photo: Contributed

at centre

approach

NEXT month, Victorians will electthe 60th Parliament of Victoria.

This is abusy and exciting time for candidates, political parties and others as they begin campaigning.

Those campaigning mustfollowthe rulesset out in the law, particularly when it comes to authorisingtheir electoralcampaign material, signage, avoiding any false and misleading content in relation to casting avote, and -for the first time thisstate election-making and receiving political donations.

“I am acutely aware that Victoriansrightly expect my office to take its role seriously -innot just conducting state elections, but also ensuring all election participants play by the rules. It is important all thoseparticipants knowwhatthe rulesare,” electoral commissioner Warwick Gately said.

“Accordingly, today (Friday, October72022) Iam publishing the Victorian Electoral Commission’s regulatoryapproach -toprovidetransparency and predictability in our compliance responses.

“We have taken feedback fromthe public on board,and thishas matured and improvedour responses to non-compliance withthe law.This marks an important reset of the VEC’s approach that is consistent with the practice of modern regulators.

“Most Victoriansrequire minimal support to comply with their obligations under the Electoral Act. Our priorityistoeducate and support electoral participants to meet their obligations. Where education and support fail to address non-compliance, or we believe an offence has been committed, the VEC will investigate or take action that is in

balance with the level of harm. We will also refer matterstoother state and federal integrity and enforcement bodies where needed.

“Allthese steps must be proportionate, and consistent with the law and natural justice.

“In anticipation of an expected increasein complaints this state election, Ihavebolstered the size of the VEC’s compliance team.

“Matters requiring furtherinquiryorinvestigationcan take time, and complexmatters canextend to many months. We won’t make public comment on investigations that may compromise fairness or prejudice any further action.”

Given that the 2022 State election is the first election under Victoria’s new funding and disclosure laws, these new laws will be an important priority area for the new regulatory approach.

Key focus areas will be non-monetary disclosures,

Changes to pandemic management

disclosuresonfundraising events, and donations that are not disclosed within 21 days and those that exceed the general cap of $4320. It is critical for electoral participants to be alert to theseobligations.

“I trust the publication of the VEC’s regulatory approach assists all electoral participants to understand our approach to compliance,investigation, and enforcement, and Icommittoits regularreview,” Mr Gateley said.

“The publicationofthe VEC’s regulatory approach reflects my duty to transparently and properly administer the Electoral Act 2002,and safeguard Victoria’s democracy.”

Further information is availableonthe VECwebsite at vec.vic.gov.au/about-us/our-regulatory-approach

THE state government has announced that from 11.59pm tomorrow (Wednesday, October 12), the pandemic declaration will end.

Victorians will no longer be required to isolate after testing positive to COVID-19, with isolation for positive cases now “strongly recommended”.

Requirementsfor close contacts, likecontinually testing negative on arapid antigen test, will becomestrongrecommendations -joining the strong recommendation to wear amaskindoors, which will remain in place.

Targeted financial support will continue for eligible healthcare workers, including in Aboriginal, hospital, aged care and disability carework, including those providing in-home care.

This financial support will continue supporting these workers to isolateifthey test positive to COVID-19.

The government said that on advice from the

Commonwealth chief medical officer, the decision to end mandatory isolation periods was unanimously agreed to by First Ministers at ameeting of National Cabinet on Friday, September30, with each jurisdiction to implement the changevia their relevant public health legislation.

To continue mandatory isolation until October

14, Victoria’s pandemic framework would have required an extension of the pandemicdeclaration for 24 hours -therefore, the decision has been made to conclude these requirements at 11.59pm on October 12, in linewith the expiry of the pandemic declaration.

The DepartmentofHealth will put in place Secretary Directions to ensure there is no disruption to vaccination requirementsinhealthservice settings -keeping the most vulnerable Victorians safe and protected.

These directions -which arealready used each year to require healthcare staff to be vaccinated against the flu -will allow for vaccination requirementsinpublic,denominationaland private hospitals, as well as public sector aged care facilities, day procedure centres and throughout ambulance services.

Powers also exist underOH&Slawsand Departmental Secretary Directionstorequire vaccinations for people in workplaces, including in the publicservice -allowing employers to decide which measures are most appropriate to keep their workplaces protected against COVID-19.

Every Victorian businessororganisation with on-siteoperationsmust still keep aCOVIDSafe Plan at their workplace, and workplaces should regularly review and update theirCOVIDSafe Plan.

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Stategong for Carolyn Escreet

DanielPedersen

HEYFIELD’SCarolyn Escreet has won the Victoria Police inaugural custody practitioner of the year award.

Most days the police custody officer (PCO) drives to Morwell and settles into aday, or night, of work PCOs are at the frontlinewhenitcomes to people in ‘the lock up’.

They feed them, care for them, recommend if they need medical treatment and escort them to and from courthearings.

Morwell is one of regional Victoria’s bigger police stations and has the capacity to hold 10 people overnight.

Last Thursday at 7am there were five occupied cells.

PCOs wear badges, but are not police officers, rather public servants tasked with looking out for peoplewho have landed themselves in apolice cell.

They wear grey, not blue and “we consider our grey as abit of abargainingtool also, people often don’t know why we’re here”.

“You’re often seeing people on the worst day of their life,” saidCarolyn, “they’reinneed of empathy and understanding -some of them at least.

“You see their highs and lows, sometimes people are suicidal, it can be very confronting, but if you’ve talked someone around, then you’ve shared something with them, it’sa very privileged position to have.

“I’m both lucky andprivileged, Ialwayshad parents who cared for me, were there for me, took me to sport, travelled for sport, Ihad agood family life -alot of people are not so lucky,” she said.

While apportioning blame is not part of her role, as aparenttofour childrenand grandparent to another four, she feels the pain of an individual’s failure.

“Heyfield-born and bred” Carolyn wasamong the first intakes of PCOs. In youth she’d had aspirations of becoming apolice officer, but university, marriage, ahome, children and acareer as an accountant intervened.

PCOs first arrivedinVictoriain2016, when studies identified taking police officers away from thedaily responsibility for people in cells meant more time for policing.

Carolyn undertook eight weeks of intensive training at Victoria’s Police Academy then debuted in Morwell in 2017.

Since thenshe has become asupervisor and is author of guidelines available to police officers, who don’t get the level of training aPCO does when it comes to handling people in custody.

The guidelines and achecklist for police officers came in a‘light-bulb’ moment at an annual confer ence of PCOs; they’re now available for use by all police officers.

Empathy is arecurring theme in Mrs Escreet’s description of what she does.

“Family violence,opportunistic theft and drugs,” she says, when asked the most common reason people end up in one of Morwell’s cells.

The drug ice lands alot of people in alockup, somewhere they never would have been but for their use of the drug.

“Sometimes you see the same people, you watch their demise, their ever-diminishing bodies, they diminish in size and behaviour, and you’re witness to it,” she says sadly.

“Sometimes whenthey come in they don’t recognise you, they mightliterally run around the cell for hours, cutting tiny laps, then become tired and sleep -and sleep -sometimes we have to wake them up to make sure they eat.

“Then, once they’ve made it through that phase, they recognise you and are glad to see afamiliar face.”

Because of the confrontingnature of the role, it is astruggle to find people prepared to do it. Everythingisreported, everymeal, whethera

person refuses to eat, if they’ve been visited by alegal representative, whether someone has dropped off clothes for them, if they’re vulnerable, whether they’ve been searched,every single event is documented

Sometimes people don’t even make it from the police divisional vantoacell; should aPCO determine they’re in need of medical attention, they can be diverted to hospital immediately.

In Gippsland just Bairnsdale, Sale and Morwell police stations have PCOs, across the state that extends to Mildura, Horsham, Ballarat, Bendigo and Geelong.

On any given day, there could be as many as eight PCOs in Morwell courtaccompanying prison ers. Ashift’s full complement is 22 PCOs and six supervisors.

Thereare four shiftsdaily, there’s 9am-5pm, 7am-3pm, 3pm-11pm and 11pm-7am.

“We’re low on numbers at the moment and we’ve had police coming in,” said Carolyn, explaining it was discussing obvious policetraining deficiencies with aduty sergeant that seeded her checklist and guidelines concept.

It’s not ajob for everyone, but can be abeginning for someone who aspires to becomingapolice officer.

“They can dip their toes in the water,” Carolyn said.

Sherecommendssome previous work or world experience for someone contemplating the role because “we regularly get abused, but then we had alassinwho’d worked at Woolies and she was fine, saying ‘We alwaysgot abused at Woolies, this is nothing’”.

Traralgon, Moe,Warragul, Wonthaggi and Korumburraare the ‘feeding pools’ for Morwellsta tion,which hasclass ‘A’ cells suitable for overnight detention, cells that PCOs also have to clean.

“We’ve been complimented on the cleanliness of our cells when bosses have come down from Melbourne,” said Carolyn, obviously taking pride in one of the more mundane roles she’s expected to perform.

She mentions protecting people’s human rights in the same sentence as discussingwhereit’sokay to take aphotographand cleaning cells.

PCOs are also responsible for signing weapons in and out for police officers, and detainee searches.

There’s general searches and then there’s full searches, reserved for those withaweapons or drug history.

“Everything is on camera,” she said,the full searches are even on camera for posterity’s sake “if there’s acomplaint, but they aren’t broadcast for whoever might be walking by to see”.

Carolyn said COVID had changed the justice system, and now audio-visual hearings were possible, which was agood thing.

“At least now you don’t have people transported from Melbourneappearing in court here and being released without any of their worldly possessions and with nowhere to go,” she said.

PCOs also escort people being released to Centrelink to access whatever benefits might be availabletothem.

Deaths in custody -it’saconversation stopper, even between two people who know the topic will inevitably be breached.

“We have never had adeathincustodyin Morwell,” said Carolyn, quite proud of the record and one she’s determined to maintain.

Carolyn Escreetisone of our community’sunsung heroes.

She still lives in Heyfield and was president of the Heyfield Football Netball Club for eight years and also does part-time work for Ambulance Victoria as acommunity officer.

At Heyfield, acommunity officer for Ambulance Victoria could find themselvesdeployed as far afield as Licola,administeringemergency-response medicine, stabilising patients and feeding paramedics en-route situation reports, filling them in about what to expect.

Next year will mark adecade in that role.

“Myhusband says I’maglutton for punishment. Tomorrow’s my day off and I’ve got a12-hour Ambulance Victoria shift.

“I do it for the community,” she said.

Carolyn Escreet in the underground tunnel between the Morwell police station and the court house.

Photos: Daniel Pedersen

Police custodyofficershavedifficult job caring for prisoners being held until acourt deems whatcomes next,ortheyare released.

Job skills for Heyfield

HEYFIELD Community Resource Centre has successfully helped residents get into work by connecting them with employers and teaching them ‘soft skills’.

As aLearn Local organisation,the centre hosted ‘Kick Start Your Career’, afive-week course beginninginAugust,and has helped students into employment, inspired new businesses and improved employability skills and confidence.

After having to relocate to Maffra suddenly and not having the support of family nearby, Heyfield resident Peta Fisher said the course helped herhit the ground running, and she now has two jobs.

“A friendand Idid the course together, which gave us the tools to get ready for work, helping us with things like the resume, portfolio and (attire),” Ms Fisher said.

“We worked on all the boring stuff to get us readytoapply for jobs. Iworked in government beforehand and thoughtI had the skills, but it was good to find avenues for support, and meet the local employers.

“Local employers met us and gave us their spielsowecould ask them questions, which was really good. We worked really closely with the Heyfield community.”

Ms Fisher now works at Quick Cuppa as a food attendant and IGA as aretail assistant.

“I actually applied for both jobs before Idid the course, but we got to meet the employers as part of the course. That gave me face value and showed Iwas serious about working, and not just apiece of paper and an application on the computer,” she said.

“We got to go check out employers on site. I got to go to IGA and see all the potential jobs they have behind the scenes.

“I would love to promote this program as much as possible. We had people near retirement age in the coursewho don’t have computer skills and worked the same jobs for decades. We had young people who were active and ready to learn,”she said.

“Flexibility with the course was great. And it was fantastic to see my friend’s confidence go up.

“And we all have different experiences and get to share to change our perspective that we didn’t know. They’re so welcoming here in Heyfield.”

Trainer for Heyfield’s Learn Local Program

Christine Brooks said the course had given studentsa goodunderstanding of what the job market was at the moment.

“It’s amazing how the participants say (this program) has been really valuable,” Ms Brooks said.

“One of the great things about Learn Local programs is that they’re very safe environments. They’re small groups, they’revery supportive. So it’s very much about if you need one-on-one help, we can help youwith that. It’s really about getting people back in employment and educational pathways.”

Ms Brooks said the course focused on three key areas: the first is employability, second is connection to industry, and third is writing resumes, cover letters, key selection criteria and practising interview skills.

“Learn Local program studentsare typically (aged) 17 plus,” she said.

“We’ve had people in their 20s and awoman in her 60s, so it’s quite adiverse range. And what’s great about this group is that all of them without exception have either got ajob, started their own business or got an application in for ajob thatthey should be able to get interviews for.”

Ms Brooks saysthe biggesthurdle for stu dents was confidence and making connections.

“We madeconnections withorganisations like ASH, IGA, Tinamba Hotel and Railway Hotel,” she said.

“We also had arange of guest speakers. We try to get good quality speakers, including from thelocal jobs program and the local schools and job centres,” she said.

Skills &Training Minister Gayle Tierney vis ited the centre to learn about the program, an appearancewelcomed by Heyfield Community Resource Centre manager Caroline Trevorrow.

“MinisterGayle Tierney visited on August 24 as part of awider visit to Gippsland and it was agreat case for us to showcase to the minister the important role that Learn Locals plays in the community,” Ms Trevorrow said.

“Sherecognised that oneofthe strengths

of our Kick Start Your Career Program was the creation of alinkbetween businesses and learners as this provided avaluable introduction for them to gain employment.”

Ms Trevorrow said the KickStart Your Career course would return next year.

“We will be running Kick Start Your Career in the health sector, whichisanentry-level employment pathway program, with Central GippslandHealth in May 2023 and Kick Start Your Career in Heyfield in August 2023,” she said.

Ms Trevorrow said the last Learn Local program for the year at the Heyfield Community Resource Centre wouldbegin early next month and was called ‘Work For Yourself: Care & Support’

“Workfor Yourself: Care &Support will get learnersreadytoset themselves up as sole traders to offerbasic services like cleaning, gardening and communityengagement support to NDIS participants,” she said.

“It will also give them pathways to employment with NDIS providers. To get involved they cancontact the resource centre on coordinator@ heyfield.net.”

To be involvedinaprogram,phone your local provider to find out what the next course is going to be.

Ms Trevorrow also teaches adigital literacy course.

Spring Spring

Delivering nationally recognised First Aid, CPR plus more training.

All courses are delivered on behalf of Allens Training Pty Ltd RTO90909.

Flexible, interactive, professional training in your workplace which meets WHS requirements.

Delivered by trainers with decades of industryexperience in aprofessional and relaxed atmosphere.

Monthly sessions at Sale Neighbourhood H House and Heyfield Community Resource Centre

Further information

Stefan Bradley

Heyfield residentPetaFisher nowhas two jobs thanks to helpfromthe program.

Trainer for Heyfield’s Learn Local Program Christine Brooks. Photo: Stefan Bradley

Skills &TrainingMinister Gayle Tierney (red jacket) visited theHeyfield Community Resource Centrerecently,tosee howthe Learn Local programs werebenefitting the community. Photo: Contributed

Gippsland’s 2030 loss

COMMENT John Cameron

THE Andrew’s government’s Victorian Forestry Plan,launchedin2019, calls for the transition from native forest timber by 2030; from that date the log shortfall is supposed to be sourcedfrom plantations.

This exit in 2030 does not provide enough time to establishreplacement plantations that typically take 30 years to mature. Since the announcement in 2019, littlehas been achievedapart from the odd‘announcement’.

The 2030 exit also unfortunately coincides with the proposed closure of Yallourn Power Station in 2028 (with the loss of 1,000 direct jobs) and eminentclosure of other Latrobe Valley power stations,including Loy Yang Ain2035.(allup about 10,000 direct plus indirect jobs at risk). Over the last decade employment in the Latrobe LGA (Local Government Area) has declined by about 4500 jobs following the closure of Hazelwood and Morwell power stations, plus Morwell hardwood and softwood sawmills.

The ‘Forestry Plan’ lacks rigorous strategic analysis of the adverse socioeconomic impacts on rural communities causedbyexitingnativeforest log supply. The plan also ignores the triple impact of the native forest exit coinciding with closure of the coal fired power industry and diminishing scale economies in agriculture caused by the Forestry Plan’s call for the new plantations to be on farmland.

The challenges include very limited availability of suitable land, high land cost, poor plantation log quality for products typically made from native forest logs, unsuitabilityofplantation saw logs for existing mills and the large scale required for returns on investment in new mill technology for plantation logs.

Replacing native forest timber with new plantations on farmland threatens to push up farmland prices and crowd out farmers,and will lead to diminishingscaleeconomiesinagriculturalproduc tion and food processing.

Farmland in Gippsland is scarce and much of it prohibitively expensive for plantations.Most of Victoria’s 7.5 millionhectares of nativeforest is in Gippsland, leaving only 1.2 million hectares of cleared farmland.

Of the cleared land only asmall fraction is suitable for plantations after taking into account land cost and other drivers of plantation economics. These include soil, rainfall, topography, wood quality, distance to mills and presence of world scale mills within economic haul.

World-scale mills are not delivered by government spin (nor fairies), but by investors who invest in mill upgrades leveraged off the back of mill expansions supported by increasing log supply and supportive government policy. However, the Andrews government’s Forestry Plan will deliver decreasing log supply.

Exiting native forest harvesting requires an investment of $1.0 to $1.5 billion dollars in land and plantation costs. This amount is needed to establish 50,000 hectares of plantation to replace the current 1.0 million cubic metres per year currently harvested from native forest in 2022. The required investment assumes sufficient favourable sites but ignores the cost of reconfigured or new mills to handle the different log quality.

Under the Forestry Plan, the government is proposing an investment of only $280 million on land and plantation costs, to establish only 14,000 hectares of plantation, to produce about 280,000

cubic metres per year from 2053. The $280 million is based on a‘dollar for dollar’ investment by the Victorian Government and Hancock Victorian Plantations ‘sometime’ over the next 30 years.

The Victorian ForestryPlanfails to acknowledge the current decline in plantation supply and the considerableand possibly insurmountable challenges to establishing new plantations. Between 2008-09 and 2020-21, plantation area in the Central Gippsland National Plantation Inventory (NPI) Region declined by about 12,000 ha or 12 per cent, with most of the reduction in Eucalypt plantation.

The ‘Forestry Plan’ is essentially just aplan to replace the shrinkageofthe Gippsland plantation estate over the last 12 years, and replace it with pine rather than Eucalypt,which accounts for most of the decline in supply.

Also the government has yet to outline a sustainable strategy for dealing with the supply shortfallover the years 2025 to 2053, until the new plantations mature in 30 years.

Over the past 21 years, misallocation by policy and exacerbated by negligent wildfireloss,has resulted in the loss of $6.6 billion Gross Regional Product and 5560 jobs. The ‘Forestry Plan’ is likely to contribute to afurther loss of $5.6billioninGross Regional Product over the next 20 years and the loss of another 3660 jobs.

The ‘Forest Plan’ will lead to underdevelop ment for disenfranchised rural communities and timber towns already severely affected by years of reducing native log supply. The exit by 2030 is poorly timed coinciding withthe projected closure of Latrobe Valley power stations.

We are witnessing aclassicexampleofthe ‘economics of underdevelopment’ being played out, albeit in this caseatthe direct hand of government, rather than the invisible hand of market forces Rural communities and timber towns arebeing stripped of economicoutputand employment opportunities.

This is causing adverse impacts on community services.

This adverse impact is aresult of the abandonment of theapplication of sustainable ‘multipleuse’ to the remaining six per cent of forest currently availablefor timber production. This six per cent equates to only 0.004 per cent or 3000haofthe forestloggedeach year, across spatially dispersed small coupes and delivers genetic recombination and the range of ecological age classes for sustainable forests.

In Europe, 80 percent of theirnative forestsare available for sustainable wood production under ‘multiple use’.

The government claims for the ‘Forestry Plan’ the abatement of 1.71 million tonnes of carbon dioxideequivalent each year. By contrast the native saw logs currently supplied and converted into sawn timber will archive (sequester) about 183 million tonnes per annumofcarbon dioxide-equivalent each year.

To deliver sustainable building materials and a strong forest industry in Gippsland, the Andrews governments Forestry Plan should complement rather than replace the 1.0 million cubic metres currently sustainably harvested from native forests. Native forest logs and theirresultant building materials are more ecologically sustainable than plantation grown logsand farmoreecologically sustainable than other building products.’



John Cameron (Dip Hort. Burnley, MBA Monash) is aTraralgon forestry and business consultant with more than 50 years experience in forestry in Australia and around the world.

Supply chain wrecked industry

Daniel Pedersen

STRATFORD’S Maurie Killeen knows forestry.

He has worked in afamily business falling mill logs in the forests of Gippsland, his home, and ‘on country’ in northern states with Indigenous people building durable settlements from their trees.

Maurie laments aprocess by which fast turnaround and rapid economic gain made the supply chain king of the bush, rather than the trees and creatures that inhabit Victorian forests.

His father, also Maurice, taught him selective logging from1959- when atree was useful, if it was not, and when it was best left to grow. His father would select trees ready for harvest and Maurie would fall them. They were compelled to burn tree ‘heads’ and the clean up resulted in cool burns across the landscape. Butthe weather determined whenthey burned.They’d then take the logs back to their ValenciaCreeksaw mill. When the Killeens

were stopped selectivelyfelling trees they were forced to buy logs from VicForests. Then the milling business would havetotaketwo months worth of logs but only had amonth to pay for them, the qualityoflogs became unpredictableand there was abiastowards timber for pulp production, leaving precious few logs for millers.

The amalgamation of forestry and land departments created confusionabout land management.

And the quick turnarounddemanded by the supply chain transformed logging from apatient cullingprocess to clear-falling swathes of forest the Killeens had no part of.

Asked what he thoughtVictorian forestryshould look like, the veteran logger said VicForests should return to selective logging and mosaic burning, then logging could go on in harmony with the bush.

“You could say it’s aconspiracy, but there’s no point, what would be the end result? What would be the point of the conspiracy in the first place?

It’s nonsensical.”

Traralgonforestry and business consultant John Cameron. Photo: Contributed

Daniher’sDriveheading our way

TomParry

ACONVOY of cars and caravans willdescend on the region this SaturdayasDaniher’s Drive passes through.

The event is an initiative of FightMND, and part of its ongoing efforts to raise money for research into what it calls ‘The Beast’ -motor-neurone disease (MND).

It’s ajourney three years in the making, having originally been scheduled to occur in 2020 before being postponed twice due to the pandemic.

“We were pretty keen to support regional communities that have been affected by bushfires by bringing commerce to the region,” FightMND chiefexecutive Fiona McIntoshtold the Gippsland Times

“But also, one of the motivations for the drive is (that) people in rural and regional areas do have MND, so to raise awareness and connect with people who have MND in rural and regional areas as well.”

Ms McIntosh will be among 300 peoplein80 vehicles participatinginthe four-day event, which begins from the MCG this Thursday.

Following an overnight stop in Myrtleford,Friday

will see the convoy traverse the Great Alpine Road and finish at Lakes Entrance, weather and conditionspermitting.

Then on Saturday, Daniher’s Drive will be heading through Ms McIntosh’s old “stomping ground”-havinggrown-up in Maffra and attended school at Gippsland Grammar, Sale, Ms McIntosh said this leg of the journey would be one close to her heart.

“I’m looking forward to having those 80 cars go through Sale and stop traffic there -that’s going to be quite special for me,” she said.

Following aquick stop in Sale, the convoy will continue onto their final overnight halt at Lardner Park, before concluding their journeybackin Melbourne on Sunday.

Daniher’sDrive is named in honour of FightMND’s co-founder Neale Daniher, who himself lives with the disease.

While The Beast has impacted his ability to move, walk and speak in recent times, he still plans on joining the tour at the start and end of its journey.

“We’ve got aHalloween party on our final night where everyone dressesupand it’s usually an amazing night, and Neale in particular lovesthat night,” Ms McIntosh said.

“His songthat he really loves is ‘Mr Brightside’,

so I’m sure we’ll all be dancing to that along with Neale on the final night.”

FightMNDwas founded in 2014 withthe purpose of finding acurefor MND, which affects one in every 11,400 Australians.

“Our vision is aworld free of MND, and we think we’ll be there within adecade, ratherthan decades,” Ms McIntosh said.

“We’ve invested over $60 millioninMND research and we’ll continue to invest every year until we find acure.”

While Ms McIntosh acknowledged that research was time-consuming and expensive, she added it is “the best weapon we have against The Beast”. Daniher’s Drive is aiming to raise $2.5 million in its journey across eastern Victoria.

As part of the event,MsMcIntosh and FightMND campaign director Bec Daniher will make an instore appearance at Chemist Warehouse, Sale at approximately 2.30pm on the Saturday.

To learn more about FightMND and contribute to its cause, visit fightmnd.org.au

FightMND co founder Neale Daniher and Melbourne games record holder David Neitz with a 1928 Ford Model A, in readiness for Daniher’s Drive.

Photo: Contributed

Monarchy still hasrole to play

JOHN Gwyther (Gippsland Times,Sep 20 2022)

is seeking aresponse to the question ‘why do we need ahead of state anyway?’

He sees some possible suitability in achief justice and aconstitution.

Politicians are excluded as their roles focus their attention on the interest of specific parts of acommunity.

However, John’s research appears to have glossed over events in Westminster Abbey. The Abbey was filled with people from all over the world; including many heads of state.

The Abbey was built to worship God and to recognise the need for assistance in coping with the challenges associated with people living together in acommunity. For if God is the head of state, and Jesus his presence on earth, many difficulties associate with human limitations can be resolved.

John HCooney Cowwarr

Premier is out of touch

AT my last count there have been 14 sawmills close in Victoria as aresult of Dan Andrews’ policies.

The recent loss of nine jobs at Newmerella seems insignificant to city folk, but to locals, nine families are now without abreadwinner andless money will now be spent in the local economy, devastating it.

Orbost, according to the latest Weekly Times,is next, with 115 jobs set to go.

Swifts Creek is also in this government’s sights with a$300,000 program being currently promoted that will oversee the transition of the town into obscurity.

To add insult to injury, Dan Andrews’ latest edict concerning where Victorians can and can’t go within our state is yet another example of the over reach he has become famous for.

Not content with locking up the bush so that sawmills can’t get access to the timber they require for the timber that our construction industry so desperately needs, Dan has now decreed that walkers and riders caught not using government-sanctioned trails could face heavy fines of up to $924 for simply walking off a park trail, and swimmers will be required to

obtain apermit to swim in any waterway not specifically designated for swimming.

Rock climbers, abseilers and hanggliders will also need to get apermit unless an area has been designated for it.

Those wanting to fill up achainsawwith fuel or oil could also cop a$1840 fine.

Our Premier is out of touch with regional Victoria.

Sure we need to protect our parks from

‘wreckcreationers’ but as public land it belongs to all of us to use and enjoy, not to be locked out of.

Iwill be voting number one for Greg Hansford in the Upper House for Eastern Victoria for The Australian Federation Party Victoria (AusFed Victoria).

Greg will be astrong representative for the region and has the conviction and courage to take up the fight against the rural job destroying Labor/Greens state government.

Pamela Howden Traralgon

Train thoughts

ONLY the curiosity of aself-confessed railway nerd would be sparked by the three loco photo seen in local media recently capturing locomotive K183 at Traralgon on Grand Final weekend.

For the self-same engine K183 is also on static display adjacent to Trafalgar Railway Station. How can this be? K183 at Trafalgar is actually K162.

In 1977, after being withdrawn from service, K183 was purchased from the Shire of Narracan.

Being in good condition, Steam Rail Victoria then purchased K183, replacing it with K162 then re-branding (in dead of night?) to K183.

As the KClass locos were withdrawn from service, Vic Rail would mix and match loco and tender depending on their condition.

So K100 in that photo (it broke down at Hernes Oak) is really K153 in disguise.

Hardly life changing knowledge but intriguing nevertheless for those with an affinity for railway history.

Ian Whitehead Traralgon

Foundation heretohelp

WITH four in 10 Australians diagnosed with blood cancer living in regional and remote areas, last September, during Blood Cancer Month, the Leukaemia Foundation announced Australia’s first and only dedicated blood cancer support line to assist the growing number of Australians experiencing the devastation and disruption of a blood cancer diagnosis.

Blood cancer treatment is often complex and urgent, and life-saving care can be far from home.

Leukaemia Foundation research has also shown many Australians in regional areas face challenges and disparities in accessing treatment, leaving them feeling overwhelmed, unsure -and alone.

Whether you are personally diagnosed with blood cancer, in remission, acarer,orgrieving the loss of aloved one, Australia’s blood cancer support line is now available to guide you through the emotional, physical, and psychosocial challenges of blood cancer, Monday to Friday from 10am to 4pm AEST via calling 1800 620 420 or anytime via bloodcancer.org.au.

Chris Tanti, Leukaemia Foundation

Daniel Andrews to announce anew $62.4 million emergency department at Maroondah Hospital -the same one he promised before the election in November 2018.

Our health system is in crisis, surgery waitlists are approaching 100,000 people and Labor re-announces apromise from years ago.

Victorians are also waiting to see the sod turned for anew Melton hospital, anew Geelong Women’s and Children’s Hospital and 10 community hospitals. And we will continue to wait, Daniel Andrews is more focused on keeping up appearances rather than solving the problems plaguing our healthcare system.

Problems caused by Labor’s abandonment of the Victorian healthcare system -not COVID.

The pandemic merely highlighted the serious problems in our health system that come after decades of neglect by Labor.

The Liberals and Nationals have made a number of funding commitments to fix Victoria’s health crisis, which includes new infrastructure for regional hospitals such as West Gippsland, Mildura, Wodonga, Shepparton, Mansfield and more to be announced.

By shelving the $35 billion Cheltenham to Box Hill train line, we will have funding to fix our crumbling health system, without putting Victoria further into its ever-growing debt under Labor.

Victorians need reassurance that when they’re sick, they will be able to access treatment.

Only achange in government this November can deliver that.

Peter Walsh Leader of The Nationals

Pattern emerging

UNSTABLE world weather events of recent times, have continued to follow the pattern of recent years, and are again causing extreme misery to many thousands of people across the world.

Unfortunately, Australia has not been an exception.

Reports from climate scientists across the world have made it clear that human induced climate change, caused by using fossil fuels, coal oil and natural gas, to create energy, has been the primecause of the unstable weather events that have devastated so many countries.

With aFederal Budget coming soon, it is to be hoped that scrapping of fossil fuel subsidies will be amajor budget component.

Brian Measday Myrtle Bank, SA

Powerlesstimes ahead

IT is astill winter night in Green-topia.

Wind turbines are idle; solar panels are in darkness; some are covered with snow.

In the rich green suburbs, electric cars are getting recharged. Lights, heaters and TV are on, and coffee is percolating.

Where is the electricity coming from?

Maybe big batteries? No -they got drained last night recharging the electric cars

All power tonight is coming from the old reliables -coal, gas, hydro or nuclear.

What if it’s cloudy and windless tomorrow and the reliableshaveahiccup?

Watch Europe as its hungry, powerless winter unfolds.

Their peril is our warning.

Viv Forbes Washpool

THE Gippsland Times welcomes letters to the editor.

Preference will be given to brief, concise letters which address local issues.

The editor, Liam Durkin, reserves the right to edit letters for reasons of space and clarity, and may refuse to publish any letter without explanation.

Thank you letters are discouraged and poetry will not be published as aletter.

The Gippsland Times does not publish letters from anonymous contributors.

Letters must include aphone number or email address for purposes of substantiating authenticity.

Theviews expressed in letters to the editor are those of the writers, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Gippsland Times management or staff.

Email letters to news@gippslandtimes. com.au

Healthcaresystem needs real solutions

Nationals leader Peter Walshiscalling forimprovements to the states healthcaresystem.

Photo: File

Bird of the Month

Our little gems

ON October 15, many local families will commemorate International Pregnancyand Baby Loss Awareness Day.

Amy Daly,from the Little JemFoundation,said the day helped break through silence of loss.

“One of the challenges for familieswho experience loss is the sense of isolation because no-one really wants to talk about it,” Mrs Daly said.

“Awareness dayslike this onelet families know their babies are remembered and there are other mothers, fathers, siblings and families who understand.”

The Little Jem Foundation is aGippsland-based, not-for-profit organisation that offers supportto families after the loss of ababy or child.

This loss could be during pregnancy, as anewborn or as ayoung child.

Each year,the Little Jem Foundation helps dozens of families who have experienced loss.

“We help peopleaccess bereavement counselling, or support groups either in person, or by telephone andcan also providefinancial support for funerals and other services,” Mrs Daly said.

The foundation wasset up my Mat and Amy Daly in honour of their baby, Jemma Sue.

Jemma wasbornat27weeks and lived for eight days.

“The loss of ababyorchild is much more common than people think, but again, because people don’t like to talk about it, most people are surprised by the numbers,” Mrs Daly said.

“On average, six babies are stillborn every day in Australia. That is alot of mums and dads and families.”

Every year,about 110,000 Australianshave a miscarriageand 600 lose their baby in the first 28 days after birth.

“But really it doesn’t matter when you lose you child, it is still devastating,” Mrs Daly said.

“We would encourage any families out there who have experienced aloss to reach out and get support

“Sometimes just knowing another mum or dad who has had asimilar experience helps.”

For more information about the Little Jem Foundation, phone Amy on 0428 506 731.

THE Australian White Ibis was once known as the Sacred Ibis, but sadly most of us now refer to them as abin chicken, tip turkey or dumpster diver.

So how did this native bird species come to be so misunderstood?

Highly adaptive and mobile, they began moving to coastal urban areas when large areas of inland wetlands, their natural habitat, were lost through changed waterflows and urbanisation.

Due to the habitat decline and increasing population, many have begun supplementing their diets from landfill sites, bins and litter in our cities and towns.

But at other times they’re called the ‘farmer’s friend’ as they like foraging for grasshoppers and snails in lawns and paddocks, pests that cause crop damage to farmers -and they also have ahabit of flocking into areas afflicted by plagues of locusts and gorging themselves on them.

The ibis is easily identified by its almostentirely white body plumage with featherless black head and neck and along down-curved black bill. Usually feeding in groups, they also eat invertebrates, frogs, fish, crustaceans and human scraps. Mussels are one of their

favoured foods and they dig for them using their long bill, then open by hammering them on ahard surface to reveal the soft body inside.

They nest together in tightly-packed ‘colonies’ with nests sometimes numbering in the thousands.

To attract afemale, the male secures a pairing territory on the branch of atall tree. Courtship involves him putting on a noisy display, as well as showing aggression towards other males.

When afemale arrives, he attracts her by bowing from his branch. He offers atwig and when she grasps it they begin to preen one another.

Once the bond is cemented, they fly off to build anest at another location. Young are born naked and helpless and one or two broods maybereared in ayear.

Ibis rely upon the health of Macleod Morass for their breeding season, where this year they have been breeding in huge numbers, along with the Straw-Necked Ibis.

BirdLife East Gippslandmeet weekly for Monday morning outings.

New members are always welcome. Check the Facebook group for more information.

Matand AmyDalyfinishing abike ride from SydneytoNewry in 2014.Moneyraisedduring the bike rideprovidedsupport for bereaved familiesthough the Little JemFoundation.

Photo: Contributed

Target Time

U I A F T N R E

Best in country music coming

GIPPSLAND Country Music Festival has cemented itself as aformidable regional event, with the last two festivals boasting sold-out shows headlined by the best of Australian country music.

Gippsland Country Music Festival is about to get even bigger; in 2023, in celebration of its third year, the festival offers country music fans the option to camp at the one-day event and to really soak up the atmosphere.

Moving to alarger new home at Lardner Park, organisers hope this will give music fans the chance to stay and play in Gippsland and explore the wonders the region has to offer.

In another coup for the Gippsland Country Music Festival, organisers have secured an enviable line-up headlined by Lee Kernaghan, who launched the inaugural event in 2021, and Troy Cassar-Daley.

There is something for all country music lovers, with Adam Brand, Beccy Cole, Sara Storer, Kaylee Bell, Josh Setterfield, Jade Gibson and Gareth Leach among Australia’s best country music stars set to perform at the event.

It isn’t just the stellar line-up attracting festival-goers, with various activities and experiences, from awoodchopping competition and freestyle motocross to line dancing, carnival rides, and market stalls.

There will also be ahost of delicious food and drink vendors showcasing the local Gippsland region.

Organiser Aidan McLaren says the team have put together their dream line-up and day out.

“When we first talked about launching Gippsland Country Music Festival, we bounced around headliner ideas, and Troy Cassar-Daley was straight away at the top of the list,” Mr McLaren said.

“He’s won arecord 40 Golden Guitars, created so many amazing albums and songs over such along period of time, and his live show is just so engaging; to have him playing Gippsland Country for the first time is really something.

“Plus, to bring Lee Kernaghan, the Australian icon of country music, back to Gippsland is really, really special.

“After such an amazing response to his performance at our inaugural event, he’s definitely returning to headline by popular demand,” Mr McLaren continued.

“Additionally, to be welcoming our first ever international act Kaylee Bell is aspecial moment as well; we can’t wait!

“Each of the other artists are incredible, and we feel together they showcase the diversity and range of talent that exists in the Australian Country music scene.

“In total they have been awarded amindblowing 122 Golden Guitars between them, and we’re very proud to have such an amazing array of country music talent playing the festival,” he said.

“We’re also looking forward to the crowd being blown away by some incredible Gippsland home-grown country talent with the launch of the very first Local Country Showcase.

“It’s the search to find the local country stars of tomorrow, with four winners having the opportunity to perform at the festival.”

For the first time ever, Gippsland Country Music Festival will have camping onsite in 2023. There will be alimited amount of sites available for music fans to camp for the weekend and experience the event.

“We are thrilled to have camping now available at our new home of Lardner Park,” Mr McLaren said.

“We always knew that camping would be such an incredible element to add to the festival, and are really pleased that Lardner Park is able to offer us this in our third year.

“We know that fans travel hundreds of

kilometres to attend the festival, and in addition to all of the incredible local accommodation around us, it’s exciting to allow music fans to camp onsite.

“Situated just 12 kilometres from Warragul and 90 minutes east of Melbourne, Lardner Park consists of spacious green fields surrounding acentral lake, all encapsulated by hills rolling on in the distance, making it the perfect new home for Gippsland Country,” he said.

“The camping area is located on flat land with increased space and accessible facilities, ideal for establishing your temporary home.

Hopefully, it gives the opportunity for even more music fans to come and experience the festival, Iknow it’s something that the audience wanted, and we’re really excited that Lardner Park is able to offer it for the first time.”

There is limited camping sites available, so interested music fans are encouraged to book early.

Tickets for the Gippsland Country Music Festival 2023 go on sale via Moshtix at 8.30am on Thursday, October 13 2022.

Sara Storer,who haswon 21 Golden Guitars, is among Australia’sbestcountry music artists, and will take the stageatthe 2023Gippsland CountryMusicalFestival.

LeeKernaghan is set to headline the2023GippslandCountry Music Festival. Photos: Contributed

Adam Brand is on the setlist for the festival.

Well

family

THIS very well-maintained home consists of four bedrooms, two bathrooms, large lounge, spacious kitchen/dining area and separate laundry

The home caters for all seasons, with agas log fire and reverse cycle air-conditioning.

The light filled kitchen/dining area faces northand captures all the natural sunlight and also flows onto adelightful alfresco area.

The kitchen has plenty of bench space, large pantry,double sinkand modern appliances gas hotplates, electric oven and dishwasher

The master bedroom features alarge walk-in robe and ensuite comprising of shower,vanity and toilet. All other bedrooms have built in robes.

Adjoining the home, and with direct access, is adouble garage with automatic door,along with asmall storage room at the rear of the garage.

The spacious corner block is surrounded by Colorbond fencing and allows ampleroom to build the all-important shed.

Inspect to appreciate.

to

edge of

AGENTS say very fewopportunities come along that provide an investment for the future, like this property at Maffra.

Alifestyle property on an 11-hectare (27-acre) parcel of land at the edge of Maffra, with services such as natural gas and town water already connected.

This property also has the future prospect of further developing the land (STCA).

The comfortable three-bedroom residence includes natural gas cooking and heating, walk-in robe in the master bedroom and a large bathroom.

There is ample shedding, including for hay and machinery,adisused dairy with adjoining yards, horse facilities and holding pens.

The undulating land provides apictur esque outlook to the south and east, giving the developer or resident space to enjoy on the edge of Maffra.

This property is being sold via auction on-site next month.

Desired living, or development

AGENTS say this is aremarkable find: situated at the edge of Heyfield is this lifestyle property,possessing endless opportunities with

density residential’ zoning.

If it’sa rural lifestyle property for agrowing family you seek, agents say look no more.

it’sthe hidden gem with lots of opportunities to develop, agents say also ‘look no further’.

This solid brick home features

Opportunity to enter the market

ONofferisthis ideal investment in Heyfield, which agents say is perfect to start oradd to a prospective buyer’sportfolio. It’swellsituated, close to the ASH timber mill, ormakes for an easy commute to work in Maffra or Sale.

The layout includes three bedrooms, combination bathroom/laundry,lounge and kitchen, completing afunctional floorplan.

There is an undercover entertaining area at the rear that looks out onto the yard.

Features are: solid fuel heater and reverse cycle unit, gas cooking in the kitchen, ceiling fans, double carport and shed for storage and abuilding in neatcondition with concrete stumps.

Agents say this property is perfect for the investor,asitis currentlyrented until June 22 2024 at $260 per week.

Karen

THIS neat and tidy two bedroom unit is perfect for prospective buyers looking for aconvenient lifestyle close to the Stratford CBD, agents say Inside the home comprises aspacious living space with split-system heating and cooling.

The kitchen is functional with bench/cupboard space, built in pantry,and electric cooking.

Both bedrooms are carpeted with built-in wardrobes, and the bathroom has ashower, vanity as well as aseparate toilet.

Outside offers agood-sized single carport and small courtyard area. There is also agood-sized grassed ‘common area’ to enjoy

Currently leased month to month at $230pw

CFAwomen’s chainsaw course asuccess

FEMALE CFA volunteers recently descended on Briagolong for atwo-day chainsaw workshop.

Held on a“blustery” weekend, 12 women participated to learn all about the ins and outs of chainsaws: safety, cleaning, maintenance and of course, how to use them.

Instructor Geordie Akeroyd was impressed by the enthusiasm of the participants, describing them as the “group of the decade”.

“It is great to work with agroup so keen to learn,” Akeroyd said.

Golden Beach Fire Brigade captainPaula

Grosveld inspired the women to attend the training.

On the first day, the womenwere introduced to chainsaws, learning about cutting techniques and safety elements of chainsaws and clothing.

The next step in the learningphasewas

maintenance. The women had to dismantle their saws, clean themand sharpen theirchainsin preparation for an afternoon of cutting.

The feedback fromthose who attendedthe workshop was positive.

“I have learned so much about chainsaw use, safety aspects and maintenance,” one participant said.

“Just to learn how to assess afallen tree has been mind-boggling.

“I’ll be happily using and maintaining achainsaw now.”

Another participant said her most memorable momentwas “going out and implementing my new-found knowledge in real situations”.

Sale Fire Brigade was among the local CFA crews who assisted with facilitating the workshop, and said the day could not have been asuccesswithout their instructors, Akeroyd, Ben Griffiths, Justin Elliott, Ted Osler, Chris Buxton and District 10 coordinatoroflearning and development, Andrew Shaw.

They also wished to thank the Briagolong Fire Brigade for allowing the use of their station and the “excellent catering”.

Council offersno-fee green wastecollection

WELLINGTON Shire Council is urging property owners to prepare for the 2022/23 summerbushfire season, with No Fee Green Waste disposal at landfills and transfer stations throughout November.

To assist residents with property clean-up, council is offering No Fee Green Waste disposal at facilities in Kilmany, Maffra, Loch Sport, Seaspray, Heyfield, Stratford and Yarram.

Wellington Shire mayor Ian Bye urged residents to takeadvantage of the No Fee Green Waste initiativeahead of summer, particularlyafter a wet winter and spring resulted in plenty of growth.

“This initiativeisa great opportunityfor peopleto take advantage of in order to ensure their properties are bushfire-ready this summer,” Cr Bye said.

The DargoTransfer Station will not be accepting green waste over this period. Truck loads of green wastewillnot be accepted at any council transfer stations.

The finefor dumpinggreenwaste is currently $370, and court action may incurmuch more severe penalties.

The announcement comes as council prepares to

conduct fire inspections of properties, also taking place during November.

Over two weeks from November 2, Wellington Shire Council officers will begin inspecting 17,000 private properties for bushfire hazard reduction compliance, starting at high-risk areas such as Loch Sport, Paradise Beach, GoldenBeach and Yarram, then moving onto the rest of the shire.

Properties must be prepared before the annual inspectionstakeplace,and maintainedfor the entiretyofthe Fire Danger Period.Council will issue the owner of any property identified as posing apotential fire riskwith aFire Prevention Notice, with instructions to clean up.

Setbythe CFA, penalties of $1849 can apply for failuretocomply with these notices.

This year, preparing for the Fire Danger Period will also include becoming familiar with the new Australian FireDanger RatingSystem being rolled out, which now only includes four stages: Moderate (planand prepare), High (be ready to act),Extreme (take action now to protectyour life and property), and Catastrophic (for your survival,

leave bushfire risk areas early).

Residents should reduce fire hazards by slashing grass, bracken or weeds, especially around buildings and fences. Undergrowth, fallen branches, gardenrefuse and tree cuttings should be removed, while tree branches and shrubs should also be pruned.

Police will actively investigate burning off in the fire danger period, and heavy fines may be imposed on any person burning off without apermit.

Property owners must have awritten permit to burn off within atown area. Permits will only be issued where there is no alternative to burning.

Under no circumstances does aFire Prevention Notice give direction or permissiontoremove whole trees or disturb soils.

For more information about fire preparedness, visit www.wellington.vic.gov.au/fire

To learn more about green waste disposal and accepted items, visit www.wellington.vic.gov.au/ environment/green-waste-disposal

Female CFAvolunteers learning all about correct chainsawuse in Briagolong.

Photos: Contributed

Wellington

the

bushfireseason.

CountryFireAuthority

price for damage while off-roaddriving in forest

ABAIRNSDALE man has been convicted and fined $1500 after pleading guilty to two charges relating to illegal off-road driving in the Nunniong State Forest.

The 25-year-old was convicted in the Bairnsdale MagistratesCourt on Wednesday, September 28 after saying he made a“silly mistake” while admitting he forcedopen and damagedaseasonal closure gate and drove on to aclosed road in a sensitive alpine area in October 2021.

Seasonal gates are in place to protect sensitive environments, and to preserve public access tracks over the cooler, wetter months of the year.

The man said what he did “was stupid” as Magistrate Wallington finedhim $1500and ordered him to pay $244.86 in additional costs. Regulatory programmanager GippslandRegion, Bradley Woods, said the conviction “should serve as areminder to anyonethinking about illegal

behaviours in the parks and forests that they will be caught and face the consequences”.

“Alpine environments harbour afascinating range of native plants and wildlife only found in these rare high altitude regions,” Mr Wood said.

“Damage to the Nunniong State Forest impacts on notonly this unique environment but the future usability and enjoyment of the area by fellow members of the public.”

If you notice any illegal behaviour such as this, phone the DELWP Customer Contact Centre on 136 186. You can remain anonymous.

You can findmore information about rules on publiclandonline at www.vic.gov.au/ rules-in-state-forests.

The Conservation Regulator oversees the regulationofwildlife, forests and public land in the state of Victoria.

Online lessonstohelp farmers

FARMERS across Victoria will benefit from a series of free online learningmodules,helping them protect their animals from diseases and biosecurity threats.

AgricultureVictoriaanimal disease program coordinator,Scott McDonald, said this high-value training will better equip farmers, livestock producers, small landholders, industry workers and farm visitors with the knowledge and skills they need to ensure asafe and disease-free environment for livestock.

“Thesein-demand online modulesexplore the impactsthatemergency animal diseases would have on our farming industry and how the risks can be reduced,” he said.

“Biosecurity is everyone’s responsibility,and implementing good practices on your propertyand ensuring visitors follow those practices is key to preventing serious consequences for our animals, trade and economy.

“We hope to give farmers confidence and assurance that they are doing everything necessary and required to protect their animals, our state and countryfromserious diseases suchasfoot-and mouth disease and lumpy skin disease.”

The three learning modules, available through Agriculture Victoria’s website, have been released:

footand mouth disease awareness, lumpyskin disease awareness and come clean, stay clean, go clean -whenvisiting farms. Each module should take approximately 15 minutes to complete.

Foot-and-mouthdisease (FMD)and lumpy skin diseaseare not currentlypresent in Australia, howeverthereare emerging threats with outbreaks in neighbouring countries.

Modelling by the Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences (ABARES) in 2013 reported alarge multi-state outbreak of FMD could cost Australia $80 billion over 10 years.

“Foot-and-mouth disease is considered one of Australia’s greatest biosecurity risks, so it is vital livestockowners or people working with livestock takethe appropriate biosecurity actions now,” Mr McDonald said.

“Our agricultural sector is stronger than ever and we wouldliketokeep it that way, so we encourage everyone to jump online and complete the series of useful learning modules.”

For furtherinformation about theonline learning modules, visit agriculture.vic. gov.au/support-and-resources/elearning/ biosecurity-courses

ABairnsdale man wasfined

after pleading guiltytotwo charges relating to illegal

HORSES WANTED

HAIRLESS PUPPIES

Great low allergy pet, small dog, needs lots of attention. Very unique looking. Ideal indoor dog. Message or call for photos and further info. 1male1 female. $3,500. Good homes only.

Ph: 0455 355 885

MC 9530101004 26998/05788

LAYING HENS

Old Port Poultry Farm delivering 18 week old Isa Brown laying hens to your area, Sat. Oct. 22, $28 ea. Phone 0438 832 535.

HORSES WANTED

Meetings

AGM

George Gray Centre Inc AGM, Monday 24th October 2022 7:00 pm

Hotel, 90 Macalister St,

Clearing Sales

IN

for further information.

Heyfield Lions Annual

Darby Day Auction

Saturday

October 10am

St. Heyfield

Full details Gipps Times

on Lions

Farm Mortgages

AGM

Maffra and Districts Landcare NetworkAnnual General Meeting. Is it all doom and gloom for the Australian environment?

Arecently released state of the environment report indicates that our natural environment is under extreme pressure. What can we do?

Come together for a discussion with Landcare and aQ&A session with the report's co-author Dr Ian Cresswell.

Supper provided.

7pm, October 12, 2022 At the Bundy Hall, 795 Ma ff ra- Sa le Road , Bundalaguah, VIC, 3851

RSVP FOR CATERING: Bonnie Reeves -Mobile: 0484002296.

Sandra Jefford Email: secretary@mdln.com.au

Newry

will be held Sat., Oct. 15 at the Newry

rooms at 5pm.

AGM

The Heyfield Football Netball Club annual general meeting will be heldTuesday, 8th November at 7pm in the netball rooms, Gordon St Reserve Heyfield. All members, supporters and sponsors are invited to attend.

SEXY YOKO

Busty,

SALE COMBINED AGENTS

THURSDAY

SALE GOLF CLUB

THURSDAY GOLF

$5 GOLF 9HOLES

All day golf for members or non-members. Enjoy golf with your mates morning or twilight.

PRODUCERS MKT

Due to the current ground and weather conditions, a decision will be made Thursday 1pm and will be posted on our Facebook page. Ph. Karen: 0409 697 254.

SUNDAY MARKET

Sale CharitySunday

Variety Market, Canal Reserve, October 16. Egg and bacon rolls for breakfast, BBQ, hot dogs, hot and cold drinks, stalls from $15, raffles must be accompanied by astall.

Proceeds to charity. Buskers welcome. Phone 0409 574 253 or 0437 985 283.

Member vacancies -Victorian Class Bcemetery trusts

The following Class Bcemetery trusts areseeking expressions of interest from suitably qualified members of the community who areinterested in becoming honorary trust members. Womenand those from adiverse background areactively encouraged to seek appointment:

THE MAFFRA CEMETERYTRUST

THE STRATFORD CEMETERYTRUST

Cemetery trust members areappointed by the Governor in Council for a term of up to five years on the recommendation of the Minister for Health. Cemetery trusts areresponsible for the proper and efficient management of the public cemeteries under their control, including planning for future cemeteries services and the preservation of local history

Being appointed to acemetery trust provides successful applicants with a unique opportunity to develop their competencies as aboardmember. The Department of Health provides free governance training to all trust members.

Current members whose terms of office aredue to expiremay apply for reappointment as part of acompetitive selection process.

Moreinformation about the role of cemetery trust members is available at: https://www.health.vic.gov.au/cemeteries-and-crematoria/class-bcemetery-trust-appointments

To register your interest please refer to the trust contact details below and provide your expression of interest to the applicable trust within two weeks of the date of this advertisement:

Victorian Class Bcemetery trust Contact details

The Maffra Cemetery Trust0400

The StratfordCemetery Trust0428

Back

Bundy

Macalister Demonstration Farm

Calling for Nominations for Bob Pitman Award

The recipient of this award should have one, if not all of the following attributes;

to the betterment of the dairy industry in the Macalister irrigation district via one or all of the following areas:

● Production.

● Technology.

● Extension.

● Environmental awareness.

● Mentorship.

● Serve on boards or committees which support the dairy industry.

● Serve with integrity, humility and altruism.

Nomination forms can be obtained by emailing Krystal Bermingham at: Kbermingham@outlook.com.au, or Andrea Henry at mdf@wideband.net.au

Winner will be announced at the AGM to be held on the 20th of October 2022.

THE SALE CEMETERYTRUST

The Sale Cemetery Trustisseeking expressions of interest from suitably qualified members of the community who would be interested in becoming honorary trust members. Women and those from a diversebackground areactivelyencouraged to seekappointment.

Cemetery trust members areappointed by the Governor in Council foraterm of up to five years on the recommendation of theMinister for Health.Cemeterytrusts areresponsible for the properand efficient management of the public cemeteriesunder their control, including planning forfuture cemeteries services and the preservation of local history

Being appointed to acemetery trust provides successful applicants with aunique opportunity to develop their competencies as aboardmember.The Department of Health provides free governance training to all trust members.

Current trust memberswhose terms of appointment aredue to expire mayapply for reappointment as part of acompetitive selection process.

Moreinformation about the role of cemetery trust members is available at: https://www health.vic.gov.au/cemeteries-and-crematoria/ class-b-cemetery-trust-appointments

To register your interest please contact The Sale Cemetery Trustasfollows within two weeks of thedateofthis advertisement:

The SaleCemetery Trustcontact details: 5144 2262

The Victorian Government is committed to ensuring that government boards and committees reflect the rich diversity of theVictoriancommunity. We encourage applications from people of all ages, Aboriginal people, people with disability peoplefromculturallyand linguistically diverse backgrounds andfrom lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, gender diverse,intersex and queer people. The trust will provide adjustments to the recruitmentprocess

request.

DRIVERS

Men and women over the age of 25

Would you like to earn some extra money?

Meet interesting people from all walks of life?

Work with great people? How about becoming a Taxi Driver in the Sale and local district.

All you need is adriver's certificate, police check, full driver's licence and a friendly personality.

more information

call Marg on 0429 964 437.

Situations Vacant

Dentist

Permanent Full Time

Central Gippsland Health is seeking aDentist to join our Dental department. This position will provide appropriate general dental services to patients/clients eligible for Victorian public dental services with afocus on those living in Wellington Shire.

This role will give you the opportunity to gain experience with Crowns, Surgical Extractions, Nitrous, RCT and Private practice. This will occur within the principles of care coordination where patients/clients/residents have access to ahighly coordinated health care and community support system.

To apply for the role or for further information, go to https://centralgippslandhealth.mercury.com.au or contact Rachel Strauss, Director of Community and Allied Health Services on (03) 5143 8412.

Warehouse Operator

About us

We arefocused on increasing plantperformance, efficiency and flexibility and areinsearch of people with expertise and experience to contributeto innovative new projects.

We arecommitted to increasing workforce diversity and creating an environment wherepeople with new ideas feel empowered to speak up and explorewhat is possible.

We constantly strive to understandand meet broad community expectations regarding environmental management,health, safety and good corporate citizenship.

About the opportunity

Assist with all aspects of the warehouse functions and inventorymanagement associated with the operation of the power station.

Create change and ‘futureready’ the organisation through your involvement in key projects.

Access to development opportunities to continue to grow leadership and technical skills that arehighly transferable throughout industry.

What you’ll do

Use the MMStomaintain for tracking of Purchase Orders, Stock Requests, InventoryLocations

Accurate and timely receipting of incoming materials verifying the quantity Qualityinspections whererequired aretobecompleted and entered into MMS in atimely manner

Operate material handling equipment to unload deliveries of material, stock and equipment.

Perform Purchasing Officer duties during periods of absence or as required. Knowledge and compliance of the handling and storage for stock items that must comply with their Materials Safety Data Sheet (MSDS).

Ensurethe deliveryofLoy Yang BHealth &Safety and Environmental policies and procedures to allow continual improvement,reduced risk, safe plant and equipment,safesystems of work and minimal impacts on the environment

What you’ll need VCE or equivalent is preferred.

Proven performance andexperience in the warehousing function.

If this sounds likeyou, don’t ignorethis opportunity, makesureyou:

Apply via our careers page www.loyyangb.com.au/careers

Position closes Thursday 20 October 2022.

LoyYang B–powering your career!

LoyYang Bwelcome applications from people with diversecultural and linguistic backgrounds and people with disability.Wewill provide reasonable adjustments for individuals withdisability throughout the recruitment process. If you identify as aperson with disability and requireadjustments to the application, recruitment selection and/or assessment process, please advise via the above email and indicate your preferred method of communication (email or phone) so we can keep in touch and meetyour needs.

Delivery Driver

AG Warehouse is awholly owned subsidiary of Saputo Dairy Australia operating 25 retail stores throughout Victoria /Southern NSW and Tasmania servicing Australian farmers with their farming requirements; offering farm services including agronomic advice, feed and fodder solutions, animal nutrition, fertiliser, and fuel. We are currently seeking asuitable individual to join the team at AG Warehouse -Maffra to pick, pack and deliver goods on farm to our customers in the Macalister Irrigation region whilst also being able to work within the store providing sales support and customer service support to the instore team.

To be successful for this role applicants will be reliable, motivated and be able to work autonomously to achieve the daily delivery requirements. Previous experience in adelivery driving role is preferred but not essential. A minimum Heavy Rigid Truck Licence and aForklift license is essential for this role.

This is adiverse and challenging opportunity to join an evolving business with vastamounts of ongoinggrowth and development potential.

If this sounds like you, please email your resume and cover letter to: ken.lascelles @saputo.com. For further information about the role please contact the store manager Ken Lascelles on 51471994 /0 417 310989

Close: Friday 14th October 2022

We seek committed and enthusiastic individuals to join our school in the following roles commencing Term 12023:

Head of Digital Learning

● 12 month teacher appointment at Garnsey Campus.

Early Childhood Teacher

● 0.5FTE ongoing (Tuesday and Thursday in Reception program), at St Anne's Campus.

Early Learning Centre Co-Educator

● Casual position at St Anne's Campus.

Secondary Teachers

● Ongoing positions with any combinations of Art and Design, Religion and Values Education, English and Mathematics at our Garnsey Campus in Sale.

Sports Assistant

● 0.79 FTE, five days per week during term-time with school hours at Garnsey Campus.

2023 GAP Positions

● 1FTE, 11 month contracts in the areas of Outdoor Education and General Duties at Garnsey and StAnne'scampuses.

For more detail on closing dates, the requirements, duties and responsibilities of these roles, visit the employment page of the Gippsland Grammar website at http://careers.gippslandgs.vic.edu.au

Real Estate Reception / Administration

LoyYang Bisanelectricity generator located in the picturesque Latrobe Valley currently supplying around 20% of Victoria’s power.Weare owned by Chow TaiFook Enterprises (CTFE) and belong to the Alinta Energy family,agrowing andinnovative energy market disrupter

Engagements

ROSS, Colin Alan.

Born 30th June 1941.

Died 3rd October 2022 at Sale Hospital, aged 81.

Dearly loved father of Graham, Glen and Karen, their partners Lisa, Deborah and Jim.

•

JOHNSON-WHITEHILL

Ellie &Dave Johnson together with Liz &Wayne Whitehill are absolutely delighted to announce the engagement of Eleanor Johnson to Alexander Whitehill.

IMPORTANT NOTICE

Pop to Jason, Guy, Damien, Dylan, Jake and Carissa. Beloved to Janice (dec.) and dear friend of Patsy and Lela.

Life member of Santosa Gun Club. Rest In Peace Dad

WILLIAMS, John Norman (Norm).

Passed away at Royal Freemasons Sale on October 6, 2022 aged 101.

Beloved husband of Betty (dec).

Loving father and fatherin-law of Elizabeth and Ben and Barbara and Chris.

Grandfather of six and great grandfather of five.

Re-united with Betty.

Funerals

Caravans

In Memoriam

GYPSY

Cars

FORD UTE

•

2006 BA, canopy, rego 1LY5EL until 22/12/22. $4,000 or nearest offer. Selling for medical reasons. Ph: 0407 9747 628

Caravans

Dolly trailer car carrier, built 2021, reg. price $3500. Ph. 0429 892 514.

Car Parts & Accessories •

RIDGE RIDER

•

4WD 8000 KG recovery snatch strap with two 6250 KG bow shackles and equaliser strap. Two Maxtrak recovery boards. All brand new, have sold my 4WD. $350 the lot. 0404 001 752

Wrecking

•

GOSSTRAY, Benjamin.

Three years ago "Benrith" an angel came and took you from us as you lay sleeping. We think of you every day and shed atear or two when we come across something belonging to you. Forever loved and forever missed. Nan and Jai

JAGIELKA, Manfred. 12/10/20 Forever missing you Dad. Love always, Nathan, Britt and kids.

Deaths •

HALL (nee Beecroft), Gloria Gwen. 04/03/1950-09/10/2022

Loving wife of Ray. Loving mother of Linda Ashley. Mother-in-law of Fran, Malcolm.

HALL.

Funeral arrangements for Mrs Gloria Gwen (Gwen) Hall of Sale are not yet confirmed, please visit our website or contact:

WILLIAMS Amemorial service for Mr John Norman Williams will be held at Geoff Rossetti Memorial Chapel, 1390 Maffra Road Sale (next to Sale Cemetery) on FRIDAY (Oct. 14, 2022) commencing at 11:00 AM.

For those unable to attend, a"Youtube" broadcast of the service will take place, details to follow on our website or facebook page.

DAVIDSON, Bruce. 4/6/1938 -5/8/2022

We would like to thank our extended familyand friends for the flowers, cards, telephone calls and visits we have received.

Thank you to the staff at Sale Hospital, Clocktower Clinic, Wilson Lodge and Lett's Funeral Services.

Aspecial thank you to Dr Lloyd Waters for his care and support given to Bruce over many years. Lois and family.

In Memoriam

OWEN, Dave. 09/10/21

MURPHY, Andrea. 12/10/21

•

Deeply misseddaily. Loved you then, love you now, love you forever.

Love Lee-Ann and Tom, Kristine, Paul and families, and Brad, Bec and family.

OWEN, Dave. 09/10/21

MURPHY,Andrea. 12/10/21

Miss you each day, everyday, all the time. Love you always. Britt, Nathan, Maddox, Willow and Diesel.

DINGWALL, Eileen. Eileen's family would like to thank everyone for their beautiful flowers, cards and phone calls. Thank you to Rob Barnes for his lovely service. Thank you to Pal and Brad Semmens for their caring support.

Thanks again to the staff at Stretton Park for the wonderful care they gave Eileen over the years.

LANGSHAW, Jack. Noreen and family would like to thank all the people who showed kindness and thoughtfulness at the passing of Jack.

To all the people who attended Jack's funeral and sent beautiful flowers, food and cards, thank you.

Thank you to Bradley Lett for his kindness and helpfulness at this sad time.

Would everyone please accept this as our personal thank you.

Honour

loved

and

story

O'NEILL. The funeral of Mrs Marie Lorraine O'Neill will leave St Mary's Catholic Church, 102 Commercial Road Yarram after as ervice commencing at 1:30pm on WEDNESDAY (Oct. 12, 2022) for the Yarram Cemetery.

PEVERILL, Katherine Jayne

8Nov 1978 -13Oct 2013

My heart still aches in sadness, My silent tears still flow, What it meant to lose you Kath, No one will ever know. Love from Dad.

GRANT Tourer, 2007, one owner, garaged, dual axle, 19'6", q/s bed, TV, front kit, fridge/freezer, gas 4burn stve/oven, h.w. tap, slide out BBQ under awn $25,000. 0438 426 061.

MAZDA, 2003 Tribute for sale or wrecking. New tyres and alternator, motor 200,000kms, transmission and interior good, driver side damaged. 0437 020 252, open to offers.

Trailers

MOWING BUSINESS?

8x5 trailer, drop down back,

for

up mowing business, previous owner

Motoring

Very special Nan to seven grand children.

O'NEILL (Collins), Marie Lorraine. 14/9/27 -3/10/22

Aged 95 years.

Loving mother, motherin-law and grandmother to Claire and John, Angie, Libby and Sam, Elliott and Jude Rest in Peace.

PAKULSKY, Debbie.

Much loved big sister to Lenny and loving aunty to Gemma, Carliea, Ebonie, Jayde and Cameron. Your presence with us and your memories will always be treasured. Loving you always, never forgotten. R.I.P. Debs.

RISELEY (nee Nutting), Janet Audrey. 17/4/1961 -27/9/2022

Aged 61

Loved wife, mother and Nan to Paul, Tristan, Travis, Felicity, Brenton (dec.), Monique and their families.

Youngest daughter of Audrey and Bill Nutting (both dec). Loved sister and sister in law of Gaylene (dec.), Mari ea nd Dann y (Connors), Wendy and Frank (Nagy), Brendan (dec.), Roger (dec.) and Jo. Loved Aunt and Great Aunt to all her nieces and nephews.

Gone way too soon, even though you had so many challenges you fought everyone one with strength and dignity.

You will be greatly missed.

Now you can finally hold Brenton on your arms again

PIRAPAK

The Funeral Service for Ms Somporn 'Boo' Pirapak will be held at Delbridge Funeral Chapel, Marley Street Sale at 1pm TOMORROW Wednesday (October 12, 2022), followed by aPrivate Cremation.

Please see our website for Livestream details.

MORRIS, Bruce. Malcolm, Jodie and I would like to thank each and everyone who attended Bruce's funeral, sent flowers, cards and best wishes. Bruce would have been thoroughly pleased with this reception. Iwould also like to thank Dr Echo and Brad Semmens for the lovely way he organised the funeral. Min from the Salvation Army who took the service. Thank you all again. Rhonda.

RISELEY (Nutting).

The funeral service and committal for cremation for Mrs Janet Audrey Riseley will be held at St Paul's Anglican Cathedral, Cunninghame Street Sale, NEXT WEDNESDAY, (October 19, 2022) commencing at 1pm. Please

Janet's

Directors

Barry &Annette Lett

ROSS.

The funeral service for Mr Colin Alan Ross will be held at Delbridge Funeral Chapel, Marley Street Sale at 1.30pm on MONDAY, (October 17, 2022,) followed by burial at the Sale Lawn Cemetery.

lose

can be

to

Round 2

Section 1:Maffra Gippsland Real Estate 3def Sale Findex 1, Maffra Wellington Real Estate 2def Bairnsdale 2(unconfirmed), Sale John Elliman Real Estate bye. Ladder: Maffra GRE (23 points), Sale JE (18), Maffra WRE (12), Sale Findex(11), Bairnsdale (6).

Section2:Heyfield 6def Sale Dahlsens 3, Sale CentralStorage7 def Maffra Community Sports Club 2, Maffra All Round Landscapes 6def Sale GlencoeLime3,Stratford5def Longford4,Maffra Vets bye. Ladder: Stratford(18 points), Sale CS (18), Heyfield (14), Longford(13), Maffra ARL (10), Sale Dahlsens (9), Maffra CSC (7), Maffra Vets (6), Sale GL (5).

Section 3:Maffra Stobies 6def Heyfield 3, Briagolong 6def Maffra Adams Accounting 3, MaffraRemovalists 6def Sale KFC3,Stratford 9 def Maffra Wilmour Motors0.Ladder: Stratford (19points), Briagolong (17), Maffra Stobies (17), Sale KFC(12), Maffra Removalists (8), Maffra AA (7), Heyfield (6), Maffra WM (2).

Juniors

Section 1:SaledeMinaur8 def Sale Kyrgios 0, Maffra 5-Bairnsdale 3(unconfirmed), Longford Sale Tomljanovic 7def Longford1

Section 2:SaleDuckworth 6def Sale Inglis 2, Sale Saville 6def Briagolong 2, Maffra 8-Bairnsdale Cawley0 (unconfirmed).

Section 3:StratfordSwans 7def Sale Hon1,Sale Kokkinakis 4-Bairnsdale Rafter 4(unconfirmed), Maffra 8def Heyfield 0, Longford 6def Sale Popyrim2

Section 4:SaleFourlis4def MaffraEagles4 (32 games to 29), Sale Kubler 5def Stratford Magpies 3, Bairnsdale Barty 6def Sale Sharma 2, BairnsdaleLaver8def Maffra Falcons0

Section 5:StratfordKookaburras 6def Sale Thompson 0, Sale Cabrera 5def Maffra 1, Sale Gadecki 5def Longford1,BairnsdaleStosur/

Readied for fight night

Daniel Pedersen

FOR boxers, Sale brothers John Cortejosand Peter Pirona seemlaid back abouttraining and their chosen sport.

At Bairnsdale’s RUfit gym at noon, they’re watching apress conferenceplay out abouttheirnext bouts,gently pedalling bikes, casually watching with crossed arms and working lactic acid from their legs after the morning’s run.

Both are training five days aweek as the next round of Wildfighter RoundX hits Bairnsdale Aquatic Recreation Centre on Saturday.

They’re not the only local names; fronting up also will be local hero Max Reeves, hailingfrom Stratford,and Bairnsdale’s Blake Wells.

Wells -his bout is the main event -istraining hard, six days aweek, running in the mornings, strength training during the day and boxing in the afternoons.

He’s spending plentyoftimeonthe road, travelling to Melbourne because it’s hard to find sparring partners locally.

“It’s alot of work, but Ilove it,” he said, “for the lastthreeorfouryearsI’vebeen workinghard, I’ve goingdecided I’m going to give it agood crack.

“I’ve really ramped it up in the past year,” said the 29-year-old, “less work, more training”.

Blake has just nudged into the top 100 professional fighters in the world for his weight.

He’s more precise than the other fighters about his weight -76.2kilograms.

“I’m shooting for number one in Australia and want to make the top 50 in the world rankings,” he said.

“I’ve won an Australasian title as alight heavyweight, Iput on abit of weight in COVID,” he said.

Next month he’ll be fighting at supermiddleweight.“That’scomfortableand my most efficient weight,” he said.

He’ll be fighting against Fiji’s Silivini Nawai and

loves fighting in front of his home crowd, so he’s hoping there’s agood turn out to cheer him on.

Jhon Cortejos, 28, will be fighting Izak Handley in the super featherweight class.

“I’m just trying to get myself moving right,” he said of his lead-up preparation.

“There’s alot of repetition and discipline, that’s how you get better, you’ve gottosharpen your tools.”

Jhon’s brother Peter Pirona, 24, will be fighting New Zealander Villiami Liava.

“I’m running pretty hard, about six kilometres in the mornings, more if I’m feeling good, Ilisten to my body,” Pirona said.

“I’m just having acrack to seewhere it takes me.”

Max Reeves is ranked number six in Australia at the moment and will fight Fijian RobinHazleman, former Fijian super middleweight champion.

He’srunning at 5ameach morning and works full-time,wedging his trainingaroundhis work as an electrician for Boltz Electrical.

And Max is circumspect about hiscareer: “I’ll probably peak in my late 20s, I’m 22 now, but I’ll watch it, Iwant to be able to speak at the end of my career.”

He wears head protection when he’s sparring.

East Gippsland Shire deputy mayor, Arthur Allen, was at the gym spruiking the benefits of Gippslandand how hostingafightwould be great for Bairnsdale and local fight fans.

“Locals will be able to come and see the fights,” he said, “it’s not so accessible if they’re fighting in Melbourne.”

Council organised the venue for fight promoter Wildfighter.

WellingtonGippsland TennisAssociation-

Maffra

Stratford’s Max Reeves(left) will be fighting former super middleweightchampionFijian

Robin Hazleman on Saturday. Max is pictured herewith East Gippsland Shire deputymayor Arthur Allenand Blake Wells.

Sale’s Peter Pirona willfightNew Zealander Villiami Liava.

Jhon Cortejos

be fighting Izak Handleyon

BlakeWellswillfight in the mainbout at Bairnsdale Aquatic Recreation Centre on Saturday

Photos: Daniel Pedersen

Hillclimb series this Sunday

MAFFRA and District Car Club will host round seven of the Boisdale Hillclimb Series this Sunday (October 16).

With free entry for spectators, there will be plenty of thrills and spills on the gravel hillclimb track from a variety of race cars.

As the end of the 2022 racing season draws near, alarge field of competitors will gather from across Gippsland for the long-track event to compete for the fastest time of the day.

The Boisdale Hillclimb Track is located at 239 Boisdale/Newry Rd, Boisdale.

Akiosk will be open throughout the event and there is aplayground for the kids.

More information can be found at the club’s website; www.madcc.com. au or by phoning Adrian Britton on 0418 561 053.

Locals reaching goals withPhysiPole

Zoe Askew

SMASHING goals, spinning on poles, Traralgon’s PhysiPole Studios has had an impressive few months, with the Gippsland pole and aerial fitness studio raking in myriad accolades from August through September.

Sale local Allison Murphy dominated the Victorian Pole Championships at Federation Square on Saturday, August 27, with her ‘Black Widow’ routine taking out the amateur championship title.

Allison never anticipated hearing her name reverberate inside the Fed Square walls as the judges announced the Victorian Pole Championships Amateur Champion title.

“I was shocked,” Allison said. “It was very validating; personally, Istrugglewith confidence and all that, in my skill, and it was just so good to have my hard work paid off.”

“Yeah, Iwas so happy,” Allison said, laughing.

The Victorian Pole Championships 2022 Amateur Champion was introduced to pole dancing in 2017, while living in Geelong.

As achild, she trained, then competed and coached gymnastics at Maffra Gymnastics Club.

After high school, Allison said goodbye to Gippsland and moved to Geelong, where she continued coaching gymnastics throughout her university degree.

“I finished uni and started practising law,” Allison said.

“When Istarted practising law, Ihad to quit coaching gymnastics, and Ididn’thave anything to do; it created abit of agap

“Growing up being agymnast at Maffra, then coaching, Ifound being out of the sports world really hard.”

Longing to rejoin the sporting world, missing the endorphins, community and camaraderie, Allison quickly agreed when her friend suggested they try pole dancing.

Five years later, Allison would never have thought she would be standing on astage at Fed Square receiving the Victorian Pole Championships Amateur Championship trophy or preparing for the Australian Pole Championships, slated for Fed Square in December.

For Allison, pole dancing was never about competing or winning state titles; she was drawn to the artistic, emotional, and physically-challenging elements accompanying the sport.

“I’m not the kind of person who can practise mindfulness; my escape is being here (in the studio),” Allison said.

“I pick characters for all my pieces, and I love choosing strong female characters; Ilove creating the drama, bringing the audience in, really creating the kind of routine where the audience just cannot take their eyes off me because they are so drawn in by the emotion and the intensity.”

Allison said she also loved creating costumes.

“My mum is areally good seamstress, and my goal before mum drops off the perch is for her to teach me everything she knows about sewing, because her sewing brain is truly incredible,” she said.

“So being able to spend time with my mum and mum teaching me how to make my costumes, as much as she sometimes rips my head off, is our little thing.

“It is just such good fun spending time with

mum making costumes together.”

Allison is not the only accomplished athlete at Traralgon PhysioPole, where involvement with the studio has bolstered family relationships.

Darren Roylance, aka Hoop Daddy, recently participated in his first aerial competition, PhysioPole Studios’ Ignite Intermediate Aerial Finals, after winning the PhysioPole Studios’ Ignite Intermediate aerial heat in June.

Traralgon PhysiPole Studios’ Hoop Daddy took first place in the PhysioPole Studios’ Ignite Finals at Thornbury Theatre on August 19.

For most, swinging on apparatuses metres above the ground is daunting, but for Darren, an arborist by trade, he lives for the thrill of heights.

“I’ve been climbing trees for 22 years, so doing anything crazy with heights Iamin,” he said.

“I was the only male competitor -that was seriously intimidating. They are all so fit, very pretty and very good at what they do and here comes this gnarley greyhaired, pink-haired old fella. It was very intimidating.

“It is the only competition Ihave competed in; the heat, then the finals, and now Iam retiring. I’ve got a100 per cent success rate; it onlygoes downhill from here.”

Being afemale-dominated sport, it poses the question of how on earth a58-year-old man finds hisway into the world of pole dancing and aerial fitness.

“My daughter owns the studio,” Darren said.

“It started out as daddy-daughter time and got serious.

“Part of the reason Idid it (aerial) is that I am not you stereotypical bloke, Idon’t care what anyone thinks about me; if Iamhappy doing something, I’m going to do it.”

Darren said it was also great fun because he got to spend lots of time with his daughter. “That was abig part of the reason Istarted it,” he said.

“Now, they (Traralgon PhysiPole Studios) are apartofmyfamily; they all call me dad When Icome in, all the girls say, ‘hi,dad’; it’s good, Ilikeit.”

Hoop Daddy’s daughter and owner of Traralgon PhysiPole Studios, Celestee Roylance, began competing in pole dancing

and hoop in 2016, before buying the studio in 2017

The Studios’ accomplishments don’t end there Ten year old Ariana Riseley took first place in the PhysioPole Studios’ Ignite Juniors Beginner Aerial Finals

“I was Princess Poppy from Trolls,” Ariana said

“I chose her because she is just a very fun character and very excited about everything, and that’s kinda me

“It was a bit scary at the start; I was very shaky and nervous Everything was great after I started performing ”

Traralgon’s Emma Dunn was a finalist in the PhysioPole Studios’ Ignite Advanced Pole Finals, and Laura Elise won the PhysioPole Studios’ Ignite Semi Pro Pole Final

Traralgon PhysiPole Studios also took out the Ignite Franchise Studio of the Year award

Traralgon PhysioPole Studios’ Darren Roylance, Allison Murphy, Rachael Peter and Ariana Riseley have enjoyed a successful time in the sport recently Photo: Zoe Askew

Rachael Peter and Allison Murphy.Murphy,from Sale, won the Victorian Pole Championships Amatuer championship Photo: Zoe Askew

Sale local Allison Murphy at the Victorian Pole Championships in August

Second Danslide expected in Victoria

PREMIER Daniel Andrews is tipped to lead Labor to alandslide victory in next month’s state election.

Sportsbethas again cutLabor’s priceand they are now $1.08 to govern, after $1.20 was offeredlastmonth.

The Coalition has eased from $4.95 out to $7.00 and any other party is $101.

The online bookmaker hasalsoopened betting on the 88 electorates and has Labor ahead in 52 of those.

ALabor majority, of over 45 seats, is at $1.20.

“Everything points to it beinganother Danslide in Victoria. Labor is well ahead in the seats and Andrews appears poised to become the state’s longest-serving Labor Premier,’’ Sportsbet’s Sean Ormerod said.

Editors note: The Gippsland Times does not encourage or endorse irresponsible gambling. This piece has been included purely as abit of light-hearted interest.

Sale-Maffra Cricket Association

Round 2scores

Second Grade:Bundalaguah 6/117 (K O’Reilly 57,B Fleming 2/14, TLove 2/19) def Rosedale-Kilmany 116 (CM Whiteoak 36, JMoulton 32, NNikolajew 3/25); Collegians 133(JMcGuiness 26, SSharma 3/13, A Jago 2/18, JDuffield2/26) dSale 79 (J McGuiness 3/10, NGiove 2/4, SW Anderson 2/16, LPanwar 2/17); StratforddrewMaffra.

ThirdGrade:Bundalaguah 8/142 (J Matthews 28, KBakulapalli 4/23) def Nambrok 113(LAdams 50, BBailey3/20, STudor 2/10,KLenehan 2/14), Boisdale-Briagolong 2/76(DMurphy 35*, CComben 32*, JVan Zelst 2/26) dStratford75(MMurphy3/17, T Harms 2/2, JAnnear 2/11), Maffra 6/110 (Ben Lanigan 47*, KArbuthnot 3/35)defeated Sale 108(JBruce 47 , HJohnson 4/12), Collegians 2/61(NAnderson 37) def Longford59(JWells 3/4, DBird3/6), Wurruk bye.

Fourth Grade:Stratford0/83 def Sale White 82 (A Duffield 45, KNoble 4/13), Collegians 2/85 (C Paterson 52*) def Longford84, Bundalaguah Bulls 4/140 (P Horan 42*, BFuller38*) def Bundalaguah Yaks 2/138 (G Hickey51*,GWrigglesworth 49*), Maffra 4/119 (J Whelan 35)def Sale Black 117(TReid 46), Wurruk Toads 124(BVan den velder 50*, MBennett 4/17) def Wurruk Windies 51,Heyfield drew Rosedale-Kilmany Junior Grades:all washed out

Come and see the cup

THE 2022 Lexus Melbourne Cup is on its way to Wellington Shire, with visitsplanned for Rosedale, Maffra and Seaspray next week.

The tour begins at Rosedale, by the Patrobas statueat8.30amnext Tuesday, October 18, where it will be seen alongside the ‘Widdis Cup’.

Won by the real-life Patrobas racehorse in 1915,the Widdis Cup is housedatthe Portof Sale building and seldom leaves its display case, giving punters arare opportunity to see it and its modern equivalent up close.

The 2022 Cup will then head to Maffra, where it will be takentolocal primaryschools,Maffra RSL Sub-Branch and Stretton Park.

After, it will be walked around Johnson St businesses at about3.15pm,taken to the MaffraBand Rotunda for aperformance by the Maffra Municipal String Band at 4pm, and a‘Welcome to Country’ ceremony willbeconducted by Ramahyuck Elders at 4.30pm, which will include aperformance by Ramahyuck’s Cultural Connect Dance Group.

From 6.30pm, there will be further opportunity to learn about the cup at the Maffra Community Sports Club.

There, attendees will meet the cup ambassador and perhaps hold the $275,000 trophy in their hands, while being entertained by the Maffra Municipal String Band.

Thefollowing Wednesday,the cup will continue its tour in Seaspray, beginning at Seaspray Primary School from 9.30am.

It willthen be displayedatthe caravan park and community shop from 10.50am until 11.30am for locals lookingfor photo opportunities, and then moveontothe Seaspray Surf Life Saving Club clubrooms before along lunch from 12.30pm to 4pm.

The Melbourne Cup Tourisanannualevent that has the cup taken around Australia for the public to see and learn of its history.

In 2022 the cup was also taken overseas to New Zealand and Singapore.

The WellingtonShire leg of the tour was secured thanks to submissions by the Maffra RSL SubBranch and Seaspray SLSC.

During its tour of Gippsland, the cup will be accompanied by aVictoria Racing Club representative and aMelbourne Cup Ambassador, who will present ahistory of the famous trophy and “the race that stops anation”.

The event has been made possiblewith the support of theGippsland Art Gallery, Andrew Widdis, Maffra Municipal Band, Gippsland Vehicle Collection, East Gippsland Harness Club, Maffra Community Sports Club, Ramahyuck, and the Maffra Business and Tourism Association.

Any questionsabout the schedule or activities can be directed to Maffra RSL Sub-Branch president Kevin Christensen on 0437 808 630.

Goannas gobble up oppoents in vets cricket

THE Mornington Over 50s could not field ateam last Sunday, so the first game of the new season for the Gippsland Goannas Over-50 cricket team did not take place at Rosedale as planned. It is hopedtorearrange the game to alater date.

The Goannas Over 60 teamtravelledtoKoo Wee Rup to play the local veterans team at the KWR Secondary College ground.

New Goannascaptain, Rino Metlikovec, on winning thetoss, decided to bat first and the Goannas made 229 for the loss of no wickets.

Leading the way was man-of-the-match Ray Smithwith 40 from 30 balls, Col Carmody 39 from 40, Derek Morris 30 from 40, Rob Taylor 27 from

40 and Metlikovec 26 from 30.

After the lunch breakthe chase was on, with five fours being smashed from the first four overs.

However, the Gippsland bowlers regained their composure, Gordon Cowling breaking through first and ending with figures of 1/21 off six overs.

Peter Anton was the pick of the bowlers, taking 4/19 from 6.2

Neil Meredith chipped in with 2/7.

KWR completed their innings, all out for 98 runs in the 32nd over.

Alowlight of the day was the terrible catching for both teams, butAnton, Metlikovec and Morris didtake good catchesfor the Goannas.

Goannas veteran IanSouthall in amagnanimous gesture, played for KWR.

The Goannas Over-70 team has agametonight at Maffra against the Yarra Valley Over 70; the Over 60 teamhave ahome game against the Australian Cricket Society on Sunday and the Over 50 team will play an away game against Coburg on October 23.

Practice will continue at Glengarry nets on Wednesday from 4.30pm and any cricketers over the age of 49 who would prefer to play against their own age groupshouldcall secretary IanGibson on 0427 376 776.

ErnieHug from SeaspraySurf Life SavingCluband Kevin ChristensenfromMaffraRSL SubBranch with the 2022 Melbourne Cup. Photo: Contributed

Power of Love on full display

TomParry

ROUND 2ofthe Sale-Maffra Cricket Association almost didn’t go ahead.

Things were looking grim early on Saturday morning, as adownpourthe previousevening left many grounds resembling wetlands rather than sporting venues, forcing the cancellation of junior games and leaving groundsmen hurriedly preparing ovals for the first-grade competition.

Thankfully, all four one-day games were able to go ahead at their scheduled venues.

Although cool temperatures, highwinds and damp pitches favoured the bowlers, there was plentyofhigh scores to be seen around the grounds.

Whether this is atestament to the curators or the abilities of thebatsmen, this authorcannot be certain.

One thing is for certain though: if this round’s results areanythingtogoby, there’ll be more highscoring encounters to come in the weeks ahead.

RK def Boisdale-Briagolong

BRIAGOLONG Recreation Reserve hosted the clash of the double-hyphenates, with RosedaleKilmany making the 50-kilometre journey to play the Saints.

Having beensent-in by the opposition, the Warriors made asuperbstart viaa28-runpartnership between openersBrad Scottand Brandon McDonald, before Scott was caught by BoisdaleBriagolong captain DylanBolton off the bowling of Englishman Nick Pang.

McDonald put on another 21 runs with Nathan Hangan as his battingpartner,until thelatterwas bowled by Bolton.

Rohan Diamond and Anthony Scott fell cheaply after hittingsky-high balls, bringingtothe wicket captain Isaac Love, hoping to atone for his Round 1duck against Collegians.

Love and McDonald’s fifth-wicket partnership saw another31runspiledon, with McDonald eventually caught in the deep by Connor Hughes.

The opener’s gallant effort of 37 runs saw him earn an ovation from Rosedale-Kilmany’ssupport crew as he exited the ground

Michael Walters was next to fall victim, with his captain causing arun out after slipping at the opposite endofthe pitch, forcingthe number seven back to his crease.

In all fairness, Walters was subject to asuperb throw from midwicket that squarely hit the stumps.

Love survived the remainder of his innings, making55not-out with seven boundaries to his name -five of them sixes to have the Warriors at 7/147 after the full 40 overs.

In reply, the Saints could only manage alowly 81 runs, all-out by the 26th over.

Love solidifiedhis man-of-the-match status in the secondinningswithstatisticsof4/26off six overs, his figures followed by Diamond with 3/4.

Meanwhile, Toby Leeds was the highlight of the second-inning batters with 28.

Bundalaguah def Longford

THE Bulls were lucky to even play agame, let alone win, against Longford on their home turf.

The Colin Wrigglesworth Oval was, in the words of the visiting captain, “underwater” at the beginning of the day, with the game eventually getting underway one-and-a-half hours after the scheduled start time.

Bundalaguah won the toss and wisely made the opposition bat first.

Opener Jake Wynd fell for aduck, leaving Andrew Tyson and Waltley Sutton to get the Lizards’ innings going.

They did exactly that, piling on 40 runs before Bundy’s Eranda Aponso broke the second-wicket partnership by bowling Tyson for 22.

Tyson would be the highest run-scorer for the Lizards.

Kshitiz Sharma took two wicketsinthe same over, including Sutton for 17.

Hamish Anderson very nearly got ahat-trick, his two wickets -Longford captain Lachlan Floyd and

AGRADE -ROUND 2

ROSEDALE-KILMANY

JTaylor. c&bSpoljaric

RSidhu runout 9

DEF BOISDALE-BRIAG

Rosedale-Kilmany innings

BScott. cBolton bPang 14

BMcDonald cHughes bBolton 37 NHangan. bBolton 6 RDiamond cBolton bSutton. 3 AScott. cMay bBolton 2 ILove. not out 55 MWalters. runout 5 CFreshwater lbw bHurst 11 DRowley. not out 1

Extras (nb 2, w5,b1,lb0). 8 Overs. 32 Total. 84

Bundalaguahbowling:G Munasinghe7-1-1-18, SSpoljaric 7-1-2-21, HAnderson 6-0-2-14,KSharma 7-0-2-17, EAponso 5 0-2-13.

Bundalaguah innings

JLangshaw. cSidhu bOsborne 21

WHector. not out 7

RSudan cNed HurleybS Anderson 1

TDobson runout 0

Extras (nb 0, w12, b0,lb6). 18

Overs. 40

Total. 9/170

Collegians bowling:NoahHurley7-0-1-35, NWhitford 5-1-1-19, SAnderson 8-2-3-22, Ned Hurley4-0-0-25,H Anderson 8-0-0-37,JDurnell 8-1-3-28.

STRATFORD DEFEATED MAFFRA

Stratfordinnings

CAurisch cWozniak bPendrick65

Extras (nb 1, w10, b0,lb2). 13 Overs. 40 Total.

7/147 (cc)

TO’Reilly. lbw bMurphy. 0 KSharma. cSuttonb Wynd 23 CSmart lbw bMurphy. 9 HWrigglesworth.cTyson bTaylor. 14 LWrigglesworth..not out 0 CLay not out 8

LBolton lbw bPendrick. 50

JRietschel cEastham bFreitag 41

LChanning CHibbins bFreitag 3

Boisdale-Briagolong

bowling:C Hughes 8-0-0-30,N Pang 8-1-1-19, NSutton8-1-1-31, DBolton 8-4-3-21, SMay 6-0-0-34, LHurst 2-0-1-10

Boisdale-Briagolong innings

MRoberts cRowleyb Love

SNoble bHughes

TLeeds cHughes bA Scott.

NPang cFreshwater bA Scott.

DBolton. bLove.

CHughes cMcDonald bDiamond

TLangshaw. cBScottb AScott.

LHurst cFox bLove.

NSutton. cMcDonald bLove.

MFreeman bDiamond

Extras (nb 1w11b0lb0).

Overs. 25.4 Total.

Rosedale-Kilmanybowling:K Hughes3-0-1-5, BScott 5-1-0-15, NHangan3.1-0-0-21,RDiamond 6-3-3 4, ILove 6-1-4-26, JDiamond 1.3-0-2-5, SFox 1-0-0-5.

BUNDALAGUAH DEFEATED LONGFORD Longfordinnings

JWynd cLay bMunaisnghe 0 ATyson bAponso 22 WSutton. cLangshawbSharma 16 COsborne lbw bAponso 14 JHeywood c&b Sharma

LFloyd cLangshawb Anderson 8 MMurphy. bSpoljaric 3 LKnight cL Wrigglesworthb Anderson SLucas-Laws not out 5

Extras (nb 0, w8,b 0, lb 4) 12 Overs. 24.4 Total. 5/87

Longfordbowling: MMurphy7-1-2-23, RSidhu3-0-0-9,C Osborne4-0 1-16,J Wynd 5-1-1-15,A Tyson 3-0-0-8, LFloyd 2-1 0-4, JTaylor 0.4-0-1 8

COLLEGIANS DEFEATED SALE

Collegians innings

ZHurley. bJones 27

TMorrison cRaidal bO’Brien 72

ABurgiel bBDobson 24 Noah Hurley. cNel bBDobson 7 HAnderson bJones 35 SAnderson bNel 19

APhillips cJones bNel 0

JMalone not out 2 TDessent not out 1

Extras (nb 1, w2,b 1, lb 1) 5 Overs. 40

Total.

7/192(cc)

Sale bowling: HGlover4-2-0 6, TDobson4-0 0-22, M Raidal 3-0-0-25, BJones 8-1 2-30,C Nel8-0-2-37,B Dobson 9-1-2-45, MO’Brien 5-0-1-25

Sale innings

CNel cS Anderson bNoah Hurley 103

WMcKenzie cH Anderson bWhitford. 4 MRaidal bS Anderson 8 MO’Brien lbw bS Anderson 0 BJones cDessent bDurrell 24 HGlover. c&b Durrell. 3 DPadula cWhitfordbDurrell 5

MickMurphywas the best of Longford’s bowlers, taking 2/23 of seven overs.

Collegians def Sale

PERHAPS feeling confident after their emphatic win over Rosedale-Kilmany the previous weekend, Collegians put themselves into bat after winning the toss at the Sale Oval.

It’s adecision that worked to the blue and red’s favour, with Zac Hurley and Tom Morrison scoring 44 runs between them before the first wicket fell Sale captain BenJones makingthe breakthrough.

The loss of Hurley broughtonAdrian Burgiel, whoadded another24before he was bowled by Brody Dobson.

Henry Anderson entered the crease to complete a38-run partnership with Morrison.

Morrison was eventually caught out, but not before having scored 72 runs, the highest in the first innings.

Collegians ended their 40 overs with three wickets to spare on adaunting score of 192.

BChanning bPendrick. 1

NFrench c&bPendrick. 0

BDinning CPendrickbHopkins 14

HTatterson not out 5

SPendergast cHibbins bHopkins 0

EAlbrecht not out 0

Extras (nb 3, w7,b 1, lb 0) 11

Overs. 40

Total. 8/190(cc)

Maffrabowling: DFreitag 8-1-2-35,A Kuizenga 8-0-0-41,D Griffiths 8-1-0-29,L Hopkins8-0-2-36,J Pendrick7-0-4-40, N Wozniak 1-0-0-5.

Maffra innings

BHarrington. cWaixel bRietshcel 23

LHopkins lbw bPendergast 2

NHibbons bPendergast 1

MEastham cAurisch bAlbrecht 25

DFreitag cTatterson bE Albrecht 4

NWozniak cBChanning bAlbrecht 4

JGrumley. cWaxiel bRietschel 2

JPendrick. not out 6

DGriffiths bRietschel 4

AKuizenga. bRietschel 0

JAnderson bLChanning 2

Extras (nb 0, w6, b2, lb 1) 9

Overs 36 Total. 82

Stratfordbowling: SPendergast 2/16, ZWaxiel0/10,

Tatterson0/22, EAlbrecht

JRietschel4/8, LChanning

The two men madeavery respectable 54-run partnership; butitwasn’t enough to save Sale, which had only made 170 at the end of 40 overs with one wicket to spare.

Stratforddef Maffra

MAFFRA’S home-ground advantage did them very little favours, losing to reigning premier Stratford by 108 runs.

As with Collegians, the Redbacks won the toss andoptedtobat firstonatrack that was considerably drier than Bundalaguah’s and Briagolong’s -owing to thesuperb drainageofthe Cameron Sporting Complex.

The opening partnership of Chris Aurisch and Lewis Bolton wasn’tbroken until the 24th over, and by that time the pair had made 109 runs between them -more than theentirety of the Eagles’ 11-man squad.

Jack Rietschel also made anotable contribution with 41 batting first drop.

then Liam Knight -falling in succession.

Bulls captain Jason Langshaw appeared to want the three-for more than young Anderson did, setting avery aggressive field for Sam Lucas-Laws, only for him to survive.

Longford was eventually all-out for 84 after 32 overs.

The Bulls won the match in the 25th overoftheir innings with five wickets to spare.

Langshaw and Sharma combined for a37-run second-wicket partnership, the latter being the top run-scorer with 23.

Jones was the best of Sale’s bowlers with 2/30, followed by South African import Coenie Nel with 2/37 and both men taking acatch in the field.

Nel backed-up his efforts with the ball in the second innings. The all-rounder scoring 108 for the Swans -the competition’s first century in the 2022/23season -inaperformance that included eight fours and two sixes.

He verynearly carriedhis bat through theinnings too, not falling until the ninth wicket.

Sadly, Nel was one of the very few batting highlights for Sale, with Jones the next best performer on 24 runs

By the close of their innings,Stratford had amassed ascore of 190 with two wickets in-hand.

Jake Pendrick provedthe star bowler for Maffra, taking 4/40 including the key wickets of Aurisch and Bolton.

After losing two batsmen early in their innings, Miller Eastham and Ben Harrington lookedtohave steadied the ship for Maffra, before they themselves fell for 25 and 23, respectively at the third and fourth wickets.

Theywould be the highest run-scorers for the Eagles, who were all-out for just 82 in the 36th over.

Ethan Albrecht was the Redbacks’standout bowler, with figures of 3/12.

Brandon McDonaldcuts during his innings of 37 for Rosedale-Kilmanny against BoisdaleBriagolong. Photo: TomParry

600 not out

TomParry

WURRUK Cricket Club’s gr g eatest stalwart has notched up 600 games for the Toads Rob Young reachedthe milestone playing in the fourth-gr g ade competition at Wurruk’s home-gr g ound on Saturday afternoon

The 70-year-old descri r bedhis achievement as a“very nice feeling”.

“In my wildest dreams, Inever thought I’d play 600 games,” Young said.

“It’s taken along time to get here, but very worthwhile.”

In celebration of his milestone, the club held afamilyday at the gr g ound and presented Youngwithaglass trophy recogn g ising his feat.

Additionally, following the conclusion of his innings, he was warmly greeted by spectators with around of applause

Among those in attendance was club president Bradley Light, who described Young as ahard-worker and “club legend”

“He’s recognised here as alife member of the club; he’s volunteered his time here for many, many years; mowed all the lawns in his own time -comes in nearly 15 hours aweek, minimum, all year round just donates his time and loves the club,” Light said.

“I knew when I met him, the club was in, always, good hands ”

The president added that he wasn’t aware of any other cricketers who have played 600 matches for the one club: “I know there’s a few in the 500 club, but 600 is a first for me ”

Young has been at the club since its incep tion, with Wurruk being formed after the Australian Post Tel Institute team folded about four decades ago

He puts his longevity down to keeping fit and active by mowing lawns, although he admits that these days he’s lucky to get a game, “because I don’t come down to training or anything like that ”

Young’s fondest memory of his time at the club is when he scored 153 not out

“And the silly part about it, the day I made 153 not out, I got dropped second ball,” he laughed

There is talk around the club of Young reaching the 700 game milestone, with one member saying that he “definitely” has another 100 games to give

“Hopefully I’ve got a few more as long as the club wants me, I’ll certainly play,” Young said

“As long as I don’t stop the kids, the young ones having a game I’d bow out for a junior any time ”

Rob Younginaction during his 600th gamefor Wurruk.

Photo: TomParry