Latrobe Valley Express Wednesday 10 April 2024

By ZAIDAGLIBANOVIC

Well, volunteers at Connecting 2 Australia ’s (C2A) Cooin da Hill Op Shop, who pour their hearts into their work, have been left heartbroken and disheartened after aseries of burglaries and theft of yourkind donationshave taken placefrom their shop in Seymour Street, Traralgon. These incidents have not only caused significant damage, they have also led to aloss of revenue, affecting the community they serve.

C2A is aRegisteredCharity and NDIS provider. The money that Cooinda Hill Op Shopraises, goes toward supporting people with disability.

Team Leader at C2A’s Cooinda Hill Op Shop, Lynn Noske, said break-ins had become more frequent.

“They’re using pry bars to get into the bin. They’re also fishing out of the top

of the bin and scattering donations all over the street, creating waste,” she said. “Basically, they were taking all of our most valuable donations that were put there overnight.”

Ms Noske, determined to protect the donationsand the community’strust, has been in constantcommunication with the local police over the past few yearsdue to these criminal activities.

The Op Shop has even taken the proactive and costly stepofinstalling security cameras, hoping to deter potential offenders. However, despite these efforts, these criminal acts continue.

“We’ve got it alloncamera,”t he volunteer said.

C2A Cooinda Hill Op Shop volunteers suspect they’re not the only op shop targeted by selfish thieves.

There are volunteers who come down overthe weekend each week to clearthe donations off the street.

“One particular Sunday, avolunteer came down, and there was awhite 4WD parked sideways out the front -they had already filled the back of their car, and they were filling the boot with donations from the street,” she said.

Ms Noske said she was told the man driving the vehicle, when approached,

told the volunteer that “charity starts at home, love” and drove away.

“I don’t know what they’re doing or why they believe they have the right to steal donations,” Ms Noske said.

Working as Team Leader at the Traralgon store, Ms Noske said the donation theft had gottenprogressively worse over the years.

“We haven’t had someone jimmy our donation bin open before–this is on another level,” she said.

Overthe lastfew weeks, the charity has lost hundreds of dollars that could havebeen used to better the lives of people with disability both locally and across the state.

Amid these donation thefts,the volunteers at C2A Cooinda Hill are pleading with the community to donate their Op Shop-ready goods within operating hours so they can be sorted and shelved instantly.

“I know people are donating because they think they are helping us, and we reallyappreciate every donationweget However, by leavingitonthe street, they’re just leaving it open for people to destroy or steal,” Ms Noske said.

And unfo rtun ately, some are

dumping, which certainly isn’t considered donating.

Many regional op shops have opted to remove their donation bins or locate them inside the store followingboth theft and illegal rubbish dumping.

All op shops are incredibly grateful for the community’s charitable contributions, but if you really want to do your bit for charity, C2A is asking you to not leave donations out on the street.

“Weare all volunteers, we give up our time to come downhereand cleanupthe footpath,” Ms Noske said.

For many of these op shop workers, it’s aseven-day job to help raise money for those in need.

C2A’s Peopleand Culture Business Partner, Roger Rodrigue s, said Traralgon’s Op Shop revenue helps fund engaging programs and inclusive opportunities for people with disability.

“Because we are anot-for-profit, it is throughthe efforts of our committed volunteers, and support from the community, thathelp C2A to support peoplewithdisability in the way we do,” he said.

Continued -Page8

Cooinda Hill Op Shop, Traralgon volunteersLorraine Peters and Lynn Noskeare fedupwith people stealing. Op Shops across the region have reported an alarming spikeinthefts from donation bins.

Syringes dumped at Moe playground

By ZAIDAGLIBANOVIC

SEESAWS, swing sets and slides -all things familiesexpecttosee on thegroundsoflocal parks. Injection needles don't normally fall into that category. Latrobe City Council has received reports of an environmental hazard at Apex Park in Moe.

On Monday, the councilteam activelyworked on a clean-up operation in the barbecue and playground area due to syringes being found.

For the safety of all, council requested that people avoided the area until the officers and contractors completed the clean-up process.

The council post on Facebook garnered much attention, with one social media user sharing the post with comments of disgust.

"If you’re goingtodothat terrible sh** to yourself at least clean up your damn mess! Why would you leave that sh** at akids playground? What is matter with some of you people," they posted.

For those that do come across aused syringe in apublic place, there are amatter of steps to take:

 Don't pick up the needles as it could lead to dangerous exposure, and;

 Call someone to dispose of it.

If you notice adiscarded syringe: Phone 1300 367 700. Give the exact address of where the syringe is, and describe nearbylandmarks such as aphone box, public toilets, etc. Provide your contactdetails in case council need more information.

The Latrobe City Council recommends used syringes are handled by professionals only. However, if you must handle one:

 If you can, use tongs or protect your hand with aheavy duty glove or cloth;

 Never touch the sharp end of the needle, only pick up the syringe by the barrel end;

 Do not try to replace the cap on the needle;

 Put the needle and syringe in ascrew top, puncture proof, plastic container and seal it;

 Tell children never to pick up needles or syringes, but to call an adult, and;

 Do not put needles and syringes down toilets and drains.

Local needle and syringe programs are coordinated by Latrobe Regional Hospital.Phonethe hospital on 5173 8000 or Latrobe Community Health Service (1800 242 696).

There are large capacity bright orange disposal bins located outside the entrance of each of the

Latrobe Community Health Offices at:

 42-44 Fowler Street Moe;

 81-85 Buckley Street Morwell, and;

 Corner of Seymour Street and Princes Highway, Traralgon. Latrobe CommunityHealth Services employ

aRegional Mobile Drug Safety Worker who is available for assistance, education and advice on any drug related issues.

Latrobe Community Health Service canbe reached on the above phone numbers during office hours.

Need for bushfire expert opinion on taskforce

By PHILIP HOPKINS

ALATROBE Valleyconsultant hasstrongly criticisedthe lack of bushfire expertise on the state government panel investigating the future use of Victoria's native forest estate.

The government has establishedthe Great Outdoors Taskforce to conduct the investigation of the state’s public landestate, which now includes forest previously used for timber harvesting.

The taskforce will be chaired by aformerVictorian Minister for Environment, Lisa Neville. Members of the taskforce include:

 Karen Cain, chair of the Eminent Panel for Community Engagement and aformer chair of the Latrobe Valley Authority;

 Mellissa Wood, chair of the Victorian Environmental Assessment Council and member of the Eminent Panel for Community Engagement;

 Graham Dear, board chair of the Victorian Fisheries Authority, and;

 Terry Robinson, CEO of Destination Gippsland.

John Cameron, aforest andbusiness consultant with decades of experience, said wildfire was the single most important threat to the state's 7.5 million hectares of native forest.

"There is aclear need for afire behaviour expert to be on the Great Outdoors Taskforce," he said.

Mr Cameron said at least one of several highly qualified bushfire experts should have been chosen, including arepresentative from Forestry Australia,the professional body that represents forest scientists, bush practitioners andexperts in forest management.

Thework of the late Professor Kevin Tolhurst, who died suddenly last October, should be included in the investigation.

"Kevin wasanexpert in wildfire behaviour, prescribed burning techniques and guidelines, ecological management of landscapes, fire risk management and ecological impacts of fire," Mr Cameron said.

"Victorian bushfire policy is hopelessly misguided, and based on shonky science steeped in ideology. Against misguided political, ideological and bureaucratic impediments, Kevin continued to deliver real science and practical management options."

Mr Cameron wrote atribute to Dr Tolhurst last year with Traralgon resident and former CSIRO bushfire expert, David Packham.

"Kevin's lastmessage to agatheringatMallacoota on 5October was, that if appropriate fuel reduction had been applied prior to the 2019/20 Black Summer bushfire, Mallacoota would not have burned," they wrote.

Mr Cameron said Victoria's black summer bushfires burnt 1.8 million ha, five lives were lost

and millions of native fauna were killed. Within the regionofthe fire, only 0.6 per cent of the forest was fuel reduced in the four previous years, well below the five per cent recommendedbythe Victorian Bushfire Royal Commission, he said.

Mr Cameron also said there was aglaring falsehood in the government's announcement of the task force,which stated that 1.8 millionha’sof native forest had been allocated to the native forest industry. When harvesting ended this year, the area of theVictorian forest available for timber harvesting was only about 4-6 per cent of the 7.5 million hectares of native forest.

"This was only about 375,000 ha, or 0.4mill ha. The government is misleading the public again and again on the facts," he said.

The Minister for Environment,Steve Dimopoulos, said the taskforce would also include Traditional Owner representation. Their involvement will be flexible to allow for each Traditional Owner group to determine its involvement.

The taskforce will consult with communities and stakeholders to ensure all options for future uses and careofthe forest are heard andexplored. It will consider opportunities to protect the environment and support recreational, social and commercial opportunities in their recommendationsto government.

This includes investigating which areas of the

estate present opportunities for recreationand tourism, such as camping, hunting, hiking, trailbike riding and four-wheel driving.

Thetaskforce will also explore which areas need to be protected to safeguard threatened species, areasthatqualify for protectionasNational Parks and opportunities for Traditional Owner management.

The panel will prioritise areas of stateforest where some decisions can be made now and advise on where more engagement is required.

The work will be undertaken over the next 12 months and consultation details will be released in the coming weeks.

Mr Dimopoulos said the end of nativetimber harvesting was aonce-in-a-lifetime opportunity to design new ways of caring for the state's forests while giving Victorians more opportunitiestoenjoy the great outdoors.

“This taskforce will play acriticalrole listening to Victorians about how best to manage our forests. Each member bringsspecialised knowledgetothe panel ensuring thorough consideration of all options during consultation,” he said For more informationvisit, deeca.vic.gov. au/futureforests/immediate-protection-areas/ future-forests.

Planned burnsgiven go ahead in Strathbogie -Page30

Shock: Latrobe City Council had reports of used syringes dumped at the Moe, Apex Park File photograph

Moo-ving cow rescue

By ZAIDAGLIBANOVIC

MORWELL Fire Brigade had auniquecall out last month, after aMorwell farmer required assistance when one of his cow’s found herself stuck in the muddy part of adam

The brigade attended and upon seeing the predicament,requested for largeanimal rescue equipment from the Macclesfield CFA Brigade to come in and assist on Sunday, March 24.

Morwell Fire Brigades 4th Lieutenant, Aaron Yates responded to the very unusual call out.

“Through22-and-a-half-years of CFA, I’ve never done acow rescue before,” he said.

“We were paged in the afternoon, Macclesfield’s Lieutenant had alreadybeen responded about two-and-a-half-hours before us.”

Aftermanyhours and manycalls, the landowner had no success trying to pull the cow out from its slippery situation.

The Macclesfield brigade have specialised equipment to get large animals out from this exact situation.

“There was six firefighters from MorwellCFA that had responded and two firefighters from Macclesfield CFA and no machinery besides manual labour fromour crews,” LieutenantYates said.

With the cow stuck in the mud for some time and showing visible signs of distress, CFA crews had to act quickly.

“Once we had the right equipment there, it took us probably about 40 minutes to get the cow out of the dam,” Lieutenant Yates said.

Once set free on wobbly legs, thecow happily returned to the rest of the herd.

The Morwell farmer was incredibly grateful for the CFA’s help.

“Any day that I’mpaged out… going outtohelp someone in need -it’sanenjoyment,” Lieutenant Yates said.

“I’m prettysure Ican speakonbehalfofthe MorwellBrigades thatwelike to assist the Morwell community and greater (community) in any emergency that they have.”

Operation Nexus keeping roads safe

MOREthan8000 traffic offences were detected across Victoria over the Easter weekend as part of Operation Nexus.

This included almost 4000 Victorians caught speeding, with morethan400 peopleclocked travelling morethan25km/hoverthe speed limit.

On top of this, 378 impaired driversweretaken off the roads for getting behind the wheel with alcohol and drugs in their system, and more than 1200 people were also detected either driving unlicensed or unregistered vehicles.

Three people died over the long weekend, including two separate motorbike incidents in Oakleigh South and Gordon,where it’s believed the riders lost control of their bikes.

Motorbikeriders are over-represented in road fatalities in Victoria this year, with 17 deaths compared to 13 at the same time in 2023. A third death was near Morwell.

Pedestrianfatalitieshave doubledthis year

compared to last year, with 10 in 2024 copmared to five at the same time in 2023. Two of the fatal collisions occurred in rural areas, atrend which has police particularly concerned. More than half of all deaths on the roads in 2024 have occurred in rural Victoria.

Operation Nexus targeteddangerous and reckless behaviour across the state during a traditionally high-risk period on roads.

So far this year, 74 people have died on Victoria’s roads compared with 82 at the same time last year. The Road Policing AssistantCommissioner, Glenn Weir, said the statistics were alarming.

“In the lead-up to Easter, we were concerned a number of people would drive impaired over the Easter period and sadly that became areality,” he said. “And to see people combiningalcohol and speed is terrifying, putting not only their lives but the lives of others at serious risk.”

AGAS hazard in Traralgon on Ryan Road at 2.13pm on Thursday, April 4was reported to emergency services. Local firefighters were at the scene taking precautionary measures. Agas supplier was contacted to assess the risk and deemed it safe shortly afterward.

Shop vs car

ANOTHERcar has gone into ashopfrontin Traralgon -this time on Seymour Street. Emergency services were called out to arescue on Tuesday, April 2about 12.10pm.

Witnesses reported an elderly man in his vehicle drivingdirectly intothe TraralgonCharcoal Chicken.

It is believed the driver was visibly shaken at the incident but suffered no substantial injuries.

Local residents turned to Facebook to state that perhaps bollards were needed in Traralgon, with several similar incidents in the past year.

Latrobe City Council has previously mentioned thatnosuchplans for bollards were in place when questioned after acar crashed into the shopfront of ‘Light and Shade’ on Hotham St. ‘Cheap as Chips’ on Hotham St was one of the most recent out of these many incidents, where a car has plunged straight into the store front. No one has been seriously injured in any of these events, but the public feels it is time to re-visit the bollarddebate duetothe frequency of these‘car versus shop’ incidents.

Facebook users brought up the debate to test older drivers,with manyofthese incidents involving an elderly driver

In Victoria, drivers are not required to pass a licencetest when they reachaparticular age. Retaining adriver licence is determined by behaviour and medical fitness to drive.

Morwell car fire

COMMUTERS on Alexanders RoadinMorwell had ashock when they encountered acar engulfed by flames.

Emergency services werecalled out to attendthe blaze about 3.30pm on Monday, April 1. Firefighting crews managed

Have youseenJade?

POLICEare appealingfor public assistance to help locate missing a16-year-old,Jade. Jade was last seen on Sunday, March 24 in Bairnsdale. Police have concerns for her welfare due to her age and the length of time she has been missing. Jade is about 165cm tall with light brown hair, solid build and pale complexion.

She is possibly in the Melbou rne, Melton, Werribee, Geelong, Springvale and Latrobe Valley areas. Jade is also known to frequent Bairnsdale, Sale and Maffra.

Police have also released an image of Jadein the hope someone recognises her and can provide information about her whereabouts.

Anyone with information about Jade is asked to contactBairnsdalePolice Station on (03) 51502600.

Stickinthe mud: Morwell Fire Brigade worked hardtohelpalocal cowtosafety. Photograph supplied

RememberingIndy

By ZAIDAGLIBANOVIC

EMOTIONAL tributes have poured in for Traralgon-raised dancer, Indyana Hopman, who touchedthe soulsofsomanypeopleinher lifetime.

Thevibrant youngwoman hasbeenremembered as ashining light in the worldfollowing her tragic death.

Indyana died in aroad incident in Ripplebrook, south of Drouin on Friday, March 22.

Speaking to the Herald Sun,Indyana’s parents Daniel Hopman and Sjaala Harbridge remembered their daughter as an electric and powerful person whose passion for dance saw her overcome many obstacles.

“Indy was filled with asense of excitement and anticipation of what her future could be and she will be forever loved and missed,” her mother said The newly 20-year-old was beloved by many for her positivity and eccentrics.

SjennaHarbridgealsorecounted hersisters artistic flair and uniqueness.

“I can’t really find therightwords to trulyhonour her, but my heart is broken for all the dance classes, adventures, art and hugs we won’t share,” Sjenna said

Morwell’s Gippsland Academy of Dance was where the young woman first pursued her passion for performance.

“Indy danced with GAD for over 10 years and in that time she left her footprints on the hearts of so many,” GAD wrote.

“We were privileged to teachIndy and watch her grow up into suchatalented and beautiful

dancer. We feel very lucky to have made so many specialmemories with Indy and we will cherish them always.”

Many friends,familyand loved ones flooded social media withemotionaltributes to the youngwoman.

“Your gorgeous smile, yourloud voice,your passion for everything you do and your need to help others, you will always have aspecial place in my heart my angel,”boyfriend of four years, Riley Adams wrote.

“Indyana this still doesn’t feel real, the love of my life, theperson Ispent everysecond with, my best friend, we taught each other everything we know, we’ve grown from kids to adults together.”

“I can’t believe you’re gone, I’m so lost without you, Imiss you so much Indyana”

Indyana was asuccessful performer, going on to dance with Jazz Flowers Performing Arts, Morwell, Transit Dance in Brunswick, 02 Studios in Melbounre and Space Dance &Art in Prahran.

As ayoung girl, Indyana played netball for the Yallourn Yallourn North Football-Netball Club She was part of the ‘Baby Bombers’ squad that found finals success in 2019.

Lovedonescontinue to paytheir respects to a talented young woman taken too soon.

“This wasnot the plan us mums had for you. You weresogood at anythingyou tried. Everything actually. So muchskilland talent.You neverfailed to make me smile and Iwill love you forever,” wrote family friend, Deanna Paulet. Familyand dearfriends willcelebrate Indy’s life at aceremony this Friday(April 12)inToongabbie

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Lifecut short: The lateIndyana ‘Indy’HopmanofTraralgon, looked set fora long career in dance, beforetragically losing her liferecently.

Loved: Indy’sparents SjaalaHarbridgeand Daniel Hopman remembertheirdaughterasan energetic andvibrant youngwoman. Photographs supplied

ONE POINTERS

1. What festival is currently running in Melbour ne until 21 April?

2. Who sings the song ‘Trustfall’?

3. In the cinemas at the moment is amovie that features Godzilla and what other giant creature?

4. Which state hosts the AFL’s ‘Gather Round’? TWO

THREE

9. Guessthe song from these lyrics. Her name is Noelle, I have adream about her,She rings my bell...?

10. Change one letter of each wordtomake pairs of synonyms. Awareand Prime?

11. What is the longest running comedy in US TV history?

12. WhereisDan Brown’sbook ‘Angels and Demons’ mainly set?

FOUR POINTERS

13. What is adandie dinmont?

14. What is the souther nmost national capital city in the world?

FIVE POINTER

15. I’ll give youfive Australian towns and you give me the state/territory that they arein? One point for each correct answer

1. Armidale 2. Batchelor 3. Gladstone 4. Beechworth

5. Ulverstone

HOW DID YOU FARE?

37: Topofthe class; 30-36: Outstanding; 23-29: Well done; 15-22: Solid effort; 9-14: Room for improvement; 0-8: Hit the books.

New infrastructure for agrowing area

By JOHN JENNINGS

TRARALGONwillsoonbethe homeofanew shopping centre, with construction well advanced on the $32 million Coles-owned development at Traralgon East. Residents in the area had been waiting patiently in recent years for progress on the potential retail site at the corner of Maffra Road and Marshalls Rd.

The 1.9 hectare Traralgon development, due to open in late August,provides asubstantialColes supermarket,Liquorlandand several speciality retailers with apharmacy and café, plus the new Early Education Childcare centre at the Marshalls Rd end of the car park. Coles StateDevelopment Manager (Victoria),Simon Manley said the Traralgon Development will providea convenientshopping experience for local residents and those in the surrounding suburbs, whether they choose to shop in-store or online.

“This is going to be an outstanding retail hub, offering residents aone-stop shop for all their needs,” he said.

“The neighbourhood centre will also play akey role in the growth and development of the Traralgon community into the future.”

The new precinct includes 225 car spaces with four electric charging bays and aColes Online Click and

Collect Drive-Through -dedicated lanes in an undercover section where grocerieswill be placed by staff into acar boot withoutcustomersneeding to leave their vehicle. NormalColes online shopping will be available.

Thedevelopment also includesa260kW rooftopsolar

system, capacity for rainwater storage to be reused for landscape irrigation while, in thattheme, Coles has workedwith suppliers to recycle soft plastic material for the car park asphalt.

The development has created more than 600 jobs during construction plus hundreds of ongoing positions when the centre opens.

Bluebird Early Education will operate the purposebuilt childcare centre, catering for an estimated 100 children aged from five to six years.

Parents can join the waitinglistbyemailing, bluebirdelc.com

Expressions of interest remain open forthe café site.For detailsphonePatrickMcFadden at Accord Retail Leasing on 0412 925 291 or email at patrick@ accordretail.com.au.

From local footpaths to Parisian runways

Travel: TwoTraralgon-based shoe designers, Kimberly Graham and EmilyKenter,took their heels to Paris CityFashion Week Photographs supplied

By KATRINABRANDON

MOE, Traralgon, and now to Paris.

EmilyKenter, the owner of the online shoe outlet Heel Society, flew her style intoParis CityFashion Week on March 5, showingoff her work, the‘Chained Up Collection’.

Born in Moe Hospital and raised in Traralgon, Ms Kenter developed a passion for design.Three years ago,she started designing her first collection so thatshe could releaseHeel Societyin November 2022.

HeelSocietyhas recently takena global step into Paris, and it will soon attend New York Fashion Week in Septemberand possibly Milan Fashion Week in 2025

“Heel Societywill be featured in New YorkFashionWeek in September, collaborating withthe sameUSA designer,” Ms Kenter’ sp erson al assi stant, Kimberly Graham said.

“We are aimin gt og et our next

collection out to showcase at New York Fashion Week.

“Furthermore, we are striving to make it into Milan Fashion Week in 2025, coinciding with its 3rd-6th collection release.

“A USA designer contacted Heel Societytocollaborate on our Instagram account. We repliedtothe designer and planned ameeting via WhatsApp. The designer provided us with finer details outlining how her clothing brand was walking in Paris City Fashion Week, and she wanted Heel Society’s ‘Chained-up Collection’ (first designs) to collaborate with her outfits.

“It was surreal to watch your brand walkParisalongside other talented designers and models. We fully felt the vision come to life.”

For Heel Society, Ms Kenter has employed Ms Graham, whom she has known closelyasapersonal assistant and as one of herbestfriendsfor 12 years. Withinthe first six months of Heel

Society starting,the first heel collection was showcased in Gold Coast Fashion Week in May 2023 and then in Paris in March this year.

Ms Ken ter to ld the Exp ress that opinions from other people were afactor in success. She also said that to strive in the industry, others should chase desires,adapt, and quit‘overthinking’ to stay motivated

As more attention comes to Gippsland’s talents, Ms Kenter said it was fantastic to have the local area in the fashion spotlight.

“As asmall business owner, it was an ice feeling to see someone else find value in the potential of my first collection designs, especially on an international level,” she said.

“I felt it was areflection of my effort and perseverance. It was empowering to witness my hard work come to fruition.”

To foll ow Heel Societ y’s jou rne y, check out their Instagram page or go to heelsocietyofficial.com/

VicGrid is planning anew transmission line to connect offshore wind energy to the power grid in Gippsland.

We’veidentified a broad studyareathat starts approximately 6kmfromthe coast near Giffardand travels northwest past StradbrokeWest to Willung,across to Flynns Creek and then to the LoyYang Power Station.

Runway: USA-based model Alaya Holmeswearing Traralgon’s Heel Society’s ‘Chained-up-Collection’ heels Registerat: engage.vic.gov.au/offshore-wind-transmission An

Drop in to an information session

Giffard West Sale

Seaspray

Gormandale

Stradbroke Traralgon

Flynn Rosedale

Comingsoon: An ar tistimpression of thecompleted 1.9haColes development in Traralgon East, with provision for225 carparks including four electric chargingbays, alongwithrainwatercollection and arooftopsolar system. Photograph supplied

Thieves haven as people dumpatOpShop

From Page 1 OPERATING from 10 sites around regional Victoria and metropolitan Melbourne,C2A’s services provide individualisedcare, inclusive opportunities,and supported employment for people with disability.

C2A’s centre-basedprogramsand community services are designed to help participants live an enjoyable, active and fulfilling life, working towards achieving individual goals.

Social interaction and community engagement areessential parts of daily life.

C2A also has aR espit ea nd Short Term Accommodationfacility for carers and families and people with disability needing abreak.

The social enterprise’s supported employment program helps provide purpose, skills training, and personal development for people with disability.

Their diverse work and career opportunities help bringfinancialindependence, choice, and community inclusion for people with disability.

ALatrobe City Council spokesperson said illegal dumping can cause asignificant financial burden on community-based volunteer operated op shops.

Most of these charity-based businesses have now installedsecurity cameras to deter illegal dumping of items. Footage obtained can be used to identify and fine perpetrators of this activity.

"If community members haveitemstodonate, it is important to ensure they are donated to op shops during their opening hours or taken to dedicated donation bins," acouncil spokesperson said.

The coucilsays items of poor quality must be disposed of in aresponsible manner and not dumped at Op Shops.People can use either household kerbside bins, annual kerbside hard

Care: Op Shopvolunteersworkhardtoraise money forcharity. Here is Cooinda Hill’s MargaretKennedy sor tingthrough donations

Healing through community connection

THE Gunaikurnai Landand WatersAboriginal Corporation (GLaWAC) marked asignificant milestone recently, with the opening of the new GLaWAC Community Economic Hub in Morwell.

The new office is acommitment to promoting healingand connection within theAboriginal community and beyond,and will become a resource to learn, connect and grow.

The launch started with aheartfeltWelcome to CountryfromUncle Lloyd Hood, setting atone of warmth and inclusivity, followed by asmoking ceremonyled by MichelleDow and Shay Terrick. Guests were treated to aperformance by the Boorun Boysdancers,who generouslyshared their cultural connection with the gathering.

Once inside, attendees learned about the corporation's cultural and employment initiatives, land management programs, and opportunities to showcase and sell Aboriginal products.

Gunaikurnai Ranger Shay Terrick credits his deepening understanding of culture to the eight years he has spent working at GLaWAC. “My goal now is to keep up my cultural journey and teach my daughters to be proud about who we are, where we come from and what we're about," he said.

The GLaWACHub is poisedtobecome apivotal economiccentre for the Aboriginal community in West Gippsland, providing weekly business support drop-in sessions and aspace to equip

Aboriginal entrepreneurs and businesseswith the facilitiesneeded for meetings and training in acollaborative and culturally safe environment.

GLaWAC Chair, Troy McDonald, emphasised the space as acornerstone for cultural exchange, education, and healing; asignificant step in GLaWAC’s aspirations to supportall Aboriginal people living on Gunaikurnai Country.

“A Traditional Owner Corporation really is just like abig family business," he said.

"We’re all family so it’s importanttobeable to work toward aself-determining future that acknowledges everyone's personal experiences.”

rubbish collection or hard waste disposal coupons issued with rate notices.

Check the council’s website for locations of waste disposal facilities and lists of recyclable itemsthat can be disposed of without chargeat: www.latrobe. vic.gov.au/Home/Waste

AFTERa spike in theft from carsand homes across the Latrobe Valley, police are reminding residentstolocktheir vehiclesand houses or risk losing valuable property.

Datafromthe VictorianCrimeStatistics Agency reveals theft from motor vehicles spikedahuge34per cent in theLatrobe local government area last year, while other theft jumped 22 per cent. At arecent meeting of the Latrobe City Community SafetyAdvisory Committee, police advised much of the theft was opportunistic.

“We’ve been told alot of this crime is occurring becausecars and homes are being left unlocked,” Mr Cameron said.

“In some cases, people are walking through unlocked front doors or garages,grabbing

but the statistics show we do need to.

“We can also alleviate some of the pressure on our local policebytaking these simple measures and preventing alot of this opportunistic theft.” ‘‘Lock

Latrobe ValleyExpress,Wednesday,

Bettersafethan sorry: Acting Senior Sergeant, DanCarbonneau andMember forMorwell, Mar tin Cameron areurging people to locktheir car and homes

Photograph supplied

Not right: Op shopsare warningofthe troubles with dumped goods outside donation bins thathavebeen stolen and strewnacross the street Photograph supplied

No wayJose: Volunteer’sLynn Noskeand Lorraine Peters arefed up with people stealing charitydonations Photograph: ZaidaGlibanovic

Photograph: Zaida Glibanovic

to open

By ZAIDAGLIBANOVIC

AFTER six long years, Morwell’s Foodbankhub is almost finished.

In 2018, the stategovernmentcommitted $10 million to build two Foodbanks,one in Ballarat and the other in Morwell.

Foodbank describes the facilities as “centralised regional warehouses” that “will increase the supply of fresh, frozen foods and chilled foods to those experiencing food insecurity in the Gippsland area”.

One local organisation with pre-existing ties to Foodbank Victoria is the Morwell Neighbourhood House.

The manager of the House, Tracie Lund, told the Express the wait for the Morwell hub was a long one, but would be welcomed by local charities.

“It’s been extremely disheartening and frustrating for our community to know that the promise was there and it was coming for it to take so long,” she said.

Alarge percentage of the food provided by the Morwell Neighbourhood House is ordered from the Foodbank distribution centre in Yarraville, 161 kilometres away in Melbourne’s west.

“We purchase and order probably around 80 to 90 per cent of our food through Foodbank,” she said.

“Having thedistribution centre open up in Morwell is agame-changer for charities and emergency food relief locally and throughout the broader Gippsland region.”

Instead of thousands of kilograms of food and grocery items being shipped from Yarraville to here, Morwell will be ahub to service Gippsland to as far east as Lakes Entrance and beyond. “Forlocalproviderslikemyselfitmeans we have more regular contact,” Ms Lund said.

The Morwell house manager said with the distribution centre so close,she would nowbe able to access fresh fruit, vegetables and cold fridge items to help service those in need.

The Foodbankwarehouse comes at atimewhere demand for food relief has rapidlyincreased, as people continue to struggle with the rising rate of utilities, food, rent and fuel costs.

Ms Lund said the MorwellNeighbourhood House had seen ahuge rise in people accessing their food services in the past year.

“By the end of last year we had seen more than 700 people morethan we had seenin2022and that has beenconsistent in thelast couple of years,” she said.

Food security has been identified as abig problem in Morwell and the surrounding Gippsland region. “We know there is not enough food getting into this region and we know many charities have little capacity to store and handle large quantities of fresh, chilled or frozen product,” aFoodbank spokesperson said.

People living in regional Australia are 33 per cent more likely to experience food insecurity than their metropolitan counterparts.

Access to nutritionalfoodsisalsodifficult for healthy eating in Gippsland.

In the Gippsland region, 21 per cent of parents used low-cost, unhealthy food to avoid food insecurity, compared to 13 per cent of Victorians overall.

Foodbank Victoria experienced delays securing appropriate land for the facility in Gippsland and experienced some setbacks during construction.

Additional delays have been caused by supply andworker shortages.

Foodbank Victoria expects to be able to start supporting charity partners very soon, with the finishing touches almost complete at the Morwell hub.

“With construction of the project in its final stages, we anticipate the Morwell Foodbank Hub will be up and running in the near future,”a state government spokesperson said.

“Since 2020 the Allan Labor government has invested more than $50 million in food relief, which includes significant investment in major infrastructure projects to support food relief sector’s longer-term capacity and self-sufficiency.”

The state government said they have invested in food relief infrastructure across the state, with more than $10 million for Foodbank Hubs in Morwell and Ballarat, $1 million for Shepparton Foodshare and $1 million for Bendigo Food Hub.

ALatrobe City Councilspokesperson said council was involved in the early stages of planning by Food Bank, assisting the organisation to identify suitable land.

Council helped source the land and approved the planning permit for development.

Aplanningpermit wasissued on October 27, 2022 and was subsequently amendedinDecember last year.

Though the Morwell Hub has takenits time from promise to project completion, the hub has been welcomed by local charity groups.

The Morwell warehouse will provide Gippsland with astorage capacity of about 2000 square metres.

The space will allow Foodbank to handle, store, break down, package and distribute awide range of foods and goods to local emergency reliefagencies andschools.

Foodbank in Morwell will be operatedbya combination of paid staff, volunteers and government funded vocational training placements.

Food and donationsfrom local supermarkets, wholesalers and producers will be stored in the facility.

There will also be commercial kitchen facilities to prepare meals for emergencies and for food insecure people and families.

In addition, community-based food programs such as theFarms to Familiespop-up stylemarkets will be operated out of the hub.

It is expected this hub will service selected local charity partners in the Latrobe Valley,South Gippsland and Wellingtonlocalgovernment areas.

•GENERAL PRESIDENT

•GENERAL SECRETARY

total membership of the Union.

Nominations must be in writing and comply with the registered rules of the Organisation.

Nominations will be accepted at any time from 15 April 2024 and must reach my office, postal or email address not later than 11:00am (Eastern StandardTime) on 6May 2024.

If aballot is necessary, voting material will be posted to Local Returning Officers and whereapplicable directly to members who arereceiving apostal vote, from 20 May2024.

Members should notify the Organisation of any changes of address.

The ballot will close at 5:00pm (Eastern StandardTime) on 11 June 2024.

Nomination forms areavailable from the National Office, District Branch Offices, or Lodges of the Organisation. Acopy of the Union rules can be found at www.meu.org.au.

•GENERAL VICE PRESIDENT BY POST

ADDRESS FORLODGEMENT OF NOMINATIONS

National Returning Officer GPO Box477

SydneyNSW 2001 BY HAND National Returning Officer Mining and Energy Union Level 11, 215-217 Clarence St SYDNEY NSW2000 BY EMAIL nationalreturningofficer@ meu.org.au

Lorraine Usher

National Returning Officer 27 March 2024

Telephone No: (02) 9267 1035

Major boost: Morwell Foodbank is about to openits newhub,giving localproviders aconvenient place to getstock to helpthose in need.

Photograph: Zaida Glibanovic

Fast approaching fluseason

AUSTRALIA’S flu seasonhas been creeping forward in recent years, prompting afast-tracked warning for Australians to get their vaccinations before the season arrives.

BupaHealth ServicesMedicalDirector,Dr

Tony MacDermott said historicallylow uptake of fluvaccinations could expose Australians to potentially avoidable harm.

“The flu season has been arriving earlier in recent years and we expect it to peak sometime in June, compared to August when the season peakedin years gone by,” Dr MacDermott said.

“The northern hemisphere flu season just gone has provided us with aglimpse of what we may see heresoon -anearlier season thanprevious years with more cases and more hospitalisations.

“The flu is more than abad cold, it can be deadly, and we shouldn’tunderestimate it -now is not the time for flu vaccine complacency.”

Dr MacDermott encouraged people to get the flu vaccine before the end of May to help ensure they were covered throughout the flu season.

“We expect thisyear’s fluseason to be as dangerous as last year, especially in combination with new COVID-19 strainsthat have hit Australia already,” he said.

“One of the easiest things you can do to protect yourself, your family and the community is to get aflu vaccine. This will also help take pressure off GPs and hospital emergency departments which are already under considerable pressure.”

Dr MacDermott said other measures to help protect against the flu included hand washing, staying home if feeling unwell and covering your mouth and nose if you cough or sneeze.

Infants under six months, adults aged 65 years

and above, people with chronic health conditions, and the indigenous community are the most vulnerable groups to the flu. The flu vaccineis available for free for these at-risk groups.

Advice for COVID-19 booster vaccinationsfor most adults aged between 18 and 74 is now one every 12 months.The previous adviceofone every six months remains current for people aged 75 years and above.

In the first quarter of 2024 therewas 26,836 influenza cases reported by the National Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System (NNDSS).

By February, case numberswere already double the number than what was reported the same time last year.

Pharmacy Guild National President, Professor Trent Twomey says Australiansshould get ahead of the flu season and get their vaccination now.

“The flu season typically runsfromMay to October,” Professor Twomey said.

“However, flu vaccines for the 2024 season are available now in community pharmacies across Australia.

Professor Twomey said that getting vaccinated aheadofthe flu season was important for protectingyourself andyour loved ones from the flu and its complications.

“Although the vaccine will last throughout the year, it is most effective in the first three to four months following its administration,” he said.

According to the Australian Technical Advisory GrouponImmunisation (ATAGI), people who receivedaninfluenza vaccine in late 2023 are still recommended to get the flu vaccine in 2024. ATAGI also advises that flu vaccines can be given on the same day as other vaccines, such as COVID. The federalgovernment funds influenza vaccines foreligiblepatients under the National Immunisation Program (NIP).

Further information will be available from the Department of Health and Aged Carewhen NIP-funded influenzavaccinesbecomeavailable. Ask your community pharmacist about your flu vaccine, or visit www.findapharmacy.com.au to book an appointment.

Concern for construction industryshortage

LATEST apprenticeship and trainee data reaffirms building and construction industry concerns.

The industry is facing acriticallabour shortage in the midst of ahousing crisis, according to Master Builders Australia Chief Executive, Denita Wawn.

“Over the year to September 2023, atotal of 42,333 new apprentices started in the building and construction industry. Thisrepresents an appalling25per centreduction on the previous 12-month period,” she said.

“The number of apprentices in training in building and construction has decreased since September 2022, when there were 124,120 apprentices in training, to 120,881 in September 2023 (a reduction of three per cent).

“Over the year to September 2023, atotal of

21,814 construction apprentices completed their training. This represents asharp reduction (-7.9 per cent) on ayear earlier.

“We need more apprentices starting and completing their training in trades.”

Despite this reduction, building and construction remains by far the largest employer of apprentices of any industry.

“Latest figures show that 120,881 building and construction apprentices were in training at the end of September 2023 -representing 33 per cent of all Australian apprentices.”

Ms Wawn added: “VET is central to skills and knowledge development in the building and construction industry.

“More than 600,000 of the 1.3 million workers in

building and constructionhave aVET qualification

“Construction is the backbone of the Australian economy,employingapproximately 1.3 million people, providing infrastructure, commercial and community buildings, and homes for the growing population.

“But the building and construction industry workforce is ageing and has atypical exit rate of eight per cent ayear. Master Builders estimates we need half amillion new entrants over the next three years.

“We are not doing enough to plug this gap. There are not enoughnew entrants to theindustry to meet building and construction targets, including 1.2 million new dwellings under the Housing Accord, or the transition to net zero by 2050.

Master Builders Australia recently released its Finding Australia’s missing tradies: Harnessing our skilled migrant workforce supplementary Budget submission to help migrantsalready in Australia better navigate complex and unnecessary barriers to work in the industry.

“Whenseeking to attract more skilled trades into Australia, it is important to look to migrants who are already in the country,” Ms Wawn said.

“This is an underutilised cohort of potential workers who could fill workforce gaps in the short term.

“There are anumberofskilled migrants already in Australia who are working in roles below or unrelated to theirqualifications or work experience in their home country.

“Some are waiting on skillsassessments or qualifications recognition, which, according to the Parkinson Migration Review, could cost nearly $10,000 and take up to 18 months.

“For many, it is simplytoo hard to havetheir professional capacity recognised to work in atrade in Australia, and they are instead in roles that present fewer hurdles to obtain.”

Tooquick: Australia’sflu seasonhas moved forwardinrecent years. Photograph supplied

Country andculture

AGL Loy Yanghas partnered withthe Gunaikurnai Land and Waters Aboriginal Corporation (GLaWAC)tocreatea Cultural Garden and yarning circle on site at Loy Yang A.

AGL Loy Yanghostedanintimateopening event of the yarningcircle and cultural garden with GLaWAC on Wednesday, March 27 with a Welcome to Country from Uncle Lloyd Hood, and Smoking Ceremony

The garde n, re pres en ting the four maj or waterways on Brayakaulung Country -one of the five clan areas of the Gunaikurnai nationwas designed and constructed by the GLaWAC Business Enterprise landscaping crew.

The site includesartworkdepictingGunaikurnai culture with plenty of bushfoods throughout the garden, recognisingthe unique connectiontoland and water over countless generations.

For years to come, this special site will serve as agathering placefor staff and visitors to reflect on Traditional Owner knowledge.

As the riverscome togethertofeed the Gippsland Lakes, so the new yarningcircle is an opportunity to bring people together to build open and honest relationships through inclusive dialogue.

“Here at AGL Loy Yang we continue to make a

Sentiment: Opening of Yarning Circle and CulturalGarden at AGLLoy Yang A.

commitment to strengthen our learning, awareness, and knowledge of Aboriginal cultureand particularly that of the Brayakaulung People of the Gunaikurnai Nation,”AGL Loy YangGeneral Manager, Christo van Niekerk said.

“The space will be put to good use and will have apositive impact on site.

“Sharing yarns are powerful and help us to understandthe important and impactfulrole of Gunaikurnai connection to the land and water in which we operate on.”

New industry, key for Energy Union

THE Mining and Energy Union’s new Victorian District President, Andy Smith says bringing new industrytothe Latrobe Valley will be his top priority after being elected to the role in February, following Trevor Williams’ retirement last year.

Mr Smith, whowas previously aDistrict Organiser, says he is passionate aboutensuring the future of members in and around the Latrobe Valley.

He says that afair transition and the creation of new local jobs will be akey focus, and he looks forward to being on the ground with members.

“We’re at the forefront of the energy transition here in Victoria, and members want to know what’s goingtohappentothem and our industry, particularly at our powerstations in afew years’ time,” he said.

“As much as we takepride in our unionstanding up for and winning strong redundancy provisions, we need to also be taking coordinated action to bring in new industries to the Latrobe Valley.

“Weneed newjobs that can accommodate coal mining and coal fired powerstation workers who come from heavyindustry, and we need to ensure that there are enough jobs to accommodate workers who are going to be on the front lines when scheduled power station closures happen.”

Mr Smith said he is keen to step up to the plate on these challenges and that it will be essential to bring workers along for the journey.

“Our members in Victoria are very resilientand remain hopeful for the future,” he said.

“I wanttomakesure that we’re taking a pragmatic approach to these challenges, and I believe the best way to do that is to be united through the union as we navigate the next few years.”

Mr Smith began his career in the union movement as aDelegate and Union Health and Safety Representative at Blue Scope Steel at Western Point in Victoria. Afterthat he worked for the ACTU and moved into arole as organiser with the Western Mineworkers Alliance, organising iron ore workers in the Pilbara. Mr Smith joined the Mining and Energy Union Victorian District as an Organiser in 2021.

“I am really passionate about the work Ido, and Iwholeheartedly believe that unionism is the best way for working class people to lift their wages and conditions and improve their lot,” he said.

Sayhi: Meet the Miningand Energy Union’s newDistrictPresident, the Valley’sown Andy Smith. Photograph supplied

“I’m looking forward to taking areally grassroots approach to the role as I enjoy being out in the workplace with members, listening to what matters to them and understanding their needs

“Also, for the record, Imakealot of dad jokes, so that’s something members will have to expect of me when Icome around.

“I think it’s important to break the ice sometimes and also to lighten up things because our work can be very heavy and the challenges that we face can be extremely tough.”

Mr Smith lives in the Latrobe Valley. In hisspare time, he enjoyspainting and all things outdoors, including fishing and four-wheel driving.

courtesy of Alfie Hudson and the Ghadu Dancers.

Photographs supplied

Together: AGLstaff were honoured with aWelcome to Countr y, performed by Uncle LloydHood, and Smoking Ceremonycour tesy of Alfie Hudson and the GhaduDancers.

Laterdate for Gippy Country Music Festival Testing local strengths

By STEFAN BRADLEY

GIPPSLAND Country Music Festival has confirmed the event will return later in the year, instead of its usual autumn outing in April.

The festival brought incrediblecountrymusicians, plus acamping experience, to Lardner Park last April, with organisers saying a2024 eventisbeing planned.

Not to be confused withthe Sale Country Music Festival, this will be the fourthGippsland Country Music Festival, which began in 2021. For three years in arow, local country music fans had abig event in April to look forward to, but those anticipatingApril 2024 for its return will be disappointed.

“We are working on dates and headliners at the moment and at this stage it will be in the second half of the year,” the festival’s team told the Latrobe Valley Express “Stay tuned to the socials for updates.” You can sign up to their mailing list on their website.

Last year’s line-up included some huge names in country music,inclduing Lee Kernaghan, Troy Cassar-Daley and Adam Brand.

By KATRINA BRANDON

THE Gippsland Wellness Expo was held at Kernot Hall last month.

The expo featured up to 60 different stalls from healthand well-being groups across Gippsland. Mental health groups, gyms, and social groups joined the fun. The expo aimed to connect the community to services to improve cognitive, physical, emotional, and spiritual health, creating amore extensive network for people to enjoy.

The event started on ahigh note, with avibrant communityofhealth and wellness enthusiasts gatheringat10amonSaturday, March 23.The morning was filled with opportunities to connect, chat, and test variousgroups, fostering asenseofbelonging and unity. The Strongman Competition,ahighlight of the day, further showcasedthis community spirit

Complete Strength Performance Gym put on the Strongman Competition, and many people joined in the fun, from carrying metal frames for 10 metres as quickly as possible, to pulling acar. Each challenge increased in difficulty, and many came to watch the local warriors pull through.

As the challenges progressed, people were able to range through the stores, coming in and out of the expo during the competition’s intermissions.

The GippslandWellnessExpo beganwhenagroup of 20 businesses decided to participate in the Week of Wellness, coordinated by Casey Bird from Studio 72 Infrared Saunas. The week of Wellness was aweek in August 2022

Amarch into militaryhistory

AT the recentannual meeting of the Gippsland Branch of the Royal Victorian Association

Mr

This

Producers

Avalued replica of the Guidon was on display, which carries all the significant battle honours of the unit.

during which businesses offered online promotions and discounts.

Thinking bigger, Olivia Skinnerfrom Sacred Wise decided to followupwiththe expo,inviting businesses from all over Gippsland to participate. The first expo opened in March 2023, and 40 businesses took part.

Now, the expo has grown, with double the number of businesses showing interest in the event, leading to some having to wait until the next expo due to a lack of room.

For enquiries aboutnextyear’sevents, email wellnessexpogippsland@gmail.com

‘Rhapsody in Rust’ exhibition on now

LATROBE

are holding an exhibition of recent works

WarragulArt Studios and

Gallery. The exhibition is called Rhapsody in Rust,and explores the corrosion of surfaces, symbolic of transformation and often decay.

The artists’work also reflects the condition of the Latrobe Valley, where industry and the community are going throughgreat change, transitioning out of old industries and investigating new ways of living.

Ms Thompson’s prints are directly linked to machinesand metal, in rusty, subdued colours

“I like to closely analyse surfaces which are chaotic/disintergrating and describe them throughthe process of mark making,” she said

Ms Anderson’s prints and digital photos use

industrial surfaces, but havebeen recreated in surprisingly bright colours and often organic textures.

“Transformation: the essence of change, metamorphosis and growth,” is how she explains them.

“Explorations in art capture the complexity and depth of transformation, whichinspire change and re-imagining,” she said.

Rhapsody in Rust runs until May 11.

Details are available on the website at, wasgallery.com.au.

WAS Gallery is located at 37 Latrobe Street, Warragul.

Hoursare 10am to 4pm, Wednesday to Saturday.

Entry is free.

—The Latrobe Valley Express, Wednesday,

Tow: At the brink of mental and physical challenges, those whotook par tinthe Strongman Competition were pushed to the limit Photograph: Katrina Brandon

Leaders: RoyalVictorian Association of Honorar yJustices (RVAHJ) outgoing chair,Dar yl Hill, Lieutenant Colonel(Retd) Doug Caulfield, RVAHJ President, RodneyLavin andincoming chair of the GippslandBranchofRVAHJ,TonyMcLennan Photograph supplied

Valley artists, Amanda Thompson and SharonAnderson,

at the

WAS

Exhibit: Latrobe Valleyartist Sharon Anderson has anumber of worksondisplay in Warragul. Photographs supplied

Insight: Local ar tist Amanda Thompson explores the Valley’stransitionfromold to newindustries throughher work

of Honorary Justices (RVAHJ), they were pleasedtobe graced with aspecialguest speaker, LTCOL(Retd) DougCaulfield, OAM to speak on the exploits of one of the most famous cavalry charges in Australian Military history and its relation to the Gippsland region.

Caulfield spoke on the historyofthe 4th/19th Prince of Wales’s Light Horse Regiment, particularly, the late afternoon chargeonOctober 31, 1917 against the fortified town of Beersheba, then part of the Ottoman Empire.

is often referred to as the last great Cavalry charge.

of themovie The Light Horsemen in 1987, went to great lengths to demonstrate the authenticity of this remarkable event, and Mr Caulfield coordinated the current 4th/19th Prince of Wales’s Light Horse Regiment in theAustralian and Gippsland premieres of the movie.

Life of the 20thbirthday party

MOREthan 60 people,including current and former board members, sponsors, staff and volunteers, attended Life FM Gippsland’s20th Birthday Celebration at the Traralgon Golf Club last month.

Plenty of memories were shared, fun was had, and food was enjoyed as the Christian community radio station celebrated two decades of broadcasting.

After the president, Yvonne Coffey welcomed guests, singer/songwriter David Eime began the night’s entertainment with abeautiful acoustic sound. Guests then enjoyed adelicious dinner prepared by Lisha’s Kitchen.

The station’s manager, David Braithwaite, interviewed Life FM founding Chief Executive, Deb Bye, who spoke about the vision to establish aChristian radiostation in Gippsland and the challenges the team faced.

Ms Bye described the four years of hard work by volunteers, along withthe support of churches from different denominations, which led to Life FM’s first broadcast on October 29, 2003. The efforts of all who contributed to the station were recognised at the 20th birthday celebrations.

After hearing birthday messages from Christian radio identities from acrossAustralia and New Zealand, Mr Braithwaite interviewed aformer production manager, Randell Green.

Mr Greenspoke aboutthe many highlightsofhis time at Life FM, which was more than adecade, including interviews with international artists and the production of content thatgained national recognition.

Mr Green’s daughter Natalie, who performs as Ambrose, then wooed the crowd with her music.

Ambrose’s song Breathe Again spent 14 weeks on the Australian Christian music chart in 2021.

The Life FM membership and production coordinator, Emily Duncan, presented the vision of

Life FM to take the station into the future, which includes new programs, engaging anew generation of volunteers, and reaching out to local churches and community groups.

Life FM prides itself on being part of the Gippsland community, and wants to work alongside local organisations to fulfil its overall vision to “deliver hope of abetter life and future to every home in Gippsland”.

The producer and filmmaker, Danielle McAlpineJohnson, then spoke about one of the exciting new programs that Life FM has in production, ‘Youth On Beat’, which is being produced “by youth, for youth”. The program aims to amplify voices from youth of all backgrounds, tackling social, cultural and political issues relevant to the community.

Ms McAlpine-Johnson’s husband and singer/ songwriter, Chico Johnson,helped end theevening on ahigh note, with his music getting the room jumping.

Mr Braithwaite said the evening was afitting way to celebrate 20 years of Life FM.

“It was encouraging to see so many people who have contributed to Life FM’s success. We had a greatnumberofformer staff members, volunteers, listeners and sponsors attend,” he said.

“There were many renewed connections, and many stories told, while the talented local musicians added to the fun of the night.

“It was wonderful to have Deb Bye attend. Without her vision and passion to see aChristian radio station in Gippsland, many people would havemissed out on hearing positive music and powerful and encouraging messages.

“We wanted to honour those who camebefore us and did the hard work to get Life FM to air. They helped make the station what it is today, and our aim is to ensure their work continues.

“Here’s to another 20 years.”

Judy Halltograce GPAC

JUDY Hall and Friends are set for amagical performance in Traralgon.

Join Judy and the Latrobe Orchestra for an unforgettable afternoon of music from 2pm on Sunday, April 21 at the Gippsland Performing Arts Centre, Traralgon.

The show will feature Judy Hall’s past and present piano students, including internationally renowned concert pianist, Timothy Young and the remarkable centenarian herself.

The stage will come alive with the mesmerising melodies of the Latrobe Orchestra and the Latrobe Orchestra Chamber Players, paying homage to Judy’sprofound influence on community music making throughout the years.

Don’tmissthis extraordinarycelebration of music, friendship,and the enduring legacyof Judy’s teaching.

Tickets are $30 each.

Access priced tickets areavailable at theGPAC Box Office, or call 5176 3333.

THIS WEEKEND

12th Friday 9am to 4pm

13th Saturday 9am to 4pm

14th Sunday 9amto4pm

Big name: Concer tpianist, Timothy Youngwilljointhe show. Photographs supplied

Deserved: Founding Chief Executive Officer Deb Bye (centre) was presented with flowers recognising her role in establishing the radio station by Life FM President Yvonne Coffey (left) and station manager David Braithwaite

Behindthe mics: Life FM StationManager,David Braithwaite, secretar yEmily Duncan, president Yvonne Coffeey, Pastor ShelleyHermans andvice-president DorothyLong at the20th birthday celebration. Photographs supplied

Working together: Latrobe Orchestraare set fora big afternoon of music.

Classical: Renowned local pianist Judy Hall will performinTraralgon next week

Marking Yinnar’s150th birthday

By KATRINABRANDON

YINNAR celebrated its 150th birthday last month.

March 23 marked the special occasion, and saw amarket, Easter activities, and music play out at Yinnar Bowls Club.

Joining the town’s celebration, the Yinnar Historical Society also opened its doors to showcase snippets from the last 150 years. A150th dinner was held, which volunteerorganiser Sandy Hegarty said provided an opportunity for people to gather and reminisce.

“The 150th dinner celebrates the town. There are

lots of different photos and presentations that have been put together to celebrate,” she said.

“It’s justacasual dinnerfor the locals. It was an invitation for the significant locals who have been here the longest and different people who contribute and volunteer, as well as all the different organisations, the schools, the kindergarten, and the community groups.

“It’s just getting everyone together to celebrate the township and what’s good about Yinnar.” Hundredsofpeople came throughoutthe day for the 150th anniversary.

The150th differed to Yinnar’s 100th birthday, which was spread out over four days and saw tree plantings take place. Those trees are still there today.

Main organiserfor the 150th,Skye Dehommel told the Latrobe Valley Express that the ideas behind the celebrations came from the public.

“I’m on the Yinnar and District Association, and the overall feeling of the community was that they really wanted something to happen for the 150th birthday,” she said.

“In the background, we did alot of consulting and

really tried to capture all of the day’s important elements.So, we should have the Historical Society involved, havefree activities for families and children, and then have that town feastto celebrate some of our elders.”

According to the Victorian Places website, Yinnar was originally part of the Scrubby Forest pastoral run, which was occupied from 1850 and then taken over by selectors in the 1870s.

Thewebsite also says that the name Yinnar was takenfrom the parish name, and is an Aboriginal word thought to mean ‘woman’.

Celebrating 50-years of Moe’s OldGippstown

By KATRINA BRANDON

GIPPSLAND hasa long,rich history thatis celebrated through thingssuch as heritage parks and old mine tours.

Latrobe Valley’svery own Old Gippstown, Moe, is one of Gippsland’s heritage parks, turning 50 this year.

Celebrations willsee lotsofactivitiesincluding blacksmithing, dressmaking,firetruck rides and old-fashioned games. Park Manager, Kellie Simpson said there was much to be excited about.

“It’s celebrating our 50 years. It’s free entry to come along. We will try to do something in every corner of the park. There will be alot of things forpeople to wander around,” she said.

“We are aheritagemuseum. We have manyold buildings, which are original buildings that were moved from all different placesaroundGippsland

and reassembled here. So, people can appreciate how things were done in the olden days and the unique assets that we have here.”

The park’s up-keep is very involved. Being a not-for-profit organisation,itisled by volunteers withinthe local community. Some volunteers delve into keeping the buildings and antiques in good condition, andothers dressinold-fashioned clothes. Theyentertainlocals with blacksmithing, show school groups around, and even take students back in time when therewere‘headmasters’ at school.

“I know that school children really enjoy going back to the past becauseitissonew and different to them,” Old Gippstown Committee Chair, Libby Scott said.

“On theother hand, the elderly citizens come outand say, ‘Oh, Iremember that from when I was young’.

“It’s just celebratinghistoryand keepingitalive in away. It’s amuseum, but it is also aliving museum because you can see so much going on.

“There are not too many heritage parks left, and we are veryluckytohave Old Gippstown in Moe.

“It’sauniqueand great place. It’s abit of going back down memory lane.”

Ms Simpson and Ms Scott told the Latrobe Valley Express that they are alwayslooking for more volunteers and welcome anyone who can help.

For those celebrating the 50th with Old Gippstown, Ms Simpson and Ms Scott are encouraging people to join in the old-time theme and dress up as there is an opportunity to win ‘best dressed’. Celebrations will be held this Saturday (April 13). Doorsopen at 10am, with an official ceremony at 1pm.

Formoreinformation,gotogippslandheritagepark.com.au/events.html

Step back in time: OldGippstowntakes in original buildings from yester year

Heritage: OldGippstownis celebrating their 50th anniversar ythisSaturday. Photographs: KatrinaBrandon

Community: Amarketwas held in Yinnar as part of the150thcelebrations

History: The original car tfromthe 100th celebration on show forthe 150th

Youth: All ages joined in celebrationsfor the town’s 150th, including Yinnar local turned Tiger, James Photographs: Katrina Brandon

Fast-tracking Mirboo North recovery

THE stategovernment is helping to fast-track the clean up of stormdebris in Mirboo North and ensure the benefits of any valuable green waste that’s recovered are passed on to the local community. Emergency services have been on the ground since the storms on February 13, removing fallen and hazardoustrees, opening roads and supporting the restoration of critical infrastructure.

Now, the huge volumes of debriscollected and stored is reaching capacity and actionisneeded to process it.

Minister for the Environment, Steve Dimopoulos announcedonTuesday, April 2that extra facilities willbeestablished to process storm debris, andthat all proceeds from the sale of any by-products will be invested back into the community.

“We’veprovided immediate support to help clean up storm-affected areas andwill ensure all the profitsgeneratedfromthe sale of green waste

by-products like firewood are reinvested into the Mirboo North community,” he said.

“As we continue the clean up of storm debris on public land we will ensure we are reducing the risk of bushfire while protecting trees thatprovide important habitat to native animals.”

EmergencyRecoveryVictoriawill establish up to eight new facilities across South Gippsland in partnershipwithlocal councils. These facilities are expected to process more than 300 tonnes of sawlog, 3000 tonnes of firewood and fine green waste that can make 4000 cubic metres of mulch.

Thiswork willbecoordinatedbythe Clean-up Recovery Taskforce and ensure nothing goes to waste,with green waste reused and turned into products like firewood and mulch. Any profits generated from the sale of these products will be reinvested in the community through the Mirboo North and District Community Foundation.

The Mirboo North and District Community Foundation is acommunity run organisation that provides funding for local initiatives and not-for-profitorganisations, as well as making money available for those in need.

DEECA is working with mills and forest contractorstoensurethat highvalue timberand other green waste can be processed locally. Storm impacted locals can still dispose of their green wastewithout charge,courtesy of gate fee rebates and the waiving of waste levy fees at local processing sites. For more information, visit vic.gov.au/ recovery-support.

Win: Green wastefromthe Februar y13storms that hit Mirboo Northwill be used to helpthe local communityrecover.

Gardivalia, afestival of West Gippsland gardens

GARDIVALIA will open Saturday, April 20.

Gippsland is abeautiful place to visit, especially in autumn, and the Gardivalia team is looking forward to showing off West Gippsland.

Visit Tall Timbers at Piedmont, alarge garden in anatural bush setting, with plantings of many exotic trees and shrubsaroundwater features such as acreek,cascade and large ponds. Light refreshments by Neerim South CWA andMaranatha International will be provided.

Laurie Collins’ sculpture garden in Jindivick has morethan60metal sculptures, amongthe bedsand trees,aswell as the Red TreeGallery and demonstrations of plasma cutting of metal.

In Drouin West, patronscan visit the lovely rural garden of Killara, which features acottage style garden with many flowers, roses, proteas, succulents, hydrangeas, camellias, shady trees, lawn and avegetable garden.

In Copelands Road, Warragul, attendees can walk around Wrens Wood -afive acre garden with oaks, gums, maples, conifers, roses, buddlejas,

rhododendrons, camellias,fruit and nut trees, a vegetable and berry garden, aforest of vines and ferns, and orchids.

Tucked away at the end of along drivewayis Jenny’s Garden, 35-year-old garden of mixed flowering plants and exotic trees that runs into asloping acre of mainly native trees creating a smallforest for wildlife. Close by is Stonehaven,an ornamental garden with stone features, beautiful maples,natives,bulbsand roses. Nextdoor is Kirkdale, abeautiful garden of fiveacres with 100-year-old trees, large lawn areas and lake built in the 1990s. Japanese maples, many oak trees, conifers and natives feature.

At Trafalgar South is Bellissimi Alberi, a delightful garden that brings all the senses alive with forest pansies, birches, magnolias and more. Pathways lead to lush flower beds that daffodils, iris,azaleas androses share.Some plantsfor sale. Visit ,w ww. gar div alia .c om.a uf or more information.

Photograph supplied

Bursting: Autumn is fullofcolour in Gippsland. Photographs supplied

Old SEC headquarters comes to life

By MICHAEL FOZARD

NEWBOROUGH Men’s Shed moved to its new location in July 2023 -The SECProduction Centre, Yallourn in the heritage listed ‘Whitehouse’ -the last remaining building of the original Sir John Monash brown coal development.

The move was made possible by many volunteersofother men’sshed andour own loyal teamofmembers, together with the support of the owners of the facility,EnvironmentalClean Technology LTD.

The Newborough Men’s Shed was createdtomakeadifference in the broadercommunity, in apositive way on allsegments of society,inthe local area. Currently, we are the Newborough Men’s Shed and will change our trading name to Newborough/Yallourn Men’s Shed at our annual meeting in July. This is considered appropriate due to our location.

The woodworking and metal working areas andgardenactivity are now up and running, and we hopetobeable to expandtheseactivities in the near future. Other areas being developed are self-defence classes in Chi, art classes, including drawing, painting and murals and social activities as needed in the community.

One aim is to repurpose the heritage listed Yallourn Production Centre as a Social Community and Creative Hub, avibrant community space-hosting social enterprises, arts groups, boosting economic development, social inclusion, and cultural activities, through communityconnection, service delivery, participation and activation.

Increasing the diversity (we already have women in our membership) and capacity of the woodworking and metal working activities currently in operation, gives us more opportunity to increase the involvement of younger people and in turn strengthen our membership with younger members. By repurposing and reactivating the

Yallourn Production Centre, our project will contribute to the sustainability, capacityand diversity of the Gippsland Region. It will delive rc ommunit y focused infrastructure that contributes to regional priorities, promoting social inclusion and access, and supporting economic development through social enterprise, training education and participation.

We are appeal ing to those that have had to retire, as wellasthose that are lookingfor work skills to get employment. This coversages from 17 to 80-plus. Theoldergroup cover

tradesmen, labours, and administrationpeople. Theyounger participants have been impacted by the downturn in the power industry and ancillary industries. Therefore, we have alot of disenfranchised people -assuch, we are working with Gippsland Trades and Labour Council and Victoria Police to get young people job ready.

Amajor project that we are planning for is the development of an Urban Farm.

Urban farming provides healthy,fresh, and locally grown produce. They havea strong outreach component, educating

people about how the food is grown, what grows in the region and ways to prepare the food.Peopleincreasinglytaketo urban farmingtolower grocery bills and bring healthy foodstothe collective plate. Some urban farms are designed to train people to farm and re-enter the workforce. Other venturesfit into the idea of makingfresh food more accessible to economicallydisadvantaged communities. Ultimately, urban farms help save money on groceries, limit the food’s carbon footprint, and provide the chance to ‘shake the hand that feeds you’.

Our project will be undertaken in six stages and is hoped to be completed in two years, depending on our ability to get grants.

Our aim is to make it appealing to adiverse group of people in the community, individuals (able and disabled) andinterest groups.

The Project Scope is:

1. Creation of asmall orchid -apples, pear,orange,lemon etc;

2. Vegetable growinginboth raised beds and flat beds;

3. Flowers;

4. Herbs;

5. Asian vegetables;

6. Indigenous plants (eating);

7. Glass House forpropagation of plants;

8. Mushrooms in our underground vault area;

9. Bees;

10 Worm Farm;

11 Aquaculture;

12 Chickens;

13. Consider other small animals,and;

14 Sensorygardens -smell, touch, colour

The Power Industry was avery active area for migration over the years. We therefore have awide number of people with Indigenous, European and Asian backgrounds, as well as Australian born. The region is avery diverse area and we will work with all groups and religions. Asocialday has beenorganizedfor next Wednesday (April 17) for individuals and groups to come along for aget together, to see what we have in mind. Attendees can enjoy abarbecue lunch. Phone George on 0407 408 090 or Michael (0418 513 092) for more information.

Mic hae lF oza rd is sec reta ry of Newborough Men’s Shed.

rag g: ye ugh Shed arecurrently occupying space inside.The buildinghas hadachequered histor y, going from housing the office of Sir John Monash, to acountr yclub and even abrothel.

Photograph: LiamDurkin

Ex-prisoners adjust to life support

ADROP-IN space for people recently released from prison has expanded to Moe, helping ex-prisoners emotionally readjust to “life on the outside”.

Anglicare Victoria’sGet out for Good (G4G) coordinator, Cathrine Muston said the program was much-needed in the region to address agap for those leaving prison.

“Agenciesand servicesschedule appointments to provide support withthingslikehousing or employment, but there’s areal gap in social and emotional support. That’s where we come in,” she said.

“When you’re inside, peopleare often disconnected from family, friends, and thosewider social support networks we take for granted.

“Get out for Good is an attempt to help people feel likethereisa place forthem in ourcommunity. Because there is.”

G4G has operated elsewhere across the state for adecade,with the Anzac St locationits newest addition.

Ms Muston said the informalstructure of the program, open Tuesdays from 10am to 2pm, was one of its greatest strengths.

“Getting out of prison can be really overwhelming and confusing. The support services these people come into contact with are often required to take

notes on what they say and report it to someone higher up,” she said.

“People sometimes struggle to make appointments because there’s so many to keep up with. But herethere’s no appointment needed, no recording, and no judgement.”

Such social and emotional support, Ms Muston said, was critical to helping people transition out of prison -and stay out.

“We know that whenpeoplestoptheiroffending, the reasonisoften to do with relationships, so our volunteers sit and talk with people and give them supporttounderstandtheir place in our community,” she said.

“One man who’s come to us hasn’t seen his son in decades. Now he’s out, he’s preparing to meet him again. You can imagine the anxietyaroundthat. So we’ve been able to offer alistening ear while he’s workingout what that relationship might looklike.

“Sometimeswhatpeople need most is agood ‘cuppa’ and achat.”

G4G operates from the Madge Vinnell Centre, behindthe Anglican Op Shop, on Anzac Street, Moe.

Pilot program to grow the Lived Experience workforce

GIPPSLAND Primary Health Network has made acommitment to grow the Lived Experience workforce in the region,and is one of onlyfive AustralianPrimary Health Networks to have a dedicated Lived Experience role on staff. Apersonwith Lived Experience has first-handor personal knowledge of mental distress or ill health, substance abuse or suicide. These workers draw on their personal journeys as individuals or as carers to informtheir work

Professional Lived Experienceroles fall across arange of areasincluding peer work, system advocacy,consultancy, learning and development, and academia.

Project Officer Mental Health Reform -Lived Experience,Jess Edwards, is deliveringa pilot program aimed at embedding Lived Experience intoGippslandPHN’swork, processes andsystems

Gippsland PHN Chief Executive, Amanda Proposch said, in line with the National Agreement and Victorianbilateral schedule, the organisation was committed to this initiative.

“We are working collaboratively with our regional partners to grow the Gippsland primary care workforce, and this includes the Lived Experience workforce,” Ms Proposch said.

“The Gippsland PHN Lived Experience workforce will ensure we are in step with the Victorian and national collaboration on approaches to Lived Experience and support local initiatives to achieve them.”

In 2018,the Australian Department of Healthand Aged Care commissioned Brisbane North PHN to chair and project manage the National PHN Mental Health Lived Experience Engagement Network. The purpose of the network is to share approaches

to co-design and embed Lived Experience engagement and perspectives in PHN work and the development of the peer workforce.

In 2022, the state and federal governments signed abilateralagreement to help improve mental health and suicide prevention support and services for Victorians over the following five years. This agreement points to PHNs having arole in developing the Lived Experience workforce and in line with itsrecommendations, Gippsland PHN is committed to embedding the views of those with alived experience,their families and carers, in its work.

Latelastyear, Ms Edwardsand acolleague addressed aNational PHN Mental Health Lived Experience Engagement Network workshop in Brisbane, presenting Gippsland PHN case studies of best practice for organisational readiness.

They also participated in discussions on how the current system, reforms, priorities and recommendations are moving towards embedding authentic Lived Experience engagement and workforce development within PHNs across Australia.

Ms Proposch saidthe Gippsland PHN Lived Experience workforce ensures the organisation is in step with state and national collaborations on approaches to Lived Experience to support initiatives locally.

“While the first part of this pilot program is about embedding Lived Experience into ourwork, the next phase will see us support our commissioned services to embed it in their workforce,” she said.

“Our work in Lived Experience is recognition that program design, service design and outcomes are better when we have the input from those with lived experience.”

HOROSCOPES

by Joanne Madeline Moore

April 8-April 14,2024

Aries (Mar 21 - Apr 19)

Monday night’s Total Solar Eclipse is in your sign which boosts energy levels, turbo-charges your motivation and increases your determination If you ’ re lacking confidence (and feeling more like a meek lamb than a courageous ram) then spend time with an uber Aries friend Hopefully, some of their chutzpah and self-assurance will rub off on you But Mercury is also activating your sign, so slow down and think (carefully) before you speak and act!

Taurus (Apr 20 - May 20)

Taurus is a fixed sign and you can be a bossy, stubborn Bull Aim to be more adaptable and adventurous this week, as you focus attention on helping those around you The Solar Eclipse lights up your humanitarian zone, so being of service to others sees you glow on the inside But with Mercury in retrograde mode, take the time to double-check all information and communicate clearly On Wednesday and Thursday, tread carefully with family and friends

Gemini (May 21 - June 20)

M Gercury is your ruling planet and it’s in retrograde mode until April 25 So it’s not a good time to: gossip; sign contracts; start a job or business; buy a phone computer car or home; launch a website; install new software; go on an important business trip or embark on a big overseas holiday However it IS a good time to do anything with an ‘ re ’ in front of it revise rehearse review remember return, recover and reconnect And make sure you double-check everything

Cancer (June 21 - July 22)

Avoid being a lonesome Crab! Professional projects and creative collaborations with colleagues are favoured, as you spark ideas off each other and pool your talents to produce something special The Total Solar Eclipse and Venus increase enthusiasm and encourage rebooting a rickety work relationship that’s been experiencing problems But be careful you don’t get into an emotional stew over a festering secret, a broken promise, or a breach of trust

Leo (July 23 - Aug 22)

Are you a Lion who’s feeling rather restless?

On Monday night there’s a fiery Solar Eclipse in your adventure zone, which highlights holidays, adventure, exploration and exciting beginnings

But retrograde Mercury is also there, which could complicate travel plans, limit patience, shorten timelines and lengthen frustrations So you ll need to be on your best behaviour if you want to cruise through the week! Clever Cats will check, double-check, listen and learn

Virgo (Aug 23 - Sep 22)

Libra (Sep 23 - Oct 22)

With Venus and the Solar Eclipse in your relationship zone, you re keen to motivate, encourage and inspire others

But Mercury is retrograde so you’ll need to utilise your well-developed diplomatic skills Librans are the fashionistas of the zodiac, so it’s up to you to lead the way towards a more sustainable future Wisdom for the week comes from fashion designer/innovator (and birthday great) Vivienne Westwood: “Buy less, choose well, make it last ”

Scorpio (Oct 23 - Nov 21)

Jump ofp f the comfy couch! The Solar Eclipse (in Aries) encourages you to be proudly proactive as you get your body moving, set challenging daily goals and then actively pursue them Not sure how to do that? Try rubbing shoulders with your kickass Aries friends they’ll show you how to crank up your motivation and energise your enthusiasm But Mercury is in retrograde mode, so be careful you don’t stir up trouble and play power games

Sagittarius (Nov 22 - Dec 21)

Withgyour sparky Sagittarian mojo and momentum running on high speed you ’ re ready to rock and roll! Monday night’s fiery Solar Eclipse activates your leisure-and-pleasure zone, so all forms of entertainment will appeal as you socialise with friends and enjoy yourself to the max However – with Mercury reversing through your friendship zone – be careful you don’t say the wrong thing to the wrong person Think things through before you speak

Capricorn (Dec 22 - Jan 19)

The Spolar Eclipse promises a fresh start involving family plans a domestic situation or a new housemate But the Mars/Saturn conjunction – and retro Mercury – could delay a project, exacerbate a misunderstanding, or frustrate a financial situation So proceed with a pragmatic attitude plus plenty of caution Family and friends are the ones who matter As Michelle Obama (a fellow Capricorn) observes: Surround yourself with people who will make you better”

Mercg ury (your boss planet) is in retrograde mode until April 25 So – even though there’s a New Moon/Solar Eclipse on Monday night – it’s not an appropriate week to expedite tasks, initiate ideas or race ahead with projects Instead, use the time wisely to remember, revise, research and review Be patient, pace yourself and move ahead slowly in planned stages Your motto for the moment is from Ralph Waldo Emerson: Adopt the pace of nature: her secret is patience ”

Aquarius (Jan 20 - Feb 18)

TheqAquarian buzzword for the week is Communication (with a capital ‘C’) Monday night’s Solar Eclipse stimulates your neighbourhood and conversation zones, so expect increased social interaction and educational activities within your local community When it comes to an ongoing neighbourhood problem think global and act local Wisdom for the week is from fashion designer (and birthday great) Vivienne Westwood: The sexiest people are thinkers ”

Pisces (Feb 19 - Mar 20)

Mars and Saturn link up in your sign (on Wednesday/Thursday) which could stymie progress squash confidence and bring you down However –fortunately – the Solar Eclipse and Venus stimulate your self-esteem zone So steer clear of criticism (in person and online), avoid getting caught up in a negative self-talk loop and stop worrying about the qualities you perceive you don’t have It’s time to celebrate your strengths and be your Number One fan!

COPYRIGHTJoanneMadelineMoore2024

Tgon Playgroup week

Hands-on:

By KATRINA BRANDON

NATIONAL Playgroup Week washeld over March 18-24, and Traralgon’s group joined in the fun.

On Thursday, March 21, Traralgon Playgroup, which is parent-led,hostedmanyactivities for children, such as amorning tea provided by Food Co. on Franklin and an Easter egg hunt.

“National Playgroup Week is an initiative that started with Playgroup Victoria. It’s just to celebrate Playgroup. TraralgonPlaygroup has been in this community for over 30 years, so it is integral. Now, we are seeing kids who have attended with their mums now attending with their kids,” Traralgon Playgroup President, Esther Greco said.

The day’s activities were not just about fun and games. They also provided aplatform for parents to interact, share their experiences, and connect. Meanwhile, the kids had ablast creating their own baskets with paper cups, playing in the sandpit, enjoying fruits and slices, and playing with each other.

“It’s just achancefor us to connect, share our experiences and explainwhy we all love playgroup. That’s why we are all here,” Ms Greco said.

Ms Greco told the Latrobe Valley Express one of the main reasons people go to Playgroup is to meet other parentsand integrate fun intokids’ schedules.

Crafts: Traralgon Playgroup participant Aria helped createsome Easterbaskets

“They’re developing motor skills because they are justgetting to play. This is aparent-led playgroup. We’re not facilitated. Kids can play, do, and have thefreedom and choice to do what they like here,” shesaid.

If you wouldlike to find out more aboutPlaygroup, visit the Traralgon Playgroup Facebook page.

Billie Booth, bornTuesday, March 5, 2024 at Warragul Hospital to proud parents Cherie and SteveBooth of Newborough.Sister to Oscar andJack.

LucyNiamh Kavanagh,bornat Latrobe RegionalHospital on Saturday, January13, 2024 to Jay and Amanda Kavanagh (née Williams) of Traralgon. Sister to Madelyn,Thomas and Eleanor

Delilah Sallie-Ann Leicester,bornFriday, March 22, 2024 at Warragul Hospital,toloving parents BaileyLeicesterand Montana Laurie of Moe

Georgie and Penelope getting creativeat Traralgon Playgroup

Photographs: Katrina Brandon GP1668755

TheGuide

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This three-part series sees octogenarian Miriam Margolyes, spurred on by arecent health issue, embark on amission to better understand heradopted homeof Australia, meeting with changing communitiestosee how they are faring. In tonight’ssecondepisode, Miriam travels to ByronBay,where hippies, influencers and celebrities livesidebyside. Despite its freethinking reputation, Miriam finds the price of freedom is steepinByron, which is facing ahousing crisis and feelingthe impacts of climate change. Miriam meets ByronBaes star,influencer Jade Kevin Foster (pictured with Margolyes) and undergoes aspiritual experience with some local hippies.

ABC TV (2) SBS (3) SEVEN (7,6) TEN (10, 5) NINE (9,8)

6.00 News. 9.00 News. 10.00 Four Corners. (R) 10.45 Gardening Australia: My Garden Path. (R) 11.00 AntiquesRoadshow.(R)

12.00 ABC News At Noon. 12.30 National Press Club Address 1.35 Media Watch. (PG, R) 2.00 Anh’s Brush With Fame. (PG, R) 2.25 Back Roads. (R) 2.55 Old People’s Home For Teenagers. (PG,R) 3.55 Long Lost Family.(PG R) 4.40 Grand Designs. (R) 5.30 Antiques Roadshow.(R)

TomGleeson.

8.30 TheWeekly With Charlie Pickering. Asatirical news program.

9.05 White Fever. (Premiere, Mls) Awoman sets out to diversifyher dating life.

9.30 QI. (PG) Hosted by Sandi Toksvig.

10.00 Planet America (Return)

10.35 Adam Hills:The LastLeg. (Final, R) 11.15 ABC Late News. 11.30 TheBusiness.(R) 11.50

Miniseries: The Suspect.(Mal, R) 12.40 Grand Designs. (R) 1.25 Long Lost Family.(PG,R) 2.15 Rage. (MA15+adhlnsv) 4.30 Catalyst. (R) 5.30 7.30.(R)

6.00 WorldWatch. 9.00 Destination Flavour Bitesize. (R) 9.10 Cook Up Bitesize. (R) 9.15

PaulO’Grady:For TheLoveOfDogs. (PGa, R) 10.15 Earth’s Sacred Wonders. (PGa,R) 11.25 Mountain Vets.(PGa) 12.00 WorldWatch. 2.00 Dateline.(R) 2.30 Insight.(R) 3.30

DestinationFlavour ChinaBitesize. (R) 3.40

The Cook Up With Adam Liaw.(R) 4.10 World’sMost Scenic River Journeys. (R) 5.05

Jeopardy! (R) 5.30 Letters And Numbers. (R)

6.00 Mastermind Australia.

6.30 SBS World News.

7.30 Alone Australia. (Ml) The participants’focus turnstofood.

8.30 JimmyCarr’sILiterally Just Told You. (Mad) Jimmy Carr hosts acomedic game show where payingattention pays off

9.25 Miniseries: Litvinenko. (Mal) Part 3of4

10.20 SBS WorldNews Late.

10.50 Blinded. (MA15+d)

11.40 COBRA (Madl, R)

3.10 Mastermind Australia. (R) 4.10 Going Places With Ernie Dingo.(R) 4.40 Bamay.(R)

5.00 NHK World English News Morning. 5.30 ANC PhilippinesThe World Tonight.

6.00 Sunrise.

9.00 TheMorning Show. (PG)

11.30 SevenMorning News.

12.00 MOVIE: At Home In Mitford. (2017,G,R)Andie MacDowell.

2.00 Beat TheChasersUK.

3.00 TheChase. Hosted by Bradley Walsh.

4.00 SevenNews At 4.

5.00 TheChaseAustralia. Hosted by Larry Emdur

6.00 SevenNews.

7.00 Home AndAway. (PGad)

7.30 The1%Club UK (PG) Hosted by LeeMack.

8.30 TheFront Bar (Ml) Hosts Mick Molloy, Sam Pang andAndyMaher takealighter look at all things AFL.

9.30 Talking Footy Alook at the week’sAFL news.

10.30 TheLatest:

6.00 Today 9.00 Today Extra. (PG)

11.30 9News Morning

12.00 MOVIE: Snowkissed. (2021, G, R)

R) 2.55 Old People’s Home ForTeenagers.(R) 3.55 Long Lost Family.(PG, R) 4.40 Grand Designs. (PG, R) 5.30 AntiquesRoadshow.(R)

6.30 Hard Quiz. (PGls, R)

7.00 ABC News

7.30 7.30 Presented by Sarah Ferguson.

8.00 Foreign Correspondent

Takesa look at unexploded devices.

8.30 Grand Designs New Zealand.

TomWebster meets acouple who bought avertiginous site above Queenstown for their holiday house.

9.20 AntiquesRoadshow.

(R) Hosted by Fiona Bruce.

10.20 Better Date Than Never. (Final, PG, R)

10.50 ABCLateNews.

11.05 TheBusiness. (R)

11.20 Love On TheSpectrum. (R)

12.20 Miniseries:The Suspect. (Ma, R)

1.10 Grand Designs (PG,R)

1.55 Long Lost Family.(PG, R) 2.45 Rage (MA15+adhlnsv) 4.30 Catalyst. (PG, R) 5.30

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6.00 WorldWatch. 9.00 Peer To Peer.(PG, R) 9.30 Paul O’Grady:For TheLove Of Dogs. (PGa, R) 10.25 Outta Town Adventures. 11.25 Mountain Vets.(PG) 12.00 WorldWatch. 2.00

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6.00 Mastermind Australia. Presented by Marc Fennell.

6.30 SBS WorldNews

7.35 IKEA: HowDoTheyReally Do It? (Ml, R) Takesalook at IKEA

8.30 StanleyTucci: Searching For Italy:Sardinia. (PGa) Stanley Tucci visits the Italian island of Sardinia,famous for its rugged landscape and foodculture. 9.20 TheVanishingTriangle.

(Final, MA15+a) David confronts

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10.10 SBSWorld NewsLate.

10.40 Illegals. (Malv)

11.35 Miniseries: DI Ray. (Malv,R)

3.10 Mastermind Australia. (R)

4.15 Going Places With Ernie Dingo.(R)

4.45 Bamay. (R) 5.00 NHK World English News Morning. 5.30 ANC PhilippinesThe World Tonight.

SBS VICELAND (31) 6am Children’s Programs. 7.20pm Bluey. 7.30 Would

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6.00 Sunrise. 9.00 TheMorning Show. (PG) 11.30 SevenMorning News. 12.00 MOVIE: Murder, She Baked: ADeadly Recipe. (2016, PGav, R) 2.00 Beat TheChasers UK.

3.00 TheChase. (R) 4.00 SevenNews At 4. 5.00 TheChase Australia.

6.00 SevenNews.

7.00 Football. AFL.Round 5. Melbourne vBrisbane Lions. From the MCG. 10.30 AFL Post-Game Show. Post-game discussion and interviews taking alook back at all the action from the game.

11.00 TheLatest: SevenNews. (R)

11.30 TheAmazing Race. (PGl, R) The teams of two continuetheir race around the Americas for the chance to win $1 million.

1.00 Fortitude (MA15+al, R) Eric struggles to keep control as the body count increases. Dr Khatri receives an unexpected visitor

2.00 Home Shopping. (R)

4.00 NBCToday News and current affairs.

5.00 Sunrise 5am News. The latest news, sportand weather.

5.30 Sunrise News, sportand weather

6.00 Today. 9.00 TodayExtra.(PG) 11.30

9News Morning. 12.00 Gordon Ramsay’s Food Stars. (PG,

6.00 9News

7.00 ACurrentAffair

7.30 RBT. (Mdl, R) Alookatpolice random breath-test patrols.

8.30 Australia Behind Bars. (Mad, R)

Inmate Darryl is encouraged to write stories for hisyoung son to develop a father-and-son bond frombehind bars.

9.30 World’sMostDangerous Prisoners: Robertson. (M) Takes alookatpeople behind bars.

10.30 Law& Order: Organized Crime. (MA15+av)

6.00 Deal Or No Deal Hosted by GrantDenyer.

6.30 TheProject. Alookatthe day’snews.

7.30 I’mA Celebrity…Get Me Out Of Here! (PGals) The campmates face adisgusting food trial. Yet another celebrity is eliminated.

9.00 GoggleboxAustralia. Adiverse range of people open theirliving rooms to reveal their reactions to popular and topical TV shows, with the help of special, locked-off cameras which capture every unpredictablemoment.

10.00 Law& Order:SVU (MA15+av,R) Muncy triestofitinwiththe squad.

11.00 TheProject. (R) Alook at theday’snews.

12.00 TheLate ShowWith Stephen Colbert (PG) 1.00 Home Shopping. (R) 4.30 CBSMornings.

WorldWatch.

Of 10 Cats Does Countdown. 8.30 The Curse Of OakIsland. 10.10 Mass Shooting USA 11.20 Taskmaster 12.15am Late Programs.

Black Mirror 2.10 Louis Theroux:The Most Hated Family In America. 3.10 ABC News Update. 3.15 Close 5.00 Late Programs. ABC COMEDY (22) 6am Little Nicolas. Continued.(2009,PG, French) 6.40 Without AClue. (1988,PG) 8.40 HitThe Road. (2021, PG, Farsi) 10.30 Mars Attacks! (1996,M) 12.30pm The Assistant. (2019,M) 2.05 AFriendly Tale.

Friday, April 12

ABC TV (2) SBS (3) SEVEN (7,6) TEN (10, 5) NINE (9,8)

6.00 News Breakfast. 9.00 ABC News

Mornings. 10.00 Planet America. (R) 10.30

That PacificSports Show.(R) 11.00 Antiques Roadshow. (R) 12.00 ABC News At Noon.

1.00 Silent Witness. (Ma, R) 2.00 Queen Of Oz. (Ml, R) 2.30 White Fever. (Mls, R) 2.55 Old People’s Home ForTeenagers. (PG, R) 3.55

Long Lost Family.(PG, R) 4.40 Grand Designs. (R) 5.30 AntiquesRoadshow.(R)

6.00 WorldWatch. 9.00 Peer To Peer.(a, R) 9.30 Paul O’Grady:For TheLove Of Dogs. (PGa,R) 9.55 Outta Town Adventures. 10.50

Mountain Vets.(Ma) 12.00 WorldWatch. 2.05

Tony Robinson: WWII By Drone.(Mav,R) 3.00

NITVNews: Nula. 3.40 The Cook Up.(R) 4.10

World’sMostScenic River Journeys. (R) 5.05

Jeopardy! (R) 5.30 Letters AndNumbers. (R) 6.00 Sunrise. 9.00 TheMorning Show. (PG) 11.30 SevenMorning News 12.00 MOVIE: Murder, She Baked: JustDesserts (2017, PGav,R)

6.30 SBS World News. 7.35 Ancient Egypt By Train: ThePyramids. (R) Part 2of4 8.30 MichaelPalin: Into Iraq. (PGa, R) Part 2of3.MichaelPalin continues his journey into the heartofIraq, arriving in Kirkuk. 9.25 Secrets Of TheLostLiners: Queen Elizabeth (PGav,R) Alook at the QueenElizabeth 10.15 SBSWorld NewsLate. 10.45 AFrench Case. (Mas) 11.45 Miniseries: Algiers Confidential. (MA15+as, R)

3.25 Mastermind Australia. (R) 4.25 Bamay. (R) 4.55 Destination Flavour: JapanBitesize. (R) 5.00 NHKWorld English News Morning

5.30 ANC PhilippinesThe World Tonight.

HouseOfWellness (PG)

TheChase. (R)

SevenNews At 4. 5.00 TheChase Australia.

6.00 SevenNews.

Today. 9.00 Today Extra. (PG) 11.30

Morning. 12.00

p

srt po

New-look teams start theseason

FOOTBALL

MOE opened its savings account at the weekend.

The Lio ns dep osi ted four poi nts again st Morwell, winning by nine points in ascrappy affair that returned abland 7.14 (56) to 7.5 (47) scoreline.

The match at Ted Summerton Reserve never reachedgreat heights, as players from both sides blew the cobwebs out acrossfour quarters for the first game of the season.

Moekicked three goals to ei he first term, from time it was able to naleadinthe of 20 points for thegame. ers made some running, and cut margin back to under two goals in the last, but watching on, it never reall yf elt like Moe was in danger of los ing the match -and the bod y languageof play ers on both sides seeme dt o indica te the same.

Coming back from the main break, the Lions were able to keep Morwel la tb ay , thanks to multiple goals from To m Blackshawand one Harri Sim.

Sim,the returning vice-captain, received ahit-up from newly appointed vice-capta in Riley

Moe viceScottVan as amongthe he Lions in noverMorwell he Gippsland season phs: Liam Durkin

Baldi at the 25-minute mark, while Blackshaw nailed two timely set shots either side of this.

Blackshaw looks to be aplayer who has benefited fromMoe’s football program.Hespent almost the entire year last season in thereserves, before receiving acall-up in Round 17. He then kicked fivegoals in Round 18 to hold his spot for the first final. With ex-AFL player Billy Gowers now out of the picture for Moe, an opportunity has opened up for young Blackshaw.

The Lions took a22-point leadinto three quartertime, butwereforced to stave off apersistent Morwell in the last.

The Tigersdominated most facets of thegame, not allowing Moeaninside 50 until well past the 10-munite mark.

Morwell was disadvantaged by playing-coach and key midfielder Boyd Bailey needing to play forward in the last, managingatroublesome calf. Turning that into apotential positive however, theTigershad little to no trouble winning clearances-especially in the second half.

Morwell more than doubled Moe in the clearance count after halftime, (25 to 12), while the final tally read 46-28.

The Tigers had afew scoring opportunities late, but failed to convert some half-chances.

Agoal to Cohen Campbell getting goal-side madeitaneight-point ballgame,howevera follow-up snap from Aidan Quigley that missed everything, along range effort from Tylier Hillier that hit the point post, and an appeal for asoccer goal amid atangleofbodiesonthe goal-linefrom BrandonMcDonald that was deemed touched by the goal umpire, perhaps summed up their luck.

As is often the casewhenaside dominates an inside 50 count but doesn’t put it on the scoreboard, Moe was able to makethe most of its first opportunity forward during the last, which saw debutant Callum Nash kick the Lions’ only goal for the term.

Nash, and all about50kilograms of him, benefited from asmart kick from Sim to the fat side,where the debutant was able to gather and snapitthroughfor his first goal in senior football.

Being aleft footer, it was ironic his first goal was kicked on his right givenmostleft footersare notorious for hardly ever using their opposite foot.

However,Nashgrewupplayingsoccer, asport requiring players to be proficient on both sides of their body.

It was said of former GWScoachLeonCameron during his playing days with the Western Bulldogs and Richmond, people didn’t know exactly which foot he kicked with, such was his skill level.

Nash was one of four senior debutants for Moe, along with LiamMasters, Tom Matthews and JamesMaslen.

Maslen became the second of the third generation in the familytoplay senior football with Moe, following older brother Ben, dad Gary (who

presented his jumper) and grandfather Wilson.

One of the bars at Moe Racing Club is named after Wilson, and the junior Maslen could now be on the path to creating his own legacy. Unfortunately, Ben didn’t see out the game, and hobbled off at the 10-minute mark of the last, while another Moe defender in Luke Mulqueen did similar not long after.

Blackshaw was sent back to coverMaslen’s absence, which was aroundthe time Morwell started to repeatedly pump the ball inside 50.

On aday where highlightswere few and far between, Matthews provided aglimpse into why he is so highly touted.

Stillonly in bottom-age thirds, and standing all but 170cm,Matthews launched from the runway in the third term to very nearly pull down ahanger for the ages.

Moe ruckman Chris Prowse, like most at the ground,wereindisbelief,somuch so he was heard to jokinglysay “want to play ruckmate?”.

TheTigers hada few firstgamersthemselves, includingYinnar product HarriMcColl, who sho wed some good sign splay ing as at all interceptor.

Morwell debutantruckman Charlie Burr (one of ahost of Mornington-based recruits) provided one of the humorous momentsofthe gam play wasstopped after his sports goggles detached at acentre bounce.

Burkeley Macfarlane and Trent Ba becameengaged in their own karma subplotinthe last, after thelatter ga a50metre penalty for astand infrin Macfarlane was quicktooffer some le complementary verbal advice, but Baldi had the last laugh, nabbing Macfarla ing the ball right in front of the Moe be their fervent supporters alittle while la probably didn’t have to be alip-reader roughly what was said back. While last Saturday marked the start season,itwas the usual suspects in for Moe.

Riley Baldi got the nod as the Lion picking up where he left off last season came runner-up in the Trood Award an Medal for league best-and-fairest.

p me, h s be aldi a-re ave ngem ess how ane ench ater to of a the n’s wh nd R

Others to play well were Ben Daniher, Chris Prowse,Scott Van Dyk, Nick Prowse and Declan Keilty -although even he perhaps highlighted just how rusty mostplayers were, getting pinged for an unrealistic attempt in the last quarter,an actionone would describe as very out of character for arguably the competition’s best intercept defender.

Zac Anderson, Tom Gray, Hillier, Jackson Burr, Tyler Brown and Campbell Blewett were prominent for Morwell.

Morwell showedtheir classbefore the game, joining Moe for atribute to the Lion’slastsenior premiership captain, Allan Steel, who died earlier this year.

Attendees heard from Gus Eaton and Danny O’Brien, both teammatesofSteel, as the Moe 1967 premiership flag flew at half-mast.

While some willarguefootball has changed for the worse over time, if thereisone thing thathas improved, it is the relationship between clubs.

AnumberofformerMoe players now tied to NorthGippsland and Mid Gippsland clubs were also in attendance last Saturday, and were ld it th hd il

welcomed into the changerooms and social rooms when ecame i lated awa tha hold.Y know e best en odda nto e angerooms cial

YOURLOCAL FOOTBALLAND NETBALL LIFTOUT

GIPPSLAND LEAGUE BY LIAM DURKIN

Stepping up: Yinnar productHarri McColl playedhis firstgame forMorwell at the weekend.

Kuol LEONGATHA 3.3 4.7 6.12 11.12 (78)

TR AR ALGON 1.0 3.1 4.1 4.4 (28)

GOALS:Leongatha:T McRae5 JBurns 2MBorschman JWalker BFor tNHanily Traralgon: AJaensch JMacumberPAkram CRuyters. BEST:Leongatha:MBorschman TMcRae JWalker

NHanilyJ Lamers DHume Traralgon: LHahn ALovison LMcDonald PAkram FKennedy A Jaensch MOE 2.0 4.2 6.4 7.6 (48) MORWELL 1.0 2.2 2.4 4.6 (30)

GOALS:Moe:Trent Morrow 2JMorrow 2JMakepeace2C

Posiitive signsfor Maroons

FOOTBALL

GIPPSLAND LEAGUE

BY LIAM DURKIN

TRARALGON learnt more than they lost against Leongatha. In an ironic outcome, while the scoreboard indicatedafive pointdefeat forthe Maroons in Round1ofthe Gippsland League, the way in which things transpired meant they would havewalked awayfrom Leongatha Recreation Reserve feeling as though they were in fact, the beneficiaries.

That an extremely youthful Traralgon only lost 6.13(49) to 6.8 (44) against arguablythe greatest side of any Gippsland League era, perhaps validates the pathway the Maroons are heading down.

Traralgon kicked all the goals in the first half,while at the other end, Leongatha could only manage astring of behinds.

TheParrots registered astaggering 0.10 (10) by halftime, as the visitors tooka 12-point lead into the sheds.

Leongatha clicked into gear from there, slamming on 5.1 (31) in the third to wrestle back the lead.

Both teams shared agoal apiece in the last, with the siren beating Traralgon before they had achancetosnatch what would have been amemorable win.

Tye Hou rig an led fr om the fr ont for Traralgon, and received good support from Max Jacobsen, Tom Hamilton, Connor Ambler, Luis D’Angelo and Joel Scholtes. Best for Leongatha were Jake van der Plight,Cam Olden, Sam Forrester, Jack Hume, MitchBentvelzen and the Benjamin Button of Gippslandfooty -CadeMaskell.

It only took the Parrots one roundtospring asurprise on everyone, naming VFL-player Noah Gown in their reserves last weekend.

Having got themselves into awinning position, it is likely nervesand inexperience played apart for Traralgon. Much like when ayoung up-and-coming batsmen is sent out to face the new ball in senior cricket, they may be able to survive the first 10 overs, but eventually, there has to be acircuit breaker as they are surrounded by an unrelenting opposition.

That being said, the profile of Traralgon’s performance is sure to put the competition on notice, particularly Moe, whom the Maroons face this Saturday under lights at home. Traralgon and Moe will again compete for the Riley ‘Choppy’ Pearce Cup, which has become astrong connector for the clubs in thelastfew years, shining alight on mental health.

Lionsroaring starttonetball season

NETBALL GIPPSLAND LEAGUE

BY ZAIDA GLIBANOVIC

AN exciting Round 1ofGippsland League netballplayedout at the weekend.

Moe unfurled its premiershipflag in the Grand Final rematch against Morwell.

The Lions showed they will be roaring again in 2024, defeating the new-look Tigers 53-38.

The Tigers started well, shooting 13-11 in the first quarter, with new recruit Tiffany Boatman hitting the scoreboard early.

However, it didn't take long for Moe's superstarline-uptoget the better of the Tigers.

Lions defender Olivia Barnett,alongside midcou rters Hollie Bugeja and Macy Gardiner, were best on court for transitioning the ball afterturnoverand then feeding it into thehands of shooter Ramayer Gourley, who shot the majority (37 goals) of Moe's total.

Morwell's Anna Solomon and Courtney Garth were admirable in defeat, recognised alongside Boatman as best-on.

Both Solomon and Garth had atough tasktrying to quell the Lion's attack; they continued to fightfor every possession despite the score expanding by the end of the game.

TRARALGON'S young guns registered another win for the season, after defeating Leongatha on their home deck 42-32.

The Parrots were perhaps unprepared for the likes of Maroons returning midcourter

Stacey Jacobsen,who worked alongside Milly Murphy and Montanna Styles to dominate the centre third.

Sophie Lecchinoreaped the benefitsofthe midcourter's hard work, sinking 20 shots from the Maroons' total.

The Parrots were chasing tail all game, being outscored 25-14 in the first half.

Despite ahalftime resurgence led by none other than Sharni Lambden, Kate Browne, and NicolaMarriot, Leongatha couldn't come back enough.

ALL was even as Sale and Maffra drew 33-all in the first game of the season.

The Battle of the Birds is always atough game for these two rivals, but Idoubt many spectators could have predicted adraw last Saturday.

The Eaglescame in hot, scoring 10-8 in the first quarter.

Filling in for Maffra on the day was Heyfield superstar defender,Jayde Parsons Parsons was aforce to be reckoned with, causing significant problems for the Magpies' offensive line.

The Magpies strategically brought in fillins of their own in former North Gippsland player Emma Grunwald from TTU, whose plays were instrumental in the match. She fed into Kate Van der Voort, who was responsible for astaggering 23 of Sale's 33 goals.

Sale managed to win the second quarter, scoring 19-17 by halftime.

Maffra'sMatilda Pendergast, alongside Parsons, brought the score even in the last quarter.

It was Sale's game to lose at three-quarter time,and theEagles led their charge, shooting 9-6 in the last quarter.

EMMA Ryde is athreat.

Warragul showcased their star recruit in a 59-36 win against Wonthaggi at the weekend.

Ryde wasmonumentalfor theGuls, sinking 49 goals out of the total.

Warra gul' sE ll aR ees had ad ay out as goalkeeper, facilitating many scoring opportunities from intercepts.

The Guls might have found their missing piece of the puzzle, with Sienna Green's midcourt dominance paying dividends with ashooter like Ryde, who can finish off the team's hard work.

Wonthaggi's new recruit Alana McRae, alongside Ellie Bates and Chelsea Bowman, were notable even in the defeat.

BAIRNSDALE aren't quite there yet.

Drouin gotthe betterofthe Redlegsdespite the long car ride down the freeway.

The Hawks put on adominant display to win 50-39.

VNL Gippsland Stars' teammates Paris Dunkleyand Alison Dwyer went head-tohead againstDrouin's Ava Gual and Lucy McKellar, providing entertainment for onlookers.

Though the Redlegs have improved drasticallysince last season, the Hawks' structure was just too strong.

Bairnsdale's Anna Mooney, TaylaFalconer and RubyDunkley were good in the loss, while Drouin' sE ll aH end erson, April Bethune and McKellar starred for the victors.

Wonderment at Western Park

FOOTBALL

GIPPSLAND LEAGUE

BY LIAM DURKIN

WHOEVER backed Warragul to beat Wonthaggi would now have enough money to bringthe Commonwealth Gamesback to Gippsland.

The Guls shockedthe local football world on Saturday, beating last year’s grand finalists, Wonthaggi.

In whatwas surely their bestwin since rolling eventual premierMaffrain2016 to gainaspotinfinals, Warragul roseto new heights at Western Park, and possibly signalled the start of something special, defeating the Power 8.9 (57) to 7.6 (48) in Round 1action.

The home sid ec am eo ut firi ng aft er halftime, kicking four goals to one to take a 14-point lead heading into the last.

The Guls then managedtohang on, staving off athree-goal effort from their opponents, to win by nine points.

Others to playwell wereJakeb Thomas, Toma Huther, Sparkes, Cooper McInnes and former Morwell player, Brayden Duve. SALE extended its winning streak over Maffra.

TheMagpies defeated the Eagles for the sixth consecutive time in ahigh-scoring game to start the season, 16.15 (111) to 12.7 (79).

An eight-goal second term essentiallybroke the game open for the visiting Sale, from which time Maffra was unable to come back.

Like most Battle of the Birds clashes, there was plentyofspice in thecontest,which resulted in ahigh number of free kicks and 50 metre penalties. Maffra kicked four goals from 50 metre penalties, making for 25 per cent of their final tally.

BAIRNSDALE led at every change against Drouin.

The Redlegs secured their first win of the season, (after losingduring ‘OpeningRound’), holding off the Hawks to win 9.11 (65) to 6.13 (49).

Brayden McCarrey returned to the lineup and kicked three goals in the win, while new recruits Tom Blenheim and Hugh Longbottom also played well.

Ryan Quirk, Jordan Kingi and Caleb Quirk were best for Drouin.

NIGHT GAME

TRARALGON vs MOE

Saturday, April 13 at Traralgon Showgrounds

RuckmanMitch Smartwas mighty in the win, as was Tom Stern, Jack Lewsey, Sean Masterson, Isaac Wallace and Patrick Mulqueen.

TheEagles howeverfound more conventional avenues to score, headlined by Luke Dyer who finished with four majors. Having recently moved to Maffra, the former East Gippsland champion showed early signs he will have no trouble jumping up into ahigher level -even if he is approaching the age of 40.

FOOTBALL

This win arguably surpasses the one Warragul achieved over Maffra in 2016, which came late in the season when the Eagles ‘rested’ anumberofkey players.

The Guls therefore can take an enormous amount of credit from the fact they knocked off aWonthaggi team that contained VFLlisted player RyanSparkes and former Collingwood playerIsaacChugg, as well as former VFL players Aiden Lindsay and Jack Blair.

Blair was best-on for the Power, while his brother and Wonthaggi coach,Jarryd wasa notable absence.

As one Sale baristaonce told thiswriter whendiscussing local cricketers in acertain age bracket: “goodplayers are alwaysgood”. Dyer was named in the best for Maffra, as was Jett Killoran, JamesRead, Kade Renooy, AlexCarr and Daniel Bedggood, who kicked three goals.

Sale was well-served by its own familiar/ returning recruit, Jesse Collins, while Jack Leslie, reigning league best-and-fairest Shannen Lange, JakeHutchins, Hudson Holmes and Bohdi Walker (four goals) also contributed positively. The Magpies were able to manage afew players late in the game, gearing up for what is suddenly an intriguing match at home against Warragul.

Seniors: 6pm Reserves: 4.10pm Thirds: 2.20pm Fourths: 12.30pm

NETBALL

AGrade: 6.05pm BGrade: 4.50pm CGrade: 3.45pm

New season and new stories in the works

FOOTBALL MID GIPPSLAND

BY LIAM DURKIN

MID Gippsland Football-Netball League clubs are set to commence the 2024 season.

The season opener this weekendcarries with it adegree of intrigue as clubstakethe first step to achieving premiership points.

The previous year’s Grand Finalists, Fish Creek and Newborough, areagainexpectedto be among the teamstobeat, while Thorpdale and Meeniyan Dumbalk United have been identified as likely challengers.

The Bulldogs had agood hit out at the weekend against North Gippsland Football-Netball League side Heyfield, ateam also carrying high expectations in its respective league.

Newboroughhas added someexperience and grunt to its line-up, securing the services of favourite son, Daniel Risol back for another stint.

Risol joins Darnell Grech as another returning Newborough local, alongwith Jack Hudson and Kyle Jennings.

There hasbeen aslight change in leadership philosophy at The Kennel.

AlexSkinner hasgraciouslystepped down as fulltime captain, giving arein each to Josh

Pearce and Wade Anderson as co-captains.

Somewhat bizarrely, there still seems to be mystery surrounding the 'South Gippy Six' clubsofFish Creek, Foster, Toora, Tarwin, MDU and Stony Creek.

Despite being in the league coming up to four years now, news regarding those clubshas consistently failed to makeits wayover the hill and into the more traditional Mid Gippsland heartland-that is until they play games around the Latrobe Valley.

Withthisinmind, expect the South Gippsland influence to againring true in 2024-and equally, expect some teams to be completely different after clearances close.

Stony Creek has been identified as aside who perhaps underachieved last season, and with afew more Leongatha-based recruits, could have the makings of ateam knocking on the finals door.

Tarwin could be in asimilar boat, and having nabbed Wonthaggi players suchasKane McCarthy, Lachie Jones and Travis Krause, they will provide more than ahandful.

The trio may have been Wonthaggi twos players, but they'll be very good seniorplayers in MidGippy.

Closer to home, alot of eyes are on Thorpdale and just how far they will go this season.

The sentimental favouritesofMid Gippsland took fans all the waytothe second-lastgame of the season last year, and have topped up with evenmore exceptional players, headlined by AnthonyRosato, who's bullocking style sees him just about the perfect type suited to the usual mud-soaked grounds of the league.

WithDillon Leysfrom Churchilland Jordan Ceppi from Moe also on board,Thorpdale could well find themselves short-priced favourites to take out along-awaited premiership.

While the Blues showedtheycould handle finals pressure last year, there is now pressure of adifferent kind -whenyou have ateam this good, you really shouldbewinningmost weeks.

Elsewhere, traditional powerhouse Yinnar is again tipped to be in the finals frame, as are Morwell East.

Boolarra willcarry high hopes under new coach Brendan Mason, althoughjust how much events in recent weeks affecttheir preparation could be seen in coming rounds.

The Dem on st hough tt hey had North Gippsland leaguebest-and-fairest winner, Ricky Cochrane sign, sealed and delivered, only for him to bail at the last minute and join Warragul Industrials.

Another side coming in with less than ideal preparation is Mirboo North,who appointed club 300-gamer,Damien Turner as coach only two monthsago

To hiscredit, Turner has managed to recruit and entice anumber of ex-players back in a short space of time, although it could be acase of too little too late as far as many wins are concerned.

Wins may notbecounted in the points column for Hill End this season, as by all reports, just getting two teams on the park every week will be amoral victory in itself.

How quickly the premiership window can shut -Hill End and Mirboo North were poised to play in aGrand Final just three years ago.

Coaches weigh in on season ‘24

FOOTBALL MID GIPPSLAND

MID Gippsland Football-Netball League PublicityOfficer, Rob Popplestone asked all senior coaches for some words before the season starts this Saturday.

Here's what they had to say.

Fish Creek (Round 1opponent -Newborough)

AREALLY exciting year for the club ahead with anumberoflocal boys coming back to play their footy,bringing an injection of enthusiasm.

After awhirlwind of emotions since Grand Final day last year, we are all super-excited to get back on the field and court with the community down to support. For Round 1a gains t Newborough, it’sgoing to be a really proud and emotional day to watch the flag unfurling and look forward to afull crowd of Fish Creek faithful.

Newborough are looking prime to be another strong force. It’ll be great to test ourselves early in the season to see where we sit. With afew out from our Grand Final team but then anumberof inclusions it will be interesting to see how we all play together."

Jarrod Walker

Newborough

HAS been alatestart to the preseason which finished with three practice matches. Lostafew and gained afew and will be aslowbuildtothe season for us. We head to the Prom to take on the reigning premier, so expecting this gametogiveusa good guide on where we are at and a starting point for our season.

Craig Skinner

MDU (vs Thorpdale)

WE come up against Thorpdale first up.

Last year, we had two really tight contests (against Thorpdale), both times they got us, including in the finals. It will be agreat game straight up to see whereweare at as a side.

I’m really looking forward to getting out, puttingina good performance and aiming to build on what we achieved last season.

Nathan Allen

Thorpdale

HEADING dow nt oS out h Gippslandtoface MDU is always atough gig.

We had two great contests againstthem lastyear and we expect this to be the same. Likealways,the teamwho has

21 contributors will get the job done.

Jason Winderlich

Yinnar (vs Toora)

THE club is really ex ci te d about our young group, our new recruits and the experienced players we have to guide them along the way.

We’re looking forward to seeing where we are at in comparison to other teams and feel the hard work we’ve put in over the offseason willhold us in good stead to compete all year.

The group has gelled very well to date and feel we will improve the more we playtogetherand adjust to our game plan. No doubt we will be in for a toughcontest against Tooragiven the fact they haveput together astrong list

Sam McCulloch

Toora

ANEW season always brings new hope.

Withnumerous new players, we appreciate it will take some time to geloffensively.

In the contest and defensively,I expect our players to bring effort regardless of the situation.

Early season games are always hardtoget aread on. After a tough run with injuries last year, Iexpect Yinnar to bounce. So our Round 1contest will be agood test to see where we sit against a clubwho traditionallydon’tstay outofcontention too often.

Jack Weston

Boolarra (vs Mirboo North)

WE have recruited some talent both from within and outside of the MGFNL, and although we havealso losta few, Ifeel we have done well.

We hope that standsusi n good stead for our first up clash against arespected opponent.

Brendan Mason

Mirboo North

WE have our rivals Boolarra in Round 1-always ahuge day! Boolarra has recruited some good names, so all the best to Brendan and his club for 2024. Our boys havehad ahuge final month of preseason and are ready to go. It’s going to be exciting watching this list develop over season '24 and beyond. They will bring gre at en ergy in off en ce and defence each week.

All the best to all the other clubs. Excited to get started.

Damien Turner

Hill End (vs Stony Creek)

HOPING to get our first Win over 12 months in front of our

home crowd. We will front a young sidethatiseager to get after it.

Stony will be well drilled, with plenty of expe rien ced senior players.

I'm keen to see how our young side will go!

Ambu Ulliando

Stony Creek,

LOOKING forward to the first game of the year against Hill End away.

We hope to build on last year’s performance and early wins are crucial.

With afew new names added to our list this year we will have better depth.

We have just finished our third practice matchand will go into Round1with good match fitness. Good luck to all teams.

Chris Verboon

Foster (vs Morwell East)

ROUND1isalwaysaninteresting time foruswith school holidays, weddings and so on affecting player availability.

I’m not sure what our team will look likejustyet and there will be plenty of phone calls made over the week as well as blooding some kids out of the 18s.

I’ll be asking the boys to just be competitive and have acrack Iwatched East play their final last year and they should’ve won by five goals so I’m sure they’ll be primed after three practice matchesand raring to go chasing some redemption.

Sam Davies

Morwell East

ROUND 1thisweek and I'm nervous as ever before.

The unkn own co ming into Round1,are we fit enough, have we done enough? These questions will be answered at the end of this Saturday when we take on Foster away.

We both played finals last year.

I'm told they have recruited well, and so have we. We will be looking to bring exactly what we did last season, high pressure for four quarters.

Iknow Foster will bring the same on their home turf. Would be great to start the season off the same way as last season.

Paul Henry

Tarwin has the bye

Hopes: Expectations arehigh forThorpdale in season2024. Photograph: Liam Durkin

Premiership race in thenorth nowon

FOOTBALL

NORTH GIPPSLAND

BY BLAKE METCALF-HOLT

FOOTBALL returns in the North Gippsland Football-Netball League this weekend.

Like everynew season, there’s hope sprawling across the competition.

Every club has their ambitions, with new and returning faces to redeem or reaffirm their side’s performance from last season.

REIGNING premier, TraralgonTyers United face off against Woodside in the Grand Final rematch.

The Wildcats, under new coach Michael Stockdale, will be chomping at the bit to upset the Bombers as they unfurl their 2023 senior premiership flag in front of their home crowd.

Therewill be obstacles for TTU as they await their premiership defence. Jack Brown enters the year for the first time as the sole head coach, after being accompanied by Jamie Aitken during their run to the premiership last season.

They’ll be the obvious team to beat throughout the year, with other teams underlining their chance against the premiers with an addedlevel of vigour andpreparation.

SALE CITY hosts Cowwarr, in aclash between two revamped sides. The prodigal son has returned for the Bulldogs, with multiple senior premiership player and former coach, Jacob Schubackwarmly back to The Kennel as senior coach. Schuback has brought with himsomeremarkable recruitsthatwill likelypush the Bulldogsback into the finals race.

Jayden Allison has come on board as assistant coach from Sale, while Kane Martin, Cooper Whitehill, Da ine McGuin ness and Jordan Sande man have also made the move down Guthridge Parade.

As for Cowwarr, they equally have made some groundinthe recruitingranks, namelywith the signing of playing co-coach, Keenan Hughes, arriving from Yallourn Yallourn North.

Hughes brings with him some needed talent to

try and lift Cowwarr from near the bottom of the ladder. Joining him in this quest is Haydn Hector from Traralgon,Zac Tactor from Swifts Creek, young RobbieFarnham from Bairnsdale,and big-time player Alex Saunders, having previously played for Casey Scorpions in the VFL.

Two clubs not to be taken lightly, this will be a highly entertaining game with both clubs filled withnew-found lifeand prospects for season 2024.

ANOTHER couple of hopeful risers are showcased with Glengarry at Gormandale.

Again, both sides debutnew coachingoutfits, with the Tigers appointing Josh Monacella across from Newborough in the Mid Gippsland FNL, and the Magpies calling up captain Alex Bermingham as head honcho.

Thesetwo youthful sideswill be looking to make noise throughoutthe yearand see steady improvement overall.

HEYFIELD will be out for blood this year as they begintheir campaign against Rosedale at home.

Both sides moved through the off season retaining most of their list. Heyfield has been in the mix for

quite sometime now(but hasn’t got back to the big dance since 2016 and hasn’t gone all the way since 2012). Rosedale meanwhile usuallyhover around the top five from year-to-year.

The Kangaroos should get up, but it will be an intriguing opener.

YARRAM takes on Churchill at home in what is tipped to be atight contest betweentwo equally matchedopponents.

Demons coach, Boadie Motton is re-equipped with talentafter narrowly missingout on finalslast year. Churchill sees returningsenior coach, Jordan Fenech at the helm.

Fenech will be supported in the box by big recruit Ashley Di Ciero. Originally from Warragul,DiCiero has had astint with Williamstowninthe VFL.His brother, Luke also played for Sale briefly. With many re-signings and some smaller moves, the Cougars look ready for abounce-back year.

YALLOURN Yallourn North has the bye.

NETBALL GIPPSLAND STARS

BY ZAIDA GLIBANOVIC

ROUND5ofthe Victorian Netball

Lea gue sea son concl ud ed last Wednesday (April 3), with 23 and Under Gippsland Starsadmirablein defeat against the Geelong Cougars. The Stars went down 41-61, but remained aconsistent adversary for the Cougars all match long.

Despite the predictions, Cougar Tully Bethune's performance was not as dominant as expected.The Stars' defence, led by Alison Dwyer, Lucy McKellar, and Anna Solomon, managed to interceptmanyofher overhead passes,proving theirmettle

The Stars found the rhythm in the match after another slowstart, with Traralgon's Sophie Lecchino ace under the ring -sinking shots left, right and centre.

Gipp sland's mid cou rt pres sure continues to build, as Chloe Radford, AvaGual, Paris Dunkley and Hollie

Bugeja learn to play witheach other Traralgon's Myah Healey was also good despite the loss, shooting at 89 per cent; the youngathlete put up 24 goals of the Stars' total.

The Cougars' system was awelloiled machine,swiftlyrebounding from turnovers and feeding the ball to their accurate shooters. It was a sight to behold as they executed their plays with precision.

Despite giving up shot after shot at the start, the Gippsland young women found their way back into the game and managed to stay competitive throughout.

Despitethese losses from slow starts,the Stars have showcased real perseverancethat keepsthem in matches.

Tom orro w, the Stars take on Melbourne University Lightning at the StateNetball Centre in Parkville Lightning is sitting fifth on the ladder and will no doubt be avery tough challenge for the Gippsland Stars.

Stars go down to dominant Geelong Free entryfor Yarram opener

FOOTBALL/NETBALL

NORTH GIPPSLAND

SPECTATORS won't have to pay to get into Yarram Recreation Reserve this Saturday.

The opening round of the North Gippsland Football-Netball Leaguematch betweenYarram and Churchill will see anumberofinitiatives to attract more people through the gates.

As well as free entry, there will be kids activities such as face painting and ajumping castle.

Fun day out at AFLX comp

Come one, come all: More than 500 primar yschool students competedatthe recent AFLX SuperKickCompetitionran by Lowanna College andAFL Gippsland. Photograph

FOOTBALL AFLX

ON Wednesday, March 27 LowannaCollege hosted an AFLX Super Kick Competition, which was organisedbytheir Sports Academy with the assistance of AFL Gippsland.

Adults can also enjoy $2.50 beers and champagne during the first quarter of the senior football match.

The concept hasbeenput together by Ryan Underw ood (broth er of champi on Yarr am footballer Griffin).

"I'm doing this as Iwant the local footy ground to be aplace where we reconnect and catch up with friends and family," he said.

"With the current high costs of living, the entry fee to get afamily into alocal game can be hard to justify in the people budget.

"I alsoknowhow much community means to people especiallyinthe country and Iwant everyone to be able to enjoy aday with their families and friends, watchinggreat gamesof local netball and football."

Underwood runs adesign and construction building company in Melbourne (appropriately named'underwood'), and will essentially be sponsoring everyone's gate entry. Acoffee van will also be present, pouring locally made brews from 9.30am.

The senior football match begins at 2.15pm.

Morethan500 primaryschool students from the Gippsland region came to the Joe Tabuteau Reserve (Moe Racecourse)to participated in the tournament, which saw 16 small-sided games takeplace.

The tournament saw 30 boys and mixed teams and 24 girls teams compete.

In the Girls Championship, Newborough East Primary School took out the competition.

The girls participation award went to Trafalgar Primary School.

The boys participation was won by St Kieran's Primary School, Moe and the boys/ mixed championship was won by St Joseph’s Primary School, Warragul.

supplied

Bond: TheGippsland team recentlyhad ateam dinner at ALH Hotels Morwell Hotel.

Saturday, April13

6.20 Back Roads: TheGreat Australian Road Trip (R) Presented by HeatherEwart.

6.50 Bluey. (R) Dad pretends to be an estate agent.

7.00 ABC News Alookatthe topstories of theday

7.30 Murder In Provence. (Mav) Marine helps Antoine and Hélène investigate the death of an aristocrat, found dead at hischateau.

9.00 Miniseries: TheSuspec t. (Mal, R) Part 2of5.Despite hisbestefforts, Joe becomesmore entangled in the case of themurdered youngwoman.

9.50 House Of Gods. (Final, Ml, R) Sheikh Shaaker sensesfraud and doeseverything in his power to uncoverwhat Isa is up to 10.50 Happy Valley. (Mlv,R)Catherine races to protect herfamily 11.50 Rage. (MA15+adhlnsv)

ABC World NewsTonightWith David Muir. 1.00 PBS NewsHour 2.00 FigureSkating. ISUSynchronised Championships. Highlights. 4.30 The Point: Road To Referendum History

Bites. (R) 4.35 I’ll Be Frank. (PG) 5.35 ACold WarOfSpies. (PG)

Escapes. (PG, R) 3.45 Brian Cox’sAdventures In Space And Time. (R) 4.50 CreativeTypes With Virginia Trioli. (R) 5.20 Landline. (R) 5.50 Australian Story (R) 6.00 WorldWatch. 9.00 Ageless Gardens. (PGd, R) 10.00 Vintage Voltage. 10.50 My Unique B&B. 12.00 BBCNews At Ten. 12.30

6.30 SBS WorldNews

7.30 Ireland’sWild Islands: Edge Of TheAbyss. (PGa) Part 2of3

8.30 New Zealand From ATrain. (PGa,R)Part 2of2.Follows the journeys of New Zealand’sCoastal Pacific and the TranzAlpine trains.

9.25 From Paris To Rome With Bettany Hughes: AmalfiCoast Capri, Rome (PGas, R) Part 4of4 Thefinal leg of Bettany’sjourney through France and Italy starts in the Amalfi Coast.

10.15 SecretsOfThe Royal Palaces: Jewels. (PGa,R)A look at the significance of jewellery

11.05 Between TwoWorlds. (Mals)

12.00 Dear Mama. (Madl, R)

4.15 Bamay.(R) 4.50 Destination Flavour: Japan Bitesize. (R) 5.00 NHK World English News Morning. 5.15 France 24 Feature. 5.30 ANC PhilippinesThe WorldTonight.

6.00 NBCToday 7.00 Weekend Sunrise. 10.00 TheMorning Show: Weekend. (PG) 12.00 Horse Racing. The Star Championships. Day 2and GoldenMileRace Day. 5.00 SevenNews At 5. 5.30 Border Security:Australia’s Front Line. (PG, R) Apregnant woman causes concern.

6.00 SevenNews.

7.00 Football. AFL.Round 5. Gold CoastSunsv Hawthorn. From People First Stadium,Queensland.

10.30 AFL Post-Game Show. Post-game discussion and interviews taking alook back at allthe action from the game.

11.00 To Be Advised.

12.00 My GreekOdyssey:Sikinos

To Folegandros. (PG, R) Peter Maneas continueshis journeyonthe island of Sikinos, exploring amonastery before headingwesttoFolegandros.

1.00 Travel Oz. (PG, R) Greg Grainger takes in the floralfestivalofFloriade

2.00 Home Shopping. (R)

4.00 Mystic (R) Issie attends aparty at the localmarae.

5.00 My GreekOdyssey:Ios

To Sikinos. (PG, R) Peter Maneas continues exploring the island of Ios.

8.30 MOVIE: TheExorcist.(1973 MA15+) 10.35 Nina Simone: LiveAtMontreux. 11.50 Late Programs. NITV (34) 6am Home Shopping. 8.30

6.00 Getaway.(PG, R) 6.30 ACurrent Affair (R) 7.00 WeekendToday 10.00 Today Extra: Saturday.(PG) 12.00 Surfing Australia TV 12.30 Destination WA.(PG, R) 1.00 Ageless. 1.30 The PetRescuers. (PG, R) 2.00 Gordon Ramsay’sFood Stars. (PG, R) 3.30 Renovate Or Rebuild. 4.30 TheGarden Gurus. 5.00 9News FirstAtFive. 5.30 Getaway. (PG)

6.00 9News Saturday.

7.00 ACurrent Affair

7.30 MOVIE: Instant Family (2018,PGadlv,R)A couple must quickly learn the ropesofparenthood when they agreetofosterthree siblings.

Mark Wahlberg, Rose Byrne

9.50 MOVIE: Get Hard. (2015,MA15+lns, R)

Sentenced to hard time in prison, a cowardly millionaire hires agangster to harden him up.WillFerrell, Kevin Hart.

11.45 Renovate Or Rebuild (R)

12.35 Space Invaders. (PGa, R)

1.35 Sur fing Australia TV

2.00 TheIncredible Journey Presents. (PGa)

2.30 Getaway. (PG,R)

3.00 TV Shop: Home Shopping. (R)

4.30 Global Shop (R)

5.00 TV Shop:Home Shopping. (R)

5.30 Helping Hands. (PG,R)

6.00 MorningPrograms. 10.00 Ready Steady Cook. (PGs, R) 11.00

6.00 Ready Steady Cook. (PGs, R) EverydayAussiehomecooks team up with some of the country’sfinest chefs and go head to head in the kitchen.

7.00 TheDog House (PGa) Proud parents are hopingthata lurcher will help their introverted son lose his fear of people.

8.00 Ambulance UK (Ma) It is abusy night shift for the ambulance service when they are alerted to an infectious disease outbreak at Fairfield General Hospital, while waiting times stretch out into the early hours of the morning

10.30 So Help Me Todd. (PGa, R) When Veronica appears at the law firm requesting afavourfrom Todd, he agrees to help 11.30 FBI: International. (Mv, R) TheFBI fly team heads to Morocco

12.30 Home Shopping (R)

5.00 Hour OfPower.

Kardashians. 2.05 Love AfterLockup. 3.00 Teen Titans Go! 3.30 Beyblade Burst: Quad Drive 4.00 Late Programs. 6am Morning Programs. 11.30 Your 4x4 Noon My Road To Adventure 12.30 Timbersports. 1.00

Sunday, April 14

ABC TV (2) SBS (3) SEVEN (7,6) TEN (10, 5) NINE (9,8)

6.00 Rage. (PG) 7.00 WeekendBreakfast. 9.00 Insiders 10.00 Offsiders. 10.30 World

This Week.(R) 11.00 Compass. (PG, R) 11.30

Praise. (R) 12.00 News. 12.30 Landline. 1.30

Gardening Aust. (R) 2.30 Dream Gardens.(R)

3.00 Nigella Bites. (R) 3.25 TheCookAnd The Chef.(R) 3.55 Grand Designs New Zealand. (R) 4.40 George Clarke’sAmazing Spaces. (R) 5.30 AntiquesRoadshow

6.00 WorldWatch. 9.00 Ageless Gardens. (R) 10.00 VintageVoltage 10.50 My Unique B&B. 12.00 APAC Weekly 12.30 PBS Washington Week With TheAtlantic. 12.55

Wrestling. (R) 1.00 Speedweek. 3.00 Cycling

UCIWorld Tour.Paris-Roubaix. Women’s Race. Highlights. 4.00 Cycling.UCI World Tour

Paris-Roubaix. Men’s Race.Highlights. 5.30

6.00 Hello SA.(PG,R)

Australia’s Front Line. (PG, R) 2.00 Football. VFL.Round 3. Collingwood vCarlton. 5.00 SevenNewsAt5 5.30 Melbourne Weekender.(Return) [VIC] Sydney Weekender.

Secrets Of Playboy: The

(Mans, R) Alook at the Playboybrand.

2.40 WhyBuilding sCollapse. (PGa, R)

4.30 Bamay. (R)

5.00 NHKWorld English News Morning.

5.15 France 24 Feature.

5.30 Al JazeeraNews.

MOVIE: Jesse Stone:Innocents Lost (2011, Mav, R) Aformercop looks into the death

continues in the wilds of South Africa. Hosted by Julia Morris and RobertIrwin. 9.00 FBI. (Mav) After thepresident of the NY Fedisgunneddowntrying to help a young woman in peril, the team races to find the killer and themissingwoman.

7.30 Presented by Sarah Ferguson. 8.00 AustralianStory

PresentedbyLeigh Sales

8.30 Four Corners. Investigative journalism programexposing scandals firingdebateand confronting taboos.

9.15 Media Watch (PG) Hosted by Paul Barry

9.35 TheRiseAnd Fall Of Boris Johnson. (Ml) Part 3of4 10.25 ABCLateNews. 10.40 TheBusiness. (R) 10.55 TheWeeklyWith Charlie Pickering (R)

11.25 PlanetAmerica. (R)

12.00 Grand Designs. (R) 12.45 LongLost Family.(PG, R) 1.35 Rage.(MA15+adhlnsv)

4.35 The Science Of Relationships: ACatalyst Special. (PG, R) 5.30 7.30.(R)

Close. 5.00 Hoopla. 5.15 Ready, Jet, Go! 5.25 Pablo 5.40 Late Programs. ABC TV PLUS (22)

(R) 2.05 Tony Robinson:WWII By Drone. (Ma, R) 3.00 Mastermind Aust. (R) 3.30 The Cook Up With Adam Liaw.(R) 4.00 Scotland, Slavery And Statues. (PG, R) 5.05 Jeopardy!(R) 5.30

6.00 Mastermind Australia. Presented by Marc Fennell.

6.30 SBS WorldNews

7.30 Finding Your Roots: Anchormen. (PGa) Hosted by HenryLouis Gates, Jr

8.30 Secrets Of TheTower Of London. With the coronation just weeksaway, theBeefeaters’ uniforms must be updated to representthe king.

9.25 24 Hours In Emergency:A Hand To Hold. (Ma) Astaff member from the neurologydepartment experiences an epileptic seizure.

10.20 SBS WorldNewsLate

10.50 Christian. (Malv) Matteo obtains important information.

11.45 My Brilliant Friend. (Mlsv, R)

3.00 Mastermind Australia. (R)

4.00 Bamay. (R)

5.00 NHK World EnglishNewsMorning. 5.30 ANC PhilippinesThe World Tonight.

6.00 SevenNews.

7.00 Home And Away (PGa)

7.30 FarmerWantsAWife. (PGa)

Joeand Tommeet their love matches before choosing fiveladiestoreturn to their farms.

9.15 9-1-1 (Return,Masv) Athena and Bobbyset off on their honeymoon cruise, but when dutycalls, theirholiday is put on hold. An unusual incident leaves acouple stuck together.A fighter jettraps acivilian.

10.15 TheIrrational. (Mav) Jace makesa critical break in the case.

11.15 TheLatest: SevenNews.

11.45 TheClown And The Candyman (MA15+av,R)Part 2of4

12.45 Grand Crew (Mal) The crewtakes atriptoOjai.

2.00 Home Shopping. (R)

4.00 NBCToday.

5.00 Sunrise 5am News.

5.30 Sunrise

6.00 9News.

7.00 ACurrentAffair

7.30 LEGO Masters Australia Vs Rest Of TheWorld. (PGl)

Hosted by HamishBlake

8.45 Paramedics. (Return,Mm) Every second countsafter awoman collapseswithnoheartbeat.Paramedics fear aboy has aheadinjury

6.00 Deal Or No Deal

Hosted by GrantDenyer.

6.30 TheProject. The hosts and guest panellists takea look at the day’snews, events and hot topics.

7.30 I’mACelebrity…Get

FBI:MostWanted. (Mv,R) Supervisory Special Agent Remy Scott and the fugitive task forceteam chase an oligarchwho goesona terror spree in NewYork City in adesperate attempt to escape an impossible situation

TheProject. (R) Alook at theday’snews. 12.00 TheLate ShowWithStephen Colbert. (PG)Hosted by StephenColbert. 1.00 Home Shopping. (R) 4.30 CBS Mornings.

Tuesday, April 16

6am Time Bandits. Continued. (1981, PG)

Outback Opal Hunters. 8.30 Adventure Gold Diggers. (Return) 9.30 Aussie Salvage Squad. 10.30 Deep Water Salvage. 11.30 Late Programs.

9GO! (93, 82)

6am Children’s Programs.

Noon Motor Racing. Formula EC’ship 1.00 Rich House, PoorHouse. 2.00 Surfing Australia TV 2.30

Bewitched. 3.00 Full House. 3.30 Sunnyside 4.30

The Addams Family 5.00 Bewitched. 5.30 IDream Of Jeannie. 6.00 Raymond. 7.00 TheNanny 7.30

Treat your taste buds at Tinamba

Wine Gippsland President,Alistair Hicks, of Blue Gables Vineyard near Tinamba, said that association members have finished picking vintage 2024, and are ready to showcase their current release wines.

“The Tinamba festival has areally loyal following. It is agreat opportunity to meetthe local winemakers, try theircurrent wines and find out theinside story on what they hope for vintage 2024,”Mr Hicks said.

Warm and dry conditions since Christmas meant that ripening happened earlier, and many local wine producers are happy with both quality and yield.

The annualfestivalisinits 14th year and regularly attracts up to 2000 people, held most years in autumn sunshine.

Last year, despite being rain-affected, the event still attractedacrowdofaround 700 happypatrons, enjoying plenty of seated and sheltered options.

Eight local wineries are participating, including festivalregulars Blue Gables,Glenmaggie Wines,

Two new faces this year will be Carrajung Estate, formerly Tom’s Cap VineyardatWillung South, and Xavier Goodridge Wines, featuring wines made from the Maffra vineyard next to Vines on Avon. Hatted restaurant Tinamba Hotel is serving its popular festival fare options, along with several local gourmet food producers. The Tinamba CFA will run agourmet sausage sizzle.

The Hip Pockets, a10-piece funk, soul and R&B band, featuringsome of Gippsland’sbest-known musicians, areproviding the entertainment.

Bus tickets are available, and must be booked in advance.

All admission tickets booked by Friday, (April 12) willgointothe draw to win aprize worth more than $1500.

Book at: www.trybooking.com/COLXW

Part of the ticket sales go to local community groups and service organisations who assist with the setup and running of the festival.

For more information, follow Tinamba Food &WineFestival on social media or visit www winegippsland.com

Young emerging talent takes over latest Gippslandia edition

LOCAL students, vibrant and aspiring creatives of Gippsland, have been given the ‘stage’ to share their stories, art and visions for the future.

Gippslandia, alocal quarterly magazine, handed over the reins of its most recent issue to young people as part of its Mentorship Program delivered by the Regional Arts Victoria Future Reset Project

Atotal of 14 young Gippslanders were chosen after applyingfor the program to learnmore about journalism, storytelling, illustrating and newspaper production.

Among them were Gippsland Grammar Year 12 students Tali Oates and Zara Clydesdale. They said it was an honour to be part of the project and learning more about the industry.

“I’vealways loved Gippslandia’s newspapers so Ithought Iwouldapplyand see what happened,” Tali explained.

Each of the chosen participants gained an insight into the newspaper/magazine process including pitching ideas, writing, illustrating, editing and production as well as rubbing shoulderswith professionals in the industry.

“We attended four online Zoom sessions over the course of afew months …and in our own time would converse with ourmentors,” Zarasaid.

“My mentor was illustrator Angharard NealWilliams.Weloved being involvedinthe project, working with like-minded peopleh been really

Zaraand Tali worked alongside other young creatives -Amy Allender, Chilli Cabello, Chloe Oakes, Aisha Dawson,Darcy Stockdale, Lily Nickless, Tahlia Field, Tara Elston, Saxxon Weekes, JoelWilbraham, Ruby Watson and Isabella Herben.

This 30th editionofGippslandia showcases storiesand artworkfrom their fresh perspectives. It’s called the ‘Youth Takeover’ edition.

Gipps lan dG ra mm ar Pri nci pal ,M ich ele Wakeham,encouraged locals to pickupone of the free magazines and explore the personal and passionate contributions of Gippsland’s emerging talents.

She said she particularly enjoyed reading Tali’s story, ‘How to build your own (digital) world’, about young people growing up in country areas using social media as aform of escapism and the tips to control the online content consumed.

Gippslandia is anon-for profit organisation. It is at risk of not being able to publish beyond 2024 due to lack of funding and support. Readers are being asked to contributetoits ongoing success.

Can youimagine aworld without journalists: Gippsland Grammar students,Tali Oates and ZaraClydesdaletakinga closerlook at their work at Gippslandia in print. supplied

GIPPSLAND winemakers are celebrating the end of harvest with the popular Tinamba Food &Wine Festival this Sunday (April 14).

Lightfoot Wines, NarkoojeeWines, NicholsonRiver Winery, and Wyanga Park Winery.

Welcome: Alistair Hicks,ofBlue Gables Vineyards, hopestosee agreat turnouttothis year’s festival.

Good times: TheTinamba Food &Wine Festival is on thisSunday Photographs supplied

Vale: The

Celebrating the life of Peter Eustace

RACE-CALLER Peter Eustace was known asthe Voice Of Gippsland for nearly 50 years after moving to the area in the early 1970s.

His race calling career began at Birregurra in1966, but it was his move to 3TR in Sale where he became best known, covering all racing in the area for both radio and on course broadcasting, especially through the era of non-TAB racing.

Peter covered the whole Gippsland area from Cranbourne to Buchan, calling all the three racing codes.

Peter was quoted to say some of his most memorable local horses he called were Brandy Balloon and Precious Robe, and he was also thrilled to have ahorse trained by local trainer Danny Macdonald named after him. Petaeustis, the horse winning on Sale Cup Day 2005, ridden by his great friend Peter Mertens, with Peter Eustace himself on course towitness.

Mr Mertens himself died last year, following a glittering career as aGroup 1winning jockey.

Local race-caller reflects on career

This story was published in the Latrobe Valley Express in May 2017.

SWITCHING off the microphone for the final time at Sale was one of the hardest moments of Peter Eustace’s career.

The veteran race caller hung up the binoculars on Sunday, May 21, closing the book on an innings that’s spanned more than five decades.

Eustace began race calling in state’s south west as ayoung bloke looking to get his foot in the door as aracecaller.

“I loved the thought of calling, so Istarted by doing phantom calls at home, Iusedtoget the newspaper and write out the fields long hand and make up my own race,” Eustace said.

“My mother wanted me to be an accountant because Iwas good (at) figures but Iknew that wasn’t for me.”

Growing up in the Melbourne suburb of Hawthorn, Eustace lived adrop-punt away from Glenferrie Oval.

It’s unsurprising he’s aHawks man “through and through”.

“I played sub-district cricket alot, Itried to play with Hawthorn but Iwas too young at the time,” he said.

“I was about 15, so Istarted playing subdistrict (cricket) for Flemington-Kensington out near the racecourse.

“I trained with Northcote and when Billy Lawry was playing Sheffield Shield and Test Cricket.”

Eustace then moved to West Heidelberg, making it difficult to sink his toes into acareer in race calling.

It wasn’t long before he made the decision to

relocate to the state’s west calling the trots on 3CS Colac.

“One of the guys when Imoved there at the time was Ian Major, he did the breakfast program when Istarted but went onto to become one of Melbourne’s best footy commentators in my opinion,” Eustace said. His first race call was on Easter Monday, 1966 at Birregurra, about 15 minutes east of Colac.

“I was (at 3CS) afew years, taking over the breakfast slot and then ajob came up in Gippsland for arace caller on 3TR in 1971.”

It was about that time Eustace moved to Sale, where 3TR was located at the time, taking over from then Gippsland race caller Kevin Daig.

One of Eustace’s first major calls in Gippsland was the Sale Cup of 1971.

“In those days, they didn’t have abroadcast box at Sale so we used to have to call from the old grandstand,” Eustace said.

“They used to rope off the areas for the three different radio stations at the time including 3DB and 3UZ and the local one 3TR.

“During the call local horse Precious Robe was comingupthe straight with good form, people started jumping up and clapping in the last 200 metres… they were waving their bloody race books in the air and it was hard to see the fishing post. The atmosphere was fantastic and it went onto take first place.”

Eustace went onto host 3GI’s, now ABC Gippsland’s, breakfast program for anumber of years before going on to produce Penny Johnston’s morning program out of Sale.

Another infamous moment in his career was in 1987, after calling what would eventually

become atriple dead heat at Stony

“The judge at the time was the late Dewar, he was on alevel above me tower) and heopened the man trap said ‘I can’t for the life of me split finish’, so it was decided as atriple heat,” Eustace said.

“I called the three horses across but Icouldn’t pick who won.

“I should’ve called atriple dead heat at time because Iprobablywould have gone down in immortality.”

Eustace went on to call all three codes of racing across Gippsland from the trots at Warragul and Traralgon to the greyhounds at Sale andCranbourne andheard regularly at courses across southern Victoria.

Nowadays, Eustace, a Rosedale resident, lives with his partner Sandra, and acknowledged it was his decision to climb down the tower.

“My eyes are starting to give me abit of abother, especially the greyhounds, so I’d rather go out beinga decent caller,” Eustace said.

“Once Ifinish calling that’ll be it, unless there’s anational shortage race callers,” he joked. Eustace reassured the community that he would look into other areas of workinthe Gippsland media contingent inthe coming months.

Peter’s biggest claim to fame in more than 50,000 race calls would have to be the day he called atriple dead heat at Stony Creek in 1987. One of only two of its kind in Victorian Racing history. Not only did Peter enjoy calling the races, he loved to promote racing throughout Gippsland with the many articles he wrote for various papers in the area.

Peter had most recently served on the Sale Turf Club Foundation Inc committee, aclub that held abig place inhis racing heart and a club where he was also inducted into the Hall of Fame in2010.

Retiring in 2017 after 51 years of race calling and media work, Peter was stillaregular sight on track enjoying aday at the races and asmall flutter.

Sale Turf Club will hold ameeting in his honour.

The club had arranged ameeting last Sunday, but unfortunately, wet weather led to awashout.

RIP The Voice Of Gippsland. 17/10/1940 -15/03/2024

racing world is remembering legendar ylocal race-caller PeterEustace Photograph supplied

Legend: Racecallerof54years, PeterEustace

Photograph: HayleyMills

Claims of misconductresurface

By ZAIDAGLIBANOVIC

SENDING your kidstoschool shouldn't be an issue, but the parents involvedwithVoicesfor Special Needs (VFSN) recount harrowing cases of misconducttowards theirchildren with disability

Giving evidence to the Parliamentary Inquiry into the state education system in Victoria, VFSN spokesperson,Leanne Vella, alleged that the group, made of victims, their families and whistleblowers, had uncovered 60 students who have reported accounts of school misconduct.

Late lastyear, LatrobeSpecial Developmental School was included in alistfeaturing 44 Victorian schools where students with disabilities have suffered seclusion, neglect and abuse dating back to incidents from 2015.

The list was compiled by the Education Rights support grouprun by JuliePhillips, one of the state’s most highly regarded disability advocates.

But the Department of Education say they are unaware of any claims of misconduct dated after the 2021 investigation on the school's culture. Morwell Sexual Offences and Child Abuse Investigation Teamdetectives completed an investigation following alleged incidents at an educational facility in Traralgondatingbackto 2009; the Police thoroughly investigated the matter and found no criminal offences were detected.

An independent review of school culture at Latrobe SDS was completed in 2021.

The Victorian Department of Education and Training confirmed it was investigating allegations, which include the manhandling of students with disability, alongside WorkSafeand Morwell police.

“We are aware allegations have been raised about inappropriate behaviourtowards students at Latrobe Special DevelopmentalSchool,” agovernment spokesperson told the Express at the time.

Despite the review, to the Express' understanding, no criminal misconduct was found.

The independent review gave opportunities for all school staff to provide feedback and insights into their experience of the school culture.

The reviewrecommended10actions. The department developed an action plancomprised of 34 actions, allofwhich were completed before the

end of Term 42022, aside from three, which were ongoing activities.

However, the advocacy group, VFSN says these actions weren't enough, as alleged misconduct is still present within the school.

The VFSN said their evidence and witness accountsare both "historical and present, earliest 2009 to currentwith discussionsoccurring throughout 2023 with parents whose children at the time were still residing at the school".

The VFSN said they no longer deal with the Department of Education,after they felt their voice was not heard.

Instead, they have provided evidence to the Commission for Children &Young People (CCYP) andthe Victorian Disability Workers Commission (VDWC).

At the education inquiry hearing on March 27, VFSN advocated for seven recommendationsto support the improvement of learning outcomes and development as well as the safety of children with disabilities within special and developmental schoolsacross Victoria. These includedanindependent compliance authority body and CCTV monitoring.

Ms Vella, the VFSN spokesperson, toldthe committee that she had heard of serious mistreatment andnegligence of students with severe disabilities while in the care of the school.

The VFSN said the real issue with these cases was that manyofthe students at Latrobe SDS are living with disabilities and are non-verbal, so getting accounts of their mistreatment had come in different forms of communication.

Strathbogie burns to go-ahead

THE FederalCourt has allowed planned prescribed burns in the Strathbogie Forest, adecision that has been welcomed by Forestry Australia.

In the Federal Court last week, Justice Christopher Horan dismissed amove by environmentalists to stopfourprescribed burns in the Strathbogie forest.

Forestry Australia's President, Dr Michelle Freeman,saidprescribed burningrecognises Australia’s fire-dependent ecosystems, and fire-adapted flora and fauna that have evolved through the long traditionofIndigenous caring for Country.

“Decades of on-ground research and lived experiencehas shown that prescribed burning can reduce subsequent bushfireseveritythrough reducing fuel loadsand also make bushfires easier to control when they do occur,” Dr Freeman, who hasadouble degree in Science (Ecology) and Forestry, and aPhD from the University of Melbourne, said.

Her PhDwas in partnership with CSIRO Darwin looking at savanna fire and tree dynamics of northernAustralia, as part of the Tiwi Carbon Study.

“Fuel reduced forests are significantly less affected than forests carrying heavy fuel loadswhenunplanned mid-summer bushfirespass throughthem, and this is why prescribed burning is an essential activity,” she said.

Dr Freeman said fire requires three elements -fuel, oxygen,and heat -known as the "fire triangle".

“Of these, the only variable that humans can control in forests is fuel level -and well-planned prescribed burning is an effective tool for managing forest fuel accumulation. That being said,itis imperative thatprescribed burning is planned and managed appropriately, informed by evidence, with other forest values and key habitats in mind,” she said.

“Inappropriate or unnatural fire regimes

are the second-mostcited reason, after invasive species, for threatened species listings in Australia."

Dr Freeman said while there was no panacea for reducingthe impactsof catastrophic bushfires, well-managed prescribedburning wasa scientifically proven part of the solution.

“Simply, reduced fuel levels in forests will reduce the severity of bushfiresunder all bar the most catastrophic fire weather conditions," she said.

Dr Freeman has workedintimber harvesting operations, forest management planning and regulation in Victoria and New South Wales and is currently a forest and land management consultant. Forestry Australiaisanindependent not-for-profit professional association of more than 1200 forest scientists, managers and growerswho work in native forests, plantations and provision of environmental services. Photo: File

Although the Department of Education and Victoria Police have toldthe Express they are unaware of recent cases of misconduct at Latrobe SDS, Ms Vella’s testimony at the education inquiry hearing allege some familieshave recently pursued legal action against the school.

Despite this, The Department of Education said Latrobe SDS is asafeschool with high community satisfaction, according to recent surveys.

“The overwhelming majority of parents at Latrobe SDS are supportive of the staff and the work they do to support the learning and development of their children.Recent feedbackfrom parentsshows extremely high levels of satisfaction with Latrobe SDS among families,” aDepartment of Education spokesperson said.

As aresult of the independent culturereview, the department said Latrobe SDS closely engages and regularly seeks feedback from the school community.

“We have workedclosely with the new school leadership of Latrobe SDS to implement the actions establishedinthe independent Culture Review completed in 2021,” adepartment spokesperson added.

According to the Education Department, recent feedback from parents showed ahigh percentage of satisfaction, with 97 per cent of parents finding the school ethos and environment positive and 90 per cent of the school community finding the school safe.

Approached by t-he Express following the claims made at the education inquiry of Latrobe SDS misconduct, the department said it was unaware of any new misconduct claimsmade against the school since the review was conducted.

The Legislative Council Legal and Social Issues Committee, to which VFSN spoke, has awideranging term of reference for its probe into learning at government schools from Prep to Year 12.

The committee's report to parliament,whichwill include its findings and recommendations for the government, is due by June 25.

The Department of Educationsaidifreaders have any concerns, they can be raised at: education.vic. gov.au/pal/complaints/guidance

Questions asked: Voices forSpecial Needs group has raised concerns about anumber of alleged incidents at Latrobe Special Development School, Traralgon. Photograph: Zaida Glibanovic

Returning executive

MOE and District Cancer Council

Volunteer Group recentlyheld their annual meeting

The executive committeewas again re-elected for the coming term.

President (Leader) is BerylBrien, secretary, Linda Hall, and treasurer, Diane Toogood

We will once again be hosting this year’s Australia’sBiggest Morning Tea, to be held Thursday, May 23 at the Moe RSL from9.30am till 12.30pm.

On offer is adelectable array of cakes, scones, slices and sandwiches.

Look for us selling raffle tickets on thefootpath near Moe Nextra, Moore Street. Moe from May 9toMay 22.

Our next meetingwill be held on Monday, April 22 from 1.30pm at the Moe RSL.

YallournANZACDay service

THE ANZAC Day Service for Yallourn North will be held at 9am at the Memorial (adjacent to Monash Hall), on Reserve Street, Yallourn North.

If you have an ANZAC Day service you wouldliketoadvertise, email news@lvexpress.com.au

Churchill Market Stalls

THE next Churchill Shop Local Market will be held on Saturday, May 4from 9am to 1pm -the weekend before Mothers Day.

Market stall sites are spread around Churchill ShoppingCentre (offMonash Way) and are largely undercover.

Bookings for stall sites can be made online at churchill.org.au/markets

Note that one ticket equals one table space.

Bring your own table(s) and chairs.

Market stalls are primarily for local crafters, artisans and other home-based businesses, fundraising by community groups and/or not-forprofit organisations.

Good quality second hand goods are welcome, but this is not atrash and treasure market.

There’ll be free sausage sizzles, entertainment and giveaways on the day, with upwards of 20 market stalls expected.

Traralgon Orchid Club

OUR next club monthly Meeting will be held tomorrow (Thursday, April 11)

Our me etings are hel da tt he Angl ican Hall, 100 Grey Str eet, Traralgon on the second Thursday of the month from 1.30pm.

Last meeting, our members enjoyed an opportunity to separate Sarcochilus Orchids,which area smallerAustralian Orchidand are reasonably easy to grow.

Members shared in the process of preparing the plants for repotting in an Orchid PottingMix, whichsuits the plant.

All members who participated took theirnew planthome andhopefully

we will see them again growing healthily.

Thi sc om ing meeti ng, we look forw ard to our spe ake r, Marit a Anderson, who has offered to talk on “How Australian Dendrobiums Orchids Flower.”

The Dendrobium is arewarding plant to cultiv ate and suits the Gippsland climate.

For further information, ring Pat on 0407741 621.

New members very welcome.

Chess results

STEVE Ahern retained recent signs of accurate play but was left in equal sec ond pla ce ,a fter allow ing the draw withCliff Thornton as well as dropping atight clash against Ian Hamilton in recentLatrobe Valley Chess Association.

Bradley McLaren showed many signs of polished play but let some winning opportunities slip.

Jonah Joseph also displayed some polished play and finished on level terms in ashortmatch with Trevor Poulten.

LishaShaji enjoyedthe contestsand pushed Matt Bolding till the end.

Christopher Wilson kept in touch in most games and was always ready to help others.

Phone Ian Hamilton on 5134 1971 or Cliff Thornton (0413 330 458) for detailsonall things local chess.

Traralgon Neighbourhood Learning House

ENJOY anew hobby, learn anew skill. Now is the perfect time to plan

anew year of fun, friendship and learning.

What better way than with acourse at TNLH.

Term 2commences April 15.

Have achatwith Meagan about which class would best suit you.

Perhaps you would like to build your confidence with technology by registering in our basic computer course.

Learn how to use your new camera with our photography course.

Come along and enjoy ahobby and meet new friends in creative craft, cake decorating, knitting/crochet, sewing, mosaics, art, cooking or creative writing.

Language classes are available in French, Italian,Spanish and Auslan.

Focus on your health and wellbeing with ouryoga, dance and stretch, tai chi and breath work classes.

Discover how TNLH makes learningfun by phoning 5174 6199, email enquiries@tnlh.org.au, or dropinto our office 11-13 Breed Street, Traralgon

Ballroom Dance Lessons

LATROBE Valley Dance Promotions

Inc are holding their weekly Thursday night lessonsatthe Girl Guides Hall, 18 MargaretStreet Morwell.

Starting at 7pm and finishing up about 10pm. Cost is $5 per person each Thursday.

Join us to learn anew skill, have some fun, dancing, revision, friendships, exercise, and socialising. Follow us on our Facebook page: Latrobe Valley Dance PromotionsInc Contacts are Normon0428543 737 or Lynda (0428 489 041).

Email: latrobevalleydancepromotioninc@gmail.com

Newcommittee

MOE Probus Club’s Annual Meeting was held on March 20.

Lois Bosanquet was elected to the president’spositionand the committee for 2024/25 was also elected.

The retiring president, Mavis Larkin thanked clubmembers for their contributions over the previous 12 months and extended her best wishes to Lois for asuccessful 2024.

The club meets on the third Wednesday each monthand welcomes new members.

For furtherinformation, ring the secretary, Fay Holyoak, on 5127 1651.

TRAMPS ride

TRAMPS (Traralgon and Morwell Pedallers Inc.) rodefromBoolarra and YinnartoMathison Park at Lake Hyland Churchillfor lunch returning along Frasers and Jumbuck Roads recently.

Riding conditions were near perfect with light winds and cloudy skies. We finished at the coffee shop in Boolarra.

TRAMPS rides ever second Sunday and welcomes new riders. For more information,phone Paul on 0459 823 422 or Vance (0403 662 288).

Bridgeresults

TRARALGON Bridge Club results.

Monday, April 1-1st KevinTaylor and Marion Taylor 60 per cent; 2nd Fred Baxter and Anneden Houting (53).

Tuesday,April 2-N/S 1st Geoff Dixon and John Marsiglio 62.67 per cent; 2nd Maria MacTaggart and Heather Henley (55.33).E/W 1st Don Tylee and Helen McAdam 65.33 per cent; 2nd Pat Davies and Jan Williams (50).

Thur sday ,A pril 4- 1st Maria MacTaggart and Barbara Barr 69.27 per cent; 2nd HelenMcAdamand Roxy Lamond (56.25).

Monday, March 18 -1st DonTylee & Robin Hecker 61 per cent, 2nd Moira Hecker &Helen McAdam (59).

Tuesday, March 19 -N/S 1st Rob Graham &Glenis Lohr 58.93 per cent, 2nd Heather Watt &Anne Howes (57.09). E/W 1st Peter Lonie &Carol Chenye (55.67), 2nd Moira Hecker & Anne Moloney (57.8).

Thursday, March 21 -N/S 1st Helen McAdam &Moira Hecker 62.5 per cent, 2nd Rob Graham &GlenisLohr (55.65).E/W 1st Fred Kaminski & Heather Henley (57.74), 2nd Marion Taylor &Kevin Taylor (55.65).

If you would like to playorlearn more about bridge, please ring our president,GregNicholson, on 0419 365 739.

Morwell Historical Society

STEP Back in Time Conversation Cafe.

Come and join us on either Wednesday, April 17 or Sunday, April 28 at our Step Back in Time Conversation Cafe in our rooms at 12 Hazelwood Road, Morwell from 11am to 2pm.

We would love for you to pop in and join us for acuppa andsome light refreshmentswhilstwelistentoyour connection with Morwell as well as sharing our exhibitions with you.

During April we have our school photo albums available for you to view.

OurCafe will coincide with our Open Days during the year on the first and third Wednesdays, and last Sunday of the month (February-November).

We hope to see you there.

For any queries or group bookings, phone 0409 436 019.

The MorwellHistorical Society’s current Exhibition is History of the Power Industry in the Latrobe Valley’ including the history of Morwell, the community/people, coal mining and the transition from coal mininginthe town/region. We also have photos of former SECworkers..

The Society also holds most of the SEC Contact and Jumbunna magazines as well as the State-wide SEC News We also hold copies of ‘Gasjet’the magazine of the Gas& Fuel Corporation’s Lurgi GasPlant at Morwell. Our Open Daysare the firstand

STORMCOAT Roofing is afamily owned and operated roofing business servicing the entireGippsland region

They specialise in tiled roof replacements,restorations and small roof fixings

StormCoat Roofing offers a24/7 roof leak service,perfect forwhen drips occur due to storms and wet weather

Is that roof or driveway proving tough to clean?

Then call on the StormCoat team, whose high-pressurecleanerswill have it looking even betterthannew

StormCoat Roofing areadept when it comes to your gutters.

Forget about getting up thereto clean when StormCoat Roofing can do the job foryou, or even better, install state-of-the-ar tgutterguards

StormCoat Roofing also handle anyrebedding or repointing work, which can help yousavemoney on costlyrepairsinthe futureand prolong the lifespan of your roof

Theteam pride themselves on greatcustomer service and satisfaction, with afocus on keeping your investment and familysafe.

Call StormCoat Roofing forafree quoteon0413537 569.

Youcan also email stormcoatroofing@gmail.com or checkthemout on Facebook, whereyou can check out agalleryofStormCoat Roofing’s latest work

Board, can add diversity in thinking and share our vision and mission in making adifferenceinthe lives of our residents, we would be pleased to hear from you.

We encourage applicants from diverse backgrounds, such as those with adisability, CALD, Aboriginal /TSI,LGBTQIA+ community and people of different age groups with different lived experiences. Desirable skill sets include Legal, Accountancy, Risk Management, Project Management, Business Governance, and who have previous board experience.

Yallambee offers support for Directors wishing to undertake education.

The Yallambee Board Director PD is available from https://www.yallambee.com.au/current-job-

CareersatLatrobe

LatrobeCityCouncilhasexcitingopportunitiesforenthusiasticand forward-thinkingindividualswithapassionforprovidingexcellent servicestoourcommunity

• FamilyServices Administration Assistant–AdministrationAssistant–Maternal Child Health Child –PermanentFull Time

• LibraryServices Officer –MultipleCasual Positions

• ExperiencedMaintenance Employee ienced Maintenance –Tree Maintenance intenance –Permanent Full Time

• Manager Creative Venues, Events &Tourism –PermanentFull Time

• Maternal andChild Health Nurse andChildHealthNurse –Permanent Part Time &Casual

• LearntoSwimInstructor wi nstructor–MultipleCasual Positions

• Childcare andPreschool Educators–Cert3and re resc Educators–Cert3and Diploma Diploma– Casual Positions

Forfurtherinformationincludinghow toapply,positiondescriptionsand applicationclosingdates,pleasevisitour websitewww.latrobe.vic.gov.au/careers

GP1669319 www.latrobe.vic.gov.au/careers

KARAPULKA, Olga. 22/12/1922 -31/3/2024.

Aged 101 years

Dearly loved wife of Jan (dec.). Passed away peacefully with family by her side at Latrobe Regional Hospital on the 31/3/2024.

We little knew that morning, That God was going to call your name, In life we loved you dearly, In death we do the same. It broke our hearts to lose you, You did not go alone, For part of us went with you, The day God called you home. You left us peaceful memories, Your love is still our guide, And although we cannot see you, You're always at our side. Our family chain is broken, And nothing seems the same, But as God calls us one by one, The chain will link again.

Forever in our hearts

Reunited with Dad

Your loving daughter and family Aniela, Herman (dec. ), Glen n, Kylie; Thomas, Jorjah, Ryan (dec.), Izabella, Adrian, Teresa and Tyler.

Rest In Peace

KARAPULKA,

READ, William (Maurice). 10/7/1947 -29/3/2024.

Aged 76 years

Tragically killed on Good Friday on Derham's Lane, Maryvale. Devoted, loving, gentle husband of Sandra. Cherished father of Andrea, Malcolm, Kerrie (Poss), and Shaun. Special father-in-law of Jeff. Adorable grandad to his beautif ul grandchil dren Alysha, Clarence, Isabelle, Thomas and Tilly. We are so heartbroken and cannot believe that you are gone. You were our pillar of strength in the family. Kind hearted and willing to help anyone. You were so excited; looking forward to your first great grandchild due to arrive in May. Iwill treasure all our wonderful loving memories. Ilove you and miss you more than words can express.

Always in our hearts loved andremembered every day

Rest in peace my sweet Maurice, until Isee you again in heaven.

SHEEDY, Stanley Norman. 28/11/1939 -8/4/2024. Irreplaceable Patriarch of the SHEEDY family. Loved and loving husband of Joan Sheedy (dec.). Belo ved fath er and father-in-law of Lisa and Joe, Paul and Deb, Mark, Anthony,A drianand Justine. Loving Pa of Grace and Ryan, Hannah and Isaac, Alex and Vasilis, Jack and Molly, Caitlin, Thomas; Briohny, Kirsty, Jarvis, Angus and Hugo. Proud and loved Great Grandpa of Maximos, Apollonas and Luka.

SYMONS, Jennifer Ann.

Late of Traralgon and Omeo. Passed away 4April 2024 at the Alfred Hospital, Melbourne. Dearly loved wife of the late Norm. Loved moth er an d mother-in-law of Jodie and Paul, Jamie and Hannah, and Jessie.

Much loved nanny of Declan, Izabelle, Alivia and Jed. Re-united with Dad

DAVIES. AService to Celebrate the life of Mrs Margaret Davies will be held at Latrobe Valley Funeral Services Chapel, 6Ollerton Ave, Newborough, WEDNESDAY (10 April 2024), commencing at 10.30am.

To view the livestream, please visit our website and follow the prompts.

MOE-MORWELL-TRARALGON

MOE 5126 1111

Place your tribute on latrobevalleyfunerals.com.au

FITZGERALD. The Funeral Service for Brian Fitzgerald will be held at the Rose Chapel, Gippsland Memorial Park, Cemetery Drv, Traralgon on THURSDAY (11 April 2024) at 1.30pm.

APrivate Family Burial will follow.

LOVE.

The Funeral Service for Mrs Margaret Mary Love will be held at Latrobe Valley Funeral Services Chapel, 6Ollerton Avenue Moe on WEDNESDAY (17 April 2024) commencing at 1.30pm. The Funeral will leave at the conclusion of the service for the Yallourn Cemetery. Margaret's Service will also be livestreamed. To view the livestream, please visit: latrobevalley funerals.com.au and click on livestreaming.

MOE-MORWELL-TRARALGON

MOE 5126 1111

Place your tribute on latrobevalleyfunerals.com.au

ZAPPULLA. AService to celebrate the life of Tony Zappulla will be held at the Nielsen Funeral Chapel, Korumburra Rd, Warragul on THURSDAY (11 April 2024) at 2pm.

The Service will also be livestreamed. To view Tony's service please visit: www.nielsenfunerals.com.au

APrivate Cremation will follow. In lieu of flowers, a donation in memory of Tony may be made to Scleroderma Australi a. Envelopes will be available at the Chapel.

KARAPULKA, Olga.

Kerrie, grandchildren Alysha, Clarence, Isabelle and Tommy. You touched so many lives and will live on forever in our hearts.

Ilove you with all my heart

Love Anji XXOO♥♥♥

Dearly loved and valued friend of Bronia and the late John Jurus. Much loved by Christine and Mary. Thank you for the help you gave our family when we were growing up. You were an inspiration to us all and we will miss you very much. Our thoughts and love are with Aniela, Monika, Brian and families at this very sad time. Rest in peace RODDA, Anne. G'day Darl, The 19th of April will be four years. Istill love and miss you and your mischief and mayhem. You may be gone but Iwill never forget you. You were my soul mate. Those we love don't go away, they walk beside us every day.

KARAPULKA, Olga. 22/12/1922 -31/3/2024. Such beautiful memories of you we will always treasure, Your unconditional love for us one cannot measure, How blessed we were to have had you for so long, Forever in our hearts is where you truly belong.

Sleep peacefully Mum we will miss you dearly Much loved and adored Mother, Nana and Great Nana of Monika, Leonie, Lei and Abigail.

5April 2024. Aged 89 years Much loved wife of Jack (dec.). Ado red mothe ra nd mother-in-law to Lorraine (dec.), Laurie and Brenda, Leo and Terri, Patrick (dec.), Julie and Dan, William (dec.), Paul, Kate and Ken, Christine, Ellie and Darren, Eileen and Greg, and Eric.

READ, Maurice. Passed away suddenly Good Friday as aresult of an accident. Deepest sympathy to Sandra and family. Such agreat loss. It will never be same, as you were always there for me when Iwas growing up. Agentle, kind and caring man, would help anyone at any time. Aloving uncle to his nephewsChris, Ben, Nathan and Jerome. We will miss you Uncle Maurice - love you. Fly high Maurice Reunited with Mum and Dad. Your loving brother James, Perth WA.

ZAPPULLA, Tony. Passed away peacefully at the Latrobe Regional Hospital, Traralgon on 1st April 2024. Aged 69 years Dearly loved husband of Leeanne. Much loved Dad and father-in-law of Jason and Laura, Melanie and Chris, Matthew and Naomi. Loving Pop of Amelie and Justin; Maisie; Jake, Zoe and Kaiden.

Dearly loved and sadly missed Forever in our hearts

BROWNE. The Funeral Service and Committal for Cremation for Mrs Shirley Browne will be held at Gippsland Memorial Park in the Rose Chapel, Cemetery Drive Traralgon, FRIDAY (12 April 2024) at 10am. Southeast Funeral Care 0438 671 925 Funerals •

HEINEMANN (Hoogenboom). Requiem Mass for the repose of the soul of Mrs Maria Petronella 'Rita' Heinemann will be offered at St Vincents Catholic Church, Hunt St Morwell on FRIDAY (12 April 2024) at 2pm. At the conclusion of Mass, the Funeral will leave for the Traralgon Cemetery, Gippsland Memorial Park. Rosary will be recited in the above church on Thursday evening, 11 April 2024 at 7pm. The Mass for Rita will also be livestreamed, please visit our website below for details.

MOE-MORWELL-TRARALGON MORWELL 5134 4937 Place your tribute on latrobevalleyfunerals.com.au

Luv Ya Darl, Glenn ♥♥♥♥ READ. The

SHEEDY.

The Funeral Service for Mr Stan Sheedy will be held at St Kieran's Catholic Church, Lloyd St Moe, on FRIDAY (12 April 2024) commencing at 1.30pm. In lieu of flowers, donations to the Gippsland Cancer Care Centre would be appreciated, envelopes available at the Service. Privately Cremated

SALTER, Kenneth James. 15/5/1950 -8/4/2012.

In loving memory of my darling husband Ken. Much loved and missed every day. Forever loved by his wife Marj, his children Natasha, Samantha, Felicity, Priscilla, Adamand Shawnee. Father-in-law to Theo, Cam and Ben. Grampsy to Chantal, Selina, Dane, Savannah and Jenson. Love Always XOXO

on THURSDAY (11 April 2024) commencing at 11am.

In lieu of flowers, on-line donations to the Prostate Cancer Foundation Australia would be appreciated, envelopes will also be available at the Service.

MOE-MORWELL-TRARALGON

Charlton’scollegehomecoming

TENNIS

By TOM HAYES

NOW he enters the big time.

Traralgon’sJosh Charlton is now touring the ATPFuturesCircuitaftergraduatingfrom the University of Oregon in June last year.

Charltonspent five years in Oregon, after receiving ascholarship to play tennis in their program.

During his time in the US, Charlton also studieda Degree in Businessand Economics, completing the four-yearundergraduate course in five years, after gaining an extra year of eligibility due to COVID. But on the court, it did not take him long to climb the ranks and become astand-out at college level.

“I was 18, justfinished high school and Ijust started to get some good results nationally and was able to win back-to-back doubles titles at the 18 and under nationals in Melbourne,” Charlton said.

“That gathered abit of attention and attraction. Universities in the US started to reach out to me. Istarted to learnmoreabout the opportunityto play college tennis in the States through the NCAA. “(The University of) Oregon came along and offered me afull scholarship to go play tennis there. The level was very high, and the facilities were amazing, like things that you don’t reallysee in (Australia).”

Charlton finished his Junior Year with a16-1 record and coming into his SophomoreYear (second year), he was playing in the top spot in the team. “Atthe start (itwas)verydauntinggoing over to the States, but at the same time it was just playing tennis,” he said.

“I was able to land on my feet pretty quickly and get some good results.”

Charlton spoke on the college experience, which involved packed-out crowds for every match with a loud atmosphere, which he believes will leave him in good stead on tour.

Collegeathletes are treatedlikeroyalty in the US, and often when some get recognised, they may find themselves eating for free at certain restaurants or signingautographsastheir faces tend to be plastered all over the college.

Upon his time to leave Oregon, Charlton left quite the legacy behind for others to strive for.

On top of his all-time wins record at the school, he

was also part of the highest-ranked doubles team in the University of Oregon’s history, earned fire team conference honours, and won the most pacific north-west title (threeinfive years) -which is more than the Bryan brothers (Bob and Mike) andJohn McEnroe-who played in the same division while in their college years.

Fast-forward to Junelastyear, and Charltonleft the University of Oregon achanged man. He finished hiscollege career with the most wins all-time in the college’shistory, which he dubbed as “a great honour,” among many other achievements.

Charlton was also selected for the World University Games in Chengdu, China, which he mentioned was “great to be apart of”. But after that, he was flying solo. And, that statement is true.

Charlton recognised the transition he had to make when finishing college and beginninghis

own journey, noticing the individualitytobemuch different from the team aspect in college.

“Competing in ateam was so unique, because in tenniswhere it’ssoindividual,itkindofjust means more,” he said.

“I think initially it was abig transition, and I thinkthat’s something I’ve had to get used to a little bit because in college Ihad three coaches, ateam manager,teammates,you’rejust always surrounded by people,and everythingisalways organised for you.

“Now, I’m travelling and I’m just independentall on my own. I’m booking everything, I’m doing everything.

“I did four weeks in Greecebymyself, which kind of just makes you miss the team experience.”

Charlton set off for the beginning of his professional career at the end of last year, coming into 2024.

Playing for ATP RankingPoints on the ITF Futures Circuit, Charlton travelled to Greece, before coming back to these necks of the woods where he played in Brisbane, Gold Coast, Darwin, Cairns and in New Zealand, before his homecoming in February this year.

Before returning to Traralgon, Charlton had some success, playing in some doubles finals in Brisbane, Darwin, and New Zealand.

At the time of writing, he has worked hisATP singles ranking down to 1449, while his ATP doublesranking has shotupto543,which he describes as “a good start”.

Arriving in his hometown of Traralgon, Charlton realised he had not played on his home courts since an ATP Challenger back in 2021, so it had been a long time between drinks.

“It’s been great being back home and getting to spendtimewiththe family, and especiallyworking with dad (Graham ‘Woofa’ Charlton),” he said.

Woofahas been Charlton’s coachthroughout his entire career, but being together in person meant no awkward times over the phone, the two could tweak things right then in the moment if needed.

Charlton saw his time back home as atimeto refresh,see mates and be there for milestones that he would have normally missed.

While Charlton was unable to get out of the qualifying rounds in the singles during both ITF

tournamentsinTraralgon recently,itwas quite adifferent story when teaming up with fellow Australian Blake Ellis in the doubles.

In the first ITF, Charlton and Ellis made it all of the way to the final but went down in straight sets to fellow Australian duo Matt Hulme and James Watt.

They made amends for their final blunder in the second tournament aweek later, winning the doubles title convincingly in straight sets, defeating anotherAustralian paringofJesse Delaney and Ajeet Rai.

After the Traralgon tournaments, Charltontested his trade at aMildura ITF tournament, winning the doubles once again, this time in threesets, trumping thosewho defeated he and Ellis the first time around, Hulme and Watt.

Now heading back overseas, Charltonbelieves that his degree that he workedsohard for in Oregon could be put to use on his own career.

While playing solo might seem difficult enough, he has to manage himself now too, meaning he books all of his flights and accommodation and enters himself into tournaments.

He says that if the tennis route does not work out in the long run, he may decide to return to tennis in adifferent lens, becoming acoach.

Charlton mentionedthat he would be interested to returntocollege tennis as acoachand would be open to returning to the University of Oregon to do so.

“Hopefully that’s along way down the road,” he said.

Looking to head overseas for abig stint now, Charlton wants to maximise his time in Europe, Africa, and the US.

Egypt, the United Kingdom, and spending time in the US during its summer all look like potential routes that Charlton may take this year.

He hopes to finish the year strong and return to Australia for our summer, alongwithNew Zealand where he enjoyed his time last year.

“I’m essentially just tracking what events are on …and targeting events that suit us as best as possible,” he said.

“Onceyou go overseas, you want to maximise yourtimeoverthere.Soyou’relooking at long stints overseas.”

Archeryclub on bulls-eye with Australian Champs

ARCHERY

By TOM HAYES

TWIN City Archershave been flat out recently, from getting new clubrooms, to hosting the Australian Open Field Championships and sending three juniors off to the National Youth Championships. March will simply be amonth to remember for the archery club.

Across five days of archery action from March 8 to 12, Twin City Archers(based in Morwell) hosted the Australian Open Field Championships. But the lead-uptothe week might’ve eclipsed the actual championships themselves, as the new clubrooms were finally handed over to the club on the Monday before the championships.

“The feedback from the archers is that this facility is one of the best in Australia now,” Twin City Archers President, Peter Bennett said.

Previously, Twin City Archers had their own clubrooms built by themselves, but now they’ve upgraded, bigger and better.

“They (the old clubrooms) were nice but not like what we’ve got now,” Bennett said.

Twin City Archers hosted multiple events throughout the championships.

First was an unmarked field round, which saw archers estimatethe distancestothe targets on

something similar to agolf course, which includes 24 different targets.

Then there was amarkedfield round, where archersknow the distance to each target,which once again, had 24 targets. Targets in this event are generally abit further.

Over the championships, there was the team elimination events,which entails athree-person team of men and women, each using adifferent bow; compound, recurve and barebow.

Teams are ranked from one to 16, then the field is compacted to eight, then four.

The final fours teams play head-to-head, with the winners of each round playing in the gold medal match. The losing teams play off in the bronze medal match.

Using the same structure as the team elimination, the open compound, recurve and barebow events for men and women took place to conclude the championships.

Presentations were made at the end of each round.

Team winners were presented with national championship medals, while individual winners won $1000, with archers placing down to fifth receiving monetary prizes.

But the most coveted prize is the silver buckle, made in the US valued at around $600,which

is presented to the individual male and female winners.

Nicky Fairweather took out the women’s division, going back-to-back from the championships held two years ago at Armadale, New South Wales.

Jay Moylan got his hands on the silver buckle, after missing out two years ago, he made up for it by taking out the men’s division.

The same championships held two years ago in Armadale hadabout 50 entries.But moreimpressively, the teamatTwinCity Archerswereableto host 94 entrants at last month’s championships, which was “justabout on max”,according to Bennett.

“The feedback from all of the archers was it was the best one that they’ve ever been to,” Bennett said with pride.

“They loved thecourses, the courses were challenging.”

Bennett spoke on the contribution that the championships have on the community, and the hard work that goes into hosting them.

“The events are great. They’re hard work, but they’re worth the work,” he said.

“The biggest benefit will be to the local community Ithink the last time we hosted the nationals here, Latrobe City Council put out the monetary gain by the community (which was) about $750,000.”

More recently, Twin City Archers had three

juniors head off to Canberrafor the National Youth Championships.

Rhys Pollerd, Corey Peters and Evelyn Russell were part of the 15-archer Victorian team at the championships.

Each archer would take place in four events, including the indoor event, fieldevent and the 900-metre and 700m outdoor events.

Despite making the Top 10 in each 16 and underevent he participated in, Pollerd wished he performedbetter, as he was unable to pinch himself amedal.

Peters won himself two medals in the 21 and under division, winning silver in the 900m outdoor championships and gold in the indoor event.

Most impressively, Russell won gold in each event, competing in the 14 and under division as a12-year-old Peters was team co-captain throughout the event, with Bennett describing it as a“huge effort”.

Next year,Twin Citywill hold the Australian Field Championships, which will host more age groups, as the clubshopes to get nearly 200 competitors.

If you are interested in archery, ring Twin City Archers President, PeterBennett on 0429 429 240.

For more information and news on Twin City Archers, head to their Facebook page.

International: Josh Charltonwill test his trade on theITF FuturesCircuit, travelling the world forabig portionof2024. Photograph: TomHayes

Form: Nicky Fairweather went back-to-backin the women’s division. Talent: Evelyn Russell, Rhys Pollerdand Corey Peters at the YouthNationalChampionships

At last: JayMoylan got his hands on thesilver buckle Photographs supplied

Magical end to milestone season

CRICKET

By TOM HAYES

MorwellCricket Club celebrated arareoccurrencetoward the end of the Cricket Latrobe Valley season, when veteran Marty Giddens brought up his 500th game for the club.

Giddens wasessentially born into cricket and the Morwell Cricket Club, so it was inevitable that he would be involved one way or another.

“My dad was apastpresident for five years or so …heplayed since the 1960s, and obviously Craig, my brother, he played as well -he’s still playing at the moment,” Giddens said.

“I was basically born into the club, and we started playing when Iwas about nine. We played Under 16s, because we had no juniors.”

Naturally,Giddens would continue to develop rapidly, playing withkidsuptofiveyears older than him at the time he started out.

This led to Giddens winning the Junior Cricketer of the Year in two consecutive seasons in 1992/93 and 1993/94.

In the 1993/94 season,Giddens captainedthe Under16s to apremiership, scoring 53 runsin the decider.

It was only amatter of time before he found himself playing senior grade cricket.

“When Iwas about 14, Istarted playingC Grade

with dad, and as it progressed got further up into BGrade,then AGrade.SoI’ve been playing for 36, 37 years,” he said.

Giddensended up playing “17 or 18 years” of AGrade cricketfor Morwell, starting in the late 1990s.

One of the biggest highlights of his career were the two AGradepremiershipshewon, in 1998/99 and 2002/03. But he also recognised acollective effort in the 2017/18 season, when Morwell’s A, B and CGrade allwon premierships in the Central Gippsland Cricket Association. Giddens was playing CGrade by then, but a club three-peat doesn’t come around often, if ever. Giddens wasgiven legend status when he was inducted as aMorwell Cricket Club Life Member last year.

Whenfinding out he was playinghis 500thgame in February, Giddens felt humbled. “I was actuallysurprised, Ididn’t know until the Tuesday beforethe game and they said, ‘you’ve got 500 games this week’ and Ithought ‘what?’”, he said.

“I’m very grateful, Iwas quite embarrassed actually, Ithought ‘500 games, I’m getting too old!’” Giddensjoinedanexclusive club of only one other person to play 500 games at Morwell Cricket Club, joining fellow club legend Mark Smith.

Throughouthis career,atthe time of playing his 500th game, he had scored more than 7500 runs with ahigh score of 115,togowith 21 half

centuries. He is ranked sixth at Morwell Cricket Club for all-time runs. He has been handy with the ball and in the field too, taking 209 wickets and 192 catches with a stumping.

He was BGrade captain for nine season and was the AGrade assistantcoach and vice-captain earlier in his career.

Giddens has begun to developthe youth, coaching juniors for the last five seasons, and continues to be aleader, captaining CGrade.

As the owner of Silvers Bar and Grill, Morwell, Giddens has played amajor partinthe club’s seafood days, as his efforts in the kitchen prove to be abig part of fundraising efforts.

What has kept Giddens in the game for so long?

Quite simple really.

“Just the mateship and the love for the game. Obviously, Iwas born into cricket so it’s one of those things, Ijustlove it,” he said.

Now 46-years-old, Giddens hopes he still has somethingleft in the tank.His son, Harley,is currently playing under 12s. Maybe one day they could line-up together.

Youmight be wondering how Morwell went in theCricket Latrobe Valley finals.

Well, it’s fair to say that Giddenscan add another premiershiptohis long list of accolades, after Morwell’s Premier CGrade took out the premiership, defeating CATS in the decider.

What away to cap off such amemorable season.

Traralgon the home of obscure sport this weekend

SCENT WORK

THE Dobermann Club of Victoria is holding their first restricted to German breeds scentwork trial this Saturday (April 13) at Glenview Park, Traralgon

This event is open to all Dogs Victoria registered GermanDog breeds and their handlers.

Scent Work is asport based on dogs locating an odour and communicating to thehandler that the odour has been found.

This sport was introduced to Australia around 15 years ago and has been a recognised Dogs Australia sport since July12020and competitionshave been running since early 2021.

Scent work involves training dogs to search for specific odours from certain essential oils in several situations called ‘elements’, in containers such as boxes, on the outside of vehicles, inside buildings and in the outside environment.

At the Novice level, the container search test’s adog’s abilitytolocate the targetodour and communicate its whereabouts to the handler.

There are from 10 to 15 containers in the Novice search, they mustbe cardboard and Identical in form.

Novice interior searches are designed to test the dog’s abilitytolocate atarget odour in an indoor search area. The odour could be placedonpropssuch as furniture, any solid wallsordoors, windows, children’s toys or other objects within the set area.

Exterior searches test the dog’s ability to locate the target in an area with natural air flow, all weather conditions and natural distractions such as the sounds and smells of everyday life.

Vehicle searches can be carried out on any wheeled apparatus that provides suitable search areas. Motor vehicles, trailers, motor bikes and alike, justto name afew. Vehicles are parked in an open, outdoor area.

Dogs need to find the source of the odour and communicate its exact location to their owner –they can do this by pointing, freezing, sit or drop, or barking, but they must be quiteprecise Dog and owner teamscompete to locate the source of the odour withinaset time

given by the judge (usually two to five minutes)todeterminewhich teams are the fastestand most accurate in their searches.

Owners and dogs need to gain several qualifications at each level to progress to more complex searchesathigher levels.

As the dogs progress to these higher levels of competition,the numberof hides increase and the searches become much more complex. Environmental conditions such as sun, rain and wind can sometimes make searches quite difficult.

The specific odours used are, ‘Birch’, ‘Anise’, ‘Clove’ and ‘Cyprus’. There are four different levels of competition at the moment. Novice, Advanced, Excellent and Masters.

More information of this fast growing dog sport can be found at the Dogs Victoria Web site or the Vic Scent Face book page.

It’s asport: Theuniquesportof scent work will be held at Glenview Park,Traralgon this weekend.

(A)

Jane Blandford(B) 32

Wednesday, 03 April 2024

Twilight Stableford Winner: P. Metcalfe20 Birdies: 8th W.Yeomans,14th S. Hibbs

Eagles: A. Bassman 3rd

Thursday, 04 April 2024 OPEN Medley Stableford

Grade

Photographs supplied

Moose muscle: Morwell CricketClublegend, Marty Giddens,playedhis 500th game toward the end of the mostrecent CricketLatrobe Valleyseason. Photograph supplied

Can’t separate Fortuna and Moe

Budija, who would capitalise on aMoe defensive error to put the Lions 1-nil up early in the first half.

Oscar Sceney, who gave Fortuna keeper Clayton Monacella no chance from 20 metres out.

spectators saw an entertaining matchofsenior women’s football.

FORTUNA‘60 returned to their home Crinigan Road South Reserve for the first time in more than 12 months on Sunday, for Round 3ofthe Latrobe Valley Soccer League.

The Lions had been off their pitchfor an extended period, following council works.

Befitting areturn to theirhome ground,Fortuna were up against arch rival Moe United, in what was the 2023 League Champions versus the 2023 Battle of Britain Cup winners.

The game kicked-off underdry but overcast conditions, and would soondevelop into agame for the ages, withthe large crowdgetting value for their entry fee for the full 90 minutes.

The Lions came out firing on all cylinders and were keen to assert their ascendency early in the game by playing same fast and direct football. In contrast, the Red Devils appeared to be slower out of the blocks and struggled to keep up with ahard pressing Fortuna outfit.

Fortuna hit the scoreboard first through Jake

The returning Hayden Tanti inserted himself into the match midway through the first half, and extend the lead for the home team to 2-nil after a ball rebounded into his path and ended up in the back of the net.

Budija would strike again with 15 minutes left in the first half by chipping the evergreen Devil’s goal custodian Peter Albanese.

The first half finishedwith the Orangeman going intothe changerooms full of confidence 3-nil up, however, but that would be short-lived upon the commencement of the second half.

Moe United was badly in needofachange in tactics after afirst-half domination by the home side

Moe coach Lee Dastey made the necessary moves, and with it came adramaticturnaround for the Red Devils.

Suddenly,Fortuna wasonthe defensive,as United found openings and took full advantage.

The Red Devils were rewarded for their persistence when the Fortuna defence failed to properly clear acorner kick, which founds its way out to

At the other end of the pitch, United’sdefence stoodfirm against the dangerous DJ Matar Budeja

Moe pushed hard for another break through the ever-dangerous Connor O’Hanlon, who made an attacking run up the left wing and sent alow, hard cross into the goalmouth, which then saw a divingRileyWinkelman head home the cross to make the score 3-2.

Withconfidence at an all-timehigh, Moe United surged forward again, and were successful in levelling the scores when across by Tanner Pyle saw Monacella parry the ball away, but the alertness of Lachie McKenzie seized on the loose ball to slam home the equaliser.

In adramatic finish to ahigh-quality and entertainingmatch, there was some further chancesfor either side to win, however a3-all result proved to be afitting result as points were split.

Shelley,McKenzieand ConnorDastey were best for Moe.

Senior Women

WITH both teams in the rebuild stage this season,

Thefirst half was agame of cat and mouse by both teams -neither able to gain an ascendency or advantage.

Fortuna ‘60 would have the run of play for periods of the first half, hitting pretty much every part of the goals bar the back of the net.

After an entertaining 45 minutes the score was locked at nil-all as teams went into the sheds.

The second half saw the Lioness’s come out and seize the game, with Emily Brabazon scoring three goals for the home team in ablistering display of team and individual football.

One of MoeUnited’s young guns,SummerCooper pegged one back for the visitor’s, again showing what atalentshe and her sister Miley will be in future years.

IN other results, Fortuna won the Reserves 3-1. Goal scorers for the winners were Riduan Sobari (2) and Nick Matsoukas (1). Senior regular Luke Bathgate scored Moe’s goal.

In Second Division, Moe won 3-nil. Jimmy Hawaii, Gedd Heusmann and Darlin Nahum got on the scoresheet.

Falcons narrowly escape East Gippy scare

BY JOE AUCIELLO

FALCONS 2000 made thelongtrip up the Princes Highway to visitEastGippslandUnitedonSunday, looking to make it three wins from as many games to start their 2024 campaign. In what was expected to be aone-sided affair in favour of the Morwell side, it was anything but as the league leaders laboured to agritty3-2 victory to send them outright top come the conclusion of Round 3.

Despitekey players Kevin Carcellar, Kuku

Mahmoud and Tommy D’Alia all absentfrom the field, Falcons took an early lead as Gabrielle Bocchichio converted from close range to give his side the ascendency.

The away team continued to dominate proceedings, but the Eagleswere up for the challenge, with many aforay forward raising an eyebrow or two on the faces of the travelling supporters.

Despite the unexpected resistance, Falcons doubled their lead shortly before the break as new signingLeviMahmoud converted from inside the box after some exceptional build up play from the midfield.

The halftimebreakseamed to invigorate the

home side and they pounced on the lackadaisical nature of their opponents and soon enough, brought themselves back into the contest.

All of asudden, the pressure started to get to Falcons, and with that, the Eagleshad the bit between their teeth looking for whatseemed an unthinkable result only moments beforehand.

Falcons eventually regained their composure and some quick thinkingfrom striker Jamie Pistrin restored his sides two-goal advantage as he caught the opposing goalkeeper napping from 20 yards out.

Just as Falcons seemed to have sealed all three points, East Gippsland came again and were able to convert after ashot from outside the box was

parried by goalkeeper, Mason Loprese straight into the path of one of the oncoming strikers.

The fairytale ending was not to be however, as Falcons closed out the gametoensure three points came back home in readiness for their derby game with Fortuna this Saturday night.

John Patterson, Will Medd, Pistrin and Harley Broadbent were among the best for Falcons, while the returning JaydenSteele wasathis best for the Eagles.

In other results, the reserves game ended identical to the senior game with a3-2 win to Falcons. TheBirds women had aconvincing 11-1 win away against TraralgonCity.

SOCCER LVSL BY ALLAN ROBERTS AND JOHN CARDONA

Emotions: League heavyweights Fortuna and Moe playedout an exciting 3-all draw at the weekend.

Defence: Fortuna’sJoel Palermocomes into slide tackle Moe’s Brendan Ruddell. Photographs supplied

Contest: Jake Budija gets the ballinfront of Lachie MacKenzie,who wasnamed in thebest forMoe

Photographs

Powerhouses to go head-to-head in blockbuster

SOCCER LVSL

BY JOE AUCIELLO

MATCH of the Round in the Latrobe Valley Soccer League sees Falcons 2000 take on Fortuna ‘60 this Saturday night.

Saturday night football makes areturn to Falcons Park for season 2024, and what away to kick things off with aMorwell derby between two powerhouses of the competition.

Although only threerounds into the season, it seems the 2024 league championship will be keenly fought out between Falcons, Fortuna and Moe, which means any contest between the three sides will have significant repercussions when said trophy is awarded come seasons end.

Falcons are currently first on the ladder, and the only team to have won all three games this season.

Reigningchampion Fortuna sit two points behindthem afteraneventful 3-all drawagainst Moe last weekend.

The Birds will be buoyed by the fact Fortuna relinquished a3-nil lead against Moe, which will undoubtedly cause the Orangemen to enter the game wary of arepeat performance.

On the flip side, Falcons werefar from convincing against an up-and-comingEastGippsland side, whichwill equallyencourage theiropponent on Saturday evening.

In contests such as this however, the formbook is tantamount to irrelevant as history has shown us.

Rest assured, Saturday night will be arollicking contest full of dramaand passion as both sides look to gain astranglehold on the race for silverware.

Kick-off is 6pmatLatrobe City Sportsand Entertainment Stadium.

AGrand Final rematch and a test of strength

NETBALL

MID GIPPSLAND/NORTH

BY ZAIDA GLIBANOVIC

GIPPSLAND

COUNTRY netball will return this weekend in Mid Gippsland and North Gippsland.

Reigning Mid Gippsland premier Yinnar will host the Grand Final rematch against Toora in what will be afiery battle of the Magpies.

Fish Creek will host Newborough, Mirboo North travels to Boolarra, and Foster welcomes Morwell East.

Thorpdalewill play itsfirst AGrade game in afew years on Saturday when it travelsto Meeniyan to take on MDU.

Both Stony Creek and Tarwin have abye after Hill End’s request not to field an AGrade side was approved by the majority of clubs when put to vote. WOODSIDE areset to embark on their backto-back-to-back campaign in NorthGippsland, andhave acontest against anew-look TTUside in Tyers.

Despite TTU’s changes, expect the Wildcats to be as dominant as ever in season 2024.

Lastyear’sfinalists,Heyfield, are back in action at the Gordon Street Recreation Reserve. With an unchanged line-up, they are ateamtokeep an eye on. The Kangaroos will take on Rosedale in a match that will test the strengths of each team. The dominant young stars at Sale City will welcome Cowwarr to open theirseason. Sale City have added some strength in the off-season and should be able to get the win comfortably against the Saints.

Glengarry will want to test out their new teamagainst astruggling Gormandaleside. The Tigers will do well to come within 20 goals of the Magpies.

Lastyear’s Grand Finalist, Churchill travel to Yarram.

Yarram hashad asponsor front the costs of game-dayentry, so make sure to get down to Yarram Recreation Reserve for some free entertainment featuring kids’ activities with face painting and ajumping castle, acoffee cart for the adults, and $2.50 beers and champagne for the first quarter of the senior football match.

FOOTBALL AND NETBALL LIFTOUT -PAGES 21-24

On the board: Traralgon Olympians secured theirfirst win of theLatrobe ValleySoccer

Churchill ram’sithome

SOCCER

LVSL BY LAURIE WILLIAMS

CHURCHILL recorded their second successive victory of season 2024, after defeatingTyers 3-nil in Round 3ofthe Latrobe Valley Soccer League.

The match was arousing battle between two sides who struggled for much of last year, and are hoping to takestepsinthe right direction this year.

Tyers had only beaten Churchill twice in their 43 pastmatches,and this trend continued as the Ramstook the points withanattacking brand of football.

The pressure was on fromthe start, with Churchill coach, Jayden Unmack taking aleading role as Churchill continually pressed forward. Their first goal came at the 12-minute mark, which was well set up by Unmack with apolished pass to Blake Whykes, who cooly slotted it past Sasha Danilovic to open their account.

It was pressure from Churchill all the way as Tyers were on the back foot, however defender Steven Wood stood resolute for the Lightning. Tyers had troublegetting forward,asChurchill controlled possession with captain Mitch Azlin, Corey O’Shea and JaydenUnmack getting plenty of the ball.

Acouple of times Tyers went forward, forcing two corners, but wayward kicking and asolid defencebyChurchill keptthe Lightning from striking.

After 35 minutes, afree to Marc McHallam saw his shot deflect into the path of Whykes who banged in his second.

Churchill was now riding awave of confidence,

FOOTBALL

MID GIPPSLAND

MID Gippsland football battlers, Toorawill receive ahelping hand this season, with an ex-AFL player to line up in its senior team.

Toora have found the going tough in the wins column the last few years.

The Magpies however were one of five clubs who lastweek foundout theirapplicationtotake part in the ‘Carlton Draft’ by brewing company Carlton &United was successful.

Toora will now get to choose from one of either Trent Cotchin, Isaac Smith, Matthew Lloyd, Dylan Buckley or Leigh Montagna to play aone-off game this season.

As well as Toora, the other clubs with apick in this year’s draft are:

 Bunyip (West Gippsland Competition)

 Ballan Blues (Central Highlands)Castlemaine (Bendigo FNL)

but despite their dominance, they could not land the killer blow.

Tyers ‘keeper Sasha Danilovic was called on to make many agood save, as his opposite number up the other end, Pacey Unmackwas rarelytested. Churchill went into halftime wellpleased to be two-up.

After halftime, the Rams continued their pressure, but Tyers fought hard with some strong play.

Sav Mavrofridis, Ricky Moyle and Brodie Neave were all involved in good passages.

At 83 minutes, Churchill put the result beyond question when aTim Lawless cross foundJayden Unmack who smacked it home for Churchill’s third. MONASH recorded their biggest win over Sale since 2011.

The Wolves won 6-2, in what was only the third time everthatMonash had scoredmore than five goals against Sale in 97 games. After two successive wins, the Wolves are starting to show their full potential.

Sale wereunderwhelming and are facing a difficult season ahead. OLYMPIANS also hit the recordbooks, with their biggest win over Newborough/Yallourn United since 2016.

Olympians were fired up for this match, especially after going down to Churchill afortnight ago.

It was astrong showing by Olympians, who surprised everyone to lead 2-nil at halftime.

After the break, the game evened up with the Combine getting two back through Dylan and Mark Fairbrother, but more goals were to come as Olympians found success to send their loyal fans into raptures.

Giguei Malualcompleted his hat-trickand Majok Bier Dengand OllieSaliba also scoredfor Olympians, in what some would call asurprise 5-2 win.

 Old Collegians (Warrnambool District FNL)

Across the first two seasons of the campaign, The Carlton Draft matchdays have created unforgettable memories for players, coaches and local communities, with appearancesfromfooty legends drawing huge numbers through the gates and assisting the struggling clubs who need it most.

This year’s campaign saw more than 175 clubs nominate for achancetobeapartofthe action in 2024.

Gormandale previously took part in the initiative, and had Hawthorn star Jarryd Roughead play for them in 2022.

Last year, Collingwood legend NathanBuckley played

League season at the weekend. Majok Deng(pictured) scored in the sides 5-2 victor yoverNewborough/Yallourn. Photograph: Damen Francis