Latrobe Valley Express Wednesday 16 August 2023

Daring to dream drea

This might actually be the year. Ha y mightactually year.Harry Pepper celebrates one of his four goals dur celebratesone duringMoe’s win over Leongatha at the week weekend.The Lions are equal-first on the Gippsland Lea areequal-first theGippsland League ladder with two rounds remaining, and lo withtwo andlooktheir best chance in recent memory of recentmemory ending the longest premiership drought in lea premiershipdrought leaguehistory, which currently stands at 56 years whichcurrentlystandsat56years.

The Valley’sVoice

By ZAIDAGLIBANOVIC

ANOTHER protestwas held outside the Gippsland Performing Arts Centre during the most recent Latrobe City Councilmeeting, in opposition to the decision to move ordinary council meetings solely online.

The meeting, held on Monday, August 1, saw areported hundred-strongcrowd congregate upon the Kay Street precinct to voice their concerns.

The council’s July meeting was met with hundreds of people angered at recent council decisions, including moving meetings online and the decision not to pass amotion demandingthe state governmentrescind its decisiontoclose the native timber industry.

Despite the tension, it wasunderstood to be apeaceful demonstration.

The decision to move council meeting online was made to “ensure the orderly conductofcouncil proceedings” due to reported disruptive behaviour by the gallery.

Council’s decision is supported by the Local Government Act 2020 (Act).

Acouncil spokesperson said they remain “committed to transparency and accessibility,”and as such, live

streamingofmeetings is in accordance with council’s obligations and ensurescommunity andstakeholders can stay informed about decisions and discussions.

Council’s governance rules allow for individuals to participate in council meetingsvirtually for those in the public who wish to speak on aspecific agenda item, and all meetingswill be livestreamed and accessible to the public.

But for the Gippsland Peoples Council and thoseattending the protest, councils explanation doesn’t go far enough.

The poster for this month’s protest read, “State and federal government continue theiroverreach”, “Unite and Stand”,and “Where do you draw the line?”

Due to the planned community protest, council decided to close GPAC, The Visitorinformation centre, The Benjamin at GPAC Café, Traralgon Library and the Maternal Child Health Centre early at 3pm.

“The decision to close these facilities early has been made to ensure the safety and security of both staff and community members during the protest,” the council’s Facebook page read.

Former acto rD amien

Richardson-turned political campaigner, who received anotary after promoting an anti-vaxagenda, has attendedthese rallies as aguest speaker and promoted the protest on his Facebook page.

“Interesting that, once again, Latrobe City Council will be conducting the council meeting online. Whilecommunity members are able to watch via YouTube, enough is enough. Ratepayers mustbegiventhe opportunity to attend in-person if they wish!” Mr Richardson’s post read.

Latrobe City Councillorand Mayor Kellie O’Callaghan also took to Facebook to justifycouncil’s decisiontoclosepublic buildings in the vicinity of Kay Street.

“Weremainfocused on thesafety and security of both staff and community members,” she wrote.

“We have beenadvised by Vic Pol that we should close our facilities in proximity to the protest.

“We appreciate your feedback and remain grateful to the local Vic Pol team for their ongoing support and guidance.”

Noel Blundell,anexecutive member of theGippsland Peoples Council, the community group who organisedthe protest said,“It’s arallytobringattention to the closure of the timber industryand bring

attentiontothe closure of chambers and access to local government.”

“It’s community members coming out to gettheir voices heard. Peoplewho are affectedbythe timberclosure and don’t have any conjugate of communication to governments -sothey’re feeling very isolated at the moment and their feeling like their hands are tired.”

The purpose of these rallies, as Mr Blundell explained, is for people to get together, build networks and voice concerns.

The Gippsland Peoples Council have been attendingcouncil meetings in recent months to “learnthe structure and the processes that were associated with local council and local governance,” Mr Blundell said.

“We’re quite aware there’sastructured process when dealing andoperating with that forum of local government.”

The groups goal is to advocate for the community and will aim to continue planned proteststoexpress their concerns.

Details regarding council’s livestream and access to the online meeting is provided on council’s website at: www. latrobecity.com.au and social media www.facebook.com/LatrobeCity

MORE - VALL Y -VALLEY SPORT

Phot ogr aph

Gippsland Lea gue

Homicide Squad detectivescontinue to investigate Leongathapoisoning

HOMICIDE Squad detectives are investigating after three people died from suspected mushroom poisoning in Leongatha.

Four people were taken to hospital on July 30 afterthey became ill following ameal at aprivate residence in Leongatha the previous day.

Two Korumburra women, aged 66 and 70, died in hospital on Friday, August 4. Athird person, a70-year-old Korumburra man,

died in hospital the following day, on Satirday, August 5.

A68-year-old Korumburra manremains in hospital in acritical condition.

Investigators executed asearch warrantata residence in Leongatha.

Detectives also interviewed a48-year-old Leongatha womanwho was released pending further enquiries.

The investigation surrounding the exact circumstances of the incident remains ongoing and police are liaising with the Department of Health in relation to the matter.

Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential crime report at www.crimestoppers.com.au

Appeal for witnesses for assault Correction

IN last week's issue of Police Beat, it was incorrectly reported a70-year-old man had beenarrestedinrelation to the 1997 murder of Morwell woman Meaghan Louise Rose.

The Express apologies for any confusion or distress this may have caused.

Meaghan Rose, 25, was discovered dead at the base of the Point Cartwright Cliffs in Mooloolaba QLD on July 18, 1997.

Her vehicle, which held avariety of personal goods, was parked at the cliff's edge. Initial investigationsindicated that her death was not suspicious, but fresh material emerged indicating unusual circumstances, including alifeinsurance policy purchased previous to her death.

Homicide Cold Case Investigation Team officers re-examining the case went to a Victorianhouse on June 25 to meetwith Keith Lees, 70, about the continuing enquiry.

The next day,his car was discovered abandoned in Portland, prompting Victoria Police to launch asearch and rescue effort.

When questioned by police later that day in PortFairy, Victoria, Mr Lees gave afake name.

Mr Lees was sighted at aWaurn Ponds retail centre on June27, where he purchased newclothing, according to Queensland Police Services investigations with the aid of Victoria Police.

On June 27, he was seen exiting Shepparton Train Station. In addition, he wasobserved sporting astriking black and whitejacket.

According to police information, he may be looking for apart-timejob in the agricultural and fruit-picking industries.

While enquiries into his present location continue, it is thought he is still in Victoria or has moved interstate.

Keith Lees is said to have known Meaghan Louise Rose.

Detectives are pleading for Keith Lees to come forward, and they are asking the public to call police immediately if they have any information on his whereabouts.

Anyone whoseeshim is urged not to approachhim and to phone Triple Zero (000) immediately. Call Crimestoppers if you have no pressing information.

A$500,000 reward is stillavailable for information leadingtothe arrest and conviction of the person or personsresponsible for Meaghan's murder.

POLICEare investigating an assault at abus stop in Morwell on Saturday, August 5, 2023.

The assault occurred around 7.30am on Princes Drive. The male victimwas head-butted during theincident and sustained minor injuries.

The offender is described as being aCaucasian male, solid build with agreybeard and is middle aged. He was wearing dark clothing and was missing some front teeth.

If you witnessed this assault or have any information, contact First Constable Daniel Cross at Traralgon Police Station on 5172 2700 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Trafalgar truckcrash

EASTBOUNDofthe Princes Highway, Trafalgar was closed Tuesday, August 8due to aserious incident that occured at around 2.20pm.

Emergency personnel respondedtoa reported traffic incident near the BP service station.

It is believed atruck collided into another truck that was parked on the side of the highway.

The truck driver was taken to hospital.

Traffic heading away from Melbourne was directed onto Waterloo Road to avoid the area.

It tookemergency crew hourstoclean the scene, with the eastbound lanes only reopened at around 10pm that night.

Traralgon East burglaries

LATROBE Crime Investigation Unit detectives are investigating four burglaries at vehicle yards in Traralgon East last month.

It is understood offenders forced entry into ayard on Standing Drive overnight on Saturday, July 22.

A2003white Nissan Patrol utility with the registration 1SO1ND was stolen.

Police were told awhite sedanwas seen leaving the area following the incident.

Ared 1998Toyota Hilux, with the registration1WT5LN,was also stolen from ayard on Traralgon-Maffra Road overnight on July 22. In another incident,investigators were told offendersforcedentry to ayard on McMahon Street overnight on Sunday, July 23.

It is believed they attempted to steal avehicle,

PoliceBeat with Zaida Glibanovic

Leads: Traralgon Police areinvestigating the theftofthe twobikes Photographs supplied

Have youseenthese vehicles: Latrobe Cr Investigation Unit detectives areinvestigating the theftofthese three vehicles

then left the business with car parts and accesso

Lastly, an unregisteredsilver2001Nissan Patrol utility was stolen fromthe yard on StandingD overnight on Monday, July 31.

Police believethe four incidents are linked at this stage.

Investigators have released images of the three stolen vehiclesinthe hope that someone has information on there whereabouts.

Stolen Bikes

TRARALGON police are investigating atheft of two bicycles, stolen off the back of the victim's caravan between August 1-2, 2023.

The caravan was parked at an address on The Avenue, Traralgon.

Bike 1isa red "Norco" mountain bike with an S&J sticker on the frame.

Bike 2isapink "Liv" mountain bike and has a child seat fitted.

If you know where these bikes may be, contact ConstableChris Garner at Traralgon Police Station on 5172 2700 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Origami houses provide symbolfor homelessness

QUANTUMSupport Services highlighted Gippsland'shousing and homelessness crisis during Homelessness Week.

Homelessness Week was held fromAugust 7 to 13.

Quantum Support Services chief executive Natalie McDonaldsaideverybody deserves ahome.

"The last Censusshows that, on any givennight, at least 30,000 Victoriansare without ahome, including 6800 children," Ms McDonald said.

"Our Morwell electoratehad an 85 per cent increase of homelessness over the five years from 2016-2021,and it is now ranked in the top 10 electorates for growing homelessnessinthe state. Narracan andGippsland South electorates were also ranked in the top 50.

"Since March 2020, Inner Gippsland has had an almost 32 per cent median rent increase, from $300 to $395 per week.

"These alarming figures highlight that we are in desperate need for more social and affordable housing and aNational Plan to End Homelessness."

As part of Homelessness Week activities, Quantum supported the Victorian Homelessness Network's statewide campaign, Houses at Parliament.

"For the past month, our Quantum team made origami houses which were presented to Parliament House, highlighting the urgent need for governments to fix the housing crisis and end homelessness for some of our community's most vulnerable people," Ms McDonald said.

The Houses at Parliament campaign called on the state government to commit to building at least 6000 new socialhouses each year, as well as anational plan to end homelessness.

Poignant: Quantum’schiefexecutive officer

Natalie McDonald, chief operating officer Cindy Pullar and manager of youthservices Emma Dobsonwithsome of the origami houses that were delivered to StateParliament.

Photograph supplied

"Homelessness is not inevitable," Ms McDonald said.

"With enough social and affordable homes and theright support, everyone in the community can be permanently housed."

For moreinformation on the support services available through Quantum SupportServices, visit www.quantum.org.au or phone 1800 243 455

Heath’sjudgement questioned

RENEE Heath's Liberal Party colleagues have privately questioned her judgement after she attended aMelbourne event held by Freedom Party of Victoria founderand podcaster Morgan CJonas at the weekend. But the MP for Eastern Victoria Region said she was there to watch aspeechby herfather, Pastor Brian Heath, who was aguest speaker at the live show.

"I hopeIamnever afraid to hear alternate opinions and views, even those Idon't agree with,"

Dr Heath told the Herald Sun

"It opens our minds, challenges our ideasand strengthens our resolve."

Several of Dr Heath's colleagues told Seven News thather attendancewas notappropriate due to the Freedom Party'sright-wing views, whichcame into prominence when they campaigned against COVIDlockdowns and vaccine mandates.They also said that attending the event breached the Liberal Party'sconstitutionfor being "guiltyof disloyalty of theparty", butDrHeathdisputed this.

"That event last night did not represent mainstream Liberal values at all," aLiberal source told the Herald Sun.

Former UnitedAustralia Party(UAP) MP Craig Kelly and current UAP senator Ralph Babet were also in attendance -the latter slamming Victorian Liberal leader John Pesutto's leadership. Mr Pesutto has since said Ms Heath won’t be sanctioned.

Mr Heathisa senior pastoratSale's City Builder's Church, and is also understood to be on the Liberal Party's Latrobe Valley State Election Council.

Introduced as aself-proclaimed "freedomfighter",

he said to those in attendance that "people are growing and developing great concern for where our the nation is going", and suggested influencing others politically.

"Youknow, this is howweget to strategically go intoregions and shift,you know, the sphere of influence."

Mr Heath spoke for about 15 minutes at the four-hour event and was streamed on socialmedia.

Under fire: Pastor Brian Heath speaks at the event in Rowville Photograph supplied

PROUDLYBROUGHT TO YOUBYTHESE PARTICIPATINGLOCAL BUSINESSES

Crossword Puzzle No.8547

with Muzza

ONE POINTERS

1. Who is the female Irish singer that passed away recently that had ahit with the song ‘Nothing Compares 2U’?

2. Bert and Ernie arecharacters on which children’sTVshow?

3. How many carats arethereinpuregold?

4. If Iwas in the town of Tennant Creek, what state/territory would Ibein?

TWOPOINTERS

5. In which sport would you perform the “Fosbury Flop”?

6. True or false. Scallops can see?

7. Which actor was the youngest to play Doctor Who when he took on the role?

8. What is the national animal of England?

THREE POINTERS

9. On what part of the body would you wear wedges?

10. Who serves as the principal of Springfield Elementary School in the cartoon show ‘The Simpsons’?

11. What does the world LED stand for?

12. In which city did Anne Frank write her diary?

FOUR POINTERS

13. Which element gets its symbol from the Latin word Plumbum?

14. What is the wordused to explain events of supernatural phenomena?

FIVE POINTER

15. Who am I? Clue: Iwas borntoScottish parents and moved to Australia at the age of 6. An accomplished actor and author, you might know me from one of my earlier TV shows set in the seaside town of Summer Bay?

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.

Target Time No.0171

Howtoplay...

Using the nine letters in the grid, how many words of four letters or morecan youlist? The centreletter must be included and each letter may be used only once. No colloquial or foreign words. No capitalised nouns,

S T E N Y R T D I

Sudoku No.0171

Howtoplay.

Fill the grid so that everyrow and every 3x3 square contains the digits 1to9 Solution next Wednesday.

Comfort and support thanks from Moe Lions

PATIENTS will be transported around Latrobe RegionalHealth with more safety and comfort thanks to support from the Moe Lions Club.

Arecent donation has assisted thehospitalto purchase abariatric wheelchair, to support larger patients.

“This is such awelcome addition to our fleet of wheelchairs,” LRH Nurse Unit Manager of the Nicholson Rehabilitation Unit, Paul Mark said. “Standardwheelchairs areactually quite small, so someone who is particularly tall or with alarge framewill find this chair much more comfortable andwe’ll be able to take them to physiotherapy or our hydrotherapy pool, safely and with alittle more dignity,” Physiotherapy Manager at Latrobe Regional Health,Amanda Altonwas similarly thankful for the Lions Club’s work.

“We can never get enough wheelchairs and a specialised one like this provides extra comfort and safety for people," she said.

"Someofour physio patients have to go to the gym twice aday for their therapy and to be able to safely get them there is really important."

Moe Lions Club members recently visited LRH to see the new chair.

President Ken Bechaz said while the club supports arange of community charities and causes, healthcare has always been apriority.

“LRHisimportant to us and the wholecommunity. Before we supported LRH, we supported the Moe Hospital as well," Mr Bechaz said.

Wheelygooddonation: Latrobe Regional Healthhas benefittedthanks to thegenerosity of MoeLions Club, who helped the hospital purchase anew bariatric wheelchair

Photograph supplied

"No one wants to be in hospital or see aloved one in hospital but if we do need to become apatient, we’d all want the best possible equipmenttobe available,” Formoreinformationabout donating to LRH, visitlrh.com.au

Many furryfriends in need of homes

LATROBECity Council is encouraging those in thecommunity to consider adoption as their first choice when looking to bring apet into their family or household.

Dogs, cats, and other adorableanimals are regularly available for adoption from the pound. For a small fee, the pet will come desexed, vaccinated, wormed, microchipped, vet checked and registered.

In the last two months, 20 dogs and cats have been adopted from the pound.

Latrobe City Mayor, Kellie O’Callaghan believes that adopting an animalisafulfilling waytobring anew memberinto the family andwill also benefit the community.

“Domestic pets can have such apositive impact on the livesoftheirowners.They are loving creatures who can bring the community together, through using our pet-friendlyfacilities such as dog parks,” the Mayor said.

“Adoptionisa great option to consider when you are thinking about becoming apet owner, becauseall animals at the poundare readyand waitingfor ahome.

“Thereare many reasons why pets end up needing anew home, and every adoption helps to make adifference.”

Adopting an animal can be arewarding

experience because you are helping to re-home an unclaimed animal. However, it is abig decision, so it’s important to take time to consider the commitment that’s involved with pet ownership.

Key considerations when deciding to adopt include whether you haveenough time, asuitablehome, andsecure financestosupport and care for apet. If you are ready to become apet owner, council highly recommends looking into the adoption process.

All animals available for adoption are listed on council’s website with an Animal ID Number. Submitting applications can be done online or over the phone.

Using the website, expressions of interest can be made for an animal through providing theirID number, your name and contact details.

Over the phone,expressions of interest canbe made through contactingthe Local Laws team on 1300 367 700 and quoting the animal ID number.

If your applicationissuccessful, council will respond to let you know.

View all animals currently ready for adoption and find out more information at latrobe.vic.gov.

au/Home/Animals_and_Pets/Impounded_Animals/ Lost_Animals

Esso’s BassStraitactivities

Progressupdate

Esso activelyengages with relevant people across theGippslandregionand consults them as we work throughour offshore activities

This ongoing communication has playedanessential role in howwealign our approach andensure theworkthat we are undertakingmeetsthe community’s needsand expectations.

Scan theQRcodefor moreinformation on our offshoreactivities on our Consultation Hub.

7 DAYS A WEEK open open

CommunitySessions

If you would liketolearn moreabout ouroffshoreactivities including Decommissioning, Carbon Captureand Storage and Jack Up Rig Drilling Kipper EnvironmentPlan we invite you to come along to one of ourcommunityinformation sessions

When: Tuesday 29 August2023

Where: Bellevue on the Lakes Hotel, Lakes Entrance

Time: Any time between 5.30 pm -6.30pm

When: Wednesday 30 August2023

Where: Drawing Room at theCriterion Hotel, Sale Time: Any time between 5.30 pm -6.30 pm

Please register your interestinattending by emailing consultation@exxonmobil.com by Friday 25 August2023.

Pipelines Decommissioning

Stakeholder Forum

Wouldyou liketobemoreinvolved in the discussion about options and criteria being considered fordecommissioning the pipeline network?

Please contactusbyphone or email to register your interestinattending one of thefollowing half-day stakeholder forums:

When: Tuesday 26 September 2023

Where: Sale

When: Tuesday 3October 2023

Where: Melbourne

https://www.exxonmobil.com.au/ community-engagement/ local-outreach/consultation-hub

When: Wednesday 4October 2023

Where: Online

What’snext for EnergyAustralia?

By ZAIDAGLIBANOVIC

ENERGYAUSTRALIA has committedtoa $400 million investment at the Yallourn Power Station to underpin improved asset reliability, safety, and performance ahead of the station’s planned closure in mid-2028.

The accelerated program of investment will cover scheduled major outages for each of Yallourn’s four generation units over 2023 and 2024 and includes works to support the plant’s integrity, reliability and performance of the station up until closure.

The Express receiveda deep dive into EnergyAustralia’s works at the Yallourn Power station with the head of the company, Mark Collette recently.

Mr Collettehas been with EnergyAustralia since 2003, coming on board as managingdirector in early 2021.

Mr Collette is also chair and director at the Australian EnergyCouncil (AEC), whichrepresents 20 major electricity and downstream natural gas businesses operating in the wholesale and retail energy markets.

“We’re apurpose lead company, so our purpose is to leadand accelerate clean energytransformation for all,” Mr Collette said.

“For all (it) means employees, it means customers,and it means communities, and it means doing things in away that brings people along. 2028 is not far away, so we’ve already started conversations with our team about what comes next.

“We’re investing hundreds of millionsofdollars, about 400 million dollars andmore in the next couple of years to ensurewe’re as reliable and affordable as we can (be) for Victoria and Australia until closure.

“It already means the investments are increasingly going to things like our Wooreen battery -not quite abillion dollars, but it’s quite alarge investment.

EnergyAustralia will construct a350MW four-hour utility-scale battery, which is expected to be operational by the end of 2026. Based on land availability and good grid connectivity, EnergyAustralia’sgas-firedJeeralang power facility in Hazelwood North, Latrobe Valley, has been chosen as the preferredlocation for the Wooreen battery construction.

“It’s all about providing our affirming for the system of the future, which is going to be dominatedbywind and solar from an energy perspective,” Mr Collette said.

“It’sanexciting purpose and an exciting future that we have,but it’s one that brings lots of change.

“The challenge to overcome is the speed at which thingsare being built. At the moment, the danger is that they’re being built faster than the power stations closing.”

This sentiment is not shared with the likes of some manufacturers, who have called for baseload coal power stationstobeopen longer to keep stability as renewables aren’t being built fast enough, as reported by the Australian Financial Review.Steven Bell, chief executive of basic plastics maker Qenos, expressed his concern to the AFR regarding alackofa transition plan in a“blind rush to turn stuff off.”

EnergyAustralia remains steadfast in its commitment to agreen transition,asMrCollette said, “As long as we can deliver all the projects that we we’ve got in train and others deliver theirs, then we think we can get there.”

In the AFR, Energy Program Director at the Grattan Institute,Tony Wood, addressed concerns thatthe clean energy transitionwas goingtoo slowly, and that if renewable energy was being

added to the grid more slowly than expected, that presented an opportunity for coal plants to remain economically viable to stay open for longer.

Mr Collette reiterated that Yallourn’s closure by mid-2028 was the datethe company remained committed to working towards.

“We’re working toward 2028 with Yallourn, and we think that Victoria probably has enough in-state capacity to keep the system reliable, but of course, we’ll look at other investments and what things we might do to get there,” he said.

EnergyAustraliahas manyprojects underway acrossthe nation. These include the zero-em and gas-capable Tallawara Lake Lyellpumped battery energy storage gas-fired Marulan power

“It’s abig transformation; investment horizon that got there,” he said.

“With our Tallawara our ambition is to what fuel would be zero EnergyAustralia will efficientwaysofcoal-powered opting to lead the way renewable energy as updating old technology.

“We’ve been on the of reducing emissions since at least2007-0 so we’vebeenona journey for 15 years so. We did give much timeexploringa the different options available to us including changes we could make here to improve efficiency, carbon capture and storage, or anyof thosetechnologies,” Mr Collette said.

“Broadly, where we landed, from atechnical perspective, they’re (updates to coal-fired technology) is jus more expensive than the alternatives and where we were better focusing on wind,

batteries,gas turning into hydrogen and pumped hydro because in aggregate and also behind the metre, solar and batteries in homes leads to a cheaper and just as reliable system than the coal-based alternatives.”

EnergyAustralia continues to invest in cleaner technology; another way they aim to do this is through an electronic vehicle trial now underway at Yallourn.

“It’s agood example that there might only be five years left of operation at Yallourn; that’s no reason we don’t use cutting-edge technology,” Mr Collette said.

“It’sfrom two angles, one is thatthe technology can give alot of benefits, either it’s cheaper, or lower emission or different applications that we weren’t able to do with previous technology.

“The other thing is that it helps set out better careers for the future for our people, so you’ll go to the mines and the guys and girls working in the mines, they’re workingwith cutting-edge technology.”

“The opportunity from that for our team is thatthe technology they’re using they can use in other places, which makes them more and more employable.”

EnergyAustralia remains committed to ensuring asmooth transition of energy and employees.

Thecompany hasinvested in a$10 million program to provide transition supportfor employees and ongoing planning for the safe rehabilitation and transformation of the Yallournmineand power station site to become an asset for the local community.

“We’ve had aconversationwithevery single person that calls Yallourn home now, and hvariability in what do. Some people will want to move to similar whether in Victoria others are excited by offshore wind and Gippsland, and some and become anurse,”

the mine’s remediahave to be stabilised rwater; with the sheer EnergyAustralia will with water to stabilise it. will remediate the site eans deconstructing and demolishing over time andreturning it to aflat site,” EnergyAustralia’s GM said.

Mr Collette explained that becauseYallourn is on afloodplain, EnergyAustralia could usethe mine to prevent floods and continually benefit the community.

In terms of public feelingtowards Yallourn’s pending closure, Mr Collette said it had obviously varied.

“Yallourn has been going for over 100 years, so the day we producing electricity coal will be quite a

momentous day. It’s powered the state, it was the original big coal-fired power station, and in that sense, there will be alot of sadness to see that end because it’s been such apowerhouse,” he said. “People tend to vote with their feet, and our guysare staying.Personally, Ithought that when we announced closure, does that mean we would get an exodusofpeoplesaying,‘Idon’t want to be here till the end; I’ll get ajob elsewhere.’”

“But we haven’t seen that at all;wehave actuallyseen we actually attract lotsofpeople here; they like what we do and the opportunities we provide, and doing five years in something that sets you up for agreat career is still agreat opportunity.

Mr Collette often takes the train down and rides his bike along the Moe/Yallourn rail trail that leads him straight to the power station, aspecial journeyhecan’t do at any other power station.

“I’vebeen cominghere for over20years, it doesn’t feel right coming without seeing the steam coming out of the cooling towers,” he said.

As Hazelwood closed, manyemployees complained about safety concerns and mismanagement, but EnergyAustralia reassured that safetywas of the utmost concern at Yallourn, and will be beyond closure.

“Safetyisthe first thought we have every day,” Mr Collette said.

“We’re not operating abrand new power station …and unease is healthy in that sort of light.

“We do alot of proactive testing and inspections, going around looking at equipment and saying right ‘is it doing what it’s meant to do, is it doing what it did 50 years ago.

“We did enormous work on the pulverised fuel milltoensureweunderstoodwhathappened and why it failed.

“We will go to world-bending lengths to understand what happened so we can then justify to ourselves and then testitand justify it to our people that we continue to provide asafeplace to work.”

Unit 2was out of service after an unexpected failure at the time of the interview three weeks ago. Still, Mr Collette stated thatthe unexpected failure will be studied and understood with the confidence of safety before it is put back in service.

David Burt, the EnergyAustralia communications and communityleader for the Latrobe Valley,mentioned the safety circle program, which facilitates aworkplaceculture of safety first,which will soon be rolled outamongYallourn employees.

Speaking in regard to EnergyAustralia’s investments in wind and solar, Mr Collette said, “We own 50 per cent of awind project in South Australia; that’s the only one that we own at the moment. We tend to buy the offtake, so we’ll buy into other people’s projects.”

One of the reasons EnergyAustralia opts to operate like this is because they are aretailer, and part of the job for retailers is to get the cheapest energy for customers, Mr Collette explained.

“Thingschange over time, and particularly we like to make sure we have enough storageand generational capacity to meet the needs of our customers,” he said.

“As batteries and the other sort of storage technologies start to get more located on the same site as the windand solar, that might mean we might invest more directly into some of those projects.

“It’s not we’rein, or we’re out; it’s what’s the best for our customers that drives what we do.”

Head of Operations: MarkCollette hasbeen managing director of EnergyAustralia since July 2021

Photograph: Zaida Glibanovic

We’re working toward 2028 with Yallourn, and we think that Victoria probably has enough in-state capacity to keep the system reliable, but of course, we’ll look at other investments and what things we might do to get there.

MARK COLLETTE

Virtual physio launched

FEDERATION University physiotherapy students are breaking down regional barriers to healthcare with the launch of atelehealth clinic this month.

Thefree Federation University Physiotherapy

Virtual Care Clinic will give Gippslanders with chronic health conditionsaccess to healthcare while providing students with real-world experience in the emerging area of telehealth, preparing them to enter the regional workforce.

The clinic will run from Monday to Thursday each week for 40 weeks, andwillbeled by two physiotherapy students supported by theirclinical supervisors. It will provide physio services for people living with musculoskeletal conditions like chronic pain and osteoarthritis; neurological conditions such as problems with balance and coordination; respiratory conditions like asthma and long-COVID; and pelvic healthconditions including incontinence and pelvic pain.

Patients will need to be referred to the clinic by ageneral practitioner, physiotherapist or other healthcare professional.

The clinicisone of sixplacements studentswill be learningfromasthey prepare to join the workforce.

Federation University launched its physiotherapyprogram in 2021 in response to local allied health workforce shortages, with the first cohort of students set to graduate in 2024.

Federation UniversityProfessor of Physiotherapy, Louisa Remedios said the clinic was aimed at helping those disadvantaged in regional areas.

“Federation University is workingwithlocal healthcare providerstoaddress skills shortages andprovide apipeline of students primed for the regional workforce,” she said.

“Weknow people living and working in regional areas withchronic health conditions face long waiting lists, distance and cost barriers to care and we hope this clinic can help to support their access to physiotherapy.

“At thesame time, it will give our studentswellrounded knowledge to enter the local workforce, exposing them to different groups of patients and building their telehealth skills.”

For more information about the clinic and referral, visit federation.edu.au/federation-alliedhealthcare/ physiotherapy-clinic

Dealing with ashes in the winter

By PHIL GLOVER

OPEN fires,freestandingorenclosedsolid fuel heaters, potbellystoves, are commonplace in homes, sheds,mancavesand workshops, with many residents maintaining afire in their wood heaters throughout the winter months.

Solidfuel heaters are used to heat water in some domestic installations, which requires the fire to be maintained constantly.

The safe and complying installation of the solid fuelheaterand the flue, are matters thatshould be undertakenbyasuitably qualified and authorised person,withaCertificate of Compliance issued before you even think about lighting afire in it.

Ashesfrom your fireplace need to be cleared out regularly, and the manner in which they are disposedofcan result in tragedy if basic fire safety procedures are ignored.

Always shovel the ashes into ametal bucket neverinto any form of combustible containers, such as plastic buckets or cardboard boxes etc.

Ashes from last night’s fire can retain sufficient heat to remain aviable ignition source for up to five days.

So,leave the ashes in the metal bucket outsideon aconcrete or earth/gravel surface for at least five days before adding them to your plastic wheelie bin, or any other form of final disposal.

If you choosetospread the ashesonyour garden, make sure you wet them downafter spreading

them, to ensure heat within the ashes does not ignite dry leaf matter or other vegetation.

Don’t place ametal bucket with hot ashes on a wooden deck or veranda, as heat retained within the ashes can conduct through the bottom of the bucketand scorch, char or burn through the timber decking.

It’s agood idea to wet the bucket of ashes with water, which will reduce the time that the ashes are apotential fire hazard.

Have the flue fromyoursolid fuelheater cleaned and checked every year, and replace any flue sections that are corroded or damaged.

Next month, we’ll talk aboutthe ever-increasing hazards of lithium batteries.

Phil Glover is aveteran of a40year fire service career, with 35 years served in New Zealand and five years in Victoria. Phil rose to the rank of Deputy Chief Fire Officer, with lengthy secondments as actingChief Fire Officer within the New Zealand Fire Service, and was endorsed as aqualified and competent fire investigator in 1989, givinghim 34 years experience as afire service fire scene investigator. During his five-year deployment with CFA, Phil was the Officer In Chargeofthe Morwell Fire Brigade, Regional Operations Officer and Gippsland Area Fire Investigation Coordinator. Disposal of Ashes from solid fuel wood heaters.

5174 2156 Cnr Gwalia St &Liddiard Rd, Traralgon

Offer

Photo: File

Labor calls for restoration of forests

By PHILIP HOPKINS

AFORMER Gippsland forestry scientist and historian has described aLabor Party environmental reportthat calls to end native forestharvesting and replace the industry with anational plantation estate “as flawed”.

More than 300 Laborbranches backed apush by the Labor Environment Action Network (LEAN) at the party’s nationalconference last week to end native forest logging and fund an expanded, publicly-owned plantation industry.

However, it is believedthereisa move within the party to take the motion from the conference agenda.

The LEAN reportcalls for the restoration of native forests, saying they havegreater value if treated as acarbon and abiodiversity sink than if logged to produce mainly low-value products such as woodchips, pallets and power poles. Instead, the report recommends the government expand Australia’s struggling plantation sector by creating astate-owned nationalplantation estate to “increase our domestic timber independence”.

Mark Poynter, aformer resident of Sale who worked for manyyears in EastGippsland, said unsurprisingly, the report had many flaws.

For example, Mr Poynter, who has written books on forest history, said the report referred to "Australia's devastating rate of logging and clearing".

However, “at present the annual native forest harvest area is thought to be at a100-year low,” he said.

The report says that ‘Loss of habitat through logging and clearing is the key driver of the biodiversity crisis’.

“Yet it is widely acknowledged that feral plants and animals (particularly carnivores) and unnatural fire regimes are the key drivers of biodiversity loss because they occur unregulated and simultaneously overvastexpanses of the continent, whereas timber harvesting in particular is highlyregulated and limited to avery minor portion of forests,” he said.

Mr Poynter saidthe section on deforestation included "logging" and cited aWWF report as the source reference.

“In fact,logging is followed by regeneration, and so it is categorically not deforestation (that is, defined as permanentremovalofforest and change to another land use),” he said.

The report outlined aplan for 13 million hectares of degraded land to be regenerated, basically using funding raised from sellingbiodiversity and carbon credits.

“However, carbon credits currentlybeing paid to forest ownersinTasmania undercertainconditions, include arequirement that credits be paid back whenthose forests get burnt in bushfires,” he said.

Mr Poynter said the report assumed thatonly 1250 people are employed nation-wide in "native forest logging" apparently including forest management functions.

“Irrespective of whether or not this is accurate, there is no mentionofthe approximately nine times more people working in the timber industry whose jobs are reliant on those working in native

Aneed for industrysupport

FEDERAL Member for Gippsland, Darren Chester, has upped the pressure on the Albanese government to support the native forest industry.

Mr Chestertableda notice of motion in FederalParliament last week urgingthe government to support the industry and include it as an issuefor discussion at the next national Cabinet.

Mr Chester’s noticeofmotion urged the House of Representatives to recognise that timber workers provideinvaluable skills and practical support during natural disasters, particularly bushfires.

“Banning native timber harvestingin Australia will result in more imported timber products, often sourcedfrom countrieswith poorer environmental protocols,” he said.

“A sustainable native hardwood timber industry is part of the answer to reducing Australia’s carbon emissions as timber products sequester carbon in our floorboards, furniture and other timber products.”

Mr Chester said the state government’s illogical decision to ban all native hardwood timber harvesting on public land from January 1, 2024 was based on political science, not environmental science.

“Thefederal government should recognise thatthe sustainable hardwood timber industry was an issue of national importance because of supply chain considerations and community safety,” he said.

Mr Chester said the federal government should support ataxpayer-funded public information campaign to explain the importance of the nativehardwood timber industryand dispel the myths perpetuatedbyenvironmental activists.

Voice: FederalMemberfor Gippsland

Darren Chester has againput pressureon the federal government over the decision to end nativetimber harvesting in Victoria. File photograph

forest logging to supply the industry with its raw resource,” he said.

“It wrongly assumes that 21.3per cent of Australia's native forests are suitable and available for wood production. This is agross over-statement thatrelies on misinterpretation of agraph from the 2018 State of the Forests Report.

“For example, it assumes thatall multiple use State Forest is available and suitable for long term timber supply, whereas in Victoria for example, onlyabout 15 per cent of the roughlythreemillion hectares of multiple use State Forest is designated and suitable for wood production.”

The report advocates planting 400,000 hectares of new plantation over the next 10 years ‘to help end logging in native forests’.

"However, it makes no mention of whether there is sufficient suitable land for such plantations to be planted, or how it would help end native forest logging given the 30-40 years required for aplantation to mature,” he said.

Mr Poynter said the report completely ignored the high-value hardwoodproducts from native forests, such as furniture, flooring,dining room tables and beds, and the new generation engineered products -large beams and columns -that are as strong as steel. These products all stored carbon.

The ongoing sustainable harvesting of native timber thus produced acontinual stream of carbonstoring productsalongthe lines of the IPCC,which said asustainable forest industry where trees were perpetually regrown through sequestering CO2 was achief weapon against climate change.

Nearly 90 per cent of Australian sawn timber comes from softwood plantations, and just 12 per cent from hardwood native forests, but next to no tree farms have been planted since 2010 and total plantation area is in decline.

Government modelling suggestsatleast 400,000 hectares of new plantations will be needed over the next decade to meet demand.

Felicity Wade, LEAN’sco-convener, said the evidence suggested expanding plantations could create 1800 regional jobs, compared with 1100 employed in the native forest industry nationally. She said316 party branches across100 electorates supported stopping native forest loggingon economic and environmental groundsand focusing on developing aplan to build a“vibrant 21st century plantation-based timber industry”.

“We have some of the most carbon and biodiversity-rich forests on the planet and we’re mining them. What awaste,” Ms Wade said.

“LEAN believes we need publicly owned plantation establishment, done smart. We need to plan what species need to be planted and where, with aplan for which manufacturing facility will take the wood and how it will get to market. We need to recognise the increased fire risks and diminishing waterassociated with climate change

“This kind of planning is non-existent. The government needs to step in.”

GippsDairygrants open

APPLICATIONS are now open for the 2024 round of GippsDairy Grants.

The GippsDairy Grants Program began this year, and enables dairy farmers, organisations,and dairy farming groups to apply for funding to undertake initiatives to help the dairy industry, and to develop local solutions to local problems.

Each financial year, GippsDairy will provide a total grant allocation of $40,000, with up to $20,000 available per grant application.

Applicationsfor projects must address priorities identified in the GippsDairy StrategicPlan 2020-2025, and have direct value to the Gippsland dairyindustry and/or local farmers. The grant guidelines and application form can be found on theGippsDairy website.

GippsDairy’sRegional Extension Officer, Agribusiness, Richard Ockerse, believes the program is aterrific way to provide farmers with the resourcesneeded to explore new advancesindairy “Theprogram offers farmersthe opportunity to moveahead with thatgreat idea they had to

promote the industry, or to take advantage of untested innovations,” he said.

“Farmers operate in abusiness environment and may not be willing to purchase anew product without being sure of the return on investment.

“These grants take away some of that risk by providing assistance with purchasing and testing the product, and then sharing their findings with the broader industry.”

In GippsDairy’sfirstroundofapplications, funding was awarded to continue acomparison of regenerative and conventional agricultural techniques, including afinancial analysis of the twoapproaches.This will provideakey piecein the conversation around changingagricultural practices across the wider industry.

Applications for the 2024 round of grants close in October and funding recommendations will be provided to the GippsDairy board in December. Formore information on the GippsDairy Grants Program, phone Mr Ockerseon0417552 399or email richard.ockerse@gippsdairy.com.au

Photo: File

•WhatisSEDA?

SEDA College is acoeducational Independent Senior SecondarySchool for Years 11 and 12 that specialises in applied learning through individual learning and real-life industry experiences.

SEDA College partners with Australia’s leading sport,recreation, community,and trade organisations. Such as AFL Victoria, Cricket Australia, Melbourne VictoryFC, Melbourne United and Netball Victoria.

SEDA College graduates are well-rounded individuals with academic and industryexperiences to support their futureeducational and employmentpathways.

•Whenand why wasit started?

SEDA commenced in 2007 to fill agap in the education system that was not engaging students in their learning. This is achieved by using sport and real-life industryexperiences to educate and empower students.

SEDA College transitioned to an Independent SecondarySchool in 2017 and has grown to 800+ students across the state of Victoria.

•How does SEDAdiffer from traditional secondary school classes?

The SEDA model places student

YOUR PASSION, YOUR EDUCATION

interest at the forefront of their Senior Secondaryeducation, alongside apractical connection to industry. Students at our school areable to gain afirst-hand insight into what it is like to be apart of Australia’s leading organisations and sporting clubs.

Our ‘one teacher,one classroom’ model allows ourteachers to take on atrue mentoring approach, where they walk alongside andsupport the individual journey of our students as they complete their secondary education.

We know from our connection to industrythe key personal qualities and transferable skills that employers areseeking. We place as much importance on developing these skills as progressing theoretical and academic knowledge.

To maximise student learning and deliver industry-based experiences, classrooms arelocated in local community settings such as sport, recreation, community and trade facilities.

•Whatsort of students are attracted to SEDA?

The SEDA College students all share asimilar passion for sport and thrive in an applied hands-on learning environment.Alearning environment that connects classroom learning with elite industryexperiences and

opportunities.

•Who is nowpartnering with SEDA, and howimportant is SEDA’slinks with its industrypartners?

SEDA College partners with major sporting organisations such as AFL Victoria, Cricket Australia, Melbourne VictoryFC, Melbourne United and Netball Victoria.

The program provides adirect link to industryopportunities in ahands-on learning environment all connected to the students’ interests.

The connection between education and industryfacilitates authentic learning experiences and student opportunities. This combination enables our students to acquirethe skills to support futureeducational and employmentpathways.

•How much time do students spend inside and outside the classroom?

In atypical weekatSEDACollege, students will be in the classroom 2.5 days aweek,1day out in acommunity setting delivering sport clinics on behalf of industrypartners and 1 day gaining industryexperience in a structured workplace.

•Whatsort of activities can theyexpect to undertake?

SEDA College students complete

anumber of activities that make up the SEDA College experience. Commencing in Term 1with a presentation from The Resilience Project on the development of health promotion strategies to support positive mental health. Students complete induction and coaching sessions facilitated by elite sporting partners andinaddition, have the opportunity to gain industryexperience by completing match day activations in an elite sporting environment.Surfing, Skiing, SEDA Cup and competing in School Sports Victoria round off the studentexperience at SEDA College.

•What sort of career advice do students receive?

All students complete theirown individual ‘MyPLAN’ which is adigital professional portfolio that links key skills and student professional industry experiences with educational and employment pathways. Teachers mentor students through this process with support from our professional pathways team to identifyeducation and employment pathways.

To find out more, register for the Traralgon Information session on September 6th at seda.vic.edu/ events or call 1800 117332.

SEDACOLLEGE USESSPORT AND REAL LIFE INDUSTRYEXPERIENCE TO ENGAGESTUDENTSINTHEIR LEARNING

Valley Transition Plan released

By ZAIDAGLIBANOVIC

MINISTER for Regional Development, and Morwell-based MP, Harriet Shing last week announcedthe completion of the Latrobe Valley and Gippsland Transition Plan, which was led by the Latrobe Valley Authority (LVA) and developed in collaboration with industry, communityand education providers -with support from the state government.

The plan looks to ensures local communities are supportedthrough thetransitiontosustainable industries and putsthe people of Gippsland at the centre of government decision making.

Morethan1000peoplecametogether to have their say on the region’s shared vision -providing their local knowledge, expertise and feedback.

The plan makes 52 recommendations,focusingon the transition, and includes educationand training pathways to local employment, fairly paid jobs, athriving economybuiltonindustries with a long-term future, asustainable environment and communities that work together.

It looks to buildonthe LVA’s work to support communities since it was established in November 2016, with aroadmap for the next 12 years and beyond.

“The Latrobe Valley Authority has worked intensively with and for communities since it was established, and continues to play acentral role in transition and planning for industry, workers, and communities,” Ms Shing said.

The plan gives mentiontothe state government's commitments to the SEC, the $5 million Clean Energy Centre at Morwell TAFEand the Gippsland Destination Management Plan.

“This plan reflects the optimism, achievements,

and emerging ambitionsofthe region. It recognises Gippsland’s strengthsand opportunities, and sets acoursefor long-term prosperityand liveability,” she said.

Latrobe ValleyAuthority chief executive Chris Buckingham saidthe LVA's planwas targeted specifically for its area.

“The Latrobe Valley Authority was tasked with developing aplan‘In the region,bythe region and for the region’ and that is what has been delivered,” he said.

“We share atransition plan that acknowledges the challenges facing our community, respects the unique characteristics of our inspiring region and describes an optimistic and achievable vision for Gippsland.”

The LVA has faced extensive backlash from the community and local members of government, who believe it has failed to address key concernsof unemployment and industry closure in the region -withcriticismsconcerned the planismore of a missionstatement than aplan.

TheNationals have slammed the LVA and state government over its transition plan, for failing to commit to one tangible or measurableaction for the Latrobe Valley.

Memberfor Morwell,Martin Cameron was scathing of the LVA’s transition plan, labelling it awasted opportunity for the Latrobe Valley.

“The LVA and Labor has failedtimeand again to address Morwell’s extremelyhighunemployment," he said.

“There’s beennosuccessful investment establishing new industry in Latrobe Valley.

“Big promises like SEA Electric and the Commonwealth Games were farcical and the SEC

COUNCIL BEAT COUNCILBEAT

with Zaida Glibanovic

LATROBE City Council held an ordinarymeeting on Monday,August 7.

All nine councillors were present for the online meeting.

Here are the key outcomes from said meeting.

Dunbar Road development rejected

SOUTHSIDEresidents rejoiced as Latrobe City Council voted in refusing the planning application for ahighdensity developmentat23DunbarRoad, Traralgon.

Council unanimously voted to issue aNotice of Refusal for the development of land with 52 dwellings on alot, 52 lot subdivision of land, reduction of three visitor car parking spaces and the creation and removal of an easement at 23 Dunbar Road, Traralgon.

Councilofficer's cited many reasons for the refusal based on officers findings, the main issuecamefrom the close proximity of the proposed development to the expanding operations of Graymont Lime Batching Plant and Janette Street Industrial Precinct -other reasonsincluded:

 Acontradiction with municipal planning strategy;

 Inconsistencies with mixed zone use, and;

 Premature application in relation to research into building near the industrial area.

The proposal fails to meet the following objectives of clause 55 and 56 of the residential code:

i. Clause 55.02-2 -Residential policy

ii. Clause 55.03-9 -Access

iii. Clause 55.04-8 -Noise impacts

iv. Clause 56.03-4 -Built environment

Plan endorsed forthe public consultation

COUNCIL released the draft Sustainability Action plan for publicconsultation and will receive afuture report detailing submissions regarding the plan following public submissions.

Councillor Tracie Lund moved the motion acknowledgingthe bodyofworkthe officers did in drafting the report.

"It'svital now that we hear from our community," Cr Lund said.

"All levels of government, industry, business and community are working to embed sustainable practices into their day-to-day operations.

"We want to ensure that our sustainability plan is clear achievable and is inclusive of our communities expectations."

The draft plan will be accessible through council's website.

WaiteParkendorsement

THE public open space at 145 Traralgon-Maffra Road hasbeen approved by council to be named WaitePark after the Waite family.

The Waite family lived in the area from 1932 to 2012 and farmed the land for decades. Officers will return the matter to afuture council

is nothing more than anostalgic headline.

“Morwell’s unemployment rate is unacceptably high at 11.5 per cent -this is the town the LVA office is located -the problems are right under the state government’s nose, and its plan does nothing to address it.

“Like my constituents Iamdeeply invested in a positive future for our region -it’sa pity that the LVA, with its abundance of funds and time has produced aplan without accountability that comes straight out of Labor’s playbook.”

Fellow Nationals Member, Member for Eastern Victoria Region, Melina Bath, who established a Parliamentary Inquiry into the Latrobe Valley in 2021, said the latest LVA instalment should be a blueprint for the Valley,but it fails on multiple fronts.

“The LVA has had $300 million oversix years to produce astrategic roadmap, yet it’s produced nothing more than aglossy promotional brochure based on Labor ideology," she said.

“Lacking in leadership, the so-called extensive consultation did notencompass grassroots workers in hardwood forestry, paper manufacturing, coal, or gas industries.

“The LVA’s transitionplancategoricallyignores the urgency to establishnew industries for our highly skilled workers in which to transition -there’s not one concrete target, timeline, or measurable outcome.”

Latrobe City Council released astatement acknowledging the release of the transition plan.

"As Victoria’s most heavily impacted and transitioningregion, council acknowledges the collaborative efforts of the Victorian government, Latrobe Valley Authorityand industrypartners

meeting for adecision in regard to formal naming process.

Strzelecki Koalaand WildlifeRehabilitation Centre

COUNCIL considered areport regarding the feasibility of aStrzelecki Koala, wildlife, botany and entomology centre in the South Ward of Latrobe City.

An ambitious and expensive mission for alocal government, the report prepared by officers considered other avenues in which the council can assist the rehabilitation of wildlife as opposed to building acentre.

Moved by councillor Melissa Ferguson, she suggested that higher government bodies could use the report to facilitate eco-tourism in the Latrobe Valley especiallythe SouthWardwhere the economy needs stimulation.

Cr Ferguson’s was delightedthather motion is reinvigorating discussionaroundthe “much needed BioLink program and present educational opportunities for ouryouth.”

The2018Strzelecki-Alpine Biolink(the Biolink) projectsoughttoprotect and enhance important habitat corridorsextending fromthe Strzelecki Ranges in the south to the Baw Baw/Alpine Ranges in the North by providingwildlife corridors for native animals.

“We knew when we put this (rehabilitation centre) through the cost would be too much for the local council, but obviously, that would mean advocacy down the line,” Cr Ferguson said.

Cr Sharon Gibson said if the state government could get on board, the eco tourism aspect of the plan would be beneficial for the region.

“Now, considering we’re looking at so many job losses with power stations, timber and the likes, we need to look at all avenues of employment -I think it’s agreat initiative,” she said.

On the table: Member forEasternVictoriaand Minister forRegional Development, Harriet Shing, hasannounced the completion of the LatrobeValleyand Gippsland Transition Plan. File photograph

in developing acommunity informed transition plan," it read.

"The LatrobeValley and Gippsland Transition Plan reflects ashared commitment to the wellbeing of community, economic growth andsustainable development, and aligns with council’s Our Transitionplan, acomprehensive roadmap that outlines Latrobe City’scommunities’ collective journey towards abrighter and more sustainable future.

"The industry transition impacting our community is not straightforward and our community has asignificant interest in the planning and implementation of changes regarding this time of industry change."

Council went ontotosay they remainedcommitted to working with the state government and ensuring support of their Our Transition plan to ensure "that the community of Latrobe City will be known as the region that gets transition right."

Council unanimously voted to receive and note the report intothe feasibility of arehabilitationcentre

Speed reductions considered

AT the Februray 2021 Council Meeting,council resolved to undertakeconsultation on speed reductions at the three sites included in the 2021/2022 Black Spot Program.

These were:

-Airfield Road, Traralgon -80km/h to 60 km/h;

-VaryStreet, Morwell -60km/h to 50 km/h, and;

-Monash Road, Newborough -60km/h to 50 km/h.

After consultation, officers found Vary Street and Monash Road had 80 per centand 69 per cent of responses in favour of speed reductions, respectively.Officers are now working with the Department of Transport and Planning to implement speed reductions at these locations.

After audio tactile line marking, intersection upgrades andsafety barriers at AirfieldRoad, officers foundaspeed reduction would not be required and it may in fact encourage traffic to use other local roads.

Continuation of Lake Narracan patrols

COUNCIL voted to continue the security patrols of the Lake Narracanforeshorearea from November 2023 to May 2024.

These patrols were undertaken twiceaday on weekends and public holidays over the summer period by asecurity contractor.

Councilofficerstabled areportprovidinginformation on the efforts to reduce illegal camping activity, rubbish dumping and public awareness within the Lake's foreshore reserve now that the caravan park is closed.

Data found that there has been adecrease in illegal dumping and illegal camping.

Officers will review future data in June 2024 to consider the future of these patrols.

Bringingforward the closure of the timber industry from 2030toJanuary, 2024bythe Andrew’s government, sparked the GippslandPeoples Council intoaction. To gather information aboutthe closure,and advocate on behalf of workers being affectedacross Gippsland.

All avenues of discussion and information sharing with local government have been shut down by council.

Members of the Gippsland Peoples Council and members of the electorate have been vilified by Latrobe City Council, forbeing disruptiveand non-compliant in councilmeetings, and have providednoevidence to supportthese claims.

Latrobe CityCouncil have been determined in conveying misinformation about the Gippsland P PeoplesCouncil. This action by councilmotivated G Gippsland Peoples Council members, alongside timber industryworkers andmembers of the electorate,to rally outside the Gippsland Performing Arts Centre.

T This event is to showtheirdisappointment in their e electedleaders and showtheir disdain at having all a avenues of communication to government cut by c council,atatime whenGippsland is in crisis.

T Timber industry workers and members of the Gippsland communityare very concerned for their future, and the only placetheycan turnisto GippslandPeoples Council. Future gatherings are plannedinsupportofthose affectedbythe timber industryclosures.

GPC stand forthose affectedbythe closureofthe timber industry, whichultimately affects all the community. The focus of the Rally organised for 12pm, Saturday, 19th August 2023, is to raise support and awareness forthose affected by the timber industry closures.

If yourequireany further clarification, please don’t hesitateincontactingusonFacebook or Instragram.

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If you’reseeking holistic health care to improve your well-being, visiting an acupuncturist can be transformative.

Rooted in Traditional Chinese Medicine, acupunctureinvolves inserting thin needles into specific points on your bodytorestore the flow of vitalenergy or “qi.”

Acupuncturehas beenproven as an effectiveoptionfor alarge variety of

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Bringing the Rosedale Hotel back

By KATRINA BRANDON

THE RosedaleHotel is under new management and is bracing for the day that Rosedale is no longer "the town with no pub".

New owners Ricky Leeson, Cameron Mayne, Mark Power and their families are excited and nervous abouttheir latest adventure,set to openinOctober.

"Excited and nervousabout opening,"MrLeeson said "Noneofushaveeverowned apub before.

"There's abit of nervousness but mostly excitement. The town and community have all been positive; the majority of the stuff going around is positive, which gives you afeeling that you are on the right track and that you will be supported and will be enjoyed by others."

According to Mr Leeson, the pub has been closed for about 10 years, and the other local pub (on the other sideofthe road) has beenclosed for anywhere fromfivetoseven years, meaningofcourse,nowhere to have adrink for those in town.

Duringthe day, there are three cafés in Rosedale, with Mr Leeson's stamp of approval, that serve breakfast and lunch, making weekendparking practically impossible.

"One of the café owners made acomment to me that Inever thought about," Mr Leeson said.

"We are very central where sheisgetting alot of people coming in from Sale, Traralgon, Maffra, Heyfield, and Yarram. They all meet here in some ways because it is central to all of thosetowns. They meet for lunch hereand all thatsort of thing.

"I am hoping we will be able to piggyback off the backofthat,and theywillbeabletomeet here for somedinners and somedrinks,all thattype of thing."

Construction of multiple estate blocks in Rosedale is currently underway as part of the Rosedale Structure Plan, which Wellington Shire Council adopted on August 7, 2012.

The Rosedale Hotel is located at the centre of construction, with new estate blocks set to surround the hotel.

Mr Leeson said about 80 or so new residential blocks are expected to be built in the next five years, which he added will be good for the town, schools and businesses in the area.

With the new beer tax coming in,MrLeeson says it will no doubt make things alittle bit more challenging, but he is willing to see how it goes.

"No doubt it will affecthow often people will come down and come in," Mr Leeson said.

"Ifthey are visiting,itmightaffect how longthey will stay for,likehave two beers and go home or have four beers and go home."

Theideafor thepub has beenfloating around for years in the community, but Mr Leesonand his friends decided that it was time to jump in.

"We were sitting in town, having afew beers in Novemberlastyear and thought'Yeah,itwould be agood idea, let's do it, let's make aphone call'," Mr Leeson said.

"It's August now, but hopefully, we will be open some time in October.

"The threeofushave beeninvolved in the sporting clubs; the other two fellas know quite afew blokes through sporting achievements, and Ithink it will be well tended.

"We are not in it to be millionaires;weare not in it to look at early retirement, we are doing it on thebasis of it beinganopportunity to have abit of fun together."

Amongthe community, there is alittle confusion over what the meaning of their logo actually means.

For those who are old enough,the Flintstones aired an episode where Fred and Barney would head down to what they called the 'Royal Buffalo Society', where they would hang out.

Mr Leeson saidsince therewas no pub, they went to one of their shedstodrink, and no one knew about it, so it felt like an inside joke they could havebetween themselves when theywent to drink and chat.

"We're going to the Water Buffalo!"

Mr Leeson is very passionate and excited about opening this opportunity up to the Rosedale community and welcomes everyone to come in once they finally open.

"We will work in the pub, but we will also have staff; we will be enjoying it," he said.

"Happy to get behind the bar and help but also happy to have abeer with people as well."

Dormant: Thepub is one of twointhe town, although both have been closed fora number of years.

Photograph KatrinaBrandon

History: The Rosedale Hotel hasstood since 1858

Photograph supplied

Facelift: TheRosedale Hotel is coming back.

Photograph KatrinaBrandon

Five Things YouDidn’tKnowAbout Modern Varicose Vein Treatment

At DoctorVein we use the mostadvanced treatments forvaricose veins s Our patients areshocked at how straightforwardand effective these treatments are. Hereare five things you didn’tknow about modern varicose vein treatment:

1. Youdon’t need to go into the hospital and have ageneral anesthetic.

Modern treatments areminimally invasive and performed in aday clinic without general anesthetic. Alocal anesthetic is used for most procedures, this stops you feeling any pain during the procedurebut doesn’t leaveyou feeling groggy

2. Youcan return to daily life straight after treatment Forget about lengthy surgeries and extended recovery times, with modern vein treatments you can expect shorter procedures, reduced discomfort and an immediate return to daily activities.

3. The EVLAlaser treatment is 99.8% effective. Endovenous Laser Ablation(EVLA) has revolutionised how veinsget

Men and Varicose Veins: ACommon Misconception

It is acommon belief that varicose veins areawoman’s problem, but approximately 20 to 30% of men also suffer from varicose veins. Unfortunately, many men adopt the motto, “If it aint broke, why fix it?” and they might tolerate varicose veins foryears, often ignoring the symptoms. However,asthe conditionworsens, so do the warning signs.

In most cases, men only seek treatment when their varicose veins startaffecting their work or lifestyle. Alternatively,some men maybeprompted to takeaction when their significant other notices their silent suffering and encourages them to address the issue. It is time to change this mindset!

Twocommon misconceptions we often hear from men:

1. It’s just vanity!

Not true.Treating varicose veins is not aboutvanity but about maintaining good health.

Seeking treatment for your veins can alleviate discomfort, prevent complications, and improve your overall well-being. If left untreated, they can cause painful ulcers and leg discoloration with moreseveremedical interventions needed.

Fit for Life

treated today by replacing conventional surgery with a minimally invasive technique that relies on the technology of laser energy and ultrasound as it seals your veins from the inside.

4. Ultrasound technology identifies all the sources of your varicose veins. Our state-of-the-art ultrasound allows our doctor and sonographers to map the internal condition of your veins, this means treatment that will directly target the faulty veins.

5. Medicare rebates areavailable forvaricose vein treatments. Deciding to treat your varicose veins is not about vanity,itisamedical problem, and as such you will receive aMedicarerebate for treatments and appointments.

Don’t let varicose veinsholdyou back any longer.Modern treatments at Doctor Vein offer effective and convenient solutions. Find out more at www.doctorvein.com.au

2. Youhavetotaketime off work for treatment and recovery.

Rarely true. With modern treatments, at worst,you may need ago-slow day on your treatment day andperhaps the next depending on your circumstances. In fact,immediately after treatment you will go for awalk and be encouraged to move everyday

Don’tlet misconceptions hold you back -taking careof your veins is astep towardsahealthier and happier life.

Dr Gan Paramconsults fortnightly at the Warragul Specialist Centre.

To book aconsultation call 03 9781 0646 or online at doctorvein.com.au/contact-us

Dr.Gan Param andstaff

Mitchell Riverand Scott’s Farm walk

RECENTLY, on aJuly day withacloudless sky and forecast temperatureof19degrees,10walkers of the Ben Cruachan Walking Club met for what promised to be another great day in the Mitchell River National Park.

Starting at the top of Czydel’s Road, just off the Angusvale Road, there was views of the Mitchell River valley shrouded in low cloud and fog.

Following the old farm access road downhill, at the foot of the hill the group took aleft turn along another old farm road arriving for morning tea at an area that known as “Two Trees”. Here,two large old eucalypts have surrounded themselves with acircle of healthy offspring. After refreshments, the group followed the Mitchell River downstream along afootpad, no doubt kept relatively clear by feral deer and wayward cattle that have crossed the river for the greener grass.

The river was looking particularlygoodwith morning sunlightglisteningasitflowedthrough rapids, and seemed to pause at wide bends before hurtling through the next lot of rapids.

In due course, the walkers arrived at acollection of farm buildings, known as “Scott’s Farm”.

Featuring avery rustic farmhouse building, possiblyfromthe late 1800s,with agrand stone chimney and eclectic mix of extensions and modifications.

This was the lunch spot, with views of the old farm orchard in the foreground and the Tabberabbera ridgeline high above us in the distance.

It was aday forwildlife, with sightings including soaringwedgetaileaglesand several wombats, one of which posed for photographs.

After lunch, the group pickedtheir wayalong the riverbank to the downstream location Bull Point where the Wentworth River entersthe Mitchell River.

There,they rested, skipped stones, took numerous photographs and recharged energy reserves before undertaking the tough uphill slog on Czydel’s Road back to the cars.

This was amost enjoyable day in the newest and northern-mostarea of Mitchell River National Park, with the opportunity to ponder on the white settlement history, the apparently healthy wildlife (especially the wombat population)and the fantastic views of the Mitchell River.

For many, it’s one of their favourite walks.

Hike: BenCruachan Walking Club memberstook to theMitchell River National Park recently. Photograph supplied

BAW Baw Arts Allianceisanot-for-profitcollective of artists who not only display theirwork in the ‘Station Gallery’,Yarragon, but frequently work collaboratively.

ONE suchexampleisthatofwriter Rodney Williams, who conducts aregular writing workshop at the Trafalgar Railway Station Artspaces.

On Saturday, August 26 at 2pm, Rodney Williams will launch anew booklet of poetry -Fred the Rescue Cat: 70 tanka -atthe Arts Alliance’s ‘Station Gallery’, Princes Highway, Yarragon.

Fred the Resue Cat features tanka, which is a traditional form of short verse from Japan, similar to haiku. Many of the verses have already been published in poetryjournals in Australia, New

Zealand, the United Kingdom andthe United States.

Rodney’s poems place astrong focus on nature, with much of his work celebrating Gippsland: its countryside and waterways; its birds andanimals.

Readings of some of the poems will be presented with signed copies of his book available.

Rodney has collaboratedwith two artists who have created new work to help compliment the poetry.

Thefront andbackcovers feature new work in charcoal and linocut by local artists Jeff Thege and Helen Timbury; prints and cards will also be on sale.

Ten years have passed since Helen, awidely admired designerand printer fromDrouin, teamed up with Rodney to produce his earlier collection

of haikuand tanka, abird-loving man (through Ginninderra Press).

This arts alliance launch of Fred the Rescue Cat will be free and followed by refreshments.

While at the ‘Station Gallery’for the book launch, take time to view the current art exhibitions, ‘Yarragon Print’, an exhibition celebrating original, traditional and contemporaryprintmakingand the delightful water colour works by Jennifer Warburton.

Launch: Poet RodWilliams has writtena collection of traditional shortverse,which will be unveiled in Yarragon later this month

Photograph supplied

Display of work with Baw Baw Arts Alliance THINK BEFOREyoubuy WHEN YOUGO UG LOCAL CA YOU GROW LOCAL

State school disabilitybudget lowered

CHILDRENwith disabilities in Victorian state schools have becomethe latestvictims of the state government'sbudgetcuts, according to Member for Eastern Victoria and Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Education Melina Bath.

Teachers delivering one-on-one supportto childrenwith disabilities through theVisiting TeacherService are being maderedundant by the state government, with 117 frontlinespecialist teaching jobs in regional Victoria employed under the scheme to be slashed to only 32.

Childrenwith hearing, visual, physical, and intellectualdisabilities, andthose with serious medical conditions including cancer and diabetes will be impacted.

Ms Bath labelledLabor’s special education teacher cuts as cruel and callous.

Speaking in state Parliament, Ms Bath blasted the Minister for Education, Natalie Hutchins for cutting frontline teachers, calling for the decision to be reversed.

“Over 4000 students with adisability or aserious medical condition in mainstream schools are supported by this regionally based program," Ms Bath said.

“Itistraumatic for parents and childrentolearn thatthey will lose access to their invaluable special support teacher.

“Cutting highly trained teaching staff who work tirelessly to assist these students and the schools they work in, is appalling.

“Children with disabilities shouldnot be madeto pay theprice for the Labor government’s financial mismanagement.”

Recently, the Education Department announced 325 staff would be made redundant.

Shadow Minister for Disability and Member for GippslandEastTim Bull said targeting special needs children with cuts to necessary educational support was unconscionable.

“Children with disabilities deserve equal access to education and the highest of care in educational settings," he said.

“The Labor government’s Disability Inclusion Policy that it’s spruiking as it’s magical answer will not be rolledout into Outer Gippsland until 2025, nor will it deliverone additional teacher into the classroom.”

Ms Bath said Labor’s decisionwill increase pressure on hardworking teachers in the classroom.

Trafalgar’sScout ScarfDay

WORLDScout Day,held on August 1, commemoratedthe first Scout Camp on Brownsea Island in 1907 and was celebrated at Trafalgar High School with hot chips for afternoon tea.

On World Scout Day, also known as "Scout Scarf Day," all active and former scouts are encouraged to wear their scarfs as avisible commemoration of Scouting, and this is how students and staff with alinktoScouting at Trafalgar High School celebrated the day. Students andstaff attending the school have links to Scouting at 1st Drouin, Warragul Scout Group, 1st Moe, 1st Trafalgar, 1st Morwell, Morwell East Scout Group, Traralgon WestScout Group, 1st Traralgon and 1st Newborough.

"It is great to see our students engaging

actively in the community outside of the formal curriculum," Trafalgar High School principal Brett Pedlow said.

“Scoutinginparticular has aset of values thatcompliment the values of Trafalgar High School.”

Mr Pedlow also noted that teachers volunteering in the youth sectorlikeScouts allowedthem to bring professional skills to community settings and encouraged all school staff to be activevolunteersinthe community.

Proud: Conner Mifsud and Nicholas Johnson hold the ScoutsAustralia Flag whileenjoying hot chips

“Most schoolsinregional Victoria are grappling to fillpositions, and the excessive workload pressures on teachersisunsustainable and puts our most vulnerable students at adisadvantage,” she said.

"The Nationals are calling for Labor’s education cuts to be overturned as amatter of priority."

In response, the stategovernment said its Inclusion Outreach Coaches, which it says do "an extremely similar job to the Visiting Teachers Service" will avoidunnecessary double-handling.

"Sincethe implementation of theVisitingTeacher program, we have delivered an unprecedented $1.6 billion investment in Disability Inclusion in every Victorian government school," aspokesperson said.

"When it’s fully rolled out, the reforms will create up to 1730 new jobs across the state by 2025. To avoid duplication of services, the current Visiting Teacher program based out of regional offices will be scaled back -and we’re supporting teachers in those roles to be redeployed into school-based positions.

"There will be no change to the 32 specialised vision and hearing-impaired Visiting Teacher roles.”

The Range Retirement Village is aretirement living community in Moe, boasting alive-in Manager and high-quality residential villas set inside agated community.

The Range offers elegant new and refurbished two and three-bedroom independent living villas, set in attractive and well-manicured surrounds. Each villa features an open-plan living area,wellappointed kitchen, private courtyardgarden and single or double garage.

Plan your social life with your new community.

Youwill have the flexibility and freedom to embrace life with asocialcalendar that includes, billiards, indoor bowls, craft, movie nights, trivia, bingo,cards and many moresocial activities and make use of our community bus to getaroundour local area

Now is your time to down size and embrace life at The Range

Appalled: ShadowMinister forDisabilityand Member forGippslandEast, TimBulland ShadowParliamentarySecretaryfor Education and Member forEasternVictoria region, Melina Bath have blastedthe stategovernment for cuttingfrontline teachers supporting students with disabilities. Photograph supplied

Attire: Trafalgar High School student Lincoln Grahamdisplaying his scouting scarf Photographs supplied

HOROSCOPES

by Joanne Madeline Moore

August 14 -August20, 2023

Aries Have you been waiting in the wings or sulking on the sidelines? This week there’s a fiery New Moon in your creativity zone, and a terrific trine between gung-ho Mars (your power planet) and adventurous Uranus So, spring into action – wake up, explore, experiment, take a calculated risk and make some noise! Be inspired by original celebrity chef – and birthday great – Julia Child: “Find something you ’ re passionate about and keep tremendously interested in it

Taurus This week the stars activate home and hearth, as the New Moon highlights your domestic zone It’s a good time to clean and declutter your living space or tackle an overdue DIY project But Venus (your ruling planet) is in retrograde mode until September 4, so Bulls can expect a busy and bamboozling time

Prepare for some very short timelines You don’t work well when other people try to hurry you Have the confidence to cruise at your own preferred pace

Putto thetest

Libra The fiery New Moon reignites a special hope, dream or wish that’s been languishing on the sidelines But remember that Venus (your patron planet) is retrograde until September 4 So – if you are stuck in a professional slump or a relationship rut – don’t dwell on the negatives It s time to reassess and re-calibrate Be inspired by actress (and fellow Libran) Kate Winslet: “The good and bad things are what form us as people Change makes us grow ”

TAFE Gippsland student Abbey Jeffs will be putting her electrotechnology trade skills to the test at the WorldSkills Australia national competition.

WorldSkills Australia is anational three-day competition where skills and knowledge in particular fields are tested against peers.

When asked if she would like to compete at WorldSkills, Abbey’s reply was simply “Why not?”

Sheattended atraining camp and competed at the state-wide level, earning herself aspotatthe national competition.

trine brip ngs a rush of fiery energy and a fresh perspective to a stale romance or a floundering friendship There’s no denying you ’ re a smart Scorpion but are you making the most of your professional talents? The New Moon activates your career zone, so it’s time to don your thinking cap, connect with colleagues and keep them up to date with your work plans Venus is retrograde, though, so check and re-check everything twice! friends

Scorpio Wednesday’s Mars/Uranus

“The WorldSkills Training Camp Iattended was quite eye-opening for me as it really showed me how big the event is and how many students, teachers and volunteers are involved to make it allhappen,” Abbey said.

“It wasalsogreat to meetplenty of otherlikeminded students from all different skills and backgrounds.”

Abbey, athird year electrotechnology student, hasvalued her time at TAFE Gippsland so farlearning agreat set of practicalskills and making some treasuredfriendships along the way.

For those thinkingabout competing at WorldSkills next year, Abbey thinks they should give it ago.

Gemini

The New Moon activates your c Gommunication and education zones So, it’s a good time to exercise your brain cells via study, debate, teaching, reading, writing, public speaking and generally expanding your mind in all sorts of exciting new directions

But remember Venus (planet of diplomacy) is retrograde, so watch what you say! Your motto for the moment is from Leo writer Dorothy Parker: “The cure for boredom is curiosity There is no cure for curiosity”

Cancer Expect a rather disruptive week with a friendship surprise or a financial setback

The New Moon focus is firmly on money matters Crabs have a good business brain, so make sure you are using it If you can get the balance right between being canny with cash and entrepreneurial with your ideas then you could really go places Venus is reversing through your $$$ zone (until September 4) but that’s no excuse It’s time to improve your financial literacy ASAP!

Leo With the Sun, New Moon and retrograde Venus visiting your sign, you’ll go to extremes this week as the planets press your ‘Let’s overdo everything’ button So, your motto for the moment is from music icon Mick Jagger (who has four planets in Leo): Anything worth doing is worth overdoing ” But resist the temptation to be a right royal bossy-boots

Especially when you don’t get your way

Rather than being pushy, try being charmingly persuasive instead!

Virgo Mercury (your ruler) and Mars (the pgroactive planet) are transiting through your sign So, it’s the perfect time to be your confident, authentic self! If you don’t accept yourself (warts and all) then why should anyone else? If you don’t develop your talents and follow your dreams, then others won’t do it for you As birthday great, fashion designer and style icon Coco Chanel observed: “How many cares one loses when one decides not to be something but to be someone ”

Sagittarius

With this week’s fiery New gMoon activating your adventure zone, you ’ re keen to head off on an overseas trip, an interstate holiday or a weekend getaway But remember, Venus is reversing through your travel zone (until September 4), so be careful your spontaneous Sagittarian spirit doesn t land you in unexpected trouble! Slow down and take the time to plan and book (and save for) an exciting dream escapade sometime from September 5 onwards

Capricorn Venus (planet of self-love and spelf-worth) is still retrograde So, it’s time for active and ambitious Capricorns to pace themselves, as some plans backfire and confidence levels are lower than usual You could also question your current trajectory and look to others for feedback and approval Don’t overdo it! Madonna (who celebrates her birthday on Wednesday) observes: “If your joy is derived from what others think of you then you ’ re going to be disappointed ”

“It’s agreat opportunity to learn and develop in your area of study,” she said.

“I’m looking forward to nationals so Ican find out what I’mreally made of under intense conditions.”

The WorldSkills Australia competition will be held in Melbourne, starting tomorrow.

Gippsland Tech science week event

By ZAIDAGLIBANOVIC

THE Gippsland Tech School, in partnership with TAFE Gippsland and Federation University is co-hosting aNational Science Week event today (Wednesday, August 16).

The event at Gippsland Tech School at the Corner of Princes Drive and Monash Way, Morwell, will run from 4.30pm until 6.30pm.

The theme this yearis'Innovation: Powering Future Industries'toshowcase the region's current renewable energy projects and other upcoming ventures.

doctorate thesisatCambridgeUniversity,she spent many years in Canada at the University of Toronto, and her workhas beeninternationally recognised with severalscholarshipsand awards.

Aquarius

Love, loyalty, cooperation and comqpromise are the New Moon buzzwords But this week you ll be reliably unpredictable and consistently inconsistent! One half of you wants to snuggle up close with someone special, while the other half longs to be footloose fancy-free, and spontaneously solo Try to find the sweet spot between cosy companionship and invigorating independence And resist the urge to be an Aquarian provocateur who is deliberately controversial Pisces New Moon week is the ideal time to ditch bad daily habits and start afresh Work, health, fitness and food choices are the main areas where you need to make some long-overdue changes and adjustments The sooner the better Try to release pent-up Piscean frustrations via a chat with a close confidante or a trusted family member Spending some quality time with your favourite four-legged friend (in the great outdoors) will also help to lift your spirits

CopyrightJoanne Madeline Moore 2023

Thisadvertisingspace couldbe s

The event will also give the school achanceto show students what the TechSchool and TAFE Gippslandhas to offer in terms of studying, careers, and opportunities for staying in the local region.

Professor Rachel Webster will present two talks in the Morwell Innovation Centre tonight. ProfWebsterhas beenteaching and researching for more than 20 years. Originally gaining her

In 1992, she returned to The Universityof Melbourne as ateaching and research academic within the School of Physics. She currently leads the Astrophysics research group comprising more than 60 research students and staff. Professor Webster is currently the chair of the Board of Directorsfor Australian AstronomyLimited(AAL) and the University of Melbourne Node Directorfor the national ARC Centre of Excellence for All-sky Astrophysics(CAASTRO). Professor Webster has akeen interestinissues around sustainability and climate change, with astronginterest in the physics of geothermal energy.

The presentationonGippsland's geothermal opportunity will start at 4.30pm and the presentation on recent highlights in astronomy begins at 5.30pm.

Teachers’ Games here in the Valley

THE Victorian Teachers' Games are on the way to the Latrobe Valley.

More than 1000 educators from nearly 200 schools are expected to descend on the region for the Games, set to commence September 17.

Events programs include sporting, wellness and social events. Classics such as lawn bowls, netball, volleyball,dodgeball will be played, as wellas trivia, Amazing Race, bingo, croquet and bocce.

All venuesare locatedinLatrobe, and the Games are expected to drivemore than $1 million over thefour days they are held (September 17-20).

Venues to be used include Gippsland Regional

GP1658085

IndoorSports Stadium, Gippsland Performing Arts Centre, and Latrobe Leisure Churchill, Morwell and Moe.

The event is supporting the Gippsland Emerging Relief Fund as its charity partner.

Anyone working in aschool(government and non-government) is eligible to participate.

The public are also welcome to come and volunteer across the four days of 'competition' Registration close this Friday (August 18).

To register, visit victeachersgames.com.au/

Handy: TAFE Gippsland electrotechnology student AbbeyJeffs is taking partinWordSkills Australia Photograph supplied

TheGuide

ABC TV,Friday, 7.30pm

After awinterhibernation, this inspirational and homely series returnswith a new season and afresh bunch of gardening projects and stories. Spring might be justabout to reveal its sunnyface, but tonight it’sall about embracing the winter chill. Millie Ross builds aheated seed-raising bay and finishessome transition-season jobs beforethe warmer weather arrives. Clarence Slockee (pictured) creates alivingsculpture by cultivating air plants into an old tree stump.Enigmatic hostCosta Georgiadis meets Bollywood actress Evelyn Sharma, who is creating abeautiful garden in Queensland’sChinchilla, and Hannah Moloney demonstrates howtotrain kale trees.

COMFORTFOOD WITH SPENCER WATTS

SBS Food, Tuesday, 5.30pm

Playful Canadian chef Spencer Watts (pictured) doesn’t equate comforting grub with slapdash ingredients or little effort.Here, it’sall about big flavour and fresh produce, seasoned with Watts’ fun outlook. Tonight, leftoverbarbecue chicken is the star: dd ih fi dill

PICK O AITORS day,7.30pm

FTHE WEEK

ABCTV, Sunday, 7.30pm

Sustainability and heritage: can the twoapproaches to renovating beco perfect match, in amarriagecelebratingboth nostalgia and forward-th In tonight’s penultimate episodeofthis very watchablefifthseason, as old home is in forashock: couple Rosemaryand Rafaele transport thei acquiredQueenslander800km to an ecovillageonNSW’s Central Coa What follows is acomplexprocess to convert the old shack into an ene efficient home forthe futurethat adheres to the village’s strict environ rules. As thehouse transforms, question marks hang in the air as symp hostAnthony Burke(pictured) follows the optimistic project

Wednesday, August16

ome a hinking? sweet, irnewly ast ergy mental pathetic

up with fried tortillas soaking up homemade queso (melted cheese) sauce, freshpicodigallo, atangy coriander dressingand even morecheese, it’s oozingwith goodness and deliciousness.

THE TRA 10, Mond Handsome Rodger Co it up nicely of this atm reality com in deceit,li prize. Takin mysterypa as Mafia, it DeVerrade morethan spinoffs. In the enterta ramped up of abunch personaliti Hannah Fe Deck), Luk Survivor), A( KitchenRu Grantley (U Tonight,w banished, t intensifies others, wh in plain sigh

e DoctorDoctorstar r orser(pictured)hams y in his role as host mospheric,castle-set mpetition, which is rich es and a$250,000 ngits cuesfrommurder arties andgamessuch ’s based on Dutch hit ers,which has inspired 10 international n this second season, ainment has been p with the inclusion of well-known es,including errier (Below eToki (Australian Ash Pollard (My ules) and Gyton s nderbelly y ithone traitor the hunt forthe oare hiding ht.

Check. (Ml,

R) 12.20 The GreatAcceleration. (PG,R) 1.20

Rage. (MA15+adhlnsv) 3.40 Tenable. (R) 4.30

The Drum.(R) 5.30 7.30.(R)

Fireman Sam. 5.50 Circle Square. 5.55

BenAnd Holly 6.10 Octonauts 6.20 Bluey. 6.30

Pfffirates. 6.40 Hey Duggee: Songs. 6.45 The Adventures Of Paddington. 6.55 Shaun The Sheep.

7.05 Andy’sGlobalAdventures. 7.20 Bluey. 7.30

Spicks And Specks. 8.00 Vera 9.30 We Hunt

Together. 10.20 KillingEve 11.05 MOVIE: Her (2013,MA15+) 1.05am ABCNews

6.00 Mastermind Australia. (R)

6.30 SBS World News.

7.30 Michael MosleySecretsOf TheSuperagers: Body (PG) Dr Michael Mosley focuses on the body

8.30 HowSports Changed The World. Highlights the successofthe South African national rugby team in the1995Rugby World Cup.

9.40 Wolf (Premiere, MA15+) Afamily is terrorised by apsychopath

10.40 SBS World News Late. 11.10 Dark Woods. (Mav) 12.05 La Jauria. (MA15+av,R)

3.45 Mastermind Australia. (R) 4.45 Bamay (R) 5.00 NHK World English News Morning.

5.30 ANC PhilippinesThe World Tonight

6.00 SevenNews.

7.00 Home And Away (PG) Kirby is frosted out by her friends.

7.30 FIFA Women’s World Cup Pre-Game. Pre-game coverage of thesemi-final.

8.00 Soccer FIFAWomen’s World Cup.Semi-final.

10.00 FIFAWomen’s World Cup Post-Game. Post-game discussion and interviews.

10.30 TheLatest: SevenNews.

11.00 To Be Advised.

12.45 TheEnemyWithin. (Mav, R)

1.00[VIC]HomeShopping

4.00 NBCToday 5.00 SevenEarly News.

5.30 Sunrise.

6.00 Nine News

7.00

Late Show With StephenColbert 7.00 Becker

Seinfeld.

6am Morning Programs. 10.00

Great Blue Wild. 10.50 VoicesToMartuwarra Fitzroy. 11.00 The Point. Noon Over The Black Dot. 12.30 Hunting Aotearoa. 1.00 Bush Bands Bash. 2.00 Shortland St 2.30 TheCook Up 3.00 Motown Magic. 3.25 RedDirtRiders. 3.40 Fresh Fairytales. 3.55 Pipi Ma. 4.00 Barrumbi Kids. 4.30 Spartakus AndThe Sun Beneath TheSea. 5.00 Our Stories. 5.30 Te Ao With Moana. 6.00 Bamay. 6.40 News. 6.50 Volcanic Odysseys 7.40 Ice Cowboys. 8.30 YokayiFooty. 9.30 SerenaVsThe Umpire. 10.30 MOVIE: Desperately Seeking Susan. (1985 M) 12.20am Late Programs. NITV (34)

1.40am 10

Spider.(2019, MA15+, German) 3.40 Get Real. (1998,M) 5.45 GoodNight,And Good Luck. (2005,PG)

(93, 82)

MEL/VIC The Latrobe Valley Express, TV Guide Wednesday, 16 August, 2023 —Page 21

6.00 TheDrum.

7.00 ABCNews.

7.30 7.30 Presented by Sarah Ferguson.

8.00 Foreign Correspondent. Alook at the fightfor women’s rightsinIran.

8.30 ExtraordinaryEscapes:

Judi Love (PG) Sandi Toksvig takes Judi LovetoCumbria, where they go fora spot of walking andboating.

9.20 Grand Designs New Zealand. (PG, R) Acouple team up with their son to build ahomefeaturing locally sourced stone cladding

10.05 ArtWorks. (R)Hosted by Namila Benson

10.35 ABC LateNews.

10.50 TheBusiness. (R)

11.10 TheSoundtrack of Australia. (R)

12.10 Q+A. (R)

1.10 Rage.(MA15+adhlnsv) 3.40 Tenable. (R)

4.30 The Drum. (R) 5.30 7.30.(R)

WorldWatch. 9.00 Home Is Where The Art Is. (R) 9.55 Paul O’GradyFor The LoveOf Dogs:What Happened Next. (PGa, R) 10.50

CharlesI:ToKillAKing 12.00 WorldWatch.

2.00 Great Asian Railway Journeys. (PG, R) 3.10 MastermindAustralia.(R) 3.40 The Cook Up With Adam Liaw.(PG, R) 4.10

Darcey Bussell’sRoyal Road Trip.(PG, R) 5.05 Jeopardy!(R) 5.30 Letters And Numbers. (R)

6.00 Mastermind Australia. (R)

6.30 SBS WorldNews

7.30 Great Australian Walks With Julia Zemiro. (PG) Julia Zemiro heads to NSW’snorthcoast.

8.30 StanleyTucci: Searching

ForItaly:Sicily (Final, M) Stanley Tucci explores Sicily,a Mediterranean islandknown as god’skitchen because of its volcanic soil.

9.20 Kin. (Madlsv)The Kinsellas are blacklisted by Eamon Cunningham, but necessity is themother of invention.

10.20 SBS World NewsLate.

10.50 MaxAnger: With One EyeOpen. (Malv)

11.40 Outlander (Mas, R)

3.55 Mastermind Australia.(R) 4.55 Destination Flavour: Singapore Bitesize. (PG, R)

5.00 NHK World EnglishNewsMorning

5.30 ANC PhilippinesThe WorldTonight.

6.00 Sunrise. 9.00 The MorningShow. (PG) 11.30 SevenMorning News.

6.00 SevenNews.

7.00 Home And Away (PG) Mackenzie sees red overJustin’s bad news.

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

9.30 What TheKiller Did Next: Peter McMahon. (Mav) Examinesthe behaviour of killers aftera murder,including the case of pensioner Peter McMahon.

10.30 TheLatest: SevenNews.

11.00 Air Crash Investigations: Pacific Plunge. (PGal, R) Takesa look at thecrash of Air Alaska Flight261

12.00 TheResident. (Mav,R) Thedoctors planfor thefuture.

7TWO (72, 62)

6am Morning Programs.

1pm EscapeToThe Country 2.00 South Aussie With Cosi. 2.30 Cities Of The Underworld. 3.30 Room ForImprovement 4.00 MedicalEmergency.

4.30

NITV (34)

The77

Percent. 6.00 Bamay 6.30 News. 6.40 Volcanic

Odysseys. 7.30 Going Places With Ernie Dingo 8.35

Kungka Kunpu. 8.40 Trickster 9.30 Firebite 10.20

MOVIE: What We Do In TheShadows. (2014, M)

11.50 Late Programs.

Friday, August 18

6.00 TheDrum. Analysis of theday’snews.

7.00 ABCNews. Alook at the top stories of the day

7.30 GardeningAustralia. (Return)

Josh Byrne visitsa leafyloft.

8.30 Death In Paradise (Mv, R) DI Neville Parker and the team investigatethe murder of the owner of ahairdressing salon.

9.30 Midsomer Murders. (Mv,R)After a wealthyfarmer is mauled to death by awild boar,the investigation leads to arestaurant.

11.00 ABCLate News. Coverage of the day’sevents

11.15 GoldDiggers. (Mlsv, R) Gert and Marigold go on the run.

11.45 Miniseries: Roadkill. (Madl, R)

12.45 Harrow. (Mv,R)

1.40 Rage. (MA15+adhlnsv)

6.00 Mastermind Australia. (R)

6.30 SBS WorldNews

7.35 World’s MostScenicRiver

Journeys: ThePotomac (PGa, R) Narrated by Bill Nighy.

8.30 Legends Of ThePharaohs: Nefertiti, TheBeautyBecomes Queen. (M)Takes alookatNefertiti.

9.30 New York:The CityThat

NeverSleeps:World’sRichest City (PGal, R) Part 1of3

10.20 SBS World News Late

10.50 Vise Le Coeur (Mav)

11.45 Stella Blomkvist. (MA15+v,R) 1.35

3.25 Mastermind

Beforeigners. (MA15+dlv,R)

Australia.(R)

4.25 Bamay. (R)

World English News Morning.

PhilippinesThe WorldTonight

5.00 NHK

5.30 ANC

6.00 SevenNews.

7.00 Better Homes AndGardens. JohannaGriggscatches up with The Voice’s Jess Mauboy. Adam Dovile helps abusydad organise his garage.

7.30 Football. AFL.Round 23 Collingwoodv Brisbane Lions. From Marvel Stadium, Melbourne.

10.30 AFL Post-Game Show. Post-game discussion andinterviews.

11.00 Armchair Experts. (M) Apanel discussesall things AFL

12.00 Reverie. (Mav,R)Monica seekshelp after abombing.

1.00 Travel Oz. (PG,R) Presented by Greg Grainger [VIC]HomeShopping.

4.00 Million Dollar Minute (R)

5.00 NBCToday.

8.30

9.30 Casualty 24/7 (Mm)

6.30 TheProject. Alook at the day’snews and events.

7.30 DogsBehaving (Very) Badly Australia. (PGa) Graeme Hall helps with anoisydog.

8.30 GoggleboxAustralia. (Return) Adiverse range of people open their living rooms to reveal their reactions to popular and topical TV shows, with the help of special, locked-off cameras which capture every unpredictable moment.

9.30 To Be Advised

10.30 TheCheap Seats. (Mal,

9GEM (92,81)

6am Morning Programs.

11.30 My Favorite Martian. Noon Days Of OurLives.

12.55 TheYoung AndThe Restless. 1.50 Explore.

2.05 Dr Quinn. 3.05 Antiques Roadshow 3.35

MOVIE: Quiet Weekend. (1946) 5.30 Yorkshire

Auction House. 6.30 AntiquesRoadshow 7.30

Rugby League. NRL.Round 25.North Queensland

Cowboys vCronulla Sharks. 9.45 ThursdayNight

Knock Off 10.30 Dalgliesh. 11.30 Late Programs.

6am Children’sPrograms.

Noon Motor Racing. IndyCar Series. Gallagher Grand Prix. H’lights. 1.00 Life Unexpected. 2.00 Full House.

2.30 Raymond. 3.00 MacGyver. 4.00 Family Ties.

4.30 TheAddams

6.00 Nine News.

7.00 ACurrent Affair.

7.30 Mega Zoo. (PG, R) Acrafty orangutan puts keepers to the test.

8.30 MOVIE: Monster-In-Law. (2005,Ms, R) Awoman faces opposition from her future mother-in-law who is determined to prevent her son’s wedding. Jennifer Lopez, Jane Fonda, Michael Vartan.

10.30 MOVIE: TheVow (2012, PGalns, R) Rachel McAdams.

12.25 MOVIE: Bad Boys (1983,MA15+alv,R)

2.20 Hello SA (PG,R)

2.45 Garden Gurus Moments (R)

3.00 TV Shop: Home Shopping. (R) 4.00

Postcards. (PG, R) 4.30 Global Shop.(R) 5.00

TV Shop: HomeShopping. (R) 5.30 Skippy

TheBushKangaroo. (R)

6.30 TheProject Alook at the day’snews andevents

7.30 Location, Location, Location Australia. Property experts search for homes.

8.30 Have YouBeenPaying Attention? (Malns, R) Afast-paced look at news, with SamPang and Ed Kavalee joined by other celebrity panellists to compete to see who can remember the most about eventsofthe week. Hosted by TomGleisner

9.30 TheGraham Norton Show. (PGa, R) Irishcomedian Graham Norton is joined by actors TomHanks, Naomi Ackie and Suranne Jones.

11.30 TheProject (R)

12.30 TheLate ShowWith Stephen Colbert. (PG)

1.30 Home Shopping. (R)

POINTMADE

NORTH GIPPSLAND FOOTBALL-NETBALL LEAGUE FINALS SERIES 2023

TTUcompletedan unbeatenhome-and-away season at theweekend, and will now take aweek of commence.Havingf gamesclear on topo theBombers, with gun like Liam Willaton runn (pictured),lookodds-onf winningtheir firstflagi 20 years. NGFNLREVIEW PAGE 28

GIPPSLAND LEAGUE Gippsland League

SENIORS

DROUIN 4.1 5.4 12.5 16.11 (107)

MAFFRA10.412.714.914.10 (94)

GOALS: Drouin: HBirks 8AQuirk 2JCollins2 JMcKellar CJolly TEvans CKingi.Maffra: L

Allman 3NChristy2 ACarr2 BCarubia 2DBedggood SDavidson WGieschen. BEST: Drouin:

HBirks JCollins CBethune CKingi THancock JMcKellar.Maffra:JRead BMonkACarr S

Davidson ECarr LAllman

MOE 1.15.3 8.5 10.6 (66)

LEONGATHA 3.1 3.5 3.7 6.8 (44)

GOALS: Moe: HPepper 4BGowers 2NProwseJBalfour HSim MStanlake.Leongatha: A

HillbergNGownA Heppell BEST: Moe: DKeiltyS van DykR Baldi BDaniher LMulqueen B

Maslen.Leongatha: BWillis AHeppell CMaskell JHarry WLittlejohn JBurns

BAIRNSDALE 0.22.4 6.5 11.5 (71)

TRARALGON 4.34.6

GOALS: Bairnsdale: LAustin 2BMcCarrey 2NDennison2 THudsonJ DoreO Pike RStewart

NBulmer. Traralgon: KRuyters 3BEddy 2LD’Angelo 2BSchilling HNeocleous BEST:

Bairnsdale: WMitchell LByrne-Jones EEast ANelsonCFrith NBulmer. Traralgon: DMcKenna

THourigan CAmblerJCunicoM Membrey KRuyters

LADDER

Allies make Grand Final

FOOTBALL FEMALE FOOTBALL GIPPSLAND BY

ZAIDA GLIBANOVIC

THE senior men aren’t the only Moe footy team flying at themoment.

First year footballcoach Louie Patten’s Moe Newborough Allies will be going to a Grand Final.

It was aDavid and Goliath battle when the Allies took on Lindenow South in the preliminaryfinalofthe Female Football Gippsland League on Sunday.

The Swampies had gotten the better of the Alliesall yearand were confidentthey could do it again on the bigger stage.

But the Allies had different plans.

The sun shonebrightly on the women’s teams as they took to the Drouin Recreation Reserve.

The matchbegan withastalemateasboth sides feltthe severity of the moment, managing one major each in the first quarter, the Swampieswith the noses slightly in frontby asingle point come the first break.

RESERVES

TMarsh

JVan Iwaarden. Bairnsdale: JGooch MJefferyRCarstairs RBlandfordJBills LLakay

GOALS: Leongatha: NFixter3 THall2JSchelling 2L Wright 2J StewartE Lamers OKerr.Moe

DBrooks TEden JChessells BEST: Leongatha: JStewart NFixterT Nash ELamers ATrottoJ

JMakepeaceJ Thornton TBlackshawJ Riddle TEden WHester

It lookedlike perhaps LindenowSouth were too good, as they piled on another two goals to the Allies one, but the Allies remained in it, blessed by their accuracy in front of the big sticks.

By halftime, the scores wereAllies 2.0 (12) to the Swampies 3.1 (19).

Patten, the Allies playing-coach and ruck for the day, must have given the best halftime speech as the team came out with ahunger in theirhearts.

The Allies managed to keep the Swampies scoreless for the entire third term whileadding two straight majors to their own score to lead by five points going into the fourth.

With all the momentum, the Allies went fullsteam ahead toward aGrand Finalinthe lastterm. TheSwapies only managed asingle behind after the halftime siren due to the enormous will and pressure from the Allies’ side. To put the final nail in the Swampies coffin, the Moe and Newborough Allies kicked one last final goal to book in their tickets to the big dance.

Coach Patten said it was atough battle in the beginning, as “both teams cameout firing from the start,” but afterhalftime, something gaveway and “Lindenow (South) ran out of steam.”

The finalscoreboard read Moe Newborough 5.0 (30) to Lindenow South 3.2 (20).

The Allies’ goals came from the boot of Taylor Dow,who kicked two, Jade Abbott, Chloe Dodd and Sarah Williams.

Pattencouldnot be any prouder of her team.

“Everyone had arole to play -they all

absolutely killed it out there. They all played their hearts outand gotthe job done,” she said

The team had challenges with numbers all year but Patten made it work.

“Foster foldedaweek before the season started and Ireached out to see if any of their players still wanted the opportunity to keep playing footy. We had acouple come over to play agame to see if they would like it. They loved it so much they are now part of the team,” she said.

Patten said the preliminary final win was just reward for many involved.

“Well deserved win for ateam that is still building,”she said,considering the team consisted of “only six facesfrom last year and aheap of new women who have picked the game up in no time.”

After that brilliant display of accuracy and willpower, the Allieswillnow face a dominant Boisdale-Briagolong in the Grand Final at 12.15pm this Sunday (August 20).

The Allies get to playa Grand Final on their home deck at Ted Summerton Reserve. Moe supporters will be hoping this sets the tone for more Moe football teams to reach a Grand Final this season.

Lions down the Parrots again

FOOTBALL GIPPSLAND LEAGUE

BY LIAM DURKIN

THIS might actually be the year.

Three teams sharing equal first on the ladder becametwo at the weekend, after Moe defeated Leongatha for the second time this season.

The Lions won an absolutely brutalising affair against the Parrots, 10.6 (66) to 6.8 (44).

Ted Summerton Reserve might as well have beenabattlefield, as players from both teams threw themselves wholeheartedly at the contest.

The body count ended up seeing Moe playing-coach Declan Keiltyand ruckman Ben Morrow play with bandages around their heads, midfielder Trent Baldi retreat to the rooms early, while young ruckman Lachlan McGrath was knocked outinthe last quarter.

Leongatha didn’t escape the carnage either, as Jack Hume was takenfromthe ground before halftime,along with Jakevan der Plight in the second half.

Leongatha appeared to have the ascendancy early, getting out to a12-point lead at quarter time.

Fromtherehowever, Moe was able to turn the screws, and kicked seven unanswered goals either side of halftime.

The Parrots meanwhile, didn’tget asingle one in.

Keilty was acolossus down back, and went straight to key Leongatha forward Noah Gown, back from the VFL.

While both coaches havetogive votesat the end of each game, no one could criticise Keilty if he gave himself three -hewas clearly best-on-ground.

Keilty played aclose-checking game on Gown, but also managed to out-mark him. Whenthe game was theretobewon, he took it upon himself to get his team up.

Down by 28 points at three-quarter time, Leongatha rolled the dice and went for everything.

The Parrotsadded two goalsinside the first six minutes, and sentashiverdowntheir opponent’s spine as the ball seemed to live inside Moe’s defensive end for an eternity. WithLeongathapushing all their numbers up however, the Lions were able to get out the back, thanks to adesperate smother from Luke Mulqueenathalfback, setting up apass to JacobBalfour in thecentre of the ground, whointurn kicked it to Harry Pepper.

Pepper,withthree goals to his name by then, ran all the way to the goal square to make sureofit, slamming through the winner.

Half-forward Harri Sim then put thegame beyonddoubt at the 22-minute mark,finding the ball in the goal square to seal the deal.

In between these goals, there was two shots that went outonthe full from Leongatha, but Moe’s pressure was such that the reigning premier was forced into uncharacteristic mistakes.

Moe’s pressurewas so high,Leongatha players Aaron Hillberg and JesseBurns went for the same markwithnomaroonand blue jumperaround themlateinthe final term.

It is said even the best teams can only withstand so much, and that mighthave just encapsulated the amount of tensionout on Ted SummertonReserve.

Joining Keiltyinthe best for Moe was fellowdefenders Scott Van Dyk and Luke Mulqueen, and midfielders Riley Baldi, BenDaniher, and born-again wingman Ben Maslen.

Ben Willis was apillar forthe Parrots, along withAaron Heppell, Cade Maskell, Jackson Harry, Will Littlejohn and Burns. Moe moves to secondonthe ladder and equal-first, although some percentage short of topsideWonthaggi.

If results go as expected in the last two home-and-away rounds, the Lions will have arematchwith Leongatha in the Qualifying Final.

That match carries alot of intrigue, as it is beingplayed in Wonthaggi- aground closer to Leongatha, but one in which Moe has won at this season.

Having now beaten the reigning premier twice, as well as every team in the competition, the Lions will surely be confident about their chances of ending the longest premiership drought in Gippsland League history, stretching all the way back to 1967. Wonthaggi however will be out to create history of their own, as the Power is yet to win aseniorGippsland Leagueflag itself. From where things sit right here and now, this is indeed looking like Moe’s best chance of winning aflag in decades -even more so than when they played off in Grand Finals in 1999 and 2000.

While those Grand Finals carried acertain amount of romance, what is often overlooked is the fact Moe only finished fifth and fourth afterthe home-and-away season in both of those years.

In 1999, the Lions only won seven games during the home-and-away campaign.

Moe of 2023 has now won twice as many, and with adouble-chance sewn up, can enter finalswitha great deal of surety they are one of the best teams in the competition.

Highway robbery in Drouin

FOOTBALL GIPPSLAND LEAGUE

BY LIAM DURKIN

NED Kelly has been beaten at his own game. In one of the greatest thieving efforts ever seen in Gippsland League history, Drouin came from the clouds to defeat Maffra in Round 16.

The Hawks trailed by 45 points at halftime, but stormedhomewith 11 goals to two after the main break to claim afamous win.

As Drouinwalked offtheir home ground to rapturous applause, the Eagles were lefttolament exactly how they had let such dominance slip.

Maffra kicked 10 goals in the first quarter -and yet lost thematch by 13 points,16.11 (107) to 14.10 (94).

It was only the second timeinleague history ateam has kicked 10 goals in the opening term and gone on to lose.

Coincidently, Maffranow joins Sale in this unwanted slice of history -the Magpies led Traralgon 10.2 (62) to 4.3 (27) in Round 61978 before going on to lose.

For the Eagles however, this result will surely leave an even more sour taste in their mouths.

Traralgon won the flag in 1978 -Drouin is probablygoing to win thewoodenspoon this year. From alatitude perspective, with games against

top-three sides Moe and Leongatha to come, it is almost impossible to see Maffra claiming another win for the season.

From alongitude perspective, one could nearly argue Drouin is actually ahead of Maffra as far as arebuild goes.

While the Hawks are last with just two wins, a healthy percentage of more than 70 shows they have been more than competitive this season.

That percentageindicates the Hawkshaven’t had any issue scoring, and they certainly showed that in thesecond half at the weekend.

Drouin slammed on seven goals to two in the thirdquarter, and closed with four goals to none in the last.

Actually, Maffra only managed one behind for the whole last quarter.

The man who has taken the competition by storm, Hugo Birks, had aday out, kicking eight goals for Drouin, giving him an overall tally of 41 for the season.

Anyone with the name Hugo Birks is bound to draw some attention, but the youngster has let his football do the talking in his first year with theHawks.

His eight-goal haul set anew Drouin club record for individual goalsagainst Maffra, breaking the previous best of six jointly held by Damian Carmody(2008), Brad Carmody (2009) and Darcy Irwin (2016).

Robbie to run out for 100th

Many opposition defenders have labelled Birks one of the harder forwards to play on.

JoiningBirks in the best-on-groundhonours was Joe Collins, CharlieBethune, Clayton Kingi, Tim Hancock and James McKellar.

Although Drouinmirrors Maffra’s run home with games against the Parrots and Lions, they will surely take agreat deal of momentum into season 2024.

Honestly, the Hawks could be the best wooden spoon team of all time.

If they can keep this group together, it could be watch out Gippy in years to come.

Better players for Maffrawere JamesRead, Brayden Monk, Alex Carr, Sam Davidson, Ed Carr and Lachlan Allman.

Coming into this game following two wins in threerounds, the Eagles mightbeleft to pick up the pieces of some serious collateral damage.

Losing is one thing, but losingtothe team cominglast after leading by 45 points at halftimecan only be spoken about in anegative light.

At the risk of delving into hyperbole, from a historicalcontext, therewould be grounds to label it the worst Maffra loss since the 2005 Grand Final.

MORWELL, Sale, Wonthaggi and Warragul all had the week off, owning to the second week of the split round.

Trouble brewing for Traralgon

GIPPSLAND LEAGUE

BY LIAM DURKIN

THINKING cap on Mr Best.

In astunning turnofevents, Bairnsdale shocked the Gippsland League world by defeating Traralgon on their home deck.

The Redlegs scrapped in to win by agoal, getting up 11.5 (71) to 9.11 (65).

Thevictorybrokethe longestground hoodoo in league history -Bairnsdalehadn’t won at Traralgon for 40 years.

In fact, before last Saturday, Bairnsdale had only won at Traralgon three times (1969, 1975, 1983).

All looked to be going to plan for the finalsbound Maroons at quarter time, as they led 4.3 (27) to 0.2 (2).

Fromthere however, the Redlegs wrestled back

momentum, and went into the main break just 14 points down.

Goals were shared in the third, before Bairnsdale stormed home with five goals to two to pinch victory in the last.

WillMitchell,Lachlan Byrne-Jones,Ethan East, Andrew Nelson, Cohen Frith and Nic Bulmer were the heroes for the Redlegs.

Dan McKenna,Tye Hourigan, Connor Ambler, JordanCunico, MitchMembrey and Kade Ruyters needed afew moretojointhem for Traralgon.

While the Maroons will play finals, they won’t finish higher than fourth, and will have every reasontobeworriedaboutthe prospect of playing Sale in an elimination final.

The Magpies can now genuinely knock them out in the first week.

Traralgon’s form line has beenindifferent, with their win-loss record since Round 13 reading loss, win, loss, loss.

The Maroonshave to play Sale in the last round, as well as top-side Wonthaggi this week, meaning there is every chance they will enter a finals series with four consecutive losses under their belt.

Traralgon has certainlyslipped in the latter part of the season, and looks ashadow of the team that knocked off Moe in Round 6and annihilated Morwell in Round 3.

Granted those games were played at atime when grounds were firmer and more conducive to the open running style Traralgon is known for, recent statistics might suggest the issue for the Marrons is that they are in fact only running one way.

In the Round 15 loss to Moe, there was astaggering 26 differential in the tackle count, while the numbers in the Round 8loss to Wonthaggi were even more damning -the Power had 101 more uncontested possessions.

FOOTBALL GIPPSLAND LEAGUE

SORRY Jibba, this milestone might just about top any of yours.

One of the biggestmilestones in MoeFootballNetball Club history willbecelebrated this week, whenRobbieMatthews runs outfor his 100thgame

An ever-present face around the club for many years, Robbie has been adedicatedplayer and volunteer throughout his time with the Lions. You could just about count on one hand the number of training sessions he has missed.

Wearing the number 44, there is never any shortage of excitement whenever Robbie 'bobs' up for a goal from time to time.

He has stuck through the club, particularly the reserves, through good times and bad, and has always made himself available to play, no matter thecircumstances or location.

The epitome of someone who has always put the club before themselves, Robbie perhaps encapsulates what country footy is all about.

Legend: Robbie Matthews will play his 100th game forMoe this weekend. Photograph supplied

Can theLions make historywith away win thisSaturday?

FOOTBALL GIPPSLAND LEAGUE

MOE has the chance to create historythis weekend when it travels to Maffra Recreation Reserve

If successful, the Lions will securea perfect away record in matches played in season 2023.

Moe hasnot lost agameplaying away from home this season

For that matter, the Lions havenever been through aseason with aperfect awayrecord since the Gippsland League was established in 1954.

The closest Moe has come is 1963, when they won seven, lost one and had adraw. Honourable mentions go to yearswhenMoe

lost just two away games: 1957, 1964, 1971, 1994 and 1998.

This year also saw Moe win at SaleOvalfor the first time since 2002.

on the road in season 2023

Patten FSchill HMcColl BCheffers CMills KGrinstead-Jones

RESERVES

GOALS: Tarwin: HBrowne6 TLomax 4T Gedye3 JBest NTucker DHales.Boolarra: EStanton

LSmith. BEST: Tarwin: HBrowneJBloom NTucker ABell GBrennan SKilsby. Boolarra: T

Beamish ADevonshireKAlexander LSmithE StantonBBrownscombe

GOALS: Fish Creek:T Redpath 2C McPhee 2J Morgan JRysko TManne LEdgelowBBusuttil

Mirboo Nth: AWindsor DPinneri MRichardsonAKrausz. BEST: Fish Creek:BCooper J

Kirtland BPerks JRysko LEdgelowPHolian. Mirboo Nth: LOddy SBusuttil DPinneri WLewis

RDevine JHysen

GOALS: StonyCreek:BRenden 3NSvenson 2C Michael 2GBatten THorsburgh RMcKnight

LByrnes.Morwell East: DHeydenLLittleB Semmler RBaptie BEST: StonyCreek:D

Loughridge RMcKnight JBattersbyBRenden CMichael OBowler. Morwell East: BGibson B

Semmler ADodd BChawner LDay STutton

YINNAR 8.1

FOSTER0.1

GOALS: Yinnar:JGarlick 10 CLePage 2PMcGrath 2BMahoney ESultana DWebster LBell

TRenwick RWebb.Foster:SMcColl ZHouse BEST: Yinnar:J Garlick DSchneider RMayo LAlexander PMcGrath RMalcolmson. Foster:ZHouse MHouse DLaCasaW McDonald O

GOALS: Newborough: CNickels 9BBurgess 3JJacovou 2PFrendo2AFanning 2W Collings

CBerquez MStringer JMcMahon. Hill End: AMatwijkiw. BEST: Newborough: WCollings C

MStringer DSmith SLodge NCurtis.HillEnd: MSanto RBrobergJTutton AMatwijkiw

C Comiing d down to the wire

FOOTBALL MID GIPPSLAND

BY ROB POPPLESTONE

HISTORY looks set to repeat itself in the Mid Gippsland Football-Netball League.

With one round to play, reigning premier Yinnar must do as it did last year, and win its lastregular seasongame to be any chance of playing finals.

This time however, awin simply won’t be enough. Adding atwist of irony to the Magpies’ task, they need to not only beat second-placed Fish Creek, but rely on ThorpdaledefeatingMorwell East -the team Yinnar defeated in thefinal round lastseason to pinch afinals berth.

 STONY CREEK VMORWELL EAST

impact on their season as such,itwas a disappointing way to send off their coach.

“Startedthe game pretty good.But as the game went on Tarwin started to get on top of us and ourskill level was lettingus down, that’spretty much what’s happenedall season, boys fought the game out and that’s our season done,” Giardina said.

With abye in the last round, season 2023 is now over for Boolarra, and you might now find Tony Giardina on the sidelines enjoying MGFNL for football’s sake,with no pressure of aresult, and the league wishes him all the best.

 MIRBOO NORTH VFISH CREEK

and some great performances down back and in front of goal we managed to play another four consistent quarters,” he said.

“It was agame played in good spirits from a proud club that will regroup for next season. Apartfrom the scoreboard it was another win to finish the game with no additions to the injurylistwhere we travel to Tarwin for ourlastgame before finals.”

You get the feeling that the Bulldogs are just “ticking the boxes” they need to, with their focus firmly being on the best they can be when finals commence.

“There is alot of respect between myself andCraig,” he said.

AMcinnes 4RCheckley 3JCleator 3T Harris 2RBell 2B Hibberson KHelms

S

WITH finals so close they could almost touch them, Morwell East faced one of their last challenges in order to get afirmer grip on a position inside the league’s top six. All they had to do was beatadangerousStony Creek side on their home turf.

The Hawks, now with the smell of finals in their nostrilscompliments of athree goal win, did just that, winning 8.10 (58) to 6.4 (40).

“A win today would see us get back into the top six, with one game to go,” he said.

“We knew that wasn’t going to be easy against StonyCreek on theirhome turf The first quarter was evenly matched, hard contested footy. The second quarter, Stony were better in taking their opportunities. The lasthalf,weupped the anti. We worked harder for longer and got ourselves back into the game. Still behind coming into the last, but we were able to hit the front midway through the quarter and neverlooked back.”

The loss for the Lions was another close one thatgot away, making it ahandful of defeats that have proven costly in season 2023.

Stony Creek coach Chris Verboon was again left to lament amissedopportunity.

“Yet another game that got away from us in the last quarter. Did everything right to get into awinning position but couldn’t finish off our hard work,” he said.

“Heated contest with four blokes between us sent off during the game.”

Despite just winning three games so far this season, make no mistake you can expect StonyCreek to be atough outfit in 2024.

 BOOLARRAV TARWIN

TWOoflast years finalists had fallen afew rungs down the ladder in season 2023, and no doubt their prioritiesmay have changed also, but one thing was for certain, both were also looking to take something out of the season.

Boolarra had limped to the line in the back half of the year and their last game of the season on their home ground was also their lastchance to sendoff retiring coach Tony Giardina with avictory

It wasn’t to be however, with Tarwin winning 13.15 (93) to 10.7 (67).

“Great result today for the boys! We have been playing good footyjust not getting the result so it was good to be backonthe winners list!”hesaid.

“Congratulations to Tony Giardina, the Boolarra coach on agreat stint at coaching the Demons, from everyone at Tarwin we wish him all the best.”

The win gives the Sharks afaint hope of finals, although it is looking like it will take aminor miracle as it has undefeated Newborough in the last round.

For Boolarra, although the result had no

IT wasonly aweeks ago that Mirboo North flagged the fact that they were capable of mixing it with one of the the league leaders, albeitfor justhalf of thegame, and that was possibly enoughtohavethe visiting Fish Creek prepared for amatch harder thanwhat the Tigers ladder position of ninth suggested. In the end however, the Kangaroos had little to worry about, and were comfortable 79-point victors 17.11 (113) to 5.4 (34).

Fish Creekcoach Jarred Walkersaiditwas afour-quarter performance from his team.

“A solid performanceinslippery conditions at Mirboo. Atough ground to play on but I thought as ateam we adapted to the conditions well. It was nicetobreak ourhoodoo on the hill and get our first win there,” he said.

Fish Creek has certainly taken afew steps forward in the back of the season and have now stepped forward as theleading contender to rock the boat of unbeaten Newborough. Mirboo North may not have had the result they wanted but they didget the opportunity to recognise aclub legend.

“Today we witnessed our third player in club history in Damo Turner to play his 300th senior game and we certainly celebrated his achievement no matter what the result,”

Tigers coach Peter Mongta said.

“We came up against avery good outfit today, their midfield monstered us around stoppages and their transitionwas even better acrossall areas and was hard to stop.

Moose (Matt) McGannon was at his best for Fishy along with Roland De Biase who’s stoppage work was elite.

“Thanks to the Fishy boys who stood with us as we carried Damo off after the game.”

So while the Tiger’sseason willwinddown to an endnextweekend, the realstuff starts to get closer for an impressive Kangaroos outfit.

 NEWBOROUGH VHILL END

THIS game threatenedtobeawhitewash between top and bottom, and that is exactly how it panned out.

Newboroughwas never challenged by Hill End, winning 30.1 (195) to 0.3 (3)

The Bulldogs 30.15 (195) to 0.3 (3) win was Newborough’shighest-ever score against Hill End, beating the previous best of 31.10 (190) in 2016.

It was also the first time ever Hill End had failed to goal against the Bulldogs. The Rovers previous low was 1.4 (10) in 1960.

Joel Mitchell’s 10-goal effort on the weekend equalled the record held by aNewborough player against Hill End.Others to kick double-figuresare SteveSanders(1980)and James Todd (2004).

Newborough coach CraigSkinner said despite the one-sided nature of the contest, there was still meaning attached.

“Saturday we welcomed Hill End to play for the Byrne/Fanning cup. After afast start

“They play areally beautiful brand of footy Wheildon and Mitchell up forward are as good as I’ve seen as aforward pairing.

“They move the ball well, work for each otherand are relentless with their tackle pressure.

“We fought out until the final siren which I’m proud of but we weren’t anywhere near good enough.”

Anice moment during the game occurred when both coaches came together for ahug. Theseason is one game short of ending for Hill End, and that one game is also their very last chance for avictory.

 YINNAR VFOSTER

FOR the winner,afinals position was almost as good as guaranteed,but for the loser, there would be the very real possibility of afall fromgraceatpossiblythe most important time of the season.

Yinnar at home in 2023 just haven’t been the challenge they hadinprevious years, and the prospect of atalented Tigers team was to be one of the tougher tests any side could face.

Foster proved their worth, winning 10.11 (71) to 8.6 (54).

“Our season’s still alive -ontop all day and got the result,” he said.

“I wish there were 10 Duursma’s, it will be our last game home game against Stony next week. We will enjoy celebrating the season’s of our resilient reserves and netballersin their final games”.

The efforts of Foster were good, the skills and ability of young Willem Duursma even more so.

Yinnar coach Daniel Taylorsaidtherewas positive to take out, despite the result.

“Disappointed to not get the result but once again Ican’t question our effort, Ithought it was aprettyevengameoffooty but Foster justhad that oneortwo goal buffer all day which we couldn’t quite pegback,”hesaid.

“We’ve been cryingout for akey target up forward for abig chunkofthe season and Ithought Stu Pattenwithfive goals was fantastic for us in his first game back since Round 6.

“Nodoubt about it though the difference in thegame was Foster’s young gun Willem Duursma,hecan do it all this kid,he’squick, has agreat set of hands, marks it at the highest point and is abeautiful kick of the football.Tobehonest, if Itakemyopposition coaches hat off, he was very good to watch.”

Thereisnoquestion football is ateam game, but every so often one player stands outasone that can change the fortunesof ateam, we saw abit of it on the weekend, and there is every chance we will see more of it as the bar gets lifted for finals. MDU,Thorpdale and Toora had the bye.

Netball scoreboard

GIPPSLAND LEAGUE -ROUND 16 (COMPLETED)

A GRADE: Moe 61 dLeongatha 39, Drouin 48 d

Maffra29, Traralgon 52 dBairnsdale 34, Warragul

51 dWonthaggi, Morwell 52 dSale 39.

BGRADE: Leongatha 43 dMoe 37,Drouin 72 d

Maffra24, Wonthaggi 52 dWarragul 33, Morwell

59 dSale 50, BYE-Bairnsdale,Traralgon.

CGRADE: Leongatha 30 dMoe 20, Maffra

38 dDrouin 27,Traralgon 34 dBairnsdale 16, Wonthaggi 37 dWarragul 34, Morwell 31 dSale

28.

UNDER 17’s: Leongatha 61 dMoe 4, Drouin

42 dMaffra35, Traralgon 44 dBairnsdale 22,

Wonthaggi 58 dWarragul 17,Sale 47 dMorwell 10

UNDER 15’s: Leongatha 42 dMoe 12,Maffra

46 dDrouin 21, Traralgon 58 dBairnsdale 20,

Wonthaggi 24 dWarragul 23, Sale 64 dMorwell 8.

UNDER 13’s: Moe 33 dLeongatha 32, Maffra

34 dDrouin 33, Traralgon 42 dBairnsdale 29, Wonthaggi 34 dWarragul 17,Sale 58 dMorwell 13

NORTH GIPPSLAND -ROUND 18

AGRADE: Heyfield 71 dCowwarr 26,Sale City

48 dRosedale 42, Woodside 67 dYarram 42,

Glengarry69d Gormandale 32, Churchill 65 d

TTU 40, BYE- YYN.

BGRADE: Heyfield 60 dCowwarr 50,Sale

City41d Rosedale 38, Woodside 66 dYarram

36, Glengarry65d Gormandale 34, TTU 49 d

Churchill 27,BYE -YYN

CGRADE: Heyfield 26 dCowwarr 24,Sale City

46 dRosedale 20, Woodside 63 dYarram 6, Gormandale 50 dGlengarry14, Churchill 35 d

TTU 32, BYE- YYN.

DGRADE: Cowwarr 42 dHeyfield 22, Sale

City41d Rosedale 28, Woodside 55 dYarram

9, Glengarry36d Gormandale 21, TTU 41 d

Churchill 29, BYE- YYN.

UNDER 17’s: Heyfield 42 dCowwarr 10,Sale

City41d Rosedale 16,Woodside 53 dYarram

8, Glengarry38d Gormandale 18,TTU 53 d

Churchill 12,BYE -YYN

UNDER 15’s: Heyfield 54 dCowwarr 11,Sale

City39d Rosedale 27,Woodside 54 dYarram 5,

Glengarry39d Gormandale 5, TTU 72 dChurchill

7, BYE- YYN.

MID GIPPSLAND -ROUND 17

AGRADE: Yinnar 116dFoster 15,Boolarra58d

Tarwin 36, Mirboo North 39 draw Fish Creek 39, Newborough 48 dHill End 36, Morwell East 56 d

StonyCreek 28, BYE- Toora, MDU

BGRADE: Yinnar 74 dFoster 13,Boolarra55

dTarwin 41, Fish Creek 46 dMirbooNorth 40, Newborough 57 dHill End 49, StonyCreek 39 d

Morwell East 24, BYE- Thorpdale,Toora,MDU

CGRADE: Yinnar 69 dFoster 12,Boolarra48

dTarwin 26, Mirboo North 39 dFish Creek 25, Hill End 41 dNewborough 31, Morwell East 40 d

StonyCreek 12,BYE -Thorpdale,Toora,MDU

DGRADE: Yinnar 55 dFoster 4, Tarwin 47 d

Boolarra 29, Fish Creek 36 dMirbooNorth 25, Newborough 39 dHill End 22, Morwell East 26 d StonyCreek 21, BYE- Thorpdale,Toora,MDU

UNDER 17’s: Boolarra32d Tarwin 22,Fish Creek 38 dMirbooNorth 9, Morwell East 35 dStony Creek 17,BYE -Yinnar,Newborough, MDU,Toora

UNDER 15’s: Yinnar 48 dFoster 10,Boolarra 81 dTarwin 3, Mirboo North 48 dFish Creek 16 Hill End 40 dNewborough 16,Morwell East 29 d StonyCreek 22, BYE- Toora, MDU

UNDER 13s: Yinnar 26 dFoster 20, Boolarra35d Tarwin 5, Mirboo North 39 dFish Creek 8, Hill End draw Newborough 23, BYE- Toora, MDU

Upstoppable Lions go top

NETBALL

By ZAIDA GLIBANOVIC

MOE returned to the top of the table after smashingLeongathainRound 16 of Gippsland League netball.

The league completed the secondhalf of the split round at the weekend.

Moe’s attacking force wasunstoppable last Saturday at Ted SummertonReserve, as Ramayer Gourley with 45 goals, individually outscored the Parrots’ 39.

Leongatha’s Lauren Redpath, KateBrowne and KaylaRedpath were good for their side, while Olivia Barnett, AlexandraMoody and Gourley were outstanding in the win for the Lions.

Bairnsdale didn’t have the luck of their senior footy side, going down to Traralgon 52 to 23.

The Maroons were able to build consistently on their lead after an even first term. The Redlegs were caught with their hands off the wheel in the second quarter, allowing the Maroons to capitaliseand take awaythe 18-goalwin in the end. Montanna Styles, Ashlyn Pavey and Bronwyn Tebb were amongthe best for Traralgon,while Alison Dwyer, Brielle Malady, Danielle Johnson starred for the Redlegs.

Drouin was too good for Maffra.

The Hawks defeated the Eagles 48 to 29.

April Bethune, Lucy McKellar and Kym Diston were recognised as the Hawks best, while Eagles

Matilda Pendergast, Chelsea Allman and Grace Ronchi impressed even in the loss.

Warragul, Wonthaggi, Morwell and Sale had the week off due to the split round.

THERE was no major upsets to report in the final round of the North Gippsland Football-Netball League home-and-away season.

Sale City held on from adefiant Rosedale side. The Blues were coming to knock the Bulldogs off theirthrone, butthe fairytale wasn’t meant to be, going down 48 to 42.

It was undoubtedly ahard contest, but the Bulldogs showed their bite and fighttoget over theline and finish as this year's minor premier.

Rosedale,onthe other hand, finishing fifth, will play Woodside this Sunday in an elimination final.

Heyfield had an easy win over Cowwarr.

Allthe Kangaroos had to do was beat the Saints to lock in the second spot of the ladder, and that they did. The final scores were 71 to 26 Heyfield’s way.

Cowwarr had no response to Heyfield’s defensive pressure, which allowed the Roos to turn the ball over again and again, and what was even better for the Roo girls was that they capitalised on most turnovers, ahandy skill to have come finals.

Woodside were comfortable winners over Yarram.

The Wildcats were 25-point winners over the Demons, but given Yarram’s track record this year, spectators might have expected abiggermargin. Yarram couldn’t hold back the Wildcats as they

Turner ticks over 300 games

extended theirlead every quarter, despite apretty even first term. The final score was Wildcats' 67 to Yarram’s 42.

Glengarry received some consolation for just missing finals with agood 69 to 32 win over Gormandale.

The Magpies, aquality side all year, fell just short of the top five, but to beat the Tigers by awhopping 37 goals is no easy feat and proves just how tight the competition was at the top end of the table.

Churchill got the job done.

The Cougars locked in third place on the ladder when they took the four points home from TTU. The Bombersside was aformidable opponent, testing every inch of the Cougars in the firstterm, but the Cougars regrouped and found another gear to run away 25 goal winners. The final scores were 65 to 40.

Yallourn Yallourn North had the bye.

IN Round 17 of the Mid Gippsland FootballNetball League, Foster had 101 reasons to hurt, as Yinnar demolished the Tigers by an eye-watering 101goals.

The Magpiesasserted themselves as flag favourites with the 116-15 goal win.

Boolarra defeated Tarwin 59 to 36.

Mirboo North and Fish Creek drew, and Newborough defeated Hill End 48 to 36. Morwell East had adecent win overStony Creek, winning 56 to 28, while Toora and MDU had the bye.

Monster effort breaks sevenyear record

FOOTBALL MID GIPPSLAND

NEWBOROUGHset anew club record against Hill End at the weekend.

The Bulldogsscore of 30.15 (195) Newborough's highest-ever score against HillEnd, beating the previousbest of 30.12 (192) in 2016.

Bulldog supporters will be hoping this is agood omen, as Newborough's last senior flag was in 2016.

Lastweekend wasalsothe first time ever Hill End has failed to score agoal against the Bulldogs. TheRovers previouslow was 1.4 (10) in 1960.

Joel Mitchell's 10-goal effort equalled the recordheld by aNewborough player against Hill End.Otherstokick doublefigures are Steve Sanders (1980) and James Todd (2004).

FOOTBALL MID GIPPSLAND

MIRBOO North Football-Netball Club welcomed just its third memberinto the 300 seniorgame club at the weekend.

Tigers legend Damien Tuner now stands among Chris Shiels and the late Sam Gervasi in that exclusive group.

The midfielder brought up the milestone at home

against FishCreek in the penultimate roundofthe Mid Gippsland Football-Netball League season.

Although the Mirboo North of today was unable to getawin, the Mirboo North teams Turner has played in have enjoyed no shortage of success.

He has four senior flags to his name -three as captain (2007, 2013-14, 2017).

Assuming he plays on next season, Turner looks all but certain to break the Mirboo North senior games record.

The record stands around the 310 mark.

Off the field, the Bulldogs found themselves in national socialmedia spotlight the last few days, afterthe story of aplayer on canteen duty went viral.

In true country footy style, the player in question somehow got the boiling water used for tea and coffee mixed up with water used for the hotdogs.

One can only image the reaction from supporters as ahotdog flavoured coffee touched their lips.

$150 WILLS & POWERS OF ATTORNEY

Turner and the modernday poets: Mirboo North senior footballerswearing special commemorativet-shirts celebrating Damien Turner’s 300thsenior game.Turnerispicturedfront row, fifthfrom the left. Photograph supplied

LNoble 2C Ross 2T May2 WCoad 2AMay OPoulton LMitchellJ Ingle

LWhitehead.Gormandale: JGreen MTobin. BEST: Glengarry: CRoss HGilmoreT MayJ Ingle

ZKeenan AMay.Gormandale: JGreen SMorritt PShrubbNHammond PDoyle MFarah

CHURCHILL 1.1 6.3 10.4 12.5 (77)

TTU2.2 4.6 5.6 7.9 (51)

GOALS: Churchill: LBrereton3BBrereton2 MSbaglia 2D Golcic BKokshoorn SWhittle

JAnswerthJ Whykes.TTU: THendricken2A Brady BPoel NAlbanese JSavige DNavakas

BEST: Churchill: JWhykes MSbaglia LBreretonHvan Rossum SWhittle RCroft.TTU: B

Fleming FShields THendricken

SALECITY2.2 4.4 5.6 10.8 (68)

ROSEDALE 3.2 5.4 9.7 9.9

North Gippsland Football &Netball League NorthGippsland

Roos leap inttoddoubblechhance

FOOTBALL NORTH GIPPSLAND

BY TOM HAYES

THAT’S 18 rounds of the North Gippsland Football-Netball Leaguedone and dusted, starting with 11 sides -we’re now down to the final five.

Finals begin as this weekend,with five soon to be trimmed to four.

Positions are signed, sealed and delivered as we prepare for an entertaining finals series which hopes to not disappoint.

IT’S hard to defeat the undefeated.

Churchill travelled to Tyers, needing to beat the unbeaten Traralgon Tyers United to ensure atop three berth.

It proved difficult, as youcouldassume, as TTU drowned the Cougars, displaying the classy footy they have done all year.

Churchill started strong by slotting the first goal of the game, but for the next 25 minutes, the Bombers had every avenue covered.

The home side went on to kick five in the quarter, to hold a27-point lead at quarter time,stopping Churchill in their tracks.

TheCougars stuck to their game plan, but were unable to account for TTU’sgut running in the middle, making their forward-50 entries count.

TTU added7.2 (44)to2.2 (14) in the second termtopracticallyput the game to bed, holding amonster 57-point halftime lead.

In the third term, the Bombers appeared to have their way with the Cougars, slowly putting the final daggers in.

Churchill, much like the first half, looked astepbehind in most facets,which only highlighted how good TTU are.

Another 6.1 (37) was added to the Bombers’ score, as Churchill could only muster 1.2 (8), atriple-figure margin loomed, as the 86-point buffer currently stood.

With the game out of reach, Churchill set out to win their final quarter of footy in the home-and-away season, trying to take a positive step into finals.

You could say that was achieved, just, as theCougars threw big bodies forward and registered 5.6 (36) for the quarter to TTU’s 5.3 (33).

The margin at the final siren read amargin of 83 points, 23.10 (148) to 9.11 (65).

Mitchell Mustoe was unstoppableinthe middle for the Bombers, joining him in the best was Jye Neilson (fourgoals),Frazar Brouns(sixgoals),Oscar Aliotta, Beau White and Liam Willaton.

Blake Slater went forward late and kicked four goals for Churchill, earning him astop in the best, as did Tom Sevenson, Jordan Fenech, Nick Celima, Dillon Leys and Ben Kearns.

TTU now get abye and will play the winner of Woodside and Heyfieldfor aspotinthe Grand Final, while Churchill will have to do it allagainagainst Yallourn Yallourn North, following athree-point defeat to them just afortnight ago.

THE Roos leaped to third.

Heyfield would’ve been confident going into their final home-and-away game knowing they were coming up against abottom-half side.

They handed asenior debut to thirds youngster Ethan Davies, the defender showing great form in his age grade.

Needing awin (and Churchill to lose) to secure top three, the odds were in the Kangaroos' favour, and boy did theycash in.

The Kangaroos are one of, if not the most in-form teams right now,dispersing the fact thatTTU are undefeated, Heyfield’s climb has been one to watch.

They did it quite comfortably against Cowwarr at the weekend,who made sure to give them asmall fright on their journey.

The tone was set from the get-go, as Heyfieldburst out to a27-point lead at quarter time,setting up what could have been another thumping.

ButCowwarr retaliated, whichnodoubt would have put the Kangaroos on the back-foot.

The Saints kicked 5.2 (32) to just 3.4 (22), dragging the margin to within three kicks -17points at the main break.

Butfromhere on out, Heyfield were easily able to account for the Saints, taking their bet all the way to the bank,tocash in on their double-chance winnings.

The Kangaroos extended the margin back out to 27 by three quarter time, before puttingthings beyonddoubt and sealing the 33-point win, 14.17 (101) to 10.8 (68).

It was by no means their best performance, but it proves that they can get the job done while going through some adversity on the field, shown in the second term.

Youngster Asher Eastham led the line for Heyfield, kicking three goals, but it was Robert McMillan, Mitch Bennett, Nick Dinsdale, TysonBirss,LiamHeasley and Max Van Der Zwart who stood out.

Cowwarr’s best and fairest Ben Coffey kicked three goals and was rewarded with abest-on for the Saints, joining him was Jackson Davison, Kyle Stamers (three goals), RhysLuxford,Mathew Leicester and Wayne

Swan

The Saints’ own Shane Galea was chaired off after the game, after announcing his retirement.

Heyfield will now take on Woodside, who haveeasilybeen second fiddle to TTUall year, but can the young side take it to one of the league’s best?

Lose,and they face the winner of Churchill and YYN in ado-or-die clash.

WOODSIDE enter finalsonapositive note.

The Wildcats and Demons endured aslow starttoproceedings, one thatsaw just agoal each in the first term.

Yarram have potentially had the most unpredictable seasonofresults,and perhaps we were getting ataste why thatwas the case. The floodgates certainly opened after quarter time, Woodside tookathree-point lead into the break.

In the second term, both sides were on song, but Woodside edged out their counterparts slightly,this time to hold a15-point lead over the Demons, still not out of the fight yet Woodside extended their margin, but Yarram didn’t seem to be done with yet.

The Wildcats added 3.2 (20) to 1.2 (8), which saw the margin rise to 27 points, but the game was going to go one of two ways from here.

And it went the way of Woodside, who kicked 7.5 (47) to 1.1 (7) in the final term to take the margin above 11 goals, sealing the win without ashadow of doubt.

Woodside’sDaniel Farmer leaped over YYN’s Dean Macdonald in the goal-kicking ranks in the final round of the home-andaway season, booting six goals to lead the count 82 to Macdonald’s 80.

RyanFoat,Matt Dyke,Tom King,Joh

Fythe, Adam Janssen and Darcy McAlpine were standouts for the Wildcats.

As for Yarram, Griffin Underwood shone, as did Liam Bentley, Daniel Vardy, Boadie Motton, Demons’ best-and-fairest Dylan Garnham and Tyler Chisholm.

With Yarram’s season done and dusted, it is just Woodside who have agame to look forward to next weekend; Heyfield in a qualifying final.

SALE CITY ended their season on ahigh.

The Bulldogs madesure to finish their season with four more points in the bank, getting past Rosedale at home.

It was aspecial dayfor the home side, who had two milestones to celebrate.

DanielBirdplayed his 350thgame and TomBowmanracked up his 200th senior game, following an on-off career with the Bulldogs that began in 2000.

Sale City kept Rosedale to nothing in the opening quarter, but could only muster 2.3 (15) for themselves, keeping the Blues in it. The second quarter was all red, white and blue, as the Bulldogs piled on 6.4 (40) to 2.1 (13),giving them ahandy42-point lead at halftime Rosedale didn’tmakeiteasy,climbing back in the thirdterm,scoring 5.2 (32) to 3.4 (22). Stilldownbyfive goals, it was going to take amassive effort to win from here.

Perhaps that margin was too high to climb, as Rosedale got close, but not close enough, going down by 23 points, 14.15 (99) to 12.4 (76).

Bulldogs runner-up best and fairestJaxsyn Whitehillpipped eventual winner Blake Safstrom to get best-on-ground. They were joined by Lachlan Carman, Billy Quirk, Cam Green and Joel Safstrom.

HarryFoat setthe examplefor Rosedale, as did Spencer Fox, Luke Stuckey, Max Lazzaro, Corey Buys and Connor Macleod. GLENGARRY endedonthe right note and gotout of 10th position.

They locked up their third win of the season, besting Gormandale in atough battle.

The Tigers didn’t back down easily, going aheadinthe openingterm and holding an eight-point advantage at the break.

But the Magpies swooped in and regained the lead, keeping Gormandale to apoint in the second term to then take their own ninepoint lead into halftime.

Their lead doubled by three quarter time, but by no meanswas this safe, as scoring went either way in the third quarter.

But Glengarry was able to hold on and deny Gormandale theirfirst win of the season, locking up a20-point win away from home, 10.15 (75) to 8.7 (55).

Jake Read was named best-on-ground for the Magpies, complimented by Michael Ryan, Riley Adams, Matt Scholtes, BeauHutton and Thomas Harris.

IsaacCopland was influential for the Tigers, and was helped by Flynn Roscoe, Nick Millington, Tristan Salerno, Noah Copland and Jodie Owen.

YYN had the bye.

Finalsget underway this weekend, with two huge fixtures, and soon five will be four. Woodside takes on Heyfield at Churchill, the winner playsTTU the following week while the loser has another chance against the winner of the elimination final.

YYN andChurchill will lockhorns in Yarram to keep their season alive. If their last game just afortnight agois anything to go off, we are in for atreat

Celebrating alifetime of clubloyalty

NETBALL NORTH GIPPSLAND

BY ZAIDA GLIBANOVIC

GLENGARRY through and through. That’s what Erin Riseley is.

Most are pretty sure if she said what colour she would bleed, it would be black and white. The life member, premiership player and best-and-fairest winner has just reached another career milestone, playing 350club gamesfor GlengarryFootballNetball Club.

And if that wasn’t enough, Riseley (nee Wilson) has now been written into the history books as Glengarry’s all-time games record holder.

The 42-year-oldhas played her whole life as a Magpie,having now surpassed the previous games records holderwhenshe played her350th club game against TTU on Saturday, August 5. Her extensive career accomplishments include four premierships in Bgrade;1999-01 and 2008. Learning to win flags from the get-go, Riseley’s under 17’s team won the 1996 premiership, with the young gun beingawardedrunner-upbest-andfairest for her club and league.

Riseley joined Glengarry in 1988 and has continued volunteering, playing and coaching since then.

Ahumbleteam player at heart, she said she had played “alright”inher 350th game against TTU.

The club said they were proud to celebrate this monumental milestone, praising her loyalty. It was aspecial moment for Glengarry FNC, who posted atouching video montage with memories and friends and family, congratulating Riseley in celebration of her incredible achievement.

“This time, it was abit overwhelmingactually because the club did avideo and put it up on the Glengarry Football-Netball Club Facebook page on Friday night,” the 350-gamer said. Surprised at the fanfare, Riseley never imagined

she would receive such abig acknowledgement.

“It was lovely and nice -really sweet -a bit more than Icould ever have expected.”

The ring defenderactually started playing shooter at seven-years-old for Glengarry, but earned her stripes defending inside the ring.

With such along career comes many career highlights for Riseley.

“I played BGrade outof17s and we lostthe Grand Final that year;wecame runners-up,and then we actuallywon the nextthree in arow,soI’ve got ahat-trick of BGrade Grand Finals,” she said.

“When we won my third BGrade, we actuallyhad won A, Band Cfor the club, and there was no D Grade back then, so it was like aclean sweep for the netball club. It was really exciting.”

Thoughher 350th celebrations weren’taswild as her previous premierships, Riseley had agreat

time having drinks with friends and family.

The epitome of longevity, Riseley has had to play abit smarter, not harder.

“I'm alot of game smarts now and less fitness,” Riseley laughed.

“Yourknowledge of the game changes. When you're young, you're young and fit, and you do a lotmore running,” she said.

“Now it’s more of apressure game like Idon’t get alot of intercepts, but Iput alot of pressure on the pass that others make mistakes, andweget thosefree balls.”

As ahardworking defender,Riseleysaidshe idolised Australian legendarygoal keeper Liz Ellis.

“I used to love watching Liz Ellis. Because I've played defence my whole life: Iloved watchingher go abouther business,” she said.

Having abit of Liz Ellis to her game, Riseley just might be Glengarry’s very own version.

Despite the long and joyouscareer,ithasn’t always been smooth sailing for Riseley.

“It was easier to play when you're younger, to play and then get up to seniors, and when your finish high school, you think ‘what’s next, do Ieven have Saturdays free?’” she said.

“I became anurse -itwas always challenging getting Saturdays off when you're ashift worker.”

No longer workingshifts, Riseley is committed to spending her Saturdays at the club, nevermissing training or agame.

The 350-gamerloves netball and playing for Glengarry, spending her life doing just that.

“It’s beenreally good, Ithink Glengarry as awhole has been pretty successful for avery long time, and Ithink that helps you to stay as well,” she said.

Playing her 35th season for Glengarry, Riseley has seen many changes at the club.

“I rememberwhenthe footyand netball club finally amalgamated… we’ve had people that have sort of looked after the club for alongtimeleave

but then new people always come up, every time that someone leaves, there always seems to be someone to come up and boost the club up again.

“We’re very lucky to have alot of passionate people around Glengarry.”

Ateam player through and through, Riseley puts her club's benefit before all else.

“I’ve only just recently gone down to CGrade,but I’ve played most of my careerinBGrade;I probably played four or five years all up in AGrade,” she said.

“If they’ve got young girls that are good, you want them to play the higher grade so Idrop down a grade.”

Riseley has never had any long stints away from the club, as she even coached AGrade while pregnant with her first child.

Her loyalty is unquestioned, having beena Glengarry girl all her life.

“I’m not changing clubs. I’dretire before I'd change clubs,” she said.

“I lived there from pretty much when Iwas six months old until Iwas 23 when Imoved out.

“You grow up in the community. My dad played footy, my sister played netball, my brother played football, and every sport you play is for Glengarry; it's thecommunity feel.

“When Imoved out of there, Icould not imagine playing for anyone else -all my friends are there.”

Riseley won’t look to hang up the shoes soon.

“I’ve always said for so many years that I’m only one good injury away from retirement; there have been no injuries,” she said.

“In my mind, my oldest son has two more years of juniorfootball at Southside, so alittlepart of me hopes he might go join thirds over at Glengarry so Ican be afooty mum and play.”

Expect to seeGlengarry’s CGrade captain around the club for many more years to come.

Rosedale royalty brings up 300 club games

NETBALL

NORTH GIPPSLAND

BY ZOE ASKEW

WHILE the Diamonds secured their 12th netball World Cup recently, CarlyJohnstone achieved her own feat in the North Gippsland Football-Netball League.

Johnstone played her 300th game for Rosedale Football-Netball Club last Saturday, in the Blues' Round 17 clash against Cowwarr, becoming one of just six Rosedale netballers to reach the milestone.

"It was an amazing feeling," Johnstone said.

"A bit surreal, to be honest; I've been there (at Rosedale FNC)for such along time, and Iknew the game was coming up, but for it to actually be that day was pretty special.

"I had alot of support there as well, lots of family and friends who came and watched; it was lovely."

Rosedale FNCdescribed Johnstone as aloyal, dedicated, selfless, pivotal player who continually challenges herself, strives for excellence and exhibits the finestprofessionalism on the court while serving as an exceptional role model.

"Carly is aselfless player who places her team first before personal accolades," the club wrote.

Johnstone has had many accolades at Rosedale.

In her debut season for Rosedale in 2004, an 18-year-old Johnstone was named NGFNL's C Grade Best and Fairest runner-up and Rosedale's CGrade Bestand Fairest, earning her promotion to AGrade,where she has played all but one season.

Johnstone has been afundamental player for Rosedalethroughout the Blues'mostsuccessful AGrade era, with the centre now afive-time A Grade premiership player, havingwon NGFNL flags in 2011, 2014-15 and 2018-19.

"Inbetween there, Iplayed in aBGrade premiership in 2016," Johnstone said.

"I was planning on having that year off, but my sister(Carmen Healey) and my bestfriend (Danielle Hazelman) were playingBGrade and ended up roping me in, so to play with them and win the premiership that year as well was pretty awesome."

The six-time premiership player has beennamed Rosedale'sAGradeBest and fairestmultiple times with many Runners Up under her belt as well.

Johnstone wasnamed NGFNL's AGrade Best and Fairest in 2018, NGFNL's AGrade Best and Fairest runner-up in 2009 and 2019 and has featured in the Team of the Year on five occasions.

"Thesemilestones,like300 games, they make you sort of look backatwhatyou have achieved because its something that you don't really do often," Johnstone said.

"Because it has been over almost 20 years, now thatI am reflecting,and talking to people, and on the weekendpeoplereading out the personal accolades, the team accolades, it's like wow, it's pretty overwhelming, and it's aprivilege. I'm really honoured to be apart of the club and to have achieved the milestone."

While so much has happened throughout her

nearly two decades at Rosedale FNC, making it hard to pick ahighlight of her career, Johnstone considers the 2011 and 2015 premierships as high points

"My very first premiership in 2011, Ijust remember having this feeling of being so excited to play in aGrand Final," Johnstone said.

"I remember being at work and talking about it, and no one really understood, and I'm like 'this is abig deal'. We worked so hard for those years from 2005 to 2011, and to actually get that spot in the Grand Final, that was pretty special.

"My sister also won aBGrade premiership that year,sowegot to celebrate that together, which was awesome."

TheBlues sealed double premierships in 2015, a special moment for Johnstone, who liftedRosedale's fifth AGrade netball flag alongside her husband, who raised the Blues' ninth senior football premiership flag.

"In 2015, my husband was in the senior premiership side for Rosedale as well," Johnstone said.

"So the AGrade won, and the seniors won, which was pretty special."

Playing alongside her now-longtime friend Lorell Lowe has also been ahighlight of Johnstone's netball career.

"Lorell Lowe, she is one of my best friends; she's been our captain in AGrade for as long as Ican remember, and she is justsopassionate and so driven," Johnstone said.

"We just know what we want and its like we look

at each other on thecourt and we know what to do,we'veplayed together for so long. Idon't think Iwouldhave reached 300 games without her

"Lorell just doesn't stop. She is so passionate, and whenyou look at her, it justgives you that fire; she has done that for our team for so long, and it's been really, really special to play alot of my 300 games with her."

Johnstone has becomeadevoted club member since joining the Blues in 2004, always willing to devote her time and help where needed, taking on the role of DGrade coach in 2008 and 2009 and C Grade coach for the last four seasons.

"You just help where you can," she said.

"There's often not alot of people who put their hand up for that coaching role because it is abig commitment, and Iamjust one of those people ...because Ilove this club, it's like afamily at Rosedale."

While Johnstone has given so much of her time and energy to the club over the years, it hasn't been without return.

Johnstone met her husband, Scott, through Rosedale FNC, the two fast became friends when she joined the club in 2004, and by the end of the season, they were dating. The couple will celebrate 19 years together later this year.

Carly and ScottJohnstonebecame the first Rosedale FNC couple to reachthe 300-game milestone at the weekend, with Scott playing his 300th game for Rosedale in late 2022.

Skipper: TheCGrade team celebrated their captain’s (backrow thirdfromright) milestone Photograph supplied

TRARALGON DISTRICT JUNIOR FOOTBALL LEAGUE

TEDAS: HStone 3LJennings 2T Siemens 2J Poursanidis 2T Leitner JRiddleD

SSJFC: WWalker 2LGeary. BEST: TEDAS: FAdams JScott EAddison BCooper H

JRiddle.SSJFC: RFarley MShawW Jones WWalkerLGearyF Graham UNDER

GOALS: Yinnar Magpies: Details N/A. PBJFC:X Mizzi. BEST: Yinnar Magpies: HBrighton A

BSinclair DYoung ARogalskyHBlair.PBJFC:JChurchill NEdgar ARobertson M

LSutton JPaulet

GOALS: SSJFC:

0.1

CENTRAL GIPPSLAND JUNIOR FOOTBALL LEAGUE

FOOTBALL NORTH

BY TOM HAYES

IT'S not every day you get to witness someone kick their 100th goal for the season.

My immediate thoughts sprint to Lance ‘Buddy’ Franklin kicking his 100th goal of the 2008 season while playing for Hawthorn against Carlton.

The same night Brendan Fevolawas left stranded on 99 goals up the other end, imagine two ground invasions.

But recently, in the North Gippsland Football-Netball League, it happened, and to extenuate the occasion, it came off the back of an 11 goal haul, in the thirds.

Rosedale’s Lachlan Speairs entered the record books, scoring more than 100 goals in ahome-and-away season.

In Rosedale’s Round 17 clash against Cowwarr, Speairs started the game on 89 goals, but thanks to two double-digit hauls throughout the season, reaching aton wasn’t out of the question.

Maybe you’dassumeitwas considering he only had four to three quarter time against Cowwarr, seven away from the magical triple digits.

“I only had four at three quarter time, so Ididn’t have too much of an expectation,” Speairsrecalled.

“I think Imight’vegot three or four in the first four or five minutes (of the last quarter), kept playing, got acouple more,kicked a few points so Ithought Imight’veblown it.”

With only acouple of minutes left on the clock, Speairs took afloating grab before swiftly playing on into an open goal for his 11th of the day.

Promptly, teammates both on and off the field swamped the youngster, with fans joining in on the act too.

“I was fortunate enough to get there, definitelygot set afew timesbymyteammates,” Speairssaid.

“I reckon there was probably only two or three minutes left by the time Igot the last one.”

Rosedale’s thirds just locked up second placeonthe ladder, despite aloss to Sale City in the final round.

Speairsaddedanother three to his tally, finishingthe home-and-away season on 103 majors

Others have gotten close to 100 in the thirds in recent times, but none were able to crack the ton.

TTU's Riley Denovan was just nine goals shortthisseason,stranded on 91, the closest someone has gotten without kicking 100 lately.

Churchill's Aidyn Sheers kicked 71 in 2019, DylanDeHommelkicked70for Glengarryin 2015, while Jack HeiserofGlengarry kicked 77 in 2010, then 87 in 2011.

Aside from his individual accomplishments, Speairs is still focussed on the Holy Grail that is apremiership.

“We’ve still got the final upcoming, which is the most important thing,” Speairs said.

“I’d take apremiership any day over anything Ican achieve personally.”

The competitive nature of NGFNL’s thirds is one to take note of, six teams were in the hunt, whichisnow five after TTU missed out by agame-despite havingthe fourth best percentage in the league.

Second-placed Rosedale were beaten by fourth-placed SaleCitytothe tuneof59 points in the last round, so truly anything is possible.

“It proves how close it is from first to sixth,” Speairssaid.

“It shows we’ve gotta keep working hard and put ourselves into a prelim or a Grand Final and anything can happen.”

Last year, Speairs played thirds despite being ayear younger, and is now competing at the proper age for abottom-aged thirds player.

Last year he managed 27 goals before an unfortunateinjury soured his season, yethe was able to get fit before winning aflag with Rosedale that year.

“I broke my arm probably five or six rounds into the year, Imissed obviously afair chunk of footy, but Ithink justbeing around the group for that extra year …and be more involved in thegame keepsyou engaged,” Speairssaid.

Speairswas given ataste of open-age footy this year, being promoted to the seniors for their Round 16 clash against Gormandale.

SuperSpeairs tons up Tigers, Suns falling out of favour

FOOTBALL

AFL EXPORTS

BY TOM HAYES

FACES returned to the fold, while the regulars stuck at it at the weekend, which saw four locals in action and one in the coach’s box.

THE locals on the Gold Coast took it to the Sydney Swans.

The Suns shone in the first half at the SCG, keeping with the Swans.

Moe’s Sam Flanders got off to the right start, kicking the Suns’ second goal of the game to put them ahead at the time.

He roved atap inside 50 and darted his way through traffic, snapping truly for his third goal of the season.

Gold Coast took afive-point lead into quarter time, and managed to sustain that leadinto halftimedespite it dropping to two points, all while the oncoming pressure from the Swans was relentless.

Sydney made thethird term theirs, highlighted by six goals while holding the Suns to two.

Sydney led by 22 going into the final term, allthat was left to do was hold on.

Scoring pretty much halted until the final

10 to 15 minutes of the game,wherethe Swansended up with a36-point lead.

Late goals for the Suns, assisted by Flanders and Moe’s Bailey Humphrey, was enough to drag themargin back to 24, the final score reading 18.6 (114) to 13.12 (90).

Flanders was one of the Suns’ best, collecting23disposals, three tackles, four clearances, one goal and seven score involvements.

Morwell’s Ben Ainsworth kicked two behinds, but alsohad 17 disposals, while providing 366 metres gained.

Humphrey had 16 touches -eight of those contested, five inside 50s,fivescore involvementsand seven pressure acts.

Gold Coast are now two games out of the top eightand are justaboutout of contention

TRARALGON’S Tim Membrey returned forStKilda, playing his first minutes since Round 9.

TheSaints kickedfiveofthe first six goals against Richmond at Marvel Stadium, setting up abig day ahead, taking a17-point lead into thequarter time break.

St Kilda kept the scoreboard ticking in the second term, pushing out to a35-point lead, all before Shai Bolton snaggedone back late for the Tigers to bring it back to 29 points.

The third term was acontrast of the second,

Sharpshooter: Rosedale youngster Lachlan Speairshas kickedacenturyof goals this season. File photograph

Not only that, Speairs played the thirds game beforehand too, kicking 15 goals. He entered the senior game with limited rest,where he kicked his first senior goal and won his first senior game.

“I was grateful to have the chance and give it acrack,” he said.

“It was definitely faster-paced, your decisions have to be much quicker.”

“All the boys got around me and we got the win as well so that made it even better.” Speairs hopestocontinue to develop his gameashegets older, and as he enters next year as atop-aged thirds player,hehopes to get more chances in the open-age game.

“If Iput in some good work, I’d like to get stronger and hold my own at the open-age level,” Speairs said.

“Hopefully going forward Ican get that chance and see what Ican do.

“I’m veryhappyplaying at Rosedale and that’s where I’d like to play my senior footy.”

as only four goalswent throughthe big sticks -three of them going the Saints’ way. Richmond kickedthe firstofthe third term, before the Saints blew the lead out to over 40 points -43tobeexact at three quarter time.

The Tigers won the last quarter, but only just, dragging the margin down to six goals.

The Saints kept their finals hopes alive in a 14.9 (93) to 8.9 (57) win.

Membrey wasn’t able to impact the scoreboard, buthad five score involvementsfrom 15 disposals.

More importantly, he got through the game without injuryinhis first game in three months.

Fellow Traralgon footballer Andrew McQualter experienced different emotions, and nowfaces atoughchallenge ahead to get the Tigers into finals.

Richmondare six points and aheckof percentage out of the topeight,meaning it would take agargantuaneffort to play in September.

“We didn’t playthe way we wanted to tonight, mostly on defence, Ithought our defence was sub-standard tonight,” McQualter said post-match.

“We haven’t gotten it done, we haven’t been at the level we’ve needed to,” he said on the last fortnight of games.

Umpire milestones coming thick and fast

FOOTBALL UMPIRING BY LIAM SMITH*

UMPIRING milestones are celebrated across the region, acknowledging the commitment and dedication of officials.

Dan Swallow now has 350 games to his credit. Mr Secretary is in his 10th year of service and has nine GrandFinalslisted to his name.

On field, he is one of the few umpires that is accredited in all three disciplines, and off field, he has done afantasticjob as the

secretary of the LVUAfor eightyears.

Mark Harris brought up his 850th game three weeks ago.

Harrisisinhis 34th year of service to the LVUAand was awardedlife membership in 2000 of the association and 12 Grand Finals to hisname.

Ryan Mcleod umpired his 200th game at the weekend.

McLeod umpired his 200th in the game between Traralgon and Bairnsdale.

McLeod has become aMr. Reliable with many others running four games per weekend. He has had 4Grand Finals to his name. He has also worked his way through the

umpiring pathways academy and the LVUA can’t wait to see what he can achieve as he is only 19-years-of-age.

On apersonal note, now in my third year with the LVUA, Iran my 50thgame on July 15 during the Moe versus Warragul game. The Smith name is well-known in the association, with threegenerations at the LVUA.

Iwas honoured last year to do the Mid Gippslandsenior GrandFinalalongside dad, and 500-game umpire veteran Mark Smith.

*Editor'snote: As well as being an astute boundary umpire, Liam Smith is also completing workplacement withthe Express.

August 19

4.30 Restoration Australia. (PG,R)

5.30 TheSoundtrack of Australia. (R)

6.30 Kitchen Cabinet. (R)

Presented by Annabel Crabb

7.00 ABC News Takesalookatthe top storiesofthe day,including coverage of developing stories and events.

7.30 Grantchester (Ma) Aman is murdered and apainting is stolen at one of Cambridge’s most prestigious universities.

8.20 Vera (PG, R) Vera and Joeinvestigate afatalstabbing outside aNewcastle nightclub.Identifying the victim as a former police officer,the only clues are an emptyflat andanunregisteredcar with afortunehidden in the boot.

9.50 BayOfFires. (Malv,R)Toreassert her power,Frankie puts Stella on trial in front of the townsfolk.

10.45 LastTango In Halifax. (Ml, R) There is chaosatthe bungalow.

11.45 Rage (MA15+adhlnsv) Music video clips.

6.00 WorldWatch. 8.00 DD India Prime TimeNews 9.00 National Indigenous Music Awards.(R) 12.00 BBC News At Ten. 12.30 ABC World NewsTonightWith David Muir.

1.00 PBS NewsHour 2.00 Gymnastics. FIG

Rhythmic World Challenge Cup.Round 3. Highlights. 4.00 Lancefield Dreaming. (PG, R)

4.40 Going Places With Ernie Dingo.(R) 5.40 SecretNazi

6.30 SBS WorldNews

7.30 Going PlacesWith Ernie Dingo (PG) Narelda Jacobs tours Mallacoota.

8.30 Amazing Railway Adventures With Nick Knowles: Peru (PGa) Nick Knowles embarks on ajourney across Peru to Machu Picchu.

9.30 World’sMostScenic Railway Journeys: Bavaria. (PGa, R) Chronicles aBavarian train journeyfrom the middle of amassivemeteor crater to Germany’s highest mountain.

10.20 Tony Robinson’s HistoryOf Britain: Second World War. (PGa, R)

11.10 RexInRome. (Mv,R)

1.00 TheWitnesses. (Ma, R)

3.00 UFOs.(PGas, R) 4.20 Mastermind Australia. (R) 4.50 DestinationFlavour: Singapore Bitesize. (R)

5.00 NHK World EnglishNews Morning.

5.15 France 24 Feature

5.30 ANC PhilippinesThe WorldTonight.

6.00 SevenNews.

7.00 Football AFL.Round 23.StKilda v Geelong. From Marvel Stadium,Melbourne

10.30 AFL Post-Game Show. Awrap-up of thegame, including panel discussion and interviews, with access to players, coaches and staff

11.00 To Be Advised.

12.45 Motor Racing Supercars Championship.Round 8. OTRSuperSprint Day 1. Highlights.FromThe Bend MotorsportPark, South Australia.

2.00 Home Shopping. (R)

4.00 Get Arty (R) Artists complete art projects to encourage kids of all ages to get creative.

5.00 House Of Wellness (PG, R) Luke Darcy,JoStanley and LukeHines take a look at locations that highlight livingwell

6am Morning Programs.

4.30pm Border Security:Int. 5.00 Horse Racing. Winx Stakes Day,QuaycleanP.B. Lawrence Stakes Dayand Mekka

NITV (34)

As An Aboriginal. 6.00 Ngumpin Kartiya. 6.20 First People’s Kitchen. 6.50 News. 7.00 Amplify. 7.30 Going PlacesWith Ernie Dingo 8.30 Larapinta. (Premiere) 9.05 Alone 10.10 MOVIE: Poltergeist (1982, M) 12.10am Late Programs.

Sunday, August 20

ABC TV (2) SBS (3) SEVEN (7,6)

6.00 Rage. (PG) 7.00 WeekendBreakfast.

9.00 Insiders 10.00 Offsiders. 10.30 The World This Week.(R) 11.00 Compass. (PGa, R) 11.30 Songs Of Praise. 12.00 ABC News At Noon. 12.30 Landline. 1.30 Gardening Australia. (R) 2.30 Grantchester.(PG, R) 3.15 Extraordinary Escapes. (PG, R) 4.10 Grand Designs NewZealand. (PG, R) 5.00 Art Works.

5.30 AntiquesRoadshow

6.30 Compass: Angels, Demons AndMoney.

7.00 ABCNews. Alook at the top stories of the day

7.30 Restoration Australia: Dorothy (PG)Hosted by Anthony Burke.

8.30 BayOfFires. (Mal) As Frankie continues to lose support, Stella and Jeremiah team up to sabotage her

9.30 TheBeastMustDie. (Final, Mals)Frances struggles to deal with the fallout of her attempt to punish the man who killed her son.

10.20 TheNewsreader (Ml, R) Abomb goesoffonRussell Street.

11.15 Talking Heads. (Ma, R)

11.55 Rage Vault (MA15+adhlnsv)

2.00 Escape From TheCity (R)

5.00 Insiders. (R)

ABC TV PLUS (22)

Most Dangerous Pets 9.30 Louis Theroux: Savile. 10.50 Vera 12.20am Universe With Brian Cox. 1.20 George Clarke’sAmazing Spaces 2.05 ABC News Update. 2.10 Close. 5.00 Kiddets. 5.10 Andy’sBaby Animals. 5.25 Hoopla. 5.40 Late Programs.

NITV (34)

6amMorning Programs.

2pm First Nations Indigenous Football Cup.Women’s Semi-final 2. Muninngu Mundas vSunshine Coast Goannas.Replay 3.30RugbyLeague. Murri vKoori Interstate Challenge. Women’s.Brisbane Natives vDunghutti Connxions.Replay. 5.00Froth.

6.00 WorldWatch. 9.00 Cook Up Bitesize. (R) 9.05 GrowingAGreener World. 10.05 The Bee Whisperer.(PGa, R) 11.00 Travel Quest. (PG) 12.00 Motorcycle Racing. Australian ProMX Championship.Round 8. 3.00 WorldWatch. 4.00 Athletics. World Championships.Day 1. Highlights. 5.00 Sunset Stories 5.10 Going Places. (R) 5.40 Secret NaziBases.(R)

6.30 SBS World News.

7.30 Colosseum: TheMartyr (M) Alook at public executions in theColosseum.

9.15 Amazon: TheLostWorld: Fall Of AJungle Civilisation. (PG)Part 3of3

Archaeologists explore therole exploitation had on the people of the Amazon.

10.10 Hemingway:The Blank Page (1944-1961) (Mal,R)Part 3of3

12.00 24 Hours In Emergency: BecauseThe Night.. (Ma, R)

1.50 American Insurrection (Mav,R)

3.20 Patriot Brains. (Mals, R)

4.10 Mastermind Australia. (R)

4.45 Bamay. (R)

5.00 NHK World English News Morning.

5.15 France 24 Feature.

5.30 Al JazeeraNews

6am

LeaveNoTrace.Continued. (2018,PG) 7.35 Bicentennial Man. (1999,PG) 10.00 SpyGame. (2001, M) 12.20pm All The King’sMen. (2006,M)

It’sAll AboutKarma. (2017, PG,Italian) 4.20 Dean Spanley.(2008,PG) 6.15 CutthroatIsland. (1995, PG) 8.30 Brotherhood Of Blades2.(2017, MA15+, Mandarin) 10.45 Free Fire. (2016, MA15+)

Late Programs.

6.00 NBCToday [VIC]HomeShopping.

7.00 WeekendSunrise. 10.00 Border Security: Australia’s Front Line. (PG, R) 10.30 House Of Wellness. (PG, R) 11.30 FIFAWomen’s World Cup Highlights. 12.00 Football. VFL.Round 22. Richmond vNorth Melbourne. 2.40 AFL Pre-Game Show 3.00 Football. AFL. Round 23.Melbourne v Hawthorn. From the MCG.

6.00 SevenNews.

7.00 FIFA Women’s World Cup Pre-Game. Pre-game coverage of the final.

8.00 Soccer FIFAWomen’s World Cup.Final.

10.00 FIFAWomen’s World CupPost-Game

10.30 TheLatest: SevenNews.

11.00 To Be Advised

6.00 Nine NewsSaturday.

7.00 RugbyLeague. NRL Round 25.StGeorge Illawarra Dragons vMelbourne Storm.

9.30 NRLSaturdayNight Footy

Post-Match Post-match coverage of theNRL game between St GeorgeIllawarra Dragons and theMelbourne Storm.

10.00 MOVIE: Sicario: Day Of The Soldado (2018, MA15+dlv,R)A CIA agent enlists the help of amercenary Benicio Del Toro,JoshBrolin.

12.20 New Amsterdam. (Mam,R)

1.10 Straight Forward. (MA15+lv,R)

2.00 TheIncredible Journey Presents (PGa)

2.30 Surfing Australia TV (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 Location, Location, Location Australia. (R)Property experts search for homes.

7.00 TheDog HouseAustralia. (PGa, R) Narrated by Mark Coles Smith.

8.00 To Be Advised.

9.00 MOVIE: WogBoy 2: TheKings Of Mykonos (2010, Mls, R) Aclueless Australian man of Greek descent inherits abeach on the resort island of Mykonos from an uncle. When he and his mate head to Greece with high expectations, they find his inheritance claims could be at risk. Nick Giannopoulos, Vince Colosimo,Alex Dimitriades.

6.00 Fishing Australia. (R) 6.30 ACurrent Affair 7.00 WeekendToday 10.00 The AFLSunday FootyShow.(PG) 12.00 Sports Sunday.(PG) 1.00 DriveTV. 1.30 Bondi Lifeguard WorldAdventures. (PGl,

8.30 60 Minutes. Current affairs program, investigating,analysingand uncovering theissuesaffectingall Australians.

9.30 Nine News Late. Alook at the latest news and events.

10.00 Australian Crime Stories: John Friedrich –The Great Imposter (Ma, R) Alook at the case of John Friedrich.

11.00 Killer At TheCrime Scene. (Mv)

11.50 Law&Order: Organized Crime. (MA15+v,R)

12.40 New Amsterdam.(Mam, R) 1.30 Our State On APlate. (PG, R) 2.00 Killer At The CrimeScene. (Mv,R) 3.00 TV Shop: Home Shopping. (R) 4.00 Believer’sVoice Of Victory. (PGa) 4.30 Fishing Australia. (R) 5.00 News Early Edition. 5.30 Today

6.30 TheSundayProject Panellists dissect,digestand reconstitutethe daily news, events and hottest topics.

7.30 TheDog House Australia. (PGa, R) Celebrities, including Denise Scott, Mark Wales and Mark Philippoussis, search for apet pooch.

9.00 FBI. (Mv) Ateenager shows up at FBI headquarters with alarge bag of fentanyl seeking the team’s protection from the men who shot his father.Nina comes to Scola with aproposal thathe’shesitant to accept.

10.00 NCIS: Hawai’i. (Mav,R)Captain Milius continuestoworkwiththe team in the aftermath of the prisoner exchange.

11.00 TheSundayProject. (R) Alook at the day’snews.

12.00 Home Shopping. (R)

4.30 CBSMornings.

Monday, August 21

6.00 TheDrum

7.00 ABC News

7.30 7.30 Presented by Sarah Ferguson.

8.00 Back Roads: Rabaul, Papua New Guinea. (Final, PG) Tania Bale heads to Papua New Guinea.

8.30 Four Corners. Investigative journalism programexposing scandals, triggering inquiries, firing debate and confronting taboos

9.15 Media Watch. (PG) Paul Barry takesa look at the latestissues affecting media consumers.

9.35 Q+A. Public affairs program.

10.35 ABC LateNews.

10.50 TheBusiness (R)

11.05 TheBeastMustDie. (Final, Mals, R)

11.55 TheCult Of The Family (Final, Ma,R)

12.55 Rage.(MA15+adhlnsv) 3.40 Tenable.(R)

4.30 The Drum. (R) 5.30 7.30.(R)

6.00 Mastermind Australia. (R)

6.30 SBS World News.

7.30 Robson Green’s Weekend Escapes. (Final, PG) Robson Green is joined by Si King

8.05 GreatBritish Railway Journeys: Newmarket To Walsingham. (R) Presented by Michael Portillo

8.40 Britain’s Most Expensive Houses Part 3of5.Managing director Guy Bradshaw hopestobring amanor house onto his books.

9.35 24 Hours In Emergency: Til’ We Meet Again. (M) An elderly womanfalls on atram.

10.30 SBS World NewsLate.

11.00 My Brilliant Friend. (Malv)

12.00 Miniseries: TheUnusual Suspects. (Mls, R)

3.55 Mastermind Australia. (R) 4.25 Bamay (R)

5.00 NHK World English NewsMorning.

5.30 ANC PhilippinesThe WorldTonight.

6.00 SevenNews.

7.00 Home And Away (PGa)

7.30 TheVoice. (PGl) As the blindauditions continue, contestants set out to prove they havewhat it takes to be asinging sensation.

9.15 TheRookie (Mv) John and Baileysearch for amystery gunman after ashooting hits alittletoo close to home. Aaron struggles to live within his means. Wesley suspects that ajudge is taking bribes

10.15 TheRookie: Feds. (Mv) Abillionaire’s daughter goes missing.

11.15

11.45 TheBlacklist (Final,Mav) Thetask force’sfutureisdecided.

12.45

Tuesday, August 22

6.00 SevenNews.

7.00 Home AndAway. (PGav)

7.30 TheVoice. (PG) As theblind auditions continue, contestants set out to prove they havewhat it takestobeasinging sensation.

9.15 RFDS (Mamv) Pete discovers an emergencyintervention he performed has had major repercussions.

10.15 Ambulance: CodeRed (Malv) Follows the work of an ambulance service

11.15 TheLatest: SevenNews.

7.30

8.40 Missing Persons Investigation.

(PGa) Police launch two large-scale searches to find afather of two who goes missing off theWAcoast.

9.40 FootyClassified (M) Hosted by Craig Hutchison, Matthew Lloyd, Caroline Wilson and Kane Cornes.

10.40 Nine News Late.

11.10 Mr Mayor. (PGs)

11.35 Family Law. (Ma, R)

12.25 New Amsterdam. (Ma, R)

1.15 Tipping Point. (PG, R)

2.05 Hello SA (PG, R)

2.30 Global

7.30 TheTraitors. With the first Traitor finally banished, the hunt for the rest has only justbegun. HostedbyRodger Corser

8.40 Have YouBeen Paying Attention? (Malns) Afast-paced look at news, with SamPang andEdKavaleejoined by other celebrity panelliststocompete to see who can remember the most about events of the week. Hosted by TomGleisner

9.40 To Be Advised

10.10 FBI:MostWanted. (Mv,R) Theteam searches foracopycat killer

11.00 TheProject. (R) Alook at the day’snews and events

12.00 TheLate ShowWith Stephen Colbert. (PG) Late-night talk show 1.00 Home Shopping. (R)

CBS Mornings.

Bloodlands. (MA15+av,R)

2.30 RedLight. (MA15+ad, R) 4.25 Mastermind Australia. (R) 5.00

English

11.45 Chicago Fire (Ma) Kidd gets a glimpse into Carver’s personal life.

12.45 S.W.A.T. (Mav, R) 1.00[VIC]HomeShopping. 4.00 NBCToday

6.00 Nine News.

7.00 ACurrent Affair.

7.30 TheBlock. (PGl) Hosted by Scott Cam.

8.40 TheHundred With Andy Lee. Andy Leeisjoined by apanel of comedians and100 Aussies to explore the fun behind the facts.

9.40 Botched. (Mlmn) Aformer pro surfer seeks help

10.40 Nine NewsLate

11.10 TheKiller Nanny:Did She Do It? (Malv)

12.00 NewAmsterdam. (MA15+am, R)

12.50 CourtCam. (Masv, R)

1.40 Tipping Point. (PG,R)

2.30 Good Chef Hunting. (R) 3.00 TV Shop: Home Shopping. (R) 4.00 Believer’sVoice Of Victory.(PGa)

ACurrent Affair.(R)

6.30 TheProject. Alook at the day’snews and events

7.30 TheTraitors. No one is innocent as both Traitors and Faithful become tangled in the web of lies and deception.

8.40 TheCheap Seats. (Mal)Presenters Melanie Bracewell and Tim McDonald takealook at the week that was.

9.40 NCIS (Mv,R)WhenFBI Special Agent Alden Parker is framed for murder,the NCISteam investigate.

10.30 NCIS: Hawai’i. (Mav,R)Captain Milius works with the team.

11.30 TheProject. (R) Alook at the day’snews and events

12.30 TheLate ShowWith Stephen Colbert. (PG)

1.30 Home Shopping. (R)

New graduateparamedics forGippsland

MORE paramedics are hitting the road across Gippsland, as new data shows demand for emergency ambulances is rising sharply again for winter.

AmbulanceVictoria Gippsland Director Regional and Clinical Operations, Ross Salathiel said the fourth quarter of 2022/23 was Ambulance Victoria’s third busiestonrecord, with ambulance responses impacted by a5.5 per cent increaseindemand compared to the previous quarter.

“Every winter, we see demand rise, and this year is still challenging as COVID-19 and influenza spreads, and more staff are furloughed due to illness,” Mr Salathiel said.

“April to June saw ambulances called to 97,509 Code 1cases state-wide, which is more than 5000 additional ‘lights and sirens’ cases compared to the previous three months. This is ahuge29.3per cent increase from 75,398 Code 1cases five years ago before the pandemic hit.

“This winter, we again urge youtohelp our paramedics, first responders and hospitals by saving Triple Zero (000) for emergencies and accessing alternative care options which can bettermeet your needs.”

From April to June, paramedics and first

responders across Victoria responded to 61.7 per cent of Code 1cases withinthe state-wide averagetargetof15minutes. The state-wide average response time to Code 1emergencies was 16 minutes and four seconds.

In the Gippsland Region, response times have improved in theWonthaggi, Warragul and Moe/ Newborough major population centres. Compared to the same time last year, the average response time to Code 1patients has improved from:

-12 minutes and 53 seconds to 10 minutes and 51 seconds in the Wonthaggi major population centre, an improvement of two minutes and two seconds. Paramedics responded to 85.6 per cent of Code 1 cases within the state-wide average target of 15 minutes- makingitthe second best performing majorpopulation centre in the state;

-13 minutes and 12 seconds to 12 minutes and 46 secondsinthe Warragul major population centre, an improvement of 26 seconds, and;

-13 minutes and 22 seconds to 13 minutes and 11 secondsinthe Moe/Newborough major population centre, an improvement of 11 seconds.

Between April and June state-wide, an average of nearly 88 staff were furloughed every day due to COVID-19.Asa wave of COVID-19 spread

during the quarter, the number of staff furloughed increased from alow of 54 on April 1toapeak of 149 on May 24.

On top of staff furloughand increasing winter demand, Ambulance Victoria was also impacted by the pressures felt across the entire emergency care system.

Mr Salathiel said to help respond to increasing demand and to get more ambulances on the road and to patients quicker, Ambulance Victoria had recruited 118 new graduate paramedics over the past month, including 10 in the Gippsland Region.

“This builds on our record recruitment of more than 1300 paramedics overthe past two years,” Mr Salathiel said.

“We welcome all our new graduate paramedics and wish them the best for long and rewarding careers at Ambulance Victoria.”

Ambulance Victoria Executive Director Clinical Operations, Anthony CarlyonsaidAmbulance Victoria has evolved into amodern health service that ensures patients get the right care, at the right time, in the right place.

“Forless urgentcases, we’vetripled the sizeofour secondary triageteam and have referred more than 40,000patients to the VictorianVirtualEmergency Department (VVED) since October 2021 to help avoid unnecessary trips to our hospitals where safe and appropriate,” Mr Carlyon said.

“While ambulances are always provided to patients when required, from ApriltoJune, 38,994 people who did not needanemergencyambulance were instead connected by paramedics and nurses in our secondary triage team to more appropriate care.

“Thatresultsin500 or more casesevery day being safely matched to services that bettersuit their needs while also avoiding emergency dispatch.

“Some people hesitate to call Triple Zero (000) because they are not sure if their situation is an emergency.Ifindoubt, alwayscallTriple Zero (000), and the trained call-takerwillhelp and direct you.

“Meanwhile,our MediumAcuity Transport Service (MATS) crews dedicated for less-urgent calls are freeing up more ambulances to respond to the most critically ill patients.

“Despite our current challenges, our dedicated paramedics continuetodeliver safe and highquality patient outcomes, including Australia’s best cardiac arrest survival rates.”

Forty years of Kmart Moe

Quartet: Kmart Moe is turning40later this month Photograph supplied

KMART Moe turns 40 later this month.

The 40th will be celebrated on August 29.

Over the pastfour decades,Kmart Moe has been more than just aplace to shop; it has become ahub for the community and a gathering place for friends and neighbours. The store has weathered challenges, embraced change,and above all, built lasting connections.

Kmart says the success of the store is a testament to the unwavering support and loyalty of the community.

Together, both the company and customer have seen the ever-evolving landscape of retail, adapting to new technologies,and transforming theshoppingexperience Kmart says it will continue to innovate, expand offerings, and engage with the community to meet customers evolving needs.

Addition: Morethan 1300 paramedics have been added to Victoria’snetwork in the last twoyears. File photograph

Gippy Water lends ahand

GIPPSLAND Water staff rolled up their sleeves at Morwell Neighbourhood House’s ‘People’s Kitchen’ recently to lend ahelping hand.

The People’s Kitchen aims to provide localpeople experiencing food insecurity with access to healthy, home-cooked meals.

Gippsland Wateremployees take part multiple timesayear, preparingupwards of 100 meals in the Kinder Cup Café kitchen to support the wider community.

Alongside MorwellNeighbourhood House volunteers, they chop vegetables and cook nutritious meals for transport to the local food bank.

The meals will be distributed to those who need them.

The People’s Kitchen is regularly attendedbylocal organisations, businesses, and community groups who volunteer their time to lend ahand

GippslandWater managingdirector Sarah Cumming said the organisation was committed to supporting the community.

“Our customers value us being involved in the local community,” Ms Cumming said.

“Initiativeslike the People’s Kitchen are apractical wayofhelping locals in need, especially with

Morwell brigade hold annual presentations

theincreased cost of living pressures.

“They also provide ourpeople with asense of pride in beingabletogive back to their community.”

To learn more about the People’sKitchenvisit morwellnh.org.au/the-peoples-kitchen/

Strengtheninghistorical societies in Gippsland

THERE are close to 70 historical societies and small museums across Gippsland which form part of the lifeblood of rural communities.

Each of those societies is run completely by volunteers who have been collecting and safeguarding stories for decades. They are local heroes.

The Royal Historical Society of Victoria (RHSV) will visit Morwell and its surrounds for atwo-day program this month.

Expert speakers will provide practical tips and expert advice to strengthen historical societies.

The RHSV is theumbrella organisationfor all historical societies across Victoria and offers these seminars to upgrade skills, meet volunteers and learn about their successes and challenges.

The seminar weekend, hosted by the Morwell Historical Society, is scheduled for next Saturday, August 26, with optional activitiesexploring historical and cultural sites in Gippsland on Sunday, August 27.

Day 1-Saturday, August 26

THE full day seminar, titled "StrengtheningYour Societies through History," will be held at Morwell Historical Society,(12 Hazelwood Road, Morwell). The speaker program includes informative sessionscovering family historyresearch and writing, volunteer capacitybuilding, attracting new members, a‘hitch-hikers’ guide to collection management’, organising enticing self-guided tours, and writing engaging exhibition labels. Participants will haveopportunities to interact with the speakers, share their experiences, and network with fellow history enthusiasts.

Day 2-Sunday, August 27

ON the second day,participants can enjoy optional self-drive activities and explore some of the remarkable historical and cultural sites in Gippsland. The suggestedactivities include visitsto PowerWorks, Latrobe Valley Maltese Museum (including agroup lunch), Morwell Centenary Rose Garden, Immigration Wall and Heritage Walk, and the Latrobe Regional Gallery.

This weekend is an opportunity to gain valuable insights and inspiration fromexperienced speakers and learn from the successes and challenges of different societies in the region. Whether you are amember of RHSV or an historical society from any part of Victoria, this event is open to all with apassion forhistory.

Bookings are essential for both the Saturday seminar, the optional dinner, and alunch at the Maltese Museum on Sunday.

Seminar prices are $20 for RHSV members and $40 for non-members.

For more information and to RSVP, visit the RHSV website or email info@historyvictoria.org. au or phone +61 39326 9288.

Speakers

Paul Fearon: Joined the RHSVcouncil following a40-year career in the energy industry and as agovernment regulator.Hehas also held director roles in two small volunteer-based charities; has arts, business and financedegrees; and, has commenced aPhD in history. Paul will provide a ‘primer’ on principles and techniques in leading and retaining effective teams of volunteers.

Jillian Hiscock: Has been the RHSV collections manager since 2018. She qualified as alibrarian at Melbourne University after doing aBachelor of Arts at La Trobe University. She has had acareer working in public and special libraries, and managing government department libraries and intranets. Sheran the Department of Transport library which supported Heritage Victorian and the planning portfolio, thisrole has given herrelevant experience in managing collections that spanmanuscripts, ephemera, books, images and non-print materials.

Carol Smith: Is alocal Morwellresident and the author of twobooks ACall to Arms and Headingfor the Hills.A Call to Arms covers her family’s military historywithstories beginning with bothgrandfathers, one of whom fought in Gallipoli and was laterwounded on the Western Front and the other whorode in theCharge of Beersheba. Heading for theHillstalks abouther two uncles, Ron McIntyre andCharlie Mills, both ‘Rats of Tobruk’ who had been captured at El Alameinand transported to Prisoner of War Camps in Italy.

Dr Rosalie Triolo: Is RHSV vice-president. Rosalie has enjoyed more than 40 years in history education, including multiple, long-term, volunteer Victorian andnational history leadership roles; teachingAustralian history in diverse Victorian rural and city government schools, including Boort and Derrinallum; publishing for general, as well as tertiary, secondaryand primaryeducation audiences; and, facilitating the development of specialist teachers of history for 25 years at Monash University. Rosalie will offer strategies catering to, and attracting, newer groups in communities so they mightvisit, join and contribute to societies.

New Kilmany lookout on the cards

CALLS by localMP, Danny O'Brien, for anew lookout to be established at the site of the soon-tobe-defunct Kilmany overpass have been answered by the state government.

Mr O'Brien initiated calls for the lookout this year, saying the overpass was aspotfor views of the countryside and the arch-bridge.

He has now heard back from the government, which says Major Road Projects Victoria (MRPV) is investigating the feasibility of the project ahead of adecision later this year.

"It is positive to see that the idea of retaining and using the current overpass as the site of alookout and rest area is being given proper consideration," Mr O'Brien said.

"The currentoverpass is one of the higher points in the district and provides stunning views across the Macalister IrrigationDistrict (MID) flats towards the Great Dividing Range.

"Thiswould also enable train-enthusiasts to watch the train travelling by on the striking new arch-bridge which is already winning fans across the region.

"I asked the Minister (Ministerfor Transport and Infrastructure, Jacinta Allan) if alookout and rest stop can be incorporated within the existing budget of the project and remain hopeful that apractical and affordable solution will be reached to provide agreat tourism asset for the region."

MORWELL fire brigade held theirannual presentation night at the Morwell Bowling Club recently.

AWARD WINNERS WERE:

Fire Fighter of the Year: Malcom Morton

Service medals:

John O'Bryan (60 years life member medal);

Peter Keenan (50 years life member medal);

Peter Quinn (45 years medal);

Steve Darling (40 years life member medal);

John Holland (40 years life member medal);

Don Lovison (40 years life member medal);

Sheryn Grey (45 years auxiliary award);

Vicky Osborn (40 years auxiliary award);

Simone Lovison (20 years auxiliary award) and ;

Georgia Quinn (10 years auxiliary award).

Peter Keenan received aspecial Award for his service as captain of Morwell Fire Brigade.

This award waspresentedbyMemberfor Eastern Victoria MelinaBath, and Latrobe City Mayor Kellie O'Callaghan.

Dedication: Member forEastern VictoriaMelina Bath and Latrobe City MayorKellie O’Callaghan congratulatePeter Keenan on his awardfor service as captain of Morwell Fire Brigade

Assistance: GippslandWater customer care representative, Tina,chops potatoesatthe Kinder CupCafé. Photograph supplied

Topseed: Morwell Fire Brigade Firefighterof the Year Malcom Morton.

Recognition: Morwell Fire Brigade longserving membersPeter Keenan,John O’Bryan, SteveDarling,Don Lovison and John Holland withLatrobeCitycouncillorTracie Lund. Photographs supplied

What's the go with E-flows?

HOW environmental water is managed for West Gippsland’s Rivers will be discussed on Friday,August 25 from 7.30 pm at the Latrobe Valley Field Naturalists Club meeting at the Moe Library.We will take alook at the ways that the West Gippsland Catchment Management Authority (WGCMA) plan and manage environmental flows.

Environmental Water Officer, Adrian Clements will talk about the research andmonitoring that goes intohis work to make the most of these flows for the benefit of aquatic flora and fauna.

Then, on Saturday,August 26 from 10am, environmental water officer at WGCMA, StephanieSuter, will show us the CowwarrWeir Fishwayand explain how it works.

Steph is passionate about freshwater ecology and the interconnectedness of all things. We will then move on to the Dawson Flora Reserve to look at the native flora and bird life.

Visitors are most welcome, both to the meeting and the excursion.

For more information, phone our secretary on 0410 237 292.

Visit ourwebsite lvfieldnats.org to register if you wish to use Zoom to join the meeting.

Prostatesupport

MEETING of Latrobe Valley Prostate Support Group will be held Wednesday, August 23 at 7pm at Morwell Club.

Those interested can meet at 6pm for acountertea. All welcome.

For moreinformation, phoneAllan Cunningham on 0458 111 688.

Friends combine

HAVEyou ever wondered when you are enjoying abeautifully maintained walking track, that is well signed, how this is achieved?

Well, the answer is often local volunteers.

Recently, the Strzelecki Bushwalking Club combined with members of the Friends of Baw Baw Group, and conducted asnowshoe walk. While they were doing it, members delivered some much-needed replacement signs along asection of theAustralian Alpine Walking Track.

This might sound like an onerous task, butthe load was shared among the group, and Strzelecki Bushwalking Club all felt like we had contributed in apositive way to the environment.

As we all walked along there was much debate on who had the heaviest load! However, the photos are atestament to the fun we had on the day.

We had to walk to quite ahigh elevation before we cameacross snow on the ground,however the snow gums were covered in athick layer of ice which sparkled like diamondsinthe sun light.

The Strzelecki BushwalkingClub holds an annual snowshoe walk which is always much anticipated and well attended. We shall be conducting several other activitiesthis month including awalk to the Erica Weir and another in the Sweetwater Reserve. Our activities are continually well supported

CommunityCorner with Liam Durkin

by members and thereisalways alot of fun and high spirits on the day. The committee holds amonthly club night on the second Wednesday of each month. This is conducted at the Trafalgar Scout Hall beginning at 7.30pm. We provide aguest speaker and supper.

Thisisa great way to introduce yourself to existing members and find out more about the club. Visitors are encouraged to attend.

Men's breakfast

GIPPSLAND Christian Church in Moe is hosting amen's breakfastthis Saturday (August19),at8.30am

There will be ahot breakfast,tea and coffee, followed by our guest speaker, Pastor John Hermans. John will be sharing from personal experience on how to find hope and peace in the aftermath of traumatic life events.

As aschool student, John saw mates die in the tragic1977Newborough school bus crash. Thishad ahuge impact on him emotionally.

He later lost his son in acar incident, and also went through amarriage breakdown. John knows life can be tough, and wants to share amessage of hope to the men of our community.

The breakfast will be at Level 1/36 George St, Moe. Entry is via the stairs at the back of Shaw's arcade, or the lift in the arcade. Goldcoin donation. Please phone Davidon0412 780 512 for more information.

Traralgon Bridge Club

RESULTS for August 7, 8and 10.

Monday -1st DonTylee and Marion Taylor (62 per cent); 2nd Barbara Brabets and Anne Moloney (59).

Tuesday -1st HelenMcAdamand Moira Hecker (60.65); 2nd Rob Graham and Glenis Lohr (60.65).

Thursday-1st KenTierneyand

Anna Field (60.65); 2nd Kay Baxter and Roshni Chand (60.19).

We are hosting our annual congress this weekend. People have entered from all over Gippsland and the Melbourne area.Itisbeing held at TheItalian Australian Club, Morwell.

Tyersand District Garden Club

OUR next meeting will be held on Monday, August, 21 at Heather Henleys, 71 Wirilda Crescent, Traralgon.

We are making posies.Everyone is to bring flowersfromtheir garden,can be native, cottage, twigs etc.

All new members are warmly welcomed. You just turn up on the day.

High tea

MOE and DistrictCancer Council

VolunteerGroup will be holding a hightea on Monday, September 4from 12.30pm at the Newborough Bowling Club, Monash Road Newborough. For catering purposes, entry will be by ticket only.

Tickets are available from Diane on

0438 517 470 or Linda (0427 671 780).

Cost will be $35 per person.

We will have aguest speaker from CCV and aguest speaker from Rotary Centenary House.

This year, Daffodil Day will be

celebrated on August 31. We will be having astall in Moe. Details will be posted in the coming weeks.

Our next meeting will be held on Monday, August28from 1.30pm at the Moe RSL -all welcome. For more information phone volunteer group contact Diane on 0438 517 470 or Linda (0427 671 780).

Cancer Council Supporters Hot Line: 1300 65 65 85

Cancer Council Help Line: 13 11 20

Quit Line: 13 78 48

Winter market

ON the morning of Saturday, August 26,awinter marketwill be held at Churchill Shopping Centre. Arange of craft and market stalls will be located around the covered shopping centre walkways. Stalls will be trading from 9am to 1pm.

From 10am to 12pm there'll be free sausage sizzles and entertainment for adults and children. Some randomly selected lucky shoppers will be given free vouchers to spend in-store at nominated businesses.

More than $300 worth of vouchers will be given away.

It's not too late to book amarketstall site. Book online at churchill.org.au/ events

For more information, see the Churchill Shop Local Facebook page -you can message us there.

The Churchill ShopLocal market events areorganised and funded through apartnership between Churchill &District Community Association, Churchill Neighbourhood

Let’s chat: Theflowofenvironmental waterwill be thetopic of discussion at thenextLatrobe ValleyField Naturalists Club meeting.Pictured is Adrian Clements and Deb Sullivan from theWest Gippsland Catchment Management Authorityonthe bitternhunt in 2019 in Sale common.

Here to help: Daffodil Day for Cancer Council is coming up, and Royal Medical Clinic, Morwell is now offering skin checks

Centreand Churchill &District News.

Our Shop Local program aims to encourage locals to spend their shopping dollars locallyand support retailers, home-based businesses and employment within the community.

Traralgon District Historical Society

THE society held their general meeting on Tuesday, August 8which was well attended.

Our guest speaker for the evening was JamesRowley who was amember of the bush band known as Ragwort, Thistle and other Noxoius Weeds. James gave avery interesting and entertaining talk on being amember of the band. He also outlined the types of musical instruments used and the definition of the music abush band played.

The society was also the beneficiary of amicrofichereaderand printer from agovernment department. This was surplus to their needsand will be avery useful piece of equipment. We hope to offer the use of the microfiche to other interested parties in the near future.

The society has provided historical images of the Traralgon Railway Station and Roundhouse to the Regional Rail Revival team as they intend to create a pictorial display on the glass windows at the train station. They have also donated acorflute display stand to the society which will be put to great use.

Inner wheel

THE Inner Wheel Club of Moe is part of one of the world's largest service

organisations and originally began as a friendship group for the wives of Rotary Club members.

World membership is 100,000 and Australian membershipisaround 4000.

Objectives of Inner Wheel are to

promote true friendship, to encourage the ideals of personal serviceand to foster international understanding.

Our clubmeetsonceamonth where we have ameal, plus sometimes have guest speakers, go on social outingsand supportthe community where able.We currently sponsor local primary school studentstoattend campand make toiletry bags for welfare organisations.

Thisyear's Inner Wheelthemeis 'Shine aLight' and our club does this quietlyand efficiently in many ways.

One recipient of our toiletry bags and knee rugs is The Wear House at Latrobe Regional Hospital.

If you would like to know more about the InnerWheel Club of Moe, please email our secretary iiw.au.moe@gmail. com or phone 0427 955 344.

Extraordinary meeting

MORWELL Combined Pensioners urgent extraordinary meeting has had to be called for Monday, August 21. All financial members are requested to attend.

This is urgent and veryimportant meetingfor the future of our group.

Timefor the meeting is scheduled for 12 noon and it is important that as many members attend.

If you wish to stay aftermeeting then please bring your own lunch. Further details can be obtained from the president on 0414 962 615.

Chess results

PETERBakker took control in every game to hold the advantageinclub ratings.

Ian Hamilton accepted the gifts but did not find the threatswhenitmattered most.

Gaining the ascendancy was helpful for Steve Ahern who ran into problems finishing the job.

Cliff Thornton managed to hold the draws fromdifficult positions andstated the climb back up the ladder. Phone Cliff Thornton on 0413 330 458 or Ian Hamilton(0400 221 649) for more detailsonlocal chess.

Improve your computer skills

ARE you frustrated with your computer skills and not able to do what you want with technology?

Learnabout your computer desktop, manage files,transfer files, emails, understand softwareprograms and online platforms/communication.

Whether you have Windows 10 or 11, help is available.

New course scheduled forOctoberDecember 2023. Day and evening courses available.

Get in touch with Traralgon Neighbourhood Learning House to express your interest by phoning 5174 6199 or emailingenquiries@tnlh.org.au

Powersavingbonus

THE current PSB program is closing on August 31.

TraralgonNeighbourhood Learning House can assist you with the application.

Phone Meagan or Julie on 5174 6199 to make an appointment.

Youcan be apartof Community Corner

IF you are acommunity group andhave any news items you need publicised, feel free to email us at news@lvexpress. com.au

You can address the correspondence to Editor, Liam Durkin.

Please write 'Community Corner' in the subject line and nothing else.

Deadline is Friday 9am to appear in the following Wednesday issue.

United: Strzelecki BushwalkingClubmemberscombinedwithFriends of BawBaw Group to help tidy up the walk along the Australian Alpine Walking Track.

Grateful: InnerWheelClub of Moepresident Robynhanding over items to Latrobe RegionalHospital Wear House coordinator Lisa Photographs supplied

Road condition or road user behaviour?

IRECENTLY read anewspaper article declaring that Victoria needs anew road safety strategy to reverse the growing number of people killed or seriously injured.

One of the measures suggested has been to reduce open road recommended speed limits to 80km/hr.

Our recent road trip fromPakenhamtoTraralgon convincedmethat our strategy needs to focus more on improving road user behaviour. During our journey, Idecided to count the number of cars thatpassedusaswedrove at the recommended speed. In that period, 83 vehicles passed us and soon disappeared into the distance.

Does that indicate that those drivers can’t read recommended speed signs or do they just believe that speed limits don’t apply to them?

The most obvious overtaking at speed occurred when 100km or 80km signs are used instead of a recommended 110kph being displayed.

Duringthis trip we did not see asingle police car.

Garry Robbins Traralgon

Express success

THANKS must be forwarded to Latrobe Valley Express for your edition of the Express on August 9, 2023.

It was comprehensive, informative and well-compiled.

While the banking closure in Morwell was disappointing to read -yet not surprising -other articles thatwerepresented made the edition unexpectedly enjoyable.

The stories on therefurbishment of Jeeralang Power Station, the 104-year-old glockenspiel and the film shoot in thevideo store at Moe are all worth mentioning. They all outline the hidden positiveswithin our region that we all too often fail to acknowledge, focus on, and/or take advantage of.

Letters from Greg Hansford (Collateral damage not considered) -onthe removal of gas to new homes -and David Wakefield (Farfetched) -onoutlining inaccuracies regarding the historical countingof Aboriginals -were also as enjoyabletoread as they were informative.

It appears editing of the paper has improved too, so thank you for your time in ironingout those quibbles.

While there will likely be the usual loud voices from each end of the spectrum on any number of topics -beitthe Voice, renewable energy, etc -that would fume with anger and ‘triggeredness’ at the thought that we as aregion can dare shed light on other items that would otherwise get overlooked, Istill believe thatiswhere the success of this region lies;not in somegrand saviour thatwill revolutionise for the new or restore to the old, but in finding solutions that fit our way of life and our attributes at the presenttime. Refurbishing JeeralangPowerStation for examplemay seem pointless to boththe coal aficionadosand green zealots alike.But for the restofus, thegeneral population who live and work here, we know that such an undertaking justmakes alot of bloody sense. It’s fantastic that stories such as these, the little hidden attributes and successes, are finally starting to make apositive ripple.

Anthony Wasiukiewicz Yallourn North

Efficient effort

GREG Hansford (opinion August 9, 2023) is correct to query the stategovernment’simminent ban on new installations of gas to homes, requiring electricity instead.

When used for cooking, and the latest instant hot waterheaters, gas approaches 100 per cent efficiency with no energy lost when not in use.

Not so with Jeeralang gasturbine power,now being refurbished (Express lead articleAug 9, 2023). The oldest four units are only about 18 per cent efficient with the other three marginally better.

Green-house emissions, if used for peak power, are little better thancoal firedsteam turbine plants. Newportbeing agas-firedsteam turbineunithas over doublethe straight gas turbine efficiency,but still far inferior to nil emissions when hot water is produced directlywithflat-bed solar thermal panels.

The best solar electric panels are by comparison about 25 per cent efficient.

Dr Ray Hodges Churchill

The rental dilemma

IN recent times, there has beenagreat deal of discussion about the rate of rent increases across Australia.

No doubt there are some landlords who have taken the opportunity to raise rental rates beyond whatmost peoplewouldconsider reasonable. Unfortunately, these type of people exist in all walks of life and end up being theyardstick by which all of their colleges are judged.

Ioften feel embarrassed to admit that Iama landlord holding residential rental property even though Iknow Ihave not taken advantage of the circumstances to unreasonably raise the rent to my tenants.

Ialwaysmaintain the properties properly and ensure prompt responses to any issues the tenants raise and drawing on the property managers experience, it seems there are plenty of other landlords out there doing the same.

Some of the contributing factors behind more recent rent increases include:

 Interest rates rises (for those that have finance);

 Council rates that always increase every year;

 Water service availability charges;

 Ridiculous rises in insurance premiums (25 per cent this year alone);

 Increase in maintenance costs (materials and labour);

 Real estate/property management fees;

 Smoke alarm yearly testing;

 Recent introduction of mandatory gas and electrical safety checks every two years and any impacts that result from these checks, and;

 Recent introduction of land taxes which have increased 37 per cent in second year, 55 per cent the next and are continuing to raise as the state government looks to claw back it’s excesses from wherever it thinks is the easiest target.

While landlords in general are taking the flak for the increasingrents, direct local andstate government fees, additional creeping government regulations, insurance providers, utility providers etc aremajor contributors to the cost of ownership of rental properties.

How can arent freeze be suggested without the contributing influences also being addressed?

Ican truly tell you that the return on my rental property without capital growth factored is lucky to be one to two per cent. Someone will question that statement, but Ihavefigures to back it up.

Would anyonebesatisfiedwith getting that rate from abankdeposit?

Everyone agrees that not only is the cost of rentingbecoming prohibitive, but also the uncertainty associated with being able to remain in a“home” is agenuine social problem.

Can enough social housing be built (and managed

properly) by the government to address the demand?

Should the government consider purchasing all existing rental properties below acertain value to become part of the social housing stock?

Should the world change it’s business models so thatsuccess does not require more people, more people, morepeoplebecause thereissimply too many of us?

Buggered if Iknow what the answer is.

Peter Derricott Traralgon

You'rethe Voice

THE incoming Voice to Parliament referendum poses some deep questioning of our personal values. Here are some reasons to vote no.

1. If you feel that taxpayer money spent on Aboriginal affairs in the past has been well-spent and that the bureaucracy does not need guidance from the people it is supposed to help. In other words, you believe that Canberra knows best.

2. If you are okay with the fact that Aboriginal people are being incarcerated at 10 times the rate of non-Aboriginal people.

3. If you think that entrenched disadvantage of First Nations people, such as worse school completion rates, chronic health problemsand sub-standard healthcare in outback communities leading to lifespans adecade shorter than for the average Australian is acceptable.

4. If you are prepared to sweep under the carpet the fact that Aboriginal land wasforcibly taken from the native people of this land by the settlers and that, as yet no reparations and official truthtellinghas been madetothem. In short, if you do not want to acknowledgeour history that of allthe former Britishcolonies, Australia is the only one that does not have aTreaty with its First Nations people.

5. If you are not worriedbythe fact that Australia cannot take the moral high ground in raising human rights issues with authoritarian nations such as China’streatment of Uighurs and other minorities, because they immediately point to the hypocrisy of our treatment of Aborigines as reason to ignore these concerns.

6. If you believe Peter Dutton’s scare campaign that First Nations people will be given privileges above non-Aboriginal people.His campaign should be seen as acrass political power-play financed by big mining companies fighting against the possibility thatlaws protecting sacred sites like the Juukan Gorge cave paintings with its 60,000 years of Aboriginal heritage will resultfromadvice given by the elected members of the Voice.

7. If you are able to ignore the fact that the First Nations people themselves requested this change to the Constitution and you are prepared to say to an Aboriginal person face-to-face “No, Iamnot going to reach out to help you improve your life.”

8. If you think that the Voice to Parliament has the ability to legislate laws directly, when in actual fact, the Parliament will always retain the ability to reject, modifyoracceptrecommendations based on the greater good of the nation. For the record, Iwill be voting yes. My sense of fairness and morality precludes me from doing anything else.

Dan Caffrey Traralgon

Independent arbiter

MR QUINN, Isee you are aman of many words, alas Iamofbut afew (Investigate the rotten apples, LV Express, 9/8/23).

But let me say from one village idiotand town clown to another, Iwill say no more on this subject

except that Iwelcome the findings of any investigation from our independent arbitor, the Victorian Ombudsman and will accept any determination as final.

If the determinationisinyourfavour, Ishall acknowledge this in an appropriate letter to the editor.

However, if the decision is not in your favour, I expect you to furnish an apology showing similar humility and respect.

Tom Mesilane Yallourn North

Fair go

EIGHT of the best retired legal minds in the country havestakedtheir reputations on the “Yes” vote, while PeterDutton tries to link eightormore complicated conspiracy theories as justification for a“No” vote.

Who are we to believe?

The simplest truth is -fair go, don’t vote, no.

Neil Hauxwell Moe

All aboard

IF youtunnel farenough into the maze that is the V-linewebsite,you will find that Gippsland residents will once again be train-less for three weeks from 21/8 to 10/9.

If one attempts to find from V-line’s information services what mightbedone in thisperiod,one finds so much vague and generalised bumpf that it is just plain dispiriting; not to mention uninformative.

Of course we appreciate that largeprojectsnearer to the city must be progressed, but can anyone tell us whether this time the second platforms at Traralgon, Morwell, Longwarry and Bunyip, all shinynew andready to connect, might actually be pressed into service?

Peter Towns Traralgon

The end is nigh

YOURcorrespondent (Duck debate9/8/23) is proud to be along-time shooterofducks and quail in Victoria.

How many hundreds or thousands of native birds has he woundedorkilled in his50yearsofhunting?

Just think of the boost for our farmers if shooters bought meat instead.

Lately, duck shooters have promoted their “conservation” efforts- building nest boxes to breed more targets. They talk up the NSW rice protection program, but this culls onlyfive per centofthe duck numbers we slaughter for “recreation”.

Victoria’s bird hunters should be grateful their “sport”has been indulged by compliant politicians for so long, despite growing community concern about its cruelty.

Surely the end is near.

Tony Harris

Dandenong

Alooktothe

future

IREADwith consternation the announcement of the new ICON development in Morwell.

Iwas stunned to read of the "two acres set aside for apetrol station and expansive parkland". No complaint about the parkland, except that less than ahectare is not expansive, and I'll ignore the obsolete units of measure.

But, surely, no-one will be building petrol stations.

Why not offer an eight-bay electric vehicle fastcharging station, and toss in aheli-port!

Brian Burleigh Cowwarr

Sensible

GOOD to hear aclear voice.

Elizabeth Wright is on the money with her letter (“Vote YES”) published in the Latrobe Valey Express2/8/23.She must be alittle older than me as she remembers the 1967Referendum where the Australian people overwhelmingly voted “YES” for Indigenous peopletobecomecitizens of Australia.

Idon’t remember that referendum as Iwas only three, but Idoknow that when Iwas born, had one of my parents identified as Indigenous, Iwould have been automatically classed as award of the state,and unless my skin was too darkI could have been kidnapped by the stategovernment and raised in an institution. There,Iwould not have been allowed to speak my language. Iwould have been trained to be aservant, then sent out to work for white people as asort of child slave.

Once Ibecame an adultI would be out on my own. Maybe Iwould have been able to track down my real family or maybe not. Maybe despite my lost culture and family, Iwould have found aplace in an Indigenous community. Or maybe, as was often the case, Iwould not even know Iwas Indigenous Ioften remember the above to remind myself how close our history is to the bone. Racist policies thattear familiesapart didn’t only happen long ago. They were still happening when Iwas young. Racist policies developed through the “white lens” of government are still tearing families apart on the ground. Becausepolicies madeaboutpeople without any input by those people, simply do not work.

That is where the Voice to Parliamentcomes in A“YES” vote is the first step towards achieving three things we need here in the Latrobe Valley and in wider Australia:

 AVoice to Parliament so that the sorts of policies developed by governments have apositive effect on Indigenous communities as well as all other Australians;

 Truth-telling so that we can all know what has happened in the past, including the very recent past, and this truth will inform our situation now, in the present, and;

 MAKARRATA, which is acoming together of both sides -government and Indigenous leaders -soAustralia can step forward together, as one people.

Sally-Anne Watson Kane

Moe

TheAshes: new ball drama

COMMENT

BY TONY DAWKINS

CAN we have some truth telling please, Gideon?

Cricket writer Gideon Haigh’s article in The Australian (August 1, 2023) generally pleases me; Iagree with nearly everything he says and am pleased to read it. All except his discussion of the ball substitution in the recent Ashes Test.

He said this: “As has often occurred in these Ashes, there emerged an esoteric controversy, fuelled by television, about the replacement ball: had it been too new? Blurry photographs were reproduced, data cited,investigations demanded, although perfidious Albionhad destroyed the evidence by bowling with said ball. Cunning!”

Perfidious Albion being adiplomatic reference to the deceitful English concealing their misdoings. Is this so tongue-in-cheek that Idon’t get it, or does he really think this controversy was just a“slight zephyr in areservoir-sized teacup”?

Ithinkweare getting closertothe truthwhen he says: “Nor was the [ball] changeentirely advantageous for England, for sometimes the ball did too much.” To suggest that excess ball movement off the pitch and in the air is somehow beneficialfor the batting team is clearly ridiculous. But it does tell us how remarkably well the Poms were abletobowl with their newly-replaced ball.

I’m pretty sure ex-England captainMichael Vaughan toldeveryone the truth when, summing up the remarkable day’s proceedings in live commentary, he said the moment will go down in history as the “best ball change ever.” By this, he meant that itseffect on thegame was highly significant and gave the English the advantage they needed to go on and win the game, despite the Aussies gallant efforts to get within 50 runs of aremarkable victory. By implication, Ithink he also means that without theball change Australia probably would have won.

So why is this ball change so significant? Aball is aball, isn’t it? Not in cricket it’s not.

Have your say

The Latrobe Valley Express welcomes letters to the editor.

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

The Express does not publish letters from anonymous contributors.

Letters must include aphone number, email address and the author's hometown for purposes of substantiating authenticity. Readersare entitled to one right of reply to aletter directed at them.

The views expressed in letters to the editor are those of the writers, and do not necessarily reflect the viewsofLatrobe Valley Express management or staff.

The letters section is designed to allow people to have their say, and not be hijacked forpolitical agendas.

Email letters to news@lvexpress.com.au and include 'letter to the editor'inthe subject line.

Deadline for letters is Thursday 3pm.

For the cricketers who have forgotten and for thosestill reading who don’t know what I’m talking about yet, Iwilltry and explain.

Test cricket is agame of attrition played over five days with diminishing resources -the pitch deteriorates, the ball degrades, playerfitness is tested and it is played in all weather except rain. Managing these declining assetsand scoring the most runs is the object of the game. There is only one pitch to play on, anew ball is provided at the beginning of each innings and can only be renewed after 80 overs. Players who cannot continue because of injury etc. can only be substituted by fielders. Thesesubs cannot bowl, bat or keep wicket. Like the 22 yards between wickets, these are the fundamental conditions of the game. Mess with these and you’re are playing something else. Not Test cricket. So what’s the big deal about an old ball? As an oldbusted finger wicketkeeper of no special talent, Ican tell you with certainty that no fast bowler wantstobowlwithanold ball. “It’s a dead duck mate” [f--ked] as they wouldsay “It’s givingmenothing.” “Too soft.” Themore arrogant would even say “that’s what spinners are for, isn’t it; to bowl with the crap ball while Ihaveabreak andget ready for the new one.”

Same same butdifferent: Local crickettragic Tony Dawkins has weighedintothe ball change controversy that plagued thelast Ashes Test. England wasgiven whatlooked to be amuch newerball,which arguably had ahuge impact on thefinal result Photograph supplied

Iwould cajole them along with leg side traps and fifth-ball yorker plans just to keep them interested, all the while hoping for batting errors.

So if the bowlers don’t like the old ball, what do the batters think?They love it. It’s not as fast offthe pitch or through the air. It doesn’t bounce so muchbecause it’sgonesoft.Itdoesn’t deviate off the pitch so much becauseits raisedseam has flattened out and softenedtoo. And because it has nearly lost all its shine, it hardly swings either. All in all, amuch easier proposition for the batters to deal with.

As an occasional fill-in opening batsman, I cantell you thereisanenormous difference between batting with the new ball and an old ball.And my busted fingers were muchsafer with the old ball too.

So, generally speaking, adegrading ball is an advantage for the batting team, while the new ball is awicket taking missile for the bowlers. This is one of the fundamental conditions of the game. Over time, 80 overs per ball has proven sufficient advantage at either extreme for both sides to have afair go. Many other things can vary,but not the aging of the ball.Sototake away either teams’ missile advantage with either the old or new ball would be grossly unfair.

Rule 4.5 recognises this principle, and gives direction to protect the balance between the old and new ballwhen selectingareplacement ball

4.5Ball lost or becoming unfit for play

If, during play, the ballcannot be found or recovered or the umpires agree that it has become unfit for play through normal use, the umpires shall replace it with aballwhich has had wear comparablewiththatwhichthe previous ball had received before the needfor its replacement.

MONDAY14AUGUST

Kye Reilly turns 5

TUESDAY15AUGUST

Patrick Cartledge turns 1

WEDNESDAY 16AUGUST

Levi Ormrod turns 7

Whenthe ballisreplaced, theumpire shall inform the batters and the fielding captain. By replacing the ball with arelatively newer and much better conditioned one, the umpires changed the fundamental condition of the game and deprived the Aussies the advantage of batting 40 overswith an oldball, while simultaneously advantaging the English with 40 more overs with anewer ball. In anutshell, that is what Michael Vaughan seems to think. It is whatRicky Ponting thinks and manyothers. Not so clear what Gideon thinks. Ithink 40 overs with the old ball would have been more than enough to win the match.

Storminateacup, you think? To giveperspective, Gideonmight imagine this.What if one of the teams wasresponsible for this ball substitution? What ascandal that would be. Didperfidious Albions’ handreach so far as into the replacement ball box? Surely not. It would makeballtampering look like child’s play. Doctoring the scorebook might be equivalent.

That the umpires performed this act of lunacy does not detract from its seriousness. Afantastic game was ruined by this act of stupidity. That the Aussies batted on to the end, no thought of adraw, and got within50runsofanhistoric fourth innings win wasimpressivefor mine. Post matchinterviews, hearty handshakes and smiles for cameras are allharder to do when you know you’ve had the rug pulled out from under you.

That the Poms,withidentical knowledge, snubbed the Aussies after the game speaks of arrogance and poor sportsmanship, and only brings discredit to them.

Tony Dawkins is the owner of Glenmaggie Wines, keen cricket follower and "busted finger wicket keeper".

FRIDAY 18AUGUST

Emeline Hodgskiss-Paulet turns 7

SUNDAY 20AUGUST

Cooper Stagg turns 6

Param Hemanth turns 11

To join the Express Birthday Club please post full details (including postal address and phone contact) to 21 George St Morwell 3840 or email reception@lvexpress com au

*Eligible for children 11 years and under

THURSDAY 17 AUGUST

Blake Gooding turns 12

i Stadium34, 34BellStreet,Moe Ph:51278300

receives an Inflatable World experience valued at $19 SPONSORED BY

Business Guide

HUTCHISON’S ASPHALTING PTYLTD CHISON

LOCATED in Moe,Hutchison’s Asphalting PtyLtd has been in business formorethan five years.

Adam has morethan 28 yearsexperience in the asphalting business and is professional and passionate about his job and contains a great amount of knowledge, which enables him to help customerswheretheymay requireit.

Hutchison’s Asphalting prides itself on being reliable and aim for100 per cent customer satisfaction. We offerfreemeasureand quotes

Hutchison’s Asphalting Pty Ltd price themselvesonthe qualityofworkand offera wide rangeofservicestothe local community and greater, which includes:

 Asphalt driveways;

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 Bobcat, excavatorand tipper hire, and;

 Concreteand concrete curbing

Call them todayon0467 175886 or email akhutchison@bigpond.com

Youcan also visit Hutchison's Asphalting Pty Ltd, Facebook or Instagram pages which showcase a selection of their professional work

to place your classified in our

Phone: All classifications before 3pm Monday

In person: Latrobe Valley Express 21George St,Morwell

NextraLotto Moe 1-3 MooreSt, Moe Seymour St Newsagency 83 Seymour St, Traralgon

PLEASE NOTE:| thatadpaymentis required prior to publication unless afullaccount is held with the Latrobe Valley Express.

Email: classifieds@ lvexpress.com.au

PLEASE NOTE:

Confirm your email if youhave not received a confirmation email from us, emails ARE NOTALWAYS RELIABLE and we don’t alway receive them

Mail: Latrobe Valley Express, “Attention Classifieds’’ 21 George Street, Morwell 3840

Newsagents:

Most Newsagents act as our agents and will accept your advertisements up until the same deadlines as above

Credit Card:

When placing your advertisement over the phone or via email you charge it to your Mastercard or Visa

For Sale

NEWSPRINT REEL

•

BITUMEN

Substantial reductions on our bitumen, spray-seal and aggregate

We specialise in resealing old broken bitumen surfaces, road base concrete etc.

This offer is for 2weeks only!

For obligation free quote

Phone Hans 0455 124 371

HALFPRICE FORSALEADS FO

31 Holmes Road. Open weekends 8am-4pm, weekdays 10am-4pm, closed Monday. For info/bookings call Jo 0437 981 388.

WILLOW GROVE, 17 School Rd, Sunday, 9am. Trash and treasure, adult reference books, sport and Australasian and other books (some free).

WINTER IS HERE BUT DON’T LET THATSTOP YOUHAVING A GARAGE SALE ARE YOU HOARDING ITEMS THATCOULD BE TURNED INTO

ONE MAN’S TRASH IS ANOTHER MAN’S TREASURE!!

With an audience of over 76,000 you’re guaranteed to reach MORE locals than advertising on Facebook

5135 4455

TRARALGON RSL SUB-BRANCH INC

VIETNAM

The Moe RSL Sub-Branch Inc. 63-67 Albert Street Moe, PO Box 83, Vic 3825 ABN: 51965 667 895. Inc. A0039367F

50th Anniversary Vietnam Veterans Day Service

The Moe RSL Sub-Branch wishes to notify the community of Moe and surrounds that on the 18th of August, there will be a50th Anniversary Vietnam Veterans Day service held at the Cenotaph at the front of the Sub-Branch building in Albert Street Moe at 11am followed by light refreshments at the club, agoldcoin donation would be appreciated. This will be followed by awreath laying by the RSL and members of the public who have previously notified the Sub-Branch that they wish to do so. By order of the: Moe RSL Sub-Branch Committee. Sue Hall, Secretary.

BOARD DIRECTOR VACANCY

YALLAMBEE TRARALGON

VILLAGE FOR THE AGED INC.

Yallambee is anot-for-profit community owned organisation,providing services that accommodate and support aged members of the Latrobe Valley and Gippsland community.

Yallambee's facilities are conveniently located in the heart of Traralgon near popular amenities and advanced health facilities.

With 90 Independent Living Units in our Retirement Living Village and 120 beds in our Margery Cole Residential Aged Care Service. Yallambee prides itself on providing individual choice, independence, and quality of life.

The Board of Directors is committed to the provision of strong leadership with focus on fiscal and clinical governance to ensure Yallambee is well positioned to respond to the increasing demands within this growing and challenging sector.

WE'RE

MOE SALVOS THRIFT SHOP

3-7 Clifton St Moe

OPEN - Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday 9am -5pm Saturday 9am -3pm

Bargains Galore!!

PROPOSED 5G UPGRADE TO EXISTING MOBILE PHONE BASE STATION

Address: Monopole -2 Saskia Way, Morwell 3840 (2\LP134042)

Reference: M8371 Morwell East

5135 4455

TUESDAY 10th OCTOBER

$60p.p. Includes lunch Jaybee Tours

Hazelwood

0428 223 361

Yallambee currently has one vacancy on our voluntary Board of Directors. If you are interested in becoming part of adynamic Board, can add diversity in thinking and share our vision and mission in making adifference in the 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 and or skill sets. Desirable skill sets include; alegal background, Accountancy, Economics, Project Management or Risk Management.

Yallambee offers support for Directors wishing to undertake education.

The Duty of aYallambee Board Director is available from http://www.yallambee.com.au/careers/ Applications can be emailed to: pa@yallambee.com.au marked Confidential to: Mr Victor de Beer Board Chair /Chair Nominations Committee Yallambee Traralgon Village for the Aged Inc. Applications close 5pm, Monday 28 August 2023.

1. The proposed works include the addition of new 4G &5Gequipment and associated works including the replacement of the existing headframe; the replacement of 6existing 4G antennas (less than 2.8m long); the installation of 6new 5G active antenna units (AAU) (less than 1m long) with provision for 9future AAUs; the replacement of 27 existing remote radio units (RRUs) with 18 new RRUs and with provision for 21 future RRUs; and ancillary equipment including but not limited to GPS antenna, mast head amplifiers, deplixers, combiners, antenna mounts, cable trays, fibre and electrical cabling necessary for the operation or proper functioning of the low-impact facility.

2. Optus &Vodafone regards the proposed installation as aLow-impact Facility under the Telecommunications (Low-impact Facilities) Determination 2018 based on thedescription above.

3. The proposed infrastructure will comply with the ACMA EME regulatory arrangements. An EME Report and further information can be obtained at www.rfnsa.com.au/3840013.

4. In accordance with Section 7ofC564:2020 Mobile Phone Base Station Deployment Code, we invite you to provide feedback about the proposal. Further information and/or comments should be directed to: Reinier Hanekom (Plan Consult Town Planning), 0754306632, Suit 6-10, 28 Eenie Creek Rd, Noosaville, 4566 or info@planconsult.com.au by 5pm on 1/9/23.

Door Installer

CareersatLatrobe

LatrobeCityCouncilhasexcitingopportunitiesforenthusiasticand forward-thinkingindividualswithapassionforprovidingexcellent servicestoourcommunity

• RatesOfficer - RatesOffi -Permanent Full Time

• School CrossingSupervisors-Casual

• CoordinatorGIS &BusinessApplicationsPermanentFull Time

• Maternal andChildHealthNurse - andChild Health Nurse-Permanent Part Time &Casual

• LearntoSwimInstructorLe mInstructor- Casual

• Preschooland Childcare -MultiplePositionsPermanent, Temporary&Casual

• EarlyChildhood TeachersTeachers-Permanent, Temporary& Casual

• Expressions of Interest - Exp ssions -Communications, Marketing, Media andDesign Professionals

• ExpressionofInterestExpressionofInterest -PlanningOpportunities

Forfurtherinformationincludinghow toapply,positiondescriptionsand applicationclosingdates,pleasevisitour websitewww.latrobe.vic.gov.au/careers

Pleasenotesuccessfulapplicantswillbe requiredtoapplyforandsatisfactorilyobtain aNationalPoliceCheckandWorkingwith

PRINTING TRADES ASSISTANT

on their feet

Agoodpractical mechanical aptitude and basic numericalskills would be an advantage. Aforkliftlicence, although not mandatory,would also be desirable.

Please send cover sheet and resume with references to:

The PrintManager 5Jones Road Morwell Victoria 3840 Applications close: Friday,1September

ExpressPrint –Morwell is an equal opportunity employer

EXPERIENCED EXCAVATOR DRIVER

Currently we have afull time permanent position available for an experienced Excavator Driver.

● Clean driving record

● Work vehicle supplied

● Wages based on experience

● Gippsland Region based work area

● Reliable, punctual and self motivated

● Heavy Combination Truck licence preferred Please send resume to: valleyearthmoving@valleygroup.com.au

Nurses and Personal Care Workers

We're seeking staff to work in our Aged Care

Residential home Dalkeith Gardens in Traralgon.

We have Enrolled Nurse, Registered Nurse and Personal Care Worker positions available for both permanent part time and casual, across AM, PM and night duty shifts.

When you first start you'll need:

● Registration with AHPRA Certification for nursing roles

● Minimum Certificate III in Individual Care or equivalent for personal care workers

● NDIS Clearance

For more information visit the home, email your CV to: reception.dalkeithgardens@benetas.com.au or call the home directly Jasmine Langstaff on 03 5174 1759 www.benetas.com.au/careers

DELIVERERS WTD

Would you like to deliver the Latrobe Valley Express newspaper to individual homes on Tuesday and/or Wednesday afternoons in Morwell, Traralgon, Moe, Newborou gh and Churchill? Please apply to the Circulation Manager 0456 000 541.

Please note: Children must be 11 years or over as we will need to apply for agovernment Child

Employment Permit

Children younger than 11 cannot or will not be accepted. Adult deliverers also welcome.

ADVERTISERS

PLEASE NOTE:

Much hardship and difficulty is caused to job seekers by misleading advertising placed in the employment columns.

EXPERIENCED TRUCK DRIVER

Currently we have afull time permanent position available for an experienced Truck Driver.

● HC driver's licence required

● Tipping experience preferred

● Clean driving record

● Reliable, punctual and self motivated

● Plantation forestry work environment in a Sustainable Industry Please send resume to: valleyearthmoving@valleygroup.com.au

URGENT Deliverers Wanted TRARALGON, MORWELL and NEWBOROUGH

Bairnsdale Secondary College has the following exciting opportunity with anewly created position to join our team.

OHS/FACILITIES MANAGER

Job Number 1359054

Working with the Business Manager, the OHS/Facilities Manager will lead and facilitate compliance with OHS policy and guidelines as well as ensure efficient and effective management of assets, resources and contractors. Relevant qualifications or an equivalent combination of relevant experience and/or education/training are desirable This is an ongoing position, commencing 2nd October 2023.

For further information and acopy of the job description go to the relevant Job Number at https://www.education.vic.gov.au/hrweb/careers/ Pages/default.aspx -School and other education/early childhood jobs.

You can also contact: bairnsdale.sc@education.vic.gov.au for further information.

Apply online or forward your application including resume and contact details of 3referees to: bairnsdale.sc@education.vic.gov.au or Bairnsdale Secondary College, PO Box 325, Bairnsdale Vic. 3875

Applications are to be received by 25 August 2023.

Our Situations Vacant columns are reserved for advertisements which carry aspecific and genuine offer of employment. Ads for `Business Opportunities' and `Training Courses' and `Employment Services' should be submitted under those headings. Placing misleading ads is an offence against the Trades Practices Act and state/territory fair trading acts and all advertisements are subject to the publisher's approval. For further advice, contact the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission on 1300 302 502 or your state consumer affairs agency.

Would you liketodeliver the Latrobe Valley Express newspaper to individual homes on Tuesdayand/or Wednesdayafternoons in Traralgon, Morwell and Newborough.

Please apply to:

The Circulation Manager0456000 541

Please note: Children must be 11 years or over as we will need to apply for agovernment Child Employment Permit. Children younger than 11 cannot or will not be accepted. Adult deliverers also welcome

Diocese of Sale CatholicEducationLimited (DOSCEL) is an inclusiveemployer,which manages and operatesCatholicschools in theDiocese of Sale (Cardinia, Casey, and Gippslandregions)

Due to growth DOSCEL seeks to appoint twonew full-time positions

SENIORHUMAN RESOURCES

OFFICER

Commencement Salary$90,217

INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS/HUMAN RESOURCES SUPPORT OFFICER

Commencement Salary $78,941

Commencement date by negotiationand both positions arelocatedinWarragul

Formoreinformation or to apply, visit our website www.doscel.catholic.edu.au

We seek committed and enthusiasticindividuals for the following opportunities commencing in Term 1of2024:

Positions of Leadership

Enquiries via email hr@doscel.catholic.edu.au

Applications close4pm Wednesday, 23 August 2023

DOSCEL promotes the safety,wellbeing and inclusion of all children

wantedfor home care in Moe, Trafalgar, Warragul and Trida.

Minimum of 2years ICU/PICU experience. Must be Ventilation and Tracheostomy competent Competitive payrates.

Please contact Patrik on 0410 942 230 or email patrik@intensive careathome.com GP1 660808

DeputyHead of Junior School

l St Anne’s Campus

l 3yearappointment to Deputy position of responsibility,attracting 0.6FTE time allowance (0.4 teaching) and $12,818 annual monetary allowance in additiontoannualteacher’s salary

l Ongoing full-time teaching contract

Heads of Year

l Garnsey Campus

l 3yearappointment to Head of Year role attracting 0.2FTE time allowance(0.8 teaching) and $14,955 annual monetaryallowance in addition to annual teacher’s Ongoing full-time teaching positions @ Garnsey Campus with

l Ongoing full-time teaching contract

Head of Learning (Primary)

l 2positions,one at St Anne’s Campus and one at Bairnsdale Campus

l 3yearappointment to the role attracting 0.2 FTE time allowance (at Bairnsdale) and 0.4FTE (at St Anne’s) teaching for residual time and $4,272 annual monetaryallowance in addition to annual teacher’s salary

l Ongoing full-time teaching contract

TeachingPositions

PrimaryTeachers

l Ongoing full-time @ St Anne’s Campus

l Ongoing full-time @ Bairnsdale Campus

SecondaryTeachers

l Ongoing full-time and part-time positions with combinations of Mathematics,Psychology,English, Humanities (including Geography) and Digital Technology at our Garnsey Campus in Sale. Graduate Teachers arestronglyencouraged to apply

Support Positions

GAP Assistants

l General Duties positions at both Garnsey Campus and Bairnsdale Campus

l Outdoor Education/Year 9positionatGarnsey Campus

l 1FTE, 11 month contracts commencing January and concluding in December

l Applicants must be 18 years old or older at start date

Formoredetailonthe requirements, duties and responsibilities of these roles,visit theemployment page of the Gippsland Grammar website.

AUDI A4 Auto, perfect body, very very good interior, needs alittle work, absolute bargain $2500. Phone 0418 830 201.

CASH FOR CARS

Old or new, buying all makes and models. LMCT 11618. Ph 0455 776 443.

Valley Express and 8editions of the GippslandTimes paper THEY DO SELL!

LOW (Jackson). The Funeral Service and Committal of Mrs Lorraine

Patricia Low will be held at Latrobe Valley Funeral Services Chapel, 260 Princes Hwy, Traralgon FRIDAY (18 August 2023) commencing at 11am.

In lieu of flowers, online donations to the Royal Flying Doctor Service would be appreciated, see our website for details. Please note Lorraine expressed that those who wished should wear acheerful colour as a way of celebrating her life with joy.

MOE-MORWELL-TRARALGON TRARALGON 5174 2258

Place your tribute on latrobevalleyfunerals.com.au

PEPPER.

The Funeral Service to celebrate the life of Mrs Elizabeth Jane Pepper will be held at the Nielsen Funeral Chapel, Korumburra Road, Warragul MONDAY (21 August 2023) at 11am.

The Service will also be live-streamed. To view Elizabeth's Service please visit: www.nielsenfunerals.com.au

At the conclusion of the Service the cortege will leave for the Hazelwood Cemetery.

WALTHAM. The Funeral Service for Mr Reg Waltham of Bairnsdale will be held at the Peter Murray Funerals Chapel, Bairnsdale on WEDNESDAY (23 August 2023) at 2pm.

Peter Murray Funerals East Gippsland 5152 4596

TAYLOR.

The Funeral Service for Mrs Estella Louisa Taylor will be held at Handley & Anderson Chapel, 3085 Loch-WonthaggiRoad, Wonthaggi, THURSDAY (17 August 2023) commencing at 11am. APrivate Cremation will follow

TERRILL.

The Funeral of Mr Neil Warren Terrill OAM will arrive at the Hazelwood Cemetery for aService commencing at 11am on THURSDAY (24 August 2023) followed by refreshments in the Yinnar and District Memorial Hall.

Latrobe Valley Funeral Services has been helping the local community for more than 70 years

Our Chapels are fittedwith the latest visual technology including the option to livestream a Funeral from any location. Alarge function room is available adjacent to each chapel to provide catering and refreshment facilities.

REA.

The Funeral Service for Mrs Pamela Rea will be held at Latrobe Valley Funeral Services Chapel, 6Ollerton Avenue, Moe on MONDAY (21 August 2023) commencing at 11am.

In-lieu of any gifts or flowers please feel free to donate to the ongoing research and development for cures of associated lung disease by donating to the Lung Foundation of Australia. Donate online lungfoundation.com.au/donate Pam's Service will be livestreamed. To view the livestream visit our website.

MOE-MORWELL-TRARALGON MOE 5126 1111

Place your tribute on latrobevalleyfunerals.com.au

SHERRY. Requiem Mass for the Repose of the Soul of Mrs Audrey Joy Sherry will be offered at St Michael's Catholic Church, Church Street Traralgon FRIDAY (18 August 2023) at 1.30pm.

At the conclusion of Mass, the Funeral will leave for the Traralgon Cemetery, Gippsland Memorial Park.

MOE-MORWELL-TRARALGON TRARALGON 5174 2258

Place your tribute on latrobevalleyfunerals.com.au

SPITERI. The Celebration for the life of Christa Spiteri will be held at the Rose Chapel, Gippsland Memorial Park, Cemetery Dve, Traralgon MONDAY (21 August 2023) at 10am. Private Cremation will follow

THOMAS.

The Memorial Service for Raymond Thomas will be held at the Nielsen Funeral Chapel, Korumburra Rd Warragul on FRIDAY (18 August 2023) at 11am

APrivate Family Burial will precede the Service.

Affordable Funerals for Latrobe Valley

John Gabraith 0413 332 647 Craig GalbraithEvans 0407 043 182

From Latrobe Valley to North Carolina

TENNIS COLLEGE

BY TOM HAYES

ANOTHER local tennis star is heading abroad to takehis game to thenextlevelatanAmerican college.

Traralgon’s Sam McGregor will join the likes of Josh Charlton and Ben Grumley when he becomes the next local to play college tennis.

Family owned and locally based Funeral Directors

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McGregor, 18, has been playing tennis since the ageofnine, coached by Graham ‘Woofa’ Charlton at the Traralgon Tennis Association.

McGregor was offered an academic and sports scholarship from BelmontAbbeyCollege in North Carolina, which is where he will study amajor in biologyand play his tennis for the next four years.

Last year, McGregor applied, sending through school resultsand tennis tapes, ensuring he got thebest scholarship available to him.

Belmont Abbey College -the home of the Crusaders -isatop 25 Division 2NCAAcollege, which has impressed in recent yearsonthe court.

The Crusaders have won their conference in the pasttwo years, while also qualifying for the nationalchampionshipsinthe same timeperiod.

“I signed fairly early which was good, just beforeChristmas, so it took abit of weight off my shoulders knowing that I’ve secured aspot,” McGregor said.

“From there, (I’ve) been able to focus on training and tournaments and really being on top of my game just before Ihead over there.

“He’s going into an NCAA Division2school, which is very, very, very good,” Charlton said.

“NCAADivision2,toget agig there is fantastic.

“He’sworked hard, it’s agreat effort.

“NCAA is the best of the best.”

In Memoriam •

KELLY, Clyde. Passed away 15/8/1987. KELLY, Lillian. Passed away 23/2/1962.

Remembering with love Nellie, John and family.

What can youdo when wordsare not enough?

STANTON. The Funeral Service to celebrate the life of Carolyn Stanton will take place in the Rose Chapel at Gippsland Memorial Park, Cemetery Drive, Traralgon on FRIDAY (18 August 2023) commencing at 11am. Afterwards, Carolyn will be laid to rest within the cemetery grounds.

QUIRK, Justin. 19/3/1972 -21/8/2007. Lovingly remembered not just today but everyday. Love Gayle and Norm. XOXO

SOMER, Peter. 15/8/2022. Aged 94 years

Loved husband of Kathy and friend of Barbara. Those we love don't go away, They ride beside us every day, unseen, unheard but always near.

Whenyou lose someone close to you, it can be hardto put yourthoughts and feelings into words

Apersonalmessageinthe Latrobe Valley Express can say so much

Forfriendly advice on how to placeyourmessagecontact

TheClassifiedDepartment

5135 4455

No matter what, McGregor is due to get somethingout of thisexperience, whether that be from the books or on the court.

“Obviously I’llget adegree out of it, which Mum’s pretty happy about,” he said.

“The coach over there is really good, so hopefully my tennis will improve heaps and Imight be able to go on tour after college, which is what I’m hoping for, but I’ve also got that back-up of having adegree after the four years as well.

“I’ve been in contact with the head coach, Michael (Salomon), he’s been really helpful …doing all of the paperwork.

“He’s giving me some tips on my game just before Iget over there, he’ll be abig help once Iget over there just to improve on afew small things.”

McGregor’s new coach, Salomon, is excited to see him perform.

“Samstood outtousinthe recruitingprocess as aplayer with ahigh level of maturity and a growth mindset,” Salomon said.

“He has agreat fundamental base and athletic skillset, giving him the building blocks to grow his competitive level at arapid pace.

“We’vebeen encouraging him to continue to stay sharp over the summerwith consistenttraining on and off the court, and to come in ready to perform at his best level, and to take advantage of all the resources on Day 1.

“Coming into anationally-rankedprogram, players have an acceleratedlearning curvealong with opportunities available where they need to be ready to perform at ahigh levelimmediately -something I’m very confident Sam will be able to do here at Belmont Abbey!”

Over years gone by, Traralgonhas seen other locals head to the US on tennis scholarships including JoshCharlton at the University of Oregon, Oregonand Ben Grumley at William Woods University, Missouri.

McGregor has been in contact with both and hopes to get some advice from them as his college journey begins.

“I’ve been in contactwith Josh Charlton, Ben Grumley, afew of the other boys from Traralgon who I’m mateswith, and when they come back during their breaks I’ll have ahit withthem,” McGregor said.

“Josh has just finished and he’s planning to go on tour, and Ben’s in his final year now.”

The nerves have well and truly faded now, as the excitement kicks in for the Traralgon local.

“I felt nervous more at the time when Isigned, but because it’s been such along time I’ve eased into it abit and the nerves havegone away really, I’mjustexcitedtoget over thereand get agood start,” McGregor said.

Aside from tennis, it would be natural to be on the receiving end of culture shock,but McGregor appears to be open-minded to the new experiences he’ll face in the US.

“I honestly don’t know what to expect,” he said.

“I think they’vegot the election coming up so that’s gonna be an experience in itself.

“I’m just excited, different culture, different foods, meeting new people,I think it’s gonnabesome fun.”

Even thoughitmay be four years away, McGregor looks forward to where his tennis can eventually take him after college.

Withtouring an optionfor ex-college players, he looks forward to what the future could hold.

“Hopefully I’llbeabletotravel around Australia, America, around the world really, as soon as I’ve finished college, play some ITF’s, but you never know what’s gonna happen,” he said.

Many people have helped McGregor get to the position he is in today, but he narrowed down the few that have helped him immensely.

“Obviously thanks to my parents for all of their support from them, obviously ‘Woofa’ -he’s been coachingmesince Iwas nine (years old), so I’ve known him for more than half of my life really -he’s gotten me to this point so without him Iwouldn’t be here,” he said.

Things are movingquickly now for McGregor who takes off for the US and Belmont Abbey College today (Wednesday, August 16).

“We figured out the VISA’s pretty early on, I’ve got the plane ticket, I’ve got all my bags sorted, so Ithink we’ll be right, just gotta make sure Ibring afew pairs of socks and jocks!” he said.

The college tennis season is set to begin at the end of August, giving McGregor plenty of time to get settled inbefore he gets to work.

Another one: SamMcGregor joins thelistofTraralgon exports leaving to the US to play college tennis. Photograph: TomHayes

Mixed results for LV teams

HOCKEY

By JEN SUTTON

LATROBE Valley’sVic League Hockey teams travelled away last weekend, and came home with mixed results.

After aslow start from the LV Women’steam, the Eastern Christian Hockey Organisation (ECHO) went into half time two-nil up.

Coach Paul Cake urged the team to step up with arousing halftime address. Players were clearly listening as they startedthe second half strongly and were soon levelwithtwo goalsscored by Corinne Metcalf after some great teamwork.

ECHO managed another goal before Claire Cake worked her magic to score the equaliser.

Best players where Charlie Murrell, Jo Maxwell and Corinne Metcalf.

The LV Men’s team played Bayside, who dominated all game.

The LV team was unable to play themselves intothe match,howeverwereabletoscore one goal from apenalty corner through Phil Crane. Best players were Ian Goodwin, Daniel Godfrey, and Daniel Lineen.

Only one local game was played on Sunday, as Moe were unable to field aside to play Rovers.

Churchillstarted the gameagainstTraralgon slowly and were down four-nil at halftime.

The more experienced Traralgon team were controllingthe gamewithstrongpassing. The secondhalf saw amore determined Churchill team score two goals before going down 4-2.

Form reversal lands United in Grand Final

BASKETBALL

BIG V BY LIAM DURKIN

DECENT turnaround.

Gippsland United Women went from the end of the plank to back on board the ship in the space of 24 hours.

BigV semi-finalswere playedinTraralgon over the weekend at the Gippsland Regional Indoor Sports Stadium.

OpposedtoSurf Coast, the Gippsland girlswere well beaten on Saturday night, leaving the bestof-three series tied at 1-1.

However, in astunning form reversal, Gippsland United completely turned the tablesontheir opponents, winning comfortably on Sunday afternoon to progress to the Division2women’s Grand Final.

Those in attendance on Saturday night would havethought Unitedlooked thefurthest thing from ateam bound for aGrand Final.

Misdirectedpasses,easy rebounds and free throws not even hitting the netgave home supporters plenty of cause for concern in United’s 75-62 loss.

Even that scoreline flattered the Gippslandside, who let in 27, 22 and 21 points from quarter time onwards, after conceding just five in the first term. At quarter time, things looked promising, as United led 13-5, but from there, the wheels started to wobble, before well and truly falling off.

Truthfully, about the only good thing to come out of the night wasthe courtsidecommentator

Dodgers keep Braves to nil

BASEBALL

LVBA

BY NICOLE WHITE

MOE/NEWBOROUGHkept Churchill Braves scoreless in LatrobeValley Baseball Association AGrade at the weekend.

The Dodgers scored 10 runswhile keeping their opponents to nil.

JasonSmith went twofor four at the plate to lead Dodgers in hits.

Dodgers utilised three pitchers in the victory, starting with Trent Job, allowing no runs, only the one hit and one strikeout.

Luke Halket cameinasrelief, throwingthree innings, also only allowing asinglehit and two strikeouts.

Final Dodgers pitcher for the day was Benn Zomer, who pitched asingleinnings.

Matt Priorheld the hill for Churchill,pitching six innings,allowing seven hits and 10 runs over the day.

Traralgon took victory from Sale 11-1 in the other game.

Rohan Hectorwas on thehill forSale, allowing 11 hits over four innings with two strikeouts.

Will Hector came in as relief allowing three hits and two runs over his four innings.

Luke Hornstrapitched for the Redsox, allowing four runs on five hits over the five innings. He pitched with three strikeouts and awalk.

Adding to the frustration was captain and import MaKenzie Miller who has been battling the flu of late and only spent just over 20 minutes on the court, and most of the second half on the pine.

Perhapsthe sight of Surf Coast playerswearing mouthguardsindicated their willingness to get physical, and they certainly had no trouble getting the ball back once it hit the United backboard, with 45 defensive rebounds -10more than United managed.

United players were quick to exit the court once the final whistle blew, more than likely shelving the performance as simply atough night at the office.

As hard as Saturday night was to watch, United was able to put it all behind them the next day. Picking themselves up and dusting themselves off, there was no denying Gippsland in the decider.

With aplace in the Grand Final up for grabs, thehome side blitzSurf Coast,scoring 31-15 in the first quarter.

The Redsox had atotal of 14 hits for the game, with Josh Graham, Brandon Wass and Luke Honrstra managing multiple hits. Graham led with four hits in his five at-bats.

BGrade sawthe Dodgers fall to the Braves 8-4.

Sam Gillett on the hill for Churchill allowed four hits and had three strikeouts, walking only one player.

Traralgon had abig winover Sale 17-4.

Will Brooker scored ahome run for the Redsox.

John Kus on the hill for the Redsox lasted five innings, allowing four hits and one walk, with six strikeouts.

Adam Fyfe pitched for Sale, surrendering 10 runs on nine hits over four innings.

In CGrade,the Dodgers beat the Braves 7-3.

Anu Meenakshi was lucky enough to score a home run in the first innings.

Battle of the younggunsonthe hill saw Jesse Wilson (Dodgers) andLoganMaier (Braves) open the pitching for their teams.

GOLF

CHURCHILL &MONASH

4BBB Stableford5 th August 2023

Winners: D.Burridge &C.Thompson 47

RunnersUp: J. McCafferty&P.Flanigan 46

D.T.L: 1. R. Welsh& A. Sharrock42, 2.

T. Collins&B.Kilday42, 3. P. Smart& R.

Madigan 41, 4. P. Kearns &L.Winters 40

N.T.P: 3rdP.Smart, 5thA.west, 12 th P.

Smart, 14 th D. Ellwood

Target Hole: P. Flanigan

Birdies: 12 th P. Flanigan, 12 th P. Smart

StablefordTuesday8thAugust 2023

AGrade Winner: G. Barnes 20 32 pts

BGrade Winner: C. Sterrick3335pts

D.T.L: 1. M. Hutchinson 27 32pts,2.M

Ryan 23 31 pts,M.McConville 29 31 pts

N.T.P: 3rdL.Van Rooy,5 th C. Sterrick, 12 th M. McConville,14thC.Stevens

MIRBOONORTH

Thursday10th August Stableford.

DayWinner: NBaker (25) 33pts

DTL: ALiebe,RPentland 31 c/b

NTP: 4th NBAker 6th MPayne,16th R

Matthews Birdies: TWhitelaw1th.

Saturday12th August, Modified

stablefordscore.

AGrade: PDraper (10) +7 c/b

BGrade: DGregg (23) +7 c/b

DTL: GBeckwith +7,JSmeriglio +5, R

Matthews +4, JHughes +4, DJerram +3.

Experience: Mish Clarke movesthe ball downcourt during thesecond game of GippslandUnited’sbest-of-three semi-final series.Unitedwon the series 2-1 to qualify for the Big VGrand Final. Photograph Liam Durkin

announcing the Matilda’s had won and progressed to their semi-final. United players were clearly frustrated, and a final rap sheet of 21 fouls to nine perhaps highlightedtheir clumsiness at times.

NTP: 4th GShandley, 6th, NBaker,16th

PDraper Birdies: 4th GShandley

MOE

Sunday, 06 August 2023 OPEN Sunday9

hole Stableford

Grade AWinners: Stewart, Doug (27) 17

Place Getters: Williams,Janine 16

Sunday, 06 August 2023 OPEN Sunday

Medley Stableford Grade AWinners: Langmaid, Trevor (17) 35

Wednesday, 09 August 2023 WOMEN’S WEDNESDAY 9HOLEStableford

Overall Winners: Lee,Judy (46) 21

Wednesday, 09 August 2023 WOMEN’S STABLEFORD

Grade AWinners: Young,Gwen(23) 32

Grade BWinners: Stewart, Leahann (31)

36 Place Getters: Blandford, Jane 34 C/B

Hay, Alison 34

Nearest to Pin: 4th Phyllis Dyt14th

Christine O’Reilly

Target Hole: Joan Boulton

Thursday, 10 August 2023 OPEN Medley

Stableford

Grade AWinners: Porto, Christopher (9)

42 Grade BWinners: Griggs,Daryl (21) 32

Place Getters: Hibbs, Steven 35

Malone,Todd 34

From there, United was able to hold sway with their opponents, while maintainingalead around the 10-15 point buffer, to eventually win 94-71.

Joanna Watsonled the scoring for Gippsland, shooting 19 points, alongside Alahna Arnason (16) and Macey McGlead (14).

Emily Scholtes ledUnited for assists with six, andatthe other end of the court, Lauren Tuplin had eight defensive rebounds. Gippsland United now takes on Wallan for the Big Vflag and promotion.

The Grand Final is this Saturday, 7pm at the Gippsland Regional Indoor Sports Stadium.

SCOREBOARD

Weir,Charles 33 C/B

Coffin,Phillip 33

Brien, Kevin 30 C/B

Richer,Paul 30 C/B

Donnison, Terry30

Great Score: MarkScammell (Birdie) @14

Steven Hibbs (Birdie) @14

Nearest to Pin: 4th Anton Devent 8th

Bruce Page 14th TerryDonnison

Saturday, 12 August 2023 MENS

StablefordAggregate Place Getters: 1Stephens,Peter

2Devent,Anton

3Thomson, Bruce

4Donnison, Terry

5Panozzo, Gavan

6Pickard,Andrew

Great Score: Neil Muirhead (Birdie) @4

Andrew Pickard (Birdie) @4 Tony Johnson (Birdie) @4

Nearest to Pin: 4th Andrew Pickard 8th

Aaron Bassman 14th Andrew Pickard

MORWELL

Women’sStableford9th August 2023

Winner: SKarleusa 32pts

DTL: NTePaa 31 pts

NTP: 2nd NTePaa 8th NTePaa 15th N

Te Paa

TRAFALGAR

9/8/23: 2Person PuttoAmbrose and

9-Hole Stableford

Winners: Donna Mellon (19), Bron Wallace (20) and Aileen McNair (33) 47 points

Sale CGrade lost the lead late in a17-6defeat to Traralgon.

Thegame was tied at two with the Redsox battinginthe topofthe fourth when an error scored one run.

Traralgon had16hitsfor the day. Mikey Bentley going four from four at the plate. Although Morwell Cougars had abye, they played apastplayers versus current players gametocelebratetheir 60thbirthday which was amassive success.

Runners-Up: Di Moody (19) and Jo Baker (33) with 41 points

NTP: 5th –JoBaker and the 15th:Donna

Mellon

Nine-Hole Winner: SandraBalfour with 17 points

Nine-Hole Down the Line: Sonia Roberts with 14 points

Tuesday08/08/2023 Stableford

Players: 21, Women 4, Men 17

Winner: Duane Baker (22)

Runner Up: Ivan Grant (21)

DTL: RobDeVries,Steve Gould, Tony

Price, GeoffFallon

NTP: Heather Savige

Mystery3: Ivan Grant

Bradmans: Max Puliese

Thursday: 10/08/2023 Stableford

Players : 27,Women7,Men 20

Womens Winner: BevKeily(18)

Runner Up: Cheryl Deppeler (17)

DTL: KarenMacGregor

NTP: Cheryl Deppeler

Bradmans: Sue Belfour

Mens Winner: NormMether (24)

Runner Up: Harold McNair (22)

DTL: Frank Edmonds,TonyShearer,Ivan

Grant, Dennis Scambler

Bradmans: Toby Davie

Friday, 1thAugust 2023, Open Men’s&

Ladies Stableford

AGrade Winner: Bruce Aplin 39pts

BGrade Winner: MickWright 35pts

DTL’s: Mark Scammell 38, Jamie Winters

38, Ryan Mortimer 37,Ross Anderson 37, Paul Roberts 36, Brad King 35 C/B

Birdies: 2nd: RobertNichols 5th: Jackson

Giles,Roger Matheson, Bronwyn Wallace

11th:GaryJansen, Troy Makepeace,Di Moody

Eagles: 6st: Fraser Anderson 4th Callum

Markovic

Saturday,August 12th 2023, Stableford

AGrade Winner: Stephen Clark37pts C/B

BGrade Winner: Chris Moody 37pts C/B

Women’s Winner: Angela Bayley35pts

DTL’s: HoppyIng 37,TobyFruend 37

AnthonyCunningham 36, RonDavey 36, RoyWhatmouth 34, RichardSheehan 34

PeterCooke34, Tony Gray 34 C/B

NTP’s: 2nd: Paul Massey, Bronwyn Wallace

5th: GarryJansen, Di Moody 11th:Ron

Davey, Di Moody 13th:Harold McNair 15th: RichardSheehan, Di Moody

PISTOLS

Mon 7/8/23 Air pistol

No scores Wed9/8/2350mtpistol

CGrade: BKelly399-200-599,

DGrade: GHarvey479-147-626. JSmith 252-305-557

Sat 12/8/23Centrefire

CGrade: DFarnham 486-155-641

DGrade: JWest 106-363-469.

25 mt pistol

DGrade: KBeaufort303-242-245,

Lauren Kitwood scoredher firstgoalfor Churchill. Jo Maxwell was their other scorer. Alana Tratford, Jo Buckler, Rebecca McDonald and Bec Parker scored for Traralgon.

Bestfor Churchill was Jamine Thompson, Chloe Medew and Nicole Ijpelaan. Traralgon’s best were Jo Buckler, Jenny Sutton and Robin Fitzpatrick.

Contest: Churchills LeandraMcLauchlan taking on Jo Buckler from Traralgon. Photograph supplied

Combined centenarycelebrations

SOCCER LVSL

STRONGER together.

While there might no longer be aYallourn township, its place among the world game will still be carried on for future generations.

Newbororough/Yallourn Soccer Club has been able to keep the Yallourn name going.

The two clubs combined in the mid-90s, taking in ahistory that started in the 1920s.

Some 30 years on, the Combine is celebrating its centenary.

Yallourn Soccer Club was born out of construction of YallournApower station, wheremost of the workforce was of English and Scottish background.

Therefore, it was only natural that asoccer ball would be producedand abit of spareground created to play on.

Whilethe club’s early days were quite primitive, the increasingworkforce madeitclearthere was enough good players around to get involved in organised competition.

Games were organised against Melbourne clubs, as well as in Wonthaggi, who wereatthat time very strong and had asix-team competition.

In 1925, Yallourn travelled to Wonthaggi and beatCeltic 2-1,inthe first roundofthe Wonthaggi Cup Competition, called the Dr Webb Cup, but were subsequently beaten in the second round 4-1 by the Wonthaggi Magpies.

In September of the same year, aYallourn team also travelled in an easterly direction to play in acharity matchatSale, whereby the handsome some of nine pounds was taken at the gate and donated to charity.

History hasitthat in 1926, Yallourn had an ex-English professionalplayer by thename of J.R Elvey playone season for them. He had previously played at Luton Town and Bolton Wanders. Quite pertinent since Luton Town has been promoted to the English Premier league for the first time.

By 1930, the township of Yallourn was showing considerable size.Yallourn North was known as ‘Brown Coal Mine’, and there was also the ‘Western Camp’, so soccer was well established, and four teams were formed to create alocal competition.

Yallourn at this time was using the Briquette Oval.

In 1936, with the establishment of new ovals named Yallourn One, Two, Three and Four, sport in Yallourn jumped ahead.

In 1937, the playersfromthe old dayswere starting to show signs of wear, so the Yallourn Soccer Clubdecided to create aschoolboy’s association. Eachofthe churchesinYallourn, along with the Brown Coal Mine, and an extra one in Yallourn, formed six teams. Alot of the boys in theseteams would eventually go on to playa majorpartinthe rise of the Yallourn Soccer Club.

By 1940, soccer was severely affected by the war, with players joining the service and others becoming too old, and by 1945 when the war ended, Yallourn had only ex-schoolboys up to the age of 19.

At the end of the first seasonafterthe war, Yallourn challenged the leading club in Melbourne, whichwas Sunshine, to agame and beat them 3-2

In 1947, the Yallourn Soccer Club made an applicationtojoin the Metropolitan League and were accepted

Around this time, the huge building program of the SEC had bought many hundreds of workers to the area, withsoccer gaining many imports. Thus the Latrobe Valley Soccer League was formed. Yallourn, however, continued to play in the metropolitan league and were by nowvery strong, so much so that they were Division 1Champions in 1951. This was the highest league in Victoria at the time.

At the end of the 1963 season, all country clubs, including Yallourn were forced back to their country leagues and aVictorian Country Federation was formed.Each year, all the top clubsinthe country leagues met to decide the Victorian Country Champion, which Yallourn won in 1964 and 1965. In 1966, Yallourn were again finalists, but the finals were not played.

Duringthe 1963, ‘64 and ‘65 seasons in the LVSL,Yallourn won the leagueeach season, only losing one league game in three years.

During this time they also won the Battle of Britain Cup in 1964, ‘65and ‘66,Advertiser Shield (1964,1966),Lightningpremiership (1965, 1966), Charity Bowl Series (1964, 1965, 1966),

ReserveCup (1965), ReserveLeague (1965) and ReserveCharity Bowl (1964, 1965).

In 1967, Yallourn were readmitted to the Metropolitan League, but had to start from the 4th Division, which they had no trouble winning, along with the Reserve Competition as well

In 1968, Yallourn went on to win the3rd Division Championship, and after playing two seasons in the 2nd Division, were promoted back to 1st Division in 1971.

Yallourn’s long run of success started to wane in 1974, with players leaving due to the rundown of the Yallourn area, and age catching up with others.

In 1975, Yallourn dropped back to 2nd Division, and 1976 dropped back to the 3rd Division Yallourn played their last game at the Yallourn OvalsagainstEltham on August231979, which Yallourn won 3-1

By all reports, the Yallourn Oval was comparable to the MCG for the 1956 Olympics.

Yallourn remained in the Metro 3rd Division until 1989. Theythen dropped backtothe Metro 4th Division in 1990 and the Provisional 1st Division 1991 and then the Provisional 2nd Division in 1994.

At the end of 1994, Yallourn wasagain relegated to Provisional 3rd Division.

Funding and players at this time were becoming increasingly difficult to find, so discussions began with the other local clubs in the area about the possibility of amalgamating.

Newborough Soccer Club and Monash Soccer Clubswereapproached to seek amalgamation to createone club. Talks were going well, and all seemed to be on board, but at the last minute,

Monash pulled out of talks, but Yallourn and Newborough forged on with the amalgamation and formed the now Newborough/Yallourn United Soccer Club seen today.

The newly formed amalgamation competed in the Provisional 3rd Division in the 1995 to 1997 seasons.

The Combine was promoted from Provisional Div 3toProvisional Div 2after finishing second andbeating Berwick United2-1 in the playoff game of the 1997 season.

In 1998, the club’s first women’steam was created, and played in the StateLeague Division 1. In 1999, after two seasons, they won the State League Division 1Championship.

Newborough/Yallourn men’steam then continued playing in the Provision 2nd Div until the end of the 2000 season, where areshuffle of the leagues by the Victorian Soccer Federation saw the Combine gain aposition in the Provisional 1st Division.

The Combine competed for two seasons in the Prov 1st Div, until being demoted at the end of 2002.

The club was again demoted at the end of the 2004 season, where it was becoming increasing difficult to find quality players willing to make the journey to Melbourne every second week. It was at thattime the difficultdecision was made to bring the team back to the Gippsland Soccer League (LVSL).

Newborough/Yallourn has since competedin the LVSL, and in 2019, the Combine won LVSL senior competition and the BattleofBritain Cup.

Leaders: Newborough/YallournSoccer Club stalwart SteveBaldacchino and Gary Carolan, who wasinstrumentalinbringing the twoclubs togetherduring the amalgamation.

Photograph Liam Durkin

Twoclubs united: Ne Club’smergedinthe 1990s

Photograph: Liam Durkin T clubs Newborough andYallourn Soccer

Strong:Yallournwas g ot just in Gippsland butinmetropolitan leaguesin Melbourne Photograph Liam Durkin

trong:Yallourn was a dominant force during the litan leagues in

History: The old YallournSoccerClub was formed 100yearsago Photograph Liam Durkin

Heritage: Newborough/Yallourn players are wearing a commemorative strip this season, honouring their Yallourrn history

Photograph: Liam Durkin

Combine crushes Churchill

SOCCER LVSL

BY LAURIE WILLIAMS

MOE UNITED'S slim chances of winning the Latrobe Valley Soccer League title were virtually extinguished at the weekend, as the Red Devil's could only managed adrawagainst Monash

Thecompletion of Round 20 narrowed the gap at the top, with Fortunaand Falcons (who each hadthe bye) now in arace to the finish with two rounds to play.

 NEWBOROUGH/YALLOURN DEF CHURCHILL 11-1

NEWBOROUGH /Yallournwerebig winners in their match against Churchill.

As expected, the Combine won, but the margin was ablowout.

Their 11-1victory was their biggest ever over the Rams in their 47 matches against each other. Star forward Mark Fairbrother added afurther three goals to his tally to stay on top of the LVSL golden boot with 24 goals, while others shared in the spoils such as Ryan McCluskey (two goals), Ash Birrell (2), Adam Batt, Shane Pavich, Cooper Baldacchino and Marc McHallam with singles.

Churchillwere on the board early with agoal at six minutes from Hayden Motta, and it took 21 minutes before Newborough/Yallourn equalised. The Combine scored anothertwo beforethe break, however after halftime, it was torture for Churchill as the Combine added afurther eight.

 PEGASUS DEFSALE 2-1

PEGASUS had atough fightagainst Sale, escaping with a2-1 win.

The Horsemen brought up their50thgoal for the season with apenalty at 54 minutes to level the match after Sakhon Khamchomhad givenSale the lead after 45 minutes.

Pegasus eventually found their form and were able to retake the lead on the hour, but Sale fought bravely withoutsuccess to level the gameafter some exciting saves from Santo Simon for Pegasus.

 OLYMPIANS DEFTYERS 5-2

OLYMPIANSclaimed bragging rights over Tyers in ahard-fought battle.

Tyers showed glimpses of form thathave worried

some clubs in the past. The Lightning struck first with Sav Mavrofridis slammingone past the Olympians keeper with only two minutes on the clock.

It was aquick start by Tyers as they hung onto their slenderlead.Olympianswerestunned by the early goal, but Ollie Saliba made amends by beatingthe advancing Brad Apled to level the scores at 18 minutes into the half.

Aftersome heavy work upfield,Olympians were on the attack, and an infringement in the box saw them gain apenalty much to the howls of disapproval from Tyers.

Majok Deng made no mistaketogive Olympians

the lead.

The goal charged Olympians batteries and they fired rockets, with near missesoccurring, but Deng was able to latch onto athrough ball to see him score his second on thehalf hour.

Talab Mohamed had abig chance forOlympians to score again in aone-on-one with thekeeper, but the alert custodian was able to parry the ball away for acorner.

Tyers tried twice to claw back, but were denied by the Olympians keeper.

Going into halftime with the score3-1, Olympians lookedfavourites to take the match from Lightning.

Jaydon Steele, after playing reserves, came on

Troughton proves to be Moe’sthorn

SOCCER LVSL

BY JOHN CARDONA

MOE United’s slim hopesofwinning the 2023 Latrobe Valley Soccer League championship were distinguished on Sunday at TorresStreet Reserve, Newborough, when the Red Devil’s were held to a1-all drawagainstMonash in the local derby. Despite an on-field dominationofpossession by Moe, as was the case in the earlier season round, Moe United was again denied time after time by Monash keeper Logan Troughton.

Moe United started slowly,asinthe previous few weeks, and found themselves agoal down in the first four minutes after aBrayden Paulet run found JacePaulet wide on the right wing. His cross was slotted home by Marcus Krznaric from close range.

From that point, Moe completely dominated possessionofthe ball for the first half,but despite

this, could not find away through adetermined Monash backline.

Arun of corner kicksbyMoe United created many scoring chances. The first came from Brendan Ruddell,whichwas headed goalwards by Connor O’Hanlon, but areflex save from Troughton denied the Red Devil’s. The resultantclearance saw aTannerPyle header cleared safely off the line.

Another corner minutes later by Noah Kane saw O’Hanlon again connect with the crossbar.

The second half was acontinuation of the first half play, with Moe United holding control of play butfinding it difficult to crack open the Monash defence.

O’Hanlon was dominant up front and was involved soon again in the play when his right from the right saw his cross met by Riley Winkleman, but his shot was again saved by Troughton.

Monash had aforward thrust and were given a chance after adefensivemix-upsaw Paulet break clear, but his attempt wasdenied by advancing United keeper Peter Albanese.

Brendan Ruddell’s thunderboltvolley was destined for goal, only to see Troughton pull off a super save. Within aminute, United again pushed to equalise, but Joe Stewart’s shot was thwarted by the crossbar.

With play now into injury time, and another Monash victory looking likely, across from Connor Dastey landed to Riley Winkleman, but aclumsy tackle into Winkleman’s back saw Moe United awarded apenalty.

O’Hanlonstepped up to slam the ball home Secondsafter the restart, the referee blew the final whistle.

Best for Moe was O’Hanlon, Pyle and Ruddell.

In the reserves, Moe Untied avenged their earlier season defeat to beat Monash 1-0 in aclosely fought encounter.

Agoal from aBen Schembri header was enough to seal thewin forthe RedDevil’s.

Best for Moe was Schembri, Kyle Jennings and Dylan Farrugia. Monash won second division 4-0 over Moe.

Women’stitle headingtoSale

SOCCER

LVSL WOMEN'S

BY ZOE ASKEW

LATROBE Valley Soccer League women's champions were crowned on Sunday, with Morwell Pegasus unable to fendoff astrongSaleUnited outfit.

Pegasus hosted Sale United in Round 20 of the LVSL, ahigh-stakes encounter for the visiting side, with awin sealing the league title with three games remaining.

WithMorwell Pegasus havingproven to field one of the strongest defensive lines in the league, conceding just 32 goals throughout the season, Sale knew they were in for achallenge

The home team struck aggressively from the outset, dominating the game's opening minutes. Pegasus denied Sale the chance to play their brand of soccer, exercising tenacity through their midfield, speed up front,and adefensive line that is aforce to be reckoned with.

Sale began to settle, and in the 11th minute, Hollie Ryan scored the game'sopening goal, putting the Swanettes 1-nil in front.

Anouk Meereboer found the back of the net at 23 minutes to extend Sale's lead, while ascreamer from playing-coach Madeliene Breakspear propelled the Swanettes to a3-nil at the 30-minute mark.

Pegauses showed relentless spirit, continuing to pressure afar more settled Sale United when teams returned from the break.

However,Meereboer buriedthe ball in the net in the 51stminutetosealthe win for Sale United4-0

The win sealed ahistory-making league championship for Sale United, who had never won an LVSL championship.

Although there is still two rounds to play, the Swans are already mathematically assured of finishing on top.

Moe's 6-0 winagainst Monash extended the Red Devils' undefeated streak to three, following draws against Tyres in Round 19 and Fortuna in Round 18.

Miley Cooper scored ahat-trick for Moe, while Summer Cooper, Brooke Webley and Tylah Armistead put away one each.

Newborough/Yallourn United defeatedChurchill United 4-0.

Shayla Vella scoredabracefor the Combine, with goals from Gabrielle Fisher-Wolfe and Olivia Brown adding to Newborough/Yallourn's final score.

Fortuna 60 defeated Traralgon City 5-0, while Falcons defeated East Gippsland United 4-2 in Bairnsdale.

Tyres Lightning had the bye.

This weekend,Falcons takeonSale United in Sale,with the women takingthe seniormen's 7pm spot in celebration of the 2023 Women's World Cup.

Pegasus meetFortuna in Round 21, Churchill plays Moe, Newborough/YallournhostsEast Gippsland United and TyresLightning faces Traralgon City.

Monash has the bye.

to give Olympians some extra drive, and he was rewarded with agoal on the hour to give them a 4-1 buffer.

Emre Kocaali replied for Tyersat66minutes, but it was Steele again who put in the final nail to give Olympians their 5-2 victory.

ROUND 21 PREVIEW

THE clash of the second-last round willbethe Fortuna/Pegasus match, with alot hinging on the final result.

Awin by Pegasus could see Fortuna fighting tooth-and-nail for the league title the following week against Falcons. Pegasus have been competitive all season, and won’t be awalk-over, they’ll be pushing the Lions all the way having defeating them in the first round.

 SALE VFALCONS (SATURDAY,5PM AT SALE)

SALEalsoholds abig keytothe league championship. Asurprise victory over Falcons could almost spell doom to Falcons' championship bid.

Sale have the potential to cause havoc at this end of the season, but Falcons, with the incentive of a league championshipinsight should be too good for the Swans.

 CHURCHILL VMOE (SUNDAY 3PM AT MORWELL FNC SYNTHETIC)

MOE would appear to be winners overChurchill, butthey are hoping for other results as well. Upsetwins by Pegasus and Sale would give the Red Devils afaint chance to topple Fortuna and Falcons off the leader board.

 OLYMPIANS VMONASH (SUNDAY 3PM AT TRARALGON)

MONASHhas been the surprisepacket of this season, which augers well for next season. The Wolves have beaten some of the big teams in the competition, and probably deserve to finish higher on the table.

Olympians are ateam building, and will improve for next season, but Monash should be too strong in the showdown.

NEWBOROUGH/YALLOURN and Tyers have the bye

Winnerslist: Olympians celebrated a5-2 win over Tyersatthe weekend. File photograph