Latrobe Valley Express Wednesday 20 September 2023

Cameron calls on Police Minister

MEMBER for Morwell, Martin Cameron, has written to the Minster for Police, Anthony Carbines, requesting an urgent meeting to discuss asurge in violent and anti-social behaviour across the Latrobe Valley.

It comes after Mr Cameron launched apetition last week, calling on the state governmentto increase police and Protective ServicesOfficers (PSO) resources in response to rising incidents of theft, vandalism and assault in the Morwell, Moe, Traralgon and Churchill areas.

“I have invited the Minister for Police to visit my office in Morwell to meet with me to see first-hand the issue sweeping our CBDs, shoppingcentres and public transport terminals,” Mr Cameron said. “I have been raising the issue of police and PSO resourceswiththe AndrewsLabor government for months, and repeated calls for action have fallen on deaf ears.

“This is avery complex and multi-faceted issue, and Iacknowledgethereare many other contributing societal factors at play, particularly when it comes to young people. This is not about demonising or punishing people,but it is astep in the right direction in terms of deterring the behaviour in the first instance.

“Our police are not just law enforcement officers -they conduct youth outreach programs, link withlocal services to provide referrals, and work tirelessly to support disengaged youth -all thesethingshelp build confidenceand foster positive relationships and behaviours. We have a responsibility to ensure our youth have access to information, education, and appropriate support services they can trust.

“The call for more police and PSO resources does not address the underlying issues that contribute to anti-social behaviour,but it is averyreal action the Andrews Labor government can take now to help

the Latrobe Valley community feel safeinpublic.”

Businessowners and retailers in shopping centres and across the Morwell, Moe, Traralgon and Churchill CBDs have reached Mr Cameron’s office en masse in recentmonths to report stark rises in theft, public drunkennessand assault.

Many are so concerned for the safety of staff that they have permanently locked their doors to the

public and cut trading hours, while others report they are “living in fear” and reporting incidents to police daily.

“Every daymyoffice is contactedbybusiness owners and retailers at their wits’ end, after yet another instance of theft,vandalism, andinsome cases serious assault,” Mr Cameron said.

“We have aserious problem with anti-social and criminal behaviour in town centres across the Latrobe Valley, and it is having adisastrous impact on small business and -more importantly -community safety.”

For theyear to March 31, therewere10,319 criminalincidents per 100,000 population recorded in Latrobe -the highest of any municipalityinthe stateoutside metropolitan Melbourne.

“The Morwell electorate has the highest crime rate of any municipalityinVictoriaoutside of metropolitan Melbourne,and now businessowners and residents are telling us they don’t feel safe,” Mr Cameron said.

“The numbersdon’t lie, and Labor can’t spin this data anyother way -weneed more police and PSO resources in the Valley and we need them now.

“Our police do aterrific job keeping our community safe, but theirresources are stretched thin, and the reality is they cannot always respond to these instances in atimely manner.

“Individuals,businesses and retailersare welcome to print off copies of the petition and collect signatures.

To download the petition, visit https://www. martincameron.com.au/issues/

To sign the petition, visit Mr Cameron’s office at 12-14 George St in Morwell, Morwell or Melina Bath’s office at 181 Franklin St in Traralgon. Severalbusinesses in the Moe, Morwell, Traralgon andChurchill CBDs and shopping centres are also collecting signatures.

Public assistance needed for Grey Street

POLICE are appealing for public assistance in relation to aburglary at aschool in Traralgon.

The incident occurred on GreyStreet on Tuesday, July 4.

It is believedaman entered the vacant school groundsabout 12.45pmand gained accessed to alocked bike shed. Once inside, the man stole a bicycle, riding aroundthe school grounds before leaving with the bicycle.

The following day, the man returned just after 4pm with two males and stole two more bicycles.

Thebicyclesstolenincludedtwo black Merida mountain bikes, one white Merida mountain bike andone grey Radius mountain bike.

Anyone with informationisurged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit an online confidential report www.crimestoppersvic. com.au

Commercial Road toilet closed

LATROBE City Council said the accessible toilet in the Commercial Road toilet block in Morwell has been closed for the foreseeable future after it was vandalised late last month. Thisisthe second closure of thistoilet due to major fire damage this year the council reported.

If anyone has any information regarding the incident,council urges you to contact Victoria Police.

Morwell man arrested

A51-year-old year old Morwell man has been arrested following an alleged assault on another man who was taken to hospital with upper body injuries.

PoliceBeat with

It is alleged the man exited avehicle and assaulted another man on CommercialRoad Morwell on Monday, September 11 at around 1.30pm.

The Herald Sun reportedthat apolice spokesperson said the man was arrested ashort time later andhas been assisting police with their inquiries Anyone whowitnessed the incident is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or the Morwell police station on (03) 5131 5000.

National Police Remembrance Day

SEPTEMBER 29 is aday to reflectand remember those police officers who lost their lives in the line of duty.

This date honours the dedicated police officers who have died serving their community. It also allowsVictoria Police andthe community to pay their respects to Victoria Police employees who have lost their lives through illness or other circumstances.

For the first time, awreathwillbelaidinhonour of officers who have died in the line of duty from police forces across Australia and in the South West Pacific region.

Police will also pay respects to the membersfrom Queensland Police Service, Western Australia Police Force and the Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary, who were killed in the last year.

No nice things: Latrobe CityCouncil have closedthe Commercial Road,Morwell accessible toilet blockfollowing recent vandalism.

Photograph: Facebook

Victoria Police invite you to join your local service

For more informationvisit: www.police.vic.gov.au/ national-police-remembrance-day-and-memorial?

Zaida Glibanovic

Urgent action: Memberfor Morwell Martin Cameron has invited the Minister forPolice to see first-hand howdrastic the situationisinthe Latrobe Valley. Photograph supplied

Young president is leading the way

By LIAM DURKIN

IT is said the youthare ourfuture leaders, but some are leading the way right now.

MorwellFootball-Netball Club has flipped the usual job description for club president on its head, entrusting the responsibility on Michael Stobbart, aman barely into his 30s.

The youngster, relative to the usual age for afootball-netballclub president, stepped up to the top job after being sounded out from within the Tigers’ ranks, andisnow believed to be the youngest ever president in Morwell FNC history. “When Iwas approached for this year it was a bit of ashock, but also an honour to be accepted, it is aprivilege, it is agreat club in the Latrobe Valley,” Mr Stobbart said.

“He (the committee member) said “hear me out, but what are your thoughts on taking over as president?” It was pretty much you can do as little or as much work as you want. They’ve got a great committee, Paul (previous president Paul Spagnolo) has been greatinthe handover, then it was‘let me haveathinkabout it’, talk to the partner, then Icaught up with Daryl Couling, Wade Presley who are past presidents, had agood chat to Paul about it all and then took it on.

“Definitely didn’t envisage it at (age) 31.”

With Morwell also appointing ayoung senior coach in Boyd Bailey this season (28) the concept of having apresident around the same age factored intoMrStobbart’s decision to acceptanomination at the club’s annual meeting.

“I spoke to acouple of senior players, Ispoke to Boyd, they all backed me into it as well,” Mr Stobbart said.

“That was abig part of it, the other part of it was someone who has played at the club, knows how the club works, knows the culture, we pride ourselves on our off-field culture as much as our on-field culture, that was abig part of it. We are ayoung side, young coach it was agood factor.”

Baileyand Stobbart have both had long histories withthe Tigers.Althoughplaying at different levels, they have equally helped form the Morwell FNC Mr Stobbart is currently overseeing today, one which he says runs very efficiently.

“If Iring up any of the committee members and say “can you just do this for me, I’m stuck with something”, they’ll do it. We had aGather Round herefor women’sfootball, the canteen was sorted, Ispent an hour downhere on the day, where some other clubs the president would be stuck there all day. Our club’s set up perfect in that way,” Mr Stobbart said.

“That was probably one of the things that sold it forme, knowing the committee, Iknowevery single one on the committee at apersonal level as well.Brendan’s (treasurerBrendanBlackshaw) great, Amanda (Pollutro) our secretary is great, Hendo, Michael Henderson does amountain of work, everyone does their thing, Clair and Ness (Claire Allison and VanessaCouling) withthe netball are unreal.

“That is one thing Paul said to me, he goes “you won’t have to worry netball, they’ll run themselves”, and that shows in the results they’ve had in the last few years, and they’re killing it this year.”

Morwell’s AGrade netball team is preparing to play in the Grand Final this Saturday, and will gettoplay the biggest game of the year on their home court.

As afirst-year president, Mr Stobbart said the Grand Final loomed as an opportunity to showcase Morwell Recreation Reserve on ahugescale.

The premium facilities at Morwell FNC, which are shared with Gippsland Power, are easily the best in the region.

“It’s great to have it here, we have putalot of our own money and work into upgrading the

facilities,” Mr Stobbart said of Morwell FNCs home.

“Grand Finalispredominately league-run, (but) we’ll help out.

“I thankLatrobe City Council andGippsland Power for the effort they put in, the financial side, it’s just another step to making this joint the best in Gippsland.

“We have the syntheticoval, the surface on the main oval is great, two netballcourts, nice rooms, change rooms. Council and Gippsland Power, we have agreat relationship with them, AFL Gippsland, the Grand Finalwill be great, hopefully we’ll get abumper crowd in, hopefully the weather is good, we love having it.”

While it will be fingers crossed for asuccessful Grand Final day,MrStobbartsaidthe support he had received from fellow Gippsland League presidents had been appreciated.

“Talking to acouple of other presidents, Kev (Kevin Foley) at Traralgon’s been great, Mal Mackie’s (Leongatha)been great,the girls at Warragul have beengoodtochatto. All the presidentsare good, Ithink everyone just helps each other out in one way or another if they can,” he said.

“We all want to win but at the end of the day we are all in the league as one and want the league to thrive as the best league in Gippsland.”

Having taken on the responsibility of leading afootball-netball club, which have now become big businesses on the local sporting landscape, Mr Stobbart said there had been alot of great experiences so far.

“I’m enjoying it, sometimes you go home and you’re banging your head against awall, but it is enjoyable,” he said.

“To haveacontributiontothis great club, whether it be for ayear, two years, 10 years, whatever it is, to have my name up on the board is an absolute honour.

“I recommend anyone, even if they jump on the

committee, jump in, get involved, learn some new skills, public speaking has been amassive one for me.

“I used to come up here with my old man (Dave Stobbart) when Iwas akid to watch, played here, represented the club, played some below-average footballhere, to have acontribution off the field is an honour.”

As possibly an added bonus, being president

means Mr Stobbart won’t ever have to pull the boots back on again for the reserves if they happen to be short.

Under Morwell FNC rules, a committee member cannot be acurrent player.

Whilethe Tigers have aplaying-coach,itlooks as though they won’t ever have aplaying-president.

GIPPSLAND LEAGUE GRAND FINAL PREVIEW -PAGES 22-25

Young leader: Morwell Football-NetballClub president Michael Stobbarttook on thetop jobthisyear at theage of just 31 Photograph: Liam Durkin

Crossword Puzzle No.8552

with Muzza

ONE POINTERS

1. Which AFL team finished on top of the ladder after this years home and away rounds?

2. What is the name of the current movie about an American scientist and his role in developing the atomic bomb?

3. On the periodic table, what element has the chemical symbol He?

4. True or false. Sharks aremammals?

TWO POINTERS

5. Which planet is home to Doctor Who?

6. What is the capital city of Egypt?

7. Who sings the song ‘Chemical’?

8. Which famous artist cut his own ear off?

THREE POINTERS

9. Who is the current Minister for Energy and Resources?

10. What does the acronym “SCUBA” stand for?

11. Who plays Mary in ‘There’sSomething About Mary’?

12. What is Hyacinth aspecies of?

FOUR POINTERS

13. What is the next prime number after 7?

14. What is the name of the largest active volcano in Europe?

FIVE POINTER

15. Who am I? Clue: BorninSydney in 1945, Imoved to the Barossa Valley in 1973 with my husband to run apheasant farm and restaurant. My career spans farming, food production, as well as television presenting and food writing. Iestablished my own Foundation in 2014 and many people know me as acookand achef.

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.0176

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, apostrophes or plural words ending in ‘s’. Solution next Wednesday

Hazelwood’sbig Dipper

By KATRINABRANDON

HAWTHORN footy great, ‘The Big Dipper’, caused alot of destruction on the footy field in his time, but now on Dipper's Rigs on 7mate, 'Dipper' or Robert Di Pierdomenico, explores the industry that uses large equipment to do with demolishing, mining and travelling.

On September 2, 7mate aired an episode where Dipper met with the Delta Group at Hazelwood Power Station. Here he learnt about the stations processes, measuresand the recycling of materials in its closure.

"I have always wanted to know how things are done. Like how cranes are built and what happens when you do adifferent demolition, who gets all the stuff," Dipper said.

"We have been abletofilmalot of the work. Ithink it wasthe biggest job in the Southern Hemisphere, it was areally big job.

"Everythingthat has been pulled down has been recycled.Every brick, every piece of iron, glassand whatever. It all gets recycled."

Dipper told the Express he was surprised with the outcome of the project and that what he saw in the end was “kangaroos running around, everything looks so lush and green compared to how it was before”.

He also mentioned that he doesn'tknow what will happen with the land,but he thought it might become farm land again or something that would benefit the community.

The show took more than 12 months to become ready to air, according to Dipper, due to how much was involved and learning all that he could about what wasthere.Dippersaidthe show had been great, meeting new people and learningabout the different industries.

In the show, it touchesonwhat management goes on in these projects, safety measures, and dangers within the industry. Dipper said most people did not know what goes on in these industries and the types of measures taken to ensure that everyone gets home safely. Beforeeach project, Dipper said that he had to take asafetylesson to be aware of the measures taken.

"It's all about giving space to trucks on the road because you don'tknowwhatload they carry. There is so much to them, such as the tuning of the truck, the servicing," he said.

Truck safety is so much more than what people think,according to Dipper. Drivers have weigh

In town: AFLlegend RobertDiPierdomenico in front of theMorwell Dredger,aspartofthe new series ‘Dipper’sRigs’. Photograph: Jason Kennedy

bridges on the sides of roads to weigh their load, check theirbreaks,check theirlog booksand make sureeverything is up to scratch so that there is confidence in the company that their vehicles are safe on the road.

Dippersaid, "DemolitionslikeHazelwoodare amazing because if you don’tknow something and you see it, like if something blows up, how it blows up".

"Every demolition is organised. It’s not just ripping it down. It is like‘We are going to take this side down, we have acouple of bricks here’.

"It’s all like abig theatre, well put together."

Rock King brings moves toHMACF

BY KATRINA BRANDON

ANOTHER Elvis tributecametothe

Latrobe Valley recently.

Dennis Rea,alocal musician, and Rollin' Rick Charles performed for the citizens of Heritage Manor Aged Care Facility (HMACF) last month.

The performance was intended to add some vibrancy for the citizens.

"Times are getting tough. Everything moves forward but for the seniors it is very hard for them to make that change. The struggles that they go through to catch up with the modern daychanges of social media.It’s good to pull them away from all that. This is live. Stuff that they grew up with, let’s go down memory lane from when they were kids," Rick said.

During the night, 110 residents and guests enjoyed the music and joined in with Rick Charles on stage.

"When everyone got up and danced Ithought ‘This is different’. However, when Ilook at the days of Elvis in the 50sand 60sthey used to dance in the isles anyway. It’s just anatural instinct for aperson thatisexperiencing that era to hear that beat," Rick said.

The night was organised by Heritage Manor Lifestyle Coordinator, Katie Jeremiah.

Ms Jeremiah mentioned that it was her first time throwing an event as big as an Elvis tribute before and first time since 2019 that they have included

so many people because of COVID protocols.

"Events like these are really good for the families as it is hard to bring residentsout of the facility and have astress-free time," Ms Jeremiah said.

"Being at the HeritageManor,the

familiesand residents have support and becomes astress-free environment because there is more thanplenty of help in case something happens as well as available facilities."

Throughoutthe night, Rick did a number of Elvis hits as well as some of

his songs from the 70s and both joked with the crowd and told the crowd facts about Elvis so they could feel more connected and informed about the artist.

Rick explained that there is so much to Elvis and his music that people didn't see. Like the fact that he was always reinventing music to fit the time and that alot of his songs came from gospel artists.

"Elvis was arebelofhis time," Rick said.

"Elvis has covered every aspect of the entertainment world and Ican reflect to that.

"It’s like being in alibrary of music."

Starting the show, Rickdidn't know what songs he would singthroughout the night apart from his starting song. Depending on how the audience reacted, he would choose his songs based off that

"I have my first song that Iamgoing to sing. Ihave to get out there, Iknow what Iamgoing to start with but Ihave alistofabout 60 to 70 to actually choose from to take it whichever way Iwant it to go," he explained.

"I didn’t really know what Iwas going to do out there but Ihad the material there."

Rick suggests to any youngperformers

"You can buildsomething on asolid foundation, like an artist that has been through the trapslikeElvis, like the Beatles. In 10 years today are you going to rememberwho thefirst Australian

artist was? Idoubt it."

"For an artist to make it today, they have to look at old school. Stop looking at what is hip and hop because you will be hipping and hopping out the door the next day. It may look daggy but what they did. They were reinventing.

"A song has to have ameaning, a melody and apurpose. Just can’t have abeat."

Back when Rick was just starting his career as Elvis, he walked up to a producer, who he didn't know at the time or recognise, and decided it would be a great idea to joke around saying "Here is asong from your generation" and then sang aFine Young Cannibal version of Suspicious Minds

Surprisingly, it worked well for is career andhestarted his 30 year career as Elvis.

Now, Rick has up to 3500 songs to his repertoire.

Reaching the end of the night, while Rick and Dennis were packing up, Ms Jeremiah closedthe nightwitharaffle, with multiple different prizes supplied by businesses, employees, families and some residents.

"It turned out to be areally great night It was good to seeall the happyfaces and hear all the laughs throughout the night," Ms Jeremiah said.

Historyand religion release

RENOWNED local historian Patrick Morgan has published anew book that unites two key themes of his writing career -the history of Gippsland and the history of the Catholic Church in Australia.

AMASS-KIT IN THE SADDLE BAG: The Gippsland Catholic Church andCommunity, published by Connor Court, follows the story of Catholics, mainly of Irish background, who were settling in Gippsland from 1837 for ahalf century before the dioceseofSale was set up in 1887.

During this pioneering period, priests sent out from Melbourne'on the Gippsland mission' built a small number of churches on the main highways.

Using these as their base, priests foraged out into the bush identifying already established Catholic families whom they served, intermittently at first, on their circuits, gradually forming these communities into embryonic parishes.

The firsttwo bishops, James Corbet and Patrick Phelan, established abasic but coherent network of schools, presbyteries,hallsand Catholic organisations, giving the diocese ashape it has retained, much embellished, to this day.

After the disruptions caused by the Great Split of the 1950s, Bishops Eric D'Arcy and Jeremiah Coffey, re-established the diocese's equilibrium in order to successfully cope with new issues such as increasing secularisation and modernist attitudes, which threatened anew round of disarray.

Patrick Morgan has published more than a dozen books, including atwo-volume history of the Melbourne Catholicarchdiocese, an award-winning history of Gippsland, ahistory of Gippsland literature and anthologies of Gippsland literature. He has also written extensively on Eastern Europe and the role of writersinsociety, particularly under dictatorships and totalitarian regimes.

Patrick and his wife Ann live in the South Gippsland hills near Boolarra.

Thisdiocesanhistory can be purchased for $25 plus $5 postage,fromPatrickMorgan, 610 Limonite Rd, Boolarra, Victoria 3870; email: morganps@iprimus.com.au; phone 5169 6216.

Thank youverymuch: Heritage Manorresidents were treatedtoanElvis showlast month. Photograph: Farshid Akhlaghi, Digital Content Producer at Baptcare Heritage Manor

Record: Boolarra author PatrickMorganhas released anew book detailing the historyof GippslandCatholics. Photograph supplied

GP1662199

Rennie’soff to retirement

BY KATRINA BRANDON

GOING intothe businessofbuying your first home is daunting, but with alocal real estate company, it becomes easier.

With 46 years under his real estate belt, Peter Rennie, and 37 years for Sandra Rennie, the pair behind Rennie Property Sales closed their doors for the last time on Friday, September 8.

Sandraand Peter said they were sad to close their doors, but thankful for the close community that kept their business going.

"You get to meetsomanywonderful people while working in real estate, whichisa highlightfor me," Mr Rennie said.

"Another highlightwas when Iresold the Parkside Motel again after 40 years. That was a bighighlight. It was abig sale 40 yearsago and to be sellingit40years later is really good."

Peterhas helped manyfind their first homes, seen businesses rise as well as the growth of the community.

He toldthe Express that he sees the work as afun thing to do, and wished to express many thanks to those who put their faith in his team.

"The area is going to keep on growing with Melbourne people coming in. Especiallythosewho are working from or who are able to work from home, come down to the rural areas. With the rail line it willdefinitely help withthat,"heforecasted.

"I originally wasn't lookinginto gettingintoreal

New kids on the block

Paterson Raymond Giles, bornon 08/07/2023 at Warragul Hospital to proud parents Reuben Giles and Jenn SchembriofTrafalgar

Closeddoors: Rennie Property owners Sandraand PeterRennie arelooking forwardto retirement.

Photograph: Katrina Brandon

estate butwhen Igot into it, Iquite enjoyed it. "It's been very nice to work with lots of different people and to be in the community. We are happy to be able to now go out on our terms but Iwould liketothank all thosewho supportedusonour journey."

LATROBE Regional Health's cardiac catheterisationlaboratory has performed its 1000th coronary angiogram, in amajor milestone for the expanding cardiology service.

The cath lab opened in 2018 and has an experienced team of nurses, cardiologists and cardiac physiologists led by the director of Cardiology Dr Derk Pol.

"The cath lab specialises in diagnosingheart problems and providing treatment options for patients. This includes insertingastent, underskin loop recorders or carrying out right heart studies, which allow us to test the pressure in a patient's lungs," Dr Pol said.

The high-tech cath lab features special imaging systems and cameras that can track the passage of acatheter as it is moved closertoa patient's heart

"Weinsert the catheter through either the radial artery at the wrist or femoral artery at the groin and make our way to the heart," Dr Pol said.

"Oncethere we use adye to give us greater vision of what's going on for the patient and intervene where we need to. That might be assessing the vessels with aflow test and inserting astent if needed, depending on the condition we see.

"Once completed, we withdraw the catheter and the patient is on their way to recovery."

Patients are awake throughout the procedure.

"We use local anaesthetic but we need the patient to be awake so they can tell us if they are experiencing any discomfort or chest pain," Dr Pol said.

The cath lab at LRH is the onlyserviceofits type in Gippsland and the facilities are the envy of many regional and metropolitan hospitals, according to LRH chief executive, Don McRae.

"It is considered state-of-the art and cardiologists havebeen reallykeen to travel to LRH to work in aspacious setting with an enthusiastic, highlyskilledteam," Mr McRae said.

"The cath lab is just one of the services we offer locally that historically people have had to travel

to Melbourne for.Our cancer servicesare another example whereweare providing top quality care here in Gippsland, treating more than90per cent of the cancers usually seen by metropolitan hospitals.

"Last year,with the community's generous

support, we were able to purchase an electroencephalogram (EEG) scanner to support the work of our neurologists,particularlywithpeople experiencing epilepsy."

To learn more aboutthe services available at LRH go to https://lrh.com.au/find-a-service/

By KATRINA BRANDON SEPTEMBERisSexual

Health Month, andLatrobe Regional Hospital (LRH) and Cath Bateman from Latrobe Community HealthServices (LCHS) told the Express why sexual health is important.

“Sexual health covers topics such as contraception, sexuallytransmitted infections, vaccinations to protect against cervical cancer, access to termination services and more,” Gippsland Region Public Health Unit (GRPHU) Acting Director, Dr Alyce Wilson said.

Accesstoservices in rural areasisa postcode lottery, according to Dr Bateman, where you would be extremely lucky to have one or two services in a rural area that do all treatments for sexualhealth, including terminations.

For those who do have aservice in their area, it can often cost up to $500. Clinics like LCHS are tryingtohelp bring down costsand visits so that it is easier on their clients, with acost of about $80.

“Cost is really extreme for some people because they don’t just have to pay forthe service,they havetopay fortimeoff work, childcare,travel, sometimes accommodation,” Dr Bateman said.

“I have afull time job, if Ihad to pay$500for something,Iwould havetothink about waiting untilpayday to be able to afford it.”

According to Dr Bateman, most abortions come from women who are about aged 39 to 42, having had an accidental pregnancy and who think that their bodies are done. Theprocess for abortions nowadaysisa two-pillprocess. You can get this method up to nineweeks gestation.

“Most peopleare really shockedbecausethey think that most abortions are careless and from peopleintheir late teens, early 20s, who are irresponsible. About athird of my patients are definitely not in that category,” she said.

Dr Bateman told the Express that some accidental pregnancies occur because their contraception failsasnone are 100 per cent effective.

In an ideal world, Dr Batemansaidthat if someone hasmultiple partners, they should be getting checked about once every three months, as that’s the incubation period for anumberof sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Those who have anew partner should visit shortly after starting the physical relationship or within the three-month range.

To protect against STIs, Dr Bateman said that those sexually active need to wear acondom during intercourse, which also protects against pregnancies.

Whengetting cervical screens, doctors will often ask about your sexual history. If you are under 30 and having your first screening, you will most likely be asked if they can do an STI test just in case.

STIs can be asymptomatic where you don’t show any symptoms so you are less likely to know that youhaveit. Dr Bateman said that sometimes if youdohave chlamydia, you can become infertile if you leave it untreated. Chlamydia is acommon STI caused by abacteria. It affects both men and women. Most people with chlamydia do not have symptoms. This meansyou can pass the infection to apartner without knowing it.

“Latrobehas the highest rates in Gippsland and

Victoria for cervical cancer -around 50 per cent. They now have self-swabs (COVID-test for the vagina),” Dr Bateman said.

LRH and LCHS would like the public to know that, yes, sexual health is an awkward topic, but it doesn’t have to be. They would like to recognise that sexual health is just like other health.

“We get all types of coughs and colds all times of the week and we don’t make them something to be scared about. Human sexuality is avery normal part of life and so we should be looking at sexually transmitted infectionsinthe same way,” Dr Batemansaid.

“Chlamydiaisthe most common STI across Gippsland.Itisestimatedthat 77 per cent of chlamydia infections are undiagnosed. Many of thesecasesare asymptomaticinfections,which result in untreated disease, ongoing transmission and increased risk of complications,”DrWilson added.

“Almost half (49.1 per cent)ofthe gonorrhoea notifications in 2023 are in community members aged 15 to 29, with men making up over 60 per cent of cases.”

As well as LCHS Sexual Health Services, Morwell, places that provide services across Gippsland are KCGS Sexual include Clinic 281 in Bairnsdale, Sexual Health in Practice Services in Yarram and Sexual Health in Practice Services in Cowes.

Further information is available fromwww.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/STI and www.talktesttreat. org.au/

Four figures: Latrobe Regional Health’sCardiac Cath Lab celebrateafter performing its 1000th procedure. Photograph supplied

An expressweek experience

By OLIVIA HENNING*

EVERYONEremembers

their timeatwork experience, whether they found their dream job or followedone of their parents around at work.

When talking about it, people willoften tellyou,“Get ready for areality check.” And it’s true that by the end of the week your feetstart to drag a little more, and you can’t believe you took for granted the fact that you got to go home at 3pm everyday from school. But the work is certainly rewarding, particularly at anewspaper; seeing the print the next day and knowing you caught one of those tiny mistakes, that you had acontribution to something important. Overall, doing work experience with the journalists at the Express was thoroughly enjoyable,but there was acouple of things thatstood out the most -the people you meet, and their truly amazing stories.

Iwas lucky enough to meet and interviewaman named John Brown, a98-year-old artist who has recently had someof his artworks displayed in the Matchbox Gallery in Yinnar. Sitting and listening to John speak about his beautiful art and his journey through life was a truly unforgettable experience.

Just the next day, Ihad the opportunity to attend an event run by Pride in Diversity at Churchill’s Federation University, where Iwas able to listen to various seminars about diversity and acceptance in the workplace.

On my last day, Ithen had the thrill of experiencing my first news conference with a Minister, as HarrietShingspoke at GippsTAFE. On top of all theseexperiences, Ihave also expanded my skillset,

particularlyinterms of people skills and engagement with others.

These are invaluable lessons and will certainly be useful tools throughout my life, no matter where Igo.

Of course,not every moment at work is magical, and it’s eyeopening -regardless of where you do work experience -tosee what goes on behind the scenes and realise the effort people are putting in every day

Ultimately, workexperience at the newspaper was an amazing opportunity, and even in such ashort time Iwas able to learn so muchand meet the most amazing people both in and out of the workplace.

Ican say with certainty that in years to come Iwill reminisce withfondness at my time with the Express

 Olivia HenningisaYear 10 Mirboo NorthSecondary Collegestudent.

Editor’s note:

Thank you to Olivia for her time with us last week, and Iwish her well in her future pursuits. We have had anumber of students complete their work experience with us this year, and while we hope this has been beneficial to both schools and students, we are expecting the next few months to no longer make it practical to have work experience kids on site. The Express will however still welcome university students looking for placement.

Liam Durkin, LV Express editor.

Dolly Parton’sImaginationLibrary

LATROBE Health Assembly is proudly delivering Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library in the Latrobe Valley.

This meansthatall children born from January 1, 2023 until July 31 2024 can receive afree book every month until they turn three years of age.

Latrobe Health Assembly have partnered with United Way Australia, who provide Dolly Parton’s Imagination Libraryacross Australia. LHAhas alsopartnered with Latrobe City Council Maternal and Child Health team who will assist in promoting this program to families in Latrobe Valley.

Latrobe Health Assembly is delivering this program to help improve early childhoodliteracy. By reading to children in the home,itallows them to enjoy reading and develop their literacy skills, well before theyenter formal education. Research has shown that reading to achild consistently can lead to them being up to six months ahead of their peers academically, when compared to those that have not the same exposure to reading.

The idea to rollout the program in the Latrobe Valley was provided in aseries of community

workshops that took place in 2022. These workshops were focussed on identifying areas of early childhood wellbeing that needed more attention in the Latrobe Valley. From these workshops, Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library was highly recommended by parents, carers and service providers.

Latrobe Health Assembly Chair, Tanya Rong saidthat “while theresearch highlights the benefits of reading to children from ayoung age, the rewarding part of rolling out this program is thatthe need for this program hasbeen identified by the community. Reading is alifelong skill, and fostering alove of reading from ayoung age will set children up for success in their future."

If you are aparent or carer of achild that was born from January 12023toJuly 31 2024,and live in the Latrobe Valley, your child is eligible to enrol in the Latrobe Valley Imagination Library. To enrolyour child or achild you care for in the Latrobe ValleyImagination Library follow. this link and complete the enrolment form: https://imaginationlibrary.com/au/affiliate/ LATROBEHEALTHASSEMBLY/

On the job: Budding journalist Olivia Henning.

Help Navigating the Aged CareSystem

The path to entering aged carecan be complicatedand manypeople find it difficult to understand. From trying to navigate My Aged Careand booking in an ACAS assessment, to getting your head around all the financial jargon, the aged care system can be overwhelming. That’swhy atMitchell House they have an expertly trained Customer Relationship Consultant –Kendal Laws -thatcan help to make your journeyalot easier.From help navigating the system, to explanations about your financial options, Kendal is available to help youevery step of the way.

Personalised Care Navigation and Consultation

At Mitchell House, Kendal is a passionate advocate who is committed to understanding your unique situation, needs and preferences. She will work closely with youand your family,taking the time to listenand empathise, to ensureapersonalised experience throughout your journey. By getting to knowyou on adeeper level, Kendal can provide expert guidance

and recommendations tailored specifically to your requirements, ensuring youfind the perfectplace at Mitchell House.

In-Depth Knowledgeand Facility Insights

Kendal possesses extensive knowledgeand firsthand insights intothe exceptional services and amenities thatMitchell House offers. She is well-versed in the home’sfeatures, including diverse recreational activities, specialised careprograms, healthyand nutritious food, and local staff thatgenuinely care. By using her expertise, Kendal can provide you with acomprehensiveunderstanding of the home’sunique features, allowing youtomakeaninformed decision thataligns perfectly with your lifestyle and healthcareneeds.

mypleasuretosee and hearhowmuchexisting andnewclientsare enjoyinglivingat Mitchell House,”-KendalLaws.

Facility Tours

Exploring apotential nursing home can be an overwhelming experience. Kendal can simplify this process by coordinating facility tours tailored to your availability and preferences. She will guide youthrough the home, introducing youtothe compassionate staff, showcasing the

inviting living spaces, and giving you afirsthand glimpse intothe vibrant community atmosphere. Kendal will be by your side during these tours, answering your questions, and ensuring youhaveall the information youneed to makeaconfident choice.

Discoverthe difference of having a Customer Relationship Consultant by your side and join the warm and welcoming community at Mitchell House today. Theycurrently have limited places forpermanent and respitecare, call Kendal on 0409 255 406 to book your appointment today!

“Ihave beenat Mitchell Housefor4monthsand have beendelightedtosee thechanges Respecthas beenmakingtoour home. Resident’shappinessand comfortandaremymost importantfocus anditis

New teaching aid taking the ‘awks’ out of sex ed

ANEW,anatomically accurate, pull-apartmodel of the vulva is providing accessible educationon atopic that’s been taboo for too long.

Createdincollaboration with RMIT University, Cliterate is an educational tool for healthcare professionals and educatorsthat pulls apart to show the relationship between the vulva, clitoris and pelvis.

Lead designer and RMIT Senior Lecturer Dr Judith Glover said Cliterate addressesthe lack of accessible and accurate educational resources available on the vulva.

“One of the issues with existing anatomical models is you get everything -nerves, muscles ligaments,” Ms Glover said.

“But you can’t pick and choose which aspect of the model to focus on that’srelevant to aclient. They also don’t showthe relationship between different parts of the genitals.”

Cliterate founder and occupational therapist, Anita Brown-Major, used puppets of the vulva to teach clients about their genitals before she created Cliterate.

“While my puppets have beenreally useful, they’re not anatomically correct,” Ms BrownMajor explained.

“But anatomically correct models currently availableare not userfriendly, and Ineeded something that was accurate but could also be touched, pulled apart and simplified.”

Working closely with Brown-Major, Glover and RMIT Industrial Design graduates Charlie Richardsonand Cara Jordan-Miller poured through decades of medical research and anatomical images to create computer aided designs of Cliterate, which was 3D printed, then manufactured by Pete Hvala from X-Product.

“Havingatool that can be pulled apart is important from an accessibility perspective. If someonehas an intellectual disability, you need amodel that is simple but accurate,” Ms Glover said.

Fed Uni new courses to address shortages

“Fortoo long theseissueshave been taboo and we need to treat devices for sexual practice andsex-edthe same as designing for any other devices -built on good quality research and design methods.”

Cliterate was born from alackofresources to support body, sex and intimacy education within the disability population, accordingto Ms Brown-Major.

“Our brains are all wired differently so we needhelpfulresourcesthat consider multiple learningneeds, and these resources need to be accurate and based on the latest available research,” she said.

Ms Glover and Ms Brown-Major said informationabout the vulvaand clitoris was surprisingly difficult to find withoutthe assistance of pioneering urologist Dr Helen O’Connelland her team from theUniversity of Melbourne

“The lack of educationonthe vulva has health implications for everyone,” Ms Brown-Major said.

“Not being able to identifythe difference betweenthe vulva and the vagina, for example, could mean applyingtopicalcreams to thewrong areas, which can make you really sick.

“Or inserting acatheter into the hood of the clitoris, instead of the urethra, could have huge consequences, not to mention be extremely painful.”

Glover and Brown-Majorwant to take the stigma away from genital education, and hope Cliterate can create aspace forcomfortable conversations about female bodies.

“Our bodies and our genitals are afact of life -none of it should have any taboos on it at all,” Ms Glover said.

Cliterate is availabletopre-ordernow and will be ready to launch in late September 2023.

By ZAIDAGLIBANOVIC

IN an exciting announcement for the region, Federation University's Churchill campus is launchingtwo new socialworkcourses to meet the demand for human services in Gippsland.

From 2024 onward,studentscan enrol in the Bachelor of Social Work and Master of Social Work (Qualifying) (Children &Families) courses which have been designed in partnershipwith local industry to meet the needs of the workforce.

Not only will these courses address skills shortages, but it willalsogive local students in Gippsland the opportunity to study at home where they can keep their community and family ties.

Extensive research across the local community servicesector has found thataround250 roles will be needed in Gippsland in the near future.

Social workers are employed in avarietyof government, non-government andcommunity organisations that provide counselling, advocacy, community development, policy development and researchinareas like early intervention and child protection, familysupport, community health, housing, disability, justice and aged care.

As part of the new courses, students will participate in 140 days of work placement in real-life learning, with the support of experienced professionals in the sector.

Federation University saythey pride themselves on theirco-operativelearning model,where industry partnerships are key to integrated and successful outcomes.

Gippsland campus Bachelor of Social Work students will also be eligible to apply for the Gippsland Primary Health Network Scholarship, announced in July, which will provide financial support to students for the entire period of their degree.

The Master of Social Work (Qualifying) (Children &Families) is designed to get socialworkers ready with the skillsand knowledge they need to take on leadership positionsinthe human services sector

Federation University Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic), Professor Wendy Cross said the social workcourses took 18 monthsofveryspecific targeted work.

"We've been talking about social work for quite

afew years, but when we started really working with out partners in the sector it took 18 months," she said.

“As Victoria’s premier regional university, we are working with industry to help address local workforce shortages and we are incredibly proud to collaborate with the Gippslandhuman services sector to offer these new social work courses.

“These courses have been co-designed in associationwith our industry partnersand willequip students with the skills,knowledge and real-world experience they need to meet the high demand for social work graduates.”

Speaking to the regional need for social workers, ProfCrosssaid, "For everykilometre youmove awayfroma metropolitan area the shortages grow."

"What we're seeing across the welfare sectorand the mental health sector, there are growing needs."

Eager to helpGippslandstudents stay in Gippsland,ProfCrosssaidsocial workstudents will no longer have to travel for education

"Whatweknow is about70per cent of students who studyinthe regionsstayinthe regions and work locally and build their lives locally," Prof Cross said.

Expectinghigh demand, Prof Cross suspects around 50 to 60 students will enrol for the social work course in 2024.

Anglicare Victoria GippslandRegional Director, Vicki Levey said the new courses are an exciting opportunity for Gippsland.

“The Gippsland community will be the biggest winners from Federation University’s decision to offer two new socialwork courses in the region from 2024. Local people will gain access to more skilled and qualified staff, and Anglicare Victoria will work closely with Federation University to develop the knowledge and skills of its students, whilealsoproviding hands-on sectorexperience and support to our future social workers,”she said.

“There is asignificant need for social workers in Gippsland. These courses will give local people the opportunity to obtain aqualification and find ajob close to home -italsomeans we can support ourexistingstafftofurther theirstudies within the social welfare sector.”

Together: Federation University’sClaireMcLachlan, RDVGippsland Sara Rhodes-Ward,Anglicare Victoria’sVicki Levey, KarenSutherland (Dept of Families Fairness andHousingInner Gippsland), FedUni Deputy Vice-Chancellor Wendy Cross,Latrobe Health AdvocateJane Anderson, FedUni AssociateDeputyVice-Chancellor Engagement Leigh Kennedy,Latrobe CityMayor Kellie O’Callaghan and FedUni Social Work Discipline Lead Jennifer Martin. Photograph: Zaida Glibanovic

BookWeek and National DayagainstViolence

SACRED Heart Primary School, Morwell began itscelebrationsfor Book Week with aparade in the morning of children dressed in many different book characters.

On display were anumberofHarry Potters, TheLorax, Princesses, Peter Rabbits, Where’s Wallys, Dinosaurs, Little Red Riding Hood, Enid, Wednesday and Dorothy. The theme for 2023 was 'Read Grow Inspire'.

Studentsparticipated in amixture of juniors and senior groups in rotational activities based around the 2023 awarded shortlisted books of the year. They not only celebrated Book Week, but also National Day against Violence. After the parade, children spent the rest of the morning exploring activities that assisted them to recognise safe behaviours at school and out in the community. They discussed the safe people in their lives that they could talk to and created mind maps on their thinking.

Afew days later, to conclude Book Week celebrations, students attended alivemagic show Wake Up and Read.Itwas acomedy that incorporated music, drama, mime, puppetry, magic and circus skills. The story was about aboy called Frank,

growing up in Australia, who had Italian parents and how he became an avid reader and came to do what he does today.

The storywas depicted through Rock and Country and Western songs.The performance WakeUp and Read also encourages and entices students to engage in reading, both for pleasure and research, with apositive background messageofmulticulturalism, social harmony and anti-bullying.

Where’sWally: Mali and Jake

Crew: Sacred HeartPrimarySchool students Aleksja, Helanah,Isabella, Mali andEmily. Photographs supplied

Local lakestopped up withtrout forschool holidays

FAMILIES can expect to reel in abig catch these schoolholidays, withmore than 35,000 catchable rainbow trout stocked into lakes across Victoria.

Minister for Outdoor Recreation Sonya Kilkenny and Member for Yan Yean Lauren Kathage have stocked YarrambatLakewith 1000 catchable rainbow trout so keenanglers in Melbourne’s northern suburbs won’t be telling stories about the onethat got away. Yarrambat has had its previousallocation almost doubled in 2023 due to the popularity of fishing amongfamilies in thegrowing area.

The annual school holiday stockingprogram forms part of arecord-breaking stocking effort fundedbythe stategovernment’s$96 million package to improve fishing, boating,piersand

aquaculture -supported by recreational fishing licence fees.

The programcomplements the commitment to deliver95,000 Little Angler Kits to Victorian primaryschoolstudents next term, encouraging more kids to fishwith family.

The Victorian Fisheries Authority (VFA) has stockedmore than 26 million fish in thepast three yearstoensurefishing is greatall year round More than80Family FishingLakes,mostof which were also stockedahead of the mid-year schoolholidays, will share in the good times with trout grownatthe VFA’s Snobs Creek hatcherynear Eildon.

From Rutherglen’s King Lake to Ess Lagoon in Casterton, Lake HylandinChurchill and

Albert Park Lake in the heart of Melbourne, budding anglers can begin their fishing journey at family-friendly waters -many of which boast all-abilities access including platforms or pontoons, walking tracks, playgrounds and facilities like barbecues.

The stockedrainbow trout are ideal for newcomers as theytakeavarietyofwidely available baits like wormsorPowerBait. For thefulllist of waterways stocked ahead of these holidays, visit www.vfa.vic.gov.au/ holidaytrout.

In Family FishingLakes, adaily bag limit of five troutapplies, of which onlytwo troutcan exceed 35 centimetres.

Fancydress: Tyler and Wyatt

Ears: Mackgettingintothe spirit of Book Week.

Painful hands and carpal tunnel syndrome is very common especially in older people who have lead a generous and productive working life.

It is sometimes difficult to sort out the cause of hand pain as it can result from ‘wear and tear’ such as osteoarthritis in the small joints of the hand, the moving structures such as inflammation of the tendon sheaths or from compression of the median nerve at the wrist.

To complicate things, problems with the neck and also the elbowcan also refer pain to the hand.

Pain in the hand especially at night which causes you to wake or prevents sleep along with characteristically

pins and needles or numbness in the thumb index, miiddleand d hallf of f theriing finger tenddsttobbeddiagnosttic of compression of the median nerve in the base of the palm or carpal tunnel syndrome.

The term carpal tunnel syndrome comes from the tight space between the small bones of the wrist and the sinew or ligament bridge crossing above the median nerve and tendons thatcontrol finger movement. The nerve is quite large and thick, almost the thickness of alittle finger and is prone to being compressed in this tight anatomical area causing the symptoms of pain and ‘pins and needles’. Think of it as the nerve crying out for more space.

Thereare other options to elective surgery

waiting lists!

Sometimes, if theclinical symptomsofcarpal tunnel are not that clear,nerve conduction studies or an MRIofthe hand and wrist may have to be donebut mostof thetimethe clinical situation is convincing.

The fixfor this is relatively simple. Either rest the handinasplint for months, sometimes asteroid injectionwhich is abit painful and not that successful or asimple operation under local anaesthetic Carpal tunnel decompression can be done in ahospitalundera general anaesthetic,but withskill and expertise it canbeeasily done in ahalfanhour without discomfort and is equally successfuland

without all thefuss

In most situations relief from the nocturnal pain is immediate,or withina day ortwo.The pinsand needlesand alteredsensation in thefingertipstaking longer to resolve.With long standing carpal tunnelsyndromeitcan take many months butifthe symptom duration is short these tendtoimprove over afew weeks

Unfortunately theprocedure is not ageneralpracticeprocedure and areferralwill be necessary for an opinion anddiscussion of individual circumstances and how to proceed.

HOROSCOPES

by Joanne Madeline Moore

September 18 -September 24,2023

Aries When it comes to professional or volunteer work, do you feel as if you ’ ve been going backwards? Prepare to take a welcome leap forward as the Sun, Pluto and Mercury move things in a positive direction So don’t waste precious time procrastinating! Be upfront with work colleagues, clients or customers, and keep them up to date with current plans and changes The more creative and proactive your approach with family and friends, the better the week will be

Libra This week is all about bringing more balance and harmony into your busy world We celebrate the Equinox on Saturday – when the Sun transits into Libra and day and night are of equal length With Mars also moving through your sign, it’s time to tap into your passion and creativity So your motto is from fellow Libran legendary stage actress Sarah Bernhardt: “Life begets life Energy creates energy It is by spending oneself that one becomes rich ”

Taurus

Hey Bulls – are you making the most of Jupiter moving through your sign? The planet of good fortune is transiting through Taurus for another eight months, and then it won’t be back again for eleven years So don’t rest on your lovely laurels! It’s time to turn dynamic opportunities into productive prosperous projects Ultimately, it’s up to you Birthday great Bruce Springsteen (who turns 74 on Saturday) reminds us: “When it comes to luck, you make your own ”

Gemini

On Tuesday nebulous Neptune s Gucks the wind out of your sails (especially at home or work) and you may feel disappointed or confused Don’t despair and give up, Gemini! Instead get your creative juices flowing in imaginative new directions Thursday’s Sun/ Pluto trine focuses your busy mind and sharpens your cerebral talents So it’s the perfect time to analyse study research and dig deep as you uncover a mystery or solve a perplexing problem

Cancer On Monday and Tuesday, resist the temptation to retreat inwards (and be moody and mysterious) to cover up your emotional insecurities Clear and honest communication (with yourself and loved ones) will get you a lot further than sulky Crab behaviour! And are you overdue for some creature comforts and a touch of luxe? With Venus visiting your money zone raid your piggy bank and treat yourself to a restaurant meal or some indulgent body pampering

Leo There’s the tendency to become obsessed about an idea (or person) as you focus with Leo tunnel-vision You’re putting in 100% effort but don’t be disappointed if the results aren’t perfect You’ll learn more from perceived failures than you will from successes Draw inspiration from film star Sophia Loren (who was born on September 20, 1934): It s better to explore and make mistakes than to play it safe Mistakes are part of the dues one pays for a full life ”

Virgo

With Mercury and the Sun visiting your sign tg his week, you’ll find brains and confidence are a winning combination It’s also a wonderful time to boost your self-esteem with a physical makeover, tap into your latent talents, and believe in yourself – even when other people disagree with you and the going gets tough!

So your motto for the moment is from Virgo actress Jada Pinkett Smith (born on September 18, 1971): Don t allow anyone to dictate who you are ”

Scorpio

The magnetic Sun/Pluto trine boosts p personal power and encourages passionate communication and purposeful transformation But the overall message this week is patience, as Mars (and then the Sun) transit through your solitude zone Rest, relaxation reflection and rejuvenation are just what the doctor ordered If you look to the future with a positive attitude, then fabulous opportunities will manifest – eventually But you must be extra patient

You love to hear the soungd of your own voice as you chat, converse and communicate However, sometimes you can confuse talking about something with actually doing it! If you think things through and then act with passion and purpose, the week will go well But if you don’t walk your talk, expect delays and disappointments at every turn Be inspired by music legend (and birthday great) Bruce Springsteen: “Talk about a dream and then make it real ”

Sagittarius

‘Centenarians’ celebrate friendships, discovery and learning at St Paul’s

ABUNCH of ‘centenarians’ raced through the groundsofStPaul’s Anglican Grammar School recently, at what might be consideredanunusual speed for persons 100 years old!

Early in the week you could feel dpoubtful or disappointed, as the Sun/ Neptune opposition dulls motivation and confuses communication Then your Capricorn confidence starts to return, as the Sun/Pluto trine boosts your earthy energy and natural enthusiasm Personal projects holidays travel and education are highlighted Remember it’s Equinox week so the more you relax and tune into your inner equilibrium the more productive (and attractive) you’ll be!

Capricorn

Draped in outfits similar to what theirgrandparents may wear andsporting stylishgreyhairstyles and glasses, it was soon discovered they were the Prep students excitedly celebrating their 100th day of school.

When they rememberedtoslowdown, they were spotted hunching over their walking frames and sticks while feigning aches and ailments.

Meanwhile, Prep teachers appeared to have gone on leave, and apairof(nearly) unrecognisable seniorcitizens took their place, their attire and movements putting asmile on everyone's faces.

Aquarius

An unreliable relative or a queqstionable acquaintance could lead you astray So keep your realism radar set on high and avoid getting caught up in dubious schemes You’re learning some hard financial lessons, as penny-pinching Saturn stirs up your money zone Astute Aquarians will budget wisely and prioritise saving over spending Strive to build your outer material security – as well as your inner emotional security Both are equally important to future success

Pisces If you daydream the week away you’ll just end up feeling dazed and confused Try channelling your creative energy into relationships joint ventures group projects or helping others When it comes to a partnership, you ’ re keen to pursue a particular course of action but is a loved one on the same page? Take the time to double-check, otherwise you could find you are veering off in completely different directions Communicating clearly is the key

CopyrightJoanne Madeline Moore 2023

Thisadvertisingspace couldbe s

The ‘centenarians’ aka Preps, also toured all of the classes to share their excitement with other students for completing 100 days of forging friendships, embarking on new discoveries and embracing the joy of learning.

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One by one: Elizabeth counting 100Cheerios

Smiles: Lleyton during his special100th dayof school.

This week my stars are telling me that I’m going to purchase a fantastic bargain YOUBEAUTY!

TheGuide

SHERWOOD

ABC TV,Friday, 8.30pm

Anothertop-flightBritishcrime drama kicks off on the ABC tonight with afascinating,fact-based political undercurrent.Created by acclaimed writer JamesGraham (Quiz), Sherwoodtellsofa baffling double murderinamining village in Nottinghamshire, where tensions lingerfollowing aminers’strike.On the case is police chief DCSIan St Clair (DavidMorrissey)who quickly finds thereisnoshortage of suspects as he navigatesanuneasyalliance with an oldcolleague, London cop DI Kevin Salisbury(Robert Glenister pictured, left,with Morrissey). Full of unexpected plotturns and compelling characters(especially ascene-stealing turn from Lesley Manville), Sherwoodis an exceptional politicalmurdermystery

ROCK ISLAND MYSTERIES

Nickelodeon, Monday, 5.05pm

After ahugelypopular first season,this spiritedteen adventurereturns with morelaughs andthrills,playingout againstsome truly stunning Queensland locations. Thenew instalment finds Taylor (Alexa Curtis) still trying to make contact with her uncle Charlie (Lucas Linehan), who is trapped in aportal leading to anotherworld.Coupled with that is thereturn of an oldadversary –the villainous Raquel(Annabelle Stephenson) –who is suffering from amnesia butstill proves aformidable foe. Thishomegrown hitreally doesboast a winningformula –alikeable and charismatic youngcast, lotsofgenuinelaughs and some nifty special effects and action. It’srock-solid entertainment

THE BLOCK

Nine, Sunday, 7pm

Whether you’re an enthusiastic cook, baker or someone who livesand diesbytheir microwave, theold adage rings true: “kitchens and bathroomssell houses”.Since The Block’s producers aren’tquite sadistic enough to givethe contestantsa week whereboththese big-ticket rooms areonthe renovation schedule, we’vehad to settle with the next bestthing:kitchen and laundryweek, one of the biggestintheir three-month build. Now,it’stime forfeedback from the judges –NealeWhitaker,Darren

Palmer and Shaynna Blaze(pictured from left). Tune in to find out whosekitchen is the “sexiest”, what they thinkof thatorange oven, andexactly what “Japandi” means.

Wednesday, September 20

6.00 Mastermind Australia. (R)

6.30 SBS World News.

7.35 BettanyHughes: Treasures Of AlbaniaAnd TheAdriatic (PGa) Albania’s secretsare explored.

8.30 David Baddiel: Jews Don’t Count. (MA15+l) David Baddiel explores how Jews are often ignored by people who loudly supportother minority groups.

9.35 Wolf (Final, Malsv) Jack unearths aclue.

10.40 SBS World News Late. 11.10 Trom. (Mlv)

12.00 Reyka. (MA15+av,R)

6.00 SevenNews.

7.00 HomeAnd Away (PGa) Remi lashes out at Bree.

7.30 My Kitchen Rules. (PGl) Hosted by Manu Feildel and Colin Fassnidge.

9.15 Talking Finals. James Brayshawis joined by Tim Watson, Joel Selwood and Trent Cotchin to discuss the AFL Finals.

10.15 Unbelievable Moments Caught On Camera (PGal, R) Footage of headline-grabbing moments.

11.15 TheLatest: SevenNews.

11.45 AutopsyUSA (Ma, R) 12.45 TheEnemyWithin. (Mav,R)

ADAM ANDPOH’S

GREATAUSTRALIAN BITES

SBS Food,Tuesday, 8pm

MasterChefalumsAdamLiaw and PohLing Yeow have crossed the country on their mission to pin down Australia’s national dish. In tonight’s season finale, thepairhead to Canberra, wherelunch on aboatin

Lake BurleyGriffinspursLiaw to wonder if Australia hasa national sandwich From the humble Vegemite and cheese sanga to abaconand eggroll, a democracy sausage or “the bestbánh mi in the country”, all contenders are considered. Even PM Anthony Albanese (pictured, left,with Liaw and Ling Yeow)weighs in on the livelypolitical debate.

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

4.00 Destination Flavour.(R) 4.35 Bamay.(R) 5.00 NHK WorldEnglish News Morning. 5.30 ANC PhilippinesThe WorldTonight.

SBS VICELAND (31)

7TWO (72, 62)

6.00 Nine News.

7.00 ACurrent Affair

7.30 TheBlock. (PGal) Hosted by Scott Cam.

8.45 Footy Classified. (M) Hosted by Eddie McGuire,Matthew Lloyd Jimmy Bartel and Damian Barrett.

9.45 Luxe ListingsSydney. (Ml) Simon and aclient land aprivate viewing.

10.45 NineNews Late.

11.15 TheEqualizer. (Mav)

12.05 TheGulf (Madlsv, R)

1.05 Chicago Med. (MA15+am, R) 2.00

Getaway.(PG,R) 2.30 Global Shop.(R) 3.00

TV Shop: Home Shopping. (R) 4.00 Believer’s Voice Of Victory.(PGa) 4.30 ACurrent Affair

9GEM (92,81)

6.30 TheProject.

7.30 Thank God You’re Here. (Mls) HostedbyCelia Pacquola

8.30 Inspired Unemployed(Impractical)Jokers (Mans) Four Aussie mates set out to embarrass each other in apublic setting by trying their hand at virtual golf

9.00 Five Bedrooms. (Mls) Harry finds himself in charge of Ainsley’swhite-party hens and Simmo’s fire-on-the-land bucks.

10.00 So Help Me Todd. (PGa)Todd takes on the roleofbabysitter 11.00 FBI. (Mv,R)

1.00 The Late Show With Stephen Colbert. (PG) 2.00 Home Shopping. (R) 4.30 CBS Mornings.

Homegrown heroes: The castof RockIslandMysteriesis back formoreadventure

Thursday, September 21

6.00 TheDrum

7.00 ABCNews.

7.30 7.30 Presented by Sarah Ferguson.

8.00 Foreign Correspondent. Alook at aproject involving LeBron James.

8.30 Grand Designs: House OfThe Year: Incredible Transformations. (PG) Part 2of4.Kevin McCloud visitsfive homes that have undergone incredible transformations.

9.20 Griff’sGreat Australian Rail Trip: PerthToKalgoorlie –Find ASandgroper (R) GriffRhys Jones exploresAustralia by train.

10.10 ArtWorks. (PG, R)

10.40 ABC LateNews.

10.55 TheBusiness. (R)

11.10 TheWhiteleyArt Scandal. (PG, R)

12.10 Q+A. (R)

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

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

6.00 Mastermind Australia. (PG, R)

6.30 SBS WorldNews

7.35 GreatAustralian Walks With Julia Zemiro (PGa)Julia Zemiro heads to Tasmania.

8.30 EvaLongoria: SearchingFor Mexico: Jalisco (PGa) EvaLongoria visits Jalisco,the state wheremuch of what is seen as typically Mexican originated.

9.20 Crime (Premiere) When aschoolgirl is abducted, adetectiveinspector believes an infamous serial killer is responsible.

11.20 SBS WorldNewsLate.

11.50 Max Anger: With One EyeOpen. (MA15+v)

12.45 Exit. (MA15+dl, R)

2.35 Man In Room 301. (Mals, R) 4.20 Destination Flavour.(R) 4.50 Destination Flavour Down Under Bitesize.(R) 5.00 NHK World EnglishNews Morning. 5.30 ANC PhilippinesThe WorldTonight

Friday,September 22

6.00 TheDrum. Analysis of theday’snews.

7.00 ABCNews. Alook at the top stories of the day

7.30 Gardening Australia. Costa Georgiadisexplores ferns

8.30 Sherwood (Premiere, Malv) After amurder occurs in an ex-mining town, DCS Ian St Clair is called in to investigate.

9.30 Midsomer Murders. (Mv,R)A folk festival organiser is killed in amanner reminiscent to that described in aballad.

11.00 ABCLateNews. Coverage of theday’sevents

11.20 Miniseries: Innocent. (Mal, R) Part 4of4

12.05 Harrow. (Mav, R)

1.00 Rage. (MA15+adhlnsv)

6.00 Mastermind Australia. (PG, R) Presented by MarcFennell.

6.30 SBS WorldNews.

7.30 South AmericaWith Simon Reeve: TheAndes. (Ml) Part 3of5

8.40 Ancient Egypt: Chronicles Of An Empire:CultOfThe Dead (Mav) Takesa look at ancient Egyptian funeral practices and afterlife beliefs.

9.40 Tony Robinson:The Thames At Night. (R) Part 3of4

10.35 SBS WorldNews Late.

11.05 Unseen. (Malnv)

11.55 Romulus. (MA15+av,R)

3.45 Destination Flavour.(R) 4.15 Going Places With Ernie Dingo.(R)

4.45 Bamay.(R)

5.00 NHK World EnglishNewsMorning 5.30

ANC PhilippinesThe WorldTonight.

6.00 SevenNews.

7.00 Home And Away (PG) Ablast from Mali’spasthits theBay

7.30 My Kitchen Rules. (PGl) In Melbourne, housematesNick and Christian are hoping to redeem themselves with their second cook.

9.15 TheFront Bar (Ml) HostsMick Molloy, Sam Pang and AndyMaher takealighter look at all things AFL

10.15 Air Crash Investigations: Missed Opportunities (PGa, R) Alook at the crash of Flight 1851

11.15 TheLatest: SevenNews. (R)

11.45 AutopsyUSA:Carrie Fisher. (MA15+ad, R)

12.45 TheResident (Ma, R) 1.00[VIC]HomeShopping.

6.00 Nine News

7.00 ACurrent Affair

7.30 RBT. (Ml, R) Followsthe activities of police units.

8.30 Emergency (Mm, R) First-time dads Michael and Luketreat amotorcycle rider with multiple fractures.

9.30 Casualty 24/7 (Mm) Followsstaff and patients at thecausality department of ahospital in Barnsley,South Yorkshire.

10.30 Nine News Late.

11.00 Chicago Med (MA15+am)

11.50 TheFirst48: Love Hate/A Soldier’s Life (Mal, R)

12.40 Chicago Med. (MA15+am, R)

1.30 Tipping Point. (PG, R)

2.30 Global Shop (R)

3.00 TV Shop: Home Shopping. (R)

Of Victory.(PGa) 4.30 A

Affair.(R)

News Early Edition.

6.30 TheProject. Thehosts and guestpanelliststakea look at the day’snews, events and hot topics.

7.30 GoggleboxAustralia. TV fanatics open up theirliving rooms to reveal their reactions to popular and topical TV shows.

8.30 SamTaunton:Rooster (MA15+ls) Astand-up performance by AustralianPinderPrize-winning comedian SamTaunton.

9.40 TheCheap Seats. (Mal, R) Presenters Melanie Bracewell and Tim McDonald takea look at the week that was.

10.40 Law&Order:SVU (MA15+av,R) Velasco asks Benson for help

1.30 TheProject (R) Alook at the day’snews and events

2.30 TheLate ShowWith Stephen Colbert. (PG) HostedbyStephenColbert.

3.30 Home Shopping. (R)

4.30 CBS Mornings.

6.00 SevenNews.

7.00 Better Homes AndGardens. Johanna Griggsand Pete Colquhoun explore aterrace home thatlooks small but is packed with features.

7.30 To Be Advised.

[VIC]Football.AFL.Finals Series.Preliminaryfinal.

10.30 To Be Advised.

[VIC]AFLPost-GameShow

11.00 To Be Advised.

[VIC]ArmchairExperts.(M)

12.00 12 Monkeys. (MA15+v, R) Curious abouther companion’smysterious past, Cassie asks Cole where he is from.

[VIC]HomeShopping.

4.00 Million Dollar Minute (R)HostedbySimon Reeve.

5.00 NBCToday. News and current affairs.

6.00 Nine News.

7.00 RugbyLeague NRL. Finals Series. First preliminary final.

9.45 NRL Finals Footy Post-Match. Apost-matchNRL wrap-up of the first preliminaryfinal, with expert analysis and player interviews.

10.45 MOVIE: TheExpendables (2010,MA15+lv,R)Mercenaries try to assassinate adictator.Sylvester Stallone, Jason Statham.

12.45 MOVIE: Good Kill. (2014, Malsv, R) Ethan Hawke.

2.35 It’s All Greek To Me. (R)

3.00 TV Shop: Home Shopping. (R)

4.00 Postcards. (PG,R)

4.30 Global Shop (R)

5.00 TV Shop: Home Shopping. (R)

5.30 SkippyThe Bush Kangaroo (R)

6.30 TheProject. Thehosts and guest panellists takealook at the day’snews, events and hot topics.

7.30 Have YouBeen Paying Attention? (Malns,R)Celebritypanellists compete to see who canremember the most about events of theweek.

8.30 TheGraham Norton Show. (Mal, R) Graham Norton is joined by legendarysingerBruce Springsteen, actors AnyaTaylor-Joy and Anna MaxwellMartin, and comedian Mo Gilligan. Florence and the Machine perform their single DreamGirlEvil

10.30 To Be Advised.

11.30 TheProject. (R) Alook at the day’snews and events.

12.30 TheLate ShowWith Stephen Colbert (PG) Hosted by Stephen Colbert.

1.30 Home Shopping (R)

Who will it be?

NETBALL GIPPSLAND LEAGUE

BY ZAIDA GLIBANOVIC

THE ultimatebattle, that defines careersand makes history is almost upon us.Moe and Morwell will face off in the Gippsland League Grand final this Saturday on Morwell's home deck.

Morwell won themselves atrip to the big dance after defeating Leongatha 48 to 45 in the preliminary final, setting up arematch against Moe. It was aseesawing battle in warmer conditions which took its toll on the players, but theTigers came out the better.

Grand Finals are no easy feat and there is no doubt this fight between the Lions and the Tigers will be one for the ages.

The score is pretty even betweenthese twoteams, but with recent form guides, the punters may put their money on Moe.

In this year's opening round, Morwell defeated Moe 54 to 51, then Moe returned the favour in Round 12, winning 57 to 49 and then again in the

MOE or MORWELL ??

second semi-final, attaining victory by four goals. Apremiership is no easy feat, and these two teams will need to bring everything they have to be the winners at the end of the day.

Moe's shooting power has been unstoppable with goalerofthe year Ramayer Gourley averaging 40.6 goals per game.

The team collectively averages the highest scores and will be the first point of concern for Morwell to combat.

These two sides equal each other out as Morwell's strength comes from its defensive prowess, with the likes of playing-coach and league best-and-fairest Tanya Budgethe general downback, that willhave the answers to the Lions question. Not to mention thedefensiveduo of Budgeand Courtney Garth was the exact combination that helped the Tigers go undefeated toward aflag last season.

Up-and-comer Anna Solomon has impressive gameawareness and could be averyhandy player come Grand Final day.

Moe's defenders have been given recognition as well, with Oliva Barnett awarded team of the year

squad honours. Barnett will no doubt pose achallenge for Morwell's Daisy Hill and Claire Marks.

The premiership could be won and lost in the midcourt, with abattle of gigantic proportions between superstar young athletes. Moe's young midcourt in Alex Moody, Charlize Bird and Macy Gardiner will have the legs to run all day and match Morwell's physicality and running ability.

Moe'sGeorgia Moody will have all the confidence in the world, having been named in the Vic Fury squad earlier this year. The dynamic speedster can play any attackingposition and might hold the key to aMoe triumph.

Premiershipwinning Morwell midcourt in Chloe Radford and SaskiaEeenjes however have proven they cantakeittoanyone.

Morwell's Rachel Tattersonmight have an extra inch to her step as she celebrated her 300thsenior club game at the weekend, with her 301st being theultimate game -aGrand Final.

One things for sure though -nothing will come easy in this game. Morwell coach Rachael Paterson saidthis season has been such acompetitive one.

"Whatayear and we have experienced it all, we have been pushed, winning some hard fought games and learning valuable lessons with afocus each week to make this last game of the season," she said.

"Moe are formidable opponents and Ramayer will have her team firing and full of confidence as they should be."

Speakingonmatch-ups, Paterson said there will be key positions all over the court which every player will know their role."

"The last few weeks have been really good for us as agroup, we are determined, our captains are focusedonleading this team out on Saturday and we are ready for it," Paterson said.

"We will turn up with our whole club and families behind us ready to play."

Expect every player to leave it all out there on the court. Expect every spectator to be on the edge of their seat. Expect for aGrand Final like no other.

Tip: Winner to be determined in overtime.

Teams, good luck messages, and more Pages 24-25

GIPPSLAND LEAGUE GRAND FINAL

Saturday, September 23 at Morwell Recreation Reserve

FOOTBALL

SENIORS:

WonthaggivsLeongatha (2.30pm)

RESERVES:

Leongatha vs Sale (12.30pm)

THIRDS:

Warragul vs Maffra(10.30am)

FOURTHS:

Traralgon vs Maffra(8.30am)

NETBALL

AGRADE: Moe vs Morwell (3pm)

BGRADE:

Drouin vs Traralgon (1.30pm)

CGRADE:

MaffravsLeongatha (12.15pm) 17 AND UNDER:

Traralgon vs Sale (11am) 15 AND UNDER: Sale vs Traralgon (9.45am) 13 AND UNDER: Traralgon vs Sale (8.30am)

Tiger time: Morwell will be out to make it ahat-trick of AGrade flagsthisweekend,after winningin 2019 and 2022 (above).

Champion: Morwell’sCourtneyGarth knows what it takestowin apremiership

Star: Georgia Moody will be akey playerif Moe wins theGrand Final.

Viva la Lions: Moeisaiming to win its firstA Gradeflag since 2018 File photographs

Pace &AssociatesLawyerscan takecareof all your legal needs.

Receivevaluableprofessional advice with sound experience,excellenceand integrity.

Family Law

Moe wiill have to wait anotheryear

FOOTBALL GIPPSLAND LEAGUE

BY LIAM DURKIN

THEnumber 20 became instantly connected to how Leongatha booked themselves atickettothis year’s Gippsland League Grand Final.

The Parrots took to Sale Oval at 2.20pm for the preliminary final against Moe, and had the game virtually wrapped up 20 minutes later.

Between 20 past two and 20 to threelastSaturday afternoon, Leongatha kicked five goals straight before the Lions had achance to catch theirbreath.

That things evened up after the first break mattered little, for in afinal scoreboard reading 10.13 (73) to 5.10(40),the damage had already beendone.

Thematch started calmly enough, although there was some talking points. Moe began leading forward Billy Gowers in the midfield, and sent usual on-baller Grady Cocksedge to play on Leongatha livewire Cameron Olden.

Olden had beenthe Lions’ nemesis in the qualifying final, kicking eight goals.

Cocksedge was one of fourinclusions forMoe, in what was his first senior game since Round 11.

Gowers made his presence felt early with a crunching tackle on VFL-listed playerNoah Gown, but it was Leongatha’s Aaron Turton who made the first impression on the scoreboard,kicking truly afterjuggling amark straight in front.

This was followed by along range goal from left footer Cade Maskel driftingdown from defence, and then Jenson Garnham at the 13-minute mark, making it afaststart for the Parrots.

Garnham made up for an earlier fumble to kick his second for the term, which came after aJack Ginnane set shot and follow-uptrademarkfistpump celebration.

It took Moe until the 23-minute-mark to register their first goal, which came when veteran James Blaser curled one from in front of the ramp at Sale Oval and had teammate Harry Pepper shepherd it through.

Adesperatetacklefrom Lion’s captain Jacob Wood on monster Leongatha ruckman Ben Willis typified Moe’s willingness to try and wrestle back some momentum.

Withthe margin22points, the Lionshad the opportunity to head into the quarter time break less than three goals down. However, ahugemiss fromNickProwsefromthe point of the goal square sent acollective throwing back of heads from all wearing maroon and blue.

Prowse himself knew as soon as it left his boot, dropping to his haunches instantly.

While the Leongathalead wasonly 22 points at quarter time, the worry for Moe wasthatthe Parrots had kicked five goals to one.

Moe assistant coach Shane Paynter gave the side abit of aspray at the first break, lamenting their inability to generate any overlap.

Moe added two goals in the second term, but went into the main break with an even greater deficit after Leongatha kicked three.

PRELIMINARYFINALS

The Lions looked off the pace, which was perhaps unsurprising giventhey’d had one less day to recover after their Sunday semi-final.

The intensity of afinal was virtually non-existent after halftime. Both teams only scored one goal each in the third, with the first for Moe coming from Harry Pepper at the seven-minute mark.

That goal got the margin back to four goals, however, Kim Drew responded quickly for the Parrots to keep the opposition at bay.

The five-goal burst from the opening term was now beingused wisely by theParrots,who were afforded the opportunity to control most of the tempo.

A clearing kick from Moe midfielder Trent Baldi saw him collected late by Ginanne, who made the mistake of doing it while Trent’s twin brother Riley was in close proximity.

Understandably, Riley wasn’t going to let someone clean up his brother, and came in to fly the flag. While there was audible contacttothe face, the sight of Ginnane dropping to the ground clutching at hisjaw could have also earned him an Academy Award nomination.

That the game went on with no on-field reports or afree kick reversed is perhaps all that needs to be said.

With asteady five goal lead, Moe was saved being further in arrears, as aset-shot from Leongatha midfielder Tom Marriott flew out of bounds after the three quarter time siren.

Come the last huddle, Moe was starring their final quarter for the season in the face.

Playing-coachDeclan Keilty urged his charges to keep trying to take the game on, backing their fitness to potentially run over the top.

Unfortunately for the Lions, the last quarter played out in much the same fashion as the third. Both sides managed just one goal each, but from Leongatha’s viewpoint, that suited them just fine.

When Garnhamkicked his third, the equation became virtually insurmountable for Moe.

Once Leongatha had killed enough time to make absolutely sure of it, they restedafew key players, turning one eye to this week. Gown was one who spent extended periods of the last term on the bench.

Not all wearing green and gold were thinking about next week however. Forward Jack Hume might yet have acase to answer for after putting down Blaser, afterhe’d bumpedDrewata boundary throw in.

Hume appealed for afree kick, before charging at Blaser and putting him down with what looked to be aforearm to the face. Players from both sides came in to remonstrate, while Blaser walked down to the goal square to kick Moe’s only goalofthe quarter.

Hume was offered three weeks for the incident, but given what usually happens in Grand Final week, the Parrots will more than likely take it to the tribunal and try and at least get asuspended sentence.

WhileGrand Finalweek hearings ordinarilyend

up in the class of ‘kangaroo court’, why someone would even risk gettingreported in apreliminary final when the gamewas already decided does leave one utterly perplexed.

Long-time Leongatha defender Sean Westaway was best-on-ground for the winners, and was followed by Marriott, Cade Maskell,Drew,Josh Hopkins and Aaron Heppell, who had his own footy in the first half.

Listing those names as the best in big finals has almost become an annual event. Those Leongatha players knowfinals, and wouldhaveplayed a seasons worth of matches in finals alone.

That amount of experience is playing no small partinthe Parrotsnow enteringtheir seventh consecutive Grand Final. DiscountingCOVID years,Leongathahas made the Grand Final every season from 2015-2019 and 2022-23.

Only Traralgon from 1960 to 1966has done likewise. When talkingabout great Gippsland League sides,Leongatha of the late 2010sand early 2020s willsurely have to now be in the same conversation alongside Traralgonduring the 1990s and Maffra during the 2000s.

In contrast, the wait continues for Moe.

The Lions, after losing just two games during the home-and-away season, and after beating Leongatha on both occasions to finish second on the ladder, went on to lose just as many finals to the same opposition.

Granted Moe’s regular season form had supportersdaring to dream of afirst Grand Final appearancesince 2000,and perhaps even afirst flag since 1967, finals indeed provedits mantra as beinganentirely different season.

Fifty six years …thatissolong ago.

Put simply, the Parrots performed when it mattered most, and no one will care that the final head-to-head this season ended up being 2-2.

Riley Baldi was again best-on for the Lions, and found good support fromTrentBaldi, Ben Maslen, Jacob Wood, Luke Mulqueen and James Blaser.

Never one to showmuchemotion,Blaser shed tears as he walked off the ground for what was his last game. The former Moe coach had announced his retirement some weeks ago, and was determined to go out on the highest note possible.

Unfortunately,footyjust doesn’t provide everyone afairy tale ending.

As Zach Tuohy said in Geelong’s premiership documentary “The realityiswhen yousignup to playfootball,you’resigningonfor absolute devastationthe vastmajority of the time …one team wins it every year, you could play 20 years and not win it.”

TheMoe faithfulcrammed into the Sale visitor’s rooms postmatch, with the congregation even spilling out the door. Keilty spoke, and thanked players and staff for the season, before acknowledgements weremadefor the careers of Blaser,and life members Tom Long and Ben Morrow.

Long’s troublesomehamstring again meanthe did not play in the preliminary final, while selectors made the extremely tough decision to leave

Morrow, also a200 gamer, out of the selected side.

The ruckman, and most loved player at the club, had played 17 games this season,and worked againstthe clock to get back in time for finals following injury in Round 12.

The Morrow decision perhaps compounded a few distractions the Lions had to deal with in the lead-up to the game, which almost started as soon as the siren sounded after the semi-final win the previous Sunday at Maffra Recreation Reserve.

An altercation in the Maffrabar led to some pushand-shove by spectators postgame (of which Maffra Football-Netball Clublater formallyapologised to Moe for),before abizarre happening occurred early last week.

The Wonthaggi-based newspaper South Gippsland Sentinel Times ran afront page story about aMoe player being cited for umpire abuse in the qualifying final.

While everynewspaper has editorial licence to decide what goesonthe front page, it did strike some readers as odd to have astory about aplayer fromwell outside their readershipsplashedon the cover.

Reading between the lines, there was no shortage of conspiracy theory it was adeliberate ploy to try and throw Moe off their game.

If last Saturday was anything to go by however, Leongathacertainly didn’t need any help from the media.

For Moe, despite the result, there was much to celebrateinaseason that isn’t exactly over, as the Lion’s AGrade netball team will be playing in the Grand Final this Saturday.

As one day doesn’t make up an entire season, there was amoment for those in the change room to reflect on where the club had come from in the space of 12 months.

For any team that finishes top three, anything less than apreliminary final is usually considered ashortcoming, so the Lions at least got to astage that gave them achance of competing in aGrand Final, and avoided the potential disaster that may have come had they limped out in straight sets.

Withoutstating the obvious, the current Leongatha group had played in afew more preliminary finals than Moe by the time they met at the weekend.

Moe looked the furthestthing from afinals team last year, let alone one that would end up going 16-2 in the regular season.

The senior side won three games after Round 5lastseason and used 40 players. The reserves won two games after Round 10 and hardly had any players.

The Lions turned that around to get within one win of asenior Grand Final this year, while the reserves finished with 10 wins and beataSale team who will start favourite in the Grand Final this weekend.

For those pointing to Moe’s city-based recruits as the solereason for the Lions’rise up the ladder, maybe consider this:Inthe three finals Moe played, there was only ever one import listed in the best.

We’ve got aSouth Gippy showdown

FOOTBALL GIPPSLAND LEAGUE

BY LIAM DURKIN

THE member for Gippsland South can only hope it is agood game this weekend.

ASouth Gippsland Showdown will determine who takes home the Gippsland League senior premiership this season.

Wonthaggi and Leongatha will meet at Morwell Recreation Reserve for season 2023 glory.

From ahistorical viewpoint, the contest carries anumberofsubplots.

It will be the first time since 2012 a‘local derby’ will be staged to determine the Gippsland League premiership.

It will also be the first time since 2014 that the Power will feature on Grand Final day, while for Leongatha, it is their seventh consecutive Grand Final appearance, equalling the record held by Traralgon from 1960 to 1966.

Wonthaggi are yet to win asenior flag in the Gippsland League as Wonthaggi Power, or even

Wonthaggi Football-Netball Club for that matter.

Wonthaggi Bluesplayed in threemajor league Grand Finals in the early 2000s (2001, ‘02, ‘04), while Wonthaggi Rovers mainly playedinthe now extinct Bass Valley league (colloquially known as ‘Bash Valley' for obvious reasons).

The two clubs put their rivalryaside in 2005 and merged to form the Power, which went on to dominate the Alberton Football-Netball League, before being orderedtoleave by the then Victorian Country Football League to join the Gippsland League.

Since joining in 2010, the Power has experienced mixed fortunes. The 2014 Grand Final hit something of asweat spot either side of athree-year windowasthe local desalination planthad just opened and was in full swing, bringing anumber of people to the area for work.

Wonthaggi didn’t losemanygamesbetween 2013 and 2015, but they didn’t win aflag either. Just as thePower was on the decline, their opponents this weekend started their dynasty.

Under favourite son Beau Vernon as coach, the

Parrots went from outsidefinals in 2014 to the Grand Final ayear later -and they’ve just kept making Grand Finals ever since.

Leongatha lost two before they won one -byone point in 2017, before going back-to-back. They very nearly completeda hat-trick, only to losefollowing some controversy in 2019 as what looked to be alate intercept mark wasn’tpaid.ThencameCOVID,but the Parrots showed their immunity, going through last season undefeated.

By contrast,the Poweroperated at opposite ends either sideofthe pandemic. Wonthaggi missed finals every season from 2016 to '19, and even sought to move to the West Gippsland Competition at the end of the 2010s.

But then along came Jarryd Blair.

The Collingwood premiership player and Wonthaggi boy was given the ultimate homecoming for alocal footballer, granted the position of playing-coach of the town's footy team.

Since taking over in 2021, Blair has made the Power aforce in the GippslandLeague competition, finishing top-three in each of his seasons in charge.

ThePower narrowly missed theGrandFinal last season after losing to Leongatha by two points in the secondsemi-final, butnow get their chance 12 months later.

Wonthaggi creptunderalot of peoples noses during theearly stages of this season, before a near-90 point demolition of premiership fancy Traralgon in Round 8showed their destructiveness.

The Power’s only two losses for the year actually came in the first three rounds, meaning they will enterthe GrandFinal with an amazing 16 wins undertheir belt.

Under Blair,the Powerhas played aballistic style of game, highlighted by ultra-quick ball movement and equally manic defence.

This has been complemented by the form of players such as Ryan Sparkes, who won the

Gippsland League’s most valuable player award by some distance

Wonthaggi added Cooper McInnes from minor leagueclub Tarwin this season, and the investment has so far paid off as he has kicked more than 50 goals. Blair was also able to use his Collingwood networkstoget IsaacChuggacross, just ayear out of the AFL system.

Shannon Bray, TomaHuther,AidenLindsayand Jack Blair (younger brother of) are the remaining survivors of the 2014 Grand Final,and would dearly love to get some redemption almost adecade on. The Morwell groundoffers adifferent dimension to those Wonthaggi and Leongatha are accustomed to playing on, being more of atraditional oval rather than having long, straight wings.

Whether or not this makes much difference remains to the seen, althoughLeongatha has probably fared better playing on Morwell Recreation Reserve in recent years.

The Parrots could hold some advantage by the fact their reserves are also playing in the Grand Final, whichwill no doubt add to overall club morale at training this week.

In adecider between ateam that knows how to win Grand Finalsagainstateam that has only known winning for the last five months, it is shapingasanintriguing battle.

Maffra coach Anthony Robbins has said Wonthaggi hadbeen the team to impress him most this season, and on the available data, the Power look like they will certainly take some beating. While Wonthaggi’s speedhas beentheirstrength this season, it couldalsopotentially be aweakness Leongatha will look to exploit. The Power have generally tried to blow teams off the park in the first half through their high octane run and carry, and given this will be impossibletomaintain for four quarters, the Parrots could find themselves in with ashow if they are able to slow them down until the main break and then try to run over the top of them.

It might take three quarters, it might take four, or it might even take until the last five minutes. That being said, 16 wins in arow might just too good aform to deny. But then again,every win brings them closer to their first loss.

Tip: Wonthaggi by 15 points.

Maroons juniors aiming for unbeaten season

FOOTBALL GIPPSLAND LEAGUE

BY LIAM DURKIN

CARLTON have won 11 of their last 12 that’s cute.

Sale reserves qualifiedfor asecond consecutive Grand Final, after defeating Maffra in the preliminary final at the weekend.

The Magpies made it atamefinals exit for the Eagles, who were never in the hunt and lost 12.7 (79) to 4.3 (27).

The result sets up arematchoflastyear’s decider between Saleand Leongatha, and if winning form is good form, Sale hasplenty of it -15wins out of their last 16 games to be exact.

In conditions so warmevenSale’sBen Jones was wearingshortsleeves, the Magpies started full of running with four goals to one behind in the opening term.

Ascramble in the goal square and smart soccer off the deck from Tom Wrigglesworth provided an early highlight, as Sale dominated play on their home deck,which was in picture-perfect knick

hosting its first final since 2017. Coming from the Valley, the sight of an oval with lush green grass on it was most welcome.

Another four goal quarterfollowedinthe second, as the match quickly became aone-side affair, not that anyone would have thought so given the halftime address delivered by Sale coach Peter Morrison, which could be heard from well outside the rooms.

While Sale was outscored in the third, the contest never threatened to get away from them, and come three quarter time, Maffra was still 41 points behind.

TheMagpies finished almost as strongly as they hadstarted, kicking two goals to one behind in the last. Team leader Zak Russell slottedalongrange set shot toward the club rooms to officially book Sale it’s place in the Grand Final.

Irishman Eoin Hanrahan, who had never even played the game beforethis season, gavespectators reasontocheer when he took off for agalloping run downthe wing in front of the grandstand, handballing and kicking in very unique fashion.

Maffra exited the finals race with the somewhat

bizarre distinction of having their only finals win (the qualifying) won in extra time.

Usual ruckman Bill Pleming spent most of the gameforward, whichraised eyebrowswithatleast one invested spectator.

TheEagles will still have teams to cheer on in the Grand Final,with their thirds and fourths both in action against Warragul and Traralgon respectively.

Maffra leaned on anumberofthirds kids to fill in for the reserves at times this season.

Traralgon will looktocompleteanunbeaten season in the fourths.

The preliminary final was easily Sale reserves’ best performance this finals series, and just like last season, the Magpies have come from outside the top three to make the last game of the year.

After losing their first five games of this season, the Magpies methodically ticked off wins one-byone, and now find themselves with undeniable formleading into thepremiership-deciding match.

Sale clearly didn’t take too kindly to some punk from Moe with bleached hair kicking the winning goal against them in Round 5, and have only lost

one game since then -toTraralgon in the last round.

Sale 300 gamers Shane Fyfe and Chris Laverty stood out for the Magpies in the preliminary final, kicking three goals between them.

The pair operated almost in tandem, with their synergy and experience having played so many games together meaning they were pretty much kicking the ball to each other at times. Fyfe often found Laverty unguarded in acres of space,almost as if he knew his teammate would be there.

Young gun Wrigglesworth also playedwell, as did Jones, Brad McKay and Liam Place, who was the toast of the Sale senior continent gathered on the far side of the ground singing what has become Sale's signature tune Baby Give It Up by KC and The Sunshine Band, replacing the lyrics to suit certain players ("baby give it up, give it up, baby give it up", replaced in this instance by "Liam, Liam Place, Liam, Liam Place").

The Sale reserves received great support from the seniors, who formed aguard of honour for the team. Coach Morrisonperhaps summed up the feeling best as he made his way into the rooms, shouting “we’re coming for ‘em!”

Starquality: IsaacChugg has proven his worthtoWonthaggi this season,coming straightoff the AFL list at Collingwood to the Power.

Photograph: Gippsland League

MORWELL MOE

Playerprofiles

Coaches: Rachael Paterson and TanyaBudge

DaisyHill (GS, GA): Dominant and accurate target in the shooting circle,two-time premiership playerwith extensiveexperience in pressure situations.Loudand proud.

ClaireMarks (GA, GS): The other half of our shooting duo,co-captain and three-time premiership player. Levelheadedand readsthe playwell. She will take on thegame when needed and is accuratefromall over thecircle

Saskia Eenjes (WA, C,WD): Quickand agile midcourterwith amazing offensiveskills and defensivepressure. Another premiership player from last season who will be looking to useher speed to makeanimpact.

Chloe Radford(C,WA,WD): Junior and two-time senior premiership player. Chloe’s connection with the shooting circle is key.Her drives out of defence arestrong and she attacksthe ball hard.

TanyaBudge(WD,GD, GK): League best-andfairest, league MVP,multiple premierships and all roundlegend of the game.Tonna is lethal in defence and is suretoturnoverlots of ball for Morwell in anyposition.

CourtneyGarth (GD,GK): Tall and athletic defender.Court’srebounding and defensive pressureissecond to none.Co-captain and three-time premiership playerissuretomakeher presence known.

Anna Solomon (GK, GD,WD): Younggun of the team. Annaisanother key defender that rounds out an amazing defensivetrio. Superstar nowand of the future, Anna has ahuge vertical leap and offers great speed.

Rachel Tatterson (WA, C,WD): The thirdof the three-time premiership playing trio,Rach is aplaymaker who takescontrol when needed. Another impact playerwhose experience and knowledge of the game makes her dangerous for the opposition.

Ellie Pollutro(C,WA,WD): Handy midcourter who provides solid support, workshardand won’t giveup. Apartofthe 2019 and 2022 premiership sides,Ellie is an impact playerwhose fresh legs will provide good runfor Morwell throughout the game AbbeyNoblett(GS,GS): Strong,young shooter with agreat holding game.Strong rebounder and accurateshooter who will be readytosteponthe courtwhen needed.

Playerprofiles

Coach: RamayerGourleyand Ashlea Stubbs

Emma Sculley(GK): Emma is known forher incredible timing,consistentlyplucking the ball out of seeminglynowhere andarebounding machine

Olivia Barnett(GD): Olivia is one of the cleanest defendersinthe league with an impressivesuccess rate, creating significant turnovers on court.

Hollie Bugeja (WD): Hollie’s work rate sets her apartfromopponents.She sets the pace and challenges everyone to keep up MacyGardiner (C): Macyissuchaversatile player, with ahigh work rate,relentless in her defence and fast-paced in attack

AlexMoody(WA): Moe’s captain. Awell-rounded netballer,abletouse her body and speed across the courtwith pinpoint accuracyonthe feed.

Georgia Moody(GA): Georgia’sspeed and accuracywillbesecond-to-none in her hunt forher second GippslandLeague premiership

RamayerGourley(GS): Leading goal scorer and Queen of both ends of the court. She is an asset on and offthe courtwith her extensiveknowledge of the game

CharlizeBird(INT): Alreadyapremiership player. Youwill find Charlizeinevery contest and will have afly at everyballshe can get her hands on.

Jordan Pyle (INT): Jordan is an outstanding defender with amazing athletic ability. Competitive through the air and on the drive.

Abby Gregorovich(INT): Abby has stepped up to everychallenge with ateam-firstattitude and a smile.She has transitioned with easyintothe GA andWArole.

GIPPSLAND LEAGUE PRELIMINARY FINAL RESULTS

AGRADE: Morwell 48 dLeongatha 45

BGRADE: Traralgon47Leongatha 46

CGRADE: Leongatha 43 dBairnsdale 21

17 AND UNDER: Sale 39 dLeongatha 27

15 AND UNDER: Traralgon 37 dLeongatha 14

13 AND UNDER: Sale 66 dMoe 37

The perfectend toa perfect season

NETBALL

MID GIPPSLAND BY ZAIDAGLIBANOVIC

IN the most impressive of feats, Yinnar went undefeated in season 2023 to walkaway premiers and champions last Saturday.

Grand Finalsare something else, watching the best of the best fight it out for the ultimate glory, making for aremarkable sight, and so it was the case in the Mid Gippsland Football-Netball League AGrade netball Grand Final.

Yinnar and Toora have amazed game day goers all year, deserving their place in the big dance. But in this game we love there can only be one team named premier.

The mighty Yinnar Magpies heldoff the gallant charge of their Toora counterparts (also called the Magpies) to claim the AGrade premiership cup.

Yinnar held onto alead for much of the game despite atirelesscontest provided by the 2022 premier, but the original Magpies of Mid Gippsland won 46 to 41.

It was an impressive day for the club as Yinnar hadset he winning tone having wonthe thirds football Grand Final,and then DGrade andB Grade netball.

The AGrade premiershipreturned the Mid Gippsland powerhouse to the top, in whatwas their first flag since 2019.

Asea of black and whiteengulfed theoutskirts of Morwell East’s Ronald Reservecourts in support of their AGraders.

Toora had its fair share or support, with many club loyalists eagertocheer on back-to-backA Grade premierships.

Yinnar was out for vengeance, having fell two points short of the Grand Final last season at the hands of Toora, the Yinnar team had unfinished business to settle.

While the reigning premierwas the hunted this season -Yinnar’s women were set on amission, and that was to win last Saturday.

That first centre pass whistle pierced the air as teamsbegan to applypressure.

Toora scored the first goal with Brylee Angwin and Alana Manders showcasing their excellent

YINNAR FOOTBALL NETBALL CLUB

MGFNL AGRADE PREMIERS AND CHAMPIONS 2023

Yinnar 46 def Toora41

Best on court: Georgia Hutchinson (Yinnar)

AGrade premierships: 1980,1985, 1991, 1992, 1994,1995, 2001, 2003, 2019,2023

ring work in the first play, but that didn’t last long as Yinnar managed to shoot the next five goals in arow.

Yinnar’s full court press and pressure acts made for turnover central, with coach Skye McDonald and captain Georgia Hutchinson leading the charge.

Fromthere it was goal-for-goal until Toora made athree goal surge with goal defence and coach KelseyAngwin impacted the game and prevented Yinnar’s attack.

The Toora team were able to sink seven of their own in the lastfive minutes of the quarter to bring the margin down to one point. Yinnar 11 while Toora scored 10.

McDonald’svoiceechoed aroundthe courtas she revvedupher side to come into the second term firing.

That they did.

Hutchinson began with the ball in centre and converted with ease as she moved and fed passes perfectly into the ring.

Yinnar’spressurewas relentless, managing to turn the ball over again and again and again, extending their lead out to 24 to 19. Toora was never far behind.

The halftime break wouldhave been awelcomed rest for many as the sun and warmer weather

made conditionsmuch harder.The wind had also picked up by halftime with apotential for shooting inaccuracy.

The thirdtermbegan goal-for-goal with Yinnar’s goal shooter Elly Stewart swishing everything she received from Hutchinson’s silver service.

The crowd were impressedbythe Yinnar coaches’ work rate as McDonald pushed up the court to defend all the way to transverse and then fall straight backtoconvertonthe turnovers she helped make.

Yinnar’s defenders in Jamie Chila, Jess Le Page and Gabrielle Maynard were absolutely outstanding in shutting down much of Toora’s attacking drive. Toora began to get frustrated as the goal attack Angwin was cautioned for persistent contact.

With Yinnar’s Hutchinson’s added pressure, Yinnar were again able to turn the ball over and extend their lead to six at three quarter time.

One more quarter was left between Yinnar and apremiership.

It was only 15 more minutes of blood, sweat and tears. Keeping composed, patient and persistent would be all it would take for the Yinnar team. Toora were chasingtailall game, though not far off the ball, they had less possession and were a little less clean with their opportunities, but come the fourth quarter, the reigning premier decided to turn the tables around.

Through the charge of the defence, Toora’s goal defence Angwin sister and goal keeper Hannah Weston, Toora came back.

As Toora begin to convert on Yinnar’s missed

Dynamic duo: Yinnar coachSkyeMcDonald and captain Georgia Hutchinson celebratetogether

Photographs: Zaida Glibanovic unless stated

Magpie family: Yinnar gather foragroup photointhe clubrooms to commemoratewinning theA Grade,BGrade,DGrade and Thirds football premiership in MidGippsland. Photograph contributed

Champions: Yinnar AGrade wonthe MidGippsland Football-Netball League Grand Final.

Whenit’s time to downsize and enjoy the grandchildren

Young gun: Yinnar’s zippy wingdefence Jamie Chilabrining the ball down the court. Flagpies:

opportunities, shadows of the 2022 Grand Final began to appear -whenthe Toora side snatched the winfromMirboo North in theverylast second Scores were 37 Yinnarto33Toora. Acrucial turnover for the Toora side saw the ball spill out of Chila’s hands.The Toora team took no time to get the ball into Angwin, who shoot cleanly to make the score 37 to 34.

Toora had the next centre pass and converted easily with acourt flow that even the Vixens would have been impressed by. The game was now a two-point margin.

The Toora crowdbegan emergingfrom everywhere, cheeringonthe black, white and teal with every breath they had, but Yinnar was unwavering.

Scoring oneoftheirown, Yinnar silenced the crowdfor abrief moment, beforeamissed shot where Toora converted another turnoverafter the Angwin goal defence took astrong rebound. Scores were 38 to 36.

Yinnar were not the type of team to rollover and quit in the face of adversity, they gathered themselves, they regrouped and they began making magic plays of their own.

Hutchinson’s down-the-courtvisionwas elite, managing to feed into Stewart from deep.

Fans sat stunned at the brilliance of the Yinnar well-oiledmachine as they capitalisedonthe next play, with McDonald sinking ahugelong-range shot to make the score 40 to 37.

Down the other end, the Angwin goal attack said ‘anything you can do Ican do better’ and shot along bomb for herself to close the margin back to two.

With less than half aquarter to go, Yinnar’s wingdefender Chila wassentoff for medical treatment due to the umpire seeing visible blood, but Yinnar opted to keep the position void until her return.

Toora took full advantage of Yinnar being one player down, yet in abizarre turn of events, the umpire called‘no goal’, and Yinnar hadabase line throw in with Chila back in play.

The reigning premier side still pressed, with Toora’s centre Nat Griffin getting the turnover, but Hutchinson gave her ataste of her own medicine, immediately putting her body on the line for agame winning tip.

Though the Yinnar shooters struggled with the fourth quarter wind, they still extended their lead out to 43 to 39, making for frantic scenes in the final few minutes.

In the fleetingmoments of the game, Yinnar

played composed and made the clock tick down, going goal-for-goal with Toora who faced with the grim realisation that it was all over.

At the final siren, scenes of pure elation were written on the Yinnar faces.

Coach McDonald instantly began to feel the moment, as tears of joy were met with warm embraces from family, friends and fans.

Yinnar captain Hutchinson was awarded best-on-court for afour quarter performance, demonstratingthe mostamazing defensive pressure and silky attacking skills.

The Yinnar faithful came fromfar and wide and flocked to congratulate the team on their feat.

One by one the women received their medals, honouring their contribution to their team’s premiership.

Toora’s efforts were valiant, but on Saturday, the Yinnarteam were just destined to add another cup to the cabinet.

After successfully wining four flags, someone better check up on the township of Yinnar this week and find out if they’re still celebrating.

Yinnar’s blackand whitearmywas out in full forcelastSaturday.

Go mum: Skye McDonald embracing her daughter afterthe GrandFinalwin

Big fish fromlittle creek

FOOTBALL

MID GIPPSLAND

BY ROB POPPLESTONE

SO much was expected of the 2023 Mid Gippsland Football-Netball LeagueGrand Finalbetween Newborough and Fish Creek.

Both sides had impressive performances leading intothe big dance;the Bulldogs had been unbeaten, but the Kangaroos had got within akick just a fortnight earlier during the second-semi.

The weatherwas near perfect, the groundat Morwell East excellent, but for Newborough that's unfortunatelywhereitstopped,the premiership favourites not able to get themselves in the game at anytime, losing 9.12 (66) to 5.8(38).

The Kangaroos jumped out of the blocks courtesy of atwo, maybe three goal breeze, inaccuracy in some ways keeping the Bulldogsinthe game at quarter time.

Newboroughstopped the bleeding by halftime,

MID GIPPSLAND FNL

but were unable to bridge the 17-point gap that existed.

There was concern for concern but it was not yet acrisis.

The third quarter was when the Kangaroos put some spacebetween themselvesand the Bulldogs, a36-pointmargin was always going to be ahurdle too far with just 25 minutes of football remaining.

Newborough's best was not good enough on the weekend. Every doorthey opened was quickly closed, but that didn't stop them trying to break the doordown,their lastquarter, their best as they cut the margin but still fell short by just over four goals.

Fish Creek maintained their title as the most successfulteaminregional Victoria, their 2023 premiership, their 37, keeping them at the top of all clubs in the state.

Victorious coach Jarrod Walker was ecstatic in the aftermath.

"Newborough have been the benchmark, and it was probably not abad place for us to be coming into the game as underdogs," he said.

"With Newborough coming into the game undefeated, there was abit of pressure on them, and they aregoing to be astrong team for along time to come, but it wasn't to be their game today.

"When we play ourbest footy we havethe full 21, but definitely today we had afew standout as well. Matt McGannon, Jack Hayes down back, a

few dangerous forwards,BlaineCoates through the midfield as well but the whole team did very well.

"I think just our physical game that we started to play through the season,through preseason we worked on being fit and being competitive, you know we've got some skilfulplayersbut we base our game on that pressure and it really pays dividends in the end."

Newboroughcoach Craig Skinner meanwhile, was left to ponder how it all went wrong, in what was asecond consecutive Grand Final defeat for the Bulldogs.

"Look, I'll be honest, I'm starting to get sick of

this feeling, it's not what we play footy for, but I've gotavery good groupoffootballers and outside of footy they are really good people, the whole thing is that you gotta keep turning up and doing your best and that's what we have done," he said.

"I know it was only four goals in the end, but we were beaten from the start almost through to the end, it didn't really seem like we were in it at any stage." Season 2023 has been quite possibly one of the more competitive years in the MGFNL's long and respectedhistory, and Fish Creek have proved themselves worthy premier.

When it counts: Fish Creek upstaged Newborough to win theMid Gippsland Football-Netball League senior flag

Photographs: Zaida Glibanovic

Saturday,

September 23

ABC TV (2) SBS (3)

6.00 Rage. (PG) 7.00 WeekendBreakfast.

9.00 Rage.(PG) 12.00 ABC News At Noon.

12.30 Midsomer Murders. (PG, R) 2.00

Sherwood. (Malv,R) 2.55 Becoming Frida

Kahlo.(PG, R) 3.35 Bronwyn Oliver:The Shadows Within. (PG, R) 3.55 Dr Charles Perkins Oration 4.40 To Be Advised.

5.00 Landline. (R) 5.30 The Whiteley Art

Scandal. (PG, R)

6.25 KitchenCabinet. (R) Annabel

Crabb meets Jordon Steele-John.

7.00 ABCNews. Alook at the top stories of theday

7.30 ShakespeareAnd Hathaway.

(Mv) Frankand Lu are hired by a dance school owner to debunk acurse that is destroying her business.

8.15 Vera (Mav,R)Part 1of4.Vera

investigatesthe death of awoman in a fire that rippedthrougha coastal holiday park.The owner suspects thedeceased is hissister, but is unable to explain why she wouldhavebeen at the site

9.50 TheNewsreader (Ml, R)

The country is rocked by amass shooting in the heartofMelbourne.

10.45 Shetland. (Mal, R)

Acontroversiallocal is murdered.

11.45 Rage (MA15+adhlnsv) Music video clips.

6.00 WorldWatch. 9.00 Designing Paradise With Bill Bensley. (Premiere) 10.00 The Eco Show.(PG) 11.00 Curious Traveller.(PG)

12.00 WorldWatch. 1.00 PBSNewsHour

2.00 Gymnastics. FIG Artistic World Challenge Cup series. Round4.Highlights. 4.00 Wet By Fire 4.10 Trail Towns.(PG) 4.45 Tommy

6.30 SBS World News.

7.30 Going Places With Ernie Dingo

(PG) Narelda Jacobs takes on atrapeze.

8.30 Frogmore House: Royal Retreat. Explores Frogmore, the idyllic royalestatethathas been the private escape for generations of royals.

9.50 World’sMostScenic Railway Journeys: Dunedin Railways, New Zealand. (R) Narrated by Bill Nighy.

10.40 SexAnd Sensibility (MA15+ans, R) Alook at theGeorgian period.

11.35 RexInRome. (Mv,R)

1.30 Suspect (MA15+v,R)

3.10 UFOs (PGa,R)

4.20 Bamay (R)

4.50 Destination Flavour: Japan Bitesize. (R)

5.00 NHK World English News Morning

5.15

France 24 Feature. 5.30 ANC Philippines The World Tonight.

SEVEN (7,6)

6.00 SevenNews

7.00 To Be Advised.

[VIC]Football.AFL.Finals Series.Preliminaryfinal.

10.30 To Be Advised.

[VIC]AFLPost-GameShow

11.00 To Be Advised.

1.10 Travel Oz. (PG, R) Host Greg Grainger explores theNewellHighway in outback New SouthWales, following the gold trail from GrenfelltoOrange andontoNarrabri.

1.30[VIC]HomeShopping.

4.00 GetClever. (R) Educational kids’program in which thewonders of maths and science are explored.

5.00 House Of Wellness (PGa,R)Luke Darcy,JoStanley and LukeHines takea look at locationsthat highlight livingwell

6.00 Nine News Saturday.

7.00 RugbyLeague. NRL.Finals Series. Second preliminaryfinal

9.45 NRLFinals Footy Post-Match Apost-match NRL wrap-up of the second preliminaryfinal, with expert analysis and player interviews.

10.45 RugbyWorldCup: Highlights. News and highlights.

11.45 MOVIE: BlacKkKlansman. (2018,MA15+lv) An African-American cop infiltrates the KKK.John David Washington, Adam Driver

2.00 TheIncredible Journey Presents (PGa) Religiousprogram.

2.30 TheGarden Gurus. (R) Trevor Cochrane showcases waxflowers.

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 Luxury Escapes. Takes alookatholiday to Bali.

6.30 Bondi Rescue. (PGal,R)Whippet rescues two men at the same time.

7.00 TheDog House Australia. (PGa, R) Narrated by Mark Coles Smith.

8.00 Thank God You’re Here. (Mls, R) Comedians include Melanie Bracewell, Rhys Nicholson, Dane Simpson and Urzila Carlson.

9.00 MOVIE: TopGun. (1986, Ms, R) Students at an elite US flying school for advanced fighterpilotscompete against each other to be the best in the class. TomCruise, KellyMcGillis, ValKilmer

TheCheap Seats. (Mal, R)Presented by Melanie Bracewell and TimMcDonald

6.30 VoicesOfAustralia. Alook at Victoria’s First People’s Assembly.

7.00 ABC News Alook at the top stories of theday

7.30 Death In Paradise. (Ma, R) Anurse dies under suspicious circumstances.

8.30 TheNewsreader (Mdl) Helen is plungedinto crisis when agossip columnist threatens to expose her troubled past.

9.25 Mother And Son. (Ml, R) Arthur andMaggie bothengage in sexual misadventureswithdisastrous results.

9.55 Annika. (Ma, R) The bodyof ascientist is found in aloch.

10.45 Total Control. (Mlv,R)

11.35 Talking Heads. (PG,R)

12.10 Rage Vault (MA15+adhlnsv)

2.00 Escape From TheCity (R)

5.00 Insiders. (R)

6.30 SBS World News.

7.30 Megastructures: Knights Templar Castles. Explores the castles of the KnightsTemplar

8.30 MOVIE: YouCan Go Now. (2022, Malns) Takesalook at lifeand career of Indigenous artist and activist RichardBell. Richard Bell,GaryFoley.

10.00 Empires Of New York: Amid ChaosLiesOpportunity (Premiere, Madl) Chroniclesthe rise of fiveNew York icons.

10.50 24 Hours In Emergency (PGa, R)

12.40 Hunting Hitler’s U-Boats. (PGalv,R)

2.05 Could Hitler HaveBeen Stopped? (PGav, R)

6.00 SevenNews.

7.00 TheVoice (PGa) In thesemi-final, eight artists battle it out in hopesof proving they have what it takes.

8.45 Con Girl. (Mal) Part 3of4.Asthe story continues, aFrench traveller is embroiled in achild kidnapping case in Sydney after being conned by Samantha Azzopardi, who also posesasCoco,a talent agent

11.00 BornToKill? RobertReldan. (Mav) Alook at serial killer Robert Reldan

12.00 TheInBetween. (Mav,R) Tomand Damienenlist Cassie’s help [VIC]HomeShopping.

3.30 Million Dollar Minute.

6.00 Nine News Sunday.

7.00 TheBlock. (PGal) Hosted by Scott Cam.

8.35 60 Minutes. Current affairs program, investigating, analysing anduncovering the issuesaffectingall Australians.

9.35 Nine News Late. Alook at the latest news and events.

10.05 Under Investigation: Where’s Willi? (Ma, R) Presented by Liz Hayes.

11.05 Killer At TheCrimeScene: Kriss Donald. (MA15+av)

12.00 Chicago Med. (MA15+am, R)

1.40 Our State On APlate. (PG,R)

2.10 Killer At The CrimeScene. (MA15+av,R)

6.30 TheSundayProject. Alook at theday’snews.

7.30 DogsBehaving (Very) Badly Australia. (PGlv,R)Graeme Hall meetsanAussiecattle dog.

8.30 FBI. (Mv) After astringofarmed robberies, the team investigatesa suspect who leads them to something much bigger

9.30 NCIS: Hawai’i. (Mv,R)The team investigates the death of asailor and goes head-to-head with aruthless local criminal organisation.

10.30 Five Bedrooms. (Mls, R) Harry organises ahens and bucks.

11.30 TheSundayProject (R)

3.50 Italian Food Safari. (R)

3.00 Patriot Brains. (Mals, R)

4.20 Bamay.(R) 5.00 NHK World English NewsMorning. 5.15 France 24 Feature 5.30 AlJazeeraNews.

6am

(R) Hosted by Simon Reeve

4.00 NBCToday News and current affairs.

5.00 SevenEarly News.

5.30 Sunrise

3.00 TV Shop: Home Shopping. (R) 4.00

Believer’sVoice Of Victory.(PGa) 4.30 Rugby Union. RugbyWorld Cup.Australia vWales. From OL Stadium, Lyon, France

12.30 Home Shopping. (R)

4.30 CBSMornings.

6.00 News Breakfast. 9.00 ABC News

Mornings. 10.00 Landline.(R) 11.00 Antiques

Roadshow. (R) 12.00 ABC News At Noon.

1.00 Vera (Mav,R)

2.30 TheCook AndThe Chef (R)

2.55 Restoration Australia. (PG, R)

3.55 Tenable (R)

4.40 Long Lost Family (PG, R)

5.30 Hard Quiz. (PG, R)

6.00 TheDrum

7.00 ABC News

7.30 7.30 Presented by Sarah Ferguson.

8.00 Australian Story. Australians tell personal stories.

8.30 Four Corners. Investigative journalism program exposing scandals, triggering inquiries, firing debate and confronting taboos

9.15 Media Watch (PG) Paul Barry takes alook at thelatestissues affecting media consumers.

9.35 Q+A. Presented by Patricia Karvelas.

10.35 ABC Late News.

10.50 TheBusiness. (R)

11.10 Space 22. (PG, R)

11.40 TheWimbledon

Kidnapping (PG, R)

12.30 Our Brain. (PG,R)

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

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

6.00 WorldWatch. 9.00 DestinationFlavour China Bitesize. (R) 9.10 MakeMeA Dealer (R) 10.00 LivingWithThe Boss. (PG, R) 10.55

6.00 Mastermind Australia. (R)

6.30 SBS WorldNews.

7.30 Finding Your Roots: Hard Times –MichaelMoore, Laura Linney,Chloe Sevigny (PG) Presented by HenryLouis Gates Jr

8.30 Britain’sMostExpensive Houses. (Final, PGl) Jaishree helps a Swedish designer sell her minimalistic two-bed Chelsea apartment for £2.6million

9.30 World’sMostLuxurious Holidays. (R) Part 3of3.Takes alookatHarbour Island and the pared-back luxuryofKing’sView.

10.25 SBS WorldNewsLate.

10.55 My Brilliant Friend. (Malv)

12.00 TheAWord. (Ma, R)

6.00 SevenNews.

7.00 Home AndAway. (PG)

7.30 AFL BrownlowMedal: RedCarpet. (PG) Coverage of thered carpetarrivals featuring AFL players and their partners.

8.05 AFL BrownlowMedal. An awards event featuring theannouncement of the winner of the league’s Brownlow Medal.

11.00 TheLatest: SevenNews.

11.30 AutopsyUSA:Hugh Hefner (Mas, R) Alook at the death of Hugh Hefner

12.30 Kochie’s BusinessBuilders. (R) Information and advice for businesses.

[VIC]HomeShopping.

1.00 TheVillage. (Ma, R) Benfaces his future and his past.

7.30 TheBlock. (PGal) Hosted by ScottCam.

8.40 Missing Persons Investigation. (PGa) Police must defyall odds to find a missing four-year-old girl, and aGeelong teenager runs away from home

9.40 To Be Advised.

10.40

11.10

6.30 TheProject. Alook at the day’snews and events

7.30 TheMasked Singer Australia. HostedbyOsher Günsberg.

8.45 Have YouBeen Paying Attention? (Malns)Celebrity panellists compete to seewho can remember the most aboutevents of the week

9.45 Inspired Unemployed (Impractical)Jokers. (Mans, R) Four Aussie mates set out to embarrass each other in apublic setting by trying their hand at virtual golf.

10.15 FBI:MostWanted. (Mv,R) Awoman is kidnapped from her home.

11.05 TheProject. (R) Alook at the day’snews and events.

7.30 7.30 Presented by Sarah Ferguson.

8.00 Kitchen Cabinet Annabel Crabbmeets BridgetMcKenzie.

8.30 TheWhiteleyArt Scandal. (Final,Mls)Part 2of2.The case against the two men accused of creating the forged Brett Whiteleypaintings mount.

9.30 Makers Of Modern Australia: Artists. (PGa) Part 4of4

10.30 ABC Late News.

10.45 TheBusiness. (R)

11.00 Four Corners. (R)

11.50 Media Watch (PG, R)

12.05 BarrenjoeyRoad. (Mal,R)

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

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

3.30 Italian Food Safari. (R) 4.00 Going Places With Ernie Dingo.(PG, R) 4.30 Bamay. (R)

2.00 Home Shopping. (R) 4.00

5.00 NHK World English NewsMorning.

5.30 ANC PhilippinesThe WorldTonight.

6.00 Mastermind Australia. (PG,R)

6.30 SBS WorldNews.

7.30 GreatBritish Railway Journeys: Bradford To Hebden Bridge. (PGa) Presented by Michael Portillo

8.30 Insight. Kumi Taguchi takes alook at thetopic of trigger warnings and whether they do more harm than good.

9.30 Dateline. Alook at sex tourism in Colombia.

10.00 SBSWorld NewsLate

10.30 ThePoint: Referendum Road Trip (R)

11.30 Blackport (Mln)

12.15 Darkness: Those Who Kill (MA15+av,R)

3.55 Italian Food Safari. (R) 4.25 Bamay.(R)

5.00 NHK World EnglishNewsMorning 5.30

ANC PhilippinesThe WorldTonight.

6.00 SevenNews.

7.00 Home AndAway. (PG)

7.30 My Kitchen Rules. (PGl) Amateur cooks put their culinaryskills to the test in order to prove they havewhat it takes.

9.15 RFDS. (Madl) Abad batch of MDMA is foundtobedoing the rounds at Dolly Hardon’s charitydragnight

10.15 Ambulance: Code Red. (Mav) Follows thework of an ambulanceservice

11.15 TheLatest: SevenNews.

11.45 Chicago Fire. (Ma) Truck and squad clash after atense call.

12.45 TheArrangement. (Mas,R)

1.00[VIC]HomeShopping.

4.00 NBCToday

5.00 SevenEarly News.

5.30 Sunrise

6.00 Nine News.

7.00 ACurrent Affair.

7.30 TheBlock. (PGal) Hosted by ScottCam

8.45 Footy Classified (M) Hosted by Craig Hutchison, Matthew Lloyd Caroline Wilson and Kane Cornes.

9.45 Love Triangle (Mls) The couples are taken to task.

10.45 Nine News Late

11.15 Chicago Med. (MA15+am, R)

12.05 CourtCam (Mlv,R)

1.00 Tipping Point. (PG,R)

2.00 Australia’s TopTen Of Everything. (Mads)

3.00 TV Shop: Home Shopping. (R)

Believer’sVoice Of Victory. (PGa)

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

CBS Mornings.

6.30 TheProject. Alook at the day’snews andevents

7.30 Shark Tank. (PGa)A panel is pitched inventionsand ideas,including environmentally-friendly nappies.

8.40 TheCheap Seats. (Mal) Presenters Melanie Bracewell and Tim McDonald takealook at the week that was.

9.40 NCIS (Mv,R)Agent Parker steps up to protectDirectorVance after he is subject to aterrifying home invasion.

10.30 NCIS: Hawai’i (Mv,R)The team investigates asailor’s death.

11.30 TheProject (R) Alook at the day’snews and events.

12.30 TheLate ShowWith Stephen Colbert. (PG)

1.30 Home Shopping. (R)

4.30 CBS Mornings.

Rotaryconcert

ROTARY Club of Traralgon is holding aconcert at the Gippsland Performing Arts Centre on Thursday, September 28

Proceedsfromthe evening willgo to the Rotary Club of Traralgon and Latrobe Proactive PolicingUnit for Local Youth Equine Therapy.

Local artists such as Nathan Lay are returning for free and hope to put back into the community by doing so (NathanLay is contracted to Opera Australia and based in Sydney).

Afamily friendly show thenight before the AFL day off.

Tickets are $42.

Prostatesupport

MEETING of LatrobeValley Prostate Support Groupwill be held on Wednesday, September 27 from 7pm at Morwell Club.

Will discuss holding ahealth night at next meeting on October 25 also at Morwell Club.

Comeat6pm andenjoya counter tea. All members welcome, as are new members.

For more, information phone Allan Cunningham on 0458 111 688.

Community services expo

SALVATION Army is holding an expo in Morwell next month.

The expo will be held Wednesday, October 18 from 10am to 3pm with representatives fromdifferent services in attendance. Information stalls will be there to help people see what the community can offer them.

Comealongto57Bridle Road, Morwell.

For more information, email myla. bennett@salvationarmy.org.au

Field naturalists

TWO younger membersofthe Latrobe Valley Field Naturalists' Club, Erin Walser andEmily Crick,will speak abouttheir studies this Friday, (September 22) from 7.30pm at the Moe Library.

Erin, as avolunteer with the Southern Ash WildlifeShelter,was inspired to select koalas as the subject of her research project.

As part of her Diploma of Conservation and Ecosystem Management courseatGippsland TAFE, Erin analysed koala data collectedover manyyearsbythe Friends of MorwellNational Park. She will speak aboutthis project and what the results tell us about koala numbers in the park.

Community Corner with Liam

Emily is studying for aBachelor of Science at Federation University, majoring in Ecology and Microbiology. Shecompared insect species found in Edward Hunter Reserve with the species found in her treeless, grassonly backyard in Moe. Emily will speak about her survey and the data collected, and how she was surprised by some of the results.

For our excursion on Saturday, (September 23), we will meet at the Edward Hunter Bush Heritage Reserve in Coalville Road, Moe at 10am.

Visitors are most welcome, both to the meeting and the excursion.

For more information phone our secretary on 0410 237 292.

Please visit our websitewww lvfieldnats.org to register if you wish to use Zoom to join the meeting.

TRAMPS ride

TEN TRAMPS (Traralgon and Morwell PedallersInc.) metat Churchillfor apedallingcruise around what's left of the pondage. There were several photo opportunities overlookingthe lake and camels grazing in a nearby paddock. Continuing through Yinnar, we arrived at Boolarra for lunch. With fineweatherand very little wind it was agreat pleasure to be out in the country.

Our next ride is this Sunday, September 24 and starts at Stratford at 10am with lunch at the Quarries.

TRAMPS welcomes new riders. For more information, visit our website: www.tramps.org.au.

Club contacts are Paul on 0459 823 422 or Vance (0403 662 288).

Moe ArtSociety

WILL be displaying the entriesof124 primary school children at the end of next week.

The children are from Albert Street, Elizabeth Street,South Street, St Kieran’s, St Mary’s and Murray Road

Traralgon Bridge Club

RESULTS for Tuesday, September12 and Thursday, September 14.

Tuesday -1st Fred Kaminski and John Marsiglio 58 per cent, 2nd Ken Tierney and Anne denHouting (54).

PrimarySchools and The Studio from the Moe Library.

As agroup we are delighted with the responsefromthe school childrenand their teachers.

Rotary Club of Moe will be awarding medalstothe children, and these will be awarded at the opening night on Friday, October 6from6.30pm.

Members and the organisingcommittee are busy putting together the the art show, which will be open to the publicfromthe Saturday (October 7) until the final day of Saturday, October 28.

The people’s choice will be awarded then, and the art raffledrawn. Winners will be notified, and their names also published in the Express.

The art show will be openfrom 10am until 5pm weekdays and 9am until 12 noon on Saturdays. School groups will be very welcome.

If youhave any enquiries, please phone secretary PeterMcLaren on 0400933 609 or presidentBeryl Galloway on 0407 271 686.

Chess results

MATT Bolding enjoyed another successfulround, preparing the match with Peter Bakker to decide who has the advantage in the current series. Steve Ahern was able to overcome CliffThornton in ashort match.

Ricky Sabrinskas won two battles but missed out in the final clash.

Phone Ian Hamilton on 0400 221 649 or Cliff Thornton 0413 330 538 for details on local chess.

Traralgon District Historical Society

AT the last general meeting held on Tuesday,September 12, discussion was held on the future of the Old Methodist Church Traralgon.

Thursday -1st Fred Kaminski and Monica Cornell(67) 2nd KayeDouglas and Corinne Oberink (60)

Toongabbie Old Time Dance

THE next Toongabbie Old Time Dance will be Friday, October 6. Commencing at 8pm at the Toongabbie Mechanics InstituteHall at the Village Green.

Music will be supplied by Norm Lade with MonteCarlo,lucky doorprize and raffle.

Admission is $8 and please bring a plate to share.

For further information, phone 0419 874 958.

Everyone is welcome to come along for anight of fun and dancing.

Stall holdersneeded

IF you run ahandmade art/craft small business and are community minded, we would love to hear from you.

The Traralgon Neighbourhood Learning House, in partnership with Melrossa Art Studio,isholding an art show on the weekend of October 20-22 to showcase students artwork.

All proceeds raisedfrom the art show will be donatedtothe Latrobe Regional Hospital.

There is also the opportunityfor local small businesses to have astall to display and sell their wares. If you would like to book astall, please phone the Traralgon Neighbourhood Learning House on 5174 6199 or email enquiries@tnlh.org.au.

Latrobe City Council is looking for "Requests for Proposals" on the future of the building.

The Society is preparing a submission to council to retain the buildingand be repurposed for use as amuseum.

As the building is located at the railway station, we hope to include the roadhouse and workshopwhich has heritage status and also church history groups.

The society has manyartefacts/ memorabilia which could be housed and on display for the community to see. The members who attended our general meetinggave unanimous supporttothe society in their endeavours to save the church.

Areminder that our 2024 calendars are available from NewspowerGo newsagent Seymour Street Traralgon and our annual dinner will be held a Dal Mondo'sTraralgon on Tuesday, October 10.

Youcan be apartof Community Corner

IF you are acommunity groupand have 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 'CommunityCorner' in the subject line and nothing else.

Deadline is Friday 9am to appear in the following Wednesday issue.

Durkin

The Latrobe Valley Express, Wednesday, 20 September, 2023

Good innings: Marjorie MetcalfefromMoe celebrated her 102ndbirthday with amorning teaatRoyal Freemasons MoeonSeptember 8.

Help needed: An Express reader is hopingtoidentifythe people in this photo, takenatthe Traralgon Visitor Centre

Up close: Golden Stag Beetle. The Latrobe ValleyField Naturalists’Club snaps photos such as these as partoftheir work Photograph: TamaraLeitch

Nature: KoalainMoe South

Photograph: Julie Murray

Riding: TRAMPStook to areas surrounding Churchill on their most recent trip Photographs contributed

Confidence Lashes anational finalist

By ZAIDAGLIBANOVIC

TRARALGON'S Confidence Lashes and Beauty has beenannounced as afinalist in the 2023 Australian Women's Small Business Awards.

Under the Brows and Lashes category, Madelyn Minter-Barnes' business has been recognised for its achievements from alist of more than 2500 entrants.

Having entered the awards earlier this year,MsMinter-Barnes had no expectations,

“I didn’tactuallythink it was going to happen,” she said.

Entering the awards “was very structuredand the questioning was really rigorous.”

Ms Minter-Barnes explained her shock and excitement being named afinalist.

“I woke up to an email that we were finalists in my junkmail. Iwas jumping around and sending screen shots to my family,” she said.

Having only operated out of her Traralgon store for ayear, celebrating their first birthday on July 4, the business has grownrapidly from the rootsup

Ms Minter-Barnes' venture into business came from aplace of internal motivation and adesire to be her own boss.

“I started working from home for myself but Ialsohad another part time job and Istarted to realise Ihad more financial freedom working for myself," she said.

It wasnot smooth sailing for Ms Minter-Barnes as she decided to follow her entrepreneurial ideas for financial freedom as the pandemic hit.

“EventuallyIwent out on my own and the month Iwent full time,was the same month thatwegot shut in COVID lockdown in 2020," she said.

Despite the challenge of aglobal pandemic,raisinga childand moving house,she managed to starta successful business.

After lockdown, she was inundated, fully booked with no ability to take on new clients by herself, so she expanded.

“I realised the lack of quality in the area was not changing any time soon and the only way to do thatwas to expand my business andtrainpeople with the same values Ihad that could offer the same services,” she said.

Having an eye for detail, Ms MinterBarnes prides herbusiness on its quality of service.

“They know that through the education that Ioffer,they’re getting areal high-quality service,” she said.

“My clients aren’t anumber to me, they are not just someone who is coming in and payingfor aservice and leaving -I’m heavily invested in all my clients-their lives, how they feel.

“The entire name of confidence lashes is aboutinstillingconfidenceinmy clients, whether thatbegivinglifeadvice and helping with asituation or helping them feel physically beautiful.

“It’s not just aservice, it’s afamily environment wheretheycan be supported through whatever they are going through in their life.”

With beauty services, especially lashes, standards of work haveavery low bar. which sets Confidence Lashes and beauty apart from its competitors.

“It is avery saturated industry, I don’t feel as though we struggle with our cliental, what we strugglewithis the every-changing industry.” she said.

From her humble beginnings working by herself fromhome, Ms Minter-Barnes now employs five people at Confidence Lashes and Beauty, with plans to expand the business even further.

“When you start to look at things instead of an issue but as an opportunity to grow, that is when you will take your business to the next level,” she said.

“You have to have apassion for it but the second youfind what your passion is,

you won’t feel like you’re working at all.

“I do 10-to-12-hour days hereand I don’t notice it.”

Not only does Ms Minter-Barnes provide highquality lashes,she also manages people,saying the skill to

THINK BEFOREyoubuy

management is communication.

“It’s alot of communication and alot of honest communication -the first few people Ibroughtontomyteam, Iencouraged them to have weekly meetings and Iencouraged them to voicewhatever

their needs were, so their needs could be met,”she said.

“I’vealways encouraged avery open and relaxed environment where Iwill support them notonly as aemployee perspective but in their personallives as well.”

Ahustler dedicated to the grind, Ms Minter-Barnes said perhaps she might be alittle too dedicated.

“Most people would say Idon’t have awork-life balance, that’s for sure, it is something that I’m always working on trying to improve," she said.

“I definitelydon’tsee myself in the light others view me -I just know Iset goals for myself and I’m achievingthem.”

Having not had the most warm childhood, Ms Minter-Barnes explainedhow proud she is of what she's achieved considering the challenges in her life.

“I came from alower income household, Ididn’t have wonderful parent relationships withmymother, Ileft home before Iwas 18 -Ialwayshad to work for what Ihad," she said.

"Everything Ihave achieved Iknow Iachievedthrough blood, sweat and tears.”

Ms Minter-Barnes said the award's finalist position is further motivation to keep growing her business, with plans to expand into beauty education.

"We are expanding by the end of September into an educational academy, so we’ll have asecond site where I’ll offer accredited course,” she wasexcited to announce.

With hopes to run training in unison or alongside TAFE Gippsland, thespace will also be used to rent out for other businesses looking for meeting space.

Confidence Lashes and Beauty was also named as afinalist for the Gippsland business awards, valuing the recognition the serviceisgetting for its friendliness and quality.

Innovative and inclusive beauty

By ZAIDAGLIBANOVIC

LOCAL makeup artist Alarna Bell has just launched an innovative and inclusive beauty range accompanied by free and accessible online tutorials.

Starting her careerlocally, Ms Bell achieved aDiploma in Beauty Therapy and went on to run asalon outofLloyd Street Moe, calledKolors and Klaws. Having stayedtherefor 18 years, as the industry changed, so did she -and Ms Bell opted to adoptatravelling business model with makeup as the main focus. Her makeup artistryhas taken her along way, internationally and at home; now the makeup director of Miss UniverseAustralia,New Zealandand Singapore and on the Miss Universe selection committee, Ms Bell has launched aproduct range and software that gives away all the beauty secrets. Having just jettedbacktoAustralia after aMiss Universe photo shootin Vietnam, Ms Bell was excited to launch her newcollectionofmakeup artistry tools.

The selection of productsare hand and custom-made to provide education, efficiency, and simplicity to makeup originated from Ms Bell’s customer experience, having worked for decades in the industry.

“I teach people how to do their own makeup in workshops and, over the years,simplycollected all the problems that people have with makeup, and I wantedtobeable to help solve all those problems,”she said

“People would come up to me and say, ‘I can’t see’ -so, Imadeglasses that you can flipfrom one side to the other so you can be able to see.”

Called the 'Flip Make up Glasses', the tool is listed as an 'ultimate gamechanger for anyone who wears glasses and struggles with makeup application.'

The glasses are designed with needs in mind, and come in nine different magnificationlevels to suitvarying degrees of vision impairments.

Traditionally,the beautyindustry hasn't been particularly kind to awhole demographic of people who can'tsee, but in modern times, beauty brands are picking up on more inclusive values.

Earlier this year, Estée Lauder launched anew app to help visually impaired usersapply makeup. The world-first app usesAItechnology to analyse make up and give audio feedback.

Ms Bell and Estée Lauder alike are paving the way for amore inclusive beauty industry. Being ateacher at TAFE Gippsland allowed Ms Bell to understand the commonissues regardingmake-up application.

“I needed an easy way to be ableto show people and identify how they can get the best outcomes,” she said.

“Oneofthe other mainproblems they’d have is that they'd look at their make-up brushes and go ‘I just don't know which onedoeswhat’.

“I thought the best way to do that is me showing them visually -how to use each brush and know what to do with each one.”

So,MsBell went on to developan easily accessible website with free videos allowing peopletobridge the gapsin their makeup knowledgeand know how the professionals do it.

To accompany the online tools, she had to find the perfectbeauty tools thatwouldget the job donelikeshe would. Therange includes more than 60 productsbased on 31 years of makeup artistry experience.

“I couldn’t findthe right brushes at

Untold secrets: Alarna Bell has developedanew rangeofproducts to make thebeautyindustrymore accessible

Photographs: Lauren Murphy

the same place, so Ijust went ahead and made them,” she said.

“They don’t all come from the same place because Icouldn’t find them from the same manufacturer, so Ijustsourced all different places and assembled a collection. I’m so bloodyproudofthem."

TAFE Gippsland's beautycourses

have been among the very first to trial

Ms Bell's newest collection of products.

"TAFE has taken the contract, so they supply alltheir studentsacross all their campuseswith my brushes, so that’s been areally good feedback journey to get back from students- the feedback has just been extraordinary," she said.

With so much information on social media thesedays,debunking beauty marketing myths is hard. Continually, young girls and women are constantly

swept up in the voidofthe most popular brands. Still, Ms Bell’s service reminds us that it's not always the product that makes the look but the application itself.

"I was amakeupartist in the 90s. Iwas ateenager doing this with an amazing mentor -people are alot savvier now; they knowwhatquality is, andthey expect it,” she said.

Notonly does Ms Bell hope to make make-up more inclusive, but she also aims to give her customers the ability to satisfythemselves: afterall, if you teach aman to fish, you feed him for alifetime.

“Doing my job, Isee how much Ican make someone's day so much better becausethey feelconfident. Ican do that when Ipaint each face, but to give the people that ability to do that for themselves,” she said.

“I've seen throughmyworkshops how thankful people are; now it is on a broader scale; anyone in the world can access it now."

Alarna Bell Makeup Solution Brushes can be brought in kitsorindividually, starting at around $12. However, you don’t have to buy abrush to access her educational videos -anyone can have access to the free tutorials at the click of afinger that will turn you into your own makeup artist.

“It prompts people to try it for themselves; it'svery accessible, I'm all for that. My videosare free-you don’thave to pay for me to teach you," Ms Bellsaid.

Now abig business woman and international makeup star, Ms Bell said it was the local community where she continues to get the most support.

“One of the thingsthat warms my heart Is while Ihad the salon in our local Gippsland community for 18 years, the support of the people fromthose early days in the salon, they're the ones whoare themostsupportive," she said.

“There's somethingabout our local Gippsland community, they're so loyal, and they still are.”

Youcan accessMsBells onlinevideos andservices at www.alarna.au

Inclusive: Moe’s Alarna Belldeveloped theFlip Make-up Glasses to help those withvision impairmentstobeabletoperfect their makeup

Future for hydrogen in Gippsland

By PHILIP HOPKINS

SOLAR, wind and batterystorage will not be enough for Australia to meet its net zero emissions target by 2050, according to asenior CSIRO researcher -and using fossil fuelssuchasinGippsland to produce hydrogenisstill much cheaperthan using renewable energy.

Dr VickyAu, the deputyleader of the CSIRO hydrogen industry mission, said other solutions, includinghydrogen, were part of the energy mix required to achieve the net zero target.

Dr Au was taking part in asession, ‘Our Hydrogen Opportunity’atthe Gippsland New Energy Conference in Sale.

Also taking part in the discussion was Jeremy Stone, non-executive director and adviser for J-Power Latrobe Valley, which is part of the Japanese consortium that is developing the HESC coal-to-hydrogen project. The session chair was the chief executive of the Committee for Gippsland, Tony Cantwell.

HESC involves gasifying brown coal,separating the hydrogen and carbon dioxideinthe process, at aplantadjacenttoLoy Yang Apower station. The hydrogen is shipped to Western Port, where it is liquefiedand sent to Japan in tankers-the world’s first liquid hydrogen supply chain. The long-term aim is to sequester the carbondioxide in empty oil and gas reservoirs in Bass Strait -carbon capture and storage (CCS).

Afterasuccessful $500 million pilot plant phase, the group is now moving to the commercial stage of the project with $2.5 billion from the Japanese Green innovation Fund.

“That’s apretty significant contribution, but we need more to implement the project,” Mr Stonesaid. Dr Au said the barrier to use renewable energy to produce the hydrogen was the cost.

“The cost of renewable hydrogen is prohibitively high.Wewouldrequire asubstantial subsidy from government for the transition phase,” she said. Green hydrogen is achieved throughaprocessof electrolysis poweredbyrenewable energies such as wind or solar.Electrolysis involves using an electrical current to break down the water molecule into oxygen and hydrogen by electrodes.

Questioned whether there was atimeline for a transition to green hydrogen in Gippsland, Dr Au said modelling had been only done nationally and notfor Gippsland, but models were being changed andupdated annually.

“Also, for the new hydrogenstrategy, there is atransition point. Using fossil fuel is the lowest (cost) at the moment,” she said, with renewables probably becoming economic by about 2035-40 with the advances in electrolysers.

“China has really brought down the cost of electrolysers. Those are the facts that will help bring down thatcostofrenewable hydrogen production That is where we are; with so much effort being putinto technological improvement, we may see that broughtforward.”

Dr Au said the challenge of decarbonisation was huge.

“We’re in the situation of the boilingfrog -things may be upon us before we know it; it could be too late before we know what to do to reverse (warming).There are different innovations we can invest in to be ready to deploy when we need them and it’s not too late,” she said.

Mr Stone said there were no barriers to renewables, but green or renewable hydrogen took ahuge amountofenergy, and costs needed to comedown.

"Frankly, we can’t wait until 2040 to start doing this at scale,” he said.

“We don’thave the time, we need carbon neutrality as fast as we can, but pragmatic decisions are needed. Focus on carbon intensity, the economic benefit, be pragmatic on project-by-project basis, put ideology aside," he said.

Mr StonesaidGippsland had great assets -a vastand cheap resource,the work force and infrastructure that can be repurposed.

“Itisthe circulareconomy, re-useeverything,” he said

It was not just about hydrogen; the process also gave access to nitrogen.

“Hydrogen and nitrogen together can form ammonium, giving us asovereign capability. We can add the CO2 to make fertiliser,” he said, creating ahome capability that no longer required huge imports. The hydrogen and CO2 could also produce methanol and aviation fuel.

“If we mix biomass in with our coal, which we’ve done in our pilot, we can produce carbon neutral hydrogen, carbon neutral fertiliser, aviation fueland methanol. This is somethingunique to Gippsland with the conditions of the Latrobe Valley coal and our process makingituniqueto Gippsland to provide other benefits,” he said. The biomass would come fromplantation waste or special plantation forests.

Mr Stone said HESC, which had been going for 10 years, had already produced 99.99 per cent hydrogen in the Latrobe Valley.

“Wewould like to take that to the next stage,” he said His company, J-Power, has 25 gigawatts of generation capacity around the world, with 50 per cent renewables in Japan.

“We invest in clean technologies -wind, biomass, solar around the world -and hydrogen,” he said. HESC commercialproduction would be 40,000

tonnes per year of hydrogen -30,000 tonnes to Japanand 10,000 tonnes to helpcarbon reduction in Victoria and Australia.

“We need to be in operation by 2030,” he said. The consortium consists of two basicentities: J-Power and Sumitomo Corp, whichare responsible for production of hydrogen and CCS; and downstream, Japan Suiso ('Hydrogen' in Japanese), which consists of Kawasaki Heavy Industries and Iwatani Corporation, which takes care of the liquefaction and shipping to Japan.

“They liquefy the hydrogen down to minus 253 degrees Celsius, reduces the volume to 1/800th of its scale, making it easier to store and transport. The ship is unloaded in Kawasaki City, aport close to Tokyo,” Mr Stone said.

Mr Stone said the basicuse for the 30,000 tonnes was power generation.

“New turbines are being developed to take hydrogen gas, but also to use for transportation,” he said.

In Australia, the 10,000 tonnes were initially for transport -trucks, buses and fuel cells.

“It’s also aswap for existing hydrogen that is produced nowwithout anycarbon abasement,” he said,which pushed millionsoftonnes of CO2 into theatmosphere.

“We can swap some of that with the 10,000 tonnes and get good aclimate benefit. CCS is part of the process.”

Mr Stone said Japan imports 90 per cent of its energy as fossil fuel.

“Witha2050 carbon neutrality policy, they need

to do alot of things to lift clean energy to replace 90 per cent fossil fuel,” he said.

In the past, people talked about hydrogen on a colour-coding basis.

“That is agood way to start, but the customer needsmore than that -they need to know what sort of carbon intensity,” Mr Stone said.

That would involve CO2kg/H.

“Once atradeablecommodity, customers will want this carbon intensity at aprice. The analogy is the petrol station; you choose 91, 95, 98 fuel based on need and price point. This is where the customer is heading with hydrogen as we transition to net zero.

“In Australia, aguarantee of origin scheme is being put together by the Clean EnergyRegulator. We are happy to be part of that process.”

The carbon intensity requirements for green hydrogen varied from countrytocountry,from 2CO2kg/H, 3.4kg or less, 4kg and 3.4kg.

“These arethe numbers that provide evidence of how organisations can transition to lower carbon."

Mr Stone said the fact was CCS had been around for 45 years; there were 35 CCS facilities in the world.

“Morethan 200 CCS projects are being developed aroundthe world as we speak, being supported by US, Canada,Japan, UK, Chinaand South-East Asia SEA.The IEA(InternationalEnergy Agency) and IPCC see this as anecessary requirement globally to reach net zero targets,” he said. The government-funded CarbonNetinBassStrait and Exxon Mobil in the Gippsland Basin were researching CCS.

“Ifwebecome afoundation customer, we can get ExxonMobil or CarbonNet to build asequestration project thatcan be usedbyother industries in Victoria and across Australia- hard-to-abate industrial industries that need to do something with their CO2. It wouldbegreat if they could use one of these sequestration projects,” he said.

Dr Au said the most mature hydrogen economies in the world, the US and Japan, were moving hydrogen aroundasliquid. Liquefiedhydrogen had long been stored, she said. Mr Stone said hydrogen had been around for decades; the space industry had achieved alot of technical improvement in storage. “Trust the science,” Mr Stone added.

Dr Au said safety was paramount in allhydrogen projects.

“We follow all the regular procedures.It’s not as if we don’t already utilise hydrogen," she said.

Queried whether HESC would share the cost of rehabilitating the Loy Yang coal mine, Mr Stone said the amount of coal the project would use was small compared with what was used at Loy Yang Aand Bpower stations.

“AGL is responsiblefor the coal supply. They will continue their rehabilitation of their mine and they are working on that now and will continue. Thesaleofcoaltouswill include rehabilitation. We would encourage that; our organisation is into sustainability as well -and the cost is part of coal price,” he said.

“It does not necessarily mean we will put CO2 into the atmosphere, and it will be carbon neutrality, particularly if we mix biomass. Pragmatism will ultimately be vital. Green hydrogen is not necessarily neutral.”

Each project would have its own carbon holistic life cycles. For example, renewables requiredmining operations in theproduction of thecomponents; they were refined and shipped around the world; and PV panels and windturbines lasted about 15-20 years. “Hopefully we can liftour recycling of those things. Ithink we need to look at everything holistically and not just focus on coal,” he said.

Brains: CSIRO’sDeputyHydrogenIndustryMission Lead, Dr Vicky Au,with CSIRO research scientists Dr Christian Hornung and Dr John Chiefari

Photograph: CSIRO

Leading with new energy solutions

By ZAIDAGLIBANOVIC

GIPPSLAND: Leading the way in the renewable energy transition. More than 500 people flocked to The Wedge Performing Arts Centre in Sale to attend Australia’s largest regional-led energy conference.

More than 70 leadersfrom local and state government,industry and the local community came to share and learn the latest developments in renewable energy at the conference, held from Thursday, August 31 to Saturday, September 2.

The formal proceedings began with an optimistic buzz in the roomaspeople ushered themselves into the John Leslie Theatre to hear of the exciting energy prospects in the region.

Darren McCubbin, the chiefexecutiveofthe Gippsland ClimateChange Network (GCCN), was the master of ceremoniesfor the event, bringing his theatrical flair and some comic relief to the conference.

The event beganwith awarmWelcome to Country from UncleGrattan Mullett Snr followed by awelcome by Wellington Shire Deputy Mayor, John Tatterson.

Going green this year due to their sustainability partners, the conference couldopt for compostable coffeecups, with handmade recycledshow bags alongside manyother renewable andrecycled goods on display.

Minister for Climate Change and Energy, Chris Bowen,provided the audiencewith avideomessage announcing offshore wind farms would not be constructed off the west coastofWilsons Promontory.

The interim chief executive of the State Electricity Commission (SEC), Chris Miller, spoke on the need for collaboration between the public and private sector in accelerating the renewable transition.

Chief executive of the Latrobe Valley Authority, ChrisBuckingham, reflected on the changesaffecting Gippsland over the past year.

The audience was engaged from the start, listening to the opportunitiesand developments in Australia’s new and renewable energy hub, Gippsland.

Experts shared their knowledge on community engagement, circular economies, carbon capture,

geothermal use, the marine environment and the farming industries role in renewables.

Friday’s session provedjust as informative, as registeredparticipants were taken on atour of Elecsome’s solar panel up recycling site in Kilmany.

Governmentrepresentatives -the Ministerfor Energy, Environment and ClimateChange Lily D’Ambrosio (by video link) and Victorian Minister forRegional DevelopmentHarriet Shing (in person), also made an appearance.

The audience heard insights into regulating offshore renewables -anAustralian first -with apresentation by the executive director at the Offshore Renewables Offshore Infrastructure Regulator (NOPSEMA), Owen Wilson.

Transmission and connecting the offshore wind farms to the mainland have been adivisive topic,

and AlistairParker, the chief executive of VicGrid, spoke to the audience of its challenges, processes and future.

The day continued with presentations on social outcomes, transport connections, hydrogen as an energy opportunity and community engagement.

The second ever Gippsland New Energy Conference on all accounts was ahugesuccess, with an added youth summit and acommunity day; the new energy and renewable transition reached abroader audience.

Wellington Shire Council Mayor, Ian Bye, said this year’s conference provided greater insight into the regional projects underway with much visible enthusiasm.

“Whilelastyear’sevent unlocked the potential of renewable energy in Gippsland, this year’s focus

VicForest found 96 per cent compliant

By PHILIP HOPKINS

THE 2022 official audit of VicForests has found an average 96 per cent compliance with the state’s forestry environmental standards.

The latest independent audit was conducted in 32 coupes with harvesting operations in 2020/21 across the Central Highlands, Gippsland, East Gippsland and North East Regional ForestAgreement areas, and showed acontinuous improvement in VicForests’ audit results.

As part of its annual forest audit program, the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action(DEECA) commissions an Environment Protection Authority accredited auditor to conduct an audit of VicForests’ operations. This audit was conducted accordingtofour themes: environmental values in state forests, conservation of biodiversity, operational planning and record keeping, and coupe infrastructure for timber harvesting operations.

The overall 2022 audit ranged between 87 per cent and 100 per cent, with an average of 96 per cent compliance (an increase from 94 per cent in the last audit) across all themes and sub themes of the audit, meaningeither consistency or improvements in all areas.

Severalareas of improvement include:protection of forest soils -95per cent (previously 92 per cent); protection of water flows, water quality and river health -94per cent (91 per cent); protection of biodiversityvalues -96per cent(95 per cent); road maintenance and closurepractices -99per cent (88 per cent).

Incidents in 20 of the non-conforming aspects had potential for an environmental impact -an average of 1.4 per coupe. There were as many as six incidentsinone coupe. The variousimpactsranged between negligible and major, with moderate the most common rating.

Incidents with major potential impacts were all linked to defective waterway crossings. Other incidents involved risks to either terrestial or aquatic biodiversity values, or asmall incursion into aLeadbeater’s Possum Special Protection Zone, and defective waterway crossings.

The 32 coupes audited were selected using arisk-based procedure that prioritised coupes withhigh-risk featuresand are associated with special values: waterway crossings; long lengths of in-coupe road; steep slopes; more erosive soils; rainforest vegetation in close proximity; presence of threatened flora and/or fauna; and Special ProtectionorSpecial Management Zones (SPZ

and SMZ respectively) in close proximity.

Given coupe selection is risk-based, rather than fullyrandomised, the findingsofthis audit covera portion of VicForests’ higher-riskoperations, with lower-risk areasnot audited.

VicForests fsaid it was pleased with an average conformance score of 96 per cent against the applicable criteria.

“The findings are atestamenttothe work our passionate staff undertake in the forest,”the state forestry companysaid.

“Ourstaff are committed to continuously improving our practicesand strive to demonstrate excellence in all that we do. Our sustainable forest management activities are informed by the latest research and guided by best practice.

“VicForests recognises, as always, that there is room for improvement, and welcomes the audit’s findings and recommendationsinproviding advice and direction on areas of focus for such improvement.”

VicForestsisresponsible for the harvesting of native forest areas, the commercial sale of the wood and the regeneration of the harvested areas. The state government has begun the process to dissolve VicForests ahead of the closure of the native forest industry next January.

Powering-up: Around 500 people attended the 2023 Gippsland NewEnergy Conference

willprovide greaterinsightabout the projects, initiatives and policies established across the region and whatwecan expect to see delivered from some of the biggest global renewable energy project developers, and what that means for local communities on the ground,” the Mayor said.

Bushfireseason fast approaching

LEADING bushfireexperts will discuss the possibility of another major fire in East Gippsland at apublic meeting in Mallacoota next month.

The Howitt Society will present apublic meeting to discuss the issue of the long-term protection of the townships and the forests of East Gippsland.

It will be held on Thursday, October 5in the meeting room at the Mallacoota District Health &Support Service (MIVA Centre), Genoa-Mallacoota Road, at the corner with Mattsson Street from 2pm to 4pm.

Speakers are Chris Hardman, the Executive Director Forest and FireOperations and Chief Fire Officer for the Department of Energy, Environmentand ClimateAction;and Associate Professor Kevin Tolhurst, from the School of Agriculture, Food and Ecosystem Scientists at Melbourne University,Professor Tolhurst is arenowned expert in the prediction of fire behaviour, particularly as related to fuel loads.

Athirdspeaker will be John Mulligan, a long-term resident of East Gippsland and former chairmanofthe EastGippsland Wildfire Taskforce.

There will be an open forum after the speakers where those in the community have the opportunity to ask questions of the speakers and potentiallyframe resolutions from the meeting.

For further information, phone the Howitt Society secretary, Garry Squires, on 0417 588210.

Put your money where your houseis

Photograph: Zaida Glibanovic

Voice Referendumbringingconcerns

ISHARE Greg Hansford’s concern for the closure of the native forest timber industry and its adverse impact on the socioeconomics of regional Victoria (LV Express September 13, 2023). However, blaming the Latrobe Valley’s current joblosses and high unemployment on all major political parties including the Coalition is incorrect. It is also political suicide and will lead to worse outcomes for the Latrobe Valley.

Dan Andrews has proved to be acunning politician. While elected as an ALP candidate he has governed more like as agreen socialist. Over the years he has strengthened the socialist left wing of the ALP andhollowed out the right wing of the ALP.

The right wing of the ALP has traditionally beenthe economic rationalists of the ALP and endeavoured to support industry andworking communities, not just powerful unions.

Dan Andrews has politicised our bureaucracies, and with an army of spin doctors ‘mastered’ most of acompliant media. We need to work hard to debunk the spin and get the facts to the people.

Standing up to Dan Andrews will get you nowhere because he looks after those who ‘vote for me’.

If we want change in Victoriaand particularly rural Victoria, we need to vote Dan out. That means focusing on one and only one target -Dan Andrew’s socialist government including those minor parties that keep him in office. Greg’s shotgun approach has not worked and will keep Dan in Spring Street

VotingDan Andrews out means developing rationaland coherentpolicies based on rigorous strategies, not spin, and promoting those policies well. Policies that will win over an electorate are likely to be those that appeal to mainstream Victorians. Mainstream Victorians are likelyto be those whose sentiments align with boththe coalition and the right wing of the ALP.

Beware of the perils of extreme green, extreme left, and extreme right.

John Cameron Traralgon

Disturbed

LAST week's Express contains two stories which revealthe disturbing way in which taxpayerfunded officials use their time to pursue divisive political agendas instead of focusing on their core responsibilities.

First,the Latrobe Health Advocate,Jane Anderson, is reported as having released apublic statement endorsingthe proposal to amend the Australian Constitution to constitutionally entrench the so-called Indigenous Voice to Parliament body within our federal structure of government. This is arather curious statement, given that the website of the Latrobe Health Advocate statesthat it is astategovernment instrumentalitycreated and fundedtoadvise the state government on improving public health outcomes in the Latrobe Valley, bearing in mind the health systemchallengesinthe region discovered after the 2014 Hazelwood Mine Fire.

Victorian taxpayers are entitled to ask why their hard-earnedtaxes are subsidisingstate-employed health bureaucratstowadeintofederal political debates.

The Latrobe Health Advocate should focus on her mandate to deal with healthpolicy rather than using her office to make divisive political statements, given that her role is to represent all Valley residents on health policy issues.

Second, lastweek'snewspaper contains alengthy report about an arbitration process that Cr Tracie Lund initiated against Cr Melissa Ferguson over the latter's 'tweets' on Twitter

It is bad enough that anyone would bother to devote so muchtimeand energy to pursuing lawfare against another person because their feelings were

hurt on Twitter, but even more concerning that councillorsonLatrobe City Council apparently cannot accept the right of councillors to have different opinions. Latrobe City Council needs to operate in acohesive and collegiate manner that respects diversity of opinion. Cr Lund's litigious attack on Cr Ferguson sets adangerousprecedent which unduly politicises our local council.

Iapplaud Cr Fergusonfor having the courage to refuse to apologise for merely expressing her own opinion, which is consistent with the scientific consensus of the overwhelming majority of expert biologists, and would respectfully suggest to Cr Lund and anyone else who takes offence at Cr Ferguson's statements to simply refrain from reading her Tweets.

Even more absurd is the description by this newspaper's reporter, Zaida Glibanovic, of women's advocates who merely recite basic biological facts as "divisive feminist activists".

It'sa rather upside down worldwhere recitingthe contents of abiology textbook or holding the same opinion as Germaine Greer on the definition of a woman sees anewspaper likethe Express labelling such people as divisive feminists!

Nicholas Tam Traralgon East

No time to waste

AS is usual with Philip Hopkin’s articles advocating the expansion of Latrobe Valley brown coal, (LessonsfromGermany’s Industry LV Express 6/9/23), thereisa need to balance it with some perspective.

In particular, his articles seem to be written as if human induced climate change does not exist.

Firstly, Germany planned from the early 2000s to phaseout all coal production by 2038and brown coal (lignite) much earlier, because it is the most carbon intensive fuel on Earth. It still intends to do so.

Secondly, the only reason why some previously moth-balled coal fired power stations have been brought back online, is because of Putin’s invasion of Ukraine and the loss of all Russian gas imports to Western Europe.

Thirdly, the article referred to HELE power stations as being about 15 per cent more efficient than our clunkers here in the Latrobe Valley. It didn’t mention that when Australia’s only HELE power station, Callide CinQLD blew aturbine in 2020, it blacked out the entire statenorth of Brisbane for 1.5 hours and was out of operation for another 14 months. So much for reliability.

Fourthly, the mentionofcapturingCO2 to makeproducts like alginates, used in food and pharmaceutical production, ignores the fact that theseare biodegradable and the carbon in them will still end up in the atmosphere when they are digested and excreted.

Then there is the cost. Some existing solar and wind farms have signed agreements to sell electricity to buyers for below six cents per kWh. Future agreements at todays inflatedprices and allowing for the cost of extra transmission lines will bring the minimum price to around 10 cents akWh.

Maybethe fact that no privateinvestorsare willing to put their money into coal fired power in Australia any more, is not due to governments banning them, but simplybecause they are not profitable, especially as any future coal developers need to account for the cost of land rehabilitation.

As for the mention of Carbon Captureand Sequestration,CCS,the proposedCarbon-Net project will capture only one seventh of the presentday CO2 productionofexistingLatrobe Valley power stations. Not nearly enough.

UN Secretary, Antonio Guterres, recently announced that world-wide, $1.3 trillion every

year ($2.47 million every minute) is being spent developing fossilfuels. Australian taxpayers are responsible for nearly two per cent of this. If only this money was spent on renewables over the last decade, then we would have well and truly solved the climate crisis by now.

Philip’s comments on NIMBYism were valid and are an increasing threat to timely transition.

Recent catastrophic weather events across the world are just atasterofwhatistocome, so there is no time to waste.

Dan Caffrey President LatrobeValley Sustainability Group

Dangerous crossover

THANK YOU, Roy Foenander, for your response ("Just amatter of time" LV Express,13/9/23) to my previous letter.

It's ashame you double down, by claiming your approach is "appropriateand fair",instead of at least acknowledging your ongoing hyperbole regarding your low opinionofthe Premier, may be counterproductive.

Idonot disagree with much you say, regarding Dan Andrews' political decisions, but you confuse opinion with fact.

There's your "truth", Roy, my "truth", and the real truth.

As for my attention to the media, you grossly underestimate it, as my family would attest.

Of course Dan Andrews is unpopular, but he would probably be re-elected tomorrow.

You don'teven addressthe issue of going way beyond the "character assassination" of Dan Andrews, by claiming those who disagree with you are "nuffies"- afar more widespread, egregious and self-indulgent insult.

Your characterisations also go far beyondDan Andrews' political decisions, to the deeply personal.

I'm sure his family and friends would take umbrage at the notion he has "no conscienceorcompassion"

And you, Roy, just wouldn't know.

Yourcontributionsresembleanother correspondent's propensity for branding someone whohas the temerity to disagree as a"village idiot" or "town clown". Immature stuff!

Icompare this approach with the regular contributions of Greg Hansford, one to whom Iadmit I'm generallypolitically diametrically opposed, but who always presents his case with dignity,decorum and reasoned logic.

Your illustrious teaching career continues Greg!

John Duck Trafalgar

Opinion is just that

IHAVE been astaunch andavid reader and supporter of the Herald Sun for almost 60 years.

Ihave thoroughly enjoyed the journalistic brillianceand expertise of peoplesuch as Andrew Bolt, ShannonDeery, Peta Credlin, Rita Panahi, Steve Price, Jeff Kennett and many more.

In particular Ilove the Your Say and Text Talk sections,whereordinary, everydaypeople are given the chance to voice their opinion.

We who live in the Western world and in particular ademocracy are fortunate enough to be able to give an opinionwithout fearorfavour, unlike many other countries

The Herald Sun edition from September 11 brought me agood laugh and validated my opinion and points thatIhave expressed in previous articles of the Latrobe Valley Express Opinion section.

Twogentlemen who had their articles published in the Herald Sun, H. Bingham (Your Say)and JT (Text Talk), were right on the money.

It's nice to know I'm not alone in my opinion of

our "illustrious" so called leader, Teflon Dan. Sadly for some, views such as these are seen as totally unfair. As the famous Billy Brownless would say, "don't be asooki-la-la!" Kudos to those two gentlemen and many, many more like them, for calling out the obvious.

Areal leader shows empathy, compassion, commonsense,decency and mostofall, truth in their everyday communications and dealings with the people thatthey workfor and who pay their inflated and obscene wages the everyday common taxpayer. They have no right to treat their fellow citizens with disdain, lies or hypocrisy. Get out of the closet and speak the truth and admit to the mistakes you have made. Tell the truth and people will respect you more. For me and many thousands more, "I can't recall" just doesn't cut it!

There's an old saying "If you can't handle the heat, get outofthe kitchen. I'mafraid this individual has spent far too much time in the kitchen, his apron is on fire and his Teflon coating is wearing thin. We arenot fools or idiots.

Sadly, for long suffering Victorians, we have an egocentric Premier who's favourite song would have to be the Skyhooks, Ego Is Not ADirty Word. For the remainderofVictoria, anotherSkyhooks hit song, Horror Movie would be more apt.

We are moving like ahorror movie in slow motion and getting nowhere. Enough of the large pile of BS that is piled high on the steps of Spring Street. Enough of the daily overdose of spin and verbal diarrhea that spews out of these politicians and overpaid "consultants" mouths. One only has to look at the devastation this extreme left Labor government has caused.

Ambulances, teachers, hospitals, the timber industry, (heartfelt thanks to the Greenies, woke agendaand GrettaThunbergs of this world) schools, the justice system (which currently is no more than, just-a-system) and the list goes on.

Here in Australia, you can't get into trouble for voicing your opinion, you won't get kidnapped or stoned to death. You can't be abducted or put into prison or taken somewhere where you can't be found, unlike many other countries around the world. We all know who and what they are.

Ilove the word opinion, it has asignificant and broad meaning. If you're nothappywith the opinion given to you by aGPover apersonal medical matter, then you're entitled to seek asecond opinion. So simple!

This is my opinion and I'm more than happy to stick with it.

Roy Foenander Traralgon

Jobs and voices

IWONDER how peoples wishes will be met over the next 10 or 20 yearswhenfederaldebt is around $1 trillion and, according to Moody's Rating agency, Victoria will be $226 billion in debt by 2026?

Victorian roads are ashambles, with funding cut by $120 million, yet we still see adverts telling us that the local member is "working hard for the community"but whocontinues to be anything but "openand transparent" with the electorate.

What sort of "Working Man's Party" proposes to shut down the mining industry, the timber industry, and the gas industry resulting in the loss of blue-collar jobs and the closure of local businesses?

The push for zero pollution will cost in the vicinity of $1 trillion to havefarmlandcoveredwith 28,000 kilometresofnew transmission lines and poles along with fields of solar panels, and wind farms.

So wherewill all ourfood comefromifthisisthe case and at what cost?

On top of this is "the Voice", another expensive exercise by Labor and aPrimeMinister who spends more time in the Qantas Loungethan in Australia.

Wendy Castles,Traralgon(LV Express 13/09/2023) asks us to read the YES website to findout more about the "Voice".Idoubt very much thatthe "YES"website will showthat $32 billionis spentonthe Indigenous Community annually and $378.6 million was given to the Territories Stolen GenerationsRedress Scheme ExternalAdvisory Board to name afew.

Ihave read the 'Referendum booklet' and have also looked under the Office of Prime Minister and Cabinet.

Under the latter it saysthatthe Prime Minister's Indigenous AdvisoryCouncil has 12 members, the Treaties Council has 10 members, and the Central Land Council has 90 members. There are 61 members on the Referendum Engagement group -21ofwhomare on the Referendum Working Group, and all are being paid. There are 1400 staff on the NationalIndigenous Australians Agency which receives$4.3 billion annually. There are 11 Indigenous voices already in federal government -eight in the Senate and three in the House of Representatives. That's atotal of 1584 'Voices' already in federal government, so how many"Voices" do WendyCastlesand Anthony Albanese need before they listen to the Indigenous Community and at what cost to the Australian taxpayer?

Brian Mawhinney

Traralgon

Referendum is an Albanese con job

IWRITE in response to Jenny Jackulen’s letter to the Editor (‘What is truth’ 06/09/23).

Jenny, thank you for your interest, in an important term, during atimeofsignificant reflection on the future of our Democracy.

Truth. Aliteral definition to what is truth? Reads “In accordancewith facts” or “honest’ or “exact” (Collins Dictionary, HarperCollins Publisher, 1993).

In the context of the October 14 Referendum. The Labor Partychose nottobehonest, truthful or trustworthy. In fact, no details have been provided on how the members of the alleged ‘Voice’ would be chosen or even how it would work?

Essentially, they want a‘blankcheque’ to fund an unexplained mystery that would have undefined Constitutional powers. Myth. Aliteral definition of the term myth. Maybe “a fable, fairy story, fiction, urban legend, etc“(Collins College Thesaurus, Harper Collins Publishers, 1995).

In the context of the aforementioned Referendum, an example of amyth could be: “Aborigines were custodians or owners of the land”, or “welcome to country”, “Tribal Maps” etc.

The truth is such concepts or practices are falsehoods and theatrical fallacy, invented in recent decades to market and misrepresent Indigenous culture.

The indisputable reality is land ownership was aEuropean concept involving law, titles, deeds, transfer of land, purchase price, mortgages, taxes, interest rates, etc.

If Mr. Albanese’s Referendum is taking liberties with the past and present, could you really trust him with your future?

Vote no next month, to protect "the Australian way of life".

Tom Quinn Moe

Priorities

THE Latrobe HealthAdvocatefinds access to health services the primary concern for our local community (LV Express 06/09/2023). No surprises there.

We all know it from first-hand experience.

But what is beingdone?First thing listed is “consultation with Trans Gender Victoria to discuss the need for trans-affirming health practitioners recognised by the Australian Professional Association for Trans Health”. Are you kidding me?

Of all the health services shortages we have in the Latrobe Valley, transgender services are the priority?

Then we havethe Morwell Youth Space(LV Express 06/09/2023) looking for funding to continue They may find themselves with more community support if they didn’t have allflags of the ‘rainbow’ emblazoned all over their building. As the most noticeable feature of Morwell Youth Space, you can only assume it’s their priority.

Bear in mind what these flags represent -apart from the ever-presentrainbowflag,thereisalso aflag for each of the following: transgender, bisexual, aromantic, lesbian, intersex, non-binary, genderfluid, genderqueer,agenderand asexual. You couldn’t make this up if you tried. What place has this got in ayouth support centre?

In the article, there is mention of providing showers, food, wi-fi, social engagement, washing machine, skillstraining, anda‘safespace’tohang out. So whythe vast range of ‘sexual orientation flags’ as amajor identifier of the place? Mental health wassomuchlessofanissue when virtually everyone in society accepted that sex is only for marriage, and marriage is only between aman and awoman, for life (and it wasn’t that longago!)

It’s time we taught youth the basics of ahealthy lifestyle that bringstrue happiness, instead of affirming their every thought and whim.

Janet Kingman Morwell

Querying Dr Mendelsohn

IWAS surprised to see a“comment” article by Dr Mendelsohn alleging that e-cigarettes (vaping) are safe to use, which was published not in the letters to the editor but as alarge article in the Latrobe Valley Express (13/09/23).

It was called, innocently,“Fresh approach needed to stop vaping in schools”.

BeforeIreadhis article, Iknew about the recent change in federal legislation so thatitisnow illegal for minors/anyone who is not on aquit-smoking program,touse e-cigarettes; and Iknew from watching the news that the Big Tobacco companies are closely related to, or own, the e-cigarette (vaping) companies.

Ihadn’t ever heard of Dr Mendelsohn or his financialassociations with e-cigarette companies. Even so,itwas made evident by the emotive, spruiking tone of his article, and some of the things he said, that this guy was closely related to the e-cigarette companies.

Ialsoread at the bottom of the article thathe (a) had founded a“charity” organisation called “Australian Tobacco Harm ReductionAssociation” (ATHRA) -which rang alarm bells, as it is easy to use aso-called “charity” organisation as acover for ahidden agenda; and (b) used to be aProfessor at the University of NSW until 2020 (which again rang alarm bells -because you have to ask, why would aprofessor leave their respectable university job to become aspruiker of e-cigarettes?)

And so, IGoogled: “Dr Mendelsohn,vaping, e-cigarettes, tobacco companies”. And found some really interesting stuff about this doctor, who I am going to refer to as simply “Mendelsohn” from now on.

Firstly, Mendelsohn is no longer apractising doctor. He was apractising doctor until he began spruiking e-cigarettes (vaping).

In 2020, he both published avery large number of articles that spruiked the benefits and safety of e-cigarettes (vaping), and stopped practising as adoctor. (Not sure which came first, leaving the medical profession or writing the articles.)

From 2017 when he started ATHRA until 2018, he wasstatingonthe homepageofthe ATHRA website that he had never received any funds from any tobacco company or e-cigarette company. But then an article was published that verified that an e-cigarette company had givenMendelsohn $15,000 to set up his “charity” organisation (ATHRA) and that statement was then deleted from the ATHRA website.

Also until 2018, the ATHRA website mentioned two of its “founding members” were Nicopharm and Nicovape (e-cigarette companies); however, this wasthen also deleted from the website. (In fact, when IGoogled him, the statement that he has never received any funds from an e-cigarette or tobacco company was in the Google highlights abouthis website; however that statement was no longer present on hisactualwebsite.) Mendelsohn’s ATHRA website, and his colinmendelsohn.com.au website, both look and feel like “fake news” sites. They showcase his many blogs about the benefits and safety of using e-cigarettes (called “vaping”). His blogs on both sites show his approach is more about attacking “anti-vapers” or evidence thatpointstothe dangers of e-cigarettes,rather than providing information.

Whyisthis Mendelsohnguy lobbying so hard to getthe government to change the laws,toallow vaping again?

It is alsoworth notingthat the article by Mendelsohn thatwas publishedinthe LV Express on September 13 was also repurposed by Mendelsohn (same information, but slightly differently presented and with different headlines) and republished in various platforms and places around the internet, and in other newspapers, at around the same time. (Great marketing tactics by Mendelsohn, e-cigarette companies and Big Tobacco!).

Ithink the titles of most of his blogs speak for themselves: emotive, even hysterical. Andon reading some of those blogs, Ican verify that they contain more fake news and Colin Mendelsohn views, than fact.

Ifound out alot more about e-cigarettes(vaping) throughsimply Googling Mr Mendelsohn’s relationship with e-cigarette companies. Idiscovered that his article in the Express wasfullofnot misinformation, but disinformation.

Typically, using e-cigarettes, or vaping, can mean ingesting the following: nicotine,caffeine, pesticides,and flavourings linked with possible toxic effects and respiratory irritation.

According to the research by awhole heap of scientists (who are not funded by Big Tobacco or e-cigarette companies), e-cigarettes are unsafe to use, although far saferthan smokingtobacco, which is why e-cigarettes have been used to help people quite smoking tobacco,but why e-cigarettes should not be used by anyone who does not already smoke tobacco (especially children, who are the main target of e-cigarette marketing).

E-cigarettes are proven to damage blood vessels and damage lungs,and be just as addictive (due to the nicotine) as traditional cigarettes.

If you’d like to know the truth about e-cigarettes (vaping),don’tbelieve Mendelsohn. Believethe dozens of legitimate scientists and other professionals who have done the research.

Read the2018 Report on the Inquiry into the Use and MarketingofElectronicCigarettesand Personal Vaporisers in Australia-which was followed by the government’sdecision to make e-cigarettes (vaping) illegal (apart fromprescription e-cigarettes as aquit smoking method).

Sally-Anne Watson Kane Moe

Dementia Action Week

DURINGthis year’s Dementia Action Week (September 18-24), we are encouraging people to learn more about the signs and symptoms of the condition and how to make their communities more accessible to people living with dementia.

There are estimated to be more than 400,000 Australians livingwithdementia and morethan 1.5 million involved in their care -and those numbers are set to rise.

As dementia diagnoses increase, it’s important to learn more about the signs and symptoms and how to make our communities more accessible to people living with dementia.

That’s why this year’s theme for Dementia Action Week is ‘Act Now for aDementia-Friendly Future’.

Manypeople cancontinue to livewell with dementia, but it’simportant they feel supported in theircommunity.Greaterawareness helps to create discussion andbreak downstigmaorbarriers that could stop people from seeking help.

Increasing our understanding of dementia can make abig difference to the lives of people around us who are impacted.

There are things we can all do to make our communities more dementia-friendly.

To find out how you can make adifference, visit dementia.org.au.

Maree McCabe

AM CEO Dementia Australia Chair

Bobby Redman

Dementia Australia Advisory Committee

Golden Age

HOW Iloathethe current Sodom and Gomorrah of gratuitous sex and violence-orientated Hollywood movies made these days and later shown on latenight television.

OH how ImissBillCollins and Ivan Hutchinson presenting old-fashioned black and white family movies and classic tearjerkersfrom the 30s and 40s on our late-night silver screens.

Great classics like How Green Was My Valley, Maytime, The Enchanted Cottage, Letter From An Unknown Woman,Gone With The Wind, Kings Row, San Francisco, The Sea Hawk, The Hurricane, Double Indemnity, Sunset Boulevard, Scarlet Street, and, of course, my all-time favourite movie, Waterloo Bridge (1940).

The producer of Gone With The Wind, David O. Selznick, summeditupbest when, walking through aHollywood back-lot one day in the 50s, agloomy Selznicktold Ben Hect:"Hollywood's likeEgypt. Full of crumbled pyramids. It'll never come back. It'll just keep on crumbling until the wind blows the last studio props across the sand."

Joseph Lis Morwell

ANOTHER bumper letters section, which is great to see.

The Latrobe ValleyExpress welcomes letters to the editor.

The editor Liam Durkin, reserves the right to edit lettersfor reasons of space and clarity, and may refuse to publish any letter withoutexplanation.

The Express does not publish lettersfrom anonymous contributors. Letters must includeaphone number, email address and the author'shometown for purposes of substantiatingauthenticity. Readers are entitled to one right of reply to aletterdirected at them.

The views expressed in letters to the editor are those of the writers, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Latrobe Valley Express management or staff. The editor wishes to makethe above sentence clear.

Theletters section is designed to allow peopletohave their say, and not be hijacked for political agendas.

Email letters to news@lvexpress.com. au and include 'letter to the editor' in the subject line.

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“I startedmyapprenticeship with the Gas and Fuel in 1989,” Allison explained.

“I wasone of asmall handful of women takenintotradesthat year as equal opportunitywas high on the government’sagenda.

“I have enjoyedmost of my plumbing life-now moresothan ever.I enjoythe interaction with my customersand building agood customer-client relationship.”

If youneed to fixthat leakytap or arelooking to upgradeyour old tap, The TapSpecialist should be your firstportofcall.

Allison specialises in repairing leaking toilets,hot waterrepairs, upgrading old toilet systems, dishwasher installations and installing waterfiltration systems

The TapSpecialist also offers waterrenewals and small renovation works.

Allison prides herself on her abilitytoget to jobs on time (or call customersifshe is runninglate),

her free quotes,competitiveprices and cleanliness

“If you’re looking foralocal plumber that is professional, clean and honest and in your area, then look no further than The Tap

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

to place your classified in our WEDNESDAY PUBLICATION 5135 4455

HALFPRICE FORSALEADS FO

IS FINALLY

of OVER 76,000 you’re guaranteed to reach MORE locals than advertising just on Facebook 5135 4455

Clearing Sale

Saturday, September 23, 10am

Acc LEdwards 495 Princes Hwy, Traralgon

Major items include: Belarus 920 tractor 1982, Isuzu forward 6 cylinder 5speed truck 8tonne +stock crate, Honda 2015 solo bike, Munro post driver with side shift, slasher Kioti series, Connor-Shea 18 Tyne seed drill, 16 plate discs, Tonutte 10 red hay rake, mower conditioner JFGx2400, Silvan spray unit 400ltr, Port Multi grader blade, 3pl channel cleaner, Crump Kurrajong 1000 super spreader, silage grab, 2furrow Ferguson Plough, 12ft harrows, steel carryall, New Holland 278 baler, saw bench, poly water tanks -slimline and round, pine posts various sizes, barb and plain wire coils, ring hook, cattle head bail, yard gates, yard gates, qty Armco railing, railway line various lengths, metal roof truss x4x8m, gal. sheets new and second hand, qty steel pipe, bridge timbers, concrete culverts, troughs and pipes, bricks and blocks, cast iron bath, B&S 5hp water pump, poly pipe, PVC pipe large and storm water 90mm pipe, B&S 10hp generator, and sundries too numerous to mention.

Annual General Meeting

Wednesday, 18 October 2023 @2.30pm 1Hoyle St, Morwell Nomination forms available from: taylah@gest.com.au

RSVP: 11th October 2023 to: taylah@gest.com.au Phone 5127 4544

100% first in town. Petite, sexy body. Naughty, cute and lovely. 0421 367 038.

We would advise readers and advertisers to exercise caution in giving out personal details. This will be respected by genuine respondents.

Police Boys Junior Football Club A.G.M.

Wednesday 4/10/2023

Commencing 7pm Traralgon RSL, Grey St

All interested parties are invited and welcome to attend. All positions are declared open, nominations forms for positions are available on the night or from the secretary. secretary.policeboysjfc @hotmail.com

NOTICE OF ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

Reg: No: A0012076N

The 80th Annual General meeting of the Moe Racing Club Incorporated will be held at the Moe Racecourse in the members function room commencing at 7.00pm on Wednesday, 1st November 2023.

The following Business will be dealt with at the meeting:

1. Acceptance of apologies and confirmation of the minutes of the 79th Annual General Meeting.

2. Receipt and adoption of the Chairman's Annual Report and the Annual Financial Statements for the racing year ended 30th June 2023.

3. Declaration of the poll of the election of members of the Committee. Any financial Member seeking election to the committee may obtain anomination paper from the Chief Executive Officer and which nomination paper, signed by two voting members of the club, and accompanied by written consent of the candidate must be lodged no later than the 3rd of October 2023 with the Chief Executive Officer. All Committee members are required to undergo police, credit and directorship checks before obtaining aseat.

The following Committee member's terms will be expiring on 1st November 2023 and are eligible to nominate for re-election. Mr Robert Sim, Ms Pauline Turra, and Mr Tony Flynn.

4. Any Voting member intending to submit business for consideration at the Annual General Meeting or questions for the auditor, must submit this business in writing or by electronic transmission to the Chief Executive Officer no later than the 3rd of October 2023.

5. To appoint an auditor.

6. To transact any other business in accordance with the Rules and Regulations of the Club.

TRARALGON FARMERS MARKET

Motorists are advised that in order for the safe conduct of the Traralgon Farmers Market it will be necessary for Kay St, T'gon, between Breed and Church Sts, eastbound, to be closed to all traffic on Saturday, 23rd September. The market will commence at 8am. It is expected that this portion of Kay St will be closed from 6am-2.30pm.

PROPOSAL 5G UPGRADE TO EXISTING MOBILE PHONE BASE STATION

Address: Monopole -Ridge Road, Morwell 3840 (PC366748)

Reference: M1167 Morwell South

1. The proposed works include the addition of new 4G &5Gequipment and associated works including the replacement of 3existing 4G antennas (less than 2.8m long) on the existing headframe; the replacement of 6existing remote radio units (RRUs) with 9new 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 regards the proposed installation as a Low-impact Facility under the Telecommunications (Low-impact Facilities) Determination 2018 based on the description 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/3840024.

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 Road, Noosaville, 4566 or info@planconsult.com.au by 5pm on 06/10/2023.

WHEN YOU GO LOCAL, YOUGROW LOCAL!

Help support our local Tradies while they service, build and repair in our local communities - check out our Business Guide Pages and Home Maintenance Section in the Classifieds every Wednesday for your local Tradies

CUT IT DOWN

Door Installer

Does your home need new doors? Ican supply and install doors/locks, inc. security doors. Over 32 yrs exp. Free quote, Lennie 0438 850 287.

ELECTRICIAN

Specialising in all domestic work. REC.4188. Phone Peter 0438 177 153 or Carol 5126 2110.

Gas Appliances

Install -Service -Repairs Co Testing -Gas Safety Check.Contact Paul 0428 877 432. Lic.103230.

GIPPSLAND ARBORICULTURE SPECIALISTS TREE

REMOVALS

Pruning, stump grinding, hedging, nest boxand habitat hollowscreation, insured and qualified. FREE QUOTES Brent 0403 080 315 SERVICING ALL AREAS

HANDYMAN

Small odd jobs around the home. *Also specialising in: small tree removal/rubbish removal. Matt 0439 744 605

Home Cleaning Service

Our friendly and trusted service will leave your home spotless, freeing up time for more important things! Call now to schedule your visit today and enjoy acleaner home tomorrow!

Discountsapply for seniors and first visits. Sally 0409 952 965.

JS PAINTING

Specialising in commercial, residential work, over 30 years experience. For prompt and reliable service to all the Gippsland region phone Joe 0421 374 463.

CareersatLatrobe

LatrobeCityCouncilhasexcitingopportunitiesforenthusiasticand forward-thinkingindividualswithapassionforprovidingexcellent servicestoourcommunity

• AboriginalCommunity LiaisonOfficer - Aboriginal Community PermanentFull Time

• Experienced Maintenance Employee -Unsealed RoadsRoads -Permanent Full Time

• Local Laws Officer -Traffic&Compliance-Traffic&ComplianceFixed Term Part Time (until March2024)

• PlanningComplianceOfficer - gCompliance Officer -Permanent Full Time

• BuildingProjects- PreschoolProject Manager- BuildingProjects -Preschool ProjectManagerFixedTermFull Time (12 monthcontract)

• Experienced Maintenance Employee -Tree Maintenance - in nance -Permanent Full Time

• Maternal andChild Health NurseNurse-Permanent Part Time &Casual

• LearntoSwimInstructorwimInstructor- Casual

• EarlyChildhood TeachersTeachers-Permanent, Temporary& Casual

• Preschooland ChildcareEducators -Multiple Positions-Permanent,Temporary &Casual

• ExpressionofInterestExpressionofInterest -PlanningOpportunities

Forfurtherinformationincludinghow toapply,positiondescriptionsand applicationclosingdates,pleasevisitour websitewww.latrobe.vic.gov.au/careers

Pleasenotesuccessfulapplicantswillbe requiredtoapplyforandsatisfactorilyobtain aNationalPoliceCheckandWorkingwith ChildrenCheck.

www.latrobe.vic.gov.au/careers

Career Opportunity

Weare seekingapplicationsfor our Apprentice Program at Yallourn Power Station in the following position:

Apprentice -Electrical

Thereare 2positions available, commencingJanuary2024.

Forfurther information on this opportunity and to apply, visit: http://careers.energyaustralia.com.au

GP1661720

CARPET/ VINYL LAYER

Carpetworld Bairnsdale are seeking an experienced carpet/ vinyl layer. Must have own vehicle and tools. Ongoing work and attractive rates.

Email: admin@ cwbairnsdale.com.au

OSHC PATCH LEADER (Coordinator)

St Kieren's Primary School

Part-time basis, working aminimum of 20 hrs p/w.

The Patch Leader demonstrates passion and drive, to ensure the voice of every child is recognised, provide quality offerings, and build engaging relationships with children, families, schools, and communities.

Role:

● Guide children's learning and play through fun and engaging experiences

● Be aMentor for our Educators to support GROWth and learning

● Maintain enrolment and medical compliance

● Engage with families, and the school community and uphold the values of Our Patch

● Be the Responsible Person as recognised within the Education and Care Law and Regulations

● Manage the governance and leadership of Our Patch offerings

You will need:

● Diploma in Children's Services or equivalent (or working towards/willing to enrol)

● Employee Working with Children Check (or willing to obtain)

● Current National Police Check -within6months (or willing to obtain)

● First Aid, Anaphylaxis, Asthma, and CPR Certificates (or willing to obtain)

● Available to work: Monday -Friday: 2.30pm to 6:00pm and school holidays

If you have any questions about the role, please contact us on 1300 018 310 or email recruitment@ourpatch.education

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.

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. Forfurther advice, contact the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission on 1300 302 502 or your state consumer affairs agency.

Classifieds

PROGRAM MANAGER Required for Boutique Day Service

Established in 2020, Foxy House is aboutique service with amission to provide high quality individualised support for people with all types of disabilities. We value our staff highly as we know, if you feel valued, this directly impacts on the quality of service provided to the people we support. We aim to offer apersonal touch to the support we provide and take pride in exceeding the expectations of those who access our services. We have outlets in Kongwak and Morwell, we are currently seeking aProgram Manager to Join our Morwell service. The position is for 4days per week.

About You:

We are currently looking for adedicated, motivated, and passionate person to fill the role of Program Manager who will help us to continue to achieve our mission and positively represent Foxy House in the wider community. In turn, we will provide an environment where you will feel nurtured, supported and part of acohesive team.

As the Program Manager for Foxy House, the primary objective is, under supervision of the General Manager, to ensure the facilitation and encouragement of participation of individuals in opportunities and activities that lead to the achievement of participant goals. The Program Manager is an integral part of the Foxy House Leadership Team therefore is responsible for ensuring compliance requirements are met in line with the NDIS Standards and Code of Conduct. The role plays an important part in achieving organisational goals and targets.

Essential Criteria:

● Minimum Cert IV in Disability work

● Well developed IT skills

● NDIS Worker Screening Check

● International Police Check if you have lived overseas for 1year or more within the last 10 years

● Current First Aid Certificate Level 2

● Current CPR Certificate

● Dedication and reliability

● Well-developed organisational and communication skills (written and spoken)

● Must be able to work within the relevant Client guidelines

● Adhere to all relevant legislation and Foxy House Policies and Procedures

● Have afriendly, positive attitude to work

Desirable Skills and Abilities:

● Positive Behaviour Support experience

● Experience in managing people

Please APPLY NOW by attaching your resume and Cover Letter addressing the essential criteria and emailing to: contact@foxyhouse.com.au

For further information and aposition description please contact Teena Ferguson, Director Foxy House on 0408 132 617.

Rose Chapel, Cemetery

Dve, Traralgon TUESDAY (26 September 2023) commencing at 2pm

MOE-MORWELL-TRARALGON TRARALGON 5174 2258

Place your tribute on latrobevalleyfunerals.com.au

MOORE. The Funeral Service and Committal for Cremation or Mr Kenneth Victor Moore will be held at Gippsland Memorial Park Crematorium, Cemetery Drive, Traralgon on THURSDAY (21 September 2023) commencing at 10.30am. To view the livestream please visit our website and follow the prompts.

MOE-MORWELL-TRARALGON MORWELL 5134 4937 Place your tribute on latrobevalleyfunerals.com.au

ORR. The Funeral Service to celebrate the life of James Orr will take place at St Kieran's Catholic Church, Wirraway St, Moe TUESDAY (19 September 2023) commencing at 1pm. APrivate Cremation will follow. The Funeral Service will be live streamed, please see Julie Harwood Funerals Facebook page for digital link.

Funerals

VINCENT. AService to celebrate the life of Joan Vincent will be held at the Nielsen Funeral Chapel, Korumburra Rd, Warragul on WEDNESDAY

NEXT WEEK (27 September 2023) at 2pm.

The Service will also be livestreamed. To view Joan's Service please visit: www.nielsenfunerals.com.au

APrivate Cremation will follow.

In lieu of flowers adonation in memory may be made to Bird Life Australia. Envelopes will be available at the chapel.

Funeral Directors

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.

No better side forCats

FOOTBALL NORTH GIPPSLAND

BY LIAM DURKIN

was on stage accepting the premiership cup as TTU coach. From teammates to opponents, how much can change in football. Unfortunately, there can only be one winner.

WARGENT. The Funeral Service to Celebrate the life of Douglas John Wargent will take place in the Rose ChapelatGippsland Memorial Park Crematorium, Cemetery Drive, Traralgon WEDNESDAY (20 September 2023) commencing at 2pm. The Ceremony will be livestreamed, please see Julie Harwood Funerals Facebook page for digital link.

In Memoriam •

BARRY, Brian Laurence. 4/7/1939 to 20/9/2022.

Contact our caring highly experienced and qualified team or visit our website for more details

MOE 5126 1111 MORWELL 5134 4937 TRARALGON 5174 2258 www.latrobevalleyfunerals.com.au

Affordable

John Gabraith 0413 332 647

Craig GalbraithEvans 0407 043 182

ROWAN. The Funeral Service and Committal for Cremation of Mr Francis Rowan will be held at Latrobe Valley Funeral Services Chapel, 437A PrincesDrive, Morwell on FRIDAY (22 September 2023) commencing at 11am.

MOE-MORWELL-TRARALGON MORWELL 5134 4937 Place your tribute on latrobevalleyfunerals.com.au

Dad (Pa), Hard to believe its been a year that you've been gone, and yet it hurts like it was yesterday. There is not aday that goes by that Ihaven't thought of you, and Ihope there never will be. You can rest now dad for we placed you where you wanted to be. You never got to drink that last beer with us, but Iknow one day I'll see you again so have acold one ready that day and we will have our last beer then.

Love You Dad Forever in our Hearts Steve, Tania, Kristy and Jay.

experience to families in Traralgon, Morwell, Churchill, Moe, Trafalgar, Korumburra andsurrounding areas.

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We offer both at-need and pre-paid funerals. All female funerals areavailable Dignityand respect,always

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0405 669 532

WOODSIDE players and supporters cut reflective figures in the aftermath of their defeat in the North Gippsland Football-Netball League Grand Final.

The Wildcats had fought valiantly in their maiden NGFNL Grand Final attempt afortnight ago, only to fall short to Traralgon Tyers United, whocompleted an unbeaten season as premiers andchampions.

In aGrand Finalwhere onlysix goals were kicked, Woodside gave the Bombers plenty to think aboutwhentheyhad two goals to noneonthe board at the main break. The Wildcats lead may have onlybeen10points,but it certainlygave them the confidence of asideahead by so much more.

That TTU didn’t score their first goal until midway through the third quarter gave eventual rise to the thought of just how many teams have gone on to win the premiership without scoring a goal in the first half.

There wouldn’t be many if any.

Goals were certainly at apremium in the Grand Final,and Woodside was the one who didn’tscore any in the second half. The scoreboardatfull time read 4.14 (38) to 2.8 (20). TTU had not only won the premiership, but survived the scare of being ‘that’ team that doesn’tlose agame all season until the Grand Final.

The premiership wassealed at the 21-minute mark of the final term, after Bombers captain Jye Neilsen kicked agoal from point-blank range. TTU had 10 minutes to celebrate, Woodside, just as long to play the game out.

At the final siren, with the throng of TTU supporters gathering around victorious players, the Wildcats formed ahuddleoftheir own.

Coach Michael Duncan spoke, and he did again inside the change rooms aftergraciously sitting through the presentation.

His Morwell premiership teammate Jack Brown

SPORT

By ZOE ASKEW

The Wildcats appeared to be overcome with a senseofcalm in the immediate aftermath.TTU had been the only opposition Woodside lost to all season, and while they would have dearly loved a premiership, there was certainly no shame about the way in which they had performed on Grand Final day.

There was also much to celebrate. Woodside won netball premierships fromA Grade to CGrade just hours earlier. For aclub from atown that consists of apub and not much else, to have that muchrepresentationonGrand Final day was victory in itself.

Asenior Grand Final added another step to the ladder that has been the journey of the Woodside senior team since Duncan took over as coach in 2020.

When he took over, the Wildcats had won just five games the year before. They’ve nearly wonas many games in finals sine then.

Sentimental support was certainly with the Wildcats in Heyfield on Grand Final day. Testimonials from past players were splashed on the walls of the change rooms, while signs carrying the slogan “which side? Woodside” were out in full force.

As Duncan addressed the playing group in the privacy of the rooms postgame, he said words to the effect therewas not another team in the league he would rather coach.

Such thoughts evoked amoment from the closing scene of the film Coach Carter

In the film, the basketball coach speaks to his team,the Richmond Oilers following defeat in a final.CoachCarter says he is proud of their efforts despite he result, beforeendingwiththe team chant “Rich-what …Richmond”.

“Which side?”

“Woodside”.

program benefits

GIPPSPORT is among the Victorian sporting organisations that will benefitfrom the latest round of the state government’sTogether More Active program.

Minister for Community Sport RosSpence recently announced the latest round of the Together More Active program will provide more than$14.5 million in funding to support more than 100 projects.

“We’re proud to support anew batch of exciting projects that aim to make areal difference in the community through sport and active recreation,” Spence said.

“Thisisall about opening doors to more careers, partnerships, members, volunteers and development and participation programs that benefit everyone,and we’remaking it allpossible through this exciting program.”

With an ultimate objective of unitingpeople throughsport, Together MoreActive aims to encourage those in the community to participate in local sport and recreation activities, helping organisations increase local memberships, building askilledworkforceand developing asafe, resilient and inclusive sector.

Gippsland’s peak body for sport and recreation, GippSport, is amongthe successful recipients, receiving Stream 2, Sector Capability Building Funding.

Sector Capability Building Funding prioritises initiatives that support the capability of the sport and active recreation sector to create safe, welcoming,inclusive environments and increase inclusive participation opportunities.

It will support projectsthat increaseequity, inclusiveness and diversity; strengthen integrity, safety, governance and leadership;develop the workforce, including volunteers; boostclub development and capability; and meet growing and unmet demand in outdoor recreation or active recreation.

Gippsportexecutiveofficer Dan Poyntonsaidthe Together More Active program Sector Capability BuildingFunding stream has been acore funding stream for the sporting body for more than10 years, forming the organisation’s backbone.

“There are two main objectives of the funding stream,” Poynton said.

“The first objective is to work across Gippsland

to support athriving community sport sector, so within that, we will be working with clubs, leagues and associations to help them apply for grants and have effective governance, develop good entry-levelparticipation programs for juniorsand young people.

“We will run awhole series of learning and education opportunities for volunteer club administrators overthe coming couple of years, which thegovernment will fully subsidise. They will be about things such as women and girl’s capability, sport and inclusion capability, so how to include people with disabilities in your club, LGBTQIA+ inclusion, multiculturalinclusion, First Nations inclusion. There will be stockstandard grant writingworkshops, so awholerangeofthings that clubs will be able to access at no charge to help them be as good as they can be.”

The second objective is focused on inclusive sport participation.

“That willenable us to run awhole rangeof programs over the next couple of years that provide opportunities for people with disability to participate in sport and also people from other underrepresented cohorts,” Poynton said.

“The funding that we received is open to every club across every sport in Gippsland.Soifaclub is based in Gippsland, they have the ability to engage withusand access fully subsidised support to help them in their operations.”

Other beneficiaries of the Together More Active programincludeBasketball Victoria, Disability Sport and Recreation Limited and Football Victoria.

Basketball Victoria will deliver the Free Throws program for women and gender-diverse people who want to learn all the basics of shooting hoops in a free, flexible and welcoming environment.

Disability Sport and Recreation Victoria will enhance the capability of local governments to deliver more opportunities for people of all abilities, while Football Victoria will use funding to embed aculture of gender-equitable behaviour in football using men as allies.

The Together More Active program is part of the state government’s Active Victoria strategy that aims to create positive impacts on local communities through sport and recreation.

For the latest information about the program and successful grant recipients, visit sport.vic.gov.au.

LOWATER. The Funeral of Mr Kevin James Lowater will be held at the Gippsland Memorial Park Crematorium

Crestfallen: Woodside players andsupporters afterthe NorthGippslandFootball-Netball League Grand Final.

Photograph: Liam Durkin

Moe girls win hockey premiership

HOCKEY LVHA

BY JEN SUTTON

THE Latrobe Valley Hockey Association women’s Grand Final waswon by Moe at the weekend, with alarge crowd thrilled once againwith aclose finals match as Moe defeated Traralgon Rovers 3-2.

Moe qualified for the GrandFinal from fourth spot on the ladder, and had been defeated 16-0 by Rovers early in the season.

Rovers came outstronginthe Grand Final,leading 2-0 at halftime, giving many reason to think they were on track to take out the title. However, Moe’sstrong defence prevented Rovers from further scoring and kept them in the game.

The second half saw the youngerMoe team come into the game with two strong goals from penalty corners. Rovers bounced back but were unable to convert scoring opportunities.

Abreakaway late in the last quarter saw Hayley Cake receive the ball in Moe’s attacking half, with onlythe keeper, StephLangstaff, between herand the goal. Afast run down the right wing by Brady Cake put him in perfect position to receive apass and score the winning goal.

The final minutes for the game were played at a frantic pace and Moe was able to hold on to take the 2023 title.

Rovers’ Mandie Hourigan was judged player of the final.

Premiers: Moe wonthe Latrobe ValleyHockey Association women’s GrandFInal at the weekend.

KnewMoe wouldwin aflag this year

Goals scorers wereClaireCake,Bec Cheater and Brady Cake for Moe, and Aria Ranui and Maddy Hall for Rovers.

Thrill for local greyhound trainer in Sale

GREYHOUND RACING By ANDREW COPLEY

PROMISING youngster Two BooHook entered the history books as the first winner on the new Sale track on the evening of Sunday, September 3.

The first race on openingnightwas a maiden event comprising afull complement of local trainers, with winning trainer Charlie Galeadelighted that Sale is back in operation after undergoing amajor redevelopment over the past eight months.

“It’s abig thrill to win the first race on the new track. It’s whatI was hoping for,” Galea said.

Photographs supplied

Best players for Moe were Cheater, Aiden Mair, Claire Cake and Brady Cake, and for Rovers, Mandie Hourigan,CharlieMurrelland Maddy Hall

Carlton collection going to auction

FOOTBALL

IT is when the ordinary do extraordinary things that we sit up and take notice.

This is the case of Ian Vivian, an everyday, knockabout bloke who had one great passion: the Carlton Football Club.

The club is believed to have started sometime between 1860 and 1864, although it adopted the Victorian rules in 1866 Vivian’s infatuationwentway beyond the contemporary competition, evidenced by the earliest lot in his remarkable collection of 179 lots, the largest ever assembledinprivate hands.

Included is lot (355): the 1875 Carlton Membership Seasonticket, covered in navyand oliveleather (pre-sale estimate $4000-$5000).

The lots cover the breadth of Carlton’shistory with some extremely rare offerings such as a1908 Victorian Football League premiership capawarded to William (Billy) Payne. This was the third Grand Finalthatheplayed with Carlton (the others were in 1906 and 1907).

Lot 389 has apre-sale estimate of $5000-$7500)

The final lot (534) is apotpourri of Carlton memorabilia, including afull size‘Blues-Match 11’ ball signed by club greats including Peter Jones, Wayne Harmes and Alex Marcou, aCFC ceramic football-shaped port bottle on aceramic stand, and

MOE

GOLF

CHURCHILL &MONASH

Mulligans Saturday9th September 2023

AGrade Winner: R. Madigan 13 38pts

BGrade Winner: P. Flanigan 24 37pts

D.T.L: 1. J. Barnes 37,2.M.Hutchinson 35,

3. J. SandersSNR 35

Target Hole: P. Flanigan

N.T.P: 3rdPro-Pin :R. King,12th J. Barnes

Birdies: R. King

ParTuesday12th September 2023

Winner: J. Soppe 21 -2

D.T.L: 1. S. Caldwell -4,2.R.Sands -6

N.T.P: 3rdS.Caldwell, 5th C.Stevens,12th

C. Gilfillan, 14th L. Brent

MIRBOONORTH

Thursday14th September,Stableford.

AGrade: NRutledge (14) 37pts

BGrade &Day Winner: RPentland (20)

37pts

DTL: TTomada 35, NBaker,Tom Traill 34.

NTP: 4th DTaylor,6th JSmeriglio,13th, B

Bradshaw, 16th SWoodall,

Birdies: 6th, JSmeriglio

Saturday16th September,Single

Stableford&4BWorst Ball

AGrade: BBradshaw(12)37pts

BGrade: SBeitz (20) 38pts

DTL: NBaker,JSmeriglio 35, TimTraill33, NRutledge,A Liebe 32 c/b

NTP: 4th MPayne,6th MPayne,13th P

Draper,16th PDraper

Birdies: 6th RJenkins,16th NBaker

4Ball WorstBall: ALiebe &NBracecamp

24pts

a1970 club Christmas card with artworkbyWEG. (Pre-sale estimate $200-$300).

The auction will be held this Friday (September 22) from12.00pm at Leski Auctions in High Armadale.

“These are all affordable lots, giving Carlton enthusiasts and othersanopportunity to purchase an important slice of the club’shistory,” says Charles Leski of Leski Auctions.

“This is acollection that reflects alifetime’s dedication to afootball club with aproud, if at times conflicted history.

“It is timely that this unique collection is being offered for sale with Carlton reaching the finals for the first time since 2013. At thattime it was catapultedinto finalscontention because of the supplement saga that forced Essendon’s removal from the final eight. It was ahollow victory, whereas 2023 is truly deserved.”

Up forgrabs: A1970 Carltonpremiership medal will be auctioned, at apre-sale estimateof$2000- $3000. Moe’s TedH playedafamous role in the1970 Grand Photograph supplied

SCOREBOARD

Nearest to Pin: 4th Christine O’Reilly, 8th

Leahann Stewart

Thursday, 07 September 2023 OPEN

Medley Stableford

Grade AWinners: Borg,Shannon (7) 37

Grade BWinners: Weir,Charles (14) 40

Grade CWinners: Brown, Drew (22) 37

Place Getters: Pedemont, Joseph 39, Lubawski, Raymond37C/B,Spiteri, Paul 36

C/B,Muirhead, Neil 36 C/B ,Dent, Russell 36 C/B,Langmaid, Trevor 36, Fue, Steven 35 C/B,Dyt, Ricky 35 C/B,King, Rob35

C/B, Backman, Phil 35 C/B,Backman, Shane 35 C/B,Morrow,Darren 35

Great Score: Hamish Towns (Eagle) @12, Lee Wilson (Birdie) @8,Darren Morrow (Birdie) @8,Neil Muirhead (Birdie) @4

NearesttoPin: 4th Neil Muirhead, 8th Lee

Wilson,14th Ricky Dyt

Monday, 11 September 2023 Veterans

Championships -Stroke/Stableford

AGrade StrokeHcp -8 to 18 Mens: Barling,Phillip (15) 71 C/B,Atkins,Barry (17) 71

OPEN Medley Stableford

Rawson, Graham (21) 38, Pisa, John (21) 34 C/B,Curtin, John (19) 34 C/B , Macreadie,Philip (37) 34

Wednesday, 13 September 2023 WOMEN’S

WEDNESDAY 9HOLEStableford

Grade AWinners: Hale,Jan (54) 17

Wednesday, 13 September 2023 WOMEN’S

2PERSON FOUR-BALL

Overall Winners: JoyBeath &Judy

Lee -64

Place Getters: Joan Boulton &Jane

Blandford-62, Evelyn Mitchell &Leahann

Stewart-61

Target Hole: Christine O’Reilly

Thursday, 14 September 2023

Competition :OPEN Medley Stableford

Grade AWinners: White, Lockie (7) 39

Grade BWinners: Harber,John (16) 39

Grade CWinners: Griggs,Ryan(26) 38

Place Getters: Beveridge,Eric37C/B

Veenman, Laurie 37,Muirhead, Neil 36 C/B, Wilson, Graeme 36 C/B,King, Rob36C/B, Stansbury, Les 36, Petkovic,George 35 C/B Bechaz, Paul 35 C/B,Gambling,Allan 35 C/B,Clark, Kevin35C/B,Richer,Paul 35 C/B,Duncan, Nick35, Toet, Wiebe 34 C/B Coombe,David 34 C/B

Great Score: Tony Johnson (Birdie) @8, Eric Beveridge (Birdie) @14,Peter Grant (Birdie) @14,Clinton Sykes(Birdie)@14

Nearest to Pin: 4th Clinton Sykes, 8th Mark Scammell, 14th PeterGrant

MORWELL

Women Wednesday13th September 2023

Winner: CPeter 38 pts

DTL: DVuillermin 33 pts c/b

NTP: 2nd CBoers11th DVuillermin 15th D

Vuillermin

TRAFALGAR

WednesdayWomen’s13/9/23: Stableford

Winner: Di Moody (20) with 37 points

Runner-Up: Jo Baker (34) with 36 points

Down The Line: SamCaldowwith35 points,Karen MacGregor with 33 points and Olwyn Balfour with 32 points

NTP: 5th Di Moody and the 11th BevKeily

Nine-Hole Winner: KarenSwingler with 19 points

“I’ve been trialling at Sale for the last three weeks and the track is just so nice and wide.

“It’s terrific to have the track up and going again to give local trainers another place to trial and another place to race.”

Galea said Two Boo Hook, just 20 months of age, is agreyhoundwithenormouspotential.

The Hazelwood trainer thought his training days may have been over when he suffered amini-stroke in January, however he has overcomethe serious setbackand has aspring in his step again following the impressive four-length win on debutatthe new Sale track.

Nine-Hole Runner-Up: SandraLawler with 16 points

Gobblers: Sonia Roberts on the 6th, Yvonne Pittand Sue Klemkeonthe 5th, KarenSwingler on the 8th and Karen MacGregor on the 14th

Tuesday12/09/2023 3Person Ambrose

Players: 27,Women 3, Men 24

Winners: Tony Shearer,Brian McKenzie, Heather Savige (28.6)

RunnersUp: Chris Griffin, Brian Barnes SteveKlemke(30)

DTL: Hank Fiddelaers, Glenn Doolan, Sue DeVries (30.2) &Steve Gould, Tobie Davie Frank Edmonds (31.3)

NTP: Tony Price

Bradmans: SteveLawrence,GeoffFallon, RobDeVries

Thursday: 14/09/2023 Stableford

Players : 61, Women 19,Men 42

Women’s Winner: Sue DeVries (22)

Runner Up: Heather Savige (19C/B)

DTL: Aija Owen (19), PatHarris (18), Christine Payne (17),Beth Landsdowne (16), Karen MacGregor (16)

NTP: Kerren Ludlow(13)

Bradmans: SandraBalfour

Men’s Winner: Max Taylor (23 c/b)

Runner Up: Wayne Dunn (23)

DTL: Toby Davie (22), Paul Fogarty(21), Gavin Patchett(21), SteveGould (20), GeoffCoulter (20), Max Pugliese (20), Tony Shearer (20)

NTP: Duanne Baker (13)

Bradmans: Alan Gray

Friday, September 15th 2023, Open Men’s

&Ladies Stableford

AGrade Winner: Steven Fue37pts

BGrade Winner: BarryAtkins 40 pts

DTL’s: StuartMorgan39, Raymond Lubawski 36, Jack Henning 36, Peter McKinnon 36, MarkScammell 36, Joel Poole 35, RonDavey 35

Birdies: 5th: Tony O’Reilly13th: Albert Hayes15th: Jack Henning

Saturday, September 16th 2023, Stableford

AGrade Winner: Reno Borg39pts

BGrade Winner: Phil Town 42 pts

CGrade Winner: Jeff Gray 35 pts

DTL’s: Ramon Dyke 38, Brad Griffin37, Russ Grant 37,MarkHiriart37, PeterMoss 36, RayWiseman 36, Harold McNair 36, David Taylor 36, Ian Charge 36, Symon Lee 36, Tony Shearer 36, PeterBurghardt 36

NTP’s: 2nd: Harold McNair 5th: Hank Fiddelaers11th: RoyFleming 13th:Graeme Harris 15th:David Taylor

YALLOURN

Tuesday12th September 9HoleComp

Div1: L. McAlister 15pts Div

Ware 15pts

Thursday14th September Stableford Div

Up-and-comer: Hazelwood trainerCharlie Galea with promisingyoungster TwoBoo Hook Photograph: RobPopplestone

Dodgers dodge abullet in aclassic

BASEBALL LVBA

BY NICOLE WHITE

GRAND Final day for the Latrobe Valley Baseball Association was greeted with sunshine on Sunday.

Traralgonhosted the day, in what was a great send-off for the season.

AGradewas atight affair between Moe/ Newborough and Traralgon.

The Dodgerstook the win fromthe Redsox 4-2 withalatestolen lead. Thegame was tied at the top of the sixth inning when Tom Rynberk singled.

Trent Job wasawarded MVP, going the wholenine innings and allowing two runs on nine hits with seven strikeouts and awalk

Brad Adams started the pitching for the Redsox, lasting seven innings with four runs

on four hits and one strikeout. Jason Smith, Dale Simpson, Simon Wilson and Nathan Simpson all managed hits for the Dodgers.

Traralgon had nine hits for the game with Brad Adams and Brian Spiterimanaging multiple hits.

BGrade sawTraralgon play Churchill.

The Redsox lost the lead late in the game, going down to the Braves 6-4.

The loss came after the Redsox outhit Churchill 7-4.

Tim Bellerby was on the hill for Churchill, going six innings and allowing sevenhits and four runs with three strikeouts and awalk. He was also awarded MVP for the match.

Malachi Dillion, Josh Galea and Matt Robertson managed multiple hits for the Redsox

Gregg Duncan wenttwo forthree at the plate to lead the Braves in hits

CGrade had Traralgon up against Moe/ Newborough.

The Redsox took victory from the Dodgers in atight 12-11 game.Moe/Newborough racked up eight hits in the day, with Eric Robinson, Chris Forrester and Stacey Best all getting multiple hits.

Mikey Bentley went three for four at the platetolead the Redsox in hits. He also took themoststolen bases with three. Traralgon managedtorack up five hits in the fifth innings.

Andrew McConville started on the hill for Traralgon, going five innings, he allowed only three hits on six hits with four strikeouts.

Anu Meenakshi pitched for Moe, surrendering 12 runs on eight hits over five inning with seven strikeouts.

Andrew McConvillewas awarded the MVP.

Tradition: Latrobe CityMayor Kellie O’Callaghanthrowsthe opening pitch of the AGrade GrandFinal. Photographs supplied

Mid Gippsland Grand Final winners

defeated Fish Creek 34 23 Best on court wasYinnar’s Megan Harrison.

Photographs: Zaida Glibanovic f t d 34-23 in B Grade

Police urge footy fans to be responsible

SPORT

AS end-of-season football celebrationsstart across the state,police are engaging with local footballclubs andleagues to ensure precautions are in place for players and supporters to safely enjoy the celebrations. Miscalculation of alcohol consumption has been identified as one of the most common reasons young drivers give policewhen caught over the limit.

Police intelligence shows 25 percent of drink drivers detected in Victoria are aged under 25. The number of drink drivers aged under 25 increased 11 per cent in the year to March 2023,compared with the previous 12 months.

Latrobe Police are urging everyone participating in end of season celebrations (players, spectators, WAGs, BAHs?)toplan ahead, organise asafeway home, and not drive impaired.

Driversaged under 26 or subject to zero blood alcohol content conditions receive an on-the-spot $577 fine and six-month licence disqualification for afirst offence, while novice drivers receive an on-the-spot fine of $481 and athree-month licence disqualification. More serious drink driving offences can result in further penaltiesincluding vehicle impoundment, licence cancellation or extensive disqualification, hefty fines, and even jail time.

Victoria Police will continue its road safety focus over the coming weeks, with drink and drug driving to be targetedinthe lead up to Operation Scoreboard, astatewideroad policing effort set to take place over the AFL Grand Final long weekend later this month.

Cup battle down to last four

SOCCER LVSL

BY LAURIE WILLIAMS

FALCONS continued to keep their Battle of Britain Cup hopes alive in the LatrobeValley Soccer League, after agood second round win over Sale.

The Birds progressedinto Round 3this weekend, while in other games, Tyers won on forfeit to Churchill, and Newborough/Yallourn put their game plan together to overcome the Olympians.

Falcons continued on their merry way to win the second roundmatch against Sale 5-1.

Falcons startedwitha12-minute goal to grab an earlyhead start.Another goal just before halftime gave Falcons agood buffer going into the second half.

Sale responded in the second half with agoal at 55 minutes, but theirrevival was short-lived as

Falcons whacked on another three goals to put Sale outofthe cup.

Falcons willnow face up to Tyersinthe semi-final this Saturday at Traralgon City’s pitch (4pm).

It was all oneway traffic for the Combine as they demolished Olympians 7-0 in awarm-up for their semi-final clash against traditional rivals Moe this Sunday at Burrage Reserve (4pm).

Newborough/Yallourn had four goals on the board within 20 minutes, and from then on, dominated.

Battle of Britain Round 2results

▶ Newb/Yallourn 7 (Ash Birrell 3, Adam Batt, Clay Bell, Cooper Baldacchino, Ryan McCluskey) d

Olympians 0

▶ Moe 2 (Conner O’Hanlon, Riley Winkelman) d

Fortuna 1 (Damon Scott)

▶ Falcons 5 (Anton Sbaglia, Jamie Pistrin, Nick D’Allesandro, Nonda Lazaris, TomD’Alia) dSale 1

Shopwell Trophy

▶ Falcons 1 (Enrique Sbaglia) dSale0

▶ Fortuna 1 (Bradon Grover) dMoe 0

▶ Churchill dTyers (forfeit)

▶ Newborough/YallourndOlympians (forfeit)

Second Division

▶ Sale White dSale Green (forfeit)

▶ Moe 3 (Brad Howard, Gedd Heusemann, Sander Versiuis) dFortuna 1 (Ethan Hanlon)

▶ East Gippsland dChurchill (forfeit)

Women

▶ Sale dFalcons (forfeit)

▶ Fortuna 5 (Sophie Jarvis 3, TenaeShankland

2) dChurchill 0

▶ Tyers 1dNewb/Yall 0

▶ Pegasus 1dTraralgon City 0

Fieryscenes as Fortuna fall to Moe

SOCCER LVSL

BY JOHN CARDONA

IN afiery, full-on encounter where neitherside gave an inch and there was three red cards and numerous yellows, Moe United eventually came out victors to advance to the semi-finals of the Battle of Britain Cup after beating Latrobe Valley Soccer League champions Fortuna 2-1.

Taking to Olympic Park on Saturday afternoon, the opening minutes flowed from endtoend, with Unitedcreatingthe opportunityafter ashot by Luke Bathgate was deflected widebyFortuna keeper Mavroidis.

At the other end, aquick counterattack saw the ball finishupinthe goal, but Fortuna’s celebration was short-lived whenthe linesman flagged an offside infringement.

Moe United quickly regained their composure, and aNoah Kane free kick on the left found Luke Bathgate at the back post, but his header was hacked clear by the Fortuna defence.

Not to be denied, Fortuna came rushingstraight back on the offensiveafter 20 minutes, and arun by Hayden Tanti saw his cross catch the Moe defence out of position. Great first touch by Damon Scott

created the opening goal for the visitor’s.

On the half-hour,United was awarded afree kick on the halfway line. The awareness of striker Connor O’Hanlon saw him quickly take the free kick out wide to Riley Winkleman, who ran deep intothe boxwhich sawhis cross collected again by O’Hanlon, who then sidestepped aFortuna defender and unleased an unstoppable right foot shot to the back post past the keeper.

Both sides hadappeals for apenalty waved away shortly after United came close to taking a halftime lead when aBathgatecross saw adiving Winkleman go for aheader, only to be denied by aslight deflection by Rayval Whiting.

United gained early control of the second half and created acouple of excellent chances. The first coming from an O’Hanlon pass to Winkleman who’s first-time shot was saved.

Nextwas aNoah Kane freekick whichwas deflected away from goal.

With the match at boiling point, alatetackleby Bathgate saw astriking retaliationbyHayden Tantierupt into an all-in brawl. The resultant penaltiessaw Tanti and DamonScott from Fortuna and Moe coach Kevin O’Farrellall receive their marching orders with red cards.

Moe had some advantage as Fortuna was down

two men, and the Red Devil’s tried to finish them off. Ashot from Kane was fumbled by Mavrofidis, only to grab the rebound on the second attempt.

Within aminute, along through ball by Brendan Ruddell sentsubstituteOscar Sceneyclear, onlyto see his strike at goal saved by the keeper.

The failure by the Moe Unitedsidetokill off Fortuna saw anervous final five minutes by the large Moe crowd.

Athunderous Daniel Cooper shot rattled Peter Albanese’s crossbar, followed by asuccession of threecorner kicks which were unconvincingly cleared by adesperate United defence before the final whistle was blown.

Best for Moe was Tanner Pyle, Matt Shearing, Nick Fogarty and O’Hanlon.

IN the Shopwell Trophy match, Fortuna advanced to the semi-final after a1-0 win over Moe United.

Scorer for Fortuna was Brandon Grover.

The upset of the day came in 2nd Division, where the highly-fancied Fortuna was knocked out of the Nan Bosma Cup 3-1 by Moe.

Scorers for Moe Untied were KayneHeusmann, Brad Howard and one time Moe Lion footballer Sander Versiuis.

Scorer for Fortuna was Ethan Hanlon.

Bit happening: Fortuna’sDamon Scottset up his side’s firstgoalinthe Battle of Britain CupRound 2match, butwas alsored carded in afierymatch againstMoe

Photograph Liam Durkin